Giving a Voice to Patients With Smell Disorders Associated With COVID-19: Cross-Sectional Longitudinal Analysis Using Natural Language Processing of Self-Reports.

Background: Smell disorders are commonly reported with COVID-19 infection. The smell-related issues associated with COVID-19 may be prolonged, even after the respiratory symptoms are resolved. These smell dysfunctions can range from anosmia (complete loss of smell) or hyposmia (reduced sense of smell) to parosmia (smells perceived differently) or phantosmia (smells perceived without an odor source being present).

A follow-up on quantitative and qualitative olfactory dysfunction and other symptoms in patients recovering from COVID-19 smell loss.

Background: Sudden smell loss is a specific early symptom of COVID-19, which, prior to the emergence of Omicron, had estimated prevalence of ~40% to 75%. Chemosensory impairments affect physical and mental health, and dietary behavior. Thus, it is critical to understand the rate and time course of smell recovery.

Accurate Quantification of T Cells in Copy Number Stable and Unstable DNA Samples Using Multiplex Digital PCR.

An accurate T-cell quantification is prognostically and therapeutically relevant in various malignancies. We previously developed a digital PCR-based approach offering a precise T-cell enumeration in small amounts of DNA. However, it may be challenging to apply this method in malignant specimens, as genetic instability can disturb the underlying mathematical model.

Involvement of mutant and wild-type CYSLTR2 in the development and progression of uveal nevi and melanoma.

Background: Activating Gα signalling mutations are considered an early event in the development of uveal melanoma. Whereas most tumours harbour a mutation in GNAQ or GNA11, CYSLTR2 (encoding G-protein coupled receptor CysLTR) forms a rare alternative. The role of wild-type CysLTR in uveal melanoma remains unknown.

Quantification of DNA methylation independent of sodium bisulfite conversion using methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes and digital PCR.

Epigenetic regulation is important in human health and disease, but the exact mechanisms remain largely enigmatic. DNA methylation represents one epigenetic aspect but is challenging to quantify. In this study, we introduce a digital approach for the quantification of the amount and density of DNA methylation.

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Orchid Fruit Development.

Efficient seed dispersal in flowering plants is enabled by the development of fruits, which can be either dehiscent or indehiscent. Dehiscent fruits open at maturity to shatter the seeds, while indehiscent fruits do not open and the seeds are dispersed in various ways. The diversity in fruit morphology and seed shattering mechanisms is enormous within the flowering plants.

Morphological and physiological properties of the A17 amacrine cell of the rat retina.

In addition to the well-studied AII amacrine cell, there is another amacrine cell type participating in the rod pathway of the mammalian retina. In cat, this cell is called the A17 amacrine cell, and in rabbits, it is called the indoleamine-accumulating amacrine cell (S1 and S2); however, the presence of the corresponding cell type has not yet been described in detail for the rat retina. To this end, we injected amacrine cells with Neurobiotin in vertical retinal slices.

The cytoskeleton-associated neuronal calcium-binding protein caldendrin is expressed in a subset of amacrine, bipolar and ganglion cells of the rat retina.

Caldendrin is a novel calcium-binding protein confined to the somatodendritic compartment of neurons. Here we have studied the expression pattern of caldendrin in the rat retina. First we assessed the distribution of caldendrin transcripts in the adult and developing retina by in situ hybridization.

Immune-mediated retinopathy in a patient with stiff-man syndrome.

Background: Stiff-man syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterised by rigidity and violent spasms of the body musculature. In the majority of patients, presence of antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the enzyme synthesizing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), suggests an autoimmune attack against GABA-ergic inhibitory neurons. We report a 32-year-old patient with stiff-man syndrome and anti-GAD antibodies who developed subacute progressive loss of vision in the right eye, and in the left eye 18 months thereafter.

Glycinergic amacrine cells of the rat retina.

Physiological studies of neurons of the inner retina, e.g., of amacrine cells, are now possible in a mammalian retinal slice preparation.

Sensitivity of central units in the goldfish, Carassius auratus, to transient hydrodynamic stimuli.

This study describes the discharges of central units in the medulla of the goldfish, Carassius auratus, to hydrodynamic stimuli received by the lateral line. We stimulated the animal with a small object moving in the water and recorded activity of 85 medullary lateral line units in response to different motion directions and to various object distances, velocities, accelerations and sizes. All but one unit increased discharge rate when the moving object passed the fish laterally.

Chewing gum and lozenges as delivery systems for noscapine.

Chewing gum and lozenges were evaluated as delivery systems for noscapine with the aim of developing improved antitussive preparations. The formulations studied were prepared with both the water-soluble hydrochloride salt of noscapine and with the poorly soluble embonate salt and noscapine free base. The release characteristics of the preparations were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo, and their taste properties examined.