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1.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 8809, 2024 Oct 22.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39438441

RESUMO

Olfaction may play a restricted role in human behavior, yet paradoxically, its absence in anosmia is associated with diverse deleterious outcomes, culminating in reduced life expectancy. The mammalian nose serves two purposes: olfaction and breathing. Because respiratory patterns are impacted by odors, we hypothesized that nasal respiratory airflow may be altered in anosmia. We apply a wearable device that precisely logs nasal airflow for 24-hour-long sessions in participants with isolated congenital anosmia and controls. We observe significantly altered patterns of respiratory nasal airflow in anosmia in wake and in sleep. These differences allow classification of anosmia at 83% accuracy using the respiratory trace alone. Patterns of respiratory airflow have pronounced impact on health, emotion and cognition. We therefore suggest that a portion of the deleterious outcomes associated with anosmia may be attributed to altered patterns of respiratory nasal airflow rather than a direct result of lost odor perception per se.


Assuntos
Anosmia , Respiração , Olfato , Humanos , Adulto , Olfato/fisiologia , Masculino , Feminino , Anosmia/fisiopatologia , Sono/fisiologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Odorantes , Adulto Jovem , Dispositivos Eletrônicos Vestíveis , Nariz/fisiopatologia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Transtornos do Olfato/congênito
2.
Commun Med (Lond) ; 2: 34, 2022.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35603293

RESUMO

Background: Key to curtailing the COVID-19 pandemic are wide-scale screening strategies. An ideal screen is one that would not rely on transporting, distributing, and collecting physical specimens. Given the olfactory impairment associated with COVID-19, we developed a perceptual measure of olfaction that relies on smelling household odorants and rating them online. Methods: Each participant was instructed to select 5 household items, and rate their perceived odor pleasantness and intensity using an online visual analogue scale. We used this data to assign an olfactory perceptual fingerprint, a value that reflects the perceived difference between odorants. We tested the performance of this real-time tool in a total of 13,484 participants (462 COVID-19 positive) from 134 countries who provided 178,820 perceptual ratings of 60 different household odorants. Results: We observe that olfactory ratings are indicative of COVID-19 status in a country, significantly correlating with national infection rates over time. More importantly, we observe indicative power at the individual level (79% sensitivity and 87% specificity). Critically, this olfactory screen remains effective in participants with COVID-19 but without symptoms, and in participants with symptoms but without COVID-19. Conclusions: The current odorant-based olfactory screen adds a component to online symptom-checkers, to potentially provide an added first line of defense that can help fight disease progression at the population level. The data derived from this tool may allow better understanding of the link between COVID-19 and olfaction.

3.
PLoS One ; 16(6): e0252121, 2021.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34077435

RESUMO

Rapid diagnosis is key to curtailing the Covid-19 pandemic. One path to such rapid diagnosis may rely on identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the infected body, or in other words, identifying the smell of the infection. Consistent with this rationale, dogs can use their nose to identify Covid-19 patients. Given the scale of the pandemic, however, animal deployment is a challenging solution. In contrast, electronic noses (eNoses) are machines aimed at mimicking animal olfaction, and these can be deployed at scale. To test the hypothesis that SARS CoV-2 infection is associated with a body-odor detectable by an eNose, we placed a generic eNose in-line at a drive-through testing station. We applied a deep learning classifier to the eNose measurements, and achieved real-time detection of SARS CoV-2 infection at a level significantly better than chance, for both symptomatic and non-symptomatic participants. This proof of concept with a generic eNose implies that an optimized eNose may allow effective real-time diagnosis, which would provide for extensive relief in the Covid-19 pandemic.


