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Since the early 1990s, when Robert's and Szabo's cytoprotection concept had already been more than one decade old, but still not implemented in therapy, we suggest the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 as the most relevant mediator of the cytoprotection concept. Consequently, it can translate stomach and gastrointestinal mucosal maintenance, epithelium, and endothelium cell protection to the therapy of other tissue healing (organoprotection), easily applicable, as native and stable in human gastric juice for more than 24 h. These overwhelm current clinical evidence (i.e., ulcerative colitis, phase II, no side effects, and no lethal dose (LD1) in toxicology studies), as BPC 157 therapy effectively combined various tissue healing and lesions counteraction. BPC 157 cytoprotection relevance and vascular recovery, activation of collateral pathways, membrane stabilizer, eye therapy, wound healing capability, brain-gut and gut-brain functioning, tumor cachexia counteraction, muscle, tendon, ligament, and bone disturbances counteraction, and the heart disturbances, myocardial infarction, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, arrhythmias, and thrombosis counteraction appeared in the recent reviews. Here, as concept resolution, we review the counteraction of advanced Virchow triad circumstances by activation of the collateral rescuing pathways, depending on injury, activated azygos vein direct blood flow delivery, to counteract occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes starting with the context of alcohol-stomach lesions. Counteraction of major vessel failure (congested inferior caval vein and superior mesenteric vein, collapsed azygos vein, collapsed abdominal aorta) includes counteraction of the brain (intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage), heart (congestion, severe arrhythmias), lung (hemorrhage), and congestion and lesions in the liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract, intracranial (superior sagittal sinus), portal and caval hypertension, aortal hypotension, and thrombosis, peripherally and centrally.
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We reviewed gastric ulcer healing by dopamine considering several distinctive duodenal key points. Selye and Szabo describe the cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcer in rats as a duodenal stress ulcer in patients. Szabo's cysteamine duodenal ulcer as the dopamine duodenal healing and cysteamine as a dopamine antagonist signifies the dopamine agonists anti-ulcer effect and dopamine antagonists ulcerogenic effect. From these viewpoints, we focused on dopamine and gastric ulcer healing. We mentioned antecedent studies on the dopamine presence in the stomach and gastric juice. Then we reviewed, in the timeline, therapy significance arising from the anti-ulcer potency of the various dopamine agonists, which is highly prevailing over the quite persistent beneficial evidence arising from the various dopamine antagonists. Meanwhile, the beneficial effects of several peptides (i.e., amylin, cholecystokinin, leptin, and stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157, suggested as an acting mediator of the dopamine brain-gut axis) were included in the dopamine gastric ulcer story. We attempt to resolve dopamine agonists/antagonists issue with the dopamine significance in the stress (cysteamine as a prototype of the duodenal stress ulcer), and cytoprotection (cysteamine in small dose as a prototype of the cytoprotective agents; cysteamine duodenal ulcer in gastrectomized rats). Thereby, along with dopamine agonists' beneficial effects, in special circumstances, dopamine antagonists having their own ulcerogenic effect may act as "mild stress (or)" or "small irritant" counteracting subsequent strong alcohol or stress procedure-induced severe lesions in this particular tissue. Finally, in the conclusion, as a new improvement in further therapy, we emphasized the advantages of the dopamine agents' application in lower gastrointestinal tract therapy.
