The Functional Assessment of Migraine Scale development datasets.

The Functional Assessment of Migraine Scale (FAMS) is a newly developed questionnaire that allows patients to indicate their response to migraine treatment [1]. The datasets provided in this article were collected on patients with migraine using survey methodology in two rounds of data collection. In the first dataset ( = 100), patients were shown 210 proposed questions for the FAMS and rated their usefulness and/or relevance for assessing their treatment response [2].

Development of the functional assessment of migraine scale using a patient guided approach.

Purpose: A better understanding of the multi-dimensional burden and impact of migraine has grown over recent years, yet the tools used to measure these concepts have not been updated to reflect such findings. Additionally, due to the increase in the number of both prophylactic and acute therapeutic options for migraine, a comprehensive assessment of treatment response is necessary. The goal of this project was to develop a patient guided outcome measure which evaluates patient identified efficacy factors when appraising migraine treatment response.

Randomized, double-blind, crossover study comparing DFN-11 injection (3 mg subcutaneous sumatriptan) with 6 mg subcutaneous sumatriptan for the treatment of rapidly-escalating attacks of episodic migraine.

Background: A 6-mg dose of SC sumatriptan is the most efficacious and fast-acting acute treatment for migraine, but a 3-mg dose of SC sumatriptan may improve tolerability while maintaining efficacy.

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, crossover study compared the efficacy and tolerability of 3 mg subcutaneous (SC) sumatriptan (DFN-11) with 6 mg SC sumatriptan in 20 adults with rapidly-escalating migraine attacks. Eligible subjects were randomized (1:1) to treat 1 attack with DFN-11 and matching placebo autoinjector consecutively or 2 DFN-11 autoinjectors consecutively and a second attack similarly but with the alternative dose (3 mg or 6 mg).

The Role of Salivary Neuropeptides in Pediatrics: Potential Biomarkers for Integrated Therapies.

Introduction: Objective measures of symptom response to integrated complementary approaches in pediatrics are evolving. The purpose of this study was to document the concentration range of salivary neuropeptides in healthy controls and in children with cancer, to explore correlations between serum and salivary measurements for Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) and Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP), and to determine whether there is a change in these salivary neuropeptide levels in response to integrated mind-body therapies.

Methods: A non-randomized pragmatic study with three phases: Phase 1- Healthy Control Saliva-10 healthy controls provided saliva samples; Phase 2- Cancer Diagnosis Serum-Saliva- 16 mixed-type cancer patients provided blood and saliva samples; Phase 3- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) Saliva Intervention- 12 patients with ALL provided pre- and post-complementary intervention saliva samples.

Long-term efficacy of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study for repetitive sphenopalatine blockade with bupivacaine vs. saline with the Tx360 device for treatment of chronic migraine.

Background: This study aims to determine if repetitive sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) blockades with 0.5% bupivacaine delivered with the Tx360 device results in long-term improvement in chronic migraine (CM). The SPG is a small concentrated structure of neuronal tissue that resides within the pterygopalatine fossa in close proximity to the sphenopalatine foramen and is innervated by the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve.

An exploratory study of salivary calcitonin gene-related peptide levels relative to acute interventions and preventative treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA in chronic migraine.

Objective: To determine if baseline/interictal saliva calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels would be lower in subjects with chronic migraine receiving onabotulinumtoxinA compared with those receiving saline.

Background: CGRP is considered central to the pathogenesis of episodic migraine, but its relationship to chronic migraine is less understood. OnabotulinumtoxinA is an effective treatment for chronic migraine and has been demonstrated to inhibit the vesicular release of CGRP.

Inclusion of cocoa as a dietary supplement represses expression of inflammatory proteins in spinal trigeminal nucleus in response to chronic trigeminal nerve stimulation.

Scope: Central sensitization is implicated in the pathology of temporomandibular joint disorder and other types of orofacial pain. We investigated the effects of dietary cocoa on expression of proteins involved in the development of central sensitization in the spinal trigeminal nucleus (STN) in response to inflammatory stimulation of trigeminal nerves.

Methods And Results: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a control diet or an isocaloric diet consisting of 10% cocoa powder 14 days prior to bilateral injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into the temporomandibular joint to promote prolonged activation of trigeminal ganglion neurons and glia.

Advances in drug development for acute migraine.

Triptans revolutionized medical recognition and the acute treatment of migraine. Yet, throughout a lifetime, millions of patients who live with migraine endure hundreds of days of disability due to their disease. Most migraine attacks respond to migraine-specific interventions, but attack response does not predict patient response.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide promotes cellular changes in trigeminal neurons and glia implicated in peripheral and central sensitization.

Background: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a neuropeptide released from trigeminal nerves, is implicated in the underlying pathology of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Elevated levels of CGRP in the joint capsule correlate with inflammation and pain. CGRP mediates neurogenic inflammation in peripheral tissues by increasing blood flow, recruiting immune cells, and activating sensory neurons.

Dietary grape seed polyphenols repress neuron and glia activation in trigeminal ganglion and trigeminal nucleus caudalis.

Background: Inflammation and pain associated with temporomandibular joint disorder, a chronic disease that affects 15% of the adult population, involves activation of trigeminal ganglion nerves and development of peripheral and central sensitization. Natural products represent an underutilized resource in the pursuit of safe and effective ways to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. The goal of this study was to investigate effects of grape seed extract on neurons and glia in trigeminal ganglia and trigeminal nucleus caudalis in response to persistent temporomandibular joint inflammation.

Cocoa-enriched diets enhance expression of phosphatases and decrease expression of inflammatory molecules in trigeminal ganglion neurons.

Activation of trigeminal nerves and release of neuropeptides that promote inflammation are implicated in the underlying pathology of migraine and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. The overall response of trigeminal nerves to peripheral inflammatory stimuli involves a balance between enzymes that promote inflammation, kinases, and those that restore homeostasis, phosphatases. The goal of this study was to determine the effects of a cocoa-enriched diet on the expression of key inflammatory proteins in trigeminal ganglion neurons under basal and inflammatory conditions.

The impact of wrist extension provocation on current perception thresholds in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: a pilot study.

Purpose: To determine whether current perception threshold (CPT) varied between subjects with and without carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and whether positioning in wrist extension (reversed Phalen's test) was provocative.

Method: Subjects (n=30) were tested using the Neurometer (Neutron, Inc., Baltimore, MD) at 5, 250, and 2,000 Hz in a rest and reverse Phalen's position.

Regulation of calcitonin gene-related peptide secretion from trigeminal nerve cells by botulinum toxin type A: implications for migraine therapy.

Objectives: To determine the effect of botulinum toxin type A on calcitonin gene-related peptide secretion from cultured trigeminal ganglia neurons.

Background: The ability of botulinum toxins to cause muscle paralysis by blocking acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction is well known. Previous studies and clinical observations have failed to demonstrate sensory changes related to botulinum toxins or the disease of botulism.