Assuntos
COVID-19/diagnóstico , SARS-CoV-2/genética , Compostos Orgânicos Voláteis/análise , Adulto , Aprendizado Profundo , Nariz Eletrônico/tendências , Feminino , Humanos , Israel/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pandemias , Estudo de Prova de Conceito , SARS-CoV-2/metabolismo , SARS-CoV-2/patogenicidade
4.
Elife ; 92020 09 29.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32988456

RESUMO

Mammalian olfaction and reproduction are tightly linked, a link less explored in humans. Here, we asked whether human unexplained repeated pregnancy loss (uRPL) is associated with altered olfaction, and particularly altered olfactory responses to body-odor. We found that whereas most women with uRPL could identify the body-odor of their spouse, most control women could not. Moreover, women with uRPL rated the perceptual attributes of men's body-odor differently from controls. These pronounced differences were accompanied by an only modest albeit significant advantage in ordinary, non-body-odor-related olfaction in uRPL. Next, using structural and functional brain imaging, we found that in comparison to controls, most women with uRPL had smaller olfactory bulbs, yet increased hypothalamic response in association with men's body-odor. These findings combine to suggest altered olfactory perceptual and brain responses in women experiencing uRPL, particularly in relation to men's body-odor. Whether this link has any causal aspects to it remains to be explored.


Assuntos
Aborto Habitual/fisiopatologia , Hipotálamo , Transtornos do Olfato , Bulbo Olfatório , Olfato/fisiologia , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Hipotálamo/anatomia & histologia , Hipotálamo/diagnóstico por imagem , Hipotálamo/metabolismo , Masculino , Odorantes/análise , Transtornos do Olfato/diagnóstico por imagem , Transtornos do Olfato/fisiopatologia , Bulbo Olfatório/anatomia & histologia , Bulbo Olfatório/diagnóstico por imagem , Bulbo Olfatório/metabolismo , Córtex Pré-Frontal/anatomia & histologia , Córtex Pré-Frontal/diagnóstico por imagem , Gravidez
5.
Chem Senses ; 2020 May 22.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32441744

RESUMO

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, countries have implemented various strategies to reduce and slow the spread of the disease in the general population. For countries that have implemented restrictions on its population in a step-wise manner, monitoring of COVID-19 prevalence is of importance to guide decision on when to impose new, or when to abolish old, restrictions. We are here determining whether measures of odor intensity in a large sample can serve as one such measure. Online measures of how intense common household odors are perceived and symptoms of COVID-19 were collected from 2440 Swedes. Average odor intensity ratings were then compared to predicted COVID-19 population prevalence over time in the Swedish population and were found to closely track each other (r=-0.83). Moreover, we found that there was a large difference in rated intensity between individuals with and without COVID-19 symptoms and number of symptoms was related to odor intensity ratings. Finally, we found that individuals progressing from reporting no symptoms to subsequently reporting COVID-19 symptoms demonstrated a large drop in olfactory performance. These data suggest that measures of odor intensity, if obtained in a large and representative sample, can be used as an indicator of COVID-19 disease in the general population. Importantly, this simple measure could easily be implemented in countries without widespread access to COVID-19 testing or implemented as a fast early response before wide-spread testing can be facilitated.

6.
Neuron ; 105(1): 35-45.e5, 2020 01 08.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31706696

RESUMO

The olfactory bulbs (OBs) are the first site of odor representation in the mammalian brain, and their unique ultrastructure is considered a necessary substrate for spatiotemporal coding of smell. Given this, we were struck by the serendipitous observation at MRI of two otherwise healthy young left-handed women, yet with no apparent OBs. Standardized tests revealed normal odor awareness, detection, discrimination, identification, and representation. Functional MRI of these women's brains revealed that odorant-induced activity in piriform cortex, the primary OB target, was similar in its extent to that of intact controls. Finally, review of a public brain-MRI database with 1,113 participants (606 women) also tested for olfactory performance, uncovered olfaction without anatomically defined OBs in ∼0.6% of women and ∼4.25% of left-handed women. Thus, humans can perform the basic facets of olfaction without canonical OBs, implying extreme plasticity in the functional neuroanatomy of this sensory system.


