Trigemino-cervical reflex abnormalities in patients with migraine and cluster headache

BACKGROUND: Head pain arises within the trigeminal nociceptive system. Current theories propose that the trigeminal system is intimately involved in the pathogenesis of migraine. Short-latency responses can be recorded in sternocleidomastoid muscles after stimulation of the trigeminal nerve (trigemino-cervical reflex). This brainstem reflex could be a suitable method to evaluate the trigeminal system in migraine and CH. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to further elucidate the pathophysiology of migraine and cluster headache (CH) with special reference to the involvement of the central trigeminal system in the different forms of primary headache. METHODS: The trigemino-cervical reflex was investigated in 15 healthy subjects, in 15 patients having migraine with aura, in 15 patients with migraine without aura, and in 10 patients with CH. RESULTS: Significant abnormalities were observed in a great number of patients with both types of migraine and CH during the headache attacks, but only in migraine patients during the interictal period. The alterations are bilateral in migraine, unilateral in CH. CONCLUSIONS: Our results further support the relevance of brainstem mechanisms in the pathogenesis of migraine rather than of CH. These data, taken together with that from experimental head pain and functional imaging studies, demonstrate that primary headache syndromes may be distinguished on a functional basis by areas of activation specific to the clinical syndrome.     

Deletion 2q37: an identifiable clinical syndrome with mental retardation and autism

Terminal deletion of the long arm of chromosome 2 is a rare chromosomal disorder characterized by low birth weight, delayed somatic and mental development, craniofacial defects, short neck, heart and lung congenital defects, and autistic features. We report on a girl with 46,XX.ish del(2)(q37.1) de novo karyotype, mental retardation, dysmorphic features, gastrointestinal anomalies, and autistic traits and compare her clinical manifestations with patients with the same deletion previously described in literature.     

Prominent para-cardiac fat mimicking left atrial appendage thrombus on echocardiography: Utility of cardiac computed tomography

Transesophageal echocardiography is the most frequently used imaging modality for exclusion of left atrial appendage thrombus prior to cardioversion. Echocardiographers should be aware of rare conditions that may mimic left atrial appendage thrombus. Here, we describe a rare case of prominent para-cardiac fat mimicking left atrial appendage thrombus on transesophageal echocardiographic imaging. Multimodality imaging with cardiac computed tomography was instrumental in providing further anatomical delineation and characterization of the echodensity as prominent para-cardiac fat in this case.     

Syringomyelia following <Emphasis Type="Italic">Listeria</Emphasis> meningoencephalitis: report of a case

A case of symptomatic syringomyelia which appeared six years after Listeria meningoencephalitis is described. Chronic spinal arachnoiditis, as shown by standard MRI and dynamic phase contrast (PC) cine-MRI, may occur after spinal infection and is likely the cause of syringomyelia. To our knowledge, there are no previous reports of delayed spinal complications following Listeria monocytogenes infection. The possibility of developing syringomyelia should be always considered in any patient with a history of central nervous system infection. Received: 12 September 2002 / Accepted in revised form: 30 January 2003 Correspondence to: R. Nardone     

Bovine lactoferrin inhibits adenovirus infection by interacting with viral structural polypeptides

We recently demonstrated that lactoferrin, an antimicrobial glycoprotein, can inhibit adenovirus infection by competing for common glycosaminoglycan receptors. This study further characterizes the antiadenovirus activity of the protein, thus demonstrating that lactoferrin neutralizes infection by binding to adenovirus particles and that its targets are viral III and IIIa structural polypeptides.