[Contents of BDNF, miR-30a-5p and miR-122 during alcohol withdrawal syndrome]. / Uroven' BDNF, miR-30a-5p i miR-122 v syvorotke krovi v dinamike sindroma otmeny alkogolia.

Some BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor)-targeted microRNAs such as miR-30a-5p associate with alcohol dependence phenomenon however their relationship with AWS is not described. We aimed to measure serum BDNF concentration and relative content of miR-30a-5p over the course of alcohol abstinence and compare obtained results with clinics of AWS. Additionally, we studied relative serum content of miR-30a-5p, a microRNA which does not target BDNF but relates to alcohol use disorder. Serum BDNF concentration increased over the course of alcohol abstinence, contrary relative content of miR-122 but not miR-30a-5p decreased. Moreover, during AWS miR-122 but miR-30a-5p negatively correlated with serum BDNF concentrations. Relative content of miR-122 negatively correlated with depression and state anxiety levels on 8th day of abstinence. According to multiple regressions on 21st day of abstinence alcohol craving and cognitive disturbances may be predictors of serum BDNF concentration, and vice versa. Thus, serum BDNF concentration and relative content of miR-122 associate with some aspects of AWS clinics and may dynamically reflect AWS severity.

Prolonged perfusion of rat brain with a high oxygen tension solution, without oxygen carriers and with an external normal barometric pressure.

BACKGROUND: Isolated brain of experimental animals is a useful model to study transport of substances, including drugs, across the blood-brain barrier, mechanisms of convulsive activity, ischemic and reperfusion brain injury. Normal functioning of neurons, especially cortical, in the central nervous system requires adequate supply of oxygen. Therefore oxygen carriers or fluorocarbon substances with high oxygen capacity are often used in animal brain perfusion experiments. NEW METHOD: In the present study of the in situ rat brain perfusion oxygen carriers were not used. The optimum oxygen capacity of the perfusion media (adequate to the arterio-venous difference) was achieved by a high oxygen tension (2400-2600 mm Hg) in the solution under normal barometric pressure. Perfusate was depressurized and delivered at normal rat systemic hydrostatic pressure to the brain via a cannula inserted transcardially into the ascending aorta, with both subclavian arteries ligated. Perfusate was delivered using normal hydrostatic pressure. RESULTS: In these experimental conditions of the brain perfusion the pattern of electrocorticogram has been stable in the course of 5 h and more. The release of lactic acid in the perfusion solution was 3 times less than in perfusion under partial oxygen tension of 900 mm Hg; excessive activation of the lipid peroxidation process in the brain tissue was not observed. CONCLUSION: The presented new model of the isolated brain perfusion may be used in experiments with other isolated organs and in studies of toxic effects of oxygen.

[A role of inflammasomes in the pathogenesis of neurological and mental diseases]. / Rol' inflammasom v razvitii nervnykh i psikhicheskikh zabolevanii.

Inflammasomes are macromolecular complexes that contain many copies of receptors recognizing molecular patterns of pathogenic agents (PAMP) and damage-associated structures (DAMP), and also include molecules of adapter protein ASC and procaspase-1. Activation of inflammasomes leads to the formation of active caspase-1 that, in turn, provides the maturation of pro-IL-1ß and pro-IL-18 to IL-1ß and IL-18. The latter cytokines play an important role in control of neuroinlfammation in the central nervous system contributing to the pathogenesis of a series of neurological, neurodegenerative and mental disorders. The review discusses the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome and other their types in the development of the traumatic brain injury, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, brain tumors, CNS infections, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, depressiver, and consequences of alcohol abuse. The elucidation of molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways controlled by inflammasomes will allow the development of new therapeutic measures for diseases, in which neuroinflammation plays a leading pathogenetic role.

[Blood Content of Markers of Inflammation and Cytokines in Patients With Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy and Ischemic Heart Disease at Various Stages of Heart Failure].

