Fatal aluminum phosphide poisonings in Tirana (Albania), 2009 - 2013.

BACKGROUND: Acute poisonings particularly through pesticides have become a major public health concern in Albania during the last decade. FINDINGS: The number of fatalities due to aluminum phosphide intoxications was more than doubled during a five year-period from 2009 to 2013, and a cluster of suicides perpetrated with Phostoxin was registered. Several factors are accountable for such a phenomenon, including the fact that aluminum phosphide agents are freely available in the Albanian market, their price is extremely low and they are sold without any legal restriction. The mass media unfortunately warranted an emulating effect to dramatic intoxications, which gained by such means the notoriety of a secure lethal weapon. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience with more than three hundred intoxications with aluminum phosphide agents in the last five years, showed that a considerable delay from the moment of exposure (mainly through ingestion) to specialized medical help seeking, created a considerable obstacle for a successful treatment of cases, and eventually for the survival of patients. The lack of a specific antidote adds further challenges to all these exposures. The need for public health policies aiming at prevention, awareness, and possibly the substitution of Phostoxin or other aluminum phosphide pesticides with less dangerous agents is formulated.

Comparative chemical study of MTA and portland cements

Portland cement has been analyzed and compared to mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) because of their chemical similarity. The possibility of using this material as a less expensive alternative to MTA in dental practice should be considered. In view of this, the present study compared the components of a Portland cement (Votoran®) to two commercial brands of MTA (Pro-Root™ and MTA-Angelus®). Twelve specimens of each material were fabricated and examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to obtain their percentage of chemical elements. The means of the chemical elements found in each material was compared by descriptive statistics. Bismuth was present only in MTA cements to provide radiopacity. In conclusion, the tested cements have similar components, which supports, as far as composition is concerned, the possible clinical use of Portland as an option to MTA.

O cimento Portland tem sido analisado e comparado com o agregado trióxido mineral (MTA) devido a sua similaridade química. Dada à possibilidade de uso na Odontologia como uma alternativa menos onerosa ao MTA, realizou-se uma análise comparativa dos componentes do cimento Portland (Votoran®) com os constituintes de dois cimentos MTA (Pro-Root™-MTA e Angelus®-MTA). Para tanto, foram confeccionados 12 corpos-de-prova de cada um dos materiais (n=36), e estes foram analisados em microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) pela técnica de espectroscopia por dispersão de energia (EDS), que fornece o percentual dos componentes químicos encontrados nos corpos-de-prova. As médias dos elementos químicos encontrados nos três cimentos foram comparadas por meio de análise estatística descritiva. O bismuto estava presente somente nos cimentos MTA. Concluiu-se que os cimentos testados apresentaram similaridade em seus constituintes, o que indica, considerando-se a composição, a possibilidade de futura utilização clínica do cimento Portland como alternativa ao MTA.