Fingernail Growth Research Articles

The Normal Growth Rate of Human Fingernails in Indian Population.

Background: India, with a large population working in industries, has a considerable amount of nail bed injuries day to day as well as infections and other issues with nails. However, there are no normative data for nail growth in our population. This study aims to measure and analyze the rate of nail growth in the Indian population, which will be a valuable tool for clinical assessment and treatment. Objective: The aim of the study was to estimate the average rate of nail growth of all fingers in the Indian population between the age group of 18 to 40 years. Materials and Methods: Fifty young adults whose 500 fingernails were painted with three coats of nail polish following a standardized protocol, and the rate of the growth of the nails was recorded with a digital Vernier caliper from the nail fold every 10 days for 1 month. Results: The average fingernail growth is 0.103 mm/d. There is no correlation of nail growth with sex or hand dominance. Nail growth is more in the left index finger (0.13 mm/d) and the left thumb, while it is the least in little fingers (0.101 mm/d). Initial fingernail growth was higher in older individuals, however. At the end of the study period, nail growth was equal. The nail growth rate reduces as the days progress. Conclusion: We have reported the normative data of nail growth as 0.103 mm per day. In the majority of the healthy population, this rate would hold true.

Study of Yang's Onion Flap Technique for Release of Scarred Eponychium and Nail Fold Reconstruction in Burn Patients.

Background Abnormalities of fingernail growth and appearance are among the most common deformities encountered after burn injury to the hand. Various techniques used for resurfacing defects include incision of the scarred eponychium and advancement of the distal segment, flap reconstruction-distally, and proximally based transposition/advancement flaps, composite graft techniques, microvascular transfer. In the present study, we used an onion flap to release scarred eponychium and nail fold reconstruction in a single stage without using soft tissue from another area. Materials and methods Forty-four burnt fingers were operated using Yang's onion flap technique. Patients were assessed for flap necrosis, hematoma and infection in the early postoperative period and for donor site scar, nail appearance, and symptomatic relief in a follow-up for at least 4 months. Results The flap was successfully performed on all fingers. Only two fingers had flap necrosis. There was no incidence of hematoma or infection. The donor site scar and nail plate appearance improved and was acceptable to most patients after surgery. There was also significant relief in daily activities in 19 out of 28 symptomatic patients. Conclusion Yang's flap to correct nail deformities in burn patients is feasible in Indian scenario. It is associated with a low complication rate and improved nail appearance. There is also significant symptomatic relief in performing daily activities after surgery.

Auricular Acupressure Improves Habit Reversal Treatment for Nail Biting.

Nail biting leads to a variety of health issues. Habit reversal treatment is a major approach to cease nail biting, but is often ineffective since patients continue to suffer from anxiety, a major trigger. This study investigated whether the potential anxiety relief provided by auricular acupressure could improve the efficacy of habit reversal treatment, as evidenced by improved stomatological and other outcomes. In a pragmatic, randomized, crossover, pilot clinical trial, 83 nail biters (8-12 years old) received habit reversal treatment in combination with either auricular acupressure intended to reduce anxiety (Method A) or placebo auricular acupressure (Method B). The alternative protocol was employed after a two-month washout period. The primary outcome measured was the 41-item child self-reported version of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders, while the secondary outcomes were the nail growth status (NS), which represented the fingernail growth of each finger during habit reversal treatment, simplified plaque index (SPI), and the simplified gingival index (SGI) as measures of oral health. A paired sample t-test was used to assess the differences between Methods A and B, and the differences in the anxiety scores, NS, SGI, and SPI between the baseline and each time point. Forty-one children successfully completed both arms of the treatments and attended all appointments. There were significant differences in the efficacy of habit reversal treatment, the anxiety score, the nail status, and the SGI in favor of Method A (p < 0.001). Auricular acupressure appears to improve the efficacy of habit reversal treatment, likely by reducing anxiety.

