The impact of chicory (Cichoriumintybus L.) on hemodynamic functions and oxidative stress in cardiac toxicity induced by lead oxide nanoparticles in male rats.

BACKGROUND: A common environmental pollutant, lead can induce toxicity in several organ systems. A range of industrial and/or household materials and products contain lead, and food/liquid ingestion and inhalation are the mechanisms through which lead is introduced into the human body. OBJECTIVE: Since knowledge about the cardiac toxicity of acute lead nanoparticles is limited, this work sought to shed more light on the issue by investigating the therapeutic effects of chicory extract based on rat models to elevate cardiac functions and oxidative stress. METHODS: Four research groups were used, each consisting of ten albino rats of male sex and adult age. The groups were: control group, chicory group, lead oxide nanoparticle group, and lead oxide nanoparticle + chicory group. RESULTS: Compared to the control and chicory groups, the lead oxide nanoparticle group displayed a notable increase in heart functions and oxidative stress markers as well as alterations in cardiac histological structure. On the other hand, cardiac function modifications were counteracted through four-week administration of lead oxide nanoparticles alongside chicory. CONCLUSION: Heart damage caused by lead oxide nanoparticles may be attenuated by chicory through scavenging of free radicals.

Survival without peripheral neuropathy after massive acute arsenic poisoning: Treated by 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulphonate.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Massive acute arsenic poisoning is rare yet potentially life-threatening. 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulphonate (DMPS) appears to have the appropriate chelating property. However, clinical experience on the use of DMPS in massive arsenic poisoning is limited. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 37-year-old woman attempted suicide by ingesting 37.5 g of arsenic trioxide. DMPS was promptly initiated based on history and clinical symptoms. The patient recovered completely, with no complications or side effects of the therapy. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: TDMPS is useful for the treatment of massive acute arsenic poisoning.

Subchronic arsenism-induced oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to apoptosis through mitochondrial and death receptor dependent pathways in chicken immune organs.

In many organ dysfunctions, arsenic and its compounds are well known to induce apoptosis by the mitochondria and death receptor apoptotic pathways in liver and airway. However, it is less reported that which signaling pathways contribute to excessive apoptosis of chicken immune organs, a major target of toxic metals biotransformation, which suffer from subchronic arsenism. In this study, we investigated whether the mitochondria or death receptor apoptotic pathways activated in the immune organs (spleen, thymus and bursa of Fabricius) of one-day-old male Hy-line chickens exposed to arsenic trioxide (As2O3), which were fed on diets supplemented with 0, 0.625, 1.25 and 2.5 mg/kg BW of As2O3 for 30, 60 and 90 days. We found that (1) Oxidative damage and inflammatory response were confirmed in the immune organs of chickens fed on As2O3 diet. (2) Subchronic arsenism induced typical apoptotic changes in ultrastructure. (3) TdT-mediated dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) showed that the number of apoptotic cells significantly increased under subchronic arsenism. (4) As2O3-induced apoptosis of immune organs involved in mitochondrial pathway (decrease of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and increase of protein 53 (p53), Bcl-2 Associated X Protein (Bax), caspase-9, caspase-3) and death receptor pathway (increase of factor associated suicide (Fas) and caspase-8). In conclusion, this work is the first to demonstrate that the activation of mitochondria and death receptor apoptosis pathways can lead to excessive apoptosis in immune organs of chickens, which suffer from subchronic arsenism, meanwhile, oxidative stress as well as subsequent inflammatory is a crucial driver of apoptosis.

Acute arsenic self-poisoning for suicidal purpose in a dentist: a case report.

Arsenic is a classical poison that has been historically used since ancient times for homicidal purposes. More recently, episodes of deliberate or unintentional arsenic self-poisoning have been increasingly reported. We describe here a case of a 77-year old male patient with a history of major depression, who attempted suicide by ingestion of 4 g of arsenic trioxide. The man, a dentist by profession, used arsenic preparations for pulp devitalization. The patient was admitted to our hospital 5 h after arsenic ingestion with nausea and vomiting. Plain radiograph of the abdomen showed radio-opaque material in the stomach and small intestine. Nasogastric lavage, activated charcoal, and chelators were used to remove arsenic. On day 3, endoscopy disclosed the presence of gastritis and superficial ulcers. The patient developed significant anemia (Hb: 8.7 g/dL on day 7) without significant signs of hemolysis. He gradually recovered from anemia within 5 months. The patient did not suffer any adverse outcome in spite of having ingesting 4 g of arsenic, approximately 20 times the lethal dose.

Toxic remedy: a case of a 3-year-old child with lead colic treated with lead monoxide (greta).

This article reports the case of a 3-year-old male with an elevated blood lead level. The child had a history of consuming imported lead-contaminated candies resulting in abdominal pains for which he was given a Hispanic folk remedy, called greta, by his mother. The home remedy aggravated the child's symptoms which prompted medical consultation. Analysis of the powdered folk remedy revealed a lead concentration of 140 000 ppm. This case highlights the complexities associated with identifying unfamiliar sources of lead poisoning, and their potential relationships to cultural practices.

