Szlater's New Writeups

Urinary tract infection (thing)

2002-12-09T13:12:45Z

Introduction

The urinary tract is one of the most common sites for infection particularly in women. Between 10 and 20 percent of women will, at some point in their life, suffer from a urinary tract infection UTI and a significant number suffer from recurrent infections. Most infections are short-lived, and cause little more than discomfort, however, severe infections can result in the loss of kidney function and have serious long term effects. In females a distinction is made between cystitis, infection of the bladder, urethritis, infection of the urethra and vaginitis, infection of the vagina although symptoms may overlap.

What causes it?

UTI are most often caused by bacteria, but they can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or protozoa.

Organisms responsible for UTI:

Bacteria

…

opioid (thing)

2002-12-09T13:06:53Z

The structure of morphine was worked out in 1925 by English chemist Sir Robert Robinson. He was also responsible for working out the structure of strychnine in 1946.



                     
                         
             C == C    C - N - CH₃
            /      \   :  /
      HO - C        C -:-C
            \      /   :  \
             C -- C ...C   C
             |     \      /
             |      C == C
             |     /      \
             O -- C       C
                   \\    //
                    C -- C
                   /
                 HO

                Morphine

The C₅-N-CH₃ ring structure in morphine is called a piperidine. The ring formed by oxygen and the four carbons is called a furan.



   OH                  
   |                      
   C = O     C == C    C - N - CH₃
   |        /      \   :  /
   CH₂-O -

…

Beta-lactam (thing)

2002-10-01T11:38:54Z

β-lactam antibiotics are some of the most important weapons in the clinical fight against bacterial infection. Alexander Fleming's 1928 discovery, Penicillin, is a classic example of a β-lactam antibiotic.

       R - C = O     
           | 
           N - H
           |   
       H - C - C = O
           |   |
       H - C - N
          /    |
         S     |
          \    |
         H₂C - C - H
               |
           O = C - OH
             
    The general structure of penicillins

          R
          |
      H - C - C = O
          |   |
      H - C - N 
          |   |
          R'  R"

  β-lactam ring structure

What do β-lactam antibiotics do?

β-lactam antibiotics act by inhibiting the action of bacterial transpeptidases, these enzymes catalyse the final cross linking step in the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of the…

cold remedies (idea)

2002-09-30T12:29:17Z

There really is nothing you can take to cure a cold, it's just that simple.

The so-called "cold and flu remedies" available from pharmacists do nothing but alleviate the symptoms and this in itself can prolong the time you spend feeling ill.

How can relieving the symptoms prolong the infection?

Symptoms such as fever and catarrh are the body's natural mechanisms for fighting infection.

Many of the microbes that cause sickness in humans are very sensitive to temperature, and cannot grow at temperatures above the body's normal 37.5°C (98.6°F) . By raising the temperature of the body, as in a fever (pyrexia), the body is attempting to inhibit microbial growth, thereby giving the immune system a chance to react to the invading organism. Paracetamol can be used to bring down mild fevers, to allow you to get a good night's sleep, but generally the fever should be allowed to run it's course. However, excessively high temperatures in adults or fevers in…

Phencyclidine (thing)

2002-09-15T16:20:18Z

Piperidine (thing)

2002-09-14T15:40:06Z

IUPAC name: Piperidine
Synonyms: Azacyclohexane, Cyclopentimine, Cypentil, Hexahydropyridine, Hexazane, Pentamethseneimine
Molecular Formula: C₅H₁₁N
Structural Formula:


                    C -- C
                   /      \
                  C       :N - H
                   \      /
                    C -- C
                   
                  Piperidine

Molecular Mass: 85.2
CAS number: 110-89-4
Melting point: -8 C
Boiling point: 106 C
Flash point: 4 C
Appearance: Clear oily liquid with a pungent peppary ammoniacal odour

Toxicology data:

MOUSE_Oral LD50:30mg kg^-1
RABBIT_Dermal LD50:320mg kg^-1

Skin contact may cause severe irritation or burns. Contact with the eyes may lead to permanent damage.

Pipe…