Hangover headache: various manifestations and proposal for criteria. Vågå study of headache epidemiology

Abstract Hangover headache has been focused upon in connection with the Vågå study of headache epidemiology, with 714 cases among 1122 dalesmen (64%). Most frequently the headache was global in location. It was more frequently located in the anterior (frontotemporal) than occipital area. A unilateral headache was present in only 3% of the dalesmen, many of whom were migraineurs. Headache seemed to be more intense in males than females. Headache usually seemed to be of a lower intensity than the pain of migraine, but higher than, or similar to, that of tension-type headache. The headache appeared late in the night/early morning hours, i. e., several hours after discontinuation of drinking. In most cases, headache stopped in the late morning hours, or at high noon, but it could even last until somewhat late in the afternoon; it rarely, if ever, exceeded 12 hours duration. Red wine seemed mostly to provoke headache the same evening (with traits similar to those of the spontaneously occurring headache attacks). Criteria for hangover headache are proposed.     

Clinical observations on familial cluster headache

Cluster headache (CH) has traditionally been considered a sporadic disease. Recently, an Italian study pointed out a risk of developing CH in the affected patients' firstdegree relatives that was increased 39-fold compared with the general population. The aims of this study were to investigate any possible differences in mean age at onset, clinical features and lifestyle between familial and non-familial CH cases. Among all CH patients referred to the Parma Headache Centre (n=691), we considered those who reported at least a first-degree relative with a probable diagnosis of CH in their family histories (n=30). CH diagnosis in the relatives was confirmed for 19 of the 30 patients. Each one of the 19 "familial cases" was matched by sex and age at the first visit (within 2 years) to two CH patients who did not report any family history for CH. The male:female ratio was 1.4:1 in the familial cases. Mean age at onset was significantly lower in women with familial CH than in those with non-familial CH. The study did not show any significant differences in symptoms between the two CH groups, such as pain location, accompanying symptoms, duration and frequency of attacks, and active periods. Our study seems to suggest that genetic factors play a role in the female gender, affecting age at onset of headache without modifying the clinical features. Received: 15 December 2002 / Accepted: 22 February 2003 Correspondence to: P. Torelli     

Headache characteristics and race in Singapore: results of a randomized national survey

This study presents the first account of the racial differences in headache prevalence and characteristics in the Singapore population. A questionnaire was administered to 2096 individuals from a randomized sample of 1400 households to test the hypothesis that race was independently correlated with headache diagnosis and morbidity. The overall lifetime prevalence of headaches in the study population was 82.7%; this did not vary between racial groups. The modal age of headache onset in all races was in the second decade and was similar in all races. Multivariate analysis showed that headache morbidity was independent of age, sex, income level, marital status, shift duties, and educational level, and correlated only with race and a positive family history of severe headache. Non-Chinese were more likely to suffer from severe headaches than Chinese, were more likely to seek medical attention, and were more likely to require medical leave for their symptoms. Non-Chinese had more migrainous headaches than Chinese, although characteristics of headache both groups experienced that were unrelated to severity differed only in a few aspects. We conclude that racial factors account for differences in headache classification, perception of headache severity and health-seeking behavior.     

以头痛或眼部症状为首发症状的孤立性蝶窦疾病

目的：提高对孤立性蝶窦疾病的认识,以降低其误诊、漏诊的发生率。方法：分析22例孤立性蝶窦疾病患者的临床表现和鼻内镜治疗的优势。结果：12例行鼻内镜蝶窦开放术,7例行鼻外筛窦进路手术,3例行抗感染、激素、神经营养药等治疗,头痛症状全部消失,视力不同程度恢复。眼球运动障碍改善,随访3-6个月,1例症状复发,再次行鼻内镜手术后症状缓解。1例腺样囊性癌术后放疗,随访3年无复发。结论：以头痛和（或）眼部症状为主的孤立性蝶窦疾病,容易造成误诊、漏诊;CT、MRI和鼻内镜的应用,提高了对该病的诊疗水平;鼻内镜手术是治疗孤立性蝶窦疾病的首选。     

