Anti- inflammatory effect of boric acid on cytokines in ovariectomy-induced rats.

The increase in the rate of inflammation in the post-menopause period also leads to a significant increase in the use of anti-inflammatory agents. This study aimed to investigate the effect of BA supplementation on pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in ovariectomy (OVX) induced rats. A total of 48 nonpregnant female Wistar albino rats (80-100 g) were used in the experiment. Forty-eight rats were divided into six equal groups (n=8): Control, OVX, OVX+5 mg/kg BA (OVX+BA5), OVX+10 mg/kg BA (OVX+BA10), 5 mg/kg BA (BA5), 10 mg/kg BA (BA10). Serum TNF-α cytokine levels of rats in the OVX group were higher than in control rats (P<0.05). TNF-α levels were significantly reduced in the OVX-induced rats with 5 mg/kg BA and 10 mg/kg BA supplementation (P<0.05). While serum IL-1α and IL-6 levels were not different between OVX and control rats, serum IL-3 levels were low (P<0.05) and not affected by 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg BA supplementation. Serum IL-11 levels increased significantly in the OVX rats with 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg BA supplementation (P<0.05). As far as we know, certain doses (5 and 10 mg/kg) of BA are the first study on the prevention of increased inflammation in rats induced by OVX. Results suggest that the supplementation of BA regulates the inflammatory changes associated with OVX and thus has beneficial for menopause management.

Seizure treatment with olfactory training: a preliminary trial.

OBJECTIVE: Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent seizures. Despite miscellaneous antiseizure medications, resistance to treatment is still approximately 30%. This resistance brings forward the multidisciplinary approach and complementary treatments. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of olfactory training on epileptic seizures with special aromas having antiseizure effects in patients diagnosed with drug-resistant epilepsy. METHODS: A total of 24 patients (14 pediatric and 10 adults) with drug-resistant epilepsy were recruited for the study. Participants were asked to inhale the standardized bottle filled with lavender aroma (Lavandula Angustifolia) twice a day (morning and evening) for 30-45 s (2 cm in front of nose; 10-15 s to right and left nostril and 10-15 s to both nostrils) for 3 months. The type, frequency, duration of seizures, the quality of life (SF-36 and PedsQL 4.0), and olfactory functions (Sniffin' Sticks Test and Pediatric Smell Wheel) were re-assessed. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that olfactory training decreased the seizure frequency (p < 0.001) and the seizure duration (p = 0.02). A global 50% seizure reduction was seen among patients. Moreover, olfactory training increased the quality of life (p = 0.003) and improved the olfactory function in both the pediatric and adult groups (p = 0.017, p = 0.05, respectively). There was no adverse reaction and no increase in seizure frequency. SIGNIFICANCE: The observations of the present investigation suggest that olfactory training is a successful complementary therapy with no adverse reaction in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Large cohort studies and longer follow-up periods are needed for providing olfactory training as a therapy modality in patients with epilepsy.

Assessment of Patients with Intracerebral Hemorrhage or Hemorrhagic Transformation in the VENOST Study.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (CVST) may lead to cerebral edema and increased intracranial pressure; besides, ischemic or hemorrhagic lesions may develop. Intracerebral hemorrhages occur in approximately one-third of CVST patients. We assessed and compared the findings of the cerebral hemorrhage (CH) group and the CVST group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the VENOST study, medical records of 1,193 patients with CVST, aged over 18 years, were obtained from 35 national stroke centers. Demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, signs at the admission, radiological findings, etiologic factors, acute and maintenance treatment, and outcome results were reported. The number of involved sinuses or veins, localizations of thrombus, and lesions on CT and MRI scans were recorded. RESULTS: CH was detected in the brain imaging of 241 (21.1%) patients, as hemorrhagic infarction in 198 patients and intracerebral hemorrhage in 43 patients. Gynecologic causes comprised the largest percentage (41.7%) of etiology and risk factors in the CVST group. In the CH group, headache associated with other neurological symptoms was more frequent. These neurological symptoms were epileptic seizures (46.9%), nausea and/or vomiting (36.5%), altered consciousness (36.5%), and focal neurological deficits (33.6%). mRS was ≥3 in 23.1% of the patients in the CH group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: CVST, an important cause of stroke in the young, should be monitored closely if the patients have additional symptoms of headache, multiple sinus involvement, and CH. Older age and parenchymal lesion, either hemorrhagic infarction or intracerebral hemorrhage, imply poor outcome.

