Made available in DSpace on 2016-01-26T12:51:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 lucasgpatrocinio_tese.pdf: 6133673 bytes, checksum: 2bdcc8fb1e28599a882c9b1227db6c2f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-10-19 / Width of the nasal tip is a frequent complaint during consultations for rhinoplasty. Due to the multiplicity and complexity of nasal deformities, no single technique can correct the numerous anatomic presentations of the nasal tip. Therefore, one must use a graduated approach to the refinement of the nasal tip that allows the surgeon to correct small deformities with conservative techniques whereas aggressive techniques are used to greater deformities. Objectives: To present a graduated approach to refinement of the nasal tip, based on anatomic features, and analyze the outcomes and complications of rhinoplasties performed following this approach. Casuistic and Methods: A retrospective evaluation of charts of 1.152 patients undergoing rhinoplasty (January 2003 to December 2006) was performed, and 641 patients (55,6%) fulfilled criteria for our study. Exclusion criteria were follow-up of less than one year or lack of data and/or post-operative photograph. Outcomes were assessed by comparing results of pre-operative and last follow-up photographs. Patients satisfaction, complications, and rates of revision were recorded. Cases were allocated into seven groups, depending on the surgical technique employed: (1) No surgery on the nasal tip; (2) Interdomal breakup; (3) Cephalic trim; (4) Domal suture; (5) Shield-shaped graft; (6) Vertical dome division; (7) Replacement of lower lateral cartilages. Results: Of the 641 patients in the study, 435 (67,8%) were female and 206 (32,2%) were male. Average age was 25,2 ± 8,9 years. Mean follow-up period was 1,5 years. An asymmetric tip was present in 28 patients (4,4%). At the post-operative evaluation, persistent width of interdomal space was found in 34 (5,3%). No patient presented overnarrowing of interdomal space. The combined rate of surgical revision to enhance refinement of the tip was 5,6%. Patient s satisfaction rate was 95,6%. Conclusions: This graduated approach to refinement of the nasal tip has shown excellent outcomes, a high rate of patients satisfaction, and a low rate of revision. We validate that definition of the nasal tip can be achieved with predictable outcomes and that surgical maneuvers should be selected based on anatomic features. / A falta de definição da ponta nasal é uma das queixas mais frequentes dos pacientes durante as consultas para rinoplastia. Devido à multiplicidade e complexidade de deformidades da ponta nasal, nenhuma técnica isolada é suficiente para corrigir adequadamente as numerosas variações anatômicas. Logo, necessita-se uma abordagem gradativa para definição da ponta nasal que permita ao cirurgião corrigir deformidades mais simples utilizando técnicas conservadoras, reservando as técnicas mais complexas para maiores deformidades da ponta. Objetivo: Apresentar uma abordagem gradativa para definição da ponta nasal, baseada em características anatômicas, e avaliá-la através dos resultados e das complicações em rinoplastias realizadas a partir da adoção desta abordagem. Casuística e Métodos: De janeiro de 2003 a dezembro de 2006 foram realizadas 1.152 rinoplastias, sendo que 641 (55,6%) pacientes se enquadraram nos critérios para este estudo. Foram excluídos os pacientes com seguimento pós-operatório menor que um ano ou falta de dados e/ou fotografia pós-operatórios. Os resultados foram avaliados através da comparação das fotografias pré e pós-operatórias. Os prontuários foram revisados para determinar a satisfação dos pacientes, as complicações e as revisões cirúrgicas. Os pacientes foram agrupados em 7 grupos, de acordo com a técnica cirúrgica empregada: (1) Nenhuma cirurgia na ponta nasal; (2) Divulsão interdomal; (3) Ressecção cefálica; (4) Sutura domal; (5) Enxerto em escudo; (6) Divisão vertical dos domus; (7) Reconstrução das cartilagens alares maiores. Resultados: Foram avaliados 641 pacientes, sendo 435 (67,8%) do sexo feminino e 206 (32,2%) do sexo masculino, com idade média de 25,2 ± 8,9 anos, seguidos por em média 1,5 anos. Na avalição pós-operatória, assimetria da ponta estava presente em 28 (4,4%) pacientes. Ponta nasal persistentemente larga foi encontrada em 34 (5,3%) pacientes. Nenhum paciente apresentou afinamento excessivo da ponta nasal. A taxa de revisão para todos os pacientes, para melhorar a definição da ponta, foi de 5,6%. A taxa de satisfação global dos pacientes com relação à definição da ponta nasal foi de 95,6%. Conclusões: A abordagem gradativa para definição da ponta nasal que apresentamos no presente estudo demonstrou resultados excelentes e uma alta taxa de satisfação dos pacientes, com uma baixa taxa de revisão. Confirma-se que a definição da ponta nasal pode ser alcançada com resultados previsíveis e que as manobras cirúrgicas devem ser selecionadas com base em características anatômicas.