Assuntos
Bulbo Olfatório/patologia , Percepção Olfatória/fisiologia , Córtex Piriforme/fisiologia , Adulto , Bases de Dados Factuais/estatística & dados numéricos , Feminino , Lateralidade Funcional/fisiologia , Humanos , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Neuroimagem , Caracteres Sexuais
8.
ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec ; 81(5-6): 304-308, 2019.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31499507

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To compare the level of the inflammatory markers (IM) neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) among healthy subjects and those presenting with vestibular neuritis (VN). METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary hospital setting. The medical records of patients (20-60 years old) who were hospitalized between the years 2005 and 2014 with the diagnosis of VN were retrieved. Inclusion criteria were: (1) acute vertigo lasting for at least 24 h, (2) absence of auditory complaints, (3) presence of horizontal unidirectional nystagmus during physical examination, (4) absence of neurological symptoms or signs. The levels of the IM were compared with levels reported among two large cohorts of healthy subjects, within the same age range. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was found between the levels of NLR in VN subjects compared with controls, with higher levels of NLR in VN subjects (p < 0.001), while no significant difference was found between both groups concerning the levels of PLR. CONCLUSION: Higher levels of IM were found among VN patients, with significantly higher levels of NLR, but not PLR. This may suggest a possible inflammatory etiology of VN.


Assuntos
Neuronite Vestibular/sangue , Adulto , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Contagem de Leucócitos , Contagem de Linfócitos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neutrófilos , Contagem de Plaquetas , Estudos Retrospectivos , Neuronite Vestibular/tratamento farmacológico
9.
J Int Adv Otol ; 14(3): 437-442, 2018 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30541733

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: To study the compliance of ear, nose, and throat (ENT) physicians to the American Association Otolaryngology-Head - Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for tinnitus and to identify the disparity of both diagnosis and management options in the absence of a local protocol for the management of adult tinnitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A voluntary and anonymous questionnaire was emailed in a Google spread-out sheet format to all practicing ENT physicians across the country (n=370). Overall, 126 ENT physicians responded to the questionnaire (34% of the physicians to whom the questionnaire was sent). RESULTS: Medical history focuses on tinnitus characteristics and otological signs, and symptoms are often queried (80%-98%). Physicians routinely perform an otoscopic examination, whereas other relevant possible physical findings, such as temporomandibular joint disorders or neck trauma, are less frequently examined. Treating physicians have the most frequent recourse to sound therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy in accordance with AAO-HNS CPG. CONCLUSION: The publication of the AAO-HNS CPG for tinnitus is important, permitting a common approach for the diagnosis and management of primary tinnitus (PT). A diagnosis and management scheme that takes into consideration both the AAO-HNS CPG for tinnitus as well as physician diagnosis and management paradigms is suggested.


Assuntos
Fidelidade a Diretrizes/estatística & dados numéricos , Otolaringologia/estatística & dados numéricos , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto , Padrões de Prática Médica/estatística & dados numéricos , Zumbido , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , Israel , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Otolaringologia/normas , Inquéritos e Questionários
10.
J Biotechnol ; 267: 45-49, 2018 Feb 10.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29292129

RESUMO

Improved easy-to-use diagnostic tools for infections are in strong demand worldwide. Yet, despite dramatic advances in diagnostic technologies, the gold-standard remains culturing. Here we offer an alternative tool demonstrating that a bacterial biosensor can efficiently detect Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in patients suffering from otitis externa. Detection was based on specific binding between the biosensor and 2-aminoacetophenone (2-AA), a volatile produced by P. aeruginosa in high amounts. We collected pus samples from ears of 26 subjects exhibiting symptoms of otitis externa. Detection of P. aeruginosa using the biosensor was compared to detection using gold-standard culturing assay and to gas-chromatograph-mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses of 2-AA. The biosensor strain test matched the culture assay in 24 samples (92%) and the GC-MS analyses in 25 samples (96%). With this result in hand, we designed a device containing a whole-cell luminescent biosensor combined with a photo-multiplier tube. This device allowed detection of 2-AA at levels as low as 2 nmol, on par with detection level of GC-MS. The results of the described study demonstrate that the volatile 2-AA serves as an effective biomarker for P. aeruginosa in ear infections, and that activation of the biosensor strain by 2-AA provides a unique opportunity to design an easy-to-use device that can specifically detect P. aeruginosa infections.


