Mass Spectrometry Identifies Taenia solium Proteins in Sera of Patients With and Without Parenchymal Neurocysticercosis.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC), a major cause of global acquired epilepsy, results from Taenia solium larval brain infection. T. solium adult worms release large numbers of infective eggs into the environment contributing to high levels of exposure in endemic areas. This study identifies T. solium proteins in the sera of individuals with and without NCC using mass spectrometry to examine exposure in endemic regions. Forty-seven patients (18-51 years), 24 parenchymal NCC (pNCC), 8 epilepsy of unknown aetiology, 7 glioma, 8 brain tuberculoma, and 7 healthy volunteers were studied. Trypsin digested sera were subject to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and spectra of 375-1700 m/z matched against T. solium WormBase ParaSite database with MaxQuant software to identify T. solium proteins. Three hundred and nineteen T. solium proteins were identified in 87.5% of pNCC and 56.6% of non-NCC subjects. Three hundred and four proteins were exclusive to pNCC sera, seven to non-NCC sera and eight in both. Ten percent, exhibiting immune-modulatory properties, originated from the oncosphere and cyst vesicular fluid. In conclusion, in endemic regions, T. solium proteins are detected in sera of individuals with and without pNCC. The immunomodulatory nature of these proteins may influence susceptibility and course of infection.

Effect of administration of tranexamic acid on blood loss and transfusion requirements in children undergoing posterior fossa tumor excision: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection of posterior fossa tumors (PFT) in the pediatric age group often results in significant intraoperative blood loss. The primary objective was to assess the effect of tranexamic acid (TXA) on blood loss and transfusion requirement in pediatric patients undergoing excision of PFT. METHODS: In this retrospective study, all pediatric patients ≤ 18 years, who underwent PFT resection over a period of 7 years, were included. The patient and surgical characteristics, estimated blood loss (EBL), the need for blood and blood product transfusion, use of crystalloids, vasopressors, and any adverse events like seizures and thromboembolic events were recorded and compared between Group A who received TXA and Group B who did not. RESULTS: The study included 50 patients, out of which 36 belonged to Group A and 14 to Group B. The median age was 8 years (IQR, 2-17) and the mean BMI was 16.46 ± 4.11 kg/m2. The mean EBL was 224.29 ± 110.36 ml in group A (n = 36) and 362 ± 180.11 ml in group B (n = 14) (p = 0.007). The intraoperative volume of crystalloid use was significantly higher in group B (p = 0.04). The requirement of blood and blood product transfusion was similar between the groups, but the volume of blood transfusion per kg body weight was higher in group B, 8.3 (IQR, 6.7-11.1) ml/kg in Group A versus 10.5 (IQR, 8.1-16.1) ml/kg in Group B (p-value 0.3). The rates of complications noted in the form of seizures and thromboembolic events were comparable. CONCLUSION: The use of TXA in the pediatric population undergoing PFT resection aids in reducing blood loss during the surgery without increasing complications.

Early- and long-term surgical outcomes in 109 children with lipomyelomeningocele.

AIM: To determine the functional outcomes and risk factors for outcomes following surgery for lipomyelomeningocele (LMMC). METHODS: Data from 109 children with LMMC who underwent surgery from January 2008 to December 2017 were retrospectively studied to evaluate functional outcomes and possible risk factors for early- (at discharge from hospital or within 1 month of surgery) and long-term outcomes after surgery. RESULTS: There were 53 boys and 56 girls with median age of 36 months (IQR 12-90 months; range, 4 months to 18 years) at surgery. At presentation, neurological function was normal (asymptomatic group) in 28 (25.7%) children while there was neurological dysfunction (symptomatic group) in 81 (74.3%). Near total or radical excision of lipoma was done in 71 (65.1%) children. Six (5.8%) children had deterioration of neurological function in the post-operative period with recovery of function in three of them. There were no statistically significant risk factors for early outcomes. At a mean follow-up of 62.5 months (IQR 35-82 months; range, 12-146 months), 21 (27.6%) of the 76 symptomatic group children (including 59.3% with incomplete bladder dysfunction) showed improvement, 52 (68.4%) remained the same, while 3 (4%) deteriorated. In 31 children (symptomatic group) who developed symptoms after 1 year of age, early surgery after development of symptoms was associated with better chances of recovery (p = 0.0008). In the asymptomatic group, 23 (88.5%) had normal neurological function at mean follow-up of 57.5 months (IQR 30-77 months; range, 12-141 months) and 3 (11.5%) had neurological deterioration. The mean time to late deterioration (re-tethering) from surgery was 51.3 months (IQR 24-75 months; range, 24-84 months). Presence of syrinx on initial MRI (p = 0.008) and partial resection of the lipoma (p = 0.02) were independent risk factors for delayed deterioration. CONCLUSION: Radical resection of LMMC probably helps in preserving neurological function in > 90% of children at long-term follow-up. Fifty-five percent of children > 2 years of age with incomplete bladder dysfunction regained normal function following surgery. In children who develop symptoms after birth, early surgical intervention can reverse the neurological deficits.

