Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Boiardi.
In this preliminary study twenty-nine malignant glioma patients after surgery were treated using Cis-platin (CDDP) combined with etoposide (VP16). Superfractionated radiation therapy comes into chemotherapy. The time to tumor progression in GBM patients is encouraging result to continue in this treatment.
Adherent lymphokine-activated killer (A-LAK) activity has been recently differentiated in recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) activated PBL. A pilot study on A-LAK + rIL-2 injection into the post-surgical cavity of glioblastoma-operated patients is ongoing. Preliminary data support the feasibility of this technique, which may improve the antitumor response of the host.
Activation of the SPergic pathway may be responsible for the starting of both painful and autonomic symptoms during a typical cluster headache (CH) attack. We utilized Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEPs) and Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) to evaluate the possibility of underlying asymmetries in central functions in CH attacks. We studied 14 CH (7 right and 7 left cluster) and 14 normal subjects. All the CH patients showed a significant VEP asymmetry; the mean P 100 amplitude was significantly reduced on the side of the pain and I-V latency of BAEP was increased on the symptomatic side. No check was made for any significant variation underlying asymmetries in the normal subjects. We postulate that such an asymmetry in VEP and BAEP responses could suggest a neurotransmitters disorder with a different manifestation in each hemisphere.
To characterize autonomic imbalance in migraine, we compared the cardiovascular reflex responses of 10 migraineurs and 10 healthy subjects after pharmacological noradrenergic stimulation or inhibition. A battery of 5 autonomic tests was administered on basal conditions as well as after pretreatment with drugs acting at different levels on the noradrenergic pathway: pseudoephedrine, clonidine, guanethidine, indenolol, prazosin. Our data confirm a predominantly sympathetic hypofunction in migraine and provide evidence for an impairment of the central autonomic control.
The results of a study of the activity of platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) in patients with migraine or with "Cluster headache" during the acute phases and after treatment with L-5-hydroxytryptophan are presented. MAO levels are higher in migraine subjects than in normals. There is, also, a clear difference between basal MAO levels in migraine sufferers and in Cluster Headache sufferers. The treatment with L-5-hydroxytryptophan tend to normalize MAO activity in the migraine patients, but does not change the MAO activity in cluster headache patients.
To investigate the involvement of the autonomic nervous system in Cluster Headache (CH) patients, we compared the cardiovascular reflex responses in a group of CH subjects and a group of controls. We considered five tests: 1) deep breathing test (DB); 2) lying to standing test; 3) heart rate response to Valsalva manoeuvre; 4) blood pressure response to standing; 5) blood pressure response to sustained handgrip. Our data confirm an autonomic dysfunction in CH, particularly regarding the parasympathetic system. Alternative interpretations of these results are discussed.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
The therapeutic efficacy of tiapride in chronic headache (300 mg/day orally during 30 days) was studied in a doubleblind trial in a group of 50 patients, 40 of them with so-called "mixed headache", and 10 with classical migraine. The results were subjected to statistical analysis. 65% of treated patients had clinical benefit in the intensity and frequency of headaches. The mode of action of this drug is discussed, together with the involvement of several monoaminergic systems in the genesis of headache. The action of tiapride appears to be indirectly dopaminomimetic as it operates by a blockade of dopaminergic inhibitors receptors.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.