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Biomedical subjects

Giovanni D'Andrea

Publications and source records attributed to Giovanni D'Andrea.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Platelet levels of dopamine are increased in migraine and cluster headache.

OBJECTIVE: To measure plasma and platelet levels of dopamine in patients with migraine with aura, migraine without aura, and cluster headache. BACKGROUND: Clinical, genetic, and pharmacological evidences suggest that an abnormality of dopaminergic system plays a role in migraine pathogenesis. Direct evidence of an abnormal metabolism of dopamine in migraine, however, is lacking. METHODS: Plasma and platelet levels of dopamine were measured in patients with migraine with aura or migraine without aura during headache-free periods and in patients with cluster headache during the remission and active periods, as compared with healthy control subjects, using a multichannel electrochemical high-performance liquid chromatography system. RESULTS: Plasma levels of dopamine were not detectable with our methodology. Platelet levels of dopamine were higher in both types of migraine (migraine without aura = .20 +/- .17 ng/10(8) platelets; migraine with aura = .16 +/- .19 ng/10(8) platelets) than in control subjects (.10 +/- .11 ng/10(8) platelets), although in migraine with aura patients the difference was not significant. Patients with cluster headache showed the highest levels of platelet dopamine (.34 +/- .36 ng/10(8) platelets). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the hypothesis that the dopaminergic system is impaired in migraine and cluster headache and suggest that high platelet levels of dopamine may represent an abnormal biochemical phenotypic trait of these primary headaches.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Deep brain stimulation to relieve drug-resistant SUNCT.

The rare primary headache short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) is characterized by 3 to 200 attacks per day of severe unilateral orbital pain. Functional magnetic resonance imaging shows increased blood flow in the ipsilateral posterior inferior hypothalamus during attacks, indicating activation. We report the first patient with SUNCT in whom severe intractable pain (70 per day) was well controlled by electrode implant to and continuous stimulation of the posterior inferior hypothalamus. Ann Neurol 2005;57:925-927.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

HPLC electrochemical detection of trace amines in human plasma and platelets and expression of mRNA transcripts of trace amine receptors in circulating leukocytes.

We evaluated, using a multi-channel electrochemical HPLC system, whether trace amines are detectable in plasma and platelets of healthy control subjects. To this end, levels of tyramine, octopamine and synephrine were assessed in samples obtained from eight males and eight females, age matched and free from drugs. In plasma, octopamine was detectable in all subjects, synephrine in 15 and tyramine in six out of 16 subjects. Likewise, detectable levels of octopamine together with synephrine were, in contrast to tyramine, found within platelets of most individuals. Intracellular levels of the amines significantly diminished following platelet activation (ADP or collagen). In addition, circulating leukocytes from these same subjects are herein shown to express mRNA transcripts for the recently discovered 'trace amine receptors' (TAR-1, -3, -4 and -5). Thus, although baseline plasma levels of octopamine tyramine or synephrine may vary among healthy individuals, the observation that platelets store and actively release these trace amines suggests that they may be effectors involved in platelet-mediated signaling events in the bloodstream.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Platelet aggregation profiles in cluster headache.

BACKGROUND: Platelets are activated in patients with cluster headache, during both the remission period and the active cycles. OBJECTIVE: To delineate more clearly the origin of platelet activation in cluster headache. Methods.-Platelet aggregation induced by collagen (0.5 micro g/mL and 2 micro g/mL), adenosine diphosphate (10-5 M and 10-6 M), and platelet-activating factor (10-6 M and 10-7 M) was determined by the Born's method in 26 patients with cluster headache and 24 sex- and age-matched controls. RESULTS: The platelets of patients with cluster headache aggregated significantly less to collagen at a concentration of 0.5 micro g/mL compared to those of controls (P =.04). The extent of platelet aggregation obtained with a higher dose of collagen (2 micro g/mL) was in the same range in both groups. Platelet aggregation obtained via adenosine diphosphate at a concentration of 10-6 M was significantly reduced in patients with cluster headache in comparison to controls (P =.002), but no differences were found at a concentration of 10-5 M. In contrast, the platelets of patients with cluster headache aggregated significantly more to platelet-activating factor at both the concentrations of 10-6 M (P =.001) and 10-7 M (P =.00001) compared to those of controls. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that platelet aggregation is impaired in patients with cluster headache during the active phase of the disease. We found hypoaggregation in response to low doses of collagen and adenosine diphosphate, and hyperaggregation when platelets were stimulated with platelet-activating factor. Any interpretation of these results can only be speculative. It may be that impairment of platelet aggregation with collagen and adenosine diphosphate may indicate a derangement of nitric oxide function, while the hypersensitivity to platelet-activating factor may be due to fluctuations in its plasma levels.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasma cytokine levels in migraineurs and controls.

BACKGROUND: The vasoactive peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), is released from primary afferent neurons in the trigemino-vascular circulation during migraine headache. CGRP at physiological concentrations and possibly via stimulation of its selective receptors on T-cells, triggers the secretion of cytokines. Cytokines play an important role in several physiological and pathological settings such as immunology, inflammation, and pain. OBJECTIVE: To investigate plasma levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in migraineurs and healthy controls. METHODS: We studied 25 migraine patients, during and outside attacks, and 18 healthy control subjects measuring plasma levels of IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), IL-4, IL-1 beta, and IL-2 using ELISA. RESULTS: Circulating levels of IL-10, TNFalpha, and IL-1 beta during attacks were significantly higher in comparison to their levels outside attacks (P=.0003, P=.03, and P=.05, respectively). IL-10 and TNF serum levels were higher in patients studied soon after headache onset and lower over time (P=.004 and P=.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that TNFalpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-10 may be involved in the pathogenesis of migraine attacks.

Adult↗