La digital: su historia y su rol actual / Digital: their history and their current role

Si bien las hojas de digital purpúrea (Digitalis purpurea) se empleaban desde el año 500 D.C., fue el Dr. WilliamWhitering, de Inglaterra, quien investigó sus propiedades y en 1785 escribió un libro que ingresó entre los clásicos de la historia de la medicina: An account of the foxglove and some of its medical uses, with practical remarks on dropsy and other diseases. Esta revisión repasa la historia de la digital, su mecanismo de acción, y los trabajos más recientes que revaloran los efectos de esta medicación, recomendada actualmente a menores dosis de digoxina que las clásicamente aceptadas, capaz de reducir las hospitalizaciones y mejorar la sobrevida, en especial en pacientes con grados avanzados de insuficiencia cardíaca y medicados con inhibidores de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina, beta-bloqueantes, antagonistas de la aldosterona y diuréticos. Quizás aún falta precisar su valor definitivo, pero es indudable que la digital marcó una etapa definitiva en los dominios de la Cardiología y que, junto a la amapola, la quina y la belladona, constituye el grupo de las cuatro principales plantas que han llevado alivio a las enfermedades del hombre

Although the leaves of Digitalis purpurea had been used since 500 D.C., it was the English physician William Withering who studied its properties. In 1785 he wrote the book called “An account of the foxglove and some of its medical uses: with practical remarks on dropsy and other diseases” which became one of the classics in the history of medicine. This article reviews the history of digitalis, its mechanism of action, and recent studies which underline the importance of this medication. Digitalis is presently prescribed at lower doses than tradionally indicated; it is effective in reducing hospital stays, and improving survival, especially in patients with advanced stages of heart failure and receiving inhibitors of the angiotensin converting enzyme, beta-blockers, aldosterone antagonists, and diuretics.Even though its definitive value is yet to be determined, it is certain that digitalis has a role to play in the domains ofCardiology and belongs to the group of the four principal plants that have brought relief to human diseases, along with the poppy, Peruvian bark, and belladona

Farmacologia no seculo XX: a ciencia dos medicamentos a partir da analise do livro de Goodman e Gilman / Pharmacology in the twentieth century: the science of drugs through the analysis of Goodman and Gilman's textbook

Analisa a apresentação da farmacologia como ciência a partir do livro-texto de Louis Goodman e Alfred Gilman reeditado e reimpresso inúmeras vezes entre 1941 e 2006. Nas primeiras edições, a farmacologia é caracterizada como a ciência das drogas, relacionando-se com outras áreas do conhecimento; a história do desenvolvimento das drogas, a inserção dessa ciência no contexto social e suas relações com a indústria são destacadas. Nas outras edições, esses aspectos são menos pontuados, quase desaparecendo na 11a (2006). A abordagem dos aspectos históricos pode contribuir para a compreensão do desenvolvimento da farmacologia, assim como a abordagem das relações com a indústria e a sociedade é importante para refletir sobre os critérios de utilização dos medicamentos.

This article analyzes the presentation of pharmacology as a science in the textbook by Louis Goodman and Alfred Gilman, updated and reprinted many times between 1941 and 2006. In the first editions, pharmacology was characterized as the science of drugs and related to other areas of knowledge; the history of drug development, the role of this science in its social context and its relationship with industry were stressed. In the following editions, these aspects were minimized, almost disappearing in the 11th (2006). The treatment of historical aspects may contribute to understanding the development of pharmacology, as well as the material on relationships with industry and society is important when reflecting on the criteria for using drugs.

Evidencias médico antropológicas sobre el origen del Pishtaco / Medical anthropology evidences on the Pishtaco origin

A través de un análisis médico-antropológico, se otorga en el presente artículo, una interpretación científica respecto a la creencia sobre el pishtaco en el Perú. Se expone y analiza evidencias históricas, farmacéuticas y antropológicas sobre el uso de material del cuerpo humano con fines médicos en Perú y Europa. Podemos ubicar el antecedente de este fenómeno en la Europa del siglo XVI y XVII: el pishtaco no tiene un origen andino. La metodología utilizada y los hallazgos principales otorgan una perspectiva de trabajo alternativa al análisis etnológico y antropológico convencional, aejemplo del análisis de la figura del pishtaco. Los profesionales que trabajan en el ámbito de la salud intercultural pueden contar de esta manera con herramientas científicas que les permitan identificar de manera eficiente las creencias de los pobladores y las comunidades nativas respecto al cuerpo, la salud y los sistemas médicos, en su contexto históricoculturalcorrespondiente.

