Pioneer women in the development of toxicology in Brazil

Women have always played an important role in the development of toxicology all over the world. Specifically in Brazil, toxicology has had greater female representation than other countries, but women's participation at high hierarchical levels is low. Although more than 62% of the members of the Brazilian Society of Toxicology are women, only 7 out of the 22 presidents have been women throughout its 48 years of existence. This article aims to celebrate women in the field of toxicology in Brazil, based on interviews with five of these scientists who have changed the field of toxicology in Brazil as we know it today, each in their specific sub-areas. These women are: Dr. Ester de Camargo Fonseca Moraes, Dr. Silvia Berlanga de Moraes Barros, Dr. Alice Aparecida da Matta Chasin, Dr. Gisela de Aragão Umbuzeiro, and Dr. Tania Marcourakis. They are not only pioneers but they are also examples of admirable persistence in fighting the adversities presented to them. They broke the glass ceiling and opened doors for future generations of women in science. We hope that this article helps inspire women in their careers in toxicology.

African Society of Toxinology: a new opportunity for integrating the control of envenomations in Africa

In Africa, snakebites and scorpion stings have long been oppressive for indigenous peoples, frightening for foreign travelers and confusing for medical personnel... In many tropical countries, studies were performed to assess the importance and management of envenomations. Since the 18th century, many works have addressed Indian venomous snakes and treatment of their bites (1, 2). In Brazil, studies began in the late 19th century (3). In Africa, apart from some systematic zoological studies in the early or mid 20th century, sustained research commenced mainly after the end of the colonial era (4-8). However to date, the incidence and mortality in Africa remain poorly known, limiting the organization of management and prediction of therapeutic needs (9). The development of research on venomous animals, venoms and envenomation truly started in North Africa in the 1960s, followed in sub-Saharan Africa in the early 1970s. The number of published studies increased significantly over the past decade, particularly with regard to sub-Saharan Africa. Considering the publications indexed in major bibliographic databases either printed (Bulletin de l'Institut Pasteur since 1903, Tropical Diseases Bulletin since 1912, Bulletin Signalétique du CNRS since 1940) or online (Pascal since 1971, Medline since 1972), the number of publications, excluding books, increased almost fivefold compared to the 1970s showing the emergence of the first African teams involved in research toxinology (Figure 1). However, publishing articles is highly dependent on congresses which are opportunities to present works completed by researchers and explain why the level of publications is so irregular from one year to the next... In addition, it should be emphasized that the clinical and epidemiological studies represent more than two thirds of published works.(AU)

Características clínicas y epidemiológicas de los pacientes con intoxicación inducida e intencional atendidos en un hospital general, año 2006 / Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with self and non-self intentional poisoning admitted at the emergency room (ER) at the general hospital 2006

Objetivo: Determinar las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de los pacientes con intoxicación inducida e intencional, atendidos en un hospital general. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes con intoxicación inducida e intencional; de ambos sexos, mayores de 14 años. La información se obtuvo de la historia clínica de ingreso, entrevista personal, test de Hamilton y evaluación toxicológica en orina en los intoxicados inducidos. Resultados: De marzo a diciembre del 2006 hubo 45 pacientes con intoxicación inducida y 382 pacientes con intoxicación intencional, de estos últimos se tuvo información completa en 104. Los pacientes con intoxicación inducida en comparación a los intoxicados intencionales fueron varones (p=0,001); de mayor edad (31,62 +/- 9,38 vs 26,85 +/- 12,18 años) (p=0,011), mayor nivel de instrucción (p=0,04), empleados (p=0,01) y mayor nivel socioeconómico (p=0.01); los intencionales fueron mayormente estudiantes (34,62%), amas de casa (19,23%) y pobres no extremos (p=0,02). Los pacientes con intoxicación inducida a diferencia de los intencionales ingresaron a Emergencia los días domingos (p=0,001), trasladados por la Policía Nacional (p=0,001); los intencionales ingresaron trasladados por la madre (p=0,001). Los pacientes inducidos a diferencia de los intencionales estuvieron expuestos al alcohol (p=0,001), relacionados con amigos (33,33%), taxistas (28,89%) ó desconocidos (33,33%), ingresaron en estado de estupor (p=0,001), con Glasgow > 8 < 13 (p=0,03), Hamilton normal (p=0,001) y toxicológico positivo a benzodiacepinas en el 11,11%; mientras los intencionales ingresaron con síntomas y signos colinérgicos (p=0,001), con Glasgow > 13 (0,001), y con depresión mayor (p=0,001).Conclusión: Los pacientes con intoxicación inducida a diferencia de los intencionales fueron varones, con nivel de instrucción superior, empleados, no pobres, ...

