Did you ever think the “old sniff test” would be able to detect certain types of cancer?
Someday soon, it may be able to detect cancers, diabetes, swine flu and many other things according to scientists from the Monell Chemical Senses Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
They say they found a way to analyze airborne molecules from human skin cells that detect a specific chemical signature for melanoma, a deadly type of skin cancer.
Researchers have previously found that dogs can be trained to detect and identify prostate cancer and melanoma from certain organic compounds in urine samples and directly from the skin itself.
The second new study comes from chemists at the University of Pittsburgh and shows that diabetes may soon be able to skip blood-glucose tests and opt for a diabetes breath test (similar to a breathalyzer) that will measure the odor in the breath caused by diabetes.
Diabetics can notice an odor on their breath similar to acetone. The nail polish smell will increase significantly when higher blood glucose levels are present.
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