Fatal aluminum phosphide poisoning in Tehran-Iran from 2007 to 2010.

Background: Aluminum phosphide (AlP) is also known as "rice tablet" in Iran. Due to the high incidence of acute AlP poisoning and its associated mortality in Iran, the authorities banned AlP-containing tablets in 2007. The aim of this study is to evaluate the trend of acute fatal AlP poisoning subsequent to this restriction. 0Materials and Methods: 0 This is a retrospective chart review of patients with acute "rice tablet" poisoning who were admitted to Loghman Hakim Hospital Poison Center, Tehran, Iran, from 2007 to 2010. Collected information included gender, age, type of poisoning, marital status, duration of hospitalization, and outcome. Results: There were 956 cases with a mortality rate of 24.06%. The incidence of fatal AlP poisoning was 2.1 and 5.81 per one million populations of Tehran in 2007 and 2010, respectively. In 223 of the fatal cases (97%) and 697 of the non-fatal cases (96%), the poisoning was intentional. The male to female ratio in the fatal and non-fatal cases was 1.04:1 and 1:1.3, respectively. Most of the fatal cases (n = 122, 53%) were unmarried. The mean age was 27.32 ± 11.31 and 24.5 ± 8.19 years in fatal and non-fatal cases, respectively. In 196 (85.2%) of the fatal cases and in 577 (79%) of non-fatal cases, the duration of hospitalization was less than 24 hours and between 48-72 hours, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study showed the incidence of "rice tablet" poisoning, and its mortality increased since 2007 in spite of the ban. It seems that legislative means alone without other interventions, such as suicide prevention and public education, will not always be able to control or prevent acute intentional poisonings.

Pharmacokinetic study of niosome encapsulated insulin.

Pharmacokinetic profile and hypoglycemic effect, after intraperitoneal injection of insulin and insulin encapsulated in niosomes were determined in diabetic rats. Niosomes (non-ionic surfactant vesicles) of different doses and different lipid compositions were prepared by lipid layer hydration method. Plasma samples were collected at specified time intervals and plasma concentration of insulin was determined by HPLC. Blood glucose level was estimated spectrophotometrically using commercial glucose assay kit. In vitro release and pharmacokinetic profile of niosomal formulation and free insulin were evaluated. Though there was a slight delay in the in vitro drug release due to cholesterol content in the niosomes, there was no difference between the two preparations when plasma levels were compared in vivo. Niosomes significantly reduced the blood glucose level in diabetic rats. Fall in blood glucose level was almost 92% of initial value. In case of the niosomal form the half-life of insulin was prolonged by 4 -5 hr in contrast to 2 hr for free drug. Niosomes maintained the plasma insulin level up to 12 hr, but free drug was cleared quickly. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve for niosomal forms was, 26.07 degrees +/- 0.99 mIU. hr/ml and for free insulin was 11.722 +/- 1.00 mIU. hr/ml. More than 80% of the drug was successfully encapsulated to give a formulation with sustained release characteristics. Entrapment efficiency increased with increasing lipid concentration and decreased with increasing drug concentration. The results showed that insulin entrapped in niosomes prolongs the existence of drug in the body therefore increasing its therapeutic value.

El plan internacional de la OMS de evaluación externa de la calidad en hematologia / The WHO international quality assessment scheme for haematology

Es esencial asegurar la calidad en el laboratorio medico. Un componente importante de este proceso es la evaluación externa de la calidad para confirmar un desempeno confiable en todos los laboratorios y garantizar que se mantiene la comparabilidad entre ellos. En varios países existen planes nacionales de evaluación externa de la calidad. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) ha establecido un programa con el proposito de fomentar la organización de planes similares en todos los países. Con este fin se elaboro un plan internacional de evaluación externa de calidad para cada una de las especialidades de hematologia, quimica clinica, microbiologia y parasitologia. En este articulo se describe la organización del plan internacional en hematologia. En la actualidad participan en el 62 laboratorios pertenecientes a 49 países. Se detallan el funcionamiento del plan, la respuesta de los participantes y la medida en que este ha contribuido a mejorar las normas de la practica en sus laboratorios