M. Prencipe

Geomagnetic activity, humidity, temperature and headache: Is there any correlation?

SYNOPSIS

Reproducibility of transcranial dopplersonography: A validation study

Transcranial Doppler-sonography (TCD) is a useful noninvasive technique for the measurement of intracranial arterial blood flow velocity. The present study evaluated the reproducibility of this method for repeated measurements of flow velocity in the anterior, middle and posterior cerebral, and basilar arteries. Thirty-six patients (23 males and 13 females) were studied. Three measurements were made by the same examiner on each patient with a time interval of 1 h between the first and the second examination, and about 24 h between the first and the third examination. The statistical evaluation for the reproducibility was performed by calculating the correlation coefficient (r). The results showed good reproducibility of TCD for all arteries both between the first and second and between the first and third measurements (r = 0.78-0.97; p less than 0.001), but when the middle cerebral artery mean velocity is low the posterior cerebral artery reproducibility is poorest (r = 0.42-0.54).

Cerebral Blood Flow in Migraine with Aura: A Transcranial Doppler Sonography Study

SYNOPSIS

Age-dependent changes in human erythrocyte properties

The focus of this paper is mainly directed on the role that the structural and functional perturbations of the erythrocyte membranes could have in the incidence of abnormal microcirculation which occur with the elderly. Rheological parameters of whole blood and the activity of some enzymes involved in erythrocyte metabolism and permeability are studied

Cyclophosphamide in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis

Abstract7 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) were subjected to an intensive course of intravenous (I.V.) cyclophosphamide (CY) therapy. All patients received induction therapy with 11 daily doses of 300 mg/m2 and then a single dose every six months for three years. After one year of follow-up all patients showed a decrease in relapse rate (0.57.57); in the two subsequent years of follow-up 2 patients showed a mild worsening while the others were clinically stable.As suggested by others, our results indicate that I.V. CY therapy may influence the clinical course of relapsing-remitting MS.SommarioSette pazienti affetti da Sclerosi Multipla di tipo remittente sono stati sottoposti a terapia immunosoppressiva con ciclofosfamide. Il trattamento consisteva di un ciclo di induzione con dosi di 300 mg/m2 di ciclofosfamide e.v. somminsstrate giornalmente per 11 giorni e di successive singole dosi di mantenimento di 300 mg/m2 somministrate ogni 6 mesi per un periodo di 3 anni.Non sono stati osservati gravi effetti collaterali durante lo studio.Dopo il primo anno di trattamento tutti i pazienti hanno mostrato miglioramento nella frequenza di ricaduta; nei due anni successivi 4 pazienti sono rimasti stabili mentre gli altri hanno mostrato un nuovo peggioramento. Come indicato da altri Autori, i risultati dello studio indicano che la terapia immunosoppressiva con ciclofosfamide ad alte dosi non presenta gravi effetti collaterali e può modificare il decorso della Sclerosi Multipla di tipo remittente.

Seasonal and meteorological factors in primary headaches.

SYNOPSIS

Chronic Platelet Abnormalities in TIA Patients

Cerebral arterial thromboembolism is considered to be the most common pathogenic mechanism of ischemic stroke [1]. Since platelets play a major role in the formation and progression of arterial thrombosis, enhanced platelet activation may increase the risk of thromboembolic events [2]. While it is true that a thromboembolic stroke may well develop without systemic platelet abnormalities, permanently enhanced platelet activation may be a precipitating factor for thromboembolism in otherwise common diseases such as mitral valve prolapse (3, 4] and migraine [5].

Focal cerebral ischemia and migraine.

Consistent literature data on the cerebrovascular risk in migraineous patients are lacking. Available preliminary clinical data (Italian Cooperative Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study) suggest that migraine can hardly be considered a relevant pathogenetic associated risk factor of focal cerebral ischemia.