Difficult myotomy is not determined by preoperative therapy and does not impact outcome.

OBJECTIVES: The impact of preoperative endoscopic therapy on the difficulty of laparoscopic Heller myotomy and the impact of the difficulty of the myotomy on long-term outcome has not been determined. This study was undertaken to determine whether preoperative therapy impacts the difficulty of laparoscopic Heller myotomy and whether preoperative therapy or difficulty of myotomy impacts long-term outcomes. METHODS: Since 1992, 305 patients, 56% male, median age 49 years, underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy and were prospectively followed. The difficulty of the laparoscopic Heller myotomy was scored by the operating surgeon for the most recent 170 consecutive patients on a scale of 1 (easiest) to 5 (most difficult). Patients scored their symptoms before and after myotomy using a Likert scale from 0 (never/not bothersome) to 10 (always/very bothersome). RESULTS: Before myotomy, 66% of patients underwent endoscopic therapy: 33% dilation, 11% Botox, and 22% both. Preoperative endoscopic therapy did not correlate with the difficulty of the myotomy (P=NS). Median follow-up was 25 months. Regardless of the difficulty of the myotomy, dysphagia improved with myotomy (P<0.0001). By regression analysis, the frequency and severity of post-myotomy dysphagia correlated with neither preoperative endoscopic therapy nor the difficulty of the myotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic Heller myotomy improves the frequency and severity of dysphagia. The difficulty of laparoscopic Heller myotomy is not impacted by preoperative therapy, and neither preoperative therapy nor difficulty of the myotomy impact long-term outcome.     

A型肉毒杆菌毒素治疗麻痹性斜视

采用眼外肌注射A型肉毒杆菌毒素的方法,治疗17例(18只眼)麻痹性内斜视患者。最大的肌肉麻痹作用发生于注射后7～14天,最大斜视矫正度为50-,随访时间为4～20周,5例最终获得双眼视。未见全身副作用。认为,这种疗法可在部分患卉中替代斜视矫正术。     

Localization of Putative Receptors for Tetanus Toxin and Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A in Rat Central Nervous System

Clostridial neurotoxins (tetanus and botulinum toxins) are potent blockers of neurotransmitter release. These toxins act specifically on the nervous system by interacting with still non-identified protein receptors together with gangliosides. Whereas many biochemical data are available on their binding properties to neuronal membranes in vitro , there is poor morphological evidence of their binding to mammalian central nervous system. In the present study, the binding of tetanus and botulinum neurotoxin type A to rat brain sections is reported. Both toxins bound to nerve terminals with a broad distribution in brain. Tetanus toxin additionally bound to nerve fibres. The staining patterns were clearly shown to be due to the interaction of the heavy chains, which contain the binding moiety, with the tissue. In an attempt to investigate the nature of the acceptors present in the tissue, some sections were pre-incubated with periodic acid. This treatment resulted in the additional binding of botulinum neurotoxin type A to nerve fibres. Since the extended staining of nerve terminals was not modified by this pretreatment, it is suggested that protein receptors of clostridial neurotoxins are located at the nerve terminals, which may be common constituents of the synapses.     

Botulinum toxin injection inhibits myogenic tone and sympathetic nerve function in the porcine internal anal sphincter

Objective Botulinum toxin is an effective treatment for anal fissure, though there is a lack of agreement over the optimal site for its injection. This reflects our current ignorance of its mechanism, and whether it has any action on the nerves of the internal anal sphincter (IAS). This study set out to resolve this issue through use of a pig model. Materials and methods Eight pigs were studied in pairs: one of each pair received a botulinum toxin injection into the anal sphincter, whilst the other acted as its control. Manometry was performed every two weeks under anaesthesia. Pigs were slaughtered at between four and six weeks after injection and the properties of the IAS compared in vitro. Results Whilst maximum anal resting pressure (MARP) increased slowly in control pigs during the experimental period, reflecting weight gain, a fall was observed in treated pigs. In vitro, IAS strips from control pigs generated 400 mg of spontaneous tone per gram of tissue (± 45; standard error), compared to 250 (± 25) mg/g tissue from treated pigs (P < 0.01). Electric Field Stimulation at 50Hz produced 150 (± 22) mg contraction/gram tissue in IAS strips from control pigs compared to 53 (± 13) mg/g tissue in treated pigs (P < 0.0005). This contractile response was blocked by guanethidine. Conclusion Botulinum toxin has a significant action on the IAS. It reduces myogenic tone and contractile responses of this tissue to sympathetic nerve stimulation. Further studies are required to clarify its mechanism of action more precisely.     

