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Questions and Answers
What does toxicity refer to in pharmacology?
What does toxicity refer to in pharmacology?
Which branch of toxicology focuses on investigating the legal implications of toxic substances?
Which branch of toxicology focuses on investigating the legal implications of toxic substances?
What type of toxicologist would be most interested in the effects of pollutants on ecosystems?
What type of toxicologist would be most interested in the effects of pollutants on ecosystems?
Which of the following is an application of clinical toxicology?
Which of the following is an application of clinical toxicology?
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How does tetrodotoxin affect the human body?
How does tetrodotoxin affect the human body?
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What does mechanistic toxicology primarily study?
What does mechanistic toxicology primarily study?
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Which toxicology branch evaluates the safety of drugs and other products?
Which toxicology branch evaluates the safety of drugs and other products?
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Who is considered the 'father' of toxicology?
Who is considered the 'father' of toxicology?
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Which of the following drugs can cause bradycardia and atrioventricular node block?
Which of the following drugs can cause bradycardia and atrioventricular node block?
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What type of toxicological analysis is primarily used for detecting acetaminophen poisoning?
What type of toxicological analysis is primarily used for detecting acetaminophen poisoning?
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Which of the following is NOT a principle of poisoning management?
Which of the following is NOT a principle of poisoning management?
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Which drug is associated with QRS prolongation due to poisoning?
Which drug is associated with QRS prolongation due to poisoning?
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What method is used for detecting benzodiazepines (BZD) in toxicological analysis?
What method is used for detecting benzodiazepines (BZD) in toxicological analysis?
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Which of the following is a potential cause of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in cases of poisoning?
Which of the following is a potential cause of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in cases of poisoning?
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Which bioassay is NOT typically used for confirming drug poisoning?
Which bioassay is NOT typically used for confirming drug poisoning?
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What is the primary goal of preventing future poison absorption during poisoning management?
What is the primary goal of preventing future poison absorption during poisoning management?
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What is the intended urine pH range achieved by alkalinization with sodium bicarbonate?
What is the intended urine pH range achieved by alkalinization with sodium bicarbonate?
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Which of the following is a contraindication for alkalinization therapy?
Which of the following is a contraindication for alkalinization therapy?
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Which substance is primarily eliminated by acidification of urine?
Which substance is primarily eliminated by acidification of urine?
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Which of the following statements about hemodialysis is true?
Which of the following statements about hemodialysis is true?
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What is the main purpose of chelation therapy?
What is the main purpose of chelation therapy?
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Which of the following agents is commonly used as a chelating agent?
Which of the following agents is commonly used as a chelating agent?
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Which of the following toxins is NOT typically managed with hemodialysis?
Which of the following toxins is NOT typically managed with hemodialysis?
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What are the potential side effects of urine acidification?
What are the potential side effects of urine acidification?
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What is the average decrease in ingestant absorption when gastric lavage is performed within 5 minutes of ingestion?
What is the average decrease in ingestant absorption when gastric lavage is performed within 5 minutes of ingestion?
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Which scenario is a contraindication for the use of ipecac syrup?
Which scenario is a contraindication for the use of ipecac syrup?
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Which of the following is NOT a common complication associated with gastric lavage?
Which of the following is NOT a common complication associated with gastric lavage?
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What is the recommended dose of activated charcoal per kilogram of body weight?
What is the recommended dose of activated charcoal per kilogram of body weight?
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What is a potential side effect of administering ipecac syrup?
What is a potential side effect of administering ipecac syrup?
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Which of the following is a contraindication for gastric lavage?
Which of the following is a contraindication for gastric lavage?
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Which of the following statements about activated charcoal is false?
Which of the following statements about activated charcoal is false?
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What fundamental principle of toxicology is illustrated by the phrase 'the dose makes the poison'?
What fundamental principle of toxicology is illustrated by the phrase 'the dose makes the poison'?
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When can gastric lavage achieve only a 16% decrease in absorption?
