Mankind's new best friend? Nov 24, 2008
Meanwhile, in a conceptual leap, Weetjens decided to turn the rats' sharp olfactory sense to disease detection, starting with tuberculosis. "The medical applications, I believe, will eventually prove even more important than the hunt for land mines," he predicted. (Boston Globe)
Nose cells may heal spinal injuries Nov 24, 2008
Researchers in New Zealand are likely to begin trials using olfactory (scent receptor) cells from the patient's nose, injecting them into damaged spinal cord. The nasal tissue acts like "nurse cells", providing growth factor hormone to nerve cells, enabling them to make "meaningful connections". (India Times, India)
Neurons Derived From Embryonic Stem Cells Restore Muscle Function After Injury Nov 21, 2008
27, 2004) Johns Hopkins researchers have found that transplants of mouse stem cells taken from the adult brain's olfactory bulb can delay symptoms and death in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral. (June 21, 2006) For the first time, researchers have enticed transplants of embryonic stem cell-derived motor neurons in the spinal cord to connect with muscles and partially restore function in paralyzed animals. (Science Daily)
The snow will surely slow my dog's sniffer Nov 14, 2008
Yes, winter is a wonderful time of year, where Boof and Ican get a lot of walking done without too many olfactory distractions. Sure, it's cold, but the scenery is beautiful and there's a peaceful, serene quality to our fair city when it's covered in white. (Bismarck Tribune, ND)
Allergies May Help Prevent Cancer Nov 12, 2008
However, both glia (which participate in signal transmission in the nervous system, and whose stem cells are exposed to chemicals from the nasal epithelium via the olfactory tract), and pancreatic cells (which can be exposed to intestinal contents if the intervening sphincter malfunctions) "can sometimes come into direct contact with carcinogens from the external environment," Sherman said. Asthma is linked to higher rates of lung cancer. (Newsmax)
Urgent call for Bolts to step up vs. Chiefs; time is slipping away Nov 9, 2008
He must have had an olfactory problem. Penn State went a long way yesterday to prove how bad the Big Ten really is. (San Diego Union-Tribune -- Sports)
The Gunge Movement Nov 8, 2008
The old way, George notes, "was a harmonious recycling loop that also managed to be lucrative." Unfortunately, it left London - like every other city in the world - in absolutely revolting condition, an olfactory nightmare rife with cholera. The city's sewers, then, mark a huge progressive achievement: a democratic public works project that saved untold lives and more or less established the standard model for sanitation's future. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Entertainment)
Your stink is distinct, new study finds Nov 6, 2008
Mammals such as mice and humans are known to have unique, genetically determined body odors, called odortypes, which act something like olfactory nametags, helping distinguish to individuals from one another, even pick out a mate. An individual's odortype is determined in part by genes in a genomic region called the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which plays a role in the immune system and are found in most vertebrates. (MSNBC -- Health)
Single Neuron Can Control Reactions In Worm Nov 2, 2008
In research published recently in Neuron, Bargmann and her colleagues pursued the question in a simpler creature and context: In Caenorhabditis elegans a one-millimeter-long worm known as the bloodhound of the invertebrates for its olfactory acumen what biochemical process causes a change in odor preference ... Although there are vast differences in the nervous systems of worms and mammals, Bargmann believes that her findings may also be true of olfactory perception in higher mammals such as... (Science Daily)
T-Rex had a nose for prey Oct 30, 2008
"It was through CAT scanning and measuring we looked at 21 different species," said Zelenitsky of the study of a variety of dinosaurs' olfactory bulbs, or the brain portion linked to sense of smell. While herbivores and omnivores had less developed smell capabilities, T-Rex's was sharp enough to enable it to stalk live food at night, said Zelenitsky. (Edmonton Sun)
