Search

Total blood carbon monoxide (TBCO) showed promising results in improving accuracy of CO determinations in blood and presenting better stability to different storage conditions. Therefore, it was proposed as an alternative biomarker to carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) for CO poisoning diagnosis. However, given that current interpretation reference values exist for COHb only, it is difficult to implement TBCO analysis in routine. Therefore, we aimed at determining TBCO reference values for postmortem CO poisoning cases. A previously validated method for TBCO analysis via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was applied to cardiac, peripheral, cranial and spleen blood samples collected from 92 autopsies. Autopsy cases included 21 non-CO-related and 71 CO-related cases with varying postmortem intervals (PMIs). Statistical analyses were performed using statistical software R Studio. When comparing lower to higher PMIs for non-CO-related cases, no significant differences were found, which suggests that CO formation or degradation at low PMIs does not occur. Spleen blood showed potential as an alternative matrix to CO determinations in cases with sample availability issues but needs to be evaluated for CO-positive cases. Results for cardiac blood in CO-related autopsies showed a positive correlation between COHb and TBCO values (R  = 0.78). This value is lower than what is found in the literature, suggesting that even though COHb and TBCO are correlated, a potential underestimation of the true CO exposure might occur if only COHb values are taken into consideration. Samples were divided into CO exposure groups based on COHb concentrations, and with the data obtained, classification into the following TBCO concentration groups is proposed: no significant CO exposure case <6 µmol/mL, medium CO exposure case 6–20 µmol/mL and high CO exposure case >20 µmol/mL. Even if a higher number of samples in each group would enable to increase the confidence, these results are very promising and highlight the importance of TBCO measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have highlighted the potential importance of modeling interactions for suicide attempt prediction. This case-cohort study identified risk factors for suicide attempts among persons with depression in Denmark using statistical approaches that do (random forests) or do not (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression [LASSO]) model interactions. Cases made a nonfatal suicide attempt (n  = 6032) between 1995 and 2015. The comparison subcohort was a 5% random sample of all persons in Denmark on January 1, 1995 (n  = 11 963). We used random forests and LASSO for sex-stratified prediction of suicide attempts from demographic variables, psychiatric and somatic diagnoses, and treatments. Poisonings, psychiatric disorders, and medications were important predictors for both sexes. Area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) values were higher in LASSO models (in men, 0.85, 95% CI, 0.84-0.86; in women, 0.89, 95% C, 0.88-0.90) than random forests (in men, 0.76, 95% CI, 0.74-0.78; in women, 0.79, 95% CI = 0.78-0.81). Automatic detection of interactions via random forests did not result in better model performance than LASSO models that did not model interactions. Due to the complex nature of psychiatric comorbidity and suicide, modeling interactions may not always be the optimal statistical approach to enhancing suicide attempt prediction in high-risk samples. This article is part of a Special Collection on Mental Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A synthetic gene drive that targets haplolethal genes on the X chromosome can skew the sex ratio toward males. Like an "X-shredder," it does not involve "homing," and that has advantages including the reduction of gene drive resistance allele formation. We examine this "X-poisoning" strategy by targeting 4 of the 11 known X-linked haplolethal/haplosterile genes of Drosophila melanogaster with CRISPR/Cas9. We find that targeting the wupA gene during spermatogenesis skews the sex ratio so fewer than 14% of progeny are daughters. That is unless we cross the mutagenic males to X^XY female flies that bear attached-X chromosomes, which reverses the inheritance of the poisoned X chromosome so that sons inherit it from their father, in which case only 2% of the progeny are sons. These sex ratio biases suggest that most of the CRISPR/Cas9 mutants we induced in the wupA gene are haplolethal but some are recessive lethal. The males generating wupA mutants do not suffer from reduced fertility; rather, the haplolethal mutants arrest development in the late stages of embryogenesis well after fertilized eggs have been laid. This provides a distinct advantage over genetic manipulation strategies involving sterility which can be countered by the remating of females. We also find that wupA mutants that destroy the nuclear localization signal of shorter isoforms are not haplolethal as long as the open reading frame remains intact. Like D. melanogaster , wupA orthologs of Drosophila suzukii and Anopheles mosquitos are found on X chromosomes making wupA a viable X-poisoning target in multiple species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate variation in drug poisoning mortality rates by drug type and occupation in Massachusetts. Methods Death certificates for deaths by drug poisonings occurring between 2010 and 2019 in Massachusetts were coded based on the decedent's occupation. Mortality rates and rate ratios (with all other occupations as the reference group) were calculated based on the occupation of the workers according to drug type. Poisson regression was used to determine significantly elevated mortality rates and trends in drug poisoning deaths by occupation and drug type. Results The rate of drug poisoning deaths increased from 2010 to 2016 after which they plateaued. With respect to specific substances, fentanyl- and cocaine-related deaths increased throughout the surveillance period. For drug poisoning deaths overall, workers in construction trades (3,017); food preparation and serving (1,116); transportation and material moving (1,062) occupations had the highest number of drug poisoning deaths. When adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and educational attainment, workers in 7 occupations had significantly elevated mortality rate ratios for drug poisonings overall: farming, fishing, and forestry (3.42, P < 0.001); construction trades (2.58, P < 0.001); health care support (1.61, P < 0.001); community and social service (1.60, P < 0.001); food preparation and serving related (1.54, P < 0.001); personal care and service (1.37, P < 0.001); and arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media (1.21, P = 0.010). In many cases, workers in these same occupations had elevated mortality rate ratios for poisonings from specific substances. Health care practitioners and technical occupation workers only had elevated rates for methadone-related poisonings (1.73, P = 0.010). Conclusions These findings highlight that workers in certain occupations have an elevated risk for drug poisonings and that the patterns differ with respect to the drug type. These findings can be useful for providing services to workers in high-risk occupations and in identifying occupational factors that may be related to the risk of drug poisoning death. While previous research has begun to uncover work-related factors that may contribute to opioid use, further work is needed to identify occupational factors that may contribute to psychostimulant and benzodiazepine use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus argenteus has received increased attention from an aspect of food safety since several food poisoning outbreaks caused by the bacterium were reported in Japan. However, S. argenteus prevalence among food handlers and utensils has not yet been investigated. In this study, we investigated S. argenteus prevalence among a collection of coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) that were isolated during food sanitary inspections in Japan. Out of a total of 191 CPS isolates, 14 were identified as S. argenteus. One was isolated from shelled shrimp, nine were isolated from food handlers' hand swabs, and four were isolated from kitchen utensils. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that transmission of S. argenteus from human hands to utensils was possible. Though all 14 isolates were negative for the pvl and tst-1 genes, 6 harbored the seb gene. Only 21.4% of S. argenteus isolates were resistant to antibiotics, while 62.1% of the S. aureus isolates from the same sources were confirmed to be resistant. