Prevalence and risk factors for depression and anxiety among outpatient migraineurs in mainland China

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for anxiety and depression symptoms in outpatient migraineurs in mainland China. In addition, we evaluated whether the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) provided sufficient validity to screen depression and anxiety. A cross-sectional study was conducted consecutively at our headache clinic. Migraine was diagnosed according to International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition (ICHD-II). Demographic characteristics and clinical features were collected by headache questionnaire. Anxiety and depression symptoms about migraineurs were assessed using HADS. Several questionnaires were simultaneously used to evaluate patients with depressive disorder including the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) and HADS. Pearson correlation analysis was applied to test the validity of HADS. 176 outpatients with migraine (81.8 % female) were included. Overall, 17.6 and 38.1 % participants had depression and anxiety, respectively. Possible risk factors for depression in migraineurs included headache intensity of first onset of migraine, migraine with presymptom, migraine with family history and migraine disability. The possible risk factors for anxiety included fixed attack time of headache in one day and poor sleeping, and age represented a protective factor for anxiety. The correlation coefficient of HADS-A and HADS-D with HAMA and HAMD was 0.666 and 0.508, respectively (P < 0.01). This study demonstrates that depression and anxiety comorbidity in our mainland Chinese migraineurs are also common, and several risk factors were identified that may provide predictive value. These findings can help clinicians to identify and treat anxiety and depression in order to improve migraine management.     

The 5-HT1F receptor agonist lasmiditan as a potential treatment of migraine attacks: a review of two placebo-controlled phase II trials

Lasmiditan is a novel selective 5-HT_1F receptor agonist. It is both scientifically and clinically relevant to review whether a 5-HT_1F receptor agonist is effective in the acute treatment of migraine. Two RCTs in the phase II development of lasmiditan was reviewed. In the intravenous placebo-controlled RCT, lasmiditan doses of 2.5–45 mg were used, and there was a linear association between headache relief (HR) rates and dose levels (P < 0.02). For lasmiditan 20 mg, HR was 64 % and for placebo it was 45 % (NS). In the oral placebo-controlled RCT, lasmiditan doses of 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg were used. For HR, all doses of lasmiditan were superior to placebo (P < 0.05). For lasmiditan 400 mg, HR was 64 % and it was 25 % for placebo. Adverse events (AEs) emerging from the treatment were reported by 22 % of the patients receiving placebo and by 65, 73, 87 and 87 % of patients receiving 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg, respectively. The majority of AEs after lasmiditan 100 and 400 mg were moderate or severe. For the understanding of migraine pathophysiology, it is very important to note that a selective 5-HT_1F receptor agonist like lasmiditan is effective in the acute treatment of migraine. Thus, migraine can be treated with a drug that has no vasoconstrictor ability. While lasmiditan most likely is effective in the treatment of migraine attacks it had, unfortunately, a high incidence of CNS related AEs in the oral RCT. If confirmed in larger studies in phase III, this might adversely limit the use of this highly specific non-vascular acute treatment of migraine. Larger studies including the parameters of patients’ preferences are necessary to accurately position this new treatment principle in relation to the triptans.     

Manual therapies for primary chronic headaches: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

This is to our knowledge the first systematic review regarding the efficacy of manual therapy randomized clinical trials (RCT) for primary chronic headaches. A comprehensive English literature search on CINHAL, Cochrane, Medline, Ovid and PubMed identified 6 RCTs all investigating chronic tension-type headache (CTTH). One study applied massage therapy and five studies applied physiotherapy. Four studies were considered to be of good methodological quality by the PEDro scale. All studies were pragmatic or used no treatment as a control group, and only two studies avoided co-intervention, which may lead to possible bias and makes interpretation of the results more difficult. The RCTs suggest that massage and physiotherapy are effective treatment options in the management of CTTH. One of the RCTs showed that physiotherapy reduced headache frequency and intensity statistical significant better than usual care by the general practitioner. The efficacy of physiotherapy at post-treatment and at 6 months follow-up equals the efficacy of tricyclic antidepressants. Effect size of physiotherapy was up to 0.62. Future manual therapy RCTs are requested addressing the efficacy in chronic migraine with and without medication overuse. Future RCTs on headache should adhere to the International Headache Society’s guidelines for clinical trials, i.e. frequency as primary end-point, while duration and intensity should be secondary end-point, avoid co-intervention, includes sufficient sample size and follow-up period for at least 6 months.     

