Botulinum toxin type A reduces capsaicin-evoked pain and neurogenic vasodilatation in human skin.

The effect of Botulinum Toxin type A (BoNT/A) on pain and neurogenic vasodilatation induced by application to the human skin of thermal stimuli and capsaicin was evaluated in a double blind study. A capsaicin cream (0.5 ml of a 0.

The excitability of the trigeminal motor system in sleep bruxism: a transcranial magnetic stimulation and brainstem reflex study.

Aims: Since sleep bruxism (SB) is characterized by grinding and clenching of the teeth during sleep and could be an exaggerated manifestation of normal spontaneous rhythmic masticatory muscle activity, the aim of this study was to obtain a neurophysiological assessment of the excitability of the central jaw motor pathways in patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of SB.

Methods: A total of 30 subjects diagnosed with SB on the basis of self-report of tooth grinding were studied using the "recovery cycle" of the masseter inhibitory reflex (MIR) elicited by electric and magnetic stimulation of the mental nerves and by recording the motor potentials evoked in masseter muscles by transcranial magnetic stimulation. Tests were done during daytime, when the subjects were awake.

Preoperative and postoperative electroneurographic facial nerve monitoring in patients with parotid tumors.

Objective: To assess the value of clinical (House-Brackmann grading) and neurophysiological (conventional electroneurography) monitoring of the facial nerve before and after (at day 10 and day 80) microsurgical parotidectomy in a group of patients with parotid tumors.

Study Design And Setting: From January 7, 1999, to February 27, 2001, 33 patients were evaluated for parotid neoplasms confirmed by cytologic examination: 27 were benign and 6 were malignant epithelial tumors. All patients underwent preoperative electroneurography of the affected side and the normal contralateral side.

Botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A and C do not affect motor units survival in humans: an electrophysiological study by motor units counting.

Objectives: Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) is a valid therapy for dystonia but repeated BoNT/A injections may induce a clinical immuno-resistance that could be overcome by using other BoNT serotypes. In vitro experiments and our preliminary investigations in vivo, indicate that botulinum neurotoxin serotype C (BoNT/C) could be an effective alternative to BoNT/A. Moreover, in cultured neurons 'in vitro' BoNT/C has been reported to be more toxic than BoNT/A.