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Biomedical subjects

N Ben Salah

Publications and source records attributed to N Ben Salah.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

A review of acute poisoning from Atractylis gummifera L.

Atractylis gummifera is a poisonous plant widely found in North Africa. The thistle grows commonly in dry areas, and the juice of the rhizome is poisonous. It provokes frequent poisoning, especially of children. Toxic glucosides have been isolated and their identified as atractyloside and carboxyatractyloside. Tissues of high metabolic activity are the main target organs. Atractylis gummifera glucosides cause a severe hepatitis with fatal liver failure common. The plant's poisonous compounds interact with detoxication and/or transformation systems in the liver even at doses not likely to induce cytolysis by blocking ADP-ATP conversion through inhibition of P450 cytochrome. Clinical manifestations are related to an induced hypoglycemia and neurovegetative disorders or subsequent renal failure. Liver transplantation or immunotherapy may improve the often fatal prognosis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Extrapyramidal syndrome as a delayed and reversible complication of acute dichlorvos organophosphate poisoning.

We describe 4 cases of delayed extrapyramidal disorder following acute dichlorvos poisonings. All patients were seriously poisoned since all exhibited profound coma and respiratory failure, and they were all tracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated. On admission, plasma cholinesterase activity was greaty decreased, < 10 micromol/ml/h at 37 C in all patients (< 10% of normal for our laboratory). Extrapyramidal symptoms occurred between 5 and 15 d and were characterized by dystonia of arms and legs, resting tremor, cogwheel rigidity, and hypereflexia. With bromocriptine therapy the features of extrapyramidal syndrome disappeared progressively with complete recovery in all patients. Our observations suggest a delayed extrapyramidal syndrome should be taken into account during the course of acute dichlorvos organophosphate poisonings.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

Use of plants to induce chemical submission in Tunisia.

Induced chemical submission is the administration or instigation of consumption of one or more substances to an individual without their knowledge to alter attentiveness and make the person vulnerable to abuse. Specific experiences in managing victims of induced submission from plant materials at a poison control center are presented.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Plant poisonings from herbal medication admitted to a Tunisian toxicologic intensive care unit, 1983-1998.

To collect data on Tunisian herbal toxicity we analysed 56 medical records of patients admitted to the toxicological intensive care unit from 1983 to 1998 following the ingestion of plants. The sex ratio of patients was 1:2, the mean age of patients was 26y (2 to 75y) and II species of plants were involved with Atractylis gummifera (32%), Datura stramonium (25%), Ricinus communis (9%), Nerium oleander (7%) and Peganum harmala (7%) most commonly infested. Poisonings involved neurological (91%), gastrointestinal (73%) and cardiovascular systems (18%). Treatment was mainly symptomatic. The only lethal cases of liver failure involved 16 Atractylis gummifera poisonings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Acute self-induced poisoning with carbamazepine].

OBJECTIVE: We report the epidemiological, clinical, toxicological and therapeutic aspects of acute voluntary intoxication with carbamazepine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 17 cases of acute carbamazepine intoxication in patients hospitalized in our toxicology unit. RESULTS: Neurological signs predominated at admission, mainly agitation or coma associated with seizures. Mydriasis and cardiovascular signs were frequent. Blood chemistry most frequently showed hyponatremia. Mean serum carbamazepine level admission was 24 mg/l (range 4 ñ 12 mg/l). Ten patient required respiratory assistance for 28 +/- 17 hours. Symptomatic treatment and gastric lavage (+activated carbon) provided favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: Acute carbamazepine intoxication is seen with increasing frequency. Severity is related to the degree and duration of the coma, respiratory depression, seizures, cardiovascular disorders, and metabolic abnormalities. Symptomatic and specific treatment with activated carbon are required.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Datura stramonium poisonings in humans.

Datura stramonium is a hallucinogenic plant which causes serious poisoning. Clinical symptoms are those of atropinic intoxication with psychiatric manifestations of dryness of mouth, mydriasis, tachycardia and hallucinations. Diagnosis is essentially clinical. Treatment is symptomatic and suppurative; prognosis is usually favorable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Disinfection of endoscopes in gastroenterology. Bacteriologic evaluation of the procedure employed in the endoscopic unit at the Mongi Slim Hospital of Tunisia].

An evaluation was made of the incidence of contamination of the endoscopes during gastroscopy and colonoscopy and of the efficacy of the disinfection procedure used in our digestive endoscopy unit. Serial bacteriological samples were made before and after the endoscopy session and also between patient procedures. These samples were taken on the endoscopes and their accessories and also on the walls, examination table, gloves and the uniforms of the staff. Over 60 p. cent of the samples were positive showing that the disinfection technique was not bacteriologicaly satisfactory. Most of the micro-organisms found were opportunists. Firm guidelines regarding adequate disinfection are important and regular micro-biological control of disinfection procedures must be performed.

Disinfection↗
PubMed1989

Treatment of alpha chain disease. Results of a prospective study in 21 Tunisian patients by the Tunisian-French intestinal Lymphoma Study Group.

Between 1981 and 1985, the authors studied 21 Tunisian patients with alpha chain disease. Twenty of 21 underwent laparotomy. According to Galian et al. six patients were classified Stage A, two Stage B, and 13 Stage C. The therapeutic regimen included the following: (1) Antibiotics: In the case of intestinal bacterial overgrowth (IBO), antibiotics selected by their antibiograms were delivered; in absence of IBO, metronidazole plus ampicillin were first given. The antibiotic treatment was changed in case of therapeutic failure. (2) Chemotherapy: From 1981 to 1983 a cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin (doxorubicin), teniposide (VM-26), prednisone (CHVP) protocol (Adriamycin 35 mg/m2, teniposide 50 mg/m2 day 2, cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m2 days 2 through 4, prednisone 40 mg/m2 days 1 through 10) was used. After 1983 bleomycin 15 mg, Adriamycin 30 mg, vinblastine 10 mg were given on day 15. Serum immunoelectrophoresis and immunohistochemical study of duodenojejunal specimens were made on a 3-month and 6-month basis, respectively. Survival curve analysis was made according to Kaplan and Meier. Results were as follows: (1) Stage A: Six patients were first treated by antibiotics alone; two complete responses (CR) persisting 42 and 55 months later were observed, respectively. The four antibiotic failures were submitted to further chemotherapy with four subsequent failures and two deaths. (2) Stage B-C: Chemotherapy led to nine CR with one precocious relapse, a salvage chemotherapy allowing to one more CR. (3) All stages mixed, percentage of survival reached 90 +/- 12% at 2 years and 67 +/- 25% at 3 years, all patients alive beyond 3.5 years being disease-free.

Actuarial Analysis↗