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The Consortium has produced these medical and service delivery guidelines about oral emergency contraceptive pills to assist family planning programs and providers in assuring that the women they serve can use these regimens effectively and safely. This document reflects the latest available evidence and has been reviewed by internationally recognized reproductive health experts. Local programs are welcome to adapt these guidelines as needed to comply with national or other requirements. These guidelines do not discuss the use of the copper-bearing intrauterine device for emergency contraception. This device is the most effective emergency contraceptive option and should be offered to women when appropriate. Some of the new research and data updated include: New details on the hormone UPA and new studies on the influence of BMI on effectiveness are briefly discussed as well as how ECP regimens work their efficacy and safety guidelines on repeat use and considerations for starting or resuming regular contraceptives following ECP regimens. This update includes a Clinical Summary document (https://www.cecinfo.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/18-209_ICEC-Clinical-Summary_121918.pdf) which highlights essential takeaways.

Serum levels of various hormones have been estimated in cluster headache and non-cluster headache controls. Cluster headache patients were studied prior to, during, and after attack. During the cluster phase, plasma testosterone levels were low, whereas levels were within the reference limits in the remission period of episodic cluster headache. LH levels were within reference limits. Normal values were also found in control patients with non-cluster headache. It is suggested that a decrease of plasma testosterone levels in episodic cluster headache should be viewed in context with disordered REM sleep in cluster headache.

Fifty migraine patients were tested prior to and after a three-month period of flunarizine treatment (10 mg per day) by means of a new computerized telethermography apparatus. At completion of therapy a new computerized telethermography was carried out. The telethermographic data obtained showed an improvement in 70% of the cases; for the other patients telethermographic relevant modifications were not singled out.

The histamine skin test, as modified by Giacovazzo, was carried out on 20 patients with cluster headache and on 20 control subjects, 10 of whom suffered from migraine and 10 who were healthy volunteers not presenting any form of headache. The test was carried out before and after 30 days treatment with timed-release dihydroergotamine methanesulphonate in a dose of 10 mg/day. Data recorded on a “headache time chart” before and after treatment were evaluated by statistical analysis. Block variance analysis was used to evaluate results of three parameters (latency time, hyperemia diameter, extinction time) emerging from the histamine skin test before and after treatment. A statistical comparison was also made of data obtained in basal conditions in the three groups of subjects, in order to confirm the usefulness of this simple test in the diagnosis of cluster headache. Les auteurs ont effectué le test cutané à l'histamine, d'après la méthode Giacovazzo, sur 20 personnes souffrant de céphalée de Horton, et sur 20 autres, parmi lesquelles 10 souffrant de migraines et les autres, volontaires, n'étant affectés d'aucun type de céphalée. Le test a été réalisé avant et après un traitement à base de 10 milligrammes par jour d'une préparation de dihydroergotamine métasulfonée se libérant d'une façon programmée, et ce durant 30 jours consécutifs. Les résultats enregistrés sur la “fiche des relevés horaires de la céphalée” ont été analysés statistiquement avant et après le traitement thérapeutique. C'est ensuite qu'ont été analysés, grâce à la méthode de variance à blocs (phases pré et post thérapie), les trois paramètres déduits du test cutané à l'histamine (temps de latence, diamètre d'hyperhémie, temps d'extinction). Et, il a finalement été possible, à l'appui de la validité diagnostique de ce simple test, de confronter statistiquement les résultats des trois paramètres de base relatifs aux différents groupes de patients. E’ stato eseguito il test cutaneo all'istamina, secondo Giacovazzo, in 20 pazienti di cefalea a grappolo e in 20 soggetti di controllo, dei quali 10 affetti da emicrania e 10 volontari sani. Il test è stato eseguito prima e dopo trattamento con 10 mg al dì, per trenta giorni, di un preparato di diidroergotamina metansulfonato a liberazione programmata. Sono stati analizzati statisticamente i dati dedotti dalla “carta oraria della cefalea”, prima e dopo trattamento terapeutico. Il metodo della varianza per blocchi è stato usato per confrontare (fasi pre e post terapia) i tre parametri dedotti dal test cutaneo all'istamina (tempo di latenza, diametro di iperemia, tempo di estinzione). Un ulteriore confronto statistico è stato infine ese-guito tra i dati desunti dai tre parametri in condizioni di base, nei vari gruppi di pazienti, a conforto della validità diagnostica di questo semplice test.

In recent years a great deal of attention has been given to the Cluster Headache (CH) by various groups of researches, due to the peculiarity of this form of primary headache from a clinical as well as from a hormonal point of view [4, 8]. The ethio-pathogenesis of the disease is not known as yet.

SYNOPSIS Patients presenting migraine headache associated with Raynaud's disease have been successfully treated in our clinic by using peripheral skin temperature biofeedback (BFB). The diagnosis of primary headache was established in all patients many years before Raynaud's disease appeared. We selected 15 females for this study. Subjects were taken off all medication and patients' motivation for feedback therapy was ascertained. The time sequence of the peripheral skin temperature BFB sessions was the same as the one commonly followed at the Biofeedback Unit of the University of Rome Headache Service, i.e., two sessions per week in the first month of training, one session per week in the second, and subsequently one session every two weeks for four months, The use of a Headache Rating Scale for clinically evaluating BFB treatment for the relief of migraine attacks produced objective and comparable data suitable for statistical analyses, just as did the results of cold pressor tests studied before and after BFB training for evaluating the Raynaud's disease improvement.