INTRODUÇÃO: Uma das formas de uso (ilegal) da cocaína é a forma fumada, através da queima de uma base de cocaína na forma de \"pedras\" (cocaína \"crack\"). O uso da cocaína \"crack\" pode causar alterações de caráter crônico ou agudo no trato respiratório. Neste estudo foram investigados os efeitos da inalação crônica de cocaína \"crack\" no aparelho respiratório de camundongos. MÉTODOS: Quarenta camundongos Balb/c machos com 60 dias de idade (10 animais controles e 30 expostos) foram usados no estudo. Dez animais foram usados para determinar o nível de cocaína sérica após uma única exposição. Vinte animais foram expostos à fumaça de \"crack\" em uma câmara de inalação, 5 dias por semana, durante 2 meses. Os dez animais controles foram mantidos no biotério. Análises morfométricas quantitativas de cortes histológicos de nariz e pulmão foram realizadas através da microscopia óptica. Foram quantificados a espessura e quantidade de muco no epitélio nasal e brônquico, a hemossiderina pulmonar, a espessura da parede e o índice de vasoconstrição de artérias pulmonares de pequeno calibre e a densidade de macrófagos e neutrófilos nas regiões alveolares e peribrônquicas. O grupo exposto e controle foram comparados entre si e as diferenças foram consideradas significativas quando p<0,05. RESULTADOS: No epitélio nasal observou-se um aumento de muco (p<0,001) e diminuição de sua espessura (p<0,001) no grupo exposto. No epitélio brônquico não houve alteração da quantidade de muco (p=0,075) entre os grupos, mas observou-se significante diminuição da espessura epitelial (p<0,001) no grupo exposto. Houve aumento da hemossiderina pulmonar (p<0,001) no grupo exposto. Nas artérias pulmonares de pequeno calibre não houve aumento da espessura da parede (p=0,782) entre os grupos, mas o índice de vasoconstrição foi significativamente maior (p=0,034) no grupo exposto. A densidade celular dos macrófagos foi maior tanto na região alveolar (p=0,001) como na região peribrônquica (p=0,001). A densidade celular de neutrófilos foi maior na região alveolar (p=0,002) do grupo exposto sendo que na região peribrônquica a diferença não foi significante (p=0,419) entre os grupos. CONCLUSÕES: Nossos resultados mostram que a inalação do \"crack\" causa alterações no aparelho respiratório, afetando desde a mucosa nasal até o parênquima pulmonar. Este estudo contribui para uma melhor compreensão dos efeitos adversos do uso crônico da cocaína \"crack\" no trato respiratório. / INTRODUCTION: One of the illegal ways of using cocaine is smoking its rock through a burning cocaine basis shaped resin (crack cocaine). The use of crack cocaine may cause chronic and severe alterations in the respiratory system. In this research, the chronic inhalation effects of \"crack\" cocaine in mice respiratory systems were studied. METHODS: Forty male Balb/c mice, 60-days-old (10 control animals and 30 exposed) were utilized in this study. Ten of them were chosen to determine the level of silky cocaine after one single exposition. Twenty animals were exposed to crack smoke in an inhalation chamber, 5 days a week, during 2 months. All the control animals were kept in the housing unit. Quantitative morphometric analysis of histological cuts in the nose and lung were realized across by the optical microscopy. The following were quantified: the thickness, likewise the amount of mucus in nasal and bronchial epitheliums, lung hemosiderin, ply of the sheet and the rate of vasoconstriction in lung arteries of small diameter, in addition to the density of macrophages and neutrophiles inside of alveolar and peribronchial regions. A comparison between the high-risk and control group was established. The differences were considered significant when p<0,05. RESULTS: In the nasal epithelium, an increase of mucus was observed (p<0,001), as well as a decrease of its thickness (p<0,001) in the high-risk group. In the bronchial epithelium, there was no alteration in the amount of mucus (p=0,075) between the groups, but there was a significant decrease in the epithelial ply (p<0,001) inside of the exposed group. There was an increase of lung hemosiderin (p<0,001) in the exposed group. In arteries of small diameter, there was no expansion of the thickness in the sheet (p=0,782) between the groups, although the level of vasoconstriction was significantly higher (p=0,034) in the exposed group. The cellular density of macrophages was higher in the alveolar region (p=0,001), as in the peribronchial one (p=0,001). The cellular density observed in neutrophiles was higher in the alveolar site (p=0,002) of the exposed group, since that in the peribronchial region the difference was not significant (p=0,419) between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that crack inhalation may cause alterations in the respiratory system, affecting from the nasal mucus until the lung parenchyma. This research contributes for a better comprehension of the adverse effects originating from a chronic use of crack cocaine in the respiratory tract.

Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are advantageous for delivering medication to the lungs for the treatment of respiratory diseases because of the stability of the powders, relative low cost, synchronization of inhalation and dose delivery, and many design options that can be used for optimization. However, currently marketed DPIs are very inefficient in delivering medications to the lungs. This study has developed multiple new high efficiency DPIs for use with spray dried excipient enhanced growth (EEG) powder formulations based on the following platforms: capsule-based for oral inhalation, high-dose for oral inhalation, inline with 3D rod array dispersion, and inline with capillary jet dispersion. The capsule-based DPIs for oral inhalation implemented a 3D rod array for aerosol dispersion with optimal designs producing mass median aerodynamic diameters (MMADs) in the range of 1.3-1.5 µm and emitted doses in the range of 79-81%. Keys to inhaler success were the orientation of the capsule and inclusion of the 3D rod array. For the high-dose oral inhaler, performance was similar to the optimized capsule-based devices, while aerosolizing a much larger mass of powder. Surprisingly, removal of the fluidized bed of spheres improved performance producing a simple high dose device containing only a single dose sphere. The inline device using the 3D rod array was effective in producing particles of approximately 1.5 µm, at flow rates consistent with high flow therapy using a 1 L ventilation bag as the delivery mechanism. Using a capillary jet as the dispersion mechanism, further advances were made to allow for both delivery using a low volume (LV) of air and delivery in low flow therapy. This easily adaptable platform was able to produce a high quality aerosol out of a nasal cannula with an ED greater than 60% and a size (~2 µm) that should produce minimal extrathoracic losses. In conclusion, this study demonstrates (i) the design and optimization of DPIs capable of delivering EEG aerosols to the lungs using oral inhalation, (ii) the ability to deliver EEG aerosols using N2L aerosol administration, and (iii) the design of a new flexible LV-DPI device that is easily adaptable to multiple patients and delivery platforms, which are greatly needed in clinical environments.

<p>This thesis describes that it is possible to drive synthetic emotions of an interface agent with an electronic nose system developed at AASS. The e-Nose can be used for quality control, and the detected distortion from a known smell sensation prototype is interpreted to a 3D-representation of emotional states, which in turn points to a set of pre-defined muscle contractions. This extension of a rule based motivation system, which we call Facial Expression Driver, is incorporated to a model for sensor fusion with active perception, to provide a general design for a more complex system with additional senses. To be consistent with the biologically inspired sensor fusion model a muscle based animated facial model was chosen as a test bed for the expression of current emotion. The social agent’s facial expressions demonstrate its tolerance to the detected distortion in order to manipulate the user to restore the system to functional balance. Only a few of the known projects use chemically based sensing to drive a face in real-time, whether they are virtual characters or animatronics. This work may inspire a future android implementation of a head with electro active polymers as synthetic facial muscles.</p>

In our study we analyzed pathogenic microorganisms from burn wounds, their rate and changes after tightening the infection control. Special attention was paid to the diagnostics and treatment problems of Staphylococcus aureus. We have been studying Rational application algorithm of antibacterial drugs influence on the effectiveness of the infection diagnostics and treatment, and the changes of Staphylococcus aureus resistance to antibiotics. There was performed an experimental analysis of pathogenic microorganisms with „electronic nose“ and a comparison was made of changing parameters in „electronic nose“ resistance studying Acinetobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococus aureus pathogenic microorganisms. This experiment underlies further investigations of the early diagnostics of the pathogenic microorganisms. Our research works have characterized it from the complex standpoint to the solution of burn wound infection prevention, diagnostics, and treatment problems what is missing in analyzed literature.

