Clinical effects of two combinations of olfactory agents on olfactory dysfunction after upper respiratory tract infection during olfactory training

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE To compare two combinations of olfactory agents for olfactory training therapy of olfactory dysfunction after upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and investigate the influencing factors on clinical effects. METHODS 125 patients with olfactory dysfunction were randomly divided into two groups: test and control. During the olfactory training, four odors were used in both groups. The olfactory training lasted for 24 weeks. Then, participants were tested using Sniffin' Sticks and threshold-discrimination-identification (TDI) composite scoring before treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment. The TDI scores were compared at different time points between the groups and within them, and influence factors were analyzed. RESULTS There was no significant difference in TDI scores between both groups. Furthermore, TDI scores did not significantly change after one month of treatment in either of the groups. After 3 and 6 months of treatment, TDI scores both significantly increased, and the odor discrimination and identification abilities significantly strengthened in both groups; however, the odor thresholds did not improve. The course of the disease was a significant influencing factor on the therapeutic effect of olfactory training for both groups. CONCLUSION The combination of essential balm, vinegar, alcohol, and rose perfume for olfactory training, which are scents commonly found in daily life, can effectively cure URTI-induced olfactory dysfunction, and significantly improve the odor discrimination and identification abilities. Furthermore, prolonging the treatment time can help with the recovery of olfactory functions, and earlier olfactory training can improve the therapeutic effect.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Comparar duas combinações de agentes olfativos para uso em terapia de treinamento olfativo no tratamento de disfunção olfatória após infecção do trato respiratório superior (ITRS) e investigar os fatores que influenciam os efeitos clínicos. METODOLOGIA 125 pacientes com disfunção olfativa foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: teste e controle. Durante o treinamento olfativo, quatro odores foram utilizados em ambos os grupos. O treinamento olfativo durou 24 semanas. Em seguida, os participantes foram testados usando Sniffin' Sticks e o escore de discriminação, limiar e identificação (TDI) antes do tratamento e 1, 3 e 6 meses após o ele. Os escores de TDI foram comparados em momentos diferentes, entre os grupos e dentro deles, e os fatores de influência foram analisados. RESULTADOS Não houve diferença significativa nos escores de TDI entre os dois grupos. Além disso, os escores de TDI não demonstração nenhuma alteração significa após um mês de tratamento em ambos os grupos. Após 3 e 6 meses de tratamento, ambos os escores de TDI aumentaram significativamente, e as habilidades de identificação e discriminação de odores melhoraram significativamente em ambos os grupos; contudo, os limiares de odor não demonstraram melhora. O curso da doença foi um importante fator de influência no efeito terapêutico do treinamento olfativo em ambos os grupos. CONCLUSÃO A combinação de bálsamo essencial, vinagre, álcool, e perfume de rosas no treinamento olfativo, todos aromas comumente encontrados na vida cotidiana, podem efetivamente curar disfunção olfativa induzida por ITRS e melhorar significativamente as habilidades de discriminação e identificação de odores. Além disso, a prolongamento do tempo de tratamento pode ajudar na recuperação das funções olfativas, e o início antecipado do treinamento olfativo pode melhorar o efeito terapêutico.

Onthophagus landolti and Canthon indigaceus chevrolati (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) are attracted to the feces of ivermectin-treated cattle in the Mexican tropics / Onthophagus landolti y Canthon indigaceus chevrolati (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) son atraídos por las heces de ganado tratado con ivermectina en el trópico mexicano

Abstract Ivermectin (IVM) is widely used for parasite control in livestock in the tropics. Residual IVM in feces conserves its insecticide activity for weeks and can harm dung beetle (DB) species. Attraction to the feces of IVM-treated cattle was tested using the DB species Onthophagus landolti (Harold) and Canthon indigaceus chevrolati (Harold) as models. Experiments were done under controlled laboratory conditions, semi-controlled field conditions and uncontrolled field conditions. Olfactometers were used in the controlled and semi-controlled trials. The control treatment was baited IVM-free feces, and the experimental treatments were the feces of cattle treated with 1 % IVM (subcutaneous administration; single, 0.2 mg/kg bw dosage) and collected at 5, 14, 21 and 28 days post-treatment. The uncontrolled field trial involved pitfall traps baited with IVM-free feces or feces from IVM-treated cattle collected five days post-treatment. Under controlled and semi-controlled conditions, the feces of IVM-treated cattle (at 5, 14, 21 or 28 days post-treatment) attracted more O. landolti and C. i. chevrolati individuals than IVM-free feces (P < 0.05). The same response occurred under uncontrolled conditions. This clear attraction for IVM-containing cattle feces by the studied DB species highlights that incorrect IVM use may pose a risk to DB communities in cattle production systems.(AU)

