Human & experimental toxicology最新文献

Thioacetamide (TAA), a widely employed hepatotoxic substance, has gained significant traction in the induction of liver failure disease models. Upon administration of TAA to experimental animals, the production of potent oxidative derivatives ensues, culminating in the activation of oxidative stress and subsequent infliction of severe damage upon multiple organs via dissemination through the bloodstream. This review summarized the various organ damages and corresponding mechanistic explanations observed in previous studies using TAA in toxicological animal experiments. The principal pathological consequences arising from TAA exposure encompass oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid peroxidation, fibrosis, apoptosis induction, DNA damage, and osteoclast formation. Recent in vivo and in vitro studies on TAA bone toxicity have confirmed that long-term high-dose use of TAA not only induces liver damage in experimental animals but also accompanies bone damage, which was neglected for a long time. By using TAA to model diseases in experimental animals and controlling TAA dosage, duration of use, and animal exposure environment, we can induce various organ injury models. It should be noted that TAA-induced injuries have a time-dependent effect. Finally, in our daily lives, especially for researchers, we should take precautions to minimize TAA exposure and reduce the probability of related organ injuries.

Background: A considerable portion of acutely intoxicated patients is presented with impaired consciousness. Early identification of those patients who require advanced medical care, such as mechanical ventilation (MV), can improve their prognosis.

Methods: This study included 330 acutely intoxicated patients who were presented with impaired consciousness and admitted to Tanta University Poison Control Center, Egypt, in the period from January 2021 to December 2023. Patients were enrolled in derivation (257 patients) and validation (73 patients) cohorts. Patients' data were analyzed to develop and validate a predictive nomogram to determine the probability of MV need in acutely intoxicated patients.

Results: Significant predictors for MV need were mean arterial blood pressure (OR = 0.96, p = .014), PaO₂ (OR = 0.96, p = .001), pH (OR = 0.00, p < . 001), and glucose/potassium ratio (OR = 1.59, p = .030). These four parameters were used to formulate a bedside nomogram. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for the proposed nomogram shows that area under the curve (AUC) = 95.7%, accuracy = 93.4%, sensitivity = 88.9%, and specificity = 95.1%. The internal validation for the developed nomogram was assessed using a bootstrapping method and calibration curve. Regarding external validation, AUCs for the developed nomogram probability was 96.5%, and for predicted probability using the developed nomogram was 97.8%.

Conclusion: The current study provides a validated nomogram that could be used as a reliable tool for the accurate prediction of MV need among acutely intoxicated patients with impaired consciousness. It could assist in the early identification of patients who will require MV, especially in low-income countries with limited resources.

The present study aimed to identify the possible effect of gentamicin (GEN) in Rats' Cervi. Estradiol Valerate (EV) was used to induce cervical hyperkeratosis. GEN was administered in absence of EV. Serum and cervical GEN concentration were determined. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total nitrites/nitrate (NOx), reduced glutathione (GSH), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), sirtuin type 1 (Sirt1) and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like-2 factors (Nrf2) were measured in cervix tissue. Expression of BAX and Bcl2 were determined. Cervical histopathological examination was done. EV and GEN significantly increased MDA, NOx, TNF-α and BAX/Bcl2 ratio with decrease in GSH, Nrf2 and Sirt1 levels in cervical tissue. Histopathological picture of diffuse and marked hyperkeratosis was detected in EV and GEN groups. In conclusion, GEN-induced cervical hyperkeratosis via induction of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective observational study was conducted on 455 patients with Undergoing Treatment for Mushroom Poisoning at Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University (AHZMU), the tertiary governmental hospital of China, between January 2013 and December 2020. We investigated the impact of prognostic factors, including the mortality rate of patients who completed treatment at AHZMU versus those transferred to AHZMU, average length of hospital stay, mortality rate for a latency period of > 6-h, major damaged organs, HOPE6-TALK scoring and established a predictive model to assess the severity of acute mushroom poisoning.

Results: In 2013-2020, there are 455 patients of mushroom poisoning at AHZMU. Mushroom poisonings mainly concentrated in the summer and autumn months, resulted in 47 patients deaths. The first diagnosis cases at AHZMU resulting in a case fatality rate of 12.77% (6/47), Non-first diagnosis patients fatality accounting for 87.23% (41/47). The majority of deaths (89.36%) were attributed to liver injury. Death with incubation period >6-h accounting for 70.21% (33/47) of the total mortality rate. Logistic regression analysis revealed age and HOPE6 scores as independent risk factors, thereby establishing the logistic model equation, an examination via the ROC curve analysis indicates that a combination predictor values (Y_coalition) of 289.6 is the cut-off values for death resulting from acute mushroom poisoning.