A double-blind, randomized, multicenter, Italian study of frovatriptan versus almotriptan for the acute treatment of migraine

The objective of this study was to evaluate patients’ satisfaction with acute treatment of migraine with frovatriptan or almotriptan by preference questionnaire. One hundred and thirty three subjects with a history of migraine with or without aura (IHS 2004 criteria), with at least one migraine attack in the preceding 6 months, were enrolled and randomized to frovatriptan 2.5 mg or almotriptan 12.5 mg, treating 1–3 attacks. The study had a multicenter, randomized, double blind, cross-over design, with treatment periods lasting <3 months. At study end patients assigned preference to one of the treatments using a questionnaire with a score from 0 to 5 (primary endpoint). Secondary endpoints were pain free and pain relief episodes at 2 and 4 h, and recurrent and sustained pain free episodes within 48 h. Of the 133 patients (86%, intention-to-treat population) 114 of them expressed a preference for a triptan. The average preference score was not significantly different between frovatriptan (3.1 ± 1.3) and almotriptan (3.4 ± 1.3). The rates of pain free (30% frovatriptan vs. 32% almotriptan) and pain relief (54% vs. 56%) episodes at 2 h did not significantly differ between treatments. This was the case also at 4 h (pain free: 56% vs. 59%; pain relief: 75% vs. 72%). Recurrent episodes were significantly (P < 0.05) less frequent under frovatriptan (30% vs. 44%), also for the attacks treated within 30 min. No significant differences were observed in sustained pain free episodes (21% vs. 18%). The tolerability profile was similar between the two drugs. In conclusion, our study suggests that frovatriptan has a similar efficacy of almotriptan in the short-term, while some advantages are observed during long-term treatment.     

A double-blind, randomized, multicenter, Italian study of frovatriptan versus rizatriptan for the acute treatment of migraine

The objective of this study was to assess patient satisfaction with acute treatment of migraine with frovatriptan or rizatriptan by preference questionnaire. 148 subjects with a history of migraine with or without aura (IHS 2004 criteria), with at least one migraine attack per month in the preceding 6 months, were enrolled and randomized to frovatriptan 2.5 mg or rizatriptan 10 mg treating 1–3 attacks. The study had a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, cross-over design, with treatment periods lasting <3 months. At the end of the study, patients assigned preference to one of the treatments using a questionnaire with a score from 0 to 5 (primary endpoint). Secondary endpoints were pain-free and pain relief episodes at 2 h, and recurrent and sustained pain-free episodes within 48 h. 104 of the 125 patients (83%, intention-to-treat population) expressed a preference for a triptan. The average preference score was not significantly different between frovatriptan (2.9 ± 1.3) and rizatriptan (3.2 ± 1.1). The rates of pain-free (33% frovatriptan vs. 39% rizatriptan) and pain relief (55 vs. 62%) episodes at 2 h were not significantly different between the two treatments. The rate of recurrent episodes was significantly (p < 0.001) lower under frovatriptan (21 vs. 43% rizatriptan). No significant differences were observed in sustained pain-free episodes (26% frovatriptan vs. 22% rizatriptan). The number of patients with adverse events was not significantly different between rizatriptan (34) and frovatriptan (25, p = NS). The results suggest that frovatriptan has a similar efficacy to rizatriptan, but a more prolonged duration of action.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10194-010-0243-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Validation of criterion-based patient assignment and treatment effectiveness of a multidisciplinary modularized managed care program for headache

This prospective observational study evaluates the validity of an algorithm for assigning patients to a multidisciplinary modularized managed care headache treatment program. N = 545 chronic headache sufferers [migraine (53.8 %), migraine + tension type (30.1 %), tension type (8.3 %) or medication overuse headache (6.2 %), other primary headaches (1.5 %)] were assigned to one of four treatment modules differing with regard to the number and types of interventions entailed (e.g., medication, psychological intervention, physical therapy, etc.). A rather simple assignment algorithm based on headache frequency, medication use and psychiatric comorbidity was used. Patients in the different modules were compared with regard to the experienced burden of disease. 1-year follow-up outcome data are reported (N = 160). Headache frequency and analgesic consumption differed significantly among patients in the modules. Headache-related disability was highest in patients with high headache frequency with/without medication overuse or psychiatric comorbidity (modules 2/3) compared to patients with low headache frequency and medication (module 0). Physical functioning was lowest in patients with chronic headache regardless of additional problems (modules 1/2/3). Psychological functioning was lowest in patients with severe chronicity with/without additional problems (module 2/3) compared to headache suffers with no/moderate chronicity (module 0/1). Anxiety or depression was highest in patients with severe chronicity. In 1-year follow-up, headache frequency (minus 45.3 %), consumption of attack-aborting drugs (minus 71.4 %) and headache-related disability decreased (minus 35.9 %). Our results demonstrate the clinical effectiveness and the criterion validity of the treatment assignment algorithm based on headache frequency, medication use and psychiatric comorbidity.     

