Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology

Original Articles

Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Acute Poisoning Patients in South Korea in 2024: An In-Depth Sample Analysis Based on the National Emergency Department Information System: Hyein Park, Gyu Chong Cho, Yudong Sohn, Taejin Park, Youngsuk Cho; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2025;23(2):38-47. Published online December 31, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2025.00006

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Abstract PDF: Purpose: This study aimed to examine the epidemiological characteristics and clinical patterns of acute poisoning patients presenting to emergency departments in Korea during 2024, using an in-depth medical record analysis of sampled cases from the National Emergency Department Information System.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study analyzed 3,686 acute poisoning patients selected through stratified random sampling from 98 emergency medical centers nationwide between January and December 2024. Data were collected through detailed medical record review, including demographic information, exposure circumstances, toxic substances, clinical presentations, treatment modalities, and outcomes.
Results
Among the 3,686 patients analyzed, females accounted for 58.46% and males for 41.54%. The most common age groups were patients in their 20s (16.66%), followed by those in their 50s (15.3%) and 40s (13.67%). Pharmaceuticals accounted for 72.3% of poisoning exposures, followed by gases (12.5%) and pesticides (7.0%). Benzodiazepines were the most frequently involved agents (18.7%), followed by other antidepressants (10.4%) and zolpidem (9.1%). Intentional poisoning occurred in 78.88% of cases. The admission rate was 41.51%, with 24.72% of patients requiring intensive care. Overall mortality was 2.33%, and pesticides accounted for 51.2% of deaths despite representing only 7% of total exposures.
Conclusion
This study provides updated epidemiological evidence on acute poisoning in Korea, demonstrating the persistent predominance of pharmaceutical agents and intentional exposures, as well as disproportionately high fatality rates associated with pesticide poisoning. These findings underscore the need for strengthened poison control systems and targeted prevention strategies.

Narcotics and Psychostimulants in Acute Overdose-Suspected Patients in Emergency Departments in Korea: Analysis of Toxicological Laboratory Data: Yoonsoo Kim, Jiwon Lee, Suncheun Kim, Arum Lee, Misuk Kim, Yun Hee Kim, Jung-In Ko, Bum-Jin Oh; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2025;23(1):1-9. Published online June 30, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2024.00007

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Abstract PDF: Purpose: Narcotic use and associated overdose deaths pose a serious public health threat worldwide. The use of psychostimulants, amphetamines and their derivatives, methamphetamine, ecstasy, or 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) is a significant challenge to the emergency department (ED). Although cases of illicit psychostimulant use have been reported in Korea, no reports with confirmative laboratory analyses have been reported. The objective of this study was to present data on ED patients who have used psychostimulants.
Methods
We used the 2019–2022 toxicological laboratory database of the National Medical Center, which includes data from six nationwide toxicological laboratories that support suspected acute poisoning patients in the ED. We analyzed demographics (age and sex), presenting mental status, and ethanol co-ingestion. The psychostimulant group was compared with the narcotic group, which contained patients who consumed narcotic drugs but not psychostimulants.
Results
Among 4,366 patients, narcotic drugs were detected in 2,239 patients (51.3%): 2,176 in the narcotic group, one who used cannabis, and 60 in the psychostimulant group. Psychostimulant cases were reported from 2019 to 2022 (13, 11, 25, and 11 each year). The psychostimulant group was younger (39.3±14.3 vs. 55.3±21.5 years), contained more female patients (45.0% vs. 21.1%), and had poorer mental status than the narcotic group (p<0.01). The cases of psychostimulant use were treated in 26 hospitals throughout Korea.
Conclusion
This is the first study reporting results from confirmative analyses of narcotic drug use in ED patients. Psychostimulant-related ED visits were observed throughout Korea.

