Agent Of Poisoning Research Articles

Suicidal Deaths by Poisoning in Muzaffargarh: Observational Study Comprising of Regional Toxicity Patterns of Acute Poisoning in Cases of Suicidal Deaths in Muzaffargarh

Cases of suicidal deaths are increasing day by day and one of the main reasons is acute poisoning, which is the preferred method of suicide in many areas. The increasing number of deaths led us to conduct a study on this particular aspect. Objectives: To determine the frequency of toxic agents used for poisoning, regional trends of availability, modes and methods of use and reasons for self-poisoning. Methods: In this retrospective study, dead bodies of both genders and all age groups were studied with their respective data and history, for the years of 2019 to 2023. Unidentified, burnt, putrefied and bodies of chronic narcotic abuse were excluded. All the variables were analyzed through SPSS version 27.0. Results: Out of 387 cases of suicidal deaths due to poisoning, 67% were females with the predominant age group of 21 to 40 years. The majority were married and belonged to rural areas of Muzaffargarh with illiteracy levels up to 75%. The widely used poisonous agents were Kala Pathar, Wheat pills and Organophosphorus. Almost 61.7% of families did not allow postmortem of the deceased. Conclusions: It was concluded that suicidal deaths due to poisoning are soaring day by day due to the lack of proper legislation, suicide prevention strategies and provision of health facilities for the people of district Muzaffargarh.

Ṯābit Ibn Qurrah's contributions to toxicology.

Mankind has been familiar with poisons since ancient times. On the other hand, there is a wealth of knowledge in the medical books including medieval works of Middle Eastern polymaths such as Avicenna, "al-Rāzī," and "Ṯābit Ibn Qurrah." This study presented and analyzed the knowledge of medical toxicology in one of the mainstay works of "Ṯābit Ibn Qurrah" entitled "al-Ḏaḫirah Fy Ꜥilm al-Tibb" also known as The Treasury of Medicine after the translation of the book from Arabic to English carefully and faithfully. Also, related toxicological literature was applied wherever required using English, Arabic, and Persian databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, WorldCat, Magiran, IranDoc, Scientific Information Database, Noor Mags, Noorlib, and Al Manhal. Our research revealed that chapter 25 of the mentioned book specifically focused on toxicology. This chapter was divided into sections on different aspects of toxicology from the categorization of poisons to compound mixtures causing poisonings to introducing blade poisons to signs and symptoms of poisonings, preventive approaches, and therapeutic agents. Specific antidotes and general therapies were introduced that included medicinal plants, cupping therapy, and bandages, just to name a few. Also, there were some monographs on the common poisonous agents and their treatments. The toxicological data of the book was comparable with modern toxicology. Our study highlighted the contributions of "Ṯābit Ibn Qurrah" to medical toxicology by authoring The Treasury of Medicine. Further research is recommended to elucidate the full aspects of the history of toxicology including the contributions of the past scholars.

Molecular characterization of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated in ready-to-eat food sold in supermarkets in Bobo-Dioulasso: case of charcuterie products

BackgroundStaphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is one of the most widespread bacterial pathogens in animals and humans, and its role as an important causative agent of food poisoning is well-documented. The aim of this study was to highlight and characterize the resistance patterns of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in charcuterie products sold in selected supermarkets (SM) in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.MethodsIn this study, 72 samples including ham (n = 19), merguez (n = 22), sausage (n = 15) and minced meat (n = 16) were collected from 3 supermarkets. Standard microbiology methods were utilised to characterise S. aureus isolates. Phenotypic resistance patterns were investigated using the disk diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar. Genotypic testing using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on the isolates to detect the 16S-23S gene. Using specific primers, the following genes PVL, TSST-1, mecA, gyrA, gyrB, qnrA, intI1 and aac(6’)-Ib-cr were identified from purified DNA by PCR.ResultsAmong the 72 ready-to-eat food samples, S. aureus was present in 51, (70.83%). The yield was highest in both the ham and merguez food products, 15/51 (29.41%) each, followed by minced meat 12/51 (23.53%) and sausage 9/51 (17.65%). A total of 35 isolates (68.63%) were confirmed as S. aureus after molecular characterization using 16–23 S primers with 05 (14.29%) strains identified as MRSA. All of the MRSA and majority of the methicillin-sensitive S.aureus (MSSA) isolates were resistant to penicillin G, ampicillin, tetracycline and erythromycin, whereas one isolate from minced meat was found in SM3-harbouring PVL, TSST-1, mecA, gyrA, gyrB and Int1 genes.ConclusionsOur study revealed a high prevalence of S. aureus in chacuterie products in Bobo-Dioulasso with antimicrobial profiles that show resistance to most antibiotics. These findings should inform and augment efforts to raise awareness among local supermarket owners on adequate food manufacturing practices as well as promoting food safety and hygiene.

