¿Es el "diente rosado" válido en el contexto forense actual? / Are "pink teeth" relevant to current forensics?

Introducción: El "diente rosado" es un fenómeno post mortem. Se caracteriza por una tonalidad rosa, rojiza y hasta púrpura, que puede observarse en los dientes. Su primera referencia se remite a 1829, cuando Thomas Bell lo describió, y genera polémica desde hace casi dos siglos. La temática plantea varias interrogantes: ¿sería más lógico nombrarlo "red teeth" o "purple teeth"?, ¿qué provoca esa tonalidad más intensa?, ¿la coloración rosada indica determinada causa de muerte?, ¿queda para siempre o puede desaparecer por diversos factores? Objetivo: Describir los indicadores de que el "diente rosado" o "pink teeth" pueda aún ser considerado un elemento importante para la investigación forense actual. Comentarios principales: Luego de la experiencia acumulada con los casos trabajados durante los últimos 20 años y la revisión bibliográfica realizada, se evidencia que el fenómeno aparece sobre todo en las piezas dentales anteriores y premolares monorradiculares. Además, puede verse tanto ante mortem como post mortem. Por causas diferentes el post mortem necesita de varios días para instaurarse y es un evento tafonómico, evidenciable tanto en muertes violentas como naturales, aunque la variación en su tonalidad depende de diversos factores. Consideraciones globales: Teniendo en cuenta la experiencia obtenida por los autores, y lo referido en la bibliografía sobre el tema, se evidencia que este signo, fenómeno o hallazgo (al aclararse las interrogantes planteadas) aún puede ser muy significativo y orientador en el contexto forense actual(AU)

Introduction: "Pink teeth" are a post-mortem phenomenon characterized by a rose, reddish and even purple shade of color which may be observed in teeth. Their first reference dates back to 1829, when Thomas Bell described them. They have been a topic of debate for almost two centuries. The subject poses several questions: Would it be more logical to name them "red teeth" or "purple teeth"? What causes the increase in color intensity? Does the pink shade signal a specific cause of death? Does it remain forever or may it disappear for a variety of reasons? Objective: Describe the indicators that "pink teeth" may still be considered an important element in current forensic research. Main remarks: Based on the experience gathered from the cases analyzed in the last 20 years and the bibliographic review conducted, it is evident that the phenomenon appears mainly in anterior teeth and single-rooted premolars. On the other hand, pink teeth may be observed ante mortem as well as post mortem. For a number of reasons, post mortem pink teeth take several days to form, and they are a taphonomic phenomenon, present in violent as well as natural deaths, though their change in tone depends on various factors. General considerations: Founded on the experience obtained by the authors and the bibliography about the topic, it is evident that this sign, phenomenon or finding (upon clarification of the questions posed) may still be very significant and enlightening in the current forensic context(AU)

In vitro anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and anti- proliferative activity of green synthesized silver nanoparticles - Phoenix dactylifera (Rothan dates)

Abstract Traditionally dates is consumed as a rich source of iron supplement and the current research discuss the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using methanolic seed extract of Rothan date and its application over in vitro anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activity against lung cancer cell line (A549). FTIR result of synthesised AgNPs reveals the presence of functional group OH as capping agent. XRD pattern confirms the crystalline nature of the AgNPs with peaks at 38º, 44º, 64º and 81º, indexed by (111), (200), (220) and (222) in the 2θ range of 10-90, indicating the face centered cubic (fcc) structure of metallic Ag. HR- TEM results confirm the morphology of AgNPs as almost spherical with high surface areas and average size of 42 ± 9nm. EDX spectra confirmed that Ag is only the major element present and the Dynamic light scattering (DLS) assisted that the Z-average size was 203nm and 1.0 of PdI value. Zeta potential showed − 26.5mv with a single peak. The results of the biological activities of AgNPs exhibited dose dependent activity with 68.44% for arthritic, antiinflammatory with 63.32% inhibition and anti-proliferative activity illustrated IC50 value of 59.66 µg/mL expressing the potential of AgNPs to combat cancer

Apuntes para la historia de la Endocrinología en Camagüey / Notes for the history of Endocrinology in Camagüey

