Methanol Poisoning Research Articles

Methanol poisoning in the emergency department: a retrospective study

Aim: Massive methanol poisonings have occurred in the past decades, resulting in a large number of deaths. In this study, our aim is to retrospectively analyze methanol poisoning cases admitted to the emergency department between 2019-2021, to evaluate their demographic characteristics, causes of poisoning, clinical and laboratory findings, treatments applied and mortality, and to contribute to the poisoning data of our country.
 Material and Method: The cases of methanol poisoning who applied to the emergency department in a 3-year period were analyzed retrospectively. Medical files of patients aged 18 years and older were reviewed. Patients diagnosed with 'methanol poisoning' as a result of the examination were included in the study.
 Results: A total of 59 patients were included in the study. 88% (n=52) of the patients with a mean age of 53±10 were male. The presence of neurological symptoms and GCS were associated with mortality among the symptoms of patients presenting to the emergency department (p=0.017, p

The predictors of mortality in patients with methyl alcohol intoxication

Aim: Methanol intoxication is a worldwide public health problem. Mortality rates are quite high unless there is early intervention and diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of mortality in patients with methyl alcohol intoxication. Material and Method: The study included 18 patients admitted to emergency department of our hospital in 2019-2020, who were diagnosed with methanol intoxication. Laboratory parameters and basic features of the patients were recorded. According to the criteria of 2012 Clinical Practice Guideline for Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), patients were diagnosed with AKI. Results: The mean age of the patients was 45.7±15.21 years and 72.2% of those were male. The mortality and AKI rate were 38.9% and 44.4%, respectively. In regression analyses, delay in admission to hospital, low Glasgow coma scale score, AKI development and high lactate level were independent predictors of mortality. According to ROC analyses when lactate level was more than 5.75 mmol/L, mortality rate increased more rapidly. Conclusion: Mortality rate is very high in methanol intoxication. Patients with AKI and high lactate levels should be intervened faster.

A Cluster of Five Deaths Due to Methanol Toxicity After Apparent Hand Sanitizer Ingestion in the Setting of Chronic Alcoholism.

Methanol toxicity and its associated pathologies have been widely studied, however, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in methanol toxicity due to apparent consumption of contaminated hand sanitizer. We report a cluster of five deaths and one presumed death due to the apparent consumption of hand sanitizer, contaminated with methanol, in the setting of chronic alcoholism. The deaths occurred in Coconino County, Arizona, over a four-and-a-half-month period (June-October 2020), before and during a Food and Drug Administration recall of contaminated hand sanitizer. Methanol-related deaths are relatively uncommon in Coconino County, with only one methanol associated death (source of ingestion unknown) occurring over the previous five years.

The effect of idebenone and corticosteroid treatment on methanol-induced toxic optic nerve and retinal damage in rats: biochemical and histopathological examination

ABSTRACT Purpose To evaluate the therapeutic effects of methylprednisolone, the CoenzymeQ10 (CoQ10) structural analogue idebenone, and both together on the optic nerve (ON) and retinal layers following methanol intoxication in rats with histopathological and biochemical methods. Materials and methods This experimental study was conducted with 30 male Wistar rats. The rats were divided into five equal groups depending on the treatment protocol:healthy controls (HC), methanol (M), methanol + methylprednisolone (MM), methanol + idebenone (MI), and methanol + methylprednisolone + idebenone (MMI).Distilled water was provided orally to the HC group, while 20% methanol was administered orally at a dose of 3 g/kg with a nasogastric tube to all rats in groups except the HC group. Four hours later, group MM received 1 mg/kg of intraperitoneal methylprednisolone for 10 days using an insulin syringe, and group MI received 20 mg/kg idebenone by nasogastric catheter for 28 days. MMI group was administered oral idebenone and intraperitoneal methylprednisolone at the same dose. Serum samples were obtained on the 28th day for biochemical analysis and afterwards the rats were euthanized for histopathological examination and eyes were enucleated. ON was evaluated for circumference thickness, vascularization and number of astrocytes, also retinal layers were examined for structural changes by histopathological examination. Results Comparison of the antioxidant and oxidative stress biomarkers between the groups revealed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). By histopathological evaluation the most marked results were obtained by MMI group with an improvement of all parameters mentioned. There was no statistically significant difference between MM group and M group for RD score (p = 0.123). In addition, ON vacuolization in MI group (p < 0.001) and ON astrocyte increase in both MI and MMI groups were statistically significantly lower than in M group (p = 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions The early use (within hours) of idebenone and short-term methylprednisolone treatment together may protect against the retinal and ON damage developing after methanol ingestion in rats as guided by the histopathological data.

