Application of infrared spectral analyses for medicinal plants containing calcium (Ca2+)

A study was performed with the methods of Non-equilibrium energy spectrum (NES), Differential non-equilibrium energy spectrum (DNES), mathematical models and water cluster analysis on the changes of hydrogen bonds energy distribution in aqueous solutions due to calcium ions (Ca2+) from the medicinal plants: Origanum vulgare L., Thymus vulgaris L., Mentha longifolia L., Petroselinum crispum Mill., Sideritis scardica Griseb., Salvia officinalis L. All of them are known to contain more than 1000 mg/100 g of calcium ions. The local maximum at (E = -0.1112 eV) (? = 11.15 ?m) (? = 897 cm-1) in all investigated solutions was associated with the presence of calcium ions by Student’s t-test at P<0,05. In the proposed practical approach, the solutions had similar clustering patterns at E = -0.1387 eV, corresponding to water clusters of 16-20 water molecules. These findings from different plant species further expand the evidence about the specific influence of calcium ions on the -0.1112 eV hydrogen bonds energy level in aqueous solutions

Influence of Tuina Therapy on Pain as Regards Quality of Life Among Patients Suffering from Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has a harmful influence on the quality of life (QoL) and a patient’s efficiency, including physical, emotional and social aspects of the everyday life. The subjective nature of pain prevents therapeutants from having an objective standard which can estimate the intensity of pain and its influence on the QoL. The aim of the research is to determine the positive effect from the Chinese tuina massage on the degree of pain among patients suffering from multiple sclerosis.  The research was conducted over a period of 3 years (2014-2017) at the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Ward of 8th Diagnostic-consultative center in Sofia, and also as home rehabilitation. For the purposes of the research we formed an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG) consisting of 25 patients in a remission phase. The patients from the EG undertook 10 procedures with tuina therapy, while those from the CG were given only SF-36-scale about QoL. The results from the statistical processing of the two questions regarding the quality evaluation of the intensity of pain in the patients’ normal working environment and in their daily routine over a 4-week period show a significant improvement among the EG compared to the CG at the end of the research. The results from this study show that tuina therapy can be very beneficial for reducing the intensity of pain, improving the functional possibilities and quality of life among patients with MS. The significantly better results among the EG compared to the CG prove tuina therapy is an effective method for successful handling of pain symptoms. Keywords: multiple sclerosis, pain, tuina, quality of life, chinese massage DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/52-0

Research of the Emotianal Inteligence of Bulgarian Physiotherapy Students

Emotional intelligence is perceived as cognitive ability, social competence or personal disposition. It is a range of emotional competencies which determine the efficiency of human behavior. The aim of the research was to establish the level of emotional intelligence of Bulgarian physiotherapy students and to compare it with the average values for the population. The subject of the research was a total of 50 students with major kinesitherapy who study at the National Sports Academy with mean age 23.5 years(S= 3,66): 23 men and 27 women with mean age 22.96 years (S=3,24) and 24 years (S=3,96) respectively.We used Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire of Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Hall, L. E., Haggerty, D. J., Cooper, J. T., Golden, C. J. & L. Dornheim. (1998). The SEIS consists of 33 items responded to on a 5-point Likert Scale.The possible range of scoresis from 33 to 165. This questionnaire was translated into Bulgarian in 2006 and adapted for Bulgarian conditions by StoyanovaS. (2010) with a sample consisting mainly of students (N=724). It allows to be interpreted as emotional intelligence both as a general construct and as different components of the construct. Results The physiotherapy students, included in this pilot research, show a little over average levels of emotional intelligence measured with the questionnaire of Schutte,еtal (1998). With the advancement in age and experience the women show a little higher level of emotional intelligence. The Bulgarian version of the emotional intelligence scale of Schutte can be used for determining the level of emotional intelligence of students so that the level of their performance at university as well as their future professional realization can be prognosticated. Conclusion The higher emotional intelligence will help the future physiotherapeutic specialists to fulfill successfully their personal potential. They will have a positive social attitude and good ability for adaptation in the community environment. They will also be able to build healthy relationships with their patients which is a major factor for their motivation to actively take part in the healing process. DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/52-0

Assessment of Sportsmanship in Case of Institutionalized Adolescents, Deprived of Parental Cares