Poisoning Patterns, Causes, and Implications for Hospital-Centric Interventions- A Retrospective Single-Centre Observational Study from India

Poisoning poses a significant public health concern in India, with rising trends observed over recent years. The study aims to observe patterns of demographic characteristics, presentation modes, outcomes, and associated factors among poisoning cases in India. A retrospective observational study was conducted on data of individuals admitted for poisoning from 2019 to 2023. Demographics, mode of presentation, type of poisoning, poisonous substances, presenting complaints, ICU admission, outcomes, time of ingestion, time of hospital admission, time delay in treatment initiation, and duration of hospital stay were analysed. Among the 357 individuals, the majority resided in rural areas and had up to a high school education. The majority of the admitted cases were self-poisoning (77.1%) followed by accidental poisoning (22.5%) and one homicide. Most of the self-poisoning cases (42.1%) were young adults (20-29 years), and accidental poisoning (32.9%) were individuals in their forties. Pesticides (67.9%), especially organophosphate and snake bites (100%) were the most common poisoning agents of self-poisoning and accidental poisoning, respectively. Mortality was 5.2% in self-poisoning, and 1.2% in accidental poisoning cases. Most patients who succumbed to the poisoning were in their thirties, with 78.6% requiring ICU admission. These events mostly occurred in autumn, during the daytime. Most patients were unconscious at admission. Self-poisoning using pesticides was the most common reason for admission. Seasons, poisoning agents, time of admission, presenting complaints and treatment delay contributed to the morbidity and mortality. Establishing poison information centres and toxicological units in hospitals is essential for improved management strategies.

Multifaceted Anticancer Potential of Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg Leaf Alkaloids: Impact on Multiple Cellular Targets.

Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg has demonstrated significant anticancer potential through multiple mechanisms, including apoptosis induction, as shown by the TUNEL assay against MCF-7 cells, modulation of tubulin polymerization, preservation of mitochondrial function indicated by the JC-1 assay, and inhibition of DNA polymerase α and β activities. Rationale for the present study is to investigate the potential anticancer properties of G. glauca leaf alkaloid extract. Fresh and healthy G. glauca leaves were cleaned, shade-dried, and the powder was defatted, extracted with 10% acetic acid in ethanol, and subjected for alkaloid extraction. The partially purified G. glauca leaf alkaloid extract was evaluated for its effects on tubulin polymerization, DNA polymerase activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis studies using human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells by flow cytometry. The extract was found to affect microtubule assembly in a concentration-dependent manner (15.125-250 μg/mL), indicating presence of alkaloids that function as spindle poison agents. Leaf alkaloid extract of G. glauca was also found to affect the mitochondrial membrane potential with IC50 value 144.51 μg/mL, and inhibited DNA polymerase α and β activities dose dependently, thus potentially interfering with DNA replication and repair processes. Leaf alkaloid extract also showed the potential to induce DNA damage of 53.6%, albeit somewhat less than the standard drug camptothecin (64.94%) as confirmed by the TUNEL assay. Additionally, the GgLAE (IC50 144.51 μg/mL) showed significant inhibition of MCF-7 cells proliferation after 24 h, revealing phase arrests in sub G0/G1, S, and G2/M. These findings suggest that G. glauca leaf alkaloid extract contains alkaloids that possess anticancer properties with multiple targets, making the plant a natural source for a promising phytochemical drug candidates for further evaluation in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Further investigations are warranted to determine the efficacy, safety, identification and characterization of the alkaloids, and evaluate and determine their potential applications in cancer therapy.

Home safety hazards associated with unintentional poisoning among children aged 0-5 years in Mongolia: A case-control study.

