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Toxins Jul 2023Exposure to phytotoxins that are present in imported ornamental or native plants is an important cause of animal disease. Factors such as animal behaviors (especially... (Review)
Review
Exposure to phytotoxins that are present in imported ornamental or native plants is an important cause of animal disease. Factors such as animal behaviors (especially indoor pets), climate change, and an increase in the global market for household and ornamental plants led to the appearance of new, previously unreported plant poisonings in Europe. This has resulted in an increase in the incidence of rarely reported intoxications. This review presents some of the emerging and well-established plant species that are responsible for poisoning episodes in companion animals and livestock in Europe. The main plant species are described, and the mechanism of action of the primary active agents and their clinical effects are presented. Data reflecting the real incidence of emerging poisoning cases from plant toxins are scarce to nonexistent in most European countries due to a lack of a centralized reporting/poison control system. The diversity of plant species and phytotoxins, as well as the emerging nature of certain plant poisonings, warrant a continuous update of knowledge by veterinarians and animal owners. The taxonomy and active agents present in these plants should be communicated to ensure awareness of the risks these toxins pose for domestic animals.
Topics: Animals; Plant Poisoning; Animals, Domestic; Europe; Toxins, Biological; Animal Diseases; Poisoning
PubMed: 37505711
DOI: 10.3390/toxins15070442 -
Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) Mar 2023Although poisonings due to a toxic substance being decanted into a secondary container are often reported to poison centers, we were unable to locate prior European data...
BACKGROUND
Although poisonings due to a toxic substance being decanted into a secondary container are often reported to poison centers, we were unable to locate prior European data about their circumstances, incidence and consequences. We sought to describe the circumstances and outcomes of this behavior.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
We conducted a prospective study of all poison exposures involving transfer to a secondary container reported to our poison center during a six month interval (January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021). We called patients and clinicians for follow up the next day. We used a prepared questionnaire and added the responses to the national database for French poison centers.
RESULTS
We identified and included 238 patients (104 male, 134 female) with a median age of 39 years [range 0-94 y]. Exposure was mainly oral ( = 221), the secondary container was mainly a water bottle ( = 173), toxic substances were essentially cleaning products ( = 63) or bleach ( = 48). Symptoms were gastrointestinal (vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain) ( = 143) or respiratory (cough, dyspnea, aspiration pneumonia) ( = 15). The World Health Organisation/International Programme on Chemical Safety/European Commission/European Association of Poison Centres and Clinical Toxicologists Poisoning Severity Score was none in 76 cases (31.9%), minor in 147 (61.8%), moderate in 12 (5%), and severe in three cases (1.3%). Products that led to severe poisoning contained either ammonium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. Two of the patients required intensive care treatment. At the end of the follow-up, 235 patients fully recovered, and three patients had sequelae.
CONCLUSIONS
The study illustrates the risk of toxic substance transfer. Water bottles were the secondary containers in most exposures to decanted substances. Most had minor or no effects, but nearly one-quarter were admitted to the hospital. The few severe exposures involved either ammonium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Infant, Newborn; Infant; Child, Preschool; Child; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Middle Aged; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Sodium Hydroxide; Ammonium Hydroxide; Prospective Studies; Poison Control Centers; Poisons; Poisoning
PubMed: 36892538
DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2022.2163658 -
Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) Feb 2023Acute poisoning is a significant international public health issue and one of the leading causes of death in the emergency department (ED). In the absence of any...
INTRODUCTION
Acute poisoning is a significant international public health issue and one of the leading causes of death in the emergency department (ED). In the absence of any previous reports describing the poisoning profile in Syria, we present this study to assess the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of poisoning over 21 years.
METHODS
We collected the data retrospectively from the Syrian Poisons Information Centre (SPIC) from January 1999 until December 2020. The data included patients who had accidental or non-accidental exposure to poisons, either by drugs, medicaments, and biological substances or substances chiefly nonmedicinal sources such as soaps and detergents, corrosive substances, pesticides, and other miscellaneous products.
RESULTS
We collected the data of 120,972 poisoned patients, of whom 52.6% were females, and 47.4% were males. Aleppo governorate reported the highest number of poisoned cases (28.6%), followed by Damascus governorate (19.9%). The highest poisoning rates were recorded in 2020, 2014, and 2010. Pharmaceutical (37.0%) and animal (33.8%) sources were the most common causative agents. The oral route was the route of poisoning in 58.3% of patients, and 33.4% through the skin. The most common poison was scorpion stings 19.5% while the most common cause of death was organophosphates 15.7%.