Postoperative intraventricular blood: a new modifiable risk factor for early postoperative symptomatic hydrocephalus in children with posterior fossa tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze factors associated with the development of early symptomatic hydrocephalus following posterior fossa tumor (PFT) surgery in children. METHODS: In this retrospective study, data from 148 children (age < 18 years) who underwent primary resection of their PFTs without preoperative permanent CSF diversion procedures were collected. The incidence of symptomatic hydrocephalus within 30 days of tumor resection was studied and its association with various demographic, tumor-related, and surgery-related risk factors was analyzed. RESULTS: At presentation, 131 (89%) of the 148 patients had symptomatic hydrocephalus. There were 99 males and 49 females (mean age 8.7 years; range 1 to 17 years). Postoperatively, 14 (9.4%) patients required shunt placement for symptomatic hydrocephalus. The indications for shunt surgery were persistent symptoms of raised intracranial pressure (n = 6, 43%), CSF leak from the wound (n = 7, 50%), and tense pseudomeningocele (n = 1, 7%). On multivariate analysis, age < 6 years (OR 5.9, 95% CI 1.6-22.6, p = 0.009) and the presence of intraventricular blood (IVB) on postoperative CT (OR 6.4, 95% CI 1.7-23.7, p = 0.006) were independent risk factors for developing symptomatic hydrocephalus. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of postoperative symptomatic hydrocephalus in our series (9.4%) is lower than that reported in most previous studies. Age < 6 years and the presence of postoperative IVB were independent risk factors for developing symptomatic hydrocephalus. Of these, postoperative IVB is probably the only modifiable risk factor.

Long tunnel external ventricular drain: an adjunct in the management of patients with infection associated hydrocephalus.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of long tunnelled external ventricular drains (LTEVD) as a temporizing measure in patients with ventriculitis/meningitis requiring cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion in whom immediate shunt surgery is not feasible.Methods: A retrospective review of the records of 15 patients with ventriculitis/meningitis, in whom an LTEVD was inserted, was performed to evaluate its safety, new onset CSF infection and need for permanent CSF diversion.Results: 15 patients with ventriculitis/meningitis had 16 LTEVDs placed between May 2006 and December 2016. There were 10 males and 5 females, their mean age being 16.5 years (range, 8 months-50 years). The mean duration of CSF drainage was 15.6 days (range, 4 to 44 days). Of the 16 LTEVDs that were inserted, two (13.3% - one CSF infection and one wound infection) developed new infection after 44 and 17 days of continuous CSF drainage respectively. The LTEVDs were removed and permanent CSF diversion procedures were performed in 10 patients during the same admission and in one patient later. At a mean follow up of 11.6 months (range 2-40 months), 8 of the 11 patients who underwent a permanent CSF diversion procedure had no clinical features of meningitis/ventriculitis.Conclusion: LTEVDs are an effective method of temporary CSF diversion in patients requiring the same for more than 5 days. These drains have a low infection rate when placed up to four weeks making them a safe and efficacious adjunct in management of ventriculitis/meningitis associated hydrocephalus.