Conclusion: The attending physician should conduct an early HOPE6-TALK scoring and calculate the Y_coalition for patients with acute mushroom poisoning, as well as promptly identify the toxic mushrooms through morphological and molecular biological identification. Identify mushroom species and further infer the clinical type and clinical characteristics. For example, amanitoxion can cause acute liver injury with high mortality. Identify mushroom species that may cause organ damage so that timely implementation of the bundled therapy for poisonous mushrooms will increase the cure rate and reduce the mortality rate (Lu et al., 2019).

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the etiology of non-diabetic retinopathy (DR) and non-traumatic vitreous haemorrhage (VH), and the effects of different anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on VH patients diagnosed as non-diabetic retinopathy or trauma. Among 101 patients treated with anti-VEGF drugs, there were 48 cases in the Conbercept group and 53 cases in the Ranibizumab group. The causes of bleeding and gender distribution of the included cases were analyzed.

Results: In cases of retinal vein occlusion, the proportion of males was much higher than females (p < 0.05). After treatment, the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, central macular thickness (CMT), aqueous humor VEGF, TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-6 of the two groups showed a decreasing trend (p < 0.05). The Conbercept group had markedly lower CMT than the Ranibizumab group (p < 0.05). In addition, there existed no significant statistical differences between the two groups in terms of BCVA, intraocular pressure, aqueous humor VEGF, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6, incidence of adverse reactions, and recurrence rate (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: In patients with non-DR and traumatic VH, retinal vein occlusion, perivenous retinitis, retinal tears/detachment, exudative AMD, and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy were the main etiologies. Conbercept and Ranibizumab had comparable efficacy and could effectively improve visual acuity and aqueous humor inflammation, with high safety and low recurrence rate. Conbercept had a more pronounced effect on the reduction of CMT in patients.

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death globally and in the US, prompting research into medicinal plants with anticancer properties. Withania somnifera, or Ashwagandha, is one such plants, known for its diverse pharmacological effects. Withaferin A and Viscosalactone B are two compounds found in Ashwagandha with known anticancer activity. The protein NQO1, overexpressed in various cancers, was the focus of this study.

Hypothesis and aim: We hypothesize that specific phytochemicals in Withania somnifera can effectively interact with and inhibit the NQO1 protein, thereby exhibiting anticancer properties. This study aims to identify these interactions using in silico approaches.

Methodology: CFDT was performed using the Gaussian 16 program package, followed by QSAR analysis of the compounds in the PASS online web server. The Schrodinger suite was used to carry out ligand and protein preparation, molecular docking, and molecular dynamic simulation to analyse the interaction of these compounds with NQO1 and ADME studies. Protox-II and SWISSADME tools were used to predict the toxicity and blood-brain barrier permeability of the phytochemicals.

Results and conclusion: CDFT and frontier molecular orbital analyses predicted the stability and reactivity of all the selected molecules. QSAR analysis predicted the biological activity and toxicity of the compounds. Withaferin A exhibited the highest glide gscore (-4.953 kcal/mol) and demonstrated 6 hydrogen bond interactions with NQO1, suggesting its potential as an anticancer agent. Conceptual density functional theory-based analysis suggested the strong electrophilicity of the ligands, further supporting their potential anticancer activities. Viscosalactone B, another phytochemical from Ashwagandha, also showed interactions involving 6 hydrogen bonds with NQO1, with a glide gscore of (-4.593 kcal/mol). Molecular dynamic simulations validated the stability of the Withaferin A-NQO1 complex. ADME-T properties predicted high oral absorption for the selected ligands, indicating that Withaferin A could be a viable orally administered drug.

Introduction: Aluminum phosphide (AlP) is a chemical compound that can cause death in some countries. AlP inhibits the functioning of cytochrome C oxidase in the mitochondria of cardiomyocytes, leading to toxicity. Oxidative stress and ROS production, as well as inflammatory signaling, mediate the mechanisms of AlP-related toxicity in the poisoned patient. Unfortunately, there are no approved medicines available to treat AlP poisoning yet. To address this issue, researchers have explored various interventions to reduce the toxicity associated with AlP tablets.

