Review of the algorithms used in exhaled breath analysis for the detection of diabetes

Currently, intensive work is underway on the development of truly noninvasive medical diagnostic systems, including respiratory analysers based on the detection of biomarkers of several diseases including diabetes. In terms of diabetes, acetone is considered as a one of the potential biomarker, although is not the single one. Therefore, the selective detection is crucial. Most often, the analysers of exhaled breath are based on the utilization of several commercially available gas sensors or on specially designed and manufactured gas sensors to obtain the highest selectivity and sensitivity to diabetes biomarkers present in the exhaled air. An important part of each system are the algorithms that are trained to detect diabetes based on data obtained from sensor matrices. The prepared review of the literature showed that there are many limitations in the development of the versatile breath analyser, such as high metabolic variability between patients, but the results obtained by researchers using the algorithms described in this paper are very promising and most of them achieve over 90% accuracy in the detection of diabetes in exhaled air. This paper summarizes the results using various measurement systems, feature extraction and feature selection methods as well as algorithms such as Support Vector Machines, k-Nearest Neighbours and various variations of Neural Networks for the detection of diabetes in patient samples and simulated artificial breath samples.

The SARS-CoV-2 Reproduction Number R0 in Cats

Domestic cats are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and given that they are in close contact with people, assessing the potential risk cats represent for the transmission and maintenance of SARS-CoV-2 is important. Assessing this risk implies quantifying transmission from humans-to-cats, from cats-to-cats and from cats-to-humans. Here we quantified the risk of cat-to-cat transmission by reviewing published literature describing transmission either experimentally or under natural conditions in infected households. Data from these studies were collated to quantify the SARS-CoV-2 reproduction number R0 among cats. The estimated R0 was significantly higher than one, hence cats could play a role in the transmission and maintenance of SARS-CoV-2. Questions that remain to be addressed are the risk of transmission from humans-to-cats and cats-to-humans. Further data on household transmission and data on virus levels in both the environment around infected cats and their exhaled air could be a step towards assessing these risks

Plasma and photon technologies against bio-factors, dangerous to human being

Possible plasma and photonic methods and devices for monitoring and preventing dangerous infections and human diseases are presented. In experiments with different types of atmospheric pressure discharges in different gases, the significant bactericidal effect was found. The prototype of device based on the method of absorption spectroscopy for detecting human diseases by biomarkers in the exhaled air has been proposed and tested. The importance of the plasma technology of deposition of coatings by magnetron sputtering for the creation of anti-covid masks and high-quality optics (mirrors) for photon monitoring devices is emphasized.

Immunological and genetic indices in workers under long-term exposure to low-doses of acrylonitrile

Introduction. Nowadays there is very relevant research on the study of the characteristics of the impact on the health of workers of low levels of harmful factors (acrylonitrile) of production during long-term exposure. Aim of the study was to examine peculiarities of immunologic and genetic indices in workers under the long-term exposure to acrylonitrile in low doses. Materials and methods. Our research object was working area air (MPCw.ar.=0.5 mg/m3) and biological media (blood and exhaled air) of workers employed at industrial rubber manufacture. Acrylonitrile was determined via a non-invasive procedure in exhaled air with samples being concentrated on sorption tubes that were then analyzed with capillary gas chromatography. Blood samples were examined to determine contents of malonic dialdehyde, lymphocytes (absolute and relative activated T-lymphocytes CD3+CD25+, absolute and relative activated T-lymphocytes CD3+CD95+), cytokines (VEGF), oncomarkers (PSA), and adrenals hormones; to do that, we applied ELISA tests and flow cytometry. Results. Acrylonitrile was established to occur in working area air in concentrations varying within MPCw.ar. range (0.007-0.015 mg/m3) being 2-3 times higher than in air inside offices at the same enterprise. We obtained statistically significant linear dependence between concentrations of acrylonitrile in the air exhaled by workers (y) and their working experience (x) that was given with the following equation: y=0.00046+0.00027x. According to the results of the laboratory examination of the workers, violations of the antioxidant defense were established. Contents of malonic dialdehyde and steroid hormones including progesterone, estradiol, and hydrocortisone that were pathogenetically linked to each other were authentically up to 3.2 times higher in the test group than in the reference one (p<0.05). Risk for antioxidant protection disorders such as elevated malonic dialdehyde contents in blood plasma might occur in the test group was 1.58 times higher than in the reference one. Conclusion. We revealed certain peculiarities in polymorphism of PPARGC1A Gly482Ser rs8192678 gene, the variability of which contributes to the formation of pathology of the cardiovascular, endocrine systems, oncoproliferative states that increase the likelihood of these undesirable events.

Poisoning from tellurium and its toxic compounds in industry

Tellurium has been primarily used in the steel industry for the past 40 years. This material is used for the manufacture of solar cells, lasers, photoresistors, and counters of radioactive radiation. Cadmium tellurium batteries are the second most popular solar technology. Another important application of tellurium is in the manufacture of thermoelectric generators. In the metallurgical industry, tellurium is used as an additive to metals and alloys. Tellurium and its compounds enter the body mainly through the respiratory system, as well as through the mouth and skin. Penetration into the body through the respiratory tract causes nausea, bronchitis, and pneumonia. The tellurium compounds are restored to elementary tellurium or amenable to methylation (methyl telluride has a characteristic garlic odor; it is less toxic than tellurium) in the body. Tellurium is excreted through the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Methyl telluride is excreted from the body partially with exhaled air and with sweat. For the diagnosis of acute heavy metal poisoning, blood is mainly used. The use of updated algorithm-criteria for assessing the severity of clinical manifestations of systemic organ toxicity of poisons provides an appropriate level of diagnosis of disorders of vital body functions. Treatment of such patients should include antidote and symptomatic therapy depending on the severity of clinical manifestations. To prevent the development of telluric intoxication, first of all, it is necessary to apply maximum sealing and automation of production processes. It is also necessary to introduce ventilation in production facilities and to carry out preliminary and periodic medical examinations of workers without fail. The use of personal protective equipment is also required.