The Electrostatic Model of Homeopathy: The Mechanism of Physicochemical Activities of Homeopathic Medicines

This paper attempts to propose a model, called the electrostatic model of homeopathy, to explain a mechanism for the physicochemical activities of highly diluted homeopathic medicines (HMs). According to this proposed model, the source of HMs' action is dipole orientations as electrostatic imprints of the original molecules carried by diluent molecules (such as sugar molecules) or potentization-induced aqueous nanostructures. The nanoscale domains' contact charging and dielectric hysteresis play critical roles in the aqueous nanostructures' or sugar molecules' acquisition of the original molecules' dipole orientations. The mechanical stress induced by dynamization (vigorous agitation or trituration) is a crucial factor that facilitates these phenomena. After dynamization is completed, the transferred charges revert to their previous positions but, due to dielectric hysteresis, they leave a remnant polarization on the aqueous nanostructures or sugar molecules' nanoscale domains. This causes some nanoscale domains of the aqueous nanostructures or sugar molecules to obtain the original substance molecules' dipole orientations. A highly diluted HM may have no molecule of the original substance, but the aqueous nanostructures or sugar molecules may contain the original substance's dipole orientations. Therefore, HMs can precisely aim at the biological targets of the original substance molecules and electrostatically interact with them as mild stimuli.

The Ottawa Typhoid Epidemics of 1911 and 1912

Severe typhoid epidemics in Ottawa in 1911 and 1912 prompted vigorous agitation for corrective measures to protect the city's health. Despite a proven crisis, reformers met strong resistance from an orthodox political and business community that over two decades had maintained an indifferent record on health questions. The confrontation produced some changes, but once the immediate crisis ended, the familiar pattern reasserted itself.

Controllable Formation of MgCl2-based Spherical Catalyst Support Precursors via Composites of Liquid Inorganics and Polymers

Anhydrous MgCl2 was reacted with 2 equiv. of ethanol to generate the MgCl2(EtOH)2 adduct 1. An appropriate amount of higher alcohol having a long carbon chain, such as 1-decanol, was anchored on the surface of a part of adduct 1 to give a mixture of MgCl2 adducts having an internal surfactant. A multifunctional polymer/oligomer, e. g. poly(ethylene glycol)-200 (PEG-200), was introduced into this system yielding a composite of liquid inorganics and polymers (CLIP). Under the regulation of the internal surfactant and the multifunctional polymer, this composite was melted and dispersed in an inert hydrocarbon solvent under vigorous agitation at elevated temperatures followed by fast cooling to generate a MgCl2-based spherical catalyst support precursor. SEM pictures show that this support precursor has a narrow particle size distribution, and its surface structure is an intricate combination of smaller MgCl2-based crystallites.

Foam sclerotherapy

SummaryMethods to improve the efficacy of foam sclerotherapy might include: more vigorous agitation methods to produce more stable foam with smaller bubble size, increasing the volume and/or concentration of the sclerosing agent, use of an intravenous catheter, and leg elevation to evacuate as much blood as possible. Methods to improve the safety of foam sclerotherapy might include: use of an intravenous indwelling catheter; saphenofemoral junction occlusion; low foam volume; use of low silicon syringes; use of non airbased foam; avoidance of high concentration sclerosing agents in patients with duplicated femoral vein segments; leg elevation before or after injection of foam; and maintaining patient immobility after injection.A series of studies and exercises are described which call into question many methods proposed to limit the dispersal of injected foam. The use of non air-based foam may reduce the incidence of side effects.

Crosslinking of DNA and proteins induced by protein hydroperoxides

Exposure of DNA to several proteins peroxidized by radiation-generated hydroxyl free radicals resulted in formation of crosslinks between the macromolecules, detected by retardation and broadening of DNA bands in agarose gels. This technique proved suitable for the study of crosslinking of DNA with peroxidized BSA, insulin, apotransferrin and α casein, but not with several other proteins, including histones. The crosslinking depended on the presence of intact hydroperoxide groups on the protein, on their number, and on the duration of the interaction with DNA. All DNA samples tested, pBR322, pGEM, λ/HindIII and pUC18, formed crosslinks with the peroxidized BSA. Sodium chloride and formate prevented the crosslinking if present during incubation of the peroxidized protein and DNA, but had no effect once the crosslinks had formed. The gel shift of the crosslinked DNA was reversed by proteolysis, indicating that the DNA mobility change was due to attachment of protein and that the crosslinking did not induce DNA strand breaks. The metal chelators Desferal and neocuproine reduced the extent of the crosslinking, but did not prevent it. Scavengers of free radicals did not inhibit the crosslink formation. The DNA–protein complex was not disrupted by vigorous agitation, by filtration or by non-ionic detergents. These observations show that the crosslinking of DNA with proteins mediated by protein hydroperoxides is spontaneous and probably covalent, and that it may be assisted by transition metals. It is suggested that formation of such crosslinks in living organisms could account for some of the well-documented forms of biological damage induced by reactive oxygen species-induced oxidative stress.

