Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M D Ferrari

Publications and source records attributed to M D Ferrari.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Plasma interleukin-1, tumour necrosis factor and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses during migraine attacks.

To evaluate systemic cytokine and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses in migraine, we measured plasma levels of tumour necrosis factor, interleukin-1, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and cortisol, as well as body temperature during and between attacks in 20 migraine patients. We found no evidence of systemic rise of cytokines during migraine attacks. Plasma cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone responses were similar to those found to experimentally-induced pain in normal subjects, i.e. elevated cortisol and unchanged adrenocorticotropic hormone levels. Unexpectedly, body temperature tended to be lower during attacks.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1991

Blood flow velocity changes in migraine attacks--a transcranial Doppler study.

A pulsed Doppler device was used to measure blood flow velocities in the common carotid artery, the extracranial part of the internal carotid artery, the external carotid artery, the middle cerebral artery, and the anterior cerebral artery in 31 migraineurs without aura (n = 27) and with aura (n = 4), both during and outside an attack. The aims were to compare blood flow velocity during and between migraine attacks and to study asymmetries of the blood flow velocity. Compared with blood flow velocity values obtained in the attack-free interval, blood flow velocity was lower during attacks without aura in both common carotid arteries, but not in the other extra- and intracranial vessels which were examined. However, during attacks of migraine with aura, blood flow velocity tended to be lower in all examined vessels. There were no asymmetries of the blood flow velocity. We suggest that during migraine attacks without aura there is a dissociation in blood flow regulation in the common carotid and middle cerebral arteries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Visual evoked potentials and background EEG activity in migraine.

To investigate whether quantification of the background EEG during a visual evoked potential (VEP) study is of value for the diagnosis of migraine we studied 8 unmedicated migraineurs between attacks, and 10 age-matched controls. Three paradigms were used: the first two concerned pattern-reversal VEPs with different analysis times (500 and 1500 ms), and in the third paradigm the pattern did not reverse. Power spectra were calculated for individual responses, and the delta, theta, alpha and beta areas of the averaged spectra were noted as indicators of background reactivity. Alpha and beta powers were consistently but not significantly higher in the migraine group. The difference was too small to be of value as a diagnostic test. Alpha power was (not significantly) lower in the presence of photic stimulation than in its absence. As this was the case in both groups photic stimulation does not explain the higher alpha powers in the migraine group. We conclude that EEG background activity during the VEP does not distinguish reliably between migraineurs and controls.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Vascular reactivity during migraine attacks: a transcranial Doppler study.

We measured vascular reactivity--expressed i) as decrease in blood flow velocity (cm/sec) per vol% CO2 decrease due to voluntary hyperventilation and ii) as increase of blood flow velocity during the first minute after resuming normal ventilation, per vol% CO2 increase--in the middle cerebral and basilar artery of 48 migraineurs with attacks without aura, and 17 normal controls. We found no differences for both determinants of vascular reactivity between migraineurs during and outside an attack, and between migraineurs and healthy volunteers. We conclude that the vasomotor reactivity is normal during migraine attacks without aura.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Cytochrome P450 and Parkinson's disease. Poor parahydroxylation of phenytoin.

Phenytoin-parahydroxylation capacity was determined in 24 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 17 controls. Different function of the phenytoin-metabolizing cytochrome P450 subsystem was found in 6 patients, but in none of the controls. These results add to previous studies suggesting a relation between the pathogenesis of PD and the function of cytochrome P450 subsystems.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Methionine-enkephalin in migraine and tension headache. Differences between classic migraine, common migraine and tension headache, and changes during attacks.

We measured methionine-enkephalin (MET) in platelets and platelet-poor-plasma of drug-free patients with classic migraine, common migraine or tension headache (TH). Migraineurs were studied both between and during attacks. TH patients were characterized by low platelet-MET and high plasma-MET levels, whereas migraine patients showed high platelet-MET and reduced plasma-MET levels. During migraine attacks both platelet and plasma-MET concentrations increased considerably. We suggest that determination of MET levels in platelets and plasma may be a useful marker to discriminate between TH and common migraine. The rise in MET during attacks may be directed against the ictal increase of serotonin.

Biomarkers↗
PubMed1990

Neuroexcitatory plasma amino acids are elevated in migraine.

To investigate the role of glutamic (Glu) and aspartic acid (Asp) in migraine, we measured the plasma amino acids in migraine patients with and without aura, between and during attacks, and compared the profiles with the plasma amino acid profiles of tension headache patients and healthy controls. Between attacks, migraineurs (notably with aura) had substantially higher plasma Glu and Asp levels than did controls and tension headache patients. In addition, patients with migraine without aura showed low plasma histidine levels. During migraine attacks, Glu (and to a lesser extent Asp) levels were even further increased. The results suggest a defective cellular reuptake mechanism for Glu and Asp in migraineurs, and we hypothesize a similar defect at the neuronal/glial cell level, predisposing the brain of migraineurs to develop spreading depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Characterization of virus infected cell cultures by pyrolysis/direct chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

The supernatants of Vero cell cultures after infection with a herpes simplex virus or a poliomyelitis virus as well as a blank were analysed by pyrolysis/direct chemical ionization mass spectrometry (Py/DCI MS). Informative pyrogrammes were obtained and used for characterization of viral proteins by applying pattern recognition methods. Differentiation of viral proteins was evaluated by analysing 'blind' samples. Herpes viruses could be classified correctly but the observed differences between the blank and the polio virus supernatants were too small for reliable classification of the polio viruses. Purification of the samples seems to be a prerequisite for further studies. The potential value of Py/DCI MS as a rapid non-invasive diagnostic method for viral meningoencephalitis is stressed.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Release of platelet Met-enkephalin, but not serotonin, in migraine. A platelet response unique to migraine patients?

