Systemic toxic reaction due to multiple honeybee stings in equine: Case report / Reação tóxica sistêmica devido a múltiplas ferroadas de abelha em equino: relato de caso

Accidents caused by insects of the Hymenoptera are rarely described in large animals. The attacks caused by honeybee (Apis mellifera) may cause severe consequences and its intensity changes according to the number of stings. Local and systemic reactions can occur, including progression to death. This report describes a case of honeybee attack on an equine, which took place in the city of Lages, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. In the clinical assessment the horse showed apathy, anorexia, head and pectoral edemas, dyspnea, icteric mucosa, increased mandibular lymph nodes and darkened urine. The blood count showed anemia and serum biochemical tests suggested, muscular and hepatic lesions. The urinalysis test indicated hemoglobinuria and increased clotting time. Treatment included lactate Ringer's solution fluid therapy, furosemide, promethazine, corticosteroids and 20% mannitol solution. Hot and cold compresses were applied alternately on areas with edema. There was a satisfactory response to treatment and the animal was discharged after 30 days in veterinary hospital. The description of honeybee sting accidents in large animals is important because of the evolution that can lead to death. The early approach associated with appropriate treatment, avoiding the worsening of the lesions is fundamental for the recovery of the patient.(AU)

Os acidentes causados por insetos da ordem Hymenoptera são raramente descritos em grandes animais. Os ataques provocados por abelhas (Apis mellifera) causam consequências graves, e sua intensidade varia de acordo com a quantidade de ferroadas. Reações locais a sistêmicas podem ocorrer, incluindo a evolução para a morte. Este relato descreve um caso de ataque por abelhas em equino, ocorrido no município de Lages, SC. No exame clínico, o equino apresentava apatia, anorexia, edema de cabeça e região peitoral, dispneia inspiratória, mucosas ictéricas, linfonodos mandibulares aumentados e urina de coloração marrom-escura. O hemograma evidenciou anemia hemolítica, e os exames de bioquímica sérica sugeriram lesão muscular e lesão hepática. A urinálise demonstrou hemoglobinúria, e o tempo de coagulação apresentava-se aumentado. Como tratamento, foram administrados solução de ringer com lactato, furosemida, prometazina, corticosteroides e solução de manitol a 20%. Compressas quentes e frias foram aplicadas alternadamente sobre as áreas de edema. Houve adequada resposta ao tratamento instituído e o animal recebeu alta hospitalar após 30 dias de internamento. A descrição de casos de acidentes por picadas de abelhas em grandes animais é importante devido à evolução, que pode levar à morte. A abordagem precoce associada ao tratamento adequado, evitando o agravamento das lesões, é fundamental para a recuperação do paciente.(AU)

Comparative toxicological study between exposed and non-exposed farmers to organophosphorus pesticides

Objective: The purpose of this work was to compare DNA damage, acetylcholinesterase [AChE] activity, inflammatory markers and clinical symptoms in farmers exposed to organophosphorus pesticides to individuals that had no pesticide exposure

Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey with a total of 134 people. The subject group consisted of 67 farmers who were exposed to organophosphorus pesticides. The control group consisted of 67 people without any contact with pesticides matched with the subject group in terms of age, gender, and didactics. Oxidative DNA damage, the activities of AChE, interleukin-6 [IL6], IL10 and C-reactive protein [CRP] in serum were measured and clinical examinations conducted in order to register all clinical signs

Results: Compared with the control group, substantial gains were observed in the farmers' levels of oxidative DNA damage, IL10 and CRP. There was significantly less AChE activity in farmers exposed to organophosphorus pesticides. The levels of IL6 in both groups did not significantly differ

Conclusion: The outcomes show that exposure to organophosphorus pesticides may cause DNA oxidative damage, inhibit AChE activity and increase the serum levels of in-flammatory markers. Using biological materials instead of chemical pesticides and encouraging the use of safety equipment by farmers are some solutions to the adverse effects of exposure to organophosphorous pesticides

Detection of Pseudomonas and Flavobacterium species harbouring organophosphorus degrading elements from environment

