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.

Assessment of the effects of Zincum metallicum in maternal deprivation-induced behavioral disturbances in female rats

Background: Clinical studies have shown that adverse events in early life are quite stressful and can lead to the development of psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, in adolescence and adulthood in humans. Experimental models of maternal deprivation (MD) in rats can be a useful tool for the understanding how these events in the early period of development can lead to behavioral changes in adulthood. Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of Zincum metallicum (Zinc met) homeopathic treatment in rats subjected to maternal deprivation (MD) in their early days of life. Methods: Newborn female rats were subjected to MD during 10 days, one hour per day, from PND10 to PND21, and treated from the 10th day of lactation (PND10) up to weaning (PND21). On the PND21 the rats were divided in 4 groups (N=8): a) treated with Zinc met 30c; b) treated with Zinc met 6c; c) treated with 10% hydroalcoholic solution (HS); and "blank control", rats without any treatment nor experienced deprivation (ND). The medicines were administered in blind trials, identified by codes. The animals were weighed weekly, from weaning until the end of the experiment, and evaluated in the Open Field (OF) and in the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) devices, to evaluate mobility, emotionality and anxiety, in 3 moments of life: in PND21 (childhood), during puberty (PND 40) and adulthood (PND75). Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA, followed by the Bonferroni's Multiple Comparison Test, being p≤0.05. Results: 1) relative to ND group the Zinc met 6c showed reduced body weight while no differences were observed between the other groups; 2) In the OF, the MD group showed increased rearing behavior at PND 40. The Zinc met 6c group reversed this effect showing similar profile as the ND group. Moreover, Zinc met 6c group showed increase in the immobility time at this age; 3) In the EPM, the MD group showed increased time in closed arms and decreased head dips relative to ND group in PND21 period of observation. Treatment with Zinc met 6c but not with Zinc met 30c was effective to reduce this anxiety-like behavior in PND21. Conclusion: According to the proposed model, Zincum metallicum 6c seems to be able to prevent in anxiety-like behavior induced by maternal deprivation in the childhood, mainly in behavioral models related to anxiety. However, other studies still need to be developed to understand the physio-pathological basis of these effects. (AU)

In vitro study activity proliferative fibroblast human submitted to treatment Zincummetallicum and Calendula officianlis in homeopathic ultra dilutions

Cicatrization can be divided into three phases: inflammation, fibroblastic, maturation and remodeling [1]. The extracellular matrix may be replaced by a stronger and more elastic connective tissue. In a scar collagen is the major component of the mature connective tissue [2]. In homeopathic area, the greater is the investigated segment ultra dilutions [6]. However, little research has been done to explore the effect of dynamized drugs in in vitro cell culture [4]. Using the Zincum metallicum 6CH and Calendula officinalis 6CH applied independently in different concentrations in fibroblast cultures sought to determine the increase in proliferative activity using techniques such as IC50, MTT, flow cytometry and quantification of collagen. As expected from the literature, ie both homeopathic according to the literature are used for treatments that Require skin healing, both showed increased proliferative activity, having Calendula most cellular response, presenting as cell cycle stimulating checked via flow cytometry.

Transtorno esquizotípico e homeopatia: relato de caso / Schizotypal personality disorder and homeopathy: case report

Transtornos da personalidade são um grupo de condições caracterizadas por incapacidade para se relacionar com outras pessoas e aprender da experiência. Sujeitos com transtornos da personalidade podem vir a perceber que as suas crenças e atitudes são diferentes daquelas da maioria das pessoas. Outros descobrem que a sua conduta é inusual, inesperada e mesmo ofensiva. No presente artigo é discutido o caso de um paciente de sexo masculino e 42 anos de idade com transtorno esquizotípico, tendo a alucinação típica de ser sujeito de abuso e perseguição, e posterior sensação de formigamento. Com o medicamento homeopático corretamente selecionado a autoconfiança, sintomas somáticos, estresse e preocupação, ansiedade e alucinações melhoraram, o que sugere que a homeopatia pode ser muito útil no tratamento deste tipo de transtornos da personalidade...

Personality disorders are a group of conditions characterized by an inability to get on with other people and learn from experience. People with a personality disorder may find that their beliefs and attitudes are different from those of most other people. Others may find their behavior unusual, unexpected or perhaps offensive. In this paper, we discuss a case of a 42- year-old man with schizotypal personality disorder with typical delusions of being abused and persecuted and subsequent formication. With a properly selected homoeopathic medicine the patient experienced symptom improvement in self-confidence, somatic complaints, stress and worry, anxiety, and delusions, suggesting that homoeopathy is quite useful in the treatment of such personality disorders...

