Botulinum toxin is a protein product of the gram-negative anaerobic bacterium, Clostridium botulinum, it also contains the same toxin found in food poisoning. After purification, botulinum toxin became the first bacterial toxin to be used in medical treatments. (5 Vangelova) After being injected into the body, the toxin attaches itself to nerve endings at the point where the nerves join muscles. The chemical acetylcholine is released which then signals the muscles to contract resulting in weakness and paralysis. Extra contractions are blocked by the injections into the muscle but leave enough strength for normal use. (Vangelova) This botulism toxin is categorized into 7 serotypes (A though G). Type A of botulism toxin is most commonly known as Botox. The Botox toxin is recognized as the most potent and has been studied the most for clinical use. Although botulinum toxin is a lethal toxin, it can be used as an effective and powerful medication by injecting minimum quantities of the toxin into overactive muscles. (Shipla) In 2002, Botulinum type A was approved and has since become a popular cosmetic treatment to help minimize the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles, along with the smoothing of skin for a younger appearance. (Botox: Beyond Cosmetic Fixes) The use of this type A Botulinum toxin is rapidly expanding to include a variety of treatments including ophthalmological disorders, gastrointestinal, urological, orthopedic, dermatological, secretory, painful and cosmetic disorders. (Jankovic)
Botulinum toxin first gained clinical acceptance as a result of marked benefits it produced in patients with dystonia. This neurological disease involves chronic abnormal muscle posture and tension. (5 Vangelova) Dystonias are clas...
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...eda, Juan, and Joseph Jankovic. "Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Botulinum Toxin Injections in Dystonia." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 04 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. .
9. Karp, Barbara Illowsky. "Botulinum Toxin Physiology in Focal Hand and Cranial Dystonia." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 20 Nov. 2012. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. .
10. Lakraj, Amanda-Amrita D., Narges Moghimi, and Bahman Jabbari. "Hyperhidrosis: Anatomy, Pathophysiology and Treatment with Emphasis on the Role of Botulinum Toxins." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 23 Apr. 2013. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.
Based on the initial pain medicine evaluation report dated 06/22/15, the patient complains of constant neck pain which radiates down to the bilateral upper extremity, fingers and hands. Pain is accompanied by intermittent tingling and numbness in the bilateral upper extremities to the level of the fingers and muscle weakness. The neck pain is associated with occipital, temporal and frontal headaches and muscle spasms in the neck area. The patient describes the pain as aching, burning, pins and needles, sharp, and stabbing. The pain is aggravated by activity, flexion/extension, prolonged sitting, pulling, pushing, repetitive head motions and standing. She also reports severe difficulty in sleep.
Botulism is a neuroparalytic disorder characterized by the appearance of a descending flaccid paralysis produced by Clostridium botulinum toxin. The causal agent of this disease is a gram-positive anaerobic bacillus survives in soil and marine sediments through the formation of vegetative spores. Clostridium botulinum spores germinate favored by certain environmental conditions. The bacillus, during growth and autolysis releases a potent neurotoxin responsible for the symptoms of the disease. There are 7 types of toxin designated A through G. The toxin is absorbed from the intestinal tract and into systemic circulation to reach neuromuscular endings. At this level it binds to receptors on nerve endings
When it comes to history of hyperhidrosis, it is very important to emphasize on the pattern of sweating (location, duration, frequency, volume, symmetry, specific triggers, and nocturnal sweating). These factors are all important. Besides, age of onset, impact on quality of life, family history and secondary etiology are also necessary. The proper diagnostic and treatment procedures of primary focal hyperhidrosis requires that the disorder should be diagnosed when
Guided by fabulous results in preventing permanent damage from stroke and other injuries to the central nervous system in rats and other animals, researchers around the world have launched scores of trials in humans (12). However, many promising new therapies are sitting on the shelf because of a lack of money and other resources necessary to conduct large, lengthy, and expensive studies to conclusively show that a new drug or treatment really works in people. The requirement for safety and efficacy can be frustrating, especially for badly needed treatments that are very promising, but such caution is necessary.
Recent studies have shown, though somewhat ambiguously, that GABA (gamma amino butyric acid, a usually inhibitory neurotransmitter) gives some improvement over the symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia.
Around the world, many people are living with neurologically debilitating disorders like multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is best described as a pathological “inflammatory-mediated demyelinating disease of the human central nervous system,” and affects more than 2.5 million people globally (Trapp & Nave, 2008).
Guyer BM. Mechanism of Botulinum Toxin in the Relief of Chronic Pain. Current review of pain 1999:3: 427-431.
Research Updates. University of Rochester Medical Center. November 10, 2008. National Institutes of Health. February 6, 2009. < http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neurology/nih-registry/research/index.cfm>.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. It is understood as an autoimmune disease, a condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks normal tissues. In Multiple Sclerosis, the patient’s own cells & antibodies attack the fatty myelin sheath that protects and insulates nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord, the two components of the CNS. This ultimately causes damage to the nerve cells and without the insulation the myelin sheath provides, nerve communication is disrupted. Hence, Multiple Sclerosis is characterized by symptoms that reflect central nervous system involvement (Luzzio, 2014).
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an acquired demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that typically is diagnosed in the second or third decade of life. Normally, nerves are enclosed in myelin sheaths that help facilitate transmission of nerve impulses within the CNS and the peripheral nervous system throughout the body. In patients with MS, the myelin sheath is damaged and eventually degenerates, causing patches of scar tissue called plaques or lesions to occur anywhere randomly on the myelin sheath (Ruto, 2013). This results in impaired nerve conductivity, which interferes with message transmission between the brain and the other parts of the body. As a result, impulse transmission is altered, distorted, short-circuited, or completely absent. This interference in impulse transmission creates muscle weakness, muscle imbalance, and possibly muscle spasms with partial or complete paralysis. Multiple sclerosis also can result in visual impairment and alteration of cognitive abilities, as well as pain, numbness, or tingling sensations (Ruto, 2013).
So, what is Botox? Botox is the market name for type A botulinum toxin which is a purified form of the toxin produced by the bacteria, clostridium botulinum. This bacteria is commonly associated with food poisoning and is lethal in large doses. The botulism toxin could paralyze vital muscles needed for breathing. Although related to botulism food poisoning, the amounts of Botox given are so minimal and localized, that the toxin will not spread to any other muscles in the body, thus making it a safe and harmless procedure. When used cosmetically, tiny amo...
Dyck, P., Feldman, E., & Vinick, A. (2013, November 26). Diabetic Neuropathy: The Nerve Damage of Diabetes. Retrieved from http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/neuropathies/#types
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2011). National Institutes of Health. Retrieved [18th April 2011] from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/picks/picks.htm.
Rowland, L. P., ed. Merritt’s Textbook of Neurology. 7th ed. Lea and Febiger. Philadelphia: 1984.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement (Dugdale, Koch, and Zieve 2010). In ALS, nerve c...