Case reports on two patients with episodic vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss and migraine responding to prophylactic drugs for migraine. Menière's disease or migraine-associated vertigo?

Recent reports have focused on a possible association between migraine and Menière's disease; patients suffering from Menière's disease present a higher rate of migraine. In some cases, the clinical features of migraine-associated vertigo may mimic the presentation of Menière's disease. The present report focuses on two cases of females with recurrent episodes of rotational vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss and tinnitus lasting from a few minutes to several hours; both cases also presented migrainous attacks.

Rehabilitation after acute vestibular disorders.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of rehabilitation for dizzy patients after recent acute vestibular disturbance.

Methods: Forty patients recently hospitalised for an acute episode of rotational vertigo which lasted days were randomly divided into two groups. The first group (20 patients; group R) underwent active rehabilitation, while the second group (20 patients; group C) were told only to 'perform their daily activities'.

DOTA tris(phenylmethyl) ester: a new useful synthon for the synthesis of DOTA monoamides containing acid-labile bonds.

The synthesis of DOTA tris(phenylmethyl) ester 2, a new monoreactive derivative of DOTA, is described. This versatile synthon can be easily coupled to compounds bearing an amino group and then deprotected to DOTA monoamide under mild and neutral conditions by catalytic hydrogenolysis. Accordingly, compound 2 has been used in the synthesis of a DOTA monoamide gadolinium complex containing two palmitic esters, which is a component of mixed micelles as MRI contrast agents.