Solvent-free MALI-MGRE Procedure for Synthesizing 1,4-thiazolidin-4- one MALI (Mercaptoacetic Acid Looking Imine) MGRE (Mechanical Grinding Reaction Equipment).

BACKGROUND: 1,3-Thiazolidin-4-ones are heterocycles whose importance in the pharmaceutical market has already been established. Many of these synthetic derivatives, which contain a thiazolidinone nucleus, are currently used in various commercial formulations or are already in clinical trials for the treatment of disease for their anticonvulsant, antihypertensive and antidiabetic activities in addition to their activity against Streptomyces. 1,3-Thiazolidin-4-ones are produced mainly by cyclo condensation between an imine (generated in situ by the reaction of an aldehyde with an amine) and α-mercaptoacetic acid, known as the MALI (Mercaptoacetic Acid Looking Imine) reaction. OBJECTIVE: A solvent-free methodology was developed to synthesize a 1,3-thiazolidin-4-one family by the MALI reaction. An apparatus was developed to grind a solid-liquid mixture of anilines, benzaldehydes and thioglycolic acid to activate the reaction. This apparatus was named MGRE (mechanical grinding reaction equipment). METHODS: Substituted aniline 2 (4 mmol), substituted benzaldehyde 1 (4 mmol) and thioglycolic acid 3 (12 mmol) were placed in a mortar. The reagents were macerated using the MGRE at room temperature for a specified time period. At the end of the reaction, the product was poured into ice, the precipitate formed was neutralized (with 5% NaHCO3), and the solution was extracted in ethyl acetate and dried in MgSO4. The solid was recrystallized from MeOH/H2O. RESULTS: The developed MGRE is a modification of a rod used in a mechanical stirrer. This adaptation is inexpensive and simple in construction, and it enables reactions to occur over long periods of time that would be exhaustive for manual grinding. Fifteen (1,3) thiazolidin-4-ones were produced. The products were synthesized using the solvent-free MALI-MGRE procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The MALI-MGRE methodology developed to produce 1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones showed a good reaction scope, has an easy work-up and is solvent-free. Consequently, MALI-MGRE is classified as a green methodology. An innovation of this study is the construction of the MGRE, which involves modifying the rod in a mechanical stirrer. The equipment is easy and inexpensive to construct and may be useful for various reactions involving grinding.

The impact of physical functions on depressive symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease that affects the central nervous system. The impact of MS transcends physical functions and extends to psychological impairment. Approximately 50% of people with MS develop depressive symptoms during their lifetime and depressive symptoms may predict impairment of physical functions. However, prediction of depressive symptoms based on objective measures of physical functions is still necessary. OBJECTIVE: To compare physical functions between people with MS presenting depressive symptoms or not and to identify predictors of depressive symptoms using objective measures of physical functions. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including 26 people with MS. Anxiety and/or depressive symptoms were assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Outcomes of physical functions included: the Nnnine-hole Ppeg Ttest (NHPT), knee muscle strength, balance control, the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Perceived exertion was measured using the Borg scale. RESULTS: The frequency of depressive symptoms was 42% in people with MS. Balance control during a more challenging task was impaired in people with MS who presented depressive symptoms. Balance could explain 21-24% of the variance in depressive symptoms. 6MWT and TUG presented a trend of significance explaining 16% of the variance in the BDI-II score. CONCLUSIONS: Impairment in physical functions consists in a potential predictor of depressive symptoms in people with MS. Exercise interventions aiming at the improvement of physical functions, together with the treatment of depressive symptoms and conventional medical treatment, are suggested.

The impact of physical functions on depressive symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis / O impacto das funções físicas nos sintomas depressivos em pessoas com esclerose múltipla

ABSTRACT Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease that affects the central nervous system. The impact of MS transcends physical functions and extends to psychological impairment. Approximately 50% of people with MS develop depressive symptoms during their lifetime and depressive symptoms may predict impairment of physical functions. However, prediction of depressive symptoms based on objective measures of physical functions is still necessary. Objective: To compare physical functions between people with MS presenting depressive symptoms or not and to identify predictors of depressive symptoms using objective measures of physical functions. Methods: Cross-sectional study including 26 people with MS. Anxiety and/or depressive symptoms were assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Outcomes of physical functions included: the Nnnine-hole Ppeg Ttest (NHPT), knee muscle strength, balance control, the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT). Perceived exertion was measured using the Borg scale. Results: The frequency of depressive symptoms was 42% in people with MS. Balance control during a more challenging task was impaired in people with MS who presented depressive symptoms. Balance could explain 21-24% of the variance in depressive symptoms. 6MWT and TUG presented a trend of significance explaining 16% of the variance in the BDI-II score. Conclusions: Impairment in physical functions consists in a potential predictor of depressive symptoms in people with MS. Exercise interventions aiming at the improvement of physical functions, together with the treatment of depressive symptoms and conventional medical treatment, are suggested.

