Dystonia is an involuntary movement involving twisting and turning of agonist and antagonist muscles. Cervical dystonia is isolated to neck musculature. Botulinum toxin type A is a safe and effective treatment of this disabling and often painful syndrome. Three forms of botulinum toxin type A are available worldwide to treat patients with cervical dystonia. This is a review of the studies of bo...

In this case series study, we assessed the effects of recession-resection surgery augmented with botulinum toxin A chemodenervation for patients with chronic paralytic horizontal strabismus. In addition, we compared these effects with those of full tendon transposition (FTT) augmented with posterior intermuscular suture (PIMS). Ten patients who underwent strabismus surgery due to paralytic hori...

Sensitive and rapid detection of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), the most poisonous substances known to date, is essential for studies of medical applications of BoNTs and detection of poisoned food, as well as for response to potential bioterrorist threats. Currently, the most common method of BoNT detection is the mouse bioassay. While this assay is sensitive, it is slow, quite expensive, has ...

A 4-month-old boy presented with symptoms and signs characteristic of infant botulism. Examination of feces revealed Clostridium botulinum type B and type B toxin. The numbers of C. botulinum and the amount of toxin in feces were measured throughout the 4-week period in hospital. The maximum numbers and amounts were detected in a fecal specimen collected 16 days after admission: this contained ...

After Clostridium botulinum type G organisms and toxin were identified in necropsy specimens in cases of unexplained death in adults and infants (O. Sonnabend, W. Sonnabend, R. Heinzle, T. Sigrist, R Dirnhofer, and U. Krech, J. Infect. Dis. 143:22-27, 1981), extensive research to detect C. botulinum type G in soil samples from Switzerland was done. A total of 41 specimens from virgin soil and f...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different volumes of saline vehicle on the effects of botulinum toxin type A in reducing ankle plantarflexor spasticity and improving gait pattern in children with cerebral palsy. DESIGN Children with cerebral palsy having ankle plantarflexor spasticity were recruited. They were divided randomly into 2 groups. Botulinum toxin...

The action of tetanus toxin on the motor system in experimental tetanus relating to the clinical one was reviewed. Special attention was paid to several controversial results in recent years.

Fluorescent-antibody reagents were prepared against vegetative cells of representative strains of each physiological group and toxin type of Clostridium botulinum known to have caused botulism in humans. A fluorescent-antibody reagent was also prepared for C. botulinum type G, which has been isolated from autopsy specimens but which has not clearly been implicated in botulism. These fluorescent...

The chemical forms of Clostridium botulinum 62A and 213B were prepared, and their heat resistances were determined in several heating media, including some low-acid foods. The heat resistance of C. botulinum spores can be manipulated up and down by changing chemical forms between the resistant calcium form and the sensitive hydrogen form. The resistant chemical form of type B spores has about t...