Patterns of self-harm/suicide attempters who visited emergency department over the past 10 years and changes in poisoning as a major method (2011–2020): Kyu Hyun Pai, Sung Woo Lee, Su Jin Kim, Kap Su Han, Juhyun Song, Sijin Lee, Ji Hwan Park, Jeijoon Song; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2023;21(2):69-80. Published online December 29, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2023.00019

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Purpose: Suicide ranks among the top causes of death among youth in South Korea. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of suicidal individuals treated at emergency departments between 2011 and 2020.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from January 2011 to December 2020 in the Injury Surveillance Cohort, a prospective registry. Patients’ sex, age, mortality, methods of self-harm, and previous suicide attempts were analyzed. The methods of self-harm were categorized into falls, asphyxiation, blunt injuries, penetrating injuries, poisoning, and others. Sub-groups with and without poisoning were compared.
Results
The proportion of self-harm/suicide attempts increased from 2.3% (2011) to 5.0% (2020). The mortality rate decreased from 10.8% (2011) to 6.3% (2020). Poisoning was the most common method (61.7%). Mortality rates ranged from 42.0% for asphyxiation to 0.2% for blunt injuries. Individuals in their 20s showed a marked increase in suicide/self-harm attempts, especially in the last three years. A large proportion of decedents in their 70s or older (52.6%) used poisoning as a method of suicide. The percentage of individuals with two or more previous attempts rose from 7.1% (2011) to 19.7% (2020). The death rates by poisoning decreased from 7.7% (2011) to 2.5% (2020).
Conclusion
Our findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions and suicide prevention policies. Managing and reducing suicide and self-harm in emergency settings will require a focus on poisoning, the 10–29 age group, and the elderly. This paper will be valuable for future policies aiming to reduce the societal burden of suicide and self-harm.

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Trauma Patterns and Psychiatric Profiles in Suicide Attempts at a Regional Trauma Center in South Korea: A Retrospective Single-Center Study
Young Un Choi, Ji Young Hyun, Seongyup Kim, Keum Seok Bae, Jae Sik Chung, Il Hwan Park, Chan Young Kang, Tae Hui Kim, Chun Sung Byun
Journal of Clinical Medicine.2025; 14(12): 4218. CrossRef
Development of a Web Application for Simulating Plasma Drug Concentrations in Patients with Zolpidem Intoxication
Hwa Jun Cha, Sungpil Han, Kwan Cheol Pak, Hyungsub Kim
Pharmaceutics.2024; 16(5): 689. CrossRef

The 2022 Annual Report on Toxicology Surveillance and Severe Poisoning Cases at Emergency Departments in Korea: Eun Sun Lee, Su Jin Kim, Gyu Chong Cho, Mi Jin Lee, Byung Hak So, Kyung Su Kim, Juhyun Song, Sung Woo Lee; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2023;21(1):1-16. Published online June 30, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2023.00007

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Abstract PDF Supplementary Material

Purpose: This study investigated the actual incidence of acute poisoning in Korea on a nationwide scale, with the aim of laying the groundwork for future initiatives in prevention, strategic antidote distribution, and the development of effective emergency treatment for acute poisoning.
Methods
The study analyzed data from 3,038 patients who presented to emergency departments with poisoning-related conditions from June 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 at 10 sites in nine cities across the country. We extracted data on general characteristics of the poisoning cases, including demographic characteristics (age and gender), place of exposure, reason for poisoning, route of exposure, and the substance involved in the poisoning incident. Age-related patterns in reasons for poisoning, medical outcomes, frequent and primary poisoning substances, and deaths were also analyzed.
Results
The population analyzed in our study was predominantly female, with women constituting 54.74% of all cases. Among infants and children, non-intentional poisoning due to general accidents was the most common cause, accounting for 71.43% of cases. Conversely, suicidal poisoning was more prevalent among teenagers and adults over 20. Fifty-two patients died during the study period, with males comprising approximately two-thirds (67.31%) of these fatalities. Pesticides were the most common poisoning substance among those who died, accounting for 55.77% of such cases. Notably, a significant majority of the victims were elderly individuals aged 60 and above.
Conclusion
This study holds substantial significance, since it represents the first comprehensive investigation and analysis of the symptoms, treatment, and causes of death due to poisoning in Korea on a national scale. By substantially expanding the range and types of poisonous substances examined, we were able to more precisely identify the characteristics and clinical patterns of poisoning cases nationwide.

