138 research outputs found
ANALISI SCHELETROCRONOLOGICA IN ALCUNE SPECIE DI ANFIBI E RETTILI DEL PARCO REGIONALE DEL MATESE
No full textAntiepileptic drugs in the preventive treatment of migraine in children and adolescents
No full textMigraine prevalence in childhood ranges from 2.7 to 10% causing a significant impact on quality of life. No drugs are currently approved for use in the prevention of pediatric migraine. Antiepileptic drugs such as valproate and topiramate have been approved for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults. The present study aimed at reviewing evidence on the efficacy and safety of antiepileptic drugs in the preventive treatment of migraine in children and adolescents. We searched PubMed from 1988 to May 2007 and reviewed, abstracted, and classified relevant literature. Thirteen studies were reviewed. Data from randomized controlled trials are available only for valproate and topiramate. They show that both topiramate and valproate are effective in reducing headache frequency, intensity, and duration. As for safety and tolerability, topiramate is well tolerated, while there are insufficient data regarding the tolerability of valproate. Open-label or retrospective studies suggest that levetiracetam, zonisamide, and gabapentin are effective, but further evidence is warranted to confirm these data
Bone preservation in human remains from the Terme del Sarno at Pompeii using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy
No full textAbstract
Archaeological bone can show marked and complex alterations depending on the environment in which it was buried. In this study, the state
of preservation of 27 femurs recovered from the archaeological site of Pompeii was evaluated by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.
Most of the bone samples, prepared by the grinding method, showed good histological preservation, although they were characterized
by microfissures (microcracking). Nine bone samples showed different states of histological preservation, including worst preservation (two femurs),
due to diagenetic processes. Cryostat bone sections stained with thionin or 4#,6#-diamidino-phenylindole (DAPI) revealed the persistence
of DNA within some osteocyte lacunae. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that ultrastructural characters, such as lamellae and collagen
fibres, are recognizable only in unaltered bone. Our results reveal that most Pompeian samples are well preserved since they have a bone
microstructure virtually indistinguishable from that of fresh bone. In methodological terms, although each of the various morphological methods
used contributes information, histological and histochemical analyses are the most informative for studying the preservation state of bone and
allow for rapid essential screening of archaeological bone
The contribution of clinical neurophysiology to the comprehension of the tension-type headache mechanisms
No full textso far, clinical neurophysiological studies on tension-type headache (TTH) have been conducted with two main purposes: (1) to establish whether some neurophysiological parameters may act as markers of TTH, and (2) to investigate the physiopathology of TTH. with regard to the first point, the present results are disappointing, since some abnormalities found in TTH patients may be frequently observed also in migraineurs. on the other hand, clinical neurophysiology has played an important role in the debate about the pathogenesis of TTH. studies on the exteroceptive suppression of the temporalis muscle contraction have detected a dysfunction of the brainstem excitability and of its suprasegmental control. a similar conclusion has been reached by using the trigeminocervical reflexes, whose abnormalities in TTH have suggested a reduced inhibitory activity of brainstem interneurons, reflecting abnormal endogenous pain control mechanisms. It is interesting that the neural excitability abnormality in TTH seems to be a generalized phenomenon, not limited to the cranial districts. defective DNIC-like mechanisms have indeed been evidenced also in somatic districts by nociceptive flexion reflex studies. unfortunately, most neurophysiological studies on TTH are marred by serious methodological flaws, which should be avoided in future researches, in order to better clarify the TTH mechanisms. (C
Somatosensory system hyperexcitability in alternating hemiplegia of childhood
No full textbackground and purpose: alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC) is a rare neurological disease characterized by recurrent paroxysmal attacks of hemiplegia. the aim of the study was to assess the recovery cycle of the somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in a group of AHC patients. methods: seven AHC patients and 10 control age-matched subjects (CS) were recruited. right and left median nerve SEPs were recorded. the somatosensory system excitability was assessed by calculating the SEP changes after paired electrical stimuli. All patients were studied during the interictal phase, whilst four patients were studied also during the ictal phase. results: In AHC patients during the interictal phase, the amplitudes of the cervical N13 and