title: Comparative study on secondary structural changes in diabetic and non-diabetic human finger nail specimen by using FTIR spectra.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In human anatomy, a nail is a hornlike envelope covering the dorsal aspect of the terminal phalanges of fingers and toes. Nail disorders are most common among the geriatric population. Diabetes mellitus is also supposed to affect the condition of nails. Acceptable differences in infrared (IR) spectra of chronic and acute diabetes mellitus patient fingernail specimens compared to control normal specimens were investigated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a Nicolet 360 Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) spectrometer, the spectra of the nails of diabetics and normal specimens were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the case of non-diabetic patients, the amide I band was observed <1640 cm(-1) (1626, 1632, and 1638 cm(-1)). The bands around 1637 cm(-1), were attributable to amide I of β sheet structures. Amide II bands were absent in all the non-diabetic patients. Amide III bands around 1250 cm(-1) were observed both in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. In all the diabetic patients, a peak of <500 cm(-1), particularly around 468 cm(-1), was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proteins in the nails of diabetic patients contain α-helical structure, including the presence of amide II bonds. Alkyl thiolated structures are observed. Nails of non-diabetic patients do not have the amide II structures.
authors.affiliation: Bio-Products Laboratory, Central Leather Research Institute, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Adyar, Chennai, 600020, Tamilnadu, India.
authors.forename: Katheem M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Farhan
authors.forename: Thottapalli P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Sastry
authors.forename: Asit B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Mandal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005215:Fasting; D005385:Fingers; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D014280:Triglycerides; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human