Routine placement of subdural drain after burr hole evacuation of chronic and subacute subdural hematoma: a contrarian evidence based approach.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate whether available evidence supporting placement of subdural drain placement after evacuation of chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) is applicable to a cohort of patients managed by us. In this observational cohort study, clinical follow-up was obtained in 166 patients who underwent burr hole evacuation of CSDH without placement of subdural drain followed by 3 days of bed rest. The primary outcome studied was recurrence requiring reoperation. Factors predicting recurrence were also analysed. We compared the patient characteristics and management protocols in our cohort with that in reports supporting drain placement to determine whether such evidence is relevant to our patient group. The mean age of our patients was 58 ± 17 years (range, 1 to 89 years). Sixteen of the 166 (9.6%) patients presented with symptomatic recurrence. The median time to reoperation for recurrence (15 of 16 patients) after the primary procedure was 17 days (range, 2 to 68 days). Antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy was the only factor that was significantly associated with recurrence (p = 0.01). There were no infective or non-infective complications in our patient cohort. Our patient cohort and outcomes differed from those reporting drain placements in the following parameters: they were a decade younger, all patients received bed rest for 3 days after surgery and the recurrence rate was similar to that reported in the drained groups but significantly less than that reported in the non-drained groups. Routine placement of drain following burr hole evacuation of CSDH should only be done after careful comparison of the patient cohort under consideration and those reporting superior outcomes with drains. Evidence-based medicine supports such an approach.

Recovery of sympathetic skin response after central corpectomy in patients with moderate and severe cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

BACKGROUND: There are sparse data on the recovery of sympathetic skin response (SSR) following decompressive surgery in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). We designed a study to assess SSR in patients with moderate and severe (Nurick grades 3, 4 and 5) CSM, and its recovery following central corpectomy (CC). METHOD: We conducted a prospective study on 19 patients with moderate and severe CSM who underwent CC from June 2008 to December 2010. Autonomic dysfunction was defined as the presence of 'bladder dysfunction' or 'orthostatic hypotension'. All patients underwent SSR test preoperatively and at follow-up. Functional evaluation was done using Nurick grade and modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) score preoperatively and at follow-up. FINDINGS: In the preoperative assessment, 14 of 19 (73.7%) patients had bladder dysfunction and orthostatic hypotension. SSR was absent in 13 (68.4%) patients preoperatively. At a mean follow-up of 14.5 months after CC, SSR was present in 12 of the 14 patients available for follow-up. SSR returned postoperatively in 9 of the 11 patients in whom it was absent preoperatively. Recovery of SSR postoperatively had significant correlation with improvement in Nurick grade (p =0.02), improvement in lower limb component of mJOA score (p =0.001) and Nurick grade recovery rate (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Dysfunction of the autonomic pathways as determined by the SSR is seen in nearly 70% of patients with moderate and severe CSM but did not correlate with other autonomic functions, suggesting possibly different pathways for different autonomic functions. Following uninstrumented CC, SSR returned in almost 80% of patients in whom it was absent preoperatively and this correlated significantly with improvement in functional grade. Decompressive surgery can reverse autonomic dysfunction in most of these patients.

