Cosmic Radiation and its Effects on Technology and Health

In ancient Greece the observations of the famous doctor Hippocrates of Kos had shown proved the environmental impact on human health. Although the term “environment” should not only include the nature surrounding us but also space since the evolution of life depends primarily on events such supernova explosions, formation of stars and falls of meteorites. A major factor in life sustainment is also cosmic radiation, originating from supernova star explosions, gamma-ray bursts and cosmic background radiation and has a major impact both on human health and technology

All roads lead to rome: Aspects of public health in ancient rome

Modern western civilization can be traced back to the Roman antiquity in terms of policy, legislation, art, and culture. The development of ancient Rome from a kingdom in Latio to a democracy and finally a thriving empire has paved the way for medicine and public health. As a kingdom, Rome has established laws for maternal health and abortion. Later on, as a democracy, Rome payed special attention to sanitation and infections control building aqueducts and public baths. During the imperial period, apart from the aforementioned, Roman administration improved public health measures with regard to pandemics. The correlation of infectious outbreaks with animals, are considered as one of the first noticed of zoonotic diseases in the field of public health. The term public health itself (medici publici) can be traced back to doctors appointed with public health and disease control duties in Ancient Rome. © 2021, EDIMES Edizioni Medico Scientifiche. All rights reserved

Astronomical calculation of the dating the historical battles of marathon, thermopylae and salamis based on herodotus' description

An important event of world history is the Greek-Persian war (5th century BC), as its outcome (with the victory of the Greeks) defined the evolution of culture in Greece and in whole Europe. Three battles that determined the course of this multi-year war was the battles of Marathon (490 BC) and of Thermopylae (480 BC) and the naval battle of Salamis (480 BC). Although the year of the above events is known, there is an uncertainty as to the date of their conduct. The purpose of this study is the presice determination of these dates based on the historical descriptions of Herodotus and the use of astronomical knowledge as Herodotus relates these events to great celebrations (Olympic Games, Carneia and Great Eleusinia) which were determined on the basis of the lunar calendars of Greek cities. Also, Herodotus mentions two solar eclipses that were observed at the beginning and end of Xerxes' campaign (480 BC) the dates of which help us to determine the period of this campaign. © 2021 Scientific Culture. All rights reserved

The Argonautica Orphica version of the voyage of the Argonauts: a geo-analysis

This study traces and analyzes the itinerary followed by Argo and her crew, according to the unknown author of Argonautica Orphica: The voyage of the Argonauts from Iolcos to Colchis and their return following a different path, from Phasis River through central Europe to the Atlantic Ocean and then through the Mediterranean Sea. Conclusions are drawn about whether such a voyage could be possible in the remote antiquity and the \u201cproblematic\u201d points of the description are pointed out

Heart in the work of the eminent greek philosopher and physician aristotle (384-322 BC)

Aristotle (384-322 BC), the founder of the peripatetic sect of philosophers was a polymath and his work covers almost every major area of human inquiry such as physics, biology, metaphysics, ethics, rhetoric and politics. However, it seems that he had an inclination for the investigation of nature and human being. The heart is considered by Aristotle as the source of life, the part wherein the “psychical fire“is kept burning, the place of passions where all the feelings end and the true seat of the soul. His notions on anatomy were revised by the physicians of the Alexandrian school of medicine, but they prevailed over centuries till the leading discovery of William Harvey (1578-1657) on blood circulation. Copyright © 2020 Balkan Medical Union

Does Astronomical and Geographical Information of Plutarch's de Facie Describe a Trip beyond the North Atlantic Ocean?

In Plutarch's book On the Apparent Face in the Orb of the Moon, the interlocutors develop a dialogue about a trip to the "great continent" beyond the North Atlantic Ocean. By applying modern scientific data, the present reappraisal of the astronomical and geographical elements within this dialogue has produced a novel interpretation of the date and place of the meeting and a journey to the northern Atlantic Ocean. A described solar eclipse is dated to AD 75, making use of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Espenak/Meeus list, as well as historical information. The described peculiar, recurrent trips take place every 30 years (when the planet Saturn reaches the Taurus constellation) from the Mediterranean Sea to the Cronian Open Sea, which is identified with northern Atlantic Ocean coasts. It has been suggested that the last mission had returned homeland in April AD 56. The information provided concerns, distances between coastal sites and islands, duration of sea paths in days, and the reported setting and size between the destination place and its gulf with regards to Azov (in Crimea) and the Caspian Sea. Implications of sea currents and the coastal geomorphology of those lands are given. Following strictly the Gulf Stream current, as well as other known sea currents in the northern Atlantic Ocean, and introducing estimated speed for the ship, the geographical location of destination of the Greek settlers is proposedly identified with St. Lawrence Gulf and Newfoundland island. Other unnamed islands mentioned in this dialogue are identified with Norway's islands, Azores, Iceland, Greenland, and Baffin islands. It has been shown that the journey is made with good knowledge of sea currents but by using bright stars and stellar configurations as astronomical nightscape markers that determine the exact orientation of the sailing toward the Iberian Peninsula and back to the eastern Mediterranean, making the current working hypothesis a plausible event. © 2018 Coastal Education and Research Foundation, Inc

The argonautica orphica version for the voyage of the argonauts: A geo-analysis

This study traces and analyzes the itinerary followed by Argo and her crew, according to the unknown author of Argonautica Orphica: The voyage of the Argonauts from Iolcos to Colchis and their return following a different path, from Phasis River through central Europe to the Atlantic Ocean and then through the Mediterranean Sea. Conclusions are drawn about whether such a voyage could be possible in the remote antiquity and the “problematic” points of the description are pointed out. © 2017 MAA Open Access. Printed in Greece. All rights reserved

Combined epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid vs no treatment for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: A prospective comparative study

The combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid (FA) has demonstrated activity in most gastrointestinal tumors. The addition of epirubicin (EPI) may increase the efficacy of the combination for cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract, such as advanced pancreatic cancer. We examined two groups of patients, explaining the potential benefits and limitations of therapy, and those patients who agreed to undergo chemotherapy formed Group A and the remaining formed Group B. Therefore, the study was a non-randomized prospective comparison between patients receiving chemotherapy and those offered the best supportive care. Group A consisted of 42 patients; 19 underwent Roux-en-Y operation, and 23 were inoperable. Group B consisted of 48 patients who refused chemotherapy; 18 underwent Roux-en-Y operation, and 30 were considered inoperable. Chemotherapy consisted of FA 200 mg/m2/day, 5-FU 600 mg/m2/day both for 5 days, and EPI 35 mg/m2/day before FA-5-FU administration on days 1 and 2, every 28 days. All patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Objective tumor responses (partial responses) in Group A were seen in 8 patients (19%) (6 women and 2 men), and 6 (14%) had stable disease. The estimated median survival was 27.6 weeks (mean 27.5) for Group A and 22.5 weeks (mean 24) (p = 0.01) for Group B. From the onset of therapy, median duration of response was 16.6 weeks and median time to progression 11.8 weeks in Group A. Toxicity consisted primarily of myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, alopecia, and mucositis. In Group A 12/42 patients became free from pain for a median duration of 10 months, 14/42 had improved appetite, and 15/42 had improved performance status in comparison to Group B, where no patients had improved performance status or symptoms. We conclude that the combination of EPI+FA+5-FU had moderate activity and increased toxicity in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer