Magnesium Prophylaxis of Menstrual Migraine: Effects on Intracellular Magnesium

The effects of oral Magnesium (Mg) pyrrolidone carboxylic acid were evaluated in 20 patients affected by menstrual migraine, in a double-blind, placebo controlled study. After a two cycles run-in period, the treatment (360 mg/day of Mg or placebo) started on the 15th day of the cycle and continued till the next menses, for two months. Oral Mg was then supplemented in an open design for the next two months. At the 2nd month, the Pain Total Index was decreased by both Placebo and Mg, with patients receiving active drug showing the lowest values (P less than 0.03). The number of days with headache was reduced only in the patients on active drug. Mg treatment also improved premenstrual complaints, as demonstrated by the significant reduction of Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) scores. The reduction of PTI and MDQ scores was observed also at the 4th month of treatment, when Mg was supplemented in all the patients. Intracellular Mg++ levels in patients with menstrual migraine were reduced compared to controls. During oral Mg treatment, the Mg++ content of Lymphocytes (LC) and Polymorphonucleated cells (PMN) significantly increased, while no changes in plasma or Red Blood Cells were found. An inverse correlation between PTI and Mg++ content in PMN was demonstrated. These data point to magnesium supplementation as a further means for menstrual migraine prophylaxis, and support the possibility that a lower migraine threshold could be related to magnesium deficiency.     

A (15;17) translocation not associated with acute promyelocytic leukaemia

We report a woman with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) type M2 according to FAB classification, showing a t(15;17) apparently identical to that of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) on conventional cytogenetic analysis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using cosmidic probes specific for RARα and PML regions did not show a fusion signal as in APL. The breakpoints were assigned to 15q24.3 and 17q21.1. Detailed molecular analyses did not reveal any involvement of RARα and PML genes. The patient was resistant to several front-line AML treatments and to all- trans retinoic acid (ATRA). These findings reinforce FISH and RT-PCR as useful tools for the characterization of a t(15;17) as the translocation specifically associated with APL.     

Flow Cytometry Immunophenotyping and Polymerase Chain Reaction-Site-Specific Primers Genotyping for HPA-1 Alloantigens in an Italian Blood Donor Population

Background and objectives: There is increasing interest in the development of rapid and reliable techniques for human platelet alloantigen (HPA) typing. This study investigates the reliability of flow cytometry for large-scale immunophenotyping of platelet alloantigens. Materials and methods: We used flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction-site-specific primer (PCR-SSP) for the characterization of the human platelet antigen 1 (HPA-1) mosaic in blood donors. Results: By using specific alloantisera and immunofluorescence labelling 9 (2.6%) out of 351 samples were HPA-la-negative. To confirm this antigenic phenotype, all of the latter samples were submitted to PCR-SSP analysis, showing an HPA1-b/b genomic pattern. In HPA-la-positive donors, flow cytometry was unable to distinguish HPA-1a/b heterozygous from HPA-1a/a homozygous subjects who were clearly identified by genotyping. Conclusions: Flow cytometry is a valuable tool for large-scale screening to identify HPA-la-negative persons, whereas genotyping is the assay of choice for zygosity testing, antenatal diagnosis, and for thrombocytopenic alloimmunized patients.     

Synapsin-like Molecules in Aplysia punctata and Helix pomatia: Identification and Distribution in the Nervous System and During the Formation of Synaptic Contacts In Vitro

