scholarly journals Seasonal variation of the effect of extremely diluted agitated gibberellic acid (10-30) on wheat stalk growth - a multi researcher study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (36) ◽  
pp. 263-264
Author(s):  
Peter Christian Endler ◽  
Christian Reich ◽  
Wolfgang Matzer ◽  
Thomas Reischl ◽  
Anna Maria Hartmann ◽  
...  

Control experiments were performed at different seasons of the year as a follow-up to pilot experiments [1] where a homeopathic high dilution of gibberellic acid had influenced growth in a wheat bio assay (7 days). Grains of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum, Capo variety) were observed under the influence of extremely diluted gibberellic acid (10-30) prepared by stepwise dilution and agitation according to a protocol derived from homeopathy (“G30x”). Analogously prepared water was used for control (“W30x”). Following up on 5 pilot experiments (4 in autumn 2007, 1 in spring 2008), 10 experiments were performed (5 in autumn 2008 or 2009 and 5 in winter 2009 or 2010) with a total of 9 experiments in autumn season (5 researchers, about 9,000 grains), and 6 in winter/spring (4 researchers, about 6,000 grains). Germination rates after 7 days were slightly higher for the autumn experiments (96.1%) than for the winter/spring experiments (94.8%) (p > 0,05), with a non significant trend of more seedlings having germinated in the verum group in the autumn experiments (p > 0,05). All of the 9 autumn experiments (i.e. pilot as well as repetition experiments) showed less stalk growth in the verum group (statistically significant with p < 0.01 in 4, with p < 0.05 in 3 cases, trend in 2 cases). Mean stalk lengths (mm) were 46.97 + 20.50 for the verum group and 50.66 + 19.77 for control (mean + S.D.) at grain level (N = 4,440 per group) and + 3.87 and + 3.38 (+ S.D.) respectively at dish level (217 cohorts of 20 or 25 grains per treatment group). In other words, verum stalk length (92.72%) was 7.28% smaller than control stalk length (100%). The effect size (D means : S.D.), calculated on the basis of dishes, was high (d = 1.02). In contrast, no reliable effect was found in experiments performed in winter/spring (less stalk growth in the verum group in one case, no difference in 2 cases, and more growth in 3 cases). Overall verum stalk length (103.64%) was slightly greater than control stalk length (100%). The effect size, however, was small (d = 0.45). The new data are in line with the 2007 findings, i.e. confirm that gibberellic acid 30x does influence stalk growth.

Author(s):  
Waltraud Scherer-Pongratz ◽  
Peter Christian Endler

Objective: Performing a study on a wheat growth bio assay with a homeopathic dilution of gibberellic acid at different seasons of the year. Methods: Grains of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum, Capo variety) were observed under the influence of extremely diluted gibberellic acid (10-30, 30x). Analogously prepared water was used for control. 15 experiments were performed, 9 in autumn season (5 researchers, 4,440 grains per group), and 6 in winter / spring (4 researchers, with 3,140 grains per group). Results: All 9 autumn experiments showed less stalk growth in the verum group (p > 0.01 in 4 cases, p > 0.05 in 3, trend in 2 cases). Mean stalk lengths (mm) were 46.97 + 20.50 for verum and 50.66 + 19.77 for control at grain level (N = 4,440 per group) and + 3.87 and + 3.38 respectively at dish level (217 cohorts of 20 or 25 grains per treatment group). Verum stalk length (92.72%) was 7.28% smaller than control stalk length (100%). In contrast, no reliable effect was found in experiments performed in winter / spring (less stalk growth in 1 case, no difference in 1, more growth in 3 cases). Overall verum stalk length (103.64%) was 3.64% slightly greater than control stalk length (100%). Data were found to be homogeneous within the control groups as well as within the verum groups. Conclusion: Results suggest that especially in the experiments performed in autumn, there was an influence of gibberellic acid 30x on wheat seedling development. The effect size is small when calculation is done on the basis of grains (d = 0.18) but high when done on the basis of dishes (d = 1.02). In contrast, no reliable effect was found in experiments performed in winter / spring. Further experiments should thus be performed in the autumn season.


