Question Of The Day

What is the mechanism of toxicity of aluminum phosphide toxicity after oral ingestions? Aluminum phosphide is coomonly used as a pesticide in developing countries. When ingested phosphine gas is produced in the stomach, absorbed into the blood stream and inhibits aerobic respiration in red blood…

Historical QOD 3/27/09: What illness is associated with domoic acid? Domoic acid is associated with amnestic shellfish poisoning.  Symptoms include nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache, and short-term memory loss. More severe cases can present with severe respiratory secretions, labile blood pressure, seizures, and coma. Neuroexcitation…

What are the most common related clinical effects of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists overdose in patients admitted to a hospital? The most common related clinical effects of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist overdose are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Among those admitted to a hospital…

What toxin is found in the adorable newt seen in this picture (Taricha torosa)? Tetrodotoxin. The toxin found in this newt was originally named Tarichatoxin but was later discovered to be identical to tetrodotoxin, which is found in other animals such as pufferfish used to…

Why is the Zargar classification of caustic ingestion injuries important? Endoscopic classification is important prognostically. Grade 0, 1 or 2a burns usually recover without long term effects. Whereas grade 2b or 3 burns tend to be associated with esophageal or gastric strictures which may require…

What is the primary toxicity associated with an overdose of the muscle relaxer orphenadrine? An overdose of orphenadrine can lead to antimuscarinic toxicity, seizures refractory to standard treatment, respiratory failure, and cardiac toxicity. Dhaliwal, N., & Roberts, D. M. (2024). Clinical outcomes associated with orphenadrine…

Historical QOD 3/25/09:  What is hypoglycin A? Hypolgycin A is a toxin found in the unripened Jamaican ackee fruit. In can produce vomiting, drowsiness, and hypoglycemia, and has been shown to inhibit the activity of short and medium chain acyldehydrogenases. Blake OA, Bennink MR, Jackson…

In a porcine model of acute digoxin toxicity published in 2004, how did the researchers decide when to administer the intervention drug (either CaCl or NS)? When they saw changes on the ECG consistent with hyperkalemia appeared [defined as doubling of either T-wave height or…

In a prospective study looking at yellow oleander published in 2019, what were the independent predictors of mortality? Larger number of seeds and hypotension Anandhi D, Pandit VR, Kadhiravan T, Soundaravally R, Raju KNJP. Cardiac arrhythmias, electrolyte abnormalities and serum cardiac glycoside concentrations in yellow…

In the ATOM-6 study, did giving of smaller, titratable doses of digoxin specific antibodies, increase the frequency of redosing of digoxin specific antibodies? Yes Chan BS, Isbister GK, Chiew A, Isoardi K, Buckley NA. Clinical experience with titrating doses of digoxin antibodies in acute digoxin…