Idiopathic Headache as a Possible Risk Factor for Phantom Tooth Pain

Following tooth pulp extirpation, some subjects suffer from persistent pain which affects edentate sites in absence of any local pathology. As regards this peculiar pain, called phantom tooth pain (PTP), what is puzzling is the fact there is a low prevalence of PTP in a very large population showing identical conditions of tooth pulp extirpation. The present investigation indicates that PTP mainly affects migraine (M) and cluster headache (CH) sufferers, whereas it does not affect subjects who have a negative personal and family history for idiopathic headache (IH). These results circumscribe the presence of PTP to a specific section of the population. The present results, besides indicating that PTP may be the result of a peculiar neuronal predisposition relating to IH pathogenesis, suggests some practical therapeutic hints. In fact, successful anti- M and anti-CH prophylactic treatment greatly improve PTP syndrome.     

Erratum: Serotonin reuptake inhibitors in pregnancy and the risk of major malformations: a systematic review

Hum Psychopharmacol 2007; 22 : 121–128. DOI: 10.1002/hup.836 It has come to our attention that there was an error contained in the above article within the abstracts heading relating to Methods. The article stated that: ‘A literature search was conducted within PsychoINFO’. This should have been published as: ‘A literature search was conducted within PsycINFO’. We apologise for this anomaly.     

Tolerance of ocular iontophoresis in healthy volunteers.

To evaluate ocular tolerance, healthy volunteers were iontophoresed transclerally using novel OcuPhor trade mark hydrogel drug delivery applicators filled with balanced salt solution. In this three-period crossover study in 24 male and female subjects, 16 subjects received 0 mA and two of the following DC currents: 0.1, 0.5., 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, or 4.0 mA for 20 min; 6 subjects received 3 mA for 20 min and 1.5 mA for 40 min (both equivalent to 60 mAmin total charge). Safety and tolerance were determined by subjective VAS and objective ophthalmic assessments. Subjects were evaluated before and up to 22 hr after dosing. The applicators were well-tolerated and no clinically significant changes in symptomology or in ophthalmic assessments were seen following exposure to 0-3.0 mA for 20 min or 1.5 mA for 40 min. At 4.0 mA 2 of 4 subjects reported a burning sensation under the applicator during dosing which resolved by 22 hr post-dose; superficial changes in fluorescein staining were observed at 1 hr, but not at 22 hr. The OcuPhor trade mark system has promise for noninvasive drug delivery to the eye.     

Does age worsen EEG slowing and attention deficits in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether EEG slowing is more pronounced in older than younger OSAS patients and to verify whether this cortical slowing is correlated to daytime performance, respiratory perturbation and sleep fragmentation. METHODS: Twelve young OSAS patients (mean age 38.2+/-2.0 y) and 13 older OSAS patients (mean age 62.2+/-1.9 y) along with 13 young controls (mean age 35.8+/-2.0 y) and 14 older controls (mean age 60.2+/-2.0 y) underwent a polysomnographic evaluation followed by a waking EEG recording. As a global index of cortical slowing, a ratio of slow-to-fast frequencies was calculated in all cortical regions. Daytime performance was assessed using the four choice reaction time test. RESULTS: Differences in waking EEG and in daytime performance were analyzed by ANOVAs with Group and Age as factors. Waking EEG did not yield a Group by Age interaction. OSAS patients had higher ratios across all regions than controls. Similarly, daytime performance revealed no Group by Age interaction. However, OSAS patients showed more lapses than controls and older subjects were slower than younger subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that age does not interact with OSAS to worsen the severity of cortical slowing, but age can add to the OSAS effect to worsen daytime performance deficits in OSAS patients. SIGNIFICANCE: The daytime performance deficits observed particularly in elderly OSAS patients warrant a careful clinical assessment of these patients to prevent accidents and injuries.     

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint successfully treated with arthroscopic lysis and lavage: case report and review of the literature.

Septic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is infrequently reported. We present a case of septic arthritis of the TMJ following the extraction of the left upper second molar that occurred 1 week before beginning of symptoms. No evident predisposing factors were detected. Arthroscopic diagnosis of septic arthritis, lysis and lavage, and capsular stretch were performed. Cultures taken from the TMJ space grew Streptococcus sp. After 1 month of antimicrobial therapy the patient was asymptomatic and mandibular function was normal. Literature related to septic arthritis of TMJ and its treatment was reviewed. Different surgical procedures are available to treat this condition. Arthroscopy should be preferred as initial treatment on account of the possibility of drainage and accurate lavage under direct visualization of joint space, at the same time allowing confirmation of diagnostic hypotheses. Improving joint mobility with lysis of adhesions and capsular stretch in an early stage of disease may be helpful in stopping the fibrosis process.     

Why do Italian people rate their health worse than French people do? An exploration of cross-country differentials of self-rated health

The prevalence of bad self-rated health (SRH) varies considerably across countries. Here we present the results of a cross-national comparative study based on the data of National Health Surveys conducted in France and Italy. According to these data, 11% of the Italian and 6% of the French adult population aged between 45 and 74 rate their health as bad or very bad. This gap may result from differences in population structure regarding the individual characteristics (sociodemographic characteristics, diseases and disabilities, lifestyle, and others) that impact on SRH i.e., a structural effect. It may also be that the link between these characteristics and SRH is “country-specific” i.e., a contextual effect. We use logistic regression models to assess the contribution of both explanations. We find that the structural effect plays a prominent role in the higher prevalence of bad SRH in Italy compared to France.