• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.6
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• pp.1354-1359
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• 2022

Glufosinate ammonium-containing herbicides are non-selective herbicides, used worldwide. With the increasing use of glufosinate ammonium-containing herbicides, cases of acute intoxication in suicide attempts have also increased. Herein, we report a case of a patient presenting cytotoxic edema in the posterior limbs of the bilateral internal capsules, bilateral middle cerebellar peduncles, and splenium of the corpus callosum on the brain diffusion-weighted MRI after glufosinate ammonium intoxication.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.352-356
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• 2014

A 51-year-old man developed anterograde amnesia following the ingestion of glufosinate ammonium. Brain MRI revealed hyperintense lesions involving the bilateral hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus, and the right occipital lobe. The mechanism underlying acute glufosinate ammonium intoxication and the differential diagnosis of hippocampal lesions are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.342-345
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• 2019

The standards for the contents of glyphosate and glufosinate in foods are specific and well categorized. However, the standard of content in animal feeds is relatively inadequate and the classification is insufficient. There is also constant debate about the risk of glyphosate and glufosinate to human health, but the risk to animals has not been well studied. In this study, we established an analytical method in feeds that is estimated to be the path for animals to ingest glyphosate. The solvent extraction was carried out using 25% methanol. After centrifugation, samples were purified using solid phase extraction (SPE) and quantitatively analysed using LC-MS/MS after concentrated. Assessment of validation was conducted through detection limits, accuracy, and precision tests. The detection limits for the established method were 1.8 of ${\mu}g/kg$ of glufosinate and $2.4{\mu}g/kg$ of glyphosate. Accuracy was ranged from 94.4% to 103.4% and precision was range from 1.5% to 7.2%. Glufosinate was detected in one sample ($ND{\sim}8.8{\mu}g/kg$) and glyphosate was detected in all but one sample ($ND{\sim}337.0{\mu}g/kg$) by applying the analytical method to animal feeds (n=13).

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 2018

목적 글루포시네이트암모늄은 비선택성 제초제로 1984년 일본에서 개발되었으며, 급성 중독시에는 위장관계 증상뿐만 아니라 의식변화, 경련, 호흡부전 및 기억소실 등과 같은 다양한 임상증상을 보이는 것으로 알려져 있다. 한국에는 1994년 소개된 이후로 널리 사용되고 있으며, 사용량의 증가와함께 음독환자가 점점 증가하여 사회적 문제가 되고 있다. 저자들은 최근 글로포시네이트 중독 환자에서 초기치료 후 지연성 악화를 보였던 2례를 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하고자 한다. 방법 및 결과 첫 번째 증례는 62세의 남자환자로 음주상태에서 글루포시네이트암모늄 음독 후 의식 저하 상태로 발견되어 응급실로 이송되었다. 응급 위세척을 시행 후 보존적 치료 및 집중모니터링을 유지하였고, 의식수준은 6시간 후에 거의 명료한 상태로 호전되었다. 지연성 악화의 가능성에 대해설명하고 지속적인 경과관찰 및 치료를 위해 집중치료실 입원이 필요함에 대해 설명하였으나, 환자와 보호자는 타상급병원으로의 전원을 원하였다. 환자는 이송 중에 발생한 심폐정지로 심폐소생술을 시행하였으나, 회복되지 못하고 사망하였다. 두 번째 증례는 54세의 남자 환자로 글루포시네이트암모늄 음독 후 발생한 의식 변화로 응급실로 이송되었다. 내원시 의식은 혼미한 상태였으며 앞의 증례와 같이 응급 위세척을 시행하였다. 본 환자는 초기치료 후 본원 집중치료실에서 지속적인 혈액 및 생화학적 검사를 시행하였으며, 집중모니터링 및 치료를 유지하였다. 입원 2일째 혈액검사 소견은 호전 중이었으나, 경련이 발생하였으며 의식은 혼미한 상태가 지속되었다. 신경과 협진하여 뇌파검사를 시행 후 항경련제를 증량한 후로 경련은 발생하지 않았다. 입원 7일째에는 의식 수준은 거의 명료한 상태까지 호전되었다. 입원 13일째 혈액 및 생화학검사에서 약간의 혈색소 감소 외에는 정상소견을 보였으며, 뚜렷한 신경학적 합병증 없이 퇴원하였다. 결론 급성 글루포시네이트중독 환자는 매우 다양한 임상증상을 보이며 초기치료 후에 상태가 안정적이더라도 지연성으로 임상적 또는 신경학적 악화가 발생할 가능성이 있으므로 치료에 유의하여야 한다.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2017

