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Bhattarai D, Banday AZ, Sadanand R, Arora K, Kaur G, Sharma S, Rawat A. Hair microscopy: an easy adjunct to diagnosis of systemic diseases in children. Appl Microsc 2021; 51:18. [PMID: 34843009 PMCID: PMC8630179 DOI: 10.1186/s42649-021-00067-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hair, having distinct stages of growth, is a dynamic component of the integumentary system. Nonetheless, derangement in its structure and growth pattern often provides vital clues for the diagnosis of systemic diseases. Assessment of the hair structure by various microscopy techniques is, hence, a valuable tool for the diagnosis of several systemic and cutaneous disorders. Systemic illnesses like Comel-Netherton syndrome, Griscelli syndrome, Chediak Higashi syndrome, and Menkes disease display pathognomonic findings on hair microscopy which, consequently, provide crucial evidence for disease diagnosis. With minimal training, light microscopy of the hair can easily be performed even by clinicians and other health care providers which can, thus, serve as a useful tool for disease diagnosis at the patient's bedside. This is especially true for resource-constrained settings where access and availability of advanced investigations (like molecular diagnostics) is a major constraint. Despite its immense clinical utility and non-invasive nature, hair microscopy seems to be an underutilized diagnostic modality. Lack of awareness regarding the important findings on hair microscopy may be one of the crucial reasons for its underutilization. Herein, we, therefore, present a comprehensive overview of the available methods for hair microscopy and the pertinent findings that can be observed in various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dharmagat Bhattarai
- Allergy Immunology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Aaqib Zaffar Banday
- Allergy Immunology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India.
| | - Rohit Sadanand
- Allergy Immunology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Kanika Arora
- Allergy Immunology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Gurjit Kaur
- Allergy Immunology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Satish Sharma
- Allergy Immunology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
| | - Amit Rawat
- Allergy Immunology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India.
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Coroaba A, Chiriac AE, Sacarescu L, Pinteala T, Minea B, Ibanescu SA, Pertea M, Moraru A, Esanu I, Maier SS, Chiriac A, Pinteala M. New insights into human hair: SAXS, SEM, TEM and EDX for Alopecia Areata investigations. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8376. [PMID: 31976181 PMCID: PMC6968496 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Alopecia areata (AA) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease and affects up to 2% of the population. There is a need for a more profound and rigorous understanding of the structure and composition of human hair affected by AA in order to manage this disease. The aim of this article is to understand the effects of AA on the structure and composition of human hair. Methods Several physico-chemical investigation methods, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and microbeam Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), were used to analyze human hair samples obtained from healthy donors and patients with AA. Results SEM revealed more severe hair surface defects for the white regrown hair (W-AA) samples. TEM showed the presence of air-like vesicles located in the endocuticle of regrown hair. Analysis of ultrathin sections of W-AA showed the existence of empty vesicles and smaller melanin granules compared to control samples. SAXS demonstrated that unaffected hair of patients with AA (B-AA) and W-AA melanin aggregates are different in their sizes and shapes compared to the control samples. EDX data showed that W-AA elemental composition was significantly different from the other sample groups. Our study showcases promising non-invasive techniques for a better and more accurate understanding of changes in the internal structure and composition of hair affected by AA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adina Coroaba
- Centre of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers, "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Iasi, Iasi, Romania
| | - Anca E Chiriac
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Iasi, Romania
| | - Liviu Sacarescu
- Department of Inorganic Polymers, "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Iasi, Iasi, Romania
| | - Tudor Pinteala
- Faculty of Medicine, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Iasi, Romania
| | - Bogdan Minea
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Iasi, Romania
| | - Sorin-Alexandru Ibanescu
- Centre of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers, "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Iasi, Iasi, Romania
| | - Mihaela Pertea
- Department of Surgery I, Faculty of Medicine, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Iasi, Romania.,Clinic of Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgery, "Sf. Spiridon" Emergency Hospital, Iasi, Iasi, Romania
| | - Aurelian Moraru
- Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.,"Dr. Iacob Czihac" Military Emergency Clinical Hospital, Iasi, Iasi, Romania
| | - Irina Esanu
- Department of Internal Medicine I, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Iasi, Romania
| | - Stelian S Maier
- Faculty of Textiles, Leather and Industrial Management, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, Iasi, Iasi, Romania
| | - Anca Chiriac
- Centre of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers, "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Iasi, Iasi, Romania.,Department of Dermatophysiology, "Apollonia" University, Iasi, Iasi, Romania.,Department of Dermatology, Nicolina Medical Center, Iasi, Iasi, Romania
| | - Mariana Pinteala
- Centre of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers, "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Iasi, Iasi, Romania
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Pinteala T, Chiriac AE, Rosca I, Larese Filon F, Pinteala M, Chiriac A, Podoleanu C, Stolnicu S, Coros MF, Coroaba A. Nail Damage (Severe Onychodystrophy) Induced by Acrylate Glue: Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Investigations. Skin Appendage Disord 2016; 2:137-142. [PMID: 28232921 DOI: 10.1159/000450791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques have been used in various fields of medical research, including different pathologies of the nails; however, no studies have focused on obtaining high-resolution microscopic images and elemental analysis of disorders caused by synthetic nails and acrylic adhesives. METHODS Damaged/injured fingernails caused by the use of acrylate glue and synthetic nails were investigated using SEM and EDX methods. RESULTS SEM and EDX proved that synthetic nails, acrylic glue, and nails damaged by contact with acrylate glue have a different morphology and different composition compared to healthy human nails. CONCLUSIONS SEM and EDX analysis can give useful information about the aspects of topography (surface sample), morphology (shape and size), hardness or reflectivity, and the elemental composition of nails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tudor Pinteala
- Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania
| | | | - Irina Rosca
- Centre of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Petru Poni, Iasi, Romania
| | - Francesca Larese Filon
- Dipartimento di Scienze di Medicina Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Mariana Pinteala
- Centre of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Petru Poni, Iasi, Romania
| | - Anca Chiriac
- Department of Dermatology, Nicolina Medical Center, Iasi, Romania; Department of Dermato-Physiology, Apollonia University, Iasi, Romania
| | - Cristian Podoleanu
- Cardiology Clinic, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu-Mures, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Simona Stolnicu
- Pathology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu-Mures, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Marius Florin Coros
- Surgery Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Targu-Mures, Tîrgu Mureș, Romania
| | - Adina Coroaba
- Centre of Advanced Research in Bionanoconjugates and Biopolymers, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry Petru Poni, Iasi, Romania
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