Introducción: En la década del 60 del pasado siglo, se inicia la atención especializada de Endocrinología en la provincia de Camagüey, Cuba. No existen evidencias documentales sobre esta temática en el territorio, por lo que puede afirmarse que es este un tema pendiente y necesario para la formación integral de los futuros especialistas. Objetivo: Describir la historia de la Endocrinología en la provincia de Camagüey, a partir de la labor de sus principales exponentes y los momentos más importantes de su desarrollo. Método: Investigación histórica basada en la investigación documental. Se utilizó el submétodo cronológico para establecer el orden de los hechos que se describen. Se hicieron entrevistas a personalidades que laboraron en la especialidad y se revisaron algunos artículos históricos publicados, así como documentos de la Biblioteca Provincial "Julio Antonio Mella." Resultados: Se pudo comprobar que antes de 1967 no existía atención endocrinológica especializada en la provincia y los pacientes con este tipo de afecciones eran atendidos fundamentalmente por especialistas en Medicina Interna. A inicios de 1967 llega a la provincia el primer especialista en Endocrinología, el Dr. Sergio Amaro Méndez. Este último, establece un servicio en esta especialidad y se inicia a partir de este momento un desarrollo acelerado en los aspectos docente, asistencial y científico. Conclusiones: La historia de la Endocrinología en Camagüey se inicia en 1967 y tiene su mayor esplendor durante el período de 1979-1990 con el inicio de las determinaciones hormonales por radioinmunoanálisis en la provincia y el inicio de la docencia médica de posgrado. El Grupo Provincial de Endocrinología se ha consolidado hasta alcanzar el prestigio nacional(AU)

Introduction: In the 1960s, specialized endocrinology care began in the province of Camagüey, Cuba. There is no documentary evidence on this topic in the territory, so it can be stated that this is a pending and necessary issue for the comprehensive training of future specialists. Objective: Describe the history of Endocrinology in the province and the most important moments of its development. Method: Historical research based on documentary research. The chronological sub-method was used to establish the order of the events that are described. Interviews were conducted to important people who worked in the specialty and some published historical articles were reviewed, as well as documents from ´´Julio Antonio Mella´´ Provincial Library. Results: It was found that before 1967 there was no specialized endocrinological care in the province and patients with these types of conditions were cared primarily by specialists in Internal Medicine. At the beginning of 1967, the first specialist in Endocrinology, Dr. Sergio Amaro Méndez, arrived to the province. He established a service in this specialty and from this moment on, an accelerated development in the teaching, healthcare and scientific aspects begins. Conclusions: The history of Endocrinology in Camagüey province begins in 1967 and has its greatest splendor during the period 1979-1990 with the beginning of hormonal determinations by radioimmunoassay in the province and the beginning of postgraduate medical teaching. The Provincial Group of Endocrinology has established itself as a group of national prestige(AU)

Fermented date residue extract mix containing gamma-aminobutyric acid augments the immune function of mouse splenocytes.

An extract of date (fruit of a palm tree) residue plus food-grade glutamate, acetic acid, and yeast extract (date residue extract mix, DREM) has been successfully fermented with using Lactobacillus brevis JCM 1059T to produce gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Here, mouse splenocytes were found to be viable when supplemented with DREM and fermented DREM containing GABA (fDREM). The addition of DREM and fDREM resulted in the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α from the splenocytes, fDREM being more effective than DREM. The TNF-α secretion with DREM was elevated by exogenous addition of GABA and that with fDREM was in part mediated via A-type GABA receptors. Contrary to general understanding of the suppressive effects of GABA on various biological functions, our findings suggest that GABA-containing fDREM arguments the immune function as a food and pharmaceutical material.

Origins of human disease: the chrono-epigenetic perspective.

Epigenetics has enriched human disease studies by adding new interpretations to disease features that cannot be explained by genetic and environmental factors. However, identifying causal mechanisms of epigenetic origin has been challenging. New opportunities have risen from recent findings in intra-individual and cyclical epigenetic variation, which includes circadian epigenetic oscillations. Cytosine modifications display deterministic temporal rhythms, which may drive ageing and complex disease. Temporality in the epigenome, or the 'chrono' dimension, may help the integration of epigenetic, environmental and genetic disease studies, and reconcile several disparities stemming from the arbitrarily delimited research fields. The ultimate goal of chrono-epigenetics is to predict disease risk, age of onset and disease dynamics from within individual-specific temporal dynamics of epigenomes.

