Question Of The Day

Historical QOD 4/2/09: What gas is liberated when aluminum phosphide or zinc phosphide interact with water? Phosphine gas (also known as hydrogen phosphide, phosphorus trihydride or PH3) is liberated when the above mentioned phosphides interact with moisture in the air. Phosphine gas is then the…

In a retrospective chart review of 15,374 urban level 1 trauma center patients who received droperidol, what was the incidence of Torsades de Pointes (TdP)? In the cited study, a single case of TdP occurred in a patient with multiple risk factors. In this patient,…

In an Australian retrospective cohort study, 16 patients who experienced cardiac arrest after inhalation of volatile substances and were resuscitated by EMS personnel had what percent chance of overall survival versus survival with a good neurological outcome? The rate of event survival was 69% (11/16)…

In a multinational survey regarding a hypothetical scenario involving a massive paracetamol ingestion, how many respondents reported that they would use some form of gastrointestinal decontamination? 52% would give activated charcoal, 4% would recommend whole bowel irrigation, 2% would recommend orogastric lavage, and none would…

After pancreatic secretion, biological insulin has a half-life of between 3 and 10 min. In a recent case report, what were the kinetics of exogenous insulin in two patients who received the high dose insulin therapy? In both patients, insulin elimination followed apparent first order…

Correction to QOD 6/6/24: Cases reported to the Toxicology Investigators Consortium between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2022 were assessed to determine the association with prolonged QRS (>120 ms) and development of seizure, metabolic acidosis, or ventricular dysrhythmia after intoxication with several substances. In…

Historical QOD 4/1/09: True or false? In contrast to poisoning with phenytoin or carbamazepine, nystagmus, dysarthria and ataxia are only rarely noted in association with valproic acid poisoning. True. The clinical findings most commonly associated with valproic acid poisoning include: CNS depression, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,…

What already FDA approved compound maybe a potential antidote for hepatotoxicity from Amanita phalloides? According to the cited reference, indocyanine green has been shown in vitro and in mice models to decrease update of Alpha amanitin into cells and decrease liver damage. Wang, B., Wan,…

Are neonates at risk for neonatal abstinence syndrome after in utero exposure to tianeptine? According to the cited case report, a French mother reported chronic use of >650 mg daily of tianeptine prior to giving birth to a full term neonate who developed neonatal abstinence…

The patient in the picture below suffered exposure to which toxic compound frequently used in solar power panel manufacturing? Tellurium Blackadder ES, Manderson WG. Occupational absorption of tellurium: a report of two cases. Br J Ind Med. 1975 Feb;32(1):59-61. doi: 10.1136/oem.32.1.59. PMID: 123755; PMCID: PMC1008023….