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BACKGROUND: Opitz GBBB syndrome (GBBB) is an X-linked disease characterized by midline defects, including congenital heart defects. We present our diagnostic approach to the identification of GBBB in a consanguineous family in which two males siblings were concordant for a total anomalous connection of pulmonary veins and minor facial dysmorphias. METHODS: Targeted exome sequencing analysis of a 380-gene panel associated with cardiovascular disease was performed on the propositus. Interpretative analysis of the exome results was conducted, and 3D models of the protein changes were generated. RESULTS: We identified a NM_000381.4:c.608G>A;p.(Arg203Gln) change in MID1, affecting the conformation of the B-box 2 domain of the protein, with a zinc finger structure and associated protein interactions. This clinical phenotype is consistent with GBBB; however, the type of congenital heart disease observed in this case has not been previously reported. CONCLUSION: A new likely pathogenic variant on MID1 c.608G>A was found to be associated with Opitz GBBB syndrome.
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Doenças Genéticas Ligadas ao Cromossomo X , Hipertelorismo , Hipospadia , Humanos , Masculino , Doenças Genéticas Ligadas ao Cromossomo X/genética , Hipertelorismo/genética , Hipospadia/genéticaRESUMO
In addition to playing a central role in the mitochondria as the main producer of ATP, FOF1-ATP synthase performs diverse key regulatory functions in the cell membrane. Its malfunction has been linked to a growing number of human diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, cancer, and some neurodegenerative, autoimmune, and aging diseases. Furthermore, inhibition of this enzyme jeopardizes the survival of several bacterial pathogens of public health concern. Therefore, FOF1-ATP synthase has emerged as a novel drug target both to treat human diseases and to combat antibiotic resistance. In this work, we carried out a computational characterization of the binding sites of the fungal antibiotic aurovertin in the bovine F1 subcomplex, which shares a large identity with the human enzyme. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that although the binding sites can be described as preformed, the inhibitor hinders inter-subunit communications and exerts long-range effects on the dynamics of the catalytic site residues. End-point binding free energy calculations revealed hot spot residues for aurovertin recognition. These residues were also relevant to stabilize solvent sites determined from mixed-solvent molecular dynamics, which mimic the interaction between aurovertin and the enzyme, and could be used as pharmacophore constraints in virtual screening campaigns. To explore the possibility of finding species-specific inhibitors targeting the aurovertin binding site, we performed free energy calculations for two bacterial enzymes with experimentally solved 3D structures. Finally, an analysis of bacterial sequences was carried out to determine conservation of the aurovertin binding site. Taken together, our results constitute a first step in paving the way for structure-based development of new allosteric drugs targeting FOF1-ATP synthase sites of exogenous inhibitors.
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Several studies have examined the complement system in schizophrenia, suggesting an involvement of the lectin pathway. We analyzed 49 patients with schizophrenia and explored the association between psychopathology of schizophrenia and complement component 3 (C3) serum levels, C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels, ficolin activation, and mannose-binding lectin (MBL) activation. In the multiple regression analysis, a negative association was observed between the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score and ficolin activation. Body mass index (BMI) was positively associated with the serum levels of C3 and CRP. MBL activation was not associated with any independent variables. Our findings facilitate a better understanding of the complement system in schizophrenia. Additional studies with a large sample population are needed to confirm our results.
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Esquizofrenia , Biomarcadores , Humanos , Lectinas , FicolinasRESUMO
Hematologic malignancies such as leukemias and lymphomas are among the leading causes of pediatric cancer death worldwide, and although survival rates have improved with conventional treatments, the development of drug-resistant cancer cells may lead to patient relapse and limited possibilities of a cure. Drug-resistant cancer cells in these hematologic neoplasms are induced by overexpression of the antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein families, such as Bcl-XL, Bcl-2, and Mcl-1. We have previously shown that peptides from the BH3 domain of the proapoptotic Bax protein that also belongs to the Bcl-2 family may antagonize the antiapoptotic activity of the Bcl-2 family proteins, restore apoptosis, and induce chemosensitization of tumor cells. Furthermore, cell-permeable Bax BH3 peptides also elicit antitumor activity and extend survival in a murine xenograft model of human B non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, the activity of the BH3 peptides of the proapoptotic Bak protein of the Bcl-2 family against these hematologic malignant cells requires further characterization. In this study, we report the ability of the cell-permeable Bak BH3 peptide to restore apoptosis and induce chemosensitization of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cell lines, and this event is enhanced with the coadministration of cell-permeable Bax BH3 peptide and represents an attractive approach to improve the patient outcomes with relapsed or refractory hematological malignant cells.
