Toxicology Exam III

What are substances found in food, give an example of each.

nutrient substances (natural compounds proteins, fats, carbohydrates)
non-nutrient substances (food additives, plant hormones, pesticides)

is a complex mixture of compounds that can be all natural, processed or both

food

examples of nutrient substances

carbohydrates
proteins
fats
vitamins/minerals

examples of non nutrient substances

pesticides
food additives (color, flavor)
plant hormones

two major ways food causes toxicity

adverse and allergic reactions to food
ingestion of food containing toxic substances

what are the 5 types of adverse/allergy reactions

food hypersensitivity
food idiosyncrasies
anaphylactoid reactions
pharmacological food reactions
metabolic food reaction

characteristics of food hypersensitivity

immediate immune response with cutaneous reaction or anaphylaxis

example of food hypersensitivity

allergic response to proteins in milk, egg whites, egg yolk, or peanuts

characteristics of food idiosyncrasies

abnormal response to food additive or food substance similar to food hypersensitivity but DO NOT involve the immune system

examples of food idiosyncrasies

smelly urine caused by asparagus (inability to metabolize methanthiol)
abdominal pain with milk (lactase deficiency)
migraine with chocolate

characteristics of anaphylactoid reactions

mimic anaphylaxis but occurs through the DIRECT application of histamine

examples of anaphylactoid reactions

fish spiked with histamines cause headaches or histamine poisoning
sulfate sensitivity causes asthma
cheese

characteristics of pharmacological food reactions

exaggerated responses to pharmacological agents in food
might be due to receptor sensitization

characteristics of metabolic food reactions

characterized by toxic effects of food eaten in excess or foods not processed correctly

what is the most common symptom for food hypersensitivity

cutaneous reactions or anaphylaxis

what is the difference between food hypersensitivity and food idiosyncrasy

food hypersensitivity is through an immune response

what is an example of food idiosyncrasy

smelly urine from asparagus via the inability to metabolize methanthiol
lactase deficiency causing abdominal pain with milk

how does an anaphylactoid work and what are examples

anaphylactoids directly apply histamines to produce anaphylaxis-like reactions
fish- histamine poisoning and headaches
sulfate sensitivity-deficiency to metabolize sulfate
cheese-histamine poisoning

what are three fish toxins

domoic acid
tetrodoxin
brevetoxin

toxic mechanism of domoic acid

analog to glutamine that causes the uncontrolled release of GABA causing an inhibitory response with hippocampal damage
found in shellfish

toxic mechanism of tetrodoxin

present in pufferfish
blocks cation movement causing cellular arrest and paralysis

toxic mechanism of brevetoxin

found in filter feeders
binds to voltage-dependent sodium channels causing tingling and loss of motor control

example of microbial toxin

botulism

toxic mechanism of botulism

produced from bacteria in improperly canned foods
dysregulates acetylcholine function at peripheral nerve endings primarily targeting respiratory system = respiratory failure

describe mad cow disease

transmitted by prions that function as neurotoxins causing neurological deterioration resulting in death

what are the three major classes of outdoor pollutants

classic reducing type
particulate matter
photochemicals

what are classic reducing type outdoor pollutants characterized by

sulfur dioxide and smoke exposure

what are particulate matters characterized

their composition of solid/liquid organic and inorganic compounds

what are photochemicals characterized by

their arise from series of reactions in the troposhere activated by UV spectrum of sunlight

how does sulfur dioxide react in the body once inhaled?

it stimulates mucus secretion and bronchoconstriction by dissolving in the surface lining fluid of lungs and turned into sulfite/bisulfite and is readily distributed

how are particulate matters primarily released

through emissions

what do particulate matters involve

conversion of gas to particles

what substances are included in particulate matters and give an example

metals- zinc, nickel, iron,
carbon particles- diesel particles

how do ozone and nitrogen differ? which is more reactive and where are they found?

ozone is highly reactive and more toxic and is found at Earth's surface and smog
nitrogen is heaver and is found at levels near the ground; causes pulmonary edema and puts farmers that ferment silage at risk

who is at most risk for nitrogen dioxide toxicity

farmers who ferment silage

what pathologies are associated with nitrogen dioxide

pulmonary edema

list the clinical stages for poisoning treatment in order

stabilize the patient
perform a complete clinical evaluation
prevent further absorption in the body
enhance toxic agent elimination process
administer antidote (if available)
care and follow up

when stabilizing a patient what three assessments need to be performed

assess airway, respiration, and circulation

list the 4 different clinical evaluations conducted

medical history
physical exam
laboratory evaluation
radiographic evaluation

what is the goal in determining medical history

determine the toxic agent
identify exposure route and duration
when unknown, the highest dose is assumed