Evaluation of hand function in healthy individuals and patients undergoing uninstrumented central corpectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathy using nine-hole peg test.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the hand function in healthy individuals and in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) undergoing central corpectomy using the nine-hole peg test (NHPT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The NHPT was performed in healthy adults and in patients with CSM; overall, five trials were performed in the right and left hand separately. The preoperative and follow up NHPT score was compared to the normal and correlated with Nurick and modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scales. RESULTS: The NHPT score was significantly less in adult healthy female compared to adult healthy male subjects (difference, 0.71 s, P < 0.002). The distribution of the NHPT scores in normal adults followed the normal binomial distribution. The time taken to perform the NHPT with the right hand was significantly lower than the time taken to perform the NHPT with the left hand in both the sexes (P < 0.001). Thirty-six of the 47 patients with CSM (76.6%) had a prolonged preoperative NHPT score. There was a strong negative correlation between the preoperative NHPT score and the preoperative upper limb component of the modified-Japanese Orthopedic Association (UlmJOA) score. No significant change was detected in the NHPT score at one week postoperatively. On follow-up at six months or more (n = 21), the NHPT score normalized in five (35.7%) of the 14 patients in whom it was prolonged preoperatively. The NHPT score remained the same as the preoperative status in the other 16 patients, 7 of whom had a normal score preoperatively. The change in the NHPT score at follow-up did not correlate with the change in the UlmJOA score. CONCLUSIONS: Normative data among the Indian population suggest that female subjects have significantly lower scores than the male ones, and that there is a difference between the two sides that needs to be considered while reporting the NHPT scores in disease. The NHPT scores were prolonged preoperatively in CSM and showed a correlation with the UlmJOA score, and there was no significant change noted at one week follow-up. While the NHPT score is a good quantitative test to evaluate hand function in patients with CSM and could detect subtle hand dysfunction preoperatively, it has a limited role, when used alone, to detect changes in hand function postoperatively.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for intracranial arteriovenous malformations: A review.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has proven to be an effective strategy in the management of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in children and adults over the past three decades. Its application has resulted in lowering the morbidity and mortality associated with treatment of deep-seated AVMs. SRS has been used as a primary modality of therapy as well as in conjunction with embolization and microsurgery in the management of AVMs. The obliteration rate after SRS has been reported to range from 35% to 92%. Smaller AVMs receiving higher marginal doses have obliteration rates of 70% and more. The median follow-up reported in most series is approximately 36-40 months. The median time to obliteration has been reported to be approximately 24-36 months in most series. Radiation-induced neurological complications have been reported in less than 10% of patients, with a 1.5%-6% risk of developing a new permanent neurological deficit. The bleeding rate during the latency to obliteration has been reported to be approximately 5%. This review describes the experience reported in literature with respect to the indications, dosage, factors affecting obliteration rate of AVMs, and complications after SRS.

Modification of Nurick scale and Japanese Orthopedic Association score for Indian population with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.

AIMS: Existing scales for functional grading of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), such as the Nurick scale and modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scale, do not address certain culture-specific activities of the Indian population while grading patients with CSM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We modified the Nurick scale and mJOA scale to develop the Indian modifications of Nurick (imNurick) and mJOA scales (imJOA and imJOA scales), respectively, and then evaluated these modified scales in 93 patients with CSM to determine whether these modifications had a meaningful impact on the functional scores of these patients. RESULTS: There was good interobserver agreement in the assessments documented in all the four scales (Nurick grade, imNurick grade, mJOA scale, and imJOA scale) (kappa = 1). Both Nurick grading (z = 4.4, P = 0.00) and imNurick grading (z = 5.5, P = 0.00) had a valid construct when tested against lower limb mJOA (llmJOA) score. The Indian modified upper limb JOA (imulmJOA) score too had a good construct with modified upper limb JOA (ulmJOA) score (z = 2.5, P = 0.01). There was substantial agreement between Nurick grade and imNurick grade (weighted kappa of 0.75) when taken as a whole group and between ulmJOA score and imulmJOA scores (weighted kappa of 0.75). However, there was significant disagreement between the Nurick grade and imNurick grade scales in patients who were Nurick grade 2 and 3 (kappa = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed Indian modifications of Nurick grade and mJOA scale that incorporate the ethnic practices of the Indian population and some Asian population are better discriminators of different levels of functional ability among patients with CSM in this population, as compared to the existing Nurick grading and mJOA scale.

Pott's puffy tumor: An unusual complication of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis.