This paper will contribute to the scientific development of a new approach on the pishtaco in Peru by means of medical anthropological analysis. The model emphasizes presentation and analysis of historical, pharmaceutical, and anthropological evidence supporting use of human tissues with specific medical goals in Peruvian and European regions.We can find the origin of this phenomenon around the sixteen and seventeen centuries in Europe: The pishtaco hasno an Andean origin. The methodology and main conclusions of this paper could provide to the scientific community an alternative perspective to the conventional anthropological and ethnological research, as an example of a medical anthropological analysis of the pishtaco character. Professionals involved in intercultural health projects could have a new insight on this issue thanks to these results. They will obtain an adequate historical-cultural context for the interpretation and understanding of people and native communitiesÆ beliefs about health, body and medical systems.

La distrofia adiposo genital o síndrome de Frohlich: su contribución al establecimiento de la neuroendocrinología / The adiposogenital distrophy or Frohlich syndrome and the beginning of the concept of neuroendocrinology

Hace casi un siglo Harvey Cushing llamó la atención médica mundial con motivo de un informe clínico consistente en el caso de obesidad e infantilismo sexual ocasionado por un tumor en la base del cráneo al cual se le dio el nombre de distrofia adiposo-genital o síndrome de Frohlich por haber sido quien lo describió por primera vez. El estudio de este síndrome permitió establecer la conexión entre la hipófisis y el hipotálamo que eran estructuras con funciones poco conocidas hasta ese momento. Así se fue gestando la neuroendocrinología clínica.

A century has passed since Harvey Cushing presented a syndrome characterized by obesity and sexual infantilism, caused by a tumour located in the base of the brain, and named it as Adiposogenital dystrophy or Frohlich's syndrome, on the name of its discoverer. Further study of this syndrome contributed to establish the hormonal connection between the brain and the anterior pituitary, and then the concept of neuroendocrinology.

Evolución de los conocimientos sobre el Ácido Acetil Salicílico / Evolution of the knowledge about the acetil salicilic acid

El saber popular, empírico, desde tiempos inmemoriales incorporó a la "terapéutica" mèdica diversos productos vegetales de los que hoy son conocidos como salicáceas, muy ùtiles remedios para las fiebres y dolores, que el tiempo fue consagrando. Hoy es sorprendente, luego de siglos, de experiencias de triunfos, de fracasos y luego nuevos triunfos, la vigencia y ventajas de las propiedades terapéuticas de las salicilinas, o mejor dicho, de sus derivados sintéticos: primero el Ácido Salicílico y posteriormente el Ácido Acetil Salicílico y sorprende aún más la variedad de patologìas médicas en las cuales estos fármacos pueden ser utilizados con éxito, no obstante conocidos efectos nocivos. El trabajo que se presenta intenta con brevedad ofrecer una visiòn de la evoluciòn de los conocimientos, principalmente históricos y terapéuticos, del Ácido Acetil Salicílico.

Popular, empiric knowledge, from immemorial times added to medical therapeutic different vegetable products known nowadays as salicaceas, very useful medications against fevers and pains that time has sanctioned. Nowadays, after centuries, after triumphal experiences, after failures, and successes again, it still surprises the effectiveness and advantages of the salicylins´ therapeutic properties, or better, of their synthetic derivates: firstly, the salicylic acid and the acetyl salicylic acid; it is still more surprising the variety of medical pathologies against which these drugs can be successfully used, even though some noxious effects are known. This work is aimed to briefly offer a vision of the evolution of the knowledge, mainly therapeutic and historical, of the acetyl salicylic acid.

Farmácia na Corte Imperial (1851-1887): práticas e saberes / Pharmacy in the Imperial Court (1851-1887): practices and knowledge

Tem por fim refletir sobre o início do processo de institucionalização da farmácia, através de duas associações de cunho científico-profissional, que se formaram em meados do século XIX na capital do Império: Sociedade Farmacêutica Brasileira (1851) e o Instituto Famacêutico do Rio de Janeiro (1858). O período entre 1851-1887 correspondeu ao tempo de vida das sociedades, preenchido pela circulação de seus periódicos e pela existência de seus respectivos gestores.

