High prevalence of Dopaminergic Premonitory Symptoms in migraine patients with Restless Legs Syndrome: a pathogenetic link?

In order to assess the prevalence of Dopaminergic Premonitory Symptoms (DPS) in migraine patients with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), we chose migraine patients from a large Italian clinical headache population previously investigated for an association between primary headaches and RLS. We evaluated a total sample of 164 patients with migraine, in particular 114 with migraine without aura (MO), 10 with migraine with aura (MA) and 40 with MO and MA in various combinations between them or with episodic tension-type headache (ETTH), defined as a “mixed group”. About 20% of all migraine patients referred at least one of the following DPS: yawning, nausea, somnolence or food craving, confirming data already indicated in the literature. Among migraine patients with RLS (25.6%), DPS were referred from about half of the patients (47.6%) compared to those without RLS (47.6% vs. 13.1%; p<0.001). Based on migraine subtype, patients with MO referred DPS (26.3%) more frequently compared to the MA group and “mixed group” (12.0%, p<0.05), particularly in the presence of RLS (63.0% vs. 20.0%, p<0.01). No statistical differences were found between clinical and demographic data of the subgroups or related to medical conditions investigated (anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, body mass index). It is interesting that the chances of having RLS in migraine patients were more than 5 times higher in the presence of DPS. These results could support a hypothetical dopaminergic imbalance in RLS and migraine, as the dopamine is involved in the pathogenesis of both disorders and it is responsible for the migraine DPS reported above.     

Remodelling and overgrowth after conservative treatment for femoral and tibial shaft fractures in children

One thousand nine hundred and eighty-four children who had received conservative treatment for shaft (diaphyseal and metadiaphyseal) fractures of lower limbs (1162 femoral, 822 tibial fractures) at an average age of 8.5 years (range 0–14 years) were reviewed by clinical and radiographic investigations at an average follow-up of 6.6 years (1–15 years). Particularly, two main features were evaluated: remodelling of (angular and rotational) deformities and post-traumatic overgrowth. Mechanisms underlying these processes are discussed, based on a review of the literature, and parameters conditioning their evolution are analysed. Finally, criteria for an acceptable reduction (and limits for residual deformities that may be tolerated) at the time of conservative treatment are proposed.     

Correlation of radiological features to failure of lumbar intervertebral disc chemonucleolysis

Chemonucleolysis was performed in 103 patients for lumbar disc prolapse. Multiple (two) interspaces were injected in only seven patients. Radiographically, all patients had myelographic or computerized tomography evidence of disc prolapse. Eighty-seven of 100 patients who were available for follow-up review had improved. Ten of 13 patients with persistent symptoms required a laminectomy. Altered spinal alignment was evident in five of the 13 patients with persistent symptoms: retrolisthesis in three and myelographic disc defect on the convex aspect of the scoliosis in two. Review of radiographic studies was carried out in an attempt to establish guidelines for patient selection so as to decrease the rate of failure in chymopapain treatment.     

Effects of the phytoestrogen genistein on hot flushes, endometrium, and vaginal epithelium in postmenopausal women: a 1-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in a 12-month, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study whether pure administration of the phytoestrogen genistein (54 mg/d) might reduce the number and severity of hot flushes in postmenopausal women with no adverse effect on the endometrium. DESIGN: A total of 389 participants met the main study criteria and were randomly assigned to receive the phytoestrogen genistein (n=198) or placebo (n=191). About 40% of participants in both groups did not suffer from hot flushes, and the evaluation was performed in a subgroup of 247 participants (genistein, n=125; placebo, n=122). Reductions from baseline in the frequency and severity of hot flushes were the principal criteria of efficacy. Endometrial thickness was evaluated by ultrasonography. The maturation value was also used to determine hormonal action on the vaginal cells. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, time since menopause, body mass index, and vasomotor symptoms between groups at baseline (4.4 +/- 0.33 hot flushes per day in the genistein group and 4.2 +/- 0.35 hot flushes per day in the control group). The effect was already evident in the first month and reached its peak after 12 months of genistein therapy (-56.4% reduction in the mean number of hot flushes). Furthermore, there was a significant difference between the two groups at each evaluation time (1, 3, 6, and 12 months). No significant difference was found in mean endometrial thickness and maturation value score between the two groups, either at baseline or after 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The phytoestrogen genistein has been shown to be effective on vasomotor symptoms without an adverse effect on endometrium.     

