ABSTRACT
Organophosphorous [OP] pesticides are used frequently in agriculture, particularly in Asian countries over the past decades. Poisoning by these agents, either as acute or chronic in these nations, is a serious health problem. OP pesticides residue in fruits and vegetables that may not induce early clinical features, could also affect the human health. Therefore, medical and health professionals should be aware and learn more on the toxicology, prevention and proper management of OP poisoning. The well-known mechanism of OP toxicity is the inhibition of acetyl cholinesterase, resulting in an accumulation of acetylcholme and continued stimulation of acetylcholine receptors. Therefore, they are also called anticholinesterase agents. Determination of blood acetyl cholinesterase and butyryl cholinesterase activities remains a mainstay for the rapid initial screening of OP pesticides. Quantitative analysis of OP and their degradation products in plasma and urine by mass spectrometric methods is a more specific method, but is expensive and limited to specialized laboratories. Therefore, history of OP pesticides exposure and clinical manifestations of a cholinergic syndrome is sufficient for management of the exposed patients. However, electrophysiological tests may be required for the diagnosis of delayed neuropathy of OP poisoning. The standard management of OP poisoning includes decontamination, atropine sulphate with an oxime. Recent advances focus on blood alkalimsation and magnesium sulphate as promising adjunctive therapies. Preventive measures in OP exposure are of great importance in human health in developing countries. Therefore, regulations and controls on safe use of OP particularly in Asian countries are recommended
ABSTRACT
In adult population, the stretch-shortening cycle exercise [plyometric exercise] is often used to improve muscle power, neuromuscular coordination and vertical jump performance. Unfortunately, there is limited information about effectiveness of this type of exercise on respiratory system. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of plyometric and aerobic exercise on chest expansion and respiratory volumes in high school students. This clinical trial study was performed in Zahedan, Iran. Sixty girl and boy students, aging between 14-18 years were selected through simple non-probability sampling. Students were assigned randomly as either a stationary bicycle group [n=30] or a roping group [n=30]. Both groups received exercises for 12 sessions, 3 times per week. Immediately before and after exercises the following respiratory capacities and volumes were collected: chest wall expansion [in two axillary and xiphoid level], vital capacity, residual expiratory volume, forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second. The data were analyzed using independent and paired t-tests. Chest wall expansion in axillary region was increased from 76 +/- 10 cm to 77.4 +/- 10 cm in the bicycle group and from 77.7 +/- 8.1 cm to 78.5 +/- 8.7 cm in the roping group [P<0.001]. Chest wall expansion in xiphoid region was increased from 68.7 +/- 8.9 cm to 70 +/- 8 cm in the bicycle group and from 71.3 +/- 6.6 cm to 72.3 +/- 6.4 cm in the roping group [P<0.001]. In addition, respiratory volumes were significantly increased in both groups [P<0.05]. The results of this study showed that chest wall expansion and respiratory volumes were increased following plyometric exercises such as roping