Antidotal efficacy of alpha-ketoglutaric acid and sodium thiosulfate in cyanide poisoning

Alpha-ketoglutaric acid and sodium thiosulfate antagonize the toxic effects of cyanide. The present study was performed to test whether a synergistic effect may occur. The alpha-ketoglutaric acid/sodium thiosulfate solutions were injected intraperitoneally into mice prior to exposure to hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in a dynamic inhalation chamber or preceding an intraperitoneal injection of sodium cyanide (NaCN). All lethal concentration (LCT) and lethal dose (LD) values were determined after a period of 24 h. Alpha-ketoglutaric acid alone provided no protection at 250 mg/kg when challenged with HCN. Sodium thiosulfate 500 mg/kg provided a 5% protection. However, when these doses of alpha-ketoglutaric acid and sodium thiosulfate were combined, protection was increased by 18%. Alpha-ketoglutaric acid (250 mg/kg) and sodium thiosulfate (1000 mg/kg) provided an additional 48% protection against a LCT88 of HCN. A single dose of alpha-ketoglutaric acid (500 mg/kg) and sodium thiosulfate (1000 mg/kg) solutions afforded a 70% increase in survivability of the exposed animals. When mice were injected ip with 100 mg/kg of alpha-ketoglutaric acid 15 min prior to the injection of 5.5 mg/kg (LD50) of NaCN, the lethality was reduced to an LD30. Two hundred mg/kg alpha-ketoglutaric acid, challenged with the same dose of NaCN, reduced the lethality to 23%. When mice were challenged with 6.0 mg/kg of NaCN (LD70) pretreated with 100 mg/kg of alpha-ketoglutaric acid or 200 mg/kg of sodium thiosulfate, the LD was not altered in the former but reduced to an LD15 in the latter. At higher doses of sodium thiosulfate (500 mg/kg), an LD60 occurred at 13.6 mg/kg NaCN (2.5 x LD50).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The effect of long-term UV radiation exposure on the skin autonomous microflora and on body nonspecific resistance

Hairless mice of strain HRS were exposed to vertical UV-B-irradiation (280-320 nm) at daily doses of 1 or 2 kJ/m2 (biologically effective doses 200 and 400 J/m2) five days a week for 13 and 6 weeks. As the length of exposure increased, the abundance of automicroflora of the dorsal skin first decreased, then exceeded the control value, was normalized, and remained at the normal level until the end of the experiment. The rates of effect appearance and disappearance, just as its amplitude, increased with the daily doses. No changes were found in resistance to staphylococcal alpha-toxin after its post-irradiation intraperitoneal injection.     

Acidosis and hyperlactatemia in acute sodium valproate poisoning

OBJECTIVES: We searched for signs of metabolic acidosis and associated hyperlactatemia in case of sodium valproate overdose. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in the toxicology intensive care unit at the Fernand Widal hospital from 1990 to 1995. Patients retained for study had sodium valproate levels above the therapeutic range (> 600 mumol/l). Data collected included past history, intubation for mechanical ventilation, administration of catecholamines and infusion of bicarbonate or sodium lactate, and blood pressure. Laboratory tests included serum sodium valproate, pH, PCO2, bicarbonate, anion balance and lactate. RESULTS: The study included 22 consecutive patients. None had a history of liver disease. Thirteen patients were intubated before admission to intensive care. Two received catecholamines. None of the patients received bicarbonate or sodium lactate. Mean blood pressure was 118 +/- 16 mmHg, mean serum sodium valproate was 2668 +/- 2437 mumol/l, mean pH was 7.41 +/- 0.08, mean PO2 35.6 +/- 8.0, mean anion imbalance 23.2 +/- 6.0 mmol/l and mean lactate 5.0 +/- 2.1 mmol/l. There was a significant correlation between lactase and pH (p < 0.003). CONCLUSION: We found metabolic acidosis with major anion imbalance and high lactate levels in patients with acute sodium valproate intoxication. Hyperlactatemia could be due to the direct effect of sodium valproate or to an unknown mechanism.     

The chemistry and kinetics of oxidized copper sulfiding by sodium thiosulfate

The conditions of copper sulfide formation as a result of the interaction between sodium thiosulfate and oxidized compounds of copper are studied. The effects of precipitator consumption, acidity, and temperature on this process are studied. It is found that copper can be quantitatively extracted from solutions by sodium thiosulfate in the form of covelline and chalcosine. The kinetics of the interaction between sodium thiosulfate and oxidized copper minerals in the temperature range from 40 to 100°C with 1.5 mol of Na₂S₂O₃ per 1 mol of the metal extracted are studied. Equations describing typical kinetic curves of precipitation are selected. The reaction rate constants are determined.     

Bacterial antigen detection in body fluids: methods for rapid antigen concentration and reduction of nonspecific reactions

We sought procedures which would allow a rapid concentration in high yield of bacterial antigens from tissue fluids of patients and which could be applied also to protein-rich fluids like serum. Ethanol precipitation at a subzero temperature with albumin added as an antigen coprecipitant made it possible to achieve a more than 20-fold concentration of antigen in 15 min and a 200-fold concentration in 45 min. Heat-stable antigens could be concentrated from protein-rich fluids (like serum) after the sample had been deproteinized by boiling. Such heating (100 degrees C, 3 min) also liberated bacterial polysaccharides from antibody complexes and elminated the nonspecific interference of serum in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.     

