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Ancient Maya documents concerning the movements of Mars.

A large part of the pre-Columbian Maya book known as the Dresden Codex is concerned with an exploration of commensurate relationships among celestial cycles and their relationship to other, nonastronomical cycles of cultural interest. As has long been known, pages 43b--45b of the Codex are concerned with the synodic cycle of Mars. New work reported here with another part of the Codex, a complex table on pages 69--74, reveals a concern on the part of the ancient Maya astronomers with the sidereal motion of Mars as well as with its synodic cycle. Two kinds of empiric sidereal intervals of Mars were used, a long one (702 days) that included a retrograde loop and a short one that did not. The use of these intervals, which is indicated by the documents in the Dresden Codex, permitted the tracking of Mars across the zodiac and the relating of its movements to the terrestrial seasons and to the 260-day sacred calendar. While Kepler solved the sidereal problem of Mars by proposing an elliptical heliocentric orbit, anonymous but equally ingenious Maya astronomers discovered a pair of time cycles that not only accurately described the planet's motion, but also related it to other cosmic and terrestrial concerns.

Journal Article↗

Effect of Alkanna albugam root on LDL oxidation. A comparative study with species of the Lamiaceae family.

The role of natural products in preventing diseases, such as atherosclerosis, is being recognized increasingly. In this study, the in vitro antioxidant activity of the polar extract obtained from Alkanna albugam root, belonging to the Boraginaceae family, against LDL oxidation, was investigated and compared with the respective activity of Greek Mentha piperita, Rosmarinus officinalis and Sideritis clandestina, belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Of the extracts tested, only those from Alkanna albugam root and Mentha piperita exhibited statistically significant activity. Weaker activity was shown by the extracts obtained from Rosmarinus officinalis and Sideritis clandestina.

Boraginaceae↗

The influence of lunar phenomena on the incidence of emergency cases.

It is widely believed that the incidence of specific emergency cases shows clustering during long observation periods. Though there is no scientific proof, many physicians and other emergency staff believe in influences of the moon or the signs of the zodiac. The aim of our retrospective study over 6 years was to evaluate (a) if there are any statistically documented peaks of frequency of emergency cases at all, and (b) if they can be linked to lunar phenomena. We evaluated all three aspects of the moon: The 'synodic' moon (=lunar phases), the 'sideric' moon (=distance between moon and the earth) and the moon in her relation to the signs of the zodiac (=influence of the zodiac). A total of 11134 patients entered the study. We found highly significant clusters of emergency calls, mainly for lung disorders. However, neither aspect of the moon showed the slightest correlation with the frequency of emergency calls (sideric month (P=0.99), synodic month (P=0.85) and zodiac (P=0.85)). Trigonometric regression with the period of the anomalistic month (P=0.173) and with the synodic month (P=0.28) did not show any influence of the moon on emergency in either cases. Though our retrospective data analysis documented clustering of emergency cases, any influence of the moon and the signs of the zodiac can be definitely ruled out.

Cluster Analysis↗

Non-cytotoxic inhibition of macrophage eicosanoid biosynthesis and effects on leukocyte functions and reactive oxygen species of two novel anti-inflammatory plant diterpenoids.

Two diterpenoids were prepared from hexane anti-inflammatory extracts of the Spanish herb Sideritis javalambrensis: ent-13-epi-12 alpha-acetoxymanoyl oxide (= "manoyl oxide F1") and ent-8 alpha-hydroxy-labda-13(16), 14-diene (= "labdane F2"). They were evaluated for possible anti-inflammatory actions in vitro in the concentration range 10(-7)M to 10(-4)M, and were compared with aspirin, sodium salicylate, and indomethacin. Neither compound affected superoxide generation or scavenging and they did not inhibit non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation. Neither compound affected azurophil granular enzyme secretion from activated human and rat neutrophils. The diterpenoids were not toxic to the leukocytes or to washed human erythrocytes up to 3 x 10(-5)M but at 10(-4)M some leakage of LDH or haemolysis was observed. However, both F1 and F2 inhibited prostaglandin E2 generation in cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated by zymosan, ionophore A23187, melittin, and PMA. Labdane F2 was more potent (approximate IC50 = 3 microM in zymosan-activated macrophages). We conclude that these two natural products interact with the eicosanoid system, but do not interfere with the other tested leukocyte functions or with reactive oxygen species, and are essentially non-toxic at submaximal doses. This biochemical profile distinguishes these diterpenoids from the anti-inflammatory polyphenolics such as flavonoids obtained from the genus Sideritis, and suggests that medicinal decoctions of these plants are likely to owe any anti-inflammatory activity to more than one bioactive ingredient.

Adult↗

Antioxidative properties of water extracts obtained from herbs of the species Lamiaceae.