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Inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are attractive compounds for epigenetic drug discovery. They are also chemical tools to understand the biochemistry of epigenetic processes. Herein, we report five distinct inhibitors of DNMT1 characterized in enzymatic inhibition assays that did not show activity with DNMT3B. It was concluded that the dietary component theaflavin is an inhibitor of DNMT1. Two additional novel inhibitors of DNMT1 are the approved drugs glyburide and panobinostat. The DNMT1 enzymatic inhibitory activity of panobinostat, a known pan inhibitor of histone deacetylases, agrees with experimental reports of its ability to reduce DNMT1 activity in liver cancer cell lines. Molecular docking of the active compounds with DNMT1, and re-scoring with the recently developed extended connectivity interaction features approach, led to an excellent agreement between the experimental IC50 values and docking scores.
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In this work, we studied the mechanisms of classical activation and inactivation of signal transduction by the histamine H3 receptor, a 7-helix transmembrane bundle G-Protein Coupled Receptor through long-time-scale atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of the receptor embedded in a hydrated double layer of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline, a zwitterionic polysaturated ordered lipid. Three systems were prepared: the apo receptor, representing the constitutively active receptor; and two holo-receptors-the receptor coupled to the antagonist/inverse agonist ciproxifan, representing the inactive state of the receptor, and the receptor coupled to the endogenous agonist histamine and representing the active state of the receptor. An extensive analysis of the simulation showed that the three states of H3R present significant structural and dynamical differences as well as a complex behavior given that the measured properties interact in multiple and interdependent ways. In addition, the simulations described an unexpected escape of histamine from the orthosteric binding site, in agreement with the experimental modest affinities and rapid off-rates of agonists.
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Simulação de Dinâmica Molecular , Receptores Acoplados a Proteínas G/metabolismo , Receptores Histamínicos H3/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/genética , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia , 1,2-Dipalmitoilfosfatidilcolina/metabolismo , Animais , Sítios de Ligação , Ligação Proteica , RatosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Temperamental characteristics have been suggested as potential vulnerability markers or could help differential diagnosis among psychiatric disorders. The current study aimed to explore whether there are specific temperament profiles related to different psychological symptoms, according to the Affective and Emotional Composite Temperament (AFECT) model. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional web-based survey collected from the Brazilian Internet Study on Temperament and Psychopathology (BRAINSTEP). The sample consisted of 16,495 self-selected volunteers assessed with the Affective and Emotional Composite Temperament Scale (AFECTS), Adult Self-Report Inventory (ASRI), and Adult Self-Report Scale (ASRS). RESULTS: All unstable affective temperaments (cyclothymic, dysphoric, and volatile) correlated, in different intensities, with all psychiatric symptoms assessed. Cyclothymic temperament was mainly related to borderline personality symptoms. Dysphoric and volatile temperament showed an association with attention deficit hyperactivity symptoms. Melancholic temperament was associated with major depressive symptoms, and euphoric temperament showed a positive correlation with maniac symptoms. Euthymic and hyperthymic temperaments were negatively correlated with all psychiatric symptoms. In addition, the assessment of the emotional traits of temperament showed that high volition, low anger, low sensitivity, and high control are characteristics that are not related to psychopathology. LIMITATIONS: This study had a cross-sectional design, which does not allow an exact inference of cause and consequence. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that temperament assessment using AFECT model may be relevant to assess the risk of developing psychological symptoms over the time. These results strengthen the theoretical framework that psychiatric disorders may be manifestations of the extremes of affective temperaments.
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Transtorno Depressivo Maior , Temperamento , Adulto , Brasil , Estudos Transversais , Humanos , Internet , Inventário de PersonalidadeRESUMO
The survival of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has substantially improved with current treatments. Nevertheless, the appearance of drug-resistant cancer cells leads to patient relapse. It is therefore necessary to find new antitumor therapies that can completely eradicate transformed cells. Chemotherapy-resistant cancer cells are characterized by the overexpression of members of the anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein family, such as Bcl-XL, Bcl-2, and Mcl-1. We have recently shown that peptides derived from the BH3 domain of the pro-apoptotic Bax protein may antagonize the anti-apoptotic activity of the Bcl-2 family proteins, restore apoptosis, and induce chemosensitization of tumor cells. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of releasing this peptide into the tumor microenvironment using live attenuated Salmonella enterica, which has proven to be an ally in cancer therapy due to its high affinity for tumor tissue, its ability to activate the innate and adaptive antitumor immune responses, and its potential use as a delivery system of heterologous molecules. Thus, we expressed and released the cell-permeable Bax BH3 peptide from the surface of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SL3261 through the MisL autotransporter system. We demonstrated that this recombinant bacterium significantly decreased the viability and increased the apoptosis of Ramos cells, a human B NHL cell line. Indeed, the intravenous administration of this recombinant Salmonella enterica elicited antitumor activity and extended survival in a xenograft NHL murine model. This antitumor activity was mediated by apoptosis and an inflammatory response. Our approach may represent an eventual alternative to treat relapsing or refractory NHL.
