Alterações leucocitárias ocasionadas pelo estresse toxicológico agudo do óleo diesel em juvenis de tilápia-do-nilo / Change in leukocyte by acute toxicological stress of diesel oil in juveniles of Nile tilapia

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o estresse e as alterações no leucograma dos juvenis de Oreochromis niloticus submetidos à toxicidade aguda do óleo diesel. A toxicidade foi avaliada em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com cinco diluições (20, 25, 30, 35 e 40%) e um controle, ambos com três repetições. Para a avaliação dos níveis glicêmicos e alteração no leucograma, foi retirado sangue por punção caudal dos peixes moribundos. Dessa forma, conclui-se que o óleo diesel pode apresentar riscos ao ecossistema aquático, provocando toxicidade aos organismos aquáticos e alterações fisiológicas.(AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the stress and changes in white blood cell count of juveniles Oreochromis niloticus subjected to acute toxicity of diesel oil. The toxicity was evaluated in a completely randomized design with five dilutions (20, 25, 30, 35 and 40%) and one control, both with three replicates. For the assessment of blood glucose levels and changes in white blood cell count, blood was drawn by caudal puncture of the dying fish. It was concluded that diesel oil can present risks to aquatic ecosystem, causing toxicity and physiological changes to fish.(AU)

Toxicidad por insecticidas organofosforados en fumigadores de Campaña contra el Dengue, estado Aragua, Venezuela, año 2008 / Toxicity by organophosphate insecticides of fumigators working on the dengue control campaign in Aragua state, Venezuela, 2008

Un estudio descriptivo sobre las condiciones de salud y su relación con la exposición a plaguicidas, de los “fumigadores” de la campaña contra el dengue en el estado Aragua, fue realizado en una muestra no probabilística de 50 trabajadores, a los cuales se les aplicó una encuesta para investigar: características personales y de trabajo, conocimientos sobre insecticidas y enfermedades asociadas, además de inspeccionar locales, equipos y condiciones de trabajo. De la muestra general, 28% resultaron fumadores. Los grados de instrucción predominantes fueron primaria y secundaria (44%). El promedio de años como fumigador fue de 14,3. Sólo 40% tiene conocimiento de enfermedades producidas por organofosforados, 62% presentó antecedentes de intoxicación. 30% refirieron presentar enfermedades cardiovasculares, gastrointestinales y neurológicas. A mayor cantidad de años de labor, mayor la intensidad de signos y síntomas llegando a producir enfermedades. 38% de los niveles de Acetilcolinesterasa medidos, resultaron alterados. Las variables: grupo de edad, grado de instrucción, fumar, años de labor, falta de conocimiento de enfermedades y antecedentes de intoxicación, se asociaron a valores anormales de colinesterasa, sin presentar significancia estadística (P>0,05). La selección de los trabajadores, su capacitación, dotación de equipos y materiales adecuados, su vigilancia clínica epidemiológica, su evaluación permanente y su respectivo tratamiento deben ser revisados y tenidos en cuenta por la Corporación de Salud del estado Aragua (CORPOSALUD), haciéndolas, normas de obligatorio cumplimiento

A descriptive study on the conditions of health and their relation to the exhibition to pesticides, and of the “fumigators” of the campaign against dengue in the Aragua state, sampled 50 workers, to whom a survey was applied to investigate: personal characteristics of work, knowledge on insecticides and diseases, besides an inspection the premises, equipment and work environment. From this general sample 28% were smokers. The predominant educational level was elementary school and high school (44%). The fumigator average of working years was of 14.3. Only 40% had knowledge of diseases produced by organophosphate, 62% presented poisoning antecedents. 30% claimed to display cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and neurological diseases. The greater the number of work years, the greater the intensity of signs and symptoms of associated diseases. 38% of the measured levels of acetylcholinesterase were altered. The variables: smoking, years of work, educational level, age group and the lack of knowledge of diseases and intoxication antecedents were associated with abnormal values of acetylcholinesterase, without showing statistical significance. The selection of the workers, their qualification and suitable equipment and materials, their clinical epidemiologic monitoring, their permanent evaluation and respective treatment must be reviewed and taken into account by CORPOSALUD (Corporación de Salud del estado Aragua), making them norms of obligatory fulfillment

