Stoicheff Lecture

Andrea m'avait conseillée de me rendre à une conférence publique dimanche aprem sur la photothérapie. J'ai bien fait de l'écouter car c'était vraiment interessant, compréensible, pas du tout ennuyant. Le speaker, Pr. David Phillips, était excellent, plein d'humour et a fait plein de petites démonstrations chimique sous nos yeux. Si tous mes cours de sciences avaient pu être comme ça! Pour ceux qui veulent en savoir plus, j'ai mis le résumé en dessous. Et vous pouvez voir sa présentation en format PDF sur le lien.

A Little Light Relief
by
Professor David Phillips

Light, particularly sunlight, has always occupied a mystical power over all civilisations and is commonly held to bestow good health upon recipients of its rays. That there is both truth and fallacy in such beliefs will be demonstrated in this lecture, which deals with the science of photo-medicine. The subject encompasses effects of light on the skin, diagnostic uses of light, and therapeutic aspects. We will concentrate on the latter, but not before a brief consideration of harmful effects of solar radiation. Therapeutic uses include treatment of skin complaints such as psoriasis, treatment of neo natal jaundice, and photo-inactivation of viral, bacterial and fungal infections. The laser has revolutionised some aspects of medicine, and laser applications discussed will include surgery using infrared and ultraviolet lasers and the use of lasers plus chemical sensitisers to destroy tumours selectively (photodynamic therapy). The topic is illustrated with many demonstrations, and gives an overview of the subject from the point of view of a chemist.