Adaptive and cross-protective responses against cadmium and zinc toxicity in cadmium-resistant bacterium isolated from a zinc mine

Cadmium (Cd) is a major environmental hazard, which usually is detected in its ionic form of Cd2+. It also causes adverse toxic effects on human health and other living organisms. Cd-resistant bacteria were isolated from Cd-contaminated soils. One isolate, TAK1, was highly resistance level to Cd toxicity. TAK1 was isolated from soil contaminated with a high Cd concentration (204.1 mg.kg-1). The result of 16S rDNA sequence analysis found that the TAK1 showed the similarity to Ralstonia sp. Physiological adaptive and cross-protective responses to Cd and Zn killing were investigated in Ralstonia sp.TAK1. Exposure to a low concentration of Cd induced adaptive resistance to higher concentrations of Cd. In addition, pretreatment of Ralstonia sp.TAK1 with an inducing concentration of Cd conferred cross-protective response against subsequent exposure to the lethal concentrations of Zn. The induced adaptive and cross-protective response Ralstonia sp.TAK1 required newly synthesized protein(s). Cd-induced adaptive and cross-protective responses against Cd and Zn toxicity are the important mechanisms used by Ralstonia sp.TAK1 to survive in the heavy metal contaminated environments. These findings might lead to the use of Ralstonia sp.TAK1 for microbial based remediation in Cd and Zn-contaminated soils.

Claudicación intermitente por arteriopatía oclusiva progresiva de los miembros inferiores (AOPMI). Resultados del tratamiento homeopático (parte 1) / Claudication intermittent arterial occlusive progressive of the lower limbs (AOPMI). Results of homeopathic treatment (part 1)

Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo con el objetivo de mostrar el resultados del tratamiento conservador en un grupo de pacientes con Insuficiencia Arterial Crónica (IAC) sin criterios de operabilidad, atendidos en el servicio de Angiología del Hospital Provincial"Manuel Ascunce D." y seguidos en la consulta de Homeopatía de la Clínica de la Universidad Médica "Carlos J. Finlay", en el período comprendido entre Noviembro del 2004 a Julio 2005.

Efeito antioxidante in vitro dos medicamentos homeopaticos Arsenicum album, Cuprum metallicum, Manganum e Zincum metallicum / In vitro antioxidant efect of homeopathic medicines Arsenicum album, Cuprum metallicum, Manganum e Zincum metallicum

Essa dissertacao apresenta, com o apoio de fundamentacao teorico-pratica, o cenario em que se insere a problematica em questao: o efeito antioxidante in vitro dos medicamentos homopaticos Arsenicum album, Cuprum metallicum, Manganum e Zincum metallicum

Contenido de zinc, cobre, hierro, calcio, fósforo y magnesio en leche materna en los primeros días de lactanción / Zinc, copper, iron, calcium, phosphorous and magnesium content of maternal milk at early stage of lactation

Se determinó, el contenido de Zn, Cu, Fe, Ca, P y Mg en leche temprana en 72 madres de la ciudad de Caracas. Las muestras fueron colectadas durante tres etapas de lactación: calostro (3 días), transicional (7 días) madura (21 días). Los cambios más marcados en las concentraciones de los elementos estudiados se observan principalmente durante las primeras semanas de lactación, tendiendo a estabilizarse hacia la tercera semana de lactación. El contenido de Zn, Cu, Fe, Ca, P y Mg en leche calostro, fue de 7,1 ñ 2,5 µg/ml, 0,52 ñ 0.15 µg/ml, 0,49 ñ 0,14 µg/ml, 214 ñ 62 µg/ml, 107 ñ 27 µg/ml y 33,3 ñ 5,5 µg/ml. En leche transicional 4,0 ñ 1,0 µg/ml, 0,5 ñ 0,10 µg/ml, 0,38 ñ µg/ml, 292 ñ 62 µg/ml, 213 ñ 36 µg/ml y 30,4 ñ 5,2 µg/ml y en leche madura 2,8 ñ 2,7 µg/ml, 0,47 ñ 0,08 µg/ml, 0,36 ñ 0,09 µg/ml, 224 ñ 49 µg/ml, 175 ñ 35 µg/ml y 25,2 ñ 3,3 µg/ml. Las concentraciones de los elementos traza estudiados (Zn, Fe, Cu) se mantienen dentro de los niveles considerados normales. Los valores de los elementos mayoritarios (Ca, P, Mg) son comparables a los reportados en la bibliografía para otros países. Estos resultados sugieren que el estado nutricional de esta población de madres es adecuado, para satisfacer las demandas del lactante en las primeras etapas de su vida

Estudio sobre el mecanismo de accion del zincum metalico / Study about the action mode of the metallic zincum

El objeto de este estudio es presentar la revision documental de un medicamento homeopatico que se ha usado durante doscientos anos. Se trata de um oligoelemento, el zinc, que en los ultimos dieciocho anos ha sido profundamente estudiado en cuanto al aspecto bioquimico, farmacologico y principalmente la accion toxica en el organismo