• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.176-179
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• 2009

A 38-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to agitation, nausea, chest discomfort, tachycardia and hypertension 6h after ingesting approximately 60 capsules of sibutramine. The woman developed the clinical features of acute psychosis, including auditory hallucination, agitation and paranoid ideation, on day 2. No relevant changes were detected on the laboratory examinations or on the electrocardiogram throughout the period of hospitalization. She was treated with risperidone and benzodiazepine. The symptoms subsequently resolved completely with cessation of the provoking agent. The patient was discharged on day 7 and the follow-up revealed no sequelae for 5 months.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.135-137
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• 2007

Hydrofluoric acid is a weak inorganic acid used for etching and as rust removals. Systemic toxicity after oral ingestion induces rapid development of hypocalcemia and hyperkalemia, leading to ventricular fibrillation and finally asystole. We report a case of intentional ingestion of hydrofluoric acid producing an altered mental state at the time of the patient's arrival in the emergency department. The patient died approximately 80 minutes after the exposure with asystol.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.131-134
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• 2007

The emergence of anticoagulant rodenticides in the 1950's resulted in an epochal reduction in the use of all other agents. It is estimated that anticoagulant rodenticides constitute 95 percent of all rodenticides now in use. However, the advent of rodent resistance to these agents has led to a return to use of some other non-anticoagulant types of rodenticides. Older non-anticoagulant rodenticides have been stored in basements, garages, and barns and are still in use in some regions of the United States and in other countries. We report a case of non-anticoagulant rodenticide (beta-fluoroethyl acetate) poisoning.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.99-102
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• 2005

The caustic drugs are classified into acid and alkali. Oral intake of these drugs cause histological injuries to the surfaces of oral cavity, laryngopharynx, and esophagus. Caustic drugs such as detergents and brilliants are easily contacted at homes. However, until now, the epidemiology and the clinical statistics of caustic drug ingestion in Korea were not carried out. This is a case report of sodium hydroxide - lye, a caustic drug more toxic than the others - ingestion with complication of gastroesophageal perforation, rapidly progressed mediastinitis and prompt death in the course of treatment.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.23-25
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• 2009

A 21-year-old woman ingested 1,250 mg of diphenhydramine in a single overdose. Diphenhydramine, a rare ingredient in over-the-counter medication, is used to treat insomnia in Korea. Toxicity is usually limited to anticholinergic symptoms. The standard approach to therapy for the treatment of diphenhydramine overdose is supportive care, including physostigmines and sodium bicarbonates. Here, we review the literature and for the first time report a case of acute diphenhydramine overdosage in Korea, complicated with seizures.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.123-129
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• 2008

A 36-year-old female was transferred to our emergency medical center with decreased mental status after a 6.0 g propafenone overdose because of domestic disturbance. She had no previous history of epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, hypertension or psychiatric illness. Before presenting to our center, gastrointestinal decontamination, charcoal administration, and endotracheal intubation due to bradycardia and generalized seizure had been performed. Soon after hospital arrival, at 5 h after ingestion, she collapsed into shock and fatal arrhythmia. We successfully resuscitated the patient with amiodarone, sodium bicarbonate, a large volume of normal saline, calcium, and ventilator care. At 23 h after ingestion, she was fully recovered and had no subjective signs or symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of intentional propafenone overdose in Korea, which we report with reviews of the previous literature.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1981.05a
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• pp.5.3-6
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• 1981

There are too many kinds of esophageal corrosive agents, such as sodium hydrochloride, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, etc. Esophageal burn due to above chemical agents are decreasing recently, but still many patients visited to the hospital because of swallowing corrosive agents for the purpose of suicide or accidentally. Among the treatment of corrosive injury of the esophagus, prevention of esophageal stricture is the key point. Recently various methods are using as the treatment of corrosive esophagitis and prevention of esophageal stricture. 51 cases of corrosive injury of the esophagus who had been admitted and treated at the Dept. of Otolaryngology, Han Yang University Hospital during past 9 years (from May 1972 to Dec. 1980) were evaluated and report the result about age distribution, sex incidence, monthly distribution, cause of swallowing, swallowing agents, arriving time at hospital after swallowing, changes on oral and pharyngeal mucosa, laboratory findings, emergency treatment and treatment during admission, treatment follow up results and complications with review of liter ature. Following results were obtained; 1. Female patients 27 cases (52.9%) were more than male patients 24 cases (47.1%) and its ratio was 1.13 : 1. 2. Age distribution showed predilection for age of 21-30 with 20 cases(39.2%), and 11-20 with 11 cases (21.6%), 31-40 with 7 cases(13.7%), over 50 with 7 cases (13.7%) were following. 3. Monthly distribution showed predilection for March with 8 cases(15.7%), and April, July with 7 cases (13.7%), September with 6 cases(l1.8%), October 5 cases(9.8%) were following. 4. For the purpose of suicide was the most cause of swallowing with 40 cases(78.4%), and accidentally swallowing 11 cases(21.6%). 5. Acetic acid was the most swallowing agent with 24 cases (47.0%), and hydrochloric acid 11 cases (21.5%), lye 8 cases(15.7%), iodine 2 cases(3.9%) were following. 6. Arriving time at the hospital after swallowing showed predilection for within 12 hours with 42 cases (82.4%), and from 12 hours to 24 hours with 4 cases(7.8%) was next. 7. Moderate change with injection and swelling was the prevalent change on oral and pharyngeal mucosa with 20 cases(39.2%) and severe cases with ulceration 18 cases (35.3%), mild cases with injection 10 cases (19.6%) were following. 8. Leukocytosis was seen on 40 cases (78.4%), and increased Hct. was seen 31 cases (60.8%). On urine analysis, 14 cases(27.5%) showed over 1.030 S.G., and proteinuria was seen on 25 cases(49.0%), glycosuria was seen on 5 cases(9.8%) and hematuria was seen on 6 cases(11.8). 9. Gastric lavage was done on 30 cases (58.8%) as emergency treatment and on 3 cases(5.9%) tracheostomy was done for the airway keeping. 10. As methods of treatment during admission, L-tube insertion was done on 50 cases (98.0%), antibiotics was given to 49 cases (96.1%), steroid and antacid were given to 46 cases(90.2%). 11. 36 cases(70.6%) were in favorable condition after proper treatment, but 2 cases (3.9%) were expired during admission, 4 cases (7.8%) showed esophageal stricture in-spite of treatment, and 1 case(2.0%) showed pyloric stenosis. 12. Complications were observed in 8 cases (17.7%). Renal failure (4 cases), aspiration pneumonia (2 cases), upper G-I bleeding (1 cases), and diabetic coma (1 cases) were seen in order of frequency.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.321-330
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• 1995