Northward dispersal of dinosaurs from Gondwana to Greenland at the mid-Norian (215-212 Ma, Late Triassic) dip in atmospheric pCO2.

The earliest dinosaurs (theropods and sauropodomorphs) are found in fossiliferous early Late Triassic strata dated to about 230 million years ago (Ma), mainly in northwestern Argentina and southern Brazil in the Southern Hemisphere temperate belt of what was Gondwana in Pangea. Sauropodomorphs, which are not known for the entire Triassic in then tropical North America, eventually appear 15 million years later in the Northern Hemisphere temperate belt of Laurasia. The Pangea supercontinent was traversable in principle by terrestrial vertebrates, so the main barrier to be surmounted for dispersal between hemispheres was likely to be climatic; in particular, the intense aridity of tropical desert belts and unstable climate in the equatorial humid belt accompanying high atmospheric pCO2 that characterized the Late Triassic. We revisited the chronostratigraphy of the dinosaur-bearing Fleming Fjord Group of central East Greenland and, with additional data, produced a correlation of a detailed magnetostratigraphy from more than 325 m of composite section from two field areas to the age-calibrated astrochronostratigraphic polarity time scale. This age model places the earliest occurrence of sauropodomorphs (Plateosaurus) in their northernmost range to ∼214 Ma. The timing is within the 215 to 212 Ma (mid-Norian) window of a major, robust dip in atmospheric pCO2 of uncertain origin but which may have resulted in sufficiently lowered climate barriers that facilitated the initial major dispersal of the herbivorous sauropodomorphs to the temperate belt of the Northern Hemisphere. Indications are that carnivorous theropods may have had dispersals that were less subject to the same climate constraints.

Effect of social isolation in dengue cases in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil: An analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background Studies have shown that human mobility is an important factor in dengue epidemiology. Changes in mobility resulting from COVID-19 pandemic set up a real-life situation to test this hypothesis. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of reduced mobility due to this pandemic in the occurrence of dengue in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Method It is an ecological study of time series, developed between January and August 2020. We use the number of confirmed dengue cases and residential mobility, on a daily basis, from secondary information sources. Mobility was represented by the daily percentage variation of residential population isolation, obtained from the Google database. We modeled the relationship between dengue occurrence and social distancing by negative binomial regression, adjusted for seasonality. We represent the social distancing dichotomously (isolation versus no isolation) and consider lag for isolation from the dates of occurrence of dengue. Results The risk of dengue decreased around 9.1% (95% CI: 14.2 to 3.7) in the presence of isolation, considering a delay of 20 days between the degree of isolation and the dengue first symptoms. Conclusions We have shown that mobility can play an important role in the epidemiology of dengue and should be considered in surveillance and control activities.

Central European Early Bronze Age chronology revisited: A Bayesian examination of large-scale radiocarbon dating.

In archaeological research, changes in material culture and the evolution of styles are taken as major indicators for socio-cultural transformation. They form the basis for typo-chronological classification and the establishment of phases and periods. Central European Bronze Age material culture from burials reveals changes during the Bronze Age and represents a perfect case study for analyzing phenomena of cultural change and the adoption of innovation in the societies of prehistoric Europe. Our study focuses on the large-scale change in material culture which took place in the second millennium BC and the emergence at the same period of new burial rites: the shift from inhumation burials in flat graves to complex mounds and simple cremation burials. Paul Reinecke was the first to divide the European Bronze Age (EBA) into two phases, Bz A1 and A2. The shift from the first to the second phase has so far been ascribed to technical advances. Our study adopted an innovative approach to quantifying this phenomenon. Through regressive reciprocal averaging and Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon-dated grave contexts located in Switzerland and southern Germany, we modelled chronological changes in the material culture and changes in burial rites in these regions in a probabilistic way. We used kernel density models to summarize radiocarbon dates, with the aim of visualizing cultural changes in the third and second millennium BC. In 2015, Stockhammer et al. cast doubt on the chronological sequence of the Reinecke phases of the EBA on the basis of newly collected radiocarbon dates from southern Germany. Our intervention is a direct response to the results of that study. We fully agree with Stockhammer's et al. dating of the start of EBA, but propose a markedly different dating of the EBA/MBA transition. Our modelling of radiocarbon data demonstrates a statistically significant typological sequence of phases Bz A1, Bz A2 and Bz B and disproves their postulated chronological overlap. The linking of the archaeological relative-chronological system with absolute dates is of major importance to understanding the temporal dimension of the EBA phases.

