Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021
Significance Coexposure to airborne pollen enhances susceptibility to respiratory viral infection... more Significance Coexposure to airborne pollen enhances susceptibility to respiratory viral infections, regardless of the allergy status. We hypothesized this could be also true for SARS-CoV-2 infections. To investigate this, we tested for relationships between SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and pollen concentrations, along with humidity, temperature, population density, and lockdown effects. Our unique dataset derives from 130 sites in 31 countries and across five continents. We found that pollen, sometimes in synergy with humidity and temperature, explained, on average, 44% of the infection rate variability. Lockdown halved infection rates under similar pollen concentrations. As we cannot completely avoid pollen exposure, we suggest wide dissemination of pollen−virus coexposure information to encourage high-risk individuals to wear particle filter masks during high springtime pollen concentrations.
Maria Grazia S p i l l a n t i n i , Daniela Renzi, Daniela Ca le r i , E l i s a b e t t a Ba ld... more Maria Grazia S p i l l a n t i n i , Daniela Renzi, Daniela Ca le r i , E l i s a b e t t a Ba ld i , we range lo Geppett i , Anna F e r r a r i * , Claudio F e r r e t t i * , L u i g i A lbe r t0 P i n i * . Department o f I n t e r n a l Medicine and C l i n i c a l Pharmacology, U n i v e r s i t y o f Florence, Florence, and * Department o f C l i n i c a l Pharmacology, U n i v e r s i t y o f Modena, Modena, I t a l y .
When taking into account the problem of pain in the old, it must be realised that the measure of ... more When taking into account the problem of pain in the old, it must be realised that the measure of pain is based on interpersonal relationship and is therefore conditioned by the subjective capacity to explain the symptom. Every personality, from the behavioural point of view, is also formed on the basis of the learning process; this is tied to the understanding of pain, which in time is tied to the nervous pathways of reward and punishment. Reports on pleasure neurochemistry, have to be added to the many on pain neurotransmitters.1
Introduzione - L\u2019allodinia cutanea (AC) \ue8 caratterizzata dalla percezione di dolore o fas... more Introduzione - L\u2019allodinia cutanea (AC) \ue8 caratterizzata dalla percezione di dolore o fastidio provocata da una stimolazione non dolorosa della cute. Burstein per primo [1] ha messo in evidenza la frequente occorrenza di AC durante gli attacchi di emicrania e ne ha correlato la presenza all\u2019inefficacia dei triptani. Gli studi di Burstein sono stati tuttavia condotti su casistiche limitate, mentre clinical trials successivi non hanno confermato la presenza di una correlazione negativa tra efficacia dei triptani e AC. Scopo del presente studio \ue8 quello di accertare, in un setting naturalistico (che prevede l\u2019assunzione di un triptano - rizatriptan 10 mg -, a qualsiasi timing e con qualunque severit\ue0 del dolore durante attacchi di emicrania senz\u2019aura), se la presenza di AC \ue8 correlata all\u2019efficacia dei triptani. Metodi \u2013 Verranno inclusi nello studio 120 pazienti affetti da emicrania senz\u2019aura (EsA). Vengono qui presentati i risultati preliminari riferiti ai primi 47 pazienti arruolati. Durante la prima visita sono stati consegnati ai pazienti due diari della cefalea per il trattamento di altrettanti attacchi di EsA ed \ue8 stato loro raccomandato di assumere rizatriptan wafer 10 mg, nel momento che ritenessero pi\uf9 opportuno. Oltre a variabili concernenti le caratteristiche della cefalea, il timing dell\u2019assunzione di rizatriptan e gli esiti della somministrazione del farmaco a 2 e a 24 ore, il diario conteneva anche un questionario con 8 items sull\u2019AC [2]. L\u2019outcome principale era rappresentato dalla percentuale di pazienti liberi da dolore a 2 ore dall\u2019assunzione del farmaco nei gruppi con (AC+) e senza (AC-) AC. Risultati \u2013 Sono entrati nello studio 47 pazienti (F 87%, et\ue0 media 37,3 anni). L\u2019assunzione di rizatriptan \ue8 avvenuta in media 88 minuti dopo l\u2019esordio dell\u2019attacco; l\u2019intensit\ue0 del dolore era lieve nel 13% dei pazienti e moderata-severa nell\u201987%. A 2 ore dall\u2019assunzione del farmaco era libero da dolore il 26,5% dei pazienti AC+ vs il 69,2% dei pazienti AC- (p = 0,02); libert\ue0 sostenuta dal dolore era presente nel 14,7% dei pazienti AC+ e nel 61,5% dei pazienti AC- (p = 0,003). I pazienti con dolore lieve erano pain-free a 2 ore nel 83,3% dei casi e a 24 ore nel 66,7% dei casi contro il 31,7% (p = 0,02) e il 22,0% (p = 0,04) rispettivamente dei pazienti con dolore moderato-grave. Conclusioni \u2013 L\u2019efficacia di rizatriptan sembra inferiore nei pazienti con AC. Rimane da accertare se si tratti di un effetto primitivamente dovuto all\u2019AC oppure secondario alla severit\ue0 del dolore. Bibliografia [1] Burstein R, Yarnitsky D, Goor-Aryeh I, Ransil BJ, Bajwa ZH. An association between migraine and cutaneous allodynia. Ann Neurol 2000;47:614\u2013624 [2] Ashkenazi A, Silberstein S, Jakubowski M, Burstein R. Improved identification of allodynic migraine patients using a questionnaire. Cephalalgia 2007;27:325-32
