Evaluation of the complete Sniffin Sticks Test versus its subtests in differentiating Parkinson's disease patients from healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Hyposmia is one of the most common, as well as the first nonmotor condition in Parkinson disease (PD). The sniffin sticks test (SST) evaluates three different aspects of olfactory function: threshold (T), discrimination (D), and identification (I). The sum of the scores of these three subtests produce a global score of olfaction, the Threshold-Discrimination-Identification (TDI) score. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate if the TDI score or one of its subtests is better to discriminate PD patients from controls. METHODS: We recruited 27 PD patients and 17 healthy age-matched controls (HC) who were evaluated through a clinical interview, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Movement Disorders Society - Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale. The olfaction was assessed using the complete SST. RESULTS: The performance of PD patients on the olfactory test was significantly worse when compared with the HC (T: 3.0 vs. 6.5, p < 0.001; D: 8.1 vs. 11.2, p < 0.001; I: 7.3 vs. 11.7, p < 0.001; TDI: 18.8 vs. 29.9, p < 0.001). The prevalence of olfaction impairment in our study (PD: 100%, and HC: 56%) was greater than that found in the literature. Cognition influenced the performance on TDI. The olfactory subtests were impaired proportionally between patients and controls. Furthermore, D and I were correlated, but only in PD patients. The TDI showed a tendency to better discriminate PD patients from HC, when compared with its subtests. CONCLUSIONS: Although the complete olfactory evaluation is time consuming, it seems to be a superior tool to identify olfaction impairment in PD patients, when compared with the isolated subtests.

ANTECENDENTES: Hiposmia é um dos sintomas mais comuns da doença de Parkinson (DP), além de ser um de seus primeiros sintomas não-motores. O Sniffin Sticks Test avalia três diferentes aspectos da função olfatória: limiar (L), discriminação (D) e identificação (I). A soma dos escores desses três subtestes produz um escore global do olfato, o Threshold-Discrimination-Identification (TDI). OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar se o TDI ou um de seus subtestes seria melhor em discriminar pacientes com DP de controles saudáveis. MéTODOS: Foram recrutados 27 pacientes com DP e 17 controles saudáveis de mesma faixa etária, que foram avaliados através de uma entrevista clínica, a Montreal Cognitive Assessment e Movement Disorders Society ­ Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale. O olfato foi examinado através da bateria completa do Sniffin Sticks Test (SST). RESULTADOS: Os pacientes com DP tiveram pior performance no teste olfatório quando comparados com os controles (L: 3,0 vs. 6,5; p < 0,001; D: 8,1 vs. 11,2; p < 0,001; I: 7,3 vs. 11,7; p < 0,001; TDI: 18,8 vs. 29,9; p < 0,001). A prevalência de comprometimento olfatório no nosso estudo (DP: 100%, e controles: 56%) foi maior do que a reportada na literatura. A cognição influenciou a performance no TDI. Os subtestes olfatórios foram afetados proporcionalmente entre pacientes e controles. Além disso, D e I se correlacionaram, mas apenas em pacientes de DP. O TDI mostrou uma tendência em melhor discriminar pacientes de DP dos controles, quando comparado com os seus subtestes. CONCLUSõES: Embora a avaliação olfatória completa consuma tempo, ela parece ser superior aos subtestes isolados para identificar comprometimento olfatório em pacientes com DP.

Evaluation of the complete Sniffin Sticks Test versus its subtests in differentiating Parkinson's disease patients from healthy controls / Avaliação do Sniffin Sticks Test completo versus seus subtestes na diferenciação de pacientes com doença de Parkinson de controles sem a doença

Abstract Background Hyposmia is one of the most common, as well as the first nonmotor condition in Parkinson disease (PD). The sniffin sticks test (SST) evaluates three different aspects of olfactory function: threshold (T), discrimination (D), and identification (I). The sum of the scores of these three subtests produce a global score of olfaction, the Threshold-Discrimination-Identification (TDI) score. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate if the TDI score or one of its subtests is better to discriminate PD patients from controls. Methods We recruited 27 PD patients and 17 healthy age-matched controls (HC) who were evaluated through a clinical interview, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Movement Disorders Society - Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale. The olfaction was assessed using the complete SST. Results The performance of PD patients on the olfactory test was significantly worse when compared with the HC (T: 3.0 vs. 6.5, p < 0.001; D: 8.1 vs. 11.2, p <0.001; I: 7.3 vs. 11.7, p < 0.001; TDI: 18.8 vs. 29.9, p < 0.001). The prevalence of olfaction impairment in our study (PD: 100%, and HC: 56%) was greater than that found in the literature. Cognition influenced the performance on TDI. The olfactory subtests were impaired proportionally between patients and controls. Furthermore, D and I were correlated, but only in PD patients. The TDI showed a tendency to better discriminate PD patients from HC, when compared with its subtests. Conclusions Although the complete olfactory evaluation is time consuming, it seems to be a superior tool to identify olfaction impairment in PD patients, when compared with the isolated subtests.