COVID-19 Pandemi Salgınıyla Yeniden Artan Metanol Zehirlenmeleri: Olgu Serisi

Methanol intoxication is very rare clinical condition encountered at emergency rooms while numbers started to increase with covid-19 pandemic. In this clinical series we mentioned about our clinical approach to methanol intoxication patient during covid-19 pandemic.

An interrupted time series analysis of hospital admissions due to alcohol intoxication during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Tehran, Iran

The COVID-19 outbreak affected mental health globally. One of the major concerns following the COVID-19 pandemic was increased incidence of risky behaviors including alcohol consumption. This study evaluates the trend of alcohol poisoning in Loghman-Hakim Hospital (LHH), the main referral center of poisoning in Tehran, during the 2-year period from 1 year prior to 1 year after the onset (February 23rd, 2020) of the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran. All patients admitted with alcohol intoxication from February 23rd, 2019 to February 22nd, 2021 were evaluated and patient data extracted from LHH electronic hospital records. Alcohols were categorized as toxic (methyl alcohol) and non-toxic (ethyl alcohol). Of 2483 patients admitted, 796/14,493 (5.49%) and 1687/13,883 (12.15%) had been hospitalized before and after the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran, respectively. In total, 140 patients did not survive, of whom 131 (93.6%) were confirmed to have methanol intoxication. Mortality was significantly higher during the outbreak (127 vs 13; P < 0.001; OR: 4.90; CI 95%: 2.75 to 8.73). Among the patients, 503 were younger than age 20. Trend of alcohol intoxication showed increases in children (57 vs 17) and adolescents (246 vs 183) when compared before and after the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak. A total of 955 patients were diagnosed with methanol toxicity which occurred more frequently during the COVID-19 era (877 vs 78; P < 0.001; OR: 10.00; CI 95%: 7.75 to12.82). Interrupted time series analysis (April 2016–February 2021) showed that in the first month of the COVID-19 epidemic (March 2020), there was a significant increase in the alcohol intoxication rate by 13.76% (P < 0.02, CI = [2.42–24.91]). The trend of alcohol intoxication as well as resulting mortality increased in all age groups during the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran, indicating urgent need for the prevention of high-risk alcohol use as well as improved treatment.

A cross-sectional multicenter linkage study of hospital admissions and mortality due to methanol poisoning in Iranian adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