We conducted a comparative study of content proinflammatory cytokines, biomarkers of inflammatory process, biochemical indicators of congestive heart failure (CHF) and hemodynamic parameters in patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACMP) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) with various NYHA classes. We examined 62 men with ACMP (n = 45) and IHD (n = 17) and NYHA class III-IV CHF. Patients of both groups had lowered ejection fraction (EF), dilated cardiac chambers, and increased left ventricular (LV) myocardial mass index (MMI). Relative LV wall thickness was within normal limits but in the ACMP group it was significantly lower than in IHD group what corresponded to the eccentric type of myocardial hypertrophy. Higher NYHA class was associated with lower EF and larger end diastolic and end systolic LV dimensions. In ACMP it was also associated with larger dimension of the right ventricle while in IHD--with substantially larger (by 30%) dimension of atria. Substantial amount of endotoxin found in blood plasma of patients with IHD corresponded to the conception of increased intestinal permeability of in CHF. Alcohol abuse was an aggravating factor of endotoxin transmission and its concentration in patients with ACMP was 3 times higher than in patients with IHD. Patients with ACMP had substantially elevated blood concentrations of interleukins (IL) 6, 8, 12, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and its soluble receptor s-TNF-R; they also had twofold elevation of C-reactive protein concentration. ACMP was associated with manifold rise of blood content of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Patients with IHD also had elevated blood concentrations of IL 6, 8 and 12 but their values were 1.5-2 times lower than ACMP group. Blood content of TNF-α and s-TNF-R in IHD group was within normal limits. Higher NYHA class in ACMP patients was associated with higher concentrations of IL 6 and 8, TNF-a, and BNP. In both groups of patients contents of IL-12, s-TNF-R, TGF-1ß and factors of acute phase of inflammation did not reflect severity of CHF. Functional insufficiency of myocardium in IHD patients was best characterized by blood content of IL-6 while in ACMP patients--of BNP.

[Blood Content of Markers of Inflammation and Cytokines in Patients With Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy and Ischemic Heart Disease at Various Stages of Heart Failure].

We conducted a comparative study of content proinflammatory cytokines, biomarkers of inflammatory process, biochemical indicators of congestive heart failure (CHF) and hemodynamic parameters in patients with alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACMP) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) with various NYHA classes. We examined 62 men with ACMP (n=45) and IHD (n=17) and NYHA class III-IV CHF. Patients of both groups had lowered ejection fraction (EF), dilated cardiac chambers, and increased left ventricular (LV) myocardial mass index (MMI). Relative LV wall thickness was within normal limits but in the ACMP group it was significantly lower than in IHD group what corresponded to the eccentric type of myocardial hypertrophy. Higher NYHA class was associated with lower EF and larger end diastolic and end systolic LV dimensions. In ACMP it was also associated with larger dimension of the right ventricle while in IHD - with substantially larger (by 30%) dimension of atria. Substantial amount of endotoxin found in blood plasma of patients with IHD corresponded to the conception of increased intestinal permeability of in CHF. Alcohol abuse was an aggravating factor of endotoxin transmission and its concentration in patients with ACMP was 3 times higher than in patients with IHD. Patients with ACMP had substantially elevated blood concentrations of interleukins (IL) 6, 8, 12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-), and its soluble receptor s-TNF-R; they also had twofold elevation of C-reactive protein concentration. ACMP was associated with manifold rise of blood content of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Patients with IHD also had elevated blood concentrations of IL 6, 8 and 12 but their values were 1.5-2 times lower than ACMP group. Blood content of TNF- and s-TNF-R in IHD group was within normal limits. Higher NYHA class in ACMP patients was associated with higher concentrations of IL 6 and 8, TNF-, and BNP. In both groups of patients contents of IL-12, s-TNF-R, TGF-1 and factors of acute phase of inflammation did not reflect severity of CHF. Functional insufficiency of myocardium in IHD patients was best characterized by blood content of IL-6 while in ACMP patients - of BNP.

[Alcoholic heart disease].

