Evaluación de la efectividad del medicamento homeopático Natrum muriaticum 200ch en la infección por herpes simple / Assessment of the Effectiveness of the Homeopathic Medicine Natrum muriaticum 200ch against Herpes Simplex Infection

Introducción: La infección cutánea producida por el virus del herpes simple es una de las enfermedades víricas más frecuentes, puede producir una morbilidad notable e importantes efectos personales, sociales y psicológicos. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad del medicamento homeopático Natrum muriaticum 200 CH en la mejoría de los síntomas clínicos, evolución de las lesiones y de las recidivas en este tipo de infección. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio cuasiexperimental, longitudinal y prospectivo desde febrero hasta julio de 2017 en pacientes que acudieron a la consulta de Dermatología con infección por herpes simples bucal o genital, los cuales constituyeron el universo de estudio. Por método aleatorio simple se distribuyeron 62 pacientes en dos grupos de estudio: grupo A con 32 pacientes, a quienes se les indicó el medicamento homeopático y grupo B integrado por 30 pacientes, a los que se les indicó el Aciclovir en crema u oral, según la severidad de los síntomas. Resultados: Se logró una mejoría total de los síntomas dolorosos y lesiones, con menos de 72 horas de aplicado el tratamiento homeopático, en el 90,6 % de los pacientes y la no aparición de recidivas en el 100 % de los pacientes del grupo A en los primeros tres meses, en comparación con el grupo B. Conclusiones: Se demostró la efectividad del medicamento homeopático Natrum muriaticum 200 CH en la mejoría de los síntomas y lesiones, así como la no aparición de recidivas en esta infección.

Introduction: Skin infection caused by the herpes simplex virus is one of the most frequent viral diseases. It can cause significant morbidity and significant personal, social and psychological effects. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the homeopathic medicine Natrum muriaticum 200ch in improving the clinical symptoms, evolution of lesions and relapses in this type of infection. Methods: A prospective, longitudinal, quasiexperimental study was carried out, from February to July 2017, with patients who attended the dermatology consultation with herpes simplex infection (oral or genital); all they made up the study universe. By simple random method, 62 patients were distributed into two study groups: group A, made up of 32 patients, who were prescribed the homeopathic medicine; and group B, made up of 30 patients, who were prescribed Acyclovir (cream or oral), according to the severity of symptoms. Results: Total improvement of the painful symptoms and injuries was achieved, within less than 72 hours of applying the homeopathic treatment, in 90.6% of the patients, as well as nonappearance of relapses in 100% of the patients in group A in the first three months, compared to group B. Conclusions: The effectiveness of the homeopathic medicine Natrum muriaticum 200ch was demonstrated, based on the improvement of symptoms and lesions as well as the nonappearance of relapses in this infection.

Histamine reduces gap junctional communication of human tonsil high endothelial cells in culture.

The regulation of gap junctional communication by histamine was studied in primary cultures of human tonsil high endothelial cells (HUTECs). We evaluated intercellular communication, levels, state of phosphorylation, and cellular distribution of gap junction protein subunits, mainly connexin (Cx)43. Histamine induced a time-dependent reduction in dye coupling (Lucifer yellow) associated with reduction in connexin43 localized at cell-cell appositions (immunofluorescence), without changes in levels and phosphorylation state of connexin43 (immunoblots). These effects were prevented with chlorpheniramine, an H1 receptor blocker; indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase blocker; or GF109203X, a protein kinase C inhibitor. Treatment with phorbol myristate acetate, a protein kinase C activator, and 4bromo (4Br)-A23187, a calcium ionophore, mimicked the histamine-induced effects on dye coupling. 8Bromo-cAMP doubled the dye coupling extent and prevented the histamine-induced reduction in incidence of dye coupling. After 24-h histamine treatment, known to desensitize H1 receptors, reapplication of histamine increased cell coupling in a way prevented by ranitidine, an H2 receptor blocker. Thus, activation of H1 and H2 receptors, which increase intracellular levels of free Ca2+ and cAMP, respectively, may affect gap junctional communication in opposite ways. Stabilization of actin filaments with phalloidine diminished but did not totally prevent histamine-induced cell shape changes and reduction in dye coupling. Hence, the histamine-induced reduction in gap junctional communication between HUTEC is mediated by cytoskeleton-dependent and -independent mechanisms and might contribute to modulate endothelial function in lymphoid tissue.

Regulation of hepatic connexins in cholestasis: possible involvement of Kupffer cells and inflammatory mediators.

Hepatocyte gap junction proteins, connexins (Cxs) 26 and 32, are downregulated during obstructive cholestasis (OC) and lipopolysaccharide hepatocellular cholestasis (LPS-HC). We investigated rat hepatic Cxs during ethynylestradiol hepatocellular cholestasis (EE-HC) and choledochocaval fistula (CCF) and compared them with OC and LPS-HC. Levels (immunoblotting) and cellular distribution (immunofluorescence) of Cx26, -32, and -43, as well as macrophage infiltration, were studied in livers of rats under each condition. Cx26 and -32 were reduced in LPS-HC, OC, and CCF. However, in EE-HC, Cx26 did not change and Cx32 was increased. Prominent inflammation occurred in LPS-HC, OC, and CCF, which was associated with increased levels of Cx43 in LPS-HC and OC but not CCF. No inflammation nor changes in Cx43 levels occurred during EE-HC. In cultured hepatocytes, dye coupling was reduced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukins-1beta and -6, whereas reduction induced by LPS required coculture with Kupffer cells. Thus hepatocyte gap junctions are downregulated in forms of cholestasis associated with inflammation, and reduced intercellular communication might be induced in part by proinflammatory mediators.