A methanol poisoning outbreak occurred in Iran during the initial months of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of the outbreak in terms of hospitalizations and deaths. A cross-sectional linkage study was conducted based on the hospitalization data collected from thirteen referral toxicology centers throughout Iran as well as mortality data obtained from the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization (LMO). Patient data were extracted for all cases aged > 19 years with toxic alcohol poisoning during the study period from February until June 2020. A total of 795 patients were hospitalized due to methanol poisoning, of whom 84 died. Median [interquartile ratio; IQR] age was 32 [26, 40] years (range 19–91 years). Patients had generally ingested alcohol for recreational motives (653, 82.1%) while 3.1% (n = 25) had consumed alcohol-based hand sanitizers to prevent or cure COVID-19 infection. Age was significantly lower in survivors than in non-survivors (P < 0.001) and in patients without sequelae vs. with sequelae (P = 0.026). Twenty non-survivors presented with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score > 8, six of whom were completely alert on presentation to the emergency departments. The time from alcohol ingestion to hospital admission was not significantly different between provinces. In East Azerbaijan province, where hemodialysis was started within on average 60 min of admission, the rate of sequelae was 11.4% (compared to 19.6% average of other provinces)—equivalent to a reduction of the odds of sequelae by 2.1 times [95% CI 1.2, 3.7; p = 0.009]. Older patients were more prone to fatal outcome and sequelae, including visual disturbances. Early arrival at the hospital can facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment and may reduce long-term morbidity from methanol poisoning. Our data thus suggest the importance of raising public awareness of the risks and early symptoms of methanol intoxication.

Defective Fe3O4‐x Few‐Atom Clusters Anchored on Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon as Efficient Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysts for High‐Performance Zinc–Air Batteries

It remains a challenge to develop cost-effective, high-performance oxygen electrocatalysts for rechargeable metal-air batteries. Herein, zinc-mediated zeolitic imidazolate frameworks are exploited as the template and nitrogen and carbon sources, onto which is deposited a Fe3 O4 layer by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition. Controlled pyrolysis at 1000°C leads to the formation of high density of Fe3 O4- x few-atom clusters with abundant oxygen vacancies deposited on an N-doped graphitic carbon framework. The resulting nanocomposite (Fe3 O4- x /NC-1000) exhibits a markedly enhanced electrocatalytic performance toward oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media, with a remarkable half-wave potential of +0.930V versus reversible hydrogen electrode, long-term stability, and strong tolerance against methanol poisoning, in comparison to samples prepared at other temperatures and even commercial Pt/C. Notably, with Fe3 O4- x /NC-1000 as the cathode catalyst, a zinc-air battery delivers a high power density of 158mW cm-2 and excellent durability at 5mA cm-2 with stable 2000 charge-discharge cycles over 600 h. This is ascribed to the ready accessibility of the Fe3 O4- x catalytic active sites, and enhanced electrical conductivity, oxygen adsorption, and electron-transfer kinetics by surface oxygen vacancies. Further contributions may arise from the highly conductive and stable N-doped graphitic carbon frameworks.

Diabetic ketoacidosis as a complication of methanol poisoning; a case report

IntroductionDiabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a complication of diabetes presenting with high anion gap metabolic acidosis. Methanol poisoning, on the other hand, is a toxicology emergency which presents with the same feature. We present a case of methanol poisoning who presented with DKA.Case presentationA 28-year-old male was referred to us with blurred vision and loss of consciousness three days after ingestion of 1.5 L of an unknown mixture of bootleg alcoholic beverage. He had history of insulin-dependent diabetes and had neglected his insulin shots on the day prior to hospital admission due to progressive loss of consciousness. Vital signs were normal and venous blood gas analysis showed severe metabolic acidosis and a methanol level of 10.2 mg/dL. After eight hours of hemodialysis, he remained unresponsive. Diabetic ketoacidosis was suspected due to positive urine ketone and blood sugar of 411 mg/dL. Insulin infusion was initiated which was followed by full awakening and extubation. He was discharged completely symptom-free after 4 weeks.ConclusionsDiabetic ketoacidosis and methanol poisoning can happen simultaneously in a diabetic patient. Given the analogous high anion gap metabolic acidosis, physicians should pay particular attention to examination of the diabetic patients. Meticulous evaluation for both conditions is highly recommended.

Acute Methanol Toxicity: Clinical Correlation with Autopsy Findings, a Descriptive Study.

