The expression changes of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in a mouse model of olfactory dysfunction / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

OBJECTIVE To explore the expression changes of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathways in olfactory disorders.METHODS There were 40 healthy BALB/c mice who were divided into an observation group and a control group,with 20 mice in each group.Detection of Toll-like receptors(TLR4),myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88(MyD88)and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB)in mice using quantitative reverse transcription PCR level;Detection of TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB by Western blot(WB)test protein content;Immunohistochemical detection of the expression of mouse olfactory marker protein(OMP).RESULTS There was no significant difference in foraging time between the two groups of mice before modeling(P>0.05),after modeling,the foraging time of the observation group mice was significantly longer than that of the control group(P<0.05);The relative mRNA expression level of TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB in the nasal epithelium of mice in the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05);The protein expression of TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB in the nasal epithelium of mice in the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05);The level of OMP protein in the nasal epithelium of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Expression reinforcement of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in a mouse model of olfactory dysfunction.

Progress of olfactory changes in metabolic diseases and the mechanisms / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Metabolic disorders,characterized by a complex pathogenesis,are experiencing a rising prevalence globally and a trend toward younger populations,making them a significant public health concern.Olfaction,a crucial sensory function,plays a pivotal role in an individual's nutrition and quality of life.There is a bidirectional relationship between obesity and olfactory function.Olfaction is influenced by nutritional status;simultaneously,it plays a vital role in the regulation of food intake,energy expenditure,and lipid metabolism.Moreover,individuals with metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome exhibit olfactory dysfunction.Mechanisms underlying olfactory changes in metabolic disorders involve alterations in metabolic states such as hyperglycemia and insulin resistance.These changes can lead to dysregulation of peptide hormones,adipocyte factors,and neurotransmitters,which may potentially act as mediators between metabolic disorders and olfactory dysfunction.Vascular and neural alterations resulting from metabolic disorders can directly damage olfactory nerves or induce abnormal neural transmission.Furthermore,dysbiosis in the gut microbiota induced by metabolic disorders is a potential mechanism for olfactory dysfunction.Cognitive dysfunction is a significant complication of metabolic disorders.Olfactory dysfunction can serve as an early clinical manifestation of cognitive impairment and contributes to early identification and assessment of diseases.This article reviews recent researches on the relationship between metabolic diseases and olfactory changes and the potential mechanisms.

Correlations between brain function and olfactory function in patients with cerebral small vessel disease and Parkinson's disease based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Olfactory dysfunction is an early biological marker of various diseases.However,the neuroimaging mechanism by which olfactory dysfunction occurs following cerebral small vessel disease is unclear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the different neuroimaging mechanisms of olfactory function regulation in patients with cerebral small vessel disease and Parkinson's disease,and explore the potential application value of olfactory function assessment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease. METHODS:Neuropsychological and olfactory tests,high-resolution structural magnetic resonance and resting-state functional magnetic resonance data were collected in 80 patients with cerebral small vessel disease,44 healthy controls and 29 patients with Parkinson's disease.DPABI,SPM12 and SPSS were used to analyze and compare the amplitude of low frequency fluctuation,regional homogeneity and functional connectivity values between the cerebral small vessel disease,control and Parkinson's disease groups.Correlations between the significantly altered resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging measures and olfactory and cognitive scores were evaluated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,low-frequency fluctuation amplitude of the right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus and the regional homogeneity of the left wedge leaf were significantly reduced in the cerebral small vessel disease and Parkinson's disease groups.The right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus and the left cuneiform lobe are the seed points.Compared with the Parkinson's disease group,the functional connectivity values of the right anterior cunei,inferior temporal gyrus,anterior central gyrus and dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus,left posterior central gyrus and inferior temporal gyrus were significantly enhanced in the control and cerebral small vessel disease groups.The left cuneiform lobe was the seed point.Compared with the control group,the functional connectivity of the left lingual gyrus was significantly weakened in the cerebral small vessel disease and Parkinson's disease groups.The functional connectivity values of the left middle temporal gyrus and the right posterior central gyrus were enhanced in the control group compared with the cerebral small vessel disease and Parkinson's disease group,and that was enhanced in the cerebral small vessel disease group compared with the Parkinson's disease group.Correlation analysis showed that the olfactory score and cognitive score were positively correlated in the cerebral small vessel disease group,and the regional homogeneity of the left wedge lobe was negatively correlated with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale score,while the functional connectivity of left wedge lobe-left middle temporal gyrus in the Parkinson's disease group was positively correlated with the olfactory recognition score,and the functional connectivity values of the left wedge lobe-left posterior central gyrus and left wedge lobe-left lingual gyrus were positively correlated with the olfactory identification score and the total olfactory score,respectively.The regulation of olfactory function in patients with cerebral small vessel disease has a different neuroimaging mechanism from that of olfactory dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease.The olfactory function of patients with cerebral small vessel disease is related to cognitive function.It is speculated that the olfactory function following cerebral small vessel disease is a secondary change of brain dysfunction,while olfactory dysfunction following Parkinson's disease is directly caused by abnormal function of olfactory-related brain areas.Olfactory function assessment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease has potential application in predicting cognitive function.