Lumbar spinal stenosis. Clinical features, diagnostic procedures, and results of surgical treatment in 68 patients

Our experience with 68 patients with strictly defined, myelographically proven, surgically confirmed lumbar spinal stenosis seen over a 30-month period was reviewed. Pseudoclaudication was the commonest symptom (94%) and was described by patients as pain (93%), numbness (63%), or weakness (43%). Symptoms were frequently bilateral (68%) and generally relieved by flexing the lumbosacral spine. Neurologic abnormalities were found in a minority of patients and were usually mild. Electromyography showed one or more lumbosacral radiculopathies in 34 of 37 patients examined. Radiographic evidence of degenerative disk or joint disease was found in 63 patients. All patients had stenosis on myelography, with narrowing at L2, L3, and L4 being the commonest; 30% had multi-level stenosis. Two of ten computed tomograms were normal. Surgery was extensive; 72% of patients had three or more laminae removed. At a mean of 4 years after surgery, 84% of patients reported that surgery had yielded good to excellent results.     

Bisphosphonates as anticancer agents in early breast cancer: preclinical and clinical evidence

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are approved as standard therapy in breast cancer for the treatment of bone metastases, since they were demonstrated to reduce the prevalence of skeletal-related events including fractures and hypercalcemia. In the adjuvant setting, BPs can be given to prevent and treat tumor therapy-induced bone loss in premenopausal and postmenopausal women and, owing to their beneficial effect on bone turnover, have also been evaluated for prevention of bone metastases occurrence. In this article we will review the mechanisms through which BPs have been demonstrated to prevent premetastatic niche formation and cell proliferation in bone lesions. Moreover, preclinical evidence of antitumoral effects of BPs will be presented and results from the most important clinical trials will be described critically. BPs may clearly play a clinically important role in early breast cancer in a postmenopausal adjuvant setting.     

Effect of Acute and Chronic Cimetidine Administration on Acetaminophen Metabolism in Humans

In our study of the effect of acute cimetidine administration on acetaminophen metabolism, 10 healthy subjects were given an oral dose of acetaminophen (1 g) before and after administration of cimetidine (800 mg, po). In another experiment, 10 patients with duodenal ulcer received acetaminophen (1 g, po) before and after 2 months of cimetidine treatment (400 mg twice a day, po). Acetaminophen metabolism in blood and urine was studied for 9 h in each experiment. The half-life of acetaminophen was similar either in the absence or presence of both acute and chronic cimetidine administration. Although acute cimetidine ingestion did not affect acetaminophen urinary excretion, prolonged cimetidine treatment resulted in a slight but significant decrease of acetaminophen mercapturate urinary excretion. These findings suggest that, unlike acute cimetidine, prolonged histamine H2 antagonist therapy inhibits acetaminophen oxidation to its reactive metabolite. The clinical relevance of such an interaction remains to be explored.     

Impact of in-clinic follow-up visits in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators: demographic and socioeconomic analysis of the TARIFF study population

Purpose

Remote monitoring of cardiac implantable electronic devices has been demonstrated to safely reduce frequency of hospital visits. Limited studies are available evaluating the economic impact. The aim of this article is to highlight the social impact and costs for the patients associated with hospital visits for routine device follow-up at the enrollment visit for the TARIFF study (NCT01075516).

Methods

TARIFF is a prospective, cohort, observational study designed to compare the costs and impact on quality of life between clinic-based and remote care device follow-up strategies.

Results

Two hundred nine patients (85.2 % males) were enrolled in the study; 153 patients (73.2 %) were retired, 36 (17.2 %) were active workers, 18 (8.6 %) were housewives, and 2 (1.0 %) were looking for a job. Among active workers, 63.9 % required time off from work to attend the hospital visit, while 67.0 % of all patients had to interrupt daily activities. The majority of patients spent half a day or more attending the visit. A carer accompanied 77 % of patients. Among carers, 36.6 % required time off from work, and 77.6 % had to interrupt daily activities. Median distance traveled was 36 km. The average cost of travel was 10 euros with 25 % of patients spending more than 30 euros.

Conclusions

Data from patients enrolled in the TARIFF registry confirm that there are social and economic impacts to patients attending routine device checks in hospital which can be significantly reduced by using a remote monitoring strategy.