[The history of the approval of an anthelminthic syrup by the " Société royale de médicine" at the end of the 18th century].

A dossier in the archives of the Académie nationale de médecine made possible a description of the course of events in obtaining an approval of an anthelmintic syrup by the Société royale de médicine. The pharmacists Lanoix and Macors of Lyon founded a society in 1778 together with Greth, a non pharmacist, with the intention of exploiting in their sole names a syrup which he elaborated. In 1780 they request the Société royale de médicine a privilege for seling the syrup which was refused.

[Comparative study of the medicines used in the fight against plague on the basis of the plague treatises of the Medical Faculty of Paris (1348-1349), of Joannes de Vesalia (after 1454) and of Thomas Montanus (1669)].

The remedies proposed for the prevention and treatment of the plague by the Medical Faculty of Paris and by Joannes de Vesalia are mainly derived from plants and animals apart from some minerals used in medieval medicine. Alchemical preparations, absent in the Compendium, are rarely mentioned by Joannes de Vesalia. About 90% of the simples preconized by the Faculty of Paris are still used as remedies in the tractates of Joannes de Vesalia and Montanus.

[The mechanism of action of sennosides].

A review of the recent progress in the study of the mode of action of the sennosides, the active constituents of the senna drug, is presented. An interaction between rhein anthrone, the active metabolite of the sennosides, and the immune cells of the colon is suggested as a base for laxative activity.

[Nonnius and the Spa cure].

The 12th of July 1635, Jan van Beverwyck wrote a letter from Dordrecht to his esteemed friend Luis Nunez, in Antwerp. He asked him for indications about the cure of kidney stones of which he was suffering. He had just passed two calculi very painfully.

[Mechanism of action of sennosides].

A review of the recent progress in the study of the mode of action of the sennosides, the active constituents of the senna drug, is presented. An interaction between rhein anthrone, the active metabolite of the sennosides, and the immune cells of the colon is suggested as a base for laxative activity.

[Demographic study of obsessive compulsive disorder].

This study used a large, obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD) population (N = 157) without comorbidity, and compared them to the general population of the States of New York on the following demographic variables: sex ratio, age of onset, age first seen, marital status, occupation, birth trauma, substance abuse, religion, past psychiatric treatment, and parents' psychiatric history. A 1: 1 sex ratio with a significant gender difference was found for age of onset (females = 20.8; males = 16.

In vitro demonstration of a positive effect of rhein anthrone on peristaltic reflex of guinea pig ileum.

The influence of rhein anthrone on the peristaltic reflex was studied with a modified Trendelenburg technique in the range from 10(-8) to 4 x 10(-5) mol/l, using a normal and reversed guinea pig ileum segment. Rhein anthrone had no significant effects on longitudinal muscle tension, intraluminal pressure or volume displacement when tested on the normal segment in doses up to 10(-5) mol/l. When applied to the mucosal side (reversed segment), rhein anthrone produced a dose-dependent increase of longitudinal muscle tension, of intraluminal pressure and of volume displacement.

Influence of rhein anthrone on peristaltic reflex of guinea-pig isolated ileum: involvement of prostaglandins.

1 The influence of rhein anthrone on the peristaltic reflex was studied with a modified Trendelenburg technique in a range from 10(-8) M to 4 x 10(-5) M, on a normal and reversed guinea-pig ileum segment. Rhein anthrone had no significant effects on longitudinal muscle tension, intraluminal pressure or volume displacement when tested on the normal segment in doses up to 10(-5) M. When applied to the mucosal side (reversed segment), rhein anthrone produced a dose-dependent increase of longitudinal muscle tension (significant from 10(-7) M), of intraluminal pressure (significant from 3 x 10(-6) M) and of volume displacement (significant from 10(-7) M).

Influence of rhein anthrone and rhein on small intestine transit rate in rats: evidence of prostaglandin mediation.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of prostaglandins in the shortening of transit time observed after intraduodenal administration of rhein anthrone and rhein. After intraduodenal administration of rhein anthrone (0.5-10 mg/rat), a dose-dependent acceleration of small intestinal transit was observed.

