La plata . Y, además, producto sanitario y medicamento / The silver . and, in addition, medical device and medicine

Este discurso de ingreso en la Real Academia Nacional de Farmacia trata de dar una visión de la plata a través de la historia desde su citación en el Génesis pasando por los hallazgos arqueológicos de Asia Menor, Egipto, las monedas griegas o la alquimia hasta la actualidad, destacando su significado desde el punto de vista económico, social y de poder. También se realiza un breve repaso a sus características como elemento físico y químico, así como de su obtención, depósito y valor. Asimismo, se hace un breve repaso de su incorporación a la cultura popular, como adivinanzas, refranes, etc. además de ser utilizado en infinidad de circunstancias como símbolo de riqueza, al respaldar los sistemas monetarios y como moneda cuyo uso alcanza el 70% de su producción. Se detallan las múltiples cualidades de la plata como elemento no medicinal y de sus aplicaciones, pero, fundamentalmente, se aborda finalmente sus propiedades y aplicaciones terapéuticas, su toxicidad y su utilidad en los campos de la dermatología, como agente antimicrobiano, en la odontología, como suplemento alimentario y su reciente aplicación con la incorporación de las manopartículas de plata en el campo de la terapia oncológica, aún muy discutida y en estudio. (AU)

This admission speech at the Royal National Academy of Pharmacy tries to give a vision of silver through history from its citation in Genesis through the archaeological finds of Asia Minor, Egypt, Greek coins or alchemy up to the present , highlighting its significance from the economic, social and power point of view. There is also a brief review of its characteristics as a physical and chemical element, as well as its obtaining, deposit and value. Likewise, a brief review is made of its incorporation into popular culture, such as riddles, proverbs, etc. In addition to being used in countless circumstances as a symbol of wealth, to support monetary systems and as a currency whose use reaches 70% of its production. The multiple qualities of silver as a non-medicinal element and its applications are detailed, but fundamentally, its properties and therapeutic applications, its toxicity and its usefulness in the fields of dermatology, as an antimicrobial agent, in dentistry, are finally addressed. As a food supplement and its recent application with the incorporation of silver nanoparticles in the field of cancer therapy, still highly discussed and under study. (AU)

Lead pollution recorded in Greenland ice indicates European emissions tracked plagues, wars, and imperial expansion during antiquity.

Lead pollution in Arctic ice reflects midlatitude emissions from ancient lead-silver mining and smelting. The few reported measurements have been extrapolated to infer the performance of ancient economies, including comparisons of economic productivity and growth during the Roman Republican and Imperial periods. These studies were based on sparse sampling and inaccurate dating, limiting understanding of trends and specific linkages. Here we show, using a precisely dated record of estimated lead emissions between 1100 BCE and 800 CE derived from subannually resolved measurements in Greenland ice and detailed atmospheric transport modeling, that annual European lead emissions closely varied with historical events, including imperial expansion, wars, and major plagues. Emissions rose coeval with Phoenician expansion, accelerated during expanded Carthaginian and Roman mining primarily in the Iberian Peninsula, and reached a maximum under the Roman Empire. Emissions fluctuated synchronously with wars and political instability particularly during the Roman Republic, and plunged coincident with two major plagues in the second and third centuries, remaining low for >500 years. Bullion in silver coinage declined in parallel, reflecting the importance of lead-silver mining in ancient economies. Our results indicate sustained economic growth during the first two centuries of the Roman Empire, terminated by the second-century Antonine plague.

Silver in medicine: a brief history BC 335 to present.

Silver is a naturally occurring element. Similar to other metals, the ionized form of silver (Ag(+1)) has known antimicrobial properties. A number of wound dressings incorporating silver ion or silver compounds have recently been developed and marketed. In addition, the antimicrobial effects of silver are currently being promoted in consumer products such as clothing and household appliances. The present use of silver in medical and consumer products has prompted concerns for potential toxicity and ecological effects, including induction of microbial resistance to antibiotics. These concerns ignore the fact that silver has been used for medicinal purposes for several thousand years. A historical review of the uses of silver in medicine is presented.

Advances in silver ion chromatography for the analysis of fatty acids and triacylglycerols-2001 to 2011.

An effort is made to critically present the achievements in silver ion chromatography during the last decade. Novelties in columns, mobile-phase compositions and detectors are described. Recent applications of silver ion chromatography in the analysis of fatty acids and triacylglycerols are presented while stressing novel analytical strategies or new objects. The tendencies in the application of the method in complementary ways with reversed-phase chromatography, chiral chromatography and, especially, mass detection are outlined.

Give silver a shine.

Katharina M. Fromm explains how, as well as catalysis and jewellery, silver serves a myriad of medicinal applications--some of which are even behind poetic traditions such as throwing coins in wishing wells.

[Equivocal quintessence. Spiritual alchemy and counterfeit money in 16th-century Spain]. / Equívoca quintaesencia. Alquimia espiritual y moneda falsa en la España del siglo XVI.

