Trends in Olfactory Threshold Test Results and Limits of Olfactory Testing in Patients with Parosmia.

Introduction: Parosmia poses a clinical challenge due to a lack of established testing methods, leading to underestimated self-reported symptoms. This study investigated olfactory threshold trends, aiming to highlight parosmia prevalence, analyze threshold patterns, and assess diagnostic potential in current olfactory testing.

Methods: A total of 407 patients who visited our olfactory clinic from April 2009 to September 2015 were categorized into parosmia and non-parosmia groups based on initial visit questionnaires.

Possible roles of phytochemicals with bioactive properties in the prevention of and recovery from COVID-19.

Introduction: There have been large geographical differences in the infection and death rates of COVID-19. Foods and beverages containing high amounts of phytochemicals with bioactive properties were suggested to prevent contracting and to facilitate recovery from COVID-19. The goal of our study was to determine the correlation of the type of foods/beverages people consumed and the risk reduction of contracting COVID-19 and the recovery from COVID-19.

A Nationwide survey of safety protocols and chemosensory assessments by Japanese clinicians pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: There has been an increase of attention and awareness of smell and taste loss due to the impact of COVID-19. However, little is known about the influence of COVID-19 on the number of psychophysical tests performed, the timing of these tests, or the protection protocols employed to protect against virus transmission. This study aimed to explore the changes in examination approaches, types of tests employed, and safety measures adopted by clinicians before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Characteristics of higher depressive tendency in the patients with olfactory disorder.

Objective: Most patients with olfactory dysfunction experience stress and anxiety because of the inconvenience and changes caused by the loss of olfaction. However, psychological assessment is not performed routinely in patients with olfactory dysfunction, and the characteristics of these patients with psychological depression are unclear.

Methods: In this study, we used the Self-rating Depression Scale to evaluate the degree of depression in patients who visited our clinic with olfactory dysfunction and examine the characteristics of these patients with strong depressive tendencies.

Comparison of Patient Characteristics and Olfactory Sensitivity for Trigger Odorants in Parosmia and Phantosmia.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the characteristics of patients with qualitative olfactory dysfunction (qualOD) and whether individuals with parosmia exhibit increased olfactory sensitivity to previously reported odorous triggers of parosmia.

Methods: This study included individuals aged ≥18 years, divided into quantitative OD only, parosmia, and phantosmia groups. Data collected included: clinical-demographic data, "Sniffin' Sticks" scores, questionnaires (depression scale, importance of olfaction), and information about parosmia and phantosmia.

Efficacy of Normalising Serum Zinc Level for Patients with Olfactory Dysfunction and Zinc Deficiency.

Introduction: Zinc deficiency may worsen the severity of olfactory dysfunction; however, the relationship between serum zinc levels and therapeutic effects on olfactory dysfunction remains uncertain. This study investigated the relationship between normalising serum zinc levels and the therapeutic effects on olfactory dysfunction.

Methods: Forty-two patients diagnosed with post-infectious, post-traumatic, and idiopathic olfactory dysfunction, with serum zinc levels <70 μg/dL, were included in the study.

Practical guide for the diagnosis and management of primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Objective: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a relatively rare genetic disorder that affects approximately 1 in 20,000 people. Approximately 50 genes are currently known to cause PCD. In light of differences in causative genes and the medical system in Japan compared with other countries, a practical guide was needed for the diagnosis and management of Japanese PCD patients.

Translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey in Japanese (J-SCHNOS).

Background: Rhinoplasty is one of the most popular plastic surgery techniques. The evaluation of both functional and cosmetic aspects of rhinoplasty is essential for planning and assessing surgery results. The Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey (SCHNOS) is a validated questionnaire used to assess both functional and aesthetic symptoms in patients with nasal problems, and it has been translated into several languages.

A case of recurrent chronic eosinophilic pneumonia after switching from benralizumab to dupilumab.

Dupilumab inhibits interleukin-4Rα and suppresses type 2 inflammation. Careful administration of dupilumab is required because it increases the blood eosinophil count secondary to a decrease in local eosinophil counts, sometimes resulting in eosinophilic complications. We herein report a case of recurrent chronic eosinophilic pneumonia after switching from benralizumab to dupilumab.

Efficacy of tokishakuyakusan and mecobalamin on post-infectious olfactory dysfunction: A prospective multicenter study.

Objective: To determine if tokishakuyakusan (TSS) is effective for treating post-infectious olfactory dysfunction (PIOD) compared with vitamin B (mecobalamin).

Methods: We conducted a randomized, nonblinded clinical trial. Patients with PIOD enrolled in 17 hospitals and clinics from 2016 to 2020 were randomly divided into two groups, and we administered TSS or mecobalamin for 24 weeks.

Olfactory dysfunction in Japanese children with moderate-to-severe allergic rhinitis.

