Effect of feeding graded doses of Citrinin on clinical and teratology in female Wistar rats.

Citrinin is the one of the well-known mycotoxins, which is possibly spread all over the world. The graded doses of citrinin (1, 3 and 5 ppm CIT in feed) in female Wistar rats 10 weeks prior to mating, during mating and during organogenesis resulted in resorptions and post implantation losses, decreased fetal body weights and crown-rump lengths in fetuses of all groups. Various developmental anomalies recorded in fetuses of treated rats included gross (wrist drop, curled tail, stretched forelimb, subcutaneous haematoma), skeletal (incomplete ossification of skull bones, incomplete fusion of vertebral bodies, complete and partial agenesis of sternaebrae, metacarpals, metatarsals and phalanges, fused ribs and swing out ribs) and visceral (internal and external hydrocephalus, cerebellar hypoplasia, microphthalmia, roundening of heart, contracted kidneys, dilated renal pelvis and cryptorchid testes). The results suggest that CIT has adverse effects on fetal development which may be due to the longer bioavailability of citrinin in the animals.

Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure following a single dose of succinylcholine.

A 30-year old with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure is presented. The attack followed a minor operation under general anaesthesia during which succinylcholine was administered as muscle relaxant. The fasciculations which occurred immediately after injection of succinylcholine may possibly have precipitated rhabdomyolysis.

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis associated with diabetic ketoacidosis.

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis with hemiparesis occurred in a young woman who was not a known diabetic. Rhyzopus species grew from the initial nasal biopsy. The patient was treated with amphotericin B, in addition to control of diabetic ketoacidosis. Surgical intervention was not done. The patient died on the fourth day of hospitalisation.