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate possible transmission of S. argenteus from food handlers to utensils in food-processing environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Nontyphoidal Salmonella causes an estimated 1.35 million US infections annually. Antimicrobial-resistant strains are a serious public health threat. We examined the association between resistance and the clinical outcomes of hospitalization, length-of-stay ≥3 days, and death. Methods We linked epidemiologic data from the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network with antimicrobial resistance data from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) for nontyphoidal Salmonella infections from 2004 to 2018. We defined any resistance as resistance to ≥1 antimicrobial and clinical resistance as resistance to ampicillin, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (for the subset of isolates tested for all 5 agents). We compared outcomes before and after adjusting for age, state, race/ethnicity, international travel, outbreak association, and isolate serotype and source. Results Twenty percent of isolates (1105/5549) had any resistance, and 16% (469/2969) had clinical resistance. Persons whose isolates had any resistance were more likely to be hospitalized (31% vs 28%, P =.01) or have length-of-stay ≥3 days (20% vs 16%, P =.01). Deaths were rare but more common among those with any than no resistance (1.0% vs 0.4%, P =.01). Outcomes for patients whose isolates had clinical resistance did not differ significantly from those with no resistance. After adjustment, any resistance (adjusted odds ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval 1.04–1.46) remained significantly associated with hospitalization. Conclusions We observed a significant association between nontyphoidal Salmonella infections caused by resistant pathogens and likelihood of hospitalization. Clinical resistance was not associated with poorer outcomes, suggesting that factors other than treatment failure (eg, strain virulence, strain source, host factors) may be important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to compare rates and characteristics of suicide mortality in formerly incarcerated people with those of the general population in North Carolina. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 266,400 people released from North Carolina state prisons between January 1, 2000, and March 1, 2020. Using direct and indirect standardization by age, sex, and calendar year, we calculated standardized suicide mortality rates and standardized mortality ratios comparing formerly incarcerated people with the North Carolina general population. We evaluated effect modification by race/ethnicity, sex, age, and firearm involvement. Formerly incarcerated people had approximately twice the overall suicide mortality of the general population for 3 years after release, with the highest rate of suicide mortality being observed in the 2-week period after release. In contrast to patterns in the general population, formerly incarcerated people had higher rates of non–firearm-involved suicide mortality than firearm-involved suicide mortality. Formerly incarcerated female, White and Hispanic/Latino, and emerging adult people had a greater elevation of suicide mortality than their general-population peers compared with other groups. These findings suggest a need for long-term support for formerly incarcerated people as they return to community living and a need to identify opportunities for interventions that reduce the harms of incarceration for especially vulnerable groups. This article is part of a Special Collection on Mental Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To assess the efficacy of two commercially available viability dyes, 5-cyano-2,3-di-(p-tolyl)tetrazolium chloride (CTC) and 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate (CFDA), in reporting on viable cell concentration and species using an all-fibre fluorometer. Methods and results Four bacterial species (two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative) commonly associated with food poisoning or food spoilage (Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus , and Bacillus cereus) were stained with CTC or CFDA and the fibre fluorometer was used to collect full fluorescence emission spectra. A good correlation between concentration and fluorescence intensity was found for Gram-negative bacteria between 107 and 108 colony-forming units (CFU) ml−1. There was no correlation with concentration for Gram-positive bacteria; however, the information in the CTC and CFDA spectra shows the potential to distinguish Gram-negative cells from Gram-positive cells, although it may simply reflect the overall bacterial metabolic activity under staining conditions from this study. Conclusions The limit of detection (LoD) is too high in the dip-probe approach for analysis; however, the development of an approach measuring the fluorescence of single cells may improve this limitation. The development of new bacteria-specific fluorogenic dyes may also address this limitation. The ability to differentiate bacteria using these dyes may add value to measurements made to enumerate bacteria using CTC and CFDA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Exposure to e-cigarette liquids, whether intentional or accidental, might lead to adverse events. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and characteristics of exposures to e-liquids reported to French Poison Control Centers. Methods All e-liquids exposure cases reported to French Poison Control Centers from July 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020, were reviewed. Information was collected about the patient's characteristics, exposure circumstances, management and outcome. Results About 919 cases of exposure to e-liquids were reported. Ages ranged from one month to 89 years, with a mean age of 16.6 ± 18.6 years and a median age of 4 years. The highest number of exposures—50.7%—concerned infants (0–4 years), 3.1% children (5–11 years), 5.9% adolescents (12–17 years), and 40.1% of cases concerned adults. The majority of cases were accidental (95.0%). Intentional exposures (4.9%) were mainly observed in patients older than 12 years of age (P < 0.001). The route of exposure was ingestion in 73.7% of the cases. A total of 455 exposures showed no symptoms or signs related to poisoning. High nicotine concentration in e-liquids was associated with an increase in hospital management (Odds-ratio from 1.77 to 2.60). Conclusion Involuntary exposures to e-liquids occurred more often in children under the age of five, mainly by ingestion. Unlike intentional ingestions, unintentional ingestions rarely resulted in severe adverse events. These findings highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance to prevent such exposures and associated injuries, emphasizing the need for effective regulation of these products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amatoxins and phallotoxins are toxic cyclopeptides found in the genus Amanita and are among the predominant causes of foodborne sickness and poisoning-related fatalities in China. This study introduces and validates a simple, rapid and cost-effective ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination and quantification of α-amanitin, β-amanitin, γ-amanitin, phallisacin, phallacidin and phalloidin in human blood and urine. Quick therapeutic decision-making is supported by a 9 min chromatographic separation performed on a Waters Acquity UPLC HSS T3 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 µm) using a gradient of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-grade water and methanol:0.005% formic acid. The analyte limit of quantification was 1–3 ng/mL in blood and 0.5–2 ng/mL in urine. Calibrations curves, prepared by spiking drug-free blood and urine, demonstrated acceptable linearity with mean correlation coefficients (r) greater than 0.99 for all phallotoxins and amatoxins. Acceptable intraday and interday precision (relative standard deviation <15%) and accuracy (bias, −4.8% to 13.0% for blood and—9.0% to 14.7% for urine) were achieved. The validated method was successfully applied to analyze 9 blood samples and 2 urine samples testing positive for amatoxins and/or phallotoxins. Amatoxins and/or phallotoxins were identified in each whole blood sample at a range of 1.12–5.63 ng/mL and in two urine samples from 1.01–9.27 ng/mL. The method has the benefits of simple sample preparation (protein precipitation) and wide analyte coverage, making it suitable for emergency quantitative surveillance toxicological analysis in clinics and forensic poisoning practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pretilachlor is a herbicide that can cause clinical symptoms in people that are comparable to those of organophosphate poisoning when ingested. Given how closely it mimics the toxicity of organophosphate compounds, it presents a significant challenge to clinicians during management. The following cases were presented to the Emergency Department at Nepalgunj Medical College Teaching Hospital, Kohalpur, Banke, Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The shifts in individual-level and