Targeted exhaled breath analysis for detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis patients.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is an important respiratory pathogen for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Routine microbiology surveillance is time-consuming, and is best performed on expectorated sputum. As alternative, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may be indicative of PA colonisation.

Galactomannan detection in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid for invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients.

Background: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a life-threatening opportunistic mycosis that occurs in some people with a compromised immune system. The serum galactomannan enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) rapidly gained widespread acceptance as part of the diagnostic work-up of a patient suspected of IA. Due to its non-invasive nature, it can be used as a routine screening test.

Volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath are independent of systemic inflammatory syndrome caused by intravenous lipopolysaccharide infusion in humans: results from an experiment in healthy volunteers.

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is observed during critical illness in most patients. It is defined by a clinical definition. The composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath may change during SIRS and may thus serve as a diagnostic tool.

Mesenchymal stem cells induce resistance to chemotherapy through the release of platinum-induced fatty acids.

The development of resistance to chemotherapy is a major obstacle for lasting effective treatment of cancer. Here, we demonstrate that endogenous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) become activated during treatment with platinum analogs and secrete factors that protect tumor cells against a range of chemotherapeutics. Through a metabolomics approach, we identified two distinct platinum-induced polyunsaturated fatty acids (PIFAs), 12-oxo-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (KHT) and hexadeca-4,7,10,13-tetraenoic acid (16:4(n-3)), that in minute quantities induce resistance to a broad spectrum of chemotherapeutic agents.