L-carnitine: A novel approach in management of acute cholinesterase inhibitor insecticide poisoning.

Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) insecticide poisoning is a serious global health concern that results in hundreds of thousands of fatalities each year. Although inhibition of the cholinesterase enzyme is the main mechanism of ChEI poisoning, oxidative stress is considered the mechanism underlying the related complications. The study aimed to assess the oxidative status of the patients with ChEI insecticide poisoning and the role of L-carnitine as adjuvant therapy in their management. Human studies on the efficacy and safety of L-carnitine in treating insecticide poisoning are limited despite its growing research interest as a safe antioxidant. This prospective study was conducted on eighty patients with acute ChEIs insecticide poisoning admitted to Alexandria Poison Center, Alexandria Main University Hospital, Egypt. Patients were allocated into two equal groups randomly. The L-carnitine (LC) group received the conventional treatment (atropine & toxogonin) and LC and the standard treatment (ST) group received the standard treatment only. Outcome measures were fatality rate, the total administered dose of atropine & toxogonin, length of hospital stay, and the requirement for ICU admission or mechanical ventilation. The study results revealed that malondialdehyde (MDA) significantly decreased in the LC group. Cholinesterase enzyme levels increased significantly after treatment in the LC group than in the ST group. The LC group needed lower dosages of atropine and toxogonin than the ST group. Also, the LC group showed no need for ICU admission or mechanical ventilation. The study concluded that LC can be considered a promising adjuvant antioxidant treatment in acute ChEIs pesticide poisoning.

The possible thyroid disruptive effect of di-(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate and the potential protective role of selenium and curcumin nanoparticles: a toxicological and histological study.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is one of the ubiquitous pollutants worldwide. This study aimed to clarify the potential thyroid disrupting effect of DEHP and explore the probable ameliorative effects of selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) and curcumin nanoparticles (CUR-NPs). Forty-two male albino rats were divided into seven groups (n = 6): Group I (negative control); group (II) orally received DEHP (500 mg/kg BW, dissolved in corn oil); Group (III) orally received Se-NPs (.2 mg/kg BW) in combination with DEHP; Group (IV) orally received CUR-NPs (15 mg/kg BW) alongside with DEHP; Group V (corn oil); Group VI (Se-NPs) and Group VII (CUR-NPs). The duration of the experiment was 30 days. DEHP administration significantly decreased serum free T4 and significantly increased serum free T3 as compared to control group, whereas thyroid-stimulating hormone showed no significant change. DEHP disrupted redox status leading to accumulation of malondialdehyde and depletion of reduced glutathione. Histologically, the effect of DEHP on thyroid follicles was confirmed by light and electron microscopic examination and morphometric analysis. Se-NPs slightly improved thyroid parameters as well as redox status. CUR-NPS reinstated the values of all studied thyroid parameters to nearly control levels. This research provides Se-NPs and CUR-NPs as novel protective agents against DEHP-thyroid disrupting effects.

Efficacy of L-carnitine and propranolol in the management of acute theophylline toxicity.

Theophylline toxicity results in substantial morbidity and mortality particularly due to its narrow therapeutic index. The development of new treatments for acute theophylline toxicity is a point of research interest. The aim of the present work was to assess the efficacy of L-carnitine (LC) and propranolol in the management of patients with acute theophylline toxicity. The study was conducted on 60 patients with acute theophylline toxicity admitted to the Poison Control Center or Intensive Care Unit at Alexandria Main University Hospital. The studied patients were equally classified into four groups (GPs, 15 patients each): the first group was the control group who received standard treatment protocol for theophylline toxicity. The other three GPs also received standard treatment protocol for theophylline toxicity in addition. The second group (LC group) received LC with a loading dose of 100 mg/kg IV over 30-60 min (maximum 6 g) and the maintenance dose was 50 mg/kg IV every 8 h. The third group (propranolol group) received propranolol, administered slowly intravenous 0.5-1 mg over 1 min; it may be repeated if necessary up to a total maximum dose of 0.1 mg/kg. The fourth group (propranolol and LC) received both IV propranolol and LC in the same doses as previous. Treatment with LC alone or in combination with propranolol resulted in a significant improvement of both clinical and laboratory findings. Although combined therapy yields the best results and outcome, LC can serve as an antidote for acute theophylline toxicity if there is any contraindication to propranolol administration.

