Cytokine Production in Whole Blood Cells Culture of Patients with Alcohol Dependence and Autologous Plasma Oxidative Stress Markers.

We studied spontaneous production of a spectrum of proinflammatory cytokines by cultured whole blood cells from men with alcohol dependence at the stage of withdrawal syndrome and oxidative stress markers (carbonylated proteins and TBA-reactive substances) in the plasma of these blood samples. Enhanced production of cytokines by blood cells and increased concentrations of oxidative stress markers in the autologous plasma were revealed in comparison with the corresponding parameters in the control (blood from healthy men). Direct correlations were found between the levels of spontaneous cytokine production by blood cells from subjects with alcohol dependence and the concentration of oxidized proteins and lipids in autologous plasma.

[Lithium in the psychopharmacology of affective disorders and mechanisms of its effects on cellular physiology]. / Litii v psikhofarmakologii affektivnykh rasstroistv i mekhanizmy ego effektov na kletochnuyu fiziologiyu.

However, despite successful use of lithium in the treatment of affective disorders for almost 40 years, the mechanisms of its therapeutic action are still poorly understood. This review presents and summarizes the current literature about the use of lithium in treatment of affective disorders, as well as its effects on cellular physiology, with a separate description of the effect of this ion on the functioning of nerve tissue and ion-molecular mechanisms.