Subjective craving and event-related brain response to olfactory and visual chocolate cues in binge-eating and healthy individuals.

High-sugar/high-fat foods are related to binge-eating behaviour and especially people with low inhibitory control may encounter elevated difficulties to resist their intake. Incentive sensitization to food-related cues might lead to increased motivated attention towards these stimuli and to cue-induced craving. To investigate the combined influence of olfactory and visual stimuli on craving, inhibitory control and motivated attention, 20 healthy controls and 19 individuals with binge-eating viewed chocolate and neutral pictures, primed by chocolate or neutral odours. Subjective craving and electroencephalogram activity were recorded during the task. N2 and Late Positive Potential (LPP) amplitudes were analysed. Patients reported higher craving than controls. Subjective craving, N2 and LPP amplitudes were higher for chocolate versus neutral pictures. Patients showed a higher relative increase in N2 amplitudes to chocolate versus neutral pictures than controls. Chocolate images induced significant increases in craving, motivated attention and measures of cognitive control. Chocolate odour might potentiate the craving response to visual stimuli, especially in patients with binge-eating.

Resultados sobre la aplicación cráneo-facial del parche de capsaicina 8 % en una serie de 5 casos / Results of the capsaicin 8% patch in craniofacial application in five clinical cases

Los parches de capsaicina al 8 % son una alternativa de segunda línea para el tratamiento del dolor neuropático periférico. Aunque tiene pocos efectos secundarios, no tiene indicación para el tratamiento cráneo-facial debido a la posible irritación de mucosas por la capsaicina. Sólo hemos encontrado tres publicaciones que refieren la aplicación del parche en estas localizaciones, describiendo 7 casos clínicos. Hemos recogido 4 casos en los que se realizan 5 aplicaciones en total, 3 mujeres (repitiendo aplicación en una de ellas) y 1 hombre, entre 58 y 84 años, con los siguientes diagnósticos: necrosis cáustica en labio inferior tras limpieza dental, neuralgia del trigémino y neuropatía postherpética. Tras comprobar ineficacia de otros tratamientos, se propuso el parche de capsaicina al 8 %, con firma previa de los consentimientos informados de la aplicación de parche en régimen de hospital de día y de tratamiento fuera de ficha técnica. Previamente a la aplicación del parche en la zona cutánea dolorosa, se procedió a realizar protección ocular de ambos ojos con parche oftálmico quirúrgico, y de mucosas oral y nasal con mascarilla facial quirúrgica sellada. La protección se mantuvo durante toda la aplicación del parche y se quitó una vez retirado éste y limpiada la zona de aplicación. Únicamente se reportaron 3 efectos secundarios leves del total de las 5 aplicaciones: un paciente presentó piel eritematosa que cedió espontáneamente, otra paciente refirió sensación de quemazón y dolor que cedió con analgesia endovenosa, y otra paciente explicó dolor leve bien tolerado, que cedió de manera espontánea. En ninguno de los casos se apreciaron efectos secundarios a nivel de mucosas. En cuanto a resultados, dos pacientes notaron mejoría durante uno y dos meses, colocando nuevamente el parche en una de ellas, sin lograr esta segunda vez alivio. Las otras dos pacientes no notaron ningún cambio. El tratamiento con parches de capsaicina 8 % en superficies cráneo-faciales parece tener similar eficacia a su aplicación en otras áreas de la piel. Los efectos secundarios en su aplicación en estas superficies son escasos, al igual que en otras aplicaciones corporales. Creemos que con las medidas de precaución adecuadas en las regiones cráneo-faciales, la utilidad clínica observada del parche de capsaicina 8 % lo sitúa como otra opción de tratamiento para dolor neuropático, sin complicaciones añadidas. No obstante, estudios clínicos con mayor número de pacientes deberían llevarse a cabo para confirmar estos hallazgos (AU)

The capsaicin 8 % patch is a secondary line alternative to neuropathic peripheral pain treatment. Although it has few secondary effects, is not indicated in head and facial treatment due to the possibility of the irritation of mucosa. We have only found three publications related with the patch application in those locations, describing 7 clinical cases. We have analyzed 4 cases in which we have applied 5 patches in total. There were 3 women (repeating the application in one of them) and 1 man, between 58 and 84 years old, with the following diagnosis: caustic necrosis in the inferior lip after dental cleaning, trigeminal neuralgia and post-herpetic neuropathy. Inefficacy of other treatments was confirmed, and after that, the capsaicin 8 % patch was proposed. Informed consent of the application of the patch at day clinic and treatment out of technical data sheet were previously signed. Before the patch was applied to the painful cutaneous area, we proceed with ocular protection of both eyes with surgical ophthalmic patch and oral and nasal mucosa protection with surgical mask hermetically seal. That protection was maintained during the whole application of the patch, and was removed once the capsaicin patch was taken off and the application area was cleaned. There were only 3 mild secondary effects of the total 5 applications: one patient showed erythematic skin that was resolved spontaneously, another patient related burn and pain sensation which was solved with endovenous analgesia. Finally, another patient explained mild pain well tolerated, that was resolved also spontaneously. In no cases there were secondary effects in mucosa. Related with the results, 2 patients felt improvement between one and two months, applying again the patch in one of them, not reaching this time relief in the pain. The other 2 patients did not notice any change. The capsaicin 8 % patch treatment in head and facial areas seems to have similar efficacy as the application in other skin areas. Secondary effects in these surfaces are very low, the same as in other corporal locations. We believe that with the adequate preventive measures in head and facial areas, clinical utility observed with capsaicin 8 % patch places it as another treatment option for neuropathic pain, with no complications added. However, clinical studies with a higher number of patients should carry on to confirm these findings (AU)

