磁共振测量嗅球容积在阿尔茨海默病早期诊断中的价值

目的:研究阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’ disease,AD)嗅球容积变化,探讨嗅球容积测定用于AD早期诊断的可能性。方法:轻度AD患者及正常对照各31例,磁共振(magnetic resonance imaging,MRI)测量海马体积及嗅球容积,简易精神状态量表(mini-mental status examination,MMSE)评价整体认知功能,分析海马体积、嗅球容积与MMSE分值的关系。结果:轻度AD组嗅球容积(115.39 ± 5.76) mm3和经颅腔容积校正的嗅球容积(82.59 ± 7.85) mm3均明显小于正常对照组的(126.96 ± 9.79) mm3及(94.53 ± 9.88) mm3 (P < 0.01)。AD组嗅球容积与MMSE评分呈正相关(r = 0.49,P < 0.05)。轻度AD组海马体积(2.07 ± 0.30) mm3明显小于正常对照组(2.37 ± 0.35) mm3 (P < 0.01)。AD组海马体积与MMSE评分呈正相关(r = 0.44,P < 0.05)。AD组嗅球容积与海马体积呈正相关(r = 0.69,P < 0.01)。MRI测量嗅球容积诊断轻度AD的特异性和敏感性分别为0.65和0.78,测量海马体积诊断轻度AD的特异性和敏感性分别为0.91和0.74。结论:轻度AD患者嗅球容积明显缩小,并与认知功能减退正相关,但MRI测量嗅球容积诊断轻度AD的准确性不如测量海马体积。     

阿尔茨海默病患者神经心理学改变与氢质子磁共振波谱相关性研究

目的 分析不同痴呆程度阿尔茨海默病（AD）患者神经心理学改变与氢质子磁共振波谱（1H-MRS）之间的相关性.方法 按AD诊断标准、临床痴呆评定量表（CDR）纳入AD患者30例,分为轻度痴呆组、中度痴呆组、重度痴呆组,每组10例.对每例AD患者进行简易智能状态检查量表（MMSE）、日常生活能力量表（ADL）、社会功能活动量表（FAQ）、WAIS数字广度测验（DST）评定.采用1H-MRS分析技术测定双侧海马区N-乙酰天门冬氨酸（NAA）/肌酸（Cr）比值和胆碱（Cho）/肌酸（Cr）比值.结果 3组之间NAA/Cr比值差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05或P〈0.01）,随着痴呆程度加重,NAA/Cr比值逐渐减低.轻度痴呆组、重度痴呆组左侧海马区NAA /Cr比值与MMSE评分及DST评分呈显著正相关（r1=0.716、r2=0.640、r3=0.717、r4=0.766,P〈0.05）;中度痴呆组右侧海马区NAA /Cr比值与MMSE评分呈显著正相关（r=0.831,P〈0.05）;3组双侧海马区Cho /Cr比值与各量表评分均无明显相关性.结论 AD患者随着病情加重海马区代谢物NAA /Cr比值逐渐减低;海马区代谢物NAA /Cr比值变化可作为AD早期诊断、病情评估及病程监测的生物学指标.     

老年痴呆患者中医证候与MMSE及海马体积相关性的研究

目的 探讨老年痴呆患者中医证候与简易智能状态量表（MMSE）评分及海马体积的关系。方法 选取义乌市中心医院神经内科2019 年3～12 月住院及门诊患者76 例,包括31 例认知正常组老年人和45 例老年痴呆组患者（虚证24 例,虚实夹杂证21 例）,采用1.5T NovaDual 双梯度超导磁共振影像诊断系统测量两组研究对象的海马体积,运用统计学方法,比较组别之间体积、MMSE 评分、中医证候积分的差异。结果 老年痴呆组的海马和齿状回体积明显小于认知功能正常组（P＜0.05）。虚证型患者MMSE 评分高于虚实夹杂患者（P＜0.05）,但虚证型患者中医辨证积分明显低于虚实夹杂患者积分（P＜0.01）。老年痴呆患者MMSE 评分与海马体积呈显著相关性（P＜0.01）。老年痴呆患者中医辨证积分与MMSE（r=-0.443,P＜0.01）及海马体积（r=-0.246,P＜0.05）呈明显负相关。结论 老年痴呆患者MMSE 及海马体积测定与中医证候相关性良好,且能较好地反映老年痴呆病情程度的分级,可以作为中医临床诊疗体系的重要手段。     