Propuesta antropológica de un modelo analítico para abordar la syndemia / Anthropological proposal for an analytical model to approach the syndemic / Proposta antropológica de um modelo analítico para abordar a sindemia

Ante la situación compleja y complicada en la que nos ha situado el SARS-CoV-2 proponemos un modelo de análisis antropológico, que pueda visibilizar la situación de syndemia en la que estamos inmersos. Para ello analizamos la realidad a través del complejo cronotopo y los módulos de la cultura

Faced with the complex and complicated situation in which SARS-CoV-2 has placed us, we propose an anthropological analysis model that can make visible the syndemic situation in which we are immersed. For this, we analyze reality through the complex chronotope and the modules of culture

Diante da complexa e complicada situação em que o SARS-CoV-2 nos colocou, propomos um modelo de análise antropológica que permite visualizar a situação sindêmica em que estamos imersos. Para isso, analisamos a realidade por meio do cronotopo complexo e dos módulos da cultura

Abnormal route to aging transition in a network of coupled oscillators.

In this article, we investigate the dynamical robustness in a network of Van der Pol oscillators. In particular, we consider a network of diffusively coupled Van der Pol oscillators to explore the aging transition phenomena. Our investigation reveals that the route to aging transition in a network of Van der Pol oscillator is different from that of typical sinusoidal oscillators such as Stuart-Landau oscillators. Unlike sinusoidal oscillators, the order parameter does not follow smooth second-order phase transition. Rather, we observe an abnormal phase transition of the order parameter due to the sudden appearance of unbounded trajectories at a critical point. We provide detailed bifurcation analysis of such an abnormal phase transition. We show that the boundary crisis of a limit-cycle oscillator is at the helm of such an unusual discontinuous path of aging transition.

Statistical age determination of tree rings.

Dendrochronology, the study of annual rings formed by trees and woody plants, has important applications in research of climate and environmental phenomena of the past. Since its inception in the late 19th century, dendrochronology has not had a way to quantify uncertainty about the years assigned to each ring (dating). There are, however, many woody species and sites where it is difficult or impossible to delimit annual ring boundaries and verify them with crossdating, especially in the lowland tropics. Rather than ignoring dating uncertainty or discarding such samples as useless, we present for the first time a probabilistic approach to assign expected ages with a confidence interval. It is proven that the cumulative age in a tree-ring time series advances by an amount equal to the probability that a putative growth boundary is truly annual. Confidence curves for the tree stem radius as a function of uncertain ages are determined. A sensitivity analysis shows the effect of uncertainty of the probability that a recognizable boundary is annual, as well as of the number of expected missing boundaries. Furthermore, we derive a probabilistic version of the mean sensitivity of a dendrochronological time series, which quantifies a tree's sensitivity to environmental variation over time, as well as probabilistic versions of the autocorrelation and process standard deviation. A computer code in Mathematica is provided, with sample input files, as supporting information. Further research is necessary to analyze frequency patterns of false and missing boundaries for different species and sites.

Enfermedades epidémicas y pandémicas: Causas, cronología e implicaciones socioculturales / Epidemics and pandemic diseases: Causes, chronology, social and cultural implications

Las enfermedades epidémicas y pandémicas se han sucedido a lo largo de los siglos hasta nuestros días. La presente revisión pretende analizar y contextualizar sus causas y remedios, en los diferentes periodos históricos, y sus repercusiones culturales y sociales, con referencia a la actual pandemia COVID-19. Los datos principales se han obtenido de revisiones y documentos oficiales del Ministerio de Sanidad (España) y Organización Mundial de la Salud. Se mencionan posibles implicaciones medioambientales que, en la actualidad, pueden incrementar la difusión de patógenos potencialmente pandémicos (PPP)

Epidemic and pandemic diseases have succeeded each other over the centuries till now. This review aims to analyse and contextualize its causes and remedies, in the different historical periods, and its cultural and social repercussions, with reference to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The main data have been obtained from reviews and official documents of the Ministry of Health (Spain) and World Health Organization. Possible environmental implications are mentioned that may currently increase the spread of potentially pandemic pathogens (PPP)

Multi-cancer analysis of clonality and the timing of systemic spread in paired primary tumors and metastases.

