| 1. |
- Pingel, Jessica, et al.
(author)
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Injection of high dose botulinum-toxin A leads to impaired skeletal muscle function and damage of the fibrilar and non-fibrilar structures
- 2017
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 7:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Botulinum-toxin A (BoNT/A) is used for a wide range of conditions. Intramuscular administration of BoNT/A inhibits the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction from presynaptic motor neurons causing muscle-paralysis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of high dose intramuscular BoNT/A injections (6 UI = 60 pg) on muscle tissue. The gait pattern of the rats was significantly affected 3 weeks after BoNT/A injection. The ankle joint rotated externally, the rats became flat footed, and the stride length decreased after BoNT/A injection. Additionally, there was clear evidence of microstructural changes on the tissue level by as evidenced by 3D imaging of the muscles by Synchrotron Radiation X-ray Tomographic Microscopy (SRXTM). Both the fibrillar and the non-fibrillar tissues were affected. The volume fraction of fibrillary tissue was reduced significantly and the non-fibrillar tissue increased. This was accompanied by a loss of the linear structure of the muscle tissue. Furthermore, gene expression analysis showed a significant upregulation of COL1A1, MMP-2, TGF-b1, IL-6, MHCIIA and MHCIIx in the BoNT/A injected leg, while MHVIIB was significantly downregulated. In conclusion: The present study reveals that high dose intramuscular BoNT/A injections cause microstructural damage of the muscle tissue, which contributes to impaired gait.
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| 2. |
- Stankevic, Tomas, et al.
(author)
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Measurement of strain in InGaN/GaN nanowires and nanopyramids
- 2015
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In: Journal of Applied Crystallography. - 1600-5767. ; 48, s. 344-349
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The growth and optoelectronic properties of core-shell nanostructures are influenced by the strain induced by the lattice mismatch between core and shell. In contrast with planar films, nanostructures contain multiple facets that act as independent substrates for shell growth, which enables different relaxation mechanisms. In this study, X-ray diffraction data are presented that show that InGa1-N shells grown on GaN cores are strained along each of the facets independently. Reciprocal space maps reveal multiple Bragg peaks, corresponding to different parts of the shell being strained along the individual facet planes. The strained lattice constants were found from the positions of the Bragg peaks. Vegard's law and Hooke's law for an anisotropic medium were applied in order to find the composition and strain in the InGaN shells. A range of nanowire samples with different InGaN shell thicknesses were measured and it is concluded that, with an In concentration of around 30%, major strain relaxation takes place when the thickness reaches 23nm. InGaN shells of 6 and 9nm thickness remain nearly fully strained biaxially along each of the facets of the nanowires and the facets of the nanopyramids.
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