Holy Medicine: Patron Saints of Wounds Due to Animal Bites.

The cult of saints in Western Europe developed during the late period of antiquity and the early Middle Ages. Their importance to European society was undeniable; holy medicine was the only hope for people, because there were no doctors. The number of saints had increased over the years, and people sought medical help from them through prayer and other religious practices. Some of the saints became "specialized" in treating various wounds and dermatologic diseases. During our research, we tried to determine whether the cult of saints led to the develop-ment of hospitals that treated skin diseases, as discovered in the Hospital Brother of Saint Anthony. A large number of saints who were patrons of wounds and skin diseases were collected in three studies. In the first report, we presented a great number of saints who were patrons to treat animal bites. The second report presented patron saints of wounds, ulcers, burns, and frostbites; and the third report decsribed saints who treated contagious diseases (such as ergotism, leprosy, and scabies). The phenomenon of holy medicine is part of the history of dermatology and is important due to "specializations," which refer to an understanding of skin diseases and the methods of treating various wounds and dermatologic diseases.

A saint in the history of Cardiology / Un santo en la historia de la Cardiología

Niels Stensen (1638-1686) was born in Copenhagen. He took courses in medicine at the local university under the guidance of Professor Thomas Bartholin and later at Leiden under the tutelage of Franz de la Boé (Sylvius). While in Holland, he discovered the existence of the parotid duct, which was named Stensen's duct or stenonian duct (after his Latinized name Nicolaus Stenon). He also described the structural and functional characteristics of peripheral muscles and myocardium. He demonstrated that muscular contraction could be elicited by appropriate nerve stimulation and by direct stimulation of the muscle itself and that during contraction the latter does not increase in volume. Toward the end of 1664, the Academic Senate of the University of Leiden awarded him the doctor in medicine title. Later, in Florence, he was admitted as a corresponding member in the Academia del Cimento (Experimental Academy) and collaborated with the Tuscan physician Francesco Redi in studies relating to viviparous development. In the Tuscan capital, he converted from Lutheranism to Catholicism and was shortly afterwards ordained in the clergy. After a few years, he was appointed apostolic vicar in northern Germany and died in the small town of Schwerin, capital of the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin on November 25, 1686.

Niels Stensen (1638-1686) nació en Copenhague, siguió cursos de medicina en la universidad local bajo la tutoría del profesor Thomas Bartholin y, más tarde, en Leyden con Franz de la Boé (Sylvius). En Holanda descubrió la existencia del conducto parotideo, al que los catedráticos de la universidad mencionada dieron el nombre de conducto stenoniano (de su nombre latinizado: Nicolaus Steno). Demostró asimismo las características estructurales y funcionales de los músculos periféricos y del miocardio. Comprobó que la contracción muscular puede reproducirse no solo por estimulación del nervio correspondiente, sino también por estimulación directa del mismo músculo y que, durante la contracción, este último no aumenta de volumen. Hacia fines del ano 1664, le fue otorgado el título de doctor en medicina por el Senado Académico de la Universidad de Leyden. Más tarde, en Florencia, fue admitido como miembro correspondiente en la <

Anorexia santa e anorexia contemporânea:o mesmo transtorno em épocas distintas? / Anorexia mirabilis and contemporary anorexia: the same disorder in different periods?

Este estudo visa a analisar até que ponto é possível relacionar algumas santas da Idade Média, tidas como as santas anoréxicas e reveladoras de práticas rigorosas de jejum, com as anoréxicas da contemporaneidade, considerando-as como possuidoras do mesmo transtorno. O recurso metodológico utilizado refere-se a um estudo teórico da biografia de três dessas santas consideradas anoréxicas, confrontando-as com estudos referentes à anorexia nervosa presente nas mulheres da contemporaneidade. Percebe--se que há pontos em comuns entre ambas, mas não é possível equipará-las, uma vez que os ideais que as mesmas almejam são bastante divergentes, além de ser distinto o contexto histórico-cultural na qual se inserem...

This study aims to assess the possible correlation between some female saints of the Middle Ages, known as anorexic saints because of their severe fasting practices, with the contemporary anorexic women, considering both as sufferers from the same disorder. The methodology consists of a theoretical study of the biography of three anorexic saintsand contrast of this information with the studies of anorexia nervosa in the contemporary world.. The results point to some characteristics in common, but not enough to consider their disorders as equal, as the ideals involved are diverging and they do not share the same historic and cultural background...

Anorexia santa e anorexia contemporânea: o mesmo transtorno em épocas distintas? / Anorexia holy and contemporary anorexia: the same disorder in different periods?

