Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40679176›Full record

ArticleThe Laryngoscope2026

Optimizing Odorants for Olfactory Training Based on Olfactory Receptor-Ligand Pair Analysis.

Hironobu Nishijima, Eric H Holbrook, James E Schwob, Eri Mori, Ryoji Kagoya, Kei Ogawa, Kyohei Horikiri, Kenji Kondo

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Laryngoscope, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Hironobu NishijimaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID 0000-0001-9056-9900
Eric H HolbrookDepartment of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
James E SchwobDepartment of Developmental, Molecular, and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Eri MoriDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID 0000-0003-3273-3789
Ryoji KagoyaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Kei OgawaDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Kyohei HorikiriDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Kenji KondoDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-0496-5067

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo optimize olfactory training (OT) by identifying a scientifically grounded combination of odorants that maximally stimulate human olfactory receptors (ORs) through the utilization of a comprehensive receptor-ligand interaction dataset.

methodsWe analyzed 75,050 OR-odor pair experiments from the M2OR database, focusing on 385 unique human ORs and 510 unique odorants. Utilizing human olfactory epithelium transcriptomic data, we identified highly abundant ORs and evaluated their interactions with various odorants to determine the optimal odorant combination for maximizing OR stimulation. The effectiveness of the classical OT odorants (rose, lemon, eucalyptus, and clove) in maximal OR stimulation was also evaluated and compared to the optimal odor combination.

resultsA novel four-odorant combination (galaxolide, eugenol acetate, [-]-menthol, and geranyl acetate) would stimulate 323 ORs (83.9% of 385 ORs), covering 69.9% of estimated OR expression. In comparison, the classical four OT odor mixture would stimulate 151 ORs (39.2% of 385 ORs), covering 32.9% of estimated OR expression. Both odorant combinations stimulated a large proportion of highly abundant ORs, presumed to be functionally important. These findings suggest that while the classical odors have a substantial effect, the novel odorant combination has the potential to offer significantly broader receptor activation and improved outcomes in OT.

conclusionThis receptor-based approach provides a scientifically grounded method for optimizing OT. Further clinical validation is necessary to confirm the therapeutic efficacy of this approach. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4:

Indexed as

OdorantsReceptors, OdorantSmellHumansLigandsOlfactory MucosaOlfactory TrainingLigandsReceptors, Odorantodorantsolfactory dysfunctionolfactory receptorsolfactory trainingreceptor–ligand interaction

Identifiers

PMID40679176
PMCPMC12770814

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.