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Biomedical subjects

R Cerbo

Publications and source records attributed to R Cerbo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Basilar migraine with electroencephalographic findings of occipital spike-wave complexes: a long-term study in seven children.

Basilar migraine is characterized by headache preceded by prodromal symptoms and signs of posterior cerebral circulation dysfunction. Few studies have focused on EEG findings in this condition or on the prognosis of occipital spike-wave complexes observed in either migraine or epilepsy. We now report a long-term follow-up (8-16 years) in seven children affected by basilar migraine who had EEG findings of occipital spike-wave complexes. Basilar migraine resolved and the EEG became normal in all subjects during the observation period, as did migraine with aura and seizures which developed in some of the patients after basilar migraine attacks ceased.

Basilar Artery↗
PubMed1992

Transcranial Doppler in spontaneous attacks of migraine.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our aim in this study was to compare headache-free and spontaneous migraine measurements of blood flow velocity and the pulsatility index in the anterior cerebral artery, middle cerebral artery, and posterior cerebral artery. METHODS: Thirty-one patients (nine having experienced migraine with aura and 22 migraine without aura) were studied in headache-free periods and during spontaneous migraine attacks with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. RESULTS: During attacks of migraine with aura, blood flow velocities (particularly the diastolic velocity [p = 0.05]) were reduced while the pulsatility index increased (p = 0.05), whereas a generalized increase in diastolic velocity (p less than 0.02) and a decrease in the pulsatility index (p = 0.05) were observed during attacks of migraine without aura. Significant variations of blood pressure and heart rate were never found. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with constriction of resistance vessels in migraine with aura and dilatation of the vessels in migraine without aura. This disparity could be due to a difference between the two migraine types or could be related to the fact that in this study the time interval between headache onset and transcranial Doppler was shorter in the migraine-with-aura group. The latter explanation would apply if, in fact, both types of migraine evolve from hypoperfusion to hyperperfusion during their time course, although perhaps with a difference in intensity.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Nimodipine in migraine: clinical efficacy and endocrinological effects.

Serum prolactin is increased during chronic flunarizine treatment of patients suffering from migraine. In order to clarify the role of calcium in control of the secretion of anterior pituitary hormones, a study has now been made of the effects of chronic nimodipine and propranolol treatment of migraine patients on prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH) and growth hormone (GH) levels. 11 patients were treated with nimodipine and 8 with propranolol for four months. A statistically significant reduction in the frequency of the attacks was demonstrated in both groups. No significant change was found in the hormones levels during nimodipine treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) after nitroglycerin in migraine without aura.

Nitroglycerin, a vasodilating agent, was administered sublingually in migraine without aura patients and in healthy volunteers. Systolic, diastolic and time-mean flow velocity and pulsatility index, were measured by transcranial Doppler sonography in the major intracranial arteries before and after nitroglycerin administration. Following nitroglycerin administration, a significant decrease in systolic and time-mean velocity and pulsatility index was observed in migraine patients, whereas in control subjects only time-mean velocity decreased significantly. Based on those findings we hypothesize a more marked responsiveness to nitroglycerin in migraine patients as compared to healthy subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Continuous intravenous infusion of TRH-T: clinical, cardiovascular and endocrinological effects.

Seven patients, six suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and one from Friedreich ataxia, were treated with a placebo i.v. infusion during the first day and with TRH-T i.v. infusion at a rate of 2 mg/h for 8 h daily (total daily dosage 16 mg) on the 2 consecutive days. Continuous blood pressure (BP) and EKG monitorings were performed during 3 days infusion. Blood samples were collected for endocrinological evaluations. The neurological evaluation after acute TRH-T treatment showed an objective improvement in 3 of the 8. We found significantly higher values of systolic (max. difference of 10.1 mm Hg) and diastolic (max. difference of 8.8 mm Hg) BP than during placebo, beginning from the 5th h of the infusion (p less than 0.05). A trend in progressive increase of the heart rate (HR) reached statistical significance (p less than 0.01) at the 8th h of the second TRH-T infusion. The cardiovascular changes during the i.v. continuous TRH-T infusions were clinically irrelevant and never required the interruption of the treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Cluster-like headache and head injury: case report.