Objective: To describe clinicoradiological features and surgical outcomes in a series of nine patients with rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) who presented with Pott's puffy tumor (ROCM-PPT). Methods: The records of nine patients with ROCM-PPT seen between March 2020 and December 2021 were analysed. Clinical features, radiology, histopathology, operative findings, management and outcome were noted. Frontal sinus pneumatisation and outflow tract configuration was compared between patients and controls with ROCM and no PPT. Results: ROCM-PPT was diagnosed in 9 of 284 (3.2 %) patients with ROCM seen during the study period. There were six (66.7 %) males and the median age was 54 (IQR 46-60) years. Eight (88.9 %) patients had diabetes mellitus and seven (77.8 %) had been COVID-19 positive. Radiological features of osteomyelitis, subperiosteal abscess formation and dural enhancement were seen in all patients. No significant differences in pneumatisation or frontal sinus outflow tract configuration were noted between patients and controls. All patients underwent a craniectomy with frontal bone debridement and frontal sinus exteriorisation. All patients were treated with anti-fungal agents for several months. All patients had symptomatic improvement at a median follow-up of 21 (IQR 18-23) months. Repeat CT/MRI scans showed disease regression/resolution in six out of eight (75 %) patients with follow-up imaging, and stable disease in two others. Conclusions: ROCM-PPT is a rare, delayed complication of mucormycosis that was seen in larger numbers during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Aggressive debridement of osteomyelitic bone and antifungal therapy results in a good outcome.

Decompressive craniectomy in cerebral venous thrombosis: a single centre experience.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an important cause for stroke in the young where the role for decompressive craniectomy is not well established. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the outcome of CVT patients treated with decompressive craniectomy. METHODS: Clinical and imaging features, preoperative findings and long-term outcome of patients with CVT who underwent decompressive craniectomy were analysed. RESULTS: Over 10 years (2002-2011), 44/587 (7.4%) patients with CVT underwent decompressive craniectomy. Diagnosis of CVT was based on magnetic resonance venography (MRV)/inferior vena cava (IVC). Decision for surgery was taken at admission in 19/44 (43%), within 12 h in 5/44 (11%), within first 48 h in 15/44 (34%) and beyond 48 h in 10/44 (22%). Presence of midline shift of ≥ 10 mm (p<0.0009) and large infarct volume (mean 146.63 ml; SD 52.459, p<0.001) on the baseline scan influenced the decision for immediate surgery. Hemicraniectomy was done in 38/44 (86%) and bifrontal craniectomy in 6/44 (13.6%). Mortality was 9/44 (20%). On multivariate analysis (5% level of significance) age <40 years and surgery within 12 h significantly increased survival. Mean follow-up was 25.5 months (range 3-66 months), 26/35 (74%) had 1 year follow-up. Modified Rankin Scale (mRs) continued to improve even after 6 months with 27/35 (77%) of survivors achieving mRs of ≤ 2. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest series on decompressive craniectomy for CVT in literature to date. Decompressive craniotomy should be considered as a treatment option in large venous infarcts. Very good outcomes can be expected especially if done early and in those below 40 years.

Adding Ketamine to Epidural Morphine Does Not Prolong Postoperative Analgesia After Lumbar Laminectomy or Discectomy.

BACKGROUND: Epidural opioids provide effective postoperative analgesia after lumbar spine surgery. Ketamine has been shown to reduce opioid-induced central sensitization and hyperalgesia. We hypothesized that adding ketamine to epidural opioids would prolong the duration of analgesia and enhance analgesic efficacy after lumbar spine surgery. METHODS: American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class I to II patients aged between 18 and 70 years with normal renal function undergoing lumbar laminectomy were recruited into this single-center randomized trial. Patients were randomized to receive either single-dose epidural morphine (group A) or epidural morphine and ketamine (group B) for postoperative analgesia. The primary objective was to compare the duration of analgesia as measured by time to the first postoperative analgesic request. Secondary objectives were the comparison of pain scores at rest and movement, systemic hemodynamics, and the incidence of side effects during the first 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: Fifty patients were recruited (25 in each group), of which data from 48 were available for analysis. The mean±SD duration of analgesia was 20±6 and 23±3 hours in group A and group B, respectively (P=0.07). There were 12/24 (50%) patients in group A and 17/24 (71%) patients in group B who did not receive rescue analgesia during the first 24-hour postoperative period (P=0.07). Pain scores at rest and movement, systemic hemodynamics, and postoperative complications were comparable between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of ketamine to epidural morphine did not prolong the duration of analgesia after lumbar laminectomy.

