Parquat, more commonly used in its commercial name, Gramoxone, is a widely used herbicide for it is inexpensive and effective. It is lethal when ingested accidentally or for the purpose of committing suicide. Having experienced four patients who were injured accidentally in the eye by Gramoxone (herbicide containing paraquat and diquat), we report these cases with the review of the literatures.
Diquat ; Humans ; Paraquat* ; Suicide

Many medical institutions in Korea have recently been performing an antibody screening test as one of the essential elements of a pre-transfusion test. The Dia antigen is well known as one of the antigens with low incidence among Caucasians; however, it has been discovered with a relatively higher incidence among Mongoloid populations. The frequency of the Dia antigen among the Korean population is estimated to be 6.4-14.5%. But in Korea, a screening panel of cells from abroad without Dia positive cells has been commonly used when a patient has an unexpected antibody screening test. Here we report a case of acute hemolytic transfusion reaction due to Anti-Dia antibody. To prevent other transfusion reaction by anti-Dia antibody, addition of Dia positive cells as unexpected antibody screening test is recommended.
Blood Group Incompatibility ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Pyridinium Compounds

PURPOSE: The goal of this paper is to present the design and performance of a position encoding circuit for 16 x 16 array of position sensitive multi-anode photomultiplier tube for small animal PET scanners. This circuit which reduces the number of readout channels from 256 to 4 channels is based on a charge division method utilizing a resistor array. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The position encoding circuit was simulated with PSpice before fabrication. The position encoding circuit reads out the signals from H9500 flat panel PMTs (Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Japan) on which 1.5 x 1.5 x 7.0 mm3 L0.9GSO (Lu1.8Gd0.2SiO5:Ce) crystals were mounted. For coincidence detection, two different PET modules were used. One PET module consisted of a 29 x 29 L0.9GSO crystal layer, and the other PET module two 28 x 28 and 29 x 29 L0.9GSO crystal layers which have relative offsets by half a crystal pitch in x- and y-directions. The crystal mapping algorithm was also developed to identify crystals. RESULTS: Each crystal was clearly visible in flood images. The crystal identification capability was enhanced further by changing the values of resistors near the edge of the resistor array. Energy resolutions of individual crystal were about 11.6%(SD 1.6). The flood images were segmented well with the proposed crystal mapping algorithm. CONCLUSION: The position encoding circuit resulted in a clear separation of crystals and sufficient energy resolutions with H9500 flat-panel PMT and L0.9GSO crystals. This circuit is good enough for use in small animal PET scanners.
Animals ; Estrenes ; Fees and Charges ; Optics and Photonics ; Pyridinium Compounds

In recent years, with the withdrawal of paraquat (PQ) pesticides from the market, the number of poisoning cases caused by its substitute diquat (DQ) has shown an increasing trend year by year. Among the clinical manifestations of DQ poisoning, the damage to the central nervous system is relatively common and serious, but the specific toxicity mechanism is not clear, and there is no clear treatment. This article reviews the nervous system damage caused by DQ poisoning in order to improve the understanding systen of DQ poisoning.
Diquat ; Herbicides ; Humans ; Nervous System ; Paraquat ; Poisoning

