Depression, poor sleep, and sexual dysfunction in migraineurs women

Migraine is a chronic disorder affecting women more than men. Sexual dysfunction is one the complaints of women with migraine, which is not regarded as it should be. The goal of this study was to determine sexual dysfunction in women with migraine, and possible effects of depression and sleep quality on their sexual function. One hundred married migraineurs women were enrolled. All participants were asked to fill out valid and reliable Persian versions of Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire [PSQI], female sexual function index [FSFI] and beck depression inventory [BDI]. Mean BDI, PSQI, and FSFI scores were 15.1 +/- 9.1, 7.6 +/- 4, and 21.6 +/- 8.8 in all patients, respectively. Sexual dysfunction found in 68% and 79% were poor sleepers. Mean BDI and PSQI scores were significantly higher in women with sexual dysfunction [FSFI < 26.55]. There was significant negative correlation between BDI score and FSFI [r = -0.1, P = 0.001] as well as significant positive correlation between BDI and PSQI [r = 0.42, P < 0.001] Multiple linear regression analysis showed that BDI and age were independent predictors of FSFI score. Physicians should consider sexual dysfunction in women with migraine along with depression and poor sleep in such cases

commemorating one thousandth anniversary of the avicenna's canon of medicine: gastric headache, a forgotten clinical entity from the medieval Persia

Although the connection between head and stomach and hence the condition known as [gastric headache] was well known to the ancients, it has received little attention since the early 20[th] century. Herein, we review the teachings of the medieval Persian physicians about the gastric headache along with the related signs, symptoms, types and causes. The medieval Persian scholars adopted the main ideas of the gastric headache from predecessors in the ancient Greece and Rome, added substantial sub-categories and details to the earlier descriptions and therapeutic options. The medieval Persian physicians' contributions to the concept of gastric headache influenced beyond doubt the later accounts of this condition

[Smooth pursuit in migraine patients]

Neurotologic signs and symptoms, especially vestibular symptoms, are common in migraine patients. The goal of this study was to investigate some parts of the central vestibular system using some subtests of videonystagmographic evaluation, including spontaneous nystagmus, gaze-evoked nystagmus, and smooth pursuit between their attacks of migraine. Thirty patients with migraine and 38 healthy volunteers of 18-48 years of age were included in this study. Spontaneous nystagmus, gaze-evoked nystagmus toward the right, left and upward, and also smooth pursuit using three different velocities were performed in both groups. Five normal subjects and five migraine patients had spontaneous nystagmus, which was less than three degrees; there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No gazeevoked nystagmus was seen in both groups. In one velocity of smooth pursuit evaluation, gain and phase were significantly different. The statistical difference in gain and phase was not clinically important as it was in normal range of the device. Another statistically significant parameter was saccadic morphology of smooth pursuit which was seen in migraine patients. These results suggest the presence of subtle otoneurological abnormalities in migraine patients that is probably due to deficiency of oculomotor function with vestibulocerebellar origin

[Effect of prophylactic drugs on vestibular evoked myogenic potential in migraine patients]

In many migraine patients prophylactic drugs are effective in reducing attacks and symptoms such as vestibular complaints. Therefore, related neural pathways are probably also affected. This study aimed to compare vestibular evoked myogenic potential in migraine patients under treatment with prophylactic drugs and those without any treatment. Subjects included 46 patients with migraine. They were evaluated in two groups; those under treatment with prophylactic drugs [21 subjects] and those without treatment [25 subjects]. The age range of patients was 20-60 years. The vestibular evoked myogenic potential were recorded with 500 Hz tone bursts at 95 dB nHL. Mean of amplitude ratio [p=0.02], and interpeak latency values in the right ear [p=0.03] and left ear [p=0.001] were higher in patients with prophylactic therapy than the group without therapy; this difference was statistically significant. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of mean of latency of p13 and n23 peaks, and absolute amplitude [p>0.05]. Prophylactic drugs probably improve mean of main response parameters of vestibular evoked myogenic potential in migraine patients with prophylactic therapy