Specific Conditions for Resveratrol Neuroprotection against Ethanol-Induced Toxicity.

Aims. 3,5,4'-Trihydroxy-trans-stilbene, a natural polyphenolic compound present in wine and grapes and better known as resveratrol, has free radical scavenging properties and is a potent protector against oxidative stress induced by alcohol metabolism. Today, the mechanism by which ethanol exerts its toxicity is still not well understood, but it is generally considered that free radical generation plays an important role in the appearance of structural and functional alterations in cells.

[Testing critical reading of medical journal articles: reliability and validity].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of tests assessing medical students' ability to read medical journal articles critically.

Methods: All third-year students at our medical school (n=125) took three tests between December 2004 and June 2005 as part of a program to teach critical appraisal of medical literature. Each test required students to write a 250-word structured abstract and to answer a set of 6 to 8 appraisal questions.