Resumo Antecendentes Hiposmia é um dos sintomas mais comuns da doença de Parkinson (DP), além de ser um de seus primeiros sintomas não-motores. O Sniffin Sticks Test avalia três diferentes aspectos da função olfatória: limiar (L), discriminação (D) e identificação (I). A soma dos escores desses três subtestes produz um escore global do olfato, o Threshold-Discrimination-Identification (TDI). Objetivo O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar se oTDI ou um de seus subtestes seria melhor em discriminar pacientes com DP de controles saudáveis. Métodos Foram recrutados 27 pacientes com DP e 17 controles saudáveis de mesma faixa etária, que foram avaliados através de uma entrevista clínica, a Montreal Cognitive Assessment e Movement Disorders Society - Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale. O olfato foi examinado através da bateria completa do Sniffin Sticks Test (SST). Resultados Os pacientes com DP tiveram pior performance no teste olfatório quando comparados com os controles (L: 3,0 vs. 6,5; p < 0,001; D: 8,1 vs. 11,2; p <0,001; I: 7,3 vs. 11,7; p <0,001; TDI: 18,8 vs. 29,9; p < 0,001). A prevalência de comprometimento olfatório no nosso estudo (DP: 100%, e controles: 56%) foi maior do que a reportada na literatura. A cognição influenciou a performance no TDI. Os subtestes olfatórios foram afetados proporcionalmente entre pacientes e controles. Além disso, D e I se correlacionaram, mas apenas em pacientes de DP. O TDI mostrou uma tendência em melhor discriminar pacientes de DP dos controles, quando comparado com os seus subtestes. Conclusões Embora a avaliação olfatória completa consuma tempo, ela parece ser superior aos subtestes isolados para identificar comprometimento olfatório em pacientes com DP.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of Sniffin Sticks Test performance in Parkinson's disease patients in different countries.

INTRODUCTION: Olfaction impairment occurs in about 90% of patients with Parkinson's disease. The Sniffin Sticks Test is a widely used instrument to measure olfactory performance and is divided into three subtests that assess olfactory threshold, discrimination and identification. However, cultural and socioeconomic differences can influence test performance. OBJECTIVES: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the existent data about Sniffin Sticks Test performance of Parkinson's disease patients and healthy controls in different countries and investigated if there are other cofactors which could influence the olfactory test results. A subgroup analysis by country was performed as well as a meta-regression using age, gender and air pollution as covariates. RESULTS: Four hundred and thirty studies were found and 66 articles were included in the meta-analysis. Parkinson's disease patients showed significantly lower scores on the Sniffin Sticks Test and all its subtests than healthy controls. Overall, the heterogeneity among studies was moderate to high as well as the intra-country heterogeneity. The subgroup analysis, stratifying by country, maintained a high residual heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: The meta-regression showed a significant correlation with age and air pollution in a few subtests. A high heterogeneity was found among studies which was not significantly decreased after subgroup analysis by country. This fact signalizes that maybe cultural influence has a small impact on the Sniffin Sticks Test results. Age and air pollution have influence in a few olfactory subtests.

