Conditions Favoring Increased COVID-19 Morbidity and Mortality: Their Common Denominator and its Early Treatment.

The factors contributing to increased morbidity and mortality in SARS-CoV-2 infection are diverse, and include diabetes, obesity, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), advanced age, and male sex. Although there is no obvious connection between these, they do have one common denominator-they all have a tendency towards lower urine pH, which may indicate a lower-than-normal tissue pH. Furthermore, it has been shown that lower pH has two important negative influences: 1) it enhances viral fusion via the endosomal route, thereby facilitating viral multiplication; and 2) it facilitates increased production of inflammatory cytokines, thereby exacerbating the cytokine storm.

A method for determining when the superficial scalp arteries are the source of migraine pain.

In some patients the pain of migraine originates in the extracranial cranial arteries. This article describes the location and a logical examination sequence of the vessels most frequently involved in migraine pain.

A report of three patients in whom the surgical closure of terminal branches of the external carotid arteries for treatment of migraine resulted in significantly reduced frequency of epileptic attacks.

Three patients under treatment for grand mal epilepsy, and who were also suffering from chronic migraine, underwent vascular surgery for their migraine. A serendipitous benefit from the successful vascular surgery for migraine was a significant reduction in the frequency of their grand mal seizures.

TRPV1, CGRP and SP in scalp arteries of patients suffering from chronic migraine.

Objective: The transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 receptor (TRPV1) and the neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) appear to be differently involved in migraine pain. A role of neurovascular scalp structures is also suggested by several data. We performed a quantitative study of TRPV1-like immunoreactive (LI), CGRP-LI and SP-LI innervation of scalp arterial samples from patients affected with chronic migraine (CM).

Arterial surgery for sporadic hemiplegic migraine: preliminary results.

My aim was to report for the first time (to my knowledge) the successful treatment of 3 patients with sporadic hemiplegic migraine by surgical cautery of terminal branches of the external carotid artery under conscious sedation. Since the operations (between 1 and 2 years) none of the patients have had further attacks of migraine or hemiplegia. This preliminary report suggests that for patients with sporadic hemiplegic migraine with a confirmed arterial component, surgical cautery of selected terminal branches of the external carotid artery may be effective treatment.

The extracranial vascular theory of migraine--a great story confirmed by the facts.

Over the years, there has been a considerable amount of controversy as to whether the vascular component of migraine pain arises from the intracranial or the extracranial vessels or both. Some have even questioned whether vasodilatation even plays a significant role in migraine pain and have described it as an unimportant epiphenomenon. In this review, evidence is presented that confirms (1) vasodilatation is indeed a source of pain in migraine; (2) this dilatation does not involve the intracranial vasculature; (3) the extracranial terminal branches of the external carotid artery are a significant source of pain in migraine.

The extracranial vascular theory of migraine: an artificial controversy.

Over the years there has been a considerable amount of controversy over whether the vascular component of migraine pain arises from the intracranial or the extracranial vessels, or both. Some have even questioned whether vasodilatation actually plays a significant role in migraine pain, and have described it as an unimportant epiphenomenon. The controversy is an artificial one though, which has been generated as a consequence of misrepresentation of the facts in the headache literature.

Middle meningeal artery dilatation in migraine.

Objective: To show that migraine pain is not related to dilatation of the dural meningeal arteries.

Background: The origin of the pain in migraine has not yet been adequately explained and remains the subject of vigorous debate. Current theories implicate changes in the trigeminovascular system, which is defined as comprising the large intracranial vessels, and in particular, the dural meningeal vessels, the dura mater, and their neural connections.

Intra-oral orthosis vs amitriptyline in chronic tension-type headache: a clinical and laser evoked potentials study.

Background: In the present study, we examined clinical and laser-evoked potentials (LEP) features in two groups of chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) patients treated with two different approaches: intra-oral appliance of prosthesis, aiming to reduce muscular tenderness, and 10 mg daily amitriptyline.

Methods: Eighteen patients with diagnosed CTTH participated in this open label, controlled study. A baseline evaluation was performed for clinical features, Total Tenderness Score (TTS) and a topographic analysis of LEPs obtained manually and the pericranial points stimulation in all patients vs.

Topographic analysis of laser evoked potentials in chronic tension-type headache: correlations with clinical features.

In the present study, we examined clinical and laser-evoked potentials (LEP) features in a group of chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) patients, in order to perform a topographic analysis of Laser evoked potentials (LEPs) and a correlation with clinical features. Eighteen patients suffering from CTTH [Headache Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society. The International Classification of Headache Disorders 2nd ed.