Methyl alcohol poisoning or deaths from drinking illegally brewed cheap alcohol which is often spiked with chemicals to increase its potency are frequent in India. Many outbreaks from different parts of the country have been reported from time to time. A total of 11,830 lives were lost between 2006 and 2015 due to the consumption of spurious liquor in the country. The symptoms can range from mild to severe depending upon factors like the amount of exposure and time of presentation. The present study was designed to describe the clinical presentation, management, and outcome of the patients during a recent methanol outbreak that can form a basis for diagnosis and management. This study also highlights the salient autopsy findings and their correlation with clinical features. It is a retrospective, descriptive study discussing clinical features of patients with methanol intoxication, their outcome, and the clinical correlation with autopsy findings of patients who succumbed to death. The study was conducted at King George's Medical University, Lucknow. The patients were enrolled from a methanol intoxication outbreak in Barabanki district on 28th May 2019 followed by a similar outbreak in Sitapur district two days later. A total of 33 patients were included in this study based on predefined clinical characteristics. The average amount of alcohol consumed was about 223 mL (range: 100-300 mL). The majority of patients had onset of symptoms between 12 and 24 hours. All patients had gastrointestinal symptoms, 97% of patients had visual disturbances, 91% of patients had central nervous system manifestation while frank coma was observed in 15% of patients. Decreased urine output was reported in 6% of patients. About 90% of patients had metabolic acidosis. Out of 33 patients included in this study, 30 patients were discharged in stable condition while two died and one absconded. Autopsy findings revealed marked cerebral edema and hyperemia, hyperemic heart, and congested lungs in all the patients. One patient showed putaminal necrosis which is characteristic of methanol poisoning. Kidneys in two cases were hyperemic and show parenchymal degeneration which co-relates with both patients being anuric. Methanol intoxication is a serious problem in developing countries like ours. Timely intervention is an important factor in reducing mortality among these patients. The study highlights the very important fact that methanol intoxication can be managed at the very ground level with minimal resources (as available) if intervened and recognized in time.

On fractional impulsive system for methanol detoxification in human body

Methanol toxicity causes many deaths every year especially in low-income classes of society. An impulsive differential equation system is presented, which is useful in examining the effectiveness of activated charcoal in detoxifying the body with methanol poisoning. We provide a theoretical study of the model. The considered model is analyzed for the qualitative theory and uniqueness of the solution is discussed by using the Banach contraction principle and Schauder fixed point theory. We derive the basic stability analysis using Ulam-Hyres (UH) criteria and its generalized version and showed that model is asymptotically stable. Moreover, the stability check for recursive methodology is also given. The fractional dynamics of the problem can give a better understanding of the use of activated charcoal for simple and cheap first aid. We have studied the adsorption capacity of activated charcoal with impulsive differential equations. The results from Caputo fractional operator provides a more accurate idea of first aid in public and primary health centres, which can reduce the deaths by methanol poisoning. Finally, using generalized Adams-Bashforth-Moulton Method (GABMM), we generated the numerical scheme for the system.

Ingestion of Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer: A case report

IntroductionAlcohol-based hand sanitizers containing ethanol or isopropanol are being used in order to prevent person-to-person transmission during the COVID-19. Early signs and symptoms of this ingestion include nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, blurred vision, loss of coordination, and decreased level of consciousness. After hand sanitizer ingestion we have to suspect about methanol poisoning, monitoring the start of anion-gap metabolic acidosis, seizures, and blindness is essential. Treatment includes supportive care, acidosis correction, and the administration of an alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor. In servere cases hemodialysis may be required.Objectives To present a case of an 29-year-old woman who was taken to the emergency department after voluntary ingestion of alcohol-based hand sanitizer in a suicide attempt. To describe the most common side effects of hand sanitizer ingestion and the literature review.MethodsClinical case presentation and literature review of similar cases.ResultsA 29-year-old woman, with diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and previous suicide attempts was taken to the emergency department after 3 hours of voluntary ingestion of an unknown quantity of alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Initial laboratory findings showed laboratory a blood methanol concentration of 66 mg/dL, with an anion gap of 30 mEq/L, arterial blood pH of 7.2, serum bicarbonate concentration of 12 mEq/L. Patient complained of abdominal pain and nervoussness.ConclusionsMost common signs and symptoms of alcohol-based hand sanitizer ingestion include nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, blurred vision, loss of coordination, and decreased level of consciousness. Treatment includes supportive care, acidosis correction, the administration of an alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor and sometimes may be required.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Examination of patients admitted to a university hospital with methanol intoxication