Cílem této práce je návrh pevného tříkolového podvozku pro jednomotorový čtyřmístný celokompozitní letoun s dodržováním certifikačních specifikací CS-23. To zahrnuje návrh kompozitních pružinových hlavních podvozkových vzpěr v kombinaci s hydropneumatickým tlumičem příďového podvozku. Proces návrhu se dělí do pěti specifických fází; požadavky na konstrukci, předběžný návrh, detailní návrh, příprava výroby a zkoušení prototypu. Zatížení podvozku pro jednotlivé případy a konfigurace letounu je definován v předběžné fázi návrhu. Detailní návrh zahrnuje pevnostní analýzu jednotlivých komponentů. Fáze zkoušení prototypu definuje způsob ověření únosnosti zkouškou. Závěr obsahuje podrobnou technickou dokumentaci.

A combustão do diesel (DEP) é a principal fonte de partículas ultrafinas (PUFs) relacionadas à poluição causada pelo tráfego. Indivíduos com doenças respiratórias crônicas estão propensos a exacerbações durante a exposição à poluição ambiente. Este estudo avaliou os efeitos de exposição subcrônica a uma baixa dose de partículas de combustão de diesel (DEP). 90 camundongos machos BALB/c foram divididos em 3 grupos: (a) Controle: instilação nasal de solução salina (n = 30); (b) DEP15: 15?g de DEP/10?l de solução salina (n = 30); e (c) DEP30: 30?g de DEP/10?l de solução salina (n = 30) durante cinco dias por semana, por 30 e 60 dias. Os animais foram anestesiados com pentobarbital de sódio (50mg/kg ip) e sacrificados por exanguinação. A contagem de células inflamatórias e as concentrações de interleucinas (IL) -4, -10, -13 e -17 no lavado broncoalveolar (LBA) foram avaliadas por ensaio imunoenzimático (Elisa). mRNA da MUC5ac foi avaliado por PCR em tempo real. A análise histológica do septo nasal e bronquíolos foi realizada para avaliar: (a) a espessura do epitélio brônquico e nasal, (b) o conteúdo de muco neutro e ácido na mucosa nasal. Nossos resultados mostraram que a instilação de DEP30 após 30 dias aumentou o número de células inflamatórias totais em relação ao controle (p=0,033). Ao comparar os resultados de DEP30 com o grupo Controle após 60 dias observamos os seguintes aumentos: (a) na expressão de MUC5AC nos pulmões (p = 0,016), no conteúdo de muco ácido no septo nasal (p = 0,017), nas células inflamatórias totais no LBA (p<0,001), no número de macrófagos no LBA (p=0,035) e na espessura do epitélio nasal (p=0,042). Nossos dados sugerem que dose baixa de DEP induz inflamação do trato respiratório com padrão tempo-dependente. / Diesel exhaust is the major source of ultrafine particles (UFPs) in trafficrelated pollution. Subjects with chronic respiratory diseases have great risk of exacerbations during exposure to air pollution. This study evaluated the effects of sub-chronic exposure to a low dose of diesel exhaust particles (DEPs). Ninety male BALB/c mice were divided into 3 groups: (a) Control: nasal saline instillation (n=30); (b) DEP15: nasal instillation of 15?g of DEP/10?l of saline (n=30); and (c) DEP30: nasal instillation of 30?g of DEP/10?l of saline (n=30). Nasal instillations were performed five-days a week, during 30 e 60 days. Animals were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (50mg/kg i.p), and sacrificed by exsanguination. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to assess inflammatory cell count and concetrations of interleukin (IL)-4, -10, -13 and -17 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The RNAm MUC5ac gene expression was evaluated by real-time PCR. Histological analysis in nasal septum and bronchioles assessed: (a) bronchial and nasal epithelium thickness (b) acidic and neutral nasal mucous content. Our results showed that the instillation of DEP30 after 30 days increased the number of total inflammatory cells, as compared to the Control group (p = 0.033). The results of DEP30 after 60 days showed increases in: (a) the expression of MUC5AC in the lungs (p = 0.016); (b) acidic mucus production in the nasal septum (p = 0.017); (c) total inflammatory cells in the BAL fluid (p <0.001); (d) the number of macrophages in BALF (p = 0.035); and (d) nasal epithelium thickness (p = 0.042), as compared with control after 60 days. Our data suggest that a low dose of DEP induces inflammation of the respiratory tract in a time- dependent manner.