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Given in reperfusion, the use of stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 is an effective therapy in rats. It strongly counteracted, as a whole, decompression/reperfusion-induced occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome following the worst circumstances of acute abdominal compartment and intra-abdominal hypertension, grade III and grade IV, as well as compression/ischemia-occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome. Before decompression (calvariectomy, laparotomy), rats had long-lasting severe intra-abdominal hypertension, grade III (25 mmHg/60 min) (i) and grade IV (30 mmHg/30 min; 40 mmHg/30 min) (ii/iii), and severe occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome. Further worsening was caused by reperfusion for 60 min (i) or 30 min (ii/iii). Severe vascular and multiorgan failure (brain, heart, liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal lesions), widespread thrombosis (peripherally and centrally) severe arrhythmias, intracranial (superior sagittal sinus) hypertension, portal and caval hypertension, and aortal hypotension were aggravated. Contrarily, BPC 157 therapy (10 µg/kg, 10 ng/kg sc) given at 3 min reperfusion times eliminated/attenuated venous hypertension (intracranial (superior sagittal sinus), portal, and caval) and aortal hypotension and counteracted the increases in organ lesions and malondialdehyde values (blood Ë heart, lungs, liver, kidney Ë brain, gastrointestinal tract). Vascular recovery promptly occurred (i.e., congested inferior caval and superior mesenteric veins reversed to the normal vessel presentation, the collapsed azygos vein reversed to a fully functioning state, the inferior caval vein-superior caval vein shunt was recovered, and direct blood delivery returned). BPC 157 therapy almost annihilated thrombosis and hemorrhage (i.e., intracerebral hemorrhage) as proof of the counteracted general stasis and Virchow triad circumstances and reorganized blood flow. In conclusion, decompression/reperfusion-induced occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome counteracted by BPC 157 therapy in rats is likely for translation in patients. It is noteworthy that by rapidly counteracting the reperfusion course, it also reverses previous ischemia-course lesions, thus inducing complete recovery.
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After inferior caval vein embolization therapy, post-embolization syndrome (sodium laurate 10 mg/kg, 0.1 mL into rat inferior caval vein, assessment at 15, 30, 60 min, prime lung lesions, thromboemboli occluding lung vessels), as a severe occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome, might be resolved as a whole by stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy. At 5 min after laurate injection, stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 was implemented as therapy (10 µg/kg, 10 ng/kg intraperitoneally or intragastrically). As before, confronted with the occlusion of major vessel(s) or similar noxious procedures, such as rapidly acting Virchow triad circumstances, the particular effect of the therapy (i.e., collateral pathways activation, "bypassing vascular key", i.e., direct blood flow delivery via activation of azygos vein) assisted in the recovery of the vessel/s and counteracted multiorgan failure due to occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome as a whole in the laurate-injected rats. Along with prime lung lesions and thromboemboli occluding lung vessels, post-embolization syndrome rapidly occurred peripherally and centrally as a shared multiorgan and vessel failure, brain, heart, lung, liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract lesions, venous hypertension (intracranial (superior sagittal sinus), portal, and caval), aortal hypotension, progressing thrombosis in veins and arteries and stasis, congested and/or failed major veins, and severe ECG disturbances. Whatever the cause, these were all counteracted, eliminated, or attenuated by the application of BPC 157 therapy. As recovery with BPC 157 therapy commonly and rapidly occurred, reversing the collapsed azygos vein to the rescuing collateral pathway might initiate rapid direct blood delivery and start blood flow reorganization. In conclusion, we suggest BPC 157 therapy to resolve further vascular and embolization injuries.
