Hallmarks of primary headache: part 2- Tension-type headache.

Background And Aim: Tension-type headache is the most prevalent primary headache disorder. While the episodic subtype is more common, chronic tension-type headache significantly impacts health-related quality of life and contribute to increased healthcare utilization and disability. Despite considerable advances in the understanding of tension-type headache, critical gaps persist.

Method for Predict Stenosis of Arteriovenous Fistula Patients Based on Machine Learning.

Objectives: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the most ideal vascular access for hemodialysis. People with AVF have a longer vascular access survival rate and a lower complication rate. Thrombosis and stenosis are the most common complications of AVF.

Comorbidity with fibromyalgia predicted poorer outcomes in patients with chronic migraine on flunarizine: Prospective proof-of-concept study.

AimFibromyalgia (FM) and chronic migraine (CM) are commonly comorbid. Clinical observations suggest patients with chronic migraine comorbid with fibromyalgia (CMFM) seem less responsive to migraine preventive treatment; however, evidence is still lacking. This study examined the responsiveness to migraine preventive treatment in patients with CM and CMFM.

Multicenter Experience of Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion in Current Indications and Different Anesthetic Approaches.

Background: Stroke remains a concern in patients with atrial fibrillation despite the efficacy of oral anticoagulants. Left atrial appendage closure has emerged as a treatment option for patients with suboptimal pharmacological therapy.

Objectives: This retrospective multicenter study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and outcomes of left atrial appendage occlusion procedures for two different indications.

Association between headache frequency and risk for fibromyalgia in patients with migraine.

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the risk and impact of fibromyalgia in relation to headache frequency in migraine patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved migraine patients from a regional hospital and a tertiary medical center. Diagnoses of migraine and fibromyalgia were made according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition, and the modified 2016 American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria, respectively.

Anatomical variations in 3D imaging: A case report of a dorsal metacarpal artery anomaly.

This report presents a novel anatomical variant of the second dorsal metacarpal artery (SDMA). In this unique case, the SDMA abnormally penetrates the second dorsal interosseous muscle (SDIM), dividing into two major branches. A deep dorsal branch of the SDMA (dbSDMA) is located within the SDIM and extends to the distal end of the metacarpal.

Altered brainstem-cortex activation and interaction in migraine patients: somatosensory evoked EEG responses with machine learning.

Background: To gain a comprehensive understanding of the altered sensory processing in patients with migraine, in this study, we developed an electroencephalography (EEG) protocol for examining brainstem and cortical responses to sensory stimulation. Furthermore, machine learning techniques were employed to identify neural signatures from evoked brainstem-cortex activation and their interactions, facilitating the identification of the presence and subtype of migraine.

Methods: This study analysed 1,000-epoch-averaged somatosensory evoked responses from 342 participants, comprising 113 healthy controls (HCs), 106 patients with chronic migraine (CM), and 123 patients with episodic migraine (EM).

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension in Asians: a retrospective dual-center study.

Background: There have been limited data on idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in Asians and there remain uncertainties whether a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure of 250 mm CSF is an optimum diagnostic cutoff. The aims of the present study included (1) characterization of IIH patients in Taiwan, (2) comparisons among different diagnostic criteria for IIH, and (3) comparisons between patients with CSF pressures of > 250 and 200-250 mm CSF.

Methods: This retrospective study involved IIH patients based on the modified Dandy criteria from two tertiary medical centers in Taiwan.

Salivary Testosterone Levels and Pain Perception Exhibit Sex-Specific Association in Healthy Adults But Not in Patients With Migraine.

This study investigated the sex-specific associations between pain perception and testosterone levels in healthy controls (HCs) and patients with migraine. Male and female HCs and migraine patients were recruited. A series of questionnaires were completed by the participants to evaluate their psychosocial profiles, which included data on mood, stress, and sleep quality.

The normative values of pain thresholds in healthy Taiwanese.

