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Medycyna Pracy 2016Arsenic (As) is commonly known as a poison. Only a few people know that As has also been widely used in medicine. In the past years As and its compounds were used as a... (Review)
Review
Arsenic (As) is commonly known as a poison. Only a few people know that As has also been widely used in medicine. In the past years As and its compounds were used as a medicine for the treatment of such diseases as diabetes, psoriasis, syphilis, skin ulcers and joint diseases. Nowadays As is also used especially in the treatment of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has recognized arsenic as an element with carcinogenic effect evidenced by epidemiological studies, but as previously mentioned it is also used in the treatment of neoplastic diseases. This underlines the specificity of the arsenic effects. Arsenic occurs widely in the natural environment, for example, it is present in soil and water, which contributes to its migration to food products. Long exposure to this element may lead to liver damages and also to changes in myocardium. Bearing in mind that such serious health problems can occur, monitoring of the As presence in the environmental media plays a very important role. In addition, the occupational risk of As exposure in the workplace should be identified and checked. Also the standards for As presence in food should be established. This paper presents a review of the 2015 publications based on the Medical database like PubMed and Polish Medical Bibliography. It includes the most important information about arsenic in both forms, poison and medicine.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Arsenic; Humans; Neoplasms; Poisons; Poland; Soil Pollutants; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 27044721
DOI: 10.13075/mp.5893.00322 -
Annals of the New York Academy of... Aug 2016Arsenicals are highly reactive inorganic and organic derivatives of arsenic. These chemicals are very toxic and produce both acute and chronic tissue damage. On the... (Review)
Review
Arsenicals are highly reactive inorganic and organic derivatives of arsenic. These chemicals are very toxic and produce both acute and chronic tissue damage. On the basis of these observations, and considering the low cost and simple methods of their bulk syntheses, these agents were thought to be appropriate for chemical warfare. Among these, the best-known agent that was synthesized and weaponized during World War I (WWI) is Lewisite. Exposure to Lewisite causes painful inflammatory and blistering responses in the skin, lung, and eye. These chemicals also manifest systemic tissue injury following their cutaneous exposure. Although largely discontinued after WWI, stockpiles are still known to exist in the former Soviet Union, Germany, Italy, the United States, and Asia. Thus, access by terrorists or accidental exposure could be highly dangerous for humans and the environment. This review summarizes studies that describe the biological, pathophysiological, toxicological, and environmental effects of exposure to arsenicals, with a major focus on cutaneous injury. Studies related to the development of novel molecular pathobiology-based antidotes against these agents are also described.
Topics: Animals; Arsenic Poisoning; Arsenicals; Chemical Warfare; Chemical Warfare Agents; Dimercaprol; Environmental Exposure; Humans; Oxidative Stress; Reactive Oxygen Species
PubMed: 27636894
DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13214 -
Toxins Sep 2011Ricin toxin (RT) is derived from castor beans, produced by the plant Ricinus communis. RT and its toxic A chain (RTA) have been used therapeutically to arm ligands that... (Review)
Review
Ricin toxin (RT) is derived from castor beans, produced by the plant Ricinus communis. RT and its toxic A chain (RTA) have been used therapeutically to arm ligands that target disease-causing cells. In most cases these ligands are cell-binding monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). These ligand-toxin conjugates or immunotoxins (ITs) have shown success in clinical trials [1]. Ricin is also of concern in biodefense and has been classified by the CDC as a Class B biothreat. Virtually all reports of RT poisoning have been due to ingestion of castor beans, since they grow abundantly throughout the world and are readily available. RT is easily purified and stable, and is not difficult to weaponize. RT must be considered during any "white powder" incident and there have been documented cases of its use in espionage [2,3]. The clinical syndrome resulting from ricin intoxication is dependent upon the route of exposure. Countermeasures to prevent ricin poisoning are being developed and their use will depend upon whether military or civilian populations are at risk of exposure. In this review we will discuss ricin toxin, its cellular mode of action, the clinical syndromes that occur following exposure and the development of pre- and post-exposure approaches to prevent of intoxication.
Topics: Animals; Chemical Warfare Agents; Humans; Poisoning; Ricin; Vaccination
PubMed: 22069761
DOI: 10.3390/toxins3091163 -
IUBMB Life Nov 2018Mitochondria are the powerhouse of cells, which upon dysfunctions may lead to several diseases. Mycotoxins are the toxic secondary metabolites from fungi which are... (Review)
Review
Mitochondria are the powerhouse of cells, which upon dysfunctions may lead to several diseases. Mycotoxins are the toxic secondary metabolites from fungi which are capable of causing diseases and death in humans and animals. They have a versatile mechanism of action in biological systems and can be used as lead compounds to treat some diseases including cancer. The present work encompasses analysis on the effects of mycotoxins on mitochondrial dysfunction. Electronic databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were thoroughly searched for up-to-date published information associated with those mycotoxins and their effect on mitochondrial dysfunction. Findings suggest that mycotoxins such as citrinin, aflatoxin, and T-2 toxin exert multi-edged sword-like effects in test systems causing mitochondrial dysfunction. Mycotoxins can induce oxidative stress even at low concentration/dose that may be one of the major causes of mitochondrial dysfunction. On the other hand, activation of apoptotic caspases and other proteins by mycotoxins may lead to apoptotic cell death. Thus, mycotoxins-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction may be related to several chronic diseases which also makes these mycotoxins considerable as lead compounds for inducing toxic effects in cells. Their cytotoxic effects on cancer cells suggest their possible application as chemotherapeutic tools. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(11):1084-1092, 2018.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mitochondria; Mycotoxins; Neoplasms; Poisons
PubMed: 30180298
DOI: 10.1002/iub.1932 -
Canadian Medical Association Journal Mar 1979
Topics: Animals; Ciguatera Poisoning; Fishes, Poisonous; Humans; Marine Toxins; Neurotoxins
PubMed: 436040
DOI: No ID Found -
Acta Medica (Hradec Kralove) 2013Diagnosis of nerve agent intoxication is based on anamnestic data, clinical signs and laboratory examination. For acute poisoning, cholinesterase activity in the blood... (Review)
Review
Diagnosis of nerve agent intoxication is based on anamnestic data, clinical signs and laboratory examination. For acute poisoning, cholinesterase activity in the blood (erythrocyte AChE, plasma/serum BuChE) is sensitive, simple and most frequent laboratory examination performed in biochemical laboratories. Specialized examinations to precise treatment (reactivation test) or to make retrospective diagnosis (fluoride induced reactivation etc.) can be conducted. Other sophisticated methods are available, too.