Intoxicação cúprica acumulativa experimental em bovinos / Induced accumulative copper poisoning in catle

O presente trabalho objetivou analisar variáveis clínicas, sangüíneas eos teores de cobre hepático de bovinos submetidos à intoxicação cúprica acumulativa (ICA), por meio do fornecimento de quantidades crescentes de cobre, Com tal objetivo, foram utilizados 10 bovinos(mestiços) jovens, aleatoriamente distribuídos em seis animais no grupo suplementado com cobre (BOV Cu) e quatro animais no grupo controle (BOV). Diariamente, o grupo BOV Cu recebeu por meio de cânula ruminal 2 mg Cu /kg/PV (CuSO4.5H2O) sendo esta dose acrescida de mais 2 mg/kg/PV a cada semana, até o término do experimento (105 dias). Foram realizadas três biópsias hepáticas (Dia0 - dia 45 - dia 105) em todos os animais para determinação da concentração de Cu e Zn neste órgão. Quinzenalmente, foi realizado exame clínico, pesagem dos animais e coleta de amostras de sangue. Três bovinos do grupo BOV Cu manifestaram quadro laboratorial e/ou clínico sugestivo de intoxicação cúprica acumulativa (ICA), vindo a sucumbir em seguida. Destaca-se a presença de dois quadros clínicos diferentes, o clássico (n = 1) e um atípico (n = 2), caracterizado pelo destacado acúmulo de cobre hepático, hiporexia progressiva seguida de anorexia, desidratação, redução dos movimentos de ruminais, oligúria, acentuada apatia e morte, mas sem apresentar hemoglobinúria. Parte dos bovinos se mostraram resistentes à ICA a despeito da administração de altas quantidades cobre. Bovinos com ICA aumentaram a concentração de zinco hepático nas fases finais da intoxicação. Nenhum animal apresentou quadro de insuficiência renal.

The principal objective of this project was to evaluate clinical and hematological alterations and the hepatic concentration of Cu in cattle with accumulative copper poisoning, by infusion of increasing doses of copper. Ten cattle yearling steers were randomly distributed into acopper supplemented group (BOV Cu; n = 6) and one control group (BOV; n = 4). The group BOV Cu received initially 2 mg Cu/kg/BW(as CuSO4.5H2O) daily for one week; every following week, up to the end of the experiment (105th day), this initial dose was increased by 2mg Cu/kg/BW. Three liver biopsies were realized during the experiment (day zero, 45th, and 105th day) to evaluate the degree of copper accumulation in this organ; the body weight and clinical examination was monitored every 15 days, when blood samples were taken. Three cattle supplemented with copper demonstrated clinical manifestations and/or laboratory findings consistent with accumulative copper poisoning (ACP), and died. Two distinct clinical manifestations were observed, one classical (n = 1) and another atypical(n = 2) characterized by remarkable high levels of liver copper, progressive hyporexia followed by anorexia, dehydration, severe apathy, decreased rumen movements, oliguria, and death. Some animals were resistant to ACP despite high accumulative levels of hepatic copper. Cattle with ACP increased their zinc liver concentration at the final stages of the poisoning. No poisoned animals developed renal insufficiency.

