Open label experience of repeated OnabotulinumtoxinA injections towards the sphenopalatine ganglion in patients with chronic cluster headache and chronic migraine.

Background: A novel technique for injection of OnabotulinumtoxinA (BTA) towards the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) has shown promise in refractory chronic migraine (CM) and chronic cluster headache (CCH). Open label safety and efficacy data are presented here.

Methods: Patients with refractory CM or CCH who had received at least one injection and completed headache diaries were included.

OnabotulinumtoxinA injection towards the SPG for treating symptoms of refractory chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis: a pilot study.

Background And Objective: The main objective of this prospective, open, uncontrolled pilot study was to investigate the safety of administering onabotulinumtoxinA (BTA) towards the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) in 10 patients with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) using a novel injection tool, the MultiGuide.

Material And Methods: A one-month baseline period was followed by bilateral injections of 25 U BTA in the SPG and a follow-up of 12 weeks. The primary outcome was adverse events (AE), and the main efficacy outcome was a 50% reduction in visual analogue scale (VAS) symptoms for nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea in months 2 and 3 post-treatment compared to baseline.

Open-Label, Multi-Dose, Pilot Safety Study of Injection of OnabotulinumtoxinA Toward the Otic Ganglion for the Treatment of Intractable Chronic Cluster Headache.

Background: The otic ganglion (OG) provides parasympathetic innervation to the cerebral circulation and cranial structures and may be involved in the pathophysiology of trigeminal autonomic headaches. This structure has never been targeted in any headache disorder.

Objective: To investigate the safety of injecting onabotulinumtoxin A (BTA) toward the OG in 10 patients with intractable chronic cluster headache and to collect efficacy data.

Pilot Study of Injection of OnabotulinumtoxinA Toward the Sphenopalatine Ganglion for the Treatment of Classical Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Background: The sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) has previously been targeted in trigeminal neuralgia (TN), but its role in this condition has not been established.

Objective: To investigate the safety of injecting onabotulinumtoxinA (BTA) toward the SPG using the MultiGuide in 10 patients with refractory classical TN, and collect preliminary efficacy data.

Methods: Twenty-five international units (IU) of BTA were injected toward the SPG in a prospective, open-label study in 10 patients with refractory classical TN.

Long-Term Outcome of Patients With Intractable Chronic Cluster Headache Treated With Injection of Onabotulinum Toxin A Toward the Sphenopalatine Ganglion - An Observational Study.

Objectives: To investigate long-term outcomes in per-protocol chronic cluster headache patients (n = 7), 18 and 24 months after participation in "Pilot study of sphenopalatine injection of onabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of intractable chronic cluster headache."

Methods: Data were collected prospectively through headache diaries, HIT-6, and open questionnaire forms at 18 and 24 months after the first treatment. Patients had access to repeated injections when needed.

Measurement and implications of the distance between the sphenopalatine ganglion and nasal mucosa: a neuroimaging study.

Background: Historical reports describe the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) as positioned directly under the nasal mucosa. This is the basis for the topical intranasal administration of local anaesthetic (LA) towards the sphenopalatine foramen (SPF) which is hypothesized to diffuse a distance as short as 1 mm. Nonetheless, the SPG is located in the sphenopalatine fossa, encapsulated in connective tissue, surrounded by fat tissue and separated from the nasal cavity by a bony wall.

Depicting the pterygopalatine ganglion on 3 Tesla magnetic resonance images.

Purpose: The pterygopalatine ganglion has yet not been identified on medical images in living humans. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate whether the pterygopalatine ganglion could be identified on 3 T MR imaging.

Methods: This study was performed on medical images of 20 Caucasian subjects on both sides (n = 40 ganglia) with an exploratory design.

Pilot study of sphenopalatine injection of onabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of intractable chronic migraine.

Objective The main objective of this pilot study was to investigate the safety of administering onabotulinumtoxinA towards the sphenopalatine ganglion in 10 patients with intractable chronic migraine with an open, uncontrolled design. We also collected efficacy data to provide an indication as to whether future placebo-controlled studies should be performed. Method In a prospective, open-label, uncontrolled study after one-month baseline, we performed bilateral injections of 25 IU onabotulinumtoxinA (total dose 50 IU) toward the sphenopalatine ganglion in a single outpatient session in 10 patients with intractable migraine with a follow-up of 12 weeks.

Pilot study of sphenopalatine injection of onabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of intractable chronic cluster headache.

Objective: The main object of this pilot study was to investigate the safety of administering onabotulinumtoxinA (BTA) towards the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) in intractable chronic cluster headache. Efficacy data were also collected to provide indication on whether future placebo-controlled studies should be performed.

Method: In a prospective, open-label, uncontrolled study, we performed a single injection of 25 IU (n = 5) or 50 IU BTA (n = 5) towards the SPG in 10 patients with intractable chronic cluster headache with a follow-up of 24 weeks.

Gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine: a new selection strategy for gene-transduced neural and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.

In most experimental gene therapy protocols involving stem/progenitor cells, only a small fraction of cells, often therapeutically inadequate, can be transduced and made to express the therapeutic gene. A promising strategy for overcoming this problem is the use of a dominant selection marker, such as a drug resistance gene. In this paper, we explore the potential of the heavy subunit of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCSh) to act as a selection marker.