Articles tagged with Poisons
Researchers found that EHEC O157:H7 uses a protein structure called the hemorrhagic coli pilus to attach to human intestinal cells. This adhesion enables bacteria to cause severe abdominal cramps and bloody diarrhea, particularly in vulnerable populations such as the young and elderly.
A comprehensive study is underway to examine the impact of prenatal exposure to mercury from dental fillings on neurological development. The researchers will collect hair samples from children in the Seychelles who were exposed to methyl mercury through their mothers' seafood consumption and dental work.
A fast and inexpensive test kit has been developed to detect aflatoxin in crops, enabling African farmers to manage the costly naturally occurring poison. The test has improved food safety and increased agricultural exports, particularly for groundnuts.
A new study reports 68 incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning in hotel guests, resulting in 27 deaths and 66 pathological conditions. Effective CO prevention measures could reduce lifetime risk for frequent travelers.
A study by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that LeadCheck Swabs are prone to high error rates, detecting 64% of hazardous concentrations of lead in dust as safe. The swab test is not reliable for determining if house dust contains lead above EPA standards.
Fatal poisonings involving paracetamol fell after the UK introduced regulations restricting tablet sizes. However, new research suggests this decrease might not be directly attributed to the law change, as overall poisoning deaths also dropped during the same period.
A new type of protein discovered by Queen's University researchers may be useful in developing treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The protein, called YihE or RdoA, has been shown to be a potentially good target in a wide range of bacteria that cause infectious diseases.
The Biodesign Institute is working on a $2.67 million NIH grant to develop antidotes for nerve agent poisoning. The project aims to create 'next-generation' bioscavengers using human enzymes and plant-based production methods.
A study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine found that the median length of time to eliminate lead exposure in Wisconsin homes was 465 days, with only 18% completed within six months.
A new study by researchers at the University of Bristol found that genetic vulnerability, not organophosphate exposure, may be a factor in Gulf War veterans' and farmers' depression. The study suggests that everyday toxins and activities, rather than specific chemical hazards, are likely to contribute to depressive symptoms.
Research casts doubt on organophosphate poisoning as cause of Gulf War Syndrome depression, suggesting genetic factors are more likely to cause symptoms. Studies show that individuals with specific gene variants, such as the PON1 Q192R gene, are more prone to depression.
A study published in The Lancet found that high doses of pralidoxime reduced illness and death in patients with moderate to severe organophosphorus pesticide poisoning. High-dose pralidoxime improved ventilation support times and reduced deaths compared to standard treatment.
The University of Minnesota Center for Drug Design has been awarded a 5-year grant to study cyanide antidotes. Researchers aim to develop faster-acting treatments that can be taken before a cyanide attack, with the goal of improving outcomes for long-term survivors of acute poisoning.
A study led by University of California, Santa Cruz researchers has confirmed that bullet fragments and shotgun pellets are the principal sources of lead poisoning in California condors. The study found that 77% of birds tested had lead levels linked to ammunition, highlighting the need for action to reduce lead exposure.
A study found that UK recommendations on paracetamol availability are not being followed, with many pharmacies and outlets selling more than 16 tablets at a time. The researchers discovered that almost half of patients who visited the emergency department for paracetamol poisoning had deliberately bought the medication for an overdose.
A study by University of Cincinnati researchers found that over 75% of consumer paints in India, Malaysia, and China had dangerously high lead levels, exceeding U.S. regulations. The team calls for an urgent worldwide ban on lead-based paint to prevent future public health problems.
Particles of toxic lead solder used in plumbing can evade detection in some water quality tests, according to researchers funded by the National Science Foundation. Larger particles can get trapped in faucet aerator screens, while smaller particles stick to sampling containers, resulting in inaccurate readings.
Scientists from the Max Planck Institute determined how toxins interact with bacterial potassium channels at an atomic level. They found that toxins attach to a particular area of the channel, changing its structure, and recognize specific amino acid sequences in the ion channel.
A new DNA technique, known as plant-fingerprinting, can identify poisonous plants from animal remains by analyzing DNA sequences in the rumen. This method uses plant material extracted from animals within 24 hours of death to create a unique template for amplifying specific DNA sequences.
Researchers found that harmless frogs can look like less toxic species without losing protection from predators through stimulus generalization. This discovery challenges traditional mimicry theory and reveals a new mechanism involved in mimicry processes.
