Cases Of Drug Poisoning Research Articles

Cimetidine enhances the hepatoprotective action of N-acetylcysteine in mice treated with toxic doses of paracetamol

Paracetamol, in toxic doses, is associated with extensive liver damage. This represents one of the common causes of morbidity and mortality in drug poisoning cases. This study was undertaken to investigate the possible potentiation of the hepatoprotective action of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) by cimetidine (CMD), an inhibitor of hepatic microsomal oxidative enzymes. The effects of NAC, cimetidine and the two in combination, administered 2 h post-paracetamol dose, on mortality, plasma glutamic oxaloacetic (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic (GPT) transaminase activities and hepatic reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were investigated in mice 24 h after treatment with a single oral dose of paracetamol (400 mg/kg). Both NAC and cimetidine caused a partial improvement of survival rate, plasma GOT and GPT activities. In addition, they prevented the depletion of hepatic GSH contents. However, concomitant administration of NAC and cimetidine produced a 100% survival rate and a marked reduction in plasma GOT and GPT activities to within the normal range, while significantly raising hepatic GSH concentrations to values close to those measured in saline-treated control animals. It is therefore concluded that cimetidine and N-acetylcysteine may have an additive hepatoprotective action in the treatment of paracetamol overdose.

Epidemiology of Accidental Poisoning of Children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

A study was carried out to determine the incidence of accidental poisoning in children admitted to Riyadh Governmental Hospitals during 1988. Drugs were the most common poisoning agent and accounte...

Toxicological Analysis of Amobarbital and Glutethimide from Bone Tissue

Author examined cadaver organs and bone samples (sternum, rib) of drug poisoning cases. Following suitable procedures, active drug components (amobarbital, glutethimide, and so forth) were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Based on results of quantitative GC analysis, relationships were sought between the active agent concentrations measured in the organs and the bone samples.

Some enquiries into the toxicology of zinc stearate.

At the International Congress of Industrial Medicine in Naples (Noro and Uotila, 1954), it was stated that the inhalation of zinc st?arate dust is known as a cause of pneumonia in children, but its effects in the working environment are not so well known. The authors describe the fatal case of a worker employed for 29 years in a rubber plant. Clinical examination and necropsy showed diffuse fibrosis of the lungs. Histological tests for zinc were positive . These authors (Uotila and Noro, 1957) have since given some further details of their patient, who was first seen by them in July, 1952, after having spent 29 years as a rubber cutter using zinc st?arate powder in his work. From the autumn of 1951 he had increasing dyspnoea on exertion, cough, and much sputum. When examined, his general condition was considered fairly good, he had a desquamative derma titis, clubbed fingers, and watch-glass nails. A radio graph of the chest showed slight thickening of the left pleura diminishing towards the apex; small nodules radiating from the hilum; emphysema on the right side posteriorly; and enlarged hilar shadows that were con sidered to be vascular and not lymphoid. A diagnosis of kt pneumoconiosis with probable heart failure was made. He was in hospital for two further periods and died in June, 1954, approximately two years after he was first examined and after his last exposure to dust. At necropsy the lungs were more fleshy than normal, especially the upper lobes, but without calcification or fibrous bands; the lower lobes showed slight oedema: each ventricle of the heart was 8 mm. thick : the liver was granular and there was ascites. Histological examina tion of the lungs showed old bleeding and a notable increase of connective tissue with abundant chronic inflammation in which were foreign-body giant cells. A test for zinc showed numerous granules and needles in the connective tissue that contained the metal. In 1925 a committee on accidents from zinc st?arate dusting powders appointed by the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association reported that as the result of a questionnaire they had received reports of 131 cases of poisoning, 28 of which had terminated fatally. They had also heard of many others unofficially. They recommended that all manufacturers of zinc st?arate powders for infants should use a self-closing container of a type which does not lend itself to manipu lation by an infant, and should place a uniform caution label on the container. They also recommended that the use of zinc st?arate as a dusting powder for infants should be discouraged by the medical profession because of lack of therapeutic evidence of its value. Murray (1926), in recording 60 cases of drug poisoning in infants, stated that one fatality, out of a total of three cases, resulted from the aspiration and ingestion of zinc st?arate powder. A baby of 14 months was taken to hospital immediately, she developed a diffuse bronchopneumonia next day, and died in less than a further 24 hours. No record of poisoning by zinc st?arate powder has been found in the British literature, and none of the many British paedia tricians who have been asked has heard of babies suffer ing from pneumonia due to this powder. Zinc st?arate is used commercially as a substitute for talc in the rubber tyre industry to prevent adhesion. H.M. Factory Department has no evidence that any disability has been caused by its use, but I know of no examinations for possible harmful effects. St?arate kindly supplied by the management of a rubber tyre company was used in the experiments described here.

Treatment of choice in barbiturate poisoning; series of twenty-nine cases of barbiturate poisoning treated with pentylenetetrazole (Metrazol) and supportive therapy.

In a series of 29 cases of barbiturate poisoning observed on the medical service of the Knickerbocker Hospital, the treatment of choice proved to be pentylenetetrazole (metrazol®). In spite of increasing difficulties that various state and local laws have placed in the way of persons desirous of obtaining barbiturates, these drugs are still, as a group, among the poisons most commonly used with suicidal intent. Sollman1stated that only carbon monoxide is more commonly used, as one seventh of all cases of poisoning (excluding those due to carbon monoxide) treated in hospitals of the large cities of the United States in recent years were due to barbiturates. Goldstein2placed this figure even higher, stating that one fifth of drug-poisoning cases in fourteen hospitals having a total admission rate of 1,060,275 patients during 1940 to 1945 was due to barbiturates. Over one and one-quarter billion grains (75 million grams)