Fecal microbiota and volatile metabolome pattern alterations precede late-onset meningitis in preterm neonates.

Objective: The fecal microbiota and metabolome are hypothesized to be altered before late-onset neonatal meningitis (LOM), in analogy to late-onset sepsis (LOS). The present study aimed to identify fecal microbiota composition and volatile metabolomics preceding LOM.

Methods: Cases and gestational age-matched controls were selected from a prospective, longitudinal preterm cohort study (born <30 weeks' gestation) at nine neonatal intensive care units.

Fecal Volatile Metabolomics Predict Gram-Negative Late-Onset Sepsis in Preterm Infants: A Nationwide Case-Control Study.

Early detection of late-onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants is crucial since timely treatment initiation is a key prognostic factor. We hypothesized that fecal volatile organic compounds (VOCs), reflecting microbiota composition and function, could serve as a non-invasive biomarker for preclinical pathogen-specific LOS detection. Fecal samples and clinical data of all preterm infants (≤30 weeks' gestation) admitted at nine neonatal intensive care units in the Netherlands and Belgium were collected daily.

Detection of spontaneous preterm birth by maternal urinary volatile organic compound analysis: A prospective cohort study.

Accurate prediction of preterm birth is currently challenging, resulting in unnecessary maternal hospital admittance and fetal overexposure to antenatal corticosteroids. Novel biomarkers like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) hold potential for predictive, bed-side clinical applicability. In a proof of principle study, we aimed to assess the predictive potential of urinary volatile organic compounds in the identification of pregnant women at risk for preterm birth.

Discriminatory Ability of Gas Chromatography-Ion Mobility Spectrometry to Identify Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 and Predict Prognosis.

Background: Rapid diagnostic and prognostic tests for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are urgently required. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic ability of breath analysis using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Methods: Between February and May 2021, we took 1 breath sample for analysis using GC-IMS from participants who were admitted to the hospital for COVID-19, participants who were admitted to the hospital for other respiratory infections, and symptom-free controls, at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, United Kingdom.

Urinary Volatile Organic Compound Testing in Fast-Track Patients with Suspected Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal symptoms are common but only infrequently represent serious pathology, including colorectal cancer (CRC). A large number of invasive tests are presently performed for reassurance. We investigated the feasibility of urinary volatile organic compound (VOC) testing as a potential triage tool in patients fast-tracked for assessment for possible CRC.

Prediction of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Course Based on Fecal Scent.

The early prediction of changes in disease state allows timely treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to be performed, which improves disease outcome. The aim of this pilot study is to explore the potential of fecal volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles to predict disease course. In this prospective cohort, IBD patients were asked to collect two fecal samples and fill in a questionnaire at set intervals.

Minimal Gluten Exposure Alters Urinary Volatile Organic Compounds in Stable Coeliac Disease.

Coeliac disease (CD) patients are distinguishable from healthy individuals via urinary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysis. We exposed 20 stable CD patients on gluten-free diet (GFDs) to a 14-day, 3 g/day gluten challenge (GCh), and assessed urinary VOC changes. A control cohort of 20 patients continued on GFD.

The pathophysiology of bile acid diarrhoea: differences in the colonic microbiome, metabolome and bile acids.

Bile acid diarrhoea (BAD) is a common disorder resulting from increased loss of bile acids (BAs), overlapping irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D). The gut microbiota metabolises primary BAs to secondary BAs, with differing impacts on metabolism and homeostasis. The aim of this study was to profile the microbiome, metabolic products and bile acids in BAD.

Prediction of mortality in severe acute malnutrition in hospitalized children by faecal volatile organic compound analysis: proof of concept.

Children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) display immature, altered gut microbiota and have a high mortality risk. Faecal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) reflect the microbiota composition and may provide insight into metabolic dysfunction that occurs in SAM. Here we determine whether analysis of faecal VOCs could identify children with SAM with increased risk of mortality.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for the non-invasive detection of pancreatic cancer from urine.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a particularly challenging cancer, with very low 5-year survival rates. This low survival rate is linked to late stage diagnosis, associated with the lack of approved biomarkers. One approach that is receiving considerable attention is the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that emanate from biological waste as biomarkers for disease.

Volatile organic compound analysis, a new tool in the quest for preterm birth prediction-an observational cohort study.

Preterm birth is the leading cause of death worldwide in children under five years. Due to its complex multifactorial nature, prediction is a challenge. Current research is aiming to develop accurate predictive models using patient history, ultrasound and biochemical markers.

The faecal scent of inflammatory bowel disease: Detection and monitoring based on volatile organic compound analysis.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is diagnosed and monitored using endoscopic assessment, which is invasive and costly. In this study, potential of faecal volatile organic compounds (VOC) analysis for IBD detection and identification of disease activity was evaluated.

Methods: IBD patients visiting outpatient clinics of participating tertiary hospitals were included.

