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Biomedical subjects

G Nattero

Publications and source records attributed to G Nattero.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Relevance of prostaglandins in true menstrual migraine.

Eighteen patients suffering from true menstrual migraine and 12 control subjects were studied. We evaluated in different phases of the menstrual cycle and during the migraine crisis the peripheral plasma concentrations of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (the stable metabolite of PGI2), thromboxane B2 (the stable metabolite of thromboxane A2), PGF2 alpha and PGE2. The mean values of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in menstrual migraine sufferers are lower than in normal women throughout the whole cycle. The difference between the trends observed in the two groups is statistically significant (p less than 0.05). The plasma levels of TXB2 and of PGF2 alpha are similar in the two groups investigated, both in basal conditions and during the attack. The plasma concentrations of PGE2 are slightly lower in migraineurs in basal conditions than in normals. However, during the crisis they increase significantly (p less than 0.05). In conclusion, among all the parameters considered, PGE2 seems to play the most important role during the pain phase of the attack. The results of the present study suggest that a deficit of PGI2, one of the most important protecting agents against ischemia, might be a typical feature of menstrual migraine and might cause in these patients a vascular hypersensitivity to different ischemic stimuli.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1989

Psychological aspects of weekend headache sufferers in comparison with migraine patients.

Sometimes the relaxation after stress may trigger a migraine attack. This is the principle that underlies that particular variant of migraine called "weekend headache". We hypothesize the presence in weekend headache prone subjects of a particular psychological background, different from that of common migraine sufferers. In order to detect possible differences supporting our hypothesis, we studied 104 new outpatients: 46 patients suffering from headache only on weekends (23 males and 23 females) and 58 matched common migraineurs (26 males and 32 females) with no weekend predilection. The psychological assessment was performed using the following psychometric tools: MMPI, BDI, STAIX1-X2. A clinical assessment of each patient was also carried out. Significant differences were found after statistically analyzing the test results. Most of the MMPI scales were found to be more elevated in both male and female weekend headache sufferers. From a clinical point of view, the weekend headache attacks proved to be similar to those of common migraine, but with a significantly higher incidence of concomitant symptoms. Our study confirms the important role that psychological factors play in the pathogenesis and clinical development of migraine and leads us to conclude that a psychic tension component is associated with the vascular one in weekend headache.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[A critical review of the methods used in evaluating the antistreptolysin titre as a diagnostic index].

Authors review the most common laboratory tests showing an immunologic response caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus infections. After a preliminary evaluation on characteristics and peculiarities of different methods the results obtained are compared with the usually employed systems. The survey of most common analytical methods and personal experience lead to confirm and emphasize the laboratory results supporting and confirming, without substituting, the clinical data.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Menstrual migraine: a possible pathogenic implication of platelet function.

It has been suggested that migraine is a blood disorder caused by a primary abnormality of platelet behaviour. We have studied in different phases of the cycle of 11 healthy normal women and 13 patients suffering from menstrual migraine: 1. The platelet aggregation induced in vitro by ADP, collagen and ristocetin; 2. The platelet sensitivity to prostacyclin (PSP); 3. The platelet content of 5-hydroxytryptimine (5-HT); 4. The possible correlation between these parameters and the plasma concentration of progesterone. The results demonstrate that in patients with menstrual migraine the platelet response to various aggregating agents is not modified compared to the controls, whereas there is a different response of the PSP to the modulating effect of plasma progesterone. Moreover, in the same patients the platelets have an increased capability of accumulating 5-HT during the perimenstrual phase of the cycle. This suggests that platelet dysfunction may play a role in the pathogenesis of menstrual migraine.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1985

Flunarizine in the treatment of headache with or without neurological symptoms.

Flunarizine was given in daily doses of 10 mg for periods of two to four months to 176 patients suffering from various types of headache. The symptoms were improved in 82% of the cases treated. No differences emerged among the various types of headache reported by the patients or in relation to the presence or absence of neurological involvement or its type.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Lateralization phenomena and headache].

Ipsilateral carotid and vertebral vasomotor phenomena are marked components of a unilateral cluster headache crisis. Investigation of lateralisation at the height of a crisis has shown that Doppler findings supplement Heick's observation of the reversible opening of both intra and extracranial arteriovenous shunts. This observation is in line with personal thermographic evidence and that of Lance indicating local hypothermia, and with Wolff's demonstration of dilatation and congestion associated with the superficial temporal artery. Personal dynamographic findings now point to a local extra-intracranial artery pressure gradient as the cause of the peripheral component of lateralisation in cluster headache.

Arteriovenous Anastomosis↗