Iranian Journal of Toxicology
Volume:6 Issue: 1, Spring 2012

Sodium arsenite (SA) recently has been recommended to be used in malignancy therapy. Our studies showed, SA in short and long period of treatment caused reduction of rats Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) viability and induced caspase dependent apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of SA on osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. MSCs were extracted and expanded to third passage, then cultured in DMEM supplemented with osteogenic media in presence of 1 and 25nM of SA for 21 days. The viability and the level of mineralization were determined using MTT assay and alizarin red respectively. In addition morphology and nuclear diameter of the cells were studied with the help of fluorescent dye. Furthermore, calcium content and alkalinphosphatase activity also were estimated using commercial kit. Data was statistically analyzed and the P<0.05 was taken as the level of significant. The viability and mineralization of the cells treated with SA reduced significantly (P<0.05) after tenth day in compare with control. Also, chromatin condensation, reduction of nuclei diameter and cytoplasm shrinkage were observed in the cell treated with 1 and 25 nM concentrations. The calcium and alkalinphosphatase activity of the cells decreased significantly with 1 and 25 nM concentrations of SA when compared with control. Adverse effect of SA was observed on osteogenic differentiation of MSCs at 1 and 25 nM due to disruption of mineralization. We strongly suggest more investigation to be run on this chemical with respect to the therapy of the malignant patients.

Seizure is a frequent and important finding in the field of clinical toxicology. Almost all poisons and drugs can produce seizure. We have evaluated frequency and complications of drug-induced seizure in present study. The present descriptive cross-sectional study was done on patients who were referred to Baharloo Hospital, Tehran, Iran, that had developed seizure before or after hospitalization following intoxication between 20 March 2010 and 20 March 2011. The exclusion criteria were a positive history of epilepsy, head trauma, or abnormal findings in EEG or brain CT scan. Tramadol and tricyclic antidepressants were the most common causes of drug-induced seizure (31.5% and 14.7% of the cases, respectively). Overall, 6 patients (4.2%) had developed persistent vegetative state in consequence of brain hypoxia, 16 patients (11.2%) had died due to complications of seizure or the poisoning itself. Tramadol was the leading cause of drug-induced seizure and its morbidity and mortality. Tonic-colonic seizure was the most common type of drug-induced seizure. Seizure had occurred once in 58% of the patients, twice in 37.1% of the patients, and had been revolutionized to status epilepticus in 4.9% of them. Among the 7 patients who had developed status epilepticus, 3 cases had died. Appropriate measures for treatment of seizure and prevention of its complications should be taken when patients with drug poisoning are admitted into hospital, especially when the offending drug(s) has a higher likelihood to induce seizure.

Herbal distillates have been used for many centuries as drinks, flavors, and herbal medicine in Iran, especially in the city of Urmia. Recently, some studies claimed the presence of methanol in different types of herbal distillates. Methanol is a highly toxic compound which can cause acute or chronic toxicity in humans. Acute poisoning with methanol can cause different complications and even death while chronic methanol exposure has a wide range of nonspecific and misleading findings. The main purpose of this study was to determine methanol content in the commonly-used industrial herbal distillates produced in Urmia. Five samples of six types of most commonly used herbal distillates (peppermint, musk willow, lemon balm, pennyroyal, dill, and rose water) were purchased from five active herbal distillates manufacturers in Urmia. All samples were transferred to the laboratory and methanol content of each sample was measured two times according to the standard method of analysis using spectrophotometer. The lowest and highest concentration of methanol were found in rose water (mean=72.4±32.1 ppm) and musk willow (mean=278.3±106 ppm) samples, respectively. One-way ANOVA showed statistically significant differences among methanol concentrations in the studied herbal distillates (F=60.9, P <0.001). Different amounts of methanol were found in herbal distillates and it seems that there are statistically significant differences in methanol concentrations of various types of herbal distillates. Therefore, considering the harmful effects of methanol on human health, further studies are required for determining permitted levels of methanol in herbal distillates.

Iran is one of the countries implementing indoor residual spraying (IRS) for malaria control. Deltamethrin (DLT) is one of the insecticides recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) for this program. IRS is currently performed in Sistan and Baluchistan province as an area with unstable malaria situation and the highest prevalence of malaria in the country. DLT has been used since 2003 in this area. The purpose of this study is to determine IRS status of DLT in malaria elimination program in this province. In this cross-sectional study, data on workers, insecticide formulation, amount of used insecticide, the number of sprayed places, and spray coverage percent in a period of four years between 2008 and 2011 from six districts of the province were collected and analyzed. IRS was implemented by two DLT formulations (WP 5%, WG 25%) two rounds yearly. Mean of coverage percentage was 85.12±2.47 on fixed places and 95.87±2.47 for temporary places. On average, every worker sprayed in each round eight hours a day (non-continuously) by 6 to 8 pumps containing DLT at 625 to 780 mg-Lit concentration. Thus, workers were in contact with high daily doses of DLT mist. Health system must provide suitable equipment and logistics support for spraymen’s health. Also, training workers would certainly be effective. Instructing and explaining the important role of IRS in malaria prevention to households can be effective in spraying coverage augmentation.