Zinc supplementation therapy improves the outcome of patients with chronic hepatitis C

We administered zinc supplementation therapy over three years to patients with chronic hepatitis C and reported and that the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotaransferase (ALT) levels decreased, and platelet counts increased, significantly in the group with increased serum zinc concentrations. We are continuing this treatment to clarify the long-term consequences and report here the changes in serum zinc concentrations over seven years and compare the cumulative incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We administered polaprezinc to 32 patients, randomly selected for zinc therapy (treatment group), while another 30 formed the control group. We measured the serum zinc and albumin concentrations and conducted a prospective study to determine long-term outcomes. The changes and rates of change of serum zinc concentrations after seven years were 76.7 ± 18.2 µg/dl and +0.302 ± 0.30% in the treatment group and 56.7 ± 12.4 µg/dl and +0.033 ± 0.21% in the control group and had increased significantly (p = 0.0002, p = 0.0036). Progression of liver disease seemed to vary, depending on serum albumin concentrations. In the group with baseline serum albumin concentrations of 4.0 g/dl or more, the change and rate of change of serum zinc concentrations increased significantly, and the cumulative incidence of HCC tended to decrease, in the treated group. According to multivariate analysis, the factors that contribute to a reduction in the incidence of HCC are zinc therapy (risk ratio: 0.113, 95% CI: 0.015–0.870, p = 0.0362), and platelet counts (0.766, 0.594–0.989, 0.0409). Zinc supplementation therapy seems to improve liver pathology and reduce the incidence of HCC.     

The Risk of Bias and Sample Size of Trials of Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Low Back and Neck Pain: Analysis and Recommendations

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in methodological quality and sample size in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) for neck and low back pain over a specified period. A secondary purpose was to make recommendations for improvement for future SMT trials based upon our findings.

Methods

Randomized controlled trials that examined the effect of SMT in adults with neck and/or low back pain and reported at least 1 patient-reported outcome measure were included. Studies were identified from recent Cochrane reviews of SMT, and an update of the literature was conducted (March 2013). Risk of bias was assessed using the 12-item criteria recommended by the Cochrane Back Review Group. In addition, sample size was examined. The relationship between the overall risk of bias and sample size over time was evaluated using regression analyses, and RCTs were grouped into periods (epochs) of approximately 5 years.

Results

In total, 105 RCTs were included, of which 41 (39%) were considered to have a low risk of bias. There is significant improvement in the mean risk of bias over time (P < .05), which is the most profound for items related to selection bias and, to a lesser extent, attrition and selective outcome reporting bias. Furthermore, although there is no significant increase in sample size over time (overall P = .8), the proportion of studies that performed an a priori sample size calculation is increasing statistically (odds ratio, 2.1; confidence interval, 1.5-3.0). Sensitivity analyses suggest no appreciable difference between studies for neck or low back pain for risk of bias or sample size.

Conclusion

Methodological quality of RCTs of SMT for neck and low back pain is improving, whereas overall sample size has shown only small and nonsignificant increases. There is an increasing trend among studies to conduct sample size calculations, which relate to statistical power. Based upon these findings, 7 areas of improvement for future SMT trials are suggested.     

Effects of dexamethasone and gamma globulin combined with prednisone on the therapeutic effect and immune function of Henoch‐Schonlein purpura nephritis in children

