Question Of The Day

Reengineered neuroglobin is being investigated as a potential treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning. What is the half life of CO in human red blood cells treated with neuroglobin? 25 seconds. Azarov I et al. Five-coordinate H64Q neuroglobin as a ligand-trap antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning….

What is Lytico-Bodig? Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinsonism-dementia complex (ALS/PDC) is a complex neurodegenerative disease linked to dietary exposure to plants of the family Cycadaceae Ince PG, Codd GA. Return of the cycad hypothesis – does the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism dementia complex (ALS/PDC) of Guam…

Identify the plant and toxin. Cycas rumphii (Cycad). β-methylaminoalanine (BMAA) Ince PG, Codd GA. Return of the cycad hypothesis – does the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism dementia complex (ALS/PDC) of Guam have new implications for global health? Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 2005 Aug;31(4):345-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2990.2005.00686.x. PMID: 16008818….

  Which neurotransmitter does ODAP (pictured above) most closely resemble? ODAP is a glutamic acid analogue Woldeamanuel YW, Hassan A, Zenebe G. Neurolathyrism: two Ethiopian case reports and review of the literature. J Neurol. 2012 Jul;259(7):1263-8. doi: 10.1007/s00415-011-6306-4. Epub 2011 Nov 12. PMID: 22081101. image…

What is a typical clinical course of neurolathyrism? According to the cited reference, a typical course starts 3-6 months after a diet of 30% of the seeds. Three clinical courses have been described as acute, subacute, and insidious. Most commonly, sudden onset of dramatic bilateral…

Identify the plant and toxin. Lathyrus Sativus, grass pea, or chickling pea. beta-N-Oxalyl amino-L-alanine (L-BOAA), synonym beta-N-oxalyl-alpha,beta-diaminopropionic acid (beta-ODAP) Ravindranath V. Neurolathyrism: mitochondrial dysfunction in excitotoxicity mediated by L-beta-oxalyl aminoalanine. Neurochem Int. 2002 May;40(6):505-9. doi: 10.1016/s0197-0186(01)00121-8. PMID: 11850107. image wikipedia  

With autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) poisoning, what biomarker is associated with more serious outcomes? Elevated troponin I was associated with the need for intensive support, decreased cardiac output, and death. Gasper Razinger, Gordana Kozelj, Vojka Gorjup, et al. Accidental poisoning with autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale):…

A 55 year old male was recently started on a new medication for diabetes management. He presents to the Emergency Department with angioedema. What is the likely culprit? Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor. Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors affect the degradation of the vasoactive kinins bradykinin and substance P,…

In a recent rabbit model of oral cyanide poisoning, oral sodium thiosulfate and glycine improved survival. What is the proposed mechanism for the effect of glycine? The authors hypothesize that after ingestion of cyanide, hydrogen cyanide is rapidly formed due to the acidic pH of…

According to a recent retrospective study of opioid-associated hearing loss, patients most commonly report what auditory symptoms? According to the cited reference, the clinical presentation is variable, with an almost equal distribution of tinnitus (25%), hypoacusis (36%), and deafness (29%). 10% of patients reported a…