Comparing the Detection of Endogenous Psychedelics in Individuals With and Without Alleged Mediumistic Experiences.

CONTEXT: Mediumship is the alleged ability to communicate with deceased personalities. Previous studies have suggested that the endogenous psychotomimetic molecules bufotenine (BT) and dimethyltryptamine (DMT) may play a role in the pathogenesis of psychotic disorders. Distortion of perceptions observed during spiritual experiences could supposedly relate to these substances. OBJECTIVE: To compare the presence of BT and DMT in human urine samples between individuals with and without mediumistic experiences. METHODS: All participants (5 from medium's group - MG and 5 from non-medium's group - CG) undertook a single night continuous 6-h urine pool collection (6:00-11:59 PM). Mediums collected urine samples in nights when they reported having experienced mediumistic communication. A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) assay was used. Questionnaires were used to detect common mental disorders symptoms, and to screen and quantify anomalous experiences. RESULTS: DMT was not detected in any urine specimen tested. The presence of BT detection in urine samples was greater in CG (2/5) than in MG (1/5), with no significant differences (p > 0.99). MG reported more anomalous experiences than CG (6.6±0.8 vs. 2.2±1.5, p = 0.03), but there was no difference concerning their mental health. CONCLUSION: There were no differences between individuals with and without alleged mediumistic experiences concerning endogenous psychedelics. Both BT and DMT are highly sensitive to metabolism by monoamine oxidase and to N-oxidation, and do not survive in the periphery for long. Alternative strategies should be considered to further investigate the putative role of the endogenous psychedelics pathway for the spiritual experiences.

Nanotecnologia: pprogresso científico, material, global e ético / Nanotecnología: progreso científico, material, global ético / Nanoechnology: sscientific, material, global and ethic poggress

Este artigo objetiva esclarecer sobre nanotecnologia, com ênfase em nanomedicina, e seus progressos: científico, material, global e ético, principalmente no Brasil, até maio de 2013. Existe muito debate nas implicações futuras da nanotecnologia, pois os desafios são semelhantes aos de desenvolvimentos de novas tecnologias, incluindo questões sobre a toxicidade e impactos ambientais dos nanomateriais, e os efeitos potenciais na economia global, assim como a especulação sobre cenários futuros. É necessário definir concentrações seguras de exposição aos nanomateriais, estabelecer normas de utilização e instituir regras adequadas para a eliminação dos resíduos associados à atividade nanotecnológica. O Brasil tem avançado nessa área.

El artículo busca aclarar acerca de nanotecnologia, con énfasis en nanomedicina y sus progresos: científico, material, global y ético, sobre todo en Brasil, hasta mayo de 2013. Hay mucho debate en las implicaciones futuras de la nanotecnología, pues sus retos son semejantes a los de desarrollos de nuevas tecnologías, que incluyen cuestionamientos acerca de la toxicidad e impactos ambientales de los nanomateriales, además de los efectos potenciales en la economía global, además de la especulación sobre escenarios futuros. Es necesario que se definan concentraciones seguras de exposición a los nanomateriales, establezcan normas de utilización y se instituyan reglas adecuadas para la eliminación de los residuos asociados a la actividad nanotecnológica. Brasil ha avanzado en esta área.

The article seeks to clarify nanotechnology, focsuing on nanomedicine and its progress: scientific, material, global and ethics, especially in Brazil, until May 2013. There is much debate on the future implications of nanotechnology, since its challenges are similar to the development of new technologies, including questions about the toxicity and environmental impact of nanomaterials, in addition to the potential effects on the global economy, and speculation about future scenarios. It is necessary to define safe concentrations of exposure to nanomaterials, institute standards for the use and institute appropriate rules for waste disposal activities associated with nanotechnology. Brazil has advanced in this area.