Assuntos
Acetofenonas/isolamento & purificação , Técnicas Biossensoriais , Otite Externa/diagnóstico , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/isolamento & purificação , Acetofenonas/química , Cromatografia Gasosa-Espectrometria de Massas , Humanos , Otite Externa/microbiologia , Infecções por Pseudomonas/diagnóstico , Infecções por Pseudomonas/microbiologia , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/química
11.
Eur J Hum Genet ; 25(12): 1377-1387, 2017 12.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29255181

RESUMO

We performed whole exome or genome sequencing in eight multiply affected families with ostensibly isolated congenital anosmia. Hypothesis-free analyses based on the assumption of fully penetrant recessive/dominant/X-linked models obtained no strong single candidate variant in any of these families. In total, these eight families showed 548 rare segregating variants that were predicted to be damaging, in 510 genes. Three Kallmann syndrome genes (FGFR1, SEMA3A, and CHD7) were identified. We performed permutation-based analysis to test for overall enrichment of these 510 genes carrying these 548 variants with genes mutated in Kallmann syndrome and with a control set of genes mutated in hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism without anosmia. The variants were found to be enriched for Kallmann syndrome genes (3 observed vs. 0.398 expected, p = 0.007), but not for the second set of genes. Among these three variants, two have been already reported in genes related to syndromic anosmia (FGFR1 (p.(R250W)), CHD7 (p.(L2806V))) and one was novel (SEMA3A (p.(T717I))). To replicate these findings, we performed targeted sequencing of 16 genes involved in Kallmann syndrome and hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism in 29 additional families, mostly singletons. This yielded an additional 6 variants in 5 Kallmann syndrome genes (PROKR2, SEMA3A, CHD7, PROK2, ANOS1), two of them already reported to cause Kallmann syndrome. In all, our study suggests involvement of 6 syndromic Kallmann genes in isolated anosmia. Further, we report a yet unreported appearance of di-genic inheritance in a family with congenital isolated anosmia. These results are consistent with a complex molecular basis of congenital anosmia.


Assuntos
Síndrome de Kallmann/genética , Transtornos do Olfato/congênito , DNA Helicases/genética , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/genética , Proteínas da Matriz Extracelular/genética , Feminino , Hormônios Gastrointestinais/genética , Humanos , Masculino , Proteínas do Tecido Nervoso/genética , Neuropeptídeos/genética , Transtornos do Olfato/genética , Transtornos do Olfato/patologia , Linhagem , Receptor Tipo 1 de Fator de Crescimento de Fibroblastos/genética , Semaforina-3A/genética , Sequenciamento do Exoma
12.
Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol ; 126(8): 597-601, 2017 Aug.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28718302

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and vestibular neuritis (VN) in hospitalized adult patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary hospital setting. The medical records of patients (aged over 18 years old) who were hospitalized between the years 2005 and 2014 with the diagnosis of VN were retrieved. Inclusion criteria were: (1) acute vertigo lasting for at least 24 hours, (2) absence of auditory complaints, (3) horizontal unidirectional nystagmus present during physical examination, and (4) absence of neurological symptoms or signs. The ratio of CVRFs among VN patients was compared to the ratio of those among the general Israeli population. RESULTS: A significantly higher prevalence of CVRFs was found among VN hospitalized patients in comparison to the general population ( P < .05). Furthermore, a significant correlation ( P < .001) was found between the patients' age and the number of CVRFs (r = .387). A positive correlation (r = .643) was found between the number of CVRFs and VN in each age group ( P = .119). CONCLUSION: There may be a possible interrelation between CVRFs and VN. This correlation can be caused by occlusion of small blood vessels leading to labyrinthine ischemia and apparition of symptoms of VN.


Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiologia , Hiperlipidemias/epidemiologia , Hipertensão/epidemiologia , Obesidade/epidemiologia , Comportamento Sedentário , Fumar/epidemiologia , Neuronite Vestibular/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Doenças Cardiovasculares/epidemiologia , Doença das Coronárias/genética , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Hospitalização , Humanos , Masculino , Anamnese , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Nistagmo Patológico/epidemiologia , Nistagmo Patológico/etiologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Fatores Sexuais , Centros de Atenção Terciária , Vertigem/epidemiologia , Vertigem/etiologia , Neuronite Vestibular/complicações , Adulto Jovem
13.
IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng ; 25(9): 1461-1471, 2017 09.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28166501

