MFI zeolite membranes were prepared on porous α-alumina substrates, using secondary growth of nano-seeded layers. The resulting membranes were characterized by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD), and pervaporation performance tests for separation of Benzene, Toluene and Xylene (BTX) mixture from contaminated water. The morphology, thickness, homogeneity,...

The distribution and quantitation of 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) binding sites and thus acetylcholine receptor (AChR) were determined in mouse sternomastoid muscle by electron microscope autoradiography. We found that a valid criterion for receptor saturation at the neuromuscular junction was the complete elimination of neurally evoked tetanic muscle contractions, since, when such a cri...

The use of Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) to manage focal spasticity in children with cerebral palsy has been rapid evolving since 1990. The success of BTX-A injections is very dependent on delivery of the toxin into the targeted muscle. The method of delivery however is not agreed upon and differs between patient populations. This paper reviews the different techniques for muscle localisation ...

Mammalian voltage-gated Na(+) channels were less sensitive to pyrethroids than their insect counterparts by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude. Deltamethrin at 10 microM elicited weak gating changes in rat skeletal muscle alpha-subunit Na(+) channels (Nav1.4) after > 30 min of perfusion. About 10% of the peak current was maintained during the 8-ms, +50-mV pulse and, upon repolarization to -140 mV, the ...

Intramuscular injections with botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) lead to a rapid decrease in muscle mass and force, but the effect of this drug on bone development is unclear. In the present pilot study we evaluated the effect of a one-time injection of BTXA in growing rabbits. Twelve young (weight 1.5 kg) New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned to receive either BTX-A (total dose 8 units per kg body...

Background: Muscles from patients with cerebral palsy (CP) are often spastic and form contractures that limit the range of motion. Injections botulinum toxin A (BTX) into calf muscles an important treatment for functional equinus; however, improvement in gait function is not always achieved. BTX also used to test muscle weakening risk evaluation lengthening surgery. Our aim was assess effect ov...

BACKGROUND Train-of-four (TOF) fade during nerve-mediated muscle contraction is postulated to be attributable to inhibition of prejunctional nicotinic α3β2 acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), while decrease of twitch tension is attributable to block of postjunctional muscle nAChRs. The validity of these presumptions was tested using specific prejunctional and postjunctional nAChR antagonists, tes...

Voltage-sensitive Na+ channels from rat skeletal muscle plasma membrane vesicles were inserted into planar lipid bilayers in the presence of either of the alkaloid toxins veratridine (VT) or batrachotoxin (BTX). Both of these toxins are known to cause persistent activation of Na+ channels. With BTX as the channel activator, single channels remain open nearly all the time. Channels activated wit...

UNLABELLED The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) on spastic foot in stroke patients in a rehabilitation program. METHOD Hemiparetic stroke patients (n=21) enrolled in a rehabilitation program were divided into two groups. The first group (n=11) received a total of 300 UI BTX-A, and the second group (n=10) received 100 UI BTX-A. All patients ...

INTRODUCTION Fracture healing is a complex process influenced by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of botulinum toxin (BTX) A on fracture healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS Following the induction of bilateral standard closed femoral fractures and relative fixation in 18 Wistar albino rats, 8 IU of BTX A were injected into the right femoral ...