This thesis describes that it is possible to drive synthetic emotions of an interface agent with an electronic nose system developed at AASS. The e-Nose can be used for quality control, and the detected distortion from a known smell sensation prototype is interpreted to a 3D-representation of emotional states, which in turn points to a set of pre-defined muscle contractions. This extension of a rule based motivation system, which we call Facial Expression Driver, is incorporated to a model for sensor fusion with active perception, to provide a general design for a more complex system with additional senses. To be consistent with the biologically inspired sensor fusion model a muscle based animated facial model was chosen as a test bed for the expression of current emotion. The social agent’s facial expressions demonstrate its tolerance to the detected distortion in order to manipulate the user to restore the system to functional balance. Only a few of the known projects use chemically based sensing to drive a face in real-time, whether they are virtual characters or animatronics. This work may inspire a future android implementation of a head with electro active polymers as synthetic facial muscles.

I continue my work on the cognitive-linguistic research of somatisms (names of body parts) and conceptual profiles, into which I bring research findings of Czech sign language. I performed a structural analysis of the signs, where a place of articulation is on the nose. Then I categorized these signs using conceptual profiles: GESTURE, APPEARANCE/ MANIFESTATION, FUNCTION and LOCALIZATION. On the basis of such profiles are shown new possibilities etymological interpretation of a relatively large number of collected signs. The created linguistic picture of the nose in the Czech sign language I compared with the image with the linguistic picture of the nose in the Czech language. I also conducted preliminary probes into other sign languages, which I have served as a guide for effective grasp of the issues.

<p>Funkcija nosa povezana je sa različitim anatomskim, fiziolo&scaron;kim i emocionalnim faktorima. Postoji mnogo teorija koje su poku&scaron;ale da objasne efekat ženskih polnih hormona (estrogena i progesterona) na fiziologiju nosa, ali sam mehanizam njihovog dejstva jo&scaron; uvek ostaje izazov za mnoge istraživače. Prethodno je opisano da ženski polni hormoni mogu da izazovu nazalnu opstrukciju, povećavajući ekspresiju histaminskih H1 receptora i menjajući koncentraciju neurotransmitera, &scaron;to dovodi do edema nosne sluznice i modifikacije nazalnog otpora. Kada je reč o mirisnoj funkciji na malom broju ispitanika i u različito dizajniranim studijama je pokazano da je u fazi ovulacije mirisni prag značajno niži u odnosu na folikularnu i luteinsku fazu, međutim ne postoje podaci o identifikaciji i diskriminaciji mirisa u menstrualnom ciklusu. Nizak nivo estrogena prouzrokovan fiziolo&scaron;kom atrofijom jajnika u postmenopauzi može dovesti do hiposmije ili čak anosmije, &scaron;to predstavlja jo&scaron; jedan dokaz o osetljivosti nazalne sluznice na estrogen.&nbsp; Cilj ovog istraživanja je bio da se ispita uticaj ženskih polnih hormona na respiratornu i mirisnu funkciju nosa u menstrualnom ciklusu i postmenopauzi. Istraživanje je u celosti prospektivno, sprovedeno je na Zavodu za fiziologiju, Medicinskog fakulteta, Univerziteta u Novom Sadu. Uključeno je 204 osoba ženskog pola koje su bile podeljene u dve grupe. Prvu grupu su činile 103 devojke uzrasta 23,126 &plusmn; 4,597 godina u reproduktivnom periodu sa regularnim menstrualnim ciklusom i 101 žena prosečnog uzrasta 60,069 &plusmn; 5,570 u postmenopauzi. Respiratorna i mirisna funkcija nosa procenjene su uz pomoć odgovarajućih standaradizovanih objektivnih i subjektivnih metoda. Funkcija donjih disajnih puteva ispitana je uz pomoć spirometrije. Kod žena u reproduktivnom periodu testiranje se vr&scaron;ilo u fazi ovulacije i lutealnoj fazi menstrualnog ciklusa, a kod ispitanica u postmenopauzi jednom. Nakon određivanja prvog plodnog dana ispitanice su uz pomoć standardizovanih urin - tračica za određivanje pika luteinizirajućeg hormona u urinu utvrđivale momenat ovulacije, dok se drugo testiranje u lutealnoj fazi vr&scaron;ilo sedam dana nakon prvog. Respiratorna funkcija nosa je značajno lo&scaron;ija u fazi ovulacije u odnosu na progesteronsku fazu menstrualnog ciklusa,ali se značajno ne razlikuje između žena u reproduktivnom periodu i žena u postmenopauzi. Subjektivni osećaj nazalne opstrukcije značajno se ne razlikuje u