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Eftekhari M, Assadi M, Kazemi M, Saghari M, Mojtahedi A, Fard-Esfahani A, Sichani BF, Beiki D. Brain Perfusion Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Findings in Patients with Posttraumatic Anosmia and Comparison with Radiological Imaging. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 20:577-81. [PMID: 17181096 DOI: 10.2500/ajr.2006.20.2906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background Different techniques in neuroimaging have been proposed for assessment of olfactory dysfunction but they are not without limitations. Recently, some studies showed the usefulness of single photon emission–computed tomography (SPECT) in evaluation of patients with posttraumatic anosmia. This study was designed to assess the possible diagnostic value of SPECT findings in patients with posttraumatic anosmia in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/CT imaging. Methods Sixteen patients who had head trauma and consequently anosmia, which was defined according to Cain's identification test, were included in this study. Two nonanosmic groups, traumatic patients and nontraumatic healthy individuals, were selected as control groups for this study. Qualitative and semiquantitative brain perfusion SPECT was performed by measuring the uptake ratio of the orbital frontal cortex to occipital pole in the sagittal projections (uptake index). All 16 target patients had a previous CT scan and/or MRI. Semiquantitative and qualitative brain perfusion SPECT were compared with radiological imaging. Results Semiquantitative assessment of brain perfusion SPECT revealed remarkable orbital frontal hypoperfusion as compared with two control groups. 87.5% of anosmic patients showed orbital frontal hypoperfusion (≥2 SD below the lowest level in healthy controls). In addition, the semiquantitative SPECT method detected more orbitofrontal abnormality than the qualitative method or radiological imaging (MRI and/or CT). Conclusion Findings suggest that by using SPECT, posttraumatic anosmia corresponds to the hypoperfusion in the orbital frontal cortex in a great number of patients. Because of its availability, rather low cost, technical ease, and possibility to obtain objective quantitative information, brain perfusion SPECT can be complementary to other diagnostic techniques in the evaluation of olfactory function, although additional neurophysiological and imaging studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Eftekhari
- Research Institute for Nuclear Medicine, Shariati Hospital, Tehran 14114, Iran
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Rombaux P, Mouraux A, Bertrand B, Duprez T, Hummel T. Can we Smell without an Olfactory Bulb? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 21:548-50. [DOI: 10.2500/ajr.2007.21.3067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background Lack of an olfactory bulb (OB) is typically associated with anosmia. Methods We present a patient with subnormal olfactory function in whom the OB could not be detected with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Results Olfactory function was evaluated on two occasions. Orthonasal olfactory function was assessed with the “Sniffin’ Sticks” test providing a score equivalent to hyposmia. Retronasal olfactory function was studied with “smell powders” indicating a decreased, but not absence of, olfactory function. Importantly, chemosensory event-related potentials were clearly present in response to olfactory and trigeminal stimuli. Conclusion This indicates that olfactory function may be present in some subjects even when an OB can not be detected with MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Rombaux
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - André Mouraux
- Department of Neurophysiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bernard Bertrand
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thierry Duprez
- Department of Radiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, Dresden, Germany
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Koulivand PH, Khaleghi Ghadiri M, Gorji A. Lavender and the nervous system. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2013; 2013:681304. [PMID: 23573142 PMCID: PMC3612440 DOI: 10.1155/2013/681304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2012] [Revised: 12/29/2012] [Accepted: 02/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Lavender is traditionally alleged to have a variety of therapeutic and curative properties, ranging from inducing relaxation to treating parasitic infections, burns, insect bites, and spasm. There is growing evidence suggesting that lavender oil may be an effective medicament in treatment of several neurological disorders. Several animal and human investigations suggest anxiolytic, mood stabilizer, sedative, analgesic, and anticonvulsive and neuroprotective properties for lavender. These studies raised the possibility of revival of lavender therapeutic efficacy in neurological disorders. In this paper, a survey on current experimental and clinical state of knowledge about the effect of lavender on the nervous system is given.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maryam Khaleghi Ghadiri
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Ali Gorji
- Razavi Neuroscience Research Center, Mashhad 9198613636, Iran
- Epilepsy Research Center, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Institut für Physiologie I, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Department of Neurology, 48149 Münster, Germany
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Ruhin-Poncet B, Guerre A, Goudot P, Escande C. [Post-traumatic taste and smell disorders: forensic aspects]. REVUE DE STOMATOLOGIE ET DE CHIRURGIE MAXILLO-FACIALE 2010; 111:296-298. [PMID: 21111435 DOI: 10.1016/j.stomax.2010.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2010] [Revised: 07/06/2010] [Accepted: 10/08/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The impact of anosmia or ageusia may be considerable for some occupations. Expert assessment shows how difficult it is to prove the diagnosis. A specialist is usually needed to demonstrate the asserted disorder. Damage compensation is based on the patient's occupation and coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Ruhin-Poncet
- Service de stomatologie et chirurgie maxillofaciale, hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, AP-HP, université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie-Paris 6, 47-83 boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75651 Paris cedex 13, France.
