Roeland Van Wijk

Utrecht University | UU · Department of Biology

Background Based on the principle of tradition Chinese medicine, the processing refers to various techniques that alter the overall properties of herbal materials to meet the requirements of therapeutic applications. However, the standards of quality control and scientific standard operation protocol for processing manufacturing are largely unknown...

The increasing prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis has driven the development of new approaches and technologies for investigating the pathophysiology of this devastating, chronic disease. From the perspective of systems biology, combining comprehensive personal data such as metabolomics profiling with ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) data may provi...

Aging has been one of the several topics intensely investigated during recent decades. More scientists have been scrutinizing mechanisms behind the human aging process. Ultra-weak photon emission is known as one type of spontaneous photon emission that can be detected with a highly sensitive single photon counting photomultiplier tube (PMT) from th...

Aging has been one of the several topics intensely investigated during recent decades. More scientists have been scrutinizing mechanisms behind the human aging process. Ultra-weak photon emission is known as one type of spontaneous photon emission that can be detected with a highly sensitive single photon counting photomultiplier tube (PMT) from th...

In Chinese medicine, raw herbal materials are used in processed and unprocessed forms aiming to meet the different requirements of clinical practice. To assure the chemical quality and therapeutic properties of the herbs, fast and integrated systematic assays are required. So far, such assays have not been established. Delayed luminescence (DL) ref...

Background Phials containing high dilutions of homeopathic remedies are commonly utilized in diagnostic tools in combination with electro acupuncture measuring electrical conductivity of the skin. The present research aimed to elucidate the interaction of the homeopathic remedy and the human organism. Method The study protocol included the transit...

Spirituality is an experience that, in large part, comes from within. It is an attitude wherein one intuits the self as being a tiny part of a much bigger whole. Transcendental meditation (TM) helps individuals to deal better with stress as proven by a variety of biologic markers. The physiologic biomarkers, reactive oxygen species production (ROS)...

We conducted a systematic review (SR) of the peer reviewed scientific literature on ultraweak photon emissions (UPE) from humans. The question was: Can ultraweak photon emissions from humans be used as a non-invasive health assessment? A systematic search was conducted across eight relevant databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, BIOSIS, CINAHL, PSYCHINFO, All...

Ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) of a living system received scientific attention because of its potential for monitoring increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, a highly sensitive cryogenic charge-coupled device (CCD) camera was used to monitor in a RA mouse model the photo...

For decades, the relationship between ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) and the health state of the body is being studied. With the advent of systems biology, attention shifted from the association between UPE and reactive oxygen species towards UPE as a reflection of changed metabolic networks. Essential for this shift in thinking is the developmen...

Sixty visible range photon signals spontaneously emitted from the dorsal side of both hands of fifteen human subjects are analyzed with the aim of finding their attributes. The signals are of 30min duration and detected in bins of 50ms by two synchronized photo multipliers sensitive in the range (290-630nm). Each signal is a time series of 36,000 e...

Ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) is a general feature of living -biological systems. To gain further insights into the origin of UPE and its physiological significance, the aim of the present study was to investigate the connection between hemodynamics (HD), oxygenation (OX), and UPE. Therefore, during venous and arterial occlusion (VO, AO), change...

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview regarding scientific developments in biological ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) in order to connect with the concept of systems biology. The scientific data, internationally, about such emission from cells, tissues or even entire living systems began approximately 50 years ago recording with mo...

Environmental pollution is a major issue that calls for suitable monitoring systems. The number of possible pollutants of municipal and industrial water grows annually as new chemicals are developed. Technical devices for pollutant detection are constructed in a way to detect a specific and known array of pollutants. Biological systems react to let...

The aim of this study was to extend previous investigations on the property of artificially prepared collagen gels to modify ultraweak photon emission emanating from a biological source. The interaction of collagen gels with enzyme-dependent ultra weak photon emission facilitated by the Xanthine oxidase–Xanthine–MCLA (XO–X–MCLA) enzyme system was s...

In the present experiment ultra-weak photon emission/ chemiluminescence from isolated neutrophils was recorded. It is associated with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the "respiratory burst" process which can be activated by PMA (Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-Acetate). Commonly, the reaction is demonstrated utilizing the enhancer lumino...