BackgroundHenoch‐Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) is a serious complication of Henoch‐Schonlein purpura (HSP), which is usually treated with immunosuppressant and glucocorticoid. This study was designed to explore the effect of dexamethasone and gamma globulin combined with prednisone in the treatment of pediatric HSPN.MethodsAccording to the treatment plan, 60 children treated with dexamethasone and gamma globulin were included in the control group, and the rest 55 children treated with dexamethasone and gamma globulin combined with prednisone were selected as the research group. The clinical manifestations, therapeutic effect, immune function, serum inflammatory factors, blood coagulation function, urine routine, renal function, and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.ResultsThe clinical manifestations of children in the research group were significantly better than those in the control group after treatment (P < .05). The total effective rate in the research group (94.55%) was markedly higher than that in the control group (76.67%) (P < .05). CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, IL‐10, PT, and APTT increased while CD4+/CD8+, IgA, IL‐8, TNF‐α, FIB, urine protein, urine red blood cell, Scr, and BUN decreased in both groups after treatment, and the changes of all the above indexes in the research group were significant than those in the control group (P < .05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the research group was remarkably superior to that in the control group (P < .05).ConclusionDexamethasone and gamma globulin combined with prednisone can improve the immune function of children with HSPN and promote the recovery of renal function.     

Rizatriptan in migraineurs with unilateral cranial autonomic symptoms: a double-blind trial

The objective and background is to confirm in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study the high triptan response rates we had previously reported in an open study in migraine patients with unilateral cranial autonomic symptoms. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study 80 migraineurs with unilateral cranial autonomic symptoms were assigned to receive rizatriptan 10 mg wafer or placebo (ratio 1:1) and treated for a single moderate or severe migraine attack. The primary endpoints were pain freedom at 2 h and total migraine freedom at 2 h. Secondary endpoints included pain relief, no associated symptoms and sustained pain freedom or relief. Significantly more patients reported pain freedom at 2 h after taking rizatriptan (54 %) than after placebo (8 %) (therapeutic gain 46 % [28 %; 64 %]; P < 0.001). Similarly, significantly more patients reported total migraine freedom at 2 h after rizatriptan (51 %) than after placebo (8 %) (therapeutic gain 43 % [26 %; 61 %]; P < 0.001). Rizatriptan was also more effective than placebo on most secondary endpoints. We confirm in a placebo-controlled study our previous data suggesting that the presence of unilateral cranial autonomic symptoms in migraineurs predicts a positive response to triptans, probably owing to intense trigeminal peripheral afferent activation which strongly recruits peripheral neurovascular 5-HT1B/1D receptors. Acute and preventive pharmacological trials in migraine should focus also on this subset of migraine patients.     

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy plus surgery in the treatment of potentially resectable thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUNDIn recent years, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) combined with surgery has been gradually applied in patients with locally advanced thoracic esophageal cancer, but its effectiveness and safety remains unclear. In this clinical trial, we prospectively investigated the efficacy and safety of NCRT plus surgery in the treatment of thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TESCC).AIMTo investigate the efficacy and safety of NCRT combined with surgery in the treatment of potentially resectable TESCC. METHODSThirty patients with advanced TESCC hospitalized in our hospital from July 2016 to June 2019 were prospectively studied. All patients received NCRT, which included intensity modulated conformal radiotherapy (40-44 Gy/20-22f, 2 Gy/f) and chemotherapy (paclitaxel 150-175 mg/m²d1, 22 + lobaplatin 25-30 mg/m²d2, 23 for two cycles). Surgery was performed after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The effectiveness and safety of these treatments were observed. RESULTSAmong these 30 patients, complete response was achieved in two cases (6.7%) and partial response in 26 cases (86.7%), yielding an objective response rate of 100%. All patients underwent radical surgery successfully. The R0 resection rate was 100%, and the pathologic complete response rate was 33.3%. The incidence of grade III- IV granulocytopenia was 10% during the NCRT, and anastomotic leakage occurred in one patient after surgery. CONCLUSIONFor patients with potentially resectable TESCC, NCRT can effectively reduce the tumor size, increase R0 resection rate, and achieve obvious pathological degradation, with mild adverse reactions. Thus, it is worthy of wider clinical application.     

Primary headache in the elderly in South-East Asia

Headache aetiology and presentation are considerably different in elderly individuals. However, literature on headache characteristics among Asians is limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the headache characteristics among elderly in an outpatient clinic setting in Malaysia, a South-East Asian country with diverse ethnicity. In this prospective cross-sectional study, patients presenting with headache to Neurology and Primary Care Clinics of University Malaya Medical Centre between February 2010 and July 2010 were included. Data for consecutive eligible adult patients were entered in a prospective headache registry. International Headache Criteria II (ICHD-II) were used to classify various headache subtypes. Patients with headache due to intracranial space occupying lesions were excluded. Patient were divided into two age groups—elderly (55 years and above) and younger (less than 55 years of age). Of the 175 screened patients, 165 were included in the study—70 in elderly age group and 95 in younger group. Tension-type headache was the commonest subtype (45.7 %) among the elderly while Migraine without aura (54.7 %) was more common in young adults. More elderly patients suffered from chronic daily headache as compared to younger patients (47.1 vs. 28.4 %; p = 0.015). Headache subtypes and frequency differ considerably among elderly South East Asian patients.     

