Phytochemical study of endemic Costa Rican Annonaceae species Annona pittieri and Cymbopetalum costaricense

Phytochemical profile of the Central American rainforest endemic Annonaceae species, Annona pittieri and Cymbonopetallum costaricense, were studied in search of novel bioactive compounds. The acetogenin squamocin (1) isolated from A. pittieri showed cytotoxic activity against human acute lymphocytic leukaemia with low activity against healthy blood cells. In addition, other eight compounds were isolated from A. pittieri, including a novel 2-azaanthraquinone alkaloid, 4-methoxybenzo[g]isoquinoline-5,10-dione (2). Furthermore, from C. costaricense three compounds were isolated including a novel 1-azaanthraquinone alkaloid, 6-hydroxy-9-methoxy-cleistopholine (3)Universidad de Costa Rica/[809-B2-028]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigaciones en Productos Naturales (CIPRONA

Reflexiones acerca de la relación entre justicia constitucional y formulación de políticas públicas con enfoque basado en derechos humanos

El presente trabajo pretende describir y explicar brevemente la manera en la que los jueces constitucionales se ven implicados a partir de los planes nacionales de Derechos Humanos en el proceso de formulación de políticas públicas con enfoque de derechos humanos, y los posibles problemas a los que deben enfrentar en este proceso, como los cuestionamientos a su legitimidad democrática.Palabras clave: jueces, políticas públicas, derechos humanos

Chemical constituents from Zanthoxylum setulosum (Rutaceae)

Continuando con el estudio fitoquímico de plantas de Costa Rica, en este trabajo informamos el aislamiento e identificación de ocho compuestos de las partes aéreas de Zanthoxylum setulosum (Rutaceae). Los compuestos fueron identificados como el alcaloide skimmianina, los lignanos savinina, kusunokinina, sesamina, siringaresinol y el éter isopentílico del pluviatol, la amida conocida como acetato de aurantiamida, y el triterpeno lupeol. Este es el primer informe del aislamiento de skimmianina en las hojas de Z. setulosum, lo cual confirma que alcaloides quinolínicos y  benzofenantridinicos pueden ser considerados marcadores quimiotaxonómicos en éste género. La estructura de los compuestos aislados fue caracterizada por métodos espectroscópicos (incluyendo 1HNMR, 13C-NMR, HMQC, HMBC y NOESY) y comparación con datos de la literatura. Abstract Following our phytochemical studies of Costa Rican plants, in this work we report the isolation and identification of eight compounds from aerial parts of Zanthoxylum setulosum (Rutaceae). They were identified as the alkaloid skimmianine, the lignans savinin, kusunokinin, sesamin, syringaresinol and the isopentenyl ether of pluviatol, the amide aurantiamide acetate, and the triterpen lupeol. This is the first report of isolation of skimmianine from the leaves of Z. setulosum and its presence confirm that quinoline and benzophenanthridine alkaloids, can be considered as chemotaxonomic markers of  this genus. All the isolated compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods (including 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, , HMQC, HMBC and NOESY) and comparison with the literature data. Keywords: Rutaceae, Zanthoxylum, alkaloids, skimmianine, lignans.

Representaciones sociales sobre el conflicto político nacional en el Perú de 1932: un acercamiento desde la prensa española

El conflicto político nacional en el Perú de 1932, tuvo como principales actores al gobierno de Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro y por otro lado, al Partido Aprista Peruano, liderado por Haya de la Torre. La historiografía ha privilegiado el estudio de este conflicto en la dinámica electoral insurrecional, pero en particular, son los sucesos de Trujillo sobre los que la historiografía ha prestado mayor atención. Sin embargo, resulta fundamental para el presente trabajo, las investigaciones realizadas sobre las redes de transnacionales del aprismo. Estas redes fueron probablemente uno de los factores más importantes que posibilitaron el flujo de información sobre el conflicto político en el Perú hacia diversos rincones del mundo, la cual estuvo acompañada de discursos que buscaban generar apoyo internacional a alguno de ambos bandos. Por lo que resulta importante la manera en la que este conflicto impactó en la opinión pública de los países donde circuló dicha información. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo, identificar las representaciones sociales de la prensa española sobre el conflicto político nacional en el Perú de 1932