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Development and Validation of a Virtual Patient Simulator for the Management of Acute Poisoning: An Assessment of Face and Content Validity
Ki Yong Kwon, Ji-Hoon Kim, Hyo Joon Kim
Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology.2025; 23(1): 10. CrossRef
Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Acute Poisoning Patients in South Korea in 2024: An In-Depth Sample Analysis Based on the National Emergency Department Information System
Hyein Park, Gyu Chong Cho, Yudong Sohn, Taejin Park, Youngsuk Cho
Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology.2025; 23(2): 38. CrossRef
Prediction of Hematotoxicity in Patients with Acute Valproic Acid Intoxication
Jiwon Lee, Kyungman Cha, Won Jung Jeong, Hwan Song, Byung Hak So
Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology.2025; 23(2): 29. CrossRef
Development of a Web Application for Simulating Plasma Drug Concentrations in Patients with Zolpidem Intoxication
Hwa Jun Cha, Sungpil Han, Kwan Cheol Pak, Hyungsub Kim
Pharmaceutics.2024; 16(5): 689. CrossRef

Cardiac arrest and severe encephalopathy following e-cigarette nicotine intoxication: a case report: Park Jinwon, Yun Sunghyun; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2022;20(2):82-85. Published online December 31, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2022.20.2.82

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Traditionally, most cases of nicotine poisoning have been due to ingestion of nicotine pesticides. However, the increasing use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has resulted in both intentional and unintentional exposure to concentrated liquid nicotine or “eliquid” leading to an increase in nicotine poisoning cases. However, fatalities following the ingestion of the e-liquid are extremely rare. We report a rare case of cardiac arrest and severe encephalopathy following the intentional ingestion of e-liquid. We present the case of a 20-year-old woman who intentionally ingested liquid nicotine intended for e-cigarette use. She was found in asystole and experienced a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after undergoing approximately 46 mins of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Her plasma nicotine levels were >500 ng/ml. Despite aggressive supportive care, she was found to have encephalopathy consistent with severe anoxic brain injury on magnetic resonance imaging. In recent times, there have been some reports of deaths following liquid nicotine ingestion. Our case illustrates the potential for fatal nicotine toxicity from ingestion of e-cigarettes.

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A Systematic Review on Health Impact of Electronic Cigarettes in South Korea
Eunsil Cheon, Hana Kim, Naeun Kang, Susan Park, Sung-il Cho, Jieun Hwang
Journal of the Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco.2024; 15(2): 29. CrossRef

Inflammatory cytokines in patients with pesticide poisoning: a pilot study: Hyun Joon Kim, Wook-Joon Kim, Dong Wook Lee, Seung-Hyun Jung, Nam-Jun Cho, Samel Park, Eun Young Lee, Hyo-Wook Gil; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2022;20(1):15-21. Published online June 30, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2022.20.1.15

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Purpose: Acute pesticide poisoning is lethal and can lead to death. A few studies about the effects of acute pesticide poisoning have focused on the immune system. In the current study, we preliminarily investigated the changes in blood inflammatory cytokine levels in acute pesticide poisoning patients. Methods: In this study, we prospectively investigated the inflammatory cytokines in patients with acute pesticide poisoning. This study included patients admitted from February 2021 to November 2021 with a diagnosis of intentional poisoning by pesticide ingestion. The inflammatory cytokines measured were IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Results: Totally, 27 patients were enrolled in this study. The types of pesticide ingested were glufosinate (n=6), glyphosate (n=8), organophosphate (n=4), pyrethroid (n=2), and others (n=7). The levels of inflammatory cytokines obtained were as follows: IFN-γ 2.78±8.03 pg/ml, IL-1β 2.62±2.03 pg/ml, IL-6 44.58±80.16 pg/ml, and TNF-α 11.80±15.60 pg/ml. The overall mortality rate was 11.1% (3/27), and levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly higher in the death group compared to the survival group. Conclusion: Increased levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were observed in patients with acute pesticide poisoning. IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly higher in the death group as compared to the survival group. Our results indicate the occurrence of an inflammatory response due to the activation of immune cells by pesticide poisoning. Future large-scale studies need to be conducted to investigate the application of inflammatory cytokines as predictors and therapeutic targets.