RESUMO

Individuals with cervical spinal cord lesions (SCLs) typically depend on caregivers to manually assist in coughing by pressing against their abdominal wall. Coughing can also be assisted by functional electric stimulation (FES) applied to abdominal muscles via surface electrodes. Efficacy of FES, however, depends on precise temporal synchronization. The sniff controller is a trigger that enables paralyzed individuals to precisely control external devices through alterations in nasal airflow. We hypothesized that FES self-triggering by sniff controller may allow for effective cough timing. After optimizing parameters in 16 able-bodied subjects, we measured peak expiratory flow (PEF) in 14 subjects with SCL who coughed with or without assistance. Assistance was either manual assistance of a caregiver, caregiver activated FES, button self-activated FES (for SCL participants who could press a button), or sniff-controlled self-activated FES. We found that all assisted methods provided equally effective improvements, increasing PEF on average by 25 ± 27% (F[4,52] = 7.99, p = 0.00004 ). There was no difference in efficacy between methods of assistance ( F[3,39] = 0.41, p = 0.75 ). Notably, sniff-controlled FES was the only method of those tested that can be activated by all paralyzed patients alone. This provides for added independence that is a critical factor in quality of life following SCL.


Assuntos
Biorretroalimentação Psicológica/instrumentação , Terapia por Estimulação Elétrica/métodos , Respiração Artificial/instrumentação , Insuficiência Respiratória/reabilitação , Músculos Respiratórios , Traumatismos da Medula Espinal/reabilitação , Músculos Abdominais , Adulto , Biorretroalimentação Psicológica/métodos , Testes Respiratórios/instrumentação , Medula Cervical/lesões , Nariz Eletrônico , Desenho de Equipamento , Análise de Falha de Equipamento , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Respiração Artificial/métodos , Insuficiência Respiratória/diagnóstico , Insuficiência Respiratória/etiologia , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Traumatismos da Medula Espinal/diagnóstico , Traumatismos da Medula Espinal/etiologia , Terapia Assistida por Computador/instrumentação , Terapia Assistida por Computador/métodos , Resultado do Tratamento , Adulto Jovem
14.
Cereb Cortex ; 26(11): 4180-4191, 2016 Oct 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27591145

RESUMO

Rules linking patterns of olfactory receptor neuron activation in the nose to activity patterns in the brain and ensuing odor perception remain poorly understood. Artificially stimulating olfactory neurons with electrical currents and measuring ensuing perception may uncover these rules. We therefore inserted an electrode into the nose of 50 human volunteers and applied various currents for about an hour in each case. This induced assorted non-olfactory sensations but never once the perception of odor. To validate contact with the olfactory path, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure resting-state brain activity in 18 subjects before and after un-sensed stimulation. We observed stimulation-induced neural decorrelation specifically in primary olfactory cortex, implying contact with the olfactory path. These results suggest that indiscriminate olfactory activation does not equate with odor perception. Moreover, this effort serendipitously uncovered a novel path for minimally invasive brain stimulation through the nose.

15.
Pediatr Infect Dis J ; 35(1): 30-4, 2016 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26398740

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Acute mastoiditis (AM) can be clinically diagnosed, with an option for supplemental imaging: computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Debate widely exists whether clinical diagnosis alone is sufficient, in view of the risk of missing undetected complications. We sought to study the reasons leading to the performance of an imaging study during AM course. METHODS: Medical records of children younger than 8 years who were admitted from 2005 to 2014 with AM were retrospectively reviewed. Data included medical history, signs and symptoms, laboratory results, imaging studies, treatment methods and final outcomes. RESULTS: Eighty-six children were diagnosed with 88 AM episodes. Of the AM episodes, 55 (63%) were in boys and 46 (52%) were in children younger than 2 years. All children were treated with parenteral antibiotics, and 82 (95%) underwent myringotomy on admission. Only 20 (23%) children underwent imaging studies, on the 6th median day. Of those, 20 (100%) children underwent CT scans, and 3 (15%) underwent additional MRI studies. The reasons for imaging studies included suspected subperiosteal abscess (9 of 20, 45%), lack of improvement despite adequate medical therapy (7, 35%) and focal neurological signs (4, 20%). Sixteen (16%) children underwent surgery for these pathologies: subperiosteal abscesses (n = 12,), jugular vein thrombosis (n = 2), perisinus empyema (n = 2), epidural abscess (n = 2) and Luc abscess (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS: Most children presenting with AM can be diagnosed clinically and do well with intravenous antibiotics and myringotomy. CT and MRI imaging should be reserved for children with suspected AM-related intracranial complications.