Objective: To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) on lung injury caused by Paraquat intoxicated mice. Methods: Eighty clean male BALB/C mice were selected and averagely divided forty mice into 4 groups with 10 mice in each group, PQ group was given 25% PQ solution (60 mg/kg) by one-time gavage. PQ+NR group were intraperitoneally injected with NR solution (300 mg/kg) 1 hour before given the same amount of PQ solution (60 mg/kg) by one-time gavage, The Control group were given the same amount of saline by one-time gavage, The same amount of NR was intraperitoneally injected before NR group were given saline by one-time gavage. Observed and recorded general condition of PQ intoxicated mice. Observed and recorded the death of mice every half an hour and counted the mortality and drew survival curve of each group after 72 hours exposure. another forty mice were averagely divided and treated by the same way. After 24 hours of modelling, mice were anaesthetized and killed. Then blood was extracted after eyeball was removed. The changes of TNF-a、IL-6 and MPO in serum of mice were detected by ELISA.Two lung tissues were removed from the chest and used to measure the D/W ratio of the lung. The pathological changes of lung were observed and scored under light microscope.The levels of SOD, MDA and Caspase-3 in lung tissues were determined by chemical colorimetry. The expression of Sirt1 and Nrf2 in lung tissues was detected by Western-blot. Results: Compared with the Control group and the NR group, the mice in the PQ group had a poor general condition, such as depression, crouching, skin disorder and reduced activity, food, urine and feces. The symptoms in the PQ+NR group were reduced compared with the PQ group. The survival rate at 72 hours after exposure: 80% in the PQ+NR group and 40% higher than that in the PQ group (P=0.029) . Compared with Control group and NR group, the D/W ratio (0.09±0.07) , lung pathology score under light microscope (11.80±0.37) , TNF-a (39.89±1.48) pg/ml、IL-6 (77.29±2.38) pg/ml、MPO (0.31±0.01) μg/ml、SOD (6.62±0.30) U/mgprot、MDA level (1.21±0.14) mmol/mgprot, Caspase-3 activity (356.00± 27.16) %, Sirt1 and Nrf2 protein expression (1.02±0.14、0.82±0.06) were significantly decreased in PQ group (P=0.004、0.023) ; Compared with PQ group, PQ+NR group significantly increased the D/W ratio (0.10±0.10) , decreased the pulmonary pathology score under light microscope (7.400.51) , decreased TNF-a (33.00± 0.65) pg/ml、IL-6 (52.23±4.23) pg/ml、MPO leve (0.23±0.01) μg/mll, increased SOD leve (9.28±0.45) U/mgprotl, decreased MDA level (0.78±0.02) mmol/mgprot, decreased Caspase-3 activity (222.80±7.59) %, and increased the protein expressions of Sirt1 and Nrf2 (1.62±0.16、1.06±0.04) (P=0.048、0.035) . Conclusion: NR can prolong the survival time of PQ poisoned mice; NR intervention can effectively inhibit the inflammatory response, peroxidation injury and apoptosis of PQ poisoned mice; NR intervention can upregulate the expression of Sirt1 and Nrf2 protein and effectively reduce the lung injury of PQ poisoning.
Animals ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Lung ; Lung Injury/metabolism* ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Niacinamide/pharmacology* ; Paraquat/toxicity* ; Pyridinium Compounds/pharmacology* ; Sirtuin 1/metabolism* ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism*

A rapid method of Liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF-MS) combined with pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) oxidation has been developed to determine chemical structures of two novel isomers in bear bile powder. Derivatives of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) were semi-synthesized by PCC oxidation, then were analyzed by LC-Q-TOF-MS. Separation was carried out on a reverse column with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid (45:55). The data of Q-TOF-MS was acquired by MS, MS/MS, positive and negative modes. Since UDCA and CDCA were stereochemical isomeric at an alcohol position, two oxidation products were same and have been confirmed by LC-Q-TOF-MS. Other two products were also determined based on the PCC oxidation theory. Samples of bear bile powder were dissolved by methanol and measured by LC-Q-TOF-MS. Two unknown peaks were found and identified by matching their retention times and accurate mass spectra ions with PCC oxidation productS. Finally, the structures of two new bile acids in bear bile powder were confirmed as 3alpha-hydroxy-7-oxo-5beta-cholanic acid, 7alpha-hydroxy-3-oxo-5beta-cholanic acid, respectively.
Animals ; Bile ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Isomerism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Powders ; chemistry ; Pyridinium Compounds ; chemistry ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Tissue Extracts ; chemistry ; Ursidae ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; chemistry

PURPOSEThe purpose of this study is to review the urine products of bone breakdown as markers of bone resorption and usefulness of urinary hydroxyproline.

DATARelated researches published in 1985 - 2000 were systematically reviewed.

