Chemosensory Dysfunction 3-Months After COVID-19, Medications and Factors Associated with Complete Recovery.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the longitudinal prevalence and recovery of olfactory, gustatory, and oral chemesthetic deficits in a sizable cohort of SARS-CoV-2 infected persons using quantitative testing. To determine whether demographic and clinical factors, mainly the medications used after the COVID-19 diagnosis, influence the test measures. METHODS: Prospective cohort in a hospital with primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 were tested during the acute infection phase (within 15 days of initial symptom, n = 187) and one (n = 113) and 3 months later (n = 73). The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test, the Global Gustatory Test, and a novel test for chemesthesis were administered at all visits. RESULTS: During the acute phase, 93% were anosmic or microsmic and 29.4% were hypogeusic. No one was ageusic. A deficit in oral chemesthesis was present in 13.4%. By 3 months, taste and chemesthesis had largely recovered, however, some degree of olfactory dysfunction remained in 54.8%. Remarkably, patients who had been treated with anticoagulants tended to have more olfactory improvement. Recovery was greater in men than in women, but was unrelated to disease severity, smoking behavior, or the use of various medications prior to, or during, COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSIONS: When using quantitative testing, olfactory disturbances were found in nearly all SARS-CoV-2 infected patients during the acute infection phase. Taste or chemesthetic deficits were low. Olfactory impairment persisted to some degree in over half of the patients at the 3-month follow-up evaluation, being more common in women and less common in those who had been treated earlier with anticoagulants. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Literature Review: Role of Neurosurgery in Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis / Crítica literária: Papel da neurocirurgia na Carcinomatose Leptomeníngea

Introduction Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis results from metastatic neoplastic cells that reach the leptomeninges through the cerebrospinal fluid. The presentation of the disease is variable, making prognosis challenging. However, the presence of intracranial hypertension is common, which has prompted new treatments to mitigate this effect. Objective To report the role of neurosurgery in the treatment of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, as well as its advances. Methodology Literature review with a search of the PubMed database, between 2011 and 2021, using the following descriptors: Neurosurgery, Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis, Cerebrospinal and Treatment. A total of 42 articles were found, 16 of which were selected. Results The shunt insertion considerably improved the effects of cranial hypertension, increasing the average survival time of patients by 3.5 months after surgery. The Ommaya reservoir is also a viable option due to its convenience and safety. The V-Port, on the other hand, has overcome the challenges of conventional devices, with shorter operating times (42 minutes), smaller skin incisions, and no reports of postoperative infection. Conclusion Devices for the treatment of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis have been steadily improving, simplifying surgical procedures and benefiting patients.

Introdução A carcinomatose leptomeníngea resulta de células neoplásicas metastáticas que atingem as leptomeninges através do líquido cefalorraquidiano. A apresentação da doença é variável, tornando o prognóstico desafiador. No entanto, a presença de hipertensão intracraniana é comum, o que levou a novos tratamentos para mitigar esse efeito. Objetivo Relatar o papel da neurocirurgia no tratamento da carcinomatose leptomeníngea, bem como seus avanços. Metodologia Crítica literária com busca na base de dados PubMed, entre 2011 e 2021, utilizando os seguintes descritores: Neurocirurgia, Carcinomatose Leptomeníngea, Cefalorraquidiana e Tratamento. Foram encontrados 42 artigos, dos quais 16 foram selecionados. Resultados A inserção do shunt melhorou consideravelmente os efeitos da hipertensão craniana, aumentando o tempo médio de sobrevida dos pacientes em 3,5 meses após a cirurgia. O reservatório de Ommaya também é uma opção viável devido à sua conveniência e segurança. O V-Port, por outro lado, superou os desafios dos dispositivos convencionais, com tempos de operação mais curtos (42 minutos), incisões cutâneas menores e sem relatos de infecção pós-operatória. Conclusão Os dispositivos para o tratamento da carcinomatose leptomeníngea vêm melhorando constantemente, simplificando os procedimentos cirúrgicos e beneficiando os pacientes.

What is the ideal grade of resection for parasagittal meningiomas with the invasion of superior sagittal sinus? Simpson I or Simpson II resection? A retrospective observational study.

Background: Parasagittal meningioma (PSM) is a tumor located in the parasagittal angle which extends to and/ or invades the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). Surgical resection of the PSM, the standard treatment in such cases, poses a challenge for neurosurgery, particularly where there is an invasion of the SSS. This is due to the risk of complications through injury to the adjacent vascular structures. The objective of the study was to perform a comparative evaluation of the surgical techniques for total resection of the PSM (Simpson Grade [SG] I and SG II), which present the highest rates of success in terms of the following variables: mortality, recurrence, and postoperative complications. Methods: Fifty-six patients undergoing resection surgery for PSM with the invasion of the SSS were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A, comprising 26 cases of patients subjected to SG I PSM resection surgery and Group B, with 31 cases of patients subjected to SG II PSM resection surgery, with preservation of the SSS. Results: The results showed that Group B had lower rates of postoperative deficit (P = 0.026), zero mortality, and reduced recurrence. The use of complementary radiotherapy for atypical meningiomas (WHO II) in Group B was satisfactory in controlling the disease. Conclusion: The Simpson II, with preservation of the SSS, was better as it diminishes the vascular risks of surgery, reduces the frequency of severe postoperative deficit, and reduces mortality.

