[Amatoxin-containing mushroom poisoning: An update]. / Syndrome phalloïdien : mise au point.

Amatoxin-containing mushroom poisoning occurs after consumption of certain mushroom species, of the genera Amanita, Lepiota and Galerina. Amanita phalloides is the most implicated species, responsible for over more than 90% of mushroom-related deaths. The α-amanitin is responsible for most of the observed effects. Symptoms are characterized by severe delayed gastrointestinal disorders (more than six hours after ingestion). The liver being the main target organ, outcome is marked by an often severe hepatitis which can evolve towards terminal liver failure, justifying orthotopic liver transplantation. Acute renal failure is common. Diagnosis of amatoxin-containing mushroom poisoning is based primarily on clinical data; it can be biologically confirmed using detection of amatoxins, especially from urine samples. In the absence of an antidote, early hospital management is essential. It is based on supportive care (early compensation of hydroelectrolytic losses), gastrointestinal digestive decontamination, elimination enhancement, amatoxin uptake inhibitors and antioxidant therapy. Combined therapy associating silibinin and N-acetylcysteine is recommended. Prognosis of this severe poisoning has greatly benefited from improved resuscitation techniques. Mortality is currently less than 10%. In the event of a suspected or confirmed case, referral to a Poison Control Center is warranted in order to establish the diagnosis and guide the medical management of patients in an early and appropriate way.

[Adverse effects of licorice consumed as food: An update]. / Toxicités de l'exposition alimentaire à la réglisse : mise au point.

The word "licorice" refers to the plant, its root, and its aromatic extract. From a commercial point of view, Glycyrrhiza glabra is the most important species with a wide range of uses (herbal medicine, tobacco industry, cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical). Glycyrrhizin is one of the main constituents of licorice. Glycyrrhizin is hydrolyzed in the intestinal lumen by bacterial ß-glucuronidases to 3ß-monoglucuronyl-18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid (3MGA) and 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), which are metabolized in the liver. Plasma clearance is slow due to enterohepatic cycling. 3MGA and GA can bind to mineralocorticoid receptors with very low affinity, and 3MGA induces apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome through dose-dependent inhibition of 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in renal tissue. The cases of apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome reported in the literature are numerous and sometimes severe, even fatal, most often in cases of chronic high dose consumption. Glycyrrhizin poisonings are characterized by hypertension, fluid retention, and hypokalemia with metabolic alkalosis and increased kaliuresis. Toxicity depends on the dose, the type of product consumed, the mode of consumption (acute or chronic) and a very large inter-individual variability. The diagnosis of glycyrrhizin-induced apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome is based on the history, clinical examination, and biochemical analysis. Management is primarily based on symptomatic care and stopping licorice consumption.

Usefulness of lead isotopes analysis in a pediatric case of chronic lead poisoning.

Identifying the source of lead is a key measure in the management of childhood lead poisoning. In cases with multiple potential sources or with unusual circumstances, this identification can be complex. By comparing the lead isotopic ratios (IRs) between the potential sources and the blood sample from the patient, it is possible to identify which source caused the poisoning. We report here the case of a 13-years-old girl, screened for lead poisoning as she was known to eat paint chips from two walls in her apartment. Her blood lead level was 395 µg/L, and the environmental investigation came back negative. X-ray fluorescence found lead concentration in paints to be below the regulatory threshold of 1 mg/cm2. As there was no other potential source of lead exposure in this case, a comparative analysis of the IRs of lead between the child's blood and two presumed sources (bathroom and kitchen paints) was performed. This analysis confirmed the source of lead intoxication to be the paints in the apartment, mostly from the bathroom wall.

Possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the recreational use of nitrous oxide in the Paris area, France.

INTRODUCTION: Recreational use of nitrous oxide (N2O) is increasing in Western countries, including France. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some authors warned that recreational N2O use could increase further as the supply of illicit drugs was impacted by various containment measures. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed N2O exposures reported to the Paris Poison Control Center (France) from 2010/01/01 to 2021/04/15. The Poison Severity Score was used to grade severity. RESULTS: During the study period, 93 cases of N2O recreational exposures were reported (male/female ratio: 1.1; median age: 20.9 years range: [14.8-49.0]). The first case was reported in 2012, 84/93 (90%) and 65/93 (70%) were reported since 2019 and March 17th 2020 (first lockdown in France) respectively. Most of the patients were symptomatic (88/93; 95%) and developed neurological symptoms (78/93; 84%). Among the fourteen patients who developed moderate to severe symptoms, eleven were reported after March 2020. CONCLUSION: Despite a marked increase in recreational N2O exposures during the COVID-19 pandemic, the exact impact of COVID-19 on this increase remains to be determined as it was observed from 2019.

[Acute and chronic toxicities associated with the use and misuse of nitrous oxide: An update]. / Toxicités aiguës et chroniques associées à l'usage et au mésusage du protoxyde d'azote : mise au point.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is used since the eighteenth century as an anesthetic and analgesic but also for recreational use. If the labelled uses of N2O and their modalities are nowadays perfectly framed, the misuse of N2O takes very alarming proportions among teenagers and young adults. This misuse is the cause of acute (hypoxia, barotrauma, burns, neuropsychiatric disorders) and chronic complications if repeated (myeloneuropathy, anemia, thrombosis, inhalant use disorder). The main mechanism of the latter is mainly related to a functional deficit in vitamin B12 induced by N2O. The management of acute complications is symptomatic. The management of chronic complications is based on vitamin B12 supplementation. The best biomarker of chronic N2O exposure is the elevation of the plasmatic level of methylmalonic acid. In all cases of recreational misuses, addiction treatment is necessary to prevent complications or their worsening by providing information in order to stop consumption.

