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The absence, decrease or distortion in olfactory perception has not only been one of the main symptoms in patients affected by the COVID-19 disease within the current pandemic context, but has also constituted one of the sequelae in post-covid patients. Olfactory dysfunctions significantly affect people's quality of life, since it is difficult for them to perceive odors, identify dangerous environmental conditions and perform other functions that depend on the olfactory sense. Although it is true that the etiopathogenesis of many olfactory alterations is mainly related to respiratory infections, such as colds, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea and recently with COVID-19, to date the pathophysiological mechanisms applicable to these alterations have not been clarified. The objective of this article was to clarify the possible mechanisms by which COVID-19 patients present alterations in smell, and thus offer a theoretical reference regarding the influence of SARSCoV-2 virus infection on olfactory tissues. During the development of the topic, the generalities of COVID-19 were addressed, the scientific evidence and the main pathophysiological mechanisms that demonstrate that olfactory dysfunctions are mainly produced by the neurosensory mechanism as an inflammatory response of the immune system before infection with the SARS-CoV virus. 2 and not due to direct injuries to the olfactory epithelium. It is concluded that the presence of olfactory dysfunctions present in COVID-19 patients could be a clinical marker for timely diagnosis and effective treatment from the early stages of the disease, and legitimizes the need for professional preparation to be able to accurately evaluate the system olfactory for the prevention and control of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the research was to determine the association between olfactory alterations and COVID-19 in patients confirmed by molecular RT-PCR test versus healthy patients. The methodology used was quantitative, observational, retrospective, longitudinal, analytical, case-control type that included a pilot sample of 105 patients, 35 cases and 70 controls, treated at the Dr. Publio Escobar hospital, Chimborazo Province, Ecuador., during the period from March 2020 to December 2021. The sampling method was probabilistic of the simple random type; For data collection, the clinical history was used, the data was analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics, and processed using the SPSS version 19.0 software. The results reveal that anosmia was the olfactory alteration with a statistically significant association. The proportion of exposure in the case group was 74.29%, in the control group 57.15%, Odds Ratio(OR)=2.16;[CI: 1.51-32.25]. It is concluded that anosmia is the most frequent olfactory dysfunction among COVID-19 patients, and there is twice as much chance of olfactory disorders associated with COVID-19 patients. The evaluation of olfactory alterations could be an early indicator of COVID-19 within the current pandemic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to analyse the experiences of people affected by olfactory dysfunctions acquired because of Covid 19 and to explore narratives in areas such as memory, emotions, and olfactory territories from anthropology. The theoretical starting point from the olfactorycentrism, an anthropology focusing on corporality, where sensory and emotional fields including memory and olfactory territories are relevant. Body phenomenology and emotions allow for a better insight into the process of interpreting the social and symbolic meanings of the experience of suffering, unrest, and disease which, coupled with an olfactorycentric approach, enrich understanding of this phenomenon in a way that is located and focused on the daily lives of the people affected. The experience of living and living together on a temporary or persistent basis with taste and olfactory alterations and interpreting the olfactory language that expresses feelings and emotions in the most intimate, relational, and social fields has been carried out taking into account a multisensorial ethnographic boarding that emphasized the listen and the body language of the participants. In conclusion, to improve welfare and enjoy the sensations and emotions that smells represent, the four participants in this study consider the recovery of smell to be a fact that should be given greater health and social relevance. In this sense, anthropology has a way forward to contribute to a better and richer understanding of the phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Since the beginning of the Covid-19 epidemic produced by SARS2-Cov virus, olfactory alterations have been observed at a greater frequency than in other coronavirus epidemics. While olfactory alterations may be observed in patients with rhinovirus, influenza virus, or parainfluenza virus infection, they are typically explained by nasal obstruction with mucus or direct epithelial damage; in the case of SARS-CoV-2, olfactory alterations may present without nasal congestion with mucus. We performed a study of patients presenting olfactory/gustatory alterations in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection in order to contribute to the understanding of this phenomenon.Material and Methods: We performed a descriptive, cross-sectional, observational study of the clinical characteristics of olfactory/gustatory alterations using a self-administered, anonymous online questionnaire.Results: A total of 909 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and olfactory/gustatory alterations responded to the questionnaire in the 4-day data collection period; 824 cases (90.65%) reported simultaneous olfactory and gustatory involvement. Patients' responses to the questionnaire revealed ageusia (581, 64.1% of respondents), hypogeusia (256, 28.2%), dysgeusia (22, 2.4%), anosmia (752 82.8%), hyposmia (142, 15.6%), and dysosmia (8, 0.9%). Fifty-four percent (489) did not report concomitant nasal congestion or mucus.Conclusion: Olfactory alterations are frequent in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and is only associated with nasal congestion in half of the cases.

The LRRK2 gene is the major genetic determinant of familiar Parkinson’s disease (PD). Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a multidomain protein involved in several intracellular signaling pathways. A wealth of evidence indicates that LRRK2 is enriched at the presynaptic compartment where it regulates vesicle trafficking and neurotransmitter release. However, whether the role of LRRK2 affects neuronal networks dynamic at systems level remains unknown. Addressing this question is critical to unravel the impact of LRRK2 on brain function. Here, combining behavioral tests, electrophysiological recordings, and functional imaging, we investigated neuronal network dynamics, in vivo, in the olfactory bulb of mice carrying a null mutation in LRRK2 gene (LRRK2 knockout, LRRK2 KO, mice). We found that LRRK2 KO mice exhibit olfactory behavioral deficits. At the circuit level, the lack of LRRK2 expression results in altered gamma rhythms and odorant-evoked activity with significant impairments, while the spontaneous activity exhibited limited alterations. Overall, our data in the olfactory bulb suggest that the multifaced role of LRRK2 has a strong impact at system level when the network is engaged in active sensory processing.

The LRRK2 gene is the major genetic determinant of familiar Parkinson's disease (PD). Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a multidomain protein involved in several intracellular signaling pathways. A wealth of evidence indicates that LRRK2 is enriched at the presynaptic compartment where it regulates vesicle trafficking and neurotransmitter release. However, whether the role of LRRK2 affects neuronal networks dynamic at systems level remains unknown. Addressing this question is critical to unravel the impact of LRRK2 on brain function. Here, combining behavioral tests, electrophysiological recordings, and functional imaging, we investigated neuronal network dynamics, in vivo, in the olfactory bulb of mice carrying a null mutation in LRRK2 gene (LRRK2 knockout, LRRK2 KO, mice). We found that LRRK2 KO mice exhibit olfactory behavioral deficits. At the circuit level, the lack of LRRK2 expression results in altered gamma rhythms and odorant-evoked activity with significant impairments, while the spontaneous activity exhibited limited alterations. Overall, our data in the olfactory bulb suggest that the multifaced role of LRRK2 has a strong impact at system level when the network is engaged in active sensory processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]