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Roberts RJ, Sheehan W, Thurber S, Roberts MA. Functional neuro-imaging and post-traumatic olfactory impairment. Indian J Psychol Med 2010; 32:93-8. [PMID: 21716782 PMCID: PMC3122553 DOI: 10.4103/0253-7176.78504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate via a research literature survey the anterior neurological significance of decreased olfactory functioning following traumatic brain injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS A computer literature review was performed to locate all functional neuro-imaging studies on patients with post-traumatic anosmia and other olfactory deficits. RESULTS A convergence of findings from nine functional neuro-imaging studies indicating evidence for reduced metabolic activity at rest or relative hypo-perfusion during olfactory activations. Hypo-activation of the prefrontal regions was apparent in all nine post-traumatic samples, with three samples yielding evidence of reduced activity in the temporal regions as well. CONCLUSIONS The practical ramifications include the reasonable hypothesis that a total anosmic head trauma patient likely has frontal lobe involvement.
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Konstantinidis I, Tsakiropoulou E, Iakovou I, Douvantzi A, Metaxas S. Anosmia after general anaesthesia: a case report. Anaesthesia 2009; 64:1367-70. [PMID: 19849684 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.2009.06071.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Although anaesthetic drugs are included among the aetiological factors of anosmia, limited reports exist of anosmia induced by general anaesthesia. We present the case of a 60-year-old female patient with a 3-month history of altered smell and taste immediately after recovery from general anaesthesia for a urological operation. The anaesthetic drugs used were fentanyl, propofol and sevoflurane. Clinical examination and a computed tomography brain scan did not reveal any pathology. Psychophysical testing showed anosmia and normal taste function. Imaging studies using single photon emission computed tomography of the brain were performed twice: as a baseline examination; and after odour stimulation with phenyl ethyl alcohol. Normal brain activity without reaction to odorous stimuli suggested peripheral dysfunction or stimuli transmission problems. The patient, after four months of olfactory retraining, demonstrated significant improvement. The onset of the dysfunction in relation with the imaging findings may imply that anaesthetics could induce the olfactory dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Konstantinidis
- Academic Otorhinolaryngology Department, Papageorgiou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Atighechi S, Salari H, Baradarantar MH, Jafari R, Karimi G, Mirjali M. A comparative study of brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with post-traumatic anosmia. Am J Rhinol Allergy 2009; 23:409-12. [PMID: 19671257 DOI: 10.2500/ajra.2009.23.3345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loss of smell is a problem that can occur in up to 30% of patients with head trauma. The olfactory function investigation methods so far in use have mostly relied on subjective responses given by patients. Recently, some studies have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to evaluate patients with post-traumatic anosmia. The present study seeks to detect post-traumatic anosmia and the areas in the brain that are related to olfactory impairment by using SPECT and MRI as imaging techniques. METHODS The study was conducted on 21 patients suffering from head injury and consequently anosmia as defined by an olfactory identification test. Two control groups (traumatic normosmic and nontraumatic healthy individuals) were selected. Brain MRI, qualitative and semiquantitative SPECT with 99mtc-ethyl-cysteinate-dimer were taken from all the patients. Then the brain SPECT and MRI were compared with each other. RESULTS Semi-quantitative assessment of the brain perfusion SPECT revealed frontal, left parietal, and left temporal hypoperfusion as compared with the two control groups. Eighty-five percent of the anosmic patients had abnormal brain MRI. Regarding the MRI, the main abnormality proved to be in the anterior inferior region of the frontal lobes and olfactory bulbs. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study suggest that damage to the frontal lobes and olfactory bulbs as shown in the brain MRI and hypoperfusion in the frontal, left parietal, and left temporal lobes in the semiquantitative SPECT corresponds to post-traumatic anosmia. Further neurophysiological and imaging studies are definitely needed to set the idea completely.