Essential oils and extracts of aromatic herbs obtained by organic solvents have been extensively studied for their antioxidant activity in lipid substrates. Very little is known about the possible presence of antioxidants in polar extracts from herbs used in preparation of infusions and decoctions. In this work water extracts of six different herbs of the Lamiaceae family (dittany, lemon balm, mint, sage, sideritis and sweet marjoram) were prepared. The extracts were examined for their effect against lipid oxidation in comparison to a tea water extract. Sweet marjoram, sage and dittany extracts were found to have a remarkable capacity in retarding lipid oxidation. Examination by thin-layer chromatography of the freeze-dried extracts, before and after hydrolysis, showed that the extracts were rich in bound forms of phenolic compounds such as hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids. Rosmarinic and caffeic acids were detected in all extracts with the exception of those from mint and sideritis. These results indicate that certain plants used for the preparation of infusions could be further studied like tea as sources of antioxidants.

Antioxidants↗

Superoxide scavenging properties of flavonoids in a non-enzymic system.

The superoxide anion scavenging activity of 38 flavonoids, some of them isolated from Sideritis mugronensis, Sideritis javalambrensis and Cayaponia tayuya were investigated by measurement of their inhibition of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction. Isoorientin, orientin, amentoflavone, leucocyanidol, eriodictyol, datiscetin and robinetin behaved as potent scavengers and structure-activity relationships were established.

Flavonoids↗

[Derangement of the mind in the Paracelsus tract "Liber de lunaticis Theophrasti"].

In a treatise "Liber de lunaticis Theophrasti" Paracelsus describes his view of "lunatici". These are men, inflicted by a psychopathological process, that gradually destroys their minds. He develops his argumentation on the base of iatroastrological, new-neoplatonistical and Christian thoughts. In his view man is a microcosm in macrocosm and a trichotomically organized being. Man is influenced by three lights. These lights are representing three levels of vitalisation, knowledge and cognition. According to this, man consists of the body (corresponding to the level of visible material light), the soul (corresponding to the invisible astral-sidereal light of the firmamental macrocosm) and the spirit (corresponding to the light of Christ and the divine-Christian sphere of spiritual light). The origin of lunatic confusion of the mind is caused by the intrinsically motivated intention of man (representing the microcosm) to shift his spiritual focus from the protective sphere of spiritual light to the sphere of astral-sidereal macrocosmic emanations. The latter have a deteriorative influence on man's mind, due to the lack of guidance of man's consciousness by the spiritual light. Paracelsus describes the individual and sociological effects of lunatic confusion. These effects may range from personal confusion up to the aggregation of lunatics in ideologically coordinated groups of fanatics, displaying wrong teachings, dissensions and even warfare and homicide. Concerning the therapy of "lunatici" Paracelsus develops ideas, which show a resemblance towards integrative and holistic tendencies of our days discussed in the field of Psychoanalysis, Behavioral Medicine and "Holistic Health Medicine". In general the Paracelsian concept of lunatic deterioration can be regarded as an historic example that deals with an integrative approach towards the description of psychiatric disorders.

History, 16th Century↗

[Assessment of adrenal function on steroid using renal diseases in children using the modified original ACTH tolerance test: comparing nephrotic syndrome with non-nephrotic syndrome].

Steroid therapy occupies a very important position in various types of kidney diseases in children. The period of steroid therapy in kidney disease tends to extend over a long time and the amount of medication tends to be high. Inhibition of the adrenal function because of steroid therapy is one of the major side effects requiring considerable care. In the present investigation, we examined the inhibition of adrenal function in various pediatric renal diseases using synthetic ACTH. In this study, we checked the serum 11-OHCS and cortisol levels and found that in nephrotic syndrome, the inhibition already existed at sideration. In other diseases we found inhibition of adrenal function using steroid and improvement of the function on reduction of the steroid dose. Patients who used steroid every other day showed better improvement. Therefore, we suggest that in nephrotic syndrome, the inhibition of adrenal function may participate in sideration in the syndrome. It was also found that reduction of the steroid given every other day inhibited the adrenal function to a lesser extent. We found that our challenge test using ACTH is safe and very useful for determining adrenal function.

Adolescent↗

[Etiology and nosology of "rage" and "mania" in the texts of Paracelsus].

