Sodium channel antagonists for the treatment of migraine

Introduction: Migraine has a strong social impact, influencing both quality of life and work productivity. Therapeutic approach of migraine consists of a multimodal program of pharmacotherapy and behavioral therapy in order to reduce the risk of chronification. Indications for the use of preventive therapy are three or more attacks per month, significant disability, attack duration that is > 90 min.Areas covered: In this review, studies conducted on sodium channel antagonists for the prophylaxis of migraine are selected using the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD)-I and -II diagnostic criteria for migraine and are open-label and placebo-controlled studies.Expert opinion: Several sodium channel antagonists, such as valproic acid, topiramate, lamotrigine, zonisamide, carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine, are widely used in migraine although without similar level of efficacy. Among these antiepileptic drugs, valproic acid and topiramate seem to be more effective in migraine, as reported in the majority of controlled studies. In spite of their high efficacy rate, important side effects should be always monitored, especially depression, cognitive functions, weight gain, sleepiness and dizziness. The usefulness of this class drug will be dramatically improved by using ongoing data on individual pharmacogenomics profile. © 2014 Informa UK, Ltd

A case of allergic enterocolitis to milk protein in a down baby

Anna, a term baby born by Caesarean section, firstborn, Apgar 8/9, born SGA 2.630 g weight; performed in karyotype of Down syndrome suspected ’free trisomy of chromosome 21’, echocardiography and abdominal ultrasound normal, ABR REFER, discharged in 8th day of life with diet of mother’s milk integrated with zero infant formula. Hospitalisation at one month of life due to serious clinical conditions (dehydration, hypovolemic shock, metabolic acidosis, PCR 67,4 mg/L, PCT 4,45 ng/ml, leukocytosis 63870/microL, weight 2447 g); negative blood, liquor, urine and stool cultures; Chest and Abdomen X-ray showed meteoric distension of the intestinal loops. She began antibiotic (Ampicillin+Sulbactam, Netilmicin, Ceftazidime) and immunoglobulin therapy with improvement and reduction of inflammatory markers; feeding with zero infant formula. After the fourth day of hospitalisation spontaneous emission of greenish bloody stools and then liquid stools, hypotonus, metabolic acidosis, bulbous abdomen, fever, increased inflammatory markers and leukocytosis occurred despite antibiotic therapy. New negatives cultures tested, negative parasitological faecal examination, positive faecal calprotectin (702.59 mg/kg); lymphocyte subpopulations and normal immunoglobulins. Anaemia with need of blood transfusion. Therapy replaced with Meropenem and Vancomycin and diet with hydrolyzed infant formula with slight improvements. The appearance of two similar to previous episodes in the following days suggested to treat with antibiotics and immunoglobulins. After gastroenterological consulting, in allergic enterocolitis to milk protein suspect, it replaced diet with hydrolyzed infant formula with amino acids. The following days progressive clinical improvement noted, weight increase, normal inflammatory markers, good conditions and subsequently discharge. Three weeks later, during medical check-up, she appeared in good clinical condition, increase in weight of 650

Also adipose tissue pays consequencies of perinatal asphyxia

D.R. is born at term of physiological pregnancy by caesarean section. Birth weight was 3520 g, APGAR 7/9. At birth he presented axial hypotonia, hyporeactivity, groan, mild respiratory distress. Started Non Invasive Ventilation for 2 days with good improvement of outcome. At 4 day life, we started antimicrobial therapy and immunoglobulins ev because of elevated inflammatory markers and low platelet counts (PLT 47000/mcl) confirmed at the blood smear. After 2 weeks, on the neck and on the right cheek, finding of erythematous nodules of a few millimetres of diameter. In the days after, the lesions are also extended to the left cheek and became larger up to about 3 cm. At the ultrasound they appeared as ‘delimited echogenic areas of 19 × 14 mm at left, 17 × 12 mm at right whit intrinsic vascularisation and of irregular structure. Laboratory pannels (hepatic, renal, coltural exams, procalcitonin) were negative, ESR 24 mm/h, CRP 23.6 mg/L. About 30 days after, we see a reduction of the lesions in spite of a persistent increase of inflammatory markers. Therefore, a bacterial aetiology appeared ulikely saw that antimicrobial therapy so soon established, had no effects on them. Subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn is a relatively rare and transient condition that appeared in the first weeks of life in term infants with a perinatal suffering. This condition is caractherized by single or multiple subcutaneous nodules, isolated or confluent in plaques, erythematous/purplish, sometimes with little depressions, calcifications or necrosis inside; symmetrically distributed on the back, shoulders, buttocks, cheeks and at the root of the limbs; often painful at palpation. These nodules grow for some weeks and completely resolve within few months. Etiopathogenesis is probably linked to ischaemic injury, hypoxia, hypothermia and/or stress damage on the immature adipose tissue in infants with perinatal asphyxia. Maternal hypertension, gestational diabetes, family history of thrombophilia and dyslipidemia are considered risk factors. The diagnosis is clinical; the cutaneous biopsy is of support. Important for diagnosis are also the Ultrasonography and RMN. Hypercalcemia is the most dangerous complication; less frequent consequencies are thrombocytopenia, metabolic disorders (hypertriglyceridemia, hypoglycemia) and atrophic development of the nodular lesions

The burden of early-onset sepsis in Emilia-Romagna (Italy): a 4-year, population-based study

Objective: To provide the first Italian data on pathogens causing early-onset sepsis (EOS) and their antimicrobial susceptibility, after the successfully prevention of Group B streptococcus (GBS) EOS. Methods: Retrospective area-based cohort study from Emilia-Romagna (Italy). Cases of EOS registered (from 2009 to 2012) in all gestational age neonates were reviewed. Results: Live births (LB) numbered 146 682. Ninety neonates had EOS and 12 died (incidence rates of 0.61 and 0.08/1000 LB, respectively). EOS and mortality were the highest among neonates with a birth weight <1000 g (20.37/1000 LB and 8.49/1000 LB, respectively). The most common pathogens were GBS (n = 27, 0.18/1000 LB) and Escherichia coli (n = 19, 0.13/1000 LB). Most infants affected by E. coli EOS were born preterm (n = 13), had complications (n = 4) or died (n = 7). Among 90 isolates tested, only 3 were resistant to both first line empirical antibiotics. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that low gestational age, caesarean section and low platelet count at presentation were significantly associated with death or brain lesions (area under ROC curve = 0.939, H-L = 0.944, sensitivity 76.0%, specificity 90.7%). Conclusions: GBS slightly exceeds E. coli as a cause of EOS. However, E. coli is the prominent cause of death, complications and in most cases affects preterm neonates. Empirical antimicrobial therapy of EOS seems appropriate