Peculiarities of Atypical Meningiomas: Literature Review / Peculiaridades dos meningiomas atípicos: Revisão da literatura

Introduction Meningiomas are common tumors of the central nervous system that represent around 30% of primary tumors. However, the incidence of atypical meningiomas (AMs) is lower, of approximately 15% of all meningiomas, and they present high rates of relapse and mortality. Aim To review peculiarities of AMs. Methodology A literature review of articles published in English between 2009 and 2020 on the PubMed and Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS) databases using the terms meningioma and atypical. Results Atypical meningiomas are rare and more prevalent in older males. The clinical condition depends on the site of the tumor, and a definitive diagnosis of AM is only possible via anatomical pathology. Moreover, prominent studies have indicated a relationship between the presence of the anti-Ki67 antibody/mindbomb (Ki -67/MIB1) marker as an aid in the definition of AM and one of the determinants of tumor aggressiveness. Imaging studies have also advanced in terms of seeking criteria using magnetic resonance that may suggest the malignancy of a lesion. As far as treatment is concerned, total resection remains the main therapeutic option, and it has a direct relationship with survival and time until disease progression. Lastly, there are many factors involved in the prognosis of AM. Conclusion Atypical meningiomas continue to be a challenge, requiring further and more specific studies to provide a better understanding of it.

Introdução Os meningiomas são tumores comuns do sistema nervoso central, representando cerca de 30% dos tumores primários. Contudo, a incidência de meningiomas atípicos (MA) é menor, cerca de 15% do total dos meningiomas, e eles apresentam altas taxas de recidiva e mortalidade. Metodologia Revisão da literatura, nas bases de dados PubMed e Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), utilizando os termos "meningioma" e "atypical", publicados em língua inglesa entre 2009 e 2020. Objetivo Revisar as particularidades dos MA. Resultados MA são raros, mais prevalentes em homens de idade avançada. O quadro clínico depende da localização do tumor e o diagnóstico definitivo de MA só se dá por meio do anatomopatológico. Ademais, estudos importantes têm apontado para a relação da presença do marcador anticorpo monoclonal/mindbomb (Ki-67/MIB1) como auxiliador na definição de MA e um dos determinantes de agressividade tumoral. Os estudos de imagem também avançam no sentido de buscar critérios na ressonância magnética que possam sugerir a malignidade de uma lesão. Em relação ao tratamento, a cirurgia de ressecção total se mantém como principal terapêutica, com relação direta na sobrevida e no tempo livre de progressão de doença. Por fim, o prognóstico em MA é multifatorial. Conclusão MA continuam como um desafio, necessitando de mais estudos específicos para compreendê-los melhor.

Dravet syndrome and Dravet syndrome-like phenotype: a systematic review of the SCN1A and PCDH19 variants.

Dravet syndrome (DS) is a rare and severe epileptic syndrome of childhood with prevalence between 1/22,000 and 1/49,900 of live births. Approximately 80% of patients with this syndrome present SCN1A pathogenic variants, which encodes an alpha subunit of a neural voltage-dependent sodium channel. There is a correlation between PCDH19 pathogenic variants, encodes the protocadherin 19, and a similar disease to DS known as DS-like phenotype. The present review aims to clarify the differences between DS and DS-like phenotype according to the SCN1A and PCDH19 variants. A systematic review was conducted in PubMed and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases, using "Dravet Syndrome" and "Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy in Infancy (SMEI)" search words, selecting cohort of studies published in journal with impact factor of two or greater. The systematic review was according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis recommendations. Nineteen studies were included in the present review, and a significant proportion of patients with DS-carrying SCN1A was greater than patients with DS-like phenotype-harboring PCDH19 variants (76.6% versus 23.4%). When clinical and genetic data were correlated, autism was predominantly observed in patients with DS-like-carrying PCDH19 variants compared to SCN1A variant carriers (62.5% versus 37.5%, respectively, P-value = 0.044, P-value corrected = 0.198). In addition, it was noticed a significant predisposition to hyperthermia during epilepsy crisis in individuals carrying PCDH19 variants (P-value = 0.003; P-value corrected = 0.027). The present review is the first to point out differences between the DS and DS-like phenotype according to the SCN1A and PCDH19 variants.