Objective: Quantitative sensory testing is widely used in clinical and research settings to assess the sensory functions of healthy subjects and patients. It is of importance to establish normative values in a healthy population to provide reference for studies involving patients. Given the absence of normative values for pain thresholds in Taiwan, the aim of this study was to report the normative values for future reference in the Taiwanese population and compare the differences between male and female participants.

Decoding pain through facial expressions: a study of patients with migraine.

Background: The present study used the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) to analyse changes in facial activities in individuals with migraine during resting conditions to determine the potential of facial expressions to convey information about pain during headache episodes.

Methods: Facial activity was recorded in calm and resting conditions by using a camera for both healthy controls (HC) and patients with episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM). The FACS was employed to analyse the collected facial images, and intensity scores for each of the 20 action units (AUs) representing expressions were generated.

Sex differences in the clinical manifestations related to dependence behaviors in medication-overuse headache.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare sex differences in the clinical manifestations related to dependence behaviors in medication-overuse headache (MOH).

Methods: Consecutive patients with newly diagnosed chronic migraine (CM) with and without MOH based on the Third Edition of International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) were enrolled prospectively from the headache clinic of a tertiary medical center. Demographics and clinical profiles were collected by using a questionnaire, which included current use of tobacco, alcohol, and caffeinated beverages, the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire (LDQ), the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS), the Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Abnormal heart rate variability and its application in predicting treatment efficacy in patients with chronic migraine: An exploratory study.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the extent of autonomic nervous system dysfunction in patients with chronic migraine using heart rate variability analysis. In addition, we explored the potential association between heart rate variability and treatment outcomes in patients receiving preventive treatment.

Methods: In this cross-sectional and prospective study, we compared heart rate variability profiles in 81 preventive-naïve chronic migraine patients and 58 healthy controls.

Characteristic oscillatory brain networks for predicting patients with chronic migraine.

To determine specific resting-state network patterns underlying alterations in chronic migraine, we employed oscillatory connectivity and machine learning techniques to distinguish patients with chronic migraine from healthy controls and patients with other pain disorders. This cross-sectional study included 350 participants (70 healthy controls, 100 patients with chronic migraine, 40 patients with chronic migraine with comorbid fibromyalgia, 35 patients with fibromyalgia, 30 patients with chronic tension-type headache, and 75 patients with episodic migraine). We collected resting-state magnetoencephalographic data for analysis.

Electrophysiological findings in migraine may reflect abnormal synaptic plasticity mechanisms: A narrative review.

Background: The cyclical brain disorder of sensory processing accompanying migraine phases lacks an explanatory unified theory.

Methods: We searched Pubmed for non-invasive neurophysiological studies on migraine and related conditions using transcranial magnetic stimulation, electroencephalography, visual and somatosensory evoked potentials. We summarized the literature, reviewed methods, and proposed a unified theory for the pathophysiology of electrophysiological abnormalities underlying migraine recurrence.

Identification of patients with chronic migraine by using sensory-evoked oscillations from the electroencephalogram classifier.

Background: To examine whether the modulating evoked cortical oscillations could be brain signatures among patients with chronic migraine, we investigated cortical modulation using an electroencephalogram with machine learning techniques.

Methods: We directly record evoked electroencephalogram activity during nonpainful, painful, and repetitive painful electrical stimulation tasks. Cortical modulation for experimental pain and habituation processing was analyzed and used to differentiate patients with chronic migraine from healthy controls using a validated machine-learning model.

The SIH-EBP Score: A grading scale to predict the response to the first epidural blood patch in spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Background: To develop and validate an easy-to-use scoring system to predict the response to the first epidural blood patching in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

Methods: This study recruited consecutive patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension receiving epidural blood patching in a tertiary medical center, which were chronologically divided into a derivation cohort and a validation cohort. In the derivation cohort, factors associated with the first epidural blood patching response were identified by using multivariable logistic regression modeling.