Behçet's disease as a causative factor of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: subgroup analysis of data from the VENOST study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to determine the rate of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) among cases of Behçet's disease (BD) included in a multicentre study of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (VENOST). METHODS: VENOST was a retrospective and prospective national multicentre observational study that included 1144 patients with CVST. The patients were classified according to aetiologic factors, time of CVST symptom onset, sinus involvement, treatment approach and prognosis. RESULTS: BD was shown to be a causative factor of CVST in 108 (9.4%) of 1144 patients. The mean age of patients in the BD group was 35.27 years and 68.5% were men, whereas in the non-BD CVST group, the mean age was 40.57 years and 28.3% were men (P < 0.001). Among the aetiologic factors for patients aged 18-36 years, BD was predominant for men, and puerperium was predominant for women. The onset of symptoms in the BD group was consistent with the subacute form. The transverse sinuses were the most common sites of thrombosis, followed by the superior sagittal sinuses. The most common symptom was headache (96.2%), followed by visual field defects (38%). CONCLUSIONS: BD was found in 9.4% of patients in our VENOST series. Patients with BD were younger and showed a male predominance. The functional outcome of CVST in patients with BD was good; only 12% of patients presenting with cranial nerve involvement and altered consciousness at the beginning had a poor outcome (modified Rankin Score ⩾2).

Olfactory and gustatory functions in patients with non-complicated type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The aim of this study was to evaluate any possible relationship between diabetic state and olfactory and gustatory functions in patients with non-complicated diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1D), and also to present evidence of the association between olfactory and gustatory scores and HbA1c values and disease durations. The study included 39 patients with non-complicated T1D and 31 healthy controls. Clinical characteristics such as age, gender, duration of disease, education levels and biochemical analyses (fasting blood glucose, urea, creatinine, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), triglyceride, HbA1c, C-peptide, postprandial blood glucose) were measured. Subjective olfactory and gustatory tests were performed for all participants. There were no significant differences in olfactory tests between the two groups (odor thresholds 8.63 ± 0.91 vs. 8.55 ± 0.57, p = 0.66; odor discrimination 12.97 ± 0.80 vs. 12.74 ± 0.79, p = 0.24; odor identification 13.81 ± 0.98 vs. 13.72 ± 0.89, p = 0.69; TDI score 35.34 ± 1.94 vs. 34.97 ± 1.4, p = 0.37). There were also no significant differences in gustatory tests between the two groups (bitter 3.45 ± 0.51 vs. 3.44 ± 0.50, p = 0.90; sweet 3.32 ± 0.48 vs. 3.38 ± 0.49, p = 0.60; salty 3.13 ± 0.72 vs. 3.10 ± 0.72, p = 0.88; total score of taste 13.16 ± 1.61 vs. 13.13 ± 1.22, p = 0.92). Comparison of gustatory and olfactory scores according to disease duration of type 1 diabetes mellitus patients revealed that there were no differences between groups (all p > 0.05). T1D without complications may not be associated with olfactory and gustatory dysfunction according to subjective testing. We also found that gustatory and olfactory functions may not be related with HbA1c values and disease duration in non-complicated T1D.

The evaluation of olfactory function in individuals with chronic halitosis.

Halitosis and olfactory dysfunction may disrupt an individual's quality of life remarkably. One may ask whether halitosis has effects on olfactory functions or not? Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the olfactory abilities of subjects with chronic halitosis evaluated using the measurements of volatile sulfur compounds. This study was carried out in 77 subjects, with a mean age of 40.1±13.3 years, ranging from 18 to 65 years. Forty-three participants were diagnosed as halitosis according to the gas chromatography results and constituted the halitosis group. Also, a control group was created from individuals without a complaint of halitosis and also who had normal values for volatile sulfur compounds. Each subject's orthonasal olfactory and retronasal olfactory functions were assessed using "Sniffin' Sticks" and retronasal olfactory testing. The results showed that odor threshold scores were lower in participants with halitosis compared with controls. Also, hyposmia was seen more common in the halitosis group than in controls. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was found between odor threshold scores and volatile sulfur compounds levels, particularly with hydrogen sulfide and dimethyl sulfide levels. The results suggest that the chronic presence of volatile sulfur compounds may have a negative effect on olfactory function.

The Relationship between Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Olfactory Function.