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BACKGROUND: Using rat stomach perforation as a prototypic direct lesion applied in cytoprotection research, we focused on the first demonstration of the severe occlusion/ occlusion-like syndrome induced by stomach perforation. The revealed stomach-induced occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome corresponds to the previously described occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes in rats suffering multicausal pathology and shared severe vascular and multiorgan failure. This general point was particularly reviewed. As in all the described occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes with permanent occlusion of major vessels, peripheral and central, and other similar noxious procedures that severely affect endothelium function, the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 was resolving therapy. AIM: To reveal the stomach perforation-induced general occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome and BPC 157 therapy effect. METHODS: The procedure included deeply anesthetized rats, complete calvariectomy, laparotomy at 15 min thereafter, and stomach perforation to rapidly induce vascular and multiorgan failure occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome. At 5 min post-perforation time, rats received therapy [BPC 157 (10 µg or 10 ng/kg) or saline (5 mL/kg, 1 mL/rat) (controls)] into the perforated defect in the stomach). Sacrifice was at 15 min or 60 min post-perforation time. Assessment (gross and microscopy; volume) included: Brain swelling, peripheral vessels (azygos vein, superior mesenteric vein, portal vein, inferior caval vein) and heart, other organs lesions (i.e., stomach, defect closing or widening); superior sagittal sinus, and peripherally the portal vein, inferior caval vein, and abdominal aorta blood pressures and clots; electrocardiograms; and bleeding time from the perforation(s). RESULTS: BPC 157 beneficial effects accord with those noted before in the healing of the perforated defect (raised vessel presentation; less bleeding, defect contraction) and occlusion/occlusion-like syndromes counteraction. BPC 157 therapy (into the perforated defect), induced immediate shrinking and contraction of the whole stomach (unlike considerable enlargement by saline application). Accordingly, BPC 157 therapy induced direct blood delivery via the azygos vein, and attenuated/eliminated the intracranial (superior sagittal sinus), portal and caval hypertension, and aortal hypotension. Thrombosis, peripherally (inferior caval vein, portal vein, abdominal aorta) and centrally (superior sagittal sinus) BPC 157 therapy markedly reduced/annihilated. Severe lesions in the brain (swelling, hemorrhage), heart (congestion and arrhythmias), lung (hemorrhage and congestion), and marked congestion in the liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract were markedly reduced. CONCLUSION: We revealed stomach perforation as a severe occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome, peripherally and centrally, and rapid counteraction by BPC 157 therapy. Thereby, further BPC 157 therapy may be warranted.
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Antiulcerosos , Gastropatias , Ratos , Animais , Ratos Wistar , Síndrome , Gastropatias/tratamento farmacológico , Gastropatias/etiologia , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/farmacologia , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/uso terapêutico , Hemorragia , Antiulcerosos/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
We focused on the first demonstration that antiarrhythmics, particularly class II and class III antiarrhythmic and beta-blocker sotalol can induce severe occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome in rats. In this syndrome, as in similar syndromes with permanent occlusion of major vessels, peripheral and central, and other similar noxious procedures that severely disable endothelium function, the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157-collateral pathways activation, was a resolving therapy. After a high dose of sotalol (80 mg/kg intragastrically) in 180 min study, there were cause-consequence lesions in the brain (swelling, intracerebral hemorrhage), congestion in the heart, lung, liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract, severe bradycardia, and intracranial (superior sagittal sinus), portal and caval hypertension, and aortal hypotension, and widespread thrombosis, peripherally and centrally. Major vessels failed (congested inferior caval and superior mesenteric vein, collapsed azygos vein). BPC 157 therapy (10 µg, 10 ng/kg given intragastrically at 5 min or 90 min sotalol-time) effectively counteracted sotalol-occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome. In particular, eliminated were heart dilatation, and myocardial congestion affecting coronary veins and arteries, as well as myocardial vessels; eliminated were portal and caval hypertension, lung parenchyma congestion, venous and arterial thrombosis, attenuated aortal hypotension, and centrally, attenuated intracranial (superior sagittal sinus) hypertension, brain lesions and pronounced intracerebral hemorrhage. Further, BPC 157 eliminated and/or markedly attenuated liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract congestion and major veins congestion. Therefore, azygos vein activation and direct blood delivery were essential for particular BPC 157 effects. Thus, preventing such and similar events, and responding adequately when that event is at risk, strongly advocates for further BPC 157 therapy.