Correlation Between Post-Radiosurgery Perinidal Hyperintensity and AVM Obliteration Following LINAC-Based Stereotactic Radiosurgery.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the correlation between new-onset perinidal hyperintensity (PH) on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and obliteration of intracranial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). METHODS: A retrospective study of 148 patients with an intracranial AVM who underwent SRS between September 2005 and June 2018 and had ≥1 radiological follow-up (early magnetic resonance imaging) 12-18 months after SRS was performed to analyze the correlation between PH (graded from 0 to 2) and AVM obliteration. RESULTS: Of the 148 patients, 95 were male. The mean patient age was 27.7 ± 12.4 years. Of the 148 AVMs, 105 (70.9%) were obliterated at a median follow-up of 27 months (interquartile range, 14-48 months). The cumulative 3-, 5-, 10-year obliteration rate was 51.8%, 70.8%, and 91.8%, respectively. New-onset PH was observed in 58 AVMs (39.2%; 50 obliterated and 8 not obliterated). No association was found between the pretreatment variables or dose delivered and the development of PH. Grade 2 PH was associated with the risk of symptoms developing compared with grade 1 PH (37.5% vs. 4%; P = 0.002). Symptomatic PH was more likely to develop in patients with a larger AVM (P = 0.05). On multivariate analysis, the presence of a single draining vein (odds ratio [OR], 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-6.8), a lower median AVM volume (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.6-0.89), a mean marginal radiation dose (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.02-1.64), and the presence of PH (OR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.29-7.71) were independent predictors of AVM obliteration. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of PH after SRS for AVM was 39.2%. PH was an independent predictor of AVM obliteration after SRS. Grade 2 PH and a larger AVM volume were associated with symptomatic PH.

Correlation between Monocyte Gene Expression and Inflammation on Brain Imaging in Patients with Solitary Cerebral Cysticercus Granuloma.

Prior work has shown that 14 monocyte genes are upregulated in patients with different forms of parenchymal neurocysticercosis, including solitary cysticercus granuloma (SCG). The aim of this study was to investigate whether changes in inflammation associated with SCG seen on follow-up brain imaging are also reflected in changes in expression of these 14 genes. Peripheral blood CD14+ monocytes were isolated from 20 patients with SCG at initial diagnosis and at clinical and imaging follow-up of 6 months or more. Expressions of 14 target monocyte genes were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction at each visit. At a median follow-up of 14 months, the SCG had resolved in 11 patients, was persistent in four patients, and had calcified in five patients. Edema seen in the initial imaging in 17 patients had resolved in 15 patients and was markedly reduced in two patients. The expression levels of the monocyte genes LRRFIP2, TAXIBP1, and MZB1 were significantly lower at follow-up, regardless of the status of SCG on follow-up imaging. Our findings show that expression levels of monocyte genes involved with inflammatory processes decrease in patients with SCG concomitant with follow-up imaging that reveals a reduction in inflammation as revealed by complete or near-complete resolution of edema, as well as resolution or reduction in the enhancement of the granuloma.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculous subdural empyema with secondary methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection: an unusual presentation of cranial tuberculosis in an infant.

Despite tuberculosis (TB) being endemic in many parts of the world, its prevalence in infancy is low. Neurotuberculosis in this age is even rarer and presents either as meningitis or intracranial tuberculoma on the background of exposure to the disease. We report occurrence of multidrug-resistant tuberculous subdural empyema in a three-month-old girl as the initial presenting manifestation of TB in the absence of any exposure to the disease. She was successfully managed with surgery and drugs with good outcome at 18 months.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Procalcitonin-A Potential Biomarker for Post-Craniotomy Bacterial Meningitis.

