Psychological Effect Of Chemosensory Deficits In COVID-19 Patients

Background:Mental health was broke greatly in this COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This study aimed to detect the effect of chemosensory deficits from deadly pandemic COVID-19 on mental health. Material And Methods:A survey questionnaire was used to detect the level of psychological problems in this cross-sectional observational study in sample size of 200 COVID-19 positive patients.Result:The findings shows that there is increase in prevalence of psychological problems which affects mental health drastically like isolation, anxious, afraid of failure to recover back which hampering their quality of life.Conclusion:This study emphasizes on the importance and prevention of psychological problems as well as role of counselling & treatment.

System-Wide Expression and Function of Olfactory Receptors in Mammals

Olfactory receptors (ORs) in mammals are generally considered to function as chemosensors in the olfactory organs of animals. They are membrane proteins that traverse the cytoplasmic membrane seven times and work generally by coupling to heterotrimeric G protein. The OR is a G protein–coupled receptor that binds the guanine nucleotide-binding G(αolf) subunit and the Gβγ dimer to recognize a wide spectrum of organic compounds in accordance with its cognate ligand. Mammalian ORs were originally identified from the olfactory epithelium of rat. However, it has been recently reported that the expression of ORs is not limited to the olfactory organ. In recent decades, they have been found to be expressed in diverse organs or tissues and even tumors in mammals. In this review, the expression and expected function of olfactory receptors that exist throughout an organism's system are discussed.

Demonstration of Solitary Chemosensory Cells in the Nasopalatine and Vomeronasal Ducts of Rat by α-gustducin and GAP-43 Immunohistochemistry

In the present study, we used immunohistochemistry for α - gustducin and Growth Associated Protein-43 (GAP-43) to examine the spatial distribution of the solitary chemosensory cells primarily in the nasopalatine ducts of rat at the time of weaning, which is lack in the literature. Methods: We found abundant solitary cells labeled with α- gustducin in the nasopalatine duct and vomeronasal organ of rats. In the nasopalatine duct, these cells were more frequent in the medial wall epithelium; meanwhile appreciable number of α-gustducin labeled cells were localized only in the neuroepithelium portion of the vomeronasal organ. We found the number of these cells increased toward the entries of the nasopalatine and vomeronasal ducts into the nasal cavity. We also found GAP-43 heavily expressed in the core of nasopalatine duct, close to the basement membrane and around the blood vessels and cavernous spaces of the vomeronasal organ. Results: GAP-43 labeled axons apposed the solitary chemosensory cells closely, either coursing along or wrapping the solitary chemosensory cells. Individual cells were apposed by one or a few intraepithelial nerve fibers and a single fiber sometimes contacted a few solitary chemosensory cells. Intraepithelial GAP-43 labeled fibers were more frequent toward the nasal cavity and the entry of nasopalatine and vomeronasal ducts in close association with the solitary chemosensory cells. Conclusion: We conclude that α -gustducin-expressing cells alongside the GAP-43 intraepithelial nerves in the nasopalatine and vomeronasal ducts suggests that they share the same transduction mechanisms

Taste signal transduction and the role of taste receptors in the regulation of microbial infection / 华西口腔医学杂志

Taste receptors guide individuals to consume nutrients while avoiding potentially noxious substances. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that taste receptors are also expressed beyond the taste buds, including brain, respiratory system, and digestive system, etc. These extragustatory taste receptors play important roles in microbial infection, nutrient uptake and host homeostasis. Mang extragustatory taste receptors have been proposed to sense microorganisms and regulate host innate defense. More importantly, polymorphisms of genes encoding taste receptor, particularly bitter taste receptor, are linked to different innate defensive responses. This review introduces the molecular basis of taste signal transduction, and the role of taste receptors in the regulation of innate immunity during microbial infection were further discussed in detail.

Regenerated extracellular NH4+ affects the motile chemosensory responses of batch-cultured oxyrrhis marina

Regenerated extracellular NH4+in laboratory batch-cultures of the heterotrophic marine microzooplankter Oxyrrhis marina affects the strength and consistency of chemotaxes elicited by synthetic and biogenic chemoattractants. The ecological relevance of experiments with batch-cultured O. marina and limitations of the microcapillary assay for the study of chemosensory behaviours are discussed.