The HomBRex database includes details of about 1500 basic research experiments in homeopathy. A general overview on the experiments listed in the HomBRex database is presented, focusing on high dilutions and the different settings in which those were used. Though often criticised, many experiments with remedies diluted beyond Avogadro's number demo...

Postexposure conditioning, as a part of hormesis, involves the application of a low dose of stress following exposure to a severe stress condition. The beneficial effect of a low level of stress in postconditioning hormesis is illustrated by a number of examples found in experimental and clinical research. Depending on whether the low-dose stress i...

A beneficial effect of applying mild stress to cells or organisms, that were initially exposed to a high dose of stress, has been referred to as 'postconditioning hormesis'. The initial high dose of stress activates intrinsic self-recovery mechanisms. Modulation of these endogenous adaptation strategies by administration of a subsequent low dose of...

The relationship between connective tissue and meridian function is discussed in terms of energy transmission. The network of hydrogen-bonded water molecules interspersed within the collagen fibrillar matrix is especially significant for both the sensitivity of connective tissue to weak signals of mechanical pressure, heat, or electricity and the e...

The objective of this study was to search for effective agents for the treatment of infections in animals or infected cell lines. The Homeopathic Basic Research experiments (HomBRex) database (http://www.carstens-stiftung.de/hombrex) on model biological systems in homeopathic research was searched. Eligible experiments were reviewed and analysed. T...

Postexposure conditioning, as a part of hormesis, involves the application of a low dose of stress following exposure to a severe stress condition. Depending on whether the low-dose stress is of the same type of stress or is different from the initial high-dose stress causing the diseased state, postconditioning can be classified as homologous or h...

Photon signals emitted spontaneously from dorsal and palm sides of both hands were recorded using 6000 time windows of size T=50 ms in 50 healthy human subjects. These photon signals demonstrated universal behaviour by variance and mean. The data sets for larger time windows up to T=50s were obtained by merging the data recorded with T=50 ms. The b...

Exposure of skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation triggers oxidative stress in skin tissue that can lead to erythema, early skin aging or even cancer. It is suggested that oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs), phytonutrients that belong to the polyphenol family have an anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory activity on the skin. Measuring ultra-weak photon emi...

This paper describes the results of a research program focused on the beneficial effect of low dose stress conditions that were applied according to the similia principle to cells previously disturbed by more severe stress conditions. In first instance, we discuss criteria for research on the similia principle at the cellular level. Then, the homol...

The ERYTHROPOIETIN (EPO) gene is regulated by the transcription factor Hypoxia Inducible Factor-alpha (HIF-alpha). In this pathway, Prolyl Hydroxylase Domain protein 2 (PHD2) hydroxylates two prolyl residues in HIF-alpha, which in turn promotes HIF-alpha degradation by the von Hippel Lindau (VHL) protein. Evidence that HIF-2alpha is the important i...

The objective of this study was to develop a criteria catalogue serving as a guideline for authors to improve quality of reporting experiments in basic research in homeopathy. A Delphi Process was initiated including three rounds of adjusting and phrasing plus two consensus conferences. European researchers who published experimental work within th...

The Similia Principle, the basis of homeopathy, implies that substances initiating symptoms when applied to healthy biological systems can be utilized as remedies to treat a diseased system with similar symptoms. Depending whether the remedy substance was of the same type as the etiologic agent, treatment is classified as either homologous or heter...

Reporting experiments in basic research in homeopathy is an important issue as comprehensive description of what exactly was done is required. So far, there is no guideline for authors available, unlike criteria catalogues common in clinical research. A Delphi Process was conducted, including a total of five rounds, three rounds of adjusting and ph...

Low-intensity light therapy (LILT) is showing promise in the treatment of a wide variety of medical conditions. Concurrently, our knowledge of LILT mechanisms continues to expand. We are now aware of LILT's potential to induce cellular effects through, for example, accelerated ATP production and the mitigation of oxidative stress. In clinical use,...

In the present study, the effect of plant adaptogens (Rhodiola rosea and ADAPT-232) on human photon emission has been determined. In a randomized double blind placebo-controlled study, 30 subjects were randomly assigned to three groups: one group (n = 10) taking placebo pills, one group (n = 10) taking Rhodiola rosea (SHR-5) pills and one group (n...