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Proteínas de Bactérias , Vacinas Anticâncer/imunologia , Sistemas de Liberação de Medicamentos , Linfoma não Hodgkin/imunologia , Linfoma não Hodgkin/patologia , Proteínas de Membrana Transportadoras , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/imunologia , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/imunologia , Salmonella enterica/imunologia , Proteína X Associada a bcl-2/imunologia , Animais , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas de Bactérias/química , Vacinas Anticâncer/administração & dosagem , Linhagem Celular , Permeabilidade da Membrana Celular , Sobrevivência Celular , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Feminino , Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Linfoma não Hodgkin/mortalidade , Linfoma não Hodgkin/terapia , Proteínas de Membrana Transportadoras/química , Camundongos , Modelos Moleculares , Oligonucleotídeos/química , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes , Salmonella enterica/genética , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de Xenoenxerto , Proteína X Associada a bcl-2/química , Proteína X Associada a bcl-2/genéticaRESUMO
The deficiency of glucose6phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is one of the most common inborn errors of metabolism worldwide. This congenital disorder generally results from mutations that are spread throughout the entire gene of G6PD. Three single-point mutations for G6PD have been reported in the Mexican population and named Veracruz (Arg365His), G6PD Seattle (Asp282His), and G6PD Mexico DF (Thr65Ala), whose biochemical characterization have not yet been studied. For this reason, in this work we analyzed the putative role of the three mutations to uncover the functional consequences on G6PD activity. To this end, was developed a method to clone, overexpress, and purify recombinant human G6PD. The results obtained from all variants showed a loss of catalysis by 80 to 97% and had a decrease in affinity for both physiological substrates with respect to the wild type (WT) G6PD. Our results also showed that the three mutations affected three-dimensional structure and protein stability, suggesting an unstable structure with low conformational stability that affected its G6PD functionality. Finally, based on the biochemical characterization of the unclassified G6PD Mexico DF, we suggest that this variant could be grouped as a Class I variant, because biochemical data are similar with other Class I G6PDs.
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Clonagem Molecular , Genética Populacional , Glucosefosfato Desidrogenase/química , Glucosefosfato Desidrogenase/genética , Mutação , Dicroísmo Circular , Ativação Enzimática , Estabilidade Enzimática , Glucosefosfato Desidrogenase/isolamento & purificação , Humanos , Cinética , México , Modelos Moleculares , Conformação Proteica , Proteínas Recombinantes , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , TermodinâmicaRESUMO
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is the first enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway and is highly relevant in the metabolism of Giardialamblia. Previous reports suggested that the G6PD gene is fused with the 6-phosphogluconolactonase (6PGL) gene (6pgl). Therefore, in this work, we decided to characterize the fused G6PD-6PGL protein in Giardialamblia. First, the gene of g6pd fused with the 6pgl gene (6gpd::6pgl) was isolated from trophozoites of Giardialamblia and the corresponding G6PD::6PGL protein was overexpressed and purified in Escherichia coli. Then, we characterized the native oligomeric state of the G6PD::6PGL protein in solution and we found a catalytic dimer with an optimum pH of 8.75. Furthermore, we determined the steady-state kinetic parameters for the G6PD domain and measured the thermal stability of the protein in both the presence and absence of guanidine hydrochloride (Gdn-HCl) and observed that the G6PD::6PGL protein showed alterations in the stability, secondary structure, and tertiary structure in the presence of Gdn-HCl. Finally, computer modeling studies revealed unique structural and functional features, which clearly established the differences between G6PD::6PGL protein from G. lamblia and the human G6PD enzyme, proving that the model can be used for the design of new drugs with antigiardiasic activity. These results broaden the perspective for future studies of the function of the protein and its effect on the metabolism of this parasite as a potential pharmacological target.