Determination of the relationship between olfactory function threshold and quality of life among adult Filipinos with perceived olfactory dysfunction

Objective@#To determine the relationship between olfactory function threshold and quality of life (QOL) among adult Filipinos with perceived olfactory dysfunction (OD).@*Methods@#Design:Cross - Sectional Study. Setting:Tertiary Government Training Hospital. Participants: 98 adults who had self-perceived olfactory dysfunction described as “poor” or “no sense” of smell@*Results@#We analyzed data from 98 participants, with a mean age of 35.91 + 12.58 years old, composed of 46 men (47%) and 52 women (53%), with 82 normosmic, six hyposmic and ten anosmic as categorized by their BTT scores. Twenty-seven percent (27%) identified themselves as having poor QOL based on Fil 17 QODNS. Differences were exhibited between sexes’ BTT scores - [t(96) = -2.32; p = .022; females, M: 9.25; SD: 2.33 vs. males, M: 7.76; SD : 3.91], civil status - Fil17QODNS scores [t(96)= 3.05, p < .003; married M: 11.72, SD: 13.74 vs. single, M: 4.71; SD: 8.66), and the presence of ENT symptoms BTT [t(96) = -7.15; p < .0001; symptomatic, M: 5.62; SD: 4.54, vs. asymptomatic, M: 9.78; SD: 1.14] and Fil 17 QODNS scores [t(96)= 3.94; P < .00001; symptomatic, M: 14.86; SD: 13.97] vs. asymptomatic, M: 5.217; SD: 9.60]. Significant risk factors were the presence of ENT symptoms [OR= 0.15; 95% CI: 0.02-0.97; P = .046] for poor smell threshold, and comorbidities [OR= 3.36; 95% CI: 1.04-10.85; P = .043] for poor QOL. A negative correlation was observed between Fil-QOD-NS scores and BTT scores [r = -0.477, p < .001; rs = -0.292, p = .004], signifying that the presence of olfactory dysfunction has an inverse relationship with the quality of life.@*Conclusion@#Individuals with olfactory dysfunction in this study population had poor quality of life as determined by the translated Filipino 17-item QOD-NS which has an inverse relationship with their smell threshold as represented by the BTT results. Among the factors studied, significant differences were found between sexes, civil status and presence of ENT symptoms in the BTT and Fil 17 QODNS scores. However, only presence of comorbidities and ENT symptoms are significant risk factors for quality of life and smell threshold, respectively, in this population.

Research progress on the function of ectopic olfactory receptors and their value as drug targets / 中国药科大学学报

@#Abstract: Olfactory receptors (ORs) are transmembrane proteins mainly distributed in olfactory sensory neurons of the nasal epithelium, mediating the transmission of real-time sensory signals to the brain to produce smell. Recent studies have reported that ORs can also be expressed in tissues or organs outside the nasal cavity, and are closely related to a variety of biological processes, such as sperm chemotaxis, wound healing, glycolipid metabolism and intestinal secretion. In addition, ORs are closely related to a variety of malignant tumors such as prostate cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer, and may affect the occurrence and development of tumors by regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. This review provides an overview of the effects of ectopic ORs on the function of various human tissues and organs and assesses their potential value as drug targets for the treatment of human diseases.

