Early induction of senescence and immortalization in PGC-1α-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

Aims: Oxidative stress is known to induce early replicative senescence. Senescence has been proposed to work as a barrier to immortalization and tumor development. Here, we aimed to evaluate the impact of the loss of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ co-activator 1α (PGC-1α), a master regulator of oxidative metabolism and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, on replicative senescence and immortalization in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs).

PGC-1α Downregulation in Steatotic Liver Enhances Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Impairs Ischemic Preconditioning.

Aims: Liver steatosis is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels together with enhanced sensitivity to ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury and limited response to preconditioning protocols. Here, we sought to determine whether the downregulation in the steatotic liver of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ co-activator 1α (PGC-1α), a master regulator of mitochondrial metabolism and ROS that is known to play a role in liver metabolic control, could be responsible for the sensitivity of the steatotic liver to ischemic damage.

Results: PGC-1α was induced in normal liver after exposure to an IR protocol, which was concomitant with an increase in the levels of antioxidant proteins.

Prevalence and routine assessment of unhealthy alcohol use in hospitalized patients.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of alcohol misuse among medical inpatients and the methods used by medical staff to evaluate alcohol consumption.

Methods: Multicenter, prospective, observational, cross-sectional study performed at 21 hospitals in Spain. All adult patients hospitalized in internal medicine wards on 12 March 2008 were eligible for study.

Genetic association between -93A/G polymorphism in the Fyn kinase gene and alcohol dependence in Spanish men.

Background: Fyn tyrosine kinase is a member of the Scr family that phosphorylates the NR2A and NR2B subunits of the NMDA receptors reducing the inhibitory effects of ethanol and therefore may regulate the individual sensitivity to ethanol.

Objectives: To investigate whether there is any relationship between the polymorphism at position -93 of the Fyn kinase gene and the susceptibility to develop alcoholism.

Methods: We studied the distribution of genotypes and alleles of the polymorphism -93A/G (137346 T/C) in the 5' UTR region of the fyn gene in 207 male heavy drinkers (119 with alcohol dependence and 88 with alcohol abuse) and 100 control subjects from Castilla y León (Spain).

-238 G>A polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor alpha gene (TNFA) is associated with alcoholic liver cirrhosis in alcoholic Spanish men.

Background: The tumor necrosis factor alpha gene (TNFA) has been recently associated to alcoholic steatohepatitis. We have analyzed the distribution of genotypes and alleles of two polymorphisms at positions -238 and -308 in the promoter region of the TNFA gene in a Spanish male population of alcoholics with and without alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

Methods: 149 male alcoholics (84 without alcoholic liver disease, and 65 with alcoholic liver cirrhosis) and 90 control subjects were included.