The Use of Velocity Information in Movement Reproduction.

Previous studies suggested that movement velocity influence space perception. We examined whether healthy participants used velocity information when they were asked to reproduce a previously performed movement. Two experiments were carried out.

Preventing Episodic Migraine With Caloric Vestibular Stimulation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel solid-state, caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) device to provide adjuvant therapy for the prevention of episodic migraine in adult migraineurs.

Background: Migraine causes significant disability in ∼12% of the world population. No current migraine preventive treatment provides full clinical relief, and many exhibit high rates of discontinuation due to adverse events.

Quality indicators in headache care: an implementation study in six Italian specialist-care centres.

Background: Headache disorders are highly prevalent, and have a substantial and negative impact on health worldwide. They are largely treatable, but differences in structure, objectives, organization and delivery affect the quality of headache care. In order to recognize and remedy deficiencies in care, the Global Campaign against Headache, in collaboration with the European Headache Federation, recently developed a set of quality indicators for headache services.

Chinese Herb Use by Patients at a San Francisco Chinatown Public Health Center.

Objectives: Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) use has not been well characterized in persons living in the United States who receive care by Western-trained healthcare providers. The primary objective of this study was to characterize use of CHM taken in the last 12 months by patients seen at a Chinatown public health center.

Design: Convenience sample survey.

Cortical functional correlates of responsiveness to short-lasting preventive intervention with ketogenic diet in migraine: a multimodal evoked potentials study.

Background: Here, we aim to identify cortical electrofunctional correlates of responsiveness to short-lasting preventiveintervention with ketogenic diet (KD) in migraine.

Methods: Eighteen interictal migraineurs underwent visual (VEPs) and median nerve somatosensory (SSEPs) evokedpotentials before and after 1 month of KD during ketogenesis. We measured VEPs N1-P1 and SSEPs N20-P25 amplitudes respectively in six and in two sequential blocks of 100 sweeps as well as habituation as theslope of the linear regression between block 1 to 6 for VEPs or between 1 to 2 for SSEPs.

Controlled Low-Pressure Blast-Wave Exposure Causes Distinct Behavioral and Morphological Responses Modelling Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Comorbid Mild Traumatic Brain Injury-Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The intense focus in the clinical literature on the mental and neurocognitive sequelae of explosive blast-wave exposure, especially when comorbid with post-traumatic stress-related disorders (PTSD) is justified, and warrants the design of translationally valid animal studies to provide valid complementary basic data. We employed a controlled experimental blast-wave paradigm in which unanesthetized animals were exposed to visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile effects of an explosive blast-wave produced by exploding a thin copper wire. By combining cognitive-behavioral paradigms and ex vivo brain MRI to assess mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) phenotype with a validated behavioral model for PTSD, complemented by morphological assessments, this study sought to examine our ability to evaluate the biobehavioral effects of low-intensity blast overpressure on rats, in a translationally valid manner.

What Factors Contribute to Headache-Related Disability in Teens?

Background: Our aim was to describe the relationship between risk factors, such as stress, depression, and anxiety, and potentially protective factors against pediatric headache-related disability, such as mindfulness, resilience, and self-compassion, and to determine teens' interest in mind-body skills training to help reduce headache-related disability.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey among adolescents seen in an academic neurology clinic reporting four or more headaches monthly using standardized instruments to determine the relationship between putative risk and protective factors as well as physiologic markers of inflammation and vagal tone and headache-related disability.

Results: Among the 29 participants, 31% were male, the average age was 14.

Neurosensory Symptom Complexes after Acute Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) is a prominent public health issue. To date, subjective symptom complaints primarily dictate diagnostic and treatment approaches. As such, the description and qualification of these symptoms in the mTBI patient population is of great value.

Longitudinal Cognitive and Neurobehavioral Functional Outcomes Before and After Repairing Otic Capsule Dehiscence.

Objective: Patients with peripheral vestibular dysfunction because of gravitational receptor asymmetries display signs of cognitive dysfunction and are assumed to have neurobehavioral sequelae. This was tested with pre- and postoperatively quantitative measurements in three cohort groups with superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome (SSCDS) symptoms with: 1) superior canal dehiscence (SCD) repaired via a middle cranial fossa craniotomy and canal plugging only; 2) otic capsule defects not visualized with imaging (no-iOCD) repaired with round window reinforcement (RWR) only; or 3) both SCD plugging and subsequent development of no-iOCD followed by RWR.

Study Design: Prospective patient series.

Effectiveness of Simeprevir Plus Sofosbuvir, With or Without Ribavirin, in Real-World Patients With HCV Genotype 1 Infection.

Background & Aims: The interferon-free regimen of simeprevir plus sofosbuvir was recommended by professional guidelines for certain patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection based on the findings of a phase 2 trial. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this regimen in clinical practice settings in North America.

Methods: We collected demographic, clinical, and virologic data, as well as reports of adverse outcomes, from sequential participants in HCV-TARGET--a prospective observational cohort study of patients undergoing HCV treatment in routine clinical care settings.

Neurotherapy for chronic headache following traumatic brain injury.

Background: Chronic headache following traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained in military service, while common, is highly challenging to treat with existing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions and may be complicated by co-morbid posttraumatic stress. Recently, a novel form of brainwave-based intervention known as the Flexyx Neurotherapy System (FNS) that involves minute pulses of electromagnetic energy stimulation of brainwave activity has been suggested as a means to address symptoms of TBI. This study reports on a clinical series of patients with chronic headache following service-connected TBI treated with FNS.

