Tag: Urine
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Elevated alpha-fetoprotein
Elevated alpha-fetoprotein refers to a state where alpha-fetoprotein levels are outside of the reference range. There are two categories of AFP tests: tests performed on serum (blood plasma), and tests performed on amniotic fluid. Tests performed on serum are further categorized by the reason for performing the test: maternal serum, adult tumor marker, and pediatric tumor marker. Serum The standard…
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nature’s first Green Fuel Is gold: A Car That Runs On Urine?
The concept of cars running on urine has been explored by several researchers, but it hasn’t yet resulted in a commercially viable vehicle. Here’s what happened with some of the key developments: Ohio University Research (2009): Professor Gerardine Botte developed a catalyst that could extract hydrogen from urine more efficiently than from water. This technology…
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Light and Medical Tests
From Ask a Scientist: “Serum and plasma both come from the liquid portion of the blood that remains once the cells are removed, but that’s where the similarities end. Serum is the liquid that remains after the blood has clotted. Plasma is the liquid that remains when clotting is prevented with the addition of an anticoagulant.” The…
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Glucuronic acid is a uronic acid that was first isolated from urine
Glucuronic acid (from Greek γλεῦκος “wine, must” and οὖρον “urine“) is a uronic acid that was first isolated from urine (hence the name”uronic acid”). It is found in many gums such as gum arabic (approx. 18%), xanthan, and kombucha tea and is important for the metabolism of microorganisms, plants and animals. Not to be confused with Gluconic acid (Gluconic acid occurs naturally in fruit, honey, and wine. As a food additive E574, it is now known as an acidity regulator.…
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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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Shi (personator)
The shi (Chinese: 尸; pinyin: shī; Wade–Giles: sh’ih; lit. ‘corpse’) was a ceremonial “personator” who represented a dead relative during ancient Chinese ancestral sacrifices. In a shi ceremony, the ancestral spirit supposedly would enter the descendant “corpse” personator, who would eat and drink sacrificial offerings and convey messages from the spirit. James Legge, an early translator of the Chinese classics, described shi personation ceremonies as “grand family reunions where the…
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Temporins and Musth or must
Temporins are a family of peptides isolated originally from the skin secretion of the European red frog, Rana temporaria. Peptides belonging to the temporin family have been isolated also from closely related North American frogs, such as Rana sphenocephala. In elephants, temporin is secreted by temporal glands during the period of musth. It contains proteins, lipids (notably cholesterol), phenols, cresols and sesquiterpenes (notably farnesol and its derivatives). This is not related to temporins that are antimicrobial peptides. In old Sanskrit…
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Saints Cosmas and Damian are regarded as the patrons of physicians, surgeons, pharmacists and twins
Cosmas and Damian (Arabic: قُزما ودميان, romanized: Qozma wa Demyaan; Greek: Κοσμᾶς καὶ Δαμιανός; Latin: Cosmas et Damianus; c. 3rd century – c. 287 or 303 AD) were two Arab physicians and early Christian martyrs. They practised their profession in the seaport of Aegeae, then in the Roman province of Syria. Cosmas and Damian were third century Arabian-born twin brothers who embraced Christianity and practised medicine and surgery without a fee. This led them…
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Lyngurium
Lyngurium or Ligurium is the name of a mythical gemstone believed to be formed of the solidified urine of the lynx (the best ones coming from wild males). It was included in classical and “almost every medieval lapidary” or book of gems until it gradually disappeared from view in the 17th century. Properties and history As well as various medical properties, lyngurium was credited with the…
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Scatomancy Notes
Scatomancy—the ancient art of gazing into the abyss of the human digestive aftermath and declaring, “Behold! Your destiny lies within this steaming pile!” What could be more unhinged than plumbing the depths of poop for cosmic wisdom? Let us embark on this fecal odyssey, where divination meets digestion and prophecy smells faintly of last night’s…
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Pisse Prophecy: A Brief History of Urinalysis
Urinalysis, the first laboratory test, has had a long and fascinating history. Diagnoses and prognostications were made by ancient physicians after observation of the urine’s color and character. Over the centuries, the uro-scopist’s skills, aided by newer and more modern physical and chemical methods being continually applied to the evaluation of the urine, were greatly…
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Urokinase (and Porta Johns?)
Recycling Fever Reaches New Lows “Utica, Michigan – Realising it is flushing potential profits down the drain, an enterprising young company has come up with a way to trap medically powerful proteins from urine. Enzymes of America has designed a special filter that collects important urine proteins, and these filters have been installed in all…
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“An entire legion of herion-addicted, long-haired rock and rollers are said to have tried Urine Therapy”
While many people are aware that Gandhi drank his urine, few know that leather-clad rocker Jim Morrison (who, like Gandhi, had an unwatchable movie made of his life) began the practice of drinking his urine while on an LSD-induced spiritual quest in the Mojave Desert. And like Gandhi, Morrison is now dead. As is John…
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Golden cure? arguments for and against urine therapy
According to its supporters, urine therapy is the number one treatment for all medical ailments. Although the centuries old practice is mired in controversy, they argue, don’t knock it till you try it. Mira Patel, Golden cure? arguments for and against urine therapy www.indianexpress.com (article requires subscription) Updated: June 8, 2022
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“Elixir of long life”
The relevance of urine examination has been reported since the ancient times. Urine was connected to religious traditions attracting the interest of the people as “the elixir of long life”. Indeed, it seems that urine was not considered as a waste product but rather as a distilled product selected from the body. Many different sources…
