Potential role of paraffin oil gastric lavage in acute aluminum phosphide poisoning: a randomized controlled trial.

Aluminum phosphide (ALP) poisoning is a true medical emergency associated with high mortality. The lack of a specific antidote for ALP poisoning mandates searching for new treatment modalities. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of gastric decontamination by paraffin oil in cases with acute ALP poisoning. This study was a randomized, controlled, parallel-group, single-blind, phase II clinical trial conducted over a period of 6 months. Sixty-two patients with acute ALP poisoning were randomly allocated into two equivalent groups. In both groups, the standard ALP treatment was given. Gastric decontamination in the control group was performed by saline and sodium bicarbonate 8.4%, while in the intervention group, it was done by paraffin oil and sodium bicarbonate 8.4%. All patients were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, and laboratory investigations. The outcomes were evaluated. The median age of the studied patients was 20 years. Most of the studied cases were females, single, and from rural areas. The median delay time was 1 h. All patients included in the study alleged ingestion of ALP during suicidal attempts. Twelve hours after admission, many clinical and laboratory findings were significantly better in the intervention group. The need for intubation, mechanical ventilation, and total amount of vasopressors was significantly lower, and the mortality rate was non-significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control. The median length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the control group. Gastric decontamination with paraffin oil and sodium bicarbonate 8.4% could be valuable in reducing ALP poisoning severity, the need for intubation, mechanical ventilation, and vasopressors.

PREVALENCE OF CHLAMYDIACEAE AND TETRACYCLINE RESISTANCE GENES IN WILD BOARS OF CENTRAL EUROPE.

Our aim was to investigate the occurrence and distribution of Chlamydia suis and other Chlamydiaceae in the wild boar (Sus scrofa) population of Switzerland and Northern Italy and the detection of tetracycline resistance genes by PCR. We collected a total of 471 conjunctival swabs (n=292), rectal swabs (n=147), and lung tissue samples (n=32) belonging to 292 wild boars. The prevalence of Chlamydiaceae in the investigated wild boar populations was very low (1.4%, 4/292). We found C. suis in rectal or conjunctival swabs but not in lung samples. The low chlamydial prevalence might be attributed to limited contacts between wild boars and outdoor domestic pigs due to strict biosecurity measures or limited numbers of rural pig herds. The tetA(C) gene fragment was detected in six samples, which were all negative for Chlamydiaceae, and was probably not of chlamydial origin but more likely from other bacteria. The low tetracycline resistance rate in wild boar might be explained by the lack of selective pressure. However, transmission of resistance genes from domestic pigs to wild boar or selective pressure in the environment could lead to the development and spread of tetracycline-resistant C. suis strains in wild boars.

Modulatory effects of curcumin on redox status, mitochondrial function, and caspace-3 expression during atrazin-induced toxicity.

Atrazin is currently the most widely used herbicide in agriculture with lots of adverse effects on human health. Curcumin is a polyphenol known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. In the present study, the protective effect of curcumin on atrazin-intoxicated rats is evaluated. Toxicity was induced by oral administration of atrazine (400 mg/kg/day) for 3 weeks. Curcumin at a dose of 400 mg/kg/day was given simultaneously by oral route. Redox status, mitochondrial function, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) level by immunoassay, and caspace-3 expression by immunohistochemistry were evaluated. Curcumin showed significant cardiac protection with improvement of redox status, mitochondrial function, 8-OHdG level, caspase-3 immunoreactivity, and cardiac muscle degeneration. From this current study, it can be concluded that administration of curcumin improved atrazine-induced cardiotoxicity through its modulatory effect on redox status, mitochondrial function, and caspase-3 expression.