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Hidrolases de Éster Carboxílico/química , Hidrolases de Éster Carboxílico/metabolismo , Giardia lamblia/enzimologia , Glucosefosfato Desidrogenase/química , Glucosefosfato Desidrogenase/metabolismo , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/química , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/metabolismo , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Sequência de Bases , Hidrolases de Éster Carboxílico/genética , DNA Complementar/química , DNA Complementar/genética , Ativação Enzimática , Estabilidade Enzimática , Expressão Gênica , Giardia lamblia/genética , Glucosefosfato Desidrogenase/genética , Humanos , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Cinética , Modelos Moleculares , Conformação Proteica , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/genética , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , TemperaturaRESUMO
Various experimental and computational techniques have been employed over the past decade to provide structural and thermodynamic insights into G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR) dimerization. Here, we use multiple microsecond-long, coarse-grained, biased and unbiased molecular dynamics simulations (a total of ~4 milliseconds) combined with multi-ensemble Markov state models to elucidate the kinetics of homodimerization of a prototypic GPCR, the µ-opioid receptor (MOR), embedded in a 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC)/cholesterol lipid bilayer. Analysis of these computations identifies kinetically distinct macrostates comprising several different short-lived dimeric configurations of either inactive or activated MOR. Calculated kinetic rates and fractions of dimers at different MOR concentrations suggest a negligible population of MOR homodimers at physiological concentrations, which is supported by acceptor photobleaching fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments. This study provides a rigorous, quantitative explanation for some conflicting experimental data on GPCR oligomerization.
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Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Colesterol/metabolismo , Bicamadas Lipídicas/metabolismo , Fosfatidilcolinas/metabolismo , Multimerização Proteica , Receptores Opioides mu/química , Receptores Opioides mu/metabolismo , Humanos , Cinética , Simulação de Dinâmica Molecular , Conformação ProteicaRESUMO
Hypothyroidism (Hypo) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure. Hypo rapidly induces Ca2+ mishandling and contractile dysfunction (CD), as well as atrophy and ventricular myocytes (VM) remodeling. Hypo decreases SERCA-to-phospholamban ratio (SERCA/PLB), and thereby contributes to CD. Nevertheless, detailed spatial and temporal Ca2+ cycling characterization in VM is missing, and contribution of other structural and functional changes to the mechanism underlying Ca2+ mishandling and CD, as transverse tubules (T-T) remodeling, mitochondrial density (Dmit) and energy availability, is unclear. Therefore, in a rat model of Hypo, we aimed to characterize systolic and diastolic Ca2+ signaling, T-T remodeling, Dmit, citrate synthase (CS) activity and high-energy phosphate metabolites (ATP and phosphocreatine). We confirmed a decrease in SERCA/PLB (59%), which slowed SERCA activity (48%), reduced SR Ca2+ (19%) and blunted Ca2+ transient amplitude (41%). Moreover, assessing the rate of SR Ca2+ release (dRel/dt), we found that early and maximum dRel/dt decreased, and this correlated with staggered Ca2+ transients. However, dRel/dt persisted during Ca2+ transient relaxation due to abundant late Ca2+ sparks. Isoproterenol significantly up-regulated systolic Ca2+ cycling. T-T were unchanged, hence, cannot explain staggered Ca2+ transients and altered dRel/dt. Therefore, we suggest that these might be caused by RyR2 clusters desynchronization, due to diminished Ca2+-dependent sensitivity of RyR2, which also caused a decrease in diastolic SR Ca2+ leak. Furthermore, Dmit was unchanged and CS activity slightly decreased (14%), however, the ratio phosphocreatine/ATP did not change, therefore, energy deficiency cannot account for Ca2+ and contractility dysregulation. We conclude that decreased SR Ca2+, due to slower SERCA, disrupts systolic RyR2 synchronization, and this underlies CD.
