Effects of experimental amitraz intoxication in cats

This work studied the effects of experimental amitraz intoxication in cats. Sixteen cats were randomly divided equally into two groups: amitraz group - animals received 1.5 percent amitraz at 1mg/kg IV; and the control group - animals without amitraz. Physiological parameters from blood, cardiorespiratory system, and sedation indicators were quantified over time up to 360 minutes. Blood profile, urea, creatinine, alananine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were not affected by amitraz. Sedation, loss of reflexes, hypothermia, bradycardia, bradyarrhythmia, hypotension, bradypnea, mydriasis, besides transitory hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia and decrease of cortisol levels were observed in cats experimentally exposed to amitraz. The alpha2-adrenergic effects induced by amitraz intoxication in cats are very similar to the same effects reported in others species, contributing with more information about this type of intoxication to veterinary toxicology

Este trabalho estudou os efeitos da intoxicação experimental por amitraz em 16 gatos, distribuídos, aleatoriamente, em dois grupos: grupo amitraz - animais receberam amitraz a 1,5 por cento na dose de 1,0 mg/kg IV; e grupo controle - animais sem amitraz. Parâmetros fisiológicos sangüíneos, do sistema cardiorespiratório e de sedação foram aferidos até 360min. Perfil sangüíneo, uréia, creatinina, alanina aminotransferase e aspartato aminotransferase não foram afetados pelo amitraz. Sedação, perda de reflexos, hipotermia, bradicardia, bradiarritmias, hipotensão, bradipnéia, midríase, além de transitória hiperglicemia, hipoinsulinemia e diminuição dos níveis de cortisol, foram observados nos gatos experimentalmente expostos ao amitraz. Os efeitos alfa 2-adrenérgicos induzidos pela intoxicação por amitraz em gatos são muito similares aos mesmos efeitos relatados em outras espécies, contribuindo com mais informações dessa intoxicação para a toxicologia veterinária

Amphetamine exposure is elevated in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Since the 1930's, amphetamine drugs have been used therapeutically and recreationally. High doses are associated with acute injury to axon terminals of dopaminergic neurons. It is unknown whether low dose exposure to amphetamine over a prolonged time period is associated with the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: A telephone survey of drug and chemical exposure was administered to patients from three faculty practice clinics at UCSF. Patients were asked to participate if they had been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy (PN), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or PD between the ages of 40 and 64. Spouses or caregivers were also asked to participate. "Amphetamine exposure" was defined as a prior use of amphetamine, methamphetamine or dextroamphetamine. "Prolonged exposure" was defined as amphetamine use that occurred more than twice a week for > or =3 months or weekly usage for > or =1 year and had to occur before diagnosis of the neurological condition. RESULTS: Prolonged exposure to either prescribed or non-prescribed amphetamine was common, occurring in 15% with PN (11/76), 13% with ALS (9/72), and 11% with PD (17/158). Prolonged amphetamine exposure was more frequent in diseased patients compared to spouses when all diseases were combined (adjusted OR=3.15, 95% CI 1.42-7.00, p=0.005). When tested alone, only the Parkinson's disease group retained statistical significance (adjusted OR=8.04, 95% CI 1.56-41.4, p=0.013). For most individuals, exposure occurred long before diagnosis (averages: PN 25 years, ALS 28 years, and PD 27 years). CONCLUSIONS: The elevated rate of prolonged amphetamine exposure in PD is intriguing and bears further investigation.

Pediatric methylphenidate exposures: 7-year experience of poison centers in the United States.

This study was undertaken to evaluate trends and toxicity of pediatric methylphenidate exposures; 1993 to 1999 national poison center data were analyzed. There were 12,917 exposures, increasing from 927 in 1993 to 2,445 in 1999. The majority of children during the entire study period experienced no effect (60.3%) or minor effects (28.7%), with no fatalities. Most common reasons were unintentional general or therapeutic errors in children under 13 years and suicide attempt in adolescents. Adolescents were more likely to experience clinical toxicity, hospitalizations and more serious outcomes. The trend of increasing frequency of methylphenidate exposures reported to poison centers exactly parallels increasing therapeutic use.

[The histopathology of ephedrone drug abuse]. / Gistopatologiia éfedronovoi narkomanii.

Morphological changes of the viscera and skin were examined in the corpses of 8 narcomaniacs who abused ephedrone, a narcotic prepared by ephedrine oxidation. Total systems angiopathies and vasculitides involving mainly the kidneys, heart, and brain were revealed. The mechanisms of the injurious effect of the narcotic are discussed.