Frequency of Tramadol intoxication is increasing as a result of its use as a drug for suppression of withdrawal symptoms by opioids abusers and its wide accessibility of this drug. Tramadol intoxication can lead to death and, therefore, early identification of its clinical manifestations is crucial since early detection of the intoxication and its treatment could improve patient's survival This study investigated the frequency of clinical and laboratory findings in Tramadol intoxication. In this cross-sectional study, patients with Tramadol intoxication who referred to Razi Hospital in Rasht, Iran, during 2005-06 were examined. Their medical records were surveyed for demographic data, past medical history, neurological examination, and routine laboratory tests. All data were statistically analyzed by SPSS software version 14. The majority of the 306 patients (83.3% male) were in the age range of 20-40 years and 68.6% of them had been educated up to high school. The mean dose of ingested Tramadol was 746± 453mg (mean± SD). Agitation (25.2%) and seizure (20.3%) were the most frequent reported symptoms. Among laboratory abnormalities, the most common findings were prolonged PT (18.3%) and increased ALT (5.6%). The most common clinical presentation was agitation and the most common laboratory finding was prolonged PT. Of all the patients, 3 cases were admitted to ICU. Although Tramadol poisoning might lead to death, there was only one death after Tramadol poisoning in the current study.

Aluminum phosphide as a fumigant is extensively used for wheat preservation from rodents and bugs especially in silos worldwide. There is increasing number of acute intoxication with this potentially lethal compound because of its easy availability. We have tried to locate predictors of poor prognosis in patients with aluminum phosphide intoxication in order to find patients who need more strict medical cares. All cases of aluminum phosphide intoxication that had been referred to our hospital during April 2008 to March 2010 were studied by their medical dossiers. Pertinent data including vital signs, demographic features, clinical and lab findings, and incidence of any complication were collected and analyzed by the relevant statistical methods. Sixty seven cases of aluminum phosphide intoxication were included in the study. 44.8% of them were male. 97% of cases were suicidal. Mean amount of ingestion was 1.23+/- 0.71 tablets. Mortality rate was 41.8%. ECG abnormality and need for mechanical ventilation had negative relation with outcome. Correlation between some findings and complications with outcome in aluminum phosphide intoxication can be used as guidance for risk assessment and treatment planning in the patients.

Alkaloids from Senna alata leaves implicated as the active constituents of abortifacient are yet to be investigated for their effects on the normal functioning of the maternal liver and kidney. Therefore, the effects of crude alkaloids on some biochemical indices of kidney and liver damage were investigated in pregnant rats. Pregnant rats were randomized into 4 groups: A (control), B, C, and D and were orally administered 0.5 ml of distilled water, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight of the alkaloids respectively once daily on days 10-18 post coitum. Thin-layer chromatographic separation gave five spots with Rf values of 0.28, 0.33, 0.39, 0.47, and 0.55 that produced creamy precipitate and reddish-brown colour, respectively, with Mayer’s and Wagner’s reagents. Quantitative determination gave 0.30 g which corresponded to a percentage yield of 1.50 % of the alkaloids. The decreases in the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate (AST) and alanine transaminases in the liver and kidney of the animals by the alkaloids were accompanied by corresponding increases in the serum enzymes. The alkaloids reduced liver- and kidney-body weight ratios, serum globulin, urea, uric acid, and phosphate ions while the serum concentrations of albumin, bilirubin, creatinine, potassium ions, AST/ALT ratio, blood urea nitrogen: creatinine increased. The levels of sodium, calcium, and chloride ions did not change significantly (P>0.05). Overall, the alkaloid at doses of 250-1000 mg/kg body weight produced permeability changes in the plasma membrane of the organs and adversely affected the normal secretory, synthetic, and excretory functions of these organs.

Acute opium intoxication is one of the most common causes of poisoning in children in Iran. Although most cases are accidental, traditional misuse of opium for symptomatic therapy of various childhood diseases also contributes to high rate of opium intoxication in Iran. Cases: Here, we report two cases of opium intoxication in infants resulted from transdermal application of opium on burned skin. To our knowledge this is the first case report of intoxication from transdermal misuse of opium. Health care providers should be aware about signs and symptoms of opium intoxication in children. Opium intoxication should be suspected in each child with history of a recent burn injury that presented with decreased level of consciousness.