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Insecticides and testicular health: mechanisms of injury and protective natural products
Samar F. Darwish, Yasser M. Moustafa, Sherif S. Abdel Mageed, Ghaneya S. Hassan, Safwat Abdelhady Mangoura, Shaza H. Aly, Mai A. Mansour, Ahmed Amr Raouf, Al-Aliaa M. Sallam, Sylvia F. Fawzi, Asmaa M. Atta, Ola Elazazy, Walaa A. El-Dakroury, Aya A. El-Dem
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology.2025; 398(9): 11229. CrossRef
Assessment on Microplastic Contamination from Mulching and Non-Mulching Farmland in Selangor, Malaysia
Muhammad Zulfahim Zulkarnain, Siti Rohana Mohd Yatim, Nadiah Wan Rasdi, Nur Azalina Suzianti Feisal, Mitoriana Porusia
JURNAL KESEHATAN LINGKUNGAN .2025; 17(3): 245. CrossRef
Pesticide Exposure and Hypertension Risk in Indonesian Agricultural Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Suratman, Khaidar Ali, Muhammad Addin Rizaldi
JURNAL KESEHATAN LINGKUNGAN .2025; 17(3): 230. CrossRef
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Karolina Daniłowska, Natalia Picheta, Julia Piekarz, Dominika Żyła, Katarzyna Zych, Katarzyna Szklener, Sławomir Mańdziuk
Journal of Clinical Medicine.2025; 14(23): 8313. CrossRef

The Significance of the Strong Ion Gap in Predicting Acute Kidney Injury and In-hospital Mortality in Critically Ill Patients with Acute Poisoning: Tae Jin Sim, Jae Wan Cho, Mi Jin Lee, Haewon Jung, Jungbae Park, Kang Suk Seo; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2021;19(2):72-82. Published online December 31, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2021.19.2.72

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Abstract PDF: Purpose: A high anion gap (AG) is known to be a significant risk factor for serious acid-base imbalances and death in acute poisoning cases. The strong ion difference (SID), or strong ion gap (SIG), has recently been used to predict in-hospital mortality or acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. This study presents a comprehensive acid-base analysis in order to identify the predictive value of the SIG for disease severity in severe poisoning. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on acute poisoning patients treated in the emergency intensive care unit (ICU) between December 2015 and November 2020. Initial serum electrolytes, base deficit (BD), AG, SIG, and laboratory parameters were concurrently measured upon hospital arrival and were subsequently used along with Stewart's approach to acid-base analysis to predict AKI development and in-hospital death. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and logistic regression analysis were used as statistical tests. Results: Overall, 343 patients who were treated in the intensive care unit were enrolled. The initial levels of lactate, AG, and BD were significantly higher in the AKI group (n=62). Both effective SID [SIDe] (20.3 vs. 26.4 mEq/L, p<0.001) and SIG (20.2 vs. 16.5 mEq/L, p<0.001) were significantly higher in the AKI group; however, the AUC of serum SIDe was 0.842 (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.799-0.879). Serum SIDe had a higher predictive capacity for AKI than initial creatinine (AUC=0.796, 95% CI=0.749-0.837), BD (AUC=0.761, 95% CI=0.712-0.805), and AG (AUC=0.660, 95% CI=0.607-0.711). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that diabetes, lactic acidosis, high SIG, and low SIDe were significant risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: Initial SIDe and SIG were identified as useful predictors of AKI and in-hospital mortality in intoxicated patients who were critically ill. Further research is necessary to evaluate the physiological nature of the toxicant or unmeasured anions in such patients.

