scholarly journals Human olfactory dysfunction: causes and consequences

2021 ◽  
Vol 383 (1) ◽  
pp. 569-579
Author(s):  
Laura Schäfer ◽  
Valentin A. Schriever ◽  
Ilona Croy

AbstractThe sense of smell essentially contributes to social communication, guides nutrition behaviour and elicits avoidance towards environmental hazards. Olfactory smell impairment may hence entail severe consequences for affected individuals. Compared with sensory loss in other modalities, reduced olfactory function is often unnoticed by those affected and diagnosed late. Those patients seeking help frequently suffer from long-term impairments resulting in reduced well-being and quality of life. The current review provides an overview of aetiology, prevalence and specifics of diagnostics in acquired and congenital olfactory loss and focusses on short- and long-term consequences. Compensation strategies are elaborated, and treatment options are mentioned. Individual characteristics associated with the development of serious mental health impairment are discussed in order to help practitioners identifying populations at risk.

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (40) ◽  
pp. 5128-5133
Author(s):  
Kate Levenberg ◽  
Wade Edris ◽  
Martha Levine ◽  
Daniel R. George

Epidemiologic studies suggest that the lifetime prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorders ranges from 2.8 to 6.5 percent of the population. To decrease morbidity and mortality associated with disease progression, pharmacologic intervention is indicated for the majority of these patients. While a number of effective treatment regimens exist, many conventional medications have significant side effect profiles that adversely impact patients’ short and long-term well-being. It is thus important to continue advancing and improving therapeutic options available to patients. This paper reviews the limitations of current treatments and examines the chemical compound Linalool, an alcohol found in many plant species, that may serve as an effective mood stabilizer. While relatively little is known about Linalool and bipolar disorder, the compound has been shown to have antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, anti-depressive, and neurotrophic effects, with mechanisms that are comparable to current bipolar disorder treatment options.


Author(s):  
Jan Vagedes ◽  
Silja Kuderer ◽  
Eduard Helmert ◽  
Katrin Vagedes ◽  
Matthias Kohl ◽  
...  

Objective: Warm footbaths infused with Sinapis nigra (mustard, or MU) or Zingiber officinale (ginger, or GI) are used for various thermoregulatory conditions, but little is known about how they are perceived by individuals, both short- and long-term. We analyzed the immediate and long-term effects of MU and GI on warmth and stimulus perception in healthy adults. Methods: Seventeen individuals (mean age 22.1±2.4 years; 11 female) received three footbaths (mean temperature was 40 ± 0.2 ℃, administered between 1:30-6:30pm) in a randomized order with a cross-over design: 1. with warm water only (WA), 2. with warm water and MU and 3. with warm water and GI. Warmth and stimulus perception at the feet were assessed at the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th minute of the footbaths, in the late evening (EVE), and the following morning (MG). We further assessed well-being (at EVE and MG) and sleep quality (at MG). The primary outcome measure was the warmth perception at the feet at the 10th minute of the footbath. Results: At the 10th minute of the footbath, warmth perception at the feet was significantly higher with MU and GI compared to WA. The immediate thermogenic effects pointed to a quick increase in warmth and stimulus perception with MU, a slower increase with GI, and a gradual decrease with WA. Regarding the long-term effects, warmth and stimulus perception were still higher after GI compared to WA at EVE and MG. No differences were seen for general well-being and sleep quality. Conclusion: Thermogenic substances can significantly alter the dynamics of warmth and stimulus perception when added to footbaths. The different profiles in the application of GI and MU could be relevant for a more differentiated and specific use of both substances in different therapeutic indications.


Out in Time ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 67-90
Author(s):  
Perry N. Halkitis

Gay men experience the process of coming out to various groups of individuals, in myriad contexts, and throughout the course of their lives. For many gay men, telling one’s parents and families represents the most significant act of disclosure. Methods used for coming out to parents, circumstances by which the men came out, and reactions of their families in both the short and long term are explored. A variety of different approaches are evidenced in the life stories. The impact of these critical life events is considered in relation to the well-being and health of each of the men. Coming out to parents and family is challenging in every generation, but the circumstances related to coming out are influenced and shaped by both the sociopolitical contexts of the time and the crisis of each generation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 529-547
Author(s):  
Helena Bakić

