People allergic to me and body dysmorphic disorder

Bian, Yun; Ma, Botao; Wang, Zhixiong; Yang, Fude

doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2019.07.031

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Kawakami et al 4 measured the levels of human skin gases and microbial species in the nasal cavity of a 35-year-old male subject who claimed to have PATM and found greater dermal emissions of human skin gases, especially toluene (methyl benzene) and other petrochemicals. Bian and Ma 5 diagnosed an 18-year-old woman with PATM and suggested that the symptoms of PATM are similar to those of a body dysmorphic disorder to a great extent. However, further studies are required to better understand PATM.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, a recent study has shown that people claim that their skin gases provoke allergy-like reactions in people in their vicinity, including sneezing, runny nose, cough, itchy eyes, and red eyes 4 . This phenomenon or symptom is called ‘people allergic to me (PATM)’ 4 , 5 . The word PATM is an internet slang generated in multiple community sites on social network services (SNS) related to PATM.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unfortunately, the actual conditions are completely unknown because of a lack of scientific reports focusing on PATM. To date, only a few papers have been published: a case report by Kawakami et al 4 and letter to the editor by Bian and Ma 5 . Kawakami et al 4 measured the levels of human skin gases and microbial species in the nasal cavity of a 35-year-old male subject who claimed to have PATM and found greater dermal emissions of human skin gases, especially toluene (methyl benzene) and other petrochemicals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Human skin gas profile of individuals with the people allergic to me phenomenon

Sekine

Oikawa²,

Todaka³

2023

Sci Rep

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Recent studies have shown that some people claim that their skin gases provoke allergy-like reactions in people in their near vicinity. Such a phenomenon or symptom is called ‘people allergic to me (PATM)’. Although numerous people suffer from PATM, the actual conditions are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of human skin profiles in patients with PATM by measuring the dermal emission fluxes of 75 skin gases using passive flux sampler and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. We found common features in the human skin gas profiles of 20 subjects with PATM, with a significant difference from those of 24 non-PATM subjects: greater emissions of petrochemicals, organosulfur compounds, and some aldehydes and lower emissions of aroma compounds and others. The ratio of toluene to benzaldehyde is considered a vital sign that suggests the fundamental of PATM. These findings indicate that PATM is a medically unexplained phenomenon or symptom worthy of further research, which requires an interdisciplinary approach.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Human skin gas profile of individuals with the people allergic to me phenomenon

Sekine

Oikawa²,

Todaka³

2023

Sci Rep

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Cutaneous Bacteria in the Gut Microbiome as Biomarkers of Systemic Malodor and People Are Allergic to Me (PATM) Conditions: Insights From a Virtually Conducted Clinical Trial

Irene¹

2020

JMIR Dermatol

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Background The skin is a dynamic ecosystem of microbes and the source of many chemical compounds that affect human health. Skin-microbiome interactions can cause persistent, psychosocially devastating body smell despite good hygiene. Since odor production is often transient, malodors may not be perceptible during medical examinations. Therefore, having odor complaints can be diagnosed as body dysmorphic disorder and referred for psychological evaluations. Development of simple at-home tests and virtual care programs could improve the diagnosis and management of socially debilitating malodor conditions. Objective The aim of this study was to assess potential effectiveness of at-home gut microbiome testing in the diagnosis and management of idiopathic body and breath odor and in people are allergic to me (PATM) syndrome. Methods We contacted participants of prior metabolic body odor (MEBO) and PATM studies and online support groups by email or social media. Individuals who consented to participate were mailed test kits for at-home collection of gut microbiome samples. Participants completed an online survey (specially developed for this study) addressing their symptoms and other quality-of-life indicators at baseline and after sampling. Participants collected stool samples after flare-ups or symptom improvements and mailed them to the laboratory to be processed and analyzed. We evaluated between-group differences in symptom severity, as well as symptom improvement observations for the same individuals. For differential abundance testing of microbial taxa, we performed nonparametric statistical analyses using Mann-Whitney U tests for unpaired samples and Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired samples. Results A total of 112 individuals from 21 countries consented to participate. About half the participants had been tested for the metabolic disorder trimethylaminuria, and about half of those tested were diagnosed with the disorder. The levels of bacteria previously associated with cutaneous body odor were significantly elevated in gut samples. For the combination of species from Anaerococcus, Corynebacterium, Campylobacter, and Propionibacterium genera, the differences were P=.002 for active (73 participants, 182 samples) versus regression or remission groups (30 participants, 51 samples); P=.01 for those experiencing symptoms most or all of the time (46 participants, 88 samples) versus those who had symptoms sometimes, rarely, or never (25 participants, 74 samples); and P<.001 for improvement of symptoms in the same individuals (22 participants, 43 sets of matched samples). Changes in microbial diversity were significant for between- but not within-participant comparisons. Conclusions Changes in the gut microbiome composition affect MEBO and PATM severity. In particular, an increase in intestinal bacteria producing odor when in skin flexures was associated with increased intensity of self-reported symptoms. The changes were consistent in the within-group and between-group analyses. Our findings support the feasibility of remote and decentralized clinical studies of malodor conditions. Supplementary sample collection procedures may help to meet established research quality standards. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03582826; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03582826 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1101/2020.08.21.20179242