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Doty RL, Cometto-Muñiz JE, Jalowayski AA, Dalton P, Kendal-Reed M, Hodgson M. Assessment of Upper Respiratory Tract and Ocular Irritative Effects of Volatile Chemicals in Humans. Crit Rev Toxicol 2008; 34:85-142. [PMID: 15112751 DOI: 10.1080/10408440490269586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Accurate assessment of upper respiratory tract and ocular irritation is critical for identifying and remedying problems related to overexposure to volatile chemicals, as well as for establishing parameters of irritation useful for regulatory purposes. This article (a) describes the basic anatomy and physiology of the human upper respiratory tract and ocular mucosae, (b) discusses how airborne chemicals induce irritative sensations, and (c) reviews practical means employed for assessing such phenomena, including psychophysical (e.g., threshold and suprathreshold perceptual measures), physiological (e.g., cardiovascular responses), electrophysiological (e.g., event-related potentials), and imaging (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging) techniques. Although traditionally animal models have been used as the first step in assessing such irritation, they are not addressed here since (a) there are numerous reviews available on this topic and (b) many rodents and rabbits are obligate nose breathers whose nasal passages differ considerably from those of humans, potentially limiting generalization of animal-based data to humans. A major goal of this compendium is to inform the reader of procedures for assessing irritation in humans and to provide information of value in the continued interpretation and development of empirical databases upon which future reasoned regulatory health decisions can be made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard L Doty
- Smell & Taste Center, University of Pennsylvania, Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Rueckert L, Naybar N. Gender differences in empathy: the role of the right hemisphere. Brain Cogn 2008; 67:162-7. [PMID: 18295950 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2008.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2007] [Revised: 12/20/2007] [Accepted: 01/11/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between activation of the right cerebral hemisphere (RH) and empathy was investigated. Twenty-two men and 73 women participated by completing a chimeric face task and empathy questionnaire. For the face task, participants were asked to pick which of the two chimeric faces looked happier. Both men and women were significantly more likely to say the chimera with the smile to their left was happier, suggesting activation of the RH. As expected, men scored significantly lower than women on the empathy questionnaire, p=.003. A correlation was found between RH activation on the face task and empathy for women only, p=.037, suggesting a possible neural basis for gender differences in empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Rueckert
- Department of Psychology, Northeastern Illinois University, 5500 N. St. Louis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625, USA.
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Eftekhari M, Assadi M, Kazemi M, Saghari M, Esfahani AF, Sichani BF, Gholamrezanezhad A, Beiki D. A preliminary study of neuroSPECT evaluation of patients with post-traumatic smell impairment. BMC NUCLEAR MEDICINE 2005; 5:6. [PMID: 16313675 PMCID: PMC1314885 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2385-5-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2005] [Accepted: 11/28/2005] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most olfactory testings are subjective and since they depend upon the patients' response, they are prone to false positive results. The aim of this study was to use quantitative brain perfusion SPECT in order to detect possible areas of brain activation in response to odorant stimulation in patients with post-traumatic impaired smell in comparison to a group of normal subjects. METHODS Fourteen patients with post-traumatic impaired smell and ten healthy controls were entered in this prospective study. All subjects underwent brain SPECT after intravenous injection of 740-MBq 99mTc-ECD and 48 hours later, the same procedure was repeated following olfactory stimulus (vanilla powder). RESULTS In most of seven regions of interest (Orbital Frontal Cortex, Inferior Frontal Pole, Superior Frontal Pole, Posterior Superior Frontal Lobe, Parasagittal Area, Occipital Pole, and Cerebellar area) the post-stimulation quantitative values show increased cortical perfusion being more pronounced in normal volunteers than the anosmic patients (except cerebellar areas and the right occipital pole). Maximal activation was observed in orbitofrontal regions (right+ 25.45% and left +25.47%). CONCLUSION Brain SPECT is a valuable imaging technique in the assessment of post-traumatic anosmia and could be competitive as an alternative to other imaging techniques, especially when functional MRI is unavailable or unsuitable. However, this procedure may benefit from complementary MRI or CT anatomical imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Eftekhari
- Research Institute for Nuclear Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shariati hospital, Northern Kargar St, 14114 Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Assadi
- Research Institute for Nuclear Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shariati hospital, Northern Kargar St, 14114 Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Kazemi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Amiralam hospital, Sadi St, 13185-1678 Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Saghari
- Research Institute for Nuclear Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shariati hospital, Northern Kargar St, 14114 Tehran, Iran
| | - Armaghan Fard Esfahani
- Research Institute for Nuclear Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shariati hospital, Northern Kargar St, 14114 Tehran, Iran
| | - Babak Fallahi Sichani
- Research Institute for Nuclear Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shariati hospital, Northern Kargar St, 14114 Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Gholamrezanezhad
- Research Institute for Nuclear Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shariati hospital, Northern Kargar St, 14114 Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Beiki
- Research Institute for Nuclear Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shariati hospital, Northern Kargar St, 14114 Tehran, Iran
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