1306 Topical nitric oxide releasing therapy with SB208 increased fingernail growth

A double-blind, randomized study was conducted to assess the daily growth rate (DGR) of fingernails comparing between SB208 16% and vehicle as well as between the 28-day run-in and post treatment period. A notch was placed on the target nail (TN: right and left index finger nails) at the start of the run-in, and the distance from the proximal nail fold was measured. SB208 is comprised of equal volumes of NVN1000 gel and hydrogel, and the admixture releases nitric oxide on the application site. The vehicle gel was also mixed with hydrogel to mask the treatment. 32 subjects were randomized to SB208 (n=26) and vehicle (n=6) arms. Subjects were instructed to apply the study product to fingernails, cuticle, and the surrounding skin of all fingers once a day. TN treated with SB208 showed an increase of the average DGR at Day 29 from baseline (0.122 ± 0.018 mm/day) compared to the run-in (0.099 ± 0.015 mm/day) (p<0.001), while TN treated with vehicle showed an increase of DGR at Day 29 from baseline (0.105 ± 0.011mm/day) compared to the run-in (0.090 ± 0.013 mm/day). The ANCOVA model on % change of DGR with adjustment of treatment effect for baseline DGR found that SB208 increased DGR by 27.917% ± 3.515%, while vehicle increased by 9.785% ± 7.469%. The drug was well tolerated. In a 28-day toxicology study in mini-pigs, topical SB208 increased new blood vessel formation as measured microscopically using CD31 stain. At the end of treatment, angiogenesis increased 8%, 52% and 48% at the dose site for the vehicle, SB208 8% or SB208 16%, respectively versus a non-dosed skin site. At the 14-day recovery period, the increase in blood vessel count decreased to 0%, 4% and 14% for the vehicle, 8% and 16% SB208, respectively. These results suggest that SB208 facilitates nail growth through microscopic neovascularization. Since SB208 also has fungicidal effects, it is speculated that clinical cure of onychomycosis may be accelerated through SB208s nail growth effect.

Modified method of Hallux toe nail flap for finger tip reconstruction and donor site repair

Objective To discuss the modified method and clinical effect of free hallux toe nail flap for reconstruction of composite tissue defect at finger tip and repair of its donor site. Methods Partial nail bed at fibular side of hallux was cut and combined with toe tip skin to form hallux toe nail flap. The reconstruction of finger tip defects was achieved by free hallux toe nail flap transplantation. The donor site of hallux was sutured directly. Nail bed wound was healed by itself without skin graft or flap repair. From May 2013 to April 2015, 13 cases (15 fingers) had partial nail bed and skin defects at finger tip and no obvious distal phalanx defects, which were repaired by this method. Results All the patients were follow-up for 3 to 12 months. All the free hallux toe nail flap graft survived. The finger tip appearance and nail growth were close to normal. The function of interphalangeal joint was good. Hallux nail was nearly complete with good appearance and without obvious defect. No local pain, ulceration, and sensory disorder occurred at hallux donor site. Conclusion Hallux toe nail flap is an ideal method for reconstruction of composite tissue defect at finger tip. The improvement of donor site repair method can make better appearance of toe tip and nail without obvious sequelae. Key words: Finger injuries; Surgical flaps; Free tissue flaps; Fingertip defects

Response of Fingernail Growth to Out-of-Field Low-Dose X ray in Cancer Patients Receiving Radiotherapy.

