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A simple total reflection x‐ray fluorescence (TXRF) procedure was developed to monitor plasma drug levels and urine elimination in pediatric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with platinum‐containing drugs. Serum and urine specimens were irradiated with cut‐off filtered or monochromatized x‐rays using an easy procedure that avoids sample digestion. Specimens from normal patients were standardized by adding known trace amounts of elements absent in these matrices and diluting to 1 : 1 in water. These were used to derive TXRF spectrometer sensitivity curves relative to cobalt as internal element standard and to the incoherently scattered Compton peak as internal standard. Accuracy, precision and detection limits attained in the analysis of minute amounts of unknown serum and urine, treated in the same manner as the standardized samples, are shown to be appropriate for routine monitoring of platinum in cancer patients. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Background: There have been few studies evaluating snakebite mortality in Venezuela and South merica. In this study we evaluate trends in fatal snakebites occurring in Venezuela, 2003Venezuela, -2007 Methods: Epidemiological data for this study were retrieved from the records of the Ministry of Health of Venezuela (ICD-10 codes to search for deaths due to snakebites). We analyzed the impact of these envenomations in Venezuela during the study period.Results: During the study period, there were 176 reports of death due to snakebite (0.63 deaths/100,000pop., ranging from 0.08 to 0.17), showing a slight decrease in the mortality rates from 0.13 deaths/100,000pop. in 2003 to 0.08 in 2007 (r2 = 0.3942,b = -0.014000, P = 0.2634); 72.7% were males, 27.3% were females (P < 0.05). Annual mean deaths numbered 35 per year. Of total deaths, 30.1% occurred in victims 55-70 y-old (age adjusted rate of 1.4 deaths/100,000pop.). Deaths in young children (<5 yold) accounted for 4.5% of the total (age adjusted rate of 0.28 deaths/100,000pop.). Mortality by age showed an agedependent pattern, with higher rates in older ages (r2 = 0.259,b = 0.392998,P = 0.0156). Regard the place of envenomations occurrence in 15.3% were at home, 12.5% at roads and 5.1% at farms (P < 0.05).Conclusion: These figures are similar to a previous report (Wilderness and Environmental Medicine 2007;18:209-213), however previously was reported a slight increase in the mortality in the last eight years, herein we showed a decrease. Additionally also an increase in the female deaths has been observed. Unfortunately morbidity data at the national level is not optimal (underreporting) to perform further analyses beyond the primary analysis of the trends in snakebite mortality. Conversely, all cases of deaths are specifically and obligatorily reportable, and mortality information is more available and accurate. Snake envenomations are an important cause of injury and deaths in Venezuela as in many American countries. Surveillance of envenomations is essential for establishing guidelines, planning therapeutic supplies, and training medical staff on snakebite treatment, as well as assessing risk zones for travelers.