The extensive pollution of natural ecosystems has occurred by organophosphorus pesticides, being used for improvement of crop production in agriculture. Biodegradation is interested in application of multifunctional bacteria containing genetical elements which specially degrade organophosphorus compounds. In this paper the detection of two bacteria species, Pseudomonas and Flavobacterium, which harbouring organophosphorus degrading elements from environmental samples is reported. Several resistant strains isolated from different cultures that previously were cultivated with related sources such as soils and waters. These bacteria had been isolated from organophosphorus enriched mineral solutions, and following inoculation, visible colonies were observed on mineral and MacConkey's agar medium. The resistant bacteria were identified by conventional procedures and monitored with certain properties like stability, tolerance, resistance to organophosphorus compounds and different antibiotics. The genetical elements for organophosphate degradation were confirmed by adding acridine orange to culture of resistant strains which could delete these capabilities. Fifty strains were optimally grown in presence of three classes of organophophoruses like guthion, dimethoate and methyl parathion with concentrations of 2.5, 4, and 8 gl[-1] respectively. The gram-negative bacteria were identified using conventional diagnostic procedures, as Pseudomonas and Flavobacterium species. These strains were harbouring Organophosphorus degrading elements which were deleted by acridine orange as mutagen. Also, most of these bacteria were resistant to different antibiotics that used as biomarkers in discrimination of sensitive strains to organophosphoruses. The genetical elements such as resistance to organophosphoruses and antibiotics were transferred to the sensitive bacteria by matting technique and cured as multifunctional organisms which had high capability for various organophosphoruses. The multi-degrading strains might be suggested as useful tools for detoxification of harmful organophosphoruses in agriculture

Evaluación de riesgo genotóxico: biomonitorización de trabajadores agrícolas de Caranavi, Guanay, Palca y Mecapaca, expuestos a plaguicidas / Assessment of genoptoxic risk biomonitoring of farm workers exposed to pesticides in Caranavi, Guanay, Palca and Mecapaca

OBJETIVO: detectar los efectos citotóxicos y genotóxicos en trabajadores agrícolas, mediante estudios de biomonitoreo genético. DISEÑO: casos y controles Participantes Trabajadores agrícolas de Caranavi, Guanay, Mecapaca y Palca del Departamento de La Paz Lugar Localidades de Caranavi, Guanay, Palca y Mecapaca. Unidad de Genética, toxicológica Instituto de Genética MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: se aplicó cuestionario a 259 trabajadores agrícolas. Se evaluó el efecto genotóxico en linfocitos de sangre heparinizada, a través de la frecuencia de Intercambios entre Cromátides Hermanas (ICH), el Índice de Proliferación Celular (PRI), el % de células con alta frecuencia de intercambios (%HFC), frecuencia de micronúcleos en células binucleadas (MNBN), el índice de división nuclear (IDN), la presencia de aberraciones cromosómicas estructurales (AC), y parámetros de la prueba del cometa, como DNA de la cola, DNA de la cabeza, longitud de la cola, longitud del cometa, el momento de la cola y momento Olive. RESULTADOS: Los casos presentaron un aumento estadísticamente significativo (p<0.05) en la frecuencia de ICH, MN/BN y aberraciones cromosómicas, en relación a los controles. Así mismo, los parámetros de DNA de la cola, DNA de la cabeza, longitud de la cola, longitud del cometa, el momento de la cola y momento Olive, mostraron un aumento en relación a los controles, (p<0.05). Los valores promedio (± ES) de los parámetros del ensayo del cometa, fueron mayores y estadísticamente significativos en los expuestos y RPP's en relación a los no expuestos. En el grupo de RPP´s se observó daño genotóxico en menor proporción pero no significativo en relación a los expuestos, posiblemente por su capacitación en medidas de protección. El análisis divariado entre exposición a plaguicidas y daño genotóxico mostró que las personas expuestas a plaguicidas tienen 1.49 veces más probabilidad de sufrir daño genotóxico con un OR de 2.49 (IC 95% 1.48 - 4.20). CONCLUSIÓN: los resultados indican que los trabajadores agrícolas expuestos sin protección ni medidas de seguridad a mezclas de plaguicidas, han experimentado riesgo genotóxico, que fue manifestado con elevada frecuencia de intercambios entre cromátides hermanas, micronúcleos, aberraciones cromosómicas y parámetros del cometa, en linfocitos de sangre periférica. Así mismo, la presencia de aberraciones cromosómicas, que son las que determinan la asociación con efecto carcinogénico, muestra que los trabajadores agrícolas expuestos a plaguicidas tienen mayor probabilidad de que las mutaciones encontradas al momento del estudio, puedan volverse irreversibles por la saturación de los sistemas de reparación del DNA y en el futuro desarrollar diversos tipos de cáncer. Estos hallazgos son indicativos de la necesidad de realizar biomonitorización permanente de los agricultores ocupacionalmente expuestos a varias mezclas de plaguicidas, utilizando una batería de pruebas de genotoxicidad. Por otra parte, ilustra la necesidad de implementar pautas generales para minimizar o prevenir la exposición.

