Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) of 4-amino-2,6-diarylpyrimidine-5-carbonitriles with anti-inflammatory activity

The experimental anti-inflammatory activities of eight 4-amino-2,6-diarylpyrimidine-5-carbonitriles were subjected to a QSAR analysis based on results from B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) and AM1 electronic structure calculations. Principal component analyses and regressions based on these data indicate that potentially more active compounds should have low dipole moment and partition coefficient values and also be affected by the values of the charges of the carbon atoms through which the two aromatic rings are bonded to the pyrimidinic ring. Two new molecules were predicted to be at least as active as those with the highest activities used in the model building stage. One of them, having a methoxy group attached to one of the aromatic rings, was predicted to have an anti-inflammatory activity value of 52.3%. This molecule was synthesized and its experimental activity was found to be 52.8%, in agreement with the AM1 theoretical prediction. This value is 5% higher than the largest value used for modeling

The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications

A função muscular e a composição corporal na qualidade de vida do idoso: efeitos de um programa de 8 semanas de treinamento combinado

The muscle function and body composition in the elderly quality of life effects of 8 weeks of combined training programElderly person is every subject that is more than sixty-five years old. Nowadays there is a greater life expectancy from those elderly people because some healthy technology advances, like vaccines and medicines. However, as one subject becomes older, some daily activities can become difficult. This can happen because elderly subject’s loss of lean mass, strength, endurance, balance and flexibility. Nevertheless, sedentary lifestyle in this age worsens symptoms of fatigue and weakness beyond low functional capacity. Our goal was to evaluate some muscular function related to performance skills and body composition of XX active elderly subjects. We made tests to evaluate strength, flexibility, balance, endurance capacity and body composition using sitting and standing test, sit and reach test, walk in a straight test, Cooper test and skinfolds protocol, respectively. We applied this evaluation in two different moments: PRE and POST an eight-week concurrent training program designed to be done twice a week. Our results PRE and POST were, respectively: % Fat: 32.1 ± 3.3% and 30.83 ± 3.2% (p0.05); Strength rate: 51.8 ± 18.9rep/sec and 72.5 ± 34.3rep/sec (p0,05); Taxa de Força: 51,8 ± 18,9rep/seg e 72,5 ± 34,3rep/seg (p<0,05); Flexibilidade: 25 ± 5,4cm e 28,9 ± 6,5cm (p<0,05); Equilíbrio: 61,3 ± 17,6seg e 46,9 ± 17,1seg (p<0,05). Assim, podemos concluir que o treinamento foi significativamente eficaz na redução do percentual de gordura, além do aumento na massa corporal magra, na melhora do equilíbrio, no aumento da flexibilidade e no aumento da taxa de força. Com relação à resistência aeróbia, houve aumento, porém não estatisticamente significativa. Neste sentido, o treinamento físico sistematizado pode ser utilizado como terapia não-medicamentosa nos acometimentos de saúde em decorrência do envelhecimento, especialmente por melhorar as capacidades funcionais e a condição antropométrica dos idosos, refletindo indiretamente na autonomia e na qualidade de vida dos mesmos

Efetividade da inoculação com rizóbio e fungos micorrízicos arbusculares em mudas de sabiá submetidas a diferentes níveis de fósforo

Visando otimizar a produção de mudas de sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth), foi conduzido um experimento para avaliar a efetividade da dupla inoculação com fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA) e rizóbio. Os tratamentos, arrumados em esquema fatorial consistiram de presença e ausência de Rhizobium sp. e de FMA (Glomus etunicatum, Acaulospora morrowae e A. longula), e de três níveis de P (0, 20 e 40 kg/ha de P2O5, na forma de superfosfato triplo). A aplicação de P na ausência e na presença dos fungos não favoreceu o desenvolvimento das plantas. As mudas com a dupla inoculação apresentaram valores significativos no crescimento, área foliar, altura das plantas, atividade da enzima nitrogenase, porcentagem de colonização radicular e outros parâmetros analisados, independentemente do nível de P usado. A nodulação do sabiá foi favorecida pela micorrização, uma vez que as mudas inoculadas apenas com Rhizobium apresentaram nodulação significativamente menor. Houve aumento da colonização micorrízica e diminuição da esporulação na presença de Rhizobium

Efetividade da inoculação com rizóbio e fungos micorrízicos arbusculares em mudas de sabiá submetidas a diferentes níveis de fósforo

In order to optimize Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth seedlings production, an experiment was carried out to evaluate the inoculation with both arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium. Treatments, arranged in a factorial scheme, consisted of presence or absence of Rhizobium, and of AMF (a mixture of Glomus etunicatum, Acaulospora morrowae and A. longula), with three P levels (equivalent to 0, 20 and 40 kg/ha of P2O5), applied as triple superphosphate. The P application, in the absence or in the presence of AMF inoculation, did not enhance plant development, while the seedlings which received the double inoculation presented significant values on growth, height, leaf area, nitrogenase activity and others analyzed parameters, regardless of the P level. Mimosa caesalpiniifolia nodulation was enhanced by the inoculation with AMF, since plants which received Rhizobium alone showed significantly lower nodulation values than the ones which received both inoculations. There was an increase of the mycorrhizal and a decrease of the esporulation in the presence of Rhizobium.Visando otimizar a produção de mudas de sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth), foi conduzido um experimento para avaliar a efetividade da dupla inoculação com fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA) e rizóbio. Os tratamentos, arrumados em esquema fatorial consistiram de presença e ausência de Rhizobium sp. e de FMA (Glomus etunicatum, Acaulospora morrowae e A. longula), e de três níveis de P (0, 20 e 40 kg/ha de P2O5, na forma de superfosfato triplo). A aplicação de P na ausência e na presença dos fungos não favoreceu o desenvolvimento das plantas. As mudas com a dupla inoculação apresentaram valores significativos no crescimento, área foliar, altura das plantas, atividade da enzima nitrogenase, porcentagem de colonização radicular e outros parâmetros analisados, independentemente do nível de P usado. A nodulação do sabiá foi favorecida pela micorrização, uma vez que as mudas inoculadas apenas com Rhizobium apresentaram nodulação significativamente menor. Houve aumento da colonização micorrízica e diminuição da esporulação na presença de Rhizobium