of the cortical N20, P24 and N30 responses showed a faster recovery than in CS. In AHC patients during the ictal phase, the cortical N20 recovery cycle was prolonged compared with the interictal phase. conclusions: a shortened SEP recovery cycle in AHC during the interictal phase suggests multilevel somatosensory system hyperexcitability in AHC. a partial recovery of this phenomenon during the ictal phase possibly reflects a functional reset of the somatosensory system. overall, there is a disinhibition of the somatosensory system in AHC, a functional change of brain function associated with a possible involvement of the Na+/K+ channels. this abnormality and its partial recovery during the attacks might be linked to the pathophysiological and genetic mechanisms of the disease
The contribution of clinical neurophysiology to the comprehension of the tension-type headache mechanisms
No full textAdrenoleukodystrophy
No full textX-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is caused by mutations in the ABCD1 gene that encodes a protein of the peroxisomal membrane named ALDP. Mutations in ALDP result in elevated levels of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) and reduced VLCFA oxidation in peroxisomes. Three main phe-notypes are seen in affected males. The childhood cerebral form manifests usually between ages 4 and 8 years. It initially resembles attention deficit disorder or hyperactivity. Progressive central demyelination with impairment of cognition, behavior, vision, hearing, and motor function follow the initial symptoms and often lead to total disability within 2 years. The second phenotype, adrenomyeloneuropathy, manifests most commonly in the late twenties as progressive paraparesis, sphincter disturbances, sexual dysfunction, and often, impaired adrenocortical function; all symptoms are progressive over decades. The third phenotype, 'Addison disease only', presents with primary adrenocortical insufficiency between age 2 years and adulthood and most commonly by age 7.5 years, without evidence of neurologic abnormality. Approximately 50% of females who are carriers develop neurologic manifestations that resemble adrenomyeloneuropathy but have a later onset (age ≥35 years) and a milder disease. In this review, we will give an overview of the present understanding of ALD, and the implications of new diagnostics and treatment
Triptans other than sumatriptan in child and adolescent migraine:literature review
No full textabortive drugs used for migraine in children and adolescents are usually the same as those used in adults. only a few studies have assessed the efficacy of triptans other than sumatriptan in pediatric migraine. this systematic review describes the evidence concerning the efficacy and tolerability of these triptans. the pubmed research produced 481 results and only seven studies were randomized controlled trials. a total of 11 articles were reviewed. zolmitriptan and rizatriptan were superior to placebo in most studies. almotriptan demonstrated a high profile of tolerability. a single study of eletriptan demonstrated no statistical difference between this drug and placebo in terms of both efficacy and tolerability. all studies have reported a good triptan safety profile. the conflicting data regarding triptan efficacy are probably due to differences in populations, methodologies and efficacy measures among the different studies. triptans are an important option in the symptomatic treatment of childhood and adolescent migraine
Laser evoked potential amplitude and laser-pain rating reduction during high-frequency non-noxious somatosensory stimulation
No full textObjective: To investigate the mechanism subtending the analgesic effect of high frequency non-painful somatosensory stimulation. Methods: Laser evoked potentials (LEPs) and laser-pain rating were obtained from healthy subjects to stimulation of different parts of the body. LEPs were recorded at baseline and during non-painful electrical stimulation of the superficial branch of the right radial nerve (RRES). Results: RRES reduced N2/P2 LEP amplitude to right radial (F(8,10) = 82.4, p < 0.001), left radial (F(8,10) = 22.2, p < 0.001), and right ulnar (F(8,10) = 7.2, p = 0.008) stimulation, while the N2/P2 amplitude to left ulnar territory stimulation remained unchanged (F(8,10) = 3.6, p = 0.07). The laser-pain rating was reduced by RRES to bilateral radial territory stimulation (p < 0.05). In a control experiment, laser-pain rating and LEPs to left foot stimulation were not modified by RRES (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our study confirms that the non-nociceptive afferents dampen the nociceptive input. The spatial pattern of this interaction suggests that, when conditioning higher frequency non-painful stimulation is used, the inhibition takes place at the spinal cord. Significance: Our experimental design reproduces what happens when non-painful somatosensory stimuli are used to reduce pain, such as rubbing a wound or during transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Therefore, in these situations the analgesia is likely to occur at the spinal cord level.</p
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