“Spiceophrenia”: can synthetic cannabinoids cause psychosis?
3 out of 5 stars
“Spiceophrenia”: a systematic overview of “Spice”-related psychopathological issues and a case report. Papanti D et al. Hum Psychopharmacol 2013;28:379-389.
Abstract
The authors of this paper performed a systematic review of medical literature related to synthetic cannabinoids such as “Spice” and “K2″and psychotic syndromes or symptoms such as hallucinations.
They found 41 relevant papers eligible for review. Although the data had numerous limitations, it did support the notion that use of synthetic cannabinoids was associated with development or continuati...
Source: The Poison Review - November 8, 2013 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical cannabidiol K2 marijuana psychosis spice synthetic cannabinoid THC Source Type: news
Kidney failure linked to ACE inhibitor blood pressure pills
A Cambridge University study has linked popular ACE inhibitor pills to sudden renal failure - which is fatal in up to 30 per cent of cases. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - November 7, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
ACE inhibitor use may be linked to kidney failure
Conclusion
ACE inhibitors and ARAs are recognised as a potential risk factor for AKI in some patients. This particular study has tried to estimate the possible size of the problem, but its findings should be viewed with some caution. As the authors point out:
some of the conditions these drugs are prescribed for are themselves a risk factor for AKI
changes in hospital coding and better recognition of AKI could explain the rise in admissions
an ageing population leads to both increased prescribing of these drugs and an increased risk for AKI
increased use of these drugs may be a marker for increased use ...
Source: NHS News Feed - November 7, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medication Heart/lungs Source Type: news
Review: managing the bleeding patient on one of the new anticoagulants
3 out of 5 stars
Management of bleeding and reversal strategies for oral anticoagulants: Clinical practice considerations. Nutescu EA et al. Am J Health-Syst Pharm 2013 Nov 1;70:1914-29.
Abstract
This long review article —presenting consensus recommendations of an “expert” panel — is seriously hampered by the fact that there are not many clinical, or even laboratory, studies of reversing the anticoagulation effects of dabigatran (Pradaxa), Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and apixaban (Eliquis).
Therefore, reading the paper is a very frustrating slog, as one tries to pan clinical nuggets from the rushing stream of u...
Source: The Poison Review - October 24, 2013 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical apixaban bleeding dabigatran eliquis hemorrhage oral anticoagulant pradaxa Review rivaroxaban xarelto Source Type: news
Pearl: estimating renal function in patients on dabigatran (Pradaxa)
I was reminded of an key point about dabigatran (Pradaxa) while reading a recent article about estimating renal function in patients on new oral anticoagulants. The RE-LY trial comparing dabigatran versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation excluded patients with creatinine clearance (CrCl) < 30 ml/min. (Recommendations in the current package insert are somewhat more liberal.) This is important, since dabigatran is eliminated almost entirely by the kidneys and can build up in patients with significant renal failure, causing over-anticoagulation. In fact, many patients who develop severe or fatal hemorrha...
Source: The Poison Review - October 18, 2013 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical anticoagulation cockcroft-gault formula creatinine clearance dabigatran pradaxa renal function Source Type: news
Boric acid ingestion clinically mimicking toxic epidermal necrolysis - Webb DV, Stowman AM, Patterson JW.
The ingestion of large amounts of boric acid, a component of household insecticides, is a rare occurrence, characterized by a diffuse desquamative skin eruption, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, delirium, acute renal failure and prolonged ileus. A 56-year-ol... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))
Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) - October 10, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Tags: Poisoning Source Type: news
Sign of the apocalypse? Giant hornets kill dozens in China
The New York Times reported this week that attacks by giant Asian hornets have killed 42 people in Shaanxi Province, China — and injured more than 1600. This species, Vespa mandarinia, can be up to 2 inches long with stingers up to 1/4 inch. They often attack in swarms.
The venom of V. mandarinia contains a tissue-damaging phospholipase, as well as a neurotoxin that can, in sufficient doses, be lethal even without anaphylaxis. Renal failure can also follow envenomation by the giant hornet.
Although it is still not known why the number of these attacks have increased in recent months, some experts have speculated t...
Source: The Poison Review - October 4, 2013 Category: Toxicology Authors: Leon Tags: Medical anaphylaxis envenomation giant asian hornet insect sting vespa mandarinia Source Type: news
Childhood cancer survivors at higher risk of renal failure
In a new study, adult survivors of childhood cancers who had certain chemotherapy treatments or kidney surgery had worse kidney function that did not recover over time. Researchers say this means they may be at higher risk for premature chronic renal failure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 20 million people in the US aged 20 years or older suffer from chronic renal failure... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - September 27, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Urology / Nephrology Source Type: news
Hornet attacks kill dozens in China
Hundreds of people stung in Shaanxi province by swarms of giant insects believed to have multiplied over warm summerTwenty-eight people have died and hundreds have been injured in a wave of attacks by giant hornets in central China, according to reports.Victims described being chased for hundreds of metres by the creatures and stung as many as 200 times.Most of the attacks in the past three months were in remote, rural, wooded areas in southern Shaanxi, the province's China Business newspaper reported.In the city of Ankang alone, 18 people have died from the stings, health official Zhou Yuanhong told Associated Press. Peop...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - September 26, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Tania Branigan Tags: theguardian.com Asia Pacific World news China Animal behaviour Insects Environment Wildlife Source Type: news
Renal problems a greater risk for some childhood cancer survivors
Adult survivors of childhood cancers who underwent certain chemotherapy treatments or kidney surgery had worse kidney function that did not recover over time. Because of this, they may be at higher risk for premature renal failure, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - September 26, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Urology / Nephrology Source Type: news
Some Childhood Cancer Survivors May Face Subsequent Renal Problems
(Ivanhoe Newswire) –Adult survivors of childhood cancers who had certain chemotherapy treatments or kidney surgery had worse kidney function that did not recover over time. Now, researchers say that because of this, they may be at a higher risk for premature renal failure. (Source: Medical Headlines From Ivanhoe.com)
Source: Medical Headlines From Ivanhoe.com - September 26, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Artificial kidney could help those with renal failure
It may not look like one, but the Implantable Artificial Kidney device has been designed to function in the same way that a human kidney does. By extracting waste and keeping nutrients needed by the body, it could one day help those with chronic renal failure. According to the Implantable Artificial Kidney Corporation, the organization developing and testing the device, it uses special filters, osmosis/diffusion and reverse osmosis to separate waste material and water... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - September 24, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Urology / Nephrology Source Type: news
Some childhood cancer survivors may face subsequent renal problems
(American Association for Cancer Research) Adult survivors of childhood cancers who underwent certain chemotherapy treatments or kidney surgery had worse kidney function that did not recover over time. Because of this, they may be at higher risk for premature renal failure, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - September 24, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
New data provides insights into the prophylaxis of organ rejection and prophylaxis of fungal infections in liver transplant patients
In liver transplant patients, late renal failure is a significant cause of morbidity and is associated with premature mortality[1],[2],[3] Invasive fungal infections affect between 8.4%-17... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - September 11, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Transplants / Organ Donations Source Type: news
Pioneering procedure allows woman to receive a new kidney from her father even though he has a different blood type
Tracey West, from Portsmouth, received a kidney from her father, Michael, 71, after she developed chronic renal failure. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - September 10, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
