| Abstract | Neurotoxin made by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum is an important medical
substance. It is so versatile, that it can be used as a lethal weapon and in modern medicine is
even gaining its popularity in the aesthetic procedures. Although it was first recognized as
early as 1793 in Germany, it was not until 1989 that surgeons found its beneficial usages in
medicine. The so called »miracle poison« exists in eight different exotoxins
(A,B,C1,C2,D,E,F,G) – the most potent being type A. All serotypes work by a similar
mechanism in interfering with the neural transmission by blocking the release of the
neurotransmitter acetylcholine – causing muscle paralysis. Botulinum toxin, or »botox«,
takes about 24-72 hours to take effect and lasts nearly 8-12 weeks. Most common usages of
botulinum toxin in medicine are to treat cervical dystonia, hyperhidrosis, chronic migraine,
bladder dysfunction, eye twitching, cross eyes, eyelid spasms, foot pain, stomach issues,
cosmetic correction of wrinkles, etc...
Although the current usage of botox is primarily medical, it can also cause a serious
poisoning called botulism, in fact this is also how it was first isolated from poisoned food.
Clostridium botulinum bacteria produces spores and thrives in conditions where there is no
oxygen, therefore most common sources of poisoning are home-canned foods, contaminated
soil, honey and corn syrup. In the times of world wars, a common infection was botulism
entering open wounds, whereas now it is most commonly spread through ingestion of spore
contaminated foods. Although most cases of botulism aren’t life threatening, especially in the
modern times, sometimes recovery requires mechanical ventilation and weeks to months of
time. |
| Abstract (croatian) | Neurotoksin kojeg proizvodi bakterija Clostridium botulinum je važna medicinska supstanca.
Može se koristiti kao smrtonosno oružje, u modernoj medicini, a svoju popularnost dobiva
čak i u estetskoj medicini. Iako je prvi put otkriven još 1793. godine u Njemačkoj, kirurzi su
tek 1989. pronašli njegovu korisnu primjenu u medicini. Takozvani »čudotvorni otrov«
postoji u osam različitih egzotoksina (A,B,C1,C2,D,E,F,G) – najsnažniji je tip A. Svi
serotipovi djeluju sličnim mehanizmom u ometanju neuronskog prijenosa blokiranjem
oslobađanja neurotransmitera acetilkolina – uzrokujući paralizu mišića. Botulinskom toksinu
ili »botoksu« potrebno je oko 24-72 sata do početka djelovenja i traje gotovo 8-12 tjedana.
Najčešća primjena botulinum toksina u medicini je za liječenje cervikalne distonije,
hiperhidroze, kronične migrene, disfunkcije mokraćnog mjehura, trzanja očiju, grčeva očnih
kapaka, bolova u stopalima, želučanih problema, kozmetičke korekcije bora, itd...
Iako je trenutna uporaba botoxa prvenstveno medicinska, on može uzrokovati i ozbiljno
trovanje zvano botulizam, dapače i prvi put je i izoliran iz otrovane hrane. Bakterija
Clostridium botulinum stvara spore i uspijeva u uvjetima u kojima nema kisika, stoga su
najčešći izvori trovanja domaća konzervirana hrana, kontaminirana zemlja, med i kukuruzni
sirup. U vrijeme svjetskih ratova uobičajena infekcija je bio botulizam koji je ušao u otvorene
rane, a sada se najčešće širi unosom hrane kontaminirane sporama. Iako većina slučajeva
botulizma nije opasna za život, osobito u moderno doba, ponekad je za oporavak potrebna
mehanička ventilacija i duž vremenski period (više tjedana, ponekad i mjeseci). |
