Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology
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The use of toxins as novel molecular probes to study the structure-function relationship of ion-channels and receptors as well as potential therapeutics in the treatment of wide variety of diseases is well documented. The high specificity and selectivity of these toxins have attracted a great deal of interest as candidates for drug development. This review highlights the involvement of the proteins and peptide toxins as well as non-proteinaceous compounds derived from both venomous and non-venomous animals, in anti-nociception and anti-inflammation. The possible mechanisms of these potential therapeutic agents and possible clinical applications in the treatment of pain and inflammation are also summarized.
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Spider bite continues to be a controversial subject worldwide and attribution of clinical effects to different spiders is problematic because of poor case definition and paucity of clinical evidence. The effects of medically important spiders are sometimes underestimated and simultaneously there is misattribution of effects to harmless spider groups. ⋯ Important groups of spiders worldwide include the widow spiders (latrodectism), recluse spiders (loxoscelism) and some mygalomorph spiders including the Australian Funnel web spider. Most spiders only cause minor effects, including a large number of groups that have been implicated in necrotic arachnidism.
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Comparative Study
Epidemiology of snakebite in Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Three hundred and thirty-three patients admitted to Eshowe Hospital with snakebite were analysed. Forty-one were non-envenomed, 282 exhibited painful progressive swelling (PPS), seven showed progressive weakness (PW), and there were three cases of minor envenomations that were unclassifiable. Offending dead venomous snakes included Naja mossambica (Mozambique spitting cobra), Bitis arietans (puff adder), Atractaspis bibronii (stiletto snake), Causus rhombeatus (common night adder) and Dendroaspis polylepis (black mamba). ⋯ Four patients with PW developed respiratory failure. Antivenom was administered to 12 patients, five of whom developed an acute adverse reaction. There was one death.
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Exposure to caterpillars results in a variety of clinical effects depending on the species involved. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical effects from caterpillar exposures within Australia. Cases were recruited prospectively from calls to a poison information centre. ⋯ Treatment consisted primarily of removal of the caterpillar or cocoon. Other treatment measures consisted of symptomatic treatment such as ice packs and antihistamines. This is the first prospective study of caterpillar exposures within Australia and demonstrates that exposures can result in a variety of reactions depending on the family and species involved.
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Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Dysregulation of apoptosis in scorpion envenomed children: its reflection on their outcome.
In the present study, 46 children in Upper Egypt (less than 13 years old) were admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for scorpion envenomation. They were compared with 20 apparently healthy children of matching age and sex as controls. Out of the studied victims, 25 children (54%) showed signs of severe envenomation and multiple organ dysfunction (MOD), while 21 victims (46%) showed signs of mild envenomation. ⋯ This dysregulation of apoptosis was increased with the severity of scorpion envenomation and its extent increased as MOD score and outcome increased. Therefore, sFas and Bcl-2 may be of value in predicting the outcome of these cases. The increase of the extent of apoptosis detected in this study seems to play a role in the outcome of scorpion envenomation, and hence, should be taken into consideration for strategies of therapeutic regimen.