Disasters pose a significant threat to the long-term well-being of individuals, communities and societies. Therefore, studying resilience, defined as the process of maintaining and recovering psychological well-being after adversity, is crucial for disaster preparedness and mitigation. The aims of this paper are to summarize the historical context of resilience research, present the key concepts, discuss current measurement approaches and propose future research directions. Key determinants of resilience - risk, positive adaptation and resources - are discussed with the focus on studies of adults affected by disasters. This narrative review demonstrates that research up to date has focused mostly on finding the individual characteristics that predict the absence of psychopathology or mental health disorder symptoms, while other types of resources or dynamic relations between key aspects of resilience have been neglected. Future studies should aim to include multiple measurement points, high- and low-risk groups, long-term follow-up and broader perspectives on both psychological well-being and potential resources.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. e0214838 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wai-Man Liu ◽  
Liz Forbat ◽  
Katrina Anderson

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 605-622
Author(s):  
Valérie Hémar-Nicolas ◽  
Pascale Ezan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of what well-being means to children in the food context and to formulate recommendations about the way food retailers may take actions to promote children’s food well-being (FWB). Design/methodology/approach A qualitative study based on a child-centric perspective is conducted with 25 French children aged 6–11 years. The data collection and analysis use both verbal and graphic data methods including focus groups and drawings in order to help children express their feelings and thoughts. Findings The findings put forward that according to children, the concept of FWB relies on five dimensions: sensory taste, health, commensality, empowerment and altruistic behaviours. Their discourses suggest that food practices contributes to objective, hedonic, eudaemonic and social well-being on the short and long term. Practical implications Based on children’s intrinsic needs for pleasure and empowerment, our recommendations highlight how food retailers might rethink their own-label offering, retail environment and communication to take into account young consumers’ FWB. Originality/value Drawing upon the concept of FWB and positive psychology, the authors do not only examine children’s food representations through a nutritional lens, but enlarge the scope to show how physical, emotional, psychological and social factors, involved in food context, contribute to different aspects of well-being.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S405-S405
Author(s):  
A Kubesch ◽  
L Rueter ◽  
K Farrag ◽  
T Krause ◽  
K Stienecker ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The IL-12/23 inhibitor ustekinumab (UST) opened up new treatment options for patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Due to the recent approval, Real-World German data on long-term efficacy and safety are lacking. This study aimed to assess the clinical course of CD patients under UST therapy and to identify potential predictive markers. Methods Patients with CD receiving UST treatment in three hospitals and two outpatient centres were included and retrospectively analysed. Rates for short- and long-term remission and response were analysed with the help of clinical (Harvey–Bradshaw Index [HBI]) and biochemical (C-reactive protein [CRP], faecal calprotectin [fCal]) parameters for disease activity. Results Data from 180 patients were evaluated. One hundred six patients had a follow-up of at least 8 weeks and were included. 96.2% of the patients were pre-exposed to anti- TNFα agents and 34.4% to both anti-TNFα and anti-integrin. The median follow-up was 49.1 weeks (95% CI 42.03–56.25). At week 8, 51 patients (54.8%) showed response to UST, and 24 (24.7%) were in remission. At week 48, 39 (41.9%) responded to UST, and 20 patients (21.5%) were in remission. Steroid-free response and remission at week eight were achieved by 30.1%, and 19.3% of patients. At week 48, 26.9% showed steroid-free response to UST, and 15.1% of the initial patient population was in steroid-free remission. Clinical response at week 16 was independently associated with remission at week 48. Conclusion Our study confirms short- and long-term UST effectiveness and tolerability in a cohort of multi-treatment exposed patients.


Cardiology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 136 (4) ◽  
pp. 243-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Bonou ◽  
Chris J. Kapelios ◽  
Gregory Kaltsas ◽  
Konstantinos Perreas ◽  
Konstantinos Toutouzas ◽  
...  

Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) complicates approximately 25% of patients with a carcinoid tumor and carcinoid syndrome and leads to heart valve degeneration with mixed-stenotic and regurgitation pathology and consequent heart failure (HF) leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Cardiac surgery in symptomatic, severe CHD leads to significantly better functional capacity and prolonged survival when compared to medical treatment alone. Recent studies have shown improvement in postoperative outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for CHD over the last decades. The trend for early diagnosis and application of surgery prior to the manifestation of HF symptoms, which tended to develop during the previous years, does not seem justifiable based on the findings of recent studies. Therefore, the optimal timing of intervention in CHD and the type of valve that should preferably be used remain issues of controversy. This review comprehensively examines the existing literature on the treatment options for patients with CHD, with a special focus on short- and long-term survival after cardiac surgery, and discusses the selection of the exact patient profile and intervention timing that are more likely to optimize the benefit-to-risk ratio for surgical intervention.


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