Papel de la adenosina sobre la acción antiarrítmica de los digitálicos / Role of adenosine on the antiarrhythmic action of digitalis

La acción de la adenosina sobre el periodo refractario funcional de los tejidos auriculares y en la cancelación del flutter auricular, es semejante a la de los digitálicos. Tal hecho sugiere la posible existencia de una participación adenílica en la acción digitálica. Por ello medimos las concentraciones plasmáticas de adenosina al infundir ouabaína, e investigamos el efecto del digitálico sobre el periodo refractario de tejidos auriculares y sobre el flutter en condiciones de inhibición colinérgico y bloqueo purinérgico. En perros, se administró ouabaína hasta inducir fibrilación ventricular. Se obtuvo sangre del seno coronario y de la vena femoral, midiendo la adenosina por cromatagrafía de líquidos. El periodo refractario se midió con la ténica del estímulo extra acoplado. El flutter se indujo al estimular el haz internodal posterior. Los resultados muestran que la concentración de adenosina se elevó más de 100 por ciento en plama de seno coronario; el efecto de la ouabaína sobre el periodo refractario no se modificó con la inhibición colinérgica, pero sí fue inhibido por aminofilina; el digitálico modificó su acción en la cancelación del flutter en presencia de aminofilina. Conclusión: en la acción antiarrítmica de los digitálicos parece participar un componente adenílico que resulta de la liberación de adenosina del corazón

Alterations in total and differential counts of WBC during ochratoxicosis in rabbits.

Consumption of ochratoxin-contaminated feed (10 mg/kg) by young rabbits for 90 days altered total and differential counts of WBC. Time dependent decline in WBC count indicates occurrence of cumulative toxicity.

Serial blood phosphine levels in acute aluminium phosphide poisoning.

Serial blood phosphine (PH3) levels were done in patients with severe (Group I, n = 30), mild (Group 2, n = 10) and minimal or nil toxicity due to aluminium phosphide compound. Blood phosphine levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients of Group I than other two groups. Phosphine was not detectable in Group 3 patients. Therefore, blood phosphine levels were positively correlated to clinical grades of toxicity and to dose of active pesticide consumed. Higher the blood phosphine, higher was the mortality. Patients having blood phosphine levels equal to or less than 1.067 +/- 0.16 mg% survived, hence, it appeared to be limit of phosphine toxicity.

Fatal paraquat poisoning: a light microscopic study in eight autopsy cases.

Eight autopsy cases of paraquat poisoning from 1980 to 1990 were studied by light microscopy. An attempt was made to correlate the severity of poisoning, as assessed by the blood paraquat concentrations and the time between ingestion and treatment, with the survival periods and pathological changes. Six of the patients were male. The mean age was 21 years (range 12-33 years). The blood paraquat concentrations on admission ranged from 0.04 to 4.27 micrograms/ml. The survival periods were between 26 hours and 59 days. The main causes of death included circulatory collapse in one patient with 26 hours survival, and acute alveolar injury of the lungs and acute tubular necrosis or diffuse cortical necrosis of the kidneys in 4 patients who survived less than 7 days. Pulmonary proliferative changes leading to respiratory failure were detected in the remaining patients, who survived 11, 17, and 59 days. The liver revealed bile duct injury in the portal areas, centrolobular cholestasis, fatty metamorphosis, and inconspicuous centrolobular hepatic necrosis. The adrenal glands showed diffuse cortical necrosis in 3 severe cases. Mild acute pancreatitis was evident in one case. The brain was edematous with or without focal minimal hemorrhages. Toxic myocarditis, myositis, and aplasia of erythropoiesis, as previously described, were not present in this study. The severity of poisoning seems to correlate reversely with the survival periods and directly with degrees of pulmonary damage and adrenal cortical necrosis.

Residues of DDT and its metabolite in blood of exposed factory workers and their correlation with ill health symptoms.

The residue levels of DDE, op1--DDT and pp1--DDT of the factory workers exposed to DDT formulations having temporary clinical symptoms and of those without any such symptoms did not show any significant difference in their values suggestive of no direct correlation between insecticide residues and ill health symptoms. The average residue values of DDT (mg/litre) and its metabolite DDE (mg/litre) in exposed workers were 0.8634 +/- 0.1529 and 0.2106 +/- 0.0458 respectively while in unexposed control subjects 0.0826 +/- 0.0238 and 0.0278 +/- 0.0040. Total DDT residue in blood in exposed workers is more than 10 times higher than the same in unexposed control.