2011 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 1667-1678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Christian Endler ◽  
Wolfgang Matzer ◽  
Christian Reich ◽  
Thomas Reischl ◽  
Anna Maria Hartmann ◽  
...  

The influence of a homeopathic high dilution of gibberellic acid on wheat growth was studied at different seasons of the year. Seedlings were allowed to develop under standardized conditions for 7 days; plants were harvested and stalk lengths were measured. The data obtained confirm previous findings, that ultrahigh diluted potentized gibberellic acid affects stalk growth. Furthermore, the outcome of the study suggests that experiments utilizing the bioassay presented should best be performed in autumn season. In winter and spring, respectively, no reliable effects were found.


Author(s):  
Sonja Hribar-Marko ◽  
Helmut Graunke ◽  
Waltraud Scherer-Pongratz ◽  
Harald Lothaller ◽  
Peter Christian Endler

Background In previous multicentre studies, the influence of a homeopathic ultra-high dilution of gibberellic acid on wheat growth was scrutinized. Data showed that this test dilution slowed down stalk growth when experiments were performed in the autumn season. Aim To test the hypothesis that pretreatment of grains with high concentrations of gibberellic acid would enhance the growth-inhibiting effect of the ultra-high dilution of the plant hormone Methods Grains of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum, 500 or 1000 per group) were pretreated with (non-agitated) gibberellic acid 10-5, 10-4 and 10-3 or with water (“W”) for control prior to treatment with G30x or W30x. Grains were observed under the influence of extremely diluted gibberellic acid (10-30) prepared by stepwise dilution and agitation according to a protocol derived from homeopathy (“G30x”). Analogously prepared water was used for control (“W30x”). Seedlings were allowed to develop under standardized conditions for 7 days; plants were harvested and stalk lengths were measured. Results Of the four pretreatment variants under study, Ge-3 yielded most growth, followed by Ge-4 , Ge-5 and finally W. This outcome was modulated by the application of G30x and W30x in that the inhibition obtained with G30x as compared to W30x was the greater the lower the pretreatment concentration of G had been. The hypothesis that pretreatment of grains with high concentrations of gibberellic acid would enhance the growth inhibiting effect of G30x had to be rejected. Rather, G30x slowed down stalk growth most in the W group with p < 0.001, only moderately in the Ge-5 and Ge-4 group and not at all in the Ge-3 group.


2004 ◽  
Vol 59 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 229-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisiane Faccio V. Bresciania ◽  
Rosendo Augusto Yunes ◽  
Cristiani Bürger ◽  
Luis Eduardo De Oliveira ◽  
Kauê Leal Bóf ◽  
...  

We evaluated the variation of the concentration of kaurenoic acid (1), which is a bioactive diterpene, in leaves, flowers, stems and roots from Wedelia paludosa (Acmela brasiliensis) for different seasons using the HRGC/FID method. The results indicated that the concentration of 1 is higher in the roots and stems during the autumn. The pharmacological results suggested that kaurenoic acid is responsible, at least in part, for the hypoglycemic potential detected in this plant.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Raupach ◽  
Insa de Temple ◽  
Angélina Middeke ◽  
Sven Anders ◽  
Caroline Morton ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Patients presenting with acute shortness of breath and chest pain should be managed according to guideline recommendations. Serious games can be used to train clinical reasoning. However, only few studies have used outcomes beyond student satisfaction, and most of the published evidence is based on short-term follow-up. This study investigated the effectiveness of a digital simulation of an emergency ward regarding appropriate clinical decision-making. Methods In this prospective trial that ran from summer 2017 to winter 2018/19 at Göttingen Medical University Centre, a total of 178 students enrolled in either the fourth or the fifth year of undergraduate medical education took six 90-min sessions of playing a serious game (‘training phase’) in which they managed virtual patients presenting with various conditions. Learning outcome was assessed by analysing log-files of in-game activity (including choice of diagnostic methods, differential diagnosis and treatment initiation) with regard to history taking and patient management in three virtual patient cases: Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), pulmonary embolism (PE) and hypertensive crisis. Fourth-year students were followed up for 1.5 years, and their final performance was compared to the performance of students who had never been exposed to the game but had otherwise taken the same five-year undergraduate course. Results During the training phase, overall performance scores increased from 57.6 ± 1.1% to 65.5 ± 1.2% (p < 0.001; effect size 0.656). Performance remained stable over 1.5 years, and the final assessment revealed a strong impact of ever-exposure to the game on management scores (72.6 ± 1.2% vs. 63.5 ± 2.1%, p < 0.001; effect size 0.811). Pre-exposed students were more than twice as likely to correctly diagnose NSTEMI and PE and showed significantly greater adherence to guideline recommendations (e.g., troponin measurement and D-dimer testing in suspected PE). Conclusions The considerable difference observed between previously exposed and unexposed students suggests a long-term effect of using the game although retention of specific virtual patient cases rather than general principles might partially account for this effect. Thus, the game may foster the implementation of guideline recommendations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
José G. M. Hofhuis ◽  
Augustinus J. P. Schrijvers ◽  
Tjard Schermer ◽  
Peter E. Spronk