Causative Substance and Time of Mortality Presented to Emergency Department Following Acute Poisoning: 2014-2018 National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS): Hyeonjae Lee, Minhong Choa, Eunah Han, Dong Ryul Ko, Jaiwoog Ko, Taeyoung Kong, Junho Cho, Sung Phil Chung; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2021;19(2):65-71. Published online December 31, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2021.19.2.65

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the cause of acute fatal poisoning and the time of death by analyzing the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) of South Korea. Methods: The NEDIS data from 2014 to 2018 excluding non-medical visits were used for this study. The patients with acute poisoning were extracted using diagnostic codes. The toxic substances were classified into pharmaceuticals, pesticides, gases, artificial poisonous substances, and natural toxic substances. Patients were classified according to the time of death, place of death, and region. In each case, the most causative substances of poisoning were identified. Results: There were 380,531 patients including poisoning-related diagnoses, of which 4,148 (1.1%) died, and the WHO age-standardized mortality rate was 4.8 per 100,000. Analysis of 2,702 death patients whose primary diagnosis was acute poisoning, the most common cause of poisoning death was pesticides (62%), followed by therapeutic drugs, gas, and artificial toxic substances. Herbicides were the most common pesticides at 64.5%. The proportion of mortality by time, hyperacute (<6 h) 27.9%, acute (6-24 h) 32.6%, subacute (1-7 d) 29.7%, and delayed period (>7 d) were 9.8%. Conclusion: This study suggests that the most common cause of poisoning death was pesticides, and 60% of deaths occurred within 24 hours. The 71% of mortality from pesticides occurred within 6-24 hours, but mortality from gas was mostly within 6 hours. According to the geographic region, the primary cause of poisoning death was varied to pesticides or pharmaceuticals.

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Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Acute Poisoning Patients in South Korea in 2024: An In-Depth Sample Analysis Based on the National Emergency Department Information System
Hyein Park, Gyu Chong Cho, Yudong Sohn, Taejin Park, Youngsuk Cho
Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology.2025; 23(2): 38. CrossRef
A Novel Method for Medical Predictive Models in Small Data Using Out-of-Distribution Data and Transfer Learning
Inyong Jeong, Yeongmin Kim, Nam-Jun Cho, Hyo-Wook Gil, Hwamin Lee
Mathematics.2024; 12(2): 237. CrossRef
Factors Associated with Mortality in Elderly Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit due to Acute Drug Intoxication from Suicide Attempts
Kyung-Eun Kim, Sun-Hee Moon, Chieun Song, Minjeong An
Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing.2024; 17(2): 1. CrossRef
Implementation of Regenerative Thermal Oxidation Device Based on High-Heating Device for Low-Emission Combustion
Hoon-Min Park, Dal-Hwan Yoon, Joon-Seong Lee, Hyun-Min Jung, Dae-Hee Lee, Dong-Hwan Jeon, Tae-Yeung Lim
Energies.2024; 17(20): 5182. CrossRef
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Hoon-Min Park, Hyun-Min Jung, Dae-Hee Lee, Hei-Na Park, Tae-Young Lim, Jong-Hwa Yoon, Dal-Hwan Yoon
Processes.2024; 12(12): 2814. CrossRef
The 2022 Annual Report on Toxicology Surveillance and Severe Poisoning Cases at Emergency Departments in Korea
Eun Sun Lee, Su Jin Kim, Gyu Chong Cho, Mi Jin Lee, Byung Hak So, Kyung Su Kim, Juhyun Song, Sung Woo Lee
Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology.2023; 21(1): 1. CrossRef
Demographic characteristics of patients admitted to the emergency department for intoxication and a time series analysis during the COVID-19 period
Bongmin Son, Nayoon Kang, Eunah Han, Gina Yu, Junho Cho, Jaiwoog Ko, Taeyoung Kong, Sung Phil Chung, Minhong Choa
Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology.2023; 21(2): 92. CrossRef
Machine Learning-Based Prediction Models of Acute Respiratory Failure in Patients with Acute Pesticide Poisoning
Yeongmin Kim, Minsu Chae, Namjun Cho, Hyowook Gil, Hwamin Lee
Mathematics.2022; 10(24): 4633. CrossRef

Delayed death after chlorfenapyr poisoning: Jang Young Lee; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2021;19(1):51-54. Published online June 30, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2021.19.1.51