The entire body of a patient with cancer is exposed to low-dose levels of radiation (mGy) during radiation therapy. The safety and biological impact of such exposure to low-dose radiation on the human body are largely unknown. The fingernail is a highly proliferative tissue, and its growth can be monitored during radiation treatment to analyze early effects of low-dose radiation. The fingernails of 30 patients who received external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) were used in this study to investigate the change in nail growth during fractionated radiotherapy. Lead shields were applied to some fingers to create dose variance within individual patients. The absorbed dose was measured, and the relationship between the dose and change in nail growth rate was analyzed. Other factors, including serum albumin, hemoglobin level, body weight index, age, gender and chemotherapy, were also subjected to multivariate analysis. Fingernails from patients received an average of 0.96 mGy per treatment fraction. We observed a surprising decline in fingernail growth rate during radiotherapy, which was more prominent in the nonshielded fingernails with a relatively high-absorbed dose. Such growth delay could be observed as early as one week postirradiation and lasted the entire treatment course. Using fingernail growth as a novel marker for radioresponse, the current study showed that exposure to very low-dose ionizing radiation has previously unrecognized early effects on human tissue.

Growth rate of human fingernails and toenails in healthy American young adults

Human nail clippings are increasingly used in epidemiological studies as biomarkers for assessing diet and environmental exposure to trace elements or other chemical compounds. However, little is known about the growth rate of human nails. To estimate the average growth rate of fingernails and toenails and examine factors that may influence nail growth rate. Twenty-two healthy American young adults marked their nails close to the proximal nail fold with a provided nail file following a standardized protocol, and recorded the date and the distance from the proximal nail fold to the mark. One to three months later, participants recorded the date and distance from the proximal nail fold to the mark again. Nail growth rate was calculated based on recorded distance and time between the two measurements. Average fingernail growth rate was faster than that of toenails (3.47 vs. 1.62 mm/month, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between right and left fingernail/toenail growth rates. The little fingernail grew slower than other fingernails (P < 0.01); the great toenail grew faster than other toenails (P < 0.01). Younger age, male gender, and onychophagia were associated with faster nail growth rate; however, the differences were not statistically significant. Nail growth rates have increased compared with previous estimates conducted decades ago. Toenail clippings may reflect a long exposure time frame given the relatively slow growth rate.

Determination of amphetamine-type stimulants, ketamine and metabolites in fingernails by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous qualification and quantification of methamphetamine (MA), amphetamine (AP), 3,4-methylenedioxy- N-methylamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxy- N-amphetamine (MDA), ketamine (KET) and norketamine (NKT) in fingernails. Fingernail samples (20 mg) were washed with distilled water and methanol, digested with 1.0 M sodium hydroxide at 95 °C for 30 min, and then extracted with ethyl acetate. Extract solutions were evaporated to dryness, derivatized using heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA) at 60 °C for 30 min, and analyzed by GC–MS. The linear ranges were 0.1–20.0 ng/mg for AP, MDMA and NKT, 0.2–20.0 ng/mg for MA and MDA, and 0.4–20.0 ng/mg for KET, with the coefficients of determination ( r 2 ≥ 0.9989). The intra- and inter-day precisions were within 7.1% and 10.6%, respectively. The intra- and inter-day accuracies were −10.9% to 0.8% and −4.3% to 4.5%, respectively. The limits of detections (LODs) and the limits of quantifications (LOQs) for each analyte were lower than 0.094 ng/mg and 0.314 ng/mg, respectively. The recoveries were in the range of 72.3–94.9%. The average fingernail growth rates of two subjects for three years and six subjects for two months were 3.12 mm/month and 3.16 mm/month, respectively. The method proved to be suitable also for the simultaneous detection and quantification of MA, MDMA, KET and their metabolites in fingernails.

FINGERNAIL growth in health and disease.

Fingernail Growth in Health and Disease Nutrition Reviews, Volume 18, Issue 5, May 1960, Pages 134–135, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.1960.tb01730.x Published: 01 May 1960

What's the Problem?

We physicians get so focused, so specialized, we become organ doctors not people doctors. We deal with the disease the patient has rather than the patient who happens to have a disease. This is true for any illness and I suspect for the majority of specialists--though I believe family doctors and pediatricians are more aware of the social implications of a disease than we cardiac surgeons who have had ninety years of training and can only do our work in a hospital surrounded by a staff of fourteen and equipment that monitors everything including fingernail growth.