Multidisciplinary integrated headache care: a prospective 12-month follow-up observational study

This prospective study investigated the effectiveness of a three-tier modularized out- and inpatient multidisciplinary integrated headache care program. N = 204 patients with frequent headaches (63 migraine, 11 tension-type headache, 59 migraine + tension-type headache, 68 medication-overuse headache and 3 with other primary headaches) were enrolled. Outcome measures at baseline, 6- and 12-month follow-ups included headache frequency, Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), standardized headache diary and a medication survey. Mean reduction in headache frequency was 5.5 ± 8.5 days/month, p < 0.001 at 6 months’ follow-up and 6.9 ± 8.3 days/month, p < 0.001 after 1 year. MIDAS decreased from 53.0 ± 60.8 to 37.0 ± 52.4 points, p < 0.001 after 6 months and 34.4 ± 53.2 points, p < 0.001 at 1 year. 44.0 % patients demonstrated at baseline an increased HAD-score for anxiety and 16.7 % of patients revealed a HAD-score indicating a depression. At the end of treatment statistically significant changes could be observed for anxiety (p < 0.001) and depression (p < 0.006). The intake frequency of attack-aborting medication decreased from 10.3 ± 7.3 days/month at admission to 4.7 ± 4.1 days/month, p < 0.001 after 6 months and reached 3.8 ± 3.5 days/month, p < 0.001 after 1 year. At baseline 37.9 % of patients had experience with non-pharmacological treatments and 87.0 % at 12-month follow-up. In conclusion, an integrated headache care program was successfully established. Positive health-related outcomes could be obtained with a multidisciplinary out- and inpatient headache treatment program.     

Increased levels of serum leptin are a risk factor for the recurrence of stage I/II hepatocellular carcinoma after curative treatment

Obesity and related adipocytokine disbalance increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. To determine the impact of increased levels of leptin, an obesity-related adipocytokine, on the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma, we conducted a prospective case-series analysis. Eighty-five consecutive primary hepatocellular carcinoma patients at our hospital from January 2006 to December 2008 were analyzed. Serum leptin level significantly correlated with Body Mass Index, total body fat, and the amount of subcutaneous fat. They included 33 with stage I/II, who underwent curative treatment. The factors contributing to recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma, including leptin, were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards model. Body Mass Index (p = 0.0062), total body fat (p = 0.0404), albumin (p = 0.0210), α-fetoprotein (p = 0.0365), and leptin (p = 0.0003) were significantly associated with the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis suggested that leptin (hazard ratio 1.25, 95% CI 1.07–1.49, p = 0.0035) was a sole independent predictor. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that recurrence-free survival was lower in patients with greater serum leptin concentrations (>5 ng/mL, p = 0.0221). These results suggest that the serum leptin level is a useful biomarker for predicting the early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.     

The Immediate Effects of Upper Thoracic Translatoric Spinal Manipulation on Cervical Pain and Range of Motion: A Randomized Clinical Trial

This study examined the effect of translatoric spinal manipulation (TSM) on cervical pain and cervical active motion restriction when applied to upper thoracic (T1-T4) segments. Active cervical rotation range of motion was measured re- and post-intervention with a cervical inclinometer (CROM), and cervical pain status was monitored before and after manipulation with a Faces Pain Scale. Study participants included a sample of convenience that included 32 patients referred to physical therapy with complaints of pain in the mid-cervical region and restricted active cervical rotation. Twenty-two patients were randomly assigned to the experimental group and ten were assigned to the control group. Pre- and post-intervention cervical range of motion and pain scale measurements were taken by a physical therapist assistant who was blinded to group assignment. The experimental group received TSM to hypomobile upper thoracic segments. The control group received no intervention. Paired t-tests were used to analyze within-group changes in cervical rotation and pain, and a 2-way repeated-measure ANOVA was used to analyze between-group differences in cervical rotation and pain. Significance was accepted at p = 0.05. Significant changes that exceeded the MDC₉₅ were detected for cervical rotation both within group and between groups with the TSM group demonstrating increased mean (SD) in right rotation of 8.23° (7.41°) and left rotation of 7.09° (5.83°). Pain levels perceived during post-intervention cervical rotation showed significant improvement during right rotation for patients experiencing pain during bilateral rotation only (p=.05). This study supports the hypothesis that spinal manipulation applied to the upper thoracic spine (T1-T4 motion segments) significantly increases cervical rotation ROM and may reduce cervical pain at end range rotation for patients experiencing pain during bilateral cervical rotation.     

