Long-term follow-up study of occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) for refractory chronic cluster headache: drastic change from short term outcome

Conference (2006)

Occipital nerve stimulation in refractory chronic cluster headache: a pilot study of efficacy and mechanisms in five patients

in Cephalalgia : An International Journal of Headache (2005, December), 25(12), 1197

Lack of habituation of visual evoked gamma band oscillations in migraine patients between attacks

in Cephalalgia : An International Journal of Headache (2005, October), 25(10), 885

Trigeminal nociceptive evoked potentials (TNEP) in migraine

in Cephalalgia : An International Journal of Headache (2005, October), 25(10), 875

Effects of nitroglycerin on the nociception specific blink reflex

in Cephalalgia : An International Journal of Headache (2005, October), 25(10), 888

Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraine prophylaxis: A randomized controlled trial

in Neurology (2005), 64(4), 713-715

Riboflavin, which improves energy metabolism similarly to coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), is effective in migraine prophylaxis. We compared CoQ10 (3 x 100 mg/day) and placebo in 42 migraine patients in a double ... [more ▼]

Riboflavin, which improves energy metabolism similarly to coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), is effective in migraine prophylaxis. We compared CoQ10 (3 x 100 mg/day) and placebo in 42 migraine patients in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. CoQ10 was superior to placebo for attack-frequency, headache-days and days-with-nausea in the third treatment month and well tolerated; 50%-responder-rate for attack frequency was 14.4% for placebo and 47.6% for CoQ10 (number-needed-to-treat: 3). CoQ10 is efficacious and well tolerated. [less ▲]

A trial of metoclopramide vs sumatriptan for the emergency department treatment of migraines.

in Neurology (2005), 65(8), 1339-401339-40

Nociceptive blink reflex and visual evoked potential habituations are correlated in migraine

in Headache (2005), 45(10, Nov-Dec), 1388-1393

BACKGROUND: Lack of habituation, as reported in migraine patients between attacks for evoked cortical responses, was also recently found for the nociceptive blink reflex (nBR) mediated by brainstem ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND: Lack of habituation, as reported in migraine patients between attacks for evoked cortical responses, was also recently found for the nociceptive blink reflex (nBR) mediated by brainstem neurons. It is not known if both brain stem and cortical habituation deficits are correlated in the same patient, which would favor a common underlying mechanism. OBJECTIVE: To search for intraindividual correlations between habituation of pattern reversal-visual evoked potentials and that of the nociception-specific blink reflex in migraineurs and in healthy volunteers (HV). METHODS: We recorded 15 HV and 15 migraine without aura patients between attacks. Habituation for visual evoked potentials was measured by comparing the N1-P1 amplitude change (%) between the first and sixth block of 100 sequential averaged responses. Habituation for the nBR was defined as the percentage change of the R2 response area between the 1st and 10th block of five averaged EMG responses, elicited by stimulating the right side every 2 minutes for 32 minutes. We also calculated the slope of N1-P1 amplitude and R2 response area changes from the first to the last response and the correlation with attack frequency. RESULTS: A significant habituation deficit in both cortical and brain stem evoked activity characterized on average the group of migraineurs compared to controls. In migraine patients, but not in HV, we found a significant positive correlation between habituation of pattern reversal-visual evoked potentials and that of the nociception-specific blink reflex both for the degree of habituation between first and last blocks of averagings (r = 0.703; P = .003) and for the habituation slope (r = 0.751; P = .001). Moreover, nBR habituation was positively correlated with attack frequency (r = 0.548; P = .034). CONCLUSION: The positive correlation between visual evoked potential and nBR habituations is consistent with the idea that in migraine the same neurobiological dysfunction might be responsible for the habituation deficit both in cortex and brain stem. As nBR habituation increases with attack frequency, its interictal deficit is unlikely to be due to trigeminal sensitization. [less ▲]

Alcool, sensibilite a l'insuline et diabete sucre.

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2003), 58(7-8), 501-7

The relationship between alcohol consumption and insulin resistance shows a U-shaped curve: insulin resistance is minimal in individuals with regular mild to moderate alcohol consumption and increases in ... [more ▼]

The relationship between alcohol consumption and insulin resistance shows a U-shaped curve: insulin resistance is minimal in individuals with regular mild to moderate alcohol consumption and increases in both heavy drinkers and subjects without any alcohol consumption. These favourable metabolic effects on insulin sensitivity of moderate alcohol consumption may explain the significant reduction in the development of type 2 diabetes and the risk of cardiovascular complications reported in numerous epidemiological studies. This latter effect has also reported in patients with diabetes mellitus, although this observation remains controversial. However, alcohol consumption could increase the global risk of hypoglycaemia, both in the fasting state and after a meal (reactive hypoglycaemia) in both diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. These latter effects may result from a direct inhibition of gluconeogenesis, from a reduced secretion of counterregulatory hormones and/or from an alcohol-induced inappropriate behaviour. [less ▲]

Tabagisme, insulinoresistance et diabete de type 2.

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2002), 57(9), 575-81

Smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is associated with endothelial dysfunction and lipid disorders similar to those found in the insulin resistance syndrome. Studies have thus ... [more ▼]

Smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is associated with endothelial dysfunction and lipid disorders similar to those found in the insulin resistance syndrome. Studies have thus tried to demonstrate a relationship between smoking and insulin resistance, and between smoking and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Even if their results may sometimes differ, smoking does seem to be associated with an impaired insulin sensitivity that is proportional to tobacco consumption. Nicotine replacement therapies seem also to generate a certain, though lower, degree of insulin resistance. If there is no major weight gain after smoking cessation, the latter is accompanied by a progressive return to normal insulin sensitivity. Several large epidemiological studies recently demonstrated that smoking could increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, with a relative risk between 1.5 and 3.0. Finally, among type 2 diabetic patients, smoking has a harmful effect on metabolic control and long-term complications of the disease, at least partially by increasing the components of the insulin resistance syndrome. All these observations represent further argument to promote smoking cessation in the general population, and more particularly in individuals at risk to develop type 2 diabetes, as well as in the diabetic population. [less ▲]