Mercury Poisoning: A Case of a Complex Neuropsychiatric Illness

Huang, Xiaosheng; Law, Syk; Li, Dan; Xin, Yu; Li, Bing

doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.12101266

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…However, dLUHMES cells were unique among the differentiating cell lines in being more sensitive than the undifferentiated LUHMES cells to 11 toxicants, including known neurotoxicants colchicine, methyl‐mercury (II), and vincristine. (Goldschmidt and Steward, ; Huang et al ., ; Courtemanche et al ., ). The greater sensitivity of the differentiating cells to so many compounds is unexpected, and may reflect sensitivity of specialized neurons to particular neurotoxicants observed in vivo .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Characterization of three human cell line models for high‐throughput neuronal cytotoxicity screening

Tong

Högberg

Kuo

et al. 2016

J of Applied Toxicology

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More than 75,000 man-made chemicals contaminate the environment; many of these have not been tested for toxicities. These chemicals demand quantitative high-throughput screening assays to assess them for causative roles in neurotoxicities, including Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. To facilitate high throughput screening for cytotoxicity to neurons, three human neuronal cellular models were compared: SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, LUHMES conditionally-immortalized dopaminergic neurons, and Neural Stem Cells (NSC) from human fetal brain. These three cell lines were evaluated for rapidity and degree of differentiation, and sensitivity to 32 known or candidate neurotoxicants. First, expression of neural differentiation genes was assayed during a 7-day differentiation period. Of the three cell lines, LUHMES showed the highest gene expression of neuronal markers after differentiation. Both in the undifferentiated state and after 7 days of neuronal differentiation, LUHMES cells exhibited greater cytotoxic sensitivity to most of 32 suspected or known neurotoxicants than SH-SY5Y or NSCs. LUHMES cells were also unique in being more susceptible to several compounds in the differentiating state than the undifferentiated state; including known neurotoxicants colchicine, methyl-mercury (II), and vincristine. Gene expression results suggest that differentiating LUHMES cells may be susceptible to apoptosis because they express low levels of anti-apoptotic genes BCL2 and BIRC5/survivin; whereas SH-SY5Y cells may be resistant to apoptosis because they express high levels of BCL2, BIRC5/survivin, and BIRC3 genes. Thus, LUHMES cells exhibited favorable characteristics for neuro-cytotoxicity screening: rapid differentiation into neurons exhibiting high level expression neuronal marker genes, and marked sensitivity of LUHMES cells to known neurotoxicants.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Characterization of three human cell line models for high‐throughput neuronal cytotoxicity screening

Tong

Högberg

Kuo

et al. 2016

J of Applied Toxicology

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“…Mercury is used in folk practices in the form of inorganic salts, and it is relatively common within certain Hispanic communities [8,11]. Pure elemental mercury in liquid form is often used in folk remedies to treat abdominal pain and other illnesses [12][13].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peritonitis Due to Appendicitis Related to Mercury Sequestration: An Unusual Peruvian Case Report

Roca¹,

Ramos-Yataco²,

Alcalde-Loyola³

et al. 2022

Cureus

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Elemental mercury ingestion caused by folk practices is rare and usually harmless. Nevertheless, some complications related to mercury ingestion have been reported such as appendicitis related to mercury sequestration and poisoning leading to systemic toxicity. Patients usually present with nausea, vomiting, and abdominal tenderness. Mercury sequestration in the appendix depends on its anatomy and mercury physical properties, both of which may lead to appendicitis, resulting in subsequent peritonitis leading to multiple and severe surgical complications. A 26-year-old Peruvian man complaining of vomiting and abdominal pain after ingestion of elemental mercury as part of a folk practice presented to the emergency department. Physical exam was remarkable for rigid abdomen and diffuse rebound sign. A clinical diagnosis of peritonitis was made. The patient was taken to the operating room where an open appendectomy and peritoneal lavage were performed. On gross inspection, a silver foreign body within the perforated appendix was seen by the surgical team. The patient developed multiple surgical complications leading to multiple organ failure and death. Clinicians should be aware that mercury ingestion is usually benign. However, severe complications may develop. Early surgical and medical intervention should be initiated promptly to achieve better outcomes. We present the first case of peritonitis due to appendicitis related to mercury sequestration in the appendix.

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“…Previously, the major clinical manifestations were oral mucosal lesions and renal injury in acute phase and mental symptoms in chronic phase [2,3]. With deep research, we gradually found that metallic mercury poisoning could cause multiple organ dysfuction syndrome (MODS), involving nerve, renal, and digestive systems [4], even sometimes combined with hypertension and arrhythmia. DMPS is the standard therapy to prevent HODS.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term follow-up after intravenous injection of massive volume of mercury: A case report

Hao¹,

Li²

2016

Case Rep Int

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Introduction: Mercury is the only metal that exists in liquid form at room temperature. It has no essential biological function. It is used in manufacturing switches, thermometers, and sphygmomanometers. Mercury is also used in extraction of gold and silver. Besides, it is used in pesticides and tooth fillings. Exposure to mercury can cause mercury poisoning which is also known as hydrargyria or mercurialism. Exposure can be by inhalation, ingestion or injection. Self-injection of mercury is very rare but is well documented. Although hydrargyrism has been reported well hydrargyrism via intravenous injection is rarely reported. Here we present a case of a 19-year-old boy who injected himself with massive volume of metallic mercury. Case Report: A 19-year-old man injected himself intravenously in the left elbow with about 15 ml of metallic mercury. He complained of dizziness, chest tightness, hemoptysis, dyspnea, malaise, sweating, soreness of waist and bloody sputum for a day and was sent to the hospital immediately. X-ray showed a large number of scattered metalic substance in bilateral lung fields, and distributed along vascular channelsall over the body. He was treated with large dose of DMPS and supportive therapy, but he expired after two hospitalizations in eight months. Conclusion: In cases of hydrargyrism with huge volume,

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Mercury Poisoning: A Case of a Complex Neuropsychiatric Illness

Cited by 11 publications

References 15 publications

Characterization of three human cell line models for high‐throughput neuronal cytotoxicity screening

Characterization of three human cell line models for high‐throughput neuronal cytotoxicity screening

Peritonitis Due to Appendicitis Related to Mercury Sequestration: An Unusual Peruvian Case Report

Long-term follow-up after intravenous injection of massive volume of mercury: A case report

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