Treatment of femoroacetabular impingement: a systematic review

The purpose of this review is to determine if there is a difference in outcomes after: (1) nonsurgical vs surgical treatment of FAI; (2a) surgical dislocation with greater trochanteric osteotomy, (2b) anterior mini-open, (2c) arthroscopic plus mini-open, and (2d) arthroscopic surgery for FAI; (3) difference in complication and re-operation rates; and (4a) labral refixation and (4b) labral debridement for labral injuries. A systematic review of multiple databases was performed after PROSPERO registration and using PRISMA guidelines. Level I-IV evidence clinical studies with minimum 2-year follow-up were included. Data were compared using 2-sample and 2-proportion Z-test calculators. Study methodological quality was analyzed using Modified Coleman Methodology Score (MCMS). Recommendations were made using SORT (Strength Of Recommendation Taxonomy). Twenty-nine studies were included (2369 subjects; 2507 hips). MCMS was poor. Mean subject age was 34.4+/−8.4 years and mean follow-up was 3.1+/−0.9 years. Statistically significant differences were observed following both nonsurgical and surgical treatment, with greater (P < 0.05) improvements following surgery (SORT B), without consistent significant differences observed between different surgical techniques (SORT C). There was a greater (P < 0.05) reoperation and complication rate following surgical dislocation vs mini-open and arthroscopic techniques (SORT A). Clinical outcomes were significantly better (P < 0.05) following labral refixation vs debridement (SORT B). Outcomes of operative treatment of femoroacetabular impingement are significantly better than nonsurgical management. Surgical treatment significantly improves outcomes, with no consistent significant differences exhibited between open and arthroscopic techniques. Open surgical dislocation has significantly greater reoperation and complication rates vs mini-open and arthroscopic techniques. Outcomes of labral refixation are significantly better than debridement in patients with labral injuries.     

Amino acid and vitamin supplementation improved health conditions in elderly participants

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementation with amino acids and vitamins on health conditions in unhealthy older people. One bedridden inpatient group (n = 10; mean age, 79.8 ± 8.5 y) and one outpatient group (n = 9; mean age, 72.9 ± 12.2 y) participated in this study. A mixture supplementation with amino acids containing arginine (500 mg/day), glutamine (600 mg/day), and leucine (1200 mg/day), and 11 kinds of vitamins was daily administrated for 8 weeks. In both groups, general blood biomarkers such as white blood cell count, natural killer cell activity, and C-reactive protein levels were measured. All measurements were taken before (baseline), at 4 weeks (mid-point), and after each trial (post-point). At mid-point, natural killer cell activity in the outpatient group increased significantly compared to baseline. At post-point, natural killer cell activity in the outpatient and inpatient groups increased significantly compared to baseline. The other blood biomarkers did not show any significant change throughout the trial. This pilot study suggested that a mixture of arginine, glutamine, leucine, and vitamins is useful to support innate immunity in unhealthy older people, even if their diseases, symptoms, and prescribed medicines are different.     

Nabilone for the treatment of medication overuse headache: results of a preliminary double-blind, active-controlled, randomized trial

Medication overuse headache (MOH) is a severe burden to sufferers and its treatment has few evidence-based indications. The aim of this study is to evaluate efficacy and safety of nabilone in reducing pain and frequency of headache, the number of analgesic intake and in increasing the quality of life on patients with long-standing intractable MOH. Thirty MOH patients were enrolled at the University of Modena’s Interdepartmental Centre for Research on Headache and Drug Abuse (Italy) in a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, crossover study comparing nabilone 0.5 mg/day and ibuprofen 400 mg. The patients received each treatment orally for 8 weeks (before nabilone and then ibuprofen or vice versa), with 1 week wash-out between them. Randomization and allocation (ratio 1:1) were carried out by an independent pharmacy through a central computer system. Participants, care givers, and those assessing the outcomes were blinded to treatment sequence. Twenty-six subjects completed the study. Improvements from baseline were observed with both treatments. However, nabilone was more effective than ibuprofen in reducing pain intensity and daily analgesic intake (p < 0.05); moreover, nabilone was the only drug able to reduce the level of medication dependence (−41 %, p < 0.01) and to improve the quality of life (p < 0.05). Side effects were uncommon, mild and disappeared when nabilone was discontinued. This is the first randomized controlled trial demonstrating the benefits of nabilone on headache, analgesic consumption and the quality of life in patients with intractable MOH. This drug also appears to be safe and well-tolerated. Larger scale studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.     

