[The clinical analysis of 18 cases with acute trichloropropane poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: To summarise the clinical features of 18 cases with acute trichloropropane (TCP) poisoning for improving the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. METHODS: Exposure history, clinical manifestations, laboratorial examinations, poisoning causes and treatment were retrospectively reviewed in 18 cases with acute TCP poisoning. The results of peripheral lymphocyte micronucleus tests were compared with the healthy control group (n = 33). RESULTS: The common clinical symptoms were as following: respiratory symptoms were the earlier one set, such as chest tightness in 13, dry and sore throat in 7, cough and runny nose in 2. Gastrointestinal symptoms were more common, such as abdominal pain in 18, nausea and vomit in 14. Only 1 out of 18 patients was found with liver injury. The major manifestation was the increase in ALT and AST, which was returned to normal after treatment. ALL of the 18 patients were found TCP in their serum which concentration was from 39.0 to 310.0 ng/ml, and the average was (68.9 ± 42.1) ng/ml. The symptoms of toxic peripheral neuropathy were typical in all the patients, such as fatigue and numb limb in 18, burning pain of the distal lower limbs in 14, the symmetrical sock-like sensory dysfunction of pain, touch and vibration of the lower limbs in 13, muscle strength reduced in 7, hyporeflexia knee-jerks in 4, hyporeflexia ankle-jerks in 3. The peripheral nerve conduction velocity (NCV) examinations were as followed: the (sensore-nerve conduction velocity) SCV of peroneus super nerve in 18 and the (motor-nerve conduction velocity) MCV of tibial nerve in 8 was slowed down and the distal latency in 18 was prolonged. Micronucleus were found in all 18 cases. The micronucleus rate was 10.06‰ ± 2.80‰ and 8.24‰ ± 2.67‰ in acute TCP poisoning group and healthy control group, respectively. The difference was significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The common clinical manifestations of respiratory exposure of TCP poisoning patients were respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms and the symptoms of toxic peripheral neuropathy. Liver injury in those 18 cases was not obvious. Lymphocyte micronucleus of peripheral blood were found in all 18 cases.

Chlorine poisoning caused by improper mixing of household disinfectants during the COVID-19 pandemic: Case series.

BACKGROUND: Misuse of disinfectants during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has led to several poisoning incidents. However, there are few clinical case reports on poisoning caused by improper mixing of household disinfectants. AIM: To summarize the clinical characteristics and treatment effects of chlorine poisoning caused by improper mixing of hypochlorite bleach with acidic cleaning agents.METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed baseline and clinical data, clinical symptoms, and treatment methods of seven patients with chlorine poisoning who were admitted to the National Army Poisoning Treatment Center. RESULTS: Among the seven patients, the average poisoning time (exposure to admission) was 57 h (4-240 h). All patients were involved in cleaning bathrooms. Chest computed tomography scans revealed bilateral lung effusions or inflammatory changes in five patients. The partial pressure of oxygen decreased in six patients, and respiratory failure occurred in one. Five patients had different degrees of increase in white blood cell count. Humidified oxygen therapy, non-invasive mechanical ventilation, anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, antioxidants, and antibiotics were administered for treatment. The average length of hospital stay was 7 d (4-9 d). All seven patients recovered and were discharged. CONCLUSION: Improper mixing of household disinfectants may cause damage to the respiratory system due to chlorine poisoning. Corticosteroids may improve lung exudation in severe cases, and symptomatic supportive treatment should be performed early.

[A short tandem repeat polymorphism in the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene in Chinese population].

Polymorphism of the (CCTTT)n repeat, a short tandem repeats (STR) located in promoter region of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene, was analyzed in a total of 316 Chinese healthy subjects. Twelve alleles and forty-nine genotypes were identified. Three alleles that had not been reported previously, namely 17-repeats, 18-repeats and 19-repeats, were found in Chinese population. Mendelian inheritance of the allele in a family composed of three generations was determined. Some of the observed allele frequency of this STR locus in Chinese differed significantly from that of Caucasians in England.

[The clinical efficacy of hemoperfusion in treatment of drug poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of hemoperfusion to remove some drugs or toxin from the body and its clinical efficacy. METHODS: Sixty-nine cases of poisoning due to tetramine or other drugs poisoning in our hospital between July 1990 and December 2003 were studied. Thirty-four patients among them received conventional treatment (including early gastric lavage, hepatoprotection, diuresis or respiratory support), and the remaining were given conventional treatment and hemoperfusion. Toxin concentration changes in blood before and after hemoperfusion, survival rate, time from come onset to regaining consciousness and convulsion termination and duration of clinical course were compared. RESULTS: In the hemoperfusion group, three patients died, the survival rate was 91.4%, whereas in the non-hemoperfusion group, the survival rate was 85.3% (P > 0.05). Meanwhile the clinical course was markedly shortened in the hemoperfusion group (P < 0.05). The time from coma onset to regaining consciousness and convulsion termination in the hemoperfusion group was significantly shorter than that in the non-hemoperfusion group. The clearance rate was different for different poisons, among them the benzodiazepines had an excellent clearance. CONCLUSIONS: Hemoperfusion could adsorb from blood a different amount of poisons. There is obvious efficacy in shortening clinical course and reducing complications. It could possibly raise survival rate in serious poisoning.

Aquaporin 8 expression is reduced and regulated by microRNAs in patients with ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is associated with differential expression of genes involved in inflammation and tissue remodeling. MicroRNA (miRNA) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of UC by regulating the gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and control crucial physiological processes. This study aimed to identify aquaporin 8 (AQP8) expression and its relationship with miRNA in UC patients. METHODS: Human colon samples, in this study, were obtained from 20 patients with UC and 16 healthy subjects undergoing diagnostic colonoscopy at the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital between December 2009 and June 2010. We screened different genes from UC tissues and healthy subjects using genome-wide microarray, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. Regulation of gene expression by miRNAs was assessed by luciferase reporter construct assays and transfection of specific miRNA mimics and inhibitor. RESULTS: We identified that 1596 genes were increased and 1301 genes were decreased in UC patients compared to healthy subjects. Among them, we focused on the analysis of AQP8 which was decreased three folds in UC tissues (P < 0.01). The expression of AQP8 mRNA and protein were decreased in UC tissue and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α treated HT29 cells compared with controls (P < 0.05). We searched candidate target miRNAs of AQP8 through bioformatics and the luciferase report assay analysis indicated that miR-424, miR-195, miR-330, miR-612, and miR-16 which has complementary site in the 3-untranslated region (3'UTR) of AQP8 could decrease the relative luciferase activities by 10% - 45%. CONCLUSION: AQP8 and its relationship with miRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of UC.