Effect of transportation and storage using sorbent tubes of exhaled breath samples on diagnostic accuracy of electronic nose analysis.

Many (multi-centre) breath-analysis studies require transport and storage of samples. We aimed to test the effect of transportation and storage using sorbent tubes of exhaled breath samples for diagnostic accuracy of eNose and GC-MS analysis. As a reference standard for diagnostic accuracy, breath samples of asthmatic patients and healthy controls were analysed by three eNose devices. Samples were analysed by GC-MS and eNose after 1, 7 and 14 days of transportation and storage using sorbent tubes. The diagnostic accuracy for eNose and GC-MS after storage was compared to the reference standard. As a validation, the stability was assessed of 15 compounds known to be related to asthma, abundant in breath or related to sampling and analysis. The reference test discriminated asthma and healthy controls with a median AUC (range) of 0.77 (0.72-0.76). Similar accuracies were achieved at t1 (AUC eNose 0.78; GC-MS 0.84), t7 (AUC eNose 0.76; GC-MS 0.79) and t14 (AUC eNose 0.83; GC-MS 0.84). The GC-MS analysis of compounds showed an adequate stability for all 15 compounds during the 14 day period. Short-term transportation and storage using sorbent tubes of breath samples does not influence the diagnostic accuracy for discrimination between asthma and health by eNose and GC-MS.

Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in mammalian cells exposed to isophenphos.

The cytotoxicity of isophenphos, an organophosphorus insecticide that has the potential to cause delayed polyneuropathy, was evaluated in GBK and V79 cells. A 72 h time course following isophenphos exposure indicated a dose-dependent growth inhibition as determined by cell counts. The administration of isophenphos (20 g/ml) to GBK cells cultured at high densities indicated a decrease in the activities of LDH isoenzymes. Analysis of V79 cells revealed a decrease of LDH3, the only LDH isoenzyme detected in these cells.

A description of normal relaxed standing postures.

A technique for the measurement of relaxed standing postures, called the Posturegram, is described. The method is inexpensive, non-invasive and is suited for clinical use. Recording is done by photography. The present study examines features of standing that were exhibited by 42 normal subjects, based upon the disposition of landmarks in the coronal and sagittal planes. Degrees of assymetry that would merit clinical attention were tentatively identified. Repeat observations, 1 week apart, of the disposition of landmarks were strongly correlated, although the lowest correlations applied to the region of the pelvis and lower trunk. Many highly significant correlations were found between the various tilts and deviations, suggesting that the analysis of postures will finally depend upon considering variables in groups rather than singly.

Eletrogoniômetro: instrumento para análise quantitativa da marcha / Electrogoniometer: an instrument for quantitative analysis of gait

Descreve-se o desenvolvimento de uma técnica de medida para análise quantitativa dos parâmetros angulares da marcha humana. Resultados de mediçöes da marcha efetuados em indivíduos normais säo apresentados. Discute-se a logística experimental, assim como formas de diagramas do tipo ângulo x ângulo, onde se pode evidenciar as condiçöes de simetria dos movimentos articulares