BACKGROUND: Olfactory dysfunction is a common symptom of many neurodegenerative diseases, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a late-onset neurodegenerative disease. OBJECTIVE: Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate olfactory functions in patients with AMD. METHODS: A total of 69 subjects with AMD and 69 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. After a complete ophthalmic evaluation, the AMD patients were subclassified as early- and late-stage AMD. Psychophysical testing of olfactory function was performed using the validated Sniffin' Sticks test. RESULTS: This study was carried out in 138 subjects, with a mean age of 74.3 ± 8.9 years (range 51-89). The current investigation showed the following two major findings: (1) patients with AMD had decreased olfactory abilities, especially in odor discrimination and odor identification, even at early stages compared to controls, whereas patients had decreased olfactory abilities in all subtasks of olfactory testings in advanced stages of AMD disease, and (2) as the visual acuity of AMD patients decreased, the olfactory abilities of these patients worsened. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that AMD had significant negative effects on all orthonasal olfactory tasks, particularly in advanced stages. Similar to other neurodegenerative diseases, odor discrimination and identification seemed to be more affected than odor detection threshold tasks.

Postoperative changes in olfactory function after transcanalicular diode laser dacryocystorhinostomy.

PURPOSE: Transcanalicular diode laser dacryocystorhinostomy (TCL-DCR) is used much in recent years for the surgery of nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). Although TCL-DCR is accepted to be minimally invasive, safe, and effective, there is no report focusing on postoperative changes in olfactory function after this procedure. Hence, the aim of this current study was to investigate the changes in olfactory function after TCL-DCR procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out in 42 volunteers (16 men and 26 women) between the ages of 20 and 81 years. All participants received detailed lateralized olfactory tests preoperatively and at the postoperative first week, first month, third month, and sixth month. After lateralized olfactory tests were performed, the results were grouped according to the side of the nasal passage where the operation was performed for NLDO: the nonoperated side served as the control. RESULTS: The current investigation produced 2 major findings: (1) olfactory function decreased significantly after TCL-DCR procedure at the operated side of the nose compared with the nonoperated side; (2) olfactory abilities of the patients returned to normal within 3 months. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that transcanalicular diode laser could be used safely in terms of olfactory function for dacryocystorhinostomy. Temporary decrease of olfactory function on the side having TCL-DCR should be taken into account when obtaining informed patient consent.

An investigation of retronasal testing of olfactory function in a Turkish population.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was: (1) to perform a preliminary study for the validation of ''retronasal olfactory testing'' in the Turkish population to find the best way to evaluate smell and taste disorders in Turkey; (2) to determine if cultural differences make application of the test more difficult; and (3) to determine the flavors that participants had not yet tasted by using the survey method. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 330 volunteers. Orthonasal olfactory function was assessed psycho-physically using the "Sniffin' Sticks" olfactory test. Retronasal olfaction was assessed using a collection of 20 available food powders applied to the oral cavity. Also, all participants filled in a questionnaire of 50 items about the flavors they had not tasted before. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 26 ± 7.3 years. Participants were divided into 3 groups according to the "Sniffin' Sticks" test results: anosmia, hyposmia, and normosmia groups. Differences in retronasal olfaction scores were significant among the 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The retronasal olfactory test appeared to perform well, but modifications of odorized powders or granules and distracters used in the retronasal olfactory test, taking into account Turkish cultural differences, is likely to improve its performance.

The effect of high altitude on olfactory functions.

It is known that high-altitude trips cause nasal congestion, impaired nasal mucociliary transport rate, and increased nasal resistance, due to decreased partial oxygen pressure and dry air. It is also known that olfactory perception is affected by barometric pressure and humidity. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether olfactory function changes in relation to high altitude in a natural setting. The present study included 41 volunteers with no history of chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal polyposis. The study group consisted of 31 men (76 %) and 10 women (24 %); the mean age of the study population was 38 ± 10 years. Olfactory testing was conducted using "Sniffin' Sticks" at a high altitude (2,200 ms) and at sea level. Odor test scores for threshold and identification were significantly better at sea level than at high altitude (p < 0.001). The major finding of this investigation was that olfactory functions are decreased at high altitudes.

The effect of high altitude on nasal nitric oxide levels.