Effects of olfactory three needle on apolipoprotein E and pathological substrates in the hippocampus of mice with Parkinson's disease dementia / 中国康复医学杂志

Objective:To explore the mechanism of olfactory three needle therapy on Parkinson's disease dementia(PDD)by observing its effects on expression of apolipoprotein E(ApoE)、glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)and related core pathology substrates in the hippocampus of PDD model mice. Method:Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups:control group(Control),sham opera-tion group(Sham),model group(Model)and acupuncture electrotherapy group(AE),with 10 mice in each group.The PD model was established by injecting 6-OHDA into the medial forebrain tract(MFB)and PDD mice were selected.After successful modeling and selection,the AE group received"olfactory three needle"electro acupuncture treatment.After 14 days of intervention,Morris water maze test and shuttle box test were used to evaluate the learning and memory ability of mice in each group.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the pathological changes of hippocampal CA1 region.Western blotting was used to detect the expression of α-syn,Aβ and ApoE proteins in hippocampal CA1 region.The co-location rate of ApoE and GFAP in hippocampal CA1 region was observed by double immunofluorescence markers. Result:Compared with Model group,the AE group exhibited a shortened escape latency in water maze(P＜0.01),increased platform crossing(P＜0.05),increased active escape times of shuttle box(P＜0.05),and reduced the average total time of electric stimulation(P＜0.01).In the Model group,the neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area were sparsely arranged and showed signs of degeneration and necrosis;and cell nuclei were small,hyperchromatic and had unclear structures,indicating the appearance of nuclear pyrosis.In contrast,the AE group showed significant improvements in neuronal pathology,with most cells regularly arranged,round and large nuclei,lightly stained and clearly shaped.Compared with the Model group,the expression levels of α-syn,Aβ,ApoE protein and the co-localization rate of ApoE and GFAP in hippocampal CA1 region in AE group were decreased(P＜0.01,P＜0.01,P＜0.01,P＜0.05). Conclusion:The"Olfactory three needle"acupuncture can improve the cognitive ability and restore the morpho-logical structure and function of neurons in PDD mice.The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of ApoE expression in astrocytes and the reduction of α-syn and Aβ deposition in hippocampal CA1 region.

Alteraciones del bulbo olfatorio identificadas por resonancia magnética en una cohorte de pacientes con anosmia tras COVID-19 / Olfactory bulb abnormalities identified using magnetic resonance in a cohort of patients with anosmia after COVID-19

Resumen Dentro de los síntomas que presentaron los pacientes que cursaron COVID-19 se documentó una importante incidencia de anosmia, asociada muchas veces a alteraciones en el gusto, sin una base fisiopatológica concluyente. La resonancia magnética proporciona datos estructurales morfológicos sobre el nervio olfatorio, el bulbo olfatorio y las cortezas primarias y secundarias. En esta serie de pacientes con anosmia posterior a COVID-19 se identificaron alteraciones estructurales de los bulbos olfatorios principalmente con elevación de la señal en secuencias T2, y en menor medida aumento de su volumen. Dichas características fueron interpretadas en probable relación con edema e inflamación posterior a la infección viral, observando en ciertos casos, además, asimetría de los bulbos olfatorios.

Abstract Anosmia, a frequent symptom among patients affected by COVID-19 and often associated with alterations in taste, does not have a clear pathophysiological basis in this context. Magnetic resonance imaging enables the structural assessment of the olfactory nerve, olfactory bulb, and primary and secondary cortices. In this group of patients with post-COVID anosmia, were identified structural abnormalities at the level of the olfactory bulb mainly depicted as elevation of the signal in T2-weighted sequences, and to a lesser extent as an increase in their volume. These characteristics were interpreted in probable relation to edema and inflammation after the viral infection, showing in certain cases asymmetry of the olfactory bulbs.

Alpha-lipoic acid does not improve olfactory training results in olfactory loss due to COVID-19: a double-blind randomized trial

Abstract Objectives Olfactory loss is a recognized long-term dysfunction after Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. This investigation aimed to assess the effect of alpha-lipoic acid as an adjuvant treatment of olfactory training on the improvement of smell loss in post-COVID-19 patients. Methods This randomized controlled trial included 128 adult outpatients who had persistent smell loss for more than 3-months after COVID-19 infection. The participants were randomly allocated into two groups: the intervention treatment group, which received alpha-lipoic acid associated to olfactory training, and comparison treatment group, which received placebo pills associated to olfactory training. The participants were followed-up for 12-weeks. Olfactory dysfunction was assessed in terms of Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) test for the Brazilian population. Results A total of 100 participants completed the follow-up period and were analyzed in this study. Both groups have improved CCCRC score (p= 0.000), olfactory threshold (p= 0.000), identification score (p= 0.000) and VAS score (p= 0.000) after 12-weeks follow-up. No significant differences were determined between the intervention and comparison treatment groups in CCCRC score (p= 0.63), olfactory threshold (p= 0.50), identification score (p= 0.96) and VAS score (p= 0.97). In all these criteria, comparison treatment group went slightly worse. At the endpoint of the study, the frequency of anosmia reduced to 2% in the intervention treatment group and to 7.8% in the comparison treatment group. Also, 16.8% of the intervention group' subjects, and 15.7% of comparison treatment group's patients reached normosmia. Conclusions Overall, there was a strongly significant difference in olfactory function between baseline and endpoint for both groups. However, based on the lack of significant difference between the intervention treatment and the comparison treatment groups in terms of olfactory changes, our study appoints that the alpha-lipoic acid is not better than olfactory training alone to treat olfactory loss after COVID-19. Level of evidence Level 2.

