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INTRODUCTIONSmall Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a common yet underdiagnosed condition. Lactulose hydrogen breath tests (LHBT) are typically used to detect SIBO; however, current breath testing methods require specialised, expensive equipment and technical support and are either done at a point-of-care facility and/or have to be mailed to a central laboratory. To address these issues a novel hand-held breath analyzer (AIRE®, FoodMarble) was tested. The aims of this study were first, to perform a technical assessment of the AIRE device, second to compare the performance of the AIRE device against a commercially available mail-in LHBT kit using a zero-inflated negative binomial mixed effect model.METHODSThree AIRE devices were tested with certified test gases covering a diagnostically meaningful range (hydrogen mixed with air at 3 ppm, 10 ppm and 50 ppm). For the clinical study, 36 patients suspected to have SIBO presenting to a tertiary level clinic were provided with an AIRE device and performed concurrent LHBTs at home with a mail-in LHBT kit.RESULTSThe overall average readings (mean ± SD) for the AIRE devices tested at 3 ppm, 10 ppm and 50 ppm H2 were: 3.5 ± 0.7 ppm; 10.7 ± 1.1 ppm and 49.5 ± 2.6 ppm respectively. The overall mean absolute error across the tested devices was 1.2 ppm. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.78, p < 0.001) was demonstrated between AIRE and mail-in kit H2 values.DISCUSSIONThe AIRE device is a compelling alternative to mail-in LHBT kits for the diagnosis of SIBO. The AIRE device may also offer advantages over other traditional breath testing methods.

Introduction This study examined postpartum depression, food insecurity, and underestimation of infant size as potential early life factors for overweight risk at 12 months among infants of Hispanic immigrant mothers. Method Weight-for-length (WFL) measurements and face-to-face interviews were completed during well child visits. Regression models estimated the impact of early life factors (0-6 months) on overweight risk at 1 year. Results WFL ≥ 85th percentile was found among 2.4% at birth and 42.7% at 1 year. Most mothers (78.6%) experienced food insecurity, a factor that increased the likelihood of infant overweight risk by 2.29 times (1.03–5.09). Maternal underestimation of infant size increased the likelihood of overweight risk 5.07 times (2.57–9.99). Postpartum depression risk did not contribute to infant weight status. Discussion Assessment for maternal food insecurity and underestimation of infant weight status during early infancy may help reduce overweight risk and subsequent obesity for this vulnerable population.