The New Crisis in Confidence in Psychiatric Diagnosis. Frances A. Ann Intern Med 2013 May 17 [Epub ahead of print]
Allen Frances, professor emeritus and former chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Duke, has long argued that the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) would be a seriously …
In a recent post titled “Hashville Skyline”, Slate describes the way that references to marijuana has infiltrated into country music tracks over the last decade or so. In this single, from the Pistol Annies‘ new album Annie Up, one of the singers describes how she relieved the tension surrounding a drunken family Christmas dinner by sneaking out for …
Tricyclic Antidepressant Overdose – Over at EMCrit Blog, Scott Weingart has posted a superb podcast discussing the presentation and treatment of TCA overdose. In severe cases not responding to standard therapy, lidocaine, lipid rescue, or ECMO may be indicated. Gastrointestinal lavage — I’m not so sure. Both the podcast and the show notes are well worth your attention.…
Critical Care Management of Verapamil and Diltiazem Overdose with a Focus on Vasopressors: A 25-Year Experience at a Single Center. Levine M et al. Ann Emerg Med 2013 May 1 {Epub ahead of print]
This uncommonly interesting and thought-provoking study comes from the Department of Medical Toxicology at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix. The authors note that …
Sous Influences. DOCU. by lamaisonrouge
Just returned from a short stay in Paris, where I saw the art exhibit Sous Influences (Under Influences: Artists and Psychotropics) at the Maison Rouge. Although somewhat disjointed and often lacking sufficient context, the show had a number of fascinating works, including Bryan Lewis Saunders‘ series of self-portraits done under the influence of …
Metformin overdose-induced hypoglycemia in the absence of other antidiabetic drugs. Al-Abri SA et al. Clin Toxicol 2013 Apr 1 [Epub ahead of print]
Hypoglycemia association with metformin overdose has been reported but is distinctly unusual. In cases published previously, it has not been clear if factors other than metformin toxicity — such as co-ingestion of other hypoglycemic agents or …
Police are suspecting that the death of a prominent Pittsburgh neurologist was related to cyanide poisoning. Dr. Autumn Klein collapsed at her home in late April and died 3 days later. Although initial tests detected cyanide, both false positive and false negative results are possible. Final test results may not be available for weeks.
A post on the Scientific …
Sodium Acetate as a Replacement for Sodium Bicarbonate in Medical Toxicology: a Review. Neavyn MJ et al. J Med Toxicol 2013 Apr 30 [Epub ahead of print]
Sodium bicarbonate is used frequently to treat specific overdoses, including those from salicylates, as well as tricyclic antidepressants and other sodium channel blockers that increase the QRS interval. Goals of therapy with …
Exposures to Discarded Sulfur Mustard Munitions — Mid-Atlantic and New England States 2004-2012. MMWR 2013 Apr 26;62:315-316.
Prior to 1970, the U.S. military commonly dumped chemical munitions at sea. Among these munitions are those containing sulfur mustard, a vesicant or blistering agent. Manifestations of sulfur mustard exposure include burning, irritation or blistering of the skin …
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