neighborhood-level patterns of drug poisoning deaths in a high-density Asian city over time have been underestimated, although they provide essential information for community-based surveillance and interventions. Methods A case-only analysis with a 16-y, territory-wide, population-based registry in Hong Kong was applied to compare drug poisoning deaths from 2001 to 2010 with 2011 to 2016. Drug poisoning deaths, deaths from heroin and deaths from other opioids (codeine or morphine) were extracted (ICD codes: T36-T50, T40.1, T40.2). Binomial regressions were used to estimate the shifts in mortality patterns. Results Among 3069 drug poisoning deaths, a significant shift in mortality patterns was found despite a decreasing mortality trend in Hong Kong. Overall, drug poisoning deaths shifted towards middle-aged/young-old, widowed/divorced, economically active, white collar and non-local born. Since 2011, more deaths from heroin were in older ages and non-local born, but less were never married and economically inactive. More deaths from other opioids were middle-aged, young-old and divorced. In particular, most decedents shifted towards young-old, especially deaths from other opioids. Compared with deaths during 2001–2010, there were 3.72- and 6.50-fold more deaths from heroin and deaths from other opioids in those aged ≥60 y since 2021 (ORs: 3.72 [2.37, 5.86], 6.50 [3.97, 10.65]), respectively. Additionally, drug poisoning deaths shifted towards areas with less neighborhood deprivation (more high-education individuals and a mix of private/public housing residents), especially deaths from other opioids. Conclusion Misuse of registered drugs (e.g. opioid pain relievers) could be a rising trend among vulnerable subpopulations in Hong Kong other than illegal drug use (heroin). Health officials should provide more advice and support on drug information. Specifically, an improved health system with education regarding the appropriate use of registered drugs for medical treatments should be provided to mid-/high-income and local-born individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This clinical case shows the repercussions of acute exposure to cement dust in the respiratory tract and other mucous membranes. Following a cement dust pipe explosion, the patient endured a severe inhalation of dust. A combination of rigid bronchoscopy and a mechanical insufflation–exsufflation system was employed to remove cement debris from the airways. Respiratory physiotherapy sessions were implemented for effective secretion clearance, contributing to a successful short-term recovery. While this remains an isolated case, the unconventional techniques employed provide valuable insights for potential similar scenarios in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intentional ingestion of sodium nitrite causes toxicity by inducing methemoglobinemia, which can lead to cyanosis, hypotension and death. The number of reported suicide cases has significantly increased in the past 10 years as sodium nitrite is readily available online. The traditional tests for nitrite and nitrate require specialized detection methods which are not typically available in a postmortem toxicology laboratory. This rise in sodium nitrite overdose cases indicates the need for a simple, quick test for suspected nitrite toxicity. In this study, a common Griess reagent color test (MQuant™ Nitrite Test Strips) was used as a presumptive method in cases where the ingestion of sodium nitrite was suspected. The test results were consistent between specimens in all cases, and vitreous humor was identified as a reliable matrix to be used in the cases of suspected sodium nitrite poisonings. Case reports of five patients who died of suicide by sodium nitrite in a 6-month span are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graph: English Brook, which parallels New York State Route 9 for miles, flows into Lake George, the Queen of American Lakes, ferrying a huge load of salt to the lake. A road salt primer Road salt "is a general term for chloride-based deicing products", explains Brendan Wiltse, a limnologist at Paul Smith's College in the Adirondacks. Another study in Orleans, New York, 434.5 kilometers northwest of East Fishkill, revealed that the highest chloride levels were in private wells "downgradient of a road salt storage facility [a salt barn], followed by wells within 30 meters of a major roadway", writes Kelsey Pieper, of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, in a 2018 paper in I Environmental Science and Technology i . [Extracted from the article]

Citrus species are prone to suffer from copper (Cu) toxicity because of improper application of Cu-based agrochemicals. Copper immobilization mediated by pectin methylesterase (PME) in the root cell wall (CW) is effective for Cu detoxification. However, the underlying mechanisms of the structural modification and stress responses of citrus root CW pectin to Cu toxicity have been less discussed. In the present study, seedlings of 'Shatian pummelo' (Citrus grandis L. Osbeck) and 'Xuegan' (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck), which differ in Cu tolerance, were irrigated with nutrient solution containing 0.5 (as control), 100, 300 or 500 μM Cu for 18 weeks in sandy culture or 24 h in hydroponics. At the end of treatments in the 18-week sandy culture, Cu toxicity on CW pectin content, Cu distribution, degree of pectin methylesterification (DPM) and the PME enzyme activity were discussed. At the genome-wide level, PME gene family was identified from the two citrus species, and qRT-PCR array of citrus PMEs under control and 300 μM Cu stress for 18 weeks were performed to screen the Cu-responsive PME genes. Moreover, the candidate genes that responded to Cu toxicity were further examined within 24 h. The results showed that Cu toxicity increased the root CW pectin content. The root CW pectin under Cu toxicity was remodeled by upregulation of the expression of the Cu-responsive PME genes followed by increasing PME activity, which mainly promoted low methylesterased pectin level and the Cu content on root CW pectin. Compared with C. sinensis , C. grandis root CW had a lower DPM and higher Cu content on the Cu-stressed root CW pectin, contributing to its higher Cu tolerance. Our present study provided theoretical evidence for root CW pectin remodeling in response to Cu toxicity of citrus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Outbreaks of unknown aetiology in complex settings pose challenges and there is little information about investigation methods. We reviewed investigations into such outbreaks to identify methods favouring or impeding identification of the cause. Methods We used two approaches: reviewing scientific literature and soliciting key informants. Case studies were developed through interviews with people involved and triangulated with documents available from the time of the investigation. Results Ten outbreaks in African or Asian countries within the period 2007–2017 were selected. The cause was identified in seven, of which two had an unclear mode of transmission, and in three, neither origin nor transmission mode was identified. Four events were caused by infectious agents and three by chemical poisoning. Despite differences in the outbreaks, similar obstacles were noted: incomplete or delayed description of patients, comorbidities confounding clinical pictures and case definitions wrongly attributed. Repeated rounds of data collection and laboratory investigations were common and there was limited capacity to ship samples. Discussion It was not possible to define activities that led to prompt identification of the cause in the case studies selected. Based on the observations, we conclude that basing case definitions on precise medical observations, implementing initial comprehensive data collection, including environmental, social and behavioural information; and involving local informants could save precious time and hasten implementation of control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethylene glycol (EG) toxicity is an important cause of toxic alcohol poisoning in the USA with over 5,000 exposures reported annually. While classically characterized by solitary accidental or intentional ingestions, mass toxic alcohol poisoning outbreaks and more rarely collective consumptions (typically of methanol) have been described. We describe an ethylene glycol poisoning from collective ingestion that involved soldiers presenting at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas. Eleven soldiers presented to the emergency department over a 12-h period after ingestion of an unknown substance. The first two patients exhibited severe neurologic symptoms, while the remainder were asymptomatic. As serum EG levels were not immediately available, treatment decisions were based on surrogate laboratory values. Two patients received immediate hemodialysis, and fomepizole (FOM) because of severe acidosis with elevated anion