Neuropathy Target Esterase (NTE) is the molecular target in the nervous system for organophosphorus esters (OP) when they cause delayed polyneuropathy. Some NTE activity was recently found also in blood lymphocytes. An unsuccessful suicide attempt with the widely used pesticide chlorpyrifos (0,0-diethyl-0-3,5,6,-trichloro-2-pyridyl phosphorothioate) is reported, where prior inhibition of lymphocytic NTE correlates with the delayed development of polyneuropathy. A 42-year-old man drank approximately 300 mg/kg chlorpyrifos. The subsequent severe cholinergic syndrome lasted for 17 days with varying degrees of severity. Thirty days after intoxication the clinical and electrophysiological examination of the peripheral nervous system was normal but lymphocytic NTE was about 60% inhibited. On day 43 the patient began to complain of paresthesia and leg weakness. Clinical examination, electrophysiology and a nerve biopsy revealed signs of a peripheral polyneuropathy, axonal in type. This case report indicates that measurement of lymphocytic NTE might be used as a clinical test to predict the development of OP-induced delayed polyneuropathy.

The aim of this study (NCT04343053) is to investigate the relationship between platelet activation, myocardial injury, and mortality in patients affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Fifty-four patients with respiratory failure due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were enrolled as cases. Eleven patients with the same clinical presentation, but negative for SARS-CoV-2 infection, were included as controls. Blood samples were collected at three different time points (inclusion [T1], after 7 ± 2 days [T2] and 14 ± 2 days [T3]). Platelet aggregation by light transmittance aggregometry and the circulating levels of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and P -selectin were measured. Platelet biomarkers did not differ between cases and controls, except for sCD40L which was higher in COVID-19 patients ( p = .003). In COVID-19 patients, P -selectin and sCD40L levels decreased from T1 to T3 and were higher in cases requiring admission to intensive care unit ( p = .004 and p = .008, respectively). Patients with myocardial injury (37%), as well as those who died (30%), had higher values of all biomarkers of platelet activation ( p < .05 for all). Myocardial injury was an independent predictor of mortality. In COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital for respiratory failure, heightened platelet activation is associated with severity of illness, myocardial injury, and mortality. ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT04343053.

Background: The aim of this post hoc analysis of a large cohort study was to evaluate the association between night-time surgery and the occurrence of intraoperative adverse events (AEs) and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). Methods: LAS VEGAS (Local Assessment of Ventilatory Management During General Anesthesia for Surgery) was a prospective international 1-week study that enrolled adult patients undergoing surgical procedures with general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. Surgeries were defined as occurring during 'daytime' when induction of anaesthesia was between 8:00 AM and 7:59 PM, and as 'night-time' when induction was between 8:00 PM and 7:59 AM. Results: Of 9861 included patients, 555 (5.6%) underwent surgery during night-time. The proportion of patients who developed intraoperative AEs was higher during night-time surgery in unmatched (43.6% vs 34.1%; P<0.001) and propensity-matched analyses (43.7% vs 36.8%; P¼0.029). PPCs also occurred more often in patients who underwent night-time surgery (14% vs 10%; P¼0.004) in an unmatched cohort analysis, although not in a propensity-matched analysis (13.8% vs 11.8%; P¼0.39). In a multivariable regression model, including patient characteristics and types of surgery and anaesthesia, night-time surgery was independently associated with a higher incidence of intraoperative AEs (odds ratio: 1.44; 95% confidence interval: 1.09e1.90; P¼0.01), but not with a higher incidence of PPCs (odds ratio: 1.32; 95% confidence interval: 0.89e1.90; P¼0.15). Conclusions: Intraoperative adverse events and postoperative pulmonary complications occurred more often in patients undergoing night-time surgery. Imbalances in patients' clinical characteristics, types of surgery, and intraoperative management at night-time partially explained the higher incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, but not the higher incidence of adverse events. Clinical trial registration: NCT01601223.

We report a unique case of attempted suicide by intramuscular injection of the organophosphate isofenphos which resulted in a muscarinic and nicotinic syndrome lasting 15 days and requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation and hospitalization. The patient, who demonstrated no signs of delayed polyneuropathy on hospital day 25, subsequently died of pneumonia. Toxicological investigations showed isofenphos plasma decay and confirmed the intramuscular route of poisoning. We believe continuous isofenphos absorption resulted in the prolonged intoxication observed in this patient.

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