New analogues of amonafide and elinafide, containing aromatic heterocycles: synthesis, antitumor activity, molecular modeling, and DNA binding properties.

Amonafide- and elinafide-related mono and bisintercalators, modified by the introduction of a pi-excedent furan or thiophene ring fused to the naphthalimide moiety, have been synthesized. These compounds have shown an interesting antitumor profile. The best compound, 9, was 2.5-fold more potent than elinafide against human colon carcinoma cells (HT-29). Molecular dynamic simulations and physicochemical experiments have demonstrated that these compounds are capable of forming stable DNA complexes. These results, together with those previously reported by us for imidazo- and pyrazinonaphthalimide analogues, have prompted us to propose that the DNA binding process does not depend on the electronic nature of the fused heterocycle.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and DNA binding properties of novel mono and bisnaphthalimides.

A novel series of mono and bisnaphthalimides was synthesized and their antiproliferative activities were evaluated against three tumor cell lines. Bisnaphthalimides 3 and 4, bearing a pyrazine ring fused to the naphthalimide system, showed activities in the order of 10(-8) microM, similar to elinafide. DNA binding properties and the ability to induce DNA damage were studied for some of the most active compounds.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of analogues of butyrolactone I and molecular model of its interaction with CDK2.

A series of analogues of butyrolactone I, a natural product isolated from Aspergillus terreus that selectively inhibits the CDK2 and CDK1 kinases and that has been found to exhibit an interesting antiproliferative activity, have been synthesized. Its antitumor activity has been tested. Molecular models of the complex between butyrolactone I and the CDK2 active site have been built using a combination of conformational search and automated docking techniques. The stability of the resulting complexes has been assessed by molecular dynamics simulations and the experimental results obtained for the synthesized analogues are rationalized based on the molecular models.

Formación de clases de equivalencia aplicadas al apredizaje de las notas musicales / Equivalence classes formation applied to the musical notes learning

Se llevaron a cabo tres experimentos de formación y ampliación de clases de equivalencia. En el primero de ellos, con niños de 4-6 años de media como participantes, y aplicando la lógica de las clases de equivalencia al aprendizaje de los símbolos y sonidos musicales, se adquirieron las relaciones necesarias para formar tres clases de equivalencia (do, mi, sol) de cinco elementos cada una. En el segundo y tercer experimentos se consiguieron, respectivamente, cinco y siete clases de equivalencia (notas musicales) también de cinco elementos cada una, participando en cada caso niños de 6-6 años y un menor de 17 diagnosticado con síndrome de Down. Los resultados resaltan la importancia teórica de las clases de equivalencia como explicación del aprendizaje simbólico humano, así como las ventajas educativas que para una habilidad artística implica la aceleración del aprendizaje de los componentes más básicos

Three experiments involving training and application of equivalence classes were carried out. In the first of them, with 6-6 years old children, and applying the equivalence classes logic to musical symbols and sounds learning, the necessary relations to build three equivalence classes (do, mi, sol) of five members each were acquired. In second and third experiments, five and seven equivalence classes (musical notes) of five member each were obtained. Six and a half years old children and one 17 years old Down syndrome diagnosed child took part in them, respectively. Results highlight the theoretical meaning of equivalence classes as explanation of human symbolic behavior, as the educational incomes of improving learning of basic elements in artistic skills

Los alimentos funcionales en la dieta / Functional nutriments in diet

los alimentos funcionales contribuyen a mejorar la salud o reducen el riesgo de padecer enfermedades, pero no curan por sí solos. No son indispensables en la dieta equilibrada de una persona sana, que ya ingiere todos los nutrientes que necesita. Pueden complementar las necesidades de algunos nutrientes en situaciones especiales, pero algunas de las sustancias consideradas beneficiosas pueden ser perjudiciales si se toman en exceso. Se analizan los más habituales valorando sus ventajas e inconvenientes, así como aquellos casos en los que su empleo se considera adecuado

Functional nutriments contribute to improve one's health or to reduce the risk of suffering diseases, but they are not cures by themselves. They are nor indispensable in the balanced diet of a healthy person, who already ingests all the nutrients which are needed. These may supplement the needs of some nutriments under special circumstances, but some of the substances considered beneficial can be prejudicial if taken in excess. The authors analyze the most common of these functional nutriments and they evaluate their advantages and inconveniences; furthermore, the authors analyze those cases in which the, use of these nutriments is deemed adequate