Human hair as a diagnostic tool in medicine
Hair analysis has been used in the past as a method to explore environmental exposure to chemicals, toxins or drug ingestion, with wide applications in forensic science, environmental studies, anthropology and medicine. Although not a conventional sample type, hair offers significant advantages over...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240558082500216X |
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| author | Venetia A. Florou Auraya Manaprasertsak Maria Slyusarenko Sarah R. Amend Julhash U. Kazi Emma U. Hammarlund Kenneth J. Pienta |
| author_facet | Venetia A. Florou Auraya Manaprasertsak Maria Slyusarenko Sarah R. Amend Julhash U. Kazi Emma U. Hammarlund Kenneth J. Pienta |
| author_sort | Venetia A. Florou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hair analysis has been used in the past as a method to explore environmental exposure to chemicals, toxins or drug ingestion, with wide applications in forensic science, environmental studies, anthropology and medicine. Although not a conventional sample type, hair offers significant advantages over traditional biospecimens, such as blood or urine. These include its stability, non-invasive nature and ease of collection and handling, as well as its ability to provide a “fossilized” record of a person's health or living conditions. These unique characteristics, along with advancements in analytical techniques have enabled hair analysis as a promising tool for the development of new biomarkers for both prognostic and diagnostic purposes in a range of medical conditions. The new developments in hair analysis add to its recognized diagnostic value in fields such as toxicology and pharmacology. In this review, we summarize recent data, ongoing developments and emerging possibilities of hair analysis as a scientific and diagnostic tool. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ab3e69d813f24b05a7d03ecfe4e172b0 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2405-5808 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-ab3e69d813f24b05a7d03ecfe4e172b02025-07-06T04:23:34ZengElsevierBiochemistry and Biophysics Reports2405-58082025-09-0143102129Human hair as a diagnostic tool in medicineVenetia A. Florou0Auraya Manaprasertsak1Maria Slyusarenko2Sarah R. Amend3Julhash U. Kazi4Emma U. Hammarlund5Kenneth J. Pienta6The Cancer Ecology Center, The Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA; Corresponding author. The Cancer Ecology Center, The Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Lund University Cancer Center (LUCC) and Lund Stem Cell Center (SCC), Lund University, Lund, SwedenDepartment of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Lund University Cancer Center (LUCC) and Lund Stem Cell Center (SCC), Lund University, Lund, SwedenThe Cancer Ecology Center, The Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USALund University Cancer Center (LUCC) and Lund Stem Cell Center (SCC), Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Division of Translational Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, SwedenDepartment of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Lund University Cancer Center (LUCC) and Lund Stem Cell Center (SCC), Lund University, Lund, SwedenThe Cancer Ecology Center, The Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USAHair analysis has been used in the past as a method to explore environmental exposure to chemicals, toxins or drug ingestion, with wide applications in forensic science, environmental studies, anthropology and medicine. Although not a conventional sample type, hair offers significant advantages over traditional biospecimens, such as blood or urine. These include its stability, non-invasive nature and ease of collection and handling, as well as its ability to provide a “fossilized” record of a person's health or living conditions. These unique characteristics, along with advancements in analytical techniques have enabled hair analysis as a promising tool for the development of new biomarkers for both prognostic and diagnostic purposes in a range of medical conditions. The new developments in hair analysis add to its recognized diagnostic value in fields such as toxicology and pharmacology. In this review, we summarize recent data, ongoing developments and emerging possibilities of hair analysis as a scientific and diagnostic tool.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240558082500216XHair analysisHeavy metalsBiomarkers |
| spellingShingle | Venetia A. Florou Auraya Manaprasertsak Maria Slyusarenko Sarah R. Amend Julhash U. Kazi Emma U. Hammarlund Kenneth J. Pienta Human hair as a diagnostic tool in medicine Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports Hair analysis Heavy metals Biomarkers |
| title | Human hair as a diagnostic tool in medicine |
| title_full | Human hair as a diagnostic tool in medicine |
| title_fullStr | Human hair as a diagnostic tool in medicine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human hair as a diagnostic tool in medicine |
| title_short | Human hair as a diagnostic tool in medicine |
| title_sort | human hair as a diagnostic tool in medicine |
| topic | Hair analysis Heavy metals Biomarkers |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240558082500216X |
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