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Even before behavioral disturbances, neuroleptics, amphetamine, and domperidone application rapidly emerged severe occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome, shared innate vascular and multiorgan failure in rats, comparable to occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome described with vessel(s) occlusion or similar noxious procedures application. As therapy, i.e., activation of the collateral pathways, "bypassing key" (activated azygos vein pathway, direct blood flow delivery), the stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 is a novel solution. Recently, BPC 157 therapy particularly counteracted neuroleptic- or L-NAME-induced catalepsy, lithium intoxication, and schizophrenia positive and negative symptoms (amphetamine/methamphetamine/apomorphine/ketamine). In rats with complete calvariectomy, medication (BPC 157 10 µg/kg, 10 ng/kg ip or ig) was given 5 min after distinctive dopamine agents (mg/kg ip) (haloperidol (5), fluphenazine (5), clozapine (10), risperidone (5), olanzapine (10), quetiapine (10), or aripiprazole (10), domperidone (25), amphetamine (10), and combined amphetamine and haloperidol) and assessed at 15 min thereafter. All neuroleptic-, domperidone-, and amphetamine-induced comparable vascular and multiorgan failure severe syndrome was alleviated with BPC 157 therapy as before major vessel(s) occlusion or other similar noxious procedures. Specifically, all severe lesions in the brain (i.e., immediate swelling, hemorrhage), heart (i.e., congestion, arrhythmias), and lung (i.e., congestion, hemorrhage), as well as congestion in the liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal (stomach) tract, were resolved. Intracranial (superior sagittal sinus), portal, and caval hypertension and aortal hypotension were attenuated or eliminated. BPC 157 therapy almost annihilated arterial and venous thrombosis, peripherally and centrally. Thus, rapidly acting Virchow triad circumstances that occur as dopamine central/peripheral antagonists and agonist essential class-points, fully reversed by BPC 157 therapy, might be overwhelming for both neuroleptics and amphetamine.
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Conceptually, a wide beneficial effect, both peripherally and centrally, might have been essential for the harmony of brain-gut and gut-brain axes' function. Seen from the original viewpoint of the gut peptides' significance and brain relation, the favorable stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 evidence in the brain-gut and gut-brain axes' function might have been presented as a particular interconnected network. These were the behavioral findings (interaction with main systems, anxiolytic, anticonvulsive, antidepressant effect, counteracted catalepsy, and positive and negative schizophrenia symptoms models). Muscle healing and function recovery appeared as the therapeutic effects of BPC 157 on the various muscle disabilities of a multitude of causes, both peripheral and central. Heart failure was counteracted (including arrhythmias and thrombosis), and smooth muscle function recovered. These existed as a multimodal muscle axis impact on muscle function and healing as a function of the brain-gut axis and gut-brain axis as whole. Finally, encephalopathies, acting simultaneously in both the periphery and central nervous system, BPC 157 counteracted stomach and liver lesions and various encephalopathies in NSAIDs and insulin rats. BPC 157 therapy by rapidly activated collateral pathways counteracted the vascular and multiorgan failure concomitant to major vessel occlusion and, similar to noxious procedures, reversed initiated multicausal noxious circuit of the occlusion/occlusion-like syndrome. Severe intracranial (superior sagittal sinus) hypertension, portal and caval hypertensions, and aortal hypotension were attenuated/eliminated. Counteracted were the severe lesions in the brain, lungs, liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract. In particular, progressing thrombosis, both peripherally and centrally, and heart arrhythmias and infarction that would consistently occur were fully counteracted and/or almost annihilated. To conclude, we suggest further BPC 157 therapy applications.
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is presented with a wide range of symptoms, from asymptomatic disease to severe and progressive interstitial pneumonia. As part of interstitial pneumonia, respiratory failure is typically presented as hypoxia and is the most common cause of hospitalization. When oxygen therapy fails, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) are used as respiratory support measures of first choice. Noninvasive respiratory support (NIRS) is applied in order to save intensive care unit resources and to avoid complications related to invasive mechanical ventilation. Emerging evidence has shown that the use of CPAP or NIV in the management of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure in COVID-19 reduces the need for intubation and mortality. The advantage of NIRS is the feasibility of its application on wards. NIV could be administered via a face mask or helmet interface. Helmet adheres better than mask and therefore leakage is reduced, a delivery of positive end-expiratory pressure is more accurate, and the risk of nosocomial transmission of infections is lowered. Patients on NIRS must be carefully monitored so that further respiratory deterioration is not overlooked and additional measures of care including timely intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation could be performed if needed.