Sportsmanship is a behavior, coherent to the normative standards concerning social and moral interrelation communications in the field of sport activities. Our aim is to study the purposefulness to a sportsmanlike behavior in the group of actively sporting children deprived of parental cares, who were brought up in the Bulgarian special social institutions. The respondent group includes 36 children – 27 girls, training basketball and track-and-field athletics, and 9 boys, training basketball; all are coming from children social institutions. We evaluate the meaningfulness towards fair sportive behavior using the Multidimensional Sportspersonship Orientation Scale Measurements, MSOS, developed by Vallerand, Briere, Blanchard and Provencher (1997). The children, deprived of parental cares, who were engaged in various sports, do not demonstrate lower sportsmanship standards than the children, coming from normal families and engaged in the same form of sport activities. Social status of the institutionalized children does not negatively influence their respect for the established fair play rules in case of purposeful sport activities. The athletic behavior helps to diminish the ill-tempered or harmful sportsmen manifestations in a sport competition environment. However, whether it will be transferred into a normative practice into their everyday life out of the sport terrain is a subject matter to future studies.  Keywords: sportsmanship, adolescents, social institution, sport

Influence of Yoga Practices on Stress Coping Strategies

Stress coping strategies are used every day. By choosing a different coping style, people seek solution to a complicated task or situation. One of the reliable forms of motor activity, which influences favorably the development of valuable psychic and physical qualities, is yoga. The aim of the research is to determine the positive effect of yoga practices on stress coping strategies. The research was done among 76 women - 42 of them practice yoga in different clubs of the Bulgarian Yoga Federation and yoga students at NSA “Vassil Levski” – experimental group; and control group consisting of 34 women not engaged in any kind of sport or motor activity. The stress coping strategies were evaluated with the questionnaire СОРЕ-1, (Carver, C, & Scheier, M. 1985), adapted for Bulgarian conditions by A. Rusinova-Hristova and G. Karastoyanov (2000). Results show that the first seven stress coping strategies have approximately equal values with the control group. The passive strategies, related to emotion-focused coping with the problem, are dominant. In this case, the structure of the stress coping strategies with the women not engaged in sport is more imperfect than the one with the women practicing yoga.  The arrangement of the leading stress coping strategies, as well as the reliable differences with six of the strategies (43% of all 14 strategies) in favor of the EG is indicative of more harmonious and more perfect structure of the preferred stress coping strategies with women practicing yoga. Conclusion: The leading stress coping strategies with women not engaged in sport are passive. They experience greater difficulty in solving their problems in stressful situations. The leading strategies with women practicing yoga are active. The researched individuals react immediately in stressful situations, concentrate on the problem and actively cope with it. Keywords: Stress coping strategies, yoga, motor activity

Results obtained with EVOagri technology to improve yield using filtered water in Africa, Tibet, Italy and Bulgaria

The effectiveness of the application of EVOagri technology for purification of water and its use in agriculture in some African countries (Zimbabwe, Burundi, Egypt and Uganda), Nepal (Asia) and in Europe (Italy and Bulgaria) was evaluated. The performance of EVOdrop turbine for water filtration was analysed and the physicochemical composition of water was tested. This was determined in compliance with Ordinance No. 9/2001, published in the Official State Gazette, issue 30, and decree No. 178/23.07.2004, Bulgaria, European Union on the quality of water intended for drinking and household purposes. The results showed a significant increase in production yield of the tested Solanum spp. and lettuces in Zimbabwe, as well as of dill, spinach and onions in Egypt. Treatment of high-salt irrigation water in Burundi with EVOagri reduced its toxic effect upon vegetable plants. In Uganda, plants absorbed 23% less water, when filtered with EVOagri technology. In Italy, 21% water conservation was achieved through the usage of EVOagri technology. Stimulation of seed-germination after soaking with EVOagri water was established in Burundi and Nepal. The importance of the type and composition of irrigation water for crop growth was proved by the experiments in Bulgaria. In Bulgaria, onion seeds were planted in two separate pots. The first one was watered with tap water and this was taken as the control sample with tap water. The second one was watered with EVOdrop filtered water which was saturated with EVOdrop hydrogen technology (EVOwater). In Bulgaria, under natural conditions, Evodrop water was also tested in beans and the growth result was 11 % better than the control sample

Theoretical Analysis of Hydrogen Bonds, Energy Distribution and Information in a 1 % Rosa damascena Mill Oil Solution