Topics: Chemical Warfare Agents; Cholinesterases; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Humans; Organophosphate Poisoning
PubMed: 24592745
DOI: 10.14712/18059694.2014.15 -
Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi Jun 2022To retrospectively analyze homicide cases of death after injection and provide reference for forensic identification.
OBJECTIVES
To retrospectively analyze homicide cases of death after injection and provide reference for forensic identification.
METHODS
Six homicide cases of death after injection which were investigated by the Criminal Investigation Team of Shanghai Public Security Bureau were collected and analyzed, including case situation, scene investigation, autopsy and other materials.
RESULTS
The 6 cases were premeditated crimes, 5 cases took place in private spaces, and 5 cases involved the victims approached by suspects' decoy. There were no obvious abnormalities at the scene of the 6 cases. In 6 cases, the victim's body surface injury was mild or no, lividity color was abnormal, and the needlestick injury showed different manifestations from conventional medical measures.
CONCLUSIONS
Death after injection is a highly concealed crime and easy to be ignored. For the suspected injection injury found in autopsy, it is necessary to carefully examine, identify and analyze, be alert to the situation of injecting poison (drug) and do a good job in evidence fixation and material extraction.
Topics: Autopsy; China; Homicide; Poisons; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 36221821
DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.410702 -
American Journal of Respiratory and... Dec 2014Organophosphorus (OP) compound poisoning is a major global public health problem. Acute OP insecticide self-poisoning kills over 200,000 people every year, the majority... (Review)
Review
Organophosphorus (OP) compound poisoning is a major global public health problem. Acute OP insecticide self-poisoning kills over 200,000 people every year, the majority from self-harm in rural Asia. Highly toxic OP nerve agents (e.g., sarin) are a significant current terrorist threat, as shown by attacks in Damascus during 2013. These anticholinesterase compounds are classically considered to cause an acute cholinergic syndrome with decreased consciousness, respiratory failure, and, in the case of insecticides, a delayed intermediate syndrome that requires prolonged ventilation. Acute respiratory failure, by central and peripheral mechanisms, is the primary cause of death in most cases. However, preclinical and clinical research over the last two decades has indicated a more complex picture of respiratory complications after OP insecticide poisoning, including onset of delayed neuromuscular junction dysfunction during the cholinergic syndrome, aspiration causing pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, and the involvement of solvents in OP toxicity. The treatment of OP poisoning has not changed over the last 50 years. However, a better understanding of the multiple respiratory complications of OP poisoning offers additional therapeutic opportunities.
Topics: Chemical Warfare Agents; Critical Care; Humans; Insecticides; Organophosphate Poisoning; Pulmonary Medicine
PubMed: 25419614
DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201406-1150CI -
Neurobiology of Disease Jan 2020
Topics: Animals; Antidotes; Humans; Medical Countermeasures; Nerve Agents; Neurotoxicity Syndromes
PubMed: 31374245
DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104557 -
ALTEX 2021Handling of chemicals is an often-neglected area of test descriptions. Some important aspects are highlighted here, using methyl-phenyl-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP),...
Handling of chemicals is an often-neglected area of test descriptions. Some important aspects are highlighted here, using methyl-phenyl-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), ferrous sulfate (FeSO4·xH2O) and ciguatoxin as example compounds. These are used to provide some background on aspects of acid-base equilibria, redox state, crystal water, natural compound mixtures, and chemical naming systems. Also, solvents and impurities are addressed, for instance concerning their often high (millimolar range) concentrations in assay buffers and cell culture media. The discussion of these aspects calls for a more standardized preparation of test solutions and a more extensive disclosure of the procedure in publications; it also suggests more flexibility in data mining, as compounds with clearly different identifiers may have been used to produce highly similar or fully identical test conditions. While this short overview is not intended as definitive guidance, it does demand more active involvement of all test developers and performers with these issues, and it calls for more transparent information disclosure concerning the preparation and use of test and control chemical solutions.
Topics: 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; Ciguatoxins; Drug Contamination; Ferrous Compounds; Poisons; Quality Control; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 33452536
DOI: 10.14573/altex.2012311