Purpose: Glufosinate ammonium (GA; phosphinothricin) can induce neurological complications such as altered mental status, amnesia, and convulsions. This study was conducted to evaluate whether blood lipid profiles can help predict convulsions in patients with GA poisoning. Methods: This study was a retrospective review of data acquired at a tertiary academic university hospital from March 2014 to July 2016. Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney test and Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) of demographic and laboratory findings of 50 patients with GA poisoning were performed to identify correlations of general characteristics and laboratory findings, including blood lipid profiles of GA-poisoned patients between with and without convulsions. Results: Convulsion as a GA complication showed a significant association with poison volume, age, white blood cell count, and creatine phosphokinase (CK), albumin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) content in blood according to an independent t-test and Mann-Whitney test. However, ANCOVA demonstrated significant association with LDL and triglyceride. Conclusion: Blood lipid profiles, especially serum LDL and triglyceride, were useful in predicting convulsions in patients with GA poisoning.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2018

Purpose: Glufosinate ammonium poisoning can cause seizures, even after a symptom-free period. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between serum neuron specific enolase (NSE) level and the occurrence of seizures in patients with acute glufosinate ammonium poisoning. Methods: For this retrospective observational study, data from patients diagnosed with acute glufosinate ammonium poisoning were collected between January 2016 and June 2016. Serum NSE was measured within 2 hours of arrival at the emergency department. The patients were divided into a seizure group and a non-seizure group. Results: The seizure group included eight of the 15 total patients (53.3%). The serum NSE level was significantly higher in the seizure group than in the non-seizure group ($32.4{\pm}11.9ng/mL$ vs. $19.5{\pm}5ng/mL$, p=0.019). The amount of glufosinate ingested and initial and peak serum ammonia levels were significantly higher in the seizure group than in the non-seizure group. There was no significant difference in the area under the curve of the serum NSE level or the initial and peak serum ammonia levels in terms of predicting the occurrence of seizures. Conclusion: In acute glufosinate poisoning, initial serum NSE levels may help in prediction of seizures.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2019

Purpose: Owing to the increased agricultural use of the herbicide glufosinate ammonium (GLA), the incidence of GLA poisoning has recently increased. Therefore, we investigated the possible predictive factors associated with severe complications following GLA poisoning. Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records was conducted based on 76 patients who had visited our regional emergency medical center with GLA poisoning from 2006 to 2017. Severe complications were defined as respiratory failure requiring intubation, systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) less than 8, and presence of seizure. Results: Age, ingested amount and ingested amount per weight were significantly greater in the severe group (p<0.001). PSS grade 2 or higher was more common in the severe group (p<0.001), and In addition, the APACHE II score was significantly higher in the severe group (p<0.001), as were the SOFA scores (p=0.002). Serum ammonia levels were significantly higher in the severe group (p=0.007), while MDRD-GFR was smaller in the severe group (p=0.002). The spot urine protein levels were significantly higher in the severe group (p=0.005), as was the urine protein to creatinine ratio (p=0.001). Upon multivariate analysis, the amount ingested per weight and PSS grade 2 or higher were identified as significant predictors. Conclusion: Our study showed that MDRD-GFR was significantly lower in the severe group after GLA poisoning. PSS grade 2 or higher and ingested amount per weight may be useful to evaluate the severity of complications after GLA poisoning.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.136-140
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• 2020