The paper compare the pharmacological activities of sumatriptan in animal models aimed to evaluat... more The paper compare the pharmacological activities of sumatriptan in animal models aimed to evaluate a possible activity in induce abituation and repeated use. On the other hand, are reported clinical data suggesting a possible psychological dependence in patent using sumatriptan daily or near daily
The aim of our study was to evaluate, using specific and validated tests the analogies and differ... more The aim of our study was to evaluate, using specific and validated tests the analogies and differences, with respect to the psychopatological profile between drug abusers and smokers. Our results suggested that the psychological well-being of headache patients who abused of analgesics was more impaired than that of smokers
The post-marketing drug-surveillance is mainly based upon spontaneous reporting, whereas in Italy... more The post-marketing drug-surveillance is mainly based upon spontaneous reporting, whereas in Italy there are a very little percentage of doctors who fill the ADR forms. To increase this percentage we activated an active reporting protocol in out ward. We limited the survey to NSAIDs to improve attention and the doctor's compliance. After an active training period the % of item filled was 95% and there was no differences after a 6 month interval. The % of ARD were 0.27% and 0.21% of DDD in the first and second period respectively
Acetylsalicylic acid and morphine are the most widely distributed and most frequently used drugs ... more Acetylsalicylic acid and morphine are the most widely distributed and most frequently used drugs in the relief of pain, but their analgesic activity has adverse side-effects. Mixtures containing these two drugs are frequently used to relieve mild to moderate pain despite the paucity of relevant experimental evidence so far published. We set out to study the possible antinociceptive effect of a combination of subactive doses of the two drugs in rats. A combination of low doses of acetylsalicylic acid (50 mg/kg i.p.) and morphine (3 mg/kg s.c.) was administered and the pain threshold was evaluated in the hot-plate and formalin tests, and 5-HT2 receptor binding capacity, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels were measured in the cortex and pontine areas of the brain. The combination of acetylsalicylic acid and morphine had an analgesic effect in both tests that was associated with an increase in 5-HT levels and a decrease in 5-HT2 receptors in the cortex. These effects were either completely abolished or partially prevented by i.p. pretreatment with naloxone (1 mg/kg i.p.). Our results demonstrate that subactive doses of acetylsalicylic acid and morphine can exert analgesic and biochemical effects when given in combination in the rat and suggest an involvement of serotonergic and opiatergic systems.
E' stato effettuato uno studio su 165 casi di cefalea e sono stati studiati vari parametri de... more E' stato effettuato uno studio su 165 casi di cefalea e sono stati studiati vari parametri dell'ENG. In particolare durante la crisi \ue8 stato studiata la Velocit\ue0 Massima di Fase Lenta (VAFL) che \ue8 risulatta alterata nel 75% dei casi. In base a questi risultati sembra emergere che gli emicranici sono caratterizzati da una riduzione della funzione dei centri vetsibulo-oculo-motori nel periodo intercritico e da un notevole aumento della risposta nistagmica prevalentemente omolaterale al dolore, associato ad una alterazione del riflesso otticocinetico, del pursuit e dell'IFO, come si fosse presente un difetto della capacit\ue0 di modulazione centrale
International journal of clinical pharmacology research, 1986
In this double-blind study versus placebo, the anti-migraine efficacy of flunarizine 20 mg/per os... more In this double-blind study versus placebo, the anti-migraine efficacy of flunarizine 20 mg/per os/day for 14 days, followed by 10 mg/per os/day up to 120 days has been evaluated in 30 patients suffering from common and classical migraine. During the trial the vestibular function (slow phase velocity (SPV) and number of spikes) was also studied. To date 18 patients have completed the study. The results show a significant difference before and after the treatment with flunarizine, while no difference was observed in the placebo group, with regard to headache unit indices. Flunarizine seems to increase SPV max, which is reduced between attacks in migraine patients; the number of spikes does not change significantly.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021
Significance Coexposure to airborne pollen enhances susceptibility to respiratory viral infection... more Significance Coexposure to airborne pollen enhances susceptibility to respiratory viral infections, regardless of the allergy status. We hypothesized this could be also true for SARS-CoV-2 infections. To investigate this, we tested for relationships between SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and pollen concentrations, along with humidity, temperature, population density, and lockdown effects. Our unique dataset derives from 130 sites in 31 countries and across five continents. We found that pollen, sometimes in synergy with humidity and temperature, explained, on average, 44% of the infection rate variability. Lockdown halved infection rates under similar pollen concentrations. As we cannot completely avoid pollen exposure, we suggest wide dissemination of pollen−virus coexposure information to encourage high-risk individuals to wear particle filter masks during high springtime pollen concentrations.
