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Electronic Physician Jul 2017Some of the world's most dangerous spiders have been certified in some areas of Iran. Spider bites are common in some geographical areas, and are sporadic in some...
Some of the world's most dangerous spiders have been certified in some areas of Iran. Spider bites are common in some geographical areas, and are sporadic in some regions. Spider bites can be classified as latrodectism or loxoscelism. If the patient had not seen the spider, the clinical manifestations of latrodectism could be easily mistaken for other types of bite or sting; or an infectious disease, and withdrawal symptoms, and also loxoscelism could be mistaken for cellulitis, various types of skin infection, or even a sting from a Gadim scorpion (). Given the nonspecific presentation of spider bites, one must keep the diagnosis in mind, and question patients, regarding possible exposure to spiders. Physicians recommend becoming familiar with the geographical distribution of Iranian dangerous spiders, clinical manifestations, and management of their bites. The most useful treatment for spider bite is anti-venom administration. Producing spider bite anti-venom in the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute is under investigation.
PubMed: 28894524
DOI: 10.19082/4703 -
Current Opinion in Psychology Feb 2024Bereavement is a common and often challenging experience in late life. Evidence shows that while many older adults manage to adjust well and demonstrate resilience in... (Review)
Review
Bereavement is a common and often challenging experience in late life. Evidence shows that while many older adults manage to adjust well and demonstrate resilience in response to the death of a close person, bereavement puts a substantial minority at risk of adverse mental and physical health impacts including mortality. Current research further indicates that 1) this is the case across different countries and cultures across the globe; 2) that the COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for coping with late-life bereavement; 3) that loneliness and social isolation among bereaved older adults tend to be prevalent and harmful, particularly under pandemic but also in nonpandemic circumstances; and, recently, 4) that bereavement may be a risk factor for cognitive decline in this population.
Topics: Female; Humans; Aged; Pandemics; Widowhood; Bereavement; Grief; Loneliness
PubMed: 38071788
DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101748 -
Toxins Apr 2017Latrodectism or envenomation by widow-spiders is common and clinically significant worldwide. Alpha-latrotoxin is the mammalian-specific toxin in the venom that results... (Review)
Review
Latrodectism or envenomation by widow-spiders is common and clinically significant worldwide. Alpha-latrotoxin is the mammalian-specific toxin in the venom that results in toxic effects observed in humans. Symptoms may be incapacitating and include severe pain that can persist for days. The management of mild to moderate latrodectism is primarily supportive while severe cases have variously been treated with intravenous calcium, muscle relaxants, widow-spider antivenom and analgesic opioids. The object of this systematic review is to examine the literature on the clinical effectiveness of past and current treatments for latrodectism. MEDLINE, EMBASE and Google Scholar were searched from 1946 to December 2016 to identify clinical studies on the treatment of latrodectism. Studies older than 40 years and not in English were not reviewed. There were only two full-publications and one abstract of placebo-controlled randomised trials on antivenom use for latrodectism. Another two randomised comparative trials compared the route of administration of antivenom for latrodectism. There were fourteen case series (including two abstracts), fourteen case reports and one letter investigating drug treatments for latrodectism with the majority of these also including antivenom for severe latrodectism. Antivenom with opioid analgesia is often the major treatment reported for latrodectism however; recent high quality evidence has cast doubt on the clinical effectiveness of this combination and suggests that other treatments need to be investigated.
