Cyanide and the human brain: perspectives from a model of food (cassava) poisoning

摘要: Threats by fundamentalist leaders to use chemical weapons have resulted in renewed interest cyanide toxicity. Relevant insights may be gained from studies on mass intoxication populations relying cyanogenic cassava as the main source of food. In these populations, sublethal concentrations (up 80 μmol/l) blood are commonplace and lead signs acute Long-term toxicity include a distinct irreversible spastic paralysis, known konzo, cognition deficits, mainly sequential processing (visual-spatial analysis) domains. Toxic culprits (mitochondrial toxicant), thiocyanate (AMPA-receptor chaotropic metabolite), cyanate (protein-carbamoylating 2-iminothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (seizure inducer). Factors susceptibility younger age, female gender, protein-deficient diet, and, possibly, gut functional metagenome. The existence uniquely exposed neurologically affected offers invaluable research opportunities develop comprehensive understanding test or validate point-of-care diagnostic tools treatment options included preparedness kits response cyanide-related threats.