Amphibians and ultra high diluted thyroxine--further experiments and re-analysis of data.

BACKGROUND: A model of thyroxine and metamorphosis of highland amphibians is frequently mentioned as an example of experiments on extremely diluted substances in discussions around 'homeopathy'. METHODS: The model was scrutinized by reanalysing the results of the initial researcher A and a second researcher B as well as of 5 external researchers C between 1990 and 2013. Rana temporaria larvae were taken from an alpine highland biotope. The test solution was thyroxine 10(-30) (T30x), tetra-iodo-thyronine sodium pentahydrate diluted with pure water in 26 steps of 1:10, being agitated after each step. Analogously prepared water (W30x) was used for control. Tadpoles were observed from the 2-legged to the 4-legged stage. Experiments were performed in different years, at different times of season, and their duration could vary. Frequencies of 4-legged animals, effect sizes and areas under the curves (AUCs) were calculated and regression analyses were performed to investigate possible correlations between year, season, duration etc. Experiments were in line with animal protection guidelines. RESULTS: The total set of data A + B + C as well as subsets A (initial researcher, N=286+293), B (second centre, 965 + 965) and C (5 external researchers, 690 + 690) showed an effect of extremely diluted agitated thyroxine reverse to that known of molecular thyroxin, i.e. test values were below control by 11.4% for A, 9.5% for B and 7.0% for C (p<0.001 for each of the subsets). The effect size (Cohen's d) was >0.8 (large) for both A and B and 0.74 (medium) for C. CONCLUSION: Although a perfect reproducibility was not obtained, this paradoxical phenomenon was generally consistent in different observations. Correlations were found between details of laboratory handling, as well as environment temperature, and the size of the results.

Replication of an experiment on extremely diluted thyroxine and highland amphibians.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to reproduce an experiment with diluted thyroxine and amphibians. A detailed account of the difficulties of this line of research has been published by the initial team (Endler and Scherer-Pongratz). One experiment which has been reported reproducible by the initial team and independent researchers is the effect of extremely diluted agitated thyroxine (T30x) versus analogously prepared water (W30x) in amphibians from biotopes above the tree line (highland amphibians). METHODS: (A) The author replicated the experiment. Rana temporaria were taken from an alpine biotope and the methods given in the original protocols were followed. Animals were treated from the 2-legged stage on. (B), the author reanalyzed the results reported by the initial team and by independent researchers (van Wijk, Lassnig, Zausner-Lukitsch, Bach, Harrer). RESULTS: (A) In the author's own experiment, there was a clear trend of T30x animals developing more slowly (i.e. up to 6 h within 3 days) than W30x animals. This is in line with the previous experiments. Due to small numbers of animals, the differences in the frequency of larvae reaching the 4-legged stage and the stage with reduced tail were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The effect size was large (d > 0.08). (B) In the analysis of all available data with regard to the 4-legged stage, pooled T30x values from the initial team were 10.1% smaller than W30x values (100%) and pooled T30x values from the 5 independent researchers were 12.4% smaller (p < 0.01 and d > 0.08). Analogously, the number of animals entering the juvenile stage with reduced tail was smaller for T30x than for W30x.

[Analysis of proteins, amino acids and inorganic elements in Holotrichia diomphalia from different areas].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the content of proteins,amino acids and inorganic elements of Holotrichia diomphalia in different growing areas as the references for quality evaluation and reasonable application of them. METHODS: The contents of proteins were determined using semi-micro Kjeldahl method. The contents of seventeen amino acids and inorganic elements were determined with amino acid analyzer and atomic absorption spectrometer and elemental analyzer, respectively. RESULTS: The contents of protein were 33.4%-44.4%, and that in Jiangxi were the highest in five different areas. There were seventeen kinds of amino acids in Holotrichia diomphalia. Among them, seven amino acids were essential to human life. The content of glutamic acid was the highest in seventeen amino acids. In inorganic elements, the content of Mg, Ca was higher in macroelements and Fe, Zn was higher in microelements. CONCLUSION: There are many kinds of necessary amino acids and inorganic elements for man kind in Holotrichia diomphalia. The contents of proteins, amino acids and inorganic elements have some difference in Holotrichia diomphalia of different growing areas.

[Senility-preventing effect of erlingcankang decoction].

Experiments with Erlingcankang Decoction showed that when given to silk worms it could noticeably prolong the growth period of larvae and raise an average of 10-day survival of the male moths; when given to mice it could prolong their life; and when given to on old rats it could markedly raise the contents of SOD in the liver and red cells, lower the content of MAO-B in the brain, LF in the brain and adrenal gland and also LPO in the liver.

Effect of fortification of Mulberry leaves with homeopathic drug Nux vomica on Bombyx mori. L.

Silk worm (Bombyx mori L.) larvae were fed on Mulberry leaves treated with Nux vomica mother tincture. The impact on larval, cocoon, shell and pupal weight, silk ratio, average filament length and denier, and number of breakages during reeling were investigated. The results were positive in all parameters under study except cocoon weight, pupal weight, and the average denier of the filament.