AbstractMany Intensive Care (ICU) survivors experience long lasting impairments in physical and psychological health as well as social functioning. The objective of our study was to evaluate these effects up to 10 years after ICU discharge. We performed a long-term prospective cohort study in patients admitted for longer than 48 h in a medical-surgical ICU. We evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQOL) before ICU admission using the Short-form-36 (SF-36), at ICU discharge, at hospital discharge and at 1, 2, 5 and 10 years follow up (all by patients). Changes in HRQOL were assessed based on linear mixed modeling. We included a total of 749 patients (from 2000 to 2008). During 10 years 475 (63.4%) patients had died, 125 (16.7%) patients were lost to follow up and 149 (19.9%) patients could be evaluated. The mean scores of four HRQOL dimensions (i.e., physical functioning (p < 0.001; mean 54, SD 32, effect size 0.77, 95% CI [0.54–1.0]), role-physical (p < 0.001; mean 44, SD 47, effect size 0.65, 95% CI [0.41–0.68] general health (p < 0.001; mean 52, SD 27, effect size 0.48; 95% CI 0.25–0.71) and social functioning (p < 0.001; mean 72, SD 32, effect size 0.41, 95% CI [0.19–0.64]) were still lower 10 years after ICU discharge compared with pre-admission levels (n = 149) and with an age reference population. Almost all SF-36 dimensions changed significantly over time from ICU discharge up to 10 years after ICU discharge. Over the 10 year follow up physical functioning of medical-surgical ICU survivors remains impaired compared with their pre-admission values and an age reference population. However, effect sizes showed no significant differences suggesting that surviving patients largely regained their age-specific HRQOL at 10 years.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 264-271
Author(s):  
Roberto Truzoli ◽  
Bruno Renzi ◽  
Marta Romanò ◽  
Ilaria Gremizzi ◽  
Veronica Pirola ◽  
...  

Background: There is evidence of hypnosis being effective in reducing both emotional distress, anxiety, and depression. Hypnosis as a technique promotes enhanced mental mastery over the body. This may result in hypnosis being particularly salient in treating distress associated with somatic and psychological symptoms. Objective: This research aims at verifying the effectiveness of a group treatment, which provides for the use of hypnosis-related techniques in mixed-group outpatients with anxiety or depression. Methods: Participants. 31 outpatients (average age= 49.005; DS =12.1) including 13 with mild-moderate depression (average age= 49.17; DS=12.20) and 18 with mild-moderate anxiety (average age=48.84; DS=13.02). Procedure. The group treatment comprised 8 sessions, during which a hypnotic state was induced, aimed at generating a sensation of profound wellbeing in the participants. They could share their experience in a penultimate group session, and were provided with individualised recommendations on nutrition and lifestyle in the last individual session. Patients were prescribed to practice self-hypnosis every day at home with the support of a CD-ROM. Psychopathological symptomatology (SCL-90R), depression (BDI), and anxiety (STAI-Y1, SAS) were assessed at pre, post, and 3-month follow-up. Statistical analysis. Friedman, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitey tests were used. The Bonferroni’s correction was applied as needed. The effect size (Cohen’s d) was also measured. Results: For the total sample, for all tests, significant differences were observed in the phases. The effect size was found to vary from “small” at pre to ”medium” at post. A “large” effect size was observed when comparing pre and follow-up phases. An overall reduction in the symptoms of distress measured by the SCL-90 R – with the anxiety group showing better outcomes – alongside with an improvement in the symptoms of depression and anxiety were observed in all participants. Conclusion: The clinical impact appears to be relevant, as shown by the values for d. The treatment is cost-effective for highly prevalent disorders in outpatients. The outcomes of this study support the effectiveness of hypnotic group treatment.


