Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0004134 (ataxia)
 15,886 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A total of 23 men complained of neurological symptoms after a single severe exposure to toluene di-isocyanate. Effects of exposure were immediate in five men and consisted of euphoria, ataxia, and loss of consciousness. These men and nine others complained of headache, difficulty in concentration, poor memory, and confusion during the next three weeks. Four years later it was found that nine further men had experienced symptoms that they had not been aware of at three weeks. In all, 13 men still complained of poor memory, personality change, irritability, or depression after four years. Psychometric testing showed a selective defect for relatively long-term recall in those with persistent symptoms at four years.
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PMID:Neurological complications after a single severe exposure to toluene di-isocyanate. 17 62

A Japanese male who became habituated to sniffing toluene exhibited ataxia, tremor, incoordination and equilibrium disorders. There was pendular nystagmus with a normal caloric response. There were an inhibition of optokinetic nystagmus and a failure to follow over 0.1 Hz sine waves on eye tracking test. Angiogram and pneumoencephalogram revealed an atrophy of the midbrain and cerebrum, and degeneration of the cerebellum was suspected.
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PMID:Equillibrium disorders with diffuse brain atrophy in long-term toluene sniffing. 73 23

We reported a case of 21 years old man of chronic toluene intoxication with abnormal intensity areas on MRI in cerebral white matter, basal ganglia, internal capsule (especially posterior limb), brain stem and middle cerebellar peduncle. The patient developed various neurological abnormalities such as blurred vision, ataxic speech, gaze evoked horizontal nystagmus, bilateral pyramidal tract sign and limb ataxia after 8 years sniffing of thinner (mainly toluene). MRI examination revealed diffuse high intensity areas in cerebral white matter on T1 weighted image. On T2 weighted image, high intensity areas of deep cerebral white matter, internal capsule (especially posterior limb), cerebral peduncle, ventral pons and middle cerebellar peduncle were noted. Basal ganglia (caudate nucleus, lenticular nucleus and thalamus) were displayed as low intensity area on T2 weighted image. These high intensity areas of internal capsule, brain stem and middle cerebellar peduncle on T2 weighted image would be significant for understanding pyramidal tract sign and cerebellar sign of this case. On the basis of neuropathological descriptions of chronic toluene intoxication, these high intensity areas of T2 weighted image were presumed to be demyelinating lesions of the central nervous system.
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PMID:[A case of chronic toluene intoxication with abnormal MRI findings: abnormal intensity areas in cerebral white matter, basal ganglia, internal capsule, brain stem and middle cerebellar peduncle]. 162 43

A 38 year-old laborer experienced solvent intoxication during each of two spray paintings of a dump truck and other heavy equipment in an enclosed, unventilated garage. The paint base consisted primarily of toluene and methyl ethyl ketone. Nausea, headaches, dizziness, respiratory difficulty and other symptoms began after exposures. Over the next several days he developed impaired concentration, memory loss and cerebellar signs including an intention tremor, gait ataxia and dysarthria. MRI of the brain and EGG early in the work-up were normal, although later MRIs demonstrated fluid collection over the left parietal area. Examination by a toxicologist and neurologist revealed likely toxic encephalopathy with dementia and cerebellar ataxia. Three formal neuropsychological assessments over 2 1/2 years quantified cognitive, motor and behavioral changes. Despite similar findings in chronic exposure to these solvents, lasting sequelae following acute exposure have not been widely reported.
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PMID:Chronic neuropsychological and neurological impairment following acute exposure to a solvent mixture of toluene and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). 174 49

