Fibromyalgia (FM) is thought to occur because of the combination of interactions among neurotransmitters, such as neuropeptide Y (NPY), stressors, hormones, cytokines, and both the immune and sympathetic nervous systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum concentrations of cytokines, antipolymer antibodies (APA), and NPY in 51 patients with FM, 25 with tension-type headache (TTH), and 15 healthy controls. Serum concentrations of eight different cytokines, APA and NPY, were measured. Interleukin (IL)-1RA, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were higher in serum of FM patients compared with TTH patients and a significant correlation between IL-10 and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score was observed. There was a significant difference between FM and TTH versus controls in NPY levels, but not in APA levels. Cytokines and NPY take part in pain modulation and even if they are altered in FM they cannot be considered as measurable biomarkers of disease.

A 29‐year‐old woman was hospitalized for fever, pharyngitis, and severe neutropenia after recent use of doxycycline and other antimicrobials. Three years later, she again presented with severe neutropenia after recent doxycycline use. Diagnostic workups were unyielding. This is only the second published case of severe neutropenia associated with doxycycline use.

The effect of sonicated suspensions of phosphatidylserine (PS), an acidic phospholipid, was investigated on prolactin secretion utilizing in vivo and in vitro approaches. Acute and chronic administration of PS reduced plasma prolactin levels during different phases of circadian rhythms. The phospholipid was able to inhibit the plasma prolactin surge, which occurs in cycling female rats on the afternoon of proestrus. The time course of PS on prolactin secretion was characterized by a short latency (15 min) and a long duration of action (6 h). In rats with hypothalamic deafferentation PS partially reduced the increase of circulating prolactin induced by pre-treatment with α-methyltyrosine. An inhibition of prolactin release was observed if anterior pituitary glands were incubated in presence of PS. This effect was prevented by the addition of the dopamine antagonist sulpiride to the medium. In conclusion, PS decreases prolactin secretion both in vivo and in vitro. The inhibition of the hormone secretion appears to be due to the action of PS at the level of the pituitary; however, a concomitant stimulatory action on the turnover of the tuberoinfundibular neurons cannot be ruled out.

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