Metastasis is the primary cause of cancer-related deaths, but the natural history, clonal evolution and impact of treatment are poorly understood. We analyzed whole-exome sequencing (WES) data from 457 paired primary tumor and metastatic samples from 136 patients with breast, colorectal and lung cancer, including untreated (n = 99) and treated (n = 100) metastases. Treated metastases often harbored private 'driver' mutations, whereas untreated metastases did not, suggesting that treatment promotes clonal evolution. Polyclonal seeding was common in untreated lymph node metastases (n = 17 out of 29, 59%) and distant metastases (n = 20 out of 70, 29%), but less frequent in treated distant metastases (n = 9 out of 94, 10%). The low number of metastasis-private clonal mutations is consistent with early metastatic seeding, which we estimated occurred 2-4 years before diagnosis across these cancers. Furthermore, these data suggest that the natural course of metastasis is selectively relaxed relative to early tumorigenesis and that metastasis-private mutations are not drivers of cancer spread but instead associated with drug resistance.

Radiocarbon dating the Greek Protogeometric and Geometric periods: The evidence of Sindos.

Mediterranean Early Iron Age chronology was mainly constructed by means of Greek Protogeometric and Geometric ceramic wares, which are widely used for chronological correlations with the Aegean. However, Greek Early Iron Age chronology that is exclusively based on historical evidence in the eastern Mediterranean as well as in the contexts of Greek colonisation in Sicily has not yet been tested by extended series of radiocarbon dates from well-dated stratified contexts in the Aegean. Due to the high chronological resolution that is only achievable by (metric-scale) stratigraphic 14C-age-depth modelling, the analysis of 21 14C-AMS dates on stratified animal bones from Sindos (northern Greece) shows results that immediately challenge the conventional Greek chronology. Based on pottery-style comparisons with other sites, the new dates for Sindos not only indicate a generally higher Aegean Early Iron Age chronology, but also imply the need for a revised understanding of the Greek periodisation system that will foreseeably have a major impact on our understanding of Greek and Mediterranean history.

Shifts in mercury methylation across a peatland chronosequence: From sulfate reduction to methanogenesis and syntrophy.

Peatlands are globally important ecosystems where inorganic mercury is converted to bioaccumulating and highly toxic methylmercury, resulting in high risks of methylmercury exposure in adjacent aquatic ecosystems. Although biological mercury methylation has been known for decades, there is still a lack of knowledge about the organisms involved in mercury methylation and the drivers controlling their methylating capacity. In order to investigate the metabolisms responsible for mercury methylation and methylmercury degradation as well as the controls of both processes, we studied a chronosequence of boreal peatlands covering fundamentally different biogeochemical conditions. Potential mercury methylation rates decreased with peatland age, being up to 53 times higher in the youngest peatland compared to the oldest. Methylation in young mires was driven by sulfate reduction, while methanogenic and syntrophic metabolisms became more important in older systems. Demethylation rates were also highest in young wetlands, with a gradual shift from biotic to abiotic methylmercury degradation along the chronosequence. Our findings reveal how metabolic shifts drive mercury methylation and its ratio to demethylation as peatlands age.

Birth month is associated with learning capacity in childhood in Northeast China.

It is difficult to evaluate long-term ventilation and indoor-outdoor temperature variation on-site in the birth residence so as to investigate their associations with learning capacity from childhood through adolescence. Here, we conducted a questionnaire-based retrospective cohort study in ten schools from two northeast China cities with warm summers and severe cold winters when residences had very low air exchange rates. Scores for Chinese, Mathematics, and English in the final exams of the summer semester in June 2018 were collected to evaluate learning capacity. We surveyed 6238 students aged 14.7 (SD: 2.1) years old. Using the 2nd quarter (April-May-June) birth as reference, 4th quarter (October-November-December) birth consistently was significantly associated with lower scores in Chinese in bivariate (ß, 95%CI: -3.2, -4.3 to -2.0) and multivariate (-1.8, -2.4 to -0.8) linear regression analyses. Stratified sub-analyses showed significant associations for male (-2.4, -3.7 to -1.1), urban (-2.4, -3.4 to -1.4), and primary students (-2.9, -4.5 to -1.4). Since household ventilation and indoor-outdoor temperature variation had great differences between the 2nd and 4th quarter of year, our results suggest that these two factors in the birth residence could be associated with learning capacity in childhood, especially for male and primary students in northeast China.

