Pneumomediastinum after inhalation of helium gas from party balloons. Zaia BE, Wheeler S. J Emerg Med 2010;38:155-158.
This case report, from Highland General Hospital in Oakland, describes a 16-year-old male who developed subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum after inhaling helium from balloons repeatedly so that he could talk like Donald Duck. The authors hypothesize — convincingly — that elevated …
Cyanide poisoning caused by ingestion of apricot seeds. Akyildiz BN et al. Ann Trop Paediatr 2010;30:39-43.
Apricot pits contain amygdalin, a glucoside that can release cyanide when exposed to certain enzymes in the small intestine. This Turkish study retrospectively reviews 13 cases of pediatric cyanide poisoning associated with the ingestion of apricot seeds. Not too much that is new …
Inhalant Abuse: A Case of Hemoptysis Associated with Halogenated Hydrocarbon Abuse. Schloneger M et al. Pediatr Emerg Care 2009;25:754-757.
This case report describes an 18-year-old male with respiratory difficulty — initially treated as pneumonia — that eventually was diagnosed as massive pulmonary hemorrhage. Many rare causes of this condition — Goodpasture syndrome, bacterial and viral pneumonia, Wegener granulomatosis, …
This Cole Porter song was introduced by Ethel Merman in the 1934 musical Anything Goes. At that time, apparently, no one had problems with the second verse:
Some they may go for cocaine,
I’m sure that if I took even one sniff
That would bore me terrifically too,
Yet I get a kick out of you.
However, when the …
Bromide Toxicity from Consumption of Dead Sea Salt. Sosa R, Stone W. Am J Med March 2010;123:e11-12.
Until the middle of the 20th century, when bromide was removed from such over-the-counter products as Dr. Miles’ Nervine and Bromo-Seltzer, chronic bromism was reported to be responsible for approximately 5-10% of admissions to psychiatric hospitals. Bromide has sedative and …
We recently talked about the endogenous cannabinoid receptor (CR) in a post discussing K2, packets of herbs and spices laced with specific CR agonists. There are two major classes of CRs: CR(1) — located mainly in the central nervous system; and CR(2) — located in T cells, macrophages, and other components of the immune system. The psychoactive effects of cannabinoids …
KTVI in St. Louis interviews Dr. Anthony Scalzo, Medical Director of the Missouri Regional Poison Center, about K2 — a preparation of herbs and spices laced with synthetic cannabinoid-like chemicals such as
Scientific American has posted an interesting interview with Deborah Blum about her new book The Poisoner’s Handbook and the birth of forensic toxicology in jazz age New York City.…
Hyperkalemia and cocaine induced dynamic Brugada-type electrocardiogram. Irani F et al. Eur J Emerg Med April 2010;17:113-115.
The Brugada syndrome is an EKG abnormality that can be genetic or acquired. The syndrome — especially if acquired through mutation of a gene that codes for a component of the cardiac sodium channel — is associated with ventricular arrhythmias, syncope, …
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