what is the goal in a physical examination

determine patient's mental status, condition,
possible trauma, or identify any identifiable toxicological signs of a specific agent (i.e. arsenic accumulation in nails)

what is the goal of a laboratory exam

determine the concentration of a toxic agent in the blood

what is the goal of a radiographic evaluation

visualize ingestoin
can detect ferrous and potassium salts, lead, and halogenated compounds
CTs of head and chest/abdomen x-ray
CT for carbon monoxide to determine severity of poisoning via brain lesions

what is the goal in the prevention of poison absorption

prevent as much poison from being absorbed into the circulatory system

what are the 3 different types of exposures in clinical toxicology

inhalation
topical
oral

how is inhalation exposure prevented

removing patient from area of exposure
set in a well ventilated area
oxygenation of patient

how is topical exposure prevented

removal of clothes that were exposed and full wash of exposed skin with mild soap

how is oral exposure prevented

activated charcoal
bowel irrigation gastric lavage

what is the key/ direct association with successful prevention of inhalation of toxic agent

pulmonary first pass elimination

describe the use of activated charcoal in oral exposure prevention

it is the first immediate treatment used as it readily absorbs toxins in the body

describe the use of bowel irrigation in oral exposure prevention

it is performed when toxins are still present in the bowels

describe the use of a gastric lavage in oral exposure prevention

orogastric tube is inserted into the stomach to flush the system with water while aspirating the fluid out until the toxic agent is removed

what is the goal of enhancement of poison elimination

eliminate the poison once it has reached the circulatory system

what are ways to enhance poison elimination

alkalization
dialysis
hemoperfusion
hemofiltration
plasma/blood transfusion
activated charcoal

describe alkalization

ion trapping; pH of urinary filtrate is increased so that weak acids are prevented from being reabsorbed

describe dialysis

used to eliminate methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and ethylene glycol

describe hemoperfusion

blood is pumped through a perfusion cartridge where it interacts with activated charcoals to absorb toxins from the blood

describe hemofiltration

blood plasma is filtered and removed from blood using hydrostatic pressure to help remove toxins

describe plasma/blood transfusions

used to remove plasma protein-bound toxins and high molecular weight toxins

describe activated charcoal use

allows for the systemic clearance of toxins as it readily absorbs toxins from the body

3 main goals for making/ using antidotes

agents that specifically bind to toxic agents
agent that antagonize the effects of toxic agents
agent that chemically interacts with toxins to increase the detox process

what is an example of antidotes that specifically bind to toxic agents

chelating agents bind to metals and ions so that they are no longer harmful in the body

what is an example of antidotes that antagonize the effects of toxic agents

atropine is used for exposure to organophosphate poisoning prevents accumulation of acetylcholine in muscarinic and acetylcholingeric receptors

what is an example of antidotes that chemically interacts with toxic agents to increase the detoxification process

sodium nitrite used for cyanide poisoning; it increases the formation of methemoglobins that serve as an alternative binding site for cyanide
still requires secondary treatment

why is it important to do care and follow up after treatment?

some poisons have delayed toxicity
toxins can have multi-phase toxicities
psychiatric changes can result from exposure to toxic agents or patient needs to be monitored for self-harm

sources of developmental toxicants in infants

radiation
infections
maternal trauma and metabolic imbalances
drugs and chemicals

types of adverse outcomes during pregnancies

post-implantation pregnancy loss (31%)
neurologic dysfunction (17%)
minor birth defects (14%)
low birth weight (7%)
major birth defects at birth (3%) 7% at 1 year
infant death (1.4%)

how many pregnancies end in normal, healthy births

less than 50%

what are the 4 manifestations of abnormal development

death
malformation
growth retardation
functional deficits

what are the six principles of developmental toxicity

susceptibility on teratogenesis is dependent on genotype and environmental factors
varies with developmental stage and which exposed to
agents follow a specific mechanism to cause developmental issues
agent accessibility is dependent on the route of expos

what is the difference between low dose and high dose embryonic exposure

low doses cause growth retardation and high doses cause embryo lethality

what are the major effects of prenatal exposure to toxins

embryo lethality
malformations
growth retardation

what do all developmental toxicities result in

insults to the embryo at the cellular level either directly, indirectly through the mother or placenta or a combination