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether nasal nitric oxide (nNO) levels change in relation to high altitude in a natural setting where the weather conditions were favorable. The present study included 41 healthy volunteers without a history of acute rhinosinusitis within 3 weeks and nasal polyposis. The study group consisted of 31 males (76 %) and 10 females (24 %) and the mean age of the study population was 38 ± 10 years. The volunteers encamped for 2 days in a mountain village at an altitude of 1,500 m above sea level (masl) and proceeded to highlands at an altitude of 2,200 masl throughout the day. The measurements of nNO were done randomly, either first at the mountain village or at sea level. Each participant had nNO values both at sea level and at high altitude at the end of the study. The nNO values of sea level and high altitude were compared to investigate the effect of high altitude on nNO levels. The mean of average nNO measurements at the high altitude was 74.2 ± 41 parts-per-billion (ppb) and the mean of the measurements at sea level was 93.4 ± 45 ppb. The change in nNO depending on the altitude level was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The current investigation showed that nNO levels were decreased at high altitude even if the weather conditions were favorable, such as temperature, humidity, and wind.

Grade 4 tonsillar hypertrophy associated with decreased retronasal olfactory function: a pilot study.

Tonsillar hypertrophy is common in children, but it can also be present in adults. Enlarged tonsils, a significant anatomical barrier, may affect the flow of odor molecules from the oral cavity to the nasal passages, which has not yet been studied. Thus, we aimed to investigate the mass effect of palatine tonsillar hypertrophy on retronasal olfaction. This study was carried out in 146 subjects, with a mean age of 22.1 ± 2.2 years, ranging 20-29 years. An oropharyngeal examination of the participants was completed, and tonsillar hypertrophy was graded according to the subjective tonsil size scale. The participants were divided into four groups according to their tonsil size grading; then, each subject's orthonasal olfactory and retronasal olfactory functions were assessed using "Sniffin' Sticks" and retronasal olfactory testing. There were no differences observed between the groups in terms of age, gender, cigarette smoking, or alcohol consumption. In addition, there was no difference between the groups in terms of "Sniffin' Sticks" subtests and TDI scores. It was determined that the retronasal olfactory scores of the participants with grade 4 tonsil size were significantly lower than the retronasal olfactory scores of the participants with grade 1 tonsil size. The current investigation demonstrates that grade 4 tonsillar hypertrophy has significant negative effects on the retronasal route of olfactory sensing, when compared with grade 1 tonsillar hypertrophy.

Lateralized differences in olfactory function and olfactory bulb volume relate to nasal septum deviation.

One of the most common reasons for partial nasal obstruction is nasal septal deviation (NSD). The effect of a partial lateralized nasal obstruction on olfactory bulb (OB) volume remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the side differences in olfactory function and OB in patients with serious NSD. Sixty-five volunteers were included: 22 patients with serious right NSD and 43 patients with left NSD. The patients' mean age was 22 years. All participants received volumetric magnetic resonance imaging scans of the entire brain and detailed lateralized olfactory tests. The majority of the patients exhibited an overall decreased olfactory function (as judged for the better nostril: functional anosmia in 3%, hyposmia in 72%, normosmia in 25%), which seems to be mostly due to the overall severe changes in nasal anatomy. As expected, olfactory function was significantly lower at the narrower side as indicated for odor thresholds, odor discrimination, and odor identification (P ≤ 0.005). When correlating relative scores and volumes (wider minus narrower side), a significantly positive correlation between the relative measures emerged for OB volume and odor identification, odor discrimination, and odor thresholds. Our study clearly highlights that septal deviation results in decreased olfactory function at the narrower side.