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Hipotireoidismo/fisiopatologia , Contração Miocárdica/fisiologia , Miócitos Cardíacos/patologia , Animais , Atrofia , Cálcio/metabolismo , Sinalização do Cálcio/efeitos dos fármacos , Citrato (si)-Sintase/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Ventrículos do Coração/efeitos dos fármacos , Ventrículos do Coração/patologia , Hipotireoidismo/sangue , Masculino , Mitocôndrias/efeitos dos fármacos , Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Contração Miocárdica/efeitos dos fármacos , Miocárdio/metabolismo , Miocárdio/patologia , Miócitos Cardíacos/efeitos dos fármacos , Miócitos Cardíacos/metabolismo , Ratos Wistar , Retículo Sarcoplasmático/efeitos dos fármacos , Retículo Sarcoplasmático/metabolismo , ATPases Transportadoras de Cálcio do Retículo Sarcoplasmático/metabolismo , Sístole/efeitos dos fármacos , Tapsigargina/farmacologia , Hormônios Tireóideos/sangue , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
The lipid composition of cell membranes has increasingly been recognized as playing an important role in the function of various membrane proteins, including G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). For instance, experimental and computational evidence has pointed to lipids influencing receptor oligomerization directly, by physically interacting with the receptor, and/or indirectly, by altering the bulk properties of the membrane. While the exact role of oligomerization in the function of class A GPCRs such as the µ-opioid receptor (MOR) is still unclear, insight as to how these receptors oligomerize and the relevance of the lipid environment to this phenomenon is crucial to our understanding of receptor function. To examine the effect of lipids and different MOR conformations on receptor oligomerization we carried out extensive coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of crystal structures of inactive and/or activated MOR embedded in an idealized mammalian plasma membrane composed of 63 lipid types asymmetrically distributed across the two leaflets. The results of these simulations point, for the first time, to specific direct and indirect effects of the lipids, as well as the receptor conformation, on the spatio-temporal organization of MOR in the plasma membrane. While sphingomyelin-rich, high-order lipid regions near certain transmembrane (TM) helices of MOR induce an effective long-range attractive force on individual protomers, both long-range lipid order and interface formation are found to be conformation dependent, with a larger number of different interfaces formed by inactive MOR compared to active MOR.
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Membrana Celular , Lipídeos , Modelos Moleculares , Receptores Opioides mu , Animais , Membrana Celular/química , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Metabolismo dos Lipídeos/fisiologia , Lipídeos/análise , Lipídeos/química , Camundongos , Receptores Opioides mu/química , Receptores Opioides mu/metabolismoRESUMO
Abstract: Developing a novel drug is a complex, risky, expensive and time-consuming venture. It is estimated that the conventional drug discovery process ending with a new medicine ready for the market can take up to 15 years and more than a billion USD. Fortunately, this scenario has recently changed with the arrival of new approaches. Many novel technologies and methodologies have been developed to increase the efficiency of the drug discovery process, and computational methodologies have become a crucial component of many drug discovery programs. From hit identification to lead optimization, techniques such as ligand- or structure-based virtual screening are widely used in many discovery efforts. It is the case for designing potential anticancer drugs and drug candidates, where these computational approaches have had a major impact over the years and have provided fruitful insights into the field of cancer. In this paper, we review the concept of rational design presenting some of the most representative examples of molecules identified by means of it. Key principles are illustrated through case studies including specifically successful achievements in the field of anticancer drug design to demonstrate that research advances, with the aid of in silico drug design, have the potential to create novel anticancer drugs.
Resumen: El desarrollo de un nuevo fármaco es un proceso complejo y arriesgado que requiere una enorme cantidad de tiempo y dinero. Se estima que el proceso estándar para producir un nuevo fármaco, desde su descubrimiento hasta que acaba en el mercado, puede tardar hasta 15 años y tener un costo de mil millones de dólares (USD). Por fortuna, este escenario ha cambiado recientemente con la llegada de nuevas tecnologías y metodologías. Entre ellas, los métodos computacionales se han convertido en un componente determinante en muchos programas de descubrimiento de fármacos. En un esfuerzo por incrementar las posibilidades de encontrar nuevas moléculas con potencial farmacológico, se utilizan técnicas como el cribado virtual de quimiotecas construidas con base en ligandos o estructuras para la identificación de hits y hasta para la optimización de compuestos líder. En lo que respecta al diseño y descubrimiento de nuevos candidatos a fármacos contra el cáncer, estos enfoques tienen, a la fecha, un impacto importante y aportan nuevas posibilidades terapéuticas. En este artículo se revisa el concepto del diseño racional de moléculas con potencial farmacológico, ilustrando los principios clave con algunos de los ejemplos más representativos y exitosos de moléculas identificadas mediante estas aproximaciones. Se incluyen casos desarrollados en el campo del diseño de fármacos contra el cáncer con la finalidad de mostrar cómo, con la ayuda del diseño asistido por computadora, se pueden generar nuevos fármacos que den esperanza a millones de pacientes.