Biosynthesis of the Terpene Phenalinolactone in Streptomyces sp. Tü6071: Analysis of the Gene Cluster and Generation of Derivatives

SummaryPhenalinolactones are terpene glycosides with antibacterial activity. A striking structural feature is a highly oxidized γ-butyrolactone of elusive biosynthetic origin. To investigate the genetic basis of the phenalinolactones biosynthesis, we cloned and sequenced the corresponding gene cluster from the producer strain Streptomyces sp. Tü6071. Spanning a 42 kbp region, 35 candidate genes could be assigned to putatively encode biosynthetic, regulatory, and resistance-conferring functions. Targeted gene inactivations were carried out to specifically manipulate the phenalinolactones pathway. The inactivation of a sugar methyltransferase gene and a cytochrome P450 monoxygenase gene led to the production of modified phenalinolactone derivatives. The inactivation of a Fe(II)/α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase gene disrupted the biosynthetic pathway within γ-butyrolactone formation. The structure elucidation of the accumulating intermediate indicated that pyruvate is the biosynthetic precursor of the γ butyrolactone moiety

Genomic Mining for Aspergillus Natural Products

SummaryThe genus Aspergillus is renowned for its ability to produce a myriad of bioactive secondary metabolites. Although the propensity of biosynthetic genes to form contiguous clusters greatly facilitates assignment of putative secondary metabolite genes in the completed Aspergillus genomes, such analysis cannot predict gene expression and, ultimately, product formation. To circumvent this deficiency, we have examined Aspergillus nidulans microarrays for expressed secondary metabolite gene clusters by using the transcriptional regulator LaeA. Deletion or overexpression of laeA clearly identified numerous secondary metabolite clusters. A gene deletion in one of the clusters eliminated the production of the antitumor compound terrequinone A, a metabolite not described, from A. nidulans. In this paper, we highlight that LaeA-based genome mining helps decipher the secondary metabolome of Aspergilli and provides an unparalleled view to assess secondary metabolism gene regulation

Proteomic study revealed cellular assembly and lipid metabolism dysregulation in sepsis secondary to community-acquired pneumonia

Sepsis is a life-threatening disorder characterized by organ dysfunction and a major cause of mortality worldwide. The major challenge in studying sepsis is its diversity in such factors as age, source of infection and etiology. Recently, genomic and proteomic approaches have improved our understanding of its complex pathogenesis. In the present study, we use quantitative proteomics to evaluate the host proteome response in septic patients secondary to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Samples obtained at admission and after 7 days of follow-up were analyzed according to the outcomes of septic patients. The patients' proteome profiles were compared with age-and gender-matched healthy volunteers. Bioinformatic analyses of differentially expressed proteins showed alteration in the cytoskeleton, cellular assembly, movement, lipid metabolism and immune responses in septic patients. Actin and gelsolin changes were assessed in mononuclear cells using immunofluorescence, and a higher expression of gelsolin and depletion of actin were observed in survivor patients. Regarding lipid metabolism, changes in cholesterol, HDL and apolipoproteins were confirmed using enzymatic colorimetric methods in plasma. Transcriptomic studies revealed a massive change in gene expression in sepsis. Our proteomic results stressed important changes in cellular structure and metabolism, which are possible targets for future interventions of sepsis.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico, CNPqFAPESPUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Hosp Sao Paulo, Div Infect Dis, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04039032 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biochem, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023900 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023062 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Intens Care Unit, Hosp Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, BrazilHosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Intens Care Unit, BR-05652900 Sao Paulo, BrazilHosp Sirio Libanes, Intens Care Unit, BR-01409001 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Hosp Sao Paulo, Div Infect Dis, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04039032 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Biochem, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023900 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023062 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Intens Care Unit, Hosp Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04024002 Sao Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2011/20401-4FAPESP: 2013/15636-8CNPq: 305685/2011-2Web of Scienc