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Open Access Publications from the University of California

Scholarly Works (3 results)

  • Article
  • Peer Reviewed
Journal of Education and Teaching in Emergency Medicine, Volume 7, Issue 4 (2022)
    Cover page: Mushroom for improvement: The Importance of Involving MycologistsCreative Commons 'BY' version 4.0 license
    • Article
    • Peer Reviewed
    Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health, Volume 13, Issue 1 (2012)
    Introduction: Sulfobutylether-b-cyclodextrin (SBE-CD) is a pharmaceutical excipient known to bind verapamil. Following intravenous administration, clearance of SBE-CD approximates glomerular filtration rate. We hypothesized that infusion of SBE-CD would increase time to asystole in a rat model of verapamil toxicity in a dose-dependent manner. The objective was to demonstrate the effect of a range of SBE-CD concentrations in a rat model of verapamil toxicity. Methods: Twenty-five Wistar rats were allocated to control or 1 of 4 intervention groups. All received ketamine and diazepam anesthesia followed by verapamil infusion 32 mg/kg/h. The verapamil infusion for the intervention groups was premixed with SBE-CD in a 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, or 1:8 molar ratio (verapamil to SBE-CD). The control group infusion did not contain SBE-CD. Additional saline or water was added to the infusion so that the total volume infused was the same across groups, and the osmolality was maintained as close to physiologic as possible. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature were monitored. The primary endpoint was time to asystole.Results: Verapamil coinfused with SBE-CD in a molar ratio of 1:4 resulted in prolonged time to asystole compared to control (21.2 minutes vs 17.6 minutes, P , 0.05). There were no differences in time to asystole between control and any other intervention group. There was no significant difference in time to apnea between control and any intervention group. We assessed the effect of a range of SBE-CD concentrations and identified 1 concentration that prolonged time to asystole. Mechanismsthat may explain this effect include optimal volume expansion with a hyperosmolar cyclodextrin containing solution, complexation of verapamil within the hydrophobic cyclodextrin pore, and/or complexation within micelle-like aggregates of cyclodextrin. However, mechanistic explanations for the observed findings are speculative at this point. Conclusion: The 1:4 verapamil to SBE-CD concentration was modestly effective with SBE-CD concentrations above and below this range demonstrating nonstatistically significant improvements in time to asystole. [West J Emerg Med. 2012;13(1):63–67.]
      Cover page: Dose Dependent Response to Cyclodextrin Infusion in a Rat Model of Verapamil ToxicityCreative Commons 'BY-NC' version 4.0 license
      • Article
      • Peer Reviewed
      Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health, Volume 22, Issue 4 (2021)

      Introduction: Synthetic cannabinoids are a rapidly expanding subset of designer drugs widely available in the United States since 2008. In Illinois during the spring of 2018, over 160 documented cases of bleeding and prolonged coagulopathy occurred secondary to contaminated synthetic cannabinoids.

      Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study consisting of 38 patients to describe the initial emergency department (ED) presentation, diagnosis, and treatment.

      Results: Through serum testing we found that three long-acting anticoagulant rodenticides (LAAR) were detected in patients who had inhaled these tainted products: brodifacoum, difenacoum, and bromodialone. 

      Discussion: This study encompasses the largest ED presentation of LAAR poisoning via the inhalational route known to date. Conclusion: The emergency physician should be aware of the potential for tainted coingestants as the cause of undifferentiated coagulopathy.

        Cover page: Severe Vitamin K-dependent Coagulopathy from Rodenticide-contaminated Synthetic Cannabinoids: Emergency Department PresentationsCreative Commons 'BY' version 4.0 license
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