Is there an association between olfactory bulb volume and the Keros type of fossa olfactoria?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the volume of the olfactory bulb (OB), the depth of the olfactory sulcus (OS), the depth of the fossa olfactoria (FO), and the height of the OB. METHODS: A total of 54 patients participated (9 women and 45 men; mean [SD] age, 27 [38] y; range, 20-45 y). Magnetic resonance imaging was performed with a 1.5-T system (slice thickness, 1 mm). Measurements of the right and left OB volumes were performed through manual segmentation of the coronal slices. We measured the depth of the FO on the basis of Keros classification on coronal magnetic resonance images. The depth of the OS was measured on the coronal plane at the posterior tangent through the orbital globes. The height of the OB was measured on the coronal plane of the cribriform plate at the highest portion of the OB. RESULTS: The mean (SD) right OB volume was measured to be 52.21 (13.73) mm3 with a range between 33.90 and 95.70 mm3. The mean (SD) left OB volume was measured to be 53.98 (13.31) mm3 with a range between 31.20 and 94.10 mm3. Type 1, type 2, and type 3 Keros ratios of the FO bilaterally were 12.9% (7/54), 68.5% (37/54), and 3.7% (2/54), respectively. There was no significant relationship between the OB volume and ipsilateral Keros type of FO (right side: P = 0.208; left side: P = 0.164). Similarly, there was no significant relationship between the OB volume and depth of OS on both sides (right side: P = 0.073; left side: P = 0.065). There was no significant association between the Keros type of the right FO and depth of the OS (right side: P = 0.812; left side P = 0.863). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that there is no statistical correlation between the OB volume and depth of the FO (Keros type). From the current study, it may be concluded that the depth of the FO may develop largely independent from OB volumes. The individuals without smell disorder have a wide range in OB volume. The method of OB volume measurement that we described is a valid measure of real OB volumes with high reproducibility.

The effect of hyperbaric conditions on olfactory functions.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of increased atmospheric pressure (AP) on olfactory function. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The present study included 40 healthy volunteers with no history of chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis. The experimental procedure consisted of two episodes: (a) baseline episode, with normal AP; 1 absolute atmosphere (atm abs) in a test room at sea level; (b) experimental episode, increased level of AP; 2.4 atm abs in the hyperbaric chamber. Sino-nasal outcome test-20, Trail Making Test A and olfactory testing were performed in each episodes. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 23 men (57.5%) and 17 women (42.5%); the mean age of the study population was 38.7 +/- 9 years (range 23-58 years). The current investigation produced two major findings: (1) the mean of odor threshold scores was significantly increased in the hyperbaric condition when compared to the normobaric condition; (2) rather, there was no significant change in odor discrimination and identification scores in the hyperbaric condition. CONCLUSION: Based on two measurements taken at two different barometric pressures and the same temperature and relative humidity, this study suggests that odor threshold scores increase under hyperbaric conditions.

P-wave dispersion doesn't increase in patients with epilepsy.

AIM: Epileptic seizures have occasionally been associated with cardiac conditions as atrioventricular blocks, long QT syndrome etc. P-wave dispersion (PWD), which is the difference between the longest (P max) and shortest P-wave duration (P min), is considered as a forerunner of atrial fibrillation. In this study, we investigated P-wave dispersion (PWD) in epileptic patients; based on the hypothesis that microthromboembolism may occur in atrial fibrillation. METHODS: Seventy five patients with mixed types of epilepsy and 50 age and sex matched healthy individuals were included into the study. P max, P min and PWD values were calculated for each subject from an ECG. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects in the epilepsy group and control group were similar (p>0.05). P max in patients with epilepsy was 125.1±0.7 ms, P min was 67.3±10.3 ms, and PWD was 57.6±8.3 ms while these values in the control group were 116.8±11.0 ms, 66.5±5.5 ms and 46.8±7.1 ms, respectively. There were no statistically significant difference between two groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PWD does not increase in patients with mixed types of epilepsy. Therefore we believe that microthromboembolism due to atrial fibrillation can't cause epileptic seizures in patients with no structural heart disease.

The applicability of the "Sniffin' Sticks" olfactory test in a Turkish population.

BACKGROUND: Olfactory assessment is often neglected in clinical practice, although olfactory loss can assist in diagnosis and may lead to significant morbidity. "Sniffin' Sticks" is a modern test of nasal chemosensory performance that was developed in Germany and validated in many countries. Our aim was to validate the applicability of "Sniffin' Sticks" in a Turkish population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 123 healthy volunteers with a reported normal sense of smell and 51 patients complaining of a reduction in their olfactory function presenting either at rhinology or neurology clinics. The mean age of the subjects tested was 30.2±12.5 years in 126 males and 48 females. The participants were divided into 2 groups according to subjective olfactory function - healthy or abnormal. Each subject's olfactory function was assessed using the "Sniffin' Sticks" test. RESULTS: We found significant differences in "Sniffin' Sticks" test results between the abnormal and healthy groups. In healthy subjects, the 10th percentiles of odor threshold score, odor discrimination score, odor identification score, and TDI score were 7.25, 12, 11, and 32, respectively. Considering the 2 groups together, apple and turpentine were the least well-recognized odors from the 16 odors presented. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides an update of normative values for routine clinical use of "Sniffin' Sticks" in a Turkish population. Also, the present study validates that "Sniffin' Sticks" olfactory test was applicable for clinical usage in a Turkish population.

