Author Archives: Pharmablogology

Christmas Pudding and the Atom

What we now call Christmas Pudding is not what it used to be. In medieval times, they knew it as Christmas pottage, made from hulled wheat boiled in milk along with spices and sugar. It evolved into a more recognisable pudding in Victorian times when it was commonly called figgy or plumb pudding. Amongst theContinue reading “Christmas Pudding and the Atom”

Shortage of antibiotics

The news media is full of reports of shortages of common antibiotics. Focus has been on penicillin-based antibiotics like amoxicillin, but the shortages have extended to other classes, including macrolides, such as erythromycin. The stories, at least in the United Kingdom, circle around the death of 16 children (total at the time of writing) fromContinue reading “Shortage of antibiotics”

Personal take on the Theranos Fraud

The headline this morning: “Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes sentenced to more than 11 years for defrauding investors”. The case centred around her false claims that her technology could detect hundreds of diseases from a single drop of blood. The BBC reported, “Silicon Valley is a place where fortunes can be made and squandered. It’s not unusual for investorsContinue reading “Personal take on the Theranos Fraud”

Atomic Time Machine

This day, 6th August, marks the anniversary when in 1945, the first, and to date only, nuclear weapons were used in war. A uranium bomb nicknamed Little Boy, exploded over the Japanese city of Hiroshima and three days later a plutonium bomb nicknamed Fat Man detonated close to Nagasaki. By the end of that yearContinue reading “Atomic Time Machine”

An historical scandal

This blog post is a little different to my pharmacological posts, because instead I want to recount a little history of science. It’s a story of tragedy, scandal, blackmail and a delicious happy ending. Yesterday, 26th July, marked the anniversary when, in 1895, Marie Sklodowska married Pierre Curie (their wedding photograph is shown on theContinue reading “An historical scandal”

Hangover cure – I’m sceptical

  If, like me, you’re a fan of P. G. Wodehouse, then you might know the short story, “Jeeves Takes Charge”. Bertie Wooster has had one-over-the-eight the night before and is complaining of a hangover. Jeeves presents him with “a little preparation of my own invention” and upon drinking it down, Bertie is instantly revived.Continue reading “Hangover cure – I’m sceptical”

Weight loss drugs of a new class

I once attended a pharmacology conference at McCormick Place in Chicago. It’s a huge conference centre and navigating its many halls is daunting for someone like me who has no sense of direction. Ambling towards the lecture theatre I wandered through the exhibition hall festooned with donut stands, pretzel stalls, breakfast burritos, waffles and pancakes.Continue reading “Weight loss drugs of a new class”

Osteoarthritis

Arthritis is a term used to describe several inflammatory conditions affecting joints. As is so often the case with medical history, the name was derived from observed symptoms but subsequently it was found these were the result of a plethora of different causes. Today, “arthritis” covers around 100 different conditions associated with joint disease. RheumatoidContinue reading “Osteoarthritis”

Homeopathy Awareness Week

It’s world homeopathy awareness week and so I thought I would oblige and make people aware of one of the most prevalent and pernicious forms of alternative medicine in existence. There are many who steadfastly believe in homeopathy even though the foundations not only have no basis in reality, they are really quite bizarre. PreparationContinue reading “Homeopathy Awareness Week”