1/326. Cardiovascular toxicity after ingestion of "herbal ecstacy"."Herbal Ecstacy" (sic) is an alternative drug of abuse usually containing both ephedrine and caffeine. Our literature search did not reveal any other reported cases of cardiovascular toxicity related to herbal "drugs of abuse." A case of cardiovascular toxicity following the ingestion of herbal ecstacy is presented. A 21-year-old male presented to the emergency department with an initial blood pressure of 220/110 mmHg and ventricular dysrhythmias after ingesting four capsules of herbal ecstacy. He was treated with lidocaine and sodium nitroprusside, and his symptoms resolved in 9 h. The pathophysiology and clinical course of ephedrine toxicity are discussed. Emergency physicians should consider ephedrine preparations in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with a sympathomimetic toxidrome. Drugs of abuse containing "herbal" products can produce serious morbidity and mortality.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = toxicity (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/326. Drug-induced lung disease.Since there are no diagnostic studies to confirm the presence of a drug-induced lung reaction the physician will make a correct diagnosis only if he is aware of the drugs which have been identified to cause pulmonary reactions and their specific manifestations. Failure to recognize a drug-induced lung disease can lead to significant morbidity and in some cases mortality. The major drug-induced lung diseases are reviewed, the drugs being presented in the context of their clinical use and the reactions on the basis of common pathogenetic mechanisms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16544321843582keywords = lead (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/326. Acute pseudohepatitis in a chronic substance abuser secondary to occult seat belt injury.Causes of a massive elevation in serum aminotransferases (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) in the substance-abusing patient include viral hepatitis and drug hepatotoxicity. A patient chronically addicted to injection heroin and cocaine presented to the emergency room in a confused state and was admitted to a medical ward with an AST of 4120 U/L, ALT 3820 U/L and right upper quadrant discomfort. Investigations for viral and hepatotoxic causes for the liver dysfunction revealed only hepatitis c seropositivity. A computed tomogram of the abdomen, however, revealed a significant contusion to the right lobe of the liver consistent with traumatic injury. A motor vehicle accident, in which the patient was wearing a seat belt, and which had occurred a few days before admission and had been thought to be minor, was the cause of the liver dysfunction. Significant blunt abdominal traumatic injuries are usually managed exclusively by surgical trauma units. This case underlines the need for medical specialists to be aware of hepatic contusion injuries and to have a high index of suspicion when investigating unexplained hepatocellular dysfunction in chronic substance abusers who have been in motor vehicle accidents.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.14285714285714keywords = toxicity (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/326. Youth living with hiv as peer leaders.Community-based service providers often hire youth living with hiv (YLH) as peer leaders for delivering hiv education to uninfected adolescents. life narratives were collected from 44 YLH during a hypotheses-generating two-year ethnographic study. About 30% of the youth were employed as peer educators. While 60% of the 44 youth had a lower-class background, only 23% of the peer leaders were lower class. One-fifth of the sample were female, but more than one-half of the peer leaders were female. After identifying and categorizing difficulties experienced by the peer leaders, a frequency count of each theme was conducted. Issues about professional boundaries were evident in 38.5% of the youth's narratives, indicating conflicts in their roles as peer leaders; 23% of the youth engaged in substance use and sexual behaviors that placed themselves and uninfected youth in their peer educator programs at risk; and 8% of the youth reported relapse while peer leaders. The observations suggest reconsideration or restructuring of existing peer-education models that employ YLH.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.6544321843582keywords = lead (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/326. methamphetamine-related stroke: four cases.Amphetamine use in certain parts of the united states has risen dramatically. methamphetamine, the most-common illicitly abused type of amphetamine, can be inhaled, injected intravenously, or smoked. It is a potent sympathomimetic that may lead to vascular events including myocardial infarction and stroke. Because of the demographics of drug use, these potentially devastating events usually occur in relatively young patients. The pathophysiology of stroke related to amphetamine use is multifactorial. Elevation in blood pressure, vasculitis, or other vascular toxicity are postulated as major mechanisms. Four cases of stroke associated with the use of methamphetamine, all occurring in patients ranging in age from 29-45 years, are described. methamphetamine use appears to be a risk factor for the development of stroke. The rise in methamphetamine use will undoubtedly result in increased Emergency Department admissions with clinical presentations very similar to those of cocaine intoxication.