Maria Grazia S p i l l a n t i n i , Daniela Renzi, Daniela Ca le r i , E l i s a b e t t a Ba ld... more Maria Grazia S p i l l a n t i n i , Daniela Renzi, Daniela Ca le r i , E l i s a b e t t a Ba ld i , we range lo Geppett i , Anna F e r r a r i * , Claudio F e r r e t t i * , L u i g i A lbe r t0 P i n i * . Department o f I n t e r n a l Medicine and C l i n i c a l Pharmacology, U n i v e r s i t y o f Florence, Florence, and * Department o f C l i n i c a l Pharmacology, U n i v e r s i t y o f Modena, Modena, I t a l y .
When taking into account the problem of pain in the old, it must be realised that the measure of ... more When taking into account the problem of pain in the old, it must be realised that the measure of pain is based on interpersonal relationship and is therefore conditioned by the subjective capacity to explain the symptom. Every personality, from the behavioural point of view, is also formed on the basis of the learning process; this is tied to the understanding of pain, which in time is tied to the nervous pathways of reward and punishment. Reports on pleasure neurochemistry, have to be added to the many on pain neurotransmitters.1
Introduzione - L\u2019allodinia cutanea (AC) \ue8 caratterizzata dalla percezione di dolore o fas... more Introduzione - L\u2019allodinia cutanea (AC) \ue8 caratterizzata dalla percezione di dolore o fastidio provocata da una stimolazione non dolorosa della cute. Burstein per primo [1] ha messo in evidenza la frequente occorrenza di AC durante gli attacchi di emicrania e ne ha correlato la presenza all\u2019inefficacia dei triptani. Gli studi di Burstein sono stati tuttavia condotti su casistiche limitate, mentre clinical trials successivi non hanno confermato la presenza di una correlazione negativa tra efficacia dei triptani e AC. Scopo del presente studio \ue8 quello di accertare, in un setting naturalistico (che prevede l\u2019assunzione di un triptano - rizatriptan 10 mg -, a qualsiasi timing e con qualunque severit\ue0 del dolore durante attacchi di emicrania senz\u2019aura), se la presenza di AC \ue8 correlata all\u2019efficacia dei triptani. Metodi \u2013 Verranno inclusi nello studio 120 pazienti affetti da emicrania senz\u2019aura (EsA). Vengono qui presentati i risultati preliminari riferiti ai primi 47 pazienti arruolati. Durante la prima visita sono stati consegnati ai pazienti due diari della cefalea per il trattamento di altrettanti attacchi di EsA ed \ue8 stato loro raccomandato di assumere rizatriptan wafer 10 mg, nel momento che ritenessero pi\uf9 opportuno. Oltre a variabili concernenti le caratteristiche della cefalea, il timing dell\u2019assunzione di rizatriptan e gli esiti della somministrazione del farmaco a 2 e a 24 ore, il diario conteneva anche un questionario con 8 items sull\u2019AC [2]. L\u2019outcome principale era rappresentato dalla percentuale di pazienti liberi da dolore a 2 ore dall\u2019assunzione del farmaco nei gruppi con (AC+) e senza (AC-) AC. Risultati \u2013 Sono entrati nello studio 47 pazienti (F 87%, et\ue0 media 37,3 anni). L\u2019assunzione di rizatriptan \ue8 avvenuta in media 88 minuti dopo l\u2019esordio dell\u2019attacco; l\u2019intensit\ue0 del dolore era lieve nel 13% dei pazienti e moderata-severa nell\u201987%. A 2 ore dall\u2019assunzione del farmaco era libero da dolore il 26,5% dei pazienti AC+ vs il 69,2% dei pazienti AC- (p = 0,02); libert\ue0 sostenuta dal dolore era presente nel 14,7% dei pazienti AC+ e nel 61,5% dei pazienti AC- (p = 0,003). I pazienti con dolore lieve erano pain-free a 2 ore nel 83,3% dei casi e a 24 ore nel 66,7% dei casi contro il 31,7% (p = 0,02) e il 22,0% (p = 0,04) rispettivamente dei pazienti con dolore moderato-grave. Conclusioni \u2013 L\u2019efficacia di rizatriptan sembra inferiore nei pazienti con AC. Rimane da accertare se si tratti di un effetto primitivamente dovuto all\u2019AC oppure secondario alla severit\ue0 del dolore. Bibliografia [1] Burstein R, Yarnitsky D, Goor-Aryeh I, Ransil BJ, Bajwa ZH. An association between migraine and cutaneous allodynia. Ann Neurol 2000;47:614\u2013624 [2] Ashkenazi A, Silberstein S, Jakubowski M, Burstein R. Improved identification of allodynic migraine patients using a questionnaire. Cephalalgia 2007;27:325-32