To examine the association between home safety hazards and unintentional poisoning in children in Mongolia. We conducted a case-control study using structured questionnaires to investigate safety behaviours, safety equipment use, and home hazards in households with or without children aged 0-5 years who had suffered from poisoning at home (i.e., cases and controls). We recruited 190 cases (105 medicinal and 84 non-medicinal poisonings, and one each) at the National Center for Maternal and Child Health and 379 controls in the communities between 1 March and 30 October 2021. There were large differences between cases' and controls' households in safety behaviours and home hazards: the failure to store all medicines out of reach of children (68% of cases vs. 25% of controls), the failure to store all medicines safely (out of reach, locked or non-existent) (61% vs. 22%), the failure to put all medicines away immediately after use (77% vs. 43%), the presence of things that a child could climb on to reach high surfaces (82% vs. 67%), the presence of medicines transferred into different containers (28% vs. 9%) and the presence of household products transferred into different containers (28% vs. 16%). These home safety hazards were strongly associated with poisoning after controlling for confounders. Children's risk of unintentional poisoning was strongly associated with the unsafe storage of potentially poisonous agents by caregivers and home hazards. Since unsafe storage is widespread, a fail-safe approach such as child-resistant closure of medicines and household products should be considered.

Toxicity test of red palm (Cyrtostachys renda Blume.) using the brine shrimp lethality test (BSLT) method

The red palm plant (Cyrtostachys renda) is a species of the Areca genus that grows widely in Jambi Province, making it an affordable plant to research for its medicinal properties. The Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) is a toxicity test to screen for anticancer bioactive substances, with the test subject being Artemia salina Leach larvae, which are highly sensitive when exposed to toxic substances. The fruit and roots of C. renda were extracted using the maceration method by using a methanol solvent and partitioning using n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and water. Based on the extract toxicity evaluation results, all extracts were toxic. Meanwhile, C.renda root dichloromethane extract had the highest toxic properties, with an LC50 value of 43.42 ± 0.659 ppm. However, the positive control's toxicity, potassium dichromate, was more toxic, with an LC50 value of 29.93 ± 0.668 ppm. The dichloromethane extract of C. renda roots can potentially be a poisonous agent. Further toxicity tests on cancer cells need to be carried out to be developed as an anticancer agent.

Molecular Recognition Mechanism of an Anti-Amatoxins mAb and Its Application in Centrifugal Disk-Based Immunoassay.

Amatoxins are polypeptides that cause 90% of fatalities from accidental ingestion of poisonous mushrooms. Unfortunately, there are no specific antidotes against amatoxins poisoning, hence preparation of high-affinity antibodies, understanding the receptor (amatoxins) and ligand (antibody) mechanism, and establishing a straightforward screening approach are of great significance for confirming poison agents and clinical diagnosis. Here, anti-amatoxins monoclonal antibody (mAb) 9B2 was prepared and the recognition mechanism was investigated. The approach is useful for designing desirable immunogens, developing new antibodies with improved performance, and constructing effective immunoassays. Based on the mAb, we designed a centrifugal disk-like microfluidics chip and developed a fully automated immunoassay capable of detecting amatoxins poisoning in various samples including serum, urine, and mushrooms. The whole detection process could be automatically accomplished within 30 min, with a limit of detection of 0.08 to 0.12 μg/L for real samples, ∼30-fold more sensitive than conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our platform not only provided a practical approach for performing poison agent confirmation and clinical diagnosis but also had important implications for improving the survival of patients with mushroom poisoning.

Pattern of self-poisoning and toxicity in suicidal deaths presenting for autopsy at the teaching hospital of the cosmopolitan city of Pakistan