OBJECTIVE: to detect the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in farm workers, by means of genetic biomonitoring studies. Design Cases and controls Participants Farm workers from Caranavi, Guanay, Palca and Mecapaca Place Towns of Caranavi, Guanay, Palca and Mecapaca, Genetic Toxicology unit. Genetic Institute. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Questionnaires to 257 agricultural workers were applied genotoxic effect was evaluated in lymphocytes from heparinized blood, through analysis of sister chromatid Exchange (SCE), cells with a high frecuency of SCE (HFC), proliferation rate index (PRI) the micronucleus (MN) assay, nuclear division index (NDI), chromosomal aberrations (CA) and comet assay parameters like DNA tail, DNA head, tail length comet length, tail moment and Olive moment. RESULTS: the frequency of SCE, MN/BN and CA was significantly increased (p<0.05) in cases vs. control group. Likewise, the parameters of Tail DNA, DNA head , tail length, comet length, tail moment and Olive moment, showed increased values in relation to controls (p<0.05). Averages of comet parameters were significantly higher in exposed and RPP's group than in un exposed group. RPP`s groups showed minor DNA damage but not as significant as exposed group, possibly due to their training in protective measures. The bivariated analysis between pesticides exposure and genotoxic damage showed that the people exposed to pesticides have 1.49 times more probability of suffering genotoxic damage with OR 2.49 (IC 95% 1.48 - 4.20). CONCLUSIONS: the results indicate that the farm workers exposed to mixture of pesticides without protection and safety measures, are at genotoxic risk hazard , with high frequency of sister chromatid exchange, micronuclei, chromosomal aberrations and parameters of the comet assay in lymphocytes of peripheral blood. Also, the presence of chromosomal aberrations, which are those that determine the association with carcinogenic effect, shows that the farm workers exposed to pesticides have greater probability that the mutations found at the time of the study, can become irreversible by saturation of the DNA repair systems and in the future develop diverse types of cancer. These findings are indicative of the necessity to do permanent biomonitoring of the farmers occupationally exposed to several mixtures of pesticides, using a battery of genotoxicity tests. On the other hand, it illustrates the necessity to implement general guidelines to diminish or to prevent the exposure.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs / 영남의대학술지

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase(COX), and thus prevention of the formation of prostaglandins, provided a unifying explanation of the therapeutic and toxic actions of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs). Recently, the discovery of the two isoforms of COX was made by molecular biologists studying neoplastic transformation in chick embryo cells. The constitutive enzyme, COX-1, is obviously responsible for the production of prostaglandins involved in housekeeping functions such as maintenance of integrity of the gastric mucosa, renal blood flow and platelet aggregation. The inducible form of COX(COX-2) is responsible for the formation of prostaglandins that pathologic effects of inflammation, pain and fever. Clearly, all the experimental and clinical data support the hypothesis that the beneficial effects of NSAIDs are due to inhibition of the COX-2 enzyme, whereas the gastrotoxicity is due to inhibition of COX-1. The COX-2/COX-1 ratios of the NSAIDs in common use have been measured and compared with epidemiological data on their side effects. there is little evidence to suggest that one NSAID is clearly more efficacious than another and substantial individual variability is present with respect to the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of these drugs, it is essential to adjust the dosage and choose specific drug to the patient`s response.

Total Antioxidant Status in Maternal and Neonatal Plasma According to Delivery Type / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Antioxidants oppose the toxic actions of lipid peroxides and oxygen radicals, and they limit the amount of lipid peroxides formed. Women with normal pregnancies have an increase in oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation when compared with nonpregnant women. The antioxidants also increase progressively with advancing gestation, and the antioxidants in the fetus also increase with advancing gestation, especially during late gestation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the diefference of antioxidant status in maternal and neonatal plasma according to the delivery type. So, we investigated the status of antioxidant in the maternal and neonatal plasma when compared normal vaginal delivery with Cesarian section without labor. This study was done under the hypothesis that labor pain is originated from the hypoxic state of myometrium during uterine contraction. The number of women who were studied was total 56, 24 women were delivered by normal vaginal delivery and 32 women were done by Cesarean section without labor. The blood was sampled during active labor and postpartum 24 hour in the case of normal vaginal delivery, the women who were done Cesarean section being sampled before operation and 24 hours after operation. The neonatal blood was sampled from cord, birth 1 day and 3 day. The antioxidant levels were measured by Total Antioxidant Status (Randox Laboratory Ltd., UK) kit. The results were as follows. 1. The mean maternal plasma antioxidant status was not significantly different according to delivery types and not significantly different when compared antepartum with postpartum (vaginal delivery; antepartum: 1.54+/-0.31 mM/L, postpartum: 1.58+/-0.32 mM/L, Cesarean section; antepartum: 1.55+/-0.29 mM/L, postpartum: 1.56+/-0.33 mM/L). 2. The neonatal antioxidant status was not significantly different between the neonates who were born by vaginal delivery and the neonates who were born by Cesarean section. The neonatal plasma antioxidant status was increased progressively after birth (cord: birth 1 day: birth 3 day=1.46+/-0.25 mM/L: 1.59+/-0.25 mM/L: 1.79+/-0.37 mM/L). Therefore, labor pain was not seems to be significantly affect the maternal and neonatal plasma antioxidant status. And the neonatal antioxidant status was increased for adaptation to the external environment after birth.

