Tox Tunes #84: Pass the Dutchie (Musical Youth)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFtLONl4cNc
The term “dutchie” now refers to a marijuana product, possibly a “blunt” made from a cigar such as a Dutch Masters. But it probably didn’t in 1982 when the British reggae band Musical Youth released this hit. The song is a cover of the Mighty Diamonds’ “Pass the Koutchie” — a “koutchie” being a pipe used to smoke marijuana.
However, then Musical Youth’s version was released, the record company thought it unseemly for young teenagers to be singing about drugs, so the title was changed to “Pass the Dutchie...
Source: The Poison Review - July 13, 2014 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical magic diamonds musical youth pass the koutchie tox tunes Source Type: news
Acute respiratory distress syndrome following intralipid emulsion therapy
2.5 out of 5 stars
Acute respiratory distress syndrome following verapamil overdose treated with intravenous lipid emulsion; A rare life-threatening complication. Martin C et al. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim 2014 [Epub ahead of print]
Reference
This interesting French case report is a textbook example of how not to use intralipid emulsion therapy (ILE) in calcium-channel-block (CCB) overdose.
It describes a 51-year-old woman who present to the emergency room 8 hours after ingesting forty 240 mg verapamil, a total of 9.6 grams. She was hypotensive and bradycardic, although alert and oriented. Initial echocardiography showed goo...
Source: The Poison Review - July 12, 2014 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical adverse drug reaction calcium channel blocker overdose intralipid emulsion therapy verapamil Source Type: news
Mussel Beach: Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
3 out of 5 stars
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning: A Case Series. Hurley W et al. West J Emerg Med 2014 Jul;15:378-381.
Full Text
Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP)is caused by saxitoxin, an alkaloid produced by certain marine dinoflagellates and released during algae blooms that produce a so-called “red tide.” (Actually, the water can be various colors, or even clear, during these blooms.) The toxin is then taken up and concentrated by filter-feeding mollusks, including oysters, clams and mussels.
Like tetrodotoxin, saxitoxin is a sodium-channel blocker. It causes mostly neurotoxicity and gastrointestinal s...
Source: The Poison Review - July 11, 2014 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical dinoflagellate marine toxicity mollusks mussels neurotoxicity paralytic shellfish poisoning saxitoxin Source Type: news
TPR Podcast Episode #5: Don’t Harsh Our Mellow, Dude!
This study looked at the rates of registered medical marijuana users pre- and post-legalization of marijuana in Colorado and compared it to rates of positive urine and serum marijuana tests of Colorado drivers involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash
o It found a positive correlation: as the rates of marijuana users went up, the rates of fatal motor vehicle crashes in which drivers tested positive for marijuana went up as well
Critique of the article:
o Urine tests can be positive for days-months after the last use so drivers who tested positive for marijuana were not necessarily under the influen...
Source: The Poison Review - July 11, 2014 Category: Toxicology Authors: LeonThe Poison Review Tags: Podcast Source Type: news
Retrospective review of nutmeg toxicity
2.5 out of 5 stars
Nutmeg Poisonings: A Retrospective Review of 10 Years Experience from the Illinois Poison Center: 2001-2011. Ehrenpreis JE et al. J Med Toxicol 2014;10:148-151.
Abstract
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the eggnog bowl . . .
Nutmeg is the seed of the aromatic evergreen Myristica fragrans. It contains a number of volatile oils, some of which may be metabolized to monoamine oxidase inhibitors or amphetamine-like substances.
Manifestations of nutmeg toxicity are quite similar to those of the anticholinergic syndrome, including dry mouth, flushing, tachycardia, tremor, urinary retention and...
Source: The Poison Review - July 10, 2014 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical anticholinergic syndrome myristica fragrans nutmeg Source Type: news
