I’ll say one thing for the coronavirus outbreak, it has prompted a lot of curiosity. Whether you believe we are going back to the days of the plague pit, or it’s nothing but a severe cold, I have been asked a lot of questions about viruses in general and the coronavirus in particular. I’m notContinue reading “SARS-CoV-2 : the virus”
Category Archives: Medicine
New migraine drug hails the future of therapeutic development
If you follow the science sections of the general media, you may have seen reports of a new migraine drug called Erenumab. The drug is not yet on the market but shows promise having just come through the final phases of clinical testing. Erenumab, made by Novartis, is one of several similar drugs being developedContinue reading “New migraine drug hails the future of therapeutic development”
Brain cells and the atomic bomb
Reports appeared in the press recently proclaiming that humans produce new brain cells throughout their lives (for example, The Guardian ). This account appears to contradict previous reports such as in The Conversation and in Discover Magazine Don’t we all wish these scientists could make up their mind (pun intended)? The most recent accounts thatContinue reading “Brain cells and the atomic bomb”
Who will buy my supplement?
If I were unscrupulous and cared more about money than my reputation then I recon I could do well in the world of dietary supplements. Allow me to sell you my wonder supplement Metalo-Lappin-Detox. The industrial age has seen an unprecedented increase in heavy metal pollution that can lead to mental and physical deterioration andContinue reading “Who will buy my supplement?”
CAM preys on the vulnerable – and I should know
Those who know me, readers of this blog, or followers on Twitter know I am not a fan of so called complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). When asked why I care about CAM and why I spend my time attacking it in the way I do, it’s because of my own vulnerability. I should startContinue reading “CAM preys on the vulnerable – and I should know”
Birth of the Salk Vaccine
The 12th April, 2015 is the 60th anniversary of one of the pivotal points in medical history, when results of the clinical trial of Salk’s polio vaccine showed it was safe and effective in 80-90% of children. Today we have witnessed a 99% worldwide reduction in polio and organisations such as the Gates Foundation areContinue reading “Birth of the Salk Vaccine”