Title: | [An odour of disease and decay: the nose as a diagnostic instrument] |
Address: | "Vrije Universiteit medisch centrum,afd.Interne Geneeskunde, Amsterdam" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1876-8784 (Electronic) 0028-2162 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Infectious diseases and cancer change a patient's metabolism and hence the metabolic compounds produced. The composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath or urine or stool samples can therefore be characteristic of a particular disease. In recent years many studies have been conducted into the training of animals, including dogs, to recognise diseases by smell. Besides trained animals, electronic noses (e-noses) are also being developed. These devices can identify disease-specific odour profiles in VOCs. Although the results of research in the field of scent diagnosis are promising, the medical community remains largely sceptical. We discuss applications of scent detection as a diagnostic tool in modern medicine" |
Keywords: | Animals Breath Tests/methods Communicable Diseases/*diagnosis Dogs/*physiology Early Detection of Cancer/*methods Humans Neoplasms/*diagnosis Nose Odorants/*analysis Smell Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis; |
Notes: | "MedlineBomers, Marije K Smulders, Yvo M dut Review Netherlands 2015/11/26 Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2015; 159:A9434" |