The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7179 p911-936
22-29 December 2001

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Christmas miscellany summary

Christmas quiz

1. Propecia was licensed in the United Kingdom in 1999 for which indication?

(a) mild to moderate pain

(b) male pattern hair loss

(c) hypertension and angina

(d)  symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis

2. Which of the following is false? NICE has published technology appraisals for:

(a) wisdom teeth removal

(b) COX II inhibitors for osteoarthritis

(c)  cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer's disease

(d) use of triptans in migraine

3. In relation to medicine/pharmacy what do the following stand for:

(a)  ATC

(b) DDD

(c) FIP

(d) USP

(e) IJPP

4. Match products (a–f) with the reason for their UK withdrawal (i–vii). Reasons can be used more than once or not at all.

(a) cisapride

(b) Osmosin

(c) troglitazone  

(d) practolol

(e) mibefradil

(f) terodiline

(i) cardiac side effects

(ii) teratogenicity

(iii) oculomucocutaneous syndrome

(iv) risk of serious drug interactions

(v) liver toxicity

(vi) ototoxicity

(vii) gastrointestinal side effects

5. Put these compounds in order of their use as a therapeutic agent (earliest first):

(a) penicillin

(b) aspirin

(c) sulphonamides

(d) linezolid

6. On a prescription dated 1910 what is meant by a bougie?

7. What is the colour of the dye that must be used in the official green cross pharmacy logo?

(a) pantomine 435

(b) pantheon 345

(c) pantone 354

(d) partisan 534

8. What was cost per NHS prescription item on 1 April 1971?

(a) two shillings and sixpence

(b) 50 pence

(c) one pound sterling

(d) 20 pence

9. Approximately how many books are held in the Society's library?

(a) 100,000

(b) 10,000

(c) 60,000

(d) 140,000

10. What is the name of the plant that was used to poison Socrates?

(a) burdock

(b) hemlock

(c) holly

(d) mistletoe

11. In which year was the Society's 150th Royal Charter anniversary?

(a) 1985

(b) 1977

(c) 1993

(d) 1950

12. What is the name of the person who inspired the song "Lily the Pink"?

13. When was the single transferable vote system first used in the Society's Council election?

(a) 1972

(b) 1976

(c) 1979

(d) 1981

14. How many secretary and registrars have there been since the foundation of the Society? (Joint Secretaries are counted as one.)

(a) 9

(b) 11

(c) 13

(d) 15

15. DA-9601 has potential value in colitis. From which plant is it derived?

(a) Hedera helix

(b) Artemisia asiatica

(c) Ilex aquifolium

(d) Viscum album

16. Fluoxetine is used for agression in:  

(a) hamsters

(b) dogs

(c) reindeer

(d) Santa's helpers

17. What was Veronal?

(a) barbitone

(b) phenobarbitone

(c) methylphenylbarbitone

(d) amylobarbitone

18. What is the rough split of male to female pharmacists currently registered with the Society?

(a) 40:60

(b) 45:65

(c) 50:50

(d) 60:40

19. Which was the first prescription-only medicine to be reclassified as a pharmacy-medicine at its manufacturer's request?

(a) ibuprofen

(b) terfenadine

(c) hydrocortisone 1 per cent cream

(d) loperamide

20. What does the "Duthie report" (1988) concern?

(a) addition of drugs to intravenous fluids

(b) microbial contamination of medicinal products

(c) the safe and secure handling of medicines

(d) modernisation of the NHS

21. How many editions of 'Martindale the Extra Pharmacopoeia' had editorial input from a "Martindale"

(a) 28

(b) 20

(c) 4

(d) 10

22. What is Venice turpentine?

a) eucalyptus oil

b) larch oleoresin

c) red whortleberry oil

d) alies balsamea oleoresin

23. According to the World Health Organization, acupuncture needles must be sterilised by which method to prevent HIV transmission?

(a) immersion in isopropyl alcohol

(b) a quick wipe on the labcoat

(c) gamma irradiation

(d) heat sterilisation

24. What is Gingergrass oil?

(a) a combination of oils of zingiber and cannabis

(b) olive oil

(c) Turkish or Indian geranium oil

(d) croton oil

25. Name the people who currently hold the following posts:

(a) Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for England

(b) Secretary of the Society in Scotland

(c) President of the Society

(d) Chairman of NICE

26. Clinically important drug interactions can occur with St John's Wort. According to the Committee on Safety of Medicines, St John's Wort should not be taken with which other medicine?

(a) oral contraceptives

(b) quinolone antibacterials

(c) cyclophosphamide

(d) comfrey

27. In which condition has thalidomide recently been found to be beneficial?

(a) leprosy

(b) hypertension

(c) obesity

(d) impotence

28. Are the following pharmaceutical statements and definitions true or false?

(a) A preparation must be freshly prepared indicates that it must be made not more than about four weeks before it is issued for use

(b) Water for preparations is potable or freshly boiled and cooled purified water

(c) Refrigerator temperature is defined as 8–15 degrees Celsius

(d) Shellac is used in pharmaceutical formulations for the enteric coating of tablets and beads

29. What percentage of voting papers were returned in the 2001 Council election?

(a) 10–15 per cent

(b) 20–25 per cent

(c) 30–35 per cent

(d) 40–45 per cent

30. Brinerdin is an antihypertensive compound prepartion available in South Africa. Which ergot derivative does it contain?

(a) ergometrine

(b) ergotamine

(c) co-dergocrine

(d) dihydroergocristine