A Rare Presentation of Severe Organophosphate Poisoning: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Organophosphates are chemicals commonly used as pesticides and work to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, leading to acetylcholine build up at muscarinic and nicotinic receptors throughout the body. Poisonings are often seen as small volume, chronic cases due to agricultural exposures, but can present as suicide attempts via organophosphate ingestion. Organophosphate poisonings, particularly when large volumes are ingested, require rapid and robust initiation of treatment. We present a case highlighting the appropriate management of profound organophosphate toxicity. We present a case of a 40-year-old female brought in by ambulance after purposefully ingesting two bottles of 100mL dichlorvos (DDVP), one of the largest volume organophosphate ingestions documented in the literature. She presented with severe salivation, diaphoresis and encephalopathy and was then intubated, requiring mechanical ventilation. She received multiple days of intensive care as she was treated with atropine, pralidoxime, intravenous fluids and vasopressors.

Genetic Pathways of Neuroregeneration in a Novel Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Model in Adult Zebrafish.

Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) are one of the most prevalent neurological disorders, and humans are severely limited in their ability to repair and regenerate central nervous system (CNS) tissue postinjury. However, zebrafish (Danio rerio) maintain the remarkable ability to undergo complete and functional neuroregeneration as an adult. We wish to extend knowledge of the known mechanisms of neuroregeneration by analyzing the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in a novel adult zebrafish model of mTBI. In this study, a rodent weight drop model of mTBI was adapted to the adult zebrafish. A memory test showed significant deficits in spatial memory in the mTBI group. We identified DEGs at 3 and 21 days postinjury (dpi) through RNA-sequencing analysis. The resulting DEGs were categorized according to gene ontology (GO) categories. At 3 dpi, GO categories consisted of peak injury response pathways. Significantly, at 21 dpi, GO categories consisted of neuroregeneration pathways. Ultimately, these results validate a novel zebrafish model of mTBI and elucidate significant DEGs of interest in CNS injury and neuroregeneration.