The method of Non-equilibrium Energy Spectrum (NES) was applied in measurement of hydrogen bonds energy distribution in 1% Rosa damscena L. oil solution in deionized water. Local maxima in this spectrum were identical with these obtained in investigations of other biologically active solutions and related to particular bio effects as follows: (-0.1387 eV; 8.95 µm; 1117 cm-1). This local maximum is typical for antibacterial, anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects. The local maxima at (-0.1212 eV; 10.23 µm; 978 cm-1) and (-0.1262 eV; 9.82 µm; 1018 cm-1) are typical for anti-inflammatory effects and this at (-0.1112 eV; 11.15 µm; 897 cm-1) is typical for effects on the nervous system and nerve conductivity. Information theoretical analysis was performed using the values of Shannon entropy and Transformational information entropy, pointing to hydrogen bonds distribution similarities between Rosa damscena L., V. myrtillus L. and Salvia divinorum Epling. The possible chemical causes of these similarities were identified as antioxidant activity and polyphenols concentration

Research on the structuring of water clusters in Chlorella vulgaris water suspension

Many bioactive compounds of natural origin have beneficial effects on human health and are used to treat different diseases. Chlorella is a genus of green algae with a high potential for producing biologically active substances. Exposure to extreme conditions can enhance its antioxidant activity and the production of concrete metabolites. C. vulgaris is cultivated in plantations. It is accessible in pharmacies and drugstores. The Health Act of 2005 in Bulgaria allows the therapeutic and prophylactic use of herbs, both independently by patients and as prescribed by a doctor. This study performed comparative spectral analyses of C. vulgaris using a 1% suspension of C. vulgaris in deionized water (v/v) by the methods of Non-equilibrium energy spectrum (NES) and Differential non-equilibrium energy spectrum (DNES). The research was performed in order to make indirect studies of the biological effects of C. vulgaris, which are connected with calcium conductivity and anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects. The effects of structuring of water clusters by C. vulgaris were examined. The data from spectral analyses, connected with a peak at (E =-0.1312 eV)(?=9.45 ?m) (?=1058 cm-1), revealed anti-inflammatory effects. The anti-oxidant and anti-tumor effects of C. vulgaris were shown at (E=-0.1387 eV)(?=8.95 ?m)(?=1117 cm-1). The results showed effects of improvement of calcium conductivity and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumor effects of C. vulgaris on human health

Research of Water Molecules Cluster Structuring during Haberlea rhodopensis Friv. Hydration

Gesneriaceae plant family is comprised of resurrection species, namely Boea hygrometrica and Paraboea rufescens, that are native to the Southeast Asia and Haberlea rhodopensis, Ramonda myconi, and Ramonda serbica, which are mainly found in the Balkan Peninsula. Haberlea rhodopensis is known to be able to survive extreme and prolonged dehydration. Study was carried out after the dried plant Haberlea rhodopensis Friv. had been hydrated and had reached its fresh state. Two juice samples were collected from the plant blossom: The first sample was prepared with 1% filtered water through a patented EVOdrop device. Then the sample was saturated with hydrogen with EVOdrop booster to a concentration of 1.2 ppm, pH = 7.3, ORP = −390 mV. This first sample was prepared with filtered tap water from Sofia, Bulgaria. The second sample, which was a control one, was developed with tap water from Sofia, Bulgaria, consisting of 1% solutions of Haberlea rhodopensis. A study revealed that during the drying process in H. rhodopensis the number of free water molecules decreases, and water dimers are formed. The aim of our study was to determine the number of water molecules in clusters in 1% solutions of hydrated H. rhodopensis plants. Results were analyzed according to the two types of water used in the experiment. Th EVOdrop device is equipped with an ultranano membrane and rotating jet nozzle to create a vortex water and saturation thanks to a second device EVObooster to obtain hydrogen-rich water. In the current study Hydrogen-rich water is referred to as Hydrogen EVOdrop Water (HEW). Research was conducted using the following methods—spectral methods non-equilibrium energy spectrum (NES) and differential non-equilibrium energy spectrum (DNES), mathematical models, and study of the distribution of water molecules in water clusters. In a licensed Eurotest Laboratory, the research of tap water before and after flowing through the EVOdrop device was proven. Studies have been carried out on the structuring of water molecule clusters after change of hydrogen bond energies. The restructuring comes with rearrangement of water molecules by the energy levels of hydrogen bonds. Local extrema can be observed in the spectrum with largest amount of water molecules. The structural changes were tested using the NES and DNES spectral methods. The conducted research proved that the application of EVOdrop device and EVObooster changes the parameters of water to benefit hydration and health