Improvement of hedonic perception of odors as a marker of treatment response to escitalopram: olfactory changes through an open-label antidepressant trial

Objectives: To assess olfactory functions (threshold, identification, and hedonic valence) of depressed subjects before and after an 8-week trial of escitalopram and compare the results of responders and nonresponders. Methods: Fifty-two depressed subjects were recruited. Participants received escitalopram and were evaluated at two visits: baseline (V0) and week 8 (V8). They were categorized as responders (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale [MADRS] score reduction of > 50%) or nonresponders to treatment. Participants were evaluated with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) at V0 and, at V0 and V8, completed psychometric and olfactory assessments, including MADRS and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), as well as the Sniffin' Sticks® test (threshold and identification tasks). The hedonic valence of smell was assessed on a 10-cm linear scale after presenting two pleasant and two unpleasant odors. Forty-three participants completed the study (24 responders and 19 nonresponders). The Mann-Whitney, chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare olfactory, clinical, and demographic variables between groups and within the same group at V0 and V8. The Spearman coefficient was used to calculate the correlation between clinical characteristics and olfactory variables. Results: The hedonic score of pleasant odors increased significantly between V0 and V8 only for responders (V = 61.5, p = 0.018), with no significant change in nonresponders (V = 90.5, p = 0.879). Comparison of olfactory performances between groups at V0 and V8 separately did not show a significant difference between responders and nonresponders to escitalopram. Olfactory threshold and identification scores were not different between V0 and V8 for responders or nonresponders. Conclusion: Depressed subjects have olfactory anhedonia, which appears to regress following a positive antidepressant response. Hedonic valence may be an indicator of cognitive changes associated with depression; improvement of this valence may indicate a clinical response to antidepressants.

Olfactory neuroblastoma with rhabdomyoblasts: A rare case report and review of the literature

Herein we present a case of a 62-year-old male patient who was admitted with the chief complaints of nasal obstruction. The histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation led to a diagnosis of olfactory neuroblastoma with rhabdomyoblasts. A review of the literature revealed that this is only the fourth case of olfactory neuroblastoma with rhabdomyoblasts. Thus, investigation of more cases and longer follow-up is necessary to understand the disease and identify the best treatment to improve prognosis.

Distúrbios do olfato, uma revisão narrativa do diagnóstico ao tratamento / Olfactory dysfunction: a narrative review from diagnosis to treatment

Os distúrbios do olfato (DO) impactam de forma significativa na qualidade de vida dos indivíduos, e o conhecimento teórico a respeito do assunto deve ser de domínio dos alergologistas e imunologistas clínicos, possibilitando, assim, o seu diagnóstico e implementação de intervenções. Suas causas podem ser variadas, entre elas estão: rinite alérgica, rinossinusite crônica com ou sem pólipos, infecções de vias aéreas superiores, exposição a substâncias químicas, doenças neurológicas, drogas, traumas e o próprio envelhecimento. O olfato pode ser avaliado e mensurado através de testes com metodologias diferentes, cujo objetivo é avaliar parâmetros como a identificação de odores, limiar e discriminação olfativa. Esses testes são de fundamental importância para caracterizar objetivamente a queixa do paciente, como também avaliar o olfato antes e após determinada aplicação terapêutica. O tratamento das desordens olfativas é baseado em sua etiologia, portanto determinar a sua causa é indispensável para uma melhor eficácia no manejo. Entre as principais opções estão os corticoides tópicos, com impacto significativo nos pacientes com doença sinusal associada, treinamento olfatório e outras intervenções como ômega 3, vitamina A intranasal, e terapias que ainda requerem mais estudos.

