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Modification of acetaminophen to reduce liver toxicity and enhance drug efficacy

societyforscience.org

21–30 of 160 posts

Re: Modification of acetaminophen to reduce liver toxicity and enhance drug efficacy

#21
post #18
post #3

She didn't even break the top 10 in this content: https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts/2025-student... I'm impressed beyond words by these kids, though I think I'd give her the top prize. Watching my grandfather's final days taken away from him by the effects of morphine has always made me wish so much that we had much more effective non-narcotic painkillers

I thought morphine didn't cause health damage to the human body apart from addiction and withdrawal symptoms.

at least according to these people [0], you can overdose on morphine, same as any opiate or opioid. not sure their credentials but it makes sense; it's an opioid/opiate and those can cause respiratory depression.

[0]https://www.addictiongroup.org/drugs/opioids/morphine/overdo...

Re: Modification of acetaminophen to reduce liver toxicity and enhance drug efficacy

#22

The same website is also for the excellent Science News print magazine, which will ship you top notch science reporting right to your door. My father was a subscriber since, well, whenever blue LEDs were invented, because I recall reading about them in Science News. Strong recommendation for any science-lover.

Science News is a big part of my childhood. My stepdad's dad was a subscriber and every issue was handed down to us gently used. I have thousands of back issues.

Re: Modification of acetaminophen to reduce liver toxicity and enhance drug efficacy

#23
post #18
post #3

She didn't even break the top 10 in this content: https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts/2025-student... I'm impressed beyond words by these kids, though I think I'd give her the top prize. Watching my grandfather's final days taken away from him by the effects of morphine has always made me wish so much that we had much more effective non-narcotic painkillers

I thought morphine didn't cause health damage to the human body apart from addiction and withdrawal symptoms.

Well it absolutely muddles your mind when you're on it and it causes constipation. It can also depress your respiratory system.

Re: Modification of acetaminophen to reduce liver toxicity and enhance drug efficacy

#24
post #12

This would be incredibly cool if it works in reality and not just simulation. Remarkable that the author is just 17.

I’m not going to shit on it, nothing wrong with going into the family business - but it isn’t a complete coincidence that her dad is a PhD biochemist at UT Tyler.

Yeah, it's great to have kids excited about science, but at 17 it's extremely unlikely that she taught herself enough chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry to come up with this. She needs years more of college-level coursework. Essentially impossible without a biochemist in the family to guide her.

Re: Modification of acetaminophen to reduce liver toxicity and enhance drug efficacy

#25
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought morphine didn't cause health damage to the human body apart from addiction and withdrawal symptoms.

at least according to these people [0], you can overdose on morphine, same as any opiate or opioid. not sure their credentials but it makes sense; it's an opioid/opiate and those can cause respiratory depression. [0] https://www.addictiongroup.org/drugs/opioids/morphine/overdo...

Yeah its like any other opiod- it depresses respiratory function which can cause death but it isnt directly toxic to any organs like APAP is

Re: Modification of acetaminophen to reduce liver toxicity and enhance drug efficacy

#26
post #18
post #3

She didn't even break the top 10 in this content: https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts/2025-student... I'm impressed beyond words by these kids, though I think I'd give her the top prize. Watching my grandfather's final days taken away from him by the effects of morphine has always made me wish so much that we had much more effective non-narcotic painkillers

I thought morphine didn't cause health damage to the human body apart from addiction and withdrawal symptoms.

Morphine, like all neurotransmitter drugs, affects the autonomic nervous system which can yield a cornucopia of unwanted and seemingly unrelated side effects. It’s a complex system that’s best treated with care.

Re: Modification of acetaminophen to reduce liver toxicity and enhance drug efficacy

#27
The key synthetic step using Ir was published after I graduated (and left Chemistry...) way to make me feel old :)

I'm very impressed by the level of chemistry demonstrated by a 17 year old. During my time as a chemistry student this level of project and synthesis probably could have been included as a chunk of a master's thesis. Did she perform all the synthesis herself? That takes a decent amount of experimental skill and more importantly what lab did she do all of this in?

Any uni ought to be delighted to get a precocious talent like this!

Re: Modification of acetaminophen to reduce liver toxicity and enhance drug efficacy

#28
post #18
post #3

She didn't even break the top 10 in this content: https://www.societyforscience.org/regeneron-sts/2025-student... I'm impressed beyond words by these kids, though I think I'd give her the top prize. Watching my grandfather's final days taken away from him by the effects of morphine has always made me wish so much that we had much more effective non-narcotic painkillers

I thought morphine didn't cause health damage to the human body apart from addiction and withdrawal symptoms.

Nurses in palliative care and hospice are well-known to generously administer morphine in increasing doses, because it eventually takes away all the pain and suffering (of the families and nurses).
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