When can gastric lavage achieve only a 16% decrease in absorption?
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Which of the following factors does NOT influence toxicity?
Which of the following factors does NOT influence toxicity?
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What differentiates acute effects from chronic effects in toxicology?
What differentiates acute effects from chronic effects in toxicology?
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Which substance is likely to have local effects at the point of contact?
Which substance is likely to have local effects at the point of contact?
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Which statement correctly describes carcinogenic and teratogenic effects?
Which statement correctly describes carcinogenic and teratogenic effects?
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What is a major complication in linking cause and effect in toxicology?
What is a major complication in linking cause and effect in toxicology?
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What characteristic of a chemical determines if its toxic effects are reversible or irreversible?
What characteristic of a chemical determines if its toxic effects are reversible or irreversible?
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Why is detailed toxicological information often lacking for many substances?
Why is detailed toxicological information often lacking for many substances?
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What is one of the main advantages of extracorporeal blood rewarming?
What is one of the main advantages of extracorporeal blood rewarming?
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In which scenarios should more invasive methods of active rewarming be considered?
In which scenarios should more invasive methods of active rewarming be considered?
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What are common complications associated with internal cooling techniques?
What are common complications associated with internal cooling techniques?
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Which medication can be used to treat pulmonary edema by reducing pressure caused by excess fluid?
Which medication can be used to treat pulmonary edema by reducing pressure caused by excess fluid?
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What is the role of vasodilators like Nitroglycerin in managing pulmonary edema?
What is the role of vasodilators like Nitroglycerin in managing pulmonary edema?
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Which of the following is NOT an internal cooling technique?
Which of the following is NOT an internal cooling technique?
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What is a key characteristic of cavity lavage used in active rewarming?
What is a key characteristic of cavity lavage used in active rewarming?
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Why is active rewarming using more invasive methods reserved for specific cases?
Why is active rewarming using more invasive methods reserved for specific cases?
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Study Notes
Introduction to Toxicology
- Toxicology is the study of the potential for a substance to produce adverse health effects on living organisms and the likelihood of those effects under specific conditions.
- Toxicity is the ability of a substance to cause harm to a biological system.
Branches of Toxicology
- Mechanistic: Investigates how chemicals cause toxic effects by examining absorption, distribution, excretion, and biochemical/molecular mechanisms.
- Forensic: Applies toxicology to legal aspects, including investigating cause of death.
- Clinical: Physicians or veterinarians focus on treating poisonings and injuries from xenobiotics.
- Environmental: Studies the effects of pollutants on organisms, populations, ecosystems, and the biosphere.
- Descriptive: Evaluates the toxicity of drugs, foods, and other products.
- Regulatory: Uses scientific data to protect humans and animals from excessive risk, often employed in government bureaus.
- Occupational: Applies toxicology to chemical hazards in the workplace.
Examples of Toxicological Cases
- Eva Braun, in 1945, committed suicide using a cyanide capsule, an inhibitor of cytochrome c oxidase, hindering ATP production, leading to brain death and heart cessation.
- Bando Mitsugoro, in 1975, a famous Japanese actor, died after eating pufferfish containing tetrodotoxin. Tetrodotoxin blocks voltage-gated sodium channels, suppressing neurotransmission and eventually leading to respiratory failure and death.
History of Toxicology
- Paracelsus (1493-1541), considered the "father of toxicology", determined that specific chemicals were the source of plant/animal toxicity. The right dose differentiates a poison and a remedy.
- The dose makes the poison is fundamental to understanding the principles of toxicology and is important when trying to protect workers.
Problems Linking Cause and Effect
- The effect of exposure may not be immediate.
- Individual susceptibility varies based on factors like age, gender, and health status.
- The combined effect of multiple substances can be complex and difficult to predict.
- Toxicological information is often not readily available for many substances.
- The major factors influencing toxicity include mode of administration, exposure duration/frequency, and dose/concentration.