and osmolal gaps. These patients developed acute kidney injury with renal recovery within a 3-week period. Two patients with elevated lactate received bicarbonate-based intravenous (IV) fluids and FOM. Two patients received IV fluids only and required prolonged observation for worsening acidosis and/or acute kidney injury. Five patients with normal laboratory values were treated with IV fluids and observation. All patients received cofactors including thiamine and pyridoxine. All patients survived. The outbreak occurred in the setting of limited dialysis resources, limited FOM availability, and in a resource-limited community. Additional guidelines are needed to determine allocation of limited resources, optimal dialysis and FOM treatment course, and comorbid conditions, which may prolong recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful development and application in industry of methanol-to-olefins (MTO) process brought about an innovative and efficient route for olefin production via non-petrochemical resources and also attracted attention of C1 chemistry and zeolite catalysis. Molecular sieve catalysts with diversified microenvironments embedding unique channel/cavity structure and acid properties, exhibit demonstrable features and advantages in the shape-selective catalysis of MTO. Especially, shape-selective catalysis over 8-MR and cavity-type zeolites with acidic supercage environment and narrow pore opening manifested special host–guest interaction between the zeolite catalyst and guest reactants, intermediates and products. This caused great differences in product distribution, catalyst deactivation and molecular diffusion, revealing the cavity-controlled methanol conversion over 8-MR and cavity-type zeolite catalyst. Furthermore, the dynamic and complicated cross-talk behaviors of catalyst material (coke)-reaction-diffusion over these types of zeolites determines the catalytic performance of the methanol conversion. In this review, we shed light on the cavity-controlled principle in the MTO reaction including cavity-controlled active intermediates formation, cavity-controlled reaction routes with the involvement of these intermediates in the complex reaction network, cavity-controlled catalyst deactivation and cavity-controlled diffusion. All these were exhibited by the MTO reaction performances and product selectivity over 8-MR and cavity-type zeolite catalysts. Advanced strategies inspired by the cavity-controlled principle were developed, providing great promise for the optimization and precise control of MTO process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In total, 4069 SE and 5336 ST/STM isolates were included, 18 and 6% of which were travel-related, respectively (SE: 5% within and 13% outside EU/EEA; ST/STM: 2% within and 4% outside EU/EEA). Keywords: Enteric fever; AMR; fluoroquinolones; water sanitation; food hygiene; traveller's diarrhoea EN Enteric fever AMR fluoroquinolones water sanitation food hygiene traveller's diarrhoea 1 4 4 11/08/23 20230801 NES 230801 Non-typhoidal salmonellosis is the second most reported zoonosis in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). [Extracted from the article]

A prolonged stay on the ground after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (COP) is a high-risk situation for venous thromboembolism (VTE), but unusual-site venous thrombosis is rare in this setting. An 81-year-old woman with no personal or family history of VTE who lied on the ground for several hours following massive COP had painful and oedematous temples, so a Doppler ultrasound was prompted and revealed a bilateral superficial temporal vein (STV) thrombosis. There was no heart failure, trauma, inflammatory disease, infection, or vascular malformation. The thrombosis regressed on fondaparinux 2.5 mg given as a daily subcutaneous injection for 45 days. Our observation emphasizes the need to look not only for arteritis but also for venous thrombosis before any temporal pain. STV thrombosis has been reported four times to date. We report the first case of bilateral STV thrombosis in the setting of massive COP and prolonged immobilisation in an elderly patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to identify the metabolites of synthetic cathinone (SC), 3-chloromethcathinone (3-CMC), and to select a potential intake biomarker for this compound. The basis of the experiment was the analysis of blood and urine samples from a case of fatal poisoning with this substance. We also evaluated the stability of 3-CMC and the selected potential biomarker, the dihydro-3-CMC metabolite, depending on the time elapsed since the autopsy as well as the storage conditions of the biological material. Studies have shown that 3-CMC shows low stability in the biological material. However, acidification of the biological material or storage at low temperatures has a great impact on maintaining its stability. It is crucial to monitor the presence of the dihydro-3-CMC metabolite in the biological material during analysis, which showed high stability under all of the given storage conditions. SCs might not be detected in the biological material and, if they are, the determined concentrations at the time of testing may not correspond to the actual concentrations at the time of the event or death. Consequently, the interpretation of the results obtained for 3-CMC and dihydro-3-CMC in terms of assessing their toxicity and possible cause of death is difficult. The area of research into the search for other intake biomarkers of unstable halogen derivatives of SCs remains open. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The successful development and application in industry of methanol-to-olefins (MTO) process brought about an innovative and efficient route for olefin production via non-petrochemical resources and also attracted attention of C1 chemistry and zeolite catalysis. Molecular sieve catalysts with diversified microenvironments embedding unique channel/cavity structure and acid properties, exhibit demonstrable features and advantages in the shape-selective catalysis of MTO. Especially, shape-selective catalysis over 8-MR and cavity-type zeolites with acidic supercage environment and narrow pore opening manifested special host–guest interaction between the zeolite catalyst and guest reactants, intermediates and products. This caused great differences in product distribution, catalyst deactivation and molecular diffusion, revealing the cavity-controlled methanol conversion over 8-MR and cavity-type zeolite catalyst. Furthermore, the dynamic and complicated cross-talk behaviors of catalyst material (coke)-reaction-diffusion over these types of zeolites determines the catalytic performance of the methanol conversion. In this review, we shed light on the cavity-controlled principle in the MTO reaction including cavity-controlled active intermediates formation, cavity-controlled reaction routes with the involvement of these intermediates in the complex reaction network, cavity-controlled catalyst deactivation and cavity-controlled diffusion. All these were exhibited by the MTO reaction performances and product selectivity over 8-MR and cavity-type zeolite catalysts. Advanced strategies inspired by the cavity-controlled principle were developed, providing great promise for the optimization and precise control of MTO process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nontyphoidal Salmonella are a leading cause of community-onset bacteremia and other serious infections in sub-Saharan African countries where large studies indicate that they are an uncommon cause of moderate-to-severe diarrhea. Approximately 535 000 nontyphoidal Salmonella invasive disease illnesses and 77 500 deaths were estimated to occur in 2017; 422 000 (78.9%) illnesses and 66 500 (85.9%) deaths in countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Lineages of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium sequence type (ST) 313 and lineages of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis ST11 dominate as causes of invasive disease. A major reservoir for these specific strains outside of humans has not been identified to date. Human fecal shedding of such strains is common in areas where nontyphoidal Salmonella invasive disease incidence is high. The case-fatality ratio of nontyphoidal Salmonella invasive disease is approximately 15%. Early diagnosis and treatment are needed to avert fatal outcomes. Antimicrobial resistance, including multiple drug resistance, decreased fluoroquinolone susceptibility, and resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, is increasing in prevalence and is likely to further compromise patient outcomes. Naturally acquired immunity against invasive disease develops in children aged >3 years in endemic areas, likely mediated in part by the sequential acquisition of T-cell immunity, followed by antigen-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies. Vaccines in preclinical or clinical development include live-attenuated S. enterica serovar Typhimurium, nontyphoidal S. enterica core and O-polysaccharide glycoconjugates, multiple antigen-presenting system complexes, and generalized modules for membrane antigens vaccines. The latter are in phase I trials in Europe and Africa. Both vaccine use, and other effective, evidence-based nonvaccine interventions, are needed to prevent and control nontyphoidal Salmonella invasive disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional chemical pesticides pose potential threats to human health, the environment, and food safety, and there is an urgent need to develop botanical pesticides that are easily degradable, renewable, and environmentally compatible. This research serves to detect the lethal impacts of Amanita pantherina(DC.:Fr) Schrmm.