RESUMO Introdução: A esclerose múltipla (EM) é uma doença imunomediada que afeta o sistema nervoso central. O impacto da doença transcende as funções físicas e se estende a comprometimento psicológico. Aproximadamente 50% das pessoas com EM desenvolvem sintomas depressivos e estes podem predizer o comprometimento das funções físicas. No entanto, a previsão de sintomas depressivos com base em medidas objetivas das funções físicas ainda é necessária. Objetivos: Comparar funções físicas entre pessoas com EM que apresentam ou não sintomas depressivos e identificar preditores de sintomas depressivos usando medidas objetivas de funções físicas. Métodos: Estudo transversal incluindo 26 pessoas com EM. A ansiedade e/ou sintomas depressivos foram avaliadas pelo Inventário de Depressão de Beck-II (Beck Depression Inventory - BDI-II) e pela Escala Hospitalar de Ansiedade e Depressão. Os resultados das funções físicas incluíram: teste de PEG de nove buracos, força muscular do joelho, controle de equilíbrio, teste Timed Up and Go (TUG) e teste da caminhada de seis minutos (TC6M). A fadiga percebida foi medida usando a escala de Borg. Resultados: A frequência de sintomas depressivos na amostra foi de 42%. O controle do equilíbrio durante tarefa desafiadora foi prejudicado em pessoas com EM e sintomas depressivos. O equilíbrio pode explicar 21-24% da variação nos sintomas depressivos. O TC6M e o TUG apresentaram tendência de significância que explica 16% da variância no escore do BDI-II. Conclusões: O comprometimento das funções físicas é potencial preditor de sintomas depressivos em pessoas com EM. São sugeridas intervenções de exercícios físicos visando melhora das funções físicas, juntamente com o tratamento médico convencional e dos sintomas depressivos.

Eco-friendly and Enantiospecific Biginelli Synthesis Using (+)-Myrtenal as the Substrate - An Impeccable and Unequivocal Analysis of the Product.

BACKGROUND: We found in the literature, an excellent review of the Biginelli reaction that addresses the methodologies for obtaining enantiopure dihydropyrimidinones (DHPMs). In 1992, optically pure DHPMs were obtained by fractional crystallization of the diastereomeric ammonium salt derivative with (S)-(-) and (R)- (+)-α-methyl benzylamine and by other chiral resolution techniques, such as chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Asymmetric syntheses of these compounds are also explained in the literature. The main strategy is to use acid catalysts such as organophosphates, organometallic complexes, amines and diamines, nanocomposites, and chiral ionic liquids, e.g., L-prolinium sulfate (Pro2SO4). OBJECTIVE: The objective was to study the Biginelli reaction with a chiral aldehyde. METHODS: A mixture of ethyl acetoacetate (0.26 g, 3 mmol), urea (0.18 g, 3 mmol) and ethyl lactate (EL) (1 mL) was left under heating at 70°C and stirring for 1 h. Next, (-)-(1R)-myrtenal (0.45 g, 3 mmol) was added, and the medium was heated for 5 h more until the formation of a white solid. Ten millilitres of distilled water was added, and the product was extracted with CH2Cl2 (3 x 4 mL). The solvent was evaporated, and the product was recrystallized from ethanol-water. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: (+)-Myrtenal was used as a chiral substrate for a study that led to ethyl (R)-4-((1R,5S)- 6,6-dimethylbicyclo [3.1.1]hept-2-en-2-yl)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate by the Biginelli synthesis using EL as a green solvent. The result is the first example of the enantiospecific Biginelli reaction. The product was exhaustively characterized by several physical analysis methods, i.e., 1H, 13C and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS), and high-resolution MS (HRMS), and its structure was unequivocally elucidated by X-ray crystallography. CONCLUSION: Compound (4R)-4-(6,6-dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-en-2-yl)-6-methyl-2-oxo-1,2,3,4- tetrahydropyrimidine- 5-ethyl carboxylate is the first example of the enantiospecific Biginelli reaction. In addition, the process has the advantage of using EL as a green solvent. The product was characterized by 1H, 13C, and 2D NMR and IR spectroscopy, MS, HRMS, and X-ray crystallography.