Question Of The Day

This drug, when abused chronically causes hemorrhagic ulcerative cystitis, but has been investigated in animal models for prevention of ifofsamide induced hemorrhagic cystitis. Ketamine. In a rat study, a single dose of ketamine combined with mesna in ifosfamide exposed rats showed that ketamine alone prevented…

Hemorrhagic cystitis occurs in 40-60% of patients receiving cyclophosphamide therapy. Name the causative xenobiotic. Name the drug that is often given to reduce this. 1. Acrolein. 2. Mesna. Mesna is given with either cyclophosphamide or ifofsamide to reduce hemorrhagic cystitis however the data on the…

A child is found eating berries from a Tutu. What is the expected toxicity?   Seizures. There are about 30 species of Coriariaceae in the world and the primary toxin is tutin. Tutin is structurally similar to picrotoxinin, the active component of picrotoxin which subsequently…

A patient is found unresponsive in his closet with the doors sealed shut and a sign that says “Do not enter”. Empty bottles of formic acid and sulfuric acid were next to the patient. What is the likely toxin? Carbon Monoxide. Carbon monoxide is formed…

What is the clinically relevant metabolic pathway of the toxin produced by Claviceps Purpurae?   Ergotamines are CYP3A4 substrates. In combination with inhibitors of CYP3A4, such as antiretrovirals used to treat HIV, life and limb threatening vasospasm can result.   Fröhlich G, Kaplan V, Amann-Vesti…

Zolpidem has been shown to inhibit which channel that may lead to long QT syndrome and torsades de pointes?   Human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) Potassium Channels https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23061993/ Submitted by: Mary O’Keefe, PharmD on behalf of the Acute and Intensive Care Section

Exotic snakebites are relatively rare in the US and resulted in less than 1500 human exposure calls to poison centers over a 4 year time frame. This snake accounted for the greatest number of snakebite envenomations in 2 different studies.   Monocled Cobra (Naja Kaouthia),…

In a recent study, what was one of the differences of F(AB’)-2 compared to FAB? a. Increased immediate allergic reactions in the F(AB’)-2 group b. Higher rate of type III hypersensitivity reactions in the F(AB’)-2 group compared to FAB group. c. Increased persistent, recurrent or…

Which fat substitute has been a suggested treatment for organochlorine toxicity?   Olestra Redgrave TG, Wallace P, Jandacek RJ, Tso P. Treatment with a dietary fat substitute decreased Arochlor 1254 contamination in an obese diabetic male. J Nutr Biochem. 2005 Jun;16(6):383-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2004.12.014. PMID: 15936651….

What effect does N-acetylcysteine have on measurement of Prothrombin Time and what is a proposed mechanism?   N-acetylcysteine has been shown in healthy volunteer subjects to interfere with PT measurement by decreasing the activity of factors II, VII, IX, and X. The mechanism is unclear,…