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the demographic data, clinical features and laboratory findings of patients followed up with methanol poisoning in our internal medicine clinic. In addition, to examine the data of the patients followed in our intensive care unit and to contribute to the literature in this direction.&#x0D; Material and Method: In this study, 21 patients diagnosed with methanol intoxication who were hospitalized in the internal medicine clinic of our hospital between 01.01.2019 and 01.04.2022 were included. Demographic information of the patients, initial complaints, accompanying symptoms, laboratory results, blood gas values, intensive care unit requirements, mechanical ventilation needs, length of hospital stay and whether they received hemodialysis treatment were recorded from the hospital automation system.&#x0D; Results: 21 patients were included in the study. The mean time for patients to apply to the hospital after drinking alcohol was calculated as 31.42±4.27 hours. The mean hospital stay was 3.0±1.02 days. While 12 patients were followed up in the intensive care unit, it was found that 6 patients needed mechanical ventilation and 9 patients needed hemodialysis. Glucose, creatinine, acetyl aminotransferase (AST), partial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2), lactate, anion gap and base gap were found to be statistically significantly higher in the group treated in the intensive care unit (p

Acute and subacute effects of thymoquinone on acute methanol intoxication: An assessment based on serum TBARS and BDNF levels in rat model

Objectives: Previous studies have shown the role of oxidative stress in methanol (MeOH) neurotoxicity. In clinical practice ethanol (EtOH) was used for the treatment of MeOH intoxication. Treatment with EtOH results in depression of the central nervous system, which may occur even at therapeutic doses. It also induces oxidative stress. Antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) are known in different models of neurotoxicity. There are no studies investigating the protective effect of TQ against acute MeOH intoxication. We aimed to evaluate the effect of TQ administration on serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) levels in rats with experimentally-induced MeOH intoxication. Materials and Methods: Six groups were constituted. Methotrexate (Mtx) treatment (0.3 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally (i.p.) was given for 7 days to slow down the formate metabolism of all rats except controls in order to create a MeOH intoxication similar to that in humans. On the 8th day of the experiment, 3 g/kg MeOH was injected i.p. in MeOH, EtOH and TQ groups. Four hours after MeOH administration, 0.5 g/kg EtOH was injected i.p. in EtOH group and 30 mg/kg TQ was administered i.p. in TQ1 and TQ2 groups. In addition, a total of 5 doses of 30 mg/kg TQ was injected i.p. 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after the first dose in TQ2 group. Saline solution was given i.p. in the other groups. Blood samples were obtained for evaluating serum TBARS and BDNF levels. Results: The highest TBARS level was found in MeOH+MTx group and this increase was statistically significant as compared to control and Mtx groups (p&amp;lt;0.001) . A statistically significant reduction was detected in serum TBARS levels in MeOH+Mtx+EtOH, MeOH+Mtx+TQ1 and MeOH+Mtx+TQ2 groups (p&amp;lt;0.001). Maximum serum BDNF level elevation was found in MeOH+Mtx group and this increase was statistically significant as compared to control and Mtx groups (p&amp;lt;0.001). Serum BDNF levels were higher in MeOH+Mtx+EtOH, MeOH+Mtx+TQ1 and MeOH+Mtx+TQ2 groups and the difference was statistically significant (p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusions: Thymoquinone could suppress proinflammation and lipid peroxidation in MeOH intoxication, lead to rapid toxicity adaptation, and play the role of neuroprotection more effectively than EtOH. These results may suggest that TQ could be used as an alternative treatment option in MeOH intoxication.

