Caffeine and headache: specific remarks

The magical smell and taste: Can coffee be good to patients with cardiometabolic disease?

Coffee is a beverage consumed globally. Although few studies have indicated adverse effects, it is typically a beneficial health-promoting agent in a range of diseases, including depression, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Coffee is rich in caffeine, antioxidants, and phenolic compounds, which can modulate the composition of the gut microbiota and mitigate both inflammation and oxidative stress, common features of the burden of lifestyle diseases. This review will discuss the possible benefits of coffee on complications present in patients with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease, outwith the social and emotional benefits attributed to caffeine consumption.

The Impact of Lockdowns on Caffeine Consumption: A Systematic Review of the Evidence

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been characterized by the World Health Organization as a pandemic in March 2020 and the lockdown measures that were implemented in an effort to limit the transmission of the virus affected the daily life of many people in all over the world. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the changes during/after the lockdowns in caffeine consumption by coffee and energy drinks. A systematic literature search was conducted in three databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science) up to 31 December 2021 and out of 19,511 studies found and 12,885 screened, 16 studies were included according to eligibility criteria. Results regarding coffee consumption showed that a significant part of individuals decreased their consumption and in five studies an increase was reported, including women and seniors >60 years old. Energy drinks were also consumed less during the lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown time. Attention should be given for menopausal women where an increase in coffee consumption was found which could impair bone density, but further research is needed in order to make safe conclusions.

Analysis of the effects of caffeine and dioxidine on biochemical indicators of blood in mouse

Relevance . In connection with the widespread use of caffeine, an important issue is the study of its interaction with substances that can exhibit toxic effects. Objective. The aim of the study is to assess the degree of influence of caffeine and dioxidine on the biochemical parameters of blood in mice in the forced swimming test. Materials and methods. The studies were carried out on 6 groups of male mice: control and five experimental. During 15 days of the experiment, the animals of the control group were injected with physiological saline, and the experimental animals were injected with caffeine at a dose of 40 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg (1 and 2), dioxidine in an amount of 200 mg/kg (3), and caffeine was combined and dioxidine (4 and 5). Biochemical parameters were used to determine the content of glucose, cholesterol, urea, creatinine, the activity of aspartic and alanine aminotransferases. Results . The introduction of caffeine at a dose of 40 mg/kg led to a decrease in glucose levels below normal and an increase in cholesterol and urea concentrations. The use of caffeine at a dose of 100 mg/ kg caused a decrease in glucose levels below normal and an increase in urea concentration. With the introduction of dioxidine at a dose of 200 mg/kg, an increase in the level of glucose, cholesterol, urea, as well as the activity of AST and ALT was taken. The combined use of caffeine and dioxidine by the 15th day led to 100 % mortality in experimental animals. Conclusions . The results of the experiment indicate that the introduction of caffeine at a dose of 40 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg leads to an increase in most of the measured parameters relative to the control values, but they do not go beyond normal values, however, a decrease in glucose levels is noted. These changes in indicators are due to the predominance of catabolic processes over anabolic ones. In animals treated with dioxidine, a significant increase in the concentration of metabolites and the activity of blood enzymes was found, especially an increase in AST and ALT was noted, which indicates a predominant lesion of cardiomyocytes. The mortality rate of the experimental groups receiving caffeine and dioxidine together by the last day of the experiment is due to the action of an excessive stress factor leading to the depletion of the adaptive capabilities of the organism and the death of experimental animals.

Maculopathy Masquerading as Migraine

We describe a case of a 23-year-old Caucasian woman with a background history of migraines who presented with bilateral paracentral scotomata. The ophthalmoscopy and MRI head were originally thought to be normal, and the scotomata were attributed to be of migrainous origin: a persistent negative aura. However, persistence of her symptoms prompted further specialist review 10 months later, at which time subtle bilateral perifoveal changes were noted, which had been apparent but overlooked at the initial assessment. Near-infrared reflectance imaging enabled better visualization of the lesions, which were apparent prior to any abnormalities on clinical examination. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography revealed the early findings of hyperreflectivity in the outer nuclear and outer plexiform layers characteristic of acute macular neuroretinopathy. Our case aims to emphasize the importance of scrutinising ancillary tests of the macula in patients presenting with scotomata or atypical migraine symptoms, and to caution clinicians against diagnosing migraine with persistent negative aura without these investigations.

Comprehensive management of adults with chronic migraine: Clinical practice guidelines in Mexico

Introduction:

Migraine is a polygenic multifactorial disorder with a neuronal initiation of a cascade of neurochemical processes leading to incapacitating headaches. Headaches are generally unilateral, throbbing, 4–72 h in duration, and associated with nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and sonophobia. Chronic migraine (CM) is the presence of a headache at least 15 days per month for ≥3 months and has a high global impact on health and economy, and therapeutic guidelines are lacking.

Methods:

Using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations system, we conducted a search in MEDLINE and Cochrane to investigate the current evidence and generate recommendations of clinical practice on the identification of risk factors and treatment of CM in adults.

Results:

We recommend avoiding overmedication of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); ergotamine; caffeine; opioids; barbiturates; and initiating individualized prophylactic treatment with topiramate eptinezumab, galcanezumab, erenumab, fremanezumab, or botulinum toxin. We highlight the necessity of managing comorbidities initially. In the acute management, we recommend NSAIDs, triptans, lasmiditan, and gepants alone or with metoclopramide if nausea or vomiting. Non-pharmacological measures include neurostimulation.

Conclusions:

We have identified the risk factors and treatments available for the management of CM based on a grading system, which facilitates selection for individualized management.

Health and safety risks affecting part-time nursing students

Background

Professional nurses who are employed full-time can study their postgraduate programmes part-time to add to the basic qualification they obtained through relevant institutions of higher education like universities or colleges. Although there are advantages for part-time study such as improvement of qualifications, enhancement of personal development and increased chance of promotion, there are disadvantages as well, which includes keeping a job, attending to family and social responsibilities, time management to ensure that studying is done after work or in-between work and other activities, attending to assignments and complying with the requirements to acquire the qualification.

Aim

This study aimed to explore health and safety risks faced by nurses who work and study part-time.

Setting

The study was conducted at a university in Gauteng province, South Africa. Nurses who undertake part-time studies at this university were the focus of study.

Method

The research design used in the study was an exploratory, quantitative method that was contextual in nature. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire that comprised of demographical and health and safety aspects. Data were analysed by means of descriptive statistics using the Statistics package for Social Sciences version 26.

Results

Research findings indicated that students who study part-time experience health and safety risks such as fatigue (n = 86; 49%), stress (n = 95; 54%), sleep disorders (n = 60; 34%), poor eating habits (n = 123; 70%), abuse of caffeine (n = 91; 52%) and are prone to road accidents (n = 54; 31%).

Conclusion

Nurses who work and study part-time need support from their employers and families. Employers should grant study leave as a way of support.