Florida's 'Worm Grunters' Collect Bait Worms By Inadvertently Imitating Mole Sounds Oct 24, 2008
23, 2008) When biologist Ken Catania heard about the peculiar practice of worm grunting practiced in the Apalachicola National Forest in the Florida Panhandle one of his first thoughts was an observation made by Charles Darwin. Worm grunting involves going into the forest, driving a wooden stake into the ground and then rubbing the top of the stake with a long piece of steel called a rooping iron. (Science Daily)
Duck-billed dinos had built-in sound systems Oct 17, 2008
They found that the brain region linked with all things olfactory was relatively small and primitive in the lambeosaurs, suggesting, the researchers say, that the dinosaurs' head crests did not evolve to improve smell. Instead, the researchers think the dinosaurs used the nasal passages within the crests to make bellowing sounds that could have been used to call for mates or warn others of predators. (MSNBC -- Politics)
Sa Sa Fragrance Awards 2008 - Womens Fragrance nominees Oct 15, 2008
The olfactory stimuli you receive changes how you feel about yourself. In fact, the mixture of fragrant essential oils, aromatic compounds, fixatives and solvents that make up the perfume has been known to work as a stress-reliever, to make you, and those around you, feel more calm and composed. (The Star Online, Malaysia)
Insects Trained In Quest For Artificial Nose Oct 12, 2008
Raman says that the study of biological olfactory systems can offer significant insights into how to build artificial systems to discriminate odors with sensor arrays ... Ito et al. Sparse odor representation and olfactory learning ... The olfactory sensors in their antennae can sense chemicals. (Science Daily)
Another Shark "Virgin Birth" Confirmed Oct 11, 2008
(2:52)Avery Gilbert, author of "What The Nose Knows" demonstrates a nose-full of olfactory facts with Maggie Rodriguez. (4:54). (CBS News)
Arsonist serves up fresh blast of denial Oct 10, 2008
There are olfactory effects from [the colostomy bag] which on the range can lead to ridicule from other inmates, Mr. Harris said. He argued that this, along with Mr. Walkiewicz's lack of a prior record, turbulent childhood, health problems and history of emotional distress, including suicidal intent when he ignited the blast, qualified him for release from jail now, for time already served. (Globe and Mail -- National)
Artificial Nose Could Sniff Out Bombs, Cancer Oct 7, 2008
Olfactory receptors, the proteins responsible for the sense of smell, are notoriously difficult to isolate in the lab ... "Shuguang's group has overcome great technical difficulties and is now in a position to produce milligram quantities of pure olfactory receptors," he said. (National Geographic)
The sweet smell of science Oct 6, 2008
Olfactory or smell receptors are essentially membrane proteins present on cell surfaces and secreted by tips of cilia, tiny finger-like projections of olfactory neurons present in the nasal cavity lining. The proteins bind to odor molecules, setting into motion a cascade of events causing the olfactory neurons to "fire" so we are finally able to "smell." ... Now MIT have managed to grow these olfactory receptors successfully outside the cell. (Boston Globe)
Recent winners Oct 6, 2008
2004: Richard Axel and Linda B. Buck, both of the United States, for their work in studying odorant receptors and the organization of the olfactory system in human beings. 2003: Paul C. Lauterbur, United States, and Sir Peter Mansfield, Britain, for discoveries in magnetic resonance imaging, a technique that reveals the brain and inner organs in breathtaking detail. (MSNBC -- Health)
Olfactory Bulb Glial Cell Transplant Preserves Muscles In Paraplegic Rats Oct 4, 2008