Background and objective: Suicide is a common cause of death among teenagers and young adults and day by day, an increase has been observed in this trend. In most cases, home-based materials are used for this purpose. Hence, we aim to determine the frequency of various poisonous agents used for suicide and the pattern of presentation of such suicidal death for autopsies at a teaching hospital in a cosmopolitan city of Pakistan.
 Methods: This Cross-sectional study was conducted at the Toxicology and Forensic Medicine Department, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore over a 1-year period from 1-4-2022 to 1-4-2023. About 60 dead bodies of deceased committing suicide were included through non probability consecutive sampling. Poisonous material used for suicide was inquired from family or next of kin and was verified with a toxicology report. Data was then recorded in proforma and analyzed in SPSS version 25.
 Results: The mean age of dead bodies at the time of death was 29.51 ± 14.92 years. There were 37 (61.7%) male bodies and 23 (38.3%) female bodies. The mean duration between death and body received for autopsy was 2.4 ± 1.7 days. Out of 60 cases, 37 (61.7%) cases had a history of depression before suicide, 6 (10.0%) were taking anti-psychiatric treatment, 2 (3.3%) had schizophrenia, 4 (6.7%) had depressive disorder, while 11 (18.3%) had no depressive symptoms or relatives were unaware of that. Out of 60 cases; 12 (20.0%) committed suicide with organophosphates, 10 (16.7%) took over-the-counter drugs, 8 (13.3%) ingested household chemicals or acid, 6 (10.0%) took kala pather, 6 (10.0%) ingested wheat pills, 5 (8.3%) took cocaine in overdose, 5 (8.3%) had methamphetamines overdose, 3 (5.0%) had cannabinoids, 2 (3.3%) had methadone, 2 (3.3%) benzodiazepines and 1 (1.7%) had alcohol overdose.
 Conclusion: Organophosphate (pesticide) is the most commonly used suicidal poisoning agent, followed-by household acids in cosmopolitan cities (urban areas). Stringent regulations are needed to regulate the sale of these toxic materials to avoid unnatural deaths of our youth.

Harmful algae diversity from a coastal upwelling system detected by high-throughput sequencing

IntroductionIn recent years, environmental DNA (eDNA) amplicon sequencing has been used to unveil plankton diversity in the field. Nevertheless, molecular methods, such as this, are rarely used in harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring programs, which mainly rely on morphological identification by conventional light microscopy.MethodsThe present study focused on a shallow marine environment (Ría de Vigo, Northwest Spain), where sediment and plankton samples were collected from 2016 to 2018.ResultsThe application of eDNA amplicon sequencing allowed us to simultaneously detect 25 potential harmful species (mainly diatoms and dinoflagellates) included in the IOC-UNESCO Taxonomic Reference List of Harmful Microalgae. Among these, causative agents of amnesic shellfish poisoning (Pseudo-nitzschia spp.) paralytic shellfish poisoning (Gymnodinium catenatum and Alexandrium minutum), azaspiracid producers (Azadinium poporum) and ichthyotoxic haptophytes (Chrysochromulina leadbeateri), were identified. Some toxic microalgae were better represented in sediment (e.g., Pseudo-nitzschia pungens, Gymnodinium catenatum) or planktonic fractions (e.g., Pseudo-nitzschia, Gymnodinium smaydae), confirming the importance of including both sediment and plankton fractions in eDNA monitoring studies. Despite the limitations of sequencing short amplicons, it was possible to discern in this study six Pseudo-nitzschia species and associate each of them with each seasonal peak produced in summer periods. Furthermore, several species previously unreported in Ría de Vigo (Pseudo-nitzschia turgidula, Chrysochromulina leadbeateri, Azadinium poporum) could be detected.DiscusionThese results point out the application of eDNA amplicon sequencing to expand our knowledge about harmful species in HAB monitoring programs and early warning systems for low abundant and rare taxa.

Deep learning neural network derivation and testing to distinguish acute poisonings

ABSTRACT Introduction Acute poisoning is a significant global health burden, and the causative agent is often unclear. The primary aim of this pilot study was to develop a deep learning algorithm that predicts the most probable agent a poisoned patient was exposed to from a pre-specified list of drugs. Research design & methods Data were queried from the National Poison Data System (NPDS) from 2014 through 2018 for eight single-agent poisonings (acetaminophen, diphenhydramine, aspirin, calcium channel blockers, sulfonylureas, benzodiazepines, bupropion, and lithium). Two Deep Neural Networks (PyTorch and Keras) designed for multi-class classification tasks were applied. Results There were 201,031 single-agent poisonings included in the analysis. For distinguishing among selected poisonings, PyTorch model had specificity of 97%, accuracy of 83%, precision of 83%, recall of 83%, and a F1-score of 82%. Keras had specificity of 98%, accuracy of 83%, precision of 84%, recall of 83%, and a F1-score of 83%. The best performance was achieved in the diagnosis of single-agent poisoning in diagnosing poisoning by lithium, sulfonylureas, diphenhydramine, calcium channel blockers, then acetaminophen, in PyTorch (F1-score = 99%, 94%, 85%, 83%, and 82%, respectively) and Keras (F1-score = 99%, 94%, 86%, 82%, and 82%, respectively). Conclusion Deep neural networks can potentially help in distinguishing the causative agent of acute poisoning. This study used a small list of drugs, with polysubstance ingestions excluded.Reproducible source code and results can be obtained at https://github.com/ashiskb/npds-workspace.git.