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COVID-19 , Ventilação não Invasiva , Insuficiência Respiratória , Humanos , Pressão Positiva Contínua nas Vias Aéreas/métodos , COVID-19/complicações , COVID-19/terapia , Ventilação não Invasiva/métodos , Insuficiência Respiratória/terapia , Insuficiência Respiratória/etiologia , SARS-CoV-2RESUMO
These are evidence based guidelines for the management of patients with carotid stenosis, developed and endorsed by Croatian Society of Neurovascular Disorders, Croatian Society of Neurology, Croatian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, Croatian Society for Radiology, Croatian Society of Vascular Surgery and Croatian Society of Neurosurgery. They consist of recommendations for noninvasive screening of patients with carotid stenosis, best medical treatment and interventions such as carotid endarterectomy and stent placement based on international randomized clinical trials.
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Estenose das Carótidas/diagnóstico , Estenose das Carótidas/terapia , Estenose das Carótidas/complicações , Medicina Baseada em Evidências , Humanos , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/diagnóstico , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/etiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND/AIM: Population-based epidemiological studies about headaches, especially migraine, have been carried out in many countries. The aim of this study was to assess the 1-year prevalence of migraine, probable migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) in the Croatian population. METHODS: The design of the study was a cross-sectional survey of an adult population sample using a self-completed questionnaire. RESULTS: The 1-year crude prevalence of migraine without and with aura in this study was 7.5%, of probable migraine 11.3%, and of TTH 21.2%. The 1-year age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of migraine was 6.2%, of probable migraine 8.8%, and of TTH 20.7%; the prevalence of migraine combined with probable migraine was 15.0%. Total crude prevalence of headache (combination of migraine, probable migraine and TTH) was 39.9%. Prevalence of migraine was higher in continental than in Mediterranean areas of Croatia. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the highest risk of suffering from any kind of headache is observed for the following people: living in Dubrovnik, being female, having elementary or high school education, being married, employed and living in an urban or suburban area. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of migraine and probable migraine is similar as in other Western countries. Certain demographic characteristics differ among patients with and without headache.
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Transtornos de Enxaqueca/epidemiologia , Cefaleia do Tipo Tensional/epidemiologia , Adulto , Idoso , Croácia/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Razão de Chances , Prevalência , Análise de Regressão , Fatores Sexuais , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
The aim of this study was to assess the treatment patterns of migraine and tension-type headache in the Croatian population. Analysis included the proportion of patients who were taking specific antimigraine therapy and the number of tablets per attack per month, the proportion of patients who were taking prophylactic therapy or using alternative treatment methods and their satisfaction with the treatment. The design of the study was a cross-sectional survey. Self-completed questionnaires were randomly distributed to adults >18 years of age in the Croatian population. A total of 616 questionnaires were analyzed: 115 patients with migraine (M), 327 patients with tension-type headache (TTH), and 174 patients with probable migraine (PM) and TTH. Specific antimigraine therapy was taken by half of patients with migraine: 35.7% of patients used triptans and 21.7% ergotamines. Prophylactic treatment had been used by 13.9% of M, 1.2% of TTH, and 6.9% of PM patients. Alternative methods of treatment were tried by 27% of M and TTH patients. Only 16.8% of patients with M pay regular visits to physicians, while 36.3% never visited a physician. More than half of TTH patients have never visited a physician. The majority of patients are only partially satisfied with their current treatment, and almost one-third are not satisfied. Results of this study indicate that the treatment of primary headaches in Croatia should be improved.
