Toxin

A toxin (from Ancient Greek: τοξικόν toxikon) is a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms; synthetic toxicants created by artificial processes are thus excluded. The term was first used by organic chemist Ludwig Brieger (1849–1919).

Toxins can be small molecules, peptides, or proteins that are capable of causing disease on contact with or absorption by body tissues interacting with biological macromolecules such as enzymes or cellular receptors. Toxins vary greatly in their severity, ranging from usually minor (such as a bee sting) to almost immediately deadly (such as botulinum toxin).

Terminology

Toxins are often distinguished from other chemical agents by their method of production—the word toxin does not specify method of delivery (compare with venom and the narrower meaning of poison—all substances that can also cause disturbances to organisms). It simply means it is a biologically produced poison. There was an ongoing terminological dispute between NATO and the Warsaw Pact over whether to call a toxin a biological or chemical agent, in which the NATO opted for biological agent, and the Warsaw Pact, like most other countries in the world, for chemical agent.

Detoxification (alternative medicine)

Detoxification (also sometimes called body cleansing) in the context of alternative medicine consists of an approach that aims to rid the body of "toxins" – accumulated harmful substances that allegedly exert undesirable effects on individual health in the short or long term. Detoxification usually includes one or more of the following: dieting, fasting, consuming exclusively or avoiding specific foods (such as fats, carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, juices, herbs, or water), colon cleansing, chelation therapy, or the removal of dental fillings.

The British organisation Sense About Science has described some detox diets and commercial products as "a waste of time and money"; many researchers agree that there is no clinical evidence that such diets are effective. The "toxins" usually remain undefined, with little to no evidence of toxic accumulation in the patient.

Background

Suspicions of the inefficacy of purging became widespread by the 1830s.Biochemistry and microbiology appeared to support auto-intoxication theory in the 19th century, but by the early twentieth century detoxification-based approaches quickly fell out of favour. Even though abandoned by mainstream medicine, the idea has persisted in the popular imagination and amongst alternative-medicine practitioners. In recent years, notions of body cleansing have undergone something of a resurgence, along with many other alternative medical approaches. Nonetheless, mainstream medicine continues to produce evidence that the field is unscientific and anachronistic.

Toxin (novel)

Toxin is a 1998 suspense thriller written by Robin Cook. It tells the story of a doctor whose daughter is infected with E. coli and his investigation into how she contracted it and his battle to save her life and discover the source of her illness.

Plot summary

The book opens with a scene showing a couple of farmhands who are entrusted with disposing of a diseased cow. However they instead take it to a nearby slaughter house and sell it.

The story then moves to the protagonist Dr. Kim Reggis who is going through a bad divorce. On a night out with his daughter Becky, he takes her to the nearby fast food chain, OnionRing Burgers. There she eats a rare steak burger. The beef in the burger is revealed to have come from the cow mentioned at the start of the book. The next day Becky begins having loose motions and severe body pain. Kim and his estranged wife Tracy rush her into the emergency care unit of the hospital he works in. However he is ignored there which infuriates him. The doctors confirm that she has been infected by E Coli's renegade strain O157:H7 which is resistant to most antibiotics. Becky's condition begin to deteriorate rapidly.

Danger! (EP)

Danger! is the first EP by Swedish duo The Sound of Arrows. Danger! was available for free digital download from the site of the record company.

The Sound of Arrows are starting out totally unknown so they’ve only brought in friends this time. Cotton Crew, Panache and Mr Pedro go for the electro-pumping sound. The version by Ice Cream Shout instead takes the route of super-mega twee. Complete with ukuleles and toypianos.

Track listings

All songs written and composed by The Sound of Arrows. 

Personnel

References

External links

Ace (Taemin album)

Ace is the first EP of Taemin under SM Entertainment, released on August 18, 2014. Its promotional single was "Danger".

Background and release

On August 11, 2014, SM Entertainment announced Taemin would release an EP entitled Ace on August 18. On August 13, a highlight medley video from the EP was uploaded to YouTube. The official music video for the EP's first single, "Danger", came out on August 15.

Composition

The song "Danger" was composed by Thomas Troelsen, who also wrote the theme song for the World Cup in Brazil. On radio show Blue Night Radio a listener asked Taemin, "I liked the shooting sound in your music program performances. Why isn’t it included in the digital version [of the song]?" Taemin said, "It was added right before performing on a music program as effect sounds for performance. It’s not included because it may damage the musical completion of the song." Another listener asked, "'Danger' has a Michael Jackson feel. Did you have it in mind while working on the song?". To this, Taemin replied,"The song was composed abroad and bought. It wasn’t like our goal or role model but just happened so in the process. The company thought it would suit me well, and it’s not a style I dislike."

Danger (film)

Danger (Telugu: డేంజర్) is a 2005 Telugu-language thriller film written and directed by Krishna Vamsi, produced by Sunkara Madhu Murali under Karthikeya Creations banner and starring Allari Naresh, Sairam Shankar, Abhishek, Swathi and Shireen in lead roles. The film soundtrack and background score were composed by Joshua Sridhar. Dialogues for the film were written by popular actor Uttej. The film was released on 29 October 2005.

Plot