International Journal of Medical Toxicology and Forensic Medicine
Year:2014 | Volume:4 | Issue:2 |Papers Count:6

Background: Snake bite is one of the significant health problems in the tropical and subtropical regions. It is a common medical emergency in Iran. The current study was conducted to characterize related risk factors for snake bite accidents.Methods: This research was a descriptive retrospective study. Data were collected by gathering snake bite records of 42 Medical Sciences Universities in Iran from March 2009 to March 2010. Information included: age and sex of the victims, region of incident, site of bite and outcome.Results: The results showed that the majority of snake bite patients were male (66.1%). The age distribution of patients indicated that the greatest rate of snake bites occurred among the 25-34 years old. Of 5172 snake bite, 2851 (54.7%) observed on lower limbs, 12019 (38.9%) on upper limbs and 303 (5.8%) on head and Trunk and 20 (0.3%) unknown site. The average incidence of snake bite was estimated 6.9 Per 100, 000, however, the highest and the lowest affected cases were observed in Semnan province (with incidence of 111.6 per 100000 individuals) and Rafsanjan, Sabzevar cities (with incidence of 0 per 100000), respectively. The mortality and recovery rates of cases with and without anti venom, was evaluated (0.12%, 99.88%) and (0.4%, 99.6%) respectively.Conclusion: The high incidence of snake bites in some of provinces of Iran suggests the necessity of preventive programs for minimizing the incidence.

Background: Young people tend to get aggressive or depressed and may risk their lives. This research was done to describe the associations of demographic findings with causes and postmortem findings of medico-legal deaths.Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study of all deaths reported to a selected tertiary care hospital in Colombo Sri Lanka from 1st of Janauary-2011 to 31st of December-2012 was conducted.Results: Out of 1502 postmortems 67.3% were natural deaths, 16.8% accidents, 6.1% suicides and 3.5% homicides. Majority (54.5%) were „pre-mature‟ deaths (<60 years) with mean age of 54.4 (+/-19.1). Majority (71.4%) were males. Majority (47.7%) were non-communicable diseases and were 16.6% and 52% in=<30 and>30 years of age respectively (P<0.01). Cardio vascular system accounted for 40.7% deaths and was associated with both age and sex (P<0.01). The most common course of death was ischemic heart disease (22.9%) and was also associated with age (P<0.01). Out of 887 natural deaths only 170 were infectious communicable diseases, out of which 89 were respiratory causes. Road traffic accidents accounted for 171 deaths and were 17.1% and 10.6% respectively among =<30 and>30 years (P<0.01). There were 34 train injury deaths and were 4.1% and 0.9% respectively among 5 police stations along the coastal railway line and other 10 police stations (P<0.01). There were 50 suicides by hanging and were associated with age (P<0.01) but not with gender or ethnicity (P>0.05). There were 46 homicides and were 7.8% and 2.4% among=<30 and>30 years respectively (P<0.01) but were not associated with gender and ethnicity (P>0.05).Conclusion: Non-communicable disease was the leading cause of mortality. Majority were „premature deaths‟. Communicable diseases were dominant only in respiratory deaths. Adults more than 30 years old tend to die of non-communicable diseases especially by cardio vascular system causes such as ischemic heart disease. Young people less than 30 years old tend to die of road traffic accidents, commit suicide by hanging or being killed by someone. Limitation of access to railway lines in order to reduce the railway deaths is recommended.

Background: Electrolytes and micronutrients abnormality level can influence the outcome of surgery. Measurement of Zinc (Zn), Magnesium (Mg), inorganic Phosphorous (P) and Calcium (Ca) routinely was not evaluated Pre-operatively. Determinations of serum level of micronutrients are exclusively attended on the emergency conditions or special procedures and rarely applied as pre-operative screening tests among elderly. In addition, older age encounters as an important risk factor due to reduced physiologic reserve, malnutrition and underlying disorders. The aim of the study assessed pre-operatively unexpected serum micronutrients among elderly patients for elective general surgery with no apparent clinical indication.Methods: Our target population is elderly patients from both genders (males and females). Patients that were coming in chest clinic for elective general surgery consultation were enrolled. Zn, Ca, P and Mg levels were measured in serum according to manufacturer's documentation kits.Results: A total of 171 elderly patients were female 55% male 45%. Mean age was 69.12±6.66 SD years. The frequency of micro-nutrition elements deficiencies observed Zn 15.8%, Mg 11.1%, P 10.5% and Ca 6.4%, respectively.Conclusion: Considerable of unexpected deficiencies of the micronutrients was demonstrated in the focus population during the study. Global frequencies of deficiencies were hypozincemia, hypomagnesaemia, hypophosphatemia and hypocalcaemia, respectively. Sex distribution of electrolyte deficiencies noticed in Zn, Mg, P and Ca, individually. Moreover, the obvious some electrolyte disturbances in elderly should be considered as a health problem. Pre-operatively determination of unexpected electrol electrolytes routinely may provide safety of surgery in our country.

Background: The positive psychology always seeks to recognize and describe the pleasure and subjective well-being. The main issue of this field is to improve the well-being and recognize the positive aspects in order to reinforce them to prevent and develop the mental health. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of positive thinking training workshop on reduction of depression, stress and anxiety of juveniles at Correction and Rehabilitation Centers.Methods: The quasi-experimental method was used in this study and the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21) was used. Forty one subjects participated in this research and were divided into two homogeneous groups based on their pretest scores and were randomly included in the experimental and control groups. The positive thinking training workshop was performed for 10 sessions within three weeks on experimental group and after that the posttest and after one month the follow up test were performed.Results: The results have shown that the positive thinking training courses have effects on reduction of depression and anxiety. But it had not effects on stress in the follow up study.Conclusion: Thus, this training can be used for reduction of depression and anxiety of juvenile at Correction and Rehabilitation Center.

Stalking is a term commonly used to refer to unwanted or obsessive attention by an individual or group toward another person. Stalking behaviors are related to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person or monitoring them. According to a 2002 report by the National Center for Victims of Crime ―Virtually any unwanted contact between two people [that intends] to directly or indirectly communicates a threat or places the victim in fear can be considered stalking" although in practice the legal standard is usually somewhat stricter. The effects of stalkers on their victims are immense and can result in significant psychiatric morbidity. Only recently, however, has the behaviour become the subject of scientific study, and research remains in its infancy.

Background: Although the majority of mushroom ingestions are benign, some result in significant toxicity and death. Of greatest concern is the hepatotoxic amatoxin-containing mushroom, which may be fatal even small ingestions. Identification of amatoxin poisoning can prove to be difficult due to delay in onset of symptoms and difficulty with identification of mushrooms.Case Report: We present one case of mushroom ingestion in Kerman, province what according to clinical course and laboratory finding, we believe to be an amanita species, treated with multiple dose of activated charcoal, N-acetylcysteine, high-dose penicillin and liver Gol (silymarin).Conclusion: We present the successful treatment a patient who ingested hepato-toxicity induced mushrooms, further, this case is evidence of a mushroom variety responsible for toxicity never previously implicated in the southeastern Iran.