Archipelago-Wide Patterns of Colonization and Speciation Among an Endemic Radiation of Galápagos Land Snails.

Newly arrived species on young or remote islands are likely to encounter less predation and competition than source populations on continental landmasses. The associated ecological release might facilitate divergence and speciation as colonizing lineages fill previously unoccupied niche space. Characterizing the sequence and timing of colonization on islands represents the first step in determining the relative contributions of geographical isolation and ecological factors in lineage diversification. Herein, we use genome-scale data to estimate timing of colonization in Naesiotus snails to the Galápagos islands from mainland South America. We test inter-island patterns of colonization and within-island radiations to understand their contribution to community assembly. Partly contradicting previously published topologies, phylogenetic reconstructions suggest that most Naesiotus species form island-specific clades, with within-island speciation dominating cladogenesis. Galápagos Naesiotus also adhere to the island progression rule, with colonization proceeding from old to young islands and within-island diversification occurring earlier on older islands. Our work provides a framework for evaluating the contribution of colonization and in situ speciation to the diversity of other Galápagos lineages.

Characterization of three polyphenol oxidase isoforms in royal dates and inhibition of its enzymatic browning reaction by indole-3-acetic acid.

In this study, Polyphenol oxidases (PPO) from royal dates fruit was purified and characterized. These procedures led to 8-fold purification with 14.72% recovery. Three isoenzymes of royal dates PPO exhibited a molecular weight of 20.,45 and 64 kDa. The royal date PPOs had maximum activity at pH 4.6 and 8, 3.6-5.6 and 5.6 with pyrogallol, 4-methylcatechol and pyrocatechol substrates, respectively. The enzyme showed high stability in the temperature range of 30-60 °C.4-Methylcatechol was the most suitable substrate, due to the lowest Km and the biggest Vmax/Km values. The kinetic of thermal inactivation were performed in a temperature range of 60-75 °C. A biphasic model provided a good description of dates PPO thermal inactivation. Indole-3acetic acid markedly inhibited Royal dates PPO activity. Its Anti-browning effect on dates was investigated. IAA-treatment reduced weight loss, pericarp decay, browning index and membrane electrolyte leakage. Thus, a higher total anthocyanins contents and total phenolic contents was correlated with higher DPPH scavenging activity and lower MDH contents Such effect was accredited to maintain of membrane integrity and inhibition of oxidative enzymes by IAA. In conclusion, IAA could be used as a potent inhibitor of fruits enzymatic browning reaction.

Phasa: todo sobre la arcilla comestible / Phasa: everything about edible clay

La phasa (conocida así entre los pobladores aymaras) es un tipo de arcilla comestible que se encuentra en los suelos, empleada como medicina tradicional en la mayoría de los continentes, principalmente para aliviar o tratar patologías gastrointestinales e infecciones cutáneas. Su consumo se remonta muchos siglos atrás; existe evidencia del uso de este elemento en las Placas de arcilla de Nippur en Mesopotamia (2500 años a. C.). Develar las propiedades bio-físico-químicas de las arcillas comestibles está permitiendo a la ciencia explicar las propiedades terapéuticas que posee y así confirmar los grandes avances en la medicina alternativa que tuvieron nuestros antepasados. El uso de la phasa no se limita a la medicina, sino también a muchas otras ramas de la ciencia. En los últimos 10 años se ha experimentado en la agricultura, veterinaria, incluso en el cuidado del medio ambiente dando resultados muy gratificantes y prometedores.

Phasa, an Aymara's language word, is a type of edible clay found in soils; which is used in traditional medicine worldwide mainly to relieve or treat gastrointestinal pathologies and skin infections. Its consumption dates back many centuries, even millennia ago; there is evidence of the use of this element in the clay plates of Nippur in Mesopotamia (2500 years BC). Revealing the bio-physical-chemical properties of edible clay has allowed science to explain their healing and therapeutic properties and confirms the great advances our ancestors got. The use of phasa is not limited to medicine, it is also used in many other sciences; in the last 10 years it has been used in agriculture and veterinary medicine, getting gratifying results.