Iranian Journal of Toxicology
Volume:2 Issue: 4, Winter 2009

The present study was designed to determine the risk factors that lead to bango abuse among secondary school student and drivers in Assiut province. Subjects and

urine samples were taken from 1000 volunteers after filling a questionnaire, 500 students from different secondary schools and 500 drivers in Assiut province. The risk factors that lead to bango abuse among drivers and students were determined through the questionnaire. Screenings of the samples were done by using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and then positive samples confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

prevalence of bango abuse was 12% in drivers of the studied group. Bango abuse concentrated in age group of 21- 31Y/O by 51.7% and in those driving microbus, van and half van by 30%, 28.3% and 23.3% respectively. Abuse was more among cigarette and shisha smokers by 83.3% and 100% respectively. Also it was found that bango abuse is more prevalent in cases with 5 - 15Y work experience (58.3%of cases). In students, it was found that bango abuse was prevalent in 11.6%, concentrated in male students by 100%, and in those with daily fund more than one pound (44.8%). The abused students tend to be more aggressive toward their friends and their family members (by 65.5% and 96.6% respectively).

bango abuse leads to deterioration of the academic achievement, and may be associated with antisocial and violent behavior, which may be a leading cause to develop crime.

There are controversial reports about the exact mechanisms of lead-induced hypertension, but many factors such as alteration in the responsiveness of cardiovascular system to endogenous substances including catecholamines could be one of the mechanisms involved. In present study, the effect of exposure to 100 ppm lead acetate by drinking water (in the periods of 4, 8 and 12 weeks) on the responsiveness of rat isolated beating heart to β-adrenergics was investigated, using Langendorff isolated heart setup. The isolated hearts were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution at 37˚C and pH=7.4 and gassed with 95% O2 + 5% CO2. The rate (chronotropic) and contractile (inotropic) responses of the heart to β-adrenergics (isoproterenol and dobutamine) were recorded by adding these agents at multiple concentrations to the perfusion solution. The blood pressure in 8- and 12-week lead-treated groups was significantly increased compared with those of the control group (P<0.01). The chronotropic response to many doses of isoproterenol (as β1,2-adrenergic) in only 12-, but not in 4- and 8-week lead-treated groups was significantly increased, as compared with those of control (P<0.05). The inotropic response to this drug was also significantly increased in both 8- and 12-week lead-treated rats (P<0.05, P<0.01). Similar findings were observed in the dobutamine (as selective β1-adrenergic) treated groups, but the contractile response of the latter agent was greater than the isoproterenol. Low-level of lead increases blood pressure and both chronotropic and inotropic effects of β-adrenergics. These effects could imply an important role in the pathogenesis of lead-induced hypertension.

The impact of chromium exposure was studied on liver, kidney, testis, spleen, cerebrum and cerebellum of male Wistar rats (80-100 g body weight). It was observed that treatments of rats with chromium (i.p. at a dose of 0.8 mg / 100 g body weight per day) for a period of 28 days caused significant increase in chromium content while declining the body weight along with the organ weight, except liver. Decreased acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were observed in most of the organs. Significant increases in the cholesterol contents of all the organs were associated with the significant decreases in the level of phospholipids. Lipid peroxidation decreased in liver and kidney while it increased in testis, cerebrum and cerebellum. Reduced glutathione (GSH) level was found to be increased in liver, spleen and cerebrum, and decreased in kidney and testis. Catalase activity became elevated in liver, kidney, spleen and cerebellum while it decreased in testis. It is suggested that chromium treatment at the present dose and duration induces general tissue toxicity by causing membrane damage due to changes in the relative proportion of cholesterol and phospholipids in the membrane structure. In addition, tissue specific toxicity is affected by lipid peroxidation in testis, cerebrum and cerebellum, and in other tissues increased GSH level or enhanced catalase activity prevents lipid peroxidation to occur due to reactive oxygen species produced from chromium transformation.

IAChE (acetylcholinesterase) is one of the plasma’s enzymes that plays a crucial role in nervous signal transduction in synapses and is responsible for the hydrolysis of Ach. We investigated three methods for the determination of AChE in human blood serum, using three different assays. Michel methods are based on the measurement of hydrogen ion produced in processes. Ellman methods are of colorimetric type that is based on produced choline and its reaction with coloriogenic reagents. The other way to determine the enzyme activity is related to a decrease in the substrate level during hydrolysis process. De la Huerge is the method in which decrease in the Ach (acetylcholine) level is determined after the completion of reaction and than enzyme activity is calculated. No significant difference was found among the results of the three methods. According to our results, Michel method has the least variation in the results and Ellman has shown the highest variation. On the other hand, Ellman needs the shortest time for each test and de la Huerga requires a longer time, so in the cases we need to report the results in a short time, Ellman is the best choice. These results suggest that the three methods are reliable and are comparable for determining of AChE in human blood serum. It is concluded that Michel method may be preferable to Ellman and de la Huerga methods because of its simplicity, low cost, highest precision, accuracy, sensitivity and objectivity. In addition, this method takes little time to be performed.