Binding of botulinum neurotoxin to pure cholinergic nerve terminals isolated from the electric organ of Torpedo

Summary Torpedo electric organ has been used to study the binding of botulinum neurotoxin type A to pure cholinergic synaptosomes and presynaptic plasma membrane.¹²⁵I-labeled botulinum neurotoxin type A exhibits specific binding to cholinergic fractions. Two binding sites have been determined according to data analysis: a high affinity binding site (synaptosomes: K_d=0.11±0.03 nM, B_max=50±10 fmol · mg prot^–1; presynaptic plasma membrane: K_d=0.2±0.05 nM, B_max=150±15 fmol · mg prot^–1) and a low affinity binding site (synaptosomes: K_d 26 nM, B_max 7.5 pmol · mg prot^–1; presynaptic plasma membrane: K_d 30 nM, B_max 52 pmol · mg prot^–1). The binding of¹²⁵I-botulinum neurotoxin type A is decreased by previous treatment of synaptosomes by neuraminidase and trypsin, and by a preincubation with bovine brain gangliosides or antiserum raised against Torpedo presynaptic plasma membrane. When presynaptic plasma membranes are blotted to nitrocellulose sheet, either¹²⁵I-botulinum neurotoxin or botulinum toxin-gold complexes bind to a M_r 140,000 protein. Botulinum toxin-gold complexes have also been used to study the toxin internalization process into Torpedo synaptosomes. The images fit the three step sequence model in the pathway of botulinum neurotoxin poisoning.     

Distinct sites of action of clostridial neurotoxins revealed by double-poisoning of mouse motor nerve terminals

(1) We investigated the effects of single- and double-poisoning with tetanus toxin (TeTx), botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoTx A) and botulinum neurotoxin type B (BoTx B) on spontaneous and nerve-evoked quantal transmitter release at motor endplates of the triangularis sterni preparation of the mouse. (2) Inhibitory effects of TeTx and BoTx B on spontaneous and nerve-evoked transmitter release were very similar, except that the action of BoTx B required 500-fold lower concentrations and was less dependent on temperature. BoTx A caused stronger inhibition of quantal release than TeTx or BoTx B, but was comparatively much easier counteracted by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). (3) In contrast to BoTx A, with TeTx or BoTx B the increase of transmitter release following onset of 50 Hz nerve stimulation was delayed for a few seconds and synaptic latencies of quanta showed large variations. This release pattern was also evident in all double-poisoning experiments, regardless of intoxication sequence. (4) Inhibition of evoked release was found to be slightly stronger with TeTx than with BoTx B, so the amount of nerve-evoked quanta released after double-poisoning with any sequence of these toxins always approached that of TeTx. In no case supraadditive actions were observed. (5) A strong reduction of evoked quanta was observed when BoTx A was applied in addition to either of the two other toxins. With reversed poisoning sequences (BoTx A-TeTx or BoTx A-BoTx B) the resulting values remained at the extremely low level of BoTx A. (6) In the presence of 4-AP double-poisoning with any combination between BoTx A and TeTx or BoTx B (regardless of intoxication sequence) revealed supra-additive effects, since the number of quanta released was considerably lower than that obtained with any of the toxins alone (in the presence of 4-AP). (7) Our results indicate that tetanus toxin and botulinum toxin type B have a common site of action which is different and independent from that of botulinum toxin type A.This is part of the thesis of M. G. to be presented to the Fachbereich Humanmedizin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen     