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Abstract: The efficiency and the propensity of a drug to be bound to its target protein have been inseparable concepts for decades now. The correlation between the pharmacological activity and the binding affinity has been the first rule to design and optimize a new drug rationally. However, this argument does not prove to be infallible when the results of in vivo assays have to be confronted. Only recently, we understand that other magnitudes as the kinetic rates of binding and unbinding, or the mean residence time of the complex drug-protein, are equally relevant to draw a more accurate model of the mechanism of action of a drug. It is in this scenario where new computational techniques to simulate the all-atom dynamics of the biomolecular system find its valuable place on the challenge of designing new molecules for more effective and less toxic therapies.
Resumen: La eficiencia de un fármaco se ha relacionado habitualmente con su constante de afinidad, magnitud que puede ser medida experimentalmente in vitro y que cuantifica la propensión mostrada por la molécula ligando para interaccionar con su proteína diana. Este modo de entender el mecanismo de acción ha guiado durante años el desarrollo de nuevas moléculas con potencial farmacológico. Sin embargo, dicho modelo o criterio no es infalible cuando se confronta con los resultados de ensayos in vivo. Otras magnitudes, como las constantes cinéticas de asociación o disociación o el tiempo de residencia del ligando acoplado a su proteína diana, demuestran ser igualmente necesarias para comprender y predecir la capacidad farmacológica del compuesto químico. En este nuevo escenario, con ayuda de las técnicas computacionales de simulación molecular, la correcta caracterización del proceso dinámico de unión y desunión del ligando y receptor resulta imprescindible para poder diseñar racionalmente nuevas moléculas que permitan terapias más eficaces y menos tóxicas.
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Resumo A baixa adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso constitui grave entrave para o sucesso do controle de doenças como o diabetes e a hipertensão arterial. Este artigo trata de um estudo que partiu da identificação do analfabetismo como importante causa de não adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso para diabéticos e hipertensos participantes do programa Hiperdia em unidade de saúde do município de Colombo, no estado do Paraná. Teve como objetivo avaliar o impacto de prescrição pictórica na adesão ao tratamento. Analisou-se um grupo de 63 diabéticos e hipertensos que participavam do Hiperdia, para os quais aplicou-se uma entrevista estruturada, com posterior análise do conteúdo, antes e depois da implantação de uma prescrição pictográfica. Como resultado, entre os analfabetos, observou-se a elevação da adesão de 60% para 93,33% em relação ao tratamento medicamentoso. No grupo de alfabetizados não houve mudança na adesão. Conclui-se, no entanto, que esse tipo de intervenção é limitado para a melhora da condição de saúde dos pacientes, pois o aumento da adesão se dá em relação tanto ao tratamento medicamentoso quanto à precariedade.
Abstract The low levels of compliance with drug therapy is a serious obstacle to the successful control of diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. This article addresses a study that was based on the identification of illiteracy as a major cause of non-compliance with a drug treatment among diabetic and hypertensive patients participating in the Hiperdia program at a health unit in the city of Colombo, state of Paraná, Brazil. The goal was to assess the impact of pictorial prescriptions on compliance with treatment. A group of 63 diabetic and hypertensive patients participating in Hiperdia was analyzed. They answered a structured interview, the content of which was subsequently analyzed before and after the implementation of a pictographic prescription. As a result, compliance with the drug treatment among the illiterate rose from 60 percent to 93.33 percent. There was no change in compliance in the literate group. It was concluded, however, that this type of intervention is limited to the improvement of the patients' health condition, because the increase in compliance occurs both with regard to the drug treatment and precariousness.
Resumen La baja adhesión al tratamiento medicamentoso constituye un grave obstáculo para el éxito del control de enfermedades como la diabetes y la hipertensión arterial. Este artículo trata de un estudio que partió de la identificación del analfabetismo como importante causa de la no adhesión al tratamiento medicamentoso para diabéticos e hipertensos participantes en el programa Hiperdia en una unidad de salud del municipio de Colombo, estado de Paraná, Brasil. Éste tuvo como objetivo evaluar el impacto de la prescripción pictórica en la adhesión al tratamiento. Se analizó un grupo de 63 diabéticos e hipertensos que participaban en el Hiperdia, para los cuales se aplicó una entrevista estructurada, con posterior análisis del contenido, antes y después de la implantación de una prescripción pictográfica. Como resultado, entre los analfabetos, se observó la elevación de la adhesión del 60% para el 93,33% con relación al tratamiento medicamentoso. En el grupo de alfabetizados, la adhesión no presentó cambios. Se concluyó, sin embargo, que este tipo de intervención es limitado para la mejora de la condición de salud de los pacientes, pues el aumento de la adhesión se da con relación al tratamiento medicamentosos en cuanto a la precariedad.