No abstract

The significance of dietary factors as triggers for migraines is controversial, and the assessment of this topic is complex and inconclusive. In order to evaluate the published evidence on dietary triggers, a critical review of the literature was performed by conducting a search for food item descriptors linked to migraines in the PubMed and SciELO databases. Reviews and relevant references cited within the articles that resulted from the search were also included. Of the 45 studies reviewed, 16 were population studies that involved the association between migraines and eating habits or the prevalence of related dietary factors; 12 involved interventions or analyzed observational prospective cohorts; and 17 were retrospective studies. Approximately 30 dietary triggers were explored in total, although only seven of these were addressed experimentally. In the prospective studies, patients were instructed to keep a diary; two of these studies involved dietary interventions. Conclusions that are based on nonpharmacological prophylactic strategies with a scientific basis and that show an association between certain dietary factors and the triggering of migraines are limited by the lack of prospective studies with clear experimental designs. Nevertheless, the high frequency of possible specific dietary triggers validates efforts to elucidate the involvement of food-related factors in precipitating migraines.

BackgroundStudies suggest a higher prevalence of unfavourable cardiovascular risk factors amongst migraineurs, but results have been conflicting. The aim of this study was to investigate traditional and newly recognized risk factors as well as other surrogate markers of cardiovascular risk in obese and normal weight women with migraine.MethodsFifty-nine adult female probands participated in this case–control study. The sample was divided into normal weight and obese migraineurs and age- and body mass index-matched control groups. The following cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed: serum levels of lipids, fasting glucose, and insulin; insulin resistance; blood pressure; smoking (categorized as current, past or never); Framingham 10-year risk of general cardiovascular disease score; C-reactive protein; family history of cardiovascular disease; physical activity; sleep disturbances; depression; and bioelectrical impedance phase angle. The means of continuous variables were compared using Student’s t-test for independent samples or the Mann–Whitney U-test (for 2 groups) and ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test (for 4 groups) depending on the distribution of data.ResultsAll migraineurs were sedentary irrespective of nutritional status. Migraineurs had higher depression scores and shorter sleep duration, and obese migraineurs, in particular, had worse sleep quality scores. Insulin resistance and insulinaemia were associated with obesity, and obese migraineurs had lower HDL-c than normal weight controls and migraineurs. Also, the Framingham risk score was higher in obese migraineurs.ConclusionThese findings suggest that female migraineurs experience marked inactivity, depression, and some sleep disturbance, that higher insulin resistance and insulinaemia are related to obesity, and that obesity and migraine probably exert overlapping effects on HDL-c levels and Framingham 10-year cardiovascular risk.

Brain cancers are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children. Biological changes in these tumors likely include epigenetic deregulation during embryonal development of the nervous system. Histone acetylation is one of the most widely investigated epigenetic processes, and histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) are increasingly important candidate treatments in many cancer types. Here, we review advances in our understanding of how HDACis display antitumor effects in experimental models of specific pediatric brain tumor types, i.e., medulloblastoma (MB), ependymoma (EPN), pediatric high-grade gliomas (HGGs), and rhabdoid and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (ATRTs). We also discuss clinical perspectives for the use of HDACis in the treatment of pediatric brain tumors.

