Introduction

Accurate measurement of chemosensory function is challenging. For assessing olfactory function, the most commonly applied test is the olfactory identification test. The ability to choose the correct descriptor for an odour among different false descriptors is central for the efficacy of these tests. Across several validation studies of the identification tests, the use of closely related descriptors was found to cause low identification rates. We hypothesised that this could be caused by a high chemical resemblance between the odorant and the listed odour descriptor options. By analysing the chemical overlap between the odorant and the odours used as descriptors, we investigated if chemical resemblance could be a possible confounder in olfactory identification tests.

Methods

We used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to detect volatile compounds in the falsely identified odorant. The headspace analysis was repeated on three samples to ensure correct chemical compound detection. Compounds previously identified in odours of false descriptors were identified through a literature review.

Results

This study identified a widespread chemical overlap between citrus odours commonly used as descriptors in clinical olfactory identification tests, which can complicate the distinction between normosmic and anosmic patients.

Conclusions

These findings emphasise the importance of thorough considerations when selecting new odorant descriptors during the modification of odour identification tests and the importance of revalidation after modifying descriptors.

Implications

The degree of chemical resemblance between the odours used as descriptors can be used to adjust the level of difficulty in identification tests; contrasted odours will increase the specificity of detecting anosmia in a clinical test, whereas odours with larger chemical resemblance may be more sensitive when evaluating subtle effects of e.g. olfactory training.

中文翻译：

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考虑化学相似性：嗅觉鉴定测试中可能的混杂因素

介绍

化学感觉功能的准确测量具有挑战性。为了评估嗅觉功能，最常用的测试是嗅觉鉴定测试。在不同的错误描述语中选择正确的气味描述语的能力对于这些测试的有效性至关重要。在鉴定测试的若干验证研究中，发现使用紧密相关的描述符会导致较低的鉴定率。我们假设这可能是由于增香剂和所列气味描述选项之间的高度化学相似性引起的。通过分析加味剂和用作描述符的气味之间的化学重叠，我们研究了化学相似性在嗅觉鉴定测试中是否可能是一个混杂因素。

方法

我们使用气相色谱-质谱法检测错误识别的加味剂中的挥发性化合物。对三个样品重复进行顶空分析，以确保正确检测化合物。通过文献综述鉴定出先前在假描述符气味中鉴定出的化合物。

结果

这项研究确定了通常用作临床嗅觉鉴定测试描述词的柑橘气味之间存在广泛的化学交叠，这会使正常患者和厌食患者之间的区分变得复杂。

结论

这些发现强调了在气味识别测试的修改过程中选择新的气味描述符时要进行全面考虑的重要性，以及在修改描述符后重新进行验证的重要性。

含义

用作描述符的气味之间的化学相似程度可用于调整鉴定测试的难度；相反的气味将增加临床测试中检测失眠的特异性，而化学性质相似的气味在评估嗅觉训练等细微效果时可能更为敏感。