A new 'active cookie' helps protect against online scams by redirecting users to secure sites, preventing attacks like pharming and man-in-the-middle. The technology is especially useful for financial service providers and individuals concerned about Wi-Fi hijacking.
Mayo Clinic researchers propose a new understanding of how sepsis arises, suggesting that normal body substances may cause some cases of the deadly condition. They identify a critical receptor that triggers the sepsis cycle, which could lead to new treatments.
A study of 230 patients with moderate to severe CO poisoning found that 85 (37%) developed heart muscle damage, increasing their risk of death over 7.6 years. Patients with heart damage had a higher mortality rate compared to those without damage, emphasizing the need for further cardiovascular risk stratification.
A new study has pinpointed epicenters of Earth's imminent extinctions, identifying 794 species in need of urgent conservation action at specific sites worldwide. The research highlights the critical need for global cooperation to protect these imperiled species and ecosystems.
Research suggests that elephants may be 'tipsy' due to marula tree bark containing a beetle pupae, not ethanol from the fruit. A high diet of marula fruit is unlikely to cause intoxication in three-ton elephants.
This article explores how diseases, drugs, and chemicals affected famous artists such as Michelangelo, Edvard Munch, Ivar Arosenius, and Vincent van Gogh. Clinical laboratory analysis is providing new insights into their creative achievements.
A study analyzed 802 Sri Lankan patients who ingested three common organophosphorus insecticides, highlighting substantial variation in clinical course and response to treatment. Current treatment is only partly effective, with case fatality rates often exceeding 10%.
In the Amazon rainforest, ants, not evil spirits, cultivate devil's gardens by poisoning all plants except their hosts with formic acid. This process allows colonies to gain abundant nest sites, a long-lasting benefit that can last for 800 years.
A recent Michigan Medicine study reveals that only 53.9% of children with elevated blood lead levels in Medicaid received critical subsequent follow-up testing, leaving many vulnerable to lead poisoning. Nearly half of those who did receive testing still had elevated blood lead levels, highlighting missed opportunities for prevention.
Eating seafood containing toxic substances like tetrodotoxin and ciguatera can cause severe neurological effects. Shellfish poisoning is a common type of food-borne illness affecting the USA with symptoms including numbness, slurred speech, and paralysis. Prevention is key to avoiding life-threatening poisoning.
The Grainger Challenge Prize aims to encourage the development of household-scale water treatment systems to remove arsenic from contaminated groundwater. The goal is to create an affordable, sustainable, and reliable solution that can be manufactured in developing countries.
A recent study reveals that US homes suffer from over 12 million nonfatal unintentional injuries annually, with falls, poisoning, and burn injuries being the leading causes of such incidents. The research emphasizes the critical need for action to reduce injury risks within the home, particularly among vulnerable age groups.
A recent study found that in 55% of homes with young children, household chemicals were stored in accessible locations, while one-third of U.S. gun owners kept firearms unlocked at home. The odds of reported unlocked storage of guns and household poisonous chemicals were two and a half times higher when young children visited.
Research published in Journal of Applied Ecology reveals that less than 1% of contaminated carcasses can cause rapid declines in vulture populations. Diclofenac poisoning is identified as the main cause of these declines, which are among the most rapid ever recorded for any wild bird species.
The Wisconsin team developed two assays for botulinum toxin, including a real-time test and a cell-based assay that can screen millions of chemicals. The new technology could lead to the development of drugs that act like a prophylactic to confer protection from botulinum poisoning.
A study by University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine researchers found that carbon monoxide poisoning causes changes in myelin basic protein, leading to an autoimmune response. The team discovered that immunosuppressant agents and hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be effective treatments for preventing brain damage after CO exposure.
Researchers found that shortness of breath and impaired gag reflex without diarrhea are key predictors of death in foodborne botulism. Accurate diagnosis and rapid treatment are crucial, with antitoxin and intensive care necessary for survival.
According to Rutgers sociologist, the DOE's Long Term Stewardship program ignores worst-case scenarios, fails to consider public disasters. The agency relies on flawed engineering barriers and institutional rules to mitigate risks, according to Clarke.
A new vaccine formulation uses a bacterial protein called listeriolysin O to boost the immune response against viral diseases. The vaccine has shown promise in preliminary animal studies, with a 100% survival rate in mice infected with a lethal viral strain.
Researchers at University of Kalyani discovered that homeopathic remedy Arsenicum Album can reduce liver damage in mice with arsenic poisoning. The treatment showed positive effects in both low and high doses, suggesting its potential to address the global health issue of arsenic contamination.