One of the main obsessions of the early modern era was that of determining the notions of true and false, in order to apply them to various fields of knowledge and thus establish the divide between the lawful and unlawful. This trend was to have a particular impact on the fields of religion and science, where it became necessary to distinguish not only between true and false spirits, relics or miracles, but also between genuine and fake astrologers and alchemists. Situated in the middle ground between idealism and materialism, alchemy was prime territory for such tensions, as was demonstrated by a trial held in 1593 at the Jeronymite monastery of Santa Enracia in Saragossa, whose prior accused a friar of making "silver out of smoke and jewels from goblins".

Silver: an age-old treatment modality in modern times.

The use of silver as an antimicrobial for infection spans hundreds of years. The ancient Greeks and Romans used silver to disinfect their water and food supplies. Silver was also used in ancient times to treat burns and wounds as a wound dressing. Silver solutions were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the 1920s. Since that time, silver has established itself as an effective and well-known treatment modality for and in the prevention of high-risk infection in clinical wound care (http://int.hansaplast.com/med-info/wound-care-beautiful-healing/silver-tech.html).

History of the medical use of silver.

BACKGROUND: Silver has been used extensively throughout recorded history for a variety of medical purposes. METHODS: A review of the literature in English was undertaken, primarily using PUBMED, to identify the medical uses of silver before the clinical introduction of antibiotics in the 1940s. RESULTS: Silver has been used for at least six millennia to prevent microbial infections. It has been effective against almost all organisms tested and has been used to treat numerous infections and noninfectious conditions, sometimes with striking success. Silver also has played an important role in the development of radiology and in improving wound healing. CONCLUSION: Silver was the most important antimicrobial agent available before the introduction of antibiotics.

A scanning electron microscope examination of silver cones removed from endodontically treated teeth. 1972.

Twenty-five silver cones were removed from teeth which had been treated endodontically from 3 months to 20 years previously. Examination by the scanning electron microscope revealed that these cones were moderately to severely corroded. The corrosion patterns were described as ranging from pitting to deep crater formation with globular or spherical agglomerations. Examinations with the electron probe showed sulfur peaks on the corroded portions of the cones. X-ray diffraction analyses indicated that the chemical compounds formed were silver sulfides, silver sulfates, silver carbonates, and silver amine sulfate amide hydrates. Tissue culture studies indicated that the corrosion products were highly cytotoxic. The mechanisms for the formation of the corrosion products have been postulated as being due to plastic deformations and metal transfer to the silver cones, plus contact of the silver with tissue fluids.

Amalgama de plata: perspectiva histórica / No disponible

La amalgama de plata continúa siendo el material de restauración más ampliamente utilizado en el sector posterior de la cavidad bucal. A ello ha contribuido, entre otros factores, su fácil manipulación y su bajo coste en comparación con otros materiales alternativos. Sin embargo, el material ha sufrido profundos cambios desde sus inicios con la pasta de Taveau a mediados del siglo XIX. Las continuas mejoras introducidas en el material, en especial el elevado contenido en cobre y las evidencias de una positiva respuesta clínica, han contribuido a establecer unos parámetros normalizados que permiten garantizar, en la actualidad, un buen servicio por parte del material. Sin embargo, la controversia suscitada por el mercurio y el riesgo de la polución ambiental que generan sus desechos ha cuestionado recientemente su utilización y la búsqueda de otros materiales alternativos. En este artículo se pretende realizar un repaso breve de las principales innovaciones tecnológicas sufridas por el material desde sus inicios (AU)

Silver Amalgam is still the most common material used in posterior restorations. Contributory factors, among others, are easy manipulation and low cost in comparison with other alternative materials. However the material has suffered deep changes from its beginning with Taveau´spaste in the middle of the XIX S. The continuous improvements introduced in the material, particularly the high content in copper and the evidences of a positive clinical response have contributed to stablish normal standards that allow guarantee, at the present time, a good service of the material. However, the controversy raised by the mercury and the risk of environmental pollution that generate it´s waste has recently questioned its use and the search of other alternative materials. This article seeks to review the main technological innovations undergoneon the material from it´s beginning (AU)

A history of dental amalgam.

OBJECTIVES: Silver amalgam alloy has been used as a dental restorative material since the beginnings of restorative dentistry. It rose as an easily manipulated and low cost material in comparison to other restorative techniques of the time, but it had poor dimensional stability and clinical behavior. Successive research led to the standardization of both its composition and some aspects of its mechanical properties, which have contributed to its widespread acceptance. Nevertheless, the risk of environmental toxicity generated by mercury and its poor esthetics have given rise to the search for alternative and more promising materials. This article endeavors to give a brief historical description of the main events which have led to development of modern silver amalgam alloys. SIGNIFICANCE: It is concluded that extensive knowledge of the use of silver amalgam alloy has made it the most widely used restorative material for the posterior oral cavity. However, in recent years its preponderance has been brought into question even though some innovative ideas have been suggested which could help improve this material in the future.

[Fortunes and misfortunes of a metal]. / Venturas y desventuras de un metal.

The history of amalgam (which essentially consists of mercury and silver) is briefly reviewed, from its origin through different civilizations. The various ways by which silver was extracted during colonial times are mentioned; credit for invention of the method, however, still remains unknown. Finally, the study lists the purposes for which the amalgam was originally used, mainly for the benefit of the mining industry, and only much later introduced into medicine and hence onto odontology.