Toxicity Biomarkers, Volume 1; Volume 2005IOS Press, 2005 - 108 pages Since the dawn of civilization, humans have feared the unknown risks associated with the use of new natural herbs or other natural medications to cure their pain, aches and illnesses. In the ancient Indian Ayurvedic Medicine which is over 4000 years old, the Visha (poison) Tantra (wisdom) was developed as a discipline of medicine encompassing Toxicology and Preventive Medicines. Visha Tantra included the study of various toxic herbs and animals and their antidotes as well as the biomarkers of toxic effects. In the Visha Tantra and the practice of Ayurvedic medicine, there have been objective descriptions of the changes in colour and amount of urine, changes in the colour of nails, skin and eyes, breathing patterns, gastrointestinal disturbances, and precautionary measures to prevent adverse effects as biomarkers of toxicity associated with the use of herbal medicines and certain foods. The adverse effects are an inevitable outcome of the environmental and industrial chemicals and pharmaceuticals; however, efforts are ongoing to prevent unexpected life-threatening toxicities and/or irreversible organ damage.The search for non-invasive biomarkers that can be objectively linked to adverse effects associated with manmade synthetic chemicals, including pharmaceuticals and environmental pollutants, is becoming an important priority for academicians, federal agencies, pharmaceutical and industrial companies. This publication is devoted to toxicity biomarkers of target organs of toxicity and molecular epidemiology. It provides a comprehensive review of a wide spectrum of biomarkers, including molecular epidemiology biomarkers of aflatoxin and hepatitis B virus induced hepatocarcinogenesis, cytokines as the biomarkers of hepatocellular injury, drug-induced vascular injury, nephrotoxicity and reproductive toxicity biomarkers. |
Common terms and phrases
acetaminophen activin activity adducts aflatoxin aGST analysis animals apoptosis arterial assay assessment azoospermia biochemical biological biomarkers blood cancer caveolae cell death cellular changes circulating inhibin clinical compounds coronary correlation cytokines damage detection diagnostic disease dogs dose drug drug-induced vascular injury endocrine endothelial environmental enzymes evaluation fenoldopam function gene expression profiles genomics germ cells hepatic hepatocellular hepatocellular carcinoma hepatocytes hepatotoxicity hibin hormone human identify increased induced infertile inhibin inhibin B concentrations inhibin B levels IOS Press kidney lesions liver injury male markers measured metabolic metabolites metabolomics microarrays Minoxidil molecular molecules monitor mRNA mutations nephrotoxicity normal oltipraz oxide pathway Pharmacol plasma potential preclinical pregnancy protein proteomics Qidong receptor renal Reprod reproductive toxicity response role samples sensitive Sertoli cell serum inhibin specific sperm spermatogenesis studies subunit testicular testosterone tion tissue toxicant exposure toxicity toxicogenomics toxicology transcriptomics tubular tubule urinary urine vitro vivo