嗅三针治疗对阿茨海默病模型大鼠海马蛋白激酶A活性的影响

目的 通过观察嗅三针疗法对阿茨海默病（Alzheimer’s disease,AD）大鼠的学习记忆能力与海马组织蛋白激酶A（protein kinase A,PKA）活性的影响,探讨嗅三针疗法治疗AD的作用机制。方法 将成年SD雄性大鼠50只随机分为正常对照组、AD模型组、AD＋嗅神经切断模型组、嗅三针组和嗅三针＋嗅神经切断组,每组10只。制作AD大鼠和AD嗅神经切断大鼠模型,嗅三针组和嗅三针＋嗅神经切断组均进行嗅三针治疗,通过嗅三针治疗,测试大鼠水迷宫学习记忆能力,并采用ELISA法测定海马组织PKA活性。结果 各组大鼠6d平均逃避潜伏期和平均游泳路程比较,正常对照组、嗅三针组与嗅三针＋嗅神经切断组均显著短于AD模型组（P〈0.01,P〈0.05）;嗅三针组短于嗅三针＋嗅神经切断组（P〈0.05）;AD模型组与AD＋嗅神经切断组相比较,其差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。各组大鼠海马组织PKA活性比较,正常对照组、嗅三针组和嗅三针＋嗅神经切断组均明显高于AD模型组（P〈0.01）,嗅三针组高于嗅三针＋嗅神经切断组（P〈0.05）,AD模型组与AD＋嗅神经切断组相比较,其差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论 嗅三针能够显著增强AD大鼠学习记忆功能、并且能提高海马组织PKA活性,其治疗效应的发挥依赖于嗅觉传导通路的完整性。     

针药合用刺激嗅觉系统对血管性痴呆大鼠学习记忆功能及海马自由基系统的影响

[目的]探讨针药合用刺激嗅觉系统对血管性痴呆大鼠学习记忆功能及海马自由基系统的影响作用。[方法]成年SD雄性大鼠48只,体重（300±10）g。随机分为正常对照组、VD模型组、VD嗅球损毁模型组、嗅三针组、丁香酚刺激组和针药合用组,每组8只。制作VD大鼠模型和VD并损毁嗅球大鼠模型,分别通过嗅三针电刺激、丁香酚刺激、针药合用方法,测试大鼠水迷宫学习记忆能力并测定海马MDA含量、GSH-Px和SOD活性。[结果]定位航行试验显示,平均逃避潜伏期和平均游泳路程比较,正常对照组明显短于VD模型组（P〈0.01）;嗅三针组、丁香酚刺激组和针药合用组均明显短于VD模型组（P〈0.01）;针药合用组短于嗅三针组、丁香酚刺激组（P〈0.05）;嗅三针组与丁香酚刺激组相比较,其差异无显著性意义（P〉0.05）;VD模型组与VD嗅球损毁模型组相比较,其差异无显著性意义（P〉0.05）。海马自由基系统检测显示：与正常对照组比较,VD模型组海马MDA含量显著增高（P〈0.01）,而海马GSH-Px和SOD活性明显降低（P〈0.01）;与VD模型组比较,嗅三针组、丁香酚刺激组和针药合用组海马MDA含量显著降低（P〈0.01）,而海马GSH-Px和SOD活性显著增高（P〈0.01）;针药合用组与嗅三针组、丁香酚刺激组比较,海马MDA含量降低（P〈0.05）。[结论]嗅三针和丁香酚均能够显著增强VD大鼠学习记忆功能、能降低海马MDA的含量、并且提高海马GSH-Px和SOD的活。     

嗅三针疗法对AD大鼠海马ChAT和SOD活性的影响

目的探讨嗅三针疗法对AD大鼠海马胆碱乙酰化酶（CHAT）与SOD的影响作用。方法成年SD雄性大鼠40只,体重（290±10）g。随机分为正常对照组、AD模型组、AD嗅神经切断模型组、嗅三针组,每组10只。制作AD大鼠模型和AD并嗅神经切断大鼠模型,通过嗅三针电刺激,测试大鼠水迷宫学习记忆能力并测定海马ChAT和SOD活性。结摹定位航行试验显示,平均逃避潜伏期和平均游泳路程比较,正常对照组明显短于AD模型组（P〈0．01）;嗅三针组明显短于AD模型组（P〈0．01）;AD模型组与AD嗅神经切断模型组相比较,其差异无显著性意义（P〉0．05）。海马ChAT与SOD检测显示：与正常对照组比较,AD模型组海马ChAT和SOD活性明显降低（P〈0．01）;与AD模型组比较,嗅三针组海马ChAT和SOD活性显著增高（P〈0．01）;AD模型组与AD嗅神经切断模型组相比较,海马ChAT和SOD活性变化差异无显著性意义（P〉0．05）;结论嗅三针疗法能够显著增强AD大鼠学习记忆功能,同时提高海马ChAT和SOD的活性,其治疗效应的发挥依赖于嗅觉传导通路的完整性。     