(Agaricales, Amanitaceae, Amanita), Amanita virgineoides Bas (Agaricales, Amanitaceae, Amanita), Coprinus comatus (O.F.Müll.) Pers. (Agaricales, Psathyrellaceae, Coprinus), Pycnoporus cinnabarinus(Jacq.:Fr) Karst (Polyporales, Polyporaceae, Polyporus) and Phallus rubicundus (Bosc) Fr. (Phallales, Phallaceae, Phallus) on Drosophila melanogaster(Diptera, Drosophilidae, Drosophila), including their effects on lifespan, fecundity, offspring growth and developmental characteristics, antioxidant enzyme activity, peroxide content, and the gene transcription associated with signaling pathways and lifespan of D. melanogaster. The results demonstrated that they all produced lethal effects on D. melanogaster. Female flies were more sensitive to the addition of macrofungi to their diet and have a shorter survival time than male flies. The toxic activity of A. pantherina-supplemented diet was the strongest, so that the D. melanogaster in this group had no offspring. The macrofungal-supplemented diets were able to significantly reduce the activity of antioxidant enzymes, accumulate peroxidation products, up-regulatd the transcription of genes related to signaling pathways, inhibit the expression of longevity genes, reduce the lifespan and fertility of D. melanogaster. Consequently, we hypothetically suggest that medicinal C. comatus, P. cinnabarinus and P. rubicundus hold the potential to be developed into an environmentally friendly biopesticide for fly killing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rich land of Erythrae in the coast of Asia Minor attracted the attention of the Ionian king Codrus. An oracle demanded the presence of the murky deity Hecate for him to conquer the city. Priestess Chrysame was sent by Thessalians to set the strategy of the clash. The young sorceress poisoned a sacred bull who turned mad, later to be released toward the camp of Erythraeans. The beast was captured and sacrificed. In the feast that followed, all ate a piece of his flesh and went crazy, stimulated by the poison, an easy prey for the army of Codrus. The deleterium used by Chrysame is unknown, but her strategy shaped the origin of biowarfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aflatoxins (AFs) are common feed contaminants and are one of the common causes of toxin-related pet food poisoning and recalls. Objective: Currently, there are no validated methods for the detection and quantitation of AFs in biological matrices to diagnose AF exposure in live animals. Following a successful intra-laboratory method development to quantify AFB1 and AFM1 in animal urine by HPLC with fluorescence detection (HPLC–FLD), the present study was conducted to extensively evaluate the method performance in an unbiased manner using blinded samples. Methods: The evaluation included two stages. First, the performance was verified in the method-originating laboratory in a single-laboratory blinded method test (BMT-S) trial followed by a multi-laboratory blinded method test (BMT-M) trial. Results: In both trials, accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility were satisfactory confirming the relatively good ruggedness and robustness of the method and ensuring that it will perform as expected if used by other laboratories in the future. Conclusions: We extensively evaluated the performance of a quantitative method to detect AFB1 and AFM1 in animal urine by HPLC-FLD by two different laboratories in two separate BMT-S and BMT-M trials. Both BMT results demonstrated the satisfactory accuracy and precision of the method. It is now available to be adopted by other diagnostic laboratories for purposes of diagnosing AF intoxication in animals. Highlights: A simple urine-based diagnostic test method using HPLC–FLD that originated in a single laboratory now has passed a multi-laboratory evaluation and is now available to be shared with other diagnostic laboratories for purposes of diagnosing AF intoxication in animals so better treatment can be rendered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the role of high-dose ascorbic acid in the treatment of ammonium dichromate poisoning. Ammonium dichromate is a toxic compound that can cause multiorgan failure and death. The case report describes a 26-year-old male patient who ingested a significant amount of ammonium dichromate and experienced symptoms such as burning sensation, vomiting, and loose stool. The patient was treated with gastric lavage, intravenous ascorbic acid, and other supportive measures, which resulted in improved renal function. The article emphasizes the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment with ascorbic acid in preventing organ failure and reducing hospital stay. [Extracted from the article]

An 18-year-old man presented with palpitations and chest discomfort, and an electrocardiogram revealed supraventricular tachycardia. Further examination revealed tingling and numbness in his hands and feet, as well as hyperpigmented spots on his hands, back, and chest. Laboratory studies showed high levels of arsenic in his blood, and a diagnosis of chronic arsenic toxicity with cardiac, dermatological, and neurological manifestations was made. The patient's symptoms improved after discontinuing the homeopathic medications he had been taking. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose Dexmedetomidine is a central α2 agonist commonly used on intubated patients. It is increasingly being used off-label in nonintubated agitated patients. We sought to determine the overall clinical course, adverse effects, and need for subsequent mechanical ventilation in toxicology patients after treatment with dexmedetomidine. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study conducted by chart review of electronic records from the Virginia Poison Control Center from January 1, 2019 to February 4, 2022. Inclusion criteria consisted of all poison center cases where dexmedetomidine was used. The primary outcome was the presence or absence of clinical improvement following dexmedetomidine use. Secondary outcomes included adverse effects, subsequent intubation, or death. Results During this study period, there were 220 cases in which dexmedetomidine was used to treat agitation. After exclusions, 70 cases were analyzed. The categories included antimuscarinic (n = 19), polysubstance (n = 16), sedative withdrawal (n = 10), unknown agitation (n = 7), sympathomimetic (n = 5), baclofen withdrawal (n = 3), unknown ingestion (n = 3), sedative/hypnotic (n = 2), antipsychotic (n = 2), hallucinogenic (n = 2), and opioid withdrawal (n = 1). Clinical improvement occurred in 62 of 70 patients (89%). There were no deaths. A total of 4 patients were intubated after starting dexmedetomidine, 2 for refractory agitation and 2 for hypoxia after aspiration. Conclusion Global clinical improvement was observed in the agitated toxicology patients administered dexmedetomidine. There was one case of intubation secondary to oversedation. Dexmedetomidine could be a useful adjunctive treatment for agitated toxicologic patients but should be studied further before routinely used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barium is an alkaline earth metal whose toxicity is dictated by its compounded salt form: barium sulfate is insoluble and safe to ingest, but other barium salts (chloride, carbonate, sulfide, oxide and acetate) are bioavailable and therefore toxic when ingested. There have been 49 previous reports of fatal intoxications following barium consumption: 38 deemed accidental in nature, 8 suicidal, 1 homicidal and 2 of undetermined intent. In this report, we detail the first intentional fatal self-poisoning with barium chloride to be reported in the UK, along with a review of the surrounding literature. This is the first case to report quantified levels of barium in blood and vitreous humor, and by providing details of sample collection, storage and processing, this case will aid in future interpretations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction is presented to the article "Identifying Sepsis From Foodborne Hospitalization: Incidence and Hospitalization Cost by Pathogen." which appeared in a previous issue of the periodical.

