musings on medicines from the Earth
Abel Pharmboy is the nom de plume of an academic researcher and educator who holds a PhD in Pharmacology. He writes on natural product drugs and dietary supplements, academic career development, medical journalism and, occasionally, making and listening to music and wine appreciation for the monetarily-challenged.
You can learn quickly the distinction between the fields of Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacy, the Pharmaceutical Sciences by clicking on the hyperlinks. You can learn more about the author here.
"Why Terra Sigillata?" will tell you about the origin of the blog name.
Please feel free to contact me off-blog by e-mail to abelpharmboy (at) gmail (dot) com.
Please read the DISCLAIMER for details on the blog's intended audience, advertising and comment policy, and how not to use the information presented herein.
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October 31, 2007
Category: Pharmacology
Hallucinations of flying due to plant extracts administered with an unorthodox dosing device is at the heart of one of the most common images associated with Halloween. Try explaining this one to the kids.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 9:19 PM • 16 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 30, 2007
Category: DonorsChoose.org
I chose not to plague you with incessant reminders to contribute to our drive to raise funds for projects at DonorsChoose.org - where public school teachers propose class projects and you decide which ones to fund. Just one post at...
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 8:54 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 29, 2007
Category: Pediatric health
Proponents of withdrawing cough and cold medicines for children 2-5 claim that the remedies are ineffective and provide no benefit to offset the rare pediatric fatalities attributed to these medicines. What do parents think?
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 9:32 PM • 7 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Academia
One word: bewilderment.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 8:00 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Academia
An insightful post by PhysioProf on managing the diverse motivations of lab trainees.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 10:02 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 27, 2007
Category: The Working Scientist
The show must go on!
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 10:18 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 26, 2007
Category: Science/medical journalism
The legendary Wall Street Journal science reporter succumbs to lung cancer.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 7:34 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 24, 2007
Category: Pharmaceuticals
Ya cain't put lipstick on a pig.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 3:02 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: The Working Scientist
SfN officials would do well to examine the experience of AACR's cancellation of their 2003 Toronto meeting.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 11:02 AM • 7 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 22, 2007
Category: Chemistry
A five-year-old's query leads to extensive continuing education in chemistry.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 8:32 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 19, 2007
Category: Pharmacognosy
In a post the other day, we noted that the semi-synthetic natural product, ixabepilone, approved for advanced breast cancer was derived from a soil bacterium. Colleague PharmCanuck reminded us that the soil is not a new source for drugs: the...
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 8:02 AM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Personal
From the University of Alberta, here comes this shocking finding: In a study published in The Journal of Sport Behavior, researchers at the University of Alberta in Edmonton examined the relationships among perceived athletic competence, peer acceptance and loneliness in...
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 4:02 AM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 18, 2007
Category: Pharmaceuticals
The bong-like insulin inhaler is discontinued.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 7:38 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 17, 2007
Category: Chemistry
Where does helium come from?
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 9:32 PM • 10 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 16, 2007
Category: Cancer
An anticancer drug derived from a soil bacterium gets the nod from FDA for treatment-refractory breast cancer.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 5:14 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Non-herbal supplements
You give legitimate supplements a bad name.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 8:02 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 15, 2007
Category: Cancer
A soil bacterium-derived drug for breast cancer goes before the US FDA this week.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 7:15 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 14, 2007
Category: DonorsChoose.org
The teacher who started DonorsChoose.org is officially deemed "cool."
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 8:36 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 13, 2007
Category: DonorsChoose.org
A teacher tells us how student recipients are motivated to "pay it forward."
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 9:33 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 12, 2007
Category: Graduate Education
A voice from the past registers his support for Shelley Batts.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 6:02 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Quackery
A group of young British scientists call supplement companies to ask about the science behind their product claims. I'd say that 'hilarity ensues' but the results are too sad to be funny.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 2:02 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Public Health
"I don't know about you, but I usually keep some syringes in my moonshine jar, out back by the ol' still that grandpappy tends when we're not all runnin' from the police."
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 12:02 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 11, 2007
Category: Biology
[Aufmerksamkeit! Begrüßen Sie deutsche Freunde und Leser des Focus Wissenschafts-Community. Glückwünsche zu Profs Ertl und Grünberg auf dieser enormen Ehre!] I'm intentionally being dramatic but an interesting discussion emerged in the comment thread of my post on the work of...
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 9:15 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 10, 2007
Category: Chemistry
Clean(er) car exhaust, the ability to make fertilizer from nitrogen in the air, and the promise of hydrogen fuel cells are among the practical applications of the surface, or solid state, chemistry methods elucidated by this year's winner, Prof Gerhard...
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 7:03 AM • 7 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 9, 2007
Category: Medicine
Nice to see a superb physician and true gentleman get frontpage recognition.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 8:55 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 8, 2007
Category: Medicine
Gene targeting in murine embryonic stem cells by homologous recombination gets the attention in Stockholm this morning.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 6:49 AM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 7, 2007
Category: Medical education
A recent compendium by a medical sciences librarian.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 9:02 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 6, 2007
Category: Drug safety
AggravatedDocSurg interviewed by the WSJ Health Blog.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 8:17 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 5, 2007
Category: Civil rights
Florida's living legend.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 8:28 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Botanical/Herbal Medicines
DMAPT is NOT in feverfew - do not be misled!
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 4:01 AM • 10 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 4, 2007
Category: Research funding
McFlurries for cancer research!
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 2:01 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 2, 2007
Category: Blogging community
Here's a great chance to support K-12 science education!
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 9:01 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
October 1, 2007
Category: Cancer
The much-hyped public domain compound will finally be evaluated in a small trial with brain cancer patients.
Posted by Abel Pharmboy at 12:01 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