嗅三针对血管性痴呆大鼠学习记忆功能及海马ChAT AchE活性的影响

目的：探讨嗅三针对血管性痴呆大鼠学习记忆功能及海马ChAT、AchE活性的影响作用。方法：成年SD雄性大鼠40只,体重（300±20）g。随机分为正常对照组、VD模型组、VD嗅球损毁模型组、嗅三针组,每组10只。制作VD大鼠模型和VD并损毁嗅球大鼠模型,通过嗅三针电刺激方法,测试大鼠水迷宫学习记忆能力及海马胆碱乙酰化酶（ChAT）、乙酰胆碱酯酶（AchE）活性。结果：水迷宫定位航行试验显示,平均逃避潜伏期和平均游泳路程比较,VD模型组明显长于正常对照组（P〈0.01）;嗅三针组明显短于VD模型组和VD嗅球损毁模型组（P〈0.01）;VD嗅球损毁模型组与VD模型组之差异无显著性意义（P〉0.05）。海马ChAT、AchE活性比较,VD模型组低于正常对照组（P〈0.05）;嗅三针组高于VD模型组和VD嗅球损毁模型组（P〈0.05）;VD模型组与VD嗅球损毁模型组之差异无显著性意义（P〉0.05）。结论：嗅三针能够显著增强血管性痴呆大鼠学习记忆功能,并且能提高海马ChAT和AchE活性,其治疗效应依赖于嗅觉传导通路的完整性。     

阿尔茨海默病和轻度认知障碍患者海马区MRI表现及其与认知功能的关系

目的 比较阿尔茨海默病（AD）与轻度认知障碍（MCI）患者海马区MRI的表现,探究其与认知功能的关系。方法 回顾性分析西安市精神卫生中心2018年1月至2020年1月收取的35例AD患者与26例MCI患者的MRI影像学资料,观察两组患者海马区（海马高度、颞角宽度、海马体积、岛叶厚度、杏仁核体积）指标差异,采用Pearson相关性分析其与认知功能的关系。结果 MMSE量表结果显示,AD组患者定向力、注意力与计算力、即刻记忆、短时记忆、语言能力和视空间技能、MMSE总分均低于MCI组（P均<0.05）;AD组患者左右侧海马区海马高度、海马体积、杏仁核体积指标均低于MCI组,颞角宽度高于MCI组（P均<0.05）;Pearson相关性结果显示,海马高度、颞角宽度、岛叶厚度、杏仁核体积与认知功能呈正相关（r=0.374、r=0.486、r=0.411、r=0.603,P均<0.05）;认知功能与海马高度、海马体积、岛叶厚度、杏仁核体积呈正相关（r=0.667、r=0.715、r=0.491、r=0.721,P均<0.05）。结论 应用MRI可以很好地评估AD与MCI海马...     

嗅三针对血管性痴呆大鼠学习记忆功能及海马ET和CGRP含量的影响

目的探讨嗅三针对血管性痴呆（VD）大鼠学习记忆功能及海马ET和CGRP含量的影响。方法成年SD雄性大鼠随机分为正常对照组、VD模型组、VD嗅球损毁模型组和嗅三针组,每组10只。四血管阻断法制作大鼠VD模型,手术电凝法制作大鼠嗅球损毁模型,采用嗅三针电刺激方法对VD嗅球损毁模型组和嗅三针组进行治疗,42d后测试大鼠水迷宫学习记忆能力并测定海马ET和CGRP含量。结果与嗅三针组比较,VD模型组和VD嗅球损毁模型组大鼠平均逃避潜伏期和平均游泳路程均延长,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）;与VD模型组和VD嗅球损毁模型组比较,嗅三针组大鼠海马ET含量降低,CGRP含量升高,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;以上各项指标,VD模型组与VD嗅球损毁模型组比较,差异均无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论嗅三针能增强血管性痴呆大鼠学习记忆功能、并且能够降低海马ET的含量同时提高海马CGRP的含量,其治疗效应的发挥与嗅觉传导通路密切相关。     

