The striatum and pain modulation.

The aim of this review was to give a general aspect of the sensorial function of the striatum related to pain modulation, which was intensively studied in our laboratory. We analyse the effect of electrical and chemical stimulation of the striatum on the orofacial pain, especially that produced by tooth pulp stimulation of the lower incisors. We demonstrated specific sites within the nucleus which electrical or chemical stimulation produced inhibition of the nociceptive jaw opening reflex.

The diagnosis of GH deficiency in obese patients: a reappraisal with GHRH plus arginine testing after pharmacological blockade of lipolysis.

Background: The diagnosis of GH deficiency (GHD) in obese patients is complicated by the reduced GH secretion associated with overweight. A GH response to GHRH+arginine lower than 4.2 microg/l is currently considered indicative of GHD in obesity.