In order to ascertain the status of health damage among Korean farmers who spray pesticides regularly in summer, blood and urine samples were collected for 88 volunteers during July to Septembei in 1990. Serum cholinesterase activity, parent compounds of pesticides in blood and urine, SGOT, SGPT, blood pressure, pulse rate were measured. The results were as follows ; 1. Mean cholinesterase activity after spraying pesticides was significantly lower than that before splaying. While proportion of abnormal cholinesterase activity (<1900U/L) group was 2.3% before spraying pesticides, tHe proportion of the group after spraying was 22.8% 2. Cholinesterase activity were decreased over 50% in 14.7% of the suhjects who can be classified into poisoning group 3. While pulse rate and blood pressure were slightly increased in poisoning group, those were significantly decreased in non-poisoning group. 4. Consecutive splaying of pesticide caused further reduction of cholinesterase activity, 5. Five parent compounds of pesticides frequently used during summer farming were analyzed using 106 blood samples. IBP in one sample and Isoprothiolane in four samples were detected. No parent compounds were detected in urine samples.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Blood Pressure ; Cholinesterases* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Parents ; Pesticides ; Poisoning ; Volunteers

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of hemoperfusion in the treatment of intermediate myasthenia syndrome (IMS) following acute organophosphate poisoning (AOPP).

METHODSEighty cases of IMS following AOPP, who were admitted to the Emergency Department of our hospital from 2006 to 2011 and had complete clinical records, were divided into HP treatment group (n = 36) and non-HP (NHP) treatment group (n = 44). The therapeutic efficacy of HP was evaluated by comparing the clinical data of the two groups.

RESULTSThe HP treatment group showed significantly increased serum cholinesterase activity at 24h and 72 h after admission (P < 0.05), while the NHP treatment group showed significantly increased serum cholinesterase activity at 72 h after admission (P < 0.05). The serum cholinesterase activity in the HP treatment group was significantly higher than that in the NHP treatment group at 24 h after admission (P < 0.05). Compared with the NHP treatment group, the HP treatment group had significantly decreased total atropine dose, time of ventilatory assistance, length of ICU stay, recovery time from coma, incidence of pulmonary infection, and mortality due to respiratory failure (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and total mortality between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHemoperfusion is an effective therapy for improving clinical symptoms, shorten the course of disease, reducing complications, and decreasing the mortality due to respiratory failure in the patients with IMS following AOPP.

Cholinesterases ; blood ; Female ; Hemoperfusion ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Weakness ; etiology ; therapy ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; therapy ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

Cholinesterases ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ; enzymology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the difference of liver enzyme levels and its correlation with serum ACE/ACE2 among yak and cattle on Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, and to further explore the biochemical mechanism of their liver of altitude adaptation.

METHODSThe serum samples of yak were collected at 3,000 m, 3,500 m, 4,000 m and 4,300 m respectively, meanwhile the serum samples of migrated cattle on plateau (2,500 m) and lowland cattle (1,300 m) were also collected. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholinesterase (CHE), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum lipase (LPS), angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE), angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) in serum were measured by using fully automatic blood biochemcal analyzer. We analysed the differences of the above enzymes and its correlation with ACE/ACE2. We used one way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTSThe levels of ALT in 4,000 m group and 4,300 m group of yak increased significantly compared with other groups, there were no statistically significant differences in AST, CHE, GGT, ACE/ACE2 levels of yaks at different altitudes. As compared to lowland cattle, the serum levels of AST and CHE were increased, the level of LPS and ACE was decreased significantly, respectively, and especially, the ratio of ACE/ACE2 of migranted cattle reduced nearly two times. The levels of LPS were significantly correlated to the ratio of ACE/ACE2 in yak (r = 0.357, P < 0.01), and a high correlation between ALP and ACE/ACE2 in lowland cattle( r = 0.418, P < 0.05), But the biggest contribution rate of the ratio of ACE/ACE2 was only 17.5% for the changes of the levels of liver enzyme.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that with the altitude increased did not significantly influence the changes of liver enzymes' activities in mountainous yaks but not in cattle. However, all above these changes weren't actually correlated to the ratio of ACE/ACE2.

Acclimatization ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Altitude ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Cattle ; physiology ; Cholinesterases ; blood ; Hypoxia ; blood ; Lipase ; blood ; Liver ; enzymology ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; blood ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

BACKGROUNDSome studies found that cholinesterase (ChE) can be an independent risk factor for patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. To assess aged patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) early and predict their prognosis, the predictive value of ChE for the prognosis of aged patients with SIRS was analyzed.