Resumen La ivermectina (IVM) es ampliamente utilizada para el control de parásitos en el ganado en los trópicos. La IVM residual en las heces conserva su actividad insecticida durante semanas y puede dañar diversas especies de escarabajos estercoleros. La atracción a las heces del ganado tratado con IVM se probó usando a las especies Onthophagus landolti (Harold) y Canthon indigaceus chevrolati (Harold) como modelos de estudio. Los experimentos se realizaron bajo condiciones de laboratorio controladas, condiciones de campo semicontroladas y condiciones de campo no controladas. Se utilizaron olfatómetros en los ensayos controlados y semicontrolados. El tratamiento de control consistió en heces exentas de IVM, y los tratamientos experimentales fueron heces de ganado tratado con IVM al 1 % (administración subcutánea, dosis única, 0.2 mg / kg pv) las cuales se recogieron a los 5, 14, 21 y 28 días después del tratamiento al ganado. El ensayo de campo no controlado incluyó trampas de caída libre o pitfall cebadas con heces libres de IVM y con heces de ganado tratado con IVM recogido cinco días después del tratamiento. En condiciones controladas y semicontroladas, las heces del ganado tratado con IVM (a los 5, 14, 21 y 28 días después del tratamiento) atrajeron más individuos O. landolti yC. i. chevrolati que las heces sin IVM (P < 0.05). La misma respuesta ocurrió bajo condiciones no controladas. Esta clara atracción a las heces de ganado que contienen IVM por las especies estudiadas pone de relieve que el uso incorrecto de IVM puede plantear un riesgo para las comunidades de escarabajos estercoleros en los sistemas de producción ganadera.(AU)

Characteristics of Smell Identification Test in Patients With Parkinson Disease

OBJECTIVES: Parkinson disease (PD) is frequently associated with olfactory disorder at early stage, which is caused by deposition of Lewy bodies emerging from the olfactory bulb to higher olfactory centers. Early detection of olfactory disorder in the patients with PD may lead to the early diagnosis and treatment for this refractory disease. METHODS: Visual analog scale (VAS), Jet Stream Olfactometry, and Japanese smell identification test, Open Essence (OE), were carried out on 39 patients with PD. Thirty-one patients with postviral olfactory disorder (PVOD), which was caused by the olfactory mucosal dysfunction, were also enrolled in this study as control. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in detection thresholds (2.2 vs. 1.4, P=0.13), recognition thresholds (3.9 vs. 3.5, P=0.39) and OE (4.8 vs. 4.2, P=0.47) between PVOD and PD, while VAS scores of PVOD and PD were significantly different (2.0 and 6.2, P<0.01). In OE, significant differences were observed in the accuracy rates of menthol (68% vs. 44%, P=0.04) and Indian ink (42% vs. 15%, P=0.01) between PVOD and PD. Of particular interest, patients with PVOD tended to select “no detectable,” while patients with PD tended to select wrong alternative other than “no smell detected.” CONCLUSION: Discrepancy between VAS and OE, and high selected rates of wrong alternative other than “undetectable” in OE might be significant signs of olfactory dysfunction associated with PD.

The Middle Turbinate Resection and Its Repercussion in Olfaction with the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT)

Abstract Introduction Nasal obstruction is a common complaint, and, for some, the middle turbinate resection is still a controversial issue among the surgical options due to the possibility of deleterious effects on olfaction. The University of Pennsylvania smell identification test (UPSIT) is considered the gold standard of smell identification tests, but data about it is still incipient in Brazil. Objective To evaluate if the middle turbinectomy has any repercussion on the sense of olfaction by using the UPSIT as an assessment tool. Methods A prospective study performed between 2013 and 2015 with 27 patients who were treated with middle turbinectomy by the same surgeon and tested with the UPSIT pre- and post-surgery, with a minimum interval of 3 months. Results Twenty-five patients completed the study. The mean age was 27.9 years. There was no statistical correlation betweenmiddle turbinectomy and the UPSIT score, or between gender and the UPSIT score. Conclusion There was no clinical repercussion on olfaction from partial middle turbinectomy.

Olfactory dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease: systematic review and meta-analysis / Alterações olfatórias em Doença de Alzheimer: revisão sistemática e meta-análise

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative condition, is one of the most prevalent kinds of dementia, whose frequency doubles for every 5 years of age in elderly. Objective: To determine the correlation between AD and olfactory alterations, identifying the most affected domains and exploring the utility of olfactory tests for complementing early diagnosis. Methods: Databases were searched using the terms "olfactory OR smell OR olfaction AND alzheimer" for articles related to the proposed theme. The selected studies were categorized and evaluated separately depending on the method of analysis of the olfactory tests: identification of odors, discrimination and recognition, and a meta-analysis was carried out. Results: Fifty-one articles were selected for analysis. The effect size for most studies was large, as were the summary values for each category of individualized olfactory analysis. Conclusion: Among the olfactory domains, except memory, identification appears to be the most altered in AD. The possibility of including tests that specifically evaluate the identification of odors as an item in early diagnostic evaluation should be explored. PROSPERO registration: CRD42018089076.

