Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

An enzyme that breaks down the amino acid, asparagine. This is of no significance to most cells in the body as they can make asparagine from simpler constituents. Certain tumours, however, are unable to do this, and die if they cannot receive readymade supplies of the amino acid. This property is utilised to treat acute…

Drugs used to treat ascariasis, a disease caused by an infestation with the parasitic worm Ascaris lumbricoides. levamisole, mebendazole and piperazine are all effective against this parasite.  

When we breathe in, the outward movement of the chest increases the volume of the lungs and the pressure in them falls below that of the outside world. Therefore, air is drawn in automatically. When we breathe out, some air exits because of the normal elastic recoil of the lungs, but we also force air…

A group of viruses, so-called because under the electron microscope they have a sand-sprinkled (Latin, arenosus) appearance. Among the diseases in humans for which they are responsible are Lassa fever in West Africa, Argentinian haemorrhagic fever (mortality rate 3-15 per cent), a similar disease in Bolivia (mortality rate 18 per cent), and lymphocytic choriomeningitis, in…

A heterogenous group of around 500 viruses, which are transmitted to humans by arthropods. Grouped in four families, they include the viruses of dengue and yellow fever which are transmitted by mosquitoes.  

The term used for names devised or selected by the British Pharmacopoeia Commission for new drugs. European Union law (1992) requires the use of a Recommended International Nonproprietary Name (rINN) for medicinal substances. In most cases the British Approved Name (BAN) and rINN were the same when the legislation was introduced; where there were differences,…

A pharmacological effect where the action of acetylcholine, a chemical neurotransmitter released at the junctions (synapses) of parasympathetic and ganglionic nerves, is inhibited. The junctions between nerves and skeletal muscles have nicotinic receptors. A wide range of drugs with antimuscarinic effects are in use for various disorders including psychosis, bronchospasm, disorders of the eye, parkinsonism,…

Antihistamine drugs antagonise the action of histamine and are therefore of value in the treatment of certain allergic conditions. They may be divided into those which have an effect on the brain (e.g. flupheniramine and cyclizine) and those such as loratidine and terfenadine, which have little or no such action. Antihistamines are also of some…

Initial treatment of acute diarrhoea is to prevent or correct the loss of fluid and electrolytes from the body. This is a priority especially in infants and elderly people. Rehydration can be achieved orally or, in severe cases, by urgent admission to hospital for the replacement of fluid and electrolytes.