3, 2008) Researchers from the Centro de Biolog;a Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), C;rdoba University and the Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia (CSIC) have analysed the degree of preservation in the skeletal muscles of paraplegic rats treated with a transplant of Olfactory bulb glial cells (OBG) ... The glial cells that surround the axons in the olfactory bulb (OBG) are a promising example because they promote axon regeneration in the CNS. ... Negredo et al. Slow- and fast-twitch rat hind... (Science Daily)
Research aims for artificial nose Oct 3, 2008
The US researchers claim to have overcome one of the biggest hurdles - mass production of proteins called "olfactory receptors" ... It has around 300 varieties of olfactory receptors in the membrane surrounding cells lining the nasal passages, with each binding onto different kinds of molecule. (BBC News -- Health)
Team Sniffs Out Process That Could Make 'Artificial Nose' Oct 3, 2008
Then, through several purification steps, they isolated the proteins that detect odors, known as olfactory receptors ... Humans have a vast olfactory system that includes close to 400 functional genes, more than are dedicated to any other function. (MEDLINEplus)
Scientists move closer to ‘artificial noses' Oct 3, 2008
Human smell systems are vast, including almost 400 functional genes, but dogs and mice far exceed human capacity, with around 1,000 functional olfactory receptor genes. The variety of smell receptors allows humans and animals to discern tens of thousands of distinct odors. (Globe and Mail)
Olfactory function following open rhinoplasty: A 6-month follow-up study Oct 3, 2008
Patients undergoing any type of nasal surgery may experience degrees of postoperative olfactory dysfunction. We sought to investigate "when" the olfactory function recovers to its preoperative levels ... In this cohort design, 40 of 65 esthetic open rhinoplasty candidates with equal gender distribution, who met the inclusion criteria, were assessed for their olfactory function using the Smell Identification Test (SIT) with 40 familiar odors in sniffing bottles. (BioMed Central)
Sweet-Smelling Roses: Your New Guarantee for Sweet Dreams Sep 24, 2008
This is the first valid study that documents the impact of olfactory function on dreams ... The scientists pointed out that the information on olfactory function during sleep had become available only recently ... The study may also open a potential field of therapeutic intervention with nocturnal olfactory stimulation. (MedIndia)
What You Smell As You Sleep Influences Your Dreams Sep 23, 2008
Researchers note that only recently information on olfactory function during sleep has become available, and that this is the first valid study that documents the impact of olfactory function on dreams. This study may also open a potential field of therapeutic intervention with nocturnal olfactory stimulation ... Title: The Impact of Olfactory Stimulation on Dreams. (Science Daily)
THE STUDY: Is Mate Choice in Humans MHC-Dependent? Sep 22, 2008
Such a mechanism could be triggered by our olfactory capacity for discriminating MHC-mediated odour types ... Singh PB, Brown RE, Roser B (1987) MHC antigens in urine as olfactory recognition cues ... Ziegler A, Dohr G, Uchanska-Ziegler B (2002) Possible roles for products of polymorphic MHC and linked olfactory receptor genes during selection processes in reproduction. (USA Today -- Tech)
Olfactory stimuli may influence dreams Sep 22, 2008
Researchers note that only recently information on olfactory function during sleep has become available, and that this is the first valid study that documents the impact of olfactory function on dreams. This study may also open a potential field of therapeutic intervention with nocturnal olfactory stimulation ... Title: The Impact of Olfactory Stimulation on Dreams Presenters: Boris A. Stuck, MD; Desislava Atanasova; Kathrin Frauke Grupp; Michael Schredl, PhD Date: September 21, 2008, 10:30 am -... (EurekAlert!)
No helicopter moms among Rutgers mutant mice Sep 16, 2008
They ruled out diminished olfactory perception, as both normal and mutant mice located missing pups with equal speed using their sense of smell. Both types of mice also equally passed object perception tests. (EurekAlert!)