Study of the reductive dechlorination of pentachlorophenol by a methanogenic consortium

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) dechlorination by a methanogenic consortium was observed when glucose, formate, lactate, or yeast extract was present in the mineral medium as a secondary carbon source. Acetate was not a good substrate to sustain dechlorination. The consortium was able to dechlorinate the different monochlorophenols, although the chlorine in position ortho and meta was removed more readily than in para position. Dechlorination was most efficient at 37 °C. At 45 °C, the first PCP dechlorination steps were very rapid, but 3,5-dichlorophenol (3,5-DCP) was not further dechlorinated. At 15 and 4 °C, dechlorination was very slow. The dechlorination of PCP to 3-chlorophenol (3-CP) was still observed after the consortium had been subjected to heat treatment (80 °C, 60 min), suggesting that spore-forming bacteria were responsible. The dechlorinating activity of the consortium was significantly reduced by the presence of hydrogen, 2-bromoethanosulfonic acid (BESA), or sulfate but not of nitrate. The dechlorination of 3-CP was completely inhibited by heat treatment or the presence of BESA, suggesting that a syntrophic microorganism would be involved. Vigorous agitation of the consortium stopped the dechlorination, but the presence of DEAE-Sephacel acting as a support was very efficient in restoring the activity, suggesting that association between certain members of the consortium was important.Key words: pentachlorophenol, dechlorination, anaerobic, methanogenesis.

Release of Cuticle from Wool by Agitation in Solutions of Detergents

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to study the progressive disruption of Merino wool during the vigorous agitation of the fibres in aqueous 10J0 (w Iv) solutions of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). In contrast to the general disruption observed when wool was vigorously agitated in formic acid, the cuticle was slowly stripped from the fibre with virtually no release of cortical material unless prolonged periods of agitation were used. A similar type of disruption took place in aqueous 10J0 (w Iv) solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CETAB) and Triton X-lOO. After the agitation in 10J0 (w/v) SDS solution, the released cuticle fragments and the remaining fibres were examined. Only a minority of the cell portions constituting the cuticle fragments had been cleaved within the endocuticle. Often, the fragments included portions from more than one cuticle cell, with the cell junctions still intact. An understanding of the disruptive process was facilitated by the frequent observation, on residual fibres, of low ridges on exposed underlying cuticle cells. These low ridges corresponded with the distal edges of the originally overlying cuticle cells. Amino-acid analysis and scanning electron microscopy performed on preparations of cuticle obtained in solutions of the above detergents and in formic acid indicated close similarities between all of the cuticle preparations.

Keratin Fibres VII. Proteins of the Histological Components of Kangaroo Fibres

Cortical cells, cuticle, and an impure sample of medulla were prepared from kangaroo fibres by vigorous agitation in formic acid at room temperatme, which control experiments show causes no degradation of soluble. high-or low-sulphur proteins. Many reductive extraction procedures were examined and the best method appears to be treatment with O� 2M thioglycollate at pH 11� 0 in 8M urea for 3 hr at 40�C, followed by coupling with iodoacetate. The high-and low-sulphur proteins from kangaroo fibres and its histological components were prepared and examined by gel filtration using Agarose in 8M urea at pH 8 with a column calibrated for measurement of molecular weight.

Constitutional Reforms versus National Agitation in India, 1900-1950

The political development of India during the first half of the twentieth century was conditioned by constitutional reforms introduced by the British rulers, and by a vigorous agitation for national freedom. A constitution is a normative description of existing or intended relationships of political power; under the circumstances prevailing in India at that time, such a description was bound to be challenged again and again by an agitation for the revision of the status quo. In this way a peculiar relationship developed between constitutional reform and agitational advance. The constitutional reforms were designed to fulfill agitational demands on the one hand and to forestall more extreme demands on the other. Therefore they conformed to agitational patterns. In a similar way, the agitation was conditioned by the particular circumstances created by each constitutional reform; the constitution of the national movement itself, i.e., of the Indian National Congress, had to be adapted to the new situation whenever constitutional reforms were at stake. Finally when independence was achieved, an Indian Constituent Assembly adopted a constitution which closely resembled the previous constitutional structure introduced by British Acts of Parliament.