Time-trends in method-specific suicide rates compared with the availability of specific compounds. The Danish experience

Restriction of means for suicide is an important part of suicide preventive strategies in different countries. All suicides in Denmark between 1970 and 2000 were examined with regard to method used for suicide. Overall suicide mortality and method-specific suicide mortality was compared with official information about availability of medical compounds (barbiturates, benzodiazepines, analgesics, antidepressants) and carbon monoxide in vehicle exhaust and household gas. Restrictions on the availability of carbon monoxide, barbiturates and dextropropoxyphen was associated with a decline in the number of suicides by self-poisoning with these compounds. Restricted access occurred concomittantly with a 55% decrease in suicide rate.     

Homicidal poisoning in India: A short review

This review has analysed various studies and case reports on homicide by poison from different parts of India till date. This review shows that homicidal poisoning prevalence varies from 0.3% to 3.7% having varied prevalence from different regions with no homicidal cases too. The poisons used in homicide were mainly organophosphates, aluminium phosphide, paraquat, and arsenic. No age-group or gender was spared and the perpetrators were first degree relatives.     

Carbon monoxide poisoning in Northeast of Iran

BackgroundCO poisoning is still a public health concern especially in developing countries. We aimed to focus on CO poisoning secular trends based on registry data for the recent 7 years in Northeast of Iran.MethodsRegistry database of Imam Reza Hospital in Mashhad, Iran was analyzed. All admitted cases with CO exposure during 2004–2011 were included. Data from two national censuses were used for calculating rates. Data analyses was performed by SPSS 11.5. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThere were 443 CO related admissions (0.9% of all poisonings which equals to a prevalence rate of 1.9 per 100,000) during the 7-year period. Mean age was 32.3 ± 18.2 years and 60% of subjects were male. CO prevalence rate was not changed during this period. Case fatality rate was higher in men (5.4% vs. 4.4%). Self-employment and manual or office workers were at greatest risk. Age specific prevalence and mortality rates were highest in >60 age group. (2.9 and 3.1 per 100,000, respectively).ConclusionAs it seems that current health prevention studies are not effectively working, these secular trends can enlighten health policy makers to implement proper population based interventions like education or regulations for CO detectors. We believe that almost all cases of accidental CO poisoning can be prevented.     

Missed opportunities?: an evaluation of potentially preventable poisoning deaths**

Introduction: Although most poisoning deaths are not preventable with current medical technology, in some cases different management decisions may have prevented fatal outcomes. Objective: This study aims to review reported poisoning-related deaths for preventability to provide insight to improve future care. Methods: Fatality abstracts published in the US National Poison Data System (NPDS) Annual Reports (2008–2012) were analyzed. Preventability was graded using a Likert scale of 1 (definitely non-preventable) to 6 (definitely preventable). Two medical toxicologists screened all cases. Cases deemed definitely not preventable (score 1) by both reviewers were excluded from further review and considered to be “non-preventable”. All cases considered at least possibly preventable by either screener were reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel of 5 physicians for preventability scoring. Differences were resolved by consensus. Cases determined to be “preventable” (scores 4–6) were characterized by type of improvement issue involved (diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, other) and recurring scenarios. Results: Of 390 published abstracts, 78 (20.0%) deaths were considered at least possibly preventable by at least one screener. Of these, 34 (8.7%) deaths were determined to be “preventable” by the panel. Inter-observer agreement by weighted kappa analysis was 0.58 for screening, 0.24 for preventability, and 0.44 for specific aspects of care. The most common toxicants were salicylates (n?=?9), opioids (n?=?4), toxic alcohols (n?=?3), fluoride containing product (n?=?3), and bupropion (n?=?3). The most common improvement opportunities involved treatment and monitoring. Discussion: Most of the ingested substances in preventable deaths have delayed GI absorption or require metabolic activation to produce a delayed effect (such as salicylates, opioids, and toxic alcohols), and therefore provide an opportunity for early recognition and successful interventions. Most improvement opportunities are clearly described in the literature but may be not recognized. Conclusions: Based on an analysis of published NPDS data, a considerable number of poisoning-related deaths reaching medical attention may be preventable. The most common scenarios involved in potentially preventable poisoning fatalities related to monitoring and treatment. Salicylates and opioids were the most common agents involved in preventable deaths.     

