Category: Nightshades
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Homovanillic acid (HVC) and Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA)
Homovanillic acid (HVA) is a major catecholamine metabolite that is produced by a consecutive action of monoamine oxidase and catechol-O-methyltransferase on dopamine. Homovanillic acid is used as a reagent to detect oxidative enzymes, and is associated with dopamine levels in the brain. In psychiatry and neuroscience, brain and cerebrospinal fluid levels of HVA are measured as a marker of metabolic stress caused by 2-deoxy-D-glucose. HVA presence supports a diagnosis of neuroblastoma and malignant pheochromocytoma. Fasting plasma levels of HVA are known to be…
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The hyperventilation syndrome: a neurosis or a manifestation of magnesium imbalance? (1985)
It has been proven with clinical, psychological and electromyographic tests that the hyperventilation (HV) syndrome cannot be separated from so-called genuine tetany. Tetanic patients with and without HV are characterized by a significant hypocalcemia; but a significant hypomagnesemia is exclusively found in tetanic patients with HV attacks. Possible pathogenic mechanisms are discussed which may explain…
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Buzz Pollination or Sonication
Buzz pollination or sonication is a technique used by some bees, such as solitary bees to release pollen which is more or less firmly held by the anthers. The anthers of buzz-pollinated plant species are typically tubular, with an opening at only one end, and the pollen inside is smooth-grained and firmly attached. With self-fertile plants such as tomatoes, wind may be sufficient…
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Alkekengi aka Chinese lantern is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family
Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophytes Clade: Angiosperms Clade: Eudicots Clade: Asterids Order: Solanales Family: Solanaceae Subfamily: Solanoideae Tribe: Physaleae Genus: AlkekengiMill. Species: A. officinarum Binomial name Alkekengi officinarumMoench Alkekengi officinarum, the bladder cherry, Chinese lantern, Japanese-lantern, strawberry groundcherry, or winter cherry, is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae. It is a close relative of the new world Calliphysalis carpenteri (Carpenter’s groundcherry) and a somewhat more distant…