Archive for 'Misc' Category
Single vaccines and anaphylaxis
Recently the BBC reported on a concern about the use of single vaccines: UK researchers have raised concerns over the monitoring of the safety of single measles and rubella vaccines. It comes after an unexpectedly high number of cases of anaphylactic shock after single vaccines given at private clinics in south west England. Although the [...]
Background to the Influenza story
The Daily Mail influenza vaccine kills people story has an interesting background. Looking at Hansard, it is apparent that the data the story is based on came from a written answer to a question posed by Sandra Gidley MP (Liberal Democrat). The question and answer by Dawn Primarolo are here: To ask the Secretary of [...]
Autologous mole transplant
A Chinese woman has reportedly had a mole grafted on to her face to avoid being mistaken for her twin sister. Xiao Ai, of Xiamen city, Fujian province, had the mole removed from her leg and transplanted on to her face. She was sick of being mistaken for her twin Xiao Ping, reports the Southeastern [...]
Careful, you could have someone’s eye out with that
Some of the readers of this blog may use a proctoscope in their professional practice. Here’s an interesting product recall. Jagged imperfections may be present on the leading edge of some proctoscopes, adjacent to the obturator , which could injure the patient.
When coke was coke
120 years ago, pharmacist John Pemberton concocted the blend of water, sugar, coca leaves and kola nuts into a sweet syrup called Coca-Cola. It went on sale in Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta on 8 May, 1886. Take the BBC’s Coke test. [Hat-tip: PB]
On juggling
I can juggle three balls for quite a while, and can even perform the occasional, and sometimes successful, under the leg throw. I can also juggle three clubs for a short time. My luminous balls in the dark are legendary. However, my brother-in-law can juggle three balls on a uni-cycle pretty well, and I’m sure [...]
Balderdash and Piffle – The Space Opera
Some of you may have been watching the BBC’s Balderdash and Piffle. If so, and assuming you like science fiction, then you may enjoy the OED’s Science Fiction Citations page. Amazingly, it appears Gotham City predated Batman by 132 years. (Via Rullsenberg Rules)
Maimonides
In the September 2005 edition of the Israeli Medical Association Journal there is a paper dedicated to “Rabbi Dr. David Applebaum Rabbi, Physician, Teacher and Friend, murdered together with his daughter Naavah in a terrorist attack, Jerusalem, 9 September 2003 on the eve of her wedding.”. It’s a fascinating account of the life of Moses [...]
Snake vs Gator
Giant snake attacks large two-metre alligator. Who do you think won? Now find out the shocking truth! [via Hak Mao]