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.30830036129296keywords = lead, toxicity (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/326. Acute unilateral visual loss due to a single intranasal methamphetamine abuse.An otherwise healthy 35 year old male with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) presented himself three days after a single intranasal methamphetamine abusus. Directly upon awakening the day after the recreational use of this drug, he discovered an acute and severe visual loss of his right eye. This unilateral loss of vision was permanent and eventually lead to a pale and atrophic optic nerve head. The characteristics of this visual loss, together with the aspect of the optic nerve head was very similar to the classical non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). We suggest a direct ischemic episode to the short posterior ciliary arteries due to this single intranasal abuse of methamphetamine as the underlying pathogenesis of this acute and permanent visual loss.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16544321843582keywords = lead (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/326. Upper aerodigestive tract frostbite complicating volatile substance abuse.Volatile substance abuse has become increasingly popular among today's youth. It has reportedly been used by up to 13% of teenage populations. physicians need to be aware of the potential complications which may arise from this form of substance abuse. We describe the case of a young male who presented with massive edema affecting his lips, oral cavity, oropharynx and trachea. It was later discovered that his injury was secondary to thermal trauma related to the abuse of a fluorinated hydrocarbon propellant. This presentation may easily be confused with allergic or angioneurotic edema. Denial by the patient can lead to a further delay in diagnosis. This case is especially notable since frostbite injury involving the upper aerodigestive tract is extremely rare. We discuss the differential diagnosis and the management principals required in the care of this patient. We also present a pertinent review of the literature related to both volatile substance abuse and its complications involving the airway.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16544321843582keywords = lead (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/326. Surreptitious laxative abuse: keep it in mind.The clinical example is one of diarrhea induced by the surreptitious use of laxatives. A 45-year-old man had a 3-year history of diarrhea, which had been fully investigated, without a cause having been identified. His general health appeared to be affected little, but he had the clinical features of an associated depressive illness. The diagnosis of laxative abuse was supported by the finding of abnormally high concentrations of magnesium in fecal water. He admitted initially, and later denied, the surreptitious ingestion of laxatives. This example is discussed with regard to features that were typical and atypical of the syndrome of laxative abuse. The significant points to be appreciated are 1) that any chronic, watery diarrhea that has eluded diagnosis after an adequate investigation is possibly self-induced, and 2) that awareness of this syndrome and its prevalence in selected cohorts can lead to direct and inexpensive documentation of the diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16544321843582keywords = lead (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/326. nitrous oxide myelopathy in an abuser of whipped cream bulbs.A 23 year old man presented with a severe posterior column myelopathy related to prolonged nitrous oxide abuse obtained from whipped cream bulbs. The site of pathology was identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and somatosensory evoked potentials. The mechanism of toxicity involves inactivation of vitamin B12 dependent enzymes. Appropriate treatment with methionine and vitamin B12 was instituted quickly with good neurological outcome. There are major concerns regarding the availability of nitrous oxide in supermarkets.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.27424496109635keywords = toxicity, neurologic (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/326. coma and respiratory depression following the ingestion of GHB and its precursors: three cases.Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a product of the metabolism of both gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD). Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is an illegal agent that causes central nervous system depression. Chemical precursors of GHB, such as GBL and 1,4-BD, have been available for purchase from many health food stores and internet websites for mood-enhancement, sleep-induction, and stimulation of growth hormone release. We report three cases of ingestion of products containing GHB and chemical precursors of GHB. All three patients had severe presentations followed by full recoveries. Some products containing GBL were withdrawn from the market after the FDA issued a warning regarding these products. Products containing 1,4-butanediol remain on the market today.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.0183473986941keywords = nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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