According to the results of our study, we recommend CSF testing in any case for patients with facial palsy in an endemic area from June to October especially if additional radicular symptoms are present. To establish recommendations for a diagnostic workup in patients with facial palsy in areas endemic for Borrelia, the seasonal clustering of LNB as well as specific clinical features should also be confirmed in a future prospective trial.

Introduction In seizure-naive brain tumor patients, the efficacy of perioperative prophylactic antiepileptic drug treatment remains controversial. In case of administration, the common preferred drug is levetiracetam (LEV) because of its favorable pharmacological profile. Research to date has not sufficiently determined how LEV affects cognition in the short term, as is the case in the perioperative period. The objective of this prospective study was to examine the neurocognitive functioning of seizure-naive brain tumor patients after receiving LEV perioperatively. Methods Fortythree patients with supratentorial brain tumor scheduled for surgery received LEV three days before until six days after surgery as seizure prophylaxis. Cognitive functioning (NeuroCogFX), LEV plasma-levels, hematotoxicity, side-effects, as well as health-related quality of life (HRQoL, Qolie31), were recorded preoperatively before (Baseline) and after onset of LEV (Pre-Op), 4–6 days postoperatively (Post-Op) and 21 days postoperatively (Follow-Up). Results No significant changes in cognitive functioning and HRQoL were seen after onset of preoperative LEV. There was a significant improvement of NeuroCogFX total-score at Follow-Up (p = 0.004) compared to Baseline. The overall-score Qolie31 showed simultaneous improvement patterns as cognitive functioning (p < 0.001). The most frequent side effect related to study drug was somnolence (in 28.6% of patients). Conclusions A significant improvement of cognitive functioning, as well as an improvement in HRQoL, were detected postoperatively. This is presumably due to the debulking effect of the surgery. Nevertheless, LEV has no detrimental effect on cognitive functioning in the perioperative phase in seizure-naive brain tumor patients. Trial registration This study was registered prospectively (Date: 25/11/2015; EudraCT: 2015–003,916-19).

By increasing the CXCL-13 cut-off level from 20 pg/ml to 200 pg/ml, the diagnostic sensitivity for NB remains 100% and consequently the specificity increases from 69.8% to 92.4%. Moreover, a CXCL-13 cut-off set at 200 pg/ml would exclude NB in the 2 patients with probable NB. We conclude from these results that CXCL-13 represents a valuable biomarker for the exclusion of untreated NB, although with limited specificity.

Background In seizure-naive brain tumor patients, the efficacy of perioperative prophylactic antiepileptic drugtreatment remains controversial. In case of administration, the common preferred drug is levetiracetam (LEV) because of its favorable pharmacological profile. Research to date has not sufficiently determined how LEV affects cognition in the short term as it does in the perioperative period. The objective of this prospective study was to examine the neurocognitive functioning of seizure-naive brain tumor patients after receiving LEV perioperatively. Material and methods Patients with supratentorial brain tumor undergoing surgery received LEV three days before until seven days after surgery as seizure prophylaxis. Cognitive functioning (NeuroCogFX), LEV plasma-levels, hematotoxicity, side-effects, as well as health-related quality of life (HRQoL, Qolie31), were recorded preoperatively before (Baseline) and after onset of LEV (Pre-Op), 4-6 days postoperatively (Post-Op) and 21 days postoperatively (Follow-Up). Results No significant changes in cognitive functioning and HRQoL were seen after onset of preoperative LEV. There was a significant improvement of NeuroCogFX total-score at Follow-Up (p=0.004) compared to Baseline. The overall-score Qolie31 showed simultaneous improvement patterns as cognitive functioning (p&lt; 0.001). The most frequent side effect related to study drug was somnolence (in 24% of patients). Conclusion Following LEV therapy, a significant improvement of cognitive functioning, as well as an improvement in HRQoL, were detected postoperatively. This is presumably due to the debulking effect of the surgery. Nevertheless, LEV has no detrimental effect on cognitivefunctioning in the perioperative phase in seizure-naive brain tumor patients.