Acute poisoning with organic solvents and other volatile compounds now usually follows deliberate inhalation (volatile substance abuse) or ingestion of these compounds. Solvents from adhesives, typewriter correction and dry cleaning fluids, cigarette lighter refills (butane) and aerosol propellants are commonly abused. The major risk is that of sudden death. Arrhythmias leading to cardiac arrest are thought to cause most deaths, but anoxia, respiratory depression and vagal stimulation leading to cardiac arrest may also contribute, as may indirect causes such as aspiration of vomit or trauma. In the United Kingdom (UK), 3.5 to 10% of young people have at least experimented with volatile substance abuse and mortality is more than 100 per annum. The products abused are cheap and readily available despite legislation designed to limit supply. Volatile substance abuse is not illegal and only a minority of abusers are known to progress to heavy alcohol or illicit drug use. Prevention of abuse by education, not only of children but also of parents, teachers, retailers and health care workers, is important in limiting the problem. However, volatile substance abuse-related deaths are still increasing in the UK despite many measures aimed at prevention. Clinically, volatile substance abuse is characterised by a rapid onset of intoxication and rapid recovery. Euphoria and disinhibition may be followed by hallucinations, tinnitus, ataxia, confusion, nausea and vomiting. It is important not to further alarm the patient if signs of serious toxicity are present, since a cardiac arrest may be precipitated. Further exposure should be prevented and the patient resuscitated and given supplemental oxygen if necessary. Cardiac arrhythmias should be treated conventionally and respiratory failure managed supportively. Long term exposure to n-hexane is associated with the development of peripheral neuropathy, while prolonged abuse (notably of toluene or chlorinated solvents) can cause permanent damage to the central nervous system, heart, liver, kidney and lungs. Knowledge of the routes of absorption, distribution and excretion of volatile compounds, and of the rates governing these processes, is important in understanding the rate of onset, intensity and duration of intoxication, and rate of recovery after volatile substance abuse. In addition, such knowledge is helpful when the clinician is attempting to interpret the results of toxicological analyses performed on samples (blood, other tissues, urine) from such patients. Many volatile substances are partly metabolised, the metabolites being eliminated in exhaled air or in urine. Although metabolism normally results in detoxification, enhanced toxicity may also result as with carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, dichloromethane, n-hexane, trichloroethylene and possibly halothane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:An introduction to the clinical toxicology of volatile substances. 222 69

The behavioral effects of a single exposure to toluene were investigated using shock avoidance performance. Rats were exposed to 2000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 ppm toluene vapor for 4 hr after they acquired shock avoidance learning. Then the effects of toluene on avoidance performance, locomotor activity, and response latencies (RLs) were simultaneously examined for 3 days. Shock avoidance responses were significantly decreased at concentrations of 4000, 6000, and 8000 ppm, but recovered 3-6 hr after the cessation of exposure. The 2000 ppm exposure had no effect on these responses. Locomotor activity was transiently increased at concentrations of 2000 ppm and 4000 ppm, but recovered after 6 hr. Both 6000 ppm and 8000 ppm exposure at first decreased locomotor activity but later increased it. There were biphasic effects, inhibition and excitation, on locomotor activity, and it took 1 day to recover from them. Response latencies were shortened at concentrations of 2000, 6000, and 8000 ppm. That was due to hyperactivity. However, 4000 ppm toluene exposure induced the prolongation of RLs, although ataxia or narcosis were not observed. It was suggested that certain higher nervous functions in the central nervous system (CNS) which controlled timing behavior might be confused.
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PMID:Single toluene exposure and changes of response latency in shock avoidance performance. 275 23

The present study was designed to determine the critical concentrations in blood and brain associated with specific behavioural changes during and after exposure to toluene. The effects of a single four hour exposure to toluene on signalled bar press shock avoidance in rats were tested. Rats exposed to 125, 250, and 500 ppm toluene showed a decline in conditioned avoidance responses at 20 minutes exposure compared with the pre-exposure baseline, although they recovered to almost the same level of performance as that before exposure. Exposure to 1000 ppm toluene for about four hours and 2000 ppm for two hours produced a concentration related increase in incorrect responses, acceleration of the reaction time, and decreases in the effective avoidance response rate. Beginning at 4000 ppm toluene exposure, the response rate increased; thereafter, it gradually decreased and finally slight ataxia was observed. After 4000 ppm exposure, all rats showed signs of excitation such as a pronounced increase in response rate. From analysis of the temporal courses of the blood and brain toluene concentrations during and after each exposure, excitative performance decrements were noticed in rats with blood and brain concentrations about 27 micrograms/ml blood and 32 micrograms/g respectively. Anaesthetic performance decrements were seen when the blood toluene concentration increased to 120 micrograms/ml and that of the brain reached about 160 micrograms/g. According to our results, the effects on the central nervous system are considered to be a function of both the exposure concentration and its duration, which are closely related to the increase of brain and blood toluene concentration.
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PMID:Neurobehavioural effects and pharmacokinetics of toluene in rats and their relevance to man. 339 75

