Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0000729 (abdominal cramps)
 531 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Major findings from our work on exposures and effects from organophosphate-containing pesticides in selected occupational and community patients and groups in Israel are reviewed as a basis for recommending control measures. The worker groups were pilots, ground-crews, and field workers; exposed nonworkers were adults and children living in kibbutzim with drift exposures, and household residents in houses treated by pest exterminators. In all groups, evidence of exposure-illness associations was found even though persons with acute poisoning were not seen. Complaints (headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, breathing problems, abdominal cramps, and tingling in extremities) were associated with within-normal depressions in cholinesterase activity. Whole blood and plasma cholinesterase activity were slightly more sensitive indicators of mixed exposure than red blood cell cholinesterase activity. High alkyl phosphate levels and symptoms were seen in individuals with within-normal limit depressions in cholinesterase activity. Complaints of weakness and tingling in hands and feet, together with low-grade changes in nerve conduction, suggest the possible influence of agents with a neurotoxic esterase-type activity independent of cholinesterase activity. Transient in-season neuropsychological changes in tests of mood status and performance were associated with exposure. Recommendations for exposure reduction include: accelerating the already declining use of pesticides in general, and organophosphates in particular; promoting the shift from more to less toxic organophosphates and other pesticides; and introducing rigid performance specifications for closed systems in loading and mixing at end-user sites. Dermal protection remains a problem. Cholinesterase activity levels and symptom interviews are useful for monitoring workers at risk, but alkyl phosphate levels are the definitive measure of exposure, surveys, investigations and surveillance.
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PMID:Health effects from exposure to organophosphate pesticides in workers and residents in Israel. 133 Sep 77

Pyridostigmine is known as a pre-treatment drug against intoxication with organophosphorus nerve agents. During the Persian Gulf war, we encountered a cluster of nine cases of pyridostigmine self-poisoning, of which three presented with mixed drug poisoning. The clinical and laboratory features of pyridostigmine toxicity are presented. Doses ranged between 390 and 900 mg. Pyridostigmine ingestion resulted in mild to moderate cholinergic symptoms such as abdominal cramps, diarrhea, emesis, nausea, hypersalivation, urinary incontinence, fasciculations, muscle weakness and blurred vision. No central nervous system manifestations were evident. The symptoms developed within several minutes and lasted up to 24 h. All patients underwent gastric emptying followed by administration of activated charcoal. Atropine (1-8 mg) was required in only three patients. Measurement of serum cholinesterase inhibition was found to be a reliable and sensitive diagnostic tool in pyridostigmine poisoning. No clear correlation was found between the extent of cholinesterase inhibition and the incidence or severity of the cholinergic signs. The clinical recovery was faster than the spontaneous recovery of the enzyme. Pyridostigmine intoxication is self-limited and well tolerated by young healthy adults.
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PMID:Acute pyridostigmine overdose: a report of nine cases. 175 42

28 cases of phallinic syndrome have been studied: 24 out of them were from amanita phalloides poisoning and 4 from amanita verna poisoning. After a lag phase lasting from 7 to 30 hours, symptomatology characterized by starting gastroenteric troubles as vomit, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, meteorism and pain following abdomen palpation. In one case the syndrome started with parasympathicomimetic crisis, probabily due to ingested amanita containing muscarinic type poison. Subsequent evolution of clinical picture included signs of hepatic and renal involvement. As far as laboratory diagnosis is concerned, high levels of serum aminotransferases were found and, less frequently, hyperbilirubinmia and high BUN levels occurred. In severe cases, in addition, lowered values for plasma prothrombine, fibrinogen and cholinesterase were found. Low therapeutic effect followed rehydration, equilibration of electrolytic unbalance and administration of thioctic acid, coagulants and so on. As a matter of fact 3 out or 28 patients, treated only with such therapy, died. On the contrary good therapeutic effect followed to peritoneal dialysis, in two cases coupled to exchange transfusion: 10 patients were treated in such a way and no one died but all of them quickly recovered. Forced diuresis also appeared greatly useful and practical in therapeutic treatment of phallinic syndrome: results compared favourably with those obtained by means of peritoneal dialysis. As a matter of fact 15 patients, 5 of them having ingested a great amount of amanita phalloides, were treated with forced diuresis and no one of them died. Finally, the need is stressed for a very quick therapeutic intervention (exchange transfusion; plasmapheresis; peritoneal dialysis; forced diuresis, and so on) in order to lower the plasma concentration of the toxins responsible for the phallinic syndrome. Only in such a way diffusion of toxins from blood to tissues is avoided.
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PMID:[Phallin syndrome. Reports on 28 cases]. 679 69