Journal of the neurological sciences
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Comparative Study
Accuracy of osmophobia in the differential diagnosis between migraine and tension-type headache.
Our objective was to determine the accuracy parameters of osmophobia in the differential diagnosis between migraine and tension-type headache. Migraine or tension-type headache patients, diagnosed according to the criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders-II, were interviewed about osmophobia during the crisis and in the period between episodes. We studied 200 migraine patients and 200 tension-type headache patients. ⋯ In the period between attacks, osmophobia was restricted to migraine patients (48/200, 24.0%). The areas under ROC curves were: 0.903 ± 0.017 to osmophobia during crisis; 0.784 ± 0.025 between crises; 0.807 ± 0.023 to photophobia/phonophobia, and 0.885 ± 0.017 to pain developed by odors. Osmophobia may be a specific marker to differentiate migraine from tension-type headache, which suggests its inclusion within the criteria to diagnose migraine.
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Observational Study
Blood pressure variability and stroke outcome in patients with internal carotid artery occlusion.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between arterial blood pressure (BP) variability during the acute phase and the 3-month outcome in ischemic stroke patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion. ⋯ In a cohort of acute ischemic stroke patients with ipsilateral ICA occlusion BP variability, assessed in the acute phase, was associated with poor clinical outcome. These preliminary exploratory findings are worthy of further study to be conducted to confirm or confute the role of BP variability in predicting stroke outcome. In order to obtain more comprehensive information, it would also be appropriate to consider the possibility of acquiring data related to the pathophysiology of stroke and to cerebral hemodynamic changes.
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Late-life depression (LLD) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) are associated with white matter (WM) disruptions of the fronto-limbic and interhemispheric tracts implicated in mood regulation and episodic memory functions. This work investigates the extent of these WM abnormalities in patients LLD and aMCI when these diseases occur alone and when they coexist. ⋯ Widespread WM microstructural disruptions are present when LLD and aMCI are comorbid -especially in the medial temporal lobe tracts. These WM disruptions may be a marker of disease severity. Also, multiple DTI parameters should be used when evaluating the WM fiber integrity in LLD and aMCI.
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Abnormalities in the gray matter (GM) of the brain parenchyma are present early in the course of multiple sclerosis. ⋯ Diffuse DTI alterations of GM structures, not associated with lesion formation, are present in CIS patients.
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Patients exhibiting basilar artery (BA) curvature (not dolichoectasia) are at an increased risk of posterior circulation ischemic stroke. In this study, pontine infarction patients were analyzed to assess the effect of BA bending length (BL) together with other vascular factors on pontine stroke risk. ⋯ Both BL and diameter differences between the VAs are positively correlated with the risk of pontine infarction. When BA bending was coupled with other vascular risk factors, the probability of pontine infarction increased. BA bending with a BL greater than 3.77 mm was an independent predictor of pontine infarction.