DISCUSSION
The differences in socioeconomic status, cultural habits, and agricultural and industrial activities between countries have led to a state of fluctuation regarding the most common poisoning agents.
CONCLUSION
Damascus and Aleppo, the two major governorates in Syria, had the highest poisoning cases. Oral administration of pharmaceutical agents was responsible for most of the poisoning cases. The most common individual poison was the scorpion poison, while the top killer was organophosphates.
Topics: Male; Female; Humans; Syria; Retrospective Studies; Pesticides; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Poisons; Poisoning
PubMed: 36524826
DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2022.2156882 -
Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.) May 2023Poisonings contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality of patients. Some patients have numerous contacts to a poison information center, indicating repeated...
OBJECTIVE
Poisonings contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality of patients. Some patients have numerous contacts to a poison information center, indicating repeated poisoning exposures. Information on the involved substances is necessary to explore methods to prevent self-harm and reduce mortality. The objective of this study was to characterize the patient population with repeated poison exposures in Denmark and identify the substances involved.
METHODS
This study was a retrospective cohort study of enquiries to the nationwide Danish Poison Information Centre and the Danish National Patient Registry. The databases were used to identify patients with more than five individual poisoning episodes within a 12-month-period between 1 January 2013, and 31 December 2017.
RESULTS
One hundred and thirty-seven patients and 995 patients met the inclusion criteria in the Danish Poison Information Centre and the Danish National Patient Registry, respectively. The majority were women (82.5% and 66.3% for the Danish Poison Information Centre and the Danish National Patient Registry cohorts, respectively). The mean age was 24.7 and 29.5 years. Psychiatric comorbidities were frequent with 74.5% and 67.0% suffering from personality disorders and 70.1% and 54.5% from affective disorders in the Danish Poison Information Centre and the Danish National Patient Registry cohorts, respectively. One thousand seven hundred and fifty-two poisoning episodes were identified in the Danish Poison Information Centre database, and the most common types of substance were 'pharmaceuticals' (1,420 episodes). The most common medications ingested were quetiapine, paracetamol and cyclizine. Median number of contacts to the Danish Poison Information Centre was 10. Patients with one or more poisoning episodes involving cyclizine had on average 11.4 poisoning episodes involving cyclizine. In the Danish National Patient Registry cohort 80.9% were alive after 10 years compared to 97.7% in the background population.
CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS
Most poisonings were intentional and occurred among younger women. Psychiatric comorbidity was frequent. Most often, pharmaceuticals were the toxic substance, mainly quetiapine, paracetamol and cyclizine. Changing the status of cyclizine from over the counter to prescription only medication, and implementing stricter rules for prescribing quetiapine, could limit future poisoning incidences.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Young Adult; Adult; Cyclizine; Quetiapine Fumarate; Acetaminophen; Retrospective Studies; Poison Control Centers; Prescription Drugs; Poisons; Denmark; Poisoning
PubMed: 37171194
DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2023.2205006 -
Toxicon : Official Journal of the... Nov 2022Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a transient left ventricular dysfunction, normally triggered by emotional or physical stress, although it is also associated with to... (Review)
Review
Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a transient left ventricular dysfunction, normally triggered by emotional or physical stress, although it is also associated with to use of drugs, drug abuse, or some intoxications. In addition, TTC has been reported in some case reports derived from the exposure of patients to animal venoms, toxins or poisons, or bacterial infections. However, to date, a systematic assessment of TTC in clinical toxinology is lacking. Therefore the aim of this study was to collect and integrate the available information about TTC in clinical toxinology. After our search strategy, 19 articles were retrieved, resulting in 20 case reports. Most cases occurred in women (75.0%). The venomous species that trigger TTC are bee/wasp, including probable Africanized honey bee and Vespa orientalis (15.0%), scorpions (Tytius serrulatus and Androctonus australis, 15.0%), a spider (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, 5.0%), snakes (Gloydius blomhofii and Naja nivea, 10.0%), Clostridium sp (C. tetani, C. botulinum and C. difficile, 45.0%) and jellyfish (Pelagia noctiluca and Carukia barnesi, 10.0%). Among the affected people there were two deaths. In all case reports authors diagnosed TTC by using the combination of some of the following strategies: clinical findings, echocardiography, magnetic cardiac resonance, electrocardiogram changes and/or the increased plasma levels of cardiac damage biomarkers. In most cases images were available. We hypothesized the possible mode of action of venoms, toxins or poisons to induce TTC, however other mechanisms may exist, but they have not been described yet. Therefore, further studies are needed. In some cases, venoms, toxins, or poisons might cause catecholamine discharge either directly or indirectly, therefore, this was suggested as the trigger of TTC. Finally, the appearance of TTC should be considered in clinical toxinology.
