Prevalence of primary headaches in Germany: results of the German Headache Consortium Study

We investigated the prevalence of migraine (MIG), tension-type headache (TTH), and chronic headache in a population-based sample in Germany. A total of 18,000 subjects aged between 18 and 65 years were screened from 2003 until 2005 using a validated questionnaire. Overall 9,944 participants (55.2%) responded (mean age 43 ± 13.1 years, 52.7% women). Headache frequency <15 days/month was reported by 5,350 (55.5%) subjects of whom 1,601 (16.6%, [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 15.9–17.4]) reported episodic MIG, 1,202 (12.5%, 95% CI 11.8–13.1) episodic TTH, and 1,150 (11.9%, [11.3–12.6]) episodic MIG + episodic TTH, 1,396 (14.5%, [13.8–15.2]) unclassifiable headache. In women, episodic MIG peaked between 36 and 40 years, episodic MIG + TTH between 18 and 35 years and episodic TTH between 56 and 66 years. In men, episodic MIG was predominant between 36 and 45 years, episodic MIG + TTH between 26 and 35 years and episodic TTH showed comparable frequency between 36 and 66 years. Headache ≥15 days/month was reported by 2.6% (n = 255, [95% CI 2.3–3]). Chronic MIG was reported by 1.1% (n = 108, [0.91–1.33]), chronic TTH (n = 50, [95% CI 0.4–0.7]), chronic MIG + TTH 0.8% (n = 74, 95% CI 0.6–0.9) and unclassifiable headache 0.2% (n = 23, [95% CI 0.1–0.3]). Chronic headache was more frequent in women compared to men with the highest prevalence between 46 and 65 years. It is of note that the number of subjects with chronic headache is small in all age groups. The results of our large, population-based study provide reliable, age- and sex-specific estimates of the prevalence of primary headache disorders in Germany. The prevalence with respect to episodic and chronic primary headache disorders in Germany is comparable to other European countries and the USA

Does the 3-aminobenzamide effect on bacterial translocation affect experimental acute necrotizing pancreatitis?

Background/aims: One of the most important complications of acute pancreatitis is the secondary bacterial infections of the pancreas and gut. Translocation of bacteria from the gut is accepted as being responsible for the development of septic complications in acute pancreatitis. In this study, our aim was to investigate the effect of PARP inhibition via 3-aminobenzamide on the bacterial translocation in acute pancreatitis. Methods: 45 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into three groups. Group I (Sham+saline) received normal saline infusion into the common biliopancreatic duct. Acute pancreatitis was induced in Group II (acute pancreatitis+saline) and Group III (acute pancreatitis+3-aminobenzamide) by the retrograde injection of taurocholate into the common biliopancreatic duct. Six hours after induction of pancreatitis, the rats in Group I and II were treated with saline (1 ml, every 12 hours), while the rats in Group III were treated with 3-aminobenzamide (10 mg/kg/day every 12 hours), intraperitoneally. In the 54(th) hour of the study, blood and tissue samples were taken for biochemical, microbiological and histopathological analysis. Results: Acute pancreatitis developed in Groups II and III. Pathologic score [median (25-75% percentiles). of the pancreatitis in Group III [8 (7-9)] was significantly lower than in Group II [19 (18-21)] (p0.05). Improvement in bacterial translocation was correlated with reducing oxidative stress. Conclusions: We demonstrated that 3-aminobenzamide therapy improved histopathologic score and oxidative stress in experimental pancreatitis. In addition, it was demonstrated microbiologically and histopathologically that 3-aminobenzamide therapy improves bacterial translocation. Further survival studies demonstrating the efficacy of 3-aminobenzamide therapy and explaining the potential mechanisms of bacterial translocation prevention in acute necrotizing pancreatitis will be beneficial