METHODSFrom September 2009 to September 2010, all aged patients with SIRS in the ICU of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine were retrospectively analyzed if they met inclusion criteria: patients aged ≥ 65 years and met American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine Consensus Conference criteria for SIRS. Serum ChE, albumin, D-dimer, lactic acid and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured, and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores were evaluated within the first 24 hours in the ICU. Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of the primary disease between the deceased group and surviving group. For comparison of study variables between the two groups, the Student's t test or Mann-Whitney U test was used. Multivariate significance was tested with binary Logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThe clinical data of 124 aged patients with SIRS were collected and analyzed. Sixty-six patients (46 male, 20 female, mean age (78.70 ± 8.08) years) who died were included in the deceased group and 58 patients (34 male, 24 female, mean age (76.02 ± 6.57) years) who survived were included in the surviving group. There were no significant differences in age, gender, APACHE II score and GCS score between the deceased group and surviving group (all P > 0.05), but there were significant differences in lactic acid (P = 0.011), D-dimer (P = 0.011), albumin (P = 0.007), CRP (P = 0.008), and ChE (P < 0.0001). The correlation analysis showed that the APACHE II score and CRP were not correlated with ChE (both P < 0.05). D-dimer and albumin were correlated with ChE (Spearman's rho correlation coefficients were -0.206 and 0.324, the corresponding P values were 0.022 and < 0.0001). Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that age, gender, lactic acid, D-dimer, albumin, CRP, APACHE II score, and GCS score were not independent risk factors for prognosis of aged patients with SIRS, but that ChE was (P < 0.0001). The receiver operating characteristic curve of ChE had an area under the curve of 0.797 (standard error = 0.04; P < 0.0001), and a ChE of 103.00 U/L was the cut-off value with sensitivity = 0.793, specificity = 0.742.

CONCLUSIONSerum ChE might be a predictive marker for the prognosis of aged patients with SIRS, with low serum ChE levels indicating poor prognosis.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cholinesterases ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ; blood ; enzymology ; pathology

To investigate the developmental changes of human erythrocytes, adult and fetal erythrocyte membranes prepared from adult and cord blood were analyzed in regard to their proteins, glycoproteins, enzyme activities and glucose transport systems. 1. Adult and fetal erythrocyte membranes appeared to have the same major proteins and gl-ycoproteins in the electrophoretic pattern. 2. ATPase activity in adult erythrocyte membranes was lower than that of fetal erythrocyte membranes, whereas adult cholinesterase was higher. No significant change was observed in the activities of alkaline and acid phosphatases during development. 3. Glucose uptake was higher in fetal erythrocytes than in adult erythrocytes, suggesting some loss of glucose carrier system during devlopment. The results suggest that the major structural proteins in human erythrocyte membrane relatively unchanged while some functional proteins such as membrane enzymes and carrier proteins in transport systems are markedly changed during development.
Adenosine Triphosphatases ; Adult ; Carrier Proteins ; Cholinesterases ; Erythrocyte Membrane ; Erythrocytes* ; Fetal Blood ; Glucose ; Glycoproteins ; Humans* ; Membrane Proteins* ; Membranes* ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases

AIMTo determine the effect of soman on stress induced hyperthermia and the influence of central and peripheral cholinergic antagonists.

METHODSEffects of subcutaneous injection of soman, scopolamine, methylscopolamine and pyridostigmine on stress-induced hyperthermia were observed in rats by radio telemetry in an open-field environment. Plasma cholinesterase (ChE) activity was measured by a spectrophotometry.

RESULTS(1) Core temperature of the control group increased by 0.96 degrees C when exposed to open-field, whereas core temperature only increased by 0.55 degrees C in soman treated animals. Scopolamine, a central cholinergic antagonist, nearly abolished inhibitory effects of soman on core temperature when exposed to open-field. Methylscopolamine, a peripheral cholinergic antagonist, coadministered with soman reduced significantly the hyperthermic response to open-field exposure compared with rats dosed with soman. (2) Pyridostigmine, a peripheral anti-ChE agent that caused a 52% decrease in plasma ChE activity led to a significant enhancement of the hyperthermic response to open-field exposure. Methyl scopolamine nearly abolished the effects of pyridostigmine on stress-induced hyperthermia response.

CONCLUSIONInhibitory effect of soman on the open field hyperthermia suggested that soman treatment hampered the ability of the rat to develop a normal hyperthermic response when placed in the open-field environment. Its inhibitory effects were mediated primarily through a central muscarinic pathway. In addition, peripheral cholinergic nerve was involved in the control of stress hyperthermic response.

Animals ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Cholinesterases ; blood ; Female ; Fever ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Soman ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Stress, Physiological

OBJECTIVETo investigate the activity of ChE in rats poisoned by dimehypo and then treated with pralidoxime methylchloride or unithiol.

