Gender ratio of migraine without aura: observations over time

Abstract Migraine without aura is typically considered a female condition. The purpose of this study was to determine if there have been any changes in the female-to-male ratio of the disease over time. We included in the study all patients with migraine without aura (n=3457) referred to the Parma University Headache Centre between 1976 and 1995. They were divided into subgroups with respect to gender and year-range of onset of migraine (before 1960, in the 1960s, in the 1970s, in the 1980s, and between 1990 and 1995). Gender ratio ranged from 3.6:1 (in patients with onset before 1960) to 2.8:1 (in patients with onset in the 1980s), with no statistically significant changes during the observation period.     

Social phobia, fear of negative evaluation and harm avoidance.

This naturalistic, prospective investigation examined the role of fear of negative evaluation and the personality trait of harm avoidance in the anxiety levels of treated social phobia patients. One hundred and fifty-seven patients with DSM-IV social phobia were assessed before starting treatment and were then followed for up to two years. As expected, greater fear of negative evaluation and higher scores of harm avoidance were associated with greater anxiety at the 6 month follow-up, and harm avoidance remained a significant predictor at 24 months. However, no evidence was found for an interaction between the personality and cognitive variables examined. The findings are discussed in terms of the relative independence of these factors, as well as their potential implications for the treatment of this disorder.     

The effects of KATP channel modulators on counterregulatory responses and cognitive function during acute controlled hypoglycaemia in healthy men: a pilot study.

AIMS: To examine the effects of agents that alter potassium adenosine triphosphate (KATP) channel activity in beta-cells on cognitive function and counterregulatory hormone responses during acute hypoglycaemia, given the physiological similarities between the pancreatic beta-cell and the hypothalamic glucose-sensitive neurones (GSN) and the widespread distribution of sulphonylurea receptors in neuronal cells throughout the brain. METHODS: Ten healthy males were studied on four occasions and in random order underwent three stepped hypoglycaemic (plasma glucose aims: 3.4, 2.8, 2.4 mmol/l) and one euglycaemic (plasma glucose aim: 5 mmol/l) insulin clamps. Prior to each hypoglycaemic study, volunteers received either 10 mg glibenclamide, or 5 mg/kg diazoxide or placebo orally. Cognitive function, symptom scores and counterregulatory hormone responses were measured at each glycaemic level. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant effect of either drug on the symptoms generated or the counterregulatory hormonal response during hypoglycaemia. However, cognitive function was better preserved during hypoglycaemia in the glibenclamide-treated arm, particularly four-choice reaction time which deteriorated at a plasma glucose 2.5 mmol/l compared with 3.0 mmol/l with diazoxide (P = 0.015) and 2.9 mmol/l with placebo (P = 0.114). CONCLUSIONS: Single doses of pharmacological agents which alter membrane KATP channel activity do not affect the counterregulatory response to hypoglycaemia but may modify cognitive function during cerebral glucopenia. The unexpected effects of glibenclamide on cortical function suggest a novel action of sulphonylureas that warrants further investigation.     

经皮激光椎间盘减压术治疗椎间盘源性腰痛

目的探讨经皮激光椎间盘减压术（percutaneous laser disc decompression，PLDD）治疗椎间盘源性腰痛的疗效。方法2002年6月～2004年12月我院对36例椎间盘源性腰痛，采用英国DIOMED公司半导体激光仪，激光功率15W，每个激光脉冲持续1s，间隔1s，照射能量800～1200J。VAS评分评价治疗效果。结果手术时间15～60min，平均30min。32例出现“疼痛复制效应”。36例随访6～36个月，平均11个月，32例有效（术后VAS评分改善≥3分18例，≥分14例），4例无效，有效率88．9％（32／36）。结论PLDD治疗椎间盘源性腰痛安全、有效、微创。     