A mathematical model of the regulation process of the heat shock protein hsp70 in the cell is presented. The model describes the damaging effect of elevated temperature on proteins; the interaction of free hsp70 with injured proteins and its chaperone role in nascent protein translation; the relation between the amount of free hsp70 and the formati...

Hexokinase is one of the key enzymes of glycolysis and catalyzes the phosphorylation of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. Red blood cell-specific hexokinase is transcribed from HK1 by use of an erythroid-specific promoter. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular basis for hexokinase deficiency in a patient with chronic hemolysis. Funct...

IP injection in rats of 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) or N-hydroxy-2-ace-tylaminofluorene (N-OH-AAF) resulted in a transient increase of hepatic or-nithine decarboxylase (ODC) and tyrosine aminotranaferase (TAT) activity. Maximal activity of ODC was observed 4 hr and of TAT 3 hr after administration of either AAF or N-OH-AAF. A lag-time of 2 hr prece...

In dit hoofdstuk worden de allergische en niet-allergische rinitis besproken. Allergische rinitis komt veel voor in Nederland: 16-24% afhankelijk van de regio. De prevalentie van IgE-gemedieerde allergie is de afgelopen decennia duidelijk toegenomen. Momenteel lijkt er een stabilisatie te zijn opgetreden. In Neder - land wordt evenwel nog steeds ee...

"Ultra-weak photon emission" (UPE) recording is a technique that registers, noninvasively and on-line, reactive oxygen species (ROS) fluctuations. The objective of the present study was to perform simultaneous recordings in human subjects of UPE and EEG and to study a possible correlation between UPE and EEG fluctuations. Thirty-six EEG recordings...

Convincing evidence supports a role for oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases. The model includes the formation of radical oxygen species (ROS) and the misassembly and aggregation of proteins when three tiers of cellular defence are insufficient: (a) direct antioxidative systems, (b) molecular damage repairing systems, and (...

Research on human ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) has suggested a typical human emission anatomic percentage distribution pattern. It was demonstrated that emission intensities are lower in long-term practitioners of meditation as compared to control subjects. The percent contribution of emission from different anatomic locations was not significa...

Evidence has accumulated favoring the possible role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases. Meditation is utilized as an adjunct to conventional medical treatment for several clinical conditions. A few studies suggest a role of long-term meditation in the control of the free-radical metabolism. Many techniques for recordin...

Ultra weak photon emission (UPE) in visible spectral region from human hands was measured by low-noise photomultiplier system situated in light-tight darkroom. Dominant hands of three subjects were measured for baseline value of photon emission and skin surface temperature before, during and after the cooling of palms by ice cube. Example temperatu...

The HomBRex database indexes basic research on homeopathy (www.carstens-stiftung.de/hombrex). It includes research on effects of homeopathic preparations in bioassays and physico-chemical effects of the homeopathic preparation process (potentization). At the end of 2006 it contained more than 1100 experiments in more than 900 original articles, inc...

The HomBRex database of basic research experiments on homeopathy indexes studies on biological systems including animal, human, plant, fungi and microbial organisms. Its objective is to index proving and therapeutic experiments on the Similia Principle and the role of dilution and succussion of substances in experimental biologic systems. The datab...

Ultra-weak spontaneous photon emission in visible range from palms and hands of dark-accommodated subjects has been measured every two hours in 5 experiments in the course of 24 hours by means of low-noise photomultiplier. Measured data have been analyzed for mean photon emission of different anatomical locations in individual experiments and maxim...

A common cause of hereditary nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia is pyruvate kinase deficiency, which is associated with lifelong chronic hemolysis. Pyruvate kinase deficiency has a worldwide distribution with a higher prevalence in the Caucasian population, and especially in Europe and North America. It is inherited in an autosomal fashion and over 18...

We encountered a homozygous -16C>G mutation in cis at identical positions in the promoters of both human gamma-globin genes in a subject who was also homozygous for Hemoglobin C (HbC). Subsequent analysis of normal control individuals of African American ancestry revealed that both mutations were always present in cis with an allelic frequency of 3...