No abstract

RESUMO -As complicações neurológicas em transplante hepático (TxH) são importante causa de morbimortalidade, pois as intercorrências podem resultar de fatores prévios ao TxH, de alterações trans-operatórias, de dificuldades com os imunossupressores, coagulopatias e infecções do período pós-operatório. Nós analisamos , retrospectivamente, a cronologia, as causas e as frequências das alterações neurológicas de 30 pacientes adultos submetidos a TxH e constatamos que nossos resultados diferem ligeiramente dos apresentados em outras séries. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: alterações neurológicas, transplante hepático. Neurologic alterations in patients submitted to liver transplantation: analysis of 30 consecutive casesABSTRACT -Neurologic complications are important source of morbi-mortality, in liver transplantation. They result from previous factors, alterations during the surgical procedure, effects from immunosuppresor drugs, coagulopathy and infections. We analyzed, retrospectively, the chronology, causes, and frequencies of neurologic alterations in thirty adult patients submitted to liver transplantation, and our results differ slighty from those registered in other series. KEY-WORDS: neurologic alterations, liver transplantation.Alterações neurológicas em transplante hepático (TxH) são importante causa de morbimortalidade, podendo afetar de 13,2 a 90% dos pacientes, conforme as diferentes séries 1,-3, 6-7, 9-11,14,18 , e ter origem central ou periférica. As intercorrências podem resultar de fatores prévios ao transplante como os relacionados ao alcoolismo, a infecção pelo vírus da hepatite C e a desnutrição, ou de alterações trans-operatórias e de dificuldades com imunossupressores, que vão desde efeitos colaterais extra-piramidais até as infecções, coagulopatias e infecções do período pós-operatório 2,3,6,[8][9][10][11][12]15,17,18 . Diminuição do nível de consciência é uma das alterações mais precoces e pode ser consequência de fatores tão variados quanto a hipoglicemia e doença cerebrovascular (DCV) 2,3,6,7,[9][10][11]15,17 . Convulsões afetam de 6 a 36 % dos pacientes e costumam ser únicas e tônico-clônicas generalizadas 2,3,6,[7][8][9][10][11][13][14][15][16][17] . As infecções ocorrem em 5 a 10 % dos pacientes e podem ser convencionais, no período mais precoce do transplante, ou oportunistas, e são de alta mortalidade [1][2][3]6,[9][10][11]15,17 . A cefaléia é uma queixa

No abstract

RESUMO -O objetivo deste estudo consiste em avaliar a prevalência de anticorpos antimicrossomais (AAM), a função tireóidea e a ocorrência de sintomas relacionados ao hipotireoidismo em pacientes com esclerose multipla (EM). Em um grupo de 21 pacientes com EM, foi realizado exameclínico, foram dosados o TSH, T4 e T4 livre e pesquisados AAM. A média de idade foi 41,05 anos e a média de tempo de doença foi 85,9 meses. Os sintomas relacionados ao hipotireoidismo foram fadiga, fraqueza, letargia e parestesias. Os AAM foram encontrados em 4 pacientes (19%). O tempo de doença foi dividido em três períodos: <60 meses (3 pacientes AAM+/7AAM-), 60-120 meses (8 pacientes AAM-) e >120 meses (1 paciente AAM+/2 AAM-). Dois pacientes apresentaram níveis de T4 livre diminuídos, porém com T4 e TSH normais. Em 1 paciente, constatou-se hipotireoidismo subclínico, e em outro, hipotireoidismo clássico. Conclui-se que na avaliação dos pacientes com EM, em vista da falta de precisão na avaliação clínica do hipotireoidismo ocasionada pela sobreposição de sintomas referentes à EM, devam ser incorporadas as dosagens das provas de função tireóidea (PFT) e dos AAM.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: esclerose múltipla, anticorpos antimicrossomais, hipotireoidismo. Prevalence of antimicrosomal antibodies in patients with multiple sclerosisABSTRACT -The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Antimicrosomal Antibodies AMA, thyroid function and the occurrence of hypothyroidism symptoms in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Clinical examination was carried out in 21 MS patients; thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), free T4 and AMA were measured. Mean age was 41.05 years. Hypothyroidism symptoms included fatigue, weakness, lethargy and paresthesia. AMA were found in four patients (19%). Three categories of disease duration were considered: <60 months (3 patients AMA+; 7 AMA-), 60-120 months (8 patients AMA-), and >120 months (1 patient AMA+; 2 AMA-). Two patients presented decreased free T4 levels, but there was no associated decrease in T4 and TSH levels. In two patients, a mild increase in TSH levels was observed: one presented normal T4 levels (subclinical hypothyroidism) and the other one had low free T4 levels (classical hypothyroidism). We conclude that AMA measurement and thyroid function tests should become part of the routine assessment of MS patients, in view of the inaccuracy currently observed in the assessment of clinical hypothyroidism as a result of the superposition of hypothyroidism and MS signs and symptoms.KEY WORDS: multiple sclerosis, antimicrosomal antibodies, hypothyroidism.A esclerose múltipla (EM) é doença desmielinizante que resulta de reações inflamatórias desencadeadas por mecanismos complexos de anormalidade imunorregulatória, provavelmente associados a fatores genéticos e ambientais. O mecanismo autoimune pode ser caracterizado pela presença de diversos auto-anticorpos contra antígenos circulantes órgão-específicos (tireóide, estômago, pâncreas) entre os quais os antimicrossomais (AAM) [1][2][3][4][5] . Os ...