This appears to be the first report of cluster-like headache secondary to post-traumatic subdural hematoma. A 39 year old man consulted us for cluster-like headáche on the right side following an injury to the right frontotemporal region some 45 days before. A CT scan revealed a chronic subdural hematoma in the right frontotemporal region. We discuss the possible relationship between the head injury and the headache and suggest the value of CT scanning in patients with cluster headache.

Administration, Rectal↗
PubMed1990

Increased reactivity to a met-enkephalin analogue in the control of autonomic responses in migraine patients.

The effects of naloxone and a met-enkephalin analogue on head pain, vascular responses, and autonomic-associated symptoms were studied in 24 migraine patients, 12 patients suffering from tension-type headache, and 24 normal subjects in whom headache was induced by intravenous injections of increasing doses of histamine (histamine test). A hypersensitivity to histamine was found in migraine patients. Naloxone slightly increased the intensity of pain in migraine and tension-type headache sufferers. The met-enkephalin analogue did not affect the intensity of pain in migraine patients, tension-type headache patients, and normal subjects, but it reduced the intensity and duration of facial flushing (p less than 0.001) and the autonomic symptoms (p less than 0.001) in migraine patients when the pretreatment was not given shortly before histamine. In migraine patients, there seems to be an increased reactivity (receptor supersensitivity?) to the met-enkephalin analogue at the level of systems that inhibit facial vasodilatation and autonomic symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Spectral EEG analysis and flunarizine treatment in migraine patients.

Spectral EEG analysis has been successfully utilized in previous studies on migraine patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate, by means of EEG mapping, potential correlations between the efficacy of flunarizine treatment in migraine patients and the EEG pattern recorded after chronic flunarizine therapy. Flunarizine was found to modify the non-specific EEG abnormalities of our migraine patients as well as evoke a positive clinical response.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Flunarizine-pizotifen single-dose double-blind cross-over trial in migraine prophylaxis.

The results of a double-blind cross-over clinical trial involving 27 patients with classical or common migraine are described to compare the prophylactic effect of the calcium entry blocker flunarizine with that of pizotifen. Duration of the treatment was two months, with an evening single-dose administration of both drugs. For most parameters, there was no definite difference between flunarizine and pizotifen in migraine prophylaxis. It has been demonstrated previously that pizotifen is an effective drug in migraine prophylaxis, and these results suggest that flunarizine is effective, too. Weight gain as a side effect was less frequent and less severe with flunarizine than with pizotifen; other side effects showed the same incidence with both drugs.

Calcium Channel Blockers↗
PubMed1985

Common migraine versus daily chronic headache: a study of the relationship between depression and anxiety scores, and dexamethasone suppression test.

To achieve a better understanding of CH and DCH, we used a multidisciplinary approach evaluating both the depression and anxiety scores and the ability of DEX to decrease plasma cortisol levels in patients with these two forms of headache. The Hamilton rating scale for depression, the Zung test for depression and Stai X2 for anxiety showed scores within the control range in both groups of patients without any statistically significant difference between the groups. The DEX test showed significant cortisol suppression in both groups of patients either at 8 a.m. or at 4 p.m. (after DEX administration, 1 mg orally at 11 p.m. the night before). The results obtained indicate that in CM and in DCH, normal depression and anxiety scores exist in the present of the apparent integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Naloxone-induced jumping activity in morphine-dependent mice: a pharmacological study on the role of DA2 receptors.

The morphine withdrawal syndrome is strictly related to modifications on neurotransmittorial systems at central and peripheral levels. Dopamine seems to play an important role. Particularly in the experimental withdrawal syndrome the jumping activity seems to be related to a hypersensitivity of DA receptors. While the role of DA1 receptors has been extensively studied, using agonist and antagonist drugs, the role of DA2 receptors is still little known. In our study we evaluated the changes of the jumping response that was induced by substances active on DA2 receptors (lisuride, tiapride) in mice made acutely dependent on morphine, in which we induced a withdrawal syndrome with naloxone. Haloperidol (DA1-DA2 blocker) did not provoke significant changes. Either tiapride or lisuride determined a sharp increase of jumping.

Animals↗