阿尔茨海默病患者脑体积变化二年随访对照研究

目的 研究阿尔茨海默病(AD)患者脑体积变化的特征.方法 研究对象为轻中度阿尔茨海默病患者(AD组)和志愿入组的正常对照老人(NC组).基线共入组23例AD以及年龄、性别及受教育年限与之相匹配的正常对照老人.2年后完成随访的有10例AD和11名正常对照老人.在基线和随访时应用3D-MRI技术测量海马、杏仁体、内嗅皮质、旁嗅皮质、颞角、胼胝体、钩间距等指标.在GE后处理工作站上对3D-MRI资料进行后处理和标准化并进行计算机统计.结果 基线AD组与NC组比较后显示在以下标准化指标上差异有统计学意义:钩间距长度(11±4 vs 7±3,P＜0.01),侧脑室颞角总体积(1.21±1.00 vs 0.59±0.54,P＜0.05),内嗅皮质总体积(2.52±0.86 vs3.67±0.54,P＜0.01),旁嗅皮质总体积(2.19 ±0.62 vs 3.39±0.51,P＜0.01)和海马总体积(3.23±0.75 vs 3.98±0.38,P＜0.01).随访AD组与NC组比较后显示在以下标准化指标上差异仍有统计学意义:钩间距长度(11±4 vs 7±4,P＜0.05),侧脑室颞角总体积(6.75±4.60 vs 0.60±0.58,P＜0.01),内嗅皮质总体积(1.79±0.56 vs 2.76±0.50,P＜0.01),旁嗅皮质总体积(1.77±0.59 vs2.76 ±0.41,P＜0.01)和海马总体积(2.80 ±0.80 vs 3.59±0.38,P＜0.05).在两组之间只有海马体积年变化率差异有统计学意义,正常对照组年变化率为7%±4%,而AD组达11%±6%.结论 阿尔茨海默病患者的颞叶结构萎缩与正常对照比较,差异有统计学意义.海马体积的年变化率在AD的诊断和进展评估中有一定参考价值.     

大鼠嗅球发育过程中的凋亡与增殖

目的:探讨大鼠嗅球发育过程中细胞凋亡和增殖的变化规律.方法:胚胎14 d,新生1 d (postnatal day, P1),P20及成年大鼠各10只,取嗅球以40 g/L多聚甲醛固定,石蜡包埋,连续切片. 采用TUNEL和免疫荧光染色方法检测大鼠嗅球中凋亡细胞和增殖细胞核抗原(proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA)免疫反应阳性细胞的分布. 结果: 在胚胎14 d和P1大鼠嗅球中,凋亡细胞广泛分布而PCNA免疫反应阳性细胞主要分布在室管膜周围区域,凋亡细胞和PCNA免疫反应阳性细胞在P20和成年大鼠嗅球中主要分布在小球层和颗粒细胞层. 嗅球中的凋亡细胞和增殖细胞随龄逐渐减少,差异有显著性意义.结论:大鼠从胚胎到成体嗅球细胞凋亡和增殖逐渐减少.     

Discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and olfactory event related potentials in five patients with olfactory dysfunction following upper respiratory infection

Background Subjective olfactory tests are easy to perform and popularly applied in the clinic, but using only these, it is difficult to diagnose all disorders of the olfactory system. The olfactory event related potentials technique offers further insight into the olfactory system and is an ideal objective test. This analysis was of subjective and objective data on the olfactory function of twelve patients with loss of smell associated with an upper respiratory infection （URI）. Methods We tested the twelve patients with URI induced olfactory loss by medical history, physical examination of the head and neck, olfactory tests and medical imaging. Olfactory function was assessed by Toyota and Takagi olfactometry including olfactory detection and recognition thresholds and olfactory event-related potentials （OERPs） recorded with OEP-98C Olfactometer. Results An unusual phenomenon was observed in five patients in whom the subjective detection and recognition thresholds were normal, while the expected OERPs were not detectable. Conclusions We suggest that the discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and OERPs might be the results of abnormal electrophysiology related with olfactory neuropathy caused by viral URI. In addition, the measurement of OERPs might play a significant role in evaluating olfactory dysfunction.     

