A Case of Exacerbation of Haloperidol-Induced Rhabdomyolysis Following the Onset of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which intracellular components are released into the blood and urine. Rhabdomyolysis can be caused by drug-related complications and COVID-19; however, the underlying mechanism is not clear. In this study, we report a case of rhabdomyolysis complicated by COVID-19, in which we presumed that the cause of rhabdomyolysis was related to prior administration of haloperidol by assessment of the drug history and progression of myopathy. CASE REPORT A 52-year-old man with schizophrenia experienced worsening insomnia 10 days before admission. Thus, haloperidol was increased from 1.5 mg to 3 mg once daily, and 2 to 3 days later, he developed hand tremors and weakness. One day prior to admission, the patient suddenly developed severe back pain. Based on the examination, the patient was diagnosed with COVID-19 complicated with rhabdomyolysis. Laboratory findings on admission were as follows: creatine phosphokinase: 41 539 IU/L; urinary myoglobin, 190×10³ ng/mL; and hematuria scale, grade 4. On day 1, he was started on saline infusion; therefore, haloperidol was discontinued. On day 2, the hematuria resolved. On day 5, the tremor, weakness, and back pain had resolved. On day 7, his creatine kinase level was 242 IU/L, and saline was administered. CONCLUSIONS It has been suggested that the onset of COVID-19 can exacerbate haloperidol-induced rhabdomyolysis. Therefore, if there is a complication of rhabdomyolysis and COVID-19, it is important to review the drug history, specifically that of haloperidol. We recommend hydration and discontinuation of haloperidol to avoid acute kidney injury, in addition to treating COVID-19.

Recent progress in the development of high-performance bonded magnets using rare earth-Fe compounds.

Permanent magnets, and particularly rare earth magnets such as Nd-Fe-B, have attracted much attention because of their magnetic properties. There are two well-established techniques for obtaining sintered magnets and bonded Nd-Fe-B magnets. Powder metallurgy is used to obtain high-performance anisotropic sintered magnets. To produce bonded magnets, either melt-spinning or the hydrogenation, disproportionation, desorption, and recombination process is used to produce magnet powders, which are then mixed with binders. Since the development of Nd-Fe-B magnets, several kinds of intermetallic compounds have been reported, such as Sm2Fe17Nx and Sm(Fe,M)12 (M: Ti, V, etc.). However, it is difficult to apply a liquid-phase sintering process similar to the one used for Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets in order to produce high-performance Sm-Fe-based sintered magnets because of the low decomposition temperature of the compound and the lack of a liquid grain boundary phase like that in the Nd-Fe-B system. Therefore, bonded magnets are useful in the production of bulk magnets using these Sm-Fe-based compounds. This article reviews recent progress in our work on the development of high-performance bonded magnets using Nd2Fe14B and Sm2Fe17Nx compounds.

Preparation of solid-solution type Fe-Co nanoalloys by synchronous deposition of Fe and Co using dual arc plasma guns.

We succeeded in the efficient preparation of well-dispersed Fe-Co nanoalloys (NAs) using the arc plasma deposition method. Synchronous shots of dual arc plasma guns were applied to a carbon support to prepare the solid-solution type Fe-Co NAs having an approximately 1 : 1 atomic ratio. The alloy structures with and without a reductive thermal treatment under a hydrogen atmosphere were examined using X-ray powder diffraction, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, high resolution STEM, and magnetic measurements, suggesting that highly crystalline spherical particles of ordered B2-type Fe-Co NAs form by the thermal treatment of the deposited grains.

Soluble dietary fiber protects against nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced damage to the small intestine in cats.

PURPOSE: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) often cause ulcers in the small intestine in humans, but there are few effective agents for treatment of small intestinal ulcers. We found that soluble dietary fibers (SDFs), such as pectin, could prevent the formation of small intestinal lesions induced by indomethacin (IND) in cats. To elucidate the mechanism of protection by SDFs, we examined the viscosities of SDFs and the effects of pectin on gastrointestinal absorption of IND and intestinal hypermotility induced by IND. METHODS: Cats were given regular dry food (RFD-Dry) or RFD-Dry supplemented with pectin, guar gum, polydextrose, or mucin twice daily. IND was administered orally once daily for 3 days. Mucosal lesions in the small intestine were examined 24 h after the final dosing of IND. Plasma concentrations of IND were measured by HPLC. GI motilities were measured using a telemetry system in conscious cats implanted with force transducers. Viscosities of the SDFs were measured using a viscosimeter. RESULTS: In cats given RFD-Dry, IND (3 mg/kg) increased motility and produced many lesions in the lower half of the small intestine; the total lesion area (TLA) was 7.5 +/- 2.6 cm(2) (n = 4). Lesions induced by IND were markedly decreased in cats given RFD-Dry supplemented with 3% pectin, guar gum, polydextrose or mucin; TLAs were 0.6 +/- 0.3, 0.0 +/- 0.0, 1.3 +/- 0.8 and 1.6 +/- 0.5 cm(2) (n = 4) (P < 0.05 vs. RFD-Dry alone), respectively. The viscosity (mPa-S) of pectin, guar gum, polydextrose and mucin (3% concentration) was 414, >1,200, 1 and 4, respectively. Pectin did not affect the absorption of IND nor did it inhibit IND-induced intestinal hypermotility. CONCLUSIONS: SDFs protect the small intestine against NSAID-induced damage, probably by compensating a barrier function of the mucin decreased by IND. Viscosities of the SDFs play a role, at least in part, in the protective effects of the SDFs on the small intestine.