Vol.20 Issue No.1 (2024): Journal of Indian Society of Toxicology

Para-suicide by self-poisoning : profile of toxic agents used in aligarh district of india

Faiz Ahmad*, Kashif Ali*

Para-suicide by self-poisoning is a major public health concern throughout the world, especially in developing countries. It is a cause of considerable morbidity and mortality as well as consuming scarce medical resources which would have been used otherwise. The survival of such patients to a considerable extent depends on the competence of the attending doctors, nature of toxic agent consumed and the availability of specific antidote. The sole purpose of this study is to provide proper knowledge and awareness of health professionals on the common toxic agents used for self-poisoning.This prospective study was conducted by identifying and reviewing all self- poisoning cases that were presented at the emergency department of JNMCH, A.M.U Aligarh, over a span of 2 years. A total of 375 cases of selfpoisoning were entered into the emergency department register, but only 315 files were considered for this study. In this study majority patients belong to 15-24 years' age group i.e. 153 (48.57%) with male dominance. The most ingested substance for non-fatal self-poisoning was a pharmaceutical drug 71 (22.54%) followed by agrochemicals like rat poison 60 (19.05%), Aluminium phosphide 46 (14.60%) and organophosphate 33 (10.48%). There were significant (p<0.01) gender differences noted in type of substance used. Accessibility has been noted as a factor affecting the choice of drug used. Implementing the pesticide act strictly will allow the government to have control over the production, sale, distribution, storage and use of pesticides.

Parkinsonism in a case of ingestion of combined anticholinesterase insecticides

V. V. Pillay

Organophosphate (OP) and carbamate (CM) insecticides are commonly involved in poisoning cases in India. These compounds act by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, causing accumulation of acetylcholine resulting in cholinergic effects, and are therefore called anticholinesterase insecticides. In addition, there are often direct CNS effects including tremulousness, altered sensorium, slurred speech, ataxia, and seizures, followed by coma in the final stage.

Aside from these, OP poisoning can also cause an “intermediate syndrome” (IMS) manifesting mainly as proximal muscle weakness and paralysis; a “delayed syndrome” (organophosphate induced delayed neuropathy or OPIND) which is a combination of polyneuropathy and weakness of distal limb muscles; as well as neuropsychiatric disturbances (chronic organophosphate induced neuropsychiatric disorder or COPIND).Other complications have been occasionally reported, such as hepatic dysfunction, pancreatitis, vocal cord palsy, etc.

The case being reported here is one of combined organophosphate-carbamate poisoning with a rare complication, parkinsonism. This complication is very rare, and only a few cases have been published relating to it.

A toxicologically confirmed case of yellow oleander poisoning

Fathima Fahmi Shirin M* Suresh V** S. Venkata Raghava***

There are many benefits and dangers of plants are known to humans since ancient times. Cases of voluntary ingestion of oleander with a suicidal intent are uncommon. Case reported here is of a 28-year-old married woman, brought for autopsy at mortuary, Victoria Hospital, with history of consumption of seeds of yellow oleander. As per history given by Police, she wanted to commit suicide due to allegedly unhappy married life. In the case reported the victim was aware about the possibility to commit suicide through the ingestion of oleander seeds. After meticulous autopsy and Forensic Science Laboratory report, the cause of death was opined as cardiac failure due to yellow oleander poisoning.

Critical chemical study of 'wearing apparels' extract of a decomposed dead body by GC-MS method providing evidences for conviction of murder case

This study describes the critical analysis of extracts from the wearing apparels of a decomposed dead body by chemical and GC-MS techniques to provide irrefutable evidence for conviction of accused. Following the brutal murder of a child, the body was concealed in the bamboo ceiling of the perpetrator's living room. Crime spot was left with no substantial evidence as it was fired by a group of aggrieved neighbours, posing a significant challenge to convict the accused. However, chemical and GCMS analysis of trace amounts of room cleaning disinfectant collected from the crime scene indicated the presence of compounds namely α-pinene, eucalyptol, d-limonene, γ-terpinene, camphor, fenchol, citronellal, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, citronella, geraniol, and citral which were very similar to the extracts from the wearing apparels of the dead body. This finding along with other physicochemical analyses led to established the crime and conviction of the accused. Therefore, this study showcasing unique significance of GC-MS techniques in the field of forensic analysis as a led support for conviction