In this paper etiological and nosological concepts of the Renaissance medico, alchemist, philosopher, and theologist Theophrast von Hohenheim ("Paracelsus" (1493/94-1541)), concerning the "taubsucht [rage, fury]", the "mania", and contextual aspects, are shown. Paradigmatic oscillations between concepts of the present time and the views of Hohenheim are analyzed. Four kinds of "taubsucht" are presented by Hohenheim in his earliest psychopathologically orientated treatise "Von der Taubsucht". Their relations towards later texts are described. He introduces many disorders in later texts, e.g. "mania", "lunatici", "ebricata", "phantasmata", "vihisch vernunft", that resemble aspects of the four kinds of "taubsucht". Three main principles of etiology are documented and characterized as "theological-ethical", "elemental-sidereal", and "alchemistical". Contrary to today's preferred "descriptive" approach the main principle of Paracelsian classification is seen as "etiological-dimensional". Seven etiologic dimensions are described. Hierarchical correspondences between these dimensions are investigated. The seven dimensions are characterized as: a) Elemental influences (incorporation of psychotropic substances) b) Firmamental-sidereal influences (astrological and astronomical emanations) c) Spiritual influences (spirits deranging man's mind) d) Alchemistical ("chemical") influences e) Secondary diseases (caused by some pre-existing disorder) f) Intrinsic ethical and moral dispositions as the final cause of disorders (theological-ethical view) g) Heredity. By evaluating the paradigmatic aspects of Hohenheims nosological approach, differences with today's mainstream-views of psychiatry are seen in the field of "invisible" (spiritual and transcendental), "etiological-dimensional" explanations for the derangement of the mind (see b, c, f). Potential similarities are considered in the field of "visible" (materialistic), dimensions (see a, d, e, g). It is concluded that Hohenheim strives towards an integration of spiritual and materialistic aspects in the application of etiological and nosological tools. Hohenheims concepts are summarized as a 16th century "integrative" psychopathological approach.

Alchemy↗

[Experimental study on the etiology of ischemic colitis].

A reliable experimental model for ischemic colitis in rat could be obtained by ligating the marginal vessels of the colon 3 days after attaching the ring to induce partial colon obstruction. This model has the advantage of enabling to observe the chronic progress and the organ of the sideration to clarify the cause of ischemic colitis. The decrease of blood flow within the colonic mucosa continued up to 7 days after ligation in rat with partial obstruction, while no apparent abnormal changes were observed, and the previous level for several hours in the rats with out attaching the ring. This fact proved that the RT group is in a state easily developing sideration due to the sustained partial colon obstruction. The reactant reacting with thiobarbituric acid (TBA) was found to increase, in particular, 6 or more hours after ligation of vessels. A superoxide scavenger, liposomal-encapsulated superoxide dismutase (1-SOD) suppressed development of the ischemic lesion. The change in free radicals is therefore, considered to be involved in the occurrence of ischemic colitis.

Animals↗

Biotransformations of ent-18-acetoxy-6-ketomanoyl oxides epimers at C-13 with filamentous fungi.

Two ent-18-acetoxy-6-oxomanoyl oxides, epimers at C-13, have been prepared from ent-6alpha,8alpha,18-trihydroxylabda-13(16),14-diene (andalusol), isolated from Sideritis foetens, by means of several chemical pathways and a regioselective acylation with Candida cylindracea lipase (CCL). Biotransformation of these 13-epimeric ent-manoyl oxides by Fusarium moniliforme and Neurospora crassa produced mainly ent-1beta- or ent-11alpha-hydroxylations, as well as their deacetylated derivatives, in both epimers. In addition, with the 13-epi substrate N. crassa originated other minor hydroxylations by the ent-alpha face at C-1 or at C-12, whereas an ent-11beta-hydroxyl group, probably originated by reduction of an 11-oxo derivative also isolated, was achieved with the 13-normal substrate.

Biotransformation↗

ent-7alpha,18-Hydroxykaur-16-ene ethanol solvate.

The ent-kaurene diterpene in the title compound, 7-epicandicandiol ethanol solvate, C20H32O2.C2H6O, was isolated from the aerial parts of Sideritis ozturkii Aytaç & Aksoy. The molecule has the usual conformation and stereochemistry found in related ent-kaurene derivatives. The methyl-substituted ring junction has a trans arrangement and the other junction is cis. The six-membered rings have chair or slightly distorted chair conformations and the five-membered ring has an envelope conformation. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds link the 7-epicandicandiol and ethanol molecules into two-dimensional networks, part of which comprise co-operative O-H...O-H...O-H... chains.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

Screening of plant extracts for antioxidant activity: a comparative study on three testing methods.

Three methods widely employed in the evaluation of antioxidant activity, namely 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method, static headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC) and beta-carotene bleaching test (BCBT), have been compared with regard to their application in the screening of plant extracts. The strengths and limitations of each method have been illustrated by testing a number of extracts, of differing polarity, from plants of the genus Sideritis, and two known antioxidants (butylated hydroxytoluene and rosmarinic acid). The sample polarity was important for the exhibited activity in the BCBT and HS-GC methods but not for the DPPH method. The complex composition of the extracts and partition phenomena affected their activity in each assay. The value of the BCBT method appears to be limited to less polar samples. Although slow, the HS-GC method is preferable for assessing the antioxidant inhibitory properties on the formation of unwanted secondary volatile products. Being rapid, simple and independent of sample polarity, the DPPH method is very convenient for the quick screening of many samples for radical scavenging activity.

