TECHNOLOGY MILESTONES FROM THE CHEMIST’S VIEW

III. HEALTH AND MEDICINE

Chemistry has contributed many life-saving breakthroughs in health and medicine that allow us to live longer, happier, and healthier.Throughout much of human history, medicine and health care were primitive. If people became sick or injured, doctors could do little more than comfort them and keep them clean.The last 100 years have revolutionized the way in which doctors heal patients by curing disease, repairing injuries, and even preventing health problems before they occur. Hard-working chemists and chemical engineers have helped to found modern medicine by developing novel pharmaceuticals, creating new medical equipment, and refining diagnostic procedures.Millions of human lives have been saved and improved by the health and medical advances developed through chemistry.

III.1. Pain and Inflammation Management Morphine Aspirin Cortisone

III.2. Psychotherapeutic Agents Chlorpromazine Tricyclic antidepressants Benzodiazepines

III.3. Hormones and Hormone Regulators Insulin Testosterone Progestins, estrogens, and oral contraceptives

III.4. Gastro-intestinal Agents Evolution of ulcer therapy

III.5. Medical Testing and Diseas Diagnostics Medical imaging technologies Medical isotopes Development of chemical assays Evolution of personal monitoring

III.6. Anti-infective Drugs Salvarsan and Prontosil Penicillin Zidovudine (AZT)

III.7. Cardiovascular Management Regulating heart beat Treating heart failure Affecting blood clots Controlling blood cholesterol levels

III.8. Cancer Chemotherapy Evolution of cancer chemotherapy Cytotoxic drugs Tamoxifen

III.9. Novel Healthcare Materials Artificial limbs and medical devices Medical equipment Disinfectants and bleach

III. TECHNOLOGIE MILESTONES IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE

Chronology

1899 Aspirin is manufactured to fight pain, joint inflammation and swelling.

1909 Salvarsan is the first major chemotherapeutic agent to be made.

1922 Insulin is used to alleviate high blood sugar associated with diabetes.

1923 The chemical structure of morphine is determined.

1927 Pregnancy test developed to detect estrogens in urine.

1935 Prontosil cures the deadly streptococcal infection.

1942 Nitrogen mustards begin the age of cancer chemotherapy.

1943 Penicillin fights infection and inaugurates antibiotic therapy.

1954 Digoxin is approved to treat thrombotic disease (blood clot formation).

1954 Chlorpromazine begins modern antipsychotic therapy.

1960 Enovid is manufactured and enters to market as an oral contraceptive.

1963 Herbal Cytotoxic drugs are used to fight cancer.

1976 Tagamet inhibits acid secretion in stomach during treatment of gastric ulcers.

1977 Tamoxifen introduces hormone blockers in cancer chemotherapy.

1987 Zidovudine (AZT) is approved by FDA for treatment of HIV infection.

Paul Ehrlich, the inventor of Salvarsan

Frederick Banting and Charles H. Best

who extracted insulin first time

Prontosil

The picture of Alexander

Fleming on a glass window

The mechanism of the action of

penicillin

ENOVID

The chemical structure of Taxol, a

cytotoxic drug

Stomach ulcer

The pink ribbon, symbolizing combat against breast cancer, the red ribbon

symbolizing combat against AIDS

Aspirin, the first pills manufactured ever

(1900)

The chemical structure of morphine

Pregnancy test