Implementation of a worksite wellness program targeting small businesses: the Pinnacol Assurance health risk management study.

Objective: To assess small business adoption and need for a worksite wellness program in a longitudinal study of health risks, productivity, workers' compensation rates, and claims costs.

Methods: Health risk assessment data from 6507 employees in 260 companies were examined. Employer and employee data are reported as frequencies, with means and standard deviations reported when applicable.

Safety and efficacy of peripheral nerve stimulation of the occipital nerves for the management of chronic migraine: long-term results from a randomized, multicenter, double-blinded, controlled study.

Background: Recent studies evaluated short-term efficacy and safety of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) of the occipital nerves for managing chronic migraine. We present 52-week safety and efficacy results from an open-label extension of a randomized, sham-controlled trial.

Methods: In this institutional review board-approved, randomized, multicenter, double-blinded study, patients were implanted with a neurostimulation system, randomized to an active or control group for 12 weeks, and received open-label treatment for an additional 40 weeks.

Current concepts in refractory migraine.

The Refractory or Intractable Migraine (RM) patient has long been a challenge to all healthcare providers (HCP). Headache specialists have recognized this sub group of patients who remain refractory to treatment. Despite this recognition, there are no formal criteria that characterize RM.

Testosterone pellet implants and migraine headaches: a pilot study.

The purpose of this prospective pilot study was to determine the therapeutic effect of continuous testosterone, delivered as a subcutaneous implant, on the severity of migraine headaches in pre- and post-menopausal patients. Twenty-seven women with a history of documented migraine headache were asked to rate their headache severity using a five-point scale at baseline (prior to therapy); and again, 3 months following treatment with testosterone implants. Improvement in headache severity was noted by 92% of patients and the mean level of improvement was statistically significant (3.

Safety of tranexamic acid in women with heavy menstrual bleeding: an open-label extension study.

Aims: An open-label, extension clinical study was conducted to assess the safety of a novel, oral formulation of tranexamic acid (TA) in women with cyclic heavy menstrual bleeding.

Patients & Methods: Eligible patients who completed either a three- or six-cycle double-blinded clinical trial of TA were offered enrollment into a study of nine cycles with TA (1.3 g orally three times/day for a maximum of 5 days per cycle).

Long-term evaluation of safety and health-related quality of life in women with heavy menstrual bleeding treated with oral tranexamic acid.

Aims: A multicenter, long-term, open-label study was conducted to assess the safety and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of an oral tranexamic acid (TA) formulation in women with cyclic heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB).

Materials & Methods: Following a screening menstrual cycle, women with a history of cyclic HMB initiated 27 cycles of treatment with TA 1.3 g administered three-times daily for up to 5 days per menstrual cycle (maximum of 15 doses).

Analysis of safety and tolerability data obtained from over 1,500 patients receiving topiramate for migraine prevention in controlled trials.

Objective: Topiramate is an effective and generally well-tolerated migraine preventive therapy, as shown in three large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled registration trials. Based upon efficacy/tolerability, topiramate 100 mg/day (50 mg BID) is the recommended target dose for most patients with migraine. To further assess the safety and tolerability of topiramate for migraine prevention, we analyzed safety data from 1,580 patients who participated in the three pivotal registration trials or an earlier pilot, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Electronic medical record system in a headache specialty practice: a patient satisfaction survey.

Background: Since November 2002, Headache Wellness Center, a specialty headache practice in Greensboro, NC, has used exclusively an electronic medical record (EMR) system for all patient clinical contacts.

Objective: To assess patient satisfaction and perceptions regarding this new office technology and to better understand the EMR-patient-physician relationship.

Methods: An EMR satisfaction survey was administered from February to June 2006 and was completed by 394 patients.

Efficacy of duloxetine as a migraine preventive medication: possible predictors of response in a retrospective chart review.

Objective: This case series is a retrospective chart analysis conducted to evaluate the efficacy of duloxetine as a migraine preventive medication and to suggest possible predictors of response.

Background: Duloxetine, a relatively new selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is FDA-approved for treatment of depression and diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. The efficacy of duloxetine as a headache preventive medication is currently unknown.

Common medical problems of the college student.

The college health physician cares for college students who present with a wide variety of medical disorders. This article reviews the management of four common medical problems: infectious mononucleosis, asthma, migraine headaches, and urinary tract infections. College students can become ill, and it is important that they have health care services designed to deal with their health care issues.

Pharmacoeconomics: the cost of prophylactic migraine treatments.

Migraine preventive medications considered effective reduce headache frequency by 50 percent in approximately 50 percent of treated patients. In spite of similar effectiveness, these medications vary tremendonsly in their prices. Knowledge of medication prices and employing cost-effective strategies may greatly reduce treatment costs.

Cost considerations of acute migraine treatment.

Objective: To provide medication price data and cost-reducing strategies for the acute treatment of migraine.

Methods: Retail prices for common acute care medications were found at http://www.drugstore.

Laboratory monitoring of OxyContin (oxycodone): clinical pitfalls.

Some patients have headaches that are refractory to standard treatments, and they require chronic administration of opioid analgesics. The use of opioids in a clinical setting must be closely monitored due to the medications' potential for addiction, abuse, and fatal interactions. Limited access to opioids and the demand for them outside the clinical setting leads to another danger.