The Senior-Citizen Cookbook Sep 10, 2008
(Flavor, technically, is a composite picture of what your taste buds taste, what your olfactory nerves smell, and other tactile factors like the chill of menthol or the irritation of a hot chili. Without a sharp sense of smell, you might become a chronic browser, nibbling at different foods but perpetually unable to get the emotional satisfaction that you once did from any particular meal. (Slate)
Brain dysfunction tied to fibromyalgia symptoms Aug 30, 2008
Functionally, the hippocampus is part of the olfactory cortex, which is important to the sense of smell. advertisement. (MSNBC -- Health)
Off the Record; Cost of a dog gives pause Aug 30, 2008
They use the Labrador retriever, a less aggressive pooch, for sniff duty because of the large olfactory membranes (several inches) in their nose which give them a highly-developed sense of smell. A human s olfactory membrane is the size of a postage stamp, according to my source of information ... They might be able to sniff out a bone or a ball, but that would be the extent of their olfactory skills. (Gaylord Herald Times, MI)
Doggie 'docs' diagnose owners' ills Aug 28, 2008
Cats live in a world of smells; their olfactory sense is a lot more acute than that of a human, Scherk says. People who are dying, as well as those who aren't eating, emit ketotic odors, which might be one cue that cats like Oscar detect. (MSNBC -- Health)
Sweet, Sour ... Or, Newfound Calcium Taste? Aug 21, 2008
No, It's Definitely Calcium. No, It's Definitely Calcium. (Science Daily)
Nano vaccine for hepatitis B shows promise for third world Aug 13, 2008
This finding may be significant, because one of the major concerns for nasal administration of vaccines is that they can find their way to the olfactory bulb in the brain and cause side effects, says Paul E. Makidon, D.V.M., co-first author of the study and a U-M research fellow. "Our studies, however, indicate no inflammation and no evidence of the vaccine in the olfactory bulb," he says. (EurekAlert!)
The E-Tongue Passes Wine Taste Test Aug 12, 2008
Although he admits that his knowledge of the device is limited, critic Robert Parker of Wine Advocate says, "It's hard to believe any computer can interpret the nuances of smell and taste as well as a human's olfactory gland.". More from. (Time.com)
Trigger For Brain Plasticity Identified: Signal Comes, Surprisingly, From Outside The Brain Aug 10, 2008
But Takao Hensch, PhD, of the Neurobiology Program and Department of Neurology at Children's, the study's senior investigator, speculates that there may be similar factors from the auditory, olfactory and other sensory systems that help time critical periods. Timing is important, because the brain needs to rewire itself at the right moment -- when it's getting the optimal sensory input. (Science Daily)
Fruit-fly Study Adds Weight To Theories About Another Type Of Adult Stem Cell Aug 4, 2008
(June 28, 2004) Yale scientists, working with the fruit fly as a model, have discovered how odors are encoded by the olfactory system into the complex messages that are sent to the. (Nov. (Science Daily)
Olfactory Fine-tuning Helps Fruit Flies Find Their Mates Aug 3, 2008
2, 2008) Fruit flies fine-tune their olfactory systems by recalibrating the sensitivity of different odor channels in response to changing concentrations of environmental cues, a new study has shown ... Just like overly bright light can wash out a photographic image, strong smells can overwhelm the olfactory system and eliminate an animal's ability to detect subtle differences, such as changes in concentration that would allow it to track a scent ... "We found a feedback mechanism in the... (Science Daily)
Sniffing it out Aug 2, 2008
However, so far no one has developed an electronic snout that can quite compete with the complex and highly sensitive canine olfactory system. But former dog handler, Bill Heiser is not convinced. (CNN -- International)
Hungry Flies Need Sense Of Smell Aug 2, 2008
The researchers worked with two strains of genetically modified fruit flies: one that couldn't smell and another that had a simplified olfactory system ... Those with the simplified olfactory system fared in between. (Science Daily)
Kiwi Fruit DNA Sequences Released Aug 2, 2008
(May 31, 2008) Scientists have looked at the problem of understanding the regulatory mechanisms that create different cells from a single template by using the olfactory system of the fruit fly. The ability to. (Science Daily)
Food for sex! Aug 2, 2008
Though it may surprise many to hear that food can act as aphrodisiacs, this extract from the 'Encyclopedia Britannica' should corroborate it, "...the psycho physiological reaction that a well-prepared meal can have upon the human organism. The combination of various sensuous reactions - the visual satisfaction of the sight of appetizing food, the olfactory stimulation of their pleasing smells and the tactile gratification afforded the oral mechanism by rich, savory dishes - tend to bring on a... (India Times, India)
