Habitat management of organic vineyard in Northern Italy: the role of cover plants management on arthropod functional biodiversity.

The effect of cover plants on arthropod functional biodiversity was investigated in a vineyard in Northern Italy, through a 3-year field experiment. The following six ground cover plants were tested: Sweet Alyssum; Phacelia; Buckwheat; Faba Bean; Vetch and Oat; control. Arthropods were sampled using different techniques, including collection of leaves, vacuum sampling and sweeping net.

Structure-activity studies of 16-methoxy-16-methyl prostaglandins.

The synthesis of the pure diastereoisomer of 16-methoxy-16-methyl-PGF2 alpha, -PGE2, and -PGE1 is described. The absolute configuration of C-16 was established by chemical methods, while the absolute C-15 configurations of the diastereoisomers were assigned tentatively on the basis of their chromatographic behavior and NMR spectra. The synthetic prostaglandin analogues were evaluated for antisecretory, antifertility, and diarrheogenic effects.

Highly selective antiinflammatory and analgesic activity of 3-(1-methylethyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3H-naphth[1,2-d]imidazole, a new non-acidic molecule.

3-(1-Methylethyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3H-naphth[1,2-d] imidazole (MDL-035) has antiinflammatory activity in various antiinflammatory models such as carrageenin and nystatin oedemas, cotton pellet granuloma and adjuvant arthritis. The antiinflammatory potency of MDL-035 is greater than that of acetylsalicylic acid and phenylbutazone, but lower than that of indomethacin. MDL-035 has practically no gastroulcerogenic activity in rats, does not affect water or salt excretion, has no hormonal or antihormonal effects and has no other unwanted pharmacological effects.

Synthesis and analgesic activity of new tricyclic pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines.

The title compounds have been obtained in a two-step synthesis from 5-amino-4-(1-cycloalkenyl)pyrazoles. Among the synthetized compounds, the 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-1,3-dimethyl-3H-pyrazolo[3,4-c]isoquinoline, showed interesting antiinflammatory and analgesic activity.

[Synthesis and pharmacologic activity of derivatives of 3-aminopropiophenone and 3-aminomethylcamphor].

As a part of a research on analgesic compounds 0-(4-methoxyphenyl)carbamoyl-3-aminopropiophenone oximes, 0-(4-methoxyphenyl)-carbamoyl-3-aminomethylcamphor oximes and 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)semicarbazones of 3-aminopropiophenones were prepared. The analgesic activity of these compounds was tested and the results of pharmacological screening are discussed.