Large-scale application of highly-diluted bacteria for Leptospirosis epidemic control

Bracho, Gustavo; Varela, E.; Fernández, Rolando Lloga; Ordaz, Barbara; Marzoa, Natalia; Menéndez, Jorge; Garcı́a, Luis; Gilling, Esperanza; Leyva, R Arisbel; Rufín, Reynaldo; Torre, Rubén de la; Solís, Rosa L.; Batista, Niurka; Borrero, Reinier; Campa, Concepción

doi:10.1016/j.homp.2010.05.009

Cited by 86 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(16 reference statements)

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“…A large scale public health intervention with prophylactic homeopathically-prepared oral doses of diluted and succussed, inactivated leptospirosis bacteria in 2.3 million people in Cuba demonstrated significant reductions in disease incidence compared with non-intervention regions during a high-risk rainy season [188]. Notably, in conventional nanomedicine research, a one-dose nanoparticle-based vaccination by nasal administration has been shown effective in an animal model of a different bacterial infection, Yesinia pestis (plague) [189].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in integrative nanomedicine for improving infectious disease treatment in public health

Bell

Schwartz

Boyer³

et al. 2013

European Journal of Integrative Medicine

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Introduction Infectious diseases present public health challenges worldwide. An emerging integrative approach to treating infectious diseases is using nanoparticle (NP) forms of traditional and alternative medicines. Advantages of nanomedicine delivery methods include better disease targeting, especially for intracellular pathogens, ability to cross membranes and enter cells, longer duration drug action, reduced side effects, and cost savings from lower doses. Methods We searched Pubmed articles in English with keywords related to nanoparticles and nanomedicine. Nanotechnology terms were also combined with keywords for drug delivery, infectious diseases, herbs, antioxidants, homeopathy, and adaptation. Results NPs are very small forms of material substances, measuring 1–100 nanometers along at least one dimension. Compared with bulk forms, NPs’ large ratio of surface-area-to-volume confers increased reactivity and adsorptive capacity, with unique electromagnetic, chemical, biological, and quantum properties. Nanotechnology uses natural botanical agents for green manufacturing of less toxic NPs. Discussion Nanoparticle herbs and nutriceuticals can treat infections via improved bioavailability and antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. Recent studies demonstrate that homeopathic medicines may contain source and/or silica nanoparticles because of their traditional manufacturing processes. Homeopathy, as a form of nanomedicine, has a promising history of treating epidemic infectious diseases, including malaria, leptospirosis and HIV/AIDS, in addition to acute upper respiratory infections. Adaptive changes in the host’s complex networks underlie effects. Conclusions Nanomedicine is integrative, blending modern technology with natural products to reduce toxicity and support immune function. Nanomedicine using traditional agents from alternative systems of medicine can facilitate progress in integrative public health approaches to infectious diseases.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in integrative nanomedicine for improving infectious disease treatment in public health

Bell

Schwartz

Boyer³

et al. 2013

European Journal of Integrative Medicine

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“…A recent study by Samarakoon et al indicates that in endemic regions the knowledge of leptospirosis prevention is adequate but does not lead to implementation of personal protective measures [40]. Prophylaxis with doxycycline (200 mg once a week) reduces morbidity and mortality during outbreaks and other homeoprophylactic measures are reported to provide preventive benefit, but will require extensive evaluation [41, 42]. There is no human vaccine available but vaccines do exist for animal reservoirs including dogs and cattle.…”

Section: Leptospirosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Neglected bacterial zoonoses

Chikeka

Dumler

2015

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

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Bacterial zoonoses comprise a group of diseases in humans or animals acquired by direct contact with or by oral consumption of contaminated animal materials, or via arthropod vectors. Among neglected infections, bacterial zoonoses are among the most neglected given emerging data on incidence and prevalence as causes of acute febrile illness, even in areas where recognized neglected tropical diseases occur frequently. While many other bacterial infections could also be considered in this neglected category, five distinct infections stand out because they are globally distributed, are acute febrile diseases, have high rates of morbidity and case fatality, and are reported as commonly as malaria, typhoid or dengue virus infections in carefully designed studies in which a broad spectrum diagnoses are actively sought. Thus, this review will focus attention on leptospirosis, relapsing fever borreliosis, and rickettsioses, including scrub typhus, murine typhus and spotted fever group rickettsiosis. Of greatest interest is the lack of distinguishing clinical features among these infections when in humans, which confounds diagnosis where laboratory confirmation is lacking, and in regions where clinical diagnosis is often attributed to one of several perceived more common threats. As diseases such as malaria come under improved control, the real impact of these common and under-recognized infections will become evident, as will the requirement for the strategies and allocation of resources for their control.