We present in this review contemporary views on pathogenesis of alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy has features of dilated cardiomyopathy and is manifested by increased volume and hypertrophy of the left ventricle, diminished contractile capacity, and when decompensated - by lowering of cardiac output. Pathogenic action of alcohol on cardiomyocytes leads to activation of apoptosis, dysfunction of intracellular organelles, alterations of the system of myofilaments, disorder of intracellular homeostasis of calcium. Ethanol metabolite acetaldehyde, products of minor pathway of catecholamine metabolism, changes in the endocannabinoid system, and activation of processes of lipid peroxidation all contribute to the myocardial damage. The basis of pathogenesis of alcoholic cardiomyopathy constitute proliferation of microperoxisomes and disbalance between acyloxidase and catalase leading to accumulation of hydrogen peroxide inside myocytes.

[Mechanisms of the liver anti-endotoxin defence].

Current knowledge of immunocellular and lipoprotein mechanisms of the liver-induced anti-endotoxin tolerance has been summarized. The role of T regulatory cells, different macrophage phenotypes, high density lipoproteins, oxidized low density lipoproteins and their receptors as the key players in mechanism of tolerance to endotoxin has been discussed.

[Disorders in the immune status and hepatic pathologies in young heroin addicts]. / Narusheniia immunnogo statusa i patologiia pecheni u mologykh potrebitelei geroina.

The immunocytograms of 166 patients with opiomania, primarily of the heroin variation, aged 15 to 19, were examined. 18 healthy teenagers of the same age were in the control group. The sampling comprised both patients without any signs of infectious diseases (86 persons) and patients with viral hepatitis B and C. The deviations of the immune-cellular status comprised, in drug addicts, a deficit of T-helpers and NK-cells as well as an increased quantity of "zero" lymphocytes. An essential reduction in the level of T-suppressors (killers) was additional found in the group of drug-addicts with viral hepatices. The signs of cytolysis of hepatocytes were detected in young heroin addicts. The contents of lipid peroxides was significantly higher in the blood plasma of teenagers abusing the opium drugs; while the concentration of antioxidant factor was as follows: Vitamin E, sulfhydric proteins and urate were found to be decreased. A reliable correlation was found between the changes of the quantity of T-helpers, T-suppresses (killers) and 0-lymphocytes, on the one hand, and the activity of hepatic transaminases, on the other hand, (for AST = 0.65-0.70; p < 0.01). The disorders in the immune-cellular status persist for as long as three to four weeks after the refusal from drug consumption; it is noteworthy, that their severity can essentially go up. The activity of 5'-nucleotidase, involved in the transformation of receptor signals in T- and B-lymphocytes, was histochemically studied in immunocytes. The activity of the enzyme essentially went down in both populations of lymphocytes by the 7th day of abstinence; it remained at the mentioned level up to the 14th day (in patients with hepatitis) or up to 21st day (in patients without hepatitis). Therefore, the quantitative deficit of immunocytes in drug addicts was accompanied, during the abstinence period, by an inhibition of their functional activity.

[Lipid peroxidation, peroxyl radical-scavenging system of plasma and liver and heart pathology in adolescence heroin users]. / Perekisnoe okislenie lipidov, sistema antiperoksil'noi zashchity plasmy krovi i patologiia pecheni i serdtsa u podrostkov, zloupotrebliaiushchikh geroinom.

