[Atropine poisoning. Importance of the clinical diagnosis]. / Intossicazione da atropina. Importanza della diagnosi clinica.

A case of suspected high dose atropine poisoning is described. In a veterinarian good healthy young man the appearance of light coma with psychomotor agitation and the contemporary presence of evident symptoms of muscarinic peripheral block, suggesting an anticholinergic syndrome, an atropine-like intoxication in absence of toxicological analysis. The safely clinical course of the poisoning during observation in intensive care unit permitted the discharge of the patient without sequelae and without treatment with physostigmine as antidote.

The effect of acetylsalicylic acid and diclofenac on stimulated growth hormone and prolactin secretion in humans.

The effects of short-term oral treatments with prostaglandin (PG) synthesis inhibitors, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), or diclofenac (DCF), on basal and stimulated growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) secretion were studied in 23 healthy volunteers. Before and after 4 days on ASA (3.2 g daily) or DCF (75 mg daily), subjects were given cimetidine or metoclopramide to evaluate PRL reserve. Arginine infusion test (for GH and PRL response) was performed only in ASA-treated subjects. Arginine-induced GH and PRL release was abolished and enhanced, respectively, by ASA pre-treatment. PRL response to cimetidine was greater than that observed in basal conditions when ASA was given, but remained unchanged after DCF administration. Neither ASA nor DCF was capable of modifying the PRL response to metoclopramide. Basal GH and PRL levels were not influenced by ASA or DCF. In conclusion, some PG may play an important role in the regulation of GH and PRL secretion, and some PG inhibitors (like ASA) may significantly interfere with some dynamic tests for pituitary reserve.