Where ferroptosis inhibitors and paraquat detoxification mechanisms intersect, exploring possible treatment strategies

Paraquat (PQ) is a fast-acting and effective herbicide that is used throughout the world to eliminate weeds. Over the past years, PQ was considered one of the most popular poisoning substances for suicide, and PQ poisoning accounts for about one-third of suicides around the world. Poisoning with PQ may cause multiorgan failure, pulmonary fibrosis, and ultimately death. Exposure to PQ results in the accumulation of PQ in the lungs, causing severe damage and, eventually, fibrosis. Until now, no effective antidote has been found to treat poisoning with PQ. In general, the toxicity of PQ is due to the formation of high energy oxygen free radicals and the peroxidation of unsaturated lipids in the cell. Ferroptosis is the result of the loss of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) activity that transforms iron-dependent lipid hydroperoxides to lipid alcohols, which are inert in the biological environment. Impaired iron metabolism and lipid peroxidation are increasingly known as the driving agents of ferroptosis. The contribution of ferroptosis to the development of cell death during poisoning with PQ has not yet been addressed. There is growing evidence about the relationship between PQ poisoning and ferroptosis. This raises the possibility of using ferroptosis inhibitors for the treatment of PQ poisoning. In this hypothesis-driven review article, we elaborated how ferroptosis inhibitors might circumvent the toxicity induced by PQ and may be potentially useful for the treatment of PQ toxicity.

Simple hysterectomy in the presence of invasive cervical cancer in Iran

The objective of this study was to determine the reasons leading to an inappropriate simple hysterectomy in the presence of invasive cervical cancer. During 1997-2001, 62 cases of invasive cervical carcinoma that had been treated by simple hysterectomy were referred to the gynecology oncology service in Vali-e-Asr hospital, Tehran, Iran. Five had microinvasive carcinoma. The remaining 57 women had either adenocarcinomas or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Medical records were reviewed retrospectively to determine the reasons for inappropriate hysterectomy. Reasons for inappropriate hysterectomy were as follow: lack of preoperative Pap smear (P/S) (29%), deliberate hysterectomy for biopsy-proven cancer (25.8%), negative P/S (6.5%), inadequate evaluation of abnormal P/S (6.5%), failure to perform an indicated conization (3.2%), and emergent operation because of uterine perforation (1.6%). Reasons for inappropriate hysterectomy in the remainder of patients (27.4%) were not found because of lack of sufficient information. Although 45.2% of these patients had complained for vaginal bleeding, only four of them had preoperative endocervical and endometrial sampling. Despite the increasing emphasis on performing cervical cancer screening before hysterectomy, only 18 (29%) referral patients had preoperative P/S. We conclude that by close adherence to the cervical cancer screening guidelines and appropriate evaluation of the presenting symptoms, we may avoid inappropriate management of cervical carcinomas with simple hysterectomy. Many cases of simple hysterectomy in the presence of biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix necessitates some reconsideration of gynecology oncology postgraduate courses for general gynecologists.

Simple hysterectomy in the presence of invasive cervical cancer in Iran

The objective of this study was to determine the reasons leading to an inappropriate simple hysterectomy in the presence of invasive cervical cancer. During 1997–2001, 62 cases of invasive cervical carcinoma that had been treated by simple hysterectomy were referred to the gynecology oncology service in Vali-e-Asr hospital, Tehran, Iran. Five had microinvasive carcinoma. The remaining 57 women had either adenocarcinomas or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Medical records were reviewed retrospectively to determine the reasons for inappropriate hysterectomy. Reasons for inappropriate hysterectomy were as follow: lack of preoperative Pap smear (P/S) (29%), deliberate hysterectomy for biopsy-proven cancer (25.8%), negative P/S (6.5%), inadequate evaluation of abnormal P/S (6.5%), failure to perform an indicated conization (3.2%), and emergent operation because of uterine perforation (1.6%). Reasons for inappropriate hysterectomy in the remainder of patients (27.4%) were not found because of lack of sufficient information. Although 45.2% of these patients had complained for vaginal bleeding, only four of them had preoperative endocervical and endometrial sampling. Despite the increasing emphasis on performing cervical cancer screening before hysterectomy, only 18 (29%) referral patients had preoperative P/S. We conclude that by close adherence to the cervical cancer screening guidelines and appropriate evaluation of the presenting symptoms, we may avoid inappropriate management of cervical carcinomas with simple hysterectomy. Many cases of simple hysterectomy in the presence of biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix necessitates some reconsideration of gynecology oncology postgraduate courses for general gynecologists.

Cholesterol embolism causing bleeding gastric ulcers

Two cases of atheromatous embolism of the small arteries of the stomach are reported. Insofar as has been ascertained, they are the first reported cases in the literature which presented symptoms of severe gastric bleeding and were found to have bleeding gastric ulcers on endoscopy. Both patients were successfully treated surgically, and their ulcers were found to be secondary to small arteriolar occlusions owing the atherosclerotic embolization. Awareness of clinicians as well as pathologists of this phenomenon in elderly males with symptoms of abdominal pain and other upper gastrointestinal symptoms unrelated to the ingestion of food is stressed. Pathophysiology of atherosclerotic emboli is also discussed.