Chronic opiate intoxication has been shown to cause various pathologic changes in the liver almost in 100% of cases. Earlier it has been demonstrated that acute or chronic morphine intoxication evokes activation of lipid peroxidation in the liver, heart, and brain cells. The aim of the present work was to assess parameters reflecting cytolysis in the liver and heart, and the plasma content of factors contributing to the peroxyl radical-scavenging system of the blood of teenagers using heroin. Blood samples were obtained from 20 male patients from 14 to 16 years old, with a mean duration of regular heroin use of 1.7 years. The control group included 13 healthy teenagers which denied the previous drug use. Mean plasma ALT and myocardial isoform of LDH activities were significantly higher (1.7- and 1.4-times respectively) in the heroin users than in the control group. The mean plasma level of lipid peroxides in the heroin users is increased by 20% compared to the control individuals. In teenagers using heroin a high level of correlation was observed between the plasma content of lipid peroxides and myocardial LDH activity (r = 0.76; P < 0.01). The effect of heroin use on the content of the plasma peroxyl radical-scavenging factors--vitamin E, ascorbic acid, and protein SH-groups--was not found. It has been concluded that heart injury during heroin use in teenagers may be associated with activation of lipid peroxidation reactions in the myocardium.

[Amides of simple and complex ethers of glycolic acid--inhibitors of alcohol dehydrogenase in rat and human liver]. / Amidy prostykh i slozhnykh efirov glikolevoi kisloty--ingibitory alkogol'degidrogenazy pecheni krys i cheloveka.

Amides of glycolic ethers and esters have been synthesized and studied as the inhibitors of rat and human liver alcohol dehydrogenase. Amides of glycolic ethers inhibit the rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase activity by 50-85%, amides of esters by 10-40%. An analogous regularity has been established for human liver alcohol dehydrogenase. The inhibiting capacity of the compound for glycolic acid aromatic esters diamides increases depending on the position of two residua of glycolic acid: ortho < meta < para. A decrease in activity of the isoforms of rat liver aldehyde dehydrogenase does not exceed 40%. It is shown that glycolic acid ether amides are noncompetitive inhibitors, amides of aromatic esters in case of the substituent presence in the ortho- and para-positions are competitive or in the meta-position noncompetitive inhibitors. Linear correlation under the comparison of the inhibition constants with the corresponding parameters of hydrophobicity of butyl, 2-methylbutyl and 3-methylbutyl esters of glycolic acid have been found.

Ethanol enhances immunosuppression induced by cocaine.

Use of cocaine concurrently with alcohol is prevalent among cocaine addicts. Cocaine has been shown previously to inhibit phytohemagglutinin- and ConA-induced proliferation of T-lymphocytes, NK cell cytotoxicity and phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages. We compared the immunotoxic effect of cocaine, combination of cocaine with ethanol, or cocaethylene, a derivative formed from cocaine and ethanol in the body, on the mitogen-stimulated production of cytokines by splenocytes. C57B1 mice were injected twice daily with 20 mg/kg cocaine or equivalent dose of cocaethylene and received a liquid Lieber-DeCarli diet containing ethanol (26% of total calories) or isocaloric amount of maltose-dextrin. After 4 weeks of treatment cocaine and cocaethylene caused a significant decrease of the spleen weight and total number of splenocytes. In splenocytes isolated from the cocaine- or cocaethylene-treated mice mitogen-stimulated production of gamma-interferon, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-2 was suppressed, in all cases more severely when cocaethylene was used. Thus formation of cocaethylene during simultaneous consumption of cocaine and ethanol may enhance the immunotoxicity of cocaine.

Gas chromatographic detection of cocaine and cocaethylene in hair of mice chronically injected with cocaine or cocaethylene and fed ethanol.

GC and GC/MS analysis was used to detect cocaine and cocaethylene in hair extracts of mice injected with 20 mg/kg cocaine hydrochloride or an equivalent dose of cocaethylene fumarate twice daily for 3 weeks. Some mice were fed liquid Lieber-DeCarli diets containing ethanol (26% of total calories) and injected twice daily with the same doses of cocaine or cocaethylene or combination of cocaine and morphine (5 mg/kg). The average concentrations of cocaine in different experimental groups were in the range of 0.9-2.4 ng/mg of hair and for cocaethylene, 2.4-2.8 ng/mg of hair. There were no significant differences in hair concentrations of cocaine among groups receiving cocaine treatment, nor were there significant difference in cocaethylene concentration in hair in the two groups administered cocaethylene. In hair extracts of mice treated with cocaine and ethanol, levels of cocaethylene were below the limit of detection.