2015 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-212
Author(s):  
Magdalena Maria Ostrowska ◽  
Ewa Szulc-Mysińska ◽  
Dagna Bobilewicz ◽  
Marta Faryna

Vitamin D deficiency, which is a global health problem, may result in numerous diseases, such as rickets in children and osteoporosis and osteomalacia in adults. The occurrence of the above-mentioned disorders is promoted by the wintertime and higher latitudes. The aim of the study was to compare the concentrations of vitamin D (25-OH) in hospitalized patients and outpatients in different seasons of the year (summer and winter), as well as in dialysis patients in December and May. The Roche test for the quantitativedetermination of total vitamin D (25-OH) was used in the study. The range from 30 to 80 ng/ml was accepted as the optimum concentration. In hospitalized patients and outpatients, both in summer and winter mean concentration of vitamin D (25-OH) reached the values below 30 ng/ml in over 80% of the patients. Only in the hospitalized patient group mean concentration of vitamin D (25-OH) in the summer was significantly higher than in the winter (p=0.0016). In the dialysis patients mean concentration of vitamin (25-OH) in May was significantly higher than in December (p=0.0085) and the percent of the results below 30 ng/ml amounted to 96.39% in December and 77.27% in May. In conclusion, the 25(OH)D concentrations in the whole population under study are lower than those recommended and undergo periodical seasonal changes in hospitalized patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teklu Gemechu Abessa ◽  
Berhanu Nigussie Worku ◽  
Mekitie Wondafrash ◽  
Tsinuel Girma ◽  
Johan Valy ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends incorporating psychosocial stimulation into the management of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). However, there is little evidence about the effectiveness of these interventions for SAM children, particularly when serious food shortages and lack of a balanced diet prevail. The objective of this study was to examine whether family-based psychomotor/psychosocial stimulation in a low-income setting improves the development, linear growth, and nutritional outcomes in children with SAM. Method Children with SAM (N = 339) admitted for treatment to the Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia, were randomized to a control (n = 170) or intervention (n = 169) group. Both groups received routine medical care and nutritional treatment at the hospital. The intervention group additionally received play-based psychomotor/psychosocial stimulation during their hospital stay, and at home for 6 months after being discharged from hospital. The fine motor (FM) and gross motor (GM) functions, language (LA) and personal-social (PS) skills of the children were assessed using adapted Denver II, the social-emotional (SE) behavior was assessed using adapted Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional, and the linear growth and nutritional status were determined through anthropometric assessments. All outcomes were assessed before the intervention, upon discharge from hospital, and 6 months after discharge (as end-line). The overtime changes of these outcomes measured in both groups were compared using Generalized Estimating Equations. Results The intervention group improved significantly on GM during hospital follow-up by 0.88 points (p < 0.001, effect size = 0.26 SD), and on FM functions during the home follow-up by 1.09 points (p = 0.001, effect size = 0.22 SD). Both young and older children benefited similarly from the treatment. The intervention did not contribute significantly to linear growth and nutritional outcomes. Conclusion Psychomotor/psychosocial stimulation of SAM children enhances improvement in gross motor functions when combined with standard nutrient-rich diets, but it can enhance the fine motor functions even when such standard dietary care is not available. Trial registration The trial was retrospectively registered on 30 January 2017 at the US National Institute of Health (ClinicalTrials.gov) # NCT03036176.


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