Drug-dependence behaviour and outcome of medication-overuse headache after treatment

This study aimed at determining the causes of failure of the different proposed strategies to ensure improvement of medication-overuse headache (MOH) patients, since they have not been investigated so far, especially with regard to aspects related to cognitive and behavioural aspects of symptomatic drugs overused by them. One hundred and twenty in-patients, 82 females (68.3 %), median age 49 (42–56) years, affected by MOH were admitted to the study and treated with abrupt discontinuation of the medication overused, a 6-day in-patient detoxification regimen and an immediate start of personalized prophylactic treatment, then followed for 1 year. Leeds Dependence Questionnaire (LDQ), among all the clinical variables, was administered at baseline and at 1-year follow-up visit to assess substance dependence. Of the 120 patients enrolled, 68 (56.7 %) were successfully detoxified (Responder-group), while 52 (43.3 %) were not (Non-Responder-group). At baseline, the mean LDQ total score was slightly higher in the Non-Responder group than in the Responder group (12.08 ± 2.14 vs. 11.94 ± 1.98). Although this difference was not significant at baseline (p > 0.05), the LDQ total score was significantly different (p < 0.001) at the 1-year follow-up visit between the responder group (7.8 ± 2.3) and the Non-Responder group (12.1 ± 2.1). Moreover, the pattern of the responses of the patients in the responder group differed from that of the Non-Responder-group in the items relating to the compulsion to start, compulsion to continue, primacy of effect, constancy of state and cognitive set. The results showed that patients of the Non-Responder group showed a drug dependence pattern similar to that previously described in addicts. Conversely, in patients who positively responded to the procedure, drug-abuse behaviour seemed to be a consequence of chronic headache, reflecting the need for daily analgesic use to cope with everyday life.     

Three-year follow-up of Coats disease treated with conbercept and 532-nm laser photocoagulation

BACKGROUNDCoats disease is an idiopathic exudative outer retinopathy caused by abnormal retinal vascular development.AIMTo evaluate the long-term outcomes of intravitreal conbercept injection with laser photocoagulation as a treatment for Coats disease in adults.METHODSThis retrospective case series study included patients diagnosed with Coats disease and treated with intravitreal conbercept injection and 532-nm laser photocoagulation at the Ophthalmology Department of Shenzhen People’s Hospital between January 2016 and January 2017. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurements, noncontact tonometry, ophthalmoscopy, fundus photography, fundus fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography were performed before treatment and at 1 wk, 1 mo, 3 mo, 6 mo, 9 mo, 12 mo, 24 mo and 36 mo after therapy. Best-corrected visual acuity was measured using the early treatment of diabetic retinopathy study chart.RESULTSThe study included eight eyes of 8 patients (7 men) aged 36.10 ± 6.65 years. The average BCVA of the affected eye before treatment was 51.17 ± 15.15 letters (range, 28–70 letters), and the average central macular thickness was 303.30 ± 107.87 µm (range, 221–673 µm). Four eyes were injected once, three were injected twice, and one was injected three times. Average follow-up duration was 37.33 ± 2.26 mo. Average BCVA of the affected eye was 51.17 ± 15.15 letters before treatment and was increased by 13.50 ± 3.20, 16.25 ± 7.73, 18.25 ± 8.96, 18.03 ± 5.27, 18.63 ± 3.35, 19.75 ± 6.96, 18.05 ± 5.36 and 17.88 ± 3.45 letters at 1 wk, 1 mo, 3 mo, 6 mo, 9 mo, 12 mo, 24 mo and 36 mo after treatment, respectively (P < 0.01). The patients showed varying degrees of subretinal fluid resorption after treatment. None of the patients had serious complications such as increased intraocular pressure, development/progression of cataracts, endophthalmitis or retinal detachment.CONCLUSIONIntravitreal injection of conbercept combined with 532-nm laser photocoagulation may be a feasible treatment for Coats disease in adult patients.