The fate of xenobiotics that is present, increasing day by day. The increasing fates altered or inhibit the metabolic activities like detoxification and biotransformation. The present study highlights this slow biotransformation and detoxification on the basis of specific enzymes which have a say in assessment of mercuric chloride toxicity and modulation by Panax ginseng root extract. The results revealed that mercuric chloride caused significant increase in liver weight, glutathione - s - transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR) and significant decrease in glutathione (GSH) level, while Panax ginseng alone and combination with mercuric chloride caused significant decrease in liver weight, glutathione - s - transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione (GSH) level. The results suggest a modulating role of this root powder extract against raised enzyme levels and liver weight induced by mercuric chloride in albino rat.

nitrogen oxides occur in the atmosphere in Six forms of namely: N2O, NO, NO2, N2O3, N2O4 and N2O5. Among these oxides NO2 is the most important air pollutant because of its relatively high toxicity and its ubiquity in ambient air. In this research Griess-Saltzman method was utilized for determination of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere of different laboratories in the Faculty of Pharmacology of Ahwaz Jondishapur University of Medical Science. Methodology (Materials and Methods):As it is reported in Griess-Saltzman method, NO2- produce a purple color with absorbing solution containing: Sulfanilic acid, Glacial Acetic acid and N-(1-Naphtyl)-Ethylenediamine Dihydrochloride. The maximum wavelength absorbed by this colored solution is 550 nm. Calibration curve was obtained in concentration range of 0.04-0.44 µg.ml-1 of NO2- (eq. A= 0.9C+ 0.002 R2=0.999). Between and within days mean reproducibility of the measurements were 2.2 and 1.91, respectively. Nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide concentrations in central, chemistry, hydrology, toxicology and pharmacogonosy?? labs absorbed into absorbing solution were measured from the calibration curve. The statistical results showed that there was difference between NO2 concentration at working and non working conditions of each laboratory. There was no difference between NO concentration of working and non working conditions of the laboratories. Also there was difference between NO and NO2 concentration of each laboratory. Final evaluation of the results indicated that NO and NO2 concentrations in the Faculty of Pharmacy laboratories atmosphere are lower than EPA reported value.

Dental clinics are known to be one of the largest users of Toxic inorganic mercury. It is well documented that dentists and dental assistants who work with amalgam are chronically exposed to mercury vapor. This study investigates exposure to mercury vapor in a dental clinic. GBC cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), using sodium borohydride as the reducing agent, was employed to determine mercury concentrations. The determination of mercury in urine and air was carried out using a flow injection system after sample treatment according to the standard procedure. In this study mercury exposure in some dentist and dental office personnel was examined. We studied 495 persons (280 dentists and 215 dental personnel) occupationally exposed to mercury while working at 58 dental clinics in Tehran. In addition 305 samples from dental office’s air were taken and their mercury was measured with HG-AAS.Conclution: In this study, mercury levels in dentists urine and dental office atmosphere were lower than occupational safety and health administration (OSHA). Results acquired from this study show that the amount of mercury were in normal range and it is lower than to the potential for adverse exposure to elemental mercury vapor concentration in a dental office.

Tramadol is a widely used centrally acting opioid analgesic and due to its ease of access in Iran as an over-the- counter drug, reported cases of intoxication are rising. A 19-year-old male who was referred to our center, Noor Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, because of confusion, ataxia, agitation and an episode of seizure, followed by intentional ingestion of one hundred 100mg tablets of tramadol. On admission, he was confused, in hypotensive state, and with tachycardia. Suddenly, a generalized tonic colonic seizure occurred and resulted in cyanosis and a decrease in O2 saturation. By prompt management, he improved to some extent but unexpectedly 3 hours after admission he succumbed to cardiopulmonary arrest. Laboratory analysis, ECG, and postmortem pathology reports were normal. Semi-quantitative toxicological analysis (by Thin Layer Chromatography: TLC) was highly positive for tramadol, in all viscera, gastric contents and urine. Contrary to previous beliefs, tramadol poisoning might cause sudden death even in oral form. It is not long since tramadol has become widely available as a rather safe analgesic; nevertheless, it seems that available data concerning its toxicity is limited and to assist physicians in anticipating unexpected situations in tramadol overdose, scrutiny into its side effects is mandatory.