Research making sense of the nose and tongue Jul 26, 2008
Hastings' machine measures a person's unique olfactory IQ in several ways: the ability to correctly identify a smell; to distinguish one odor from a slightly different one; and to find the threshold where the faintest of each fragrance is detected ... Leslie Vosshall, a researcher at Rockefeller University, noted that about 500 active human genes are associated with different olfactory receptors, specialized cells that provide signals for each note in our sense of smell ... The hurdle olfactory... (San Francisco Chronicle)
One Missing Gene Leads To Fruitless Mating Rituals Jul 26, 2008
"It goes against the dogma that was established for the olfactory and taste systems," said Hubert Amrein, Ph ... "We know that males and females have preferences for certain olfactory cues. The mouse has an olfactory organ, and humans have a remnant of this in the nose, but it doesn't function in people. So I think it is very difficult to make any direct connections between these gene findings in fruit flies and what happens in people.". (Science Daily)
New Machine Tests Smell Ability Jul 26, 2008
The Olfactory Function Assessment with Computerized Testing machine emits a scent through a tube. The patient takes a whiff and then tries to identify the scent on the computer screen. (WOKR13 Rochester)
Safety tips, more news Jul 26, 2008
Do not enter the water if bleeding from an open wound or if menstruating - a shark's olfactory ability is acute. Wearing shiny jewelry is discouraged because the reflected light resembles the sheen of fish scales. (The Palm Beach Post)
Mouse Model Helps Study Olfactory Loss In Sinusitis Jul 25, 2008
Scientists at a Johns Hopkins laboratory have genetically engineered mice to produce live models that may enable them to better understand olfactory loss often seen among sinusitis patients ... They, however, add that this olfactory loss among the mice is reversible ... "A sense of smell in good working order is essential to our quality of life, and these genetically engineered mice give us the first real animal model for better understanding, treating and preventing people from suffering a loss... (Oneindia)
'Stuffy Nose' Mouse: A Promise To Help Treat 31 Million With Sinusitis Jul 24, 2008
"A sense of smell in good working order is essential to our quality of life, and these genetically engineered mice give us the first real animal model for better understanding, treating and preventing people from suffering a loss of olfactory function due to sinonasal inflammation," says sinusitis expert Andrew Lane, M.D., who led the team that developed the olfactory-compromised mice ... Another key advantage to the new sinusitis mouse, he points out, is that it can be more easily studied than... (Science Daily)
Pregnant Mice Block Odor Of Strange Male's Urine To Protect Their Pups Jul 23, 2008
Because the smell of a strange male's urine can cause miscarriage and reactivate the ovulatory cycle, pregnant mice prevent the action of such olfactory stimuli by blocking their smell ... A surge of the chemical signal dopamine in the main olfactory bulb - one of the key brain areas for olfactory perception -- creates a barrier for male odours, they report in the current issue of Nature Neuroscience ... Following coitus, a progressive surge of the chemical signal dopamine takes place in the... (Science Daily)
Mouse Model to Aid Sinusitis Research Jul 23, 2008
"A sense of smell in good working order is essential to our quality of life, and these genetically engineered mice give us the first real animal model for better understanding, treating and preventing people from suffering a loss of olfactory function due to sinonasal inflammation," Dr. Andrew Lane, leader of the team that developed the mouse, said in a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine news release. "And because we can turn on and off the inflammation in these mice, we really can... (Health-Finder)
Our latest export: dogged crime fighters Jul 22, 2008
The dogs are the outcome of a genetics program developed in the wake of September 11, 2001, by the Customs National Breeding and Development Centre and Melbourne University scientists, to produce animals with exceptional olfactory abilities and fitness levels akin to that of an Olympic athlete. "The Melbourne University research was about determining how far you can go with genetic development of detector dogs and what you need to do with their environment to express that genetic potential,"... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Good News For Veggies: Personal Values Deceive Taste Buds Jul 19, 2008