[Assessment of a newly-implemented blended teaching of intensive care and emergency medicine at Paris-Diderot University]. / Évaluation d'un enseignement multimodal intégrant du e-learning dans l'apprentissage de la réanimation et de la médecine d'urgence au cours du second cycle des études médicales.

INTRODUCTION: Blended-learning methods could be a response to student nonattendance. Non-compulsory teaching combining e-learning/interactive face-to-face sessions has been implemented at Paris-Diderot Medical School for the teaching of intensive care and emergency medicine during the 2018/2019 university period. The aim of the study was to assess this newly-implemented blended teaching. METHODS: Questionnaire submitted to the 388 DFASM3 medical students present at the faculty exam of intensive care/emergency medicine. Attendance at a teaching modality was defined by the follow-up of more than half of this teaching modality. Correlations between attendance at e-learning and/or interactive face-to-face sessions, and grade were performed. RESULTS: A total of 358/388 (92%) students participated in this survey. A quarter of the students (88/321 - 25%) reported they usually attended at traditional lectures. Regarding blended-learning, 210/317 (67%) students reported having attended at e-learning courses and 84/321 (27%) attended at interactive face-to-face sessions. The distribution of students according to their attendance at e-learning and/or interactive face-to-face sessions was significantly different (P<0.01). There was a significant correlation (P<0.001) between attendance at e-learning and grade obtained at the faculty exam. Nevertheless, this correlation was also found for these students in another course taught traditionally. Overall, 309/315 (98%) students were satisfied with the blended teaching, 297/318 (93%) wanted its extent to the whole medical school's curriculum. CONCLUSION: The use of combined learning methods reached more students than traditional teachings and allowed the University to focus on its role of knowledge transfer.

Renal replacement therapy in severe phenobarbital poisoning: Another brick in the wall / Diálisis extracorpórea en el caso de grave fenobarbital envenenamiento: otro ladrillo en la pared

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[The American opioid overdose crisis: A threat for France?] / La crise des overdoses américaines : une menace pour la France ?

Since the 2000s, a concerning increase in opioid-analgesic-related overdoses and deaths has been reported in the United States. In contrast with opioid overdoses reported in the 80-90s mostly involving heroin, currently it is the misuse of opioid analgesics that is mainly responsible for opioid overdoses. This crisis is related to factors (not limited to the US) which occurred during the 90s and which have led to a broad prescription of opioids in non-cancer pain. In Europe and France, there is (but to a much lesser extent) an increase in strong opioid consumption and in opioid prescription related morbi-mortality. This situation, which can be described as "worrying" today, requires awareness among the French medical community, both upstream (rational prescription of opioids) and downstream (optimal management of opioid poisoning) from the opioid prescription.

Predictive factors for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae causing infection among intensive care unit patients with prior colonization.

We investigated the predictive factors for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) causing infections among intensive care unit patients with prior documented ESBL-PE colonization. Using multivariate analysis, referral from medical ward, nursing home or rehabilitation center [Odds ratio (OR), 2.5; 95 % confidence interval (CI), [1.3-5.0]; p = 0.007], previous fluoroquinolone treatment (OR, 3.4; CI, [1.1-10.5]; p = 0.003), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (OR, 4.6; CI, [1.3-15.9]; p = 0.02), and absence of prior positive ESBL-PE rectal swab culture (OR, 5.0; CI, [1.6-10.0]; p = 0.0009) were risk factors for ESBL-PE infection. Easily identifiable factors may help with targeting carbapenem prescriptions.

[Drug-induced fever: a diagnosis to remember]. / Fièvre médicamenteuse: un diagnostic à ne pas oublier.

Drug fever (DF) is a febrile reaction induced by a drug without additional clinical features like skin eruption. This adverse drug reaction is probably common but under diagnosed. While its outcome is generally favourable, DF generates unnecessary diagnostic procedures as well as hospitalisations or hospitalisation prolongations. Clinical presentation and biological findings are not specific. Fever is generally well tolerated but may be accompanied by general symptoms mimicking sepsis. Moderate biological disorders could be expected, including elevation or decrease in white blood cell count, eosinophilia, liver cytolysis, and increased C-reactive protein. An infection should be systematically ruled out. Clinical or biological signs of severity should question DF diagnosis. When DF is suspected, the involved drug(s) should be stopped after a reliable assessment of imputability. Antibiotics represent the most often implicated drugs. Fever disappearance after discontinuing the suspected drug is the cornerstone of DF diagnosis. Before stopping the administration of the suspected drug(s), a risk/benefit ratio assessment is necessary. Consistently, it may be complicated to stop an antimicrobial drug when treating an infection or an immunosuppressive drug if required.

[Enterobacteriaceae producing extended spectrum beta-lactamase: epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention]. / Entérobactéries productrices de bêta-lactamases à spectre élargi : épidémiologie, facteurs de risque et mesures de prévention.

Multidrug-resistant bacteria are a major worldwide health public concern. It results from the growing increase in antibiotic prescriptions, which are responsible for selection pressure on bacteria. In France like in other countries, enterobacteriaceae producing extended spectrum beta-lactamase (EESBL) are the predominant multidrug-resistant bacteria. EESBL may be responsible for severe infections and require prescription of broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. The current EESBL outbreak is different from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus outbreak that occurred in the early 1980. Consistently, EESBL are isolated both in hospital and community. Moreover, standard hygiene measures appear ineffective since EESBL prevalence is still increasing. The current inability to contain EESBL outbreak is due to several factors, including the existence of a wide community- and hospital-acquired tank of EESBL, failure to follow strict rules for hygiene, and the current irrational prescription of antibiotics.