Prevalence of primary headaches and cranial neuralgias in men and women aged 55-94 years (Bruneck Study)

The aim of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of all primary headaches and cranial neuralgias in the general community. As part of the population-based Bruneck Study, 574 men and women aged 55–94 years underwent extensive neurological and laboratory examinations involving a standardized headache interview. In the Bruneck Study population the lifetime prevalence of all primary headaches combined and of cranial neuralgias was 51.7 and 1.6%, respectively. Tension-type headache (40.9%) and migraine (19.3%) emerged as the most common types of headache. In men and women aged 55–94 years the 1-year prevalence of primary headaches was high at 40.5%. In this age range headaches caused significant impairment of health-related quality of life. The Bruneck Study has confirmed the high lifetime prevalence of primary headaches and cranial neuralgias in the general population and provided first valid prevalence data for all primary headaches based on International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition criteria.     

Total antioxidant blood capacity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and distal symmetrical polyneuropathy

BACKGROUND/AIM: Reduced systemic antioxidant defence is considerd to play an important mediating role in pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the total antioxidant blood capacity (TAC) is reduced in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and diabetic distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (DDSP) and to correlate this antioxidant capacity with the degree of peripheral nerve dysfunction. METHODS: This study involved 100 patients with type 2 DM and signs of DDSP, as well as the control group of 50 healthy subjects. The evaluation of DDSP was based on physical examination and nerve conduction studies. The degree of peripheral nerve dysfunction was estimated by scoring and analysing sensory and motor nerve conduction parameters (distal latency and amplitude of evoked potential, conduction velocity). Laboratory analyses involved blood glucose and HbA1C levels, as well as plasma TAC. RESULTS: Blood glucose and HbA1C level was significantly higher in the patients than in the control group (p < 0.0001). The TAC was depleted in the diabetic group and the depletion was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). There was no significant correlation between the TAC and the serum glucose level, TAC and HbA1C level as well as between TAC and the duration of DM. There was no significant correlation between TAC and peripheral nerve conduction parameters. CONCLUSION: Total antioxidant blood capacity is reduced in patients with DDSP, but it does not correlate with blood sugar level, with the duration of DM or with the degree of functional nerve damage. These results show a reduced systemic antioxidant defence in patients with type 2 DM and DDSP. However, it is still unclear to what extent the oxidative stress is a contributing factor or leading cause of diabetic neuropathy, suggesting that further studies are necessary.     

Heteromorpha trifoliata (Dombwe) accelerates acetic acid-induced peptic ulcers: a preliminary study in the rat.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of H. trifoliata on: (a) acetic acid-induced ulcers, (b) food intake, (c) water intake, (d) weight gain, (e) gastric acid secretion in rats. DESIGN: Comparative study. SETTING: Laboratory. SUBJECTS: 20 female Sprague Dawley rats (220 to 250 g) with acetic acid-induced peptic ulcers randomly assigned to test and control groups (n = 10). The test rats were allowed water and normal rat diet comprising 20% H. trifoliata ('Dombwe) and 'Imfe nkulu' in Shona and Ndebele respectively) for 17 days after ulceration while control rats were allowed water and normal rat diet for 17 days after ulceration. Thirty six other rats were prepared to study the effect of H. trifoliata on gastric and acid secretion stimulated by histamine, gastrin and carbachol. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Photographs of the gross anatomy and histology of test and control rat stomachs were taken. Daily food and water intake, weekly weight gain and gastric acid secretion were measured in the test and control rats. RESULTS: 17 days following the consumption of the H. trifoliata containing diet, macroscopically, no ulcers were found on the outer surface of the stomach walls of test rats. However, histological examination revealed traces of ulcer at the sites where ulcers were induced previously. In contrast, 70% of the control rats still had ulcers on the surface of their stomach walls. Histological examination showed massive denuded mucosa and submucosa at the ulcer sites which are signs of severe ulceration. Food intake in both groups was not significantly different except during the first three days when test rats consumed significantly less food (p < 0.01) than control rats. Daily water intake and weekly weight gain were also not significantly different in the test and control groups. H. trifoliata had no significant effect on gastric acid secretion stimulated by histamine, gastrin and carbachol. CONCLUSIONS: H. trifoliata does not affect daily food and water intake and weekly weight gain in rats. It also does not affect histamine, gastrin and carbachol-stimulated acid secretion in rats. However, H. trifoliata accelerates the healing of acetic acid-induced peptic ulcer in rats. This may validate the use of H. trifoliata in the treatment of peptic ulcer in humans.     

Quality control of cod liver oil, physicochemical methods of analysis

The control of oils and fats requires analytical processes far surpassing the traditional framework of physical properties and chemical characteristics. The control of cod liver oil is improved by the use of these procedures. The present report is devoted to the measurement of vitamin A by ultraviolet spectrophotometry and of vitamin D3 by high performance liquid chromatography, to the determination of the profile of their fatty acids and polyunsaturated fats, as well as to their measurement by liquid gas chromatography after derivatisation. The results permit the definition of the cod liver oil's quality, the differentiation between fish oils and the detection of possible changes. A technique for verifying the absence of butylhydroxyanisol and of butylhydroxytoluen is also described.     

Anatomoclinical significance of splenic artery anastomotic bridges

The authors analyzed the frequency of anastomotic bridges between the terminal branches of the splenic artery, their location related to the splenic surface, length and caliber on a total of 102 autopsy specimens of human spleen and pancreatic tail. The methods applied were corrosion casting and postmortem arteriography. The incidence of cases with the splenic artery anastomotic bridges was 33.3%. They were located as follows: intrasplenic 25.5%, extrasplenic 4.9%, both intra- and extrasplenic 2.9%. The remaining two-thirds of spleens were free of anastomoses and thus hypothetically acceptable for partial and segmental splenectomy, as arterial bridges can jeopardize such surgical procedures. Intrasplenic arterial anastomotic bridges were of small caliber and ruled negligible, while the extrasplenic arterial anastomoses are of large caliber being of surgical importance.