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Comparison of self-reported symptoms and psychophysical tests in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) subjects experiencing long-term olfactory dysfunction: a 6-month follow-up study About 55% (25/45) of the S'S hyposmic patients "self-reported" their olfaction as being recovered, whereas only 72.2% (26/36) of the S'S normosmics reported their smell as normal. Keywords: chemosensation; COVID-19; follow-up; hyposmia; olfaction; olfactory disorders; olfactory test; psychophysical test EN chemosensation COVID-19 follow-up hyposmia olfaction olfactory disorders olfactory test psychophysical test 1592 1595 4 11/26/21 20211101 NES 211101 INTRODUCTION Since the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, China, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread worldwide leading to the current pandemic.1 Olfactory and taste dysfunction (OD, TD) have been included among the most frequent reported symptoms, with a prevalence reported to be 47.85%.2 Studies published on COVID-19-related OD have mainly assessed smell loss using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) such as the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22).1 However, self-reported OD poorly correlates with olfactory tests such as Sniffin' Sticks (S'S).3 The aim of this study is to provide a prospective long-term assessment of COVID-19-related OD using PROMs4 and S'S5 and to investigate their correlation. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of gingival overgrowth (hyperplasia) and to determine whether active molecules affect the severity of overgrowth in a group of epileptic patients. Background: The effects of phenytoin on oral health have been explored in different studies, yet little information is available on other antiepileptic drugs. Methods: Data were collected from 213 subjects of both sexes, from 5 to 80 years. Patients taking the same antiepileptic therapy for at least 1 year and meeting the inclusion criteria of the study (n = 162) were subjected to measurement of gingival overgrowth according to the modified Harris and Ewalt classification and O'Leary's plaque control record (OLR). Descriptive statistics were calculated. Data were analyzed using Pearson's r correlation coefficient and chi‐square test. Significance level was set at 5%. Results: The active drugs lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, and phenobarbital were significantly associated with gingival overgrowth in 61%, 71%, and 53% of cases, respectively, and phenytoin, valproic acid, and carbamazepine in 50%, 44%, and 32% of cases, respectively. Conclusion: Different antiepileptic molecules may be related to gingival overgrowth. In addition to phenytoin, also lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine, and phenobarbital were associated with increased prevalence of gingival overgrowth. In the management of epileptic patients, dentists should take into account different drugs as possible causes for gingival overgrowth and warn for possible alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male rat chemosignals attract females and influence their reproductive status. Through the accessory olfactory bulb and its projection target, the posteromedial cortical nucleus of the amygdala (PMCo), species-specific chemosignals detected by the vomeronasal organ (VNO) may reach the hypothalamus. To test this hypothesis in vivo, behavioural activation and neurotransmitter release in the PMCo were simultaneously monitored in freely moving female oestrus rats exposed to either rat or mouse urinary stimuli, or to odorants. Plasma levels of the luteinizing hormone were subsequently monitored. All stimuli induced an immediate behavioural activation, but only species-specific chemosignals led to a delayed behavioural activation. This biphasic behavioural activation was accompanied by a VNO-mediated release of the excitatory amino acids, aspartate and glutamate, in the PMCo. The late behavioural and neurochemical activation was followed by an increase in the levels of circulating luteinizing hormone. In conclusion, these data show that only species-specific chemosignals induce a delayed behavioural activation and excitatory activation of the PMCo, which is dependent on an intact VNO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The presence and distribution of immunoreactivity for nitric oxide synthase type I and a panel of regulatory neuropeptides was investigated in the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of mouse embryos. Results show that nitric oxide synthase type I is first expressed in putative extrinsic nerve fibers reaching areas of vascular development at embryonic day 16 and in the vomeronasal nerve at embryonic day 15. Immunoreactivity for vasoactive intestinal peptide appears around developing vessels of the VNO during embryonic day 18. No immunoreactivity for atrial natriuretic peptide, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide is present in the VNO. It is concluded that, in the mouse, nitric oxide synthesis is a precocious event in the development of peripheral and central neural vomeronasal structures, representing a very early step in the neurochemical maturation of the VNO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review: 67 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]