NADPH oxidase contributes to oxidative damage and mitochondrial impairment induced by acute ethanol treatment in rat hippocampal neurons.

Acute ethanol treatment induces neurodegeneration in cultured neurons and can lead to brain damage in animal models. Neuronal cells exposed to ethanol showed an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative damage and mitochondrial impairment contributing to synaptic failure. However, the underlying mechanisms of these events are not well understood. Here, we studied the contribution of NADPH oxidase, as a relevant source of ROS production in the brain, to mitochondrial impairment and oxidative stress induced by ethanol. We used primary hippocampal neurons subjected to an acute treatment of ethanol at increasing concentrations (25, 50, and 75 mM, 24 h), and we evaluated ROS production, mitochondrial function, and synaptic vesicle activity. Our studies showed that after ethanol administration, hippocampal neurons presented an increase in ROS levels, mitochondrial dysfunction, calcium handling defects, and synaptic impairment. Interestingly, treatment with the NADPH inhibitor, apocynin, significantly prevented oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the impairment of synaptic vesicle activity induced by ethanol treatment. These results indicate that NADPH oxidase could be a key participant in the molecular mechanism by which alcohol affects the brain.

Miguel Ángel y el hígado de Noé: ¿Una lección secreta de anatomía? / Michelangelo and Noah's liver: a hidden anatomy lesson?

Miguel Ángel Buonarroti (1475 - 1564) es considerando uno de los más grandes artistas de la historia. Estudió en detalle la anatomía humana a través de la disección de cadáveres, práctica hasta entonces relegada por motivos religiosos. Desde que en el año 1990 el médico Frank Lynn Meshberger publicara su interpretación del fresco "La Creación de Adán" basada en la neuroanatomía, en donde comparaba la imagen de Dios con la de una sección sagital del cerebro humano, muchos autores han encontrado diversas referencias anatómicas ocultas en la obra de Miguel Ángel. En el presente trabajo exponemos el hallazgo de una inédita lección de anatomía hepática oculta en el fresco La Embriaguez de Noé de la Capilla Sixtina.

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564) is considered one of the greatest artists in history. He studied in detail the human anatomy through corpses dissection, practice until then relegated for religious reasons. Since the physician Frank Lynn Meshberger published in 1990 his interpretation of the fresco "The Creation of Adam" based on neuroanatomy, where he compared the image of God with a sagittal section of the human brain, many authors have found various hidden anatomical references in the work of Michelangelo. In the present paper we expose the finding of a hidden lesson on liver anatomy in the fresco The Drunkenness of Noah of the Sistine Chapel.

Does acute alcohol intoxication interfere with colonic anastomosis wound healing? A rat model of nondestructive colon trauma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of acute alcohol intoxication on healing of colonic anastomosis. METHODS: Thirty-six rats were allocated into two groups. Animals in the alcohol (A) were given 2 mL of ethanol diluted in 0.9% saline solution to a concentration of 40% by gavage immediately before anesthesia, whereas control (C) animals received 2 mL of 0.9% saline solution via the same route. A colonic anastomosis was then performed in all animals. On postoperative days 1, 3, and 7, anastomotic breaking strength was assessed and histopathological examination was performed. Change in body weight and mortality were also evaluated. RESULTS: The median of anastomotic tensile strength on the postoperative day 1 was 0.09 Newtons for group A and 0.13 for group C. (p>0.05). The median of anastomotic tensile strength on the postoperative day 3 was 0.13 Newtons for group A and 0.17 for group C. (p>0.05). The median of anastomotic tensile strength on the postoperative day 7 was 0.30 Newtons for group A and 0.35 for group C. (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups A and C, in the first, third or seventh POD (p>0.05), in any of the analyzed parameters. There were no statistical differences between groups in the weight. Three animals died, all from the group A. CONCLUSION: Acute alcohol intoxication did not interfere with wound healing of colonic anastomoses, although it caused early postoperative mortality.

Does acute alcohol intoxication interfere with colonic anastomosis wound healing?: a rat model of nondestructive colon trauma

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of acute alcohol intoxication on healing of colonic anastomosis. METHODS: Thirty-six rats were allocated into two groups. Animals in the alcohol (A) were given 2 mL of ethanol diluted in 0.9% saline solution to a concentration of 40% by gavage immediately before anesthesia, whereas control (C) animals received 2 mL of 0.9% saline solution via the same route. A colonic anastomosis was then performed in all animals. On postoperative days 1, 3, and 7, anastomotic breaking strength was assessed and histopathological examination was performed. Change in body weight and mortality were also evaluated. RESULTS: The median of anastomotic tensile strength on the postoperative day 1 was 0.09 Newtons for group A and 0.13 for group C. (p>0.05). The median of anastomotic tensile strength on the postoperative day 3 was 0.13 Newtons for group A and 0.17 for group C. (p>0.05). The median of anastomotic tensile strength on the postoperative day 7 was 0.30 Newtons for group A and 0.35 for group C. (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between the groups A and C, in the first, third or seventh POD (p>0.05), in any of the analyzed parameters. There were no statistical differences between groups in the weight. Three animals died, all from the group A. CONCLUSION: Acute alcohol intoxication did not interfere with wound healing of colonic anastomoses, although it caused early postoperative mortality.

Estudio estadístico sobre muerte por accidentes de tránsito en C.A.B.A. y su relación con la presencia de alcohol en sangre cadavérica / Statical study of death-related traffic accidents in the city of Buenos Aires and ists relationship with the presence of alcohol in the cadaveric blood

A statistical study of death-related traffic accidents in the city of Buenos Aires and ists relationship with the presence of alcohol in the cadaveric blood, is presented. Facts and statistics show undoubtedly the serious reality observed at present in our country related to traffic accidents. Likewise, it was estimated that during the last 5 years, 38.137 subjects died because of this complaint, equivalent to 636 deaths each month. The aim of this report was to study the incidence of alcohol abuse in transit accidents, determined by data obtained from the Morgue of the city of Buenos Aires. The finds observed and the statistics are documented in the article.

Lysosome injury by perfusion of the isolated rat liver with ethanol or a molasses distillate (cachaça).

An isolated rat liver perfusion model was used to study the effects of acute exposure of the organ to either ethanol or a molasses distillate (cachaça). When ethanol (72 mM) or a molasses distillate (68 mM ethanol) was added to the perfusion fluid, lysosomal injury was indicated by the increased release of tartrate-inhibited acid phosphatase activity at the end of a 3 h period of perfusion. Other cellular compartments were not significantly damaged in these acute experiments, as judged by the release of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase. The behavior of both ethanol itself and the alcoholic beverage was similar as far as enzyme release is concerned but only the molasses distillate caused significant acidosis (a decrease in perfusate pH) at the end of a 3 h period of perfusion. These data may be of importance for a better understanding of the hepatic damage caused by alcohol abuse and useful for laboratory investigation of alcohol intoxication.