Germ Warfare and the Siege of Fort Pitt

Germ Warfare and the Siege of Fort Pitt

Germ warfare is defined as “the use of biological toxins or infectious agents with the intent to kill or incapacitate as an act of war.” These biological agents are quite literally used as deadly living weapons. Germ warfare is by no means a modern...
Cytochrome p450 Enzymes and Drug Metabolism

Cytochrome p450 Enzymes and Drug Metabolism

Many drugs are metabolised in the liver. Drugs are either metabolised by phase I reactions (oxidation, reduction, or hydrolysis) or phase II reactions (e.g. glucuronidation). Phase I reactions are mainly carried out by the cytochrome P450 family of isoenzymes, of...
Building a Career in Global Health and Expedition Medicine

Building a Career in Global Health and Expedition Medicine

Building a career in global health and expedition medicine – the good, the bad, and the stuff no one tells you! Can I be a neurosurgeon and travel the world with my work? I’d like to do paediatrics but with some humanitarian work- is that possible? Will I still...
Pertussis

Pertussis

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is an upper respiratory tract infection caused by the Gram-negative bacteria Bordatella pertussis. Transmission is via respiratory droplets and the incubation period is approximately 7-21 days. The disease is highly contagious...
Nosocomial Infections

Nosocomial Infections

Nosocomial infections are defined as those occurring within 48 hours of hospital admission, 3 days of discharge or 30 days of an operation. They affect 1 in 10 patients admitted to hospital. Annually, this results in 5000 deaths with a cost to the National Health...
Understanding Homeostasis

Understanding Homeostasis

Homeostasis is the property of a system in which variables are regulated so that internal conditions remain stable and relatively constant. Examples of homeostasis include the regulation of temperature and pH balance. The two body systems that are responsible for...