Olfactory event-related potentials (OERPs) and trigeminal event-related potentials (TERPs) - a pilot study in Czech participants with normal sense of smell.

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, the evaluation of potential events related to olfactory events (OERPs) and trigeminal events (TERPs) has become increasingly important in the diagnosis of olfactory disorders. This technique is increasingly used in basic research and clinical practice to evaluate people suffering from olfactory disorders. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: In a pilot project of the first investigations of OERPs and TERPs in the Czech Republic, we analyse the event-related potentials of the data of normosmic participants. METHODS: In the prospective study, 21 normosmic participants were enrolled for a 2-year period (5/2021-5/2023). OERPs/TERPs were recorded at the scalp vertex (electrode Pz/Cz). Odourants 2-phenylethanol/CO2 were used to selectively activate Nervus olfactorius/ Nervus trigeminus. Brain responses to olfactory/trigeminal stimuli (EEG) were recorded in 21/18 normosmic subjects. RESULTS: In the statistical analysis of the olfactory interval N1-P2 (age, gender), we found no statistically significant differences. In the statistical analysis of the trigeminal interval N1-P2 (age, gender) we found statistically significant differences in amplitude by gender (male amplitudes were higher than female amplitudes, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Our pilot data can function very well as an internal guide for ongoing and future olfactory research studies. Evaluation of the presence of OERPs appears to be an important parameter for the evaluation of olfactory disorders. The absence of OERPs is a strong indicator of the presence of olfactory dysfunction.

Genome of Helicobacter pylori and Serotype of HPV Detected in Oropharyngeal and Laryngeal Cancer and Chronic Inflammation Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Oropharyngeal/laryngeal carcinoma are common cancers of the upper aerodigestive system. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is described as the most frequent in the cancer of unknown primary. The presence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) in the oral cavity is discussed in some papers. THE AIM OF STUDY: To analyze the incidence of HPV and HP in oropharyngeal/laryngeal cancer persons versus persons with chronic tonsillar inflammation and healthy persons. METHODS: The samples were taken in three groups: (1) tissue of oropharynx/larynx cancer (103 specimens); (2) tissue of palatine tonsils (85 specimens); and (3) healthy control group (50 specimens). We analyzed the presence of HP (PCR) and HPV genomic DNA (Sacace HPV High-Risk Screen Real-TM Quant) in the samples. RESULTS: HP was detected in 86 samples (83.5%) and high-risk HPV in 62 samples (60.2%). We found a very high incidence of HP. In the cancer group, HP was detected in 82.5% cases and HPV positivity in 57.8%. In total, 7.2% of the cancer patients were negative for HP and HPV together. In turn, 53.6% of the cancer patients were positive for HP and HPV together. Four cases (4.2%) were positive for HPV only. VacA positivity was detected in 82 (79.6%) of the cancer cases and VacA negativity in 21 (20.4%) if the cancer cases. The incidence of HP in chronic inflammation (n = 85) was 65 cases (76.5%) and the incidence of HPV was 38 cases (44.7%). VacA positivity was detected in 59 (69.4%) of the chronic inflammation cases and VacA negativity was found in 26 (30.6%) of the chronic inflammation cases. Regarding the control group, we found HP positivity in 5 cases (11.1%) and HPV positivity in 19 cases (42.2%). There was VacA positivity in 6 cases (50.0%) of the control group. Statistically significantly lower prevalence of HP (p < 0.001) and HPV (p = 0.006) was found in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the palatine tonsils are colonized by HP. In our study, HP was present in oropharyngeal cancer in more cases in comparison with HPV infection. The presence of VacA from HP can have an influence on the human epithelial and immune cells' regulation ways. Our results do not support idea that the CagA-positive HP is a primary carcinogen in oropharyngeal area.