Modern c1900-present Flashcards
How was penicillin developed?
The first antibiotic to be developed was penicillin. In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered by accident that penicillin mould kills bacteria. He published his findings but there was little interest and he had no funding for research. In 1939, Florey and Chain continue Fleming’s research on penicillin – they know that thousands of soldiers may die from infection and they race to find a solution. Florey and Chain grow penicillin and test it successfully on mice but struggle to produce it in big quantities. They went to the British government for funding but all money was being used for the war effort. In 1941, Florey and Chain approached the US government (the U.S. had come into the war after the attack on Pearl Harbour) they agreed to fund 21 drug companies to mass-produce penicillin. Companies began mass production in 1942, and British companies in 1943
When did the Human Genome Project start?
1990
What did this give a better understanding of?
Genetic illnesses, such as Down’s Syndrome and Alzheimer’s. The project helped predict whether some people are at higher risk of cancer. As yet, there is no cure/prevention for most genetic illnesses
What else did scientists discover?
Scientists discovered that life style can lead to disease e.g. smoking (heart disease/cancers), excessive alcohol (cancers, liver and kidney disease), poor diet (cancer/heart disease)
What were the improvements in diagnosis?
Advanced technology means the diagnosis is more accurate and the cause of the disease is easier to identify. Doctors in the 20th century still use medical books and their own knowledge but they combine it with medical testing. Types of testing used: skin or blood tests, endoscopes or x-rays to see inside the body, and monitors to see what’s going on over a long period of time. Examples of 20th and 21st-century technology: x-rays, dialysis machines, insulin pumps, blood pressure monitors, endoscopes, MRI, CT and ultrasound scans, prosthetic limbs etc
What was developed in 1909 and what did it help ‘tackle’?
The ‘magic bullet’ to tackle syphilis, This was a chemical compound that would kill the microbe causing the syphilis, without harming the rest of the body. It took 606 attempts to find the correct compound, it was named Salversan 606. In 1932 Gerhard Domagk developed a second magic bullet, Prontosil, which cured some types of blood poisoning
What was developed at this time that destroyed the bacteria that caused illness?
Antibiotics
What high-technology surgical treatments were developed?
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy, kidney dialysis and organ transplants.
What was keyhole surgery?
Key-hole surgery means surgeons only use small incisions and the recovery time is reduced.
What was created in 1948?
The NHS - which meant people have free access to doctors, hospital care and operations, maternity care, ambulances and emergency treatment, and health care for the elderly. The NHS offered free healthcare ‘from cradle to grave’; due to costs, some services became means-tested (dentist and optician
What mass vaccinations were developed?
HPV, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), Tetanus, Diphtheria, polio and whooping cough
What government actions helped prevent illness?
Funding for testing and vaccinations, laws banning smoking in public places, laws about health and safety at work, laws to reduce air pollution, environmental health officers etc. Since 1948 the government have also funded a publicity campaign to improve lifestyles e.g. Change4Life campaign and ‘AIDS: don’t die of ignorance’ campaign
What type of cancer had a huge rise in the 20th century?
Lung cancer - caused by mainly smoking/passive smoking
What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
Persistent cough, coughing up blood, breathlessness, tiredness, unexplained weight loss and repeated chest infections. A CT scan will be used to diagnose and a sample of cells are collected and tested
What were the treatments for lung cancer?
Surgery to remove a tumour, radiotherapy to shrink a tumour or prevent regrowth, chemotherapy to shrink a tumour or prevent cancer from returning