巯基化合物对内毒素诱导大鼠枯否细胞NF—kB活性和肿瘤坏死因子释放的影响

目的 观察巯基化合物对内毒素诱导大鼠枯否细胞（KC）NF-kB活性和肿瘤坏死因子-a（TNF-a）释放的影响。方法采用胶原酶灌注和percoll密度梯度离心法分离得到高纯度大鼠KC，在过夜培养后冲洗两遍（不含血清），加入内毒素（LPS）10ng／ml刺激原代培养的KC，观察不同浓度谷胱甘肽乙基酯（GSHEE）及N-乙酰半胱氨酸（NAC）对大鼠KCTNF-a释放和KC内谷胱甘肽（GSH）及NF-kB活性的影响。并观察使用谷胱甘肽合成抑制剂BSO后，对NAC抑制炎症因子的影响，采用凝胶滞留电泳法测NF-kB活性，采用高效液相色谱分析法测GSH水平。结果 LPS诱导KC中GSH水平无变化；GSHEE和NAC可提高KC中GSH水平（P〈0．05），降低NF-kB活性和TNF-a释放（P〈0．05）。NAC与BSO合用时KC中GSH水平无变化，TNF-a释放降低（P〈0．05）。结论 NAC通过抑制KC中NF-kB的激活和TNF-a的释放调节KC功能，但这种抑制作用并非通过增加GSH介导。     

腺苷与异丙酚预处理对犬心肌缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的探讨腺苷与异丙酚预处理对犬心肌缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用。方法 21只杂种犬,雌雄不拘,随机分为3组(n=7):缺血再灌注组(A组)、异丙酚预处理组(B组)、异丙酚与腺苷联合预处理组(C组)。A组冠状动脉的左前降支结扎60min后松开结扎,再灌注:120min;B组缺血前30min经静脉以5．6mg·kg-1·h-1速率持续泵注异丙酚30min;C组缺血前10min经主动脉根部一次性注入腺苷(10mmol·L-1,10ml),其余处理同B组。记录心脏血液动力学指标,并行节段性室壁运动评分(RWMS)。结果缺血即刻出现了缺血性心电图的变化。与基础值比较,A组缺血期及再灌注期 LVEDP升高,CO、SV、LVEF、CPP、RPP降低,再灌注期MAP降低,HR减慢,B、C组上述缺血再灌注诱导的血液动力学变化减弱,A组缺血期及再灌注期RWMS增加,但B、C组缺血期RWMS低于A组(P< 0．05或0．01)。结论异丙酚预处理对犬心肌缺血再灌注损伤有一定的保护作用,腺苷预处理并未增强其保护作用。     

Outcomes at 3 years of a prospective pilot study of Campath-1H and sirolimus immunosuppression for renal transplantation

Campath-1H (alemtuzumab) induction was used for renal transplantation in combination with sirolimus as immunosuppression. We previously reported a high (28%) rate of early rejection with this regimen, and now report 3-year outcomes. Twenty-nine patients were recipients of either deceased donor or non-HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) identical living donor primary renal allografts. Clinical parameters including infection, malignancy, kidney function, and kidney histology were followed prospectively for 3 years. Three-year cumulative graft and patient survival were 96% and 100%, respectively. Twenty patients were maintained on steroid-free immunosuppressive regimens, and 15 patients were maintained on monotherapy for immunosuppression (12 on sirolimus). No serious infectious complications were observed and two patients developed basal cell skin cancer. The 3-year results of our initial pilot study demonstrate good graft (96%) and patient (100%) outcomes. Campath-1H induction has yielded a high proportion of patients maintained on immunosuppressive monotherapy (57%) without serious infectious- and no malignancy-related complications. The reported regimen yielded novel insights into both Campath-1H and sirolimus therapy in renal transplantation. Because of the higher incidence of early rejection, we recommend a modified strategy of immunosuppression including a brief course of a calcineurin inhibitor.     

Intravenous cidofovir treatment for recalcitrant warts in the setting of a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome

Cidofovir is an acyclic nucleoside phosphonate with broad-spectrum activity against DNA viruses, including human papilloma virus (HPV). However, data on the efficacy of cidofovir in an immunosuppressive setting remain contradictory. We report for the first time on the promotion of the healing of recalcitrant warts in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome with intravenous cidofovir treatment.