ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: After a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, smell disorders frequently occur, significantly affecting patients' quality of life (QoL). METHODS: 110 patients with persistent olfactory disorder after coronavirus infection were enrolled. These patients underwent chemosensory testing using the Sniffin' Sticks test, and completed the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD). RESULTS: 30% of the patients reported anosmia, and 70% reported hyposmia. Upon comparing subjective and chemosensory testing categories, good category matching was observed in 75.3% (i.e., anosmia based on both methods in 10 and hyposmia in 48 cases). Statistical analysis using the Chi-square test revealed a significant result (p = 0.001 *). Between the TDI (i.e., Threshold, Discrimination, Identification) results of the three subjective report groups (i.e., hyposmia, anosmia, and parosmia), no significant differences were observed. When the TDI and QOD results were compared, no consistent significant correlations were found in most TDI and QOD outcomes. Between the TDI and Scale 2 results, a significant, although slight correlation was observed by the Spearman's (rho = 0.213, p = 0.027 *) and Pearson's (rho = 0.201, p = 0.037 *) tests. CONCLUSIONS: The nonsignificant correlation between objective and subjective methods suggests that these results should be interpreted independently. Moreover, adequate management is essential even in mild cases.
ABSTRACT
During the last decades, the prevalence of allergy has dramatically increased. Allergen-specific immunotherapy is the only currently available medical intervention that has the potential to affect the natural course of the disease, but there are still many questions and unmet needs hindering its widespread use to fulfill its treatment potential and maximize its benefits for the society. To provide a comprehensive phenome-wide overview in sublingual immunotherapy, using ragweed allergy as a target, we planned and carried out a longitudinal, prospective, observational, open-label study (DesensIT). In this paper we present challenges of using deep and comprehensive phenotypes embracing biological, clinical and patient-reported outcomes in allergen-specific immunotherapy and show how we designed the DesensIT project to optimize data collection, processing and evaluation.
Subject(s)
Data Collection , Electronic Data Processing , Genome , Hypersensitivity/epidemiology , Medical Records , Patient Reported Outcome Measures , Sublingual Immunotherapy/methods , Allergens/immunology , Allergens/therapeutic use , Ambrosia/immunology , Antigens, Plant/immunology , Antigens, Plant/therapeutic use , Clinical Decision-Making , Humans , Hypersensitivity/genetics , Phenotype , Precision Medicine , Prospective StudiesSubject(s)
Light , Nasal Polyps/radiotherapy , Ultraviolet Rays , Adult , Aged , Eosinophils/immunology , Eosinophils/radiation effects , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nasal Polyps/immunology , Nasal Polyps/pathology , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Phototherapy , Prospective Studies , Sensory Thresholds/radiation effects , Severity of Illness Index , Smell/physiology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Platelets are known for their key role in hemostasis and controlling the bleeding after injury. The fact that platelets secrete growth factors and active metabolites means that their applied use can have a positive influence in clinical situations requiring rapid healing and tissue regeneration. OBJECTIVES: Platelet Rich Plasma has been described as a promising but unproven therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Whole blood was undergoing one stage of centrifugation. The whole blood was then separated into three layers. One ml of the lowest layer of plasma was administered to the patient's nose. RESULTS: After the third and finally the fourth therapy, 4 of 5 patients said that "their smell came back", while the remaining one patient said that he could smell a lot but not everything. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, platelet rich plasma administration to the olfactory region could be a promising, last chance therapy for complete anosmia.
Subject(s)
Nasal Cavity , Olfaction Disorders/therapy , Platelet-Rich Plasma , Recovery of Function/physiology , Female , Humans , Injections, Intralesional , Male , Olfaction Disorders/diagnosis , Sampling Studies , Severity of Illness Index , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Our aim was to study the association of Pro12Ala and exon6 C161T polymorphisms of PPARgamma and intron7 G/C polymorphisms of PPAR-alpha with clinical symptoms, peak nasal inspiratory flow values, serum soluble TNF-alpha, TNF-R1, Fas, Fas ligand and IgE concentrations in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis during and after pollen season. We performed a follow-up study of 66 Hungarian patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and 180 healthy referent subjects. We used PCR-RFLP technique and ELISA. The distribution of mutant alleles of PPAR-gamma and -alpha did not differ in patients and referent subjects. Patients carrying the mutant 12Ala, exon6 161T alleles of PPAR-gamma and intron7 C allele of PPAR-alpha had significantly higher clinical symptom score values, TNF-alpha and IgE levels and lower peak nasal inspiratory flow values during and after pollen season. The results indicated that nuclear receptors PPAR-gamma and PPAR-alpha are involved in the regulation of inflammatory mediator production in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and polymorphisms of the receptors are very likely to contribute to the heterogeneity of clinical and immunological parameters of allergic patients.
Subject(s)
Alleles , Cytokines/blood , PPAR alpha/genetics , PPAR gamma/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/genetics , Adult , Exons/genetics , Female , Gene Frequency/genetics , Humans , Introns/genetics , MaleABSTRACT
Our objective was to determine the frequency of TNF-alpha -238, -308 G/A promoter and TLR-4 299 D/G and 399 T/I polymorphisms in healthy population and in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, and to examine its influences on serum TNF-alpha, TNF receptor-1, Fas, Fas-ligand, IgE levels and on clinical symptoms. A pilot study was performed in 66 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis to ragweed pollen and 161 non-allergic subjects using PCR-RFLP technique and ELISA. Carriers of the -238A and -308G alleles have significantly higher TNF-alpha and IgE levels, clinical score values and lower peak nasal flow (PNIF) values during and after ragweed pollen season. Patients with the 299G/399I alleles of the TLR-4 gene have significantly lower TNF-alpha, Fas, FasL and IgE levels, clinical scores and higher PNIF values during and after pollen season. The -238A and -308G polymorphisms of the TNF-alpha promoter and 299D/399T polymorphisms of the TLR-4 gene are associated with more pronounced clinical symptoms, higher cytokine and IgE levels, and low PNIF values. These polymorphisms are very likely to contribute to the heterogeneity of clinical and laboratory parameters of patients.
