This study was conducted to determine how much of a residua1 accommodation remained one hour after three instillations of atropine or homatropine in 384 eyes of younger Koreans. The amount of residual accommodation was measured by the blur point method, and the following results were obtained. 1) The average amount of the residual accommodation was 0.96 D under l% atropine and 1.42 D under 5% homatropine. 2) In comparing the two cycloplegic agents, 1% atropine was found to be more effective than 5% homatropine. 3) Residual accommodation under l% atropine and 5% homatropine showed gradually decrease in older patients. 4) No sex difference was found.
Accommodation, Ocular/*drug effects ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Atropa belladonna/*pharmacology ; Atropine/*pharmacology ; Child ; Female ; Human ; Korea ; Male ; *Plants, Medicinal ; *Plants, Toxic

This is the clinical studies of 171cases of acute poisoning in pediatric age which were visited at the emergency room of Han-gang Sacred Heart Hospital during the past 2 years and 5 months (Apr., 1974~Aug., 1976). The results were summerized as followings; 1. The incidence of acute poisoning among the emergency pediatric patients were 2.3%(171/7,310). 2. The sex ratio of male to female was 1.5:1. 3. The peak age group was 2 to 5 years of age (41.5%). 4. The peak incidence in a year was shown in August (17.5%) with prominence in summer season (47.3%). 5. The accidental poisoning was occured the most frequently from 4: 00 P.M. to 8:00P.M. during the day. 6. The motive of poisoning was mainly accidental causes (85.9%). 7. The most frequent causative substances were insecticides (29.8%) and then rodenticides (14%), D.D.S. (8.8%), reserpine (4.1%) were the next causes. 8. RH-787 poisoning were occured in 4 cases with the complication of diabetes mellitus 2 cases. 9. In poisonous plants, there were azalea (Rhododendron) poisoning (4 cases) and Gingko biloba Linne fruit poisoning (1 case).
Child* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Female ; Fruit ; Ginkgo biloba ; Heart ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insecticides ; Male ; Plants, Toxic ; Poisoning* ; Reserpine ; Rodenticides ; Seasons ; Sex Ratio

OBJECTIVEPoisonous plants are a deadly threat to public health in China. The traditional clinical diagnosis of the toxic plants is inefficient, fallible, and dependent upon experts. In this study, we tested the performance of DNA barcodes for identification of the most threatening poisonous plants in China.

METHODSSeventy-four accessions of 27 toxic plant species in 22 genera and 17 families were sampled and three DNA barcodes (matK, rbcL, and ITS) were amplified, sequenced and tested. Three methods, Blast, pairwise global alignment (PWG) distance, and Tree-Building were tested for discrimination power.

RESULTSThe primer universality of all the three markers was high. Except in the case of ITS for Hemerocallis minor, the three barcodes were successfully generated from all the selected species. Among the three methods applied, Blast showed the lowest discrimination rate, whereas PWG Distance and Tree-Building methods were equally effective. The ITS barcode showed highest discrimination rates using the PWG Distance and Tree-Building methods. When the barcodes were combined, discrimination rates were increased for the Blast method.

CONCLUSIONDNA barcoding technique provides us a fast tool for clinical identification of poisonous plants in China. We suggest matK, rbcL, ITS used in combination as DNA barcodes for authentication of poisonous plants.

China ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; standards ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plants, Toxic ; classification ; genetics ; Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity

To enhance the scientific and fair evaluation about proprietary Chinese medicines containing toxic herbs during the switch process of non-prescription drugs, and to ensure those medicines to be used safely by the public in their self-medication. Combined with current research status of toxic herbs, the experience and knowledge accumulated in the practical work of selection and switch of OTC Chinese medicines for years, thinking about the feasible standards about evaluation and management of proprietary Chinese medicines containing toxic herbs at this stage. Initially established ideas and methods about evaluation of proprietary Chinese medicines containing toxic herbs during the switch process of non-prescription drugs. Basically solved the main problem currently faced by toxic herbs during the OTC switch process of proprietary Chinese medicines, effectively promoted the work on OTC switch, and had the important significance in making consumers use non-prescription drugs conveniently and safely.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; methods ; Nonprescription Drugs ; adverse effects ; classification ; Plants, Toxic ; adverse effects ; classification ; Quality Control ; Research ; statistics & numerical data

Due to increasing participation in outdoor activities, many people visit the emergency room for various symptoms after mistaking poisonous plants for medicinal herbs. The toxicity of Arisaematis rhizome is due to its content of calcium oxalate, which causes painful oropharyngeal edema, hypersalivation, aphonia, oral ulceration, esophageal erosion, and hypocalcemia. We report a case of accidental poisoning after chewing and spitting of the root of A. rhizome, resulting in focal symptoms-such as oral pain, swelling and drooling-that required only conservative management. A 54-year-old male and his 58-year-old wife developed oral pain, swelling and drooling after accidentally chewing and spitting the root of the A. rhizome plant as a medicinal herb. Their symptoms started immediately after chewing on and spitting out the root of A. rhizome, and they were unable to speak due to oral pain, swelling, and hypersalivation on arrival at the emergency department. They were treated with antihistamines and corticosteroids and painkillers. A few hours after treatment, they had improved and were discharged from the hospital.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Aphonia ; Calcium Oxalate ; Edema ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Male ; Mastication ; Middle Aged ; Oral Ulcer ; Plants ; Plants, Medicinal ; Plants, Toxic ; Poisoning* ; Rhizome ; Sialorrhea ; Spouses

This article summarized the toxic components, toxication faeature and mechanism and clinical poisoning reports of Senecio spp. The distribution of major toxic components pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in Chinese medicinal herbs and the application of Senecio spp. in China were also recapitulated. The proposals for the application and development of Senecio spp. were put forward.
Animals ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Humans ; Plant Poisoning ; etiology ; veterinary ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; poisoning ; toxicity ; Plants, Toxic ; chemistry ; poisoning ; toxicity ; Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; poisoning ; toxicity ; Senecio ; chemistry ; classification ; poisoning ; toxicity