The effects of single exposure to toluene on signaled lever press shock avoidance behavior in rats were tested during and after exposure. The results obtained were as follows: Rats exposed to 125, 250 and 500 ppm toluene showed a decline in conditioned avoidance responses at 20 min exposure as compared to the pre-exposure baseline, although they recovered to almost the same level of performance as that before exposure. Exposure to 1,000 ppm toluene produced an exposure duration related to the increase in the number of total lever presses and the decrease in the effective response rate. The number of total lever presses increased drastically after 2,000 ppm toluene exposure. Effective avoidance response rate decreased to about 70% compared to the pre-test performance. Beginning at 4,000 ppm toluene exposure, the response rate increased, thereafter it gradually decreased and finally slight ataxia was observed. After 4,000 ppm exposure, all of the rats showed signs of excitation such as marked increase in the response rate. Acceleration of the reaction time was remarkably observed after 1,000 and 2,000 ppm exposure. As a whole, in the case of toluene exposure, concentration-related increases in lever presses and decreases in the effective avoidance response rate beginning at 1,000 ppm were observed. Animals showed excitatory response at 1,000 and 2,000 ppm toluene exposure and at other levels such as 4,000 ppm they showed depressive behavior. The effects were closely dependent on toluene concentration and exposure duration.
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PMID:[Effects of toluene vapors on signaled bar press shock avoidance performance in rats]. 376 10

Cynomolgus macaque monkeys received head-only exposure to 0, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4500 ppm toluene for 50 min while simultaneously tested for delayed matching-to-sample behavior, a test of cognitive functions. Response time increased and accuracy of matching decreased at 2000 ppm or more of toluene, indicating an attentional deficit but not specific memory effects. Behavioral indices exhibited monotonic concentration-related changes. Expired carbon dioxide (CO2), the most sensitive index, displayed an inverted U-shaped concentration-effect curve, which increased at 100 ppm (the TLV) and decreased at 4500 ppm toluene. Changes in expired CO2 provide new evidence of physiological changes at very low levels of toluene. These changes may indicate combined behavioral, respiratory, sensory, and metabolic effects. No behavioral measure exhibited either cumulative effects or tolerance to 4500 ppm during two 3-day exposures. However, both response time and expired CO2 exhibited an acute, within-session tolerance. The results indicate that brief inhalation exposure to toluene impairs cognitive and motor abilities at concentrations below those causing overt signs, such as ataxia and intention tremoring.
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PMID:Effects of toluene inhalation on behavior and expired carbon dioxide in macaque monkeys. 392 33

Rats were exposed by inhalation to extremely high concentrations of toluene vapors twice daily for six weeks, as an animal model of organic solvent abuse. At preset intervals during repeated exposure, the rats were exposed to test concentrations of toluene and effects on behavior in an open field were measured. Concentration-effect curves were determined during Weeks 4 to 6 of repeated exposure. Tolerance to toluene was measured as a decreased response to the test exposure and a shift of the concentration-effect curve to the right. Reverse tolerance was measured as an increased response to the test exposure and a shift shift of the concentration-effect curve to the left. Results demonstrated that the effects of repeated exposure to toluene showed behavioral selectivity: tolerance developed to ataxia, hindlimb myoclonus, and inhibition of rearing, whereas reverse tolerance developed to headshakes and increased locomotor activity.
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PMID:Tolerance and reverse tolerance to toluene inhalation: effects on open-field behavior. 654 28


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