Cardiac sources of cerebral embolism in people with migraine

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Whether the reported association between migraine with aura (MA) and cardioembolic stroke may be explained by a higher rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) or by other potential cardiac sources of cerebral embolism remains to be determined.

METHODS

In the setting of a single centre cohort study of consecutive patients with acute brain ischaemia stratified by migraine status, the association between AF as well as patent foramen ovale (PFO) and migraine was explored.

RESULTS

In all, 1738 patients (1017 [58.5%] men, mean age 67.9 ± 14.9 years) qualified for the analysis. Aging was inversely associated with migraine, whilst women had a >3-fold increased disease risk (odds ratio [OR] 3.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.58-5.66). No association between AF and history of migraine or its pathogenic subtypes was detected. Conversely, migraine was associated with PFO, both in the entire cohort (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.07-3.16) and in patients aged ≤55 years (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.16-4.22). This association was significant for MA (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.32-6.45 in the entire cohort; OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.15-7.41 in patients aged ≤55 years) and in women (OR 8.23, 95% CI 2.06-32.77), but not for migraine without aura.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with brain ischaemia migraine is not associated with AF. Conversely, there is a probable relation between migraine, especially MA, and PFO in patients who are younger and have a more favourable vascular risk factor profile, and in women.

Persistent organic pollutants in cork used for production of wine stoppers

Owing to the lipophilic character of some components of cork and the long periods in the open air (during growth and barks storage), there is a risk of the cork becoming environmentally polluted. Moreover, cork stoppers are in contact with wines for periods ranging from a few months to several years; so they must maintain high levels of hygiene. The present work aims to investigate the level of PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, and PAHs in cork from different countries, used for the manufacturing of one-piece wine stoppers. Samples of cork were analysed using a multi-residue method. PCBs were not detected in all the samples; only a few samples contained detectable amounts of DDE; phenanthrene and anthracene were found in all the samples and fluoranthene in fewer cases. It was not possible to find a significant correlation between POPs concentration and origin of cork. Globally, the detected amounts are consistent with values found in foods, so the investigated cork show a suitable hygienic quality.