Methylprednisolone therapy for short-term prevention of SUNCT syndrome.

Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT) is characterized by severe and frequent daily pain attacks causing transient physical disability for the patients during the headache period. Currently there is no option for abortive treatment of the attacks, mainly due to the short-lived nature and frequency of the repeated headaches, while highly efficacious therapy is also unavailable for short-term prevention. We report rapidly suppressed headache attacks with orally administered methylprednisolone in eight headache periods of three patients with idiopathic, episodic SUNCT syndrome. The remission was maintained until the period was over in all cases. Although the mechanism of methylprednisolone action is unclear, it is probably based on the anti-inflammatory effects of the drug.

Re-investigation of the role of the accessory optic system and pretectum in the horizontal optokinetic head nystagmus of the frog. Lesion experiments.

The effects of various lesions in the accessory optic system and pretectal area were studied on the horizontal optokinetic head nystagmus (OKN) in the frog Rana esculenta. For histological control the cobalt-filling technique and haematoxylineosin staining were used. Isolated complete transection of the basal optic root caused only a slight reduction in the frequency of the OKN. Transection of the marginal optic tract on one side reduced the frequency as if one eye had been removed. Electrolytic destruction of the basal optic nucleus on one side did not influence the optokinetic responses significantly. In monocular animals, however, an obvious reduction occurred in the frequency of the OKN when the basal optic nucleus corresponding to the seeing eye had been destroyed. If the lesion involved the brain tissue surrounding the basal optic nucleus, nystagmus could not be evoked. Complete destruction of the lateral pretectal neuropil, which receives retinal afferents, strongly reduced the frequency or abolished the OKN. We conclude that the pretectal region is the most important structure at the input side in the initiation of this visuomotor response. The basal optic nucleus together with the neighbouring tegmental area may also play some role in the regulation of the OKN.

Thalamocortical connectivity in healthy children: asymmetries and robust developmental changes between ages 8 and 17 years.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Thalamocortical connections play a crucial role in complex cognitive functioning, and several neuropsychiatric disorders may involve aberrant thalamocortical circuitry. Here, we quantified the cortical pattern and age-related changes of thalamocortical connections by using probabilistic tractography in children and adolescents. We hypothesized that detectable asymmetry (left>right) exists in thalamocortical fiber connections and the connectivity increases with age during maturation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diffusion tensor imaging was acquired in 15 normally developing children (age range, 8.3-17.3 years; 11 males), and fiber tracking was initiated from the thalami. The cortical distribution of ipsilateral thalamocortical fibers was quantified by using a landmark-constrained conformal mapping technique. Furthermore, hemispheric asymmetries and potential age-related changes in regional thalamocortical connections were assessed. RESULTS: The left thalamus had significantly higher overall cortical connectivity than the right thalamus (P < .001). Left prefrontal cortical areas showed significantly higher thalamic connectivity compared with homotopic regions of the right hemisphere (P < .001), regardless of the applied parameters. There was an increase of overall thalamocortical connectivity with age, with the most pronounced age-related increases in bilateral prefrontal areas (P < .002). However, thalamic connectivity of some other cortical regions (right sensorimotor, left inferior temporal) showed a decrease with age. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate a region-specific left>right asymmetry and robust developmental changes in thalamocortical (particularly thalamo-prefrontal) connectivity during late childhood and adolescence. These data further add to our knowledge about structural lateralizations and their development in the maturing brain.