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Chlorfenapyr is a widely used insecticide, that is very lethal if ingested. It exhibits delayed toxicity in which there are few symptoms at first which suddenly worsen after a few days. A 66-year-old female patient ingested about 90 mL of chlorfenapyr liquid hydrating agent (Chlofenapyr 10%) and showed stable vital signs with no specific symptoms and findings other than a mild fever, vomiting, and nausea. From the 3rd day of ingestion, creatine kinase was high, and rhabdomyolysis was suspected. From the 4th day of ingestion, pancreatic enzymes began to gradually increase. A diffusion-weighted image showed a multifocal high signal intensity in the white matter and corpus callosum area. On the 8th day after ingestion, she suffered a high fever and a heart attack and died. Thus, if a patient is suspected of taking chlorfenapyr, he/she needs active treatment and monitoring even if he/she does not exhibit any symptoms.

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Understanding Chlorfenapyr Toxicity: An Overview of Acute Human Exposure and Clinical Outcomes
Dalia Alsaied Moustafa Ahmed, Nermin Mahmoud Emam, Mohamed Moharram Badawy
Journal of Applied Toxicology.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Toxicological Review of an Uncoupler, Chlorfenapyr
Sun Cheun Kim
Korean Journal of Legal Medicine.2025; 49(2): 35. CrossRef
A Fatal Case of Chlorfenapyr Poisoning and the Therapeutic Implications of Serum Chlorfenapyr and Tralopyril Levels
Ming-Jin Chung, Yan-Chiao Mao, Chia-Tien Hsu, Mu-Chi Chung, Tsai-Jung Wang, Tung-Min Yu, Po-Yu Liu, Pin-Kuei Fu, Chia-Ming Hsieh
Medicina.2022; 58(11): 1630. CrossRef

Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Severe Poisoning Patients and Analysis of Prognostic Factors: Young Yun Jung, Chul Min Ha, Sung Tae Jung, Hyoung Ju Lee; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2020;18(2):94-101. Published online December 31, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2020.18.2.94

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Abstract PDF: Purpose: This study examined the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of intensive care unit (ICU) patients admitted or died in the emergency medical center with acute-poisoning to investigate the variables related to the prognosis. Methods: The data were collected from poisoning patients admitted or died in the emergency medical center of a general hospital located in Seoul, from January 2014 to February 2020. The subjects of this study were 190 patients. The medical records were screened retrospectively, and the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients in the emergency room (ER) and ICU were examined to investigate the contributing factors that influence the poor prognosis. Results: The study analyzed 182 patients who survived after being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The results are as follows. The mental change (87.4%) was the most common symptom. Sedative poisoning (49.5%) was the commonest cause. For most patients, pneumonia (26.9%) was the most common complication. Hypotension (23.7%), tachycardia (42.1%), fever (15.8%), seizures (10.5%), dyspnea (2.6%), high poisoning severity score (PSS), type of toxic material, mechanical ventilator application (39.5%), inotropes application (39.5%), and pneumonia (55.3%) were correlated the LOS over 5 days in the ICU. 8 patients died. In the case of death pesticides and carbon monoxide were the main toxic materials; tachycardia, bradycardia, and hypotension were the main symptoms, and a mechanical ventilator and inotropes were applied. Conclusion: Patients with unstable vital signs, high PSS, and non-pharmaceutical poisoning had a prolonged LOS in the ICU and a poor prognosis.

QTc Prolongation due to Psychotropic Drugs Intoxication and Its Risk Assessment: Kwan Ho Park, Hoon Pyo Hong, Jong Seok Lee, Ki Young Jeong, Seok Hun Ko, Sung Kyu Kim, Han Sung Choi; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2020;18(2):66-77. Published online December 31, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2020.18.2.66

