Subarachnoid hemorrhage and negative angiography: clinical course and long-term follow-up.

The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term natural history of nontraumatic angiogram-negative subarachnoid hemorrhage with typical pretruncal (P-SAH) and diffuse (D-SAH) pattern of hemorrhage. A retrospective review of 102 patients who experienced angiographically negative SAH at our institution was undertaken (11.6% of 882 spontaneous SAH).

Interleukin-1 cluster gene polymorphisms and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: Emerging data indicate that proinflammatory cytokines may be involved in the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms. Interleukin (IL)-1 is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays a pivotal role in both acute and chronic central nervous system injuries.

Objective: To investigate whether select polymorphisms in the IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-1 receptor antagonist genes are associated with both susceptibility to and clinical characteristics of subarachnoid hemorrhage due to intracranial aneurysm rupture.

Clinical and radiological outcome of craniocervical osteo-dural decompression for Chiari I-associated syringomyelia.

The aim of this study was to analyze the long-term clinical and radiological outcomes of craniocervical decompression for patients affected by Chiari I-related syringomyelia. We performed a retrospective analysis of a group of patients affected by Chiari I-associated syringomyelia treated by craniocervical decompression (CCD). Surgical and technical aspects and preoperative factors predicting outcome were discussed.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine genes influence the clinical features of frontotemporal lobar degeneration.

Background/aims: Recent studies suggested a role for pro-inflammatory mediators in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of functionally active polymorphisms in pro-inflammatory cytokine genes with the occurrence and the clinical features of the disease.

Methods: Using a case-control study, we compared allelic and genotypic frequencies of several polymorphisms in the interleukin (IL)-1alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha genes between 110 FTLD patients and 119 healthy controls.

Haplotype analysis confirms the association between the HCRTR2 gene and cluster headache.

Background: Several studies suggested that genetic factors play a role in cluster headache (CH) susceptibility. We found a significant association between the 1246 G>A polymorphism of the hypocretin receptor-2 (HCRTR2) gene and the disease. This association was confirmed in a large study from Germany but was not replicated in a dataset of CH patients from Northern Europe.

Voxel-based morphometry reveals gray matter abnormalities in migraine.

Background: Migraine is generally considered a functional brain disorder lacking structural abnormalities. Recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, however, suggested that migraine may be associated with subtle brain lesions.

Objective: We evaluated the presence of global or focal gray or white matter alterations in migraine patients using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), a fully automated method of analyzing changes in brain structure.

Vasospasm after SAH due to aneurysm rupture of the anterior circle of Willis: value of TCD monitoring.

Objective: The aim of this study was to verify the presence of angiographic vasospasm in patients with transcranial Doppler (TCD) of high velocities after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Methods: Seven hundred and eighty-six cases admitted within 48 hours after SAH due to the rupture of anterior circulation aneurysm, were prospectively studied with TCD. In cases of TCD velocities higher than 120 cm/s (TCD vasospasm), the patient underwent a control angiography.

Association between the G1246A polymorphism of the hypocretin receptor 2 gene and cluster headache: a meta-analysis.

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between polymorphisms of the hypocretin receptor 2 gene (HCRTR2) and the risk of cluster headache (CH). The study is a meta-analysis of published case-control studies investigating the association between polymorphisms of the HCRTR2 gene and CH. Pooled odds ratios (OR) were estimated using both random (RE) and fixed effects (FE) models.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene and cerebral aneurysms.

Objective: The pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysms is still uncertain. In addition to atherosclerosis, immunological factors may play a role in the disease. Recent studies have suggested that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), one of the main proinflammatory cytokines, may play a key role in the formation and rupture of cerebral aneurysms.

Lack of association between the apolipoprotein E gene and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in an Italian population.

Object: The results of genome-wide scan studies have suggested the presence of a genetic risk factor for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) on chromosome 19 (at 19p13). The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is located in this chromosomal region and encodes a protein that exerts several neuroprotective and neurotrophic functions in the brain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a particular allele or genotype of the APOE gene would modify the occurrence or the clinical features of SAH.

Endocrine function is altered in chronic migraine patients with medication-overuse.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of analgesic overuse on endocrine function in patients with chronic migraine and medication-overuse headache (CM-MOH).

Background: Chronic migraine is frequently associated with an overuse of symptomatic medications. Drugs currently used in acute migraine attacks are associated with several endocrine effects.

Anger and emotional distress in patients with migraine and tension-type headache.

The objective was to evaluate the prevalence and the characteristics of anger and emotional distress in migraine and tension- type headache patients. Two hundred and one headache patients attending the Headache Center of the University of Turin were selected for the study and divided into 5 groups: (1) migraine, (2) episodic tension-type headache, (3) chronic tension-type headache, (4) migraine associated with episodic tension-type headache and (5) migraine associated with chronic tension-type headache. A group of 45 healthy subjects served as controls.

Association between migraine and HLA-DRB1 gene polymorphisms.

We examined the distribution of HLA-DRB1 alleles in a cohort of 255 Italian migraine patients and in a control group of 325 healthy subjects. The frequency of DRB1*12 allele was found to be significantly reduced (p=0.02) in patients with migraine while the DRB1*16 allele was significantly increased (p=0.

HLA-DRB1 genotyping in Italian migraine patients.

We examined the distribution of HLA-DRB1 alleles in a cohort 255 Italian migraine patients and in a control group of 325 healthy subjects. 214 patients fulfilled the ICHD-II criteria for migraine without aura and 41 patients the criteria for migraine with aura. The frequency of DRB1*16 allele was found to be significantly increased in migraine without aura patients (p=0.

Prevalence of HFE (hemochromatosis) gene mutations in patients with cluster headache.

Objective: To evaluate whether polymorphisms of the HFE gene would modify the occurrence and the clinical features of cluster headache (CH).

Background: Recent studies suggested that iron metabolism may be involved in the pathophysiology of primary headaches. The HFE gene encodes for a protein that modulates iron absorption.

Absence of linkage between the interleukin-6 gene (-174 G/C) polymorphism and migraine.

To assess the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in migraine, we analyzed the -174 G/C IL-6 gene polymorphism in 268 patients with migraine and 305 controls. No significant difference in the distribution of IL-6 genotypes (chi(2)=0.601, P=0.

A comparison of familial and sporadic migraine in a headache clinic population.

We compared the clinical, psychological and pharmacological characteristics of patients with familial migraine and patients with sporadic migraine. Five hundred and thirty consecutive new patients attending our Headache Center over a two-year period were involved in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: A.

A polymorphism in the interleukin-1alpha gene influences the clinical features of migraine.

Objective: To evaluate whether a particular genotype of the interleukin-1alpha (IL1A) gene affects the clinical features of migraine.

Background: Proinflammatory mediators have been reported to play a role in the pathophysiology of migraine. Recent studies suggest that polymorphisms in the interleukin-1 genes influence the age at onset and subsequent course of several chronic inflammatory diseases.

Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms in patients with migraine.

To investigate the role of apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphisms in migraine, we analyzed the APOE genotypes of 241 migraine patients and 587 controls. The results of a Chi-square analysis indicated that APOE alleles were similarly distributed (chi(2)=2.89, P=0.