[CH] Botu-Arrrgh! and some more...
Kristofer Blennow (kristofer@blennow.se)
Mon, 12 Jul 1999 18:03:16 +0200
Could not resist forwarding this from FSnet...
On a lighter note, regarding the latest Tabasco posts, this Saturday
I had "English Breakfast", which I seldom find time to do. This is
(according to my definition) bacon, eggs (sunny side up), fried
tomatoes and whatever freshly baked rolls you prefer. I am not too
fond of Tabasco "classic", except for with eggs, but Tabasco Habanero
is EXCELLENT at 9 am with those eggs. The heat and the fruits. Highly
recommended.
Kristofer
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ONE MAN'S POISON--CLINICAL APPLICATIONS OF BOTULINUM TOXIN
July 8, 1999
The New England Journal of Medicine-- -- Vol. 341, No. 2 Botulinum
toxin is one of the deadliest poisons known, causing death by muscle
paralysis. As a poison, it is most commonly encountered as a source
of food poisoning, and there are shivers around the world when it
surfaces as a possible biologic weapon. Botulinum toxin is produced
by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is a polypeptide
consisting of a light chain and a heavy chain bridged by a single
disulfide bond. There are seven serologically distinct but
structurally similar types of botulinum toxin: A, B, C, D, E, F, and
G. Alan Scott first had the idea that small doses of botulinum toxin
injected directly into overactive muscles might be used to treat
patients with strabismus. (1) After the successful treatment of these
patients, investigators began using focal injections of botulinum
toxin for other conditions involving overactive contraction of
muscle. There were early excellent results in patients with
blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm, and the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved the use of botulinum toxin A for these
three conditions in 1989. Since its introduction into the U.S.
market, botulinum toxin has been approved for use in more than 60
countries. Although there have been no further FDA-approved
indications, botulinum toxin has been used in many other clinical
situations characterized by excessive muscle contraction; in other
countries, it has been approved for treatment of cervical dystonia
and spasticity of the lower limbs in children with cerebral palsy.
In addition to blepharospasm, other types of focal dystonia, such as
cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis), spasmodic dysphonia, and
focal dystonia of the limbs, including writer's cramp and musician's
cramp, are treated with botulinum toxin A.