Topics: Female; Animals; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy; Clostridioides difficile; Electrocardiography; Catecholamines; Poisons; Biomarkers
PubMed: 36162498
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.09.015 -
Scientific Reports May 2023The use of metal phosphides, particularly aluminum phosphide, poses a significant threat to human safety and results in high mortality rates. This study aimed to...
The use of metal phosphides, particularly aluminum phosphide, poses a significant threat to human safety and results in high mortality rates. This study aimed to determine mortality patterns and predictive factors for acute zinc and aluminum phosphide poisoning cases that were admitted to Menoufia University Poison and Dependence Control Center from 2017 to 2021. Statistical analysis revealed that poisoning was more common among females (59.7%), aged between 10 and 20 years, and from rural regions. Most cases were students, and most poisonings were the result of suicidal intentions (78.6%). A new hybrid model named Bayesian Optimization-Relevance Vector Machine (BO-RVM) was proposed to forecast fatal poisoning. The model achieved an overall accuracy of 97%, with high positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) values of 100% and 96%, respectively. The sensitivity was 89.3%, while the specificity was 100%. The F1 score was 94.3%, indicating a good balance between precision and recall. These results suggest that the model performs well in identifying both positive and negative cases. Additionally, the BO-RVM model has a fast and accurate processing time of 379.9595 s, making it a promising tool for various applications. The study underscores the need for public health policies to restrict the availability and use of phosphides in Egypt and adopt effective treatment methods for phosphide-poisoned patients. Clinical suspicion, positive silver nitrate test for phosphine, and analysis of cholinesterase levels are useful in diagnosing metal phosphide poisoning, which can cause various symptoms.
Topics: Female; Humans; Child; Adolescent; Young Adult; Adult; Aluminum; Bayes Theorem; Phosphines; Aluminum Compounds; Poisons; Heavy Metal Poisoning; Poisoning; Pesticides
PubMed: 37217491
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34489-x -
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde Nov 2020Recent publications on fatal cases of mushroom poisoning and wasp's stings in the Netherlands raised the question how poisonous the Dutch wildlife is. In this article I...
Recent publications on fatal cases of mushroom poisoning and wasp's stings in the Netherlands raised the question how poisonous the Dutch wildlife is. In this article I focus on plants, berries, mushrooms and animals. The annual reports of the National Poison Control Center provide the number of consultations related to mushroom poisoning, toxic plants and animals. The majority of consultations concerns contact with toxic plants in gardens and indoors. In three-quarter of the cases the patient is a child (0-12 years). Serious mushroom poisoning occurs mainly in adults who mistook a poisonous mushroom for an edible one. Although snake bites are reported in the Netherlands, most of these are due to exotic snakes kept in indoor terraria. Fatal reactions to wasp's stings are due to anaphylactic reactions. All in all, poisoning is rare and the Dutch countryside can be considered a safe place.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Animals, Wild; Bites and Stings; Child; Environment; Female; Humans; Male; Mushroom Poisoning; Netherlands; Plant Poisoning; Poison Control Centers; Wasps
PubMed: 33331732
DOI: No ID Found -
Anesthesia and Analgesia Nov 2020
Topics: Poisons
PubMed: 33094975
DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000005118 -
Fa Yi Xue Za Zhi Jun 2022To retrospectively analyze homicide cases of death after injection and provide reference for forensic identification.
OBJECTIVES
To retrospectively analyze homicide cases of death after injection and provide reference for forensic identification.
METHODS
Six homicide cases of death after injection which were investigated by the Criminal Investigation Team of Shanghai Public Security Bureau were collected and analyzed, including case situation, scene investigation, autopsy and other materials.
RESULTS
The 6 cases were premeditated crimes, 5 cases took place in private spaces, and 5 cases involved the victims approached by suspects' decoy. There were no obvious abnormalities at the scene of the 6 cases. In 6 cases, the victim's body surface injury was mild or no, lividity color was abnormal, and the needlestick injury showed different manifestations from conventional medical measures.
CONCLUSIONS
Death after injection is a highly concealed crime and easy to be ignored. For the suspected injection injury found in autopsy, it is necessary to carefully examine, identify and analyze, be alert to the situation of injecting poison (drug) and do a good job in evidence fixation and material extraction.
Topics: Autopsy; China; Homicide; Poisons; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 36221821
DOI: 10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2021.410702 -
Neurobiology of Disease Jan 2020
Topics: Animals; Antidotes; Humans; Medical Countermeasures; Nerve Agents; Neurotoxicity Syndromes
PubMed: 31374245
DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104557