The clinical toxicology of ketamine.

Introduction: Ketamine is a pharmaceutical drug possessing both analgesic and anaesthetic properties. As an anaesthetic, it induces anaesthesia by producing analgesia with a state of altered consciousness while maintaining airway tone, respiratory drive, and hemodynamic stability. At lower doses, it has psychoactive properties and has gained popularity as a recreational drug.

The potential impact of future climate change on the production of a major food and cash crop in tropical (sub)montane homegardens.

Tropical agroforestry systems support the wellbeing of many smallholder farmers. These systems provide smallholders with crops for consumption and income through their ecological interactions between their tree, soil, and crop components. These interactions, however, could be vulnerable to changes in climate conditions; yet a reliable understanding of how this could happen is not well documented.

The clinical toxicology of sodium hypochlorite.

Introduction: Sodium hypochlorite is used as a bleaching and disinfecting agent and is commonly found in household bleach.

Objective: The objective is to review critically the epidemiology, mechanisms of toxicity, clinical features, diagnosis, and management of hypochlorite poisoning.

Methods: PubMed was searched from January 1950 to June 2018 using the terms "Hypochlorite", "Sodium Hypochlorite", "Sodium Oxychloride", "Hypochlorous Acid", "Bleach", "Chlorine Bleach", in combination with the keywords "poisoning", "poison", "toxicity", "ingestion", "adverse effects", "overdose", and "intoxication".

Duck shooting injuries in Southland, New Zealand.

Duck shooting is a common sport in New Zealand. The opening weekend is anticipated and celebrated, often with significant alcohol intake which is cause for concern, and potentially very dangerous. Hunters are annually warned about the dangers.

Cattle associated trauma--a one year prospective study of all injuries.

Aim: To prospectively study all types and frequency of injuries resulting from direct contact with cattle in an occupational setting.

Methods: Prospective evaluation of all injuries due to direct contact with cattle presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) of a rural District General Hospital over a one year period.

Results: Injuries related to cattle were a common reason for presentation to the ED.

Cannabinoid hyperemesis presenting to a New Zealand hospital.

Cannabis use is common among the general population in many areas of the world and cannibis is readily available in much of New Zealand. We report an unusual complication of chronic cannabis use which has recently been described overseas. Cannabinoid hyperemesis with abnormal bathing behaviour is a syndrome of episodic cyclic vomiting, often associated with relief being obtained by hot water bathing or showering.

Comparison of CD-Rom and Internet access to clinical information.

Introduction: The New Zealand National Poisons Centre has developed an extensive clinical poisons information database, TOXINZ. This resource was originally provided on a CD-Rom, and in 2002 made accessible solely via the Internet (www.toxinz.

Compliance with poisons center referral advice and implications for toxicovigilance.

Background: When Poisons Information, or Poisons Control Centers (PCC) give directive advice in response to general public calls it is usually assumed that the advice will be followed, but it is difficult to measure the actual compliance of callers to a PCC. Epidemiological data regarding the incidence of poisoning incidents (Toxicovigilance) often utilizes reports of calls to a PCC.

Methods: Retrospective review of advice given to all callers to the New Zealand National Poisons Centre (NZNPC) from a defined area for the calendar year 2001.

Clinical utility of an electronic poisons information and clinical decision support tool.

The objective of the study was to assess the use of a computer toxicology database/clinical decision aid by clinical practitioners. The study investigated the sources that Emergency Department (ED) personnel use to obtain toxicology information and performed a quality audit of the current database. A questionnaire survey of ED staff was used in departments with access to the New Zealand Poisons Centre Substance Database (NZSD), a toxicology CD ROM computer database.