Olfactory dysfunction significantly impacts quality of life, and allergists and clinical immunologists must be informed about it for diagnostic and interventional purposes. The causes are varied: allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with or without polyps, upper airway infections, exposure to chemicals, neurological diseases, drugs, trauma, and aging itself. Olfactory function can be evaluated and measured by several tests that use different methodologies to evaluate and identify odors, olfactory threshold, and olfactory discrimination. These tests are fundamental for objectively characterizing patient complaints and evaluating olfactory function before and after therapeutic interventions. Olfactory disorders are treated according to their etiology, so determining their cause is a major factor in treatment efficacy. The main options include topical corticosteroids, which have a significant impact on patients with sinus disease, olfactory training, other therapies (such as omega 3 and intranasal vitamin A), in addition to therapies that require further research.

OLFATO: forma más antigua de comunicación y sentido preciso que el otorrinolaringólogo debe conocer a profundidad / SMELL: oldest form of communication and precise sense that the otolaryngologist must know in depth

Introducción: el papel clave del olfato, antiguo sistema sensorial, es proporcionar información sobre las sustancias químicas en el medio ambiente. El olfato desempeña un papel en la detección de compuestos peligrosos, el mantenimiento de la nutrición, el comportamiento interpersonal, la salud neurológica y la sensación de placer, entre otras funciones. En consecuencia, la disfunción olfativa puede conducir a un riesgo de lesiones, desnutrición, aislamiento social y una mala calidad de vida. Materiales y métodos: se realizó una exploración bibliográfica y se identificaron artículos de acuerdo con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión definidos y se tomaron aquellos con calidad en la evidencia. Discusión: el sistema olfativo humano tiene diferencias anatómicas, fisiológicas y genéticas considerables con respecto al de otros mamíferos. Conclusiones: las destrezas olfativas varían con factores como la edad, el sexo, la etapa de desarrollo, ciertas enfermedades otorrinolaringológicas y enfermedades generales.

Introduction: The key role of the ancient olfactory sensory system is to provide information about chemicals in the environment. Smell plays a role in the detection of dangerous compounds, the maintenance of nutrition, interpersonal behavior, neurological health, and the sensation of pleasure, among other functions. Consequently, olfactory dysfunction can lead to a risk of injury, malnutrition, social isolation, and a poor quality of life. Materials and methods: A bibliographical exploration was carried out and articles were identified according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria defined and those with quality evidence were taken. Discussion: The human olfactory system has considerable anatomical, physiological, and genetic differences from that of other mammals. Conclusions: Olfactory skills vary with factors such as age, sex, stage of development, certain ear, nose and throat diseases and general diseases.

Effects of moxa smoke through olfactory pathway on learning and memory ability in rapid aging mice / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of moxa smoke through olfactory pathway on learning and memory ability in rapid aging (SAMP8) mice, and to explore the action pathway of moxa smoke.@*METHODS@#Forty-eight six-month-old male SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into a model group, an olfactory dysfunction group, a moxa smoke group and an olfactory dysfunction + moxa smoke group, with 12 mice in each group. Twelve age-matched male SAMR1 mice were used as the blank group. The olfactory dysfunction model was induced in the olfactory dysfunction group and the olfactory dysfunction + moxa smoke group by intraperitoneal injection of 3-methylindole (3-MI) with 300 mg/kg, and the moxa smoke group and the olfactory dysfunction + moxa smoke group were intervened with moxa smoke at a concentration of 10-15 mg/m3 for 30 min per day, with a total of 6 interventions per week. After 6 weeks, the emotion and cognitive function of mice was tested by open field test and Morris water maze test, and the neuronal morphology in the CAI area of the hippocampus was observed by HE staining. The contents of neurotransmitters (glutamic acid [Glu], gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA], dopamine [DA], and 5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) in hippocampal tissue of mice were detected by ELISA.@*RESULTS@#The mice in the blank group, the model group and the moxa smoke group could find the buried food pellets within 300 s, while the mice in the olfactory dysfunction group and the olfactory dysfunction + moxa smoke group took more than 300 s to find them. Compared with the blank group, the model group had increased vertical and horizontal movements (P<0.05) and reduced central area residence time (P<0.05) in the open field test, prolonged mean escape latency on days 1-4 (P<0.05), and decreased search time, swimming distance and swimming distance ratio in the target quadrant of the Morris water maze test, and decreased GABA, DA and 5-HT contents (P<0.05, P<0.01) and increased Glu content (P<0.05) in hippocampal tissue. Compared with the model group, the olfactory dysfunction group had increased vertical movements (P<0.05), reduced central area residence time (P<0.05), and increased DA content in hippocampal tissue (P<0.05); the olfactory dysfunction + moxa smoke group had shortened mean escape latency on days 3 and 4 of the Morris water maze test (P<0.05) and increased DA content in hippocampal tissue (P<0.05); the moxa smoke group had prolonged search time in the target quadrant (P<0.05) and increased swimming distance ratio, and increased DA and 5-HT contents in hippocampal tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01) and decreased Glu content in hippocampal tissue (P<0.05). Compared with the olfactory dysfunction group, the olfactory dysfunction + moxa smoke group showed a shortened mean escape latency on day 4 of the Morris water maze test (P<0.05). Compared with the moxa smoke group, the olfactory dysfunction + moxa smoke group had a decreased 5-HT content in the hippocampus (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the model group showed a reduced number of neurons in the CA1 area of the hippocampus with a disordered arrangement; the olfactory dysfunction group had similar neuronal morphology in the CA1 area of the hippocampus to the model group. Compared with the model group, the moxa smoke group had an increased number of neurons in the CA1 area of the hippocampus that were more densely packed. Compared with the moxa smoke group, the olfactory dysfunction + moxa smoke group had a reduced number of neurons in the CA1 area of the hippocampus, with the extent between that of the moxa smoke group and the olfactory dysfunction group.@*CONCLUSION@#The moxa smoke could regulate the contents of neurotransmitters Glu, DA and 5-HT in hippocampal tissue through olfactory pathway to improve the learning and memory ability of SAMP8 mice, and the olfactory is not the only effective pathway.