Objective: Detailed quantitative studies on olfaction remain inadequate in patients with paediatric allergic rhinitis (AR). This study examined olfactory dysfunction in children with AR.

Methods: From July 2016 to November 2018, children aged 6-9 years were recruited and grouped as AR (n = 30) or without AR (control group, n = 10).

Characteristics of Extranodal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma, Nasal Type, Compared with Nasal Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma.

Background: Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKL), is an aggressive tumour with poor prognosis. Its early diagnosis may improve the prognosis of patients; however, it is often overlooked in many cases and misdiagnosed as an inflammatory sinus disease during its initial stage. Identifying the clinical characteristics of ENKL may aid otorhinolaryngologists in indicating cases early for a pathologic examination.

Relationship between the severity of olfactory dysfunction and serum zinc levels.

Purpose: Although the association between zinc deficiency and olfactory dysfunction is inconclusive, zinc deficiency causes apoptosis of the olfactory ensheathing cells which is involved in olfactory nerve turnover and axon regeneration, thereby suggesting a possible relationship. We investigated the relationship between serum zinc levels and olfactory function in patients with olfactory dysfunction.

Methods: Ninety patients who had been diagnosed with post-infectious, posttraumatic, drug-induced, neurological and idiopathic olfactory dysfunction were included.

Insight into the mechanisms of olfactory dysfunction by COVID-19.

One of the unique symptoms of COVID-19 is chemosensory dysfunction. Almost three years since the beginning of the pandemic of COVID-19, there have been many studies on the symptoms, progress, and possible causes, and also studies on methods that may facilitate recovery of the senses. Studies have shown that some people recover their senses even within a couple of weeks whereas there are other patients that fail to recover chemosensory functions fully for several months and some never fully recover.

MRI tractography reveals the human olfactory nerve map connecting the olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb.

The olfactory nerve map describes the topographical neural connections between the olfactory epithelium in the nasal cavity and the olfactory bulb. Previous studies have constructed the olfactory nerve maps of rodents using histological analyses or transgenic animal models to investigate olfactory nerve pathways. However, the human olfactory nerve map remains unknown.

Assessment of postviral qualitative olfactory dysfunction using the short SSParoT in patients with and without parosmia.

Purpose: To examine if the short formed Sniffin Sticks Parosmia Test (SSParoT), a test for parosmia can distinguish cases with parosmia from cases without parosmia.

Methods: In this study, 63 patients with postviral olfactory dysfunction were investigated including both COVID and non-COVID cases. The age, symptom duration, degree of parosmia/phantosmia was collected.

A comparison between sniffing and blowing for olfactory testing before and after laryngectomy.

Purpose: Olfactory dysfunction occurs after laryngectomy due to the loss of nasal airflow and inability to sniff. However, the reason for the loss of olfactory function after laryngectomy is unclear on evaluation with sniffing type tests performed individually. It is expected that the sensorineural olfaction remains, and the results of the sniffing test would be negative, while that of the odour-blowing test would be positive.

Aspiration of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea as a Cause of Non-resolving Pneumonia.

We herein report two cases of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea associated with lung infiltrates. One patient presented with symptomatic non-resolving pneumonia, while the other was asymptomatic. In both cases, the lung infiltrates completely resolved when CSF leakage had subsided.

Temporary Storage of the Human Nasal Tissue and Cell Sheet for Wound Repair.

Temporary storage of nasal tissues and nasal cell sheets, which entails transportation between hospitals and cell culture facilities, is an important issue in regenerative medicine. Herein, we investigated the preservation of chilled and frozen nasal tissues and expiry dates of ready-to-use nasal cell sheets. Although the cell number in preserved tissues was lower than that in fresh tissue, nasal cell sheets could be fabricated from tissues that had been refrigerated for 5 days and frozen-thawed over 5 days.

Squamous and Respiratory Metaplasia After Olfactory Mucosal Resection.

Resection of the olfactory mucosa (OM) is sometimes unavoidable during surgery; however, it is not known whether the OM can completely recover thereafter. The aim of this study was to uncover whether the OM fully recovers after mucosal resection and describe the process of OM regeneration. 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats ( = 18) were subjected to OM resection at the nasal septum; six rats were euthanized for histological examination 0, 30, and 90 days after surgery.

Olfactory-cognitive index distinguishes involvement of frontal lobe shrinkage, as in sarcopenia from shrinkage of medial temporal areas, and global brain, as in Kihon Checklist frailty/dependence, in older adults with progression of normal cognition to Alzheimer's disease.

Aim: Olfactory impairment as a prodromal symptom, as well as sarcopenia, frailty and dependence as geriatric syndromes, is often associated with cognitive decline in older adults with progression of Alzheimer's disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the associations of olfactory and cognitive decline with these geriatric syndromes, and with structural changes of the brain in older adults.

Methods: The participants were 135 older adults (47 men and 88 women, mean age 79.