The distribution and biochemical features of the synapsin-like peptides recognized in Aplysia and Helix by various antibodies directed against mammalian synapsins were studied. The peptides can be extracted at low pH and are digested by collagenase; further, they can be phosphorylated by both protein kinase A and Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. In the ganglia of both snails, they are associated with the soma of most neurons and with the neuropil; punctate immunostaining is present along the neurites. Using cocultures of a Helix serotoninergic neuron and of its target cell, we analysed the redistribution of the synapsin-like peptides during the formation of active synaptic contacts. When the presynaptic neuron is plated in isolation, both synapsin and serotonin immunoreactivities are restricted to the distal axonal segments and to the growth cones; in the presence of the target, the formation of a chemical connection is accompanied by redistribution of the synapsin and serotonin immunoreactivities that concentrate in highly fluorescent round spots scattered along the newly grown neurites located close to the target cell. Almost every spot that is stained for serotonin is also positive for synapsin. In the presynaptic cell plated alone, the number of these varicosity-like structures is substantially stable throughout the whole period; by contrast, when the presynaptic cell synapses the target, their number increases progressively parallel to the increase in the mean amplitude of cumulative excitatory postsynaptic potentials recorded at the same times. The data indicate that mollusc synapsin-like peptides to some extent resemble their mammalian homologues, although they are not exclusively localized in nerve terminals and their expression strongly correlates with the formation of active synaptic contacts.     

Toward an Understanding of Addiction

Given the large number of women with drug use and addiction problems, nurses have frequent opportunities to intervene to promote positive changes in drug use behavior. Classifications of drugs commonly used and terms relevant to drug use are presented. A discussion of different perspectives on addiction and a theory of change for addictive behaviors provides a foundation for working with women who have addictions.     

Gingival and periodontal health in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract – This study compared the periodontal health of patients with SLE with that of healthy controls. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus had significantly lower periodontal probing depths compared with healthy controls. It is possible that systemic drugs such as corticosteroids and NSAIDS may be responsible for these reduced probing depths but this study did not reveal a statistically significant effect of drugs. There is thus no evidence for a predisposition to increased periodontal disease in SLE.     

Protein Adsorption by Artificial Membrane Materials Under Filtration Conditions

Abstract: Elevated plasma levels of numerous low molecular weight proteins (LMWP) in renal insufficiency are likely to contribute to the uremic syndrome. Dialysis-related amyloidosis, caused by the accumulation of β₂-microglobulin (β₂M), has highlighted the need for a renal replacement therapy that allows the elimination of LMWP in addition to small solutes. Synthetic membrane materials employed under hemofiltration conditions proved to be most effective in lowering elevated β₂M plasma levels. In addition to convection, protein adsorption to artificial membrane materials is an important mechanism for β₂M removal. Using an in vitro setup, 12 commercially available hemofilters representing 11 different membrane materials were perfused with human blood containing ¹²⁵I-labeled plasma proteins. Under filtration conditions, total protein adsorption ranged from 338–2,098 mg/m² of membrane surface, and the fraction of adsorbed LMWP varied between 14–70% of total protein adsorption and was negatively correlated to total protein adsorption. β₂M adsorption showed up to an 8-fold difference between membranes, and was negatively correlated with total protein adsorption and positively correlated with the adsorption of LMWPs.     

Five-Year Maintenance Treatment with Ranitidine: Effects on the Natural History of Duodenal Ulcer Disease

In this study, we assessed the effect of a 5-yr maintenance program with ranitidine on the natural history of duodenal ulcer disease hoth during treatment and after drug withdrawal. Two groups of patients with duodenal ulcer were studied. In group A patients (n = 40), ranitidine (150 mg/day) was given continuously for 5 yr; group B patients (n = 40), received seasonal, 8-wk prophylactic treatment with ranitidine (300 mg/day), in spring and fall. Routine endoscopy was performed every year and whenever ulcer symptoms recurred. After the 5-yr study, the drug was discontinued in hoth groups, and patients underwent endoscopy after 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. The probahility of duodenal ulcer recurrence was significantly lower in patients continuously receiving ranitidine ( p < 0.001), and ulcer complications were significantly lesser in group A patients ( p < 0.03). In the 18 months of follow-up after drug discontinuation, only 15% (4/26) of patients of group A relapsed, whereas ulcer recurrence was diagnosed in 84% (26/32) of group B patients ( p < 0.001). We conclude that low-dose continuous treatment with rani-tidine is preferable to seasonal prophylaxis for its ahil-ity to modify thenatural history of duodenal ulcer disease.