METHODRats were divided into control group (dimehypo); intervention groups [dimehypo plus pralidoxime methylchloride or dimehypo plus unithiol (sodium dimercaptopropanesulphonate)]. Rats were dosed with 4 different doses of dimehypo: 1/16, 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2 of LD50 respectively(the LD50 of dimehypo is 342 mg/kg). After being poisoned with dimehypo orally, rats were immediately injected intramuscularly with pralidoxime methylchloride or unithiol. The activity of ChE in blood was detected before and 1/2, 1, 2, 4 and 24 h after poisoning in dimehypo and intervention groups.

RESULTThe ChE activity of four dose subgroups at 1 h after poisoning were (1.04 +/- 0.21), (0.84 +/- 0.12), (0.71 +/- 0.12), (0.66 +/- 0.07) U/ml respectively; the ChE activity of pralidoxime methylchloride intervention groups were (1.01 +/- 0.18), (1.17 +/- 0.11), (1.01 +/- 0.04), (1.03 +/- 0.12) U/ml respectively; and the ChE activity of unithiol intervention groups were (1.15 +/- 0.15), (1.26 +/- 0.27), (1.08 +/- 0.08), (1.04 +/- 0.12) U/ml respectively. The inhibited ChE in blood was recovered by either treatment with pyraldoxime methylchloride or unithiol. These two drugs had similar effects of recovering the activity of ChE(P > 0.05), but at higher doses(1/4 and 1/2 of LD50) the effects of both were not so good.

CONCLUSIONPralidoxime methylchloride and unithiol could partly recover the activity of ChE inhibited by dimehypo.

Animals ; Antidotes ; pharmacology ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; poisoning ; Cholinesterases ; blood ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Pralidoxime Compounds ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Unithiol ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo determine whether and to what degree the activity of cholinesterase(ChE) is inhibited by dimehypo at different doses of dimehypo [scientific name: 2-dimethylamine-1,3-bi(sodium hyposulfit)].

METHODRats were dosed with dimehypo or methamidophos orally, and were randomly divided into four subgroups according to the pesticide doses, which were 1/16, 1/8, 1/4 and 1/2 of LD50 respectively(the LD50 of dimethypo and methamidophos is 342 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg respectively). The activity of ChE in blood was determined before and 30 min, 1, 2, 4 and 24 h after exposure. The modified Ellman Method was employed to measure the activity of ChE.

RESULT1/16 LD50 dose of dimehypo did not affect the activity of ChE. When the dose increased, the activity of ChE decreased accordingly. 1/2 LD50 dose of dimehypo inhibited the activity of ChE by 35.9% compared with that of control group(P < 0.01). In rats dosed with methamidophos, even 1/16 LD50 dose inhibited the activity of ChE by 42.4% compared with that of control group. When the dose of methamidophos increased, the activity of ChE decreased accordingly. 1/2 LD50 dose of methamidophos inhibited the activity of ChE by 52.9%. The activity of ChE in the rats dosed with dimehypo at various doses was significantly lower than that in the rats dosed with corresponding doses of methamidophos(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHigher doses of dimehypo may inhibit the activity of ChE. However, as compared with methamidophos, dimehypo is a weaker inhibitor of ChE.

Animals ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; toxicity ; Cholinesterases ; blood ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Insecticides ; toxicity ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; toxicity ; Rats

PURPOSE: Organophosphate insecticide poisoning is common in Korea, but there is no definitive guideline for determining the severity of the poisoning and the predictive factors. Therefore, we evaluated the organophosphate poisoned patients and we divided them into two groups, the survivors and the dead, and the results might be useful for treating organophosphate poisoning patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 68 organophosphate poisoned patients who visited the Chosun University Hospital Emergency Medical Center during a 24-month period from January, 2007 to December, 2008. We made a work sheet of the patients' characteristics and the collected data was analyzed and we compared this data between the survivor group and the dead patient group. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the survivor group and the dead patient group for the mean age, the alcohol intake state and the typically expressed signs. The dead patients had lower blood pressure, tachycardia and a lower Glasgo Coma Score (GCS) score than the survivor group. On the arterial blood gas analysis, the dead patients had more severe acidemia and they had lower saturations. Increased serum amylase levels were found in the dead patients. The survivors' initial and follow up serum pseudocholinesterase activity (after 6~8 days) was significantly higher than that of the dead group. The total amount of atropine injected to patient was less in the survivors than that in the dead patients. CONCLUSION: Old age and expressing the typical intoxication signs, a lower GCS score and blood pressure, showing acidosis on the gas analysis and low serum cholinesterase activity may be useful as poor prognostic indicators for patients with organophosphate poisoning. We suggest that physicians must pay careful attention to the signs and prognostic factors of organophosphate insecticide poisoned patients.
Acidosis ; Amylases ; Atropine ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Cholinesterases ; Coma ; Emergencies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Pseudocholinesterase ; Retrospective Studies ; Survivors ; Tachycardia