Question Of The Day

Nearly 400 children in or around the Zamfara State in Nigeria were killed by what exposure resulting from improper mining techniques? Lead. According to the cited source, “Natural weathering of lead-rich gold ores before mining formed abundant, highly gastric-bioaccessible lead carbonates. The same fingerprint of…

What is a “margarita burn” and which toxins are implicated in its pathogenesis? A margarita burn is a type of phytophotodermatitis that occurs when lime juice on an individuals skin is exposed to excessive sunlight. The compound responsible for the burns are furocoumarins which are…

Historical QOD 3/5/2009: What is Bromo-Dragonfly? Bromo-Dragonfly, also called ABDF, is a psychedelic hallucinogen recently banned in Denmark after the overdose death of an 18-year-old female. Andreasen MF, Telving R, Birkler RI, Schumacher B, Johannsen M. A fatal poisoning involving Bromo-Dragonfly. Forensic Sci Int. 2009…

In this multicenter, randomized trial designed to determine the effect of intubation withholding vs routine practice on clinical outcomes of comatose patients with acute poisoning and a Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 9, what was the most common toxin ingested by study participants? Alcohol…

What are important considerations regarding the administration of dimercaprol (BAL)? BAL has a narrow therapeutic index and is formulated in peanut oil. Treatment requires frequent IM dose administrations in which formulation causes significant pain and subcutaneous reactions at injection sites. A Case of Severe Lead…

What is the major concern for pediatric ingestions of water beads? Ingestion can lead to fatal bowel obstructions. Water beads are typically made of polyacrylamide, a non-toxic and biodegradable polymer. They begin as sub-centimeter pellets and expand up to 5 cm in diameter, 200 times…

According to a recently published case report about the side effects of tirzepatide, which of the following is true regarding dual glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide agonists? A. greater doses are associated with more frequent gastrointestinal side effect B. hypoglycemia is a common…

Historical QOD 3/3/2009: What is the primary cytochrome P450 enzyme responsible for metabolizing nicotine? CYP2A6, and variability in the activity of this enzyme contributes to susceptibility to tobacco dependence, response to therapy, and risk for lung cancer. Benowitz NL. Pharmacology of nicotine: addiction, smoking-induced disease,…

In a retrospective review of data from the National Poison Data System, the safety of physostigmine in pediatric patients was assessed. What was the median age of the patients who received physostigmine? The median age of the groups that received physostigmine was 15 years. Huber…

What fruit derives its scientific name from Captain William Bligh, who took the fruit from Jamaica to the Royal Botanic Gardens in England? Ackee fruit (Blighia sapida) https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/captain-blighs-cursed-breadfruit-41433018/ Contributed by Willie Eggleston