Interobserver reliability of diagnostic criteria for cervicogenic headache

To assess the interobserver reliability in distinguishing cervicogenic headache (CEH) from migraine without aura and tension-type headache we conducted a study keeping as closely as possible to daily clinical practice. In contrast to other reliability studies, which use data from clinical patient records or semi-structured interviews recorded on videotape ('in vitro' design), we examined 'live' patients ('in vivo' design). Twenty-four headache patients participated in our 'in vivo' design experiment. During a session, each physician performed a physical examination and queried six patients in succession using a semi-structured interview. Diagnosis was carried out in accordance with the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria and the criteria from Sjaastad and co-workers. Kappa statistics were used: 0.83 between the expert headache neurologists; 0.74/0.73 between the expert anesthesiologist in (head) pain treatment and both expert neurologists respectively; kappa ranged from 0.43 to 0.62 between the other physicians. The results of our 'in vivo' design study show that the reliability in diagnosing CEH, when strictly applying the criteria from Sjaastad and co-workers, is similar to the reliability in diagnosing migraine and tension-type headache according the IHS criteria.     

Substance P-induced enhanced permeability of dura mater microvessels is accompanied by pronounced ultrastructural changes, but is not dependent on the density of endothelial cell anionic sites

Experimental data point to a determinant role for endothelial cell (EC) anionic sites in the regulation of vascular permeability. Previous studies have shown that EC anionic sites density is reduced in conditions of enhanced permeability. The pathophysiology of migraine and vascular headache encompasses dilatation of dural vessels and extravasation of plasma proteins. The current study was carried out to determine if the density of EC anionic sites is reduced in enhanced permeability of dural vessels. Enhanced permeability was chemically induced in rats by intravenous injection of substance P and was tested by assessing leakage of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Anionic sites were labelled with cationic colloidal gold and their density was quantified from electron microscopy negatives. Experimental animals showed increased leakage of HRP from dural vessels. However, anionic sites in EC membranes (luminal and abluminal) showed no statistical differences when their mean densities in experimental and control animals were compared. The results indicate that in this model, factors other than the density of anionic sites may be important determinants in the permeability of dural vessels. Such factors may include structural alteration of ECs consistent with an increased permeability. In this study pronounced ultrastructural changes in ECs were noted in experimental animals including widening of intercellular junctions and an increase in the number of EC gaps and vesicles. Received: 2 April 1998 / Revised, accepted: 17 August 1998     

SUNCT Syndrome: Short-Lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform Headache with Conjunctival Injection and Tearing

The SUNCT syndrome refers to Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform headache with Conjunctival injection and Tearing. It is characterized by brief attacks of severe unilateral pain in the orbitotemporal region, associated with ipsilateral cranial autonomic disturbances. All SUNCT patients experience ipsilateral conjunctival injection and lacrimation. Mean age of onset is 50 years with a male predominance. The syndrome is often misdiagnosed as trigeminal neuralgia or cluster headache. Primary and secondary forms exist, the secondary form is most commonly associated with lesions of the posterior fossa or pituitary adenoma. The SUNCT syndrome is refractory to most commonly employed therapies. Lamotrigine has recently been reported as an effective first line therapy.     

Treatment of headache with botulinum toxin administration

Botulinum toxin has been increasingly applied to the treatment of a wide variety of neurological disorders. Its application to headache disorders, and specifically those classified as migraine or tension-type, followed the observation of its effectiveness in decreasing pain. Studies that have primarily used botulinum toxin type A, but with varying dose regimens and sites of administration, have since observed its beneficial effects and in those subjects, headaches have lessened in their frequency or severity. However, questions that have primarily concerned dose and sites of administration have since arisen and clear guidelines for botulinum toxin use in headache disorders have yet to be developed.     

The prevalence of headache with emphasis on tension-type headache in rural Tanzania: a community-based study

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of headache with special attention to tension-type headache (TTH) in a rural area in northern Tanzania. A door-to-door study was performed using a standardized and validated questionnaire. A total of 7412 participants were screened. The total headache prevalence during the past year was 12.1%; the overall 1-year prevalence of TTH was 7%; 5% reported episodic TTH and 0.4% chronic TTH. Borderline cases (International Headache Society code 2.3) were described in 1.6%. The prevalence of headache was highest in the 41–50-year-old group in women and in the 61+ age group in men. This is the first account of the prevalence of TTH in a rural Tanzanian population, and shows that headache in general and, more specifically, TTH are prevalent disorders that deserve attention. However, the prevalence of primary headache seems to be lower than in Western countries.     

Treatment of 56 Cases of Pain of Supra-orbital Bone by Puncturing Siguan Acupoints

Pain of supra-orbital bone is very common in clinic The author achieved significant effect in treating 56 cases of pain of supra-orbital bone by puncturing Siguan （four gates） points. The report is as follows.