Diagnostic Accuracy of Procalcitonin in Bacterial Infections of the CNS: An Updated Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression.

Objectives: To evaluate diagnostic accuracy of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) procalcitonin for diagnosing CNS bacterial infections.

Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and International Web of Science databases from January 1, 2016, to September 30, 2022.

Study Selection: Randomized controlled trials and observational studies, either prospective or retrospective, focusing on procalcitonin as a biomarker for CNS infections.

Prevention and treatment of postoperative pain in pediatric patients undergone craniotomy: Systematic review of clinical evidence.

Background: Prevention and treatment of postoperative pain after craniotomy in pediatric patients is an open and challenging clinical problem due to limited epidemiological data and significant concerns on safety of the most common analgesics in neurosurgical patients. We reviewed the literature to evaluate the possible available strategies in pain management in pediatric patients.

Methods: The systematic review was performed in accordance with PRISMA statement recommendations.

Preoperative Versus Postoperative Scalp Block Combined With Incision Line Infiltration for Pain Control After Supratentorial Craniotomy.

Objective: Postoperative pain after craniotomy is a significant clinical problem that is sometimes underestimated, although moderate or severe pain in early postoperative period complicates up to 60% of cases. The purpose of this prospective randomized multicenter trial was to determine the optimal timing for selective scalp block in patients undergoing general anesthesia for supratentorial craniotomy.

Materials And Methods: After ethics committee approval and informed consent, 56 adult patients were enrolled, and randomly assigned to receive a selective scalp block combined with incision line infiltration preoperatively or postoperatively.

Early and late clinical outcomes after decompressive craniectomy for traumatic refractory intracranial hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of current evidence.

Introduction: Decompressive craniectomy (DC) to control refractory intracranial hypertension in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), has been listed as possible but controversial therapeutic approach in the latest version of TBI management guidelines. This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on efficacy and safety of DC compared to standard care in TBI patients.

Evidence Acquisition: A database search from 2011 to 2017 was conducted to identify studies pertinent to DC compared to standard care after TBI.

Prevention and Treatment of Postoperative Pain after Lumbar Spine Procedures: A Systematic Review.

Background And Objective: In the past 2 decades, in developed countries, spine procedures (surgical and percutaneous) had the highest absolute increase in case volume trend. The optimal approach to prevent and treat postoperative pain is continuously evolving. This systematic literature review presents evidence on safety and efficacy of pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies to prevent and treat postoperative pain after lumbar spine procedures.

Congenital myasthenic syndrome due to choline acetyltransferase mutations in infants: clinical suspicion and comprehensive electrophysiological assessment are important for early diagnosis.

Congenital myasthenic syndromes are inherited disorders caused by various defects in neuromuscular transmission. Although the typical presentation is fatigable weakness with prominent cranial involvement, neonates can lack these hallmark manifestations, and in those with choline acetyltransferase gene mutations, basal electrophysiological testing can yield negative findings. The authors report the case of a male infant presenting at birth with oculomotor and bulbofacial weakness, hypotonia, clubfoot, and severe respiratory insufficiency.

A Multicentre Database for Normative Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEPs) in Children: Methodology for Data Collection and Evaluation.

Background: The influence of physiological and methodological factors on recordings of brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) is greater in children than in adults.

Objective: To collect and evaluate BAEP data in normal children, and measure intra- and inter-laboratory variability.

Methods: Seven hundred and fifty unselected BAEP recordings were collected and evaluated from children ranging from neonates to 14-year-olds by eight laboratories in Italy.

The Milan Project: a newborn hearing screening programme.

Aim: Since 1997 a newborn hearing screening programme has been implemented by the U.O. Neurologia-Neurofisiopatologia and Dipartimento di Neonatologia of the Istituti Clinici di Perfezionamento ICP in Milan for both babies with no risk and those at risk of hearing impairment.

A wider role for congenital cytomegalovirus infection in sensorineural hearing loss.

Background: Diagnostic problems in identifying congenital infection cases in infancy have thus far impaired the assessment of the role of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in the etiology of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).

Objective: To estimate the impact of congenital infection in children with SNHL by detection of CMV DNA in stored samples of neonatal dried blood (dried blood spots test).

Methods: The Guthrie cards of 130 children with hearing loss >40 dB hearing loss were retrieved from the regional screening center.

Comparison of two methods of TEOAE recording in newborn hearing screening.

This paper summarizes the results of trials performed in two hospitals, comparing the scoring of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) on the same neonates and within the same test session, recorded by the fully automatic device EchoScreen (Madsen Electronics/Fischer-Zoth GmbH) and ILO Otodynamics Ltd system. These trials form part of a larger project (Project Sentinel), whose primary aim is to stimulate the creation of new neonatal hearing screening programmes. Four thousand two hundred and forty-eight neonates were tested with both devices (8494 ears), in randomized order.