Anti-Doping in Sports: Introduction to Toxicology

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Questions and Answers

What is the main focus of toxicology?

Studying the effects of chemicals on living organisms (correct)

Preparing biological samples for analysis

Analyzing the absorption of drugs in the body

Identifying biological samples in drug testing

What differentiates a poison from a remedy?

The right dose of the substance (correct)

The texture of the substance

The color of the substance

The source of the substance

What do toxicants refer to in toxicology?

Poisonous substances produced within living cells

Toxic substances from chemicals (correct)

Substances that disturb normal physiological homeostasis

Factors affecting the concentration of a toxic substance

Which term is used to describe poisonous substances produced within living cells or organisms?

Toxins Signup and view all the answers

What does toxicokinetics study in toxicology?

Factors affecting the concentration of a toxic substance Signup and view all the answers

Which best describes how a toxic substance can be harmful according to toxicology?

By disturbing the body's normal balance Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the plant source of cocaine, which is considered a Schedule II drug with high abuse potential?

Coca plant Signup and view all the answers

Which type of toxic action refers to the harmful effects starting wherever the poison contacts the biological system?

Local (non-specific) action Signup and view all the answers

What term is used in toxicology to refer to the dose that is toxic but not necessarily lethal?

TD50 median toxic dose Signup and view all the answers

When does chronic toxicity manifest according to the text?

After repeated exposure for a time greater than half its life expectancy Signup and view all the answers

Which animals are mentioned as potential sources of toxins in the text?

Scorpions and snakes Signup and view all the answers

What is the duration of exposure for sub-acute toxicity according to the text?

Repeated applications for a duration less than half its life expectancy Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between TD50 and LD50?

TD50 is usually lower than LD50. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is used to calculate the Chronicity Index?

Ratio of acute to chronic LD50 dosage Signup and view all the answers

What type of toxic mechanism involves the poison interacting with biological activity within a biological system?

Direct toxic mechanism Signup and view all the answers

How are toxic agents classified based on their effects?

Based on their effects Signup and view all the answers

What factor related to the poison affects its action?

Dose of the poison Signup and view all the answers

What type of toxic agent classification is 'Amine'?

According to their chemistry Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Toxicology

The study of toxicology dates back to Paracelsus (1493-1541) who stated "All substances are poisons, there is none which is not a poison. The right dose differentiates a poison from a remedy."

What is Toxicology?

Toxicology is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms.
It involves understanding the actions, adverse effects, and treatment of conditions produced by poisons.
Toxicology encompasses household, environmental, industrial, and pharmacological substances or drugs.

Key Terms in Toxicology

Toxicants: toxic substances from chemicals.
Toxins: poisonous substances produced within living cells or organisms, e.g., venom.
Toxicokinetics: the study of factors affecting the concentration of a toxic substance at its site of action.
Toxicodynamics: the actions and mechanisms of action of toxins.

Sources of Toxicology

Chemical sources: drugs and exposure to corrosive substances.
Plant sources: cocaine, a Schedule II drug, isolated from the coca plant.
Animal sources: venomous animals like scorpions, spiders, snakes, and wasps.

Sites of Toxic Actions

Local (non-specific): wherever the poison contacts the biological system, it starts its harmful effects.
Remote (systemic): the poison affects a system far from its portal of entry.
Local & Remote: the poison has the capacity to act both locally and systemically.

Duration and Frequency of Exposure

Acute: single or short-term (less than a day) dosing of a substance to cause toxicity.
Sub-acute: toxicity expressed after repeated applications for a duration less than half of the organism's life expectancy.
Chronic: expression of toxic symptoms only after repeated exposure to a chemical in doses regularly applied to the organism for a time greater than half of its life expectancy.

Measurements in Toxicology

LD50: median lethal dose.
TD50: median toxic dose.
ED50: median effective dose.
Chronicity Index: the ratio of the acute to chronic LD50 dosage.

Types of Toxic Mechanisms

Direct: the poison itself causes toxic effects, as in corrosives.
Indirect: toxicity results from the interaction of the poison with biological activities within the biological system.

Classification of Toxic Agents

According to target organ affected (hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic).
According to use (food additive, drug, pesticide).
According to source (animal or plant).
According to effects (carcinogen, mutagen).
According to physical state (gas, liquid).
According to chemistry (amine, hydrocarbon).
According to poisoning potentiality (extremely toxic, slight toxic, etc).
According to biochemical mechanism of action (alkylating agent, AchE inhibitor).

Factors Affecting Action of Poison

Factors related to the poison:
- Dose: a basic principle in toxicology, referring to the amount of chemical that comes into contact with the body or gets inside the body.

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Description

Learn about toxicology and how the body reacts to toxic substances, as well as the journey of drugs through the body (pharmacokinetics). Explore the importance of anti-doping measures in sports and how they relate to toxicology principles.