Question Of The Day

A reduction in this dietary exposure is associated with a decline in mortality from primary liver cancer? Aflatoxin. Chen JG et al. Reduced Aflatoxin Exposure Presages Decline in Liver Cancer Mortality in an Endemic Region of China. Cancer Prev Res 2013; 6(10): 1038-1045.

In a recent case report, what was the elimination half life of thiocyanate? Watson C et al. describe a patient with thiocyanate toxicity. In this patient, thiocyanate demonstrated first order kinetics with an elimination half life of 61.6 hours. Watson C et al. Thiocyanate toxicity:…

What is the most commonly reported laboratory interference in thiocyanate toxicity? Pseudohyperchloremia. Watson C et al. Thiocyanate toxicity: A Teaching Case. Clin Tox 2022. Published online 4 March 2022.https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2022.20420122

In the early 1900s, a magician added thiocyanate to iron-laced water to “turn water into wine”. What was the premise behind this? In a recent teaching case of thiocyanate toxicity published by Watson C et al., the authors describe the historical use of thiocyanate. Iron…

What is the impact of length of hospitalization after consultation with a single poison center? In a recent retrospective cohort study, Farkas A et al. demonstrated a 16% shorter length of stay. This reduction was equates to a mean reduction of 11.6 hours (10.2 –…

What is the widely accepted maximum dose of lidocaine used for tumescent liposuction? 55 mg/kg. While this maximum dose is widely accepted, there have been cases of local anesthetic toxicity in some patients. A pharmacokinetic study performed in health volunteers by Klein JA et al,…

Intentional or unintentional intake of pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA)-containing products, such as bush tea and the herbal medication,Tusanqi , can cause what uncommon disease of the liver? Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD), also known as hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS). HVOD can present with abdominal pain, jaundice,…

What factors might explain higher sensitivity of urine for detection of buprenorphine when compared to oral fluid? The detection window of buprenorphine is presumably longer in urine; the timing of drugs in oral fluid is similar to plasma and therefore less indicative of remote use….

Oral fluid (OF) is an attractive option for compliance monitoring during opioid agonist medication-assisted treatment (OA-MAT) because collections are observed and may be OF is less likely to be substituted and adulterated than urine. How does the sensitivity of oral fluid testing compare to that…

What symptoms are associated with severe clove oil (eugenol) overdose? Overdoses have been marked by acute onset of agitation, seizures, and coma. Liver injury arises 12 to 24 hours with marked elevations in serum aminotransferase levels and early coagulation abnormalities. Signs of hepatic failure arise…