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Abstract PDF: Purpose: The aims of the present study were twofold. First, the research investigated the effect of an individual's risk factors and the prevalence of psychotropic drugs on QTc prolongation, TdP (torsades de pointes), and death. Second, the study compared the risk scoring systems (the Mayo Pro-QT risk score and the Tisadale risk score) on QTc prolongation. Methods: The medical records of intoxicated patients who visited the emergency department between March 2010 and February 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Among 733 patients, the present study included 426 psychotropic drug-intoxicated patients. The patients were categorized according to the QTc value. The known risk factors of QTc prolongation were examined, and the Mayo Pro-QT risk score and the Tisadale risk score were calculated. The analysis was performed using multiple logistic regression, Spearman correlation, and ROC (receiver operating characteristic). Results: The numbers in the mild to moderate group (male: 470≤QTc<500 ms, female: 480≤QTc<500 ms) and severe group (QTc≥500 ms or increase of QTc at least 60ms from baseline, both sex) were 68 and 95, respectively. TdP did not occur, and the only cause of death was aspiration pneumonia. The statically significant risk factors were multidrug intoxications of TCA (tricyclic antidepressant), atypical antipsychotics, an atypical antidepressant, panic disorder, and hypokalemia. The Tisadale risk score was larger than the Mayo Pro-QT risk score. Conclusion: Multiple psychotropic drugs intoxication (TCA, an atypical antidepressant, and atypical antipsychotics), panic disorder, and hypokalemia have been proven to be the main risk factors of QTc prolongation, which require enhanced attention. The present study showed that the Tisadale score had a stronger correlation and predictive accuracy for QTc prolongation than the Mayo Pro-QT score. As a result, the Tisadale risk score is a crucial assessment tool for psychotropic drug-intoxicated patients in a clinical setting.

The Effects of Agent Orange in Patient with Pneumonia: Dong Sung Kim, Jungyoup Lee, Yu Chan Kye, Euigi Jung, Ki Young Jeong; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2020;18(1):26-33. Published online June 30, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2020.18.1.26

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Abstract PDF: Purpose: Agent Orange (AO) is a herbicide and defoliant used by the United States and its military allies during the Vietnam War. Pneumonia is a common cause of death among Vietnam veterans in our hospital. There have been no previous studies researching any association between AO exposure and the prognosis for pneumonia. The primary objective of this study was to investigate associations between AO exposure and 30-day mortality due to pneumonia. The secondary objective was to examine the clinical factors associated with therapeutic outcomes in veterans with pneumonia, and to assess the prevalence of combined diseases in AO-exposed veterans. Methods: This study retrospectively included veteran patients diagnosed with pneumonia in the emergency department and hospitalized between February 2014 and March 2018. The enrolled patients were grouped according to their defoliant exposure history, and the clinical information of defoliant-exposed and non-defoliant-exposed groups were compared. Patients were divided according to 30-day mortality, and significant factors influencing mortality were evaluated by using univariate analysis and multivariate analysis. The final multivariate model revealed the effect of AO exposure on therapeutic outcomes of pneumonia. Results: A total of 1006 patients were analyzed. Of these, 276 patients had a history of AO exposure, whereas 730 patients had not been exposed. Factors positively associated with 30-day mortality were malignancy, respiratory rate, blood urea nitrogen, and albumin which was negatively associated with mortality. Conclusion: Exposure to defoliant is not associated with 30-day mortality in patients with pneumonia. However, veterans with defoliant exposure are associated with a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, malignancy, and chronic kidney disease.

Errors of Death Certificate for Poisoning Related Death: Chan Hyeok Park, Sun Hyu Kim; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2020;18(1):11-17. Published online June 30, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2020.18.1.11

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Abstract PDF: Purpose: This study examines errors in death certificates (DCs) issued to cases of poisoning. Methods: DCs issued in poisoning cases were retrospectively reviewed. Errors in the DC were classified as major and minor errors, and were evaluated in accordance with their impact on the process of selecting the cause of death (COD). Results: A total of 79 DCs were evaluated; 43 (54.4%) DCs were issued in the emergency department (ED), and 36 (45.6%) DCs were issued outside the ED. The average major and minor errors per DC were determined to be 0.4 and 3.3, respectively. Moreover, an average of 3.0 errors were discovered in DCs issued at the ED, and 4.4 errors in DCs issued outside the ED. The most common major errors were incorrect manner of death (11.4%, 9/79), followed by unacceptable COD (7.6%, 6/79), and the mode of dying as an underlying COD (5.1%, 4/79). The common minor errors most frequently encountered were incorrect time interval (86.1%, 68/79), followed by incorrect other significant conditions (73.4%, 58/79), and no record for date of onset (62.0%, 49/79). Conclusion: Our results indicate that the total numbers of major errors, minor errors and cases of misjudged cause of death were greater in DCs issued outside the ED than in DCs issued at the ED. The most frequently quoted major error of DCs related to poisoning was determined to be the incorrect manner of death.