različitim fazama menstrualnog ciklusa, kao ni između testiranih populacija zdravih žena. Sposobnost identifikacije mirisa je statistički značajno slabija, a subjektivni osećaj intenziteta mirisa izraženiji u fazi ovulacije u odnosu na luteinsku fazu menstrualnog ciklusa. Međutim, sposobnost identifikacije mirisa značajno je lo&scaron;ija kod žena u postmenopauzi u odnosu na obe faze menstrualnog ciklusa. Reaktivnost nosne sluznice značajno je veća u fazi ovulacije u odnosu na lutealnu fazu menstrualnog ciklusa, ali se ista ne razlikuje između žena u reproduktivnom period i žena u postmenopauzi. Respiratorna i mirisna funkcije nosa u testiranim populacijama zdravih žena nisu značajno povezane.</p> / <p>The nasal function is associated with various anatomical, physiological and emotional factors. There are many theories that have tried to explain the effect of female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) on the nasal physiology, but the mechanism still remains unknown for many researchers. It has been previously described that female sex hormones can cause nasal obstruction by increasing the expression of histamine H1 receptors and altering the concentration of neurotransmitters, which leads to edema of the nasal mucosa and modification of nasal resistance. When it comes to olfaction on a small number of subjects and in differently designed studies, it was shown that in the ovulatory phase the olfactory threshold is significantly lower compared to the follicular and luteal phase, however there are no data on the identification and discrimination of odors in the menstrual cycle. Low estrogen levels caused by physiological atrophy of the ovaries in postmenopause can lead to hyposmia or even anosmia, which is another proof of the sensitivity of the nasal mucosa to estrogen.&nbsp; The aim of this study was to examine the effect of female sex hormones on respiratory and olfactory function of the nose in the menstrual cycle and postmenopause. The research is prospective and it was conducted at the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad. It included 204 females who were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 103 women aged 23.126 &plusmn; 4.597 years in the reproductive period with a regular menstrual cycle and 101 women with an average age of 60.069 &plusmn; 5.570 in the postmenopausal period. The respiratory and olfactory function of the nose were assessed using appropriate standardized objective and subjective methods. The lower airway function was examined using spirometry. Young women in reproductive period were tested twice, in the ovulatory and luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, and the postmenopausal women were tested only once. After menstrual bleeding the participans used standardized urine strips consecutively day by day to determine ovulation (the peak of the luteinizing hormone (LH) in plasma which pointed out the estrogen plasma peak). The test was positive if two horizontal pink streaks appeared on the strip 5 to 10 minutes after the contact with the urine. One pink streak indicates a correctly performed test, while the second streak appears only if there is an LH peak. Within 24 hours of confirmed LH peak, the subjects were tested for the first time. The second measurement was performed in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (the progesterone plasma peak) seven days after the first one.&nbsp; The nasal respiratory function is significantly worse in the ovulatory phase compared to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, but it does not differ significantly between women in the reproductive period and postmenopausal women. The subjective sense of the nasal obstruction does not differ significantly in different phases of the menstrual cycle, as well as between tested populations of healthy women. The odor identification ability is statistically significant weaker and the subjective sense of odor intensity is more pronounced in the ovulatory phase compared to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. However, the ability to identify odors is significantly worse in postmenopausal women compared to both phases of the menstrual cycle. The reactivity of the nasal mucosa is significantly higher in the ovulatory phase compared to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, but it does not differ between women in the reproductive period and postmenopausal women. The respiratory and olfactory nasal functions in these tested populations are not significantly corelated.</p>