Successful treatment of potentially fatal heavy metal poisonings.

Pure inorganic heavy metal ingestions for suicidal intent are a rare occurrence. Most case reports on this subject focus on the serious neurological, hepatic, or renal side effects. We describe two cases of significant heavy metal poisonings (arsenic trioxide and mercuric chloride) that were successfully managed with aggressive decontamination and combined chelation therapy. Both chemicals were obtained in pure powder form through the Internet.

Arsenic trioxide poisoning: a description of two acute overdoses.

Arsenic is a traditional poison that has a history extending back into ancient times, as a medicinal agent, a homicidal poison and more recently in deliberate and unintentional self-poisoning. We report two cases of acute poisoning with an unwettable formulation of arsenic trioxide. Both patients had early gastrointestinal toxicity and were treated with early whole bowel irrigation (WBI). Chelation therapy with dimercaptosuccinic acid (dimercaptosuccinate, DMSA) was commenced within 24 hours and serial blood and urine arsenic concentrations were measured. Neither patient suffered any adverse outcome in spite of very high blood and urine concentrations of arsenic. Arsenic quantification in blood, urine and faeces suggested that enhanced gastrointestinal decontamination was minimally effective for decontamination and that DMSA for at least two weeks was required.

Arsenic species excretion after dimercaptopropanesulfonic acid (DMPS) treatment of an acute arsenic trioxide poisoning.

We studied the urinary excretion of the different arsenic species in urine samples from a young man who tried to commit suicide by ingesting about 0.6 g arsenic trioxide. He received immediate therapy with dimercaptopropanesulfonic acid (DMPS) after his delivery into the hospital. We assessed urinary arsenite (inorganic trivalent arsenic), arsenate (inorganic pentavalent arsenic), pentavalent dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and pentavalent monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) in urine with ion-exchange chromatography and on-line hydride-technique atomic absorption spectrometry. The predominant amount of the excreted arsenic was unchanged trivalent inorganic arsenic (37.4%), followed by pentavalent inorganic arsenic (2.6%), MMA (2.1%), DMA (0.2%) and one unidentified arsenic species (0.7%, if calculated as DMA). In the first urine voiding in the clinic, the total arsenic concentration was 215 mg/l, which fell 1000-fold after 8 days of DMPS therapy. A most striking finding was the almost complete inhibition of the second methylation step in arsenic metabolism. As mechanisms for the reduced methylation efficiency, the saturation of the enzymatic process of arsenic methylation, the high dosage of antidote DMPS, which might inhibit the activity of the methyl transferases, and analytical reasons are discussed. The high dosage of DMPS is the most likely explanation. The patient left the hospital after a 12-day treatment with antidote.

Efficacy of a potentized homoeopathic drug (Arsenicum Album-30) in reducing genotoxic effects produced by arsenic trioxide in mice: comparative studies of pre-, post- and combined pre- and post-oral administration and comparative efficacy of two microdoses.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the comparative efficacies of Arsenicum Album 30C and 200C and three administrative modes in protecting against the genotoxic effects produced by Arsenic trioxide injection in mice. DESIGN: Healthy mice, Mus musculus, were intraperitoneally injected with a 0.004% solution of As2O3 @1 ml/100 gms of body weight. Genotoxic effects were assessed through chromosome aberrations (CA), micronucleated erythrocytes (MNE), mitotic index (MI) and sperm head anomaly (SHA) studies, keeping suitable succussed alcohol fed (positive) and As2O3 untreated normal (negative) controls. The As2O3 treated mice were divided into three subgroups, which were orally administered with the drug a) prior to, b) after and c) both prior to and after injection of As2O3 at specific fixation intervals. RESULTS: While the CA, MNE and SHA were reduced in the drug fed series as compared to respective controls, the MI showed an apparent increase. The combined pre- and post-feeding of Arsenicum album was found to be most effective in reducing the genotoxic effects of As2O3 i200C was more effective than 30C. CONCLUSION: Arsenicum Album reduces the genotoxic effect of arsenic poisoning.

Slaked lime and betel nut cancer in Papua New Guinea.

Oral squamous cell cancer is the most common malignant tumour in Papua New Guinea. We have found that oral cancer in this region is concentrated at the corner of the mouth and cheek, by striking contrast with western populations, and corresponds precisely with the site of application of lime in 77% of 169 cases. Powdered slaked lime applied to the chewed Areca nut with Piper betle inflorescence at the corner of the mouth causes the mean pH to rise to 10, at which reactive oxygen species are generated from betel quid ingredients in vitro. Reactive oxygen species, together with sustained lime-induced cell proliferation, suggest a possible mechanism of carcinogenesis for this tumour.