Why do not polyphenols of red wine protect against the harmful effects of alcohol in alcoholism?

The effect of polyphenolic bioactive substances, especially resveratrol (12.03 mg l−1), of an often consumed Hungarian red wine was investigated in a short term rat experiment. Male young Wistar albino rats were treated with high volumes of red wine (matching one bottle of wine/day for a 85 kg man) (N=5) and another alcoholic drink of the same alcohol concentration (N=5), corresponding to the circumstances of alcoholism, and 5 rats were in the control group. A total of 7 routine laboratory parameters were measured from the sera by kits. The changes of redox homeostasis (H-donor activity, induced chemiluminescence, diene-conjugates, GSHPx) were studied in blood plasma and/or in liver homogenates by spectrophotometric and luminometric methods. Transmethylation property of the liver was measured by overpressured layer chromatography (OPLC) technique. It was proven with in vitro OPLC analytical study that resveratrol reacted with methyl groups, and resveratrol was demonstrated to influence transmethylation processes as well as redox homeostasis. Red wine compounds do not protect from the harmful effects of alcohol, and even by high doses of resveratrol, the liver further deteriorates and the negative effect of alcohol increases. It has been confirmed that high doses of resveratrol do not provide protection against liver damage in those suffering from alcoholism

Improved circulating microparticle analysis in acid-citrate dextrose (ACD) anticoagulant tube.

INTRODUCTION: Recently extracellular vesicles (exosomes, microparticles also referred to as microvesicles and apoptotic bodies) have attracted substantial interest as potential biomarkers and therapeutic vehicles. However, analysis of microparticles in biological fluids is confounded by many factors such as the activation of cells in the blood collection tube that leads to in vitro vesiculation. In this study we aimed at identifying an anticoagulant that prevents in vitro vesiculation in blood plasma samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared the levels of platelet microparticles and non-platelet-derived microparticles in platelet-free plasma samples of healthy donors. Platelet-free plasma samples were isolated using different anticoagulant tubes, and were analyzed by flow cytometry and Zymuphen assay. The extent of in vitro vesiculation was compared in citrate and acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD) tubes. RESULTS: Agitation and storage of blood samples at 37 degrees C for 1hour induced a strong release of both platelet microparticles and non-platelet-derived microparticles. Strikingly, in vitro vesiculation related to blood sample handling and storage was prevented in samples in ACD tubes. Importantly, microparticle levels elevated in vivo remained detectable in ACD tubes. CONCLUSIONS: We propose the general use of the ACD tube instead of other conventional anticoagulant tubes for the assessment of plasma microparticles since it gives a more realistic picture of the in vivo levels of circulating microparticles and does not interfere with downstream protein or RNA analyses

Changes in serum cytokine and cortisol levels in normothermic and hypothermic term neonates after perinatal asphyxia

OBJECTIVE: Perinatal asphyxia is characterized by an inflammatory response that contributes to cerebral injury. Therapeutic hypothermia improves neurological outcome in asphyxiated term neonates, but its clear effect on the inflammatory response is unknown. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A range of cytokines and cortisol levels were measured at the 6th, 12th and 24th postnatal hours in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy treated with standard intensive care on hypothermia (n = 10) or normothermia (n = 8). The influence of postnatal age and hypothermia on serum cytokine and cortisol levels was evaluated. RESULTS: Interleukin (IL)-6 levels (at 6 h of age) and IL-4 levels (at all time points) were significantly lower in asphyxiated neonates treated with hypothermia compared to normothermic neonates. Vascular endothelial growth factor levels were higher in the hypothermia than in the normothermia group at the 6th and 12th postnatal hours. IL-10 levels decreased significantly between 6 and 24 h of age in both groups. However, no difference of IL-10 levels was observed between the study groups. The duration of hypothermia before 6 hours of age correlated with lower levels of IL-6, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha measured at 6 h of age and IL-10 levels at 12 h of age. Cortisol levels did not differ between the study groups, but did gradually decrease in both groups during the study period. At 6 and 24 h of age, a positive correlation was observed between cortisol and IL-10 levels. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic hypothermia may rapidly suppress and modify the immediate cytokine response to asphyxia. The correlation between cytokine levels and duration of hypothermia suggests that the earlier hypothermia is introduced, the more pronounced its beneficial immunomodulatory effect