Pharmacology

The Dangers And Benefits Of Cognitive-Enhancing Drug Use In Healthy People

What are the harms and benefits of long-term use of cognitive-enhancing drugs by healthy individuals? No one can say, but they are popular. There is growing ‘lifestyle use’ of cognitive-enhancing drugs – such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and modafinil (Pro ...

Article - News Staff - Mar 31 2015 - 4:30pm

Paracetamol Ineffective For Lower Back Pain And Osteoarthritis

Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and osteoarthritis of the hip or knee is the 11th highest contributor to global disability.  A new study found paracetamol is ineffective in reducing pain, disability or improving quality of life ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 3 2015 - 10:30am

Beta Secretase Inhibitors For Alzheimer's Disease

With each new amyloid-targeting treatment for Alzheimer's disease that has been developed, there has been a corresponding concern about antibodies targeting amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) producing inflammation in the brain in some patients. Gamma secretase ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 5 2015 - 1:31pm

Fish Oil And Supplements Linked To Greater Chemotherapy Resistance

Patients with cancer often adopt lifestyle changes and those include being sold on the benefits of supplements, but there is growing concern about the use of supplements while taking anti-cancer drugs due to possible effect on treatment outcomes.  A new s ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 2 2015 - 11:07am

Old English “Leech” Against MRSA?

Are ancient remedies any good?  In scholarly circles the middle of the 20th Century, they didn’t seem to think so.  For example: ‘Survey the mass of folly and credulity that makes up Anglo-Saxon leechdoms, it may be asked: “Is there any rational element h ...

Article - Robert H Olley - Apr 3 2015 - 3:58pm

Cancer Vaccines: Overall Survival Versus Progression-Free Survival

Therapeutic anti-cancer vaccines developed to treat metastatic disease such as advanced prostate cancer or melanoma don'thave a noticeable effect on the tumor but are linked to a statistically significant increase in patient survival. For that reason, ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 6 2015 - 11:04am

Flakka- Chemical Cousin Of Bath Salts Is Legal, Cheap And Dangerous

Flakka- "gravel"- is all the rage with amateur druggies in Florida and Texas and wherever else people who have watched a lot of "Breaking Bad" do home chemistry. It is made from alpha-PVP, which is a chemical cousin of cathinone, found ...

Blog Post - Hank Campbell - Apr 7 2015 - 4:24pm

What The Hell Is GNC Selling Now?

The appearance of another questionable "dietary supplement" story in the news is about as surprising as the sun rising in the east. But this one is different.  This is front page news all over the place, including a piece by Anahad O'Connor ...

Article - Josh Bloom - Apr 12 2015 - 8:26am

Why I Wasn't Excited About That Medieval Remedy For MRSA

It’s not often that medievalists get as excited as they have been over the revival of a medieval remedy for eye conditions involving garlic, onions, wine and ox gall, prepared in a bronze vessel. The concoction, mixed up by a team from Nottingham Universi ...

Article - The Conversation - Apr 9 2015 - 5:00pm

Cannabidiol: Marijuana Extract May Bring Hope For Children With Severe Epilepsy

A liquid form of marijuana shows promise as a treatment for children with severe epilepsy, according to a study released today which involved 213 people, ranging from toddlers to adults, with a median age of 11 who had severe epilepsy that did not respond ...

Article - News Staff - Apr 16 2015 - 2:00pm