MT 4 goes TOXIC! Again?? J

Sneak Peak! 

Poison is a big deal in one of the successful tragic novel of William Shakespeare, The Romeo and Juliet.


   Romeo dies when he drinks a poison he purchased illegally from the Apothecary (in Act 5, Scene 3).


  Poison is also Juliet's first choice of "weapon" for suicide.  

 When she figures out what Romeo has done, she tries to lick the poison from his lips but there's not enough left to kill her (5.3.2).

All of this is foreshadowed when Juliet drinks a poison Friar Laurence gave to her that cause a deep sleep that pretends death.
 But Juliet did not die from her initial dose but stabbed herself to death towards the end of the story. J


Photo credits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Romeo-and-juliet-DVDcover.jpg

Did you all know that POISONING is the  4^th most common cause of Suicide. 2^nd is the Drug/Alcohol Overdose. Now, lets get to know more as we explore the World of Toxicology.


               Obviously, Toxicology is defined as a branch of science that deals with POISONS, and a poison can be defined as any substance that causes a harmful effect when administered. Broader definitions of toxicology, such as “the study of the detection, occurrence, properties, effects and regulation of toxic substances. 

Xenobiotic is the general term that is used for a foreign substance taken into the body.  It is derived from the Greek term xeno which means "foreigner."  Xenobiotics may produce beneficial effects (such as a pharmaceuticals) or they may be toxic (such as lead). 

Photo credits: http://sciencegames.4you4free.com/poisons_
toxicology.html

MORE DEFINITIONS:

Ø Poisoning- may be accidental, suicidal or criminal

Ø  Toxin- naturally derived, naturally exposed toxic chemicals (e.g. Snake Venom).

Ø  Toxicant- manmade toxic chemicals or of natural origin but manipulated, concentrated or dispersed by humans (e.g. Household chemicals).

Ø  Antidotes- procedure/medicine given to counteract the influence of poison or an attack of disease.

     

Photo credits:  http://www.infovisual.info/02/018_en.html  and http://www.hbird.com/ecoclean/whyEcoClean.htm

Branches of Toxicology:  ØClinical Toxicology – a study of interrelationships between      toxin exposure and states. This area emphasizes not only diagnostic          testing but also therapeutic interventions.    Photo credits: http://pharmchem.cop.ufl.edu/electives /intro_clitox Ø  Descriptive Toxicology– utilizes the method of risk assessment or it makes use of the results of animal experimentation to predict what level of exposure could be hazardous to a humans.              Photo credits: http://www.all-creatures.org/saen/fact-product.html  Ø  Forensic Toxicology– primarily concerned with the     medico-legal cases of toxin exposure. A major focus of this area     is establishing and validating the analytic performance of the      methods used to generate evidence in legal situations, including     cause of death.            Photo credits: http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORENSIC-TOXICOLOGY-Vinyl- Decal-Sticker-Police-CSI-/170454887466       ØMechanistic Toxicology– studies the cellular and        biochemical effects of toxins.These studies provide a basis for  rational therapy design and the development of tests to assess  the degree of exposure of poisoned individuals.                                               Photo credit: http://www.google.com.ph/imgresum=1&hl=fil&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=607 &tbm=isch&tbnid=fW5sPreoytRtLM:&imgrefurl=http://www.tampagov.net/dept_fire_rescue_public_education/information_resources/adults/poison.asp&docid=u_8PLBzrb_jGwM&imgurl=http://www.tampagov.net/dept_fire_rescue_public_education/information_resources/adults/images/poison.jpg&w=428&h=600&ei=3YsLUKWzBYnKmQXV5831CQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=311&vpy=4&dur=67&hovh=266&hovw=190&tx=117&ty=70&sig=110754388849223730647&page=1&tbnh=128&tbnw=91&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0,i:93

Other specialized fieldS

Ø  Regulatory Toxicology- Focuses on risk assessment      and exposure guideline development from gathered information  obtained from toxicity testing.                                                Photo credits: http://www.tasmaniantimes.com.au /index.php/article/what-exactly-dont-we-know-      Ø  Environmental Toxicology- Focuses on the exposure      of the chemical varieties of toxicants found in the general living      environment and its implications on organisms, mostly on the  nonhuman population.               Photo credits: http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?um=1&hl=fil&sa=N&biw=1366&bih=564&tbm=isch&tbnid=128oa9565znHRM:&imgrefurl= http://pulse.pharmacy.arizona.edu/resources/toxicology/teachers.htm& docid=75R53W6tRfC8FM&imgurl=http://pulse.pharmacy.arizona.edu/resources/images/toxic_ earth.gif&w=135&h=122&ei=j5YLUOqqJuvKmQXh8eSnCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=345&vpy= 299&dur=1773&hovh=97&hovw=108&tx=89&ty=11&sig=110754388849223730647&page=2&tbnh=97&tbnw=108&start=23&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:23,i:145

Ø  Ecotoxicology- Specialized area of environmental  toxicology focusing mainly on the impacts of toxic agents in the  population and its dynamics within an ecosystem and its fate.                     Photo credits: http://www2.dmu.dk/1_english/1_om_dmu/2 _afdelinger/3_teri/4_expertise/5_sofar/default.asp

TYPES OF TOXIC EFFECT

  Ø  Mutagenicity- a detection of possible ability to induce genetic alteration (mutation)

  Ø  Carcinogenicity- a detection of possible ability to induce abnormal clonal uncontrolled proliferation of genetically altered cells.

  Ø  Teratogenicity- a detection of possible deleterious effects on the developing fetus.

ROUTES OF EXPOSURE through:   

Ø  Ingestion (Gastro intestinal tract)

Ø  Inhalation (lungs)

Ø  Transdermal absorption (skin)

Ø  Rectal (Suppository)

Ø  Injection (bite, puncture, or cut)

Photo credits: thttp://www.in.ng.mil/Portals/0/CIT/Substance%
20Abuse/substance-abuse.jpg

Toxicokinetics is essentially the study of "how a substance gets into the body and what happens to it in the body".  Four processes are involved in toxicokinetics.

Absorption	The substance enters the body
Distribution	The substance moves from the site of entry to other areas of the body.
Biotransformation	The body changes (transforms) the substance into new chemicals.
Excretion	The substance or its metabolites leave the body.

Photo credits: http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?um=1&hl=fil&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&tbnid=8gXeX_bUqNZzWM:&imgrefurl=http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php/64971-A-DC-Animated-style-HeroMachine/page159&docid=x6jkjLD2DbOfYM&imgurl=http://d.yimg.com/kq/groups/24292620/sn/1116567372/name/Radiationvillian.jpg&w=263&h=458&ei=OKsLULblMYv2mAXwtqmBCg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=863&vpy=255&dur=1981&hovh=296&hovw=170&tx=89&ty=173&sig=110754388849223730647&page=1&tbnh=149&tbnw=86&start=0&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0,i:105

Thank you in taking time reading my 2^nd blog and for visiting as well. I hope you like it. If you do..,,, don’t hesitate to hit the comment box!! Have a nice day everyone! J

References:

Ernest Hodgson, PhD: A textbook of Modern Toxicology

Clinical Pharmacology 4^th edition by Kenneth L. Melcom et.al 

• http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/aSGuest55835-444991-1-2-concepts-in-toxicology/
• http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/toxtutor/Tox1/a11.htm
• http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/toxtutor/Tox1/a11.htm
• http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/toxtutor/Tox2/a11.htm