The belladonna alkaloids can be isolated from a number of plants, which contain hallucinogens that represent a serious danger to infants, children, and adolescents. Roots, leaves, and fruits of the plant contain the alkaloids atropine, hyoscyamine, and scopolamine, which can lead to an anticholinergic toxidrome; however, not all characteristics of the toxidrome are necessarily present in each c...

OBJECTIVE To study the epidemiology, causes, and clinical course of Chinese herbal medicine-induced anticholinergic poisoning in Hong Kong. DESIGN Case series. SETTING Hong Kong. PATIENTS All case histories of Chinese herbal medicine-induced anticholinergic poisoning (with laboratory confirmation) recorded by the Hong Kong Poison Information Centre over a 93-month period were accessed for...

The neurobiological model of depressive disorder may be correlated with the animal model on rat, hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the increase of cortisol level being specific to the model of depression in women. The neurobiological model of depression in women presents vulnerabilities for some cerebral structures (hippocampus, frontal cortex, cerebral amygdala). ...

In obstructive lung disease, inhaled ipratropium and oxitropium gives a bronchodilation. When tested in patients in "stable" condition the maximum effect is seen from 40 mg ipratropium. In allergic bronchial asthma, the bronchodilation from inhaled anticholinergic drugs seem inferior to the effect from an inhaled beta-agonist but in older, non-atopic patients the bronchodilations from an antich...

Datura stramonium L. (DS) is a wild-growing plant widely distributed and easily accessible. It contains a variety of toxic anticholinergic alkaloids such as atropine, hyoscamine, and scopolamine. Voluntary or accidental ingestion can produce severe anticholinergic poisoning. We report an unusual case of DS intoxication occurring in a geophagous young child after accidental ingestion of the plan...

Irritable bowel syndrome affects 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. population to some degree. This condition is defined as abdominal pain and discomfort with altered bowel habits in the absence of any other mechanical, inflammatory, or biochemical explanation for these symptoms. Irritable bowel syndrome is more likely to affect women than men and is most common in patients 30 to 50 years of age. Sym...

OBJECTIVE To assess the response of patients diagnosed with painful bladder syndrome to treatment with instillations of sodium chondroitin sulfate. MATERIAL AND METHODS We present a series of cases of patients with painful bladder syndrome who followed a bladder instillation protocol with sodium chondroitin sulfate, according to our centre's regimen. The response to treatment was assessed wit...

PURPOSE Central nervous system (CNS) and cardiovascular system (CVS) side effects of anticholinergic agents used to treat overactive bladder (OAB) are underreported. Hence, this review aimed to focus on the mechanisms of CNS and CVS side effects of anticholinergic drugs used in OAB treatment, which may help urologists in planning the rationale for OAB treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS PubMed/M...