Why one chemical is more stable than another is not always easy to understand. A unified answer for metal clusters has led to the establishment of the superatom concept, which rationalizes the delocalization of electrons; however, cluster stability based on superatom theory has not been confirmed unambiguously for any metal other than the s- and p-blocks of the periodic table of elements. Here, we have prepared pure niobium clusters and observed their reactions with CO under sufficient gas collision conditions. We find prominent inertness of Nb12+, which survives CO attack. Comprehensive theoretical calculation results reveal that the inertness of Nb12+ is associated with its cage structure and well-organized superatomic orbitals, giving rise to energetic superiority among the studied clusters. It is revealed that not only the 5s but also the 4d electrons of Nb delocalize in the cluster and significantly contribute to the superatomic state, resulting in reasonable cage aromaticity. This hollow-cage cluster, which we have called a 'niobespherene', provides a clue with regard to designing new materials of all-metal aromaticity and Nb-involved catalysts free of CO poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Inadequate hospital antidote inventory is a widely documented international issue due to high medication costs, lack of emphasis on antidote importance, variable international standards, hospital size, and drug availability. A large health system underwent process and policy implementation for antidote stocking, availability tracking, and administration strategies to ensure appropriate inventory and improve patient safety. Summary Process and policy implementation occurred over a 12-month period across the health system's 11 acute care hospitals with emergency department services. Opportunities for optimization were identified following data capture surrounding institution-specific antidote inventory and usage across the health system. Specifically, minimum par levels at each institution were determined from 2018 expert recommendations for both the central pharmacy and automated dispensing machines within the emergency department. These quantities ensured the availability of an antidote within a specific timeframe contingent on the acquisition acuity for at least one 100-kg patient. Entries for order sets, order statements, and smart pump drug libraries were modified or formulated to facilitate standardized practices and minimize safety errors before a system-wide electronic health record transition. Conclusion It is prudent for all institutions, independent or within a health system, to identify areas of improvement for antidote inventory and management. Implementation of a similar process for antidote stocking, sharing, and delivery at other institutions is feasible and necessary to mitigate issues with drug acquisition and timely administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanide—a fast-acting poison—is easy to obtain given its widespread use in manufacturing industries. It is a high-threat chemical agent that poses a risk of occupational exposure in addition to being a terrorist agent. FDA-approved cyanide antidotes must be given intravenously, which is not practical in a mass casualty setting due to the time and skill required to obtain intravenous access. Glyoxylate is an endogenous metabolite that binds cyanide and reverses cyanide-induced redox imbalances independent of chelation. Efficacy and biochemical mechanistic studies in an FDA-approved preclinical animal model have not been reported. Therefore, in a swine model of cyanide poisoning, we evaluated the efficacy of intramuscular glyoxylate on clinical, metabolic, and biochemical endpoints. Animals were instrumented for continuous hemodynamic monitoring and infused with potassium cyanide. Following cyanide-induced apnea, saline control or glyoxylate was administered intramuscularly. Throughout the study, serial blood samples were collected for pharmacokinetic, metabolite, and biochemical studies, in addition, vital signs, hemodynamic parameters, and laboratory values were measured. Survival in glyoxylate-treated animals was 83% compared with 12% in saline-treated control animals (p  < .01). Glyoxylate treatment improved physiological parameters including pulse oximetry, arterial oxygenation, respiration, and pH. In addition, levels of citric acid cycle metabolites returned to baseline levels by the end of the study. Moreover, glyoxylate exerted distinct effects on redox balance as compared with a cyanide-chelating countermeasure. In our preclinical swine model of lethal cyanide poisoning, intramuscular administration of the endogenous metabolite glyoxylate improved survival and clinical outcomes, and ameliorated the biochemical effects of cyanide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A young woman with a history of several suicide attempts was admitted to the hospital after suspicion of a new intoxication without definite identification of the causing agent. The patient had a high anion gap metabolic acidosis (HAGMA) with respiratory compensation, a lactate gap and an osmolar gap at admission. Initial toxicological screening showed no abnormalities except for a weak positive gamma-hydroxy butyric acid (GHB) enzymatic screen in urine. This finding could not be confirmed using chromatographic analysis nor be explained by the presence of known cross-reacting substances like ethanol. In this case, falsely elevated urinary GHB screening was caused by the ingestion of ethylene glycol. To confirm that the interference was due to ethylene glycol or its metabolites, we performed a spiking experiment. Cross reactivity was linked to ethylene glycol and was low in our experiments (0.1–0.2%). Substantial amounts of ethylene glycol are required to slightly elevated GHB results, depending on the endogenous cutoff used. We can conclude that ethylene glycol can give rise to falsely elevated urinary GHB levels at ethylene glycol concentrations that are typically found in intoxications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumption of mushrooms can become unsafe for the consumer in case of confusion. Some fungi of Cortinarius genus contain the nephrotoxic mycotoxin orellanine responsible for their toxicity. Related case poisoning diagnosis is a challenge for both clinicians and analysts because of a long latency period between intake and toxic syndrome, the lack of available information in literature and the numerous pitfalls of orellanine identification/quantification in biological samples. In this situation, we propose an analytical method designed for the orellanine detection and/or quantification in biological matrices such as plasma, urine and whole blood, in a context of related intoxication suspected case. Using 1 mL biological sample volume, this liquid chromatographic with high-resolution mass spectrometry detection method (i) exhibits a limit of quantification for orellanine of 0.5 µg/L in plasma and urine and (ii) enables orellanine detection in whole blood with a limit of detection of 0.5 µg/L. This validated analytical method was successfully applied to 10 suspected intoxication cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Croton fruit poisoning was successfully identified through a series of chromatographic technologies. A suspected compound named 2-methyl-butenoic acid was screened out using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and the hydrolysate of isoguanosine in soup sample was further detected by high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The identification of croton fruit poisoning was confirmed basing on these laboratory tests together with the clinical symptoms of the patients. Especially, the false-negative result and the interferences were successfully excluded through simulation test, spectral analysis and chromatographic separation technique. Such study is significant for croton poisoning identification and provides beneficial references for disposing untargeted food poisoning incident. