Protective effects of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) upon dieldrin-induced toxicity in male rat.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum L.) upon dieldrin-induced perturbations of haematological parameters and damages to liver and kidney of male Wistar rats. Under our experimental conditions, dieldrin poisoning resulted in 1) an alteration of several haematological parameters, 2) an oxidative stress evidenced by an increase of lipids peroxidation level associated with an increase of superoxide dismutase activity and a decrease of glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in hepatic and renal tissues, 3) increased levels of glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, urea, uric acid and proteins in blood, 4) increased activities of lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and transaminases in blood. Previous administration of fenugreek was found to hinder these dieldrin-induced damages: all hematological, renal and hepatic biomarkers, level of lipids peroxidation and activities of catalase and glutathione-peroxidase in liver and kidney were kept close to control values. This protective effect is mainly attributed to antioxidant properties of fenugreek.

The use of serial measurement of plasma cholinesterase in the management of acute poisoning with organophosphates and carbamates.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefits of using serial measurements of plasma cholinesterase (butyrylcholinesterase, BuChE) activity in the management of cholinesterase inhibitor insecticidal poisoning. METHOD: After establishing and validating BuChE activity test, and making it available for clinical service in the toxicology laboratory at Jordan University Hospital. Serial measurements of BuChE were performed on samples taken from 10 symptomatic patients presented with the manifestations of poisoning due to acetylcholinesterase inhibitor insecticides during the year 2001. The number of serial repeats of BuChE activity tests ranged from 2 to 4 and from 8 to 11 for patients with carbamates and organophosphates (OPs) poisoning, respectively. The results of serial measurement of BuChE obtained from each patient's samples were used to draw a curve; three different types of curves were obtained from all patients samples. RESULT: The obtained curves were found to follow our three proposed curves, which support our point view regarding the importance of the proposed curves in the differential diagnosis and treatment of cholinesterase inhibitor pesticides poisoning. CONCLUSION: This study pointed out the importance of utilizing serial measurements of BuChE activity in the diagnosis and the management of organophosphates and carbamates poisoning. The BuChE activity results were used to support diagnostic and prognostic criteria that guided patient management and follow up. Applying those curves to large number of patients' samples will enhance its credibility. The study also demonstrated the importance of direct contract between toxicologist and physician in treatment of the pesticides poisoned patients.

Accidental injection of a U.S. Air Force aviator by a pralidoxime chloride auto-injector: a case report.

To counter the threat of organophosphate nerve agents, military personnel may be issued auto-injectors containing pralidoxime chloride. This drug helps to dephosphorylate the nerve agent-acetylcholinesterase complex and, thus, regenerate the enzyme. In non-poisoned persons, pralidoxime chloride is rapidly excreted by the kidneys and is fairly well tolerated. We present the first reported case of an accidental injection of an Air Force aviator by an auto-injector. The patient recovered well with no specific treatment needed. The pharmacology and toxicology of pralidoxime chloride are discussed.

Stilbestrol as a factor modifying the toxicity of Ekatin for the Pharaoh quail (Coturnix coturnix Pharaoh). I. Young birds.

1. The noted fall of the erythrocyte count, haemoglobin and haematocrit levels after stilbestrol indicate that this hormone disturbs erythropoiesis, probably by depressing the maturation of erythroid cells in the bone marrow. 2. The reaction of the erythrocyte system of birds intoxicated with Ekatin indicates that this pesticide has a haemolytic influence on the morphotic elements of the blood. 3. Estrogenisation enhances the action of Ekatin on the erythrocyte system by as it seems increasing the susceptibility of the red blood cells to the haemolytic action of this pesticide. 4. The high heterophilic leucocytosis in birds receiving stilbestrol is evidence that this hormone causes by an increased release of corticoids, hyperplasia of the granulopoietic tissue in the bone marrow and depresses the marrow barrier for heterophils. 5. Changes in the leucocyte system of quails intoxicated with Ekatin indicate a stressogenic action of this poison. 6. The reaction of the latter system to Ekatin administered after estrogenisation seems to be an indication that stilbestrol reduces the susceptibility of the quails to the stressogenic action of the pesticide.