NCT02050425 (registered at ClinicalTrials.gov).

Online breath analysis is an attractive approach to track exhaled compounds without sample preparation. Current commercially available real-time breath analysis platforms require the purchase of a full mass spectrometer. Here we present an ion source compatible with virtually any preexisting atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometer that allows real-time analysis of breath. We illustrate the capabilities of such technological development by upgrading an orbitrap mass spectrometer. As a result, we detected compounds in exhaled breath between 70 and 900 Da, with a mass accuracy of typically <1 ppm; resolutions between m/Δm 22,000 and 70,000 and fragmentation capabilities. The setup was tested in a pilot study, comparing the breath of smokers (n  =  9) and non-smokers (n  =  10). Exogenous compounds associated to smoking, as well as endogenous metabolites suggesting increased oxidative stress in smokers, were detected and in some cases identified unambiguously. Most of these compounds correlated significantly with smoking frequency and allowed accurate discrimination of smokers and non-smokers.

While yeast is one of the most studied organisms, its intricate biology remains to be fully mapped and understood. This is especially the case when it comes to capture rapid, in vivo fluctuations of metabolite levels. Secondary electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry SESI-HRMS is introduced here as a sensitive and noninvasive analytical technique for online monitoring of microbial metabolic activity. The power of this technique is exemplarily shown for baker’s yeast fermentation, for which the time-resolved abundance of about 300 metabolites is demonstrated. The results suggest that a large number of metabolites produced by yeast from glucose neither are reported in the literature nor are their biochemical origins deciphered. With the technique demonstrated here, researchers interested in distant disciplines such as yeast physiology and food quality will gain new insights into the biochemical capability of this simple eukaryote.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) describe a range of physical, behavioral, and neurologic deficits in individuals exposed to alcohol prenatally. Reduced palpebral fissure length is one of the cardinal facial features of FASD. However, other ocular measurements have not been studied extensively in FASD. Using the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Epidemiologic Research (FASER) database, we investigated how inner canthal distance (ICD), interpupillary distance (IPD), and outer canthal distance (OCD) centiles differed between FASD and non‐FASD individuals. We compared ocular measurement centiles in children with FASD to non‐FASD individuals and observed reductions in all three centiles for ICD, IPD, and OCD. However, when our non‐FASD children who had various forms of growth deficiency (microcephaly, short‐stature, or underweight) were compared to controls, we did not observe a similar reduction in ocular measurements. This suggests that reductions in ocular measurements are a direct effect of alcohol on ocular development independent of its effect on growth parameters, which is consistent with animal models showing a negative effect of alcohol on developing neural crest cells. Interpupillary distance centile appeared to be the most significantly reduced ocular measure we evaluated, suggesting it may be a useful measure to be considered in the diagnosis of FASD.