Assuntos
Mastoidite/diagnóstico , Mastoidite/epidemiologia , Doença Aguda , Fatores Etários , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Gerenciamento Clínico , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Masculino , Mastoidite/etiologia , Mastoidite/terapia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X , Resultado do Tratamento
16.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 112(28): 8750-5, 2015 Jul 14.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26100865

RESUMO

Each person expresses a potentially unique subset of ∼ 400 different olfactory receptor subtypes. Given that the receptors we express partially determine the odors we smell, it follows that each person may have a unique nose; to capture this, we devised a sensitive test of olfactory perception we termed the "olfactory fingerprint." Olfactory fingerprints relied on matrices of perceived odorant similarity derived from descriptors applied to the odorants. We initially fingerprinted 89 individuals using 28 odors and 54 descriptors. We found that each person had a unique olfactory fingerprint (P < 10(-10)), which was odor specific but descriptor independent. We could identify individuals from this pool using randomly selected sets of 7 odors and 11 descriptors alone. Extrapolating from this data, we determined that using 34 odors and 35 descriptors we could individually identify each of the 7 billion people on earth. Olfactory perception, however, fluctuates over time, calling into question our proposed perceptual readout of presumably stable genetic makeup. To test whether fingerprints remain informative despite this temporal fluctuation, building on the linkage between olfactory receptors and HLA, we hypothesized that olfactory perception may relate to HLA. We obtained olfactory fingerprints and HLA typing for 130 individuals, and found that olfactory fingerprint matching using only four odorants was significantly related to HLA matching (P < 10(-4)), such that olfactory fingerprints can save 32% of HLA tests in a population screen (P < 10(-6)). In conclusion, a precise measure of olfactory perception reveals meaningful nonolfactory genetic information.


Assuntos
Percepção Olfatória , Adulto , Feminino , Antígenos HLA/imunologia , Humanos , Masculino , Odorantes , Percepção Olfatória/genética , Adulto Jovem
17.
Behav Brain Res ; 272: 66-74, 2014 Oct 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24973535

RESUMO

We hypothesize that true human olfactory abilities are obscured by cortical inhibition. Alcohol reduces inhibition. We therefore tested the hypothesis that olfactory abilities will improve following alcohol consumption. We measured olfaction in 85 subjects, 45 in a between-subjects design, and 40 in a repeated-measures within-subjects design before and after consumption of alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages. Subjects were also assessed using neurocognitive measures of inhibition. Following alcohol consumption, blood alcohol levels ranged from 0.005% to 0.11%. Across subjects, before any consumption of alcohol, we found that individuals who were less inhibited had lower (better) olfactory detection thresholds (r=0.68, p<0.005). Moreover, after alcohol consumption, subjects with low alcohol levels could make olfactory discriminations that subjects with 0% alcohol could not make (chance=33%, alcohol=51.3±22.7%, control=34.7±31.6%, t(43)=2.03, p<0.05). Within subjects, we found correlations between levels of alcohol and olfactory detection (r=0.63, p<0.005) and discrimination (r=-0.50, p<0.05), such that performance was improved at low levels of alcohol (significantly better than baseline for detection) and deteriorated at higher levels of alcohol. Finally, levels of alcohol-induced improved olfactory discrimination were correlated with levels of alcohol-induced cognitive disinhibition (r=0.48, p<0.05). Although we cannot rule out alternative non-inhibitory alcohol-induced routes of influence, we conclude that improved olfaction at low levels of alcohol supports the notion of an inhibitory mechanism obscuring true olfactory abilities.