Methanol Poisoning: An Autopsy-Based Study at the Tertiary Care Center of Uttarakhand, India.

Aims and objectiveThis study describes postmortem and histopathological findings to understand the internal progression of methanol poisoning. The study also aims to examine clinical, biochemical, and histological changes seen with methanol poisoning.Materials and methodsThe study describes the methanol poisoning tragedy that occurred in February 2019 in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand. Ninety-one patients were admitted to the hospital, four were brought dead, four died within a few hours of admission (designated as early deaths), and four died between 10 and 45 days of hospitalization (designated as late deaths). A medicolegal autopsy was performed on all 12 deaths. Gross external and internal findings were noted, and routine viscera and blood were preserved and sent to Uttarakhand's Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to estimate methyl alcohol. A section of the optic nerve was taken from the optic chiasma for histopathological examination. Data were collected retrospectively from records. All data were tabulated and analyzed using Microsoft Excel version 2019. The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh (249201), Uttarakhand, India.ResultsMethanol poisoning is a health-associated disaster in many regions of India. Autopsy, including histopathological examination, could elicit the adverse effects of methanol on different organs. Their mean age was 37.7 years (range 21-70), and 67% (n = 8) of all victims were in the age range of 30-50 years. The average methyl alcohol level reported among hospital deaths and brought dead was 116.08 mg/dl and 224.6 mg/dl, respectively. A blurred vision had been their most common complaint, identified in 75% (n = 6), followed by vomiting and abdominal pain, while 50% (n = 4) had features of respiratory insufficiency. Mean pH and bicarbonate levels among hospital deaths were 6.61 mmol/l and 6.18 mmol/l, respectively. An autopsy revealed signs of hypoxia in all cases. Internal organs were congested. Severe metabolic acidosis leading to the respiratory failure was the cause of death in early deaths. Cerebral and pulmonary edema consequent upon septicemic shock was the cause of late deaths. A case with the most extended survival duration showed cerebral edema with intracerebral hemorrhage. Cirrhotic liver, along with features of renal failure, was an additional internal finding in late deaths. Optic nerve histopathology showed no demyelination or axonal necrosis; however, mild edematous changes were evident.ConclusionsMethanol poisoning is one of the manmade disasters in the developing world. There are various adverse effects of different organs and organ systems inside the body. Timely intervention and diagnosis can save several lives. The organ-directed meticulous autopsy can help autopsy surgeons in establishing the diagnosis and thus help the judiciary in delivering justice to the sufferers.

Clinical features and follow-up outcomes of optic nerve injury induced by acute methanol poisoning

Acute methanol poisoning harms the optic nerve and central nervous system, can cause irreversible damage, even coma or death in severe cases. This article reported four cases of methanol poisoning. 3 patients mistakenly ingested industrial alcohol containing methanol, the most serious patient suffered from coma, vision loss and other symptoms, the blood methanol concentration was 869.3 μg/ml. Another patient was poisoning caused by inhalation of methanol, with symptoms such as total blindness in the right eye and decreased visual acuity in the left eye. After active supportive treatment, 2 patients had partial recovery of visual acuity, and 2 patients had no sequelae. This article discussed the clinical features, treatment and prognosis of optic nerve damage caused by methanol poisoning, in order to raise awareness of this disease.

Methanol Toxicity Outbreaks in the Americas: Strengthening National Prevention and Response Measures.

