Publications (6)13.51 Total impact
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Article: Prion Protein Gene M129V Polymorphism and Variability in Age at Migraine Onset.
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ABSTRACT: Prion protein, a sialoglycoprotein with neuroprotective properties on oxidative stress damage, has been related with the mechanisms leading to migraine. In the present case-control study, we investigated the correlation between the common methionine/valine polymorphism at codon 129 within the prion protein gene (PRNP) and migraine. Genotyping of PRNP V129M variant was performed in 384 migraine patients and 185 age-, sex-, and race-ethnicity-matched healthy controls. The frequencies of the PRNP V129M genotype did not differ significantly between migraineurs and controls. The frequencies of 129VV genotype were significantly higher in patients with earlier age at migraine onset. No correlation was found between PRNP 129 genotype and demographics, and other clinical migraine features. Our data suggest that the PRNP 129VV polymorphism is not a direct migraine risk factor but is significantly associated with an earlier onset of the disease.Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain 02/2013; · 2.52 Impact Factor -
Article: Establishment of a biorepository for migraine research: the experience of Interinstitutional Multidisciplinary BioBank (BioBIM).
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ABSTRACT: The development of Biobanks and recent advances in molecular biology have enhanced the possibility to accelerate translational research studies. The Interinstitutional Multidisciplinary BioBank (BioBIM) is organized in a large healthy donors collection and pathology-based biobanks with the aim to provide a service for development of interdisciplinary studies. A new pathology-based biobank has been organized to specifically collect biospecimen from patients affected by migraine, with the final goal to centralize data, collect blood, plasma, serum, DNA and RNA of patients with this disease. The BioBIM is fully equipped for the automation of sampling/processing, storage and tracking of biospecimens. Standard Operating Procedures have been developed for processing and storage phases as well as archive of clinical data. The availability of biospecimens and clinical data will constitute a resource for various research projects.Neurological Sciences 01/2013; · 1.32 Impact Factor -
Article: A case-control study on excessive daytime sleepiness in chronic migraine.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Excessive daytime sleepiness is a major clinical and health concern that can have varied and sometimes harmful consequences. Findings from uncontrolled studies suggest a high prevalence in patients with chronic migraine. METHODS: In a case-control study, we compared frequency data for excessive daytime sleepiness in 100 patients with chronic migraine and 100 healthy controls paired for sex and age, and assessed risk factors including lifestyle, sleep quality, anxiety, depression, concomitant disease and medications. RESULTS: The frequency of excessive daytime sleepiness was higher in migraineurs (especially in those with medication overuse) than in controls (20% versus 6%; odds ratio 3.92, 95% CI 1.5-10.22), but was lower than previously reported and correlated with poor quality sleep and anxiolytic and antidepressant use. CONCLUSIONS: Again confirming that disability in chronic migraine is multifactorial in origin, excessive daytime sleepiness, especially in migraineurs who overuse medications, adds to the multiple factors known to impair social and working function. Patients with chronic migraine might benefit from diagnostic interviews focussing also on sleep problems and from targeted psychoactive drug prescribing.Sleep Medicine 01/2013; · 3.40 Impact Factor -
Article: Cerebral Transverse Sinus Morphology As Detected by MR Venography in Patients With Chronic Migraine.
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ABSTRACT: Objective.- To clarify the frequency and characteristics of altered transverse sinus morphology in a series of consecutive patients with chronic migraine. Background.- As terminology, neuroradiological techniques and patient selection differ widely across various studies, reliable, reproducible information is lacking on the frequency of cerebral transverse sinus asymmetry as measured by cerebral magnetic resonance venography in patients with chronic migraine. Methods.- We assessed the frequency and characteristics of transverse sinus asymmetries and their correlation with the chronic migraine phenotype in a blind, cross-sectional magnetic resonance venographic study in a series of 83 consecutive patients with chronic migraine. Results.- After excluding mild (≤10%) physiological differences in transverse sinus diameter, we found magnetic resonance venographic evidence of altered transverse sinus morphology in 50.6% of the patients: 16.9% had moderate transverse sinus asymmetry (≤50%), 24.1% severe asymmetry (>50%), and 9.6% aplasia. Among the tested risk factors for migraine chronification, analgesic consumption, anxiety, and high systolic blood pressure were more frequent in patients with transverse sinus aplasia than in those without. Conclusions.- Advanced magnetic resonance venographic techniques used in strictly selected subjects disclose transverse sinus asymmetries in as many as 50.6% of patients with chronic migraine, even when mild differences in physiological caliber are excluded. The unexpected correlation between transverse sinus aplasia and some risk factors for migraine chronification requires confirmation in larger studies.Headache The Journal of Head and Face Pain 05/2012; 52(8):1254-61. · 2.52 Impact Factor -
Article: Future trends in drugs for migraine prophylaxis.
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ABSTRACT: Migraine prevention hinges on a variety of non-specific drugs that mainly reduce neuronal hyperexcitability, the putative pathophysiological hallmark for migraine. The improved knowledge about migraine circuitry and neurobiology has prompted research to develop new specific migraine preventive medications targeted to innovative sites and mechanisms. Drugs designed to inhibit cortical spreading depression, for example tonabersat, might offer a useful option for the management of migraine with aura but not for migraine without aura. Inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibition seems ineffective as a prophylactic strategy. Results are awaited from recent and ongoing phase II trials with glutamate receptor antagonists, third-generation antiepileptics, melatonin agonists, vitamin D3 and statins.Neurological Sciences 05/2012; 33 Suppl 1:S137-40. · 1.32 Impact Factor -
Article: Rizatriptan in migraineurs with unilateral cranial autonomic symptoms: a double-blind trial.
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ABSTRACT: The objective and background is to confirm in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study the high triptan response rates we had previously reported in an open study in migraine patients with unilateral cranial autonomic symptoms. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study 80 migraineurs with unilateral cranial autonomic symptoms were assigned to receive rizatriptan 10 mg wafer or placebo (ratio 1:1) and treated for a single moderate or severe migraine attack. The primary endpoints were pain freedom at 2 h and total migraine freedom at 2 h. Secondary endpoints included pain relief, no associated symptoms and sustained pain freedom or relief. Significantly more patients reported pain freedom at 2 h after taking rizatriptan (54 %) than after placebo (8 %) (therapeutic gain 46 % [28 %; 64 %]; P < 0.001). Similarly, significantly more patients reported total migraine freedom at 2 h after rizatriptan (51 %) than after placebo (8 %) (therapeutic gain 43 % [26 %; 61 %]; P < 0.001). Rizatriptan was also more effective than placebo on most secondary endpoints. We confirm in a placebo-controlled study our previous data suggesting that the presence of unilateral cranial autonomic symptoms in migraineurs predicts a positive response to triptans, probably owing to intense trigeminal peripheral afferent activation which strongly recruits peripheral neurovascular 5-HT1B/1D receptors. Acute and preventive pharmacological trials in migraine should focus also on this subset of migraine patients.The Journal of Headache and Pain 03/2012; 13(5):407-14. · 2.43 Impact Factor
