[Coding practice in fatal poisonings].

Background: Each year, nearly 100 deaths and more than 10,000 admissions to Norwegian hospitals can be attributed to acute poisoning from non-medical substances and drugs in supra-therapeutic doses. The aim of this study was to evaluate hospitals' routines for coding of acute poisoning deaths and to provide information on the toxic agents involved.

Material And Methods: Medical records of deaths (at 6 Norwegian hospitals in the period 1.

[Acute poisonings in Norway 1999-2004--morbidity and mortality].

Background: Monitoring of acute poisoning is important for health authorities. There have been local studies and national studies in limited areas such as drug poisoning, but morbidity and mortality associated with acute poisoning has not been presented collectively at a national level. The aim of the study is to establish morbidity and mortality associated with acute poisoning in Norway.

[Paracetamol poisonings in Norway 1990-2001].

Background: After the introduction of new regulations in 1981 and 1990 in Norway, over-the-counter sales of paracetamol and acetylsalicylic acid have been limited to 10 grams. From 1990 the sale of paracetamol has increased dramatically; that of acetylsalicylic acid has accordingly been reduced. We have investigated the morbidity and mortality from overdoses of analgesics, especially paracetamol, in the period 1990-2001.

Nephrotoxic effects in high-risk patients undergoing angiography.

Background: The use of iodinated contrast medium can result in nephropathy. Whether iso-osmolar contrast medium is less nephrotoxic than low-osmolar contrast medium in high-risk patients is uncertain.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, prospective, multicenter study comparing the nephrotoxic effects of an iso-osmolar, dimeric, nonionic contrast medium, iodixanol, with those of a low-osmolar, nonionic, monomeric contrast medium, iohexol.

Coadministration of grapefruit juice increases systemic exposure of diltiazem in healthy volunteers.

Objectives: Grapefruit juice has been reported to increase the bioavailability of several calcium-channel antagonists, i.e. the dihydropyridines and verapamil, which are cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates.