Torvis oculis: Occupational roots of behavioral neurotoxicology in the last two centuries and beyond

Lucchini, Roberto; Riva, Michele Augusto; Sironi, V. A.; Porro, Alessandro

doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2012.01.006

Cited by 18 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Given that neuropsychiatric effects were evident in mefloquine's safety profile early in its history [ 14 , 16 ] and that concerns over veterans' exposure to neurotoxicants including medicines became prominent in the 1990s [ 42 – 44 ], the literature search then included the discipline of neurotoxicology. This literature describes the manifestation, symptomology, and evidentiary basis of toxic encephalopathies [ 45 – 48 ], neurotoxicity syndromes [ 49 , 50 ], methods for neurotoxicity testing [ 51 – 53 ], and risk assessment [ 54 – 57 ]. This section of the review provided a general frame of reference within which the search and analysis of literature relating specifically to mefloquine toxicity is refined.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The discipline of neurotoxicology became prominent in the latter part of the 20th century, as advances were made in the neurosciences and widespread health impacts of common environmental and industrial neurotoxic agents such as heavy metals, solvents, and pesticides became apparent. By the 1990s, insights into the development and application of neurobehavioral toxicology methods saw the adoption of standardised neurobehavioral test batteries, neuroimaging techniques, biochemical markers, questionnaire studies, and epidemiological studies of neurotoxic disorders [ 51 – 53 ]. Similarly, standardised neurotoxicity risk assessment practices have been in place since the mid-1990s [ 54 – 57 ].…”

Section: Risk-benefit Analysis and Neurotoxicologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Malaria Prevention, Mefloquine Neurotoxicity, Neuropsychiatric Illness, and Risk-Benefit Analysis in the Australian Defence Force

McCarthy¹

2015

Journal of Parasitology Research

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The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has used mefloquine for malaria chemoprophylaxis since 1990. Mefloquine has been found to be a plausible cause of a chronic central nervous system toxicity syndrome and a confounding factor in the diagnosis of existing neuropsychiatric illnesses prevalent in the ADF such as posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Overall health risks appear to have been mitigated by restricting the drug's use; however serious risks were realised when significant numbers of ADF personnel were subjected to clinical trials involving the drug. The full extent of the exposure, health impacts for affected individuals, and consequences for ADF health management including mental health are not yet known, but mefloquine may have caused or aggravated neuropsychiatric illness in large numbers of patients who were subsequently misdiagnosed and mistreated or otherwise failed to receive proper care. Findings in relation to chronic mefloquine neurotoxicity were foreseeable, but this eventuality appears not to have been considered during risk-benefit analyses. Thorough analysis by the ADF would have identified this long-term risk as well as other qualitative risk factors. Historical exposure of ADF personnel to mefloquine neurotoxicity now also necessitates ongoing risk monitoring and management in the overall context of broader health policies.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Risk-benefit Analysis and Neurotoxicologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Malaria Prevention, Mefloquine Neurotoxicity, Neuropsychiatric Illness, and Risk-Benefit Analysis in the Australian Defence Force

McCarthy¹

2015

Journal of Parasitology Research

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“…X, 33). According to Lucchini et al, both physical (palsy) and behavioral (mood changes) conditions may be due to the use of neurotoxic metals by alchemists [16]. …”

Section: Neurological Disorders In Dante's Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Neurologist in Dante's <b><i>Inferno</i></b>

Riva

Bellani

Tremolizzo³

et al. 2015

Eur Neurol

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The year 2015 marks the 750th birth anniversary of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321). It is less known that Dante had a sound level of medical knowledge, probably derived by his academic studies. In his works, medieval notions of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology (e.g. the connection between brain and spinal cord, function of optic nerve and peripheral nerves, knowledge of vegetative nervous system) and descriptions of neurological disorders (e.g. epileptic seizures, effects on nervous system by metal intoxication, and narcolepsy) may be found, specially in the Inferno, the first part of his masterpiece, the Divine Comedy. These accurate descriptions have led some authors to believe that the poet himself may have suffered from a neurological disease (epilepsy or hypersomnia). Damned souls of the Inferno seem to be also afflicted by psychiatric disorders, such as melancholia and depression. The analysis of Dante's works confirms that poetry - as well as literature in general - may be an important source of information for historians of neurology.

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“…In 1805, John Pearson (1758–1826) coined the term “mercurial erethism” in England, while in 1836 the French physician Louis Tanquerel des Planches (1810–1862) used the term “encéphalopathie saturnine” to indicate neuropsychiatric manifestations of lead-intoxication; 20 years later August-Louis Delpech (1818–1880) first described the neuropsychological effects of occupational exposure to carbon disulfide [1]. During the twentieth century, the studies of neurologists, occupational physicians and experimental psychologists contributed to the development of occupational neurotoxicology, as an autonomous discipline.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%