Purpose : To evaluate whether the early pulmonary irradiation can prevent or decrease the pulmonary damage and contribute to improve ultimate survival in paraquat lung. Materials and Methods : From Jun. 1987 to Aug. 1993, thirty patients with paraquat poisoning were evaluated. Fourteen of these patients were received pulmonary irradiation(RT). All of the patients were managed with aggressive supportive treatment such as gastric lavage, forced diuresis, antioxidant agents and antifibrosis agents. Ingested amounts of paraquat were estimated into three groups(A : minimal 50cc). Pulmonary irradiation was started within 24 hours after admission(from day 1 to day 11 after ingestion of paraquat). Both whole lungs were irradiated with AP/PA parallel opposing fields using Co-60 teletherapy machine. A total of 10Gy(2Gy/fr. x 5days) was delivered without correction of lung density. Results : In group A, all patients were alive regardless of pulmonary irradiation and in group C, all of the patients were died due to multi-organ failure, especially pulmonary fibrosis regardless of pulmonary irradiation. However, in group B, six of 7 patients($86{\%}$) with no RT were died due to respiratory failure, but 4 of 8 patients with RT were alive and 4 of 5 patients who were received pulmonary irradiation within 4 days after ingestion of paraquat were all alive though radiological pulmonary change. One patient who refused RT after 2Gy died due to pulmonary fibrosis. All 3 patients who were received pulmonary irradiation after 4 days after ingestion were died due to pulmonary fibrosis in spite of recovery from renal and hepatic toxicity Conclusion : It is difficult to find out the effect of pulmonary irradiation on the course of the paraquat lung because the precise plasma and urine paraquat concentration were not available between control and irradiation groups. But early pulmonary irradiation within 4 days after paraquat poisoning with aggresive supportive treatment appears to decrease Pulmonary toxicity and contribute survival in patients with mouthful ingestion of paraquat who are destined to have reversible renal and hepatic damage but irreversible pulmonary toxicity.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.49-51
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• 2008

Sodium azide (NaN3) is a white to colorless, crystalline powder that is highly water soluble, tasteless, and odorless. It is used mainly as a preservative in aqueous laboratory reagents and biologic fluids and also as an automobile airbag gas generant. Although it has caused deaths for decades, the toxic properties and effects of sodium azide in humans remains unknown. A 31-year-old comatose female was transported to the emergency department with an empty bottle labeled sodium azide. She developed cardiac arrest 15 minutes after arrival and expired in spite of 30 minutes of resuscitative effort. Subsequently, resuscitation team members incidentally suffered from sodium azide's exposure and developed eye discomfort, skin rashes parasthesias, pruritus, sore throat, and headache.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 1984

The epidemiological information on 156 cases of acute drug intoxication treated at emergency room of Sin An Dai-Woo Hospital in Bi-Gum island during the year of 1981-1982 were reviewed and analyzed. And the findings obtained was as follows : 1) Annual incidence rate of acute drug intoxication was 3.3 per 1,000 in habitants (male 3.5, female 3.1). 2) In both sexes the highest incidence was obsesved in the age group of 20~49 years with 7.6 in male and 6.2 in female per 1,000 inhabitants. 3) In both sexes the highest ease distribution was observed during summer season of July and August (male 33.2%, female 26.4%). 4) Eating pesticides was the most frequently used for suicide purpose in both sexes (male 89. 3%, female 82.2%). 5) In terms of foundation for conclusion to eating poison, "by guardion's explanation" was the highest rate in both groups of eating pesticides (97.8%) and eating rodentcides(77.8%). 6) The case fatality rate due to eating poison was 4.5% (male 5.9%, female 2.8%). 7) In haspitalization days, the most cases was observed at less than 3 days (male 73.8%, female 79.2%).