The Detection of Wound Infection by Ion Mobility Chemical Analysis.

Surgical site infection represents a large burden of care in the National Health Service. Current methods for diagnosis include a subjective clinical assessment and wound swab culture that may take several days to return a result. Both techniques are potentially unreliable and result in delays in using targeted antibiotics.

Preclinical Detection of Non-catheter Related Late-onset Sepsis in Preterm Infants by Fecal Volatile Compounds Analysis: A Prospective, Multi-center Cohort Study.

Background: Late onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants is preceded by fecal volatile organic compound (VOC) alterations, suggesting an etiologic role of gut microbiota in LOS rather than being primarily caused by central venous catheters (CVC). To increase our knowledge about the involvement of the gut microbiota in LOS, we analyzed fecal samples from septic infants without a CVC.

Methods: In this prospective multicenter study, fecal samples were collected daily from all infants born at ≤30 weeks gestation.

Breath-based non-invasive diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: a pilot study.

Early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) will help researchers to better understand the disease and develop improved treatments. Recent developments have thus focused on identifying biomarkers for mild cognitive impairment due to AD (MCI) and AD during the preclinical phase. The aim of this pilot study is to determine whether exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be used as a non-invasive method to distinguish controls from MCI, controls from AD and to determine whether there are differences between MCI and AD.

Simultaneous Assessment of Urinary and Fecal Volatile Organic Compound Analysis in De Novo Pediatric IBD.

Endoscopic evaluation is mandatory in establishing the diagnosis of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but unfortunately carries a high burden on patients. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) have been proposed as alternative, noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers for IBD. The current study aimed to assess and compare the potential of fecal and urinary VOC as diagnostic biomarkers for pediatric IBD in an intention-to-diagnose cohort.

Detection of Group B Streptococcus in pregnancy by vaginal volatile organic compound analysis: a prospective exploratory study.

Our objective was to assess whether volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis of vaginal swabs can detect maternal Group B Streptococcus (GBS) during pregnancy in a prospective exploratory study. Around 243 women attending a high-risk antenatal clinic at one university teaching hospital in the UK consented to take part and provide vaginal swabs throughout pregnancy. VOC analysis of vaginal swabs was undertaken and compared with the reference standard of GBS detected using enrichment culture method.

Faecal Scent as a Novel Non-Invasive Biomarker to Discriminate between Coeliac Disease and Refractory Coeliac Disease: A Proof of Principle Study.

Currently, the gold standard for diagnosis of coeliac disease (CD) is based on serology and gastroduodenoscopy with histology of duodenal mucosal biopsies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of faecal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analysis as a novel, non-invasive tool to discriminate between CD in remission in patients on a gluten-free diet (GFD), refractory coeliac disease (RCD) and controls without CD. Patients with an established diagnosis of CD on a GFD, RCD and healthy controls (HC) were instructed to collect a faecal sample.

Breath Analysis Using eNose and Ion Mobility Technology to Diagnose Inflammatory Bowel Disease-A Pilot Study.

Early diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), remains a clinical challenge with current tests being invasive and costly. The analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath and biomarkers in stool (faecal calprotectin (FCP)) show increasing potential as non-invasive diagnostic tools. The aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the efficacy of breath analysis and determine if FCP can be used as an additional non-invasive parameter to supplement breath results, for the diagnosis of IBD.

Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Diabetes by Volatile Organic Compounds in Urine Using FAIMS and Fox4000 Electronic Nose.

The electronic nose (eNose) is an instrument designed to mimic the human olfactory system. Usage of eNose in medical applications is more popular than ever, due to its low costs and non-invasive nature. The eNose sniffs the gases and vapours that emanate from human waste (urine, breath, and stool) for the diagnosis of variety of diseases.

Late-onset Sepsis in Preterm Infants Can Be Detected Preclinically by Fecal Volatile Organic Compound Analysis: A Prospective, Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: The intestinal microbiota has increasingly been considered to play a role in the etiology of late-onset sepsis (LOS). We hypothesize that early alterations in fecal volatile organic compounds (VOCs), reflecting intestinal microbiota composition and function, allow for discrimination between infants developing LOS and controls in a preclinical stage.

Methods: In 9 neonatal intensive care units in the Netherlands and Belgium, fecal samples of preterm infants born at a gestational age ≤30 weeks were collected daily, up to the postnatal age of 28 days.

Optimized Sampling Conditions for Fecal Volatile Organic Compound Analysis by Means of Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry.

Fecal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are increasingly considered to be potential noninvasive, diagnostic biomarkers for various gastrointestinal diseases. Knowledge of the influence of sampling conditions on VOC outcomes is limited. We aimed to evaluate the effects of sampling conditions on fecal VOC profiles and to assess under which conditions an optimal diagnostic accuracy in the discrimination between pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and controls could be obtained.