Headache as the sole presenting symptom of cerebral venous sinuses thrombosis: Subgroup analysis of data from the VENOST study.

OBJECTIVES: Headache is the most common complaint in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and it may sometimes be the only symptom in these patients. This retrospective and prospective study was an investigation of any differences in terms of clinical risk factors, radiological findings, or prognosis in patients with CVST who presented with isolated headache (IH) and cases with other concomitant findings (non-isolated headache [NIH]). METHODS: A total of 1144 patients from a multicenter study of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (VENOST study) were enrolled in this research. The demographic, biochemical, clinical, and radiological aspects of 287 IH cases and 857 NIH cases were compared. RESULTS: There were twice as many women as men in the study group. In the IH group, when gender distribution was evaluated by age group, no statistically significant difference was found. The onset of headache was frequently subacute and chronic in the IH group, but an acute onset was more common in the NIH group. Other neurological findings were observed in 29% of the IH group during follow-up. A previous history of deep, cerebral, or other venous thromboembolism was less common in the IH group than in the NIH group. Transverse sinus involvement was greater in the IH group, whereas sagittal sinus involvement was greater in the NIH group. The presence of a plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) mutation was significantly greater in the IH group. CONCLUSION: IH and CVST should be kept in mind if a patient has subacute or chronic headache. PAI, which has an important role in thrombolytic events, may be a risk factor in CVST. Detailed hematological investigations should be considered. Additional studies are needed.

Evaluation of olfactory and gustatory changes in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

PURPOSE: The temporal lobe plays an important role in the perception of odors. Another important anatomical structure involved in the perception of smell is the olfactory bulb. The relationship between olfactory bulb volume (OBV) and olfactory function is unclear, however. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between OBV and olfactory function in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). METHOD: Forty-eight patients with MTLE who were managed in the Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty Neurology Department's epilepsy outpatient clinic were recruited for the study. Tests with Sniffin' Sticks and Taste Strips were performed and OBV measured in all patients. Two control groups were recruited, one for the Sniffin' Sticks and Taste Strip tests and one for OBV measurement. RESULTS: In the smell tests; the threshold, discrimination and identification scores were significantly lower in the MTLE group than in the control group. The mean taste test scores did not differ significantly between the MTLE and control groups. In the MTLE group, the mean right OBV was 40.2 ± 12.54 and the left OBV was 39.3 ± 10.54, both of which were significantly lower those in the control group. The mean OBVs of patients with hyposmia were significantly smaller bilaterally than the OBVs of those with normosmia. There was no correlation between the gustatory scores and OBV. CONCLUSIONS: Olfactory function was significantly impaired in patients with MTLE compared with healthy controls in all domains, namely threshold, discrimination, and identification. In addition, olfactory bulbus volume was smaller in patients with olfactory dysfunction.

Epileptic seizures in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis: Subgroup analysis of VENOST study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the presence and prognostic impact of early seizures in cerebral venous sinus thrombosis patients (CVST). METHOD: VENOST is a retrospective and prospective national multicenter observational study. CVST patients with or without epileptic seizures (ES) were analyzed and compared in terms of demographic and imaging data, causative factors, clinical variables, and prognosis in a total of 1126 patients. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients in the ES group was 39.73 ± 12.64 and 40.17 ± 14.02 years in the non-ES group (p > 0.05). Epileptic seizures were more common (76.6 %) in females (p < 0.001). Early ES occurred in 269 of 1126 patients (23.9 %). Epileptic seizures mainly presented in the acute phase (71.4 %) of the disease (p < 0.001). Majority of these (60.5 %) were in the first 24 h of the CVST. The most common neurological signs were focal neurologic deficits (29.9 %) and altered consciousness (31.4 %) in the ES group. Superior sagittal sinus (SSS) and cortical veins (CV) involvement were the most common sites of thrombosis and the mostly related etiology were found puerperium in seizure group (30.3 % vs 13.9 %). Patients with seizures had worse outcome in the first month of the disease (p < 0.001) but these did not have any influence thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: In this largest CVST cohort (VENOST) reported female sex, presence of focal neurological deficits and altered consciousness, thrombosis of the SSS and CVs, hemorrhagic infarction were risk factors for ES occurrence in patients with CVST.