Background: The literature regarding the utility of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) procalcitonin (PCT) in the diagnosis of post-craniotomy bacterial meningitis and differentiating it from aseptic meningitis is sparse. Materials and Methods: CSF total WBC count, sugar, protein, and PCT were measured in febrile patients with suspected post-craniotomy meningitis during the first 30 days following an intradural cranial procedure for non-trauma indications. Patients were diagnosed as postoperative bacterial meningitis if CSF culture was positive (PBM, n = 28) or postoperative aseptic meningitis if CSF culture was sterile and there was no evidence of systemic infection (PAM, n = 31). CSF cytochemical parameters and PCT values were compared between the groups. Normal values of CSF PCT were obtained from 14 patients with noninfectious indications with hydrocephalus. Results: There was no significant difference in CSF total WBC count, sugar, and protein levels between PAM and PBM groups. The median PCT level in CSF in the normal group was 0.03 ng/mL (interquartile range [IQR] 0.02-0.07 ng/mL). CSF PCT in the PBM group (median 0.37 ng/mL, IQR 0.2-1.4 ng/mL) was significantly higher than normal values as well as PAM group (median 0.12 ng/mL, IQR 0.07-0.26 ng/mL (P = 0.0004). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for CSF PCT was 0.767. A cutoff value of 0.12 ng/mL yielded a sensitivity of 85.7% (95% CI: 67.3% to 96%), specificity of 51.6% (95% CI: 33% to 69.9%), positive predictive value of 61.5% (95% CI: 51.9% to 70.3%), and negative predictive value of 80% (95% CI: 60.3.8% to 91.3%). Conclusions: CSF PCT assay in patients who are febrile during the first 30 days post-non-trauma neurosurgical procedures has a role in the early diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.

Imaging correlates of serum enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) positivity in patients with parenchymal neurocysticercosis: results from 521 patients.

BACKGROUND: The presence of perilesional edema among patients with parenchymal neurocysticercosis (pNCC) of various lesion subtypes has not been correlated with results of serum enzyme-linked immunotransfer blot (EITB) for cysticercal antibodies. METHODS: In total, 521 patients with pNCC were classified into solitary cysticercus granuloma (SCG), multiple lesions, at least one of which was an enhancing granuloma (GMNCC), solitary calcified cysticercal lesion (SCC) and multiple calcified cysticercal lesions (CMNCC). The proportion of EITB positivity among each lesion subtype and its association with perilesional edema were determined. RESULTS: There were significantly higher positive EITB results in patients with GMNCC (90/111, 81.1%) compared with other lesion types. Perilesional edema was associated with positive EITB in patients with CMNCC. On univariate analysis, perilesional edema and GMNCC were associated with EITB positivity. On multivariate analysis, only GMNCC (OR 7.5; 95% CI 3.5 to 16.2) was significantly associated with EITB positivity. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with pNCC, the presence of perilesional edema is associated with a higher probability of a positive EITB result in patients with CMNCC, suggesting a synchronicity in the mechanisms associated with formation of perilesional edema and the antibody response in this subtype. In patients with enhancing granulomas, edema is not an independent predictor of a positive EITB, suggesting that the enhancement itself is associated with a strong antibody response.

Impact of Grade on Survival in Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma and Low Prevalence of BRAF V600E Mutation.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of BRAFV600E mutations in pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) World Health Organization (WHO) Grade 2 and PXA WHO Grade 3 reported varies from 60% to 80%, yet the prognostic implications remain unclear. METHODS: We reviewed the demographic and clinicoradiologic data of 20 PXAs WHO Grade 2 and 13 PXAs WHO Grade 3, operated between 2007 and 2020, to ascertain extent of excision, recurrence, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). PXAs WHO Grade 3 were defined by the presence of >5 mitoses/high-power field. PXAs WHO Grade 3 received adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy whereas PXAs received radiation therapy if subtotally excised. All samples were analyzed for the presence of BRAFV600E mutation using DNA obtained from paraffin blocks using droplet-digital polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The median patient age at diagnosis was 22 years with a male preponderance. BRAFV600E mutations were noted in 30% of tumors; 8 PXAs WHO Grade 2 and 2 PXAs WHO Grade 3. Recurrence occurred in 6 of 13 PXA WHO Grade 3 (55%) and 1 of 20 PXAs WHO Grade 2 (5%). At median follow-up of 45 months, the OS was 54 months and 33 months in the PXA WHO Grade 2 and PXA WHO Grade 3 groups, respectively (P = 0.02). OS and PFS did not differ between BRAF-mutated and BRAF-negative tumors. CONCLUSIONS: BRAFV600E mutations are less frequent in our population than reported in the literature. The BRAF mutation does not significantly impact OS and PFS. PXAs WHO Grade 3 are a distinct clinical entity, associated with worse PFS and OS than PXAs WHO Grade 2.