Down-regulation of adhesion molecules and other inflammatory biomarkers after moderate wine consumption in healthy women: a randomized trial

Background: Moderate alcohol consumption is cardioprotective. The mechanism for this beneficial effect might be reduced inflammatory responses, as suggested by prospective studies and small clinical trials in men. No studies have evaluated the antiinflammatory effects of wine in women. Objective: We investigated whether low-dose intake of white and red wines has differential effects on inflammatory markers in women. Design: In a crossover study, we randomly assigned 35 healthy women to two 4-wk periods of 20 g ethanol/d as white or red wine, preceded by two 4-wk washout periods. Before and after interventions, we measured serum lipids, circulating inflammatory biomarkers, cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs), and adhesion of monocytes to stimulated endothelial cells. Results: HDL cholesterol increased, and the serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, CD40L, and interleukin-6 decreased after either wine (P< 0.01, all). Vascular CAM-1 and E-selectin decreased (P <0.01) only after red wine. CAM expression by mononuclear cells was blunted after either wine, with a greater suppressant effect of red wine. Enhanced adhesion of monocytes to stimulated endothelial cells was reduced by 51% (95% CI:-57%,-45%) after white wine and by 89% (95% CI: -96%, -82%) after red wine (P <0.01 for between-wine differences). Conclusions: Moderate wine consumption is associated with beneficial effects on various inflammatory pathways related to endothelial activation in women. Probably because of its higher polyphenol content, red wine shows superior antiinflammatory effects than does white wine. Reducing low-grade inflammation and endothelial activation may be another potential mechanism by which alcoholic beverages exert their cardioprotective effect

Dissimilar catalytic behavior of molecular or colloidal palladium systems with a new NHC ligand

International audienceIn this work, we describe the synthesis of a new N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand, derived from a hybrid pyrazole-imidazolium scaffold, namely 1-[2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)ethyl]-3-((S)-1-phenylethyl)-3H-imidazol-2-ylidene (L). This ligand has been used as a stabilizer for the organometallic synthesis of palladium(0) nanoparticles (Pd NPs). L presents a better stabilizing effect than its pre-carbenic HLCl counterpart, allowing the formation of isolated Pd NPs while HLCl yields aggregated ones. Additionally, molecular Pd(ii) coordination compounds of L and HLCl were synthesized and characterized to better understand the coordination modes of these ligands. Both molecular and colloidal Pd systems have been further tested in catalytic C-C coupling processes. Three different types of reactions have been observed depending on the catalytic system: (i) the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction takes place with Pd molecular complexes; (ii) a secondary reaction, the dehalogenation of the substrate, is always detected and (iii) the C-C homocoupling between two molecules of bromoarenes is observed with colloidal catalysts

Comparative distribution of Volatile Organic Compounds across the surface oceans

2018 Ocean Sciences Meeting, 11-16 February, in Portland, OregonThe oceans are a natural source of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Once emitted, VOCs play important roles in the atmosphere; they provide odour landscapes for marine animals, act as oxidant scavengers and are precursors for aerosols, which affect the Earth radiation budget by scattering solar radiation back to space and altering the properties and lifetimes of clouds. Out of all VOCs, we focus on those that typically are supersaturated in surface seawater: DMS (dimethyl sulphide), OCS, CS2, CH3I, CH2I2, CH2ClI, CHBr3, CH2Br2 and isoprene. We used gas chromatography mass spectrometry to obtain aqueous concentrations of VOCs during 5 cruises across: the Mediterranean Sea (HotMix, 2014), Atlantic Ocean (Trans-PEGASO, 2014 and ACE0, 2016) and Southern Ocean (PEGASO, 2015 and ACE, 2016-2017). We present how these compounds co-variate among them and with other oceanographic and atmospheric variables. We explore their relationship with chlorophyll a, phytoplankton taxonomy and physiology, bacterial abundances, coloured dissolved organic matter, temperature, salinity, wind speed and solar radiation as potential drivers of their production and cycling. Our results show that usually these compounds are in the lower picomolar range (nanomolar for the DMS), but there are certain hotspots with high concentrations like the Mauritanian up-welling (164.2±0.2 pM isoprene) or the South Georgia summer bloom (54.8±1.3 pM CHBr3). Although all VOCs are related directly or indirectly to plankton productivity, we found a pattern of most compounds with temperature and light in which colder and more mixed waters present lower volatile/Chl a ratiosPeer Reviewe

Down-regulation of adhesion molecules and other inflammatory biomarkers after moderate wine consumption in healthy women: a randomized trial

Background: Moderate alcohol consumption is cardioprotective. The mechanism for this beneficial effect might be reduced inflammatory responses, as suggested by prospective studies and small clinical trials in men. No studies have evaluated the antiinflammatory effects of wine in women. Objective: We investigated whether low-dose intake of white and red wines has differential effects on inflammatory markers in women. Design: In a crossover study, we randomly assigned 35 healthy women to two 4-wk periods of 20 g ethanol/d as white or red wine, preceded by two 4-wk washout periods. Before and after interventions, we measured serum lipids, circulating inflammatory biomarkers, cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs), and adhesion of monocytes to stimulated endothelial cells. Results: HDL cholesterol increased, and the serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, CD40L, and interleukin-6 decreased after either wine (P< 0.01, all). Vascular CAM-1 and E-selectin decreased (P <0.01) only after red wine. CAM expression by mononuclear cells was blunted after either wine, with a greater suppressant effect of red wine. Enhanced adhesion of monocytes to stimulated endothelial cells was reduced by 51% (95% CI:-57%,-45%) after white wine and by 89% (95% CI: -96%, -82%) after red wine (P <0.01 for between-wine differences). Conclusions: Moderate wine consumption is associated with beneficial effects on various inflammatory pathways related to endothelial activation in women. Probably because of its higher polyphenol content, red wine shows superior antiinflammatory effects than does white wine. Reducing low-grade inflammation and endothelial activation may be another potential mechanism by which alcoholic beverages exert their cardioprotective effect

Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), Far Detector Technical Design Report, Volume II: DUNE Physics

The preponderance of matter over antimatter in the early universe, the dynamics of the supernovae that produced the heavy elements necessary for life, and whether protons eventually decay -- these mysteries at the forefront of particle physics and astrophysics are key to understanding the early evolution of our universe, its current state, and its eventual fate. DUNE is an international world-class experiment dedicated to addressing these questions as it searches for leptonic charge-parity symmetry violation, stands ready to capture supernova neutrino bursts, and seeks to observe nucleon decay as a signature of a grand unified theory underlying the standard model. The DUNE far detector technical design report (TDR) describes the DUNE physics program and the technical designs of the single- and dual-phase DUNE liquid argon TPC far detector modules. Volume II of this TDR, DUNE Physics, describes the array of identified scientific opportunities and key goals. Crucially, we also report our best current understanding of the capability of DUNE to realize these goals, along with the detailed arguments and investigations on which this understanding is based. This TDR volume documents the scientific basis underlying the conception and design of the LBNF/DUNE experimental configurations. As a result, the description of DUNE's experimental capabilities constitutes the bulk of the document. Key linkages between requirements for successful execution of the physics program and primary specifications of the experimental configurations are drawn and summarized. This document also serves a wider purpose as a statement on the scientific potential of DUNE as a central component within a global program of frontier theoretical and experimental particle physics research. Thus, the presentation also aims to serve as a resource for the particle physics community at large