The paper compare the pharmacological activities of sumatriptan in animal models aimed to evaluat... more The paper compare the pharmacological activities of sumatriptan in animal models aimed to evaluate a possible activity in induce abituation and repeated use. On the other hand, are reported clinical data suggesting a possible psychological dependence in patent using sumatriptan daily or near daily
The aim of our study was to evaluate, using specific and validated tests the analogies and differ... more The aim of our study was to evaluate, using specific and validated tests the analogies and differences, with respect to the psychopatological profile between drug abusers and smokers. Our results suggested that the psychological well-being of headache patients who abused of analgesics was more impaired than that of smokers
The post-marketing drug-surveillance is mainly based upon spontaneous reporting, whereas in Italy... more The post-marketing drug-surveillance is mainly based upon spontaneous reporting, whereas in Italy there are a very little percentage of doctors who fill the ADR forms. To increase this percentage we activated an active reporting protocol in out ward. We limited the survey to NSAIDs to improve attention and the doctor's compliance. After an active training period the % of item filled was 95% and there was no differences after a 6 month interval. The % of ARD were 0.27% and 0.21% of DDD in the first and second period respectively
Acetylsalicylic acid and morphine are the most widely distributed and most frequently used drugs ... more Acetylsalicylic acid and morphine are the most widely distributed and most frequently used drugs in the relief of pain, but their analgesic activity has adverse side-effects. Mixtures containing these two drugs are frequently used to relieve mild to moderate pain despite the paucity of relevant experimental evidence so far published. We set out to study the possible antinociceptive effect of a combination of subactive doses of the two drugs in rats. A combination of low doses of acetylsalicylic acid (50 mg/kg i.p.) and morphine (3 mg/kg s.c.) was administered and the pain threshold was evaluated in the hot-plate and formalin tests, and 5-HT2 receptor binding capacity, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels were measured in the cortex and pontine areas of the brain. The combination of acetylsalicylic acid and morphine had an analgesic effect in both tests that was associated with an increase in 5-HT levels and a decrease in 5-HT2 receptors in the cortex. These effects were either completely abolished or partially prevented by i.p. pretreatment with naloxone (1 mg/kg i.p.). Our results demonstrate that subactive doses of acetylsalicylic acid and morphine can exert analgesic and biochemical effects when given in combination in the rat and suggest an involvement of serotonergic and opiatergic systems.
E' stato effettuato uno studio su 165 casi di cefalea e sono stati studiati vari parametri de... more E' stato effettuato uno studio su 165 casi di cefalea e sono stati studiati vari parametri dell'ENG. In particolare durante la crisi \ue8 stato studiata la Velocit\ue0 Massima di Fase Lenta (VAFL) che \ue8 risulatta alterata nel 75% dei casi. In base a questi risultati sembra emergere che gli emicranici sono caratterizzati da una riduzione della funzione dei centri vetsibulo-oculo-motori nel periodo intercritico e da un notevole aumento della risposta nistagmica prevalentemente omolaterale al dolore, associato ad una alterazione del riflesso otticocinetico, del pursuit e dell'IFO, come si fosse presente un difetto della capacit\ue0 di modulazione centrale
International journal of clinical pharmacology research, 1986
In this double-blind study versus placebo, the anti-migraine efficacy of flunarizine 20 mg/per os... more In this double-blind study versus placebo, the anti-migraine efficacy of flunarizine 20 mg/per os/day for 14 days, followed by 10 mg/per os/day up to 120 days has been evaluated in 30 patients suffering from common and classical migraine. During the trial the vestibular function (slow phase velocity (SPV) and number of spikes) was also studied. To date 18 patients have completed the study. The results show a significant difference before and after the treatment with flunarizine, while no difference was observed in the placebo group, with regard to headache unit indices. Flunarizine seems to increase SPV max, which is reduced between attacks in migraine patients; the number of spikes does not change significantly.
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