Antioxidants↗

Establishment and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against Chuzan virus K-47.

We established sixteen mouse monoclonal antibodies reactive to Chuzan virus K-47 strain using P3-X63-Ag8-U1 cells as fusion partner cells. Among them, CG53/2/4 recognized a 100K structural protein of the virus. The 100K antigen lost it's antigenicity for CG53/2/4 after mild periodate oxidation treatment, suggesting that the 100K viral antigen is a glycoprotein. In addition, CG53/2/4 neutralized the viral infectivity. This indicates that the 100K glycoprotein is essential for the infection of the virus. The other monoclonal antibodies reacted with a 41K antigen of the virus. Especially CG1/1 showed the highest reactivity to the virus. Forward step sandwich assay using CG1/1 and biotinylated CG53/2/4 could detect the virus at 10TCID50/ml. Therefore, these monoclonal antibodies can eventually predict the virus infection to the animals before their sideration.

Animals↗

[Observations on the mode of distribution of cholesterol in cholesterolosis bulbi (author's transl)].

Clinical and histological findings are described together with the mode of distribution of the cholesterol crystals that could be traced in the anterior chamber, iris, corpus ciliare, vitreous body, retina and choroid. No crystals were found in the cornea, sclera or lens. In the patient's medical history was a trauma that had occurred 37 years before. Histologically, macrophages were visible in the iron reaction. Since these macrophages contained siderous pigment, an intraocular haemorrhage probably played an important role in the development of the crystals.

Anterior Chamber↗

Screening for new agents.

Screening for new antiviral drugs is concentrated on a search for inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus, herpesviruses, influenza virus, hepatitis B virus and rhinovirus. The first step in the process is usually the screening of virus-infected cell cultures followed by secondary screening in infected animals. The relevance of the different screening methods for predicting clinical efficacy is at present uncertain due to the low number of compounds evaluated in double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials. As a consequence of the con-siderable activity in ongoing research on antiviral drugs the predictive value of the screening systems is expected to improve.

Animals↗

Novel anti-inflammatory plant labdanes: comparison of in vitro properties with aspirin and indomethacin.

Two purified plant products were obtained from anti-inflammatory extracts of the Spanish herb Sideritis javalambrensis: ent-13-epi-12 alpha-acetoxy-manoyl oxide (= "manoyl oxide F1") and ent-8 alpha-hydroxy-lambda-13(16),14-dien (= "labdane F2"). They were evaluated for possible anti-inflammatory actions in vitro, and were compared with aspirin, sodium salicylate and indomethacin. Neither of the natural products affected superoxide generation or scavenging and they did not affect granular enzyme secretion from activated human and rat neurotrophils. The compounds were not toxic to the cells at up to 10(-4) M. However, both F1 and F2 inhibited thromboxane B2 and leukotriene B4 generation by A23187-treated rat peritoneal leukocytes, suppressing leukotriene generation at 10(-5) to 10(-4) M and thromboxane B2 at 10(-4) M. Labdane F2 also inhibited human secretory synovial phospholipase A2 activity at 10(-3) M, a property not shared by manoyl oxide F1. We conclude that these two natural products interact with the eicosanoid system, perhaps at the phospholipase level, but do not interfere with the other tested leukocyte functions or with reactive oxygen species, and are essentially non-toxic at the doses used.

Animals↗

Comparative bioavailability of two oral formulations of ipriflavone in healthy volunteers at steady-state. Evaluation of two different dosage schemes.

Ipriflavone (IP) is an isoflavone derivative with antiosteoporotic activity. This drug is extensively metabolized in humans and only negligible concentrations of unchanged IP can be detected in plasma. Metabolites M1 and M5 are predominant, while met abolites M2 and M3 are detected in minor amounts. The aim of this study was to compare the bioavailability of IP and its metabolites M1, M2, M3, and M5 at steady-state after administration of 200 mg tablets three times daily and 300 mg Scherer capsules twice daily during meals. IP plasma levels were below the limit of quantitation in 6 subjects out of 12 after administration of IP 200 mg tablets. On the other hand, after administration of the Scherer capsules IP plasma levels were quantifiable in all the volunteers. As regards IP metabolites, a mean increase in bioavailability, equal to 35%, was observed after administration of the Scherer capsules. Plasma level fluctuations, reflecting changes in absorption rate at steady-state, remained unvaried. The good bioavailability and fluctuation indexes of the Scherer capsules permit a simplification of the dosage scheme, reducing the daily administrations from three times to twice daily, thus improving the patients' compliance. In clinical practice this characteristic is not negligible, con sidering the mean age of the patients and the long-term treatment. Due to the high therapeutic index of IP, the increase in bioavailability does not cause any risk of accumulation or overdosage.

Administration, Oral↗