Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
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Many of the published accounts of envenomation by Hemiscorpius lepturus (H. lepturus) are in a form that makes it difficult for non Farsi readers to access. The purpose of this review is to summarise the Iranian literature on the toxinological effects of the venom of H. lepturus using both in vivo and in vitro data and where appropriate, details of methods and ethics statements will be reported.
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The ability of Bothrops moojeni venom (BmV) to induce oedema in mice, the involvement of principal inflammatory mediators and mast cells (MCs) were investigated. The intraplantar injection of BmV (0.3-6 microg/paw) caused a dose- and time-dependent oedema with a peak between 30 and 60 min after venom injection (0.3-1 microg/paw), disappearing within 24h. Either MCs granule inhibition or depletion by cromoglycate or C48/80, respectively, markedly reduced BmV-induced oedema. ⋯ However, L-NAME and aminoguanidine (NO synthase inhibitors) significantly increased BmV-induced oedema. In conclusion, BmV induces oedema, mediated by MCs degranulation, histamine by H1, H2, H3/H4 receptors, prostaglandins and leukotrienes, and down-regulated by NO. Partial neutralization of oedema was observed even when polyspecific bothropic antivenom was injected immediately after venom.
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The biological activity of various types of botulinum toxin has been evaluated using the mouse intraperitoneal LD(50) test (ip LD(50)). This method requires a large number of mice to precisely determine toxin activity, and so has posed a problem with regard to animal welfare. We have used a direct measure of neuromuscular transmission, the compound muscle action potential (CMAP), to evaluate the effect of different types of botulinum neurotoxin (NTX), and we compared the effects of these toxins to evaluate muscle relaxation by employing the digit abduction scoring (DAS) assay. ⋯ The method is useful not only for measuring toxin activity, but also for evaluating the characteristics of different types of NTX. The rat CMAP test is straightforward, highly reproducible, and can directly determine the efficacy of toxin preparations through their inhibition of neuromuscular transmission. Thus, this method may be suitable for pharmacology studies and the quality control of toxin preparations.
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Amanita phalloides is responsible for the majority of the fatalities caused by mushroom poisoning. It causes damage in liver, kidneys and rarely pancreas, causing encephalopathic coma, disseminated intravascular coagulation, hemorrhage and hypovolemic shock. ⋯ In this case report, we aimed to present a female patient poisoned by A. phalloides mushroom complicated with multi-organ failure and cardiogenic shock due to advanced left ventricular systolic dysfunction. This case report was the first to show a successful treatment of cardiogenic shock due to mushroom poisoning with intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation, whereas she did not respond to other therapies.