[The right of a doctor to inform an employer of contraindications to perform a certain type of work by an employee].

Background: The aim of this study is to analyze the legal regulations that pertain to the duty of doctor-patient privilege and the possibility of its repeal on the plane to provide information about the patient’s health status to his employer.

Material And Methods: The material constitutes the current Polish law regulations relating to the medical duty of doctor–patient privilege as well as provisions defining the scope of information on the patient’s health status that may be transferred to a patient’s employer.

Results: The doctor has no right to provide the employer with information on contraindications to perform a specific job, if the information was obtained in the mode of providing health services that are not eligible for the catalogue of preliminary/preventive/control examinations.

[Accidental severe poisoning with methemoglobinogenic substance: A case report].

A 45-year-old male patient was admitted to the Regional Poison Center because of poisoning with dimethyloaniline contained in a toxic resin-curing dimethyl aniline-based formulation ingested inadvertently. Intoxication happened at workplace. The patient was then transferred to the Toxicology Clinic, where he stayed for 3 weeks.

Cardiotoxic effect due to accidental ingestion of an organic solvent.

Toxic myocardial injury can be misdiagnosed as a myocardial infarction, resulting in the patient undergoing standard treatment for cardiac rehabilitation. However, such inadequate therapeutic strategies can lead to cardiovascular complications including dilated cardiomyopathy. This study presents a case of a 65-year-old man after accidental ingestion of organic solvents (toluene and xylene), whose condition demonstrated all the criteria for diagnosis of myocardial infarction.

High-mobility group box 1 protein levels in serum of subjects after exposure to fire smoke--short communication.

Introduction: Fire smoke inhalation a recognized etiologic factor of airway injuries. The objective of this study was evaluation of serum high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein concentration in subjects exposed to fire smoke (SEFS).

Material And Methods: The study group consisted of 40 consecutive patients admitted to the Toxicology Unit, Lodz, Poland after exposure to fire smoke.

Health effects and arsenic species in urine of copper smelter workers.

The aim of this study was to compare indices of exposure in workers employed at different work posts in a copper smelter plant using neurophysiological tests and to evaluate the relationship between urinary arsenic species with the aid of sensitive respiratory and renal biomarkers. We have attempted to elucidate the impact of different arsenic speciation forms on the observed health effects. We focused on the workers (n = 45) exposed to atmospheres containing specific diverse mixtures of metals (such as those occurring in Departments of Furnaces, Lead and Electrolysis) compared to controls (n = 16).

[Intoxication or false-positive acetaminophen result of toxicological determinations? Two case reports].

The aim of this study was to show the diagnostic procedure used in the two cases with false-positive serum acetaminophen results in suspected acetaminophen poisoning. The determination of serum acetaminophen were carried out using a UV/VIS spectrophotometer (Specord 40 Analytik Jena), coupled with an analytic computer station WinASPECT. The employed method of determination was based on the acetaminophen reaction with sodium nitrite, which yields yellow colour of solution in the presence of sodium hydrate.

[Metformin poisoning--clinical features, diagnostics and treatment--case presentations].

Metformin has been used for many years as oral anti-hyperglycaemic agent in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus either in Poland or in the world. Metformin is the most commonly prescribed agent, but acute poisonings of this agent are rare. A review of our experience indicates, that poisoning with this agent may lead to life-threatening or fatal metformin toxicity.

[Acute novel drugs poisoning among patients of Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lodz, Toxicology Unit, hospitalized in the years 2008-2012--epidemiology, clinical state].

Unlabelled: Intoxication with novel recreational drugs poses significant challenge for medical staff due to diagnostic difficulties, complex clinical pattern, resulting from polyethiology of poisoning and potential risk of life threatening complications.

Objectives: Description of clinical pattern novel drug intoxication.

Methods: retrospective review of medical records patients hospitalized in the Toxicology Unit (TU) with diagnosis of intoxication with novel recreational drugs.

[Kidney transplants from donors burdened metabolic acidosis in the course of poisoning with methanol and carbon monoxide].

The question of obtaining organs from donors who died of methanol poisoning has been discussed in the medical literature for many years. The results of such transplants published so far are very optimistic. However, the possibility of permanent and significant injury to transplanted organs caused by poisons or its metabolites raises serious concerns regarding the procedure.

[Acute ethylene glycol poisoning among patients of Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Łódź, Toxicology Unit, hospitalized in the years 2000-2009].

Acute poisonings with ethylene glycol pose real challenge in the clinical toxicology. The main objective of this study is an analysis of clinical features and identification of prognostic factors in poisoning with ethylene glycol of patients hospitalized in the Toxicology Unit in the years 2000-2009. The medical records of the patients were identified and separated.

[Medical analytical toxicology in Poland in year 2012].

There are 12 centers of acute poisoning treatment and 9 round the clock toxicological laboratories. Most of the laboratories access evidence of activity run by National Clinical Toxicology Consultant. The paper presents actual status of medical toxicology laboratories in Poland and summarizes activity of the laboratories in the year 2012.

Clara Cell protein and myeloperoxidase levels in serum of subjects after exposure to fire smoke.

Introduction: Fire smoke inhalation is a well-recognized aetiological factor of airway injuries. The objective of this study was evaluation of Clara cell protein (CC16) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) concentrations in serum of patients after exposure to uncontrolled fire smoke.

Methods: The study group consisted of 40 consecutive patients admitted to the Toxicology Unit after exposure to fire smoke.

[Acute methanol poisoning among patients of Toxicology Unit, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Łódź, during the period 2000-2009].

The main objective of this study was an analysis of the cohort of patients hospitalized due to intoxication with this agent during the period 2000-2009 and investigate factors, which determined the course of poisoning. During the search process, 288 (1.07%) patients were identified within total number of 26801 patients hospitalized.

[Acute poisonings with carbon monoxide among the patients hospitalized in the Toxicology Unit during the period of 2006-2010].

Acute poisonings with carbon monoxide pose real challenge in the clinical toxicology. Its importance is determined both by high frequency of immediate life threatening conditions and by the risk of complications leading to permanent organs damage. The main objective of this study is an identification of prognostic factors on the base of analysis the cohort of patients hospitalized due to intoxication with these agents in the Toxicology Unit during the period 2006-2010.

[Sodium azide--clinical course of the poisoning and treatment].

Sodium azide poisonings occur very rarely. The mechanism of sodium azide toxic effect has not yet been fully explained. Despite the lack of an explicit procedure for the cases of sodium azide poisonings, in vitro tests and rare case reports suggest that treatment with antidotes for cyanide poisoning victims can be effective.

[Carbamazepine "CR"--clinical picture of intoxication: the kinetics of extracorporeal elimination].

Carbamazepine (CBZ) intoxication is an important issue in acute poisonings practice. Pathological reflexes, central breathing depression and cardiac disturbances are the characteristic features of carbamazepine poisoning. The clinical picture is variable and does not always correlate with CBZ serum concentration.

Carbamazepine poisoning: elimination kinetics and quantitative relationship with carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide.

Carbamazepine (amizepine) is a widely used psychotropic agent. A much easier accessibility of this drug, observed during the recent years, may account for an increasing number of acute intoxications with carbamazepine. The aim of this study was to determine the elimination kinetics of carbamazepine and its metabolite carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide, and to identify the quantitative relationship between concentrations of these compounds, in serum.