• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.215-222
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• 1997

The features of seizure-related brain injuries in rats poisoned i.p. with diisopropylfiuorophosphate were investigated. Pyridostigmine bromide (0.1 mg/kg) and atropine methylnitrate (20 mg/kg), which are centrally inactive, were pretreated i.m. 30 min and 10 min, respectively. before diisopropylfluorophosphate (10 mg /kg, $2LD_50$) poisoning to reduce the mortality and eliminate peripheral signs. Diisopropylfluorophosphate induced severe limbic seizures, and early necrotic and delayed apoptotic brain injuries. The necrotic brain injury, which was closely related to seizure intensity, was exerted as early as 1 hr predominently in hippocampus and piriform cortex. showing spongiform change (malacia) of neurophils in severe cases, in contrast to a typical apoptotic (TUNEL-positive)pattern after 12 hr in thalamus, and a mixed type in amygdala. Nitric oxide content in cerebrospinal fiuid significantly increased after 2 hr, reaching a maximal level at 6 hr. Pretreatment with $_L-N^G$-nitroarginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, reduced nitric oxide content and attenuated only apoptotic brain injury in all four brain regions examined without affecting seizure intensity and necrotic injury. Taken together, early necrotic and delayed apoptotic brain injuries induced by diisopropylfiuorophosphate poisoning in rats may be related to seizure intensity and nitric oxide production, respectively.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2015

Purpose: Many patients who are acutely poisoned with organophosphorus pesticides have co-ingested alcohol. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that influence mortality in organophosphate intoxication and the differences between alcohol coingested patients and non-coingested patients, looking at vital signs, length of admission, cholinesterase activity, complications, and mortality. Methods: All patients visiting one Emergency Department (ED) with organophosphate intoxication between January 2000 and December 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups, alcohol coingested group and non-coingested group. Results: During the study period, 136 patients (alcohol coingested group, 95 patients; non-coingested group, 41 patients) presented to the ED with organophosphate intoxication. Seventy-one alcohol coingested patients (74.1%) vs. 16 non-coingested patients (39.0%) received endotracheal intubation, with results of the analysis showing a clear distinction between the two groups (p=0.001). Twenty-three alcohol coingested patients (24.2%) vs. 1 non-coingested patient (2.4%) required inotropics, indicating a significant gap (p=0.002). Twenty-eight alcohol coingested patients (29.5%) vs. 2 non-coingested patients (4.9%) died, with results of the analysis showing a clear distinction between the two groups (p=0.002). Conclusion: In cases of organophosphate intoxication, alcohol coingested patients tended to receive endotracheal intubation, went into shock, developed central nervous system complications, and more died.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.56-60
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• 2011

Purpose: The optimal dose of oximes for use in the treatment of organophosphorus pesticide poisoning has not been conclusively established. In this retrospective study, we assessed the effectiveness of the use of high-dose pralidoxime infusion in treating organophosphorus pesticide poisoning. Methods: From January 1998 to December 2009, 71 patients visited the hospital Emergency Department (ED) as a result of organophosphate pesticide intoxication. All of these patients received an initial bolus of 2 g of pralidoxime as the first step of treatment. Patients who then received continuous infusion of pralidoxime at a dose of 500 mg/hr were entered into study group 1 (low dose), and those treated by continuous infusion of pralidoxime at a dose of 1000 mg/hr were entered into study group 2 (high-dose). Plasma cholinesterase activities for each patient were evaluated at ED arrival and re-evaluated 24 hours after pralidoxime infusion. The effectiveness of the two treatment modalities was gauged by comparing the required duration of mechanical ventilation, time spent in the intensive care unit (ICU) and total time spent in the hospital. Results: The mean duration of mechanical ventilation was $9.98{\pm}6.47$ days for group 1 and $4.39{\pm}6.44$ days for group 2. The respective mean duration of time spent in ICU and the total number of days in the hospital were $16.38{\pm}18.84$ days and $21.87{\pm}20.16$ days for group 1, and $7.83{\pm}9.99$ days and $11.71{\pm}13.53$ days for group 2. Highdose pralidoxime treatment was associated with shorter required durations for mechanical ventilation, ICU and hospital stay. In addition, plasma cholinesterase reactivation rates were higher for those patients receiving high-dose pralidoxime treatment. Conclusion: The results suggest that high-dose pralidoxime treatment has greater efficacy for patients suffering from organophosphorus pesticide poisoning.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.134-140
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• 2008

The data on pesticide poisoning death toll during 2000-2005 was obtained from Korean National Statistical Office and analysed to find out any precautionary measures against pesticide poisonings. Pesticide poisoning death toll showed slightly increasing trend with year up to about 3500 in 2005. Most of the pesticide poisoning death cases were intentional self-poisoning accounting for more than 80% of total pesticide poisoning death. The pesticide most often implicated in poisoning death were paraquat dichloride, a non-selective herbicide and organophosphate/carbamate insecticides. The regional distribution of pesticide poisoning death showed urban 21.6% and rural area 78.4%. As for the occupation of the dead, agricultural, forestry and fishery workers accounted for 27.4% and non-agricultural workers was 72.6% of pesticide poisoning death. Therefore, government need to take some precautionary measures to reduce the number of pesticide poisoning cases. It is strongly recommended that pesticide regulatory authorities encourage and train the agricultural workers to use safe storage boxes and enforce strict regulation for the prevention for the prevention of highly toxic pesticides sales to non-agricultural workers.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2022

