Nanosized solvent superstructures in ultramolecular aqueous dilutions: twenty years' research using water proton NMR relaxation.

BACKGROUND: proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation times T1, T2, T1/T2 are sensitive to motion and organization of water molecules. Especially, increase in T1/T2 reflects a higher degree of structuring. My purpose was to look at physical changes in water in ultrahigh aqueous dilutions. METHODS: Samples were prepared by iterative centesimal (c) dilution with vigorous agitation, ranging between 3c and 24c (Avogadro limit 12c). Solutes were silica-lactose, histamine, manganese-lactose. Solvents were water, NaCl 0.15 M or LiCl 0.15 M. Solvents underwent strictly similar, simultaneous dilution/agitation, for each level of dilution, as controls. NMR relaxation was studied within 0.02-20 MHz. RESULTS: No changes were observed in controls. Increasing T1 and T1/T2 were found in dilutions, which persisted beyond 9c (manganese-lactose), 10c (histamine) and 12c (silica-lactose). For silica-lactose in LiCl, continuous decrease in T2 with increase in T1/T2 within the 12c-24c range indicated growing structuring of water despite absence of the initial solute. All changes vanished after heating/cooling. These findings were interpreted in terms of nanosized (>4-nm) supramolecular structures involving water, nanobubbles and ions, if any. Additional study of low dilutions of silica-lactose revealed increased T2 and decreased T1/T2 compared to solvent, within the 10(-3)-10(-6) range, reflecting transient solvent destructuring. This could explain findings at high dilution. CONCLUSION: Proton NMR relaxation demonstrated modifications of the solvent throughout the low to ultramolecular range of dilution. The findings suggested the existence of superstructures that originate stereospecifically around the solute after an initial destructuring of the solvent, developing more upon dilution and persisting beyond 12c.

Determination of muscle relaxants pancuronium and vecuronium bromide by capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection.

A novel capillary electrophoretic method for the separation of pancuronium (PM) and vecuronium (VM) ions utilizing capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection was devised and validated. The separation was carried out in bare fused-silica capillaries (50 µm id, 75/45 cm) at 25°C. Optimal BGE was 50 mM borate buffer of pH 9.5 containing 12.5 mg/mL of (2-hydoxypropyl)-γ-CD. The samples were injected hydrodynamically at 1000 mbar for 3 s. Separation was performed at +30 kV. Under such conditions the PM and VM were base-line resolved and the separation took < 4 min. For quantification phenyltrimethylammonium iodide was used as internal standard. Calibration curves were linear for both pancuronium bromide (PMB) and vecuronium bromide (VMB) in the range 25-250 µg/mL with r> 0.9968. The limits of detection were 7 and 6 µg/mL for PMB and VMB, respectively. The accuracy tested by recovery experiment at three concentration levels of added PMB and VMB was satisfactory (95.7-102.7%, n =3, with RSD < 2.61%). The method was successfully applied to the assay of PMB and VMB in commercial injection solutions.

Homeopathic ear drops as an adjunct to standard therapy in children with acute otitis media.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a homeopathic ear drop for treatment of otalgia in children with acute otitis media (AOM). METHODS: Children with AOM were enrolled in the study at the time of diagnosis and randomized to receive either standard therapy alone or standard therapy plus a homeopathic ear drop solution that was to be used on as needed basis for up to 5 days. Parents of children in both treatment groups rated the severity of 5 AOM symptoms twice daily for 5 days in a symptom diary. A symptom score was computed for each assessment with lower scores denoting less severe symptoms. Parents of children randomized to receive ear drops also recorded information regarding symptoms being treated and response to treatment. RESULTS: A total of 119 eligible children were enrolled in the study; symptom diaries were received from 94 (79%). Symptom scores tended to be lower in the group of children receiving ear drops than in those receiving standard therapy alone; these differences were significant at the second and third assessments (P = 0.04 and P = 0.003, respectively). In addition, the rate of symptom improvement was faster in children in the ear drop group compared with children in standard therapy alone group (P = 0.002). The most common reason for administration of ear drops was ear pain, recorded for 93 doses; improvement was noted after 78.4% of doses for this indication. There were no significant side effects related to use of the ear drops. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that homeopathic ear drops were moderately effective in treating otalgia in children with AOM and may be most effective in the early period after a diagnosis of AOM. Pediatricians and other primary health care providers should consider homeopathic ear drops a useful adjunct to standard therapy.

Comparison of solid and liquid forms of homeopathic remedies for tonsillitis.

The efficacy of three plants used in homeopathy to treat acute tonsillitis was evaluated. A fixed combination of three plant substances (Phytolacca americana, Guajacum officinale, Capsicum annuum) was used in either solid (tablet) or liquid (drop) formulation: 107 patients were treated and no antibiotics were used. The objective and subjective symptoms of acute tonsillitis were noted. A significant decrease in symptoms was observed as early as 2.5 days after treatment startup; no serious adverse effects were reported. It was concluded that acute tonsillitis can be treated with a homeopathic remedy characterized by its immunomodulatory, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties.

[Study on TLC profile of Pheretima aspergillum and Pheretima (Dilong) injection].

A set of characteristics (profiles) of Pheretima aspergillum and Pheretima (Dilong) injection were obtained from thin layer chromatography. It provides scientific method for identification and quality evaluation of Pheretima aspergillum and Pheretima (Dilong) injection.

[Study on the quality standard of changan oral solution].

OBJECTIVE: To study the quality standard of Changan oral solution. METHOD: Thin layer chromatography was used for identification pig's bile plaster. TLC scanning was used for the determination of hyodeoxycholic acid. RESULTS: The TLC identification was highly specific and the spots was clear and concentrated. Linear regression for hyodeoxycholic acid was over the range of 3.50-12.25 micrograms. The average recovery of hyodeoxycholic acid was 100.5%, RSD was 3.2%. CONCLUSION: This standard was capable to effectively control the quality of Changan oral solution.

Analytical characterisation of homoeopathic mother tinctures.

Quality of homoeopathic mother tinctures is assured by the definition of the starting material, the manufacturing process and the analytical characteristics described in the monograph. Traditionally analytical characterisation of the mother tincture comprises appearance, odour, identity, density and dry residue. According to annex I of directive 2001/83/EC an assay is only performed in case of a health hazard due to toxic compounds. The concept of marker substances as usually used in phytotherapy cannot be transferred to mother tinctures without research effort. For example the marker substances echinacoside, apigenin-7-glucoside and rosmarinic acid found in dried underground parts of Echinacea pallida Nutt., dried flower heads of Matricaria recutita L. and dried herb of Pulmonaria officinalis L. cannot be found in homoeopathic mother tinctures prepared from fresh material thereof.