Resumo Neurodegenerativa, a doença de Alzheimer (DA) é um dos tipos mais prevalentes de demência, com frequência dobrando a cada 5 anos em idosos. Objetivo: Verificar a correlação entre DA e alterações olfatórias, identificando os domínios mais afetados e a possibilidade de utilização de testes olfatórios como complemento de diagnóstico precoce. Métodos: Bases de dados foram acessadas utilizando os termos "olfactory OR smell OR olfaction AND alzheimer" buscando artigos relacionados ao tema proposto. Os estudos selecionados foram categorizados e avaliados em separado a depender do método de análise olfatória: identificação de odores, discriminação e reconhecimento e uma meta-análise foi realizada. Resultados: Cinquenta e um artigos foram selecionado para análise. O tamanho do efeito da maioria dos estudos foi grande, assim como os valores sumários de cada categoria de análise olfatória. Conclusão: Entre os domínios olfatórios, excetuando memória, a identificação parece ser a mais alterada em DA. É possível explorar a possibilidade de adição de testes específico para avaliação de identificação de odores como um item na avaliação diagnóstica precoce. Registro PROSPERO: CRD42018089076.

Production of flavor compounds from olive mill waste by Rhizopus oryzae and Candida tropicalis

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the production of flavor compounds from olive mill waste by microbial fermentation of Rhizopus oryzae and Candida tropicalis. Olive mill waste fermentations were performed in shake and bioreactor cultures. Production of flavor compounds from olive mill waste was followed by Gas Chromatography–Mass spectrometry, Gas chromatography- olfactometry and Spectrum Sensory Analysis ®. As a result, 1.73-log and 3.23-log cfu/mL increases were observed in the microbial populations of R. oryzae and C. tropicalis during shake cultures, respectively. C. tropicalis can produce a higher concentration of d-limonene from olive mill waste than R. oryzae in shake cultures. The concentration of d-limonene was determined as 185.56 and 249.54 µg/kg in the fermented olive mill waste by R. oryzae and C. tropicalis in shake cultures respectively. In contrast, R. oryzae can produce a higher concentration of d-limonene (87.73 µg/kg) d-limonene than C. tropicalis (11.95 µg/kg) in bioreactor cultures. Based on sensory analysis, unripe olive, wet towel, sweet aromatic, fermented aromas were determined at high intensity in olive mill waste fermented with R. oryzae meanwhile olive mill waste fermented with C. tropicalis had only a high intensity of unripe olive and oily aroma.

Cambios olfatorios en pacientes con rinosinusitis crónica polipoidea tratados mediante cirugía endoscópica nasosinusal (CENS) / Olfactory changes in patients with chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis treated with functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) / Mudanças olfativas em pacientes com rinossinusite crônicapolipóide tratados mediante cirurgia endoscópica nasosinusal (Cens)

Introducción y objetivos: La poliposis nasal se encuentra presente en el 4% de la población general y entre el 25-30% de aquellos con rinosinusitis crónica. La presencia de pólipos nasales es un importante factor de riesgo para alteraciones en el olfato. Objetivo: establecer si existe mejoría del olfato en pacientes con poliposis nasal luego de ser intervenidos quirúrgicamente con cirugía endoscópica nasosinusal. Métodos: Se tomó una muestra de 20 pacientes con rinosinusitis crónica polipoidea tratados mediante cirugía oscópica nasosinusal por un mismo cirujano, con follow up a 30 días en los que se examinó el nivel de olfato pre y postoperatorio mediante el método del Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center. Se evaluó prequirúrgicamente el grado de poliposis mediante el score tomográfico de Lund McKay. Resultados: Aumento del puntaje de olfato en pacientes con poliposis nasal luego de la polipectomía con cirugía endoscópica nasosinusal (p<0,0001). Relación lineal entre el score tomográfico preoperatorio y el grado de mejoría del olfato (p<0,05). Conclusiones: Existe mejoría del olfato en paciente con rinosinusitis crónica polipoidea luego del tratamiento de esta patología con cirugía endoscópica nasosinusal. Se observó, también, que a mayor grado de poliposis preoperatoria, mayor es la mejoría del olfato postoperatorio.

