Background. Primary headaches are comprised of three big categories: migraines (with or without aura), the third most common and the 6th most disabling disease worldwide, tension-headaches, and trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias, each with different, complex, and not completely understood pathophysiological, clinical, and neuroimagistic characteristics. Structures like the brain stem, hippocampus, or hypothalamus have been depicted as being the main triggers of these types of headaches, which have a significant impact on the quality of life. Methods. We performed a broad literature review on primary headaches from January 2016 to June 2023, analyzing the latest scientific updates and emphasizing the pathophysiological and neuroimagistic characteristics. Results. We provide a concise review of the main neuroimaging studies that help in differential diagnosis between several types of primary headaches. Conclusions. It is difficult to approach the pathophysiology of these three primary headache categories. Keeping in mind that neuroimagistic methods are rapidly developing (especially in the MRI sphere), the most important endpoint of future studies will be to establish a reliable distinction system for all these types of cephalalgias, thus updating the protocols and guidelines. Currently, imaging studies are indicated only in certain circumstances.
Obesity affects the population worldwide. A hypercaloric diet associated with a sedentary life, stress, and genetic background, triggers various metabolic disorders, such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cognitive impairment. A healthy diet correlated with physical activity, not smoking, and moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of developing metabolic diseases. The Mediterranean diet contains antioxidants, fiber, polyunsaturated fats, and compounds with anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-obesity properties. In a wide variety of species including humans, the reduction of calories between 20-40% significantly improves health, increases longevity, and delays the development of various pathologies. The main aim of this review is to present the comparative effects of the Mediterranean diet versus the hypercaloric diet on insulin sensitivity.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease, characterized by the appearance of demyelinating lesions with inflammatory character in the CNS. Given the unpredictable evolution of the disease, numerous attempts have been initiated to find some pathogenic factors and by default targeted treatment methods. The intestinal microbiota of these patients is often significantly altered compared to the healthy population and given the complex connections between the intestine and the central nervous system, the idea of causality between dysbiosis and this condition was launched. The intestinal mucosa represents the interface between the external environment and the organism, so that it is considered the starting point of some local immunological processes but with systemic resonance, especially neurological. The classic medication scheme widely used to treat MS nowadays can also affect the integrity of the intestinal mucosa by breaking the fine balance at this level. Data from recent studies around the subject open new treatment opportunities around preserving the intestinal microbiota and strategies like vitamin A intake and fat-soluble vitamin D supplementation, probiotic complexes or faecalis microbiota transplantation appear more promising and easier to apply in daily clinical practice.
