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Listen here (https://www.wpr.org/shows/larry-meiller-show) to hear Ryan Live on AIR for the Larry Meiller show, Thursday July 17th 11:45AM-12:30 PM CST.
Check this "Listen Live" link if your having trouble!
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The GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!
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On August 29, 2022, twelve diners at a Markham, Ontario restaurant fell critically ill with vomiting, numbness, and life-threatening arrhythmias. The culprit? A deadly plant toxin: aconite.
In this episode—the first of a new Poison Lab Outbreak series—we go inside the Markham mass poisoning case. Join host Ryan Feldman, clinical toxicologist and emergency medicine pharmacist, as he investigates how a rare and lethal toxin ended up in a restaurant spice jar and nearly cost lives.
You’ll hear firsthand from the experts who responded to the outbreak:
Together, they walk us through the outbreak timeline—from the first patients in VT to the public health investigation that uncovered a mislabeled spice bag full of pure aconite root.
Looking for timestamps?
A fully timestamped version of the episode—so you can jump to any topic—is available to our supporting members.
💡 Key topics:
📍 Resources & Mentions:
🎧 Listen now at: www.ThePoisonLab.com
💬 Have thoughts or questions? Connect on Instagram @tox_talk, Twitter @LabPoison, or email [email protected].
In this episode of The Poison Lab, host Ryan Feldman is joined by Dr. Amy Zosel, a medical toxicologist, emergency physician, and educator. Together, they use real poisoning cases to practice identifying toxins and flexing their toxic differential The conversation dives into intriguing and challenging toxicology cases, with a focus on educating listeners about real-world poisoning scenarios, myth-busting internet misinformation, and providing practical clinical insights.
Mini episode with Dr. Robert Bassett on Remembering Poisonous Mushrooms
Dr. Zosel and Ryan discuss:
14:15 Case 1
33:04 Case 2
37:00 Case 3
48:00 Case 4
"Robocough"
Study about Naloxone in Clonidine overdose
++Spoiler++:Below this will be key takeaways regarding managing the poisonings discussed, it may ruin your experience if you are guessing the poisons
Key Takeaways:
A Lethal mushroom hiding in edible mushrooms
Mushroom foraging danger
Resources Mentioned:
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Subscribe and Review:
Love what you're hearing? Help us reach more toxicology enthusiasts by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Don’t forget to share this episode with your colleagues and friends!
A Morel DilemmaSupport the showReview the show where ever your listening
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The GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!
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Review the show where ever your listening
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Join as a supporting member
The GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!
The Poisonus Fungus Amongus Children's Book!
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If you are looking for links to Dr. Basset's initiatives check back later, they are not fully launched yet!
Check it out on Dr. Hamilton's website as well
Poison Mushrooms! Got’a Pic’em (GOTAAPPICEM) A mnemonic device to sort through mushroom ingestions – The Hot Stove League of EM/Tox
The GOTAA PPICCEM Mnemonic
Late-Onset (Severe) Toxic Mushrooms ("GOTA")These mushrooms have delayed symptoms (>6 hours) and are associated with significant toxicity:
G – Gyromitrin (Gyromitra esculenta) – False morels; inhibits GABA, leading to seizures.
O – Orellanine (Cortinarius spp.) – Causes renal failure; famously poisoned The Horse Whisperer author.
T – Tricholoma equestre (Man on Horseback) – Leads to rhabdomyolysis.
A – Amatoxin (Amanita phalloides, Galerina spp.) – Causes liver failure; the most lethal mushroom toxicity.
Early Onset Nausea, Late Toxicity Mushrooms ("A²P²")A² – Allenic norleucine (Amanita smithiana) – Found in the Pacific Northwest; early GI symptoms followed by renal failure.
These may present early but still cause significant toxicity.
P² – Paxillus spp. – Can cause hemolytic anemia and multi-organ injury.
Early-Onset Nausea Mushrooms ("PICCEM")P– Psilocybin (Psilocybe spp.) – Hallucinogenic, similar to LSD, typically low toxicity but may cause hyperthermia or seizures.
Symptoms appear within 6 hours and are usually self-limited.