Purpose: The association of the initial serum ammonia level with in-hospital mortality in patients with acute glufosinate-ammonium herbicide poisoning was studied. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted between March 2012 and August 2019 in the emergency department after glufosinate-ammonium herbicide poisoning. Survivors and non-survivors were analyzed using a Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent risk factors for mortality. Results: One hundred and six patients were enrolled; 11 died, yielding a mortality of 10.4%. The serum bicarbonate level was significantly lower in the non-survival group than the survival group. Age, serum ammonia, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine levels, SOFA score, and APACHE II score were significantly higher in the non-survival group than the survival group. Age, serum ammonia, and creatinine level were independent risk factors for mortality in multivariate logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: The initial serum ammonia level is associated with mortality in patients with acute glufosinate herbicide poisoning.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2021

Glufosinate-containing herbicides is a non-selective herbicide commonly used worldwide. As the use of them increased gradually since paraquat was banned in 2012, the number of suicides by their ingestion is also increasing continuously. Complications of glufosinate-containing herbicide poisoning include various central nervous system (CNS) toxicities such as convulsions, loss of consciousness, memory impairment, and respiratory depression, which may be accompanied by hemodynamic changes such as bradycardia and hypotension. However, it is very rare that arrhythmias other than bradycardia occurred and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy was combined due to cardiotoxicity. A 71-year-old female patient was transferred to our hospital after ingesting 500 mL of glufosinate-containing herbicide and receiving 5 L of gastric lavage at a local hospital. A few hours later, she presented stuporous mentality, respiratory depression, and convulsions, and was accompanied by hypotension and bradycardia. On the second day of admission, electrocardiogram (ECG) showed bradycardia and QTc prolongation with hemodynamic Instability. Accordingly, we conducted the early treatment with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and the application of temporary cardiac pacemaker. An echocardiogram demonstrated decreased ejection fraction (EF) and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy on the third day of admission. Then, she was discharged safely with conservative treatment. At the follow-up after 1 year, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, EF and QTc prolongation were recovered on echocardiogram and ECG. Because cardiac toxicity after glufosinate-containing herbicide poisoning may cause life-threatening consequences, caution is required while treating the patient. Therefore, if electrocardiogram changes are seen in the elderly with a large amount of glufosinate herbicide ingestion, additional cardiac function test through echocardiography should be concerned, and early treatment through CRRT or artificial cardiac pacing should be considered.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2023

Purpose: In patients with glufosinate poisoning, severe neurological symptoms may be closely related to a poor prognosis, but their appearance may be delayed. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score could predict the neurological prognosis in patients with glufosinate poisoning who present to the emergency room with alert mental status. Methods: This study was conducted retrospectively through a chart review for patients over 18 years who presented to a single emergency medical center from January 2018 to December 2022 due to glufosinate poisoning. Patients were divided into groups with a good neurological prognosis (Cerebral Performance Category [CPC] Scale 1 or 2) and a poor prognosis (CPC Scale 3, 4, or 5) to identify whether any variables showed significant differences between the two groups. Results: There were 66 patients (67.3%) with good neurological prognoses and 32 (32.8%) with poor prognoses. In the multivariate logistic analysis, the APACHE II score, serum amylase, and co-ingestion of alcohol showed significant results, with odds ratios of 1.387 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.027-1.844), 1.017 (95% CI, 1.002-1.032), and 0.196 (95% CI, 0.040-0.948), respectively. With an APACHE II score cutoff of 6.5, the AUC was 0.826 (95% CI, 0.746-0.912). The cutoff of serum amylase was 75.5 U/L, with an AUC was 0.761 (95% CI, 0.652-0.844), and the AUC of no co-ingestion with alcohol was 0.629 (95% CI, 0.527-0.722). Conclusion: The APACHE II score could be a useful indicator for predicting the neurological prognosis of patients with glufosinate poisoning who have alert mental status.