Ethanol enhances immunosuppression induced by cocaine.

Use of cocaine concurrently with alcohol is prevalent among cocaine addicts. Cocaine has been shown to inhibit phytohemagglutinin- and ConA-induced proliferation of T-lymphocytes, NK cell cytotoxicity, and phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages. In some studies no effects of cocaine on the immune response have been observed, although on the contrary, others show it increased the NK cell activity and serum antibody response to T-dependent antigen. Effects of cocaine on the immune system may be mediated by its neurostimulatory action on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. ACTH, beta-endorphine, and corticosterone released under the action of cocaine exert various inhibitory effects on the immune function. We studied the immunotoxic effect of cocaine, combination of cocaine with ethanol, and cocaethylene, a derivative formed from cocaine and ethanol in the body, on the mitogen-stimulated production of cytokines by splenocytes. C57BL mice were injected twice daily with 20 mg/kg cocaine or equivalent dose of cocaethylene and received a liquid Lieber-DeCarli diet containing ethanol (26% of total calories) or isocaloric amount of maltose-dextrin. After 3 weeks of treatment, cocaine and cocaethylene caused a significant decrease of the spleen weight and total number of splenocytes. In splenocytes isolated from the cocaine- or cocaethylene-treated mice, mitogen-stimulated production of gamma-interferon, tumor necrosis factor, and interleukin-2 was suppressed, in all cases more severely when cocaethylene was used. Thus, formation of cocaethylene during simultaneous consumption of cocaine and ethanol may enhance the immunotoxicity of cocaine.

Chronic ethanol and cocaine-induced hepatotoxicity: effects of vitamin E supplementation.

The mechanisms of chronic cocaine toxicity and its potentiation by ethanol were investigated. Cocaine was administered to male C57BL/6 mice (20 mg/kg by peritoneal injection twice a day) alone or in combination with ethanol-containing diets (26% of total calories) supplied with a normal (20 IU/liter) or high content (170 IU/liter) of vitamin E. Liver levels of vitamin E, reduced glutathione, ascorbic acid, and hydroxyproline were measured. Accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, after in vitro stimulation of lipid peroxidation by Fe3+/ADP/ascorbate system, was measured as an index of susceptibility of hepatic membranes to oxidative stress. Plasma alanine aminotransferase, lethality, liver weight, and liver/body weight ratio were determined to assess the extent of liver toxicity. Consumption of ethanol exacerbated liver toxicity induced by cocaine treatments and reduced survival, but ethanol or cocaine treatments alone caused no or only modest mortality. Ethanol potentiated cocaine-induced accumulation of collagen in the liver and depletion of ascorbic acid. Hepatotoxicity induced by the combined ethanol plus cocaine treatment was not accompanied by a decrease in intracellular vitamin E or glutathione content. There were no changes in the basic levels and in the rate of accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in liver homogenates under the lipid peroxidation-stimulating system in vitro. The toxic effects of ethanol and cocaine were not reduced by the ingestion of vitamin E during short-term exposure of 21 days of treatment.

Effect of chronic consumption of ethanol and vitamin E on fatty acid composition and lipid peroxidation in rat heart tissue.

