scholarly journals Detection dogs as a help in the detection of COVID-19 Can the dog alert on COVID-19 positive persons by sniffing axillary sweat samples ? Proof-of-concept study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Grandjean ◽  
Riad Sarkis ◽  
Jean-Pierre Tourtier ◽  
Clothilde Julien-Lecocq ◽  
Aymeric Benard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colon Cancer ◽  
Cancer Detection ◽  
Positive Sample ◽  
The Other ◽  
Explosive Detection ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Concept Study ◽  
Axillary Sweat ◽  
Very High

AbstractThe aim of this study is to evaluate if the sweat produced by COVID-19 persons (SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive) has a different odour for trained detection dogs than the sweat produced by non COVID-19 persons. The study was conducted on 3 sites, following the same protocol procedures, and involved a total of 18 dogs. A total of 198 armpits sweat samples were obtained from different hospitals. For each involved dog, the acquisition of the specific odour of COVID-19 sweat samples required from one to four hours, with an amount of positive samples sniffing ranging from four to ten. For this proof of concept, we kept 8 dogs of the initial group (explosive detection dogs and colon cancer detection dogs), who performed a total of 368 trials, and will include the other dogs in our future studies as their adaptation to samples scenting takes more time.The percentages of success of the dogs to find the positive sample in a line containing several other negative samples or mocks (2 to 6) were 100p100 for 4 dogs, and respectively 83p100, 84p100, 90p100 and 94p100 for the others, all significantly different from the percentage of success that would be obtained by chance alone.We conclude that there is a very high evidence that the armpits sweat odour of COVID-19+ persons is different, and that dogs can detect a person infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

scholarly journals Can the detection dog alert on COVID-19 positive persons by sniffing axillary sweat samples? A proof-of-concept study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0243122
Author(s):  
Dominique Grandjean ◽  
Riad Sarkis ◽  
Clothilde Lecoq-Julien ◽  
Aymeric Benard ◽  
Vinciane Roger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Success Rate ◽  
Cancer Detection ◽  
Positive Sample ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Concept Study ◽  
Dog Training ◽  
Axillary Sweat ◽  
Sweat Sample ◽  
Detection Dog ◽  
Testing Protocols

The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to evaluate if trained dogs could discriminate between sweat samples from symptomatic COVID-19 positive individuals (SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive) and those from asymptomatic COVID-19 negative individuals. The study was conducted at 2 sites (Paris, France, and Beirut, Lebanon), followed the same training and testing protocols, and involved six detection dogs (three explosive detection dogs, one search and rescue dog, and two colon cancer detection dogs). A total of 177 individuals were recruited for the study (95 symptomatic COVID-19 positive and 82 asymptomatic COVID-19 negative individuals) from five hospitals, and one underarm sweat sample per individual was collected. The dog training sessions lasted between one and three weeks. Once trained, the dog had to mark the COVID-19 positive sample randomly placed behind one of three or four olfactory cones (the other cones contained at least one COVID-19 negative sample and between zero and two mocks). During the testing session, a COVID-19 positive sample could be used up to a maximum of three times for one dog. The dog and its handler were both blinded to the COVID-positive sample location. The success rate per dog (i.e., the number of correct indications divided by the number of trials) ranged from 76% to 100%. The lower bound of the 95% confidence interval of the estimated success rate was most of the time higher than the success rate obtained by chance after removing the number of mocks from calculations. These results provide some evidence that detection dogs may be able to discriminate between sweat samples from symptomatic COVID-19 individuals and those from asymptomatic COVID-19 negative individuals. However, due to the limitations of this proof-of-concept study (including using some COVID-19 samples more than once and potential confounding biases), these results must be confirmed in validation studies.

scholarly journals Feasibility of an Activity Protocol for Young Children in a Whole Room Indirect Calorimeter: A Proof-of-Concept Study

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 633-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anouk WMC Oortwijn ◽  
Guy Plasqui ◽  
John J. Reilly ◽  
Anthony D. Okely
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Concept Study ◽  
Actigraph Accelerometer ◽  
Vigorous Intensity ◽  
The Right

Background:The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of a structured activity protocol in a room calorimeter among young children.Methods:Five healthy children (age 5.2 ± 0.4 y) performed an activity protocol in a room calorimeter, ranging from sedentary to vigorous-intensity activities. Energy expenditure (EE) was calculated from continuous measurements of O2-consumption and CO2-production using Weir’s formula. Resting EE was defined as EE during the first 30 min of the study where participants were seated while watching television. The children wore an ActiGraph accelerometer on the right and left hip.Results:The protocol was well tolerated by all children, and lasted 150 to 175 min. Further, differences were seen in both EE and accelerometer counts across 3 of the 4 activity intensities.Conclusions:It is feasible for young children to perform a structured activity protocol in a room calorimeter enhancing the possibility of conducting future studies to cross-validate existing accelerometer prediction equations.

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Mechanism for Effectiveness of Plasmapheresis

1979 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Kelton ◽  
P. B. Neame ◽  
I. Walker ◽  
A. G. Turpie ◽  
J. McBride ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Count ◽  
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
The Other ◽  
Unknown Etiology ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Antiplatelet Antibody ◽  
Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Serious Illness ◽  
Normal Platelet ◽  
Very High

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare but serious illness of unknown etiology. Treatment by plasmapheresis has been reported to be effective but the mechanism for benefit is unknown. We have investigated the effect of plasmapheresis in 2 patients with TTP by quantitating platelet associated IgG (PAIgG) levels prior to and following plasmapheresis. Both patients had very high levels of PAIgG at presentation (90 and A8 fg IgG/platelet respectively, normal 0-5). in both, the PAIgG levels progressively fell to within the normal range and the platelet count rose following plasmapheresis. One patient remained in remission with normal platelet counts and PAIgG levels. The other relapsed after plasmapheresis and the PAIgG level rose prior to the fall in platelet count. Plasmapheresis was repeated and resulted in normalization of both the platelet count and PAIgG level. It is suggested that plasmapheresis removes antiplatelet antibody or immune complexes which may be of etiological importance in this illness.

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