Plasma-induced release of platelet-serotonin and Met-enkephalin was studied by incubating platelets from migraineurs, tension headache patients and healthy volunteers with water, plasma collected during migraine attacks and with plasma collected during attack-free periods. Migraine-attack plasma, but not migraine attack-free plasma, released Met-enkephalin from platelets of migraineurs. Platelets of healthy controls or tension headache sufferers did not release their Met-enkephalin in response to either incubation medium. In contrast to Met-enkephalin, serotonin was not released from platelets in relevant quantities by migraine-attack plasma.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

5-HT(1)-like receptor agonists and the pathophysiology of migraine.

Recently, AG-25086 and GR-43175 have been reported to be highly effective in aborting acute migraine attacks. These compounds seem selectively to stimulate a sub-population of 5-HT(1)-like receptors to inhibit noradrenaline release from certain sympathetic neurovascular terminals, to contract dog saphenous vein and dog, monkey and human basilar arteries, and to decrease the arteriovenous anastomotic component of carotid blood flow in the cat. GR-43175 neither has any antinociceptive effect nor crosses the blood-brain barrier. Pramod Saxena and Michel Ferrari review the clinical effectiveness of these 5-HT(1)-like receptor agonists and their selective pharmacology, both of which strongly suggest that excessive dilatation in the extracerebral cranial (scalp and/or dural) vasculature is an integral part of the pathophysiology of migraine.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Serotonin metabolism in migraine.

To investigate systemic serotonin (5-HT) metabolism in migraine, we determined platelet and platelet-free plasma concentrations of 5-HT, its precursors tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan, and its main metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), as well as the activities of the platelet enzymes monoamine oxidase and phenolsulfotransferase in classic and common migraineurs. Between attacks, migraineurs had lower plasma 5-HT and higher 5-HIAA levels than did healthy controls and patients with tension headache. During migraine attacks, plasma 5-HT levels were substantially higher than during attack-free periods, while 5-HIAA concentrations and platelet enzyme activities were lower. Platelet 5-HT was reduced only during common, but not classic, migraine attacks. We hypothesize that systemic 5-HT metabolism is enhanced in migraineurs during headache-free periods and transiently decreases during attacks, presumably due to a fall in enzymatic degradation. Furthermore, platelet behavior differs during migraine attacks with and without aura, and release of platelet 5-HT cannot (exclusively) be held accountable for the rise of plasma 5-HT during migraine attacks.

5-Hydroxytryptophan↗
PubMed1988

Acute confusional migraine. Case report and review of literature.

The history of a girl is described who experienced two separate episodes of acute confusion with agitation. The first occurred at the age of four after a mild head injury, the second recently at the age of thirteen after prolonged physical effort. EEG's performed during both episodes showed marked diffuse slowing. Both clinical picture and EEG normalized rapidly. Clinical features and prompt recovery made the diagnosis 'acute confusional migraine' most likely. The relevant literature and importance of recognizing the syndrome are discussed

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Inheritance of poor phenytoin parahydroxylation capacity in a Dutch family.

The mode of inheritance of insufficient phenytoin p-hydroxylation was studied in the family of a patient who had previously suffered from a phenytoin intoxication caused by insufficient metabolism of this drug. This family was compared with a control group. The rate of phenytoin metabolism was derived from the phenytoin/metabolite ratio in serum 6 hours after an oral test dose of 300 mg phenytoin. The propositus, a brother and a sister, were very slow metabolizers of phenytoin, with a metabolic ratio of approximately 20. In the other individuals, 22 family members of the second generation and 37 control subjects, a metabolic ratio of 4.7 +/- 2.2 (mean +/- SD; n = 59) was found. When comparing the members of the second generation (F2) with the control group, two statistically significantly different groups appear to exist: F2, with a metabolic ratio of 6.6 +/- 1.7 (mean +/- SD; n = 22), and the control group, with a metabolic ratio of 3.7 +/- 1.8 (mean +/- SD; n = 37) (p less than 0.001). Based on these results the mode of inheritance of this defect seems to be autosomal recessive.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Bromocriptine-induced trigeminal neuralgia attacks in a patient with a pituitary tumor.

We describe a patient who suffered from ophthalmic trigeminal neuralgia as an isolated symptom of a noninvasive pituitary tumor. Bromocriptine appeared to provoke the attacks within hours. This provocation could be prevented by domperidone. After adenomectomy, both spontaneous and induced attacks disappeared. Acute transient cell swelling may be the mechanism by which bromocriptine induced the neuralgic attacks.

Adenoma↗