Yellow Nail Syndrome in Three Siblings: A Randomized Double‐Blind Trial of Topical Vitamin E

Yellow nail syndrome is an uncommon disorder characterized by dystrophic nails, lymphedema, and respiratory disease. It has rarely been reported in children and this is the first report of congenital yellow nails in siblings. The purpose of this study was to determine whether topical vitamin E applied to the nail plates and periungual skin would affect the growth rate or appearance of the fingernails in patients with congenital yellow nail syndrome. This study was the first trial of a treatment for this entity in children and the largest randomized double blind trial to date. We found that vitamin E solution had no significant effect (p = 0.84) on fingernail growth or the global appearance score (p = 1.0) when compared with placebo. The average growth rates and global assessment scores improved and onycholysis and onychomadesis decreased from baseline with both vitamin E and placebo treatment, although these were not primary end points of the study. Topical vitamin E did not result in a statistically significant improvement when compared with oil alone for the treatment of the nails in our three patients with yellow nail syndrome. However, it is interesting and perhaps clinically useful that both vitamin E and placebo oil improved the condition of the nails.

Case of Fluoxetine-Induced Remission of Raynaud's Phenomenon—A Case Report

The authors report complete remission of digital ischemia, blanching, ulceration, pain, and poor fingernail growth associated with Raynaud's phenomenon in a thirty-one-year-old, nondepressed woman treated with fluoxetine.

Dietary Restriction of Adult Male Rhesus Monkeys: Design, Methodology, and Preliminary Findings From the First Year of Study

Dietary restriction (DR) retards aging processes and extends maximum life span in rodents and in simpler animals. We initiated a study in 30 adults (8-14 years old) male rhesus monkeys to determine whether or not aging processes are retarded by adult-onset DR in a primate species and herein report results from the experiment's first year. Following a 3-6 month period when baseline data were obtained, 15 animals were assigned to a control group and given free access to a semipurified diet for 6-8 hours per day. The other 15 monkeys were fed the same diet but at 70% of their baseline intake levels predetermined individually. The animals are being evaluated semi-annually for body size and composition, physical activity, metabolic rate, glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, hematologic indices, immunologic function, and fingernail growth. Ocular function is assessed annually. The preliminary observations after one year are: (a) all monkeys appear to be in excellent health; (b) average body weights for controls increased by 9% while monkeys on DR did not gain weight; (c) monkeys on DR have less body fat than do control monkeys, whereas the amount of lean body mass has not been significantly influenced by DR; (d) there was a small but statistically significant reduction in physical activity for monkeys on DR relative to controls; and (e) DR has not overtly influenced the other measures. Control monkeys gradually reduced their voluntary levels of food intake during the first year of study, and food allotments to DR monkeys are being adjusted accordingly in order to reinstate the intended 30% difference between groups. These early data indicate that DR can be safely instituted in adult monkeys, but that longer term and/or more severe DR is required to determine if it is capable of influencing age-sensitive indices in long-lived primates.

Constructing an Instrument to Measure the Rate of Aging in Female Pigtailed Macaques (Macaca Nemestrina)

To develop a battery of innocuous tests measuring individual differences in the rate of biological aging, longitudinal data were gathered on 28 biochemical, physiological, and morphological characteristics of 40 adult female pigtailed macaques. The change in each variable over time, i.e., the beta coefficient of linear regression, was calculated for each animal, and a matrix of correlations among the variables was constructed. Eight variables correlated well with the first principal component of the matrix. These variables (rate of fingernail growth, blood lymphocytes, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, immunoglobulin A, and serum sodium, chloride, total protein, and creatinine) represented the best subset of the potential biomarkers analyzed to produce an index covering a range of morphologic and functional systems that change with age. A similar set representing a wider range of systems and measured over a larger fraction of the life span should provide a valid index of an individual's rate of biological aging.

