Evaluation of myocyte proliferation in alcoholic cardiomyopathy: telomerase enzyme activity (TERT) compared with Ki-67 expression.

Aims: Although the human heart was classically considered a terminal organ, recent studies have reported a myocyte proliferation response versus some aggressions. Excessive ethanol consumption induces development of cardiomyopathy (CMP) through myocyte apoptosis. We evaluated myocyte proliferation response in the heart of chronic alcoholic donors with telomerase activity (telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)) compared with Ki-67 nuclear expression.

Increased myostatin activity and decreased myocyte proliferation in chronic alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Apoptosis mediates in alcohol-induced heart damage leading to cardiomyopathy (CMP). Myocyte proliferation may compensate for myocyte loss. Myostatin is upregulated after cardiac damage and by alcohol consumption thereby decreasing myocyte renewal.

Molecular and cellular events in alcohol-induced muscle disease.

Alcohol consumption induces a dose-dependent noxious effect on skeletal muscle, leading to progressive functional and structural damage of myocytes, with concomitant reductions in lean body mass. Nearly half of high-dose chronic alcohol consumers develop alcoholic skeletal myopathy. The pathogenic mechanisms that lie between alcohol intake and loss of muscle tissue involve multiple pathways, making the elucidation of the disease somewhat difficult.

Evidence of apoptosis in alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

Apoptosis is a mechanism of cell death implicated in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced organ damage. Experimental studies have suggested alcohol-mediated apoptosis in the cardiac muscle, and there is evidence of skeletal muscle apoptosis in long-term high-dose alcohol consumers. The relation between skeletal and cardiac muscle damage in alcoholism led us to consider the pathogenic role of apoptosis in alcoholic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Metabolic effects of ethanol on primary cell cultures of rat skeletal muscle.

Individuals who have consumed alcohol chronically accumulate glycogen in their skeletal muscles. Changes in the energy balance caused by alcohol consumption might lead to alcoholic myopathy. Experimental models used in the past, such as with skeletal muscle biopsy samples of alcohol-dependent individuals or in animal models, do not distinguish between direct effects and indirect effects (i.

Effects of alcohol on skeletal and cardiac muscle.

The acute and chronic toxic effects of alcohol on skeletal and cardiac muscle are clinically important. Muscle weakness and atrophy are the main manifestations of skeletal myopathy, and arrhythmias and progressive left-ventricular dysfunction are those of cardiomyopathy. Most patients remain asymptomatic from these effects for a long time.

Decreased tumor necrosis factor-induced adhesion of human monocytes to endothelial cells after moderate alcohol consumption.

Background: Moderate alcohol consumption protects against ischemic heart disease, possibly through an antiinflammatory effect. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which alcohol may interfere in the development of atherosclerosis.

Objective: We analyzed the effects of 2 alcoholic beverages with high (red wine) or low (gin) polyphenolic content on human monocyte adhesion to an endothelial cell line (Ea.

Different effects of red wine and gin consumption on inflammatory biomarkers of atherosclerosis: a prospective randomized crossover trial. Effects of wine on inflammatory markers.

Background: No intervention studies have explored the anti-inflammatory effects of different alcoholic beverages on markers of atherosclerosis. We embarked on a randomized, crossover, single-blinded trial to evaluate the effects of wine and gin on inflammatory biomarkers of atherosclerosis.

Methods And Results: Forty healthy men (mean age, 37.

Evidence of apoptosis in chronic alcoholic skeletal myopathy.

Apoptosis is a common mechanism of programmed cell death that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced organ damage. Experimental studies have suggested alcohol-mediated apoptosis in cardiac muscle. The relationship between skeletal and cardiac muscle damage in alcoholism led us to consider the possible role of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of skeletal myopathy.

Effects of alcohol withdrawal on 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure among alcohol-dependent patients.

Background: Although epidemiologic studies have reported an association between alcohol intake and high blood pressure (BP), the results of intervention studies have shown inconsistent results. We embarked on a study to determine whether different subgroups of alcohol-dependent patients may be identified in relation to the effect of alcohol on BP.

Methods: Fifty alcohol-dependent men (mean age, 41.

Elevated production of interleukin-6 is associated with a lower incidence of disease-related ischemic events in patients with giant-cell arteritis: angiogenic activity of interleukin-6 as a potential protective mechanism.

Background: Patients with giant-cell arteritis (GCA) who develop a strong acute-phase response are at low risk of disease-related ischemic events.

Methods And Results: To assess the potential protective role of proinflammatory cytokines in the development of ischemic events in GCA, we measured tissue expression (66 individuals) and/or circulating levels (80 individuals) of interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and IL-6 in patients with biopsy-proven GCA. Tissue expression was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry.

Tissue and serum angiogenic activity is associated with low prevalence of ischemic complications in patients with giant-cell arteritis.

Background: Vascular inflammatory lesions from patients with giant-cell arteritis show a remarkable amount of neovascularization, but its clinical implications have never been investigated.

Methods And Results: To assess the clinical relevance of neovascularization in giant-cell arteritis, angiogenesis was measured in temporal artery sections from 31 patients with biopsy-proven giant-cell arteritis by staining endothelial cells with Ulex europaeus lectin. Angiogenesis was highly variable among these patients.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism is associated with vulnerability to alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Chronic alcohol abuse has a dose-dependent toxic effect on the myocardium, leading to alcoholic cardiomyopathy. The fact that only a minority of persons with chronic alcoholism have this condition suggests the possibility of a genetic vulnerability. In this context, polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been implicated in cardiac dysfunction.

Muscle diseases in elders: a 10-year retrospective study.

Background: Muscle complaints are frequent among older adults, but histological data in this setting are scarce. Our objective was to detect the major categories of muscle diseases in the elderly population based on histological study.

Methods: We reviewed all muscle biopsies performed in our hospital on patients older than the age of 65 during a 10-year period (1988-1997).

A strong initial systemic inflammatory response is associated with higher corticosteroid requirements and longer duration of therapy in patients with giant-cell arteritis.

Objective: To assess whether the intensity of the initial systemic inflammatory response is able to predict response to therapy in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA).

Methods: Retrospective review of 75 patients (49 women and 26 men) with biopsy-proven GCA who had regular followup and were treated according to uniform criteria. Four parameters were used to evaluate the baseline inflammatory response at diagnosis: fever, weight loss, erythrocyte sedimentation rate > or = 85 mm/hour, and hemoglobin < 110 gm/liter.

Silent cerebral white matter lesions in middle-aged essential hypertensive patients.

Objective: Age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and a history of cardiovascular disease are the most important factors related to the presence of cerebral white matter lesions (WML), which are a common finding in elderly people. This study investigates which factors related to hypertension per se are associated with the presence of WML in asymptomatic, middle-aged, never-treated essential hypertensive patients.

Methods: A total of 66 untreated essential hypertensive patients of both genders, aged 50-60 years, with neither diabetes mellitus nor evidence of cardiovascular disease, were studied.

The effect of controlled drinking in alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Cardiomyopathy is a potentially fatal complication of alcohol abuse. In alcoholic persons who develop cardiac dysfunction, abstinence is thought to be essential to halt further deterioration of cardiac contractility. Some evidence indicates that reducing alcohol intake may also be beneficial.