Accidental fatal poisoning with ethyl fluoroacetate]

Fluoroacetic salts belong to the most toxic chemicals. They are used for various purposes, and form stable compounds in some plants. A case of poisoning with ethyl fluoroacetate is presented in detail. Diagnostic problems and therapy which failed due to the late diagnosis and dramatic progress in the symptoms of poisoning are also discussed. Fluoroacetic ion alone is non-toxic but in vivo forms fluorotricarboxylic acid, which blocks cellular metabolism at the citrate stage. Symptoms occur with a delay but lethal synthesis of fluorotricarboxylic acid leads to the irreversible cellular dysfunction, especially in CNS and circulatory system. Poisoning may be treated with monoacetin and acetamide. An emphasis is on health hazards resulting from the exposure to fluoroacetate and necessity to observe strictly safety regulations.     

A fatal poisoning from an amatoxin containing Lepiota

The mushroom Lepiota josserandii Bon and Boif. has been identified as the cause of an unintentional, fatal intoxication in New York. The course of the symptoms, beginning with a 9 h latent period, was similar to what would be expected in a case of Amanita phalloides-type intoxication. Despite supportive medical care the victim expired 110 h after ingestion. Thin layer chromatography detected the presence of alpha- and gamma-amanitin and radioimmunoassay confirmed a level of 3.5 mg/gm dry weight of amatoxins in mushrooms from the same location.Published as New York State Museum Journal Series No. 440.     

Three cases of hemoglobin O Arab.

Three new cases of Hb 0 Arab in two families are reported from districts of Bulgaria, where a carrier state of this abnormal hemoglobin has not been established so far. One of the propositi is a double heterozygote for Hb 0 Ar/beta(0)-thalassemia. His father is a simple heterozygote for Hb 0 Ar with clear-cut cytomorphological stigmata, indicating hemoglobinosis. The second propositus, according to clinical and laboratory data is also a double heterozygote for Hb 0 Ar and beta(0)-thalassemia. The carriers investigated are of Bulgarian nationality. Their territorial origin supportsthe thesis that the gene mutation for Hb 0 Arab most probably has taken place out of the present boundaries of Bulgaria.