Recent developments in the chemistry and in the biological applications of amidoximes.

Amidoximes are compounds bearing both a hydroxyimino and an amino group at the same carbon atom which makes them versatile building blocks for the synthesis of various heterocycles. Their importance in chemistry along with their rich biology, make amidoximes an attractive target for medicinal chemists, biochemists and biologists. Amidoximes and simple O-substituted derivatives possess very important biological activities functioning as antituberculotic, antibacterial, bacteriostatic, insecticidal, elminthicidal, antiviral, herbicidal, fungicidal, antineoplastic, antiarrythmic, antihypertensive, antihistaminic, anxiolytic-antidepressant, anti-inflammatory/antioxidant, antiaggregatory (NO donors) or plant growth regulatory agents. A number of amidoximes has already been used as drugs, or currently being in clinical trials. Their numerous pharmaceutical applications have been recently enriched, due to the fact that some mechanistic pathways, concerning their conversion to amidines, as well as their ability to release NO were clarified, giving a new insight to their mode of action and allowing the design of new therapeutic agents. The main subject of the present review paper is to highlight aspects concerning chemical and biological questions on this interesting class of compounds. Some new synthetic methodologies as well as improvements of previously reported general reactions involving amidoximes, acylated amidoximes, and amidines are presented. The biological applications of amidoximes over the end of 2006 are also extensively reviewed.

[Byzantine therapeutics in the Ottoman world]. / La therapeutique Byzantine dans le monde grec d'epoque ottomane.

The medical literature of the greek speaking ottoman world was deeply influenced by its byzantine heritage: the major authors were copied and commented, while practical manuals containing recipes and therapies - the iatrosophia- kept being enlarged with useful information. Furthermore, during the first centuries hospitals closely followed the models of their glorious past in what concerns architecture, scientific level, means and targets. In fact, only the years after 1770 rely on occidental academic knowledge and adopt modern conceptions.

Experimental techniques and laboratory apparatus in ancient Greece: drug and perfume preparation.

Ancient greek laboratory experts - phycisians, drogists or perfumers - may be accredited with the evolution of rather sophisticated techniques for the isolat-ion of plant ingredients and the preparation of medicines and fragnances. Mainly based on literary sources, from linear B tablets to Galen or the alchemic corpus, the present paper presents these procedures and describes the apparatus use.

[Oriental elements in Byzantine medicine]. / Orientalische elemente in der Byzantinischen Heilkunde.

Late Byzantine medicine contains numerous oriental elements which were assimilated in two ways: first via translations of important treatises written by eminent physicians, but above all in the form of new medical remedies proposed mainly by Symeon Seth, Nicolaus Myrepsos, Constantinus Meliteniotes, Isaac Taxiotes. As Byzantine - Eastern Roman medicine had solid foundations and enjoyed a development of its own, these influences were rather fragmentary and attributable to the ecumenical disposition of the Empire.