Development of an olfactory epithelial organoid culture system based on small molecule screening / 生物工程学报

Olfactory epithelium, which detects and transmits odor signals, is critical for the function of olfactory system. Olfactory epithelium is able to recover spontaneously after injury under normal circumstances, but this ability is dampened in certain diseases or senility, which causes olfactory dysfunction. The olfactory epithelium consists of basal cells, sustentacular cells and olfactory sensory neurons. In order to develop an olfactory epithelial organoid containing multiple olfactory cell types in vitro, we used three-dimensional culture model and small molecules screening. This organoid system consists of horizontal basal-like cells, globose basal-like cells, sustentacular-like cells and olfactory sensory neurons-like cells. Through statistical analysis of clone diameter, immunofluorescence staining and qPCR detection of the expression level of related marker genes. We identified a series of growth factors and small molecule compounds that affected the proliferation, composition and gene expression of the organoids. CHIR-99021, an activator of Wnt signaling pathway, increased the colony formation and proliferation rate of olfactory epithelial organoids and the expression level of marker genes of olfactory sensory neurons-like cells. In addition, each factor in the culture system increased the proportion of c-Kit-positive globose basal-like cell colonies in organoids. Moreover, EGF and vitamin C were both beneficial to the expression of horizontal basal-like cell marker genes in organoids. The established olfactory epithelial organoid system mimicked the process of olfactory epithelial stem cells differentiating into various olfactory epithelial cell types, thus providing a research model for studying olfactory epithelial tissue regeneration, the pathological mechanism of olfactory dysfunction and drug screening for olfactory dysfunction treatment.

Study on antidepressant effects of Nrf2/HO-l of volatile oil from Chai Dang Bo drug-group on OB model rats and its mechanism / 中国药理学通报

Aim To confirm the antidepressant effect of the volatile oil part of the disassembled prescription drugs (Chai Hu, Dang Gui and Bo He, referred to as CDB) from Xiaoyao Powder and investigate its mechanism via Nrf2/H0-1 signaling pathway on OB model rats. Methods GC-MS analysis of the main components of volatile oil part of CDB was performed. The rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, fluoxetine hydrochloride group (FLX, 10 mg • kg

Alterations in dendritic length and branch and K / 解剖学报

Objective To study the morphology of olfactory bulb(OB) neurons and the change of related proteins, and explore the causes of olfactory dysfuction in Alzheimer' s disease(AD). Methods Golgi-Cox staining technique was used to evaluate the morphological changes of neurons in the OB and anterior piriform cortex (aPC) of APP/PS1 AD model mice. The morphology of neurons was determined by Sholl analysis. Western blotting was used to evaluate the levels of protein expression. Results The results of Golgi-Cox showed that the dendrite length and branch number reduced significantly in the OB neurons of 3-5-month-old APP/PS1 mice, an age that the mice did not show the pathological characteristics and cognitive impairment of AD. Western blotting analysis showed that levels of potassium chloride cotransporter 2(KCC2), a potassium chloride transporter crucial for neuronal morphology and synaptic function, decreased significantly in the OB of 3-5-month-old APP/PS1 mice. Conclusion Abnormal neuronal morphology and KCC2 signal might be the basis of early olfactory dysfunction in AD. Thus, maintaining normal KCC2 signal may be one of the keys to intervene the olfactory abnormalities in the early stage of AD.