Basic Toxicological Terms
- Acute effects: Occur immediately after exposure, usually from a high dose, short-term, and generally reversible.
- Chronic effects: Develop over time, often from repeated low doses, typically irreversible.
- Reversible effects: Pathological injury to tissue; the extent of repair determines reversibility. Examples include rapid liver regeneration but less so the CNS.
- Irreversible effects: Permanent effects on tissues and/or organs, such as carcinogenic and teratogenic effects.
Basic Toxicological Terms - Local and Systemic Effects
- Local effects: Occur at the site of contact with the substance. Examples include skin irritation/burns, de-fatting (Xylene), and pulmonary inflammation (Chlorine).
- Systemic effects: Occur at target organs remote from the point of contact. Examples include dizziness/unconsciousness, liver and CNS damage (Xylene), and kidney/bone marrow damage (Cadmium/Lead).
- Xenobiotic: a substance not originally found or produced in a person's body.
Basic Toxicological Terms - Risk and Tolerance
- Risk: The probability of harm under specific conditions.
- Safety: The probability of harm not occurring under specified conditions.
- Tolerance: A state of decreased responsiveness to a toxic effect, occurring after repeated exposure. There are two primary types: dispositional (decreased drug reaching the site), and cellular (reduced responsiveness of a tissue).
Main Types of Combined Effects
- Additive: The combined effect equals the sum of the individual effects (e.g., toluene + xylene).
- Independent: The combined effect equals the sum of the individual effects (e.g., lead + xylene).
- Synergistic: The combined effect is greater than the sum of the individual effects (e.g., carbon tetrachloride + ethanol).
- Potentiation: One substance has no toxic effect, but when combined with another, substantially increases the effect of the other substance (e.g., zero toxicity substance + another toxic substance).
- Antagonism: Two substances administered together interfere with each other's action or one interferes with the other. (e.g., (2+2=2) or(4+0=2)).
Diagnosis of Poisoning - History Taking
- Gather information from the patient (if conscious) or bystanders/witnesses
- Note the substance, route, time of ingestion, dose, duration, symptoms, progression, previous medical issues.
- Evaluate any medications patient is taking.
Diagnosis of Poisoning - Physical Examination
- General appearance (conscious/unconscious, behaviour)
- Neurological status (level of consciousness, neurological signs)
- Pupils (size, shape, responsiveness)
- Vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, body temperature)
- Identify any specific signs or symptoms associated with a particular poison.
Diagnosis of Poisoning - Methods for Diagnosis
- Physical Examination: include evaluation of odour, urine colour, and ECG abnormalities.
- Toxicological analysis of samples: Urine, blood, and gastric contents. Methods include thin-layer chromatography, gas-liquid chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and mass spectrometry.
- Enzyme assays: Assess blood cholinesterase levels to identify organophosphate poisoning.
- Biochemical investigations: look for abnormalities like ECG, etc,
- Radiological studies: Occasionally helpful, particularly when visualising suspected ingested material.
Fundamentals of Poisoning Management
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Fundamentals of poisoning management:
- Initial resuscitation and stabilization
- Removal of toxin from the body
- Prevention of further poison absorption
- Enhancement of poison elimination
- Administration of antidote
- Supportive treatment (hemodynamic support, management of hypothermia/hyperthermia)
- Prevention of re-exposure
Prevention of Poison Re-exposure
- Adult education: Provide instructions on safe medication/chemical use.
- Notification of regulatory agencies: Inform authorities in case of environmental/workplace exposures.
- Psychiatric referral: Consider referrals for depressed/psychotic individuals.
- Child proofing: Secure medications and other potentially hazardous substances out of reach of children.
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Description
Test your knowledge on key concepts in pharmacology and toxicology. This quiz covers various aspects including toxicity definitions, the branches of toxicology, and real-world applications. Challenge yourself with questions about drug effects, poisoning management, and notable figures in the field.