Minimum ingested iron cut-off triggering serious iron toxicity in children.

BACKGROUND: Iron intoxication can occur accidentally in children or intentionally by adolescents as a suicide attempt. They usually present with various symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. Clinical studies in this field has been reported different doses of ingested elemental iron that caused serious toxicity, but none of these studies determined the minimum cut-off of ingested iron that triggered the risk of severe toxicity. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the demographic features of iron intoxication in Turkish children and to determine the lowest cut-off of ingested elemental iron triggering serious intoxication and the need for prompt management. METHODS: This retrospective study investigated 83 Turkish patients with accidental and intentional iron poisoning. RESULTS: Of the 83 cases of acute iron intoxication, accidental iron consumption was more common than intentional use. Fifty-three patients ingested a median toxic dose of elemental iron of 40.0 mg/kg (IQR, 33.5 mg/kg). The median serum iron concentration in the first 6 h of ingestion was 150 µg/dL (IQR, 282 µg/dL). Twenty patients were given deferoxamine, whereas 63 patients were given supportive treatment. CONCLUSION: The cut-off of ingested elemental iron that triggered serious toxicity and the need for deferoxamine in children <18 years of age was 28 mg/kg.

Ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) prevents severe damage to the lungs due to hyperoxia and inflammation

Background/aim: Hyperoxia- and inflammation-induced lung injury is an important cause of the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants. We aimed to ascertain the beneficial effects of ginger ( Zingiber officinale ) on rat pups exposed to hyperoxia and inflammation. Materials and methods: Thirty-six newborn Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups as the hyperoxia (95% O 2 ) + lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, the hyperoxia + LPS + ginger-treated group, and the control/no treatment group (21% O 2 ). Pups in the hyperoxia + LPS + ginger group were administered oral ginger at a dose of 1000 mg/kg daily during the study period. Histopathologic, immunochemical (SMA and lamellar body), and biochemical evaluations including total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and caspase-3 activities were performed. Results: Better weight gain and survival rates were shown in the hyperoxia + LPS + ginger group (P < 0.05). In the histopathologic and immunochemical evaluation, severity of lung damage was significantly reduced in the hyperoxia + LPS + ginger group, as well as decreased apoptosis (ELISA for caspase-3) (P < 0.05). Tissue TAS levels were significantly protected, and TOS, MDA, and MPO levels were significantly lower in the hyperoxia + LPS + ginger group (P < 0.05). Tissue TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 concentrations were significantly decreased in the ginger-treated group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Ginger efficiently reduced the lung damage and protected the lungs from severe damage due to hyperoxia and inflammation. Therefore, ginger may be an alternative option for the treatment of BPD.