The effect of an acute increase in renal perfusion pressure on sodium transport in the rat kidney

Twenty-two young adult patients with femoral-neck fractures fitting the following criteria were evaluated. All patients (1) were between twenty and forty years old, (2) had clinical and follow-up roentgenograms at least twelve months after the injury, (3) incurred fracture of the neck of the femur through normal bone, and (4) did not incur a stress fracture. The incidence of non-union was 59 per cent (thirteen of twenty-two patients) and of avascular necrosis, 86 per cent (nineteen of twenty-two patients). Evaluation of patients and results are discussed.     

The effect of nedocromil sodium on the clinical course, ventilatory parameters and nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity in patients with nonatopic bronchial asthma treated with beclomethasone dipropionate

The efficacy of nedocromil sodium (NED) (8mg twice daily) in controlling the clinical symptoms of asthma (score symptoms), the pulmonary parameters (FEV1, FVC) and bronchial hyperreactivity to histamine was assessed. The study was performed in double-blind, cross-over and placebo-controlled way in 16 patients suffering from nonatopic, stable, moderate asthma treated with beclomethasone dipropionate (from 400 micrograms to 800 micrograms). NED and placebo were administered in a randomized way with 8-week wash-out period. Bronchial reactivity to histamine, was measured as the amount of histamine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20H in mg/ml). Treatment with NED did not change asthma symptom scores, FVC and FEV1. Decreased usage of beta 2-agonist was observed. NED did not influence bronchial hyperreactivity to histamine (xg PC20H was respectively 0.09 and 0.11 mg/ml after placebo and 0.06 and 0.08 after NED). The authors conclude that studies with NED in nonatopic asthmatics should be continued, but the dosage of the drug ought to be bigger and the time of treatment ought to be longer.     

Effect of beneficial mixture for body immune function on serum acute phase reaction protein levels in acute traumatic patients

The levels of acute phase reaction protein (ARP)--haptoglobin (HP), plasma albumin (Palb), transferrin (TF) and alpha-acid glycoprotein (alpha-AG), and the effect of Beneficial Mixture for Body Immune Function (BMBIF), were studied in 20 cases with acute injury. The results were shown that the metabolism of the protein of traumatic body was in disorder: the levels of HP and alpha-AG significantly increased, while the levels of Palb and TF obviously decreased. After the treatment of BMBIF, the ARP recovered to a certain extent. This proved that BMBIF could adjust the disorder of ARP metabolism.     

Specific features of humoral immunity and nonspecific resistance in pilots

Immune responses of the flying personnel to adverse flight effects were investigated. Altogether 134 pilots in the age of 22 to 42 years were examined. A significant decline of IgA, IgM, IgG, C3, alpha-antitrypsin, and R-proteins was found. Correlation analysis of over 100 anthropometric, psychophysiological, immune parameters as well as questionnaire data helped identify correlates and develop mathematical models which included IgA and IgM as parameters. Analysis shows that there is a relationship between personality features and humoral immunity of pilots: emotional strain increases, emotional stability decreases while immunoglobulins decline. In response to flight effects, changes in physiological functions, personality features, humoral immunity, and nonspecific resistance were interrelated.     

The effect of batroxobin on coronary segmental resistance and coronary blood flow in acute myocardial ischemic dogs

To study the effects of batroxobin on coronary circulation and cardiac performance in acute myocardial ischemia, Batroxobin was given intravenously to dogs with experimental coronary stenosis. A dose-dependent increase of coronary blood flow (CBF) was observed. Forty minutes after batroxobin (2 BU.kg-1 at infusion rate 0.1 BU.kg-1.min-1) administration, CBF increased by 12% (P < 0.05), small coronary resistance(RS) decreased from 4.1 +/- 0.5 to 3.2 +/- 0.5 mmHg.min.ml-1 (P < 0.01), while large coronary resistance(RL) changed insignificantly from 3.9 +/- 0.8 to 3.8 +/- 0.7 mmHg.min.ml-1 (P > 0.05). Two hours following drug administration, the changes in CBF, RS and RL still remained and RT decreased by 13% (P < 0.05). The + LV(dp/dt)max and -LV(dp/dt)max increased by 14% and 16% (P < 0.05) respectively compared with those in control group. It is concluded that batroxobin improves the ischemic canine coronary circulation and cardiac performance by way of lowering the small coronary resistance and thus increasing CBF. The data also suggest the benificial effect of batroxobin in acute myocardial ischemia.     

The effect of dexamethasone on the reactions of the blood system in inflammation

On the model of carrageenan-induced acute aseptic peritonitis in rats it is shown that under influence of dexamethasone granulomonocytopoiesis, efflux of leukocytes to blood and their accumulation in inflammatory focus are increased and earlier completion of leukocytic reaction is observed and that the antiinflammatory effect of dexamethasone is mainly realized by the way of increasing of defence-adaptative blood system's reactions.     