Unintentional poisonings remain a substantial global health challenge, resulting in an estimated 106,683 deaths and 6.3 million disability-adjusted life years in 2016.[1] Of these poisonings, methanol toxicity results from the metabolic breakdown of ingested methanol found in cleaning products, antifreeze, paints, and harmful and potentially lethal acidic compounds, among others. Consumption of tainted alcoholic beverages […]

Fatal intoxication due to home distillation of methanol: Report of three cases

Methanol intoxication is an important poisoning for emergency physicians and has a high mortality rate. It is also an important public health problem for the society as the methanol participates in the structure of many industrial solutions. In recent years, deaths due to methanol-related intoxications have increased in many countries around the world, including Turkey as well. One of the main reasons for the increase in these deaths in our country is the expensiveness of baranded commercial alcoholic drinks and for this reason the increase in the production of self-made alcohol at home. In addition, in our country, the production of alcoholic drink at home is increasing both for hobby purposes and for being different and similar reasons. Accordingly, the distillation of alcohol at home with various brewing systems has become an increasing phenomenon in recent years. This may cause under-the-counter, fake, or unknown content alcohol poisonings. Herein we present three patients belonging to the same family, who admitted to our emergency department (ED) after consuming the alcoholic drink they made at home, but died despite the optimal treatment.

MicroRNA-124 modulates neuroinflammation in acute methanol poisoning rats via targeting Krüppel-like factor-6

ABSTRACT Microglia activation-stimulated neuroinflammation exerts functionally in neurodegenerative diseases like brain injury. Acute methanol poisoning (AMP) is a crucial cause of death and morbidity that possibly leads to neuroinflammation. Studies have manifested that miRNAs can modulate microglia activation to mediate neuroinflammation. Nevertheless, the role of miR-124 in AMP-stimulated neuroinflammation is uncertain. This research was to explore the action of miR-124 in AMP-stimulated neuroinflammation and its molecular mechanism. The study findings indicated that AMP accelerated microglia activation and stimulated inflammation and oxidative stress in brain tissue of rats. MiR-124 expression was lowered in AMP rats, while KLF6 expression was elevated. Elevated miR-124 or repressed KLF6 increased the number of CD206+ cells and decreased the number of CD68+ cells, as well as restrained inflammation and NF-κB phosphorylation and induced superoxide dismutase, Nrf2/HO-1, and M2 polarization. MiR-124 modulated microglia activation via targeting KLF6. AMP repressed neuronal viability and enhanced neuronal apoptosis. Suppression of miR-124 further promoted AMP-induced damage to neurons, while inhibition of KLF6 turned around this phenomenon. Anyway, our study demonstrated that miR-124 accelerates M2 polarization via targeting KLF6 to ameliorate AMP-stimulated neuronal damage.

The impact of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and quarantine responses on the toxic-epidemiological situation in Azerbaijan

Introduction. The global pandemic of the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has not only been a serious stress test for healthcare systems in many countries around the world, but has also had a significant impact on the structure and number of acute chemical poisoning. The aim of this study was to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related quarantine measures on the toxic-epidemiological situation in Azerbaijan. Materials and methods. We conducted a comparative analysis of the database of the Clinical Medicine Center in Baku during the nine months of the pandemic period (March 20 - December 21, 2020) with the data of the same period in 2019 and the previous decade (2009-2018). Results. The alarming dynamics of a significant increase in the number of alcohol surrogates and primarily methyl alcohol poisoning, was revealed. If in the 10-year period of 2009-2018, the intoxication of alcohol surrogates was only 0.09% of the total poisoning cases, then during the study period of 2020 the share of such intoxications increased to 3.4%. The mortality rate in alcohol surrogate intoxication group in 2019 was 5.6% versus 50.0% in March-December 2020. All fatal cases in alcohol surrogate intoxication cohort were related to methyl alcohol poisoning, thus, the mortality rate of this pathology was 61.5%. Conclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic and related quarantine measures had a notable impact on the toxic-epidemiological situation in Azerbaijan and led to a significant increase in alcohol and methanol poisoning and fatality. Limitations. The study was conducted on the basis of the only specialized medical institution in Azerbaijan engaged for the treatment of chemical poisoning, therefore the collected database can be considered representative and relevant to the country’s overall toxic-epidemiological situation.