Category: 🜺 Arsenic (and Old Leeches)

  • Smokers show fewer symptoms or appear less affected by certain toxins

    Some smokers show fewer symptoms or appear less affected by certain toxins — arsenic included — at doses that harm nonsmokers. This isn’t protection in the traditional sense. It’s more like biochemical compensation or adaptive masking. 🔄 Possible Mechanisms Behind the Paradox Induced Detox Enzymes: Chronic exposure to smoke may upregulate certain cytochrome P450 enzymes…

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  • Arsenic: The Element of Surprise (and Murder)

    Let’s dive into the sordid history of arsenic, the “King of Poisons” and the “Poison of Kings.” Our story begins in ancient times, when alchemists were busy trying to turn lead into gold. Little did they know, they were playing with fire – or rather, arsenic. These early mad scientists were probably the first to…

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  • Testican

    Testican is a type of proteoglycan. Testican-1 is a highly conserved, multidomain proteoglycan that is most prominently expressed in the thalamus, and is upregulated in activated astroglial cells of the cerebrum. Several functions of this gene product have now been demonstrated in vitro including membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase inhibition, cathepsin L inhibition, and low-affinity calcium binding. The purified gene product has been shown to inhibit cell attachment…

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  • Arsenic Etymology

    Arsenic Etymology

    arsenic (n.) late 14c., “yellow arsenic, arsenic trisulphide,” from Old French arsenic, from Latin arsenicum, from late Greek arsenikon “arsenic” (Dioscorides; Aristotle has it as sandarake), adapted from Syriac (al) zarniqa “arsenic,” from Middle Persian zarnik “gold-colored” (arsenic trisulphide has a lemon-yellow color), from Old Iranian *zarna- “golden,” from PIE root *ghel- (2) “to shine,” with derivatives referring to bright materials and gold. The form of the Greek word…

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  • Leech Etymology

    Leech Etymology

    leech (n.1) “bloodsucking aquatic worm,” from Old English læce (Kentish lyce), of unknown origin (with a cognate in Middle Dutch lake). Commonly regarded as a transferred use of leech (n.2), but according to OED the Old English forms suggest this is a distinct word, which has been assimilated to leech (n.2) by folk etymology. Figuratively applied to human parasites since 1784. leech (n.2) “physician” (obsolete,…

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  • Arsenic at Wellcome Collection

    Arsenic at Wellcome Collection

    539 Results for “arsenic” Arsenic in drinking water / Subcommittee on Arsenic in Drinking Water, Committee on Toxicology, Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology, Commission on Life Sciences, National Reseach Council. National Research Council (U.S.). Subcommittee on Arsenic in Drinking WaterDate[1999], ©1999 Books Arsenic in drinking water : 2001 update / subcommittee to update the…

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  • Leeches at Wellcome Collection

    Leeches at Wellcome Collection

    61 Results for “Leeches” A fierce battle between the supporters of John Brown (Bruno), in favour of treatment with stimulants, and those of F.J.V. Broussais, in favour of bloodletting. Pen drawing.Reference24101i Pictures Online Exposé de l’état actuel de nos connaissances et observations personelles sur la terminaison des nerfs dans les muscles lisses de la sangsue…

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  • Treatise on the Medicinal Leech – Dr. James Rawlins Johnson, 1816

    Treatise on the Medicinal Leech – Dr. James Rawlins Johnson, 1816

    https://wellcomecollection.org/works/xze7zcta/items?canvas=22

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  • Arsenic and Old Leeches

    Arsenic and Old Leeches

    In 1816 Dr. James Rawlins Johnson published his Treatise on the Medicinal Leech. Besides the aforementioned methods of leech use, he studied the leech itself with exacting care. He tested to see if they were cannibals (they were); he froze them with or without salt to see if they would die (snow plus salt was worse).…

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