A recent study highlights the need for cheaper antitoxins to treat plant poisoning in developing countries. The research found that removing an expensive antitoxin led to a significant increase in deaths, emphasizing the importance of affordable treatments.
Researchers used lead isotope ratios to identify the source of lead poisoning in albatross chicks on Midway. The study found that chicks are eating paint chips directly, leading to high levels of toxic metal in their blood, causing symptoms like droopwing.
New research reveals that baby albatrosses are still eating lead-based paint chips from buildings around the island, leading to severe poisoning. The study found a high rate of droopwing chicks and potential risks for human children on the island.
Researchers found that carbon monoxide helps regulate smooth-muscle contraction in the gastrointestinal tract, enabling precise movement of food through the stomach and bowels. This discovery suggests potential clinical applications for carbon monoxide as a therapeutic agent in treating motility disorders.
Researchers found that multiple-dose activated charcoal significantly reduced deaths in patients with oleander poisoning compared to placebo. The treatment also decreased the need for cardiac pacing and intensive care. Charcoal may be useful in treating other cardiac glycoside poisonings as well.
Scientists at Ohio State University have developed a new type of cassava plant that produces significantly less cyanide, a toxic compound found in the root. By blocking genes responsible for linamarin synthesis, researchers reduced cyanide levels by up to 99% in roots and 60-94% in leaves.
A new study published in Critical Care found that 70% of transplant doctors would consider accepting organs from poisoned patients. This increase in organ donation could save lives and address the global shortage of healthy organs available for transplant operations.
Researchers have rediscovered a World War II era antidote for Lewisite, a chemical warfare agent that causes immediate pain and blistering. The treatment, BAL, can remove heavy metals such as arsenic, copper, and lead from the human body.
A New York City woman was poisoned after ingesting a herbal product believed to be contaminated with digitalis lanata, a plant-derived cardioactive steroid. She recovered after receiving antidotal therapy and digoxin-specific Fab fragments.
A comparative herbal study found that ephedra is hundreds of times riskier than other commonly used herbs, posing a risk 200 times greater than all other herbal supplements combined. The study's findings prompted calls for more stringent regulation or banning of the substance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Researchers found that a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide improves oxygen delivery to the brain, decreasing risk of permanent brain damage. The new treatment may reduce symptoms and improve outcomes for severely poisoned patients.
A study published in Annals of Neurology found that environmental enrichment can reverse cognitive deficits caused by lead poisoning in rats. The researchers observed significant improvements in learning ability and a recovery in brain receptor function among lead-exposed rats raised in enriched environments.
A retrospective analysis of 87 patients with moderate paracetamol poisoning found that acetylcysteine treatment can decrease prothrombin index values significantly. This decrease may be misinterpreted as a sign of liver failure, highlighting the need for cautious management decisions based on measurement of this value.
The presentation highlights various sources of food poisoning, including animal, plant, and chemical contaminants, as well as common types such as bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. Early identification of these organisms is crucial for preventing severe illness or death.
Researchers have discovered that Australian poison frogs produce their own toxin-rich alkaloids, rather than obtaining them from food sources. This groundbreaking finding challenges the long-held assumption that vertebrates obtain these complex chemicals solely through diet.
A study of 93 patients hospitalised due to acetaminophen overdose found that those who accidentally overdosed fared less well, despite lower drug levels. Delayed treatment and alcohol consumption exacerbated liver damage and death risk.
Groundwater contamination with naturally occurring arsenic poses a significant health risk in Bangladesh and West Bengal. The researcher aims to understand why arsenic levels are high in groundwater and how they will change over time and space.
Researchers suggest scopolamine could prevent many deaths from nerve agent attacks by reversing physostigmine toxicity in the brain and central nervous system. Studies show improved survival rates with scopolamine compared to atropine, a standard treatment for nerve agent poisoning.
Researchers have developed a way to synthesize ciguatoxin, the toxin responsible for seafood poisoning, which will enable scientists to better understand its effects on humans and prepare toxin-fighting antibodies. The breakthrough could lead to more efficient methods for detecting infected fish before they reach the market.
Researchers at Ohio State University have discovered a natural parasite that can control leaf-eating slugs, which destroy crops every spring and fall. The parasite, known as Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, is effective in killing American slugs just as well as the most popular slug poison, metaldehyde.