In nineteen eighty-two, a British scientist shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine in part for discovering how aspirin works. Sir John Vane found that aspirin blocks the body from making natural substances called prostaglandins.
在1982年,一名英国科学家因发现阿司匹林工作原理而分享了诺贝尔奖。JOHN VANE爵士发现阿司匹林会阻碍身体产生一种名为前列腺素的自然物质。
Prostaglandins have several effects on the body. Some cause pain and the expansion, or swelling, of damaged tissue. Others protect the lining of the stomach and small intestine.
前列腺素对身体有很多影响。一部分能引起疼痛和和受损组织的扩张。另一部分就是保护胃壁和肠道壁。
Prostaglandins also make the heart, kidneys and blood vessels work well. But there is a problem. Aspirin works against all prostaglandins, good and bad.
前列腺素能使心脏,肾,血管工作正常。但是却有一个问题。阿司匹林会无选择地消灭所有类型的前列腺素,不管好坏。
Scientists learned how aspirin interferes with an enzyme. One form of this enzyme makes the prostaglandin that causes pain and swelling. Another form of the enzyme creates a protective effect. So aspirin can reduce pain and swelling in damaged tissues. But it can also harm the inside of the stomach and small intestine. Sometimes it can cause bleeding.
科学家知道阿司匹林怎么干扰一种酶。这种酶的一种形态制造了这种能够产生疼痛和扩张的前列腺素。这种酶的另一种形态产生保护作用。所以阿司匹林能够在创伤组织上减少疼痛和扩张。但是它同时能危害内部的肠胃。有时候甚至能造成出血。
Aspirin competes with many other medicines for pain and fever these days. The competition includes acetaminophen, the active substance in products like Tylenol. Like the medicine ibuprofen, aspirin is an NSAID -- a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
现在,阿司匹林一直与其他治疗病痛和高烧的药物进行竞争。竞争对手中包括醋氨酚(退热净,一种代替阿司匹林的解热镇痛药),主要成分为 羟苯基乙酰胺。跟布洛芬(抗炎,镇痛药)一样,阿司匹林也是一种非甾体抗炎药。