Assuntos
Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/fisiopatologia , Depressores do Sistema Nervoso Central/administração & dosagem , Etanol/administração & dosagem , Inibição Psicológica , Percepção Olfatória/efeitos dos fármacos , Adulto , Cognição/efeitos dos fármacos , Discriminação Psicológica/efeitos dos fármacos , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Função Executiva/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Motivação/efeitos dos fármacos , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Percepção Olfatória/fisiologia , Estimulação Física , Psicofísica , Limiar Sensorial/efeitos dos fármacos , Teste de Stroop , Adulto Jovem
18.
Nat Neurosci ; 14(11): 1455-61, 2011 Sep 25.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21946326

RESUMO

Organization of receptive surfaces reflects primary axes of perception. In vision, retinal coordinates reflect spatial coordinates. In audition, cochlear coordinates reflect tonal coordinates. However, the rules underlying the organization of the olfactory receptive surface are unknown. To test the hypothesis that organization of the olfactory epithelium reflects olfactory perception, we inserted an electrode into the human olfactory epithelium to directly measure odorant-induced evoked responses. We found that pairwise differences in odorant pleasantness predicted pairwise differences in response magnitude; that is, a location that responded maximally to a pleasant odorant was likely to respond strongly to other pleasant odorants, and a location that responded maximally to an unpleasant odorant was likely to respond strongly to other unpleasant odorants. Moreover, the extent of an individual's perceptual span predicted their span in evoked response. This suggests that, similarly to receptor surfaces for vision and audition, organization of the olfactory receptor surface reflects key axes of perception.


Assuntos
Neurônios/fisiologia , Mucosa Olfatória/citologia , Percepção Olfatória/fisiologia , Olfato/fisiologia , Adulto , Análise de Variância , Área Sob a Curva , Fenômenos Químicos , Eletroculografia/métodos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Odorantes , Condutos Olfatórios/fisiologia , Prazer/fisiologia , Tempo de Reação/efeitos dos fármacos , Estimulação Química , Fatores de Tempo
19.
Int J Audiol ; 50(6): 426-30, 2011 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21413845

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To establish a Hebrew version of the English THI. DESIGN: The English THI (THI-E) was translated into Hebrew by two bilingual investigators, independently. A third investigator then constructed the final Hebrew THI version (THI-H) from the two translations. This version was administered to fifty consecutive patients at the tinnitus clinic. Participants also assessed tinnitus severity and loudness, and completed the Hebrew versions of the Beck's depression inventory and the state anxiety inventory. STUDY SAMPLE: The participants were fifty consecutive patients (older than 18 years of age, with a tinnitus lasting over three months) who were referred to a tinnitus clinic (none of them declared compensation seeking). RESULTS: A very good internal consistency was found (α = 0.93), with significant correlation between the subscales of the THI-H and the Beck depression inventory score and the state anxiety inventory score. CONCLUSIONS: A valid and reliable THI-H questionnaire was constructed.


Assuntos
Avaliação da Deficiência , Idioma , Inquéritos e Questionários , Zumbido/diagnóstico , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Ansiedade/etiologia , Características Culturais , Depressão/etiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Israel , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Zumbido/fisiopatologia , Zumbido/psicologia , Adulto Jovem
20.
Science ; 331(6014): 226-30, 2011 Jan 14.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21212322

RESUMO

Emotional tearing is a poorly understood behavior that is considered uniquely human. In mice, tears serve as a chemosignal. We therefore hypothesized that human tears may similarly serve a chemosignaling function. We found that merely sniffing negative-emotion-related odorless tears obtained from women donors induced reductions in sexual appeal attributed by men to pictures of women's faces. Moreover, after sniffing such tears, men experienced reduced self-rated sexual arousal, reduced physiological measures of arousal, and reduced levels of testosterone. Finally, functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed that sniffing women's tears selectively reduced activity in brain substrates of sexual arousal in men.


Assuntos
Nível de Alerta , Encéfalo/fisiologia , Emoções , Feromônios Humano/análise , Comportamento Sexual , Lágrimas/química , Testosterona/análise , Adulto , Afeto , Método Duplo-Cego , Face , Feminino , Humanos , Hipotálamo/fisiologia , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Masculino , Odorantes , Saliva/química , Caracteres Sexuais , Olfato , Lobo Temporal/fisiologia , Adulto Jovem
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