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Analgésicos/uso terapêutico , Pesquisas sobre Atenção à Saúde , Acessibilidade aos Serviços de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Transtornos de Enxaqueca/terapia , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde/estatística & dados numéricos , Cefaleia do Tipo Tensional/terapia , Adulto , Terapias Complementares/estatística & dados numéricos , Croácia/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , Ergotaminas/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Transtornos de Enxaqueca/epidemiologia , Educação de Pacientes como Assunto/estatística & dados numéricos , Satisfação do Paciente/estatística & dados numéricos , Médicos/estatística & dados numéricos , Inquéritos e Questionários , Cefaleia do Tipo Tensional/epidemiologia , Triptaminas/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
Recent transcranial sonography (TCS) studies showed that disruption of echogenic midbrain line, corresponding to basal limbic system and raphe nuclei (RN) within, might represent functional marker for the development of depression. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders associated with suicidal ideation. We initiated this study to assess the usefulness of TCS recording in a group of MDD patients and in MDD patients who also reported suicidal ideation, on the assumption that TCS might serve as a screening method for differentiating patients at risk of suicide. Altogether 71 subjects: 17 patients with MDD, 14 patients with MDD who also reported suicidal ideation and 40 healthy controls, were studied using TCS by two independent physicians. Reduced raphe echogenicity was found in 8 of 17 (47%) of the patients with MDD but only in 6 of 40 (15%) controls. In patients with suicidal ideations that finding was even more pronounced (12 of 14, 86%) with the highest frequency of completely not visible TCS RN finding (10 of 14, 72%). Data showed that altered echogenicity of the RN is frequent in patients with suicidal ideation. Normal RN echogenicity in MDD patients was associated with less severe depressive symptoms and rarely with the presence of suicidal ideations. As far as we know, these are the first ever obtained results which show that TCS might help differentiating MDD patients with suicidal risk or eventually predict good disease recovery based on the findings of RN hypo- or normoechogenicity.
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Transtorno Depressivo Maior , Núcleos da Rafe/diagnóstico por imagem , Núcleos da Rafe/patologia , Suicídio/psicologia , Ultrassonografia Doppler Transcraniana , Adulto , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/complicações , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/diagnóstico por imagem , Transtorno Depressivo Maior/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Masculino , Entrevista Psiquiátrica Padronizada , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Estatísticas não Paramétricas , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X/métodosRESUMO
Migraine is often a chronic and disabling disorder. The objective of our study was to assess the efficacy and safety of gabapentin in the prophylaxis of migraine in patients refractory to other prophylactic treatments. The study included 67 migraine patients, 55 women and 12 men; 52 patients completed this prospective, open-label study. Patients were given 900-1800 mg of gabapentin in 3 doses; the mean duration of treatment was 7.2 months. Reduction in the number of days with headache, pain intensity and number of acute medications was assessed through patient diary. The mean number of migraine days/4 weeks was reduced from 15.8 to 8.6, yielding a reduction of 7.2 migraine days/4 weeks (P=0.001). Pain intensity was reduced by 25% in 14 (26.9%), by 50% in 29 (55.7%) and by 75% in three (5.7%) patients, whereas no improvement was reported by six (11.5%) patients at the end of follow up. A significant reduction was recorded in acute medication use (P=0.001). Adverse events were reported by 32/67 (47.8%) patients, in 15 (22.4%) of them causing discontinuation of the drug. The most frequently reported adverse events were drowsiness, dizziness and slowness. Prophylactic treatment with gabapentin was found to be associated with a significant reduction in the number of days with headache, use of acute medications and pain intensity.