原发性帕金森病患者嗅球体积测量的影像学研究

目的：探讨嗅球结构体积在原发性帕金森病（Parkinson’Sdisease）和正常人的差异。方法：20列原发性帕金森病患者以及12列年龄匹配的志愿者被选入本次实验,分别对他们进行Hoehn-Yahr分级,帕金森病统一评价量表（UPDRS）,左右侧肢体功能评分,简易精神状态量表（MMSE）,蒙特利尔认知评估（MOCA）和磁共振成像检查。结果：正常对照组与帕金森病患者组的嗅球体积有统计学差异,帕金森病患者的嗅球体积与左右侧肢体运动功能评分、UPDRS评分、Hoehn—Yahr分级、MMSE、MOCA无明显相关性,但与患者的病程有显著相关性。结论：利用高分辨率磁共振成像计算嗅球嗅束体积能够作为帕金森病患者的早期诊断指标之一。     

阿尔茨海默病与嗅觉功能障碍：一项Meta分析

 目的 通过比较不同程度认知损害者[健康对照、轻度认知损害者和阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimer’s disease，AD）患者]的嗅觉识别能力，探究AD与嗅觉功能障碍的关系。方法 系统检索数据库Web of science、PubMed、EMBASE以及中国生物医学文献数据库（CBM）、中国期刊全文数据库（CNKI）、中文科技期刊数据库（VIP）和万方数字化期刊全文数据库，获取2010年1月—2021年11月期间发表的病例对照研究或横断面研究文献。由2名研究员分别进行文献筛选、质量评价（使用Newcastle-Ottawa Scale）及数据提取。使用Cohen’s d法计算单个研究组间嗅觉分数的标准化均数差（standardized mean difference，SMD），并根据研究间异质性大小选用随机效应模型或固定效应模型进行Meta分析。结果 共纳入20篇文献，均为高质量。文献涉及9个国家地区，总计1 717名轻度认知损害者以及1 322名AD患者。Meta分析显示，轻度认知损害患者组的嗅觉识别能力评分显著低于健康对照组（SMD=-0.80，95%CI：-0.94~-0.67）；AD患者组的嗅觉识别能力评分显著低于轻度认知损害患者组（SMD=-0.74，95%CI：-0.94~-0.54）。将纳入研究按照东亚地区与欧美地区分层后，Meta分析结果并无显著差异。结论 嗅觉识别能力随认知损害程度的加深而减退，这表明嗅觉减退可能与AD患者的认知功能的下降有关。     

损毁嗅球对痴呆大鼠学习记忆功能影响作用的实验研究

目的:研究损毁嗅球对AD模型大鼠学习记忆功能的影响程度。方法:制作AD及损毁嗅球大鼠模型,Morris水迷宫测试大鼠水迷宫学习记忆能力。结果:AD模型组及AD造模后嗅球损毁组大鼠2、4、8周的平均逃避潜伏期和跨越原平台位置的次数与正常对照组比较有极显著性差异(P<0.01);AD造模后嗅球损毁组大鼠2、4、8周与AD模型组比较无显著性差异(P>0.05);嗅球损毁模型组大鼠2、4、8周与正常对照组比较有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论:单纯损毁嗅球能够降低正常大鼠的学习记忆功能,但尚不能达到痴呆程度;大鼠AD造模后损毁嗅球与单纯造AD模型比较,其学习记忆功能无显著性差异。     

Discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and olfactory event related potentials in five patients with olfactory dysfunction following upper respiratory infection

Background Subjective olfactory tests are easy to perform and popularly applied in the clinic, but using only these, it is difficult to diagnose all disorders of the olfactory system. The olfactory event related potentials technique offers further insight into the olfactory system and is an ideal objective test. This analysis was of subjective and objective data on the olfactory function of twelve patients with loss of smell associated with an upper respiratory infection (URI). Methods We tested the twelve patients with URI induced olfactory loss by medical history, physical examination of the head and neck, olfactory tests and medical imaging. Olfactory function was assessed by Toyota and Takagi olfactometry including olfactory detection and recognition thresholds and olfactory event-related potentials (OERPs) recorded with OEP-98C Olfactometer. Results An unusual phenomenon was observed in five patients in whom the subjective detection and recognition thresholds were normal, while the expected OERPs were not detectable. Conclusions We suggest that the discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and OERPs might be the results of abnormal electrephysiology related with olfactory neuropathy caused by viral URI. In addition, the measurement of OERPs might play a significant role in evaluating olfactory dysfunction.     

Discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and olfactory event related potentials in five patients with olfactory dysfunction following upper respiratory infection

Background Subjective olfactory tests are easy to perform and popularly applied in the clinic, but using only these, it is difficult to diagnose all disorders of the olfactory system. The olfactory event related potentials technique offers further insight into the olfactory system and is an ideal objective test. This analysis was of subjective and objective data on the olfactory function of twelve patients with loss of smell associated with an upper respiratory infection (URI). Methods We tested the twelve patients with URI induced olfactory loss by medical history, physical examination of the head and neck, olfactory tests and medical imaging. Olfactory function was assessed by Toyota and Takagi olfactometry including olfactory detection and recognition thresholds and olfactory event-related potentials (OERPs) recorded with OEP-98C Olfactometer. Results An unusual phenomenon was observed in five patients in whom the subjective detection and recognition thresholds were normal, while the expected OERPs were not detectable. Conclusions We suggest that the discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and OERPs might be the results of abnormal electrephysiology related with olfactory neuropathy caused by viral URI. In addition, the measurement of OERPs might play a significant role in evaluating olfactory dysfunction.     

Discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and olfactory event related potentials in five patients with olfactory dysfunction following upper respiratory infection

Background Subjective olfactory tests are easy to perform and popularly applied in the clinic, but using only these, it is difficult to diagnose all disorders of the olfactory system. The olfactory event related potentials technique offers further insight into the olfactory system and is an ideal objective test. This analysis was of subjective and objective data on the olfactory function of twelve patients with loss of smell associated with an upper respiratory infection (URI). Methods We tested the twelve patients with URI induced olfactory loss by medical history, physical examination of the head and neck, olfactory tests and medical imaging. Olfactory function was assessed by Toyota and Takagi olfactometry including olfactory detection and recognition thresholds and olfactory event-related potentials (OERPs) recorded with OEP-98C Olfactometer. Results An unusual phenomenon was observed in five patients in whom the subjective detection and recognition thresholds were normal, while the expected OERPs were not detectable. Conclusions We suggest that the discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and OERPs might be the results of abnormal electrephysiology related with olfactory neuropathy caused by viral URI. In addition, the measurement of OERPs might play a significant role in evaluating olfactory dysfunction.     

Discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and olfactory event related potentials in five patients with olfactory dysfunction following upper respiratory infection

Background Subjective olfactory tests are easy to perform and popularly applied in the clinic, but using only these, it is difficult to diagnose all disorders of the olfactory system. The olfactory event related potentials technique offers further insight into the olfactory system and is an ideal objective test. This analysis was of subjective and objective data on the olfactory function of twelve patients with loss of smell associated with an upper respiratory infection (URI). Methods We tested the twelve patients with URI induced olfactory loss by medical history, physical examination of the head and neck, olfactory tests and medical imaging. Olfactory function was assessed by Toyota and Takagi olfactometry including olfactory detection and recognition thresholds and olfactory event-related potentials (OERPs) recorded with OEP-98C Olfactometer. Results An unusual phenomenon was observed in five patients in whom the subjective detection and recognition thresholds were normal, while the expected OERPs were not detectable. Conclusions We suggest that the discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and OERPs might be the results of abnormal electrephysiology related with olfactory neuropathy caused by viral URI. In addition, the measurement of OERPs might play a significant role in evaluating olfactory dysfunction.     

Discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and olfactory event related potentials in five patients with olfactory dysfunction following upper respiratory infection

Background Subjective olfactory tests are easy to perform and popularly applied in the clinic, but using only these, it is difficult to diagnose all disorders of the olfactory system. The olfactory event related potentials technique offers further insight into the olfactory system and is an ideal objective test. This analysis was of subjective and objective data on the olfactory function of twelve patients with loss of smell associated with an upper respiratory infection (URI). Methods We tested the twelve patients with URI induced olfactory loss by medical history, physical examination of the head and neck, olfactory tests and medical imaging. Olfactory function was assessed by Toyota and Takagi olfactometry including olfactory detection and recognition thresholds and olfactory event-related potentials (OERPs) recorded with OEP-98C Olfactometer. Results An unusual phenomenon was observed in five patients in whom the subjective detection and recognition thresholds were normal, while the expected OERPs were not detectable. Conclusions We suggest that the discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and OERPs might be the results of abnormal electrephysiology related with olfactory neuropathy caused by viral URI. In addition, the measurement of OERPs might play a significant role in evaluating olfactory dysfunction.