Mitigating thermal runaway hazard of high-energy lithium-ion batteries by poison agent

Lithium-ion batteries with high-energy density are extensively commercialized in long-range electric vehicles. However, they are poor in thermal stability and pose fire or explosion, which has attracted the global attention. This study describes a new route to mitigate the battery thermal runaway (TR) hazard by poison agents. First, the self-destructive cell is built using the embedded poison layer. Then, the poisoning mechanism and paths are experimentally investigated at the material, electrode, and cell levels. Finally, the proposed route is verified by TR tests. The results show the TR hazard can be significantly reduced in the self-destructive cell based on a new reaction sequence regulation. Specifically, the maximum temperature of the self-destructive cell is more than 300 °C lower than that of the normal cell during TR. The drop in maximum temperature can reduce total heat release and the probability of TR propagation in the battery system, significantly improving battery safety.

Sharp increase in self-poisonings among adolescent girls during the Covid-19 pandemic: Findings from Norwegian registry data.

Sharp increase in self-poisonings among adolescent girls during the Covid-19 pandemic: Findings from Norwegian registry data.

Detection of some virulence gene Stx1, Stx2, and rfb of Escherichia coli isolated from fish in Nineveh governorate, Iraq

The current study aims to detect the presence of some virulence genes of Escherichia (E.) coli in fish. 46 strains of E. coli were previously isolated from 153 fish samples, including 28 and 18 isolates of E. coli from local markets and fish farms, respectively, in Nineveh Governorate from November 2021 to January 2022. The study results show that all isolates of E. coli possessed the uidA gene with a molecular weight of 623 bp. In addition, they show that 88.9% (16/18) isolates from farmed fish samples possessed the Stx1 gene with a molecular weight of 347 bp, while 72.2% (13/18) of them carried the Stx2 gene with a molecular weight of 589 bp. Also, the study unveils that 89.3 % (25/28) isolated from the market fish samples possessed the Stx1 gene with a molecular weight of 347 bp, and 85.7% (24/28) isolates carried the Stx2 gene with a molecular weight of 589 bp. The rfb gene is detected in this study, neither in farm fish nor in the samples from the local fish markets using the PCR technique. Likewise, it shows that E. coli isolated from fish possessed the Stx1 and Stx2 genes, major causative agents of food poisoning for consumers. Finally, the study gives important information about the application of health conditions on fish farms and fish markets to prevent contamination and reduce infections by foodborne pathogens that cause food poisoning in humans.

Epidemiological Trends of Acute Chemical Poisoning among Children over a Recent Three-Year Period in Saudi Arabia.

Acute intoxication from chemicals is a major medical emergency that can result in illness and mortality. This retrospective study aims to evaluate acute chemical poisoning incidents among children in Saudi Arabia from 2019 to 2021. A total of 3009 children were recorded as being chemically intoxicated. The SPSS/PC statistics package was used for the statistical analysis. The acute chemical poisoning incidents that occurred in the age groups were <1 year: 237 (7.8%), 1-5 years: 2301 (76.4%), 6-12 years: 214 (7.1%), and 13-19 years: 257 (8.5%). The mean rate of acute chemical poisoning in the northern region was 40.1%. The most common poisonous agents were organic solvents (20.4%) and disinfection agents (22.7%). Interestingly, there is a significant relationship between the different types of acute chemical poisoning and various factors, including gender, age, the location where acute chemical intoxication occurred, the type of exposure, and whether these were intentional or unintentional events. The data suggest that the northern region of Saudi Arabia has had the highest number of recorded incidents of acute chemical poisoning over the last three years (2019-2021). Individuals between 1-5 years old were the worst hit. Organic solvents and detergents were to blame for the acute unintentional chemical poisonings that took place in homes. Therefore, educating the public about chemical poisoning and reducing children's exposure to toxic chemicals requires educational programs, which may help to reduce chemical poisoning occurrence.

