Quality of life and olfactory function after suprasellar craniopharyngioma surgery-a single-center experience comparing transcranial and endoscopic endonasal approaches.

The endoscopic endonasal approach to suprasellar craniopharyngiomas has become popular as alternative to transcranial approaches. However, the literature lacks data regarding quality of life and olfactory function. The assessment of the long-term quality of life and olfactory function of all patients harboring a suprasellar craniopharyngioma who underwent surgery in our department has been done. Patient characteristics and perioperative data were gathered in a prospectively maintained database. At the last follow-up visit, the olfactory function and the quality of life (ASBQ, SNOT-22) as well as visual and pituitary function were assessed. Thirteen and 17 patients underwent surgery via a transcranial (T) and endonasal (E) route, respectively. No differences were seen in ASBQ, SNOT-22, and olfactory function between T and E, but in E were more full-time worker and less obesity. CSF leaks occurred in 15% of T and 29% of E (p = 0.43). Patients from group E had a superior visual outcome which was most pronounced in the visual field. The degree of new anterior and posterior pituitary gland deficiency after surgery and in the follow-up was lower in group E. The general and sinonasal quality of life and the olfactory function are equal in E and T. E is associated with a superior visual outcome, lower rates of diabetes insipidus, and lower rates of obesity, but has a higher risk for postoperative CSF leaks.

Acupuncture of specific points influences cortical auditory evoked potentials--a volunteer crossover study.

Specificity of acupoints remains a crucial question in acupuncture research. The aim was to investigate whether acupuncture of specific points influences the Cortical Auditory Evoked Potentials (CAEP). Ten healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study according to inclusion criteria. One of 4 acupoints: TH3, GB43 (both claimed as specific for auditory system by Traditional Chinese Medicine) and non-specific points H7 and ST44, was stimulated during one session. Each volunteer received 4 sessions of acupuncture with an interval of 1 week between the sessions. The latencies and amplitudes of CAEP were registered before and after the acupuncture during each session. The mean peak latencies of P2 component decreased after stimulation of TH3 by 11 ms and GB43 by 14 ms whereas the peak latencies of N2 component increased after stimulation of TH3 by 9 ms and GB43 by 4 ms compared to baseline values (p<0.05). The stimulation of H7 and ST44 did not produce any changes. These findings confirm the specificity of acupuncture points TH3 and GB43 in relation to auditory system.