Acta neurologica Belgica
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Acta neurologica Belgica · Dec 2009
ReviewCGRP antagonists: hope for a new era in acute migraine treatment.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has a widespread distribution throughout the trigeminovascular system and other brain areas involved in migraine pathogenesis. Serum levels of CGRP are elevated during the migraine attack and return to normal with alleviation of pain. Intravenous injection of CGRP in migraineurs results in delayed headache similar to migraine. ⋯ Intravenous BIBN4096BS (olcegepant) and oral MK-0974 (telcagepant), two CGRP-receptor antagonists, were safe and effective in the treatment of migraine attacks in Phase I and II trials. In a Phase III clinical trial, the efficacy of telcagepant 300 mg was comparable to that of zolmitriptan 5 mg. We intend to review the rationale for the use of CGRP-receptor antagonists, and to outline current developments and future perspectives.
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Action research is a form of research that enables practitioners to investigate and evaluate their own work. It is increasingly used in health care research; it is a research strategy in which the researcher and practitioners from the setting under study work together in projects aimed at generating new knowledge and simultaneously improving practice. ⋯ Ethical problems are discussed as are questions of rigour The article shows that action research can be used to bridge the gap between theory and practice by generating knowledge fitting the particular circumstances in the practical setting, thereby avoiding problems of implementation of research findings due to lack of fit or lack of motivation. Action research lastingly increases the capacities of practitioners to solve problems encountered in practice.
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Acta neurologica Belgica · Jun 2009
Case ReportsUnusual presentation of a spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma.
Spontaneous spinal epidural haematoma (SSEH) is a rare clinical entity that generally requires an urgent surgical evacuation. The combination of Brown-Séquard syndrome (BSS) and Horner's syndrome (HS) as the presenting symptoms of a traumatic spinal epidural haematoma is very unusual, but it has never been observed in cases of spontaneous haematoma. We herein describe a case of SSEH presenting with simultaneous BSS and HS. The possibility of a conservative management in similar cases is discussed.
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Acta neurologica Belgica · Mar 2009
Multicenter StudyDiagnostic and therapeutic trajectory of cluster headache patients in Flanders.
A fraction of cluster headache (CH) patients face diagnostic delay, misdiagnosis, undertreatment and mismanagement. Specific data for Flanders are warranted. ⋯ Despite the obvious methodological limitations of this study, the need for better medical education on CH is evident to optimize CH management in Flanders.
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Acta neurologica Belgica · Dec 2008
The effects of mannitol and melatonin on MRI findings in an animal model of traumatic brain edema.
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of mannitol and melatonin on brain edema secondary to trauma using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ⋯ In this animal model, melatonin and mannitol had similar effects on brain edema, as demonstrated on MRI 3 and 36 hours after head trauma.