Objectives: To determine clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with self and non-self intentional poisoning admitted at the emergency room (ER) of general hospital. Material and methods: Prospective evaluation of patients with self and non-self intentional poisoning in 2006, demographic and clinical data were assessed; patient interviewed, Hamilton' scale and urine toxic screen were performed. Results: Forty five patients with non-self intentional poisoning (NSP) and 382 patients with self intentional poisoning (SP), were evaluated from March to December of 2006; One hundred four of 382 clinical charts from patients with SP were fully available only, NSP patients were older than SP patients (mean age: 31.62 +/- 9.38 years and 26.85 +/- 12.18 years; p=0.011); most of patients with NSP were males (p=0.001) and females (p=0.001) in the group of SP; high educational level (p=0.04), employer (p=0.01) and high income (p=0.01) were more frequent in NSP than in SP patients. SP patients were students (34.62%), housewife (19.23%) and had low income (p=0.02); most of NSP patients were admitted on Sunday (p=0.001), and transferred by the police (p=0.001); SP patients were transferred by their mother (p=0.001). NSP was related with drinking alcohol (p=0.001), meeting with friends (33.33%), been in a taxi (28.89%) and meeting unknown people during the episode. Admitted in stupo mental status (p=0.001), Glasgow coma scale > 8 < 13 (p=0.03), and normal Hamilton' scale (p=0.001) were more frequent in NSP than in SP patients; urine toxic screen for benzodiazepines was positive in 11.11% of NSP patients; at admission, cholinergic signs and symptoms (p=0.001), Glasgow coma scale major that 13 (p=0.001) and mayor depression (p=0.001) were more frequent in SP than in NSP patients. Conclusions: Patients with NSP were males with high education level, ...

Potential applications of human embryonic stem cells.

Advances in reproductive technologies provided opportunity for scientists to be able to grow human embryos in vitro for more than two decades. Skills and knowledge derived from in vitro fertilization and in vitro culture of mammalian embryos opened the chance for scientists to develop the strategies to derive embryonic stem cell lines from mammalian and human embryos. This achievement has initiated a new era in the fields of biotechnology, pharmacology, basic scientific research, and cell-based medicine. To date, scientists have made some progress in optimizing regimens in deriving ES cell lines from human embryos but much more research and development are still required especially in the aspect of directing stem cells into the specific cells of potential clinical use. Collaboration among clinicians and scientists from diverse fields, together with the public awareness of how useful this technology could be to modern medicine, will result in the accumulation of knowledge in this field and, in the near future, a progress in cell-based therapy.

Farmacologia comunitaria / Community pharmacology

La farmacología comunitaria se constituiría en el estudio y la aplicación de los conceptos generales de la farmacología en la comunidad, constituyendose en el principal soporte de la comunidad, dirigido especialmente a las zonas mas deprimidas, y viene a formar parte de los programas de la estrategia de la Atención Primaria de Salud. Siendo estos el uso racional de medicamentos, la farmacología del medio ambiente, la legislación y control, epidemiología, reacciones adversas, la información y aspectos de la medicina tradicional.

Datura, un género tóxico: clasificación taxonómica carácteres y descripción botánica de especies venezolanas / Datura, a toxic genus: taxonomical classification botanical characterestics and description specials venezuelan

Datura es un género de la familia Solanaceae, ampliamente distribuido en Venezuela y otros países tropicales, como integrante de su flora autóctona. Datura es responsable por una alta incidencia de envenenamientos; sin embargo el síndrome clínico producido por estas plantas es diagnósticado erróneamente por muchos médicos de nuestros hospitales como "Intoxicación de etiología desconocida". en el presente trabajo se hace una revisión de los aspectos más importantes del género, tal como su clasificación taxonómica, caracteres botánicos y descripción de especies

Investigacion sobre toxicidad hepatica de medicacion antituberculosa / Study of the hepatic toxicity of antituberculouis drugs treatment

El presente trabajo fue realizado en el hospital San Gabriel entre enero a marzo de 1990, con 47 pacientes que fueron estudiados durante su tratamiento en diferentes etapas, y muestra el grado de tolerancia hepatica a medicamentos que deben ser utilizados por largo tiempo y que de acuerdo a reaccion individual es imprevisible el grado de toxicidad que pueda esperarse. Los resultados son alentadores porque no se tuvieron que lamentar grados extremos de toxicidad y solo en tres casos, la suspension temporal del tratamiento