MEDICAL MATTERS

[Big Kev]

Aromatically screened? I wondered how they tested it
Scratch and sniff?

[PanBiker]

I have edited it and deleted your double post Kev. Those without sin cast the first stone.

[Big Kev]

It did make me laugh...

[Stanley]

And me as well..... You can't beat a good typo!

[Tizer]

Perhaps we could apply aromatic screening to detect covid-19? After all, they train dogs to detect cancer, don't they!

[Tizer]

These long-lasting side-effects are happening to young people as well as old, and can affect otherwise asymptomatic individuals. The explanation interests me and I've added a paragraph from that part of the article below...
`Parosmia: 'Since I had Covid, food makes me want to vomit'' LINK
...So what causes parosmia? The prevailing hypothesis is that it results from damage to nerve fibres that carry signals from receptors in the nose to terminals (known as glomeruli) of the olfactory bulb in the brain. When these regrow - whether the damage has been caused by a car accident or by a viral or bacterial infection - it's thought the fibres may reattach to the wrong terminal, Parker says. "They are in the wrong meeting room! This is referred to as cross-wiring and it means the brain doesn't recognise the smell, and is perhaps programmed to think of it as danger." The theory is that in most cases the brain will, over time, correct the problem, but Parker is reluctant to say how long it will take...

From my food science background I can add another factor that could help explain changed responses to odours. What we think of as the `smell' of a chemical in food, scent etc changes with the concentration of that chemical in the air reaching our nose. For example the odour of chocolate at a much higher concentration than usual can be detected by our brains as `faecal'. (That's a favourite example used by sensory analysis experts!) we all know the bad eggs smell of hydrogen sulphide but at a higher concentration of the gas we can't even detect it (which is why the gas is dangerous). This shows that our sense of smell is complicated and easily altered. Perhaps anosmia occurs when the virus blocks the receptors and then parosmia occurs afterwards when the receptors are free again but have become more sensitive?

The article doesn't mention the ACE-2 receptors in the nose that are the entry point for the covid-19 virus. These same receptors are part of the mechanism by which we detect odours and it's perhaps not surprising that the covid infection affects our sense of smell. This article was published last August...
`Odor-sensing cells in nose seen as key entry point for SARS-CoV-2: Compared to cells in other parts of the respiratory tract, cells associated with smell have up to 700 times more ACE2 receptors, which bind to the virus that causes COVID-19' LINK
....Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine, experimenting with a small number of human cell samples, report that the "hook" of cells used by SARS-CoV-2 to latch onto and infect cells is up to 700 times more prevalent in the olfactory supporting cells lining the inside of the upper part of the nose than in the lining cells of the rest of the nose and windpipe that leads to the lungs. These supporting cells are necessary for the function/development of odor-sensing cells. The findings, from a preliminary study of cells lining both the nose and trachea, could advance the search for the best target for topical or local antiviral drugs to treat COVID-19, and offer further clues into why people with the virus sometimes lose their sense of smell....

I noticed too this sentence in the article...
Cells from children were not examined for this study, in part because they tend to have low ACE2 levels in the cells lining the nose, which may contribute to generally less severe illness among children infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

[plaques]

I once read that 'our sense of Taste' is more to do with sense of smell than what hits the tongue. Just pass me that Vesper Martini shaken not stirred.

[Wendyf]

Tiz, could the fact that my son is a 'mouth breather' have protected him from catching the virus when 14 others on his shift at work tested positive? It's an interesting thought....

[Stanley]

There are so many factors that 'could' have a bearing Wendy. My BCG immunotherapy, smoking a pipe, living alone, massive doses of Lea and Perrins. Who knows?
I have never had a sensitive sense of smell. Perhaps like children I have a low level of the ACE2 receptors....
Or perhaps I am just lucky...
(By the way, if smoking a pipe was protecting me I am in danger now. I tried again and haven't smoked since early October. And don't even think of asking. As Ethel used to say, "It ain't easy!")