导泻排毒液清除化道毒物治疗急性中毒的实验研究

目的：探讨导泻排毒液通过清除消化道残留毒物而治疗急性中毒的机制。方法：观察导泻排毒液对小白鼠胃排空的影响;对小鼠白鼠肠功能的;对家兔离体肠平滑肌的影响。对大白鼠口服苯巴比妥血药浓度的影响。结果：导泻降低小白鼠胃中甲基残留率,有促进胃排空作用,能提高小白鼠肠道炎末推进率,有增强肠道推进功能作用。能使家兔离体肠客收缩幅度增大,蠕皮明显加深,肠管肌张力明显增加,能降低大白鼠口服苯巴比妥血药浓度。与对照组     

Nicotinic acid treatment for Paralepistopsis acromelalga intoxication: assessment using magnetic resonance imaging

Context: Paralepistopsis acromelalga, formerly known as Clitocybe acromelalga, is a rare poisonous mushroom. The mycotoxins in this mushroom cause symptoms resembling those of erythromelalgia; however, its pathogenesis remains unclear. In this report, a patient who received nicotinic acid treatment for P. acromelalga poisoning and radiological evaluation for erythromelalgia has been presented.

Case detail: A 59-year-old woman was hospitalized for redness, swelling, and burning pain in her extremities that rendered difficulty in walking, and a diagnosis of P. acromelalga poisoning was made by detailed interview and mushroom identification. She was treated with intravenous nicotinic acid for 17 days followed by oral nicotinic acid amide for 2 months. She exhibited rapid symptomatic improvement and walked independently after 11 days of initial treatment. Initial MRI of her feet revealed toe-dominated subcutaneous thickening. After nicotinic acid treatment, those radiological findings improved dramatically.

Discussion: The subcutaneous thickening evident on MRI indicated P. acromelalga poisoning-induced erythromelalgia involved subcutaneous inflammatory edema. The typical duration of edema without treatment is more than a month. The improvement on MRI after nicotinic acid treatment indicated that the adequate vasodilation induced by nicotinic acid contributed to resolution of the symptoms. Nicotinic acid was associated with the improvement of the edematous changes caused by the P. acromelalga intoxication.     

Comparison of Current Recommended Regimens of Atropinization in Organophosphate Poisoning

Atropine is the mainstay of therapy in organophosphate (OP) toxicity, though research and consensus on dosing is lacking. In 2004, as reported by Eddleston et al. (J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 42(6):865-75, 2004), they noted variation in recommended regimens. We assessed revisions of original references, additional citations, and electronic sources to determine the current variability in atropine dosing recommendations. Updated editions of references from Eddleston et al.’s work, texts of Internal and Emergency Medicine, and electronic resources were reviewed for atropine dosing recommendations. For comparison, recommendations were assessed using the same mean dose (23.4 mg) and the highest dose (75 mg) of atropine as used in the original paper. Recommendations were also compared with the dosing regimen from the World Health Organization (WHO). Thirteen of the original recommendations were updated and 15 additional references were added giving a convenience sample of 28. Sufficient information to calculate time to targeted dose was provided by 24 of these samples. Compared to 2004, current recommendations have greatly increased the speed of atropinization with 13/24 able to reach the mean and high atropine dose within 30 min compared to 1/36 in 2004. In 2004, there were 13 regimens where the maximum time to reach 75 mg was over 18 h, whereas now, there are 2. While only one recommendation called for doubling the dose for faster escalation in 2004, 15 of the 24 current works include dose doubling. In 2004, Eddleston et al. called for an evidence-based guideline for the treatment of OP poisoning that could be disseminated worldwide. Many current recommendations can adequately treat patients within 1 h. While the WHO recommendations remain slow to treat patients with OP poisoning, other authorities are close to a consensus on rapid atropinization.     

急性一氧化碳中毒血浆NT-proBNP的变化及其与LVEF之间的关系

目的：探讨血浆N末端B型脑钠肽原（NT-proBNP）在急性一氧化碳中毒（ACOP）患者心功能评价中的临床意义。方法回顾性观察2010年10月～2014年2月在我科住院的急性一氧化碳中毒患者68例,按照中毒程度分为轻、中、重3组。取同一时期30例健康体检者作为对照。患者入院后2h内抽取静脉血测定血浆NT-proBNP水平,24h内超声心动图检测左室射血分数（LVEF）。结果和对照组比较,ACOP轻、中、重度组血浆NT-proBNP水平升高,LVEF则下降,与对照组比较有显著性差异（P〈0.01）。轻、中、重度ACOP 3组NT-proBNP相互比较,重度组高于中度及轻度组,中度组高于轻度组,有显著性差异（P〈0.01）,而LVEF则呈相反变化趋势,NT-proBNP和LVEF具有负相关。结论 ACOP患者血浆NT-proBNP升高,LVEF则下降,且NT-proBNP随中毒程度加深而显著升高,与左室射血功能密切相关,可作为ACOP的常规检查,对ACOP后心功能评估有着重要意义。