Pronóstico a largo plazo de la epilepsia ausencia juvenil / Long term prognosis of juvenile absence epilepsy

Introducción: La epilepsia ausencia juvenil (EAJ) es un tipo de epilepsia generalizada idiopática que se caracteriza por la presencia de crisis de ausencia (CA) que comienzan en la adolescencia, con un EEG típico de punta-onda generalizada, y que puede acompañarse de mioclonías y crisis tónico-clónicas generalizadas (CTCG). El pronóstico a largo plazo es incierto. Material y métodos: Seleccionamos de manera retrospectiva todos los pacientes que cumplían los criterios diagnósticos de EAJ de la ILAE 1989, analizamos las variables clínicas, el tratamiento farmacológico, el estar libre de crisis y la posibilidad de retirar el tratamiento. Resultados: Encontramos 21 pacientes, 17 mujeres y 4 varones, el 86% presentó también CTCG y el 14% mioclonías. La edad de inicio de las CA fue de 17 años (rango: 10-44). Cuatro pacientes comenzaron con CA en la edad adulta. El seguimiento medio fue de 25 años (intervalo: 10-43). El 90% recibió tratamiento con valproato y el 62% requirió politerapia. El 43% de los pacientes están actualmente libres de crisis, aunque todos ellos en tratamiento farmacológico. Todos los intentos de retirar la medicación fracasaron, pese a largos períodos sin crisis.Conclusiones: Menos de la mitad de los pacientes con EAJ están libres de crisis. El tratamiento antiepiléptico es necesario durante toda la vida a pesar de largos períodos de remisiones (AU)

Introduction: Juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE) is a generalized form of epilepsy, characterizedby absence seizures (AS) initiated in adolescence, with a typical EEG showing generalized spikewavedischarges. Apart from absences, other seizure types may be observed such as myocloniaand generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS). Its long-term prognosis is uncertain Material and methods: We retrospectively selected all patients who met the 1989 ILAE diagnostic criteria for JAE. We analysed clinical variables, pharmacological treatment, and seizure remission with medical treatment and seizure relapse after stopping medical treatment. Results: We identified 21 patients, 17 women and 4 men, 86% of whom had suffered GTCS and 14% myoclonias. Mean age at AS onset was 17 years old (range 10-44), 4 patients debuted with AS in adulthood. Mean follow up duration was 25 years (range 14-43). Ninety per cent of the patients were treated with valproate and 62% needed polytherapy. Currently 43% have achieved seizure freedom under medical treatment. All attempts to stop treatment failed, in some cases after long periods of seizure remission. Conclusions: Less than fifty per cent of patients with JAE achieve remission, antiepileptictreatment is mandatory during all life, despite having long periods of remission (AU)

Long term prognosis of juvenile absence epilepsy.

INTRODUCTION: Juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE) is a generalized form of epilepsy, characterized by absence seizures (AS) initiated in adolescence, with a typical EEG showing generalized spike-wave discharges. Apart from absences, other seizure types may be observed such as myoclonia and generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS). Its long-term prognosis is uncertain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively selected all patients who met the 1989 ILAE diagnostic criteria for JAE. We analysed clinical variables, pharmacological treatment, and seizure remission with medical treatment and seizure relapse after stopping medical treatment. RESULTS: We identified 21 patients, 17 women and 4 men, 86% of whom had suffered GTCS and 14% myoclonias. Mean age at AS onset was 17 years old (range 10-44), 4 patients debuted with AS in adulthood. Mean follow up duration was 25 years (range 10-43). Ninety per cent of the patients were treated with valproate and 62% needed polytherapy. Currently 43% have achieved seizure freedom under medical treatment. All attempts to stop treatment failed, in some cases after long periods of seizure remission. CONCLUSIONS: Less than fifty per cent of patients with JAE achieve remission, antiepileptic treatment is mandatory during all life, despite having long periods of remission.