Migraine in Patients With Stroke and Antiphospholipid Antibodies

SYNOPSIS
The association between migraine and antibodies against antiphospholipids is controversial. We investigated the prevalence and the clinical feature of migraine in patients with ischemic stroke and antiphospholipid antibodies. Data were obtained from the medical records of 162 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke over a 2-year period. Ten patients with antiphospholipid antibodies were prospectively identified. A history of migraine was present in 6 of these patients and in only 5 of the 152 patients with negative results for antiphospholipid antibodies (chi-square=47.68; P <.0001). In the former, migraine had been for a long time the only clinical problem before the occurrence of the ischemic stroke. These findings suggest that migraine is frequent and can be an early and a prominent symptom in the antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate the association of migraine and antiphospholipid antibodies. A better knowledge of this association could allow an early identification of patients at high risk of stroke.     

Pharmacological properties of 3-phenyl-5β diethylaminoethyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole

The general pharmacological properties of Oxolamine (3-phenyl-5β-diethylaminoethyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole) are described. The antitussive activity of this drug is more apparent in tests involving a diffuse stimulation of the bronchial tree than with electrical stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve. These results suggest a predominantly peripheral mechanism of action. Oxolamine also possesses analgesic-anti-inflammatory, local anaesthetic and antispasmodic properties. The acute and chronic toxicities of Oxolamine are low, and the experimental results indicate the absence of side effects. The possibility that the antitussive activity is related to the other pharmacological properties is discussed.     

Action of 5,5-diethyl-1,3-oxazine-2,4-dione (dioxone) on respiration and circulation

The action of 5,5-diethyl-1,3-oxazine-2,4-dione (dioxone) has been studied in rats, rabbits, cats and dogs. Dioxone produced a marked stimulation of respiration in anaesthetized, decerebrate and spinal animals when given in doses that did not induce convulsions. This effect was generally accompanied by a rise in blood pressure, which was more marked in cats than in dogs and rabbits. Dioxone antagonized the respiratory and circulatory depression due to pentobarbitone. The respiratory stimulating effect of dioxone appears to be 2 or 3 times greater than that of leptazol, and comparable to that of megimide. Like leptazol, nikethamide and megimide, dioxone has no direct effect on cardiac function. Dioxone did not elicit respiratory and blood pressure changes when allowed to come in contact with the carotid sinus receptors. Dioxone enhanced the reflex excitability of bulbar centres, as demonstrated by the increase in respiratory response either to temporary common carotid artery occlusion in dogs or to electrical stimulation of the central cut end of Hering's nerve in the cat. Dioxone also reduced the inhibition of respiration induced by electrical stimulation of the central cut end of the vagus nerve. Whether this central action of dioxone is direct or not cannot at present be elucidated, though a section at intercollicular level did not prevent the respiratory stimulation produced by this substance.     

Effects of lonidamine alone or combined with hyperthermia in some experimental cell and tumour systems.

Lonidamine or 1-[(2, 4-dichlorophenyl) methyl]-1H-indazole-3-carboxylic acid, studied in a battery of in vitro and in vivo tests currently used for the screening of anti-tumour agents affecting cell division, has been shown to have a narrow spectrum of anti-tumour activity. The significance of this finding is discussed in the light of previous investigations suggesting that lonidamine affects mitochondrial function and not cell replication. Hyperthermia has been shown to sensitize tumour cells to lonidamine. This observation indicates that in combination with hyperthermia lonidamine has some potential for the treatment of cancer; moreover, it suggests that hyperthermia might reproduce a metabolic condition occurring in some stages of the disease. The blood levels corresponding to the anti-tumour action of lonidamine in animals are in the range of those detected in patients treated with the drug.     

Effects of dapiprazole on pupillary size and intraocular pressure in rabbits

The effects of 3-[2-[4-(2-methylphenyl)-1- piperazinyl]ethyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine HCl (dapiprazole), a new drug with alpha-adrenergic blocking properties, on pupillary diameter and intraocular pressure have been studied in rabbits. Following i.v. administration, a reduction of intraocular pressure is observed at doses devoid of activity on pupillary diameter. Following topical application, a miotic and ocular hypertensive action was observed at the same doses; the hypotensive action is produced in both normal rabbits and in rabbits with water load- or corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension. Contact lenses increase the duration of effects of dapiprazole. These results suggest a potential interest of dapiprazole in glaucoma, with particular reference to the topical treatment of angle-closure glaucoma.     

Antispermatogenic activity of 1-p-Chlorobenzyl-1H-indazol-3-carboxylic acid (AF 1312/TS) in rats. II. A study of treatments of duration between 5 and 180 days.

1-p Chlorobenzyl-1H-indazol-3-carboxylic acid or $\text{AF 1312}\text{TS}$ was given to rats in the diet for periods of time ranging from 5–180 days. Body weight, weight and histology of the main internal organs, food consumption, serum levels of the drug and blood composition were determined. The most extensive experiment was performed in young rats treated up to 180 days with a diet containing 0.5% AF $\text{1312}\text{TS}$. A marked and constant reduction in the weight of the testes with inhibition of spermatogenesis was observed during the entire experiment. In rats treated for 20–80 days a reduction in the weight of the ventral prostate, seminal vesicles and levator ani was also observed with a histological picture of hyposecretion of the above-mentioned glands: These effects were no longer detected following a 180-day treatment. The influence of doses and age on the effects of $\text{AF 1312}\text{TS}$ was also studied on the basis of a 30-day treatment period. In young rats, effects on spermatogenesis were not separated from effects on the accessory sex organs even with the lowest doses; in mature rats, instead, the spermatogenic process was specifically inhibited even with the highest doses. AF $\text{1312}\text{TS}$ was without effects in female rats. The toxicological tests gave no evidence of systemic toxicity of the drug.