Topics: Animals; Antivenins; Humans; Spider Bites; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 28430165
DOI: 10.3390/toxins9040148 -
Toxins Nov 2015Widow spiders have received much attention due to the frequently reported human and animal injures caused by them. Elucidation of the molecular composition and action... (Review)
Review
Widow spiders have received much attention due to the frequently reported human and animal injures caused by them. Elucidation of the molecular composition and action mechanism of the venoms and toxins has vast implications in the treatment of latrodectism and in the neurobiology and pharmaceutical research. In recent years, the studies of the widow spider venoms and the venom toxins, particularly the α-latrotoxin, have achieved many new advances; however, the mechanism of action of the venom toxins has not been completely clear. The widow spider is different from many other venomous animals in that it has toxic components not only in the venom glands but also in other parts of the adult spider body, newborn spiderlings, and even the eggs. More recently, the molecular basis for the toxicity outside the venom glands has been systematically investigated, with four proteinaceous toxic components being purified and preliminarily characterized, which has expanded our understanding of the widow spider toxins. This review presents a glance at the recent advances in the study on the venoms and toxins from the Latrodectus species.
Topics: Animals; Arthropod Proteins; Black Widow Spider; Research; Spider Venoms; Transcriptome
PubMed: 26633495
DOI: 10.3390/toxins7124862 -
International Journal of Emergency... Jan 2024Black widows, one of the few spiders that can sting humans with poison, are members of the spider genus Latrodectus and are well-known for the extraordinary potency of...
Black widows, one of the few spiders that can sting humans with poison, are members of the spider genus Latrodectus and are well-known for the extraordinary potency of their neurotoxic venom. Latrodectism, a symptom marked by excruciating muscular pain, stomach pain, and diaphoresis after envenomation, is very typical. We described a black widow envenomation case that produced a significant reaction, including diaphoresis and excruciating pain throughout the left thigh that later spread to the lower leg, lower back, belly, and chest. Because of the patient's description of the spider that bit him and his typical clinical state, it was assumed that Latrodectus envenomation was the cause of his symptoms. The patient received 3 days of observation in the ED while receiving opioid analgesic pain management and muscle relaxant treatment with diazepam. The patient's pain and symptoms were satisfactorily managed, and he was sent home. This case report will help further research be done in the area where it was reported to see if there are cases with similar presentations misdiagnosed as other illnesses. Finally, immediate pain relief is the most critical goal for all patients.
PubMed: 38166617
DOI: 10.1186/s12245-023-00576-z -
Geriatrics (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2022I am 88 years old-a widower and retired businessman living in West Sussex [...].
I am 88 years old-a widower and retired businessman living in West Sussex [...].
PubMed: 35447843
DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics7020040 -
The Neurohospitalist Apr 2023A neurologist reflects on the unintended heartlessness of keeping a patient with terminal cancer in hospital for further tests at a time when families are not permitted...
A neurologist reflects on the unintended heartlessness of keeping a patient with terminal cancer in hospital for further tests at a time when families are not permitted to visit. Peripherally involved in a patient's care, he witnesses the suffering brought about by pandemic-related visitation restrictions in the final weeks of a patient's life. In reviewing the course of events with the patient's widow, the physician has many of his assumptions overturned and more completely grasps the consequences of visitation restrictions on hospitalized patients.
PubMed: 37064932
DOI: 10.1177/19418744231153475 -
Journal of Happiness Studies 2023Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, 2004-17) and time diaries from Poland (2013), the U.S. (2006-16), the U.K. (2014-15) and...
UNLABELLED
Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE, 2004-17) and time diaries from Poland (2013), the U.S. (2006-16), the U.K. (2014-15) and France (2009-10), we examine differences between widowed and partnered older women in well-being and its development in widowhood. Most importantly, our analysis accounts for time use, an aspect which has not been studied previously. We trace the evolution of well-being of women who become widowed by comparing them with their matched non-widowed 'statistical twins' and examine the role of an exceptionally broad set of potential moderators of widowhood's impact on well-being. We confirm a dramatic decrease in mental health and life satisfaction after the loss of partner, followed by a slow partial recovery over a 5-year period. An extensive set of controls recorded prior to widowhood, including detailed family ties and social networks, provides little help in explaining the deterioration in well-being. Unique data from time-diaries kept by older women in several European countries and the U.S. tell us why: the key factor behind widows' reduced well-being is increased time spent alone.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10902-023-00622-w.
PubMed: 36694477
DOI: 10.1007/s10902-023-00622-w