Kolkata: Exhaled breath may soon help detect gastric cancer causing bacteria that infect the stomach. Methods to diagnose these bacteria early has been developed by scientists here with the help of a biomarker called ‘BreathPrint’ found in the breath.
This work of Dr. Manik Pradhan and his research team at city-based c has recently been published in the journal ‘Analytical Chemistry’ of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
The research team used ‘study of different water molecular species in human breath, also called ‘Breathomics’ method to explore different water isotopes in human exhaled breath. It spotted the new biomarker for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori- a common infection which may turn serious if it is not treated early, in semi-heavy water (HDO) in human exhaled breath.
Helicobacter pylori is usually diagnosed by the traditional and invasive painful endoscopy and biopsy tests which are not suitable for early diagnosis and follow up.
It may be mentioned that gastrointestinal (GI) track plays a crucial role in water metabolism in the body. Water exists in nature as four isotopes. It is believed that any kind of impaired or unusual water absorption in GI track may be associated with various gastric disorders or abnormalities like ulcer, gastritis, erosions and inflammation. But so far there has been no clear experimental evidence to support this.
Experiments by the research team has shown direct evidence of unique isotope-specific water-metabolism in the human body in response to the individual’s water intake habit. They have shown that the different isotopes of exhaled water vapour are strongly linked with various gastric disorders during the process of human respiration.
The research team demonstrated that the isotopic signatures of unusual water absorption in the GI tract can trace the onset of various abnormalities. The team led by Dr. Pradhan and comprising of PhD students Mithun Pal and Sayoni Bhattacharya, Scientist, Dr Abhijit Maity in collaboration with Dr Sujit Chaudhuri, Gastroenterologist at AMRI Hospital, Kolkata has already developed a patented ‘Pyro-Breath’ device for diagnosis of various gastric disorders and H. pylori infection, which are under the process of technology transfer.
– globalbihari bureau