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Cutaneous Bacteria in the Gut Microbiome as Biomarkers of Systemic Malodor and People Are Allergic to Me (PATM) Conditions: Insights From a Virtually Conducted Clinical Trial (Preprint)

Gabashvili¹

2020

Preprint

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BACKGROUND The skin is a dynamic ecosystem of microbes and the source of many chemical compounds that affect human health. Skin-microbiome interactions can cause persistent, psychosocially devastating body smell despite good hygiene. Since odor production is often transient, malodors may not be perceptible during medical examinations. Therefore, having odor complaints can be diagnosed as body dysmorphic disorder and referred for psychological evaluations. Development of simple at-home tests and virtual care programs could improve the diagnosis and management of socially debilitating malodor conditions. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess potential effectiveness of at-home gut microbiome testing in the diagnosis and management of idiopathic body and breath odor and in people are allergic to me (PATM) syndrome. METHODS We contacted participants of prior metabolic body odor (MEBO) and PATM studies and online support groups by email or social media. Individuals who consented to participate were mailed test kits for at-home collection of gut microbiome samples. Participants completed an online survey (specially developed for this study) addressing their symptoms and other quality-of-life indicators at baseline and after sampling. Participants collected stool samples after flare-ups or symptom improvements and mailed them to the laboratory to be processed and analyzed. We evaluated between-group differences in symptom severity, as well as symptom improvement observations for the same individuals. For differential abundance testing of microbial taxa, we performed nonparametric statistical analyses using Mann-Whitney U tests for unpaired samples and Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired samples. RESULTS A total of 112 individuals from 21 countries consented to participate. About half the participants had been tested for the metabolic disorder trimethylaminuria, and about half of those tested were diagnosed with the disorder. The levels of bacteria previously associated with cutaneous body odor were significantly elevated in gut samples. For the combination of species from Anaerococcus, Corynebacterium, Campylobacter, and Propionibacterium genera, the differences were P=.002 for active (73 participants, 182 samples) versus regression or remission groups (30 participants, 51 samples); P=.01 for those experiencing symptoms most or all of the time (46 participants, 88 samples) versus those who had symptoms sometimes, rarely, or never (25 participants, 74 samples); and P<.001 for improvement of symptoms in the same individuals (22 participants, 43 sets of matched samples). Changes in microbial diversity were significant for between- but not within-participant comparisons. CONCLUSIONS Changes in the gut microbiome composition affect MEBO and PATM severity. In particular, an increase in intestinal bacteria producing odor when in skin flexures was associated with increased intensity of self-reported symptoms. The changes were consistent in the within-group and between-group analyses. Our findings support the feasibility of remote and decentralized clinical studies of malodor conditions. Supplementary sample collection procedures may help to meet established research quality standards. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03582826; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03582826 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.1101/2020.08.21.20179242

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People allergic to me and body dysmorphic disorder

Cited by 3 publications

References 4 publications

Human skin gas profile of individuals with the people allergic to me phenomenon

Human skin gas profile of individuals with the people allergic to me phenomenon

Cutaneous Bacteria in the Gut Microbiome as Biomarkers of Systemic Malodor and People Are Allergic to Me (PATM) Conditions: Insights From a Virtually Conducted Clinical Trial

Cutaneous Bacteria in the Gut Microbiome as Biomarkers of Systemic Malodor and People Are Allergic to Me (PATM) Conditions: Insights From a Virtually Conducted Clinical Trial (Preprint)

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