NMR analysis: potential and challenges as a homeopathic basic research tool

Homeopathic ultra-diluted solutions surpass the threshold of matter dispersion and, consequently, their chemical constitution is similar to inert solvent. Nevertheless, randomized clinical trials have shown that the clinical effects of these homeopathic medicines are superior to placebo1. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is one of the most promising techniques to detect physicochemical alterations induced by homeopathic procedures2,3. Aims: To investigate T2 NMR relaxation times of Zincum metallicumand lactose dynamized samples. Methodology: Zincum metallicumsamples were ground until 6dH using lactose as an excipient. Subsequently, these samples were dynamized with ultrapure water to produce 8dH, 9dH, 10dH,and 11dH. Lactose dynamized samples (6dH-11dH) were used as control. Aliquots of 540µl of each sample were diluted with 60µl of deuterated water (D2O) in 5mm tubes. The analyses were carried out in Bruker Ascend TM 500MHZ spectrometer at 288 K. Results and discussion: The Zincum metallicumand lactose T2 relaxation times were very similar, except for Zincum metallicum8dH, which presented a value of 1.226 in comparison to 1.036 of lactose 8dH. The following T2 values were registered: 1.287 -9dH; 1.413 -10dH; 1.467 -11dH, and 1.303 -9dH; 1.400 ­10dH; 1.350 -11dH, for Zincum metallicumand lactose, respectively. The differences detected in 8dH samples are probably due to the presence of lactose in the first dilution step, in which 1 part of the 6dH triturated mixture was diluted in 9 parts of water, to prepare 7dH. Following this homeopathic procedure, 8dH solutions remain around 1% of lactose which could be influenced by the T2 values registered.Conclusion: These preliminary results showed the possibility to apply the NMR technique to evaluate the influence of dynamization in the relaxation parameters. Further studies should be carried out with other potencies and/or other homeopathic substances, in addition to the evaluation of T1 and the T1/T2 parameters, as previously described by other groups.

Quantitative analysis of T2 value of shoulder joint cartilage in healthy young adult using T2 mapping / 中国医学影像技术

Objective To investigate the feasibility of T2 mapping in evaluating the composition of shoulder cartilage,and to quantitatively analyze T2 values of articular cartilage in healthy young volunteers.Methods Oblique coronal T2 mapping imaging with 8 echo was performed in bilateral shoulder of 16 young healthy volunteers.The pseudo-color map was obtained with post-processing.The shoulder joint cartilage was equally divided into the external,central and internal zones,and T2 values were measured quantitatively.T2 values in the external,central and internal zones were analyzed and compared.T2 values of cartilage between male and female volunteers as well as between left and right sides were analyzed.Resuits T2 values in the external,central and internal zones of cartilage were (38.67 ± 2.82)ms,(38.41 ± 2.52)ms and (36.49± 1.80)ms,respectively.The overall difference was statistically significant (F=7.789,P=0.001).T2 values in the external and central zones of cartilage were larger than those in the internal zone (both P＜0.05).T2 values of cartilagehad no significant differences between the left and right sides in the external,central and internal zones (all P＞0.05).There was significant difference of T2 value in the central zone (P＜0.05),while no significant difference of T2 value in the external and internal zones between different genders was found (both P＞0.05).Conclusion T2 mapping imaging can be used to evaluate the composition of shoulder cartilage changes.