ScienceDaily (July 18, 2008) Many heavy meat eaters believe they eat a lot of meat because of the taste. But according to groundbreaking new research the reason that a beef burger tastes better than a veggie burger to some people has more to do with values than actual taste. (Science Daily)
New York might miss Yankee Stadium, but some players won't Jul 15, 2008
Olfactory issues led the voting, although few players were able to identify what the problem has been. Is one of Babe Ruth's half-eaten hot dogs still rotting under one of the grandstands. (International Herald Tribune -- Sports)
Does plucking my nose hairs affect my sense of smell? Jul 13, 2008
The system that helps you smell, the olfactory apparatus, has more than 1,000 genes that detect odours. Whether or not you pluck your nose hairs, odours will still flow through this system and you will be able to appreciate specific scents. (Globe and Mail)
The Nose That Never Knows Jul 13, 2008
Research began to take off after Linda Buck and Richard Axel received a for the discovery of the gene sequence for olfactory receptors. But consistently effective treatments for smell disorders remain elusive. (Slate)
Fungi The Cause Of Many Outbreaks Of Disease, But Mostly Ignored Jul 4, 2008
The olfactory sensors in their antennae can sense chemicals. . (Science Daily)
Beached Wail: Dead Carp Driving Cottage Owners To Distraction Jul 4, 2008
The fish that have come ashore are not only unpleasant to look at, they offend the olfactory sense, too. And as anyone who's ever inhaled near one knows, there are few things less pleasant than the smell of a dead fish. (CityNews)
Adult Stem Cells Reprogrammed In Brain Jul 1, 2008
Throughout life, adult neural stem cells generate new brain cells in two small areas of mammalian brains: the olfactory bulb, which processes odors, and the dentate gyrus, the central part of the hippocampus, which is involved in the formation of memories and learning. After these stem cells divide, their progenitors have to choose between several options -- remaining a stem cell, turning into a nerve cell, also called a neuron, or becoming part of the brain's support network, which includes... (Science Daily)
New combination of tests measures child's ability to taste and smell Jul 1, 2008
Alexandria, VA Researchers have developed a series of tests that for the first time accurately measure the normality of taste (gustatory function) and smell (olfactory function) in young children, according to a new study published in the July 2008 edition of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. The study, authored by researchers in Australia, determined that most children age 5-7 can identify a majority of 16 different test odorants that can measure smell function, along with four common... (EurekAlert!)
How Neural Activity Spurs Blood Flow In The Brain Jun 29, 2008
Murthy and colleagues studied this process in the olfactory bulb, which processes odors. "When a mouse encounters a scent, discrete loci in its olfactory bulb are activated, which in turn increases blood flow in those spots," Murthy says ... Murthy and his colleagues now hope to examine whether their findings in the olfactory bulb can be generalized to the broader brain areas such as the cortex. (Science Daily)
Back to basics Jun 28, 2008
Post-romp, you ll experience a surge in the hormone prolactin, which develops new neurons in the brain s olfactory bulb, improving your sense of smell. Unless you re a kinky, wayward politician, it s free. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Living)
No Scent, No Sex For The Japanese Beetle Jun 27, 2008
In the Japanese beetle, two olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) housed in the same structure of the antenna, the sensilla placodea, are highly sensitive, said Leal, a professor of entomology at UC Davis. One detects the pheromone, R-japonilure, emitted by a female of the same species. (Science Daily)
WINCHESTERS BEST AND BRIGHTEST, June 26 edition Jun 25, 2008
Prior to entering medical school he worked as a research technician at Tufts University School of Medicine in a neurobiology lab investigating olfactory nerve receptors. In addition, he worked at Dana Farber and Children s Hospital helping to conduct angiogenesis research. (Winchester Star, MA, MA)
Brain's Olfactory Bulb Grows with Sense of Smell Jun 21, 2008
THURSDAY, June 19 (HealthDay News) -- The olfactory bulb in the brain -- the brain's "smell center" -- may change in size as a person's sense of smell changes, a German study reports ... In patients who initially had hyposmia, the volume of the olfactory bulb increased as the patients' sense of smell increased ... But there was no correlation between the volume of the olfactory bulb and the ability to distinguish between or identify specific odors. (MEDLINEplus)