I – Ibotenic Acid & Muscimol (Amanita muscaria, Amanita pantherina) – Acts like a “mushroom speedball”, causing both stimulant and sedative effects.
C – Coprine (Coprinus spp., Inky Caps) – Induces disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol.
E – Emetic Mushrooms (LBMs: Little Brown Mushrooms) – Various species that cause self-limited vomiting and diarrhea.
M – Muscarine (Clitocybe, Inocybe spp.) – Cholinergic crisis (SLUDGE symptoms), similar to nerve agents.
Ryan's Modified Mnemonic GOTTAAA PICCEM
The GOTTA3 P2ICCEM Mnemonic (Ryan's Modification)
Late-Onset (Severe) Toxic Mushrooms ("GOTTAA")These mushrooms have delayed symptoms (>6 hours) and are associated with significant toxicity:
G – Gyromitrin (Gyromitra esculenta) – False morels; inhibits GABA, leading to seizures. While this is classically taught, newer data suggests its extremely rare, GI effects, with or without hepatoxicity or minor neurologic symptoms predominate
O – Orellanine (Cortinarius spp.) – Causes renal failure; famously poisoned The Horse Whisperer author.
T – Tricholoma equestre (Man on Horseback) – Leads to rhabdomyolysis.
T- Tender nesting polypore (Hapalopilus rutilans) causes late GI effects, altered mental status, acidosis, and purple urine!
A – Amatoxin (Amanita phalloides, Galerina spp.) – Causes liver failure; the most lethal mushroom toxicity.
A- Acromelic Acid is found in Clitocybe acromelalga in Japan and C amoenolens in France causes erythromelalgia. It can be treated with IV nicotinic acid!
Early Onset Nausea, Late Toxicity Mushrooms ("A²P²")A² – Allenic norleucine (Amanita smithiana) – Found in the Pacific Northwest; early GI symptoms followed by renal failure.
These may present early but still cause significant toxicity.
P² – Paxillus spp. – Can cause hemolytic anemia and multi-organ injury.
Early-Onset Nausea Mushrooms ("PICCEM")P– Psilocybin (Psilocybe spp.) – Hallucinogenic, similar to LSD, typically low toxicity but may cause hyperthermia or seizures.
Symptoms appear within 6 hours and are usually self-limited.
I – Ibotenic Acid & Muscimol (Amanita muscaria, Amanita pantherina) – Acts like a “mushroom speedball”, causing both stimulant and sedative effects.
C – Coprine (Coprinus spp., Inky Caps) – Induces disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol. Thee are actually many species that have been implciated here incuding Verpa bohemica (early morel) and Boletus luridus (luride bolete).
C- Cholinergics (muscarine containing, Clitocybe, Inocybe spp.) Cholinergic crisis (SLUDGE symptoms), similar to nerve agents.
E – Emetic Mushrooms (LBMs: Little Brown Mushrooms) – Various species that cause self-limited vomiting and diarrhea.
M – Morchella (morels) while an edible delicacy, they must be thoroughly cooked, recently multiple deaths have been links to eating morels, and the exact mechanism of toxicity is unclear but they result in incredibly fast GI effects.
In this special collaboration with NephMadness, we're diving into the world of nephrotoxins with an expert panel from Virginia Commonwealth University. NephMadness is an educational competition modeled after March Madness, and this year, one of the featured regions focuses on plant-based nephrotoxins. Together, with our expert panel we break down the competing nephrotoxin teams: Tubular Toxins vs. Oxalate Offenders.
Joining us are Dr. Anna Vinnokova (Nephrologist), Dr. Rachel Khan PharmD (Neph pharmacist), Dr. Ethan Downes (Nephrology fellow), and the legendary nephrotoxicologist, Dr. Josh King (Board certified Nephrologist and Toxicologist). We ALMOST named this episode "Getting Downe with the Mad Neph King and the Bean Queens"... but we didn't, your welcome.
After the show, go to the blog and vote for your favorite!
Expect irreverent musings, deep dives into toxic plant exposures, and a mystery case reveal that will leave you questioning your diet.
