Acute Selenium Toxicity Associated with a Dietary Supplement. MacFarquhar JK et al. Arch Intern Med 8 Feb 2010;170:256-261.
Just 5 days ago in a previous post, I wrote that selenium toxicity was a rare occurrence. Then I came upon this excellent paper, which details a public health investigation of 201 cases of selenium poisoning — spread over 10 …
This week, the Los Angeles medical examiner’s office released the autopsy report on Michael Jackson. Included in the release are toxicology findings, and a discussion by an anesthesiologist concerning the effects and proper administration of propofol. The cause of death was listed as “acute propofol intoxication”, with the “benzodiazepine effect” contributing. The toxicology tests determined the following:…
TimesOnline reports today that Lakvir Kaur Singh, the so-called currry killer, has been convicted in a London court of murdering her lover, Lakhvider Cheema. According to the report, Ms. Singh –enraged that Mr. Cheema had declared his intention of marrying a younger woman — laced both their curry dinners with Indian aconite (Aconitum ferox). Within an hour …
Acute selenium poisoning by paradise nuts (Lecythis ollaria). Muler D and Desel H. Hum Exp Toxicol Online First (published January 27, 2010).
This article, describes two women who developed gastrointestinal symptoms shortly after eating paradise nuts (Lecythis ollaria) from a common source. Approximately 2 weeks later both women experienced significant hair loss and grayish discoloration of …
This is another case from the 2008 report of the National Poison Data System (NPDS). Case 959: A 35-year-old man reportedly ingested one pill of a product labelled “piedra”, purported to be an aphrodisiac. Several hours later he was brought to the emergency department with pain in his chest and abdomen. In the field he received atropine for bradycardia …
“Doctor Robert” was recorded on April 17 and 19, 1966. According to Ian MacDonald’s hugely informative book Revolution in the Head: The Beatles’ Records and the Sixties:
“Concerning a New York doctor who habituated his socialite clients to narcotics by mixing methedrine with vitamin shots, the song shifts key evasively, stabilizing only in its middle eight – an evangelical …
In a must-read post, Life in the Fast Lane reports that some Australian drug users are snorting a product, purchased over the internet, that is labelled as “soothing bath salts . . . a novelty collectors item”. Analysis at the University of Sydney revealed that the product contains methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), an ecstasy analogue with a sympathomimetic kick and a …
Jimsonweed Poisoning Associated with a Homemade Stew — Maryland 2008. MMWR 5 Feb 2010;59:102-104
This excellent MMWR report describes anticholinergic toxicity in 6 patients (aged 38-80 years) who ingested a stew made of potatoes, garlic, onions, tomatoes, curry powder, and the leaves of two foraged plants growing in their yard. One hour after ingestion, they were discovered by a relative …
Emergency Medicine News has just posted my “Toxicology Rounds” column reviewing some web sites that poison aficionados will find useful and interesting. To read it, click here.…
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