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Biomedical subjects

R Formisano

Publications and source records attributed to R Formisano.

49 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
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↗
PubMed1987

Stimulation of motor tracts in motor neuron disease.

The muscle responses evoked by cortical and cervical stimulation in 11 patients with motor neuron disease were studied. The muscle potential in the abductor pollicis brevis, evoked by median nerve stimulation and the somatosensory potential evoked by wrist stimulation were also studied. In eight of 11 patients there was absence or increased central delay of the responses evoked by cortical stimulation. In four patients muscle responses on cervical stimulation and muscle action potentials on median nerve stimulation were also altered, indicating peripheral abnormalities. Somatosensory responses evoked by wrist stimulation were normal. Electrophysiological techniques are helpful in estimating the site of motor involvement in motor neuron disease.

Action Potentials↗
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↗
PubMed1983

Post-traumatic headache: neuropsychological and clinical aspects.

Seventy patients suffering from post-traumatic headache were studied. Pain characteristics, personality and intellectual functions were assessed to be related to cranial trauma. No evident signs of brain damage were present, but an impairment related to pain in personal adjustment and well-being reducing work and study capabilities was identified. A psychopathological condition described as anxiety with somatizations and conversion mechanisms was found and when compared with the psychopathological characteristics from a group of common headache patients no differences were obtained between the two groups. DSM III diagnostic possibilities for post-traumatic headache patients were discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Turbo-Proton Echo Planar Spectroscopic Imaging (t-PEPSI) MR technique in the detection of diffuse axonal damage in brain injury. Comparison with Gradient-Recalled Echo (GRE) sequence.

PURPOSE: Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a common type of primary neuronal injury in patients with severe traumatic brain injury, and is frequently accompanied by tissue tear haemorrhage. The T2*-weighted gradient-recalled echo (GRE) sequences are more sensitive than T2-weighted spin-echo images for detection of haemorrhage. This study was undertaken to determine whether turbo-PEPSI, an extremely fast multi-echo-planar-imaging sequence, can be used as an alternative to the GRE sequence for detection of DAI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients (mean age 24,5 year) with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), occurred at least 3 months earlier, underwent a brain MRI study on a 1.5-Tesla scanner. A qualitative evaluation of the turbo-PEPSI sequences was performed by identifying the optimal echo time and in-plane resolution. The number and size of DAI lesions, as well as the signal intensity contrast ratio (SI CR), were computed for each set of GRE and turbo-PEPSI images, and divided according to their anatomic location into lobar and/or deep brain. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between GRE and turbo-PEPSI sequences in the total number of DAI lesions detected (283 vs 225 lesions, respectively). The GRE sequence identified a greater number of hypointense lesions in the temporal lobe compared to the t-PEPSI sequence (72 vs 35, p<0.003), while no significant differences were found for the other brain regions. The SI CR was significantly better (i.e. lower) for the turbo-PEPSI than for the GRE sequence (p<0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: Owing to its very short scan time and high sensitivity to the haemorrhage foci, the turbo-PEPSI sequence can be used as an alternative to the GRE to assess brain DAI in severe TBI patients, especially if uncooperative and medically unstable.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Paroxysmal appearing palsy of epileptic origin.

Higier first reported on "Paroxysmal appearing palsy of epileptic origin". This syndrome has only rarely been described under a variety of names such as: "focal inhibitory seizures, unilateral atonic seizures, hemiparetic seizures, ictal hemiparesis". The case report we present regards a 34-year-old woman who complained of sudden loss of tone accompanied by a left-sided hemiplegia lasting for several minutes. Treatment with carbamazepine was successful in reducing the attacks as might be expected in partial seizures. An inhibitory discharge may be causative of this syndrome in agreement with Higier's original theory.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Double-blind clinical study: flunarizine versus pizotifen in a single nightly dose in hemicrania patients].

In this double-blind clinical trial we compared the prophylactic efficacy of the calcium-entry blocker flunarizine (15 mg nocte) with that of pizotifen (1,5 mg nocte). In 30 patients affected by classical and common migraine. During a two months treatment both drugs showed a good efficacy. Flunarizine tended to more markedly suppress severity of pain and duration of attacks than pizotifen. Daytime drowsiness and weight gain occurred with both drugs; the first side effect was more evident in the group treated with flunarizine, the second one in the group treated with pizotifen.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CCNU, vinblastine, procarbazine and prednisone (CVPP) with extended-field radiotherapy in the treatment of early unfavorable Hodgkin's disease. A prospective study on behalf of the Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio dei Linfomi (GISL).

PURPOSE: To test the adequacy of the CVPP four-drug regimen as ancillary chemotherapy associated with extended-field radiotherapy in the treatment of early, unfavorable, clinically staged Hodgkin's disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The population of this prospective, multicenter study consisted of 49 patients with stage I-II disease, associated with bulky involvement or unfavorable histology (lymphocyte-depleted nodular sclerosis or lymphocyte depletion), systemic symptoms or extranodal involvement, or presenting with stage III A favorable-histology disease, with or without extranodal involvement. RESULTS: Complete remission was achieved in 39 patients, partial remission in 2, while 8 patients did not respond. Four patients have relapsed so far (median follow-up: 43 months), all of whom were subsequently rescued with different salvage treatments. Dose intensity (mean +/- SD: 0.83 +/- 0.12) and hematological toxicity (including 2 deaths from infection) were higher when RT followed CT than when it was interposed in the middle of the 6 cycles. No growth factors were used. Nonhematological toxicity was very low and fully tolerable. CONCLUSIONS: Results confirmed the mild neurological and gastroenteric side effects of CVPP that make it an interesting MOPP-variant regimen. This combination seems most indicated when a regimen devoid of cardiac and pulmonary toxicity is required for association with full-dosage mediastinal radiotherapy, as is often the case in early, unfavorable Hodgkin's disease. The optimal sequence consists of radiotherapy administered after completion of the chemotherapy program. The use of growth factors for correction (or prevention) of marked leukopenia seems appropriate.

Adult↗