Artificial intelligence-assisted prediction of olfactory disorders in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective:To analyze the influencing factors and perform the prediction of olfactory disorders in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis（CRS） based on artificial intelligence. Methods:The data of 75 patients with CRS who underwent nasal endoscopic surgery from October 2021 to February 2023 in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were analyzed retrospectively. There were 53 males and 22 females enrolled in the study, with a median age of 42.0 years old. The CRS intelligent microscope interpretation system was used to calculate the proportion of area glands and blood vessels occupy in the pathological sections of each patient, and the absolute value and proportion of eosinophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells and neutrophils. The patients were grouped according to the results of the Sniffin' Sticks smell test, and the clinical baseline data, differences in nasal mucosal histopathological characteristics, laboratory test indicators and sinus CT were compared between the groups. Determine the independent influencing factors of olfactory disorders and receiver operating characteristic curves（ROC） were used to evaluate the performance of the prediction model. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0 software. Results:Among the 75 CRS patients, 25 cases（33.3%） had normal olfaction and 50 cases（66.7%） had olfactory disorders. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that tissue eosinophils percentage（OR=1.032, 95%CI 1.002-1.064, P=0.036）, Questionnaire of olfactory disorders-Negative statement（QOD-NS）（OR=1.079, 95%CI 1.004-1.160, P=0.040） and Anterior olfactory cleft score（AOCS）（OR=2.672, 95%CI 1.480-4.827, P=0.001） were independent risk factors for olfactory disorders in CRS patients. Further research found that the area under the ROC curve（AUC） of the combined prediction model established by the tissue eosinophil percentage, QOD-NS and AOCS was 0.836（95%CI 0.748-0.924, P<0.001）, which is better than the above single factor prediction model in predicting olfactory disorders in CRS. Conclusion:Based on pathological artificial intelligence, tissue eosinophil percentage, QOD-NS and AOCS are independent risk factors for olfactory disorders in CRS patients, and the combination of the three factors has a good predictive effect on CRS olfactory disorders.

Two Cases of Olfactory Dysfunction after COVID-19 Successfully Treated with Kampo Medicine Centered on Kososan / 日本東洋医学雑誌

One of the symptoms of COVID-19 is olfactory dysfunction. Most of them resolve spontaneously at an early stage, but there are some cases that remain as sequelae, and there is no established drug treatment at present. This time, we report two cases of olfactory dysfunction after COVID-19 successfully treated with Kampo medicine centered on kososan. Case 1 was a 32-year-old woman. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 eight months ago, and olfactory dysfunction remained after that. She was yin pattern and slight deficiency pattern, and tenderness was found in the groin. We prescribed her tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto. After 8 weeks of administration, she felt warm and well, but her olfaction did not change. Depression due to olfactory dysfunction was also conspicuous, so we administered her kososan in combination. Since then, her olfaction has gradually improved. Case 2 was a 17-year-old man. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 four months ago, and olfactory dysfunction remained after that. He was yang pattern and medium or slight deficiency pattern, and with noticeable signs of qi stagnation. We administered him kososan, and his olfaction has gradually improved.

