Question Of The Day

What percentage of labelled cannabis packages in NYC were found to conform to the American College of Medical Toxicology’s (ACMT) recommendations for safety labelling? Zero. Adam Blumenberg (2022) A cross-sectional assessment of package labels aimed at children of edible and leaf cannabis discarded in New…

Historical QOD 10/8/08: Which drugs have been implicated in the development of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) syndrome? Drugs used in the treatment of collagen vascular diseases, such as D-penicillamine reportedly can cause DAH. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 2008, 75(4): 258-280  

What was the frequency of precipitated opioid withdrawal when 1.6 mg of IM nalxoone was used to reverse opioid overdose? In a recent prospective review of 171 patients with opioid overdose in Australia, nearly 40% of patients developed acute precipiated withdrawal when administred 1.6 mg…

This alkaloid has been shown to prevent or decrease peripheral neuropathy in rats given paclitaxel likely due to actions on the spinal glycine receptor. What is the alkaloid? Gelsemine. Vitet L et al. Beneficial effects of Gelsemium based treatment against paclitaxel induced painful symptoms. Neurological…

Serial murder by healthcare professionals is rare. Of the prosecuted cases, which of these specialities had the highest number of prosections: A. Physicians; B. Allied health professionals; C: Respiratory therapists; D: Nursing personnel D. Yorker BC et al. reported that nursing personnel comprised 86% of…

How may a serum lactate level help predict mortality in poisoned patients receiving VA-ECMO? Duburcq T et al., in a retrospective comparison of poisoned patients receiving VA-ECMO, serum lactate > 9 mmol/L predicted mortality with a sensitivity of 0.83 and specificity of 1. A confounder…

In a recent review, what was the median time of a retained bullet to the peak blood lead level? In a recent review by Kershner E et al., 5 years (IQR 0.6. 12) was the median time post exposure to a peak blood level in…

This antidote may be an effective therapy in managing toxicity from Compound 1080. Fomepizole. Compound 1080 is a rodenticide that contains sodium monofluoroacetate and there is animal data that fomepizole reduces oxaloacetate production and therefore may provide a therapeutic benefit. There are no human studies…

Monofluoroacetate has resulted in toxicity in zoo animals and carnivores that have ingested which bird? The Bronzewings (Phaps elegans and Phaps chalcoptera), which are medium sized pigeons native to Australia. Yeung KA et al. Avian Toxins and Poisoning Mechanisms. JMT 2022; 18(321-333)  

What is the theorized toxin responsible for coturnism? Coniine. Ingestion of the European subspecies of migratory quails has resulted in case reports of toxic myopathy with rhabdomyolysis called coturnism. Yeung KA et al. Avian Toxins and Poisoning Mechanisms. JMT 2022; 18(321-333)