In vivo neutralization of colchicine toxicity by a PASylated anticalin in a rat model.

We have investigated the pharmacokinetics (PK) and in vivo activity of an Anticalin exhibiting picomolar affinity towards colchicine, a plant toxin with low tolerable dose in humans. PK analysis of the 20-kDa "Colchicalin" protein in male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 3) revealed a very short plasma half-life (3.5 min), which was prolonged 21-fold via genetic fusion with a 200-residue Pro/Ala sequence (PASylation).

Corrigendum to "Fatal Systemic Vasoconstriction in a Case of Metastatic Small-Intestinal NET".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2017/9810194.].

Independent validation of the ICU requirement score in a cohort of acutely poisoned adults.

Objective: To independently validate the predictive value of the intensive care requirement score (IRS) in unselected poisoned patients.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Patients And Methods: Five hundred and seventeen out of 585 admissions for acute intoxications could be analyzed.

Single dose activated charcoal for gut decontamination: Application by medical non-professionals -a prospective study on availability and practicability.

Context: Oral activated charcoal (AC) for toxin absorption should be applied as soon as possible. Extra-hospital AC-application on site by medical laypersons with pre-emptive obtained AC may save time, but may be inferior to AC-application by medical professionals.

Objective: 1) Availability and incidence of pre-emptive stockpiling of AC on site in the German region Bavaria 2) time saved by AC-stockpiling and application on site, 3) quality of AC-application defined by completeness of the applied AC-dose, time needed, incidence of side-effects in lay-care and in professional-care, considering confounding variables: AC-formulation/powder/tablets, recommended AC-dose, patient's age.

Fatal Systemic Vasoconstriction in a Case of Metastatic Small-Intestinal NET.

An increased release of serotonin secreted by ileal NETs is thought to be the major factor causing the carcinoid syndrome. However, in acutely arising carcinoid crisis also other vasoactive factors may lead to hazardous fluctuations in blood pressure and bronchial constriction. In rare cases, systemic vasoconstriction can be observed, probably caused by catecholamines or similar acting substances.

An internet-based survey of 96 German-speaking users of "bath salts": frequent complications, risky sexual behavior, violence, and delinquency.

Objective: To define the demographics of German-speaking "bath salt" users.

Design: Prospective web-based survey of volunteer users of "bath salts". Subject recruitment/exclusion: Participation was solicited by posts in web forums frequented by users of synthetic cathinones.

Synthetic cathinones in Southern Germany - characteristics of users, substance-patterns, co-ingestions, and complications.

Objective: To define the characteristics of synthetic cathinone users admitted to hospital including clinical and laboratory parameters and the complications of use.

Design: Retrospective single-center study of patients treated for acute cathinone intoxication and complications of cathinone use between January 2010 and January 2016.

Setting: A specialized clinical toxicology unit at an academic tertiary care center in Southern Germany serving a population of about 4 million.

Risk assessment of severe tricyclic antidepressant overdose.

Prognostic factors for severe complications in tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) overdose remain unclear. We therefore evaluated the value of clinical characteristics and electrocardiograph (ECG) parameters to predict serious events (seizures, arrhythmia, death) in severe TCA overdose of 100 patients using logistic regression models for risk assessment. The overall fatality rate was 6%, arrhythmia occurred in 21% and 31% of the patients developed seizures.