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Aminas/uso terapêutico , Anticonvulsivantes/uso terapêutico , Ácidos Cicloexanocarboxílicos/uso terapêutico , Transtornos de Enxaqueca/prevenção & controle , Ácido gama-Aminobutírico/uso terapêutico , Aminas/efeitos adversos , Anticonvulsivantes/efeitos adversos , Ácidos Cicloexanocarboxílicos/efeitos adversos , Feminino , Gabapentina , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Ácido gama-Aminobutírico/efeitos adversosRESUMO
In this article, the authors have gathered data from epidemiological, observational, case-control and cohort studies to evaluate the differences between men and women in terms of ischemic events, mainly stroke. The authors are highlighting the differences that exist between men and women and play a role in terms of social diversities, and the pathophysiological differences that may be responsible at least in part for ischemic events. Studies show that male stroke patients are more likely to have a history of ischemic heart disease, smoking and alcohol consumption, whereas female stroke patients suffer from ischemic events at an older age, are more likely to have hypertension and atrial fibrillation. Women are more likely to arrive to an emergency room in a comatose state, with paralysis, aphasia, swallowing problems and urinary incontinence, which all indicates a more severe stroke. Also, women suffer from a higher level of disability than men, even though their survival rates are the same. Even though clear guidelines for the treatment of stroke exist, there are still differences in both diagnostic procedures and discharge destination between male and female patients.
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Acidente Vascular Cerebral/etiologia , Fibrilação Atrial/complicações , Índice de Massa Corporal , Endarterectomia das Carótidas/efeitos adversos , Terapia de Reposição de Estrogênios/efeitos adversos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Fatores de Risco , Caracteres Sexuais , Fumar/efeitos adversos , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/diagnóstico , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/terapiaRESUMO
The purpose of our study was to perform an epidemiological study of migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) in medical students (MS) at University of Zagreb Medical School and to determine whether there are differences in prevalence, trigger factors, health care utilization and self-medication between sixth year and first year MS. This study included 314 students who answered a questionnaire from October to November 2003. The prevalence of migraine was 8.86% in first year students and 10.90% in sixth year students while the prevalence of TTH was 60.13% and 57.69% respectively. Female students suffered from migraines significantly more often than male students (p = 0.017). Female students with migraine linked their headaches to their menstrual cycle significantly more often than female students with TTH (p = 0.011). Significantly more first year students have visited a doctor concerning their headaches than sixth year students. Also, there is a significantly higher level of self-medication amongst sixth year students. Our study has shown that a relatively large percent of MS suffers from TTH; a low percent is seeking medical advice for headaches, the majority is self-medicated, and an unacceptably low percentage is taking triptans for migraine.
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Cefaleia/epidemiologia , Transtornos de Enxaqueca/epidemiologia , Humanos , Prevalência , Estudantes de Medicina , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
AIM: Smoking is the most harmful social habit and is the origin of many diseases including direct damaging of arterial walls. The aim of this study was to assess the possible differences in vascular age of smokers versus never smokers, measured in common carotid artery (CCA). METHODS: The study included healthy volunteers with age and sex risk factors for cerebrovascular disease development. Measurements in CCA were performed in M mode on an Aloka 5500 Prosound ultrasound platform bilaterally. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), carotid interadventitial diameter (CID) and carotid interadventitial diameter change (CIDc) were recorded, and carotid interadventitial strain (CIS) was calculated. Median age subanalysis was performed for IMT, CIDc and CIS. Mann-Whitney statistics was used to determine group differences. RESULTS: There were 121 subjects, 80 women and 41 men, mean age 47.43 +/- 14.15 years. There were 23 (19%) current smokers, 17 (14%) occasional smokers, 11 (9%) past smokers, and 70 (58%) non-smokers. A statistical increase in IMT was found in the group of previous smokers (the eldest) in the left CCA (P < 0.05). CIDc and CIS were statistically higher in the right CCA in the group of current smokers (P < 0.05 both). Older subjects had an increase in IMT values in both CCA and decrease in CIDc and CIS in the right CCA. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated cigarette smoking to primarily cause an increase in CIDc, whereas CIS remained preserved. Smoking influences vascular age. Additional studies are necessary to address the issue in a greater number of smokers.