Fingernail growth rate as a biomarker of aging in the pigtailed macaque ( Macaca Nemestrina)

Rate of fingernail growth (FNG) of the middle digit of the right hand was assessed in 46 healthy pigtailed macaques at approximately 6-month intervals for 4 to 6 years. Mean FNG for 24 females, ranging in mean age at measurement from 7 to 24 years, was 104 ω/day; the mean for 22 males, ranging from 7 to 20 years, was 111 ω/day. Longitudinal analysis showed that FNG declined in animals of both sexes and that the rate of decline (−4.8 ω/day/year) did not differ between them, i.e., the mean regression coefficients (β) of the two sexes were significantly different from zero and not significantly different from each other. Results of cross-sectional analysis differed from those of longitudinal analysis in that the mean FNG appeared to be more rapid in males than in females, particularly in the older animals. Inter- and intra-individual variability in FNG did not increase with age. FNG appears to be an excellent functional marker of the rate of aging because the direction of change is essentially decremental, a significant degree of change can be detected in a few years, and the rate of change is relatively constant across the adult lifespan. In addition, measurement of FNG is innocuous, quantitative, inexpensive, and simple.

Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Potential Biological Markers of Aging in Pigtailed Macaques: Effects of Age, Sex, and Diet

The objective of our research was to establish a useful battery of innocuous tests suitable for detecting individual differences in biological aging rate in pigtailed macaques. Data were gathered from more than 60 animals of three age groups (8 to 9, 12 to 17, and 18 to 28 years olds) fed two diets differing in lipid, cholesterol, complex carbohydrate, refined sugar, and sodium chloride content. Candidate variables for an aging battery were identified in a cross-sectional analysis by performing a three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the effects of age, sex, and diet on each of 72 variables. Twenty-eight variables were found to be influenced by age. By examining patterns of differences among means, 20 variables were identified that show promise of being useful, including, for example, rectal body temperature, blood albumin, immunoglobulin A, fingernail growth rate, bone thickness, and blood calcium. The set of variables used to estimate biological aging might not be identical for all age-sex classes.

The effect of aromatic retinoid Ro 10-9359 (etretinate) on fingernail growth.

Fingernail growth was studied in 28 patients who were receiving systemic treatment with the aromatic retinoid, Ro 10-9359 known as Tigason (etretinate; AR). A group of 15 patients with psoriasis was compared with a group of 13 patients with other dermatoses which are known to have a good response to AR therapy. In the second group, oral therapy with AR appeared to have no effect on the daily growth rate of fingernails (99 +/- 4 microns). With AR treatment, the nail-plate growth rate in the psoriatics increased to 132 +/- 5 microns.

Nail growth in Antarctic regions.

SummaryFinger nail and great toe nail growth was observed in 42 subjects: 28 over 11 months of an expedition at an Antarctic Station and 14 over 10 months on a Sub‐antarctic island. The mean rates of finger nail growth were 109.8μm per day and 106.4 μm per day respectively, and great toe nail growth was approximately half the finger nail growth at both locations.These findings confirm that nail growth in Antarctic regions is comparable to that in temperate climates with no significant differences during colder months or in different cold locations. The relatively high rate of toe nail growth may be due to a hot‐house effect from almost constant use of insulating footwear.

Fingernail Growth and Time-Distance Rates in Geology

Fingernail growth rates are easily measured over a period of a few weeks and provide a convenient opportunity to help students improve their graphing skills. Fingernail growth rates are approximately the same as sea-floor spreading rates and can be used for comparison with the rates of various other geologic processes such as tectonic uplift, subsidence, denudation, and sediment accumulation.

Hair and nail growth: an investigation of the role of left- and right-handedness.

Summary The rates of scalp hair and finger-nail growth were measured simultaneously on the two sides of the body. Whilst handedness of the individual influenced the side on which the finger-nails grew most rapidly, no such influence was found for scalp hair. This finding favours the theory of local trauma to the nail plate as the stimulus to rapid growth rather than cerebral dominance.