Characterization of Exhaled Particles from the Healthy Human Lung—A Systematic Analysis in Relation to Pulmonary Function Variables

Abstract

We conclude that online determination of exhaled aerosols from the human lungs is a prerequisite to standardize the assessment of nonvolatile mediators by normalization to the aerosol emission rate.

Potential of Mass Spectrometry in Developing Clinical Laboratory Biomarkers of Nonvolatiles in Exhaled Breath

“…This is in agreement with model calculations that predict larger and smaller particles to become deposited and never become part of the exhaled fraction (4,8 ). The median particle diameter experimentally determined is 0.3 m, with a range of about 0.1-2 m and normal distribution (4 ).…”

“…Most particles were Ͻ1 m in diameter and both the number of particles and size distribution varied between breathing maneuvers. A more detailed investigation on this matter has been reported recently (4 ). During tidal breathing there is a 100-fold variation between individuals in particle emission and a tendency for the number of particles emitted to increase with age (4 ).…”

“…It might be obvious to direct attention toward smaller volatile compounds in exhaled breath because they are part of the gas phase. But a more recent interest has evolved concerning nonvolatiles present in aerosol particles that are formed from the airway lining fluid during normal breathing (3,4 ).…”

Targeted eicosanoid lipidomics of exhaled breath condensate provide a distinct pattern in the aspirin-intolerant asthma phenotype

“…25 A dilution of nonvolatile compounds with water has recently been demonstrated to vary between the subjects by more than 1 order of magnitude and to depend on ventilation mechanics. 26,27 It is of interest that in our data forced expiratory flow was higher in subjects with increased levels of 6-keto-PGF 1a metabolite, possibly because prostacyclin in some, 28 but not all, 29 phenotypes of asthma was demonstrated to exert a protective effect. This effect was absent in subjects with AIA, a phenotype in which prostacyclin was proved to have no bronchoprotective effect.…”

Characterization of Exhaled Particles from the Human Lungs in Airway Obstruction

“…(2)(3)(4) The nonvolatile compounds of human breath are contained in exhaled particles that originate from the epithelial lining fluid of the lungs. (5)(6)(7)(8) The standard technique used to capture these droplets for biochemical analysis is exhaled breath condensate (EBC). With this technique, exhaled air becomes condensed whereby water vapor and an unknown fraction of the particles are gathered.…”