The present paper recorded spontaneous ultra weak photon emission of five subjects at palm and dorsal sides of both left and right hands in a 24 h period. Data demonstrate that intensity as well as left-right symmetry varies diurnally. Emission intensity is low during the day, rises during the evening and is high during the night. Time patterns for...

Ultra-weak photon emission in the visible range was measured on palm and dorsal side of left and right hand by means of a low noise photomultiplier system. To study the dynamics of this photon emission in a 24 h period photon emission was recorded in 2 h intervals in 5 experiments, utilizing strict protocols for dark adaptation and recording of sub...

Spontaneous ultra-weak photon emission in the visible range was measured on palm and dorsal side of left and right hand by means of a low noise photomultiplier system. To study the dynamics of this photon emission in a 24 h period photon emission was recorded in 2 h intervals in 5 experiments, utilizing strict protocols for dark adaptation and reco...

Low levels of light have been reported to change human physiologic activities. In our research we focused at an extreme situation and utilized human's own ultra-weak light for radiation. Human photon emission was studied after dark-adaptation utilizing a sensitive, cooled, moveable photomultiplier system. Data showed that palm and dorsum of the han...

This study explored the integral intensity, slopes, and dynamics of the spectral gels, dried collagen samples, and collagen fibrils extirpated from rat tails after UV emitted from dry collagen samples are more exponential, whereas water-

During the past 20 years, the connective tissue has been recognized as an integral component of the Chinese acupuncture meridian system. This has offered an interesting correspondence between the classical Chinese theory and a 200 year-old European theory on connective tissue as basic bioregulatory system. We review supporting evidence from biochem...

Spontaneous ultra-weak photon emission in the visible range was measured on palm and dorsal side of left and right hand by means of a low noise photomultiplier system. To study the dynamics of this photon emission in a 24 h period photon emission was recorded in 2 h intervals in 5 experiments, utilizing strict protocols for dark adaptation and reco...

The human body emits ultraweak photons. It has been demonstrated that feedback regulation of ultraweak photon emission from the hand is detectable utilizing gelatin color filters in complete darkness. Color filters are commonly utilized in auriculomedicine diagnostic procedures based on the radial artery vascular autonomic signal. To evaluate the p...

In the 60's ultraweak photon emission from specific isolated tissues and organs was reported. The studies included contracting heart isolated from the thorax,' electrically stimulated nerves,^ and muscles.'"'' Presently, it is generally accepted that all living organisms emit ultra-weak light that can be recorded at tissue, cellular, and sub-cellul...

Spontaneous photon emission from 30 sites on the skin of a live human subject is measured at different times and on different days. Signals from three representative sites of low, intermediate and high intensities are selected for further analysis. Fluctuations in these signals are measured by the probabilities of detecting different numbers of pho...

Thermoluminescence of homeopathically prepared ultra-high dilutions of lithium chloride in deuterium oxide (D2O) (10 (-30) g cm (-3); C15 LiCl in D2O) and similarly prepared D2O (C15 D2O) was compared in three experiments varying (1) time between preparation of substance and time of experimentation, and (2) time between irradiation and thermolumine...

Ultra-weak photon emission of a living system has received scientific attention because of its potential for monitoring oxidative metabolism and oxidative damage to tissues. Heretofore, most studies have focused only on the emission from hands. The data regarding emission from other anatomic locations are limited. A previous multi-anatomic site rec...

Ultraweak bio-chemiluminescence (UBC) from germinating soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) cotyledon under mechanical wounding was observed by a high sensitivity imaging system based on an intensified charge couple device (ICCD) detector or a high sensitive single photon counter (SPC) device. The UBC imaging showed that the intensity of UBC at the injury...

Research on human ultra-weak photon emission (UPE, biophoton emission) has raised the question whether a typical human emission anatomic percentage distribution pattern exists in addition to individual subject overall anatomic summation intensity differences. The lowest UPE intensities were observed in two subjects who regularly meditate. Spectral...

The chemiluminescence (CL) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seeds at different temperatures and the CL spectra of rice seed, caryopses and seed coat were studied during early imbibition. Compared with the CL of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) seeds, the CL of rice seeds had a non-linear, logarithmic-like increase of intensit...

