[The art of medicine: an hermeneutical investigation].

Background: The art of medicine can be defined as the art of healing, but what is the art of medicine?, what is its original meaning?, does this meaning guide towards the comprehension of medical tradition in the beginnings of the 21st century?

Objective: To answer the question about the art of medicine, exploring its original meaning to comprehend medical tradition in the beginnings of the 21st century.

Material And Methods: From the point of view of philosophical hermeneutics, the study included four phases: analytical, comprehensive, reconstructive and critical. The categories for analysis were: medical tradition, physis, téchnĕ medical knowledge and practice, limiting-situation.

[Uterine contraction induced by carbachol is inhibited by melatonin].

It has been suggested that the pineal gland has a specific role in the regulation of reproductive functions. Melatonin, secreted by pineal gland, is involved in the control of mammalian reproduction. Previous investigations have show that melatonin reduced the smooth muscle contraction.