A prospective study of the effect of functional endoscopic sinus surgery on the recovery of olfactory function in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of functional endoscopic sinus surgery（FESS） in the treatment of olfactory dysfunction in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps （CRSwNP） , at the same time, it provides an evidence for the prognosis evaluation of olfaction and the clinical application of oERPs to evaluate the plasticity of olfaction cortex. Methods:From October 2021 to October 2022, 45 patients with CRSwNP who underwent FESS nine-step standardized treatment in our department were recruited as the research subjects, divided into 22 patients with eosinophilic CRSwNP（ECRS）and 23 patients with non-eosinophilic CRSwNP（nECRS）. VAS-olfactory dysfunction （VAS-OD） score, SNOT-22 olfactory score, Sniffin' Sticks test and oERPs collection and processing were performed before the operation. All items were evaluated again 3 months after the operation. Results:VAS-OD and SNOT-22 olfactory score were significantly lower in all CRSwNP patients after the operation than those before the operation[F（1, 43） =357.429, P<0.001; F（1, 43） =185.657, P<0.001], the scores of T, D, I and TDI scores in Sniffin' Sticks test were significantly higher than those before the operation[F（1, 43） =126.302, P<0.001; F（1, 43） =311.301, P<0.001; F（1, 43） =131.401, P<0.001; F（1, 43） =295.885, P<0.001]; The decrease of VAS-OD and SNOT-22 olfactory score in the ECRS group was smaller than that in the nECRS group[F（1, 43） =4.825, P=0.033; F（1, 43） =9.916, P=0.003], T, D and TDI scores were significantly lower in nECRS group than those in nECRS group[F（1, 43） =6.719, P=0.013; F（1, 43） =4.890, P=0.032; F（1, 43） =4.469, P=0.040]; There was a positive correlation between preoperative eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio（ELR） and SNOT-22 olfactory score and how much it changes（r=0.455, P=0.002; r=-0.414, P=0.005）, a negative correlation between T, TDI score and how much they change respectively（r=-0.431, P=0.003; r=-0.385, P=0.009; r=-0.383, P=0.010; r=-0.316, P=0.035）. The latency of P3 was significantly shorter after operation than that before operation in all CRSwNP patients[F（1, 14） =24.840, P<0.001], however, the amplitude has no significant surgical effect. Conclusion:FESS could significantly improve the olfactory function of CRSwNP patients, while changes in plasticity may occur in the olfactory cortex. In addition, the preoperative peripheral blood eosinophil granulocyte level can predict the postoperative olfactory improvement.

Clinical value of transcranial sonography combined with olfactory test in early Parkinson′s disease / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective:To explore the adjunctive diagnostic value of transcranial sonography (TCS) combined with olfactory test in early Parkinson′s disease (PD) and the clinical value of both in the cognitive function of PD patients.Methods:TCS and olfactory test were performed in 157 early PD patients(PD group) and 157 healthy controls(control group) in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2018 to January 2022. The differences in clinical characteristics, TCS, and olfactory test results between the two groups were analyzed. The values of TCS, olfactory test, and their combination in diagnosing early PD were evaluated using clinical diagnosis as the gold standard. The correlations of the midbrain area, the midbrain substantia nigra hyperechoic area, and the third ventricle width in TCS examination with the cognitive score were analyzed in the PD group. According to the olfactory test scores, 157 patients with early PD were divided into two groups: 110 cases of PD with olfactory dysfunction (PD-OD) and 47 cases of PD without olfactory dysfunction (PD-NOD). The differences in clinical scores and TCS results between the two groups were compared.Results:The midbrain substantia nigra hyperechoic area, substantia nigra hyperechoic positivity rate, third ventricle width, and olfactory dysfunction rate were higher in the PD group compared to the control group, while the midbrain area and olfactory test scores were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.001). The sensitivity and the coincidence rate of TCS combined with the olfactory test for early PD diagnosis (90.0%, 77.1%) were higher than those of TCS alone (60.0%, 71.3%) and olfactory test alone (70.1%, 72.3%), but the specificity (63.7%) was lower than that of both alone (82.8% for TCS and 75.2% for olfactory test), (all P<0.001). MoCA score, visual space and executive ability, memory, attention, and language were positively correlated with the area of the midbrain ( rs=0.38, 0.32, 0.27, 0.25, 0.23; all P<0.05) and negatively correlated with the width of the third ventricle ( rs=-0.39, -0.22, -0.39, -0.22, -0.32; all P<0.05), and orientation was negatively correlated only with the width of the third ventricle ( rs=-0.24, P<0.05). The MoCA score of PD-OD group[22(18, 25)] was lower than that of PD-NOD group[24(20, 26)]( P=0.040). Conclusions:The combination of TCS and olfactory test can enhance the sensitivity and diagnostic agreement rate for early PD diagnosis, providing some auxiliary value. The cognitive function of PD patients is positively correlated with the midbrain area and negatively correlated with the width of the third ventricle. The cognitive function of PD patients with olfactory dysfunction is lower than that of PD patients without olfactory dysfunction. TCS and olfactory test may help assess cognitive function in PD patients.