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Artéria Carótida Primitiva/diagnóstico por imagem , Fumar/efeitos adversos , Adulto , Envelhecimento , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Túnica Íntima/diagnóstico por imagem , Túnica Média/diagnóstico por imagem , UltrassonografiaRESUMO
Essential tremor is one of the most common movement disorders characterized by combination of postural bilateral action tremor with frequency 4-12MHz. Diagnosis is based on clinical examination, while neuroimaging methods so far have limited role. Recent reports showed that substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity detected by transcranial sonography (TCS) is a specific finding of Parkinsons disease (PD). Usefulness of TCS in distinguishing some basal ganglia disorders is well documented. However, only a few studies showed its usage in the differentiation of the ET as a potential misdiagnosis of the PD. The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of TCS in the differentiation of patients with ET, PD and healthy controls. TCS and clinical examination was performed on 120 individuals, including 40 PD patients, 40 patients suffering from ET and 40 matched controls. Bilateral SN hyperechogenicity over the margin of 0.20 cm2 was found in 90% of PD patients, 10% of healthy subjects and in 17% patients with ET. Interobserver agreement for this method was significant. TCS may serve as a practical and sufficiently sensitive neuroimaging tool in ET diagnosing and in distinguishing it from PD, its repeatability and accuracy might add to its practical value.
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Tremor Essencial/diagnóstico por imagem , Substância Negra/diagnóstico por imagem , Ultrassonografia Doppler Transcraniana , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Doença de Parkinson/diagnóstico por imagemRESUMO
Brain death is a clinical diagnosis and must be confirmed by one paraclinical test. This report presents the usefulness of paraclinical tests applied during a 4-year period. Forty-four patients with severe brain lesions leading to brain death were treated during the 2004-2007 period. The appropriate test was chosen according to test availability and patient condition, appreciating restrictions according to the test protocol. Since the results of some tests were inconclusive, some patients underwent repeat testing with the same or different methods. Among 44 patients, 19 had neurotrauma, 11 massive aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, 1 massive arteriovenous subarachnoid and parenchymal hemorrhage, 12 hypertensive parenchymal hemorrhage, and 1 ischemic stroke. As a primary test, transcranial Doppler (TCD) was used in 30, brain scintigraphy in 2, multislice computed tomography angiography (MSCTA) in 10, and cerebral angiography in 2 patients; the diagnosis was confirmed in 26, 3, 9 and 2 patients, respectively. Due to inconclusive test results, MSCTA had to be repeated in 4 patients twice, and in one patient three times. Four patients where TCD was used died during the observation period, and in one patient the hemodynamic spectrum was inconclusive. In most patients (65%), TCD confirmed the clinical diagnosis of brain death, and in 61% the diagnosis was confirmed within a 2-hour period. TCD was the most useful confirmatory test for cerebral circulatory arrest in brain death diagnosis.
Assuntos
Morte Encefálica/diagnóstico por imagem , Ultrassonografia Doppler Transcraniana , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The incidence of postoperative occlusion of carotid artery is low (0.5%-0.6%) and is rarely symptomatic. The aim of this study was to analyze the dynamics of the internal carotid artery (ICA) postoperative occlusion development. During one-year period, 8 000 patients were examined at Cerebrovascular Laboratory, University Department of Neurology. Among them, 33 patients (25 male and 8 female) with postoperative ICA occlusion were detected by color Doppler. We retrospectively analyzed the dynamics of ICA occlusion development from the first postoperative follow-up. The risk factors for atherosclerosis were analyzed. In 31 of 33 patients, postoperative ICA occlusion was recorded on the first follow-up examination, 3 months of carotid endarterectomy (18 right and 15 left). In 8 patients, combined occlusion of the common and ICA was detected (4 right and 4 left). One patient developed occlusion during the first year of follow-up, and in one patient it was detected 3 years after the surgery. Eight patients had also had surgery on the contralateral ICA and showed satisfactory findings. In 19 patients, mild atherosclerotic changes were found contralaterally, 5 had moderate stenosis, and 1 patient had subtotal ICA stenosis. The early onset of postoperative ICA occlusion most likely is not caused by atherosclerosis risk factors but by perioperative complications.