A quantum-chemical study of the binding ability of βXaaHisGlyHis towards copper(II) ion

The present study analyzed binding of Cu2+ to tetrapeptides in water solution at several levels of theoretical approximation. The methods used to study the energetic and structural properties of the complexes in question include semiempirical hamiltonians, density functional theory as well as ab initio approaches including electron correlation effects. In order to shed light on the character of interactions between Cu2+ and peptides, which are expected to be mainly electrostatic in nature, decomposition of interaction energy into physically meaningful components was applied

Adecuación entre Enseñanza Universitaria Técnica y sistema productivo

Desde una perspectiva doble (Sistema Productivo y Sistema Educativo) el trabajo analiza con detalle la adecuación entre ambos sistemas, intentando extraer datos que permitan mejorarla. Alumnos de último curso de Facultades, Escuelas Técnicas Superiores y de grado medio (n=337 sujetos. Error +/- 0'052) y empresas catalanas (n=180 empresas. Error 0'073. Nivel de confianza del 95 por ciento). Aplicación de encuestas de opinión a alumnos (entrevista directa) y a directivos y personal de empresas (encuestas por correo, tasa de devolución del 36 por ciento). Se evalúan las opiniones de ambos colectivos sobre los temas de adecuación entre Sistema Educativo y Productivo. Cuestionario ad hoc para alumnos con 19 ítems de respuesta cerrada. Cuestionario ad hoc para personal de empresas con 15 ítems de respuesta cerrada. Tablas de frecuencia. El alumno tipo es hombre, con edad entre 22 y 25 años y soltero. A veces compagina trabajo y estudios (éstos han sido elegidos por cuestiones vocacionales y de autorrealización). La mayoría considera que existe una gran inadecuación entre planes de estudio (demasiado teóricos) y exigencias de mercado y sugieren realzar los aspectos prácticos y concertar acuerdos de inserción con las empresas. Sus canales de búsqueda de empleo son la prensa y los contactos personales antes que los canales institucionales. Los puestos que más aprecian son los de investigación y de dirección. Por su parte, las empresas reclutan mayoritariamente a través de la prensa. Su perfil ideal no se decanta por la especialización o por la formación general. Se valoran mucho los aspectos psicológicos seguidos de la experiencia previa. Consideran necesario una colaboración entre la empresa y la Universidad y como vía de inserción laboral el contrato en prácticas. El trabajo recomienda desarrollar planes de estudio más prácticos, reformar los marcos legales para facilitar contratos en prácticas y potenciar los canales institucionales para obtener empleo. En estos puntos la opinión de empresarios y estudiantes coincide. El trabajo incluye amplios anexos legislativos y estadísticos.CataluñaBiblioteca de Educación del Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte; Calle San Agustín, 5 - 3 Planta; 28014 Madrid; Tel. +34917748000; Fax +34917748026; [email protected]

Intracolonic administration of zileuton, a selective 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, accelerates healing in a rat model of chronic colitis

BACKGROUND: 5-Lipoxygenase products play a part in inflammatory response. AIMS: The effect of intracolonic administration of zileuton (a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor) on colonic damage and eicosanoid local release was assessed in a rat model of colitis. METHODS: Ninety rats with trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid induced colitis were randomised to receive placebo, 5-aminosalicylic acid (50 mg/kg), or zileuton (50 mg/kg) intracolonically for four weeks. Local eicosanoid release was monitored by intracolonic dialysis throughout the study. The colon was removed for macroscopic and histological assessment at weeks 1, 2, and 4 after colitis induction in 10 rats of each group. RESULTS: Zileuton significantly reduced macroscopic damage score after four weeks of treatment in comparison with the other two groups (p = 0.034). In addition, zileuton administration significantly increased the intracolonic release of both thromboxane B2 at week 1 (p = 0.05) and prostaglandin E2 at weeks 2 and 4 (p < 0.05). Zileuton and 5-aminosalicylic acid decreased leukotriene B4 release by 90% at day 3. CONCLUSIONS: Intracolonic zileuton, compared with 5-aminosalicylic acid and placebo, seems to improve the course of the disease in a model of chronic colitis. This effect may be related to an increased and maintained production of prostaglandin E2 together with inhibition of leukotriene B4 synthesis

Abnormal plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid pattern in non-active inflammatory bowel disease

An abnormal plasma polyunsaturated fatty acid pattern (PUFA) (increased n3 and decreased n6 PUFA) has been reported in active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The possibility of a primary defect in the PUFA metabolism in IBD was hypothesised. The aim of this study was to assess plasma PUFA pattern in inactive inflammatory bowel disease and to ascertain whether patients who had had a colectomy and who were suffering from ulcerative colitis have a similar PUFA pattern than those patients with non-active ulcerative colitis and who had not had a colectomy. Plasma fatty acids were analysed by semi-capillary column gas-liquid chromatography in three groups of patients with inactive IBD (24 patients with inactive ulcerative colitis who had not had a colectomy, 15 patients with ulcerative colitis who had had a colectomy, and 27 patients with Crohn's disease). Plasma concentration and percentage of C22:6n3 and unsaturation index were significantly higher in patients with inactive ulcerative colitis without a colectomy and the Crohn's disease group (p < 0.0001) than in controls. Plasma concentration and percentage of C22:6n3 and the unsaturation index remained significantly higher, in both the operated and non-operated ulcerative colitis patients when compared with controls (p < 0.0001). These results suggest that in inactive IBD, an increased PUFA biosynthesis might be the cause of the high values of n3 compounds. These findings although seen in active disease, are more noticeable in remission because of the lack of artefactual factors (malnutrition, steroids, inflammation). In addition, persistence of high values in both groups of ulcerative colitis patients--that is, those who had had a colectomy and those who had not suggests the existence of a primary abnormality in the PUFA metabolism in IBD

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies in sera from colectomised ulcerative colitis patients and its relation to the presence of pouchitis.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated the influence of colectomy on antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positivity in ulcerative colitis (UC). In small series of patients it has been suggested that ANCA positivity in UC might be predictive for development of pouchitis after colectomy. AIMS: To assess the prevalence of ANCA in UC patients treated by colectomy and a Brooke's ileostomy (UC-BI) or ileal pouch anal anastomosis (UC-IPAA), and the relation between the presence of ANCA, the type of surgery, and the presence of pouchitis. SUBJECTS: 63 UC patients treated by colectomy (32 with UC-BI and 31 with UC-IPAA), 54 UC, and 24 controls. METHODS: Samples were obtained at least two years after colectomy. ANCA were detected by indirect immunofluorescent assay. RESULTS: There were no differences between patients with (36.3%) or without pouchitis (35.0%) and between patients with UC (55%), UC-BI (40.6%), and UC-IPAA (35.4%). However, ANCA prevalence significantly decreases in the whole group of operated patients (38.0%) compared with non-operated UC (p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of ANCA in operated patients was significantly lower than in non-operated UC, suggesting that it might be related either to the presence of inflamed or diseased tissue. ANCA persistence is not related to the surgical procedure and it should not be used as a marker for predicting the development of pouchitis