Smelling heart failure from human skin odor with an electronic nose

Infection is an important factor leading to the exacerbation of heart failure (HF), resulting in hospitalization. Demodex species are obligatory parasites in human skin, and increased density was reported in immunocompromised patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the Demodex density in hospitalized HF patients compared to that of healthy controls. Methods: This study included 36 HF patients and 36 age and sex-matched healthy controls. Five standardized biopsies were taken from the face of participants and assessed for Demodex by a light microscope. Results: At least one Demodex mite was detected in 20 HF patients and nine of the control group. The number of Demodex mites was significantly higher in the HF group (median 1; min. 0 and max. 10) compared to the control group (median 0; minimum. 0 and maximum. 3). Demodicidosis was positive in 14 of the HF patients. Demodicidosis was not detected in the control group. Conclusions: This study showed that Demodex positivity is more common in HF patients hospitalized for HF exacerbation. Demodicidosis should be considered in hospitalized HF patients.

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Detecting Cannabis Use on the Human Skin Surface via an Electronic Nose System

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s140713256 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 14 (7) ◽

pp. 13256-13272 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Andreas Voss ◽

Katharina Witt ◽

Tobias Kaschowitz ◽

Wolf Poitz ◽

Andreas Ebert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Skin ◽

Electronic Nose ◽

Skin Surface ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Electronic Nose System

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A web-like network of type vi collagen in human skin is revealed by immuno-electron microscopy

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100103978 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 382-383

Author(s):

Douglas R. Keene ◽

Robert W. Glanville ◽

Eva Engvall

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Monoclonal Antibody ◽

Human Skin ◽

Basement Membranes ◽

Primary Antibody ◽

Fat Cells ◽

Secondary Antibody ◽

Type Vi Collagen ◽

Dermal Matrix ◽

Immuno Electron Microscopy

A mouse monoclonal antibody (5C6) prepared against human type VI collagen (1) has been used in this study to immunolocalize type VI collagen in human skin. The enbloc method used involves exposing whole tissue pieces to primary antibody and 5 nm gold conjugated secondary antibody before fixation, and has been described in detail elsewhere (2).Biopsies were taken from individuals ranging in age from neonate to 65 years old. By immuno-electron microscopy, type VI collagen is found to be distributed as a fine branching network closely associated with (but not attached to) banded collagen fibrils containing types I and III collagen (Fig. 1). It appears to enwrap fibers, to weave between individual fibrils within a fiber, and to span the distance separating fibers, creating a “web-like network” which entraps fibers within deep papillary and reticular dermal layers (Fig. 2). Relative to that in the dermal matrix, the concentration of type VI collagen is higher around endothelial basement membranes limiting the outer boundaries of nerves, capillaries, and fat cells (Fig. 3).

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Mitochondria in Cardiomyopathy: Alterations in Size, Number and Internal Structures

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100100378 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 26 ◽

pp. 126-127

Author(s):

George Hug ◽

William K. Schubert

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Biochemical Analysis ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Size Number ◽

Internal Structures ◽

Left Ventricular Outflow ◽

Chest X Ray ◽

Myocardial Fibers ◽

Muscle Biopsies ◽

Needle Liver Biopsy

A white boy six months of age was hospitalized with respiratory distress and congestive heart failure. Control of the heart failure was achieved but marked cardiomegaly, moderate hepatomegaly, and minimal muscular weakness persisted.At birth a chest x-ray had been taken because of rapid breathing and jaundice and showed the heart to be of normal size. Clinical studies included: EKG which showed biventricular hypertrophy, needle liver biopsy which showed toxic hepatitis, and cardiac catheterization which showed no obstruction to left ventricular outflow. Liver and muscle biopsies revealed no biochemical or histological evidence of type II glycogexiosis (Pompe's disease). At thoracotomy, 14 milligrams of left ventricular muscle were removed. Total phosphorylase activity in the biopsy specimen was normal by biochemical analysis as was the degree of phosphorylase activation. By light microscopy, vacuoles and fine granules were seen in practically all myocardial fibers. The fibers were not hypertrophic. The endocardium was not thickened excluding endocardial fibroelastosis. Based on these findings, the diagnosis of idiopathic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy was made.

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Effect of Acetone and Kerosene on Skin Ultrastructure

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100093717 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 30 ◽

pp. 92-93

Author(s):

A. P. Lupulescu ◽

H. Pinkus ◽

D. J. Birmingham

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Human Skin ◽

Osmium Tetroxide ◽

Human Epidermis ◽

Ultrastructural Changes ◽

Chemical Agents ◽

Skin Ultrastructure ◽

Volar Surface

Our laboratory is engaged in the study of the effect of different chemical agents on human skin, using electron microscopy. Previous investigations revealed that topical use of a strong alkali (NaOH 1N) or acid (HCl 1N), induces ultrastructural changes in the upper layers of human epidermis. In the current experiments, acetone and kerosene, which are primarily lipid solvents, were topically used on the volar surface of the forearm of Caucasian and Negro volunteers. Skin specimens were bioptically removed after 90 min. exposure and 72. hours later, fixed in 3% buffered glutaraldehyde, postfixed in 1% phosphate osmium tetroxide, then flat embedded in Epon.

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Changes in corneocyte element concentrations occur in skin inner stratum corneum

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100134326 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 146-147

Author(s):

R. R. Warner

Keyword(s):

Stratum Corneum ◽

Human Skin ◽

Element Concentration ◽

Skin Barrier ◽

Barrier Properties ◽

Brick Wall ◽

Inorganic Elements ◽

Dry Skin ◽

Skin Biopsies ◽

Intercellular Lipid

Keratinocytes undergo maturation during their transit through the viable layers of skin, and then abruptly transform into flattened, anuclear corneocytes that constitute the cellular component of the skin barrier, the stratum corneum (SC). The SC is generally considered to be homogeneous in its structure and barrier properties, and is often shown schematically as a featureless brick wall, the “bricks” being the corneocytes, the “mortar” being intercellular lipid. Previously we showed the outer SC was not homogeneous in its composition, but contained steep gradients of the physiological inorganic elements Na, K and Cl, likely originating from sweat salts. Here we show the innermost corneocytes in human skin are also heterogeneous in composition, undergoing systematic changes in intracellular element concentration during transit into the interior of the SC.Human skin biopsies were taken from the lower leg of individuals with both “good” and “dry” skin and plunge-frozen in a stirred, cooled isopentane/propane mixture.

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