Search

Background Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been proposed as a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD). H-coils, inducing deeper and wider magnetic fields compared to traditional coils, may be potentially useful in PD, characterized by widespread, bilateral involvement of cortico-subcortical circuits. Objective To evaluate the safety of repetitive deep TMS (rDTMS) with H-coil as add-on treatment of motor symptoms in PD. Methods Twenty-seven PD patients (aged 60.1 ± 6.8 y; PD-duration: 6.3 ± 2.8 y; motor-UPDRS: 39.6 ± 10.1) underwent 12 rDTMS sessions over 4 weeks at excitatory (10 Hz) frequency over primary motor (M1) and bilateral prefrontal (PF) regions. Motor UPDRS off therapy was assessed before and after the last rDTMS session, together with safety records at each treatment session. Results No drop-outs or adverse events were recorded. Motor UPDRS significantly improved after rDTMS (10.8 points average reduction; P Conclusions High-frequency rDTMS might be a safe treatment for PD motor symptoms. Further placebo-controlled, randomized studies are warranted.

Objective: Microvesicles (MVs) have been indicated as important mediators of intercellular communication and are emerging as new biomarkers of tissue damage. Our previous data indicate that reactive microglia/macrophages release MVs in vitro. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether MVs are released by microglia/macrophages in vivo and whether their number varies in brain inflammatory conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Electron and fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry were used to detect myeloid MVs in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of healthy controls, MS patients, and rodents affected by experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of MS. Results: Myeloid MVs were detected in CSF of healthy controls. In relapsing and remitting EAE mice, the concentration of myeloid MVs in the CSF was significantly increased and closely associated with disease course. Analysis of MVs in the CSF of 28 relapsing patients and 28 patients with clinical isolated syndrome from 2 independent cohorts revealed higher levels of myeloid MVs than in 13 age-matched controls, indicating a clinical value of MVs as a companion tool to capture disease activity. Myeloid MVs were found to spread inflammatory signals both in vitro and in vivo at the site of administration; mice impaired in MV shedding were protected from EAE, suggesting a pathogenic role for MVs in the disease. Finally, FTY720, the first approved oral MS drug, significantly reduced the amount of MVs in the CSF of EAE-treated mice. Interpretation: These findings identify myeloid MVs as a marker and therapeutic target of brain inflammation. ANN NEUROL 2012;72:610–624

Migraine has been associated with structural brain damage. Several studies have reported an association between migraine and brain white matter lesions or clinically silent infarct-like abnormalities in the posterior circulation territory. The origin of these lesions is still unclear. The cause is commonly interpreted as ischemic, which is consistent with the association of migraine, particularly with aura, with vascular risk factors. The relationship between increased volume of white matter hyperintensities and a history of severe headache per se is under debate. The clinical relevance of this brain damage deserves further investigations even if an association between cognitive impairment and migraine or headache of any type is not confirmed.

In the last 15 years, the neuroimaging of patients suffering from migraine with or without aura has improved our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of the disease. A great number of studies based on modern imaging techniques, such as structural imaging and functional imaging emphasize that in migraine patients suffering from repetitive pain attacks, both significant abnormalities of function and diffuse structural changes of brain white and gray matter become striking features of the disease. The hypothesis that migraine pain is due to a global brain disorder with substantial brainstem involvement leading to secondary blood flow changes in the posterior circulation is reinforced by several elegant studies. Clinical application of functional imaging findings in migraine is yet to be considered, since the specificity of some results has to be determined. Nevertheless, functional MRI techniques have a vast potential for exploring the pathophysiology of pain in migraine patients. © Springer-Verlag 2012.

