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Basal and throughout-the-day variations of B-lipotropin (BLPH), B-endorphin (BEP), ACTH and cortisol plasma levels were studied in seven prepubertal children who had been affected by common migraine for periods of 6–26 months and in six healthy volunteers. Despite normal cortisol concentrations, children with migraine show higher BLPH (15.1 ± 2.7 fmol/ml, M ± SE), ACTH (25 ± 2.7) and BEP (9.1 ± 1.1) levels than controls. In both groups of children, evening values (8 p.m.) were significantly lower than morning values, but in migraineurs the decrease of the three peptides was less. The raised proopiocortin-related peptide plasma levels found in children suffering from migraine cannot be explained at present, although the discomfort experienced by the patients may create a situation of chronic stress which could explain such a finding. Whatever the explanation is, these findings differentiate prepubertal migraine from the most severe forms of headache occurring in adult life where lower than normal opioid levels have been demonstrated.Chez 7 enfants en phase prepuberale, souffrants de maladie migraineusedepuis 6–26 mois, ont été etudiés les taux plasmatiques de base et le variations spontaneés pendant les 24 heurs de B-Lipotropine (BLPH), B-Endorphine (BEP), ACTH et Cortisol. De la meme façon ont été étudiés 6 garçons sains, de la meme age. Malgré les taux de la Cortisol soient normaux, les petits patients presentent des niveaux plasmatiques de BLPH (15.1 ± 2.7 fmol/ml, M ± ES), BEP (9.1 ± 1.1) et de ACTH (25 ± 2.7) significativement plus élévées que le group témoin. Chez touts les sujets les taux plasmatiques des differantes hormones étaient plus bas le soir que le matin, ce phenomène phisiologique étant moin evident chez les patients. Les raisons des taux élévés des peptides liés a la proopiocortine sont pas connues, a present, meme si l'on peut hypothiser l'existance d'une situation de stress chronique chez les enfants souffrants de maladie migraineuse. En tous cas, on peut fair une distinction très nette entre la forme prepuberale de la maladie migraineuse et celle de l'adulte qui est caracterizée par des taux pathologiquement reduit de opioides endogènes.Sono state studiate le concentrazioni basali e le variazioni circadiane della beta-lipotropina (BLPH), beta-endorfina (BEP). ACTH and Cortisolo in 7 bambini prepuberi affetti da emicrania comune da 6–26 mesi ed in 6 controlli. Sebbene le concentrazioni del Cortisolo fossero nell'ambito della norma, i bambini mostravano livelli di B-LPH (15.1 ± 2.7 fmol/ml, M ± ES), di B-EP (9.1 ± 1.1) ed ACTH (25 ± 2.7) significativamente superiori ai bambini di controllo. Entrambi i gruppi hanno mostrato le normali oscillazioni circadiane dei quattro ormoni, con valori ridotti la sera, sebbene tale fenomeno fosse resultato meno evidente nei pazienti. Questi dati indicano che l'emicrania comune dell'infanzia decorre con un peculiare assetto oppioide (forse dovuto allo stress cronico, indotto dal dolore cefalico) che la differenzia dalle cefalee dell'età adulta dove nelle forme più gravi i suddetti peptidi oppioidi risultano significativamente ridotte.

This multicentre, double-blind study compared (100 mg) sumatriptan administered orally with placebo in treating an acute attack of migraine; 238 patients were studied over a 48-h period. Four hours after treatment, 92 of the 142 evaluable sumatriptan patients (65%) showed significant reductions (P< 0.001) in headache severity, clinical disability and accompanying symptoms compared with 32 of the 80 evaluable placebo-treated patients (40%). The duration of attack prior to taking medication and the history of persistent migraine do not influence the observed difference between the two treatment regimens (sumatriptan and placebo), which remained statistically significant (P< 0.001) in both cases. The incidence of headache recurrence in patients who experienced relief 4 h after initial treatment was low, occurring in 16 (17%) and 4 (13%) of the sumatriptan- and placebo-treated patients, respectively. Only patients with a history of migraine attacks lasting longer than 24 h suffered headache recurrences, and these recurrences were not consistent with the International Headache Society definition of migraine. Treatment with sumatriptan was well tolerated.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The efficacy of currently available therapeutic agents for cholestatic pruritus is often disappointing. The aim of this study was to assess the antipruritic effect of naltrexone, an oral opiate receptor antagonist.

Summary In bone marrow aplasias the peripheral blood cells displayed a very sharp decrease in the glucose utilization, and in the more severe cases their behaviour in respect of the glucose metabolism was found to be quite opposite to the normal, the quantity of glucose having increased in the medium instead of diminishing by the end of the incubation period. Such a finding prevalently showed as far as the leukocytes were concerned, and was roughly proportional to the seriousness of the bone marrow lesion.

Flunarizine, a slow-channel calcium blocker, appeared to be effective in the prophylactic treatment of common and classic migraine in 29 out-patients included in a double-blind clinical trial. After a two-month placebo period, half the patients were treated with flunarizine, 10 mg a day for up to 120 days, half with placebo. Electronystagmographic (ENG) recordings were performed at the end of the common placebo period and after two and four months of treatment, respectively. There was a significant reduction in Headache Unit Index (HUI) and Headache Unit Index Corrected (HUIC) (42% and 40.5% respectively) in the flunarizinetreated group but not in the placebo group. Analgesic intake was reduced and intensity of pain was unchanged in both groups throughout the trial. ENG data were not significantly affected by flunarizine treatment.