Application of Thallium Autometallography for Observation of Changes in Excitability of Rodent Brain following Acute Carbon Monoxide Intoxication: Min Soo Lee, Seung Bum Yang, Jun Ho Heo; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2019;17(2):66-78. Published online December 31, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2019.17.2.66

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Abstract PDF: Purpose: Thallium (TI+) autometallography is often used for the imaging of neuronal metabolic activity in the rodent brain under various pathophysiologic conditions. The purpose of this study was to apply a thallium autometallographic technique to observe changes in neuronal activity in the forebrain of rats following acute carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication. Methods: In order to induce acute CO intoxication, adult Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 1100 ppm of CO for 40 minutes, followed by 3000 ppm of CO for 20 minutes. Animals were sacrificed at 30 minutes and 5 days after induction of acute CO intoxication for thallium autometallography. Immunohistochemical staining and toluidine blue staining were performed to observe cellular damage in the forebrain following intoxication. Results: Acute CO intoxication resulted in significant reduction of TI+ uptake in major forebrain structures, including the cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and striatum. In the cortex and hippocampal CA1 area, marked reduction of TI+ uptake was observed in the cell bodies and dendrites of pyramidal neurons at 30 minutes following acute CO intoxication. There was also strong uptake of TI+ in astrocytes in the hippocampal CA3 area following acute CO intoxication. However, there were no significant histological findings of cell death and no reduction of NeuN (+) neuronal populations in the cortex and hippocampus at 5 days after acute CO intoxication. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that thallium autometallography can be a new and useful technique for imaging functional changes in neural activity of the forebrain structure following mild to moderate CO intoxication.

Self-poisoning as a Target Group for Prevention of Suicide: Moon Hwan Kwak, Hyun Young Kang, Si Jin Lee, Kap Su Han, Su Jin Kim, Eu Jung Lee, Sung Woo Lee; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2018;16(2):93-101. Published online December 31, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.22537/jksct.2018.16.2.93

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Abstract PDF: Purpose: The Korean government has tried to decrease the suicide death rate over the last decade. Suicide attempts, particularly non-fatal attempts, are the most powerful known risk factor for a completed suicide. An analysis of suicide attempt methods will help establish the effective preventive action of suicide. Fit prevention according to the method of suicide attempt may decrease the incidence of suicide death. Self-poisoning is suggested as a major method of both suicide attempts and suicide death. The aim of this study was to determine if a self-poisoning patient is a suitable target for the prevention of the suicide. Methods: This was retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort, which included patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) after a self-harm or suicide attempt from Jan 2013 to Dec 2017. The proportion of methods in suicide attempts, psychological consultation, and fatality according to the suicide attempt method were analyzed. The types of poison were also analyzed. Results: Poisoning was the most common method of suicide attempts (52.1%). The rate of psychological consultations were 18.8% for all patients and 29.1% for poison patients (p<0.001). The rate of mortality in poisoning was 0.6%. Psychological consultation was performed more frequently in admission cases than discharged cases. The most common materials of poisons was psychological medicines and sedatives that had been prescribed at clinics or hospital. Conclusion: Self-poisoning is a major method of suicide attempt with a high rate of psychiatric consultation, low mortality rate, versus others methods. The prevention of suicide death for suicide attempts may focus on self-poisoning, which is the major method of suicide attempts. A suitable aftercare program for self-poisoning may be an effective method for preventing suicide if an early diagnosis and management of psychiatric disorders through psychiatric consultation can be made, and early connection to social prevention program for non-fatal patients are possible.

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