ETA receptors are involved in the febrile response induced by high dose of bacterial endotoxin.

Previous studies have demonstrated that endothelin-1 (ET-1) is involved in the febrile response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in male and female rats. This peptide induces fever acting on ETB receptors in the central nervous system. However, during sepsis, endothelinergic ETA receptors in the brain also exert an important role reducing the mortality of the animals. The present study evaluated the participation of ETA receptors in the febrile response induced by different doses LPS in rats. Male Wistar rats were treated with the ETA receptor antagonist BQ123 before or after the injection of a low dose (10 µg/kg) or a high dose (200 µg/kg) of LPS intraperitoneally. The febrile response was evaluated. The treatment with BQ123, in both protocols did not change the febrile response induced by the lower dose of LPS. The pre-treatment with BQ123 also did not significantly change the febrile response induced by a higher dose of LPS but the post-treatment with the antagonist abolished the febrile response induced by this dose of LPS. These results suggest that even though ETA receptors are not recruited in the febrile response induced by lower doses of LPS, they are involved in the febrile response induced by high doses of this stimulus.

Green Chemistry and Environmental Management Systems: Relationships, Synergies, Advantages and Barriers of Joint Implementation at Universities.

Environmental Management Systems (EMS) based on international standard ISO 14001 are recognized as a tool to improve the environment and the sustainability of organizations. Green Chemistry (GC) seeks to reduce the use and generation of hazardous substances in chemical processes. This paper studies the relationship between EMS based on ISO 14001 and GC. We have analysed their similarities, difficulties, advantages, and synergies that can be developed with a joint implementation in general and in particular on university campuses. The results show that both disciplines have in common the philosophy of Continuous Improvement in the Processes (CIP) and that their joint application is possible, since each principle of GC are related to, at least, one clause of ISO 14001. It is shown that this joint application to different university areas can generate benefits, such as the reduction of hazardous waste and the promotion of green purchases, which favour the environmental improvement of universities. However, there are problems in their joint application related to the lack of specific knowledge and the difficulty of identifying products manufactured following the criteria of GC. Furthermore, a case study in the San Jorge University showing that both disciplines can be treated together is shown. Results were the following: seven GC initiatives (proposed by a small group of GC students) were submitted to the EMS office; only one was considered nonviable and two were implemented, achieving two main goals: Reduction of the environmental impact of laboratories and promotion of green purchasing in the laboratories of San Jorge University.

A new route to tricyclane sesquiterpenoids: total synthesis of α-ekasantalic acid.

Chemical manipulation of the cycloadduct of citraconic anhydride and cyclopentadiene enables a new synthetic route to tricyclane sesquiterpenoids. This methodology is applied to the first total synthesis of α-ekasantalic acid.