Scorpion sting-induced myocardial damage and pulmonary oedema.

A patient with electrocardiographic abnormalities simulating early myocardial infarction after scorpion sting is reported. Pulmonary oedema and congestive heart failure accompanied these electrocardiographic changes. The aetiology of the cardiovascular manifestations in severe scorpion sting is related to the venom effects on the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal secretion of catecholamines, as well as to the toxic effects of the venom on the myocardium.

protective effect of garlic against adriamycin cardiomyopathy: experimental study

The usefulness of adriamycin [ADR], a potent anti tuumor antibiotic, is limited by the development of life-threatening cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. The present study aimed to determine whether garlic has a protective effect against chronic ADR cardiotoxicity. The work was carried on 200 rats divided into four groups. The first group [control group] had animals received distilled water [vehicle] for 6 weeks. In the second group, ADR [cumulative dose, 15 mg/kg body wt divided into six doses was administered in rats in six equal doses by intraperitoneal injection [IP] over a period of 2 weeks. The third group contains rats which, were administcred garlic 250 mg/kg daily orally for 6 weeks [4 weeks before ADR administration and 2 weeks alternating with IP ADR injections]. The fourth group has animals administrated by garlic for 6 wecks. In the adriamycin group, increased oxidative stress was evidenced by a significant increase in myocardial TBARS thiobarbituric acid reactive substances] and decrease in myocardial SOD [superoxide dismutase], catalase and GSH [myocardial reduced glutathione] activity. Treatment with garlic was accompanied by an increase in myocardial GSH catalase and SOD activities with a concomitant decrease in lipid peroxidation. Under electron microscopy, extensive sarcoplasmic vacuolization and severe disruption of mitochondrid fine structure were observed in ADR treated rats, but mininial d sarcoplasmic vacuolization was observed, and the mitochondrial structural changes were decreased in the garlic treated rats. These data show for that garlic can provide protection against ADR cardiomyopathy. This protective effect of garlic may be related to the maintenance of the antioxidant status of the heart

Myocardial imaging agent [Tc-99m-2-methoxy isobuty sonitrile [MIBI]] synthesis, myocardial uptake, biodistribution in the animal and human models [a preliminary report]

2-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile [MIBI] was synthesized following Subramanian procedure and formulated into 'instant kits'. The quality control of the kits showed 97.5% radio chemical purity and 98% stability at 6 hr, with shelf half life of more than 6 months. In the animal model, blood activity [TC-99m MIBI] gradually decreased from 21.4% at 5 mins to 2.1 +/- 1% at 60 min. The organ distribution at 60 min showed, liver 70 +/- 5%, heart 21 +/- 6%, kidney 52 +/- 2% and lungs 33.4 +/- 6%. The heart to organ ratio was heart/liver 0.3, heart/lung 0.6, heart/spleen 0.36 and heart/kidney 0.4. On human model, blood activity of injected dose [[ID], 29.2 +/- 3% at 30 sec and 2.1 +/- 1% at 60 min. The organ activity at 60 min, liver 62 +/- 3%, heart 24 +/- 4%, spleen 57 +/- 3% and lung 44.5 +/- 6%. The heart to organ ratio, heart/liver 1.3 +/- 0.2, heart/lung 2.1 +/- 0.3 and heart/spleen 2.6 +/- 0.8. The study provided first reported evaluation of Tc-99m MIBI in experimental and clinical trials in Pakistan. The results confirmed that the distribution of the MIBI remained relatively fixed in experimental studies, no significant redistribution accrued. Moreover, the images obtained are of high technical quality