Introduction and objectives: nasal polyposis affects 4% of the general population and 25% - 30% of pa tients with chronic rhinosinusitis. The presence of nasal polyps poses a significant risk of developing olfaction disorders. The aim of this study is to determine whether patients with nasal polyps show any olfactory improvement after treatment with functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Methods: 20 patients were examined. All of them suffered from chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps and were treated with functional endoscopic sinus surgery by the same surgeon. A 30-day follow-up was conducted, studying the patients’ pre-and-post-operative/ surgery olfaction levels through the method of the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center. Polyposis was staged preoperatively, using the Tomographic Lund McKay scale with scores ranging from 0 to 24, depending on the occupation of the paranasal sinuses and the osteomeatal complex. We excluded patients under 15 years old, patients having chronic rhinosinusitis without polyps, patients who had undergone repeated surgery due to relapse and patients with comorbidities, including mucoviscidosis, brain degenerative diseases and cilium diseases. Results: There was an improvement of the olfactory level after the Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. We concluded that the higher the tomographic Lund-McKay score, the better the olfaction after the surgery.

Introdução e objetivos: A polipose nasal está presente em 4% da população geral e entre 25%-30% das pessoas com rinossinusite crônica. A presença de pólipos nasais é um importante fator de risco para alterações no olfato. Objetivo: estabelecer se existe melhora do olfato em pacientes com polipose nasal após intervenção cirúrgica com endoscopia nasossinusal. Métodos: Considerou-se uma amostra de 20 pacientes com rinossinusite crônica polipóide tratados mediante cirurgia endoscópica nasossinusal pelo mesmo cirurgião, com acompanhamento 30 dias após a cirurgia, nos quais foi examinado o nível de olfato antes e depois da operação com o método do Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center. Avaliou-se antes da cirurgia o grau de polipose com um score tomográfico de Lund McKay. Resultados: Aumento da pontuação de olfato em pacientes com polipose nasal após a polipectomia com cirurgia endoscópica nasossinusal (p<0,0001) . Relação linear entre o score tomográfico pré-operatório e o grau de melhora do olfato (p<0,05). Conclusões: Existe uma melhora de olfato em pacientes com rinossinusite crônica polipoide após o tratamento desta patologia com cirurgia endoscópica nasossinusal. Observou-se também que quanto maior o grau de polipose pré-operatória, maior é a melhora do olfato pós-operatório.

Comparison of application of several psychophysical olfactory test methods in clinic / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the consistency of four olfactory psychophysical test methods.@*METHOD@#Twenty out-patients were done with olfactory psychophysical test and the results were analyzed. The four olfactory psychophysical test methods include simple test method, UPSIT, Sniffin Sticks test and the T&T olfactometer test.@*RESULT@#The consistency of four test methods reached 85%, and UPSIT test can identify pseudo smell obstacles.@*CONCLUSION@#There is reliable and stable outcome of the four psychophysical olfactory test methods.

The Current Status of Evaluation Technologies for the Function of Human Olfaction / 한양의대학술지

The sense of smell is one of the essential tools for all living things to survive. With recent increase in diseases associated with olfactory dysfunction, the evaluation of olfactory function aims to shed light on the understanding and assessment of the human olfactory system. The methods for assessing the olfactory function are largely divided into electrophysiological and psychophysical methods. The psychophysical inspections such as University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), The Sniffin' Stick, and T & T Olfactometer are methods mostly based on questionnaires or simple apparatus. Those have been generally used in clinical and research field due to their relatively short examination time and low cost. The electrophysiological tests evaluate olfactory function based on objective measurements like biosignals and medical imaging. Compared to the psychophysical methods, they comparably have higher reliability and are possible to assess more specific diagnosis. However, the system configuration seems to be more complicated. In this paper, we review the overall evaluation methods of olfactory functions and suggest complementary points to improve conventional technologies.

Olfactory Evoked Potential for Objective Olfactory Function Evaluation / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The exact diagnosis for olfactory dysfunction plays an indispensable complementary role to the proper management of olfactory dysfunction. But there is no confirmative objective method for olfactory function evaluation. Recently, olfactory evoked potential by jet steam method was introduced as an objective method for the evaluation of olfactory function. The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical efficacy of olfactory evoked potential. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Thirty two normal individuals were evaluated with olfactory evoked potential and their olfactory thresholds were within normal range when tested with T&T olfactometry. Odorant, skatole was introduced 1cm apart from the nostril by jet steam pulse. The results were averaged by Neuropack Four Computer. RESULTS: Twenty-nine individuals had typical positive waves with latency near 0.1ms, but three individuals had no typical positive wave. The threshold of twenty individuals in electro-olfactometry was E1 with E1 recognition or detection threshold in T&T olfactometry. The threshold of other nine individuals in electro-olfactometry was E2 with E1 recognition and detection threshold in T&T olfactometry. CONCLUSION: Olfactory evoked potential has good correlation with classic T&T olfactometry and could be used as an objective method for the evaluation of olfactory function.