The Swallowing Clinical Assessment Score in Parkinson's Disease (SCAS-PD) Is a Valid and Low-Cost Tool for Evaluation of Dysphagia: A Gold-Standard Comparison Study.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is a predictor of mortality in Parkinson's disease (PD). Developing alternative methods to videofluoroscopy swallowing study (VFSS) for the evaluation of dysphagia is a public health necessity. The Swallowing Clinical Assessment Score in Parkinson's Disease (SCAS-PD) is an alternative and low-cost tool for diagnosis of dysphagia, but had not been properly validated in comparison to the gold-standard method. The objective of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the SCAS-PD. METHODS: SCAS-PD was applied to 31 patients with PD, and VFSS was conducted concurrently. This clinical assessment uses different volumes and viscosities to identify signs of swallowing impairments. For validation purposes, the interclass correlation coefficient and the weighted kappa were calculated. The AUC of the ROC curve, sensitivity, and specificity values for detection of penetration/aspiration (PA) were assessed. Internal consistency was calculated by Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: Fifty-one percent of patients were classified with dysphagia. SCAS-PD was differentiated between normal/functional deglutition and dysphagia with AUC 0.97, 95% CI 0.92-1.00, and an optimal cutoff at 19 (sensitivity 100% and specificity 87.5%). The internal consistency was α = 0.91 for the total score. The internal consistency of the SCAS-PD domains was oral phase (α = 0.73), pharyngeal phase (α = 0.86), and signs of PA (α = 0.95). The weighted kappa analysis demonstrated a high rate of concordance at 0.71 (p < 0.001) between SCAS-PD and VFSS. CONCLUSIONS: SCAS-PD has been shown to have a good concordance with the VFSS. Considering this, SCAS-PD is highly applicable in clinical settings, since it is a simple and low-cost diagnostic tool for detecting dysphagia in PD patients.

Risk factors among stroke subtypes in Brazil.

Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability in Brazil. Among the risk factors for cerebrovascular disease, some have more influence than others in certain stroke subtypes. Little data are available in the literature on the prevalence of stroke subtypes in Latin America. We analyzed data from 688 patients with acute ischemic stroke (52.3% women; mean age, 65.7 years) who were enrolled in a stroke data bank. Standardized data assessment and stroke subtype classification were used. The most common stroke subtype was large-artery atherosclerosis (n = 223; 32.4%), followed by cardioembolism (n = 195; 28.3%), and microangiopathy (n = 127; 18.5%). Stroke risk factors differ among stroke subtypes. The population of South America is ethnically diverse, and few previous studies have describe the distribution of risk factors among stroke subtypes in this population. In this study, the most important risk factors were hypertension and dyslipidemia.

Nevralgia do trigêmeo associada à hanseníase / Hanseniase associated Trigeminal Nevralgia

A hanseníase é uma doença infecto-contagiosa, que além de alterações dermatológicas, possui manifestações neurológicas. Relatamos o caso de um homem de 66 anos, que apresentou nevralgia do trigêmeo após ter apresentado quadro de hanseníase.

Hansen's disease is an infectious disease that presents with skin changes, as well as neurological features. We report a case of a 66 years man, who presented with trigeminal neuralgia after developing Hansen's disease.

Cefaléia hípnica em adulto jovem: relato de caso / Hypinic headache in young adult: case report

A cefaléia hipnica é um distúrbio extremamente raro, com critérios diagnósticos bem estabelecidos e que apresenta resposta terapêutica a medicações que não são de emprego usual no tratamento de cefaléia. Relatamos o caso de um paciente masculino de 46 anos que foi tratado com carbonato de lítio com excelente resultado.

The hypnic headache is extremely rare, with established diagnostic criteria, and has therapeutic response to medications that have unusual employment in the treatment of headache. We report a case of a 46 years old male patient who was treated with lithium with excellent results.

Angioedema orolingual após infusão de alteplase no tratamento de acidente vascular cerebral: relato de caso / Orolingual angioedema after alteplase infusion for treatment of brain stroke: case report

O angioedema é uma reação inflamatória local potencialmente grave. Estudos evidenciam uma incidência destes casos após uso de alteplase entre 0,02% e 5,1%. Relatamos um caso de acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico agudo tratado com alteplase que evoluiu com angioedema e piora clínica. Este paciente teve expressiva melhora neurológica com posterior declínio clínico após o angioedema. O mecanismo inflamatório neste caso pode ter desempenhado papel determinante na reoclusão.

Angioedema is a potentially severe local inflammatory reaction. There is an incidence of 0.02% to 5.1% in patients treated with alteplase. We report a case of acute ischemic stroke that was treated with alteplase and presented a life threatening allergic reaction. This patient had an important neurologic improvement in the beginning, but this benefit was lost after angioedema. The inflammatory mechanism that causes angioedema is sometimes decisive in re-occlusion.