Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33303487›Full record

ReviewBMJ (Clinical research ed.)2020

Toxicological analysis of George's marvellous medicine: literature review.

Graham Johnson, Patrick Davies

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Graham JohnsonEmergency Department, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Derby Hospital, Derby DE22 3NE, UK graham.johnson4@nhs.net.ORCID 0000-0001-6004-6244
Patrick DaviesUniversity of Nottingham School of Medicine, Nottingham, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo analyse the therapeutic effects and toxicity of the eponymous concoction described in Roald Dahl's book

designLiterature review.

settingTwo literature loving households in England.

participantsGeorge Kranky and grandma Kranky.

main outcome measuresClinical and toxic effects of the individual ingredients checked against those listed in ToxBase, the National Poisons Information Service's poisons database.

resultsThe medicine contained 34 ingredients. The most common toxic effect identified on ToxBase was nausea and vomiting (16 ingredients, 47%). Potentially life threatening effects were associated with 13 (38%) ingredients, including depression of the central nervous system, kidney injury, convulsions, cardiac toxicity, and mucosal erosion. The effects described in the book were accurate initially but then diverted from the most likely clinical outcome (death).

conclusionsAlthough Dahl ought to be applauded for his initial accuracy about the toxicology of the ingredients in George's marvellous medicine, the overall effect would be fatal catastrophic physiological collapse. Scientific exploration and experimentation should be encouraged in children, although any medicinal ingredients need to be checked for potential toxicity before being administered-to grandmas or anyone else.

Indexed as

Drug CombinationsDrug-Related Side Effects and Adverse ReactionsMedicine in LiteratureChildEnglandFemaleHumansMaleDrug Combinations

Identifiers

PMID33303487
PMCPMC7726247

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.