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Alcohol is a commonly co-ingested compound during self-poisoning with pesticides. Clinical experiences suggest alcohol co-ingestion (or withdrawal) makes patient management more difficult after self-poisoning and may contribute to poor clinical outcomes. We aimed to systematically review the world literature to explore the relationship between alcohol co-ingestion and outcome in pesticide self-poisoning. Methods We searched 13 electronic databases and Google scholar, conducted citation searching and a review of reference lists to find studies which investigated the relationship of alcohol with clinical outcome of pesticide self-poisoning in different countries. Thirteen studies, including 11 case series/reports and two cohort studies were considered for inclusion. Results Meta-analysis showed that alcohol co-ingestion in pesticide self-poisoning was associated with increased risk of death [odds ratio (OR) 4.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.9–8.2 P <0.0001] and that alcohol co-ingested group required intubation eight times more often than non-co-ingested group in organophosphorus insecticide self-poisoning (OR 8.0, 95% CI 4.9–13.0 P <0.0001). Cases who co-ingested alcohol were older than non-alcohol group in two studies. One cohort study demonstrated that alcohol co-ingestion was associated with larger pesticide ingestions but did not itself affect the outcome. Conclusions This systematic review indicates that alcohol co-ingestion may worsen clinical outcome in pesticide self-poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbes evolved resistance determinates for coping with arsenic toxicity are commonly regulated by a variety of transcriptional repressors (ArsRs). Ensifer adhaerens strain ST2 was previously shown tolerance to environmental organoarsenical methylarsenite (MAs(III)), which has been proposed to be a primordial antibiotic. In E. adhaerens strain ST2 chromosomal ars operon, two MAs(III) resistance genes, arsZ , encoding MAs(III) oxidase, and arsK , encoding MAs(III) efflux transporter, are controlled by a novel ArsR transcriptional repressor, EaArsR. It has two conserved cysteine pairs, Cys91-92 and Cys108-109. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) demonstrate that EaArsR binds to two inverted-repeat sequences within the ars promoter between arsR and arsZ to repress ars operon transcription and that DNA binding is relieved upon binding of As(III) and MAs(III). Mutation of either Cys91 or Cys92 to serine (or both) abolished these mutants binding to the ars promoter. In contrast, both C108S and C109S mutants kept responsiveness to As(III) and MAs(III). These results suggest that cysteine pair Cys91-Cys92 and either Cys108 or Cys109 contribute to form arsenic binding site. Homology modeling of EaArsR indicates the binding site consisted of Cys91-Cys92 pair from one monomer and Cys108-Cys109 pair from the other monomer, which displays the diverse evolution of arsenic binding site in the ArsR metalloregulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the late 2010s, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies became complementary to the research areas of food science and nutrition. This review aims to summarize these technological advances by systematically describing the following: the use of AI in other fields (eg, engineering, pharmacy, and medicine); the history of AI in relation to food science and nutrition; the AI technologies currently used in the agricultural and food industries; and some of the important applications of AI in areas such as immunity-boosting foods, dietary assessment, gut microbiome profile analysis, and toxicity prediction of food ingredients. These applications are likely to be in great demand in the near future. This review can provide a starting point for brainstorming and for generating new AI applications in food science and nutrition that have yet to be imagined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects, like other animals, have evolved defense responses to protect against predators, pathogens, and poisons (i.e. toxins). This paper provides evidence that these three defense responses (i.e. fight-or-flight, immune, and detoxification responses) function together as part of an Integrated Defense System (IDS) in insects. The defense responses against predators, pathogens, and poisons are deeply intertwined. They share organs, resources, and signaling molecules. By connecting defense responses into an IDS, animals gain flexibility, and resilience. Resources can be redirected across fight-or-flight, immune, and detoxification defenses to optimize an individual's response to the current challenges facing it. At the same time, the IDS reconfigures defense responses that are losing access to resources, allowing them to maintain as much function as possible despite decreased resource availability. An IDS perspective provides an adaptive explanation for paradoxical phenomena such as stress-induced immunosuppression, and the observation that exposure to a single challenge typically leads to an increase in the expression of genes for all three defense responses. Further exploration of the IDS will require more studies examining how defense responses to a range of stressors are interconnected in a variety of species. Such studies should target pollinators and agricultural pests. These studies will be critical for predicting how insects will respond to multiple stressors, such as simultaneous anthropogenic threats, for example, climate change and pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A brown recluse spider (BRS) bite is challenging to confirm, but can be clinically diagnosed by considering the location, the season of the year and the clinical manifestations. We described a 26-year-old male who presented after a BRS bite with a skin lesion, bruising, severe swelling and diffuse blisters on the right lower extremity after 3 days. This case should be considered in the differential diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis. Although spider bite poisoning is rare, proper diagnosis and management are important because, in some cases, it can have devastating outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses serious and life-threatening events associated with non-medical cannabis use in Canadian children and youth, highlighting the increasing trend post-legalization and addressing knowledge gaps in clinical diagnosis, and treatment. Topics include accidental poisonings, clinical presentations such as poisoning/intoxication and neurologic problems, and the importance of continued awareness and case reporting to understand the public health impacts of cannabis legalization.

