Re-an lise dos dados de 1990-2010 sobre os efeitos da tiroxina altamente dilu¡da na metamorfose de anf¡bios de terras altas

Experiments on amphibian metamorphosis can vary considerably in duration. The authors had set themselves the task of defining a generally applicable pooling method for metamorphosis experiments [1]. Normalization with respect to time was done on the assumption that differences in speed of metamorphosis attributable to treatment would override differences in duration between experiments. The problem of artificial differences in variability when comparing and pooling data from several experiments was approached by normalization with respect to time based on the development of both the test and the control animals. The range from 0% to 100% over which the fraction of four-legged animals progresses in the course of an experiment is divided into 10%-intervals and mapped onto a corresponding relative scale. Each measurement is then assigned to the point on the 10%-scale to which it is closest. In this way each reference point is assigned a value giving the number or percentage of four-legged animals at that point. These values are aggregated over all experiments within the test- and control-group. The results of experiments performed over the course of two decades (1990 - 2010) on highland Rana temporaria treated with a homeopathically prepared high dilution of thyroxine (?30x?) are presented in full detail based on this normalization method[1]. It was found that differences between treatment groups thus calculated were in line with those obtained with other pooling methods [2]. Thyroxine 30x does slow down metamorphosis in inert highland amphibians. This was observed by 5 researchers in 20 sub-experiments, and it seems to be the most reliable bio-assay found in amphibian research on homeopathy so far2. When experiments were performed with highland animals pretreated by hyperstimulation with molecular thyroxine, slowing down of metamorphosis was again observed (by 3 of 4 researchers) in most of 10 sub-experiments.(AU) Experimentos sobre a metamorphose de anfibios podem variar consideravelmente em termos de dura‡AEo. Os autores desse trabalho se propuseram a definir um m‚todo geral aplic vel ao estudo de experimentos commetamorfose [1]. A normaliza‡AEo em rela‡AEo ao tempo foi realizada considerando que as diferen‡as na velocidade da metamorfose, atribuidas ao tratamento, minimizariam as diferen‡as na dura‡AEo entre experimentos. O problema das diferen‡as artificiais na variabilidade, quando comparamos e agrupamos dados a partir de v rios experimentos foi abordada com a normaliza‡AEo em rela‡AEo a base temporal no desenvolvimento de ambos os grupos, os tratados e os controles. O intervalo de 0% a 100% para a fra‡AEo de animais que evoluem para 4 patas durante o experiment ‚ dividido em sub-intervalos de 10% e mapeados em uma escala relativa. Cada ponto ‚ entAEo associado ao ponto mais pr¢ximo da escala de 10%. Dessa maneira, a cada ponto da referˆncia ‚ associado um valor correspondente ao n£mero ou porcentagem de animais com 4 patas naquele ponto. Esses valores sAEo agregados sobre todos os experimentos considerando os grupos teste e controle. Os resultados dos experimentos realizados no decorrer de 2 d‚cadas (1990 - 2010) com Rana temporaria tratadas com altas dilui‡aes de tiroxina preparadas homeopaticamente (?30x?) sAEo apresentados em detalhes com base nesse m‚todo de normaliza‡AEo [1]. Foi encontrada que as diferen‡as entre os grupos tradados, calculados com o m‚todo desenvolvido, estAEo em concordƒncia com outros m‚todos de agrupamento de dados [2]. Tiroxina 30x reduz a metamorphose nos anfibios. Isso foi observado por 5 pesquisadores em 20 sub-experimentos, e parece ser o ensaio biol¢gico mais confi vel encontrado em pesquisas com anfibios pretratados. Quando os experimentos foram realizados com animais pr‚-tratados por hiperestimula‡AEo com tiroxima molecular, novamente foi observada a redu‡AEo da metamorfose (por 3 dos 4 pesquisadores) na maioria dos 10 sub-experimentos.(AU)