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Biomedical subjects

M G Buzzi

Publications and source records attributed to M G Buzzi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Adult abdominal migraine: a new syndrome or sporadic feature of migraine headache? A case report.

Abdominal migraine is one of the variants of migraine headache typically occurring in children and coded as 1.3.2 in the revised edition of IHS classification within the group 'Childhood periodic syndromes that are commonly precursors of migraine'. The affected children frequently develop typical migraine later in their life. We report a case of a 23 years old woman affected by attacks of recurrent abdominal pain accompanied by migraine. Abdominal pain attacks started in the adolescence and persisted without headache until the patient was 21. At this time, she experienced migraine pain accompanied by nausea, photophobia and phonophobia and associated to acute abdominal pain. Neuroimaging investigations and laboratory testing excluded any underlying organic disease. Complete remission of abdominal attacks was obtained during 4-month treatment period with pizotifen. Attacks fulfil IHS diagnostic criteria for 'abdominal migraine', although of late onset. This case report suggests that 'abdominal migraine' is a migraineous disorder to be hypothesized in adult patients after having disclosed any organic disease. As reported in the literature, 'adult abdominal migraine' is a sporadic migraine subtype in adult patients and it is not to be considered as a new migraineous syndrome.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed2006

A novel ATP1A2 mutation in a family with FHM type II.

Familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) is a rare subtype of migraine with aura with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Six FHM families underwent extensive clinical and genetic investigation. The authors identified a novel ATP1A2 mutation (E700K) in three patients from one family. In the patients, attacks were triggered by several factors including minor head trauma. In one subject a 3-day coma developed after a cerebral angiography. Overall, the phenotype of the patients closely resembles that of previously reported cases of FHM type II. The E700K variant might be regarded as the cause of the disease in this family, but this was not tested functionally.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Familial basilar migraine associated with a new mutation in the ATP1A2 gene.

Basilar migraine (BM), familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM), and sporadic hemiplegic migraine (SHM) are phenotypically similar subtypes of migraine with aura, differentiated only by motor symptoms, which are absent in BM. Mutations in CACNA1A and ATP1A2 have been found in FHM. The authors detected a novel mutation in the ATP1A2 gene (R548H) in members of a family with BM, suggesting that BM and FHM may be allelic disorders.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Early clinical predictive factors during coma recovery.

In severe brain injury patients few studies have examined the role of early clinical factors emerging before recovery of consciousness. Patients suffering from vegetative state and minimally conscious state in fact may need variable periods of time for recovery of the ability to follow commands. In a previous study we retrospectively examined a population of very severe traumatic brain injury patients with coma duration of at least 15 days (prolonged coma), and we found, as significant predictive factors for the final outcome, the time interval from brain injury to the recovery of the following clinical variables: optical fixation, spontaneous motor activity and first safe oral feeding. Psychomotor agitation and bulimia during coma recovery were also favourable prognostic factors for the final outcome. In a further study, also as for the neuropsychological recovery, the clinical variable with the best significant predictive value was the interval from head trauma to the recovery of safe oral feeding. In the present study the presence of psychomotor agitation diagnosed by means of LCF (score 4 = confused-agitated) at the admission time in rehabilitation predicted a statistically significant better outcome at the discharge time in comparison with patients without agitation.

Coma, Post-Head Injury↗
PubMed2004

Time interval of oral feeding recovery as a prognostic factor in severe traumatic brain injury.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: To assess the outcome of severe traumatic brain injury at least 1 year after trauma, in relation to some early clinical prognostic factors occurring during coma recovery. RESEARCH DESIGN: Retrospective study conducted at the post-coma unit of a rehabilitation hospital. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A total of 43 patients were included. All of the patients sustained severe traumatic brain injury and prolonged coma, i.e. coma lasting at least 15 days. Outcome was assessed by means of Glasgow Coma Scale, Barthel Index and Mini Mental State 1 year after trauma, in relation to some early clinical prognostic factors occurring during coma recovery. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: At the 1 year follow-up, a statistically significant correlation was found with both the Glasgow Outcome Scale and the Barthel Index for the time interval from brain injury to recovery of the following clinical variables: optical fixation, ability to obey commands, spontaneous motor activity and first safe oral feeding. Psychomotor agitation and bulimia were also favourable prognostic factors for the final outcome. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, first safe oral feeding during coma recovery represents the clinical feature that better predicts the final outcome of patients with severe traumatic brain injury and prolonged coma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Peripheral and central activation of trigeminal pain pathways in migraine: data from experimental animal models.

Animal models for migraine have provided substantial advances on the mechanisms and mediators underlying migraine attacks. The neurogenic inflammation model has helped understanding the perivascular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of migraine attacks, the receptors involved and the effect of specific antimigraine drugs. The model based on probing the neuronal effects of nitroglycerin--an organic nitrate known to induce spontaneous-like migraine attacks in predisposed subjects--in the rat has provided interesting insights into the neuroanatomic circuits and neuropharmacological mechanisms involved in the initiation and repetition of migraine attacks [corrected].

