Five year survey of toxicological testing of clinical body fluid samples at the poison control centre in the Indian State of Kerala.

The Poison Control Centre (PCC) at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kerala, was established in June 2003, but became fully operational from January 2005. There are only four PCCs in India recognized by the World Health Organization, of which this is one. A five-year (2005 to 2009) review of biological samples analyzed for chemicals, drugs and toxins by the analytical laboratory attached to the PCC is presented to give an indication of the commonest types of poisoning encountered in this region of India, aside from venomous bites and stings. Such data are not adequately available so far, which is also true for other parts of the country. Results of the survey show that there has been a steady rise in the receipt of samples over the entire period from 432 in 2005 to 601 in 2009. Among the samples analyzed, the commonest toxicants are pesticides, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals and alcohols. Of the pesticides, organophosphates accounted for the maximum number, while most of the remaining comprised zinc phosphide, carbamates, pyrethroids, paraquat, phosphorus, and bromadiolone. Aluminium phosphide, which is a common pesticide in some other regions, was virtually non-existent, while zinc phosphide, a rodenticide, is the second highest in incidence. Of the pharmaceuticals, the largest number comprised sedativehypnotics, while antipyretic drugs, especially paracetamol, accounted for a most of the remaining. Of the metals, the commonest was lead, followed by arsenic, mercury, iron, etc. Requests for copper testing were common, but mostly pertained to Wilson‟s disease, and not toxicity. Among the alcohols, ethanol was the commonest. Even though Kerala is rich in flora, plant toxins were low in incidence, because of the difficulty in testing for such toxins, as compared to chemicals. Bites and stings were not included in this study. Therapeutic monitoring of drugs, which accounts for a large number of samples received by the laboratory was also not part of the survey.

Long-term biochemical and genotoxicity studies of four synthetic food and drug colourants in mice

Four different food and drug synthetic colorants, brilliant black [Bk] brilliant blue [Bl], erythrosine [Er], and indigo carmine [In] were fed to groups of male and female mice at dose of [250 mg/kg diet] for 7 months. DNA and RNA content were determined in kidney, liver, brain, muscles, heart and spleen. Also, electrophoretic pattern of plasma protein, chromosomal aberration were done in both sexes. The feeding of colorants decrease DNA content of all organs expect brain which remained nearly constant in both males and females, DNA reached to 42, 24, 18.2, 12 and 6.6 mg/100 g fresh tissue of kidney, liver, brain muscles, heart and spleen, respectively. Also, RNA contents decreased in all examined organs except brain which was kept unchanged relative to control. Chromosomal aberration ranged from 40% to 44.6% in [Er] group to 29.3% to 34% for [Bl] group in both female and male mice. This study was done to clarify the biochemical changes and genotoxic effect of food and drug colorants

Ingestions accidentelles de produits toxiques chez l'enfant : a propos de 308 cas observes au centre medico-social d'Elf Congo; Pointe-Noire

A partir de 308 cas d'intoxications colliges en 6 ans chez l'enfant de 0 a 5 ans; les auteurs ont evalue a 6;3 pour cent la frequence hospitaliere de cette pathologie. Les toxiques les plus souvent en cause etaient le petrole : 213 cas (69;2 pour cent) et les medicaments : 63 cas (20;4 pour cent). L'indigestion avait lieu au domicile familial dans 268 cas (87 pour cent) et le delai de prise en charge therapeutique etait compris entre 2 et 6 heures dans 55;8 pour cent. Les auteurs insistent sur la prevention des intoxications par l'education pour la sante

A propos des intoxications

"L'auteur passe en revue les principaux aspects de la toxicologie clinique et l'implication de cette derniere dans la resolution des problemes de sante individuelle et communautaire qui se posent avec acuite dans la societe moderne. En fait; l'on ne peut vivre sans chimie. Mais cette ""chimisation"" a outrance n'est pas sans danger pour la sante de l'homme. C'est ainsi que l'analyse toxicologique se revele efficace et necessaire pour la protection de la population"

Efectos colaterales oculares en el tratamiento sistemico de las enfermedades catuneas / Ocular collateral effects in the systematic treatment of cutaneous diseases

Se describen los medicamentos sistémicos comúnmente usados en el tratamiento de las enfermedades dermatológicas con los cuales se han demostrado los efectos oculares tóxicos

Estudios biológicos recientes sobre esquizofrenia y toxicidad de los psicofármacos / Biologycal studies in schizophrenia and psychodrugs toxicity

Se revisa brevemente la teoría dopamínica en la etiopatogenia de la esquizofrenia y el posible mecanismo de producción de la misma por infecciones virales subclínicas con daño del lóbulo temporal izquierdo. Además, se destacan los estudios electroencefalográficos con potenciales lentos en parientes cercanos de esquizofrénicos, así como el uso de la penicilina, la hemodiálisis y el baclofen en el tratamiento de esta afección. Se revisa también el concepto de `alexitimia' en desórdenes psicosomáticos y la alteración en el metabolismo del triptófano en éstos y en la esquizofrenia. Entre los efectos adversos de los psicofármacos se discuten la disquinesia tardía y la hiperprolactinemia, la acción cardiotóxica de los antidepresivos tricíclicos y su fármacoquinesis. Finalmente, la acción del litio sobre la glándula tiroides y el riñón, así como su mecanismo de acción de acuerdo a recientes planteamientos, son discutidos.

Importancia del laboratorio de toxicología para el control analítico del farmacodependiente / Importance of toxicologic laboratory for pharmacodependence analytic control

Se hace una revisión sobre las formas de identificación a través de los laboratorios del control del tratamiento a que puede ser sometida una persona por consumo masivo de drogas de uso indebido y del uso del sistema de cromatografía a partir de la orina