Lipid peroxidation products and the fatty acid composition of phospholipids were studied in the hearts of rats chronically consuming ethanol supplemented with large amounts of vitamin E. Ethanol representing 36% of the total calories was ingested for 7 weeks in a modified Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet that contained vitamin E at 30 IU/L in the control or 172 IU/L in the supplemental dietary group. Ethanol and/or vitamin E did not change the absolute content (micrograms per mg of phospholipids) of the main fatty acids (C18:0, C18:2, and C20:4) of heart phospholipids but increased the amount of the minor C20-C22 fatty acids. Cardiac phospholipid levels increased in rats chronically consuming excess vitamin E and/or alcohol. Chronic ethanol consumption caused elevations of the relative content (percent of total fatty acids) of tri-, tetra-, and hexaenoic acids and peroxidizability index (PI) of the cardiac phospholipids. Supplementation with vitamin E blocked this ethanol-induced shift in the fatty acid profile toward unsaturation and decreased the PI. Ethanol enhanced accumulation of vitamin E in heart tissue by 30% irrespective of the vitamin E content in the diet. Enrichment of the diet with vitamin E coincided with the low levels of fluorescent products in heart lipids. A positive correlation (r = 0.36; p = 2%) was found between vitamin E and diene conjugates in the heart cells. Thus, vitamin E has a stabilizing effect on heart phospholipids by preventing changes in their fatty acid composition and peroxidative deterioration.

[The withdrawal syndrome and lipid peroxidation during the chronic administration of narcotic analgesics to rats]. / Sindrom otmeny i perekisnoe okislenie lipidov pri khronicheskom vvedenii krysam narkotichyeskikh anal'getikov.

Diverse behavioral disorders and the intensity of lipid peroxidation (LPO) of biological membranes were estimated in different rat tissues after the 7-day administration and subsequent withdrawal of morphine or promedol. 24 hours after the withdrawal of the analgetics the demonstrated a high initial level of motor activity in the open field. Naloxone, an antagonist of opiate receptors, potentiated motor activity and the intensity of withdrawal syndrome (by 160%) in rats with morphine rather than promedol dependence. The behavioral disorders in dependent animals were accompanied by LPO activation in liver and brain membranes.

Effect of chronic ethanol treatment on the t-butyl hydroperoxide-dependent lipid peroxidation in rat liver.

1. The effect of chronic ethanol consumption on the level of the t-butyl hydroperoxide (Bu'OOH)-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate and subcellular fractions was measured using chemiluminescence technique and malondialdehyde formation. 2. It was shown that under the action of ethanol the rate of lipid peroxidation was decreased in the whole and "postnuclear" liver homogenates. 3. Ethanol significantly decreased the intensity of lipid peroxidation in microsomes, but did not affect the Bu'OOH-dependent process in mitochondria. 4. The level of lipid peroxidation was reduced after incubation of the total particulate fraction (mitochondria plus microsomes) with the undialysed cytosol from ethanol-treated rat liver. Dialysis of the cytosol prevented depressive effect of ethanol treatment on lipid peroxidation. 5. Reduced glutathione (0.1-1.0 mM) was shown to decrease the rate of lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes, but did not affect its level in mitochondria. 6. Pyrazole injections to rats reduced and phenobarbital treatment increased the level of the Bu'OOH-dependent lipid peroxidation in liver microsomes. 7. The data obtained indicate that the Bu'OOH-dependent lipid peroxidation is not an appropriate marker of the ethanol-induced oxidative stress in rat liver cells.

[The effect of ethanol and the catalase inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole on lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate and subcellular fractions]. / Vliianie étanola i ingibitora katalazy 3-amino-1,2,4-triazola na perekisnoe okislenie lipidov v gomogenate i subkletochnykh fraktsiiakh pecheni krysy.

Effects of repeated administration of ethanol and the catalase inhibitor 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole on the rate of Fe2+/ADP-ascorbate induced (nonenzymatic) lipid peroxidation were studied in rat liver tissue homogenate and subcellular fractions using estimation of low-level chemiluminescence and malonic dialdehyde content. The rate of lipid peroxidation was decreased in whole and nuclear-free homogenates as a result of combined or individual ethanol and aminotriazole treatment. However, this pattern was unaltered in mitochondrial and microsomal fractions. Both these agents did not affect the content of conjugated dienes in lipid containing extracts of subcellular fractions as well as the total malonic dialdehyde concentration in whole liver tissue homogenate. The data obtained suggest that antioxidative protein factor, inhibiting nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation in biological membranes, was induced in liver cytosol of rats repeatedly administered with ethanol and/or amino-triazole.