Intensive Family Preservation Services to prevent out-of-home placement of children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) are in-home crisis intervention services designed to help families with children at imminent risk of out-of-home placement. OBJECTIVES: To assess the evidence of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of IFPS in reducing the need for children to enter out-of-home care. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Children <18 years and their families in the home setting. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out by searching 12 databases and 16 websites for publications up to January 2019. RESULTS: 1948 potentially relevant papers were identified, of which 37 papers, relating to 33 studies, met our inclusion criteria. Studies reported outcomes at child or family level. There were significant reductions in relative risk (RR) of out-of-home placements in children who received IFPS compared with controls at child level at three, six, 12 and 24 months' follow-up (RR 0.57, 95 % CI 0.35 to 0.93, RR 0.51, 95 % CI 0.27 to 0.96, RR 0.60, 95 % CI 0.48 to 0.76, RR 0.51, 95 % CI 0.30 to 0.87 respectively). At family level, there was not a significant reduction in RR of placement. Economic evidence was limited to cost analyses or cost-cost offset analyses. CONCLUSION: The available evidence, at child level, suggests that IFPS are effective in preventing children from entering care up to 24 months after the intervention. Placement outcomes reported at family level did not demonstrate a significant reduction in out-of-home placements. The economic analyses suggest that IFPS could be cost-saving; however, evidence of cost-effectiveness generated by full economic evaluations is needed.

A study of the predictive factors of mortality in acute poisoning with aluminum phosphide with special reference to echocardiography and SOFA score.

Aluminum phosphide (AlP) is considered now one of the most common causes of poisoning among agricultural pesticides. Poisoning with AlP is extremely toxic to humans with high mortality rate. The aim of this work was to evaluate the prognostic factors and outcome of acute aluminum phosphide poisoning in Alexandria Main University Hospital during a period of 6 months from 1 November 2017 until the end of April 2018, highlighting the role of SOFA score and echocardiography in predicting the mortality. The prospective study was conducted on all patients admitted with acute AlP poisoning to Alexandria Main University Hospital for those 6 months. Patients' data were collected in a special sheet and included biosocial data, medical history, poisoning history, complete medical examination, investigations, duration of hospital stay, and the outcome. All patients were assessed according to SOFA score on admission. Thirty patients were admitted during the period of the current study. Females outnumbered males in all age groups with a sex ratio of 2.75:1. The mean age of patients was 22.77 ± 12.79 years. 96.6% of patients came from rural areas. 93.3% of the cases were exposed to poisoning at home, where suicidal poisoning accounted for (86.7%) of cases. 43.3% of patients died (n = 13), and the median value of SOFA score among non-survivors was 10, versus 1 among survivors. The median value of ejection fraction among non-survivors (25%) was half its value in survivors (50%). Although there were many predictors of severity of AlP poisoning, SOFA score was the most predictive factor of mortality detected by multivariate analysis.

A medicolegal study of domestic violence in south region of Jordan.

BACKGROUND: Domestic violence is a forced pattern of behavior that happened in domestic settings to gain or maintain power and control over an individual. The aim of this work is to study the magnitude of domestic violence in south region of Jordan. METHODS: The retrospective study was retrieved from the medico-legal reports of domestic violence cases referred to the Directorate of Forensic Medicine in south region of Jordan during six years period starting from 1st of January 2010 till the end of December 2015. RESULTS: The total number of cases was 128. The majority was females (77.3%), high prevalence (41.4%) was found in adult age group (18 years and above) in both genders. The prevalence was higher in rural areas (75%). Sexual abuse was the commonest method of domestic violence in both genders (41.4%). Nearly a quarter of cases (23.4%) leaving home as an outcome. Spring months represented the highest percentage of domestic violence occurrence (28.1%). Family and financial problems were reported in 71.1% of cases. CONCLUSION: Domestic violence rate in South Jordan is much lower than in other areas but still considered a problem and should be given high priority with regard to prevention, investigation and treatment.