Purpose: Acute pesticide poisoning is lethal and can lead to death. A few studies about the effects of acute pesticide poisoning have focused on the immune system. In the current study, we preliminarily investigated the changes in blood inflammatory cytokine levels in acute pesticide poisoning patients. Methods: In this study, we prospectively investigated the inflammatory cytokines in patients with acute pesticide poisoning. This study included patients admitted from February 2021 to November 2021 with a diagnosis of intentional poisoning by pesticide ingestion. The inflammatory cytokines measured were IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Results: Totally, 27 patients were enrolled in this study. The types of pesticide ingested were glufosinate (n=6), glyphosate (n=8), organophosphate (n=4), pyrethroid (n=2), and others (n=7). The levels of inflammatory cytokines obtained were as follows: IFN-γ 2.78±8.03 pg/ml, IL-1β 2.62±2.03 pg/ml, IL-6 44.58±80.16 pg/ml, and TNF-α 11.80±15.60 pg/ml. The overall mortality rate was 11.1% (3/27), and levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly higher in the death group compared to the survival group. Conclusion: Increased levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were observed in patients with acute pesticide poisoning. IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly higher in the death group as compared to the survival group. Our results indicate the occurrence of an inflammatory response due to the activation of immune cells by pesticide poisoning. Future large-scale studies need to be conducted to investigate the application of inflammatory cytokines as predictors and therapeutic targets.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.56-59
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• 2017

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis and portomesenteric venous gas are uncommon radiological findings, but are found commonly in cases of bowel ischemia, or as a result of various non-ischemic conditions. A 72-year-old man visited an emergency center with altered mental status 2 hours after ingestion of an unknown pesticide. On physical examination, he showed the characteristic hydrocarbon or garlic-like odor, miotic pupils with no response to light, rhinorrhea, shallow respiration, bronchorrhea, and sweating over his face, chest and abdomen. Laboratory results revealed decreased serum cholinesterase, as well as elevated amylase and lipase level. We made the clinical diagnosis of organophosphate poisoning in this patient based on the clinical features, duration of symptoms and signs, and level of serum cholinesterase. Activated charcoal, fluid, and antidotes were administered after gastric lavage. A computerized tomography scan of the abdomen with intravenous contrast showed acute pancreatitis, poor enhancement of the small bowel, pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis, portomesenteric venous gas and ascites. Emergent laparotomy could not be performed because of his poor physical condition and refusal of treatment by his family. The possible mechanisms were believed to be direct intestinal mucosal damage by pancreatic enzymes and secondary mucosal disruption due to bowel ischemia caused by shock and the use of inotropics. Physicians should be warned about the possibility of pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis and portomesenteric venous gas as a complication of pancreatitis following anticholinesterase poisoning.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.545-550
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• 2007

The toxicity of organophosphate arises from disruption of the nervous system due to the inhibition of cholinesterase enzymes, leading to death. Six dead mallards were found at Ansung where is one of the most popular wintering sites for migratory birds in Korea, and requested for diagnosis to Gyeonggi Veterinary Service on January of 2007. Some examinations including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) could not find any evidence of specific disease condition. However, the contents of gastrointestinal tracts of the birds contained residues of monocrotophos ranged from 31.3ppm to 294.3ppm by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. It can be supposed that monocroptophos was responsible for the death of mallards by this results.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.52-56
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• 2008

Amitraz is used as farm-animal insecticide. Its side effects in humans are related to its pharmacological activity on alpha 2-adrenergic receptors. The case describes a previously healthy 46-year-old woman who intentionally ingested approximately 250mL of liquid amitraz. She presented with vomiting, altered mental status, miosis, dry mouth, hypopnea, metabolic and respiratory acidosis, hypotension, hypothermia, polyuria, metabolic acidosis, elevated serum aminotransferase and abdominal distension. Supportive treatments including mechanical ventilation, hydration, dopamine infusion, bicarbonate infusion and gastric decompression resulted in improvement. By hospital day 3, she recovered with resolution of abdominal distension. It is paramount to recognize amitraz poisoning when a pesticide-intoxicated patient presets with signs and symptoms consistent with organophosphate intoxicated patients but with greater alpha 2-adrenergic related symptoms such as decreased bowel motility and xerostomia.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.123-123
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• 2001

The distribution of necrotic and apoptotic neural cells, and expression of astrocytic glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the brain of rats poisoned intraperitoneally with diisopropylfluorophosphate were investigated. Pyridostigmine bromide (0.1 mg/kg) and atropine methylnitrate (20 mg/kg), which are centrally inactive, were treated intramuscularly 30 min and 10 min, respectively, before diisopropylfluorophosphate (4 - 10 mg/kg) poisoning to reduce the mortality.(omitted)

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.287-296
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• 2001

The acute oral LD5O toxicity values of isazofos, pyraclofos, diazinon and methomyl were determined for Japanese quail based on OECD guideline. The $LD_{50}$ of isazofos, pyraclofos and diazinon was 16.26 mg/kg, and 7.11mg/kg body weight In female respectively. And the $LD_{50}$ of each chemical in male was 21.44, 35.64, 8.28 mg/kg body weight respectively. Diazinon was the most susceptible compounds to Japanese quail in both sexes. The $LD_{50}$ of methomyl was 21.24 mg/kg body weights in female, and 28.28 mg/kg body weight in male respectively. Diazinon, isazofos and methomyl were more toxic In the female than male. The symptoms of poisoning were similar in quails administrated with each chemicals. The clinical sign in Japanese quail were ataxia, salivation, diarrhea, ruffled feather and convulsion at dead point. There were severe hemorrhage and catarrhal inflammation from duodenum to ileum In all compounds. In Japanese quail treated with organophosphorus and carbamate compounds, brain acetylcholinesterase was inhibited by 88-96. The recovery was not observed after 5 h in sublethal dose.