The New Straits Times, April 29, 1996
The National Poison Centre (PRN) is entering cyberspace. The objectives are obvious: to spread even further its information on drugs, hazardous chemicals and poisoning of various types to all sections of society.
Since the centre began working with the print media, it has receive many queries from the public about poisonous substances and the implications of using, touching or ingesting them.
Now, PRN is enriching its database by networking with other information sources around the globe.
As such, the centre has created a homepage called the Malaysian Drug & Poison Net and can be accessed through USMNET.
The Malaysian Drug & Poison Net (PRN-Net, for short) is part of a global electronic web connecting computers all over the world. It is the third homepage on health to be registered with Joint Advanced Research Integrated Net-Working (Jaring) operated by the Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems (MIMOS).
The PRN can be accessed in one of three ways:
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directly via the address; http://prn.usm.my
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via USMNET under R&D and Consultancy
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via Jaring under Malaysian WorldWide site, Health & Medicine
It is open to all Internet users, particularly practitioners, educators as well as the public interested in the subject.
The PRN-Net provides up-to-date information not only about the activities of PRN but also on poison-related issues in Malaysia, and also around the world. PRN-Net also provides several unique and indigenous databases in the context of Malaysia.
It is developing a section which carries information in Bahasa Malaysia. In addition it is a medium for continuing education in clinical toxicology for health professionals.
The PRN-Net also serves as a global gateway to more than 50 related WWW sites throughout the world. This will enable Malaysian to access the sites with relative ease and speed. In this sense it is also economical and reliable. Moreover, these sites have been evaluated by PRN as dependable and of relevance to the field of toxicology and in times of emergencies and disasters involving hazardous substances. PRN-Net is available 24 hours a day all the year round.
There are 10 topics of interest, most of which are regularly updated. These include:
The Poisoned World
This section represents a cumulative record of major poison-related events happening around the world. It is aimed at highlighting the fact that the Earth is in an ailing state, and her inhabitants are being insidiously poisoned. It takes a look at all the 'toxic' events that unfolded in the various parts of the world last year.
Under this section one can access information about the events occurring in all the regions (Africa, America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East); and indeed in individual countries in each region. In 1995, more than 15 countries were listed, and to date five more have been added. It is updated monthly and allows for contributions worldwide from any Internet user.
Traditional Malay Poison
This is the latest addition to the PRN-Net and is now under construction. It is aimed at providing a comprehensive data as well as information regarding indigenous poisons in Malaysia, especially of natural origins, and other infamous concoctions, charms and magic. To date it provides for an alphabetical listing of:
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Poisonous Plants (consisting of about 100 names, with one sample page);
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Venomous Snakes (consisting of about 50 names, with one sampel page); and
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Santau - a poisonous concoction.
Two sample pages are included for viewing. More will be put in later. A list of classical and modern references is also being prepared to allow interested parties to access more information on the subject.
About the Net
This is an electronic version of what was explained above, except that it is interactive, being linked to the various sections of the PRN-Net.
PRN Emergency & First Aid
This section provides information about the addresses as well as the other contacts necessary during cases of emergencies. It is also linked to databases related to First Aid in a number of poisoning situations as a means of quick reference.
PRN Bulletins & Articles
This section represents the electronic version of the all publications that originated from PRN, including an up-to-date compilation of all articles found in the bulletins of the centre as well as those in the other printed media. The section keeps all articles archived for 1995 and to date, more than 150 articles can be accessed electronically via PRN-Net.
News & Headlines
The section on News & Headlines was started in October 1995 in an effort to capture all poisoning and health-related news reported in Malaysian dailies, and at times other sources within the region. The news items are listed weekly for each month and a summary of each item is also provided, together with the reference sources. This is enable users to gain access to the original news clippings that are kept under separate computerised databases in the centre.
The aim of this section is to provide some insights of the events happening in the country on a day-to-day basis. It serves as a reminder to Malaysians as to the 'state-of-poisoning' in the country at the end of each week.
International health-related news (including poisonings), notably that provided by the New York Times Your Health Daily and Reuters Health Information services, is also linked to this section. Linked too are selected health-related news WWW sites found in the Internet.
Continuing Education & Meetings
This section includes the electronic version of Continuing Education of Clinical Toxicology (CECT) programme introduced through the professional bulletin of the centre, PRN8099, since last year.
Also enlisted are additional programmes on toxicology and pharmacological emergencies provided by other WWW sites in the Internet. Another feature in this section is the link to a number of WWW sites which list a variety of international conferences and scientific events and meetings that are to be held as far as the year 2000. This would be of interest to researchers and scientists who are keen to keep abreast with the knowledge frontier in toxicology and other related fields, and could facilitate their attendance and participation in such events. Some of these events listed are even conducted electronically.
PRN Consult
Under this section, reviews of various poisonous substance are placed, aimed primarily to assist practitioners in the field. These reviews include discussions on the management and treatment in cases of such poisonings as well as aspects of basic toxicology.
Each review provides a quick reference guide - ELCA-based on the appropriateness to carry out Emesis, Lavage, Charcoal treatment and Antidotal support. To date eight substances - drugs and non-drugs - have been reviewed and edited into the PRN-Net. More will be added every two months. The reviews in this section are also used as a basis for the CECT programme described above.
PRN Links
This a 'global gateway' especially dedicated as a link to the other WWW sites of significant interest to PRN that are available in the Internet. Its compilation is aimed at increasing the speed of information sharing and exchange in carrying its activities.
PRN has endeavoured to list only selected WWW sites under the various category of Chemicals, Drugs, First Aids, Food, Hazmats, and Poisons. These will be further expanded to include Natural Toxins and Poisonous Plants, and is updated from time to time. To date, more than 50 major WWW sites have been listed and this could benefit the other users of Internet interested in such matters, especially in management of crisis.
PRN Index
This section provides an index listing of all the articles published by PRN in 1995. It is an electronic version of PRN Index 1995 and will be updated annually. It is aimed at facilitating users to look for the relevant materials, via the Internet, published by PRN. The index is based on the Library of Congress Classification Systems, 18th edition, 1995.