The effect of lowering external sodium on the intracellular sodium activity of crab muscle fibres

1. Intracellular Na activity, aiNa, was continuously measured in crab (Carcinus maenas) muscle fibres using a recessed-tip Na+ -sensitive glass micro-electrode. Experiments could last up to several hours. AiNa remained stable during prolonged experiments. The mean resting aiNa was 8-4 +/- 0-02 mM (S.E. of mean for eighty-nine fibres) and the mean resting membrane potential was 65-3 mV +/- 0-3 (S.E. of mean for eighty-nine fibres). 2. Reducing [Na]o to 1/10 normal (maintaining ionic strength with equivalent amounts of either Li or Tris) caused a large and rapid fall of aiNa. There appeared to be two components of the effect, a fast and slow. The initial fast rate of decrease was about 3-5 m-mole/min decreasing to half this value in about 1 min. The rate of decrease of aiNa was not linearly related to aiNa. The size of the fast change of aiNa was related to the magnitude of the Na gradient across the membrane. 3. High concentrations (2 x 10-4m) of ouabain caused a very slow rise of aiNa by 1 or 2 mn/hr. This was equivalent to a net Na influx of between 1 and 10 p-mole/cmi. sec, depending on whether or not a correction was applied to account for the increased surface area of the fibre caused by the invaginating cleft system. 4. The response to low Nso was virtually insensitive to the removal of Ko or to prolonged reatment with high concentrations of ouabain (2 x 10-4 m; 100 min) and so could not readily be attributed to active Na/K pumping. 5. The response of aiNa to low Nao was reversibly inhibited by high concencentrations of Mn (50 mm) and by low concentrations of La (3-1 mm). La itself stimulated a rapid fall of aiNa in normal Nao.     

The effect of sodium prasterone sulfate on lactation

To study the relationship between sodium prasterone sulfate and lactation, blood samples were collected from 120 cases. Sixty cases were in study group (at different periods: during the 3rd trimester, and 1st, 3rd day postpartum) including 30 cases using 100mg sodium prasterone sulfate, 30 cases (using 200mg sodium prasterone sulfate), 60 cases were in control group. The serum levels of estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL) and plasma levels of oxytocin (OT) were measured by radioimmunoassay, and the production of breast milk was observed. The results showed no statistically significant difference of serum E2, PRL and plasma OT between (sodium prasterone sulfate) study groups and control groups, and the production of breast milk indicated also no significant difference between the 2 groups. The conclusion is that low-dose sodium prasterone sulfate (200mg/day, 600mg/week) did not affect the production of breast milk.     

The characteristics of the immune response in acute viral hepatitis B

The clinical and pathogenetic importance of a number of features characterizing cell-mediated immunity and nonspecific protective factors in acute virus hepatitis B. 124 patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were placed under observation. Of these, 115 patients had acute virus hepatitis B, 6 patients had acute virus hepatitis of mixed etiology (B + delta) and 3 patients had chronic virus hepatitis B. The study included, besides the detection of virus hepatitis markers and the biochemical analysis of blood, the determination of subpopulations of peripheral blood lymphocytes (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD57), the functional activity of natural killers, characteristics of the interferon status, serum neopterin and beta 2-microglobulin in blood serum. Considerable changes in cell-mediated immunity and the interferon system were found to occur and the optimum immune response in acute virus hepatitis B was characterized.     

The results of the brain computer tomography and clinical picture in acute cholinesterase inhibitors poisoning

The aim of this study was to evaluate a morphological and functional status of the CNS in acute cholinesterase inhibitors (ChI) poisonings using the brain computer tomography (CT) and complex psychiatric examination. Under examination there were 59 cholinesterase inhibitors orally poisoned patients, treated at the Department of Clinical Toxicology in years 1984-1997, aged from 14 to 68 (mean 34.7 +/- 12.8) years. The examined group comprised 9 women (15.3%) and 50 men (84.7%). Between the 3rd and 7th day of hospitalisation a complex psychiatric examination was performed. The CNS damage was diagnosed when the point score from complex psychiatric examination was minimum 5 points. CT was performed between the 3rd and 10th day after the intoxication. Incorrect CT scans were found in 78% of poisoned patients. The most common lesion was generalised cortex atrophy and subcortex atrophy of the brain (73.9%), followed by isolated cortex (17.4%) and subcortex atrophy with simultaneous areas of low density in the subcortical nuclei (8.7%). The frequency of incorrect CT scans was statistically higher (p < 0.01) in the group of organophosphorous compounds poisoned patients compared to those poisoned with carbamates. The complex psychiatric examination revealed in 24 patients (40.7%) the differently intensified alterations, but the point score was not higher than 4. Unquestionable damage of the CNS was recognised in 34 patients (57.6%) of the ChI poisoned patients. The frequency of CNS changes detected in complex psychiatric examination was statistically higher (p < 0.01) in the group of the severely poisoned patients. The significantly higher frequency of pathological changes revealed by the brain CT was found in the group of patients with higher than 5 point score obtained from the complex psychiatric evaluation compared to those with score lower than 5 (p < 0.001).