Biophoton emission is the spontaneous emission of ultraweak light emanating from all living systems, including man. The emission is linked to the endogenous production of excited states within the living system. The detection and characterisation of human biophoton emission has led to suggestions that it has potential future applications in medicin...

In the past years, research on ultraweak photon emission (UPE) from human body has increased for isolated cells and tissues. However, there are only limited data on UPE from the whole body, in particular from the hands. To describe a protocol for the management of subjects that (1) avoids interference with light-induced longterm delayed luminescenc...

Color filters are commonly utilized in auriculotherapy and auriculomedicine, diagnostic procedures based on the vascular autonomic signal (VAS) of the radial artery. It was reported that such effects were detectable in complete darkness. The human body emits ultraweak photons. It is hypothesized that there is feedback regulation of emission from th...

Various physiologic and biochemical shifts can follow meditation. Meditation has been implicated in impacting free radical activity. Ultraweak photon emission (UPE, biophoton emission) is a constituent of the metabolic processes in a living system. Spectral analysis showed the characteristics of radical reactions. Recording and analysing photon emi...

With high-sensitivity single-photon counter, spontaneous chemiluminescence (CL) spectrum and different temperature study on rice (Oryza sativa L.) seeds during early imbibition were carried out. The emission spectrum of whole rice seed, rice and coat had a greater proportion of red light during early imbibition. Comparing with spontaneous CL of bar...

It is now well established that all living systems emit a weak but permanent photon flux in the visible and ultraviolet range. This biophoton emission is correlated with many, if not all, biological and physiological functions. There are indications of a hitherto-overlooked information channel within the living system. Biophotons may trigger chemic...

The volatile halogenated methyl ethyl ether, isoflurane, used as an anaesthetic, inhibits actin-based dynamics directly or indirectly in animal cells. In plant cells, most intracellular movements are related to actin pathways. We have used isoflurane in a unicellular alga, Acetabularia acetabulum, to test the dynamics of choloroplast organization....

Ultraweak photon emission of dark-incubated A. acetabulum cells were measured with the use of a sensitive electronphotomultiplier of the Hamamatsu 550 type. The photon count series were subjected to Fourier analysis for 2-1020 sec period range. The average level of photon emission in samples containing 50 cells was approximately. 40% above backgrou...

Intentional healing by laying on of hands is a popular complementary therapy. Previous studies of this therapy have been focused on the influence of laying on of hands with focused intention on the patient or on a biological model that took the place of the patient. Exploring the line of thinking that the consciousness-mediated act of healing durin...

The past several decades the scientific literature has grown so rapidly that it is almost a full-time job to keep abreast of the major developments relating to cellular organization and behavior. As a consequence of this enormous profusion of information we have witnessed an explosive growth in our understanding of the properties and functions of l...

Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is a common cause of hereditary non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia. It is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the gene coding for erythrocyte and liver-type pyruvate kinase (PKLR). So far, more than 130 mutations in this gene have been identified. Clinical symptoms, usually restricted to homozygous...

A new database on 'Basic Research on Homeopathy' has been established. It contains research on biological systems and physico-chemical effects of the succussion process. It is aimed at the elucidation of the working mechanism of the homeopathic similia principle following application of low doses and potencies of substances. By the end of 2000, thi...

Hereditary mutations associated with hematologic malignancies are rare. Heterozygous mutations affecting the hematopoietic transcription factor CBFA2 (also AML1/RUNX1) were recently reported to be associated with familial platelet disorder with predisposition to acute myeloid leukemia (FPD/AML, MIM 601399). A new 3-generation family with FPD/AML wi...

AFLP markers were obtained with 12 EcoRI/ MseI primer combinations on two independent F2 populations of Lactuca sativa �Lactuca saligna. The polymorphism rates of the AFLP products between the two different L. saligna lines was 39%, between the two different L. sativa cultivars 13% and between the L. sativa and L. saligna parents on average 81%. In...

A novel homozygous 3571C-->T nonsense mutation predicting the synthesis of a truncated factor V (FV) molecule was identified in exon 13 of the human coagulation factor V gene in two unrelated Italian probands with undetectable plasma levels of FV antigen and activity. Both patients were also homozygous for the FV Leiden mutation. Reverse transcript...