Este estudo visa a analisar até que ponto é possível relacionar algumas santas da Idade Média, tidas como as santas anoréxicas e reveladoras de práticas rigorosas de jejum, com as anoréxicas da contemporaneidade, considerando-as como possuidoras do mesmo transtorno. O recurso metodológico utilizado refere-se a um estudo teórico da biografia de três dessas santas consideradas anoréxicas, confrontando-as com estudos referentes à anorexia nervosa presente nas mulheres da contemporaneidade. Percebe-se que há pontos em comuns entre ambas, mas não é possível equipará-las, uma vez que os ideais que as mesmas almejam são bastante divergentes, além de ser distinto o contexto histórico-cultural na qual se inserem. (AU)

Camilo, o protetor dos enfermos / Camilo, the protector of the sick

Camilo de Léllis nasceu em 25 de maio de 1550, em Bucchianico, Itália. A mãe morrera quando ele tinha 13 anos de idade e o pai, um militar quase sempre ausente de casa. Camilo perdeu sua herança à custa de jogos de baralho em más companhias. Alistou-se no exército. Foi acometido de úlcera na perna e no pé direitos, abandonou o exército. Ingressou na Ordem Franciscana. Em um hospital de Roma soube que a ferida era incurável. Dedicou se aos cuidados de pacientes como voluntário e, ordenado padre em 1584, constitui uma irmandade para aquele fim. Faleceu em 1614, foi canonizado em 1746 como patrono dos doentes. Atualmente, a Ordem dos Ministros dos Enfermos que fundara atua em 35 países, incluso o Brasil.

Camilo de Léllis was born in 1550 May 25, in Bucchianico, Italy. His mother died when he was thirteen, and his father, a military man, was almost always absent. Due to bad companies, he had lost all his assets by gambling. Afterward, he made his enrollment in the Army. However, an ulcer damned severely his right foot and leg and so he left the Army and joined the Franciscan Order. In a hospital in Rome, he knew his wound had no cure. He started to help other patients as a volunteer. In 1584, he was ordered a priest and constituted a brotherhood to take care of patients. He died in 1614 and was canonized as patron of the patients in 1746. Currently, the brotherhood he founded exists in35 countries including Brazil.

Regresión biológica espontánea de gliomas de las vías ópticas: un prototipo de tumores de San Peregrino / Spontaneous biological regression of the visual pathway gliomas: a Saint Pellegrino prototype tumors

San Peregrino Lanziosi es considerado el patrón de los pacientes con cáncer y por extensión, de aquellos con HIV/SIDA. Un episodio revelador tuvo lugar hacia 1325, cuando contaba cerca de sesenta años. Una gangrena dolorosa en su pierna derecha se tornó tan seria que su médico le propuso la amputación. En la noche previa a la cirugía, con gran dificultad Peregrino se arrastró hasta un Cristo crucificado localizado en una pared del cuarto y allí, suplicó a Jesús que le curara. Mientras se encontraba medio dormido vio al Señor tocar su pierna mortificada la cual fue curada instantáneamente y en forma espontánea. Desde la ocurrencia del milagro, aquellos tumores que regresan biológicamente hasta desaparecer, son llamados tumores de San Peregrino. Los gliomas de las vías visuales son tumores multifacéticos. Considerados como gliomas pilocíticos benignos juveniles, en algunos casos pueden mostrar progresión invadiendo estructuras de cercanía y causando pérdida visual. En otros permanecen estables por muchos años, y en una cantidad no determinada, aún exhiben regresión biológica espontánea con mejoría de los síntomas. El fenómeno de la regresión espontánea de tumores benignos y malignos está bien documentada en la literatura y comúnmente se atribuye a la inducción de apoptosis o la activación del sistema inmune. Es de crucial importancia el que este fenómeno sea tomado en consideración siempre que se evalúen los resultados de algún tratamiento (resección quirúrgica, radiación o quimioterapia). Apoyado en una secuencia de neuroimágenes, el autor comunica tres de tales casos, ninguno de ellos era portador de una neurofibromatosis tipo 1 (NF-1)

Saint Pellegrino Lanziosi is considered the patron of patients with cancer, and by extension of those with HIV infection/AIDS. A revealing episode took place around 1325, when he was almost sixty years old. A painful gangrene in his right leg became so serious that the friary physician had to amputate the sore limb. The night before the operation Pellegrino crawled with great difficulty to the large Crucifix located inside his room and there he besought Jesus to heal him. While he was half-asleep, he saw Jesus touching his sore leg and he was instantly and spontaneously healed. Since the occurrence of this miracle, tumors that biologically recede until they disappear are known as Saint Pellegrino tumors. Visual pathway gliomas are multifaceted tumors. Although they are considered as benign juvenile pilocytic gliomas, in some cases they may progress, invading neighboring structures and causing loss of vision. In other cases, they remain stable for years, and may even shrink, showing spontaneous biological regression with improvement of related symptoms. The phenomenon of spontaneous regression of benign and malignant tumors is well documented in the literature and is commonly attributed to the induction of apoptosis or the activation of the immune system. It is crucially important that this phenomenon be taken into consideration whenever the results of therapy (surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy) are being evaluated. Supported by a sequence of neuroimages, the author communicates three of these cases. None of them were carriers of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1)

The image of a leper (?): a paradigm of hidden fears of contagious diseases (exemplified in a wall paitung of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary)

This is a brief study on the popular ideas about leprosy based on an 18th century wall painting in north-western Croatia portraying Saint Elisabeth healing a sick man, possibly a leper. The analysis uses examples from the history of medicine, semantics, toponymy and iconography.

Hildegarda de Bingen, a 900 años de su nacimiento / Hildegarda de Bingen, 900 years after her birth

Hildegarda de Bingen: condesa, moja benedictina, abadesa más tarde, médica, mística y santa de la Iglesia Católica. Los novecientos años de su nacimiento son razón suficiente para haer un homenaje a esta polifacética y polígrafa escritora. Se ha trabajado en particular lo odontológico, contenido en los textos de Hildegarda, en su original latino