Factores maternos y tóxico ambientales en los defectos congénitos de tubo neural

Es un estudio retrospectivo de casos controles en 144 niños nacidos durante 1993 y 1994, en los Hospitales Fernando Vélez Páiz, Berta Calderón y Hospital Dávila Bolaños de Estelí, así como los referidos al Hospital Lenín Fonseca para fines terapéuticos. El objetivo fué estimar la relación entre los factores maternos y tóxicos ambientales con los defectos congénitos de tubo neural. En cuanto a los factores maternos se encontró que el tipo de residencia, antecedentes de aborto y número de embarazos no constituyen factores de riesgo. La mayoría de las madres eran menores de 30 años. La edad fue una variable controlada. El antecedente de niños muertos constituyó un factor de riesgo (OR = 14,p < 0,01). La presencia de consanguinidad fue baja y constituyó un factor de riesgo (OR:11.05,p < 0.01). La agricultura como actividad laboral en las madres constituyó un factor de riesgo en las malformaciones congénitas de tubo neural (OR=8.6) con un valor de p en la prueba exacta de Fisher de 0,04. En los padres, ninguna de las ocupaciones referidas resultó como factor de riesgo. En cuanto a los factores tóxico ambientales se encontró un riesgo moderado en la exposición a plaguicidas (OR:2.26). La forma más importante de exposición en las madres con niños con malformaciones congénitas de tubo neural fue de tipo ocupacional, estando asociada probablemente a las malformaciones congénitas de tubo neural. (OR:3.6,p = 0.07). Con referencia a los años de exposición, no hubo diferencia estadísticamente significativa. Fue más significativa la frecuencia de la exposición; cuando ésta fue diario, se encontró mayor riesgo que cuando fue semanal (OR:6.0,p = 0.02). El contacto a plaguicidas durante el embarazo constituyó un factor de riesgo en las malformaciones congénitas de tubo neural (OR = 2.93,P = 0.03). Siendo los primeros 2 trimestre en que la probabilidad de tener niños con malformaciones congénitas de tubo neural es mayor (OR = 17.5,P = 0.03). El estudio da pautas para la realización de una investigación a nivel nacional así como de consideraciones de orden político y estratégico en el abordaje integral de las malformaciones congénitas

Toxicidad en las aguas y su impacto en la salud pública / Water toxicity and it impact on public health

Actualmente, la pureza de las aguas es uno de los bienes más preciados, sin embargo, cada día, la contaminación va en aumento siendo un problema mundial. Entre los contaminantes se encuentran múltiples compuestos, produciendo algunos de ellos graves situaciones de toxicidad para la vida acuática y la salud de las personas, cuando ésta se utiliza para la bebida. En este trabajo se presentan algunas de las principales contaminantes, así como los sistemas que son necesarios para detectar el daño real que estarían produciendo en la masa acuática. Es imperativo el implementar sistemas de igilancia eficientes, que permitan prevenir adecuadamente cualquier efecto nocivo a la salud de la población

Exposición ambiental y uso de fármacos en 801 pacientes / Environmental exposition and drugs use in 801 patients

Se estudian 801 asistidas en el Servicio de Perinatología del Hospital "Dr. Adolfo Prince Lara", de Puerto Cabello, en el lapso de 1982 a 1984, a las cuales se les realizó una encuesta en las primeras 24 horas del puerperio con el objeto de estudiar su exposición ambiental u ocupacional, hábitos y uso de fármacos durante el período pre concepcional, y conocer los resultados perinatales. En cuanto a la exposición ambiental, hábitos y uso de fármacos, encontramos una exposición de insecticidas y plaguicidas del 62,71% y de solventes de 13,73% en labores de aseo y limpieza del hogar. El consumo de cigarrillos osciló entre el 35% en el período preconcepcional al 26% en el concepcional, pero sólo el 5% de manera habitual. En cuanto al alcohol, el consumo estuvo entre el 12,4% en el período preconcepcional y 8.3% en el embarazo pero menos del 1% de manera habitual. El consumo de café estuvo en el 87,8%, siendo habitual en el 78%, pero en cantidades de 1 a 2 tazas diarias. El consumo de té es escaso. La cola osciló entre 75 a 80%, siendo el habitual el 55%, en cantidades mayores de 4 unidades. Los fármacos usados en el período preconcepcional están representados por anticonceptivos orales principalmente; durante el embarazo por vitaminas/hierro, e intraparto por oxitócicos y analgésicos. Los resultados perinatales estuvieron dentro de los límites normales para nuestra población, al igual que las afecciones neonatales y mortalidad perinatal. Se concluye que a pesar de haberse encontrado factores de exposición, hábitos y drogas, la cantida es mínima y/o por períodos cortos; ello quizás explicaría la nula repercusión perinatal..