Topics and Timeline of Episode:
Intro
Listener Guesses With Josh and Ryan– 8:30
Listener Winner – 25:42
NephMadness and Guest Introductions – 28:07
Toxin Reveal – 33:41
Tubular Toxins – 35:46
The Oxalate Offenders Team: How Dietary Oxalates Harm the Kidneys – 52:00
Practical Advice for Clinicians & Patients on Herbal Medicine Use – 1:00:00
Herbals may not all be safe: Josh King Discovering Contaminants– 1:01:11
Wrap up– 1:08
Key Takeaways:
Resources Mentioned:
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Don’t forget to rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Share this episode with your fellow nephrology and toxicology enthusiasts!
Thanks for tuning in, and remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it might just be nephrotoxic. Stay safe and stay curious!
Do you think you know the cause of these symptoms? Send your guesses to [email protected] to take part in the next episode
Finally, the journal club to rule ALL journal clubs.
In this episode of The Poison Lab, we tackle one of the biggest topics in emergency medicine and toxicology: Should naloxone be given during opioid-associated cardiac arrest? With three fantastic studies published in 2024, we’re diving into the data and hearing directly from the authors themselves.
Join host Ryan Feldman as he interviews Dr. Eric Quinn, Dr. Joshua Lupton, and Dr. David Dillon, some of the minds behind the latest research exploring the role of naloxone in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). With perspectives ranging from clinical outcomes to practical implementation, this episode offers a deep dive into what these studies tell us—and what remains unanswered.
But that’s not all! Featuring special guests Spencer Oliver and Chris Pfingston from EMS 2020, this roundtable discussion incorporates the real-world insights of prehospital EMS professionals who face these decisions every day. Together, the panel unpacks:
Whether you’re a toxicologist, EMS professional, or just curious about the intersection of drugs, overdose, and resuscitation, this episode is packed with actionable insights, expert opinions, and engaging discussions.
Tune in now to explore the science, controversy, and future directions for naloxone in cardiac arrest care!
Studies discussed in the show
Studies and guidelines mentioned
Shows mentioned
Rationale for Studying Naloxone in OHCA
Overview of Existing Guidelines and Research
Challenges in Determining Opioid Overdose as the Cause of OHCA
Summary of the Three 2024 Studies
Identifying Potential Opioid Overdose
Study Methodologies and Confounding Factors
Potential Benefits and Harms of Naloxone in OHCA
Review of Current Guidelines
Need for a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Final Takeaways
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The GOTTA PICCEM Poisonous Mushroom Game!
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In this special holiday bonus episode, Ryan takes a look back at some of the most captivating episodes of The Poison Lab from 2022. Get ready for an ultimate test of your toxicology differential diagnosis skills as we compile all the "Stump the Toxicologist" segments into one streamlined, binge-worthy episode. Explore eight unique poisoning cases, be sure to check the show notes for a description of each case. time stamp of where it begins, and links to the original episodes, where you can dive deeper into the discussions and unravel the mysteries behind these intriguing cases!
Case Teasers and Time Stamps
Episode 13, March 2nd, 2022: Dr. Howard Greller
Episode 15, July 6th, 2022: Dr. Josh Trebach
Episode 17, November 9th, 2022: Dr. Emily Kieran
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Join host Ryan Feldman in an insightful episode of "The Poison Lab" as he sits down with Dr. John Downs, Director of the Virginia Poison Center, and one of the leading experts on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as "forever chemicals." Known for their persistence in the environment and human body, PFAS have raised significant public health concerns over the past few decades. Dr. Downs shares his journey through occupational medicine, toxicology, and public health, which uniquely positioned him to provide expertise on PFAS exposure, health risks, and ongoing regulatory efforts. Together, they delve into the origins, uses, and potential health effects of these ubiquitous compounds, while examining government policies, environmental impact, and strategies to reduce exposure. A must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of environmental health and toxicology!
Episode Breakdown:
Key Topics Discussed
2:42 – What Are Forever Chemicals?
8:01 – History of PFAS and Associated Health Concerns
PFAS in the Environment
15:41 – Government Regulation of PFAS
Practical Steps for Individuals
The Future of PFAS Management
Additional Resources
Ryan on others shows
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