ways in which developmental toxicities affect the embryo at the cellular level

directly, indirectly through the mother or placenta or a combination

maternal factors that affect development

genetics
disease
nutrition
stress
placental toxicity
maternal toxicity

how can maternal genetics affect development

the genetic make up of the mother is a risk factor

how can maternal disease affect development

uncontrolled diabetes/ hypertension or infections can affect it

how can maternal nutrition affect development

dietary insufficiencies can produce defects

how can maternal stress affect development

physical stress can cause low birth weight and congenital malformations

how can placental toxicity affect development

smoke, arsenic, and alcohols can affect placental attachment, nutrition, and gas exchange

how can maternal toxicity affect development

can cause intrauterine death, low birth weight, abnormal rib or pelvic formations

what can alterations to the placenta result in

altered:
metabolism
distribution
uptake
elimination processes

how does the placenta influence embryonic exposure to toxins

regulation of blood flow
acts as a transport barrier
metabolizes chemicals
acts as a lipid membrane for bidirectional transfer of substances

factors that affect the transfer of substances from placenta to fetus include

lipid solubility and blood flow
molecular weight
protein binding
type of diffusion/transport
ionization
metabolism

critical periods of developmental toxicity susceptibility

gametogenesis/fertilization
pre-implantation of zygote
gastrulation
organogenesis
fetal period

what developmental toxicities occur during gametogenesis/fertilization

the early stages of genome formation and stabilization can result in changes of DNA methylation resulting in dysfunction of stability and chromatin confirmation affecting stability and structure

what developmental toxicities occur during pre-implantatoin

before the zygote implants on the wall of the uterus; toxicities can cause death of zygote and if death does not occur no anomalies are developed due to period of rapid cell growth

what developmental toxicities occur during gastrulation

period of formation of the three germ layers can result in eye, brain, and face malformations

what developmental toxicities occur during organogenesis

occurs from weeks 3-8 in gestation, toxicities in arise in whatever bodily structures are being formed

what developmental toxicities occur during the fetal period

all organs are developed and are maturing, toxicities result in anomalies of the CNS (cognitive behavior and motor deficits) and of reproductive organs and decreased fertility

criteria used for classifying agents as teratogens

agent produces adverse developmental effects
all 4 manifestations are of concern for developing: death, structural abnormalities, growth alterations, and functional abnormalities
if applicable there is a known dose-response toxicity that results in develo

examples of developmental toxicities

thalidomide
diethylstilbestrol
ethanol
tobacco smoke
cocaine
retinoids
anti-epileptics
ACE inhibitors

Describe fetal toxicities associated with tobacco smoke

toxicity occurs through smoke or second hand smoke resulting in miscarriage, sudden infant death syndrome and altered physiological function of lungs

Describe fetal toxicities associated with cocaine

acts as a local anesthetic and vasoconstrictor resulting in placental ruptures, premature labor/delivery, and CNS issues

Describe fetal toxicities associated with retinoids

occurs with high vitamin A exposure and results in miscarriage and mental retardation

Describe fetal toxicities associated with anti-epileptic drugs

prevent seizures and result in fetal brain defects, cognitive impairment and fetal death

Describe fetal toxicities associated with ACE inhibitors

cause bone issues and malformations and lower amniotic fluid volume resulting in renal failure and death

Describe fetal toxicities associated with thalidomide

used as a sleep aid to improve systems of nausea and vomiting; resulting in newborns missing limbs or reduction of long bones, malformation of eyes, intestines and kidneys

Describe fetal toxicities associated with diethylstilbestrol (DES)

used as a miscarriage preventative, synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen resulting in vaginal clear adenocarcinoma

Describe fetal toxicities associated with ethanol

fetal alcohol syndrome causing growth retardation and craniofacial malformations

refers to cellular-level events that initiate the process leading to abnormal development

mechanisms

list examples of mechanistic events of toxicity

genetic mutations
chromosome breaks
altered mitosis
altered nucleic acid function

what do mechanistic events of developmental toxicity result in

altered cell-cell interactions
differentiation
morphogenesis
energy metabolism

comprises the cell, tissue and organ-level sequelae that ultimately manifest in abnormality

pathogenesis

factors that play a role in biological thresholds that toxicity in embryo depend on

maternal metabolic defenses
cell homeostasis mechanisms
restorative growth potential

what are the two thresholds that toxicity in the embryo is based on and what are the adverse effects that can happen as well as the factors that play a role

two thresholds: mother and fetus, both have biological thresholds that are dependent on repair and defense systems being able to combat exposure separately
adverse effects include: post-implantation pregnancy loss, neurological deficits, low birth weight,

theory that suggests that developmental environment influences metabolic parameters of offspring that persist throughout their lives and may result in increased risk of developing diseases

developmental programming

theory that links maternal nutrition to the deterioration of offspring organs and body postnatal

fetal programming