Poisoning

Poisoning has always been a part of human life. For years, poisoning was considered a clinical entity that could be treated and/or prevented. However, in a practical sense, the same method was used for detoxifying or treating all causative agents. Understanding the salient features of different types of poisonings is necessary to develop efficient approaches to early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, and even for the repurposing of fatal toxic substances for use as therapeutic agents. This book presents the chemical and biological nature as well as the mechanisms of environmental toxins, snake venoms, heavy metals, and bacterial toxins in poisoning and highlights the most recent approaches and theories for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. It also examines the possible repositioning of highly toxic glycoalkaloids found in potatoes to life-saving anticancer drugs. This book presents a balance between advanced scientific research and the premises that researchers must be able to absorb and apply, as well as links scientific advances with clinical practice so that the management of poisons can be based on sound academic and clinical concepts.