Design,synthesis, theoretical study,antioxidant, and anticholinesterase activities of new pyrazolo-fused phenanthrolines

Pyrazole-fused phenanthroline compounds were obtained through several synthetic routes. NMR, HRMS, and IR techniques were used to characterize and confirm the chemical structures. Crystal structures were obtained from compounds 3a, 5b, 5j, 5k, and 5n and analyzed using X-ray diffraction. Compounds were evaluated as acetyl (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitors, and the results showed a moderate activity. Compound 5c presented the best activity against AChE (IC₅₀ = 53.29 μM) and compound 5l against BChE enzyme (IC₅₀ = 119.3 μM). Furthermore, the ability of the synthetic compounds to scavenge cationic radicals DPPH and ABTS was evaluated. Compound 5e (EC₅₀ = 26.71 μg mL⁻¹) presented the best results in the DPPH assay, and compounds 5e, 5f and 5g (EC₅₀ = 11.51, 3.10 and <3 μg mL⁻¹, respectively) showed better ABTS cationic radical scavenging results. Finally, in silico analyses indicated that 71% of the compounds show good oral availability and are within the ranges established by the Lipinski criteria.

Different synthetic strategies were used to optimize, obtaining a series of compounds derived from the pyrazole-fused phenanthroline system.     

Artritis séptica por Sneathia sanguinegens en un varón. Primer caso descrito en la literatura científica

An 88-year-old male admitted with septic shoulder arthritis due to a gram-negative bacillus. The microorganism is identified by sequencing the 16 S rDNA gene as Sneathia sanguinegens. This is the first case described in the literature in a male, since so far only infections in women of childbearing age have been described.     

Satisfaction,quality of life and therapy adherence assessment in real life patients transitioning from vitamin K antagonists to direct oral anticoagulants

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Anticoagulant therapy has undergone a significant change since direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) introduction. Their obvious advantages including the fixed...     

DXA vs QCT: in vitro and in vivo studies

The aim of this study was to evaluate the discrepancy between bone mineral density (BMD) results when using dual X-ray absorptiometry and quantitative computed tomography both in vitro and in vivo. Using these two techniques, we found that the T-score densitometric index values were discrepant in the BMD qualitative evaluation, which can affect the diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis, thus we propose its modification.     

The ecological risk of heavy metals in sediment from the Danube Delta

The objectives of this study were to assess the sediment contamination with heavy metals and to investigate accordingly the ecological risk posed in the SE of the Danube Delta. Sediments are important in assessing the contamination as they act as reservoirs, transporters and contamination sources. Sediment samples were collected and analysed for lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury, revealing levels higher than the background, especially for cadmium and mercury (Pb > As > Cd > Hg). Concentrations exceeding the probable effect limit were noticed for arsenic and mercury. The contamination indexes describe the study area as having almost half of the samples as contaminated (pollution load index-PLI 1.04), however the contamination is mostly low-to moderate (modified contamination degree-mCd 1.36). The sediment contamination poses mostly a low ecological risk (RI 94.8). The sediment quality guideline quotient (SQG-Q 0.29) describes a moderate impact, while the probable effect concentration quotient (PEC-Q 0.16) confirms that there are no levels likely to affect the aquatic biota. In our study area, the main Branch of the Danube River and the Secondary Delta are the most affected by contamination, while the narrow, reed abundant channels as the preferred habitat of most aquatic organisms, have a low contamination level.     

Nitric oxide decreases the production of inositol phosphates stimulated by angiotensin II and thyrotropin-releasing hormone in anterior pituitary cells

OBJECTIVE: Nitric oxide (NO) affects the synthesis of several second messengers, such as cyclic nucleotides, arachidonic acid metabolites and the intracellular calcium concentration, involved in the anterior pituitary hormone release. The present study was performed to investigate the effect of NO on phosphoinositide metabolism. METHODS: The synthesis of inositol phosphates (IPs) was studied in primary cultures of anterior pituitary cells from Wistar male rats. IPs (mono, bis and tris phosphates) were determined by ionic exchange chromatography. RESULTS: Sodium nitroprusside and DETA NONOate (DETA/NO) significantly decreased IP synthesis and prolactin release stimulated by angiotensin II (AngII) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). These effects were not observed with decayed DETA NONOate (unable to release NO). LY-83583, a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, completely reversed the inhibitory effect of DETA/NO on AngII-induced IP production. However, BAY 41-2272, a novel stimulator of the soluble guanylyl cyclase, did not mimic the effect of NO donors. Likewise, neither 8-Bromine-cyclic GMP (8-Br-cGMP), an analog of cGMP, nor Sp-8-pCPT-cGMPS triethylamine, a cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) stimulator, decreased IP synthesis stimulated by AngII. In addition, Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS triethylamine, a PKG inhibitor, did not block the effect of NO. The decrease of IPs induced by DETA/NO was fully reversed by guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) tetralithium salt, a non-hydrolyzable analog of GTP. CONCLUSIONS: The present work indicated that NO decreases IP synthesis stimulated by Ang II and TRH in anterior pituitary cells by a soluble guanylyl cyclase/cGMP/PKG-independent pathway, and suggested that NO affects some regulatory factor located between the plasma membrane receptor and G-protein.     

Development and results of the Spanish registry of patients with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency

The Spanish registry of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency was founded in 1993 and became a member of the International Registry (AIR) in 1999. We describe the updating process following its incorporation into AIR and compare the data collected in the first period (1993–1999) and the second period (1999–2005), during which time patients were included exclusively by internet.The registry included 301 patients during period 1, 69% males and 46% had a history of smoking. Their mean age was 46 years (SD = 13) and 284 (94%) had the ZZ phenotype, 49% received augmentation therapy. During period 2, 161 new cases were included, 63% of whom were males with a mean age of 44 years (SD = 16). A total of 126 (78%) had the ZZ phenotype. Only 12% received augmentation therapy. A total of 462 different patients were included in both periods. Significant differences were observed in the number of cases with the SZ phenotype and the severity of FEV₁ impairment between the two periods.Implementation of an internet-based collection of data did not result in a lower rate of reporting to the registry. However, data from a significant number of patient included in period 1 could not be actualized in the new data base.