Epidemics of vascular toxicity and pulmonary hypertension: what can be learned?

P Egermayer1

  • 1Canterbury Respiratory Research Group, Christchurch, New Zealand. crrg@chmeds.ac.nz

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Types of Toxins01:36

Types of Toxins

Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis01:30

Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe health condition in which the mean pulmonary arterial pressure increases to 25 mmHg or more, even when the body is at rest. This high pressure in the blood vessels that transport blood from the heart to the lungs can cause various symptoms, including shortness of breath, can lead to right heart failure, and significantly affect the overall quality of life.
There are various classifications for PH, each relating to different underlying causes and also...
Drug Toxicity: Risk factors01:24

Drug Toxicity: Risk factors

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are potential complications that arise during pharmacotherapy, influenced by multiple risk factors. Age plays a significant role; both neonates and the elderly are at heightened risk due to their respective immature and diminished metabolic and elimination processes. Gender also impacts ADRs, with females experiencing a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk than males, which may be linked to pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and hormonal differences. Notably, neonates, the...
Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions01:24

Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions

Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction01:29

Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction

Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a thrombus, fat or air embolus, amniotic fluid, or tumor tissue blocks one or more pulmonary arteries. These blockages originate in the venous system or the right side of the heart.EtiologyPE primarily arises from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other hypercoagulable states, such as inherited thrombophilias. Additional etiological factors include venous stasis, commonly seen in obesity, and endothelial injury from surgery and trauma. Less common causes include...
Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction01:19

Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction

A blood clot, or thrombus, is a semi-solid mass composed of fibrin, platelets, and red blood cells. When it forms within a vessel, it can obstruct blood flow, known as thrombosis. If part of the clot detaches, it becomes an embolus that can travel and block distant vessels. When this occurs in the pulmonary arteries, it causes a condition known as pulmonary embolism (PE).Origin and ImpactMost often, the embolus originates from a thrombus in the deep veins of the lower limbs, a condition called...