Animals↗
PubMed2000

mtDNA A3243G MELAS mutation is not associated with multigenerational female migraine.

The authors searched for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) A3243G mutation in peripheral blood leukocytes from female migraine patients with pure matrilinear history of migraine along two or three generations. The current study was designed to exclude any male transmission of the disease. The mutation was absent in all patients. We conclude that mtDNA A3243G mutation does not contribute to the pathogenesis of pure matrilinear multigenerational migraine with or without aura.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Cavernous angiomas of the nervous system in Italy: clinical and genetic study.

We performed a clinical and genetic study of patients affected by cavernous angiomas (CA) of the nervous system. We examined initial signs and symptoms in sporadic and familial cases. We obtained clinical, neuroimaging and genetic data on 15 Italian patients with CA of the nervous system with positive, doubtful or apparently negative family history. Genetic markers surrounding three different gene regions (7q, 3q and 7p) were analysed. In one small family, genetic linkage was consistent with all chromosome loci. In another family with the unusual association of cerebral and spinal CA, linkage with chromosome 7q and, likely, 7p was excluded, while linkage with locus 3q was possible. Our results indicate that Italian families with CA may show genetic heterogeneity. Non-specific and subtle onset symptoms hide the presence of CA within families. Patients with multiple CA may have silent cerebral lesions confirming the low penetrance of clinical signs in spite of radiological ones.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

New methods for evaluating acute treatments in migraine.

The crescendo of activities in the field of migraine therapy, has led to the emergence of a class of molecules, the triptans, that are similar in terms of their activity on serotonin receptors, but which actually differ from one another, as each one has its own peculiar clinical profile. A careful examination of their clinical activity and their validation with objective methods may promote the wise use of each drug, make room for new products, and allow patients to make their own choices.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Use of Bacille Calmette-Guèrin (BCG) in multiple sclerosis.

We studied the effect of Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine as an immunomodulator in MS. According to the guidelines for clinical trials in MS, a single crossover, MRI-monitored trial was performed in 14 patients with relapsing-remitting MS. After treatment, MRI activity was significantly reduced. No major adverse effects were reported. Adjuvant therapy with BCG vaccine was safe and merits study in MS.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1999

The effects on the central nervous system of nitroglycerin--putative mechanisms and mediators.

Nitroglycerin is an organic nitrate that has been used as a vasodilator in the treatment of cardiac diseases for over a century. Only recently it has been demonstrated that the vasodilator effect of this drug depends upon the formation of nitric oxide in the blood vessel wall. However, clinical and research data gathered during the last decades have suggested that nitroglycerin possesses, besides its peripheral vasodilator effect, additional, puzzling biological activities. This organic nitrate compound provokes reflex cardiovascular activities via its interaction with the central sympathetic system. Its cerebrovascular effect, on the other hand, is probably mediated by the local release of neuropeptides. The direct application of nitroglycerin onto brain nuclei causes a prompt increase in the neuronal discharge rate. From a neurological point of view, nitroglycerin consistently induces a specific headache attack in patients suffering from migraine. Because of its temporal pattern and clinical characteristics, nitroglycerin-induced headache cannot be solely ascribed to the a drug-induced vasorelaxation. The demonstration that systemic nitroglycerin administration activates a widespread set of vegetative, nociceptive and neuroendocrine structures in the central nervous system seems to further support the occurrence of central mechanisms in the biological activity of nitroglycerin. Double labeling immunocytochemical and neuropharmacological studies have provided information on the putative neurotransmitters and neurochemical mechanisms involved in nitroglycerin-induced neuronal activation.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Indomethacin increases the effect of isosorbide dinitrate on cerebral hemodynamic in migraine patients: pathogenetic and therapeutic implications.

Intracerebral vascular reactivity induced by the nitric oxide (NO) donor isosorbide dinitrate (IDN, 5 mg sublingually) is more major and longer-lasting in migraine patients who develop delayed headache in response to the drug. The headache is purportedly due to neuronally-mediated vascular mechanisms. Indomethacin inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, which is involved in NO generation. Indomethacin also decreases cerebral blood flow by constricting precapillary resistance vessels. In the present study, the hemodynamic effects of indomethacin were evaluated in migraine patients and healthy controls by means of transcranial Doppler monitoring. Indomethacin caused a significant decrease in mean flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery. This was an additional effect to the mean velocity decrease induced by IDN. The interactions between the two drugs suggest that their effects on cerebral hemodynamics (and pain) may be of relevance both in understanding the role of NO in migraine pathogenesis and in evaluating symptomatic treatments for migraine attacks.

Adult↗