Larval zebrafish is emerging as a new model organism for studying drug-induced liver injury (DILI) with superiorities in visual assessment, genetic engineering as well as high throughput. Metabolic bioactivation to form reactive intermediates is a common event that triggers DILI. This study first addressed the correlation between acetaminophen metabolism and hepatotoxicity in zebrafish larvae (3-day postfertilization) and demonstrated the occurrence of cytochrome P450 enzymes-mediated acetaminophen (APAP) bioactivation at early developmental stage through characterizing the dose-effect (0–1.6 mg/ml) and the time course (0–72 h) of liver injury and metabolism in the AB strain and LiPan transgenic line Tg(lfabp10a: DsRed; elaA:egfp) expressing the liver-specific fluorescent protein. APAP caused multiorgan developmental retardation and elicited dose- and time-dependent hepatotoxicity. Liver imaging revealed significant changes earlier than histological and biochemical measurements. APAP bioactivation in larval zebrafish was first confirmed by the detection of the glutathione conjugate of the reactive intermediate NAPQI (NAPQI-GSH) and subsequent mercapturate derivatives NAPQI-cysteine and NAPQI-N-acetylcysteine after even short (0.5-h postexposure) or low (0.2 mg/ml) APAP exposure. APAP overdose impaired metabolic function, in particular sulfation, whereas facilitated GSH depletion and APAP sulfate excretion. Meanwhile, APAP displayed triphasic accumulation in the larvae, agreeing with fluctuating metabolic capabilities with sulfation dominating the early larval developmental stage. Most importantly, the dose-response effects and time course of APAP accumulation and metabolism agree well with those of the liver injury development. Overall, larval zebrafish has developed mammalian-like metabolic function, enabling it an ideal model organism for high-throughput screening hepatotoxicity and mechanistic study of bioactivation-based DILI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a novel and as yet undescribed clinical scenario in a young girl with liver failure, in whom, the liver histopathology was suggestive of alcoholic hepatitis in the background of hepatoportal sclerosis and incomplete septal cirrhosis. An extensive clinical and investigational evaluation revealed chronic consumption of multiple Ayurvedic herbal medications for seizure disease. Six months after stopping herbal medicines, the repeat liver biopsy demonstrated resolution of alcohol-related changes but persistence of classical features of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. Analysis of the retrieved agents, including state of the art chemical and toxicology analysis, using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy methods demonstrated multiple organic and inorganic toxins associated with acute alcohol and arsenic poisoning related hepatoportal sclerosis/incomplete septal cirrhosis in the young girl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histamine (HIST) and other biogenic amines found in fish and fishery products accumulated by the action of bacterial amino acid decarboxylase cannot be decomposed and eliminated by heating or other chemical methods. A simple method for HIST elimination is proposed by a coupling reaction of the fungal amine oxidase (FAO) and bacterial aldehyde oxidase (ALOX) of acetic acid bacteria. As a model reaction, FAO oxidized benzylamine to benzaldehyde, which in turn was oxidized spontaneously to benzoic acid with ALOX. Likely, in HIST elimination, FAO coupled well with ALOX to produce imidazole 4-acetic acid from HIST with an apparent yield of 100%. Imidazole 4-acetaldehyde was not detected in the reaction mixture. In the absence of ALOX, the coupling reaction was incomplete given a number of unidentified substances in the reaction mixture. The proposed coupling enzymatic method may be highly effective to eliminate toxic amines from fish and fishery products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the main aetiological agents causing food‐borne diseases. Some strains produce enterotoxins responsible for food poisoning. In addition, they can form biofilms on several surfaces such as plastics, glass and stainless steel making it difficult to eliminate them. The present study evaluated, for the first time, the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the synthetic compound LMM6 against S. aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentration was 0·97, 1·95 and 1·95 μg ml−1 against S. aureus ATCC 25923, S. aureus 629/94 and S. aureus FRI S‐6, respectively. The time‐kill curves showed that 96 h treatment with LMM6 reduced approximately 4 log CFU per ml at all tested concentrations. Furthermore, LMM6 reduced S. aureus preformed biofilm by approximately 1 log CFU per cm2. During biofilm formation, a reduction of approximately 4 log CFU per cm2 was observed. LMM6 also reduced biofilm biomass during (~60%) and after biofilm formation (~25 to 45%), as shown by the crystal violet assay. Based on these results, we conclude that LMM6 exhibits antibacterial and antibiofilm activity and may be an innovative synthetic molecule for controlling S. aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella is a crucial food‐borne pathogen causing food poisoning, leading to severe public health events. Here, we developed a technique by integrating recombinase polymerase amplification with CRISPR‐LbCas12a and employing two targets with engineered crRNA for detection of Salmonella (RPA‐LbCas12a‐TTECDS). Our findings revealed that this novel method rapidly detects trace Salmonella in food through fluorescence intensity and provides a template for other food‐borne pathogen detection methods. Further, crRNA was optimized to increase detection sensitivity. Double targets were used to enhance the detection accuracy, reaching the level of qPCR, which was superior to fluorescent RPA. The RPA‐LbCas12a‐TTECDS system specifically detected Salmonella levels as low as 50 CFU per ml at 37°C in 1 h. In summary, a simple, rapid, sensitive and high accuracy detection technique based on CRISPR‐Cas12a was created for Salmonella detection without complicated equipment. Significance and Impact of the Study: The emergence of CRISPR‐Cas12a provides a new technique for detection methods. In this study, we developed a rapid, sensitive, and high accuracy RPA‐LbCas12a‐TTECDS based toolbox for Salmonella detection. This method is easy to operate with a completion span of 50 min by a fluorescence detector. The simple and quick‐to‐read method is potentially useful as point‐of‐care testing for Salmonella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like other seafood products, tuna is highly perishable and sensitive to microbial spoilage. Its consumption, whether fresh or canned, can lead to severe food poisoning due to the activity of specific microorganisms, including histamine-producing bacteria. Yet, many grey areas persist regarding their ecology, conditions of emergence, and proliferation in fish. In this study, we used 16S rRNA barcoding to investigate postmortem changes in the bacteriome of fresh and brine-frozen yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), until late stages of decomposition (i.e. 120 h). The results revealed that despite standard refrigeration storage conditions (i.e. 4°C), a diverse and complex spoilage bacteriome developed in the gut and liver. The relative abundance of spoilage bacterial taxa increased rapidly in both organs, representing 82% of the bacterial communities in fresh yellowfin tuna, and less than 30% in brine-frozen tuna. Photobacterium was identified as one of the dominant bacterial genera, and its temporal dynamics were positively correlated with histamine concentration in both gut and liver samples, which ultimately exceeded the recommended sanitary threshold of 50 ppm in edible parts of tuna. The results from this study show that the sanitary risks associated with the consumption of this widely eaten fish are strongly influenced by postcapture storage conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]