A evolução da farmacovigilância no Brasil / The evolution of the pharmacovigilance in Brazil

Este trabalho faz um breve relato sobre os aspectos conceituais e os marcos históricos que envolvem a Farmacovigilância. São abordados os caminhos que levaram ao desenvolvimento da Farmacovigilância no mundo e no Brasil, finalizando com as perspectivas da formação de um serviço de qualidade que contribuirá para minimizar os potenciais danos dos medicamentos e assim servir à saúde pública e aumentar o senso de confiança dos pacientes nos medicamentos.

This work makes a brief story on the conceptual aspects and the historical landmarks that involve the Pharmacovigilance. There are related the ways that had taken the development of the Pharmacovigilance in the world and Brazil, concluding with the perspectives of the development of a qualified service that will contribute to minimize the injury caused by drugs use and so serving to the public health and increasing the reliable sense of the patients in drugs use.

De La medecine et de la societe Tunisian d'histoire de la medecine et de la pharmacie

The Tunisian Medical Society of the History Medicine and Pharmacy has been founded very recently. It illustrates a new trend of our historians towards the medical sciences as well as the need of our physicians to know better the work of their predecessors. In the middle Ages [IX-X century] the Medical School of Kairouan was well known all over the Mediterranean Basin. There were prestigious names as Ishak Ibn Omran who wrote " The Treaty of Melancholia", Ishak Ibn Soleyman oculist and his bright discple Avenzoar who in his "Traveller viaticum" gives instructions to keep clear sight as long as possible and Constantin Africain who was their translator. He made their works known in Salerno and Montpellier. Tunisia was then an active center of exchange between Andalousia in the west, Cairo, Damas and Baghdad in the East. From the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries, Assoukouli generation of physicians gained experience in the use of local herbs and minerals for the treatment of their patients. At that time our literature was full of references to the health condition of our population. In mid XIX the proclamation of the Constitutional Act the Bey of Tunis gave the start to a more liberal society; thus allowing foreigners from various countries [specially France and Italy] to establish themselves in Tunisia. They brought the flavour of occidental medicine so that young Tunisian were sent to Bordeaux, Paris, Montpellier. Just before the last war, a Moslem woman succeeded to her thesis and later became head of the department of gynecology at the hospital founded in mid XVII by Aziza Othmana another devoted woman to medicine. She was probably the first lady African physician. The opening of the Medical school in 1962 led the way to a rapid development in the study of medical sciences. Teaching history of medicine in all our four faculties is the achievement of that era

La medicina en el medioevo arabe / Medicine in the arabic middle age

El autor presenta un relato histórico y pormenorizado de la Medicina árabe en la Edad Media. En esta revisión bibliográfica se pretende analizar los hechos históricos y médicos acaecidos entre el siglo VII y el XV, es decir, los casi 700 años, en que los árabes marcaron un hito en la Cultura Ecuménica del Oriente, y que luego se proyectó como un gran faro intelectual sobre el Occidente Cristiano. Revisamos así, a los mayores representantes de la medicina: Rhazes y Avicena, Al-Farabi y Maimónides, que formaron la Cultura Arabe junto a Persas, Anadaluces, Judíos y Cristianos

O universo cultural e científico valenciano durante os séculos XIII e XIV e a contextualizaçäo da obra de Arnaldo de Vilanova / Valencia's cultural and scientific universe in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries and the contextualization of Arnaldo de Vilanova's work

Enfoca a singularidade do pensamento médico de Arnaldo de Vilanova em comparaçäo com o que prevalecia entre seus contemporâneos no continente europeu no século XIII. Outrossim, aventa ser sua peculiaridade fruto da influência árabe que este pensador cristäo recebeu na juventude em sua valência natal, e que continuou a prevalecer até depois de seus estudos na Escola de Medicina de Montpellier. Daí a preocupaçäo deste estudo em, primeiro, delinear o universo cultural e científico de Valência e, em seguida, esmiuçar aspectos bem conhecidos da medicina vilanovana que patenteiam a duradora preponderância do ambiente valenciano mesmo na maturidade de Arnaldo de Vilanova