Characterization of Lethal Toxin-Producing Genes in Amanita brunneitoxicaria and PCR-based Detection of Deadly Poisonous Amanitas in the Section Phalloideae

A recent discovery of Amanita brunneitoxicaria revealed that this mushroom and A. exitialis are the main causative agents of fatal mushroom poisoning in Thailand. Poisonous amatoxins present are bicyclic octapeptides encoded by the MSDIN family and macrocyclized by prolyl oligopeptidase B enzyme. Diversity of the MSDIN toxin-associated genes in A. brunneitoxicaria however, remains unexplored. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the MSDIN family members in A. brunneitoxicaria in comparison with A. exitialis based on whole genome sequencing, followed by gene annotation using bioinformatic tools. Identification of conserved core peptides of the MSDIN family revealed the presence of α-amanitin and β-amanitin as endogenous toxins in A. brunneitoxicaria. In addition to the major amatoxins, amanexitide and phallacidin were also found in A. exitialis. Phylogenetic analyses of the MSDIN family members showed that an unknown peptide present in A. brunneitoxicaria is clustered with phalloidin. On the basis of PCR detection, a modified forward primer was incorporated into the PCR reactions to obtain clear and distinctive DNA fragments of approximately 300 bp from three deadly poisonous mushrooms of A. brunneitoxicaria, A. exitialis and A. fuliginea in the section Phalloideae. Hence, they could be distinguished from other edible and less toxic species in the same genus. Such rapid and accurate identification of the target region of the MSDIN family from the lethal mushrooms is relevant as means to reduce mortality. HIGHLIGHTS Amanita brunneitoxicaria and A. exitialis are responsible for most cases of fatal mushroom poisoning in Thailand During wild mushroom foraging, A. brunneitoxicaria is often mistaken for the edible species of A. vaginata A. brunneitoxicaria and other lethal aminitas contain amatoxin-producing genes encoded by the MSDIN family PCR-based detection of the target region of the MSDIN family can be used to distinguish the lethal aminitas in the section Phalloideae This rapid detection is useful for timely and appropriate medical treatment of mushroom intoxication GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Whole-Genome and Plasmid Comparative Analysis of Campylobacter jejuni from Human Patients in Toyama, Japan, from 2015 to 2019.

Campylobacter jejuni is a major causative agent of food poisoning, and increasing antimicrobial resistance is a concern. This study investigated 116 clinical isolates of C. jejuni from Toyama, Japan, which were isolated from 2015 to 2019. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing were used for phenotypic and genotypic characterization to compare antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles and phylogenic linkage. The multilocus sequence typing approach identified 37 sequence types (STs) and 15 clonal complexes (CCs), including 7 novel STs, and the high frequency CCs were CC21 (27.7%), CC48 (10.9%), and CC354 (9.9%). The AMR profiles and related resistant factors were as follows: fluoroquinolones (51.7%), mutation in quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDRs) (GyrA T86I); tetracyclines (27.6%), acquisition of tet(O); ampicillin (7.8%), harboring blaOXA184 or a promoter mutation in blaOXA193; aminoglycosides (1.7%), acquisition of ant(6)-Ia and aph(3')-III; chloramphenicol (0.9%), acquisition of cat. The acquired resistance genes tet(O), ant(6)-Ia, aph(3')-III, and cat were located on pTet family plasmids. Furthermore, three pTet family plasmids formed larger plasmids that incorporated additional genes such as the type IV secretion system. Sequence type 4526 (ST4526; 10.9%), which is reported only in Japan, was the most predominant, suggesting continued prevalence. This study reveals the sequences of the pTet family plasmids harbored by C. jejuni in Japan, which had been unclear, and the acquisition of the insertion sequences in a part of the pTet family plasmids. Because pTet family plasmids can be horizontally transmitted and are a major factor in acquired resistance in Campylobacter, the risk of spreading pTet that has acquired further resistance should be considered. IMPORTANCE Campylobacter jejuni is among the major causes of enteritis and diarrhea in humans in many countries. Drug-resistant Campylobacter is increasing in both developing and developed countries, and in particular, fluoroquinolone-resistant Campylobacter was one of the species included on the priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Campylobacter drug resistance surveillance is important and has been conducted worldwide. In this study, we performed whole-genome analysis of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from diarrhea patients at a hospital in Toyama, Japan. This revealed the continued prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni ST4526, which has been reported to be prevalent in Japan, and the acquisition of resistance and virulence factors in the pTet family plasmids. The diversity of pTet family plasmids, the major resistance transmission factor, is expected to potentially increase the risk of Campylobacter. The usefulness of whole-genome sequencing in Campylobacter surveillance was also demonstrated.