The effect of rhein and rhein anthrone on intestinal fluid transport and on large intestine transit in germ-free rats.

The effect of rhein and rhein anthrone on the transit and the transport of water and electrolytes in the large intestine was investigated in germ-free rats. After intracaecal administration, neither of the two compounds was found to accelerate the transit of a colour marker through the large intestine. Both drugs reduced the net absorption of sodium and chloride in the colon and enhanced net potassium secretion.

In vitro deterioration of rhein anthraquinone in cecal content of rats.

The influence of the intestinal microbial reduction of rhein anthraquinone on the formation of deterioration products was studied. Therefore [14C]rhein and [14C]rhein anthrone were mixed with sterilized or non-sterilized cecal mass of rats and incubated for 20 hours at 37 degrees C. Extractions with a methanol-water (50:50) mixture or 4-nitroso-N,N-dimethylaniline (0.

A rapid method for the estimation of prostaglandin E2 in intestinal tissues using fluorescence derivatization.

A sensitive spectrofluorimetric method is described to determine small quantities of prostaglandin E2 in complex biological systems as intestinal tissues. The method is based on a solid phase extraction combined with a coupling with a fluorescent marker and measuring the derivatization product by fluorescence densitometry. After mixing the tissue with an ice-cold perchloric acid solution, adjusting the pH, centrifugation and filtration steps, the prostaglandins are retained on a solid phase extraction C18 disposable column.

Bicascarosides in fluid extracts of cascara.

Bianthraquinone glycosides are formed during the preparation and conservation of fluid extracts of cascara. Analysis of these preparations has shown that up to 20% of total amount of anthracene glycosides can be dimerized. These dimers are devoid of laxative activity.

Direct and indirect evidence for the involvement of prostaglandins in the secretagogue action of rhein anthrone in the small intestine.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the involvement of prostaglandins in the secretagogue action, observed after intraduodenal administration of rhein anthrone and rhein in rats. After intraduodenal administration of rhein anthrone (50 mg/kg), the active metabolite of sennosides, a very marked increase of secretion was observed compared to control. The amount of secretion was calculated by dividing the total weight of the small intestine, obtained 30 minutes after administration of the drug, by the total length.

[Iconography of the coca plant].

We can distinguish four periods in the iconography of the cocaplant, namely the prehispanic period in South-America, the early period in Europe, from 1749 until 1860, the period of confusion (1860-1906) and finally the period of modern iconography. The iconography of the cocaplant before the arrival of the Spanish invaders was limited to the drawing of cocaleaves. In Europe, the first people who showed any interest for the cocaplant were the botanists.

The influence of some anthracene and diphenylmethane derivatives on water and electrolyte movement in rat colon.

The secretagogue activity of 30 different anthracene and diphenylmethane derivatives was investigated by determining their influence on water, sodium and potassium absorption in the gastrointestinal tract of the rat by direct administration into the rat colon. To obtain an effect two phenolic groups are necessary. However the distance between these groups seems to be a major factor for secretagogue activity.

Excretion and distribution of [14C]rhein and [14C]rhein anthrone in rat.

After single intracaecal administration of [14C]rhein (25 mg kg-1) and [14C]rhein anthrone (20 mg kg-1) to rats, the summated recovery rates of 14C after five days were in urine 37(+/- 8.3)% and 2.8(+/- 0.

Combined manometric and radiological study of the changes in colonic motility induced by sennosides in rats.

Colonic motility changes induced by sennosides in rats were studied by an original method, which permits the simultaneous projection of manometric and fluoroscopic registrations on a single monitor. The results of this study allowed us to confirm the laxative effect of sennosides by inducing mass movements within 60-80 min after intracecal administration leading to a complete emptying of the whole colon. These mass movements were preceded by hypotonia of cecum and colon and impeded pellet formation.

Metabolism of 14C-rhein and 14C-rhein anthrone in rats.

The two radioactive compounds were administered intracaecally to rats, and the recovery rates amounted to 89.9% for 14C-rhein and to 97.4% for 14C-rhein anthrone after 5 days.