PCR 检测产 A、B、E、F 和 G 型肉毒神经毒素梭菌的神经毒素基因

肉毒神经毒素分为Ａ、Ｂ、Ｃ、Ｄ、Ｅ、Ｆ和Ｇ七个血清型，其中Ａ、Ｂ、Ｅ和Ｆ型引起人类肉毒中毒。为此，选取肉毒神经毒素的保守序列设计了一对简并引物，对１８株肉毒梭菌和８株相关梭菌进行了检测，表明该引物可特异扩增Ａ、Ｂ、Ｅ、Ｆ和Ｇ型肉毒梭菌及产Ｅ型肉毒神经毒素的丁酸梭菌，产物为２６４ｂｐ，敏感性达１０ｐｇ细菌ＤＮＡ。采有酚－氯仿抽提法、固相载体捕获法和热裂解法处理产毒菌株，结果表明热裂解法安全、简便、快速，所制模板扩增效果明显。因此，此ＰＣＲ方法可用于快速敏感地检测引起人类肉毒中毒的梭菌。     

Animal models of Parkinson's disease: An empirical comparison with the phenomenology of the disease in man

Summary Animal models are an important aid in experimental medical science because they enable one to study the pathogenetic mechanisms and the therapeutic principles of treating the functional disturbances (symptoms) of human diseases. Once the causative mechanism is understood, animal models are also helpful in the development of therapeutic approaches exploiting this understanding. On the basis of experimental and clinical findings. Parkinson's disease (PD) became the first neurological disease to be treated palliatively by neurotransmitter replacement therapy.The pathological hallmark of PD is a specific degeneration of nigral and other pigmented brainstem nuclei, with a characteristic inclusion, the Lewy body, in remaining nerve cells. There is now a lot of evidence that degeneration of the dopaminergic nigral neurones and the resulting striatal dopamine-deficiency syndrome are responsible for its classic motor symptoms akinesia and bradykinesia. PD is one of many human diseases which do not appear to have spontaneously arisen in animals. The characteristic features of the disease can however be more or less faithfully imitated in animals through the administration of various neurotoxic agents and drugs disturbing the dopaminergic neurotransmission.The cause of chronic nigral cell death in PD and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The partial elucidation of the processes underlie the selective action of neurotoxic substances such as 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), has however revealed possible molecular mechanisms that give rise to neuronal death. Accordingly, hypotheses concerning the mechanisms of these neurotoxines have been related to the pathogenesis of nigral cell death in PD.The present contribution starts out by describing some of the clinical, pathological and neurochemical phenomena of PD. The currently most important animal models (e.g. the reserpine model, neuroleptic-induced catalepsy, tremor models, experimentally-induced degeneration of nigro-striatal dopaminergic neurons with 6-OHDA, methamphetamine, MPTP, MPP⁺, tetrahydroisoquinolines, -carbolines, and iron) critically reviewed next, and are compared with the characteristic features of the disease in man.     

A型肉毒毒素治疗大鼠致敏性鼻炎的实验研究

目的　研究A型肉毒毒素 (botulinumtoxin A ,BTX A)对大鼠变应性鼻炎、鼻溢是否有治疗作用及对血管活性肠肽 (vasoactiveintestinalpolypeptide ,VIP)免疫表达的延时性。 方法　用卵清蛋白 (ovalbumin)致敏健康Wistar大鼠 ,制作变应性鼻炎动物模型。将 2 0只大鼠随意分为 3组 ,即对照组 (8只 )、致敏组 (12只 )和致敏后BTX A用药组 (6只 )。观察给予BTX A前后时限大鼠鼻部症状和体征的变化。采用组织学和免疫组织化学方法观察鼻腔黏膜形态学改变以及对VIP表达的影响。结果　 (1)致敏组动物鼻分泌量明显增多。组织学结果显示 :致敏组鼻腔黏膜水肿、腺体增生、嗜酸性粒细胞增多。免疫组织化学结果显示 :致敏组腺体周围VIP纤维密集 ,呈束状。 (2 )致敏后BTX A用药组 ,鼻分泌量逐渐减少 ,致敏后BTX A用药组与致敏组相比鼻分泌量差异有显著性(P <0 0 5 )。组织学结果示 :鼻黏膜上皮完整 ,腺体明显减少 ,腺管萎缩。免疫组织化学结果示 :致敏组动物致敏后BTX A用药组腺体周围VIP纤维减少 ,未见束状VIP纤维。结论　BTX A能缓解变应性鼻炎流涕 ,VIP纤维密度、数量和免疫阳性反应减少 ,能治疗变应性鼻炎的鼻溢症状