Question of the Day – Tuesday January 18, 2022
What is Desalkylflurazepam? Desalkylflurazepam is a pharmacologically active benzodiazepine and metabolite of Flurazepam. It is also used in the manufacturing of midazolam, and can be found in trace amounts in patients treated with midazolam iatrogenically. Vogt S, Kempf J, Buttler J, Auwärter V, Weinmann W….
Question of the Day – Friday January 14, 2022
What is thapsigargin? Thapsigargin is non competitive inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium dependent ATPase. It is extrated from Thapsia which is also known as deadly carrot from the family Apiaceae (along with carrot, cellery, parlsey). Thapsigargin is in pre-clinical stage as an antiviral. Al-Beltagi…
Question of the Day – Thursday January 13, 2022
What were the most common adverse events in the MOVe-OUT phase 3 trial of the use of molnupiravir for oral treatment of COVID-19? Nausea, dizziness and diarrhea were the most commonly reported adverse events in the molnupiravir treated group. Bernal AJ et al. Molnupiravir for…
Question of the Day – Wednesday January 12, 2022
What is the likely culprit of shiitake mushroom dermatitis? Lentinan, a heat activated beta-glucan polysaccharide is believed to be the culprit. Stephany MP et al. Shiitake Mushroom Dermatitis: A Review. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2016 Dec;17(6):709. doi: 10.1007/s40257-016-0225-1.
Question of the Day – Tuesday January 11, 2022
In a blinded, randomized, controlled trial of ketamine versus midazolam and haloperidol for treatment of agitation in the emergency department, what was the reported frequency of laryngospasm in the ketamine arm? 1/40 (2.5%) patients in the ketamine arm demonstrated laryngospasm after 5 mg/kg intramuscular injection…
Question of the Day – Monday January 10, 2022
What is the mechanism of action of Levosimendan? “Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer and its mechanism differs from other inotropes. Levosimendan enhances cardiac contraction by improving the use of available cytosolic calcium, rather than by flooding the cell with excessive calcium” Varpula T, Rapola J,…
Question of the Day – Friday January 7, 2022
During May 2020 through April 2021, the estimated number of drug overdose deaths in the US was greater than 100,000 with 64% of deaths involving synthetic opioids, mainly illicitly manufactured fentanyls. In a recent MMWR report, how many of the deaths also involved a stimulant?…
Question of the Day – Thursday January 6, 2022
What is the most common adverse effect associated with exposure to coumarin? Although rare, hepatotoxicity is the most common adverse effect associated with coumarin exposure in humans. The clinical course typically includes elevations in transaminases that improve with cessation of coumarin exposure. Based on animal…
Question of the Day – Wednesday January 5, 2022
Which varieties of cinnamon contain the highest concentrations of coumarin? Cassia cinnamon contains the highest concentrations of coumarin, ranging from 2 – 6.19 g/kg for US commercial sources. This cinnamon variety includes Cinnamomum cassia and Cinnamomum burmannii, and is the most widely available commercial form…
Question of the Day – Tuesday January 4, 2022
What is Brorphine? Brorphine is a novel potent synthetic opioid with a piperidine benzimidazolone structure, and a maximum effect of 209% that of hydromorphone. Verougstraete N, Vandeputte MM, Lyphout C, Cannaert A, Hulpia F, Van Calenbergh S, Verstraete AG, Stove C. First Report on Brorphine:…