Responsiveness of human nasal mucosa to trigeminal stimuli depends on the site of stimulation.

There is evidence that functionally different areas can be distinguished within the nasal mucosa with regard to stimulation site and stimulus properties. The aim of the present study was the comparison of electrophysiological and psychophysical measures obtained in response to mechanical and chemosomatosensory stimulation of two different regions of the nasal mucosa. A total of 40 volunteers participated in this study (age range 21-36 years).

A new method for comparing orthonasal and retronasal olfaction.

Odors seem to be perceived differently when presented ortho- or retronasally. In this study, stimuli of controlled concentration and duration were applied in either the anterior nasal cavity or epipharynx by means of air-dilution olfactometry. Stimulus concentration was monitored in the olfactory cleft.

Local and systemic administration of corticosteroids in the treatment of olfactory loss.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of patients with olfactory dysfunction from local (group A) or systemic (group B) administration of corticosteroids.

Methods: This unblinded study was conducted at a smell and taste outpatient clinic of an institutional referral center. Patients with olfactory loss after infections of the upper respiratory tract, patients with apparent sinonasal disease, and patients suffering from "idiopathic" smell loss were included.

Assessment of olfactory function and androstenone odor thresholds in humans with or without functional occlusion of the vomeronasal duct.

To obtain information on the possible role of the vomeronasal duct (VND) in odor perception and human pheromone detection, the present study investigated different aspects of olfactory function, including thresholds for androstenone in adults with or without detectable VNDs. The study also examined correlations between detection thresholds of androstenone odor and general olfactory function. Subjects' olfaction was assessed with tests for odor identification, odor discrimination, and phenyl ethyl alcohol odor threshold.

Lipoic acid in the treatment of smell dysfunction following viral infection of the upper respiratory tract.

Objectives/hypothesis: The study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of alpha-lipoic acid in olfactory loss following infections of the upper respiratory tract. Possible mechanisms of actions include the release of nerve growth factor and antioxidative effects, both of which may be helpful in the regeneration of olfactory receptor neurons.

Study Design: Unblinded, prospective clinical trial.

Clinical assessment of retronasal olfactory function.

Objectives: To develop a test kit for the simple assessment of retronasal olfactory function and to compare orthonasal and retronasal olfactory function in healthy subjects and patients with olfactory disorders.

Design And Patients: We tested 230 individuals with normosmia, hyposmia, and anosmia using grocery-available powders. Initially, 30 different substances were investigated.