Inhibitory Effect of Astragalus Polysaccharide on Premetastatic Niche of Lung Cancer through the S1PR1-STAT3 Signaling Pathway.

As a common malignant tumor, the morbidity and mortality of lung cancer have been rising in recent years. The concept of "premetastatic niche" may lead to a revolutionary change in antitumor metastasis therapeutic strategies. Traditional Chinese medicine with multitargets and lower poisonous agents may be a potentially effective means to intervene in the "premetastatic niche (PMN)" to prevent and treat tumor metastasis. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is a substance with strong immune activity in Astragalus membranaceus that has excellent biological activities such as immunomodulation, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor. In this study, we constructed a tumor lung metastasis animal model to explore the intervention mechanism of APS on the premetastatic niche. We found that APS inhibited the formation of the lung premetastatic niche and inhibited the recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the lung. Mechanistically, we showed that the proteins and gene expression of S1PR1, STAT3, and p-STAT3 in the S1PR1/STAT3 signaling pathway were suppressed by APS. In line with the above findings, our results confirmed that APS may inhibit the accumulation of MDSCs in the premetastatic niche through the intervention of the S1PR1-STAT3 signaling pathway to achieve the antitumor effect.

Protective Role of Quercetin on Thioacetamide-Induced Renal Injury in Adult Male Albino Rats

Background: Thioacetamide (TAA) is a recognized industrial poisonous agent drastically used in animal studies for induction of hepatic necrosis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. It is additionally reported to be nephrotoxic through induction of oxidative stress. Quercetin (QE) has a high antioxidant capacity via free radical scavenging, transition metal ion binding, and lipid peroxidation inhibition. Aim of the work: The goal of this research was to see if QE may help reduce the negative effects of thioacetamide on renal tissue by histological examination of the kidney. Material and methods: Twenty four adult male Albino rats 7–9 weeks old around 180–200g body weight were allocated into 3 groups; Group I (n=8) receiving distilled water, Group II (n=8); rats receiving TAA and Group III (n=8); receiving TAA and QE. Results: Renal tissues were examined under a light microscope stained by Harris Hematoxylin &amp; Eosin (H&amp;E stain), Periodiceeacid Schiff (PAS) andjMasson’srTrichrome for TAA-treated groups revealed severe histopathological changes, whereas specimens obtained from QE-treated groups showed onlywmild changes. Immunohistochemical results corroborated these findings. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the ameliorative consequences of QE in opposition to TAA-induced renal injury in rats. The result of this study might contribute in the development of a novel complementary alternative medication in combating and therapeutic intervention of TAA-induced renal injury. KEY WORDS: Thioacetamide, renal, quercetin, albino rat and histopathology.

Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia mimicking the systemic metastasis of adrenal cancer: a case report

BackgroundListeria monocytogenes is a causative agent of food poisoning and is also known to cause invasive diseases, such as bacteremia, meningitis, and encephalitis, in neonates, elderly and immunocompromised patients. However, the clinical course of a multi-organ disseminated disease secondary to bacteremia has been rarely reported.Case presentationA 76-year-old woman undergoing immunosuppressive therapy for rheumatoid arthritis presented to our outpatient clinic with a chief complaint of weight loss. Computed tomography showed a left adrenal mass, enlarged lymph nodes, and multiple intrahepatic nodules. Positron emission tomography demonstrated accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose F18 in the adrenal mass, lymph nodes, hepatic nodules, and bones, leading to the suspicion of systemic metastasis of adrenal cancer. She subsequently developed a fever. Blood culture results led to the diagnosis of Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia. Percutaneous needle biopsy of the adrenal lesion revealed no malignant findings. After extended treatment with antimicrobial agents, the fever resolved, along with the disappearance of the systemic lesions.ConclusionsThis case shows that listeriosis can lead to lesions in the adrenal gland, which can exhibit clinical presentation that is difficult to differentiate from malignancy on imaging studies.