Differences in Browning Index and CIELAB Coordinates of the Two Grape Drying Processes, Traditional Sun-Drying and Chamber-Drying and during the Ageing of Pedro Ximenez Sweet Wine

The color parameters during the Pedro Ximenez grape raisining, as well as the sweet wine aging process from the Montilla-Moriles grapes （Andalusia, Southern Spain）, have been studied. Drying process of grapes was carried out by means of the traditional sun-drying method and an alternative chamber-drying method under 50℃. Chamber-drying allows shorter drying time and select grapes at a higher ripening degree. During raisining grape musts decreased in hab （hue angle） and increased in Cab （chroma）. In comparative terms, the final values of hue were virtually identical in both types of drying, although differences were found in the final values of chromaticity, being lower in the chamber-drying method. Changes in the color parameters during aging were compared in commercial wines with different aging systems and without aging. Likewise, as a reference of traditional wine aging system, the color changes in wines with four aging degrees were also studied. Regarding to the commercial wines studied, it can be pointed out the wine aged without blends for 4 years significantly differed in the values of hab and C＊ab of the remaining wines, which show more similar values among them and in the data obtained for the wines aged by the traditional aging system.

Herbal cardiotonic pills prevent gut ischemia/reperfusion-induced hepatic microvascular dysfunction in rats fed ethanol chronically

AIM: Cardiotonic Pill (CP), an oral herbal medicine that includes Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae), Panax notoginseny and Dyroblanops aromatica gaettn, has been clinically used for vascular diseases such as occlusive vasculitis, coronary diseases, atherosclerosis, and cerebral infarction. The main component, Salviae Miltiorrhizae, has been reported to prevent cerebral and intestinal reperfusion injury. However, little is known about the effect of CP on hepatic microcirculation. Thus, this study aimed to determine whether CP could affect hepatic microvascular dysfunction elicited by gut ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R) in rats fed ethanol chronically. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were pair-fed with a liquid diet containing ethanol or isocaloric control diet for 6 wk. After laparotomy, one lobe of the liver was examined through an inverted intravital microscope. The rats were exposed to 30 min of gut ischemia followed by 60 min of reperfusion. Rhodamine-6G-labeled leukocytes in the sinusoids were observed 90 min after the onset of superior mesenteric artery occlusion. Plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and endotoxin levels were measured 1 h after the onset of reperfusion. Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were measured 6 h after the onset of reperfusion. In another set of experiments, CP (0.8 g/kg, intragastrically) was administered 1 and 24 h before the onset of ischemia. RESULTS: In control rats, gut I/R elicited increases in the number of stationary leukocytes, and plasma TNF-α and endotoxin levels and plasma ALT activities. These changes were mitigated by pretreatment with CP. In ethanol-fed rats, the gut I/R-induced increases in the number of stationary leukocytes, plasma endotoxin levels and ALT activities were enhanced. Pretreatment with CP attenuated the enhancement of gut I/R-induced responses by chronic ethanol consumption. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that CP prevents the gut I/R-induced hepatic microvascular dysfunction and hepatocellular injury. A reduction of inflammatory responses such as TNF-α production via reduction of blood endotoxin levels appears to be involved in the mechanisms. Chronic ethanol consumption enhances gut I/R-induced hepatic microvascular and hepatocellular injury. CP also attenuates an enhancement of gut I/R-induced responses by chronic ethanol consumption via the reduction of blood endotoxin levels.

Aging is a risk factor of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in premenopausal women

AIM: To clarify the relationship between age, menopause, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in women. METHODS: We conducted a follow-up study on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by using abdominal ultrasonography, and investigated the relationship of age and menopause with the development of NAFLD in women. We followed 1829 women and 2572 men (response rate, 86%) selected in 2001 to represent the non-institutionalized adult population of Gifu, Japan. Data collected included self-reported medical history, lifestyle factors, and menopausal status. The postmenopausal state was defined as beginning 1 year after the cessation of menses. We diagnosed NAFLD with the aid of abdominal ultrasonography by using diagnostic criteria describedRESULTS: The prevalence of NAFLD in women increases with age, but does not alter with age in men. Furthermore, the prevalence of NAFLD in premenopausal women (6%) was lower than that in men (24%) and in postmenopausal women (15%). The associations of the postmenopausal state and hormone replacement therapy with NAFLD were statistically significant in a univariate logistic regression model. At the follow-up examination, 67 women (5%) were newly diagnosed with NAFLD. The incidence of NAFLD was 3.5% (28/802) in premenopausal women, 7.5% (4/53) in menopausal women, 6.1% (24/392) in postmenopausal women, and 5.3% (11/206) in women receiving hormone replacement therapy. The weight gain in premenopausal women was equal to that in postmenopausal women. Metabolic syndrome and weight gain were independent risk factors for NAFLD in pre-and postmenopausal women, but age was an independent risk factor in premenopausal women only. CONCLUSION: Aging is a risk factor for NAFLD in premenopausal women, independent of weight gain or influence of metabolic syndrome.

Effects of extracts from soothing-liver and invigorating-spleen formulas on the injury induced by oxidative stress in the hepatocytes of rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease induced by high-fat diet

OBJECTIVE:To investigate effects of the extracts from soothing-liver and invigorating-spleen formulas on the injury due to oxidative stress,mediated by the Nuclear factor-like 2(Nrf2)-Antioxidant response element(ARE) pathway,in the hepatocytes of rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) induced by high-fat diet.METHODS:Soothing-liver and invigorating-spleen formula mixtures were prepared for five groups:normal,model,soothing-liver formula group(SLG),invigorating-spleen formula group(ISG),integrated formula group(IG).The rat model of NAFLD was induced by feeding rats a high-fat diet(HFD).After 16 weeks,the hepatic tissue was examined following Haematoxylin-Eosin(H&E) staining and with Transmission electron microscopy(TEM).Levels of hepatic lipids,serum lipids and hepatic functions were measured using a biochemical analyser.Hepatocytes were isolated from the livers of rats and were identified by cellar immunohistochemistry,cellular immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.The expression levels of Nrf2,Kelch-like epichlorohydrin-associated protein 1(Keap-1),haeme oxygenase-1(HO-1) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1) m RNAs were assessed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Nrf2,Keap-1,HO-1 and NQO1 proteins were measured by Western blotting.Finally,the levels of oxidative stress factors Superoxide Dismutase(SOD),malonaldehyde(MDA) and Glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) in hepatocytes were measured by WST-1,TBA and colorimetry.RESULTS:The H & E and TEM results showed that the NAFLD model rats successