h a l f b a k e r y(Serving suggestion.)
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NOT for "diagnosis" which would require a licensed
doctor? - but comparisons would be available for
individuals to do their own evaluation:
They take a sample of water/mixture in the mouth,
swish and spit it back in the container.
Chromatography should allow recognition of chemicals
that
are typical for specific problems like gingivitis or
whatever? At the very least, it should be able to tell
people that they have "dragon breath"?
That is the first step in doing something about it?
OR maybe skip the expensive chromatography, and
just train a dog to whine when there is dragon breath?
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I wonder whether a komodo dragon could be trained to whine
when there is dog breath. Probably it would be more of a grunt
than a whine. But, in principle, large ambush predators should be
very trainable: after all, their livelihood in the wild depends largely
on spotting patterns. |
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This is not a bad idea. Actually, it would be quite good if it
_could_ also flag medical issues, even with the caveat that it's
not a diagnosis and that a proper doctor should be consulted. |
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A cortisol test would be easy and fun ("Today I'm 28% less
stressed than last Wednesday"). |
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In another 5-10 years, it should also be possible to do full on-
the-spot genome analysis on a mouth swab or mouth rinse. |
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//In another 5-10 years, it should also be possible to do full
on- the-spot genome analysis// |
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If that comes true, and I still don't have a working IP3
receptor plasmid, that might tip me over the edge... |
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Why chromatography ? (which apart from the equipment isn't actually expensive, per se, but is a pain in the arse to keep everything non-contaminated) |
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I have an idea on my list that's pretty much this, so I'll just describe it here and
check it off my list. |
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I was thinking it could be done using breath samples, collected in small
recyclable plastic or metal vessels (possibly supplied evacuated, or designed so
that you breathe through them and close both ends simultaneously mid-stream).
These would be available at commonly visited places like malls and transit
stations, to be used for free. (The savings in public healthcare costs would make
up for the cost of this system. Therefore, it wouldn't be available in the US.) |
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You can submit a sample every day if you want, or even one in the morning and
one in the evening. Each one has a unique ID that you can scan using a phone
app. Nightly, they get taken to a facility and tested by mass spectrometry or
whatever. The next day, via the app/website, you can see your results, showing which
conditions your breath indicates a possibility of, to guide more targeted diagnosis attempts.
(Results
can also be shared directly with your GP.) Various cancers, for instance, can be detected
early from chemicals in your breath. Halitosis would probably be very easy to
diagnose! |
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I had thought of GCMS, but the GC stage is slow and contaminable, as [FT]
mentioned. Tandem MS, ICP-MS, or an "electronic nose" chip of some kind is
probably more suitable. |
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My experience with IC was a few decades ago : state-of-the-art then wouldn't really be viable for a booth in the mall. |
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//Halitosis would probably be very easy to diagnose// |
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Mass spectrometer check for sulfur? |
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It's not sulphur as such - it's the compound it's a part of. |
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After all, butylene mercaptan only has the one sulphur per molecule, yet manages an amazing olfactory punch with that one atom; yet pure sulphur crystals have very little odour, and even that is not noticeably unpleasant. |
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The other way would be an Iron Maiden type device with ultra-fine sampling acupuncture needles. Biopsy by malling. |
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