The use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) in paediatric populations is considerably increased, especially for pain and chronic conditions, as demonstrated by epidemiological surveys both in Europe and in the USA. In our study, CAM was used in 76 % patients of a cohort of 124 children affected by headache (age 4-16 years; 67 % female; 70 % migraine without aura, 12 % migraine with aura, 18 % tensive headache according to IHS criteria) consecutively recruited at a Pediatric Headache University Center. CAM was used as preventive treatment in 80 % cases. The main reasons for seeking CAM were: the wish of avoiding chronic use of drugs with their related side effects, the desire of an integrated approach, the reported inefficacy of conventional medicine, and a more suitable children disposition to CAM than to pharmacological compound. Female gender, younger age, migraine without aura, parents' higher educational status, maternal use of CAM and other associated chronic conditions, correlated with CAM use (p < 0.05). 73 % patients chose CAM also to treat other diseases (i.e. allergies, colitis, asthma, insomnia, muscle-scheletric disorders and dysmenorrhoea). The most assumed CAM were: herbal remedies (64 %) such as Valeriana, Ginkgo biloba, Boswellia serrata, Vitex agnus-castus, passion flower, Linden tree; vitamins/minerals supplements (40 %) with magnesium, 5-Hydroxytryptophan, vitamin B6 or B12, Multivitamin compounds; Homeopathy (47 %) with Silicea, Ignatia Amara, Pulsatilla, Aconitum, Nux Vomica, Calcarea phosphorica; physical treatment (45 %) such as Ayurvedic massage, shiatsu, osteopathy; yoga (33 %); acupuncture (11 %). CAM-often integrated with conventional care-was auto-prescribed in 30 % of the cases, suggested by non-physician in 22 %, by the General Practitioner in 24 % and by paediatrician in 24 %. Both general practitioners and neurologists were mostly unaware of their patients' CAM use. In conclusion, neurologists should inquire for CAM use and be prepared to learn about CAM therapies or to directly interact with CAM trained experts, in order to coordinate an integrative approach to health, as especially required in paediatric headache patients and their parents. Further studies are required to investigate safety and efficacy of CAM in pediatric headache, as a possible side-medicine to conventional pharmacological approach.

Background: Growing evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency may be one of the most important environmental factors for the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). Objectives: The objectives of this paper are to evaluate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in patients with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS) and to examine whether they are related to MS risk. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 100 CIS patients hospitalized from 2000 to 2009 at San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy. We evaluated baseline 25(OH)D level as well as clinical, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) data. Results: A total of 52% of CIS patients had vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l). During follow-up (median: 7.17 years), 55 patients developed clinically definite MS (CDMS). Patients with very low (< 10th percentile) and low (< 25th percentile) 25(OH)D levels were particularly at risk of CDMS (HRs (95% CIs): 2.12 (0.91–4.96) and 1.61 (0.85–3.03), respectively), while no further reduction in the HRs of disease was observed at high levels of 25(OH)D. This association was even stronger after adjustment for additional risk factors for CDMS development (HRs (95% CIs) for 25(OH)D levels < 10th and 25th percentiles: 3.34 (1.32–8.45) and 2.04 (0.96–4.36), respectively). Conclusion: Low serum vitamin D is associated with increased MS risk in patients with CIS.

Patients affected by chronic forms of headache are often very difficult to treat. Refractory patients are so defined when adequate trials of specific drugs (for acute or prophylactic treatment) failed both to reduce the burden of disease and to improve headache-related quality of life. An escalating approach is suggested to test different kinds of therapies. All comorbid factors should be addressed. More invasive modalities (such as neurostimulation) or promising approaches such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) could be a future major step as third line therapies.

Parry Romberg Syndrome (PRS) is a rare condition of unknown cause and pathophysiology. It is characterized by progressive facial hemiatrophy, and neurological abnormalities are found in 20% of cases. We describe a 50-year-old woman with PRS and severe neurological involvement (lateralised epileptic seizure activity and facial pain refractory to medication). Pain intensity and frequency was reduced and control of epileptic crises was improved using levetiracetam as an additional therapy. In previous published cases associated with facial pain, the most frequent diagnoses were migraine and trigeminal neuralgia. Our findings suggest that in this patient PRS-related persistent pain has peculiar features possibly attributed to the underlying musculoskeletal abnormalities.

Ocular pain and related symptoms are frequent manifestations of primary and secondary headache disorders. Neurologists are often the first physician to evaluate patients affected by these clinical features. The cause of eye pain may be attributed both to pathological disorders with abnormal neurologic and neuro-ophthalmologic findings and to diseases with no apparent eye disturbances. A thorough clinical approach is necessary for an appropriate diagnosis and a correct specific management.