[chinatyke]

(By the way, if smoking a pipe was protecting me I am in danger now. I tried again and haven't smoked since early October. And don't even think of asking. As Ethel used to say, "It ain't easy!")

Well done. I gave up 44 years ago and haven't had as much as one drag since then! Don't worry, the first 43 years are the worst!

[Only joking of course!]

[Stanley]

[PanBiker]

If cravings are getting you Stanley, try a few patches. That's how I quit, very effective. you may only need a few just to take the edge off.

[Tizer]

Wendy, if you think about how far back in your nose they take the swab for a covid test I expect that's where the entry is and he'd be as likely to get it through the back of the mouth. But who knows? There's so much we still need to learn about this virus.

Plaques, `taste' is usually taken by sensory scientists to mean salty, bitter, sweet etc which are detected on the tongue whereas `flavour' is all down to nasal receptors for volatile chemicals. I think covid affects flavour detection but not taste. My student relative who got covid could detect sweetness OK but not flavours.

[Stanley]

No Ian, getting away from nicotine was why I did it. I just take a deep breath...
Thanks for the distinction between taste and flavour Peter! I've never realised that so clearly. Lovely simple and effective explanation.

[Tizer]

`We aim to please'
Was that really a company motto or is it just made up in a TV comedy series?

[Sue]

I use to do an experiment with students, I can’t remember the exact details. We had standard solutions for sweet bitter etc which the students tasted with and without blind fold, with and without holding their nostrils closed. They got the best results with eyes open, and nostrils open . We made it difficult by colouring the liquids . I am sure their were some volatile flavourings as well which we mixed with the wrong taste too but as i said I can’t remember the details. Very long time ago

[Stanley]

Just as a matter of interest I went for a furtle for the origins of 'We aim to please' and was surprised to find some very strange posts which did nothing for my general knowledge.

[Big Kev]

Toy shopping came today, I have a pulse (which is a bonus) and oxygen levels at 97%
It also fits on my 'sausage finger' which is good.

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[Tizer]

We got one too and I'm getting the same oxygen level as you, even though I have breathing problems. I guess I'm just working my lungs harder to get there!

[Stanley]

I bought two grinding wheels instead for twice the price. I'll take deep breaths and hope for the best!

[Tizer]

No sooner had I written on OG that I'd given up using Amazon I ended up buying something there the next day. I could have bought it direct from the manufacturer's web site but their price was a bit high and the delivery charge was out of proportion. I looked at other seller's sites and could have got it a bit cheaper. But then I looked at Amazon and it was much cheaper and free delivery! Also what I wanted is made in Germany and I didn't want to risk getting into any duties to pay. So I broke my rule and ordered, ensuring it was a `bought from Amazon' product - but I had to do it very carefully, they've got even worse for trying to trick customers. As well as the usual flood of Prime tricks at checkout there were other. First was a lot of images coming up of things they wanted me to buy and I had to work my way past that. Then a big banner, the width of the page, came up saying `Get £1,500 now in 60 seconds, just click here'. I got past it all safely but you have to be on your guard and it must be deadly for gullible people or those addicted to shopping. Ordered Wednesday, arrived Friday. I'd also ordered a craft knife and the courier said he couldn't give me the parcel without evidence of my age being over 18. Mrs Tiz told him not to be silly and I told him my birth date. In the end he relented on the documentary evidence and left the parcel. I had to ask him to move back because he came into our closed porch without a mask. Not good practice!

[Stanley]

You're right about Amazon Peter. They got me with an enhanced delivery charge the other day and I reckoned to be on the alert! It's a long time since anyone wanted proof of my age! I must look older than I think I do.

[PanBiker]

Back on topic, I saw on Facebook last night that comrade Nolic had been taken into Airedale after collapsing at home. Thankfully he has been discharged I believe and is back at home now. I think he said it could have been an adverse reaction to his Covid jab. Whatever, let's wish him well.

[Tizer]

Send him our best wishes. Perhaps he had some other illness that made him more susceptible to side effects.

[Big Kev]

Nolic is feeling much better...

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