RESULTSBone markers could be used for early diagnosis of bone metabolic diseases. Biochemical markers of bone resorption that reflect osteoclast activity and/or collagen degradation provide a new and potentially important clinical tool for the assessment and monitoring of bone metabolism. Assessment of bone resorption can be achieved with measurement of urinary hydroxylysine glycosides, urinary excretion of the collagen pyridinium cross-links, urinary excretion of type I collagen telopeptide breakdown products (cross-linked telopeptides) and urinary hydroxyproline.

CONCLUSIONUrinary hydroxyproline has been in use as a marker of bone resorption, but it lacks sensitivity and specificity. It is a modified amino acid that is a metabolic product of collagen breakdown. Hydroxyproline may be released either free or with fragments of the collagen molecule attached during bone resorption, and it is also liberated by the breakdown of complement and nonskeletal collagen.

Biomarkers ; urine ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; urine ; Bone Resorption ; urine ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydroxylysine ; analogs & derivatives ; urine ; Hydroxyproline ; urine ; Pyridinium Compounds ; urine

Animals ; Antinematodal Agents ; chemical synthesis ; therapeutic use ; toxicity ; Dogs ; Drug Resistance ; Female ; Haplorhini ; Hookworm Infections ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Parasite Egg Count ; Pyridinium Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Rabbits ; Thiophenes ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUND: The timing of administration may be an important factor in order to obtain maximal antagonizing effect of anticholinesterase on neuromuscular blockade. The objective of this study is to seek for the optimal administration time of pyridostigmine for reducing the recovery time of vecuronium. METHODS:Thirty patients were devided into three groups,who were receiving intravenously pyridostigmine (0.2 mg/kg) at 10% (group 1), 20% (group 2) and 25% (group 3) recovery of T1. The recovery indices (RI: time taken for T1 to recover from 25 to 75% of control) and recovery time (time taken for T1 to recover from 5% to 20, 25, 50 & 75%) in vecuronium (0.1 mg/kg) neuromuscular blockade were checked and compared between 3 groups using train of four stimulation with Relaxograph(Datex co., Finland). RESULTS: The recovery time (T5-20, T5-25, T5-50, T5-75) was significantly faster in the group 1 than the group 3. But there were no significant differences in recovery indices (RI) between 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Provided there is a slightest evidence of spontaneous recovery, early administration of anticholinesterse will reduce the recovery time of nondepolarizing neuromuscular block. But it can not affect the dissociation rate of vecuronium (KD) and there were no significant differences in recovery indices.
Humans ; Neuromuscular Blockade* ; Pyridostigmine Bromide* ; Vecuronium Bromide

OBJECTIVEInhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in human brain caused by phoxim or phoxim oxon, their reactivation with oxime and aging of phosphorylated AChE were studied and compared in vitro.

METHODSMicro-colorispectrophotometric assay was used to determine the activity of AChE.

RESULTSThe pI(50) of inhibition of AChE in human brain by phoxim and phoxim oxon were 5.39 and 5.77, respectively, whereas the pI(90) were 4.60 and 5.00, respectively. The reactivation rate of 0.1 mmol/L of pralidoxime (2-PAM), obidoxime (LüH(6)), trimedoxime (TMB-4) and pyramidoxime (HI-6) for phoxim-inhibited AChE in human brain was 65%, 97%, 91% and 56%, respectively, and their reactivation rate for phoxim oxon-inhibited AChE in human brain was 97%, 87%, 99% and 89%, respectively. The optimal reactivator for phoxim and phoxim oxon-inhibited AChEs was LüH(6) and TMB-4, respectively. The half aging time of phoxim and phoxim oxon inhibited phosphorylated AChEs were 39 and 28 hours, respectively, and the 99% aging time were 256 and 186 hours, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSLüH(6) or TMB-4 should be used at the earlier as possible after poisoning with phoxim and phoxim oxon, and the reactivator should be consecutively used for more than seven days, even after their acute symptoms have been well controlled.

Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Brain ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Cholinesterase Reactivators ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Stability ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Obidoxime Chloride ; pharmacology ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; pharmacology ; Oximes ; pharmacology ; Paraoxon ; pharmacology ; Pralidoxime Compounds ; pharmacology ; Time Factors ; Trimedoxime ; pharmacology