Like cures like: a neuroimmunological model based on electromagnetic resonance.

OBJECTIVES: Recent investigations have pointed to the production of characteristic electromagnetic (EM) waves in highly diluted sterile filtrates of different microorganisms and their associated DNA molecules. Analysis of these diluted solutions that are prepared using methods almost identical to the way that homeopathic medicines are prepared has pointed to the existence of nanostructures capable of emitting EM waves. Combining these results with findings that point to the interaction of EM waves with sensory nerves with subsequent activation of homeostatic efferent pathways, we propose a model to describe mechanisms underlying the effects of homeopathic remedies. THE MODEL: Living cells and tissues are capable of generating EM waves in their physiological conditions. When a cell deviates from its physiological state, in addition to normal EM emissions, it starts to produce EM waves with altered characteristics. According to our model, the main cause of the therapeutic effects of homeopathic remedies is the occurrence of resonance between the non-physiological EM waves of the patient and extremely low-frequency EM waves produced by nanostructures present in the homeopathic remedy. Resonance occurs if the frequency and amplitude characteristics of the patient's non-physiological EM waves and those produced by nanostructures of the applied homeopathic remedy are similar. Once resonance occurs, stimulation of the patient's sensory neurons, which are sensitized due to inflammation of any origin, leads to triggering of different regulatory mechanisms, including the activation of descending antinociceptive and/or cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathways, which leads to the restoration of homeostasis.

Effects of Essential Oil from Thymus vulgaris on Viability and Inflammation in Zebrafish Embryos.

Innate immunity provides the initial response against pathogens and includes the inflammatory response. Regulation of the initiation and duration of neutrophil and mononuclear cell influx during inflammation determines both the successfulness of pathogen elimination and the level of resulting tissue damage. Zebrafish embryos provide excellent opportunities to visualize the inflammatory response. Neutrophil granules may be stained with Sudan black, and variation in neutrophil counts may be used to monitor the level of the response. Inflammation may be triggered by injuring the caudal fin, providing an opportunity for testing possible anti-inflammatory compounds in a whole-animal system. The use of homeopathic compounds as anti-inflammatory treatments is common in alternative medicine. Effects of unfractionated essential oil from Thymus vulgaris and its specific component, carvacrol, have been examined in cells in culture and in rodents. Our work extends this research to zebrafish, and includes toxicity and morphological studies as well as examination of anti-inflammatory effects following tail fin injury. Our results show that zebrafish are more sensitive to thyme oil compared to cells in culture, that cardiac defects arise due to thyme oil treatment, and that thyme oil reduces neutrophil infiltration during an inflammatory response.

[A technique for investigating the component of cantharidin blisters by flow cytometry].

OBJECTIVE: Cantharidimide cause blister. The effect of blister on immunoregulation was investigated. METHODS: Cantharidimide was placed on the skin, 48h later, the blister was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The blister contained 1 x 10(6) - 1 x 10(7) cells per ml, most of which were neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells (DC), and IL-12 secreted by Thl cells. CONCLUSION: There are high concent of DC in the blister, which is differential and induce the secretion of Th1, the activation of T cell. The blister modulate the biological response of patients and is helpful for treatment with infective disease.

Immunoregulation via 'bystander suppression' needs minute amounts of substances--a basis for homeopathic therapy?

One of the main characteristics of homeopathic drugs is the low concentration of substances they contain. In most discussions this serves as the predominant argument against homeopathic treatments. The small amount of ingredients is in most instances considered not to be able to induce significant changes in classical pharmacological models. A few years ago researchers at the Harvard Medical School in Boston observed that the auto-reactivity ofT-cells is managed by the immune system in at least two different ways that obviously were dependent upon the concentration of the antigen they encounter: If they see high concentrations of a self-antigen they are deleted (killed), but when given low doses they undergo a special kind of active inhibition (called 'bystander suppression'). We feel that this type of regulation induced by very low substance concentrations could serve as a model to explain the way in which at least some homeopathic pharmaceuticals mediate their therapeutic effects.

Serum markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in chronic opium (Taryak) smokers.

A relationship between the expression of inflammation markers, oxidative stress and opium use has not been clearly established. This study was done to determine serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), quantity of C3 and C4 complement factors, immunoglobulins, nitric oxide (NO) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in opium smokers and non-drug-using control participants. The present study was done on 44 male opium smokers and 44 controls of the same sex and age (20-40 years). The control group was healthy individuals with no lifetime history of drug abuse or dependence. All of the opium abusers were selected from those who had a history of opium use, for at least one year, with a daily opium dosage not less than 2g. Addicts known to abuse alcohol or other drugs were excluded. Serum hs-CRP concentration was measured using ELISA method and serum C3, C4 and immunoglobulins concentration were determined by Single Radial Immunodiffusion (SRID) method. NO production was estimated through Griess reaction and TAC was assessed by Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power (FRAP) test. Serum hs-CRP, complement factors (C3 and C4) and FRAP levels were significantly higher in the opium smokers (8.93 ± 1.93; 138.47 ± 13.39; 68.79 ± 7.02 and 972.75 ± 11.55, respectively) relative to the control group (0.72 ± 0.09; 93.36 ± 8.73; 33.08 ± 7.39 and 761.95 ± 18.61, respectively). These results permit us to conclude that opium smokers indeed present with a low to moderate grade inflammation, which is defined by an increase in acute phase proteins.