Acute methemoglobinemia following attempted suicide by Dapson.

This report describes the case of an otherwise healthy young adult female, with oral ingestion of 40 unknown tablets. Her clinical course included progressive bluish discoloration of lips and limbs, hemolysis and jaundice. A high PaO2 in the presence of cyanosis and dark blood lead to suspicion of methemoglobinemia. Laboratory results showed methemoglobin level to be 3.8 g/dL (38%). The etiology was traced to dapsone according to patient history; after 3 days it became evident that she had ingested 2 g dapsone in suicidal intent. The therapeutic and diagnostic approach in such patients is discussed. In conclusion, acute methemoglobinemia is an uncommon but potentially treatable disorder.

Alteration of rat hepatic glycogen phosphorylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activities by Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad essential oil.

PURPOSE: Regarding reported antidiabetic effect of Satureja khuzestanica essential oil (SKEO) and important role of liver on body glucose metabolism by glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis, we were interested to examine effect of SKEO treatment on rat hepatic key enzymes of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in vivo. METHODS: Effective antidiabetic dose of SKEO (1000 ppm) was administered to rats through drinking water for 2 weeks. After 18 hours fasting post treatment under general anesthesia, the liver was removed by transverse abdominal incision and perfused with cold 0.9% saline and kept frozen at -70 degrees C until homogenized. The activities of the key enzymes glycogen phosphorylase (GP) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPKC) were analyzed in the homogenate. Blood sample was taken by cardiac puncture for glucose assay. RESULTS: SKEO treatment did not affect blood glucose concentrations but decreased hepatic PEPCK activity by 26% (P<0.01) of control and increased hepatic GP by 24% (P<0.01) of control. CONCLUSION: Disturbance of hepatic glucose metabolism is proposed as a mechanism of antidiabetic action of SKEO which could be in relation with antioxidant property of this plant.

Hyperglycemia associated with increased hepatic glycogen phosphorylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in rats following subchronic exposure to malathion.

We examined the effects of subchronic exposure to malathion, an organophosphorous (OP) insecticide, on plasma glucose and hepatic enzymes of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in rats in vivo. Malathion was administered orally at doses of 100, 200 and 400 ppm for 4 weeks. At the end of the specified treatment (18 h fasting after the last dose of malathion), the liver was removed. The activities of glycogen phosphorylase (GP) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) were analyzed in the homogenate. Four weeks administration of malathion at doses of 100 ppm, 200 ppm, and 400 ppm increased plasma glucose concentrations by 25% (P < 0.01), 17% (P < 0.01), and 14% (P < 0.01) of control, respectively. Malathion also increased hepatic PEPCK activity by 25% (100 ppm, P < 0.01), 16% (200 ppm, P < 0.01), and 21% (400 ppm, P < 0.01) of control, respectively. In addition, malathion increased hepatic GP by 22% (100 ppm, P < 0.01), 41% (200 ppm, P < 0.01), and 32% (400 ppm, P < 0.01) of controls. We conclude that exposure of rats to malathion as a widely used OP in subchronic exposure, which resembles human exposure, may induce diabetes associated with stimulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis in favor of glucose release into the blood. The possible mechanisms including increased energy production to detoxification, depressed paraoxonase activity, and increased production of cyclic nucleotides are discussed.