Methods: We systematically searched relevant databases for English articles published between 2013 and 2024.

Results: The evaluated treatments included correcting oxidative stress parameters, enhancing exogenous antioxidant capacity, modifying electrocardiographic abnormalities, and improving heart contraction strength. Our evaluation indicated that compounds like Triiodothyronine, Vasopressin and milrinone, Iron sucrose, Acetyl-l-carnitine, Melatonin, Fresh red blood cell transfusion, Minocycline, Moringa oleifera extract, Dihydroxyacetone, Selegiline, Nanocurcumin, Levosimendan, Exenatide, Taurine, Cannabidiol and Edaravone are effective in lessening AlP-induced cardiotoxicity.

Conclusion: Based on the present study's findings and the evaluation of clinical studies, dihydroxyacetone, fresh red blood cell infusion, Oil-based disinfection, and gastric lavage have the most potential to save patients' lives and treat acute aluminum phosphide. However, there is a need for more research in this regard.

Organophosphorus (OP) poisoning is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recent research has explored new approaches to improving treatment options, which present several challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the role of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) as an adjunctive therapy for acute OP intoxication. A prospective single-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted on patients of both sexes admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Poison Control Center at Ain Shams University Hospital (PCC-ASUH) with acute OP toxicity during the period from the beginning of August 2022 to the end of July 2023. According to the Peradeniya score, Group I consisted of 48 patients (52%) with moderate OP poisoning, and Group II consisted of 44 patients (48%) with severe OP poisoning. Patients in the moderate group were assigned to receive either standard treatment (Group Ia, n = 24) or standard treatment plus FFP (Group Ib, n = 24). In addition, patients in the severe group were assigned to receive either standard treatment (Group IIa, n = 22) or standard treatment plus FFP (Group IIb, n = 22). A total of 46 patients received FFP transfusion. The authors demonstrated that the early use of a total of nine packs of FFP (250 mL each) over three consecutive days significantly reduced the total doses of atropine and oximes, the total hospitalization period, and the requirement for mechanical ventilation in patients with OP poisoning, both in the moderate and severe groups.

Acesulfame-k (Ace-k) is a widely used artificial sweetener in various products, and long-term cumulative and multisource exposure is possible despite inadequate toxicological data confirming its safety. Ninety male rats were divided into two main groups according to their body weight into immature and mature rats. Each group was subdivided into 3 subgroups: control untreated, 30 and 90 mg/kg b. w of Ace-k via gastric intubation. The treatment was performed daily 5 days per week for 12 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected for in vitro testing of lymphocyte proliferation rate, comet assay, and macrophage activity about nitric oxide (NO) production. In addition, the collection of liver specimens was performed for P53 gene expression and histopathological evaluation. The results revealed that Ace-k induced modulation in lymphocyte proliferation rate and affected the production of NO by macrophages while increasing in tail moment in a dose-dependent manner that varied among different age groups. The upregulation of P53 in the liver was correlated with increased polyploidization and necro apoptotic reaction and various histopathological hepatic alterations. The present data revealed that chronic treatment of rats with Ace-k affects lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage activity in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the genotoxic and hepatotoxic potential of Ace-k were confirmed.

The reported risk factors for glioblastoma (GBM), i.e., ionizing radiation, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Neurofibromatosis I, and Turcot syndrome, also increase the risk of other brain tumor types. Risk factors for human GBM are associated with different oncogenic mutation profiles. Pedigreed domestic dogs with a shorter nose and flatter face (brachycephalic dogs) display relatively high rates of glioma formation. The genetic profiles of canine gliomas are also idiosyncratic. The association of putatively different mutational patterns in humans and canines with GBM suggests that different oncogenic pathways can result in GBM formation. Strong epidemiological evidence for an association between exposure to chemical carcinogens and an increased risk for development of GBM is currently lacking. Ionizing radiation induces point mutations, frameshift mutations, double-strand breaks, and chromosomal insertions or deletions. Mutational profiles associated with chemical exposures overlap with the broad mutational patterns seen with ionizing radiation. Weak statistical associations between chemical exposures and GBM reported in epidemiology studies are biologically plausible. Molecular approaches comparing reproducible patterns seen in spontaneous GBM with analogous patterns found in GBMs resected from patients with known significant exposures to potentially carcinogenic chemicals can address difficulties presented by traditional exposure assessment.