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“…Can quantum mechanical phenomena such as quantum confinement, quantum coherence, and/or quantum entanglement be experimentally demonstrated with some very small sized homeopathically-prepared medicine NPs and their interactions with living organisms? Under what circumstances might some homeopathic nanomedicines prevent disease [155], or is their primary role in treatment of pre-existing disease?…”

Section: Experimental Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonlinear Response Amplification Mechanisms for Low Doses of Natural Product Nanomedicines: Dynamical Interactions with the Recipient Complex Adaptive System

Bell

Sarter

Koithan

et al. 2013

J Nanomed Nanotechol

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The purpose of the present paper is (a) to outline the self-organized, complex adaptive network nature of the organism as recipient of nanomedicines; (b) to propose several nonlinear endogenous amplification processes by which pulsed low doses of traditional, homeopathically-manufactured natural product nanomedicines may stimulate a return toward healthier function; and (c) to discuss their potential relevance to novel, but safer than conventional dosing strategies for contemporary nanomedicines. Homeopathy is an over 200-year-old system of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that uses low doses of natural plant-, mineral-, and animal-sourced nanomedicines. Homeopathic manufacturing is "green", with mechanical grinding in lactose and agitation in ethanol-water as primary reagents. Agitation within glass containers at room temperature may also contribute nanosilica and nanosilicon as drug delivery vehicles and biological amplifiers. The medicine selection is matched to the recipient organism's systemic patterns of dysfunction and pulsed in the timing of the discrete doses. Endogenous amplification processes within the recipient organism may involve hormesis, time-dependent sensitization, and/or stochastic resonance. Effects are adaptive and systemically diffuse, i.e., causally indirect, rather than pharmacological and local, i.e., direct. All of these nonlinear response processes require interaction of the nanoparticle (NP) dose with the organism as a complex adaptive system. The pulsed NP dose serves as a low intensity salient danger signal for the organism to make network-wide adaptive changes that can lead to healing. The historically safe therapeutic approach of homeopathic nanomedicine dosing avoids risks of high, continuous doses and cumulative toxicity that contemporary nanomedicine researchers are now trying to solve while using NPs as if they were conventional bulk drugs. Integrating the insights, technical procedures, and clinical dosing approaches from modern and homeopathic nanomedicine could lead to major advances in the field for more effective and safer translational applications.NPs in homeopathic medicines [3]. NP concentrations are low, but measurable [3]. Like modern manufactured NPs [13], homeopathicallymanufactured medicines in solution also can exhibit aging effects [9,14]. These nanomedicines are delivered either in ethanolic liquids or sprayed and dried onto lactose or lactose/sucrose pellets for oral administration.Homeopathic manufacturing materials and methods are inherently "green" [15,16]. Previous papers have addressed the striking similarities between modern top-down mechanical attrition procedures for making nanoparticles (NPs) [17] and historical homeopathic medicine manufacturing methods and materials [15,[18][19][20][21]. These similarities include mechanically grinding source materials in lactose for hours and repeatedly agitating ethanol-water solutions containing the source Citation: Bell IR, Sarter B, Koithan M, Standish LJ, Banerji P, et al. (2013) Nonlinea...

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Large-scale application of highly-diluted bacteria for Leptospirosis epidemic control

Abstract: The homeoprophylactic approach was associated with a large reduction of disease incidence and control of the epidemic. The results suggest the use of HP as a feasible tool for epidemic control, further research is warranted.

Cited by 86 publications

References 23 publications

Advances in integrative nanomedicine for improving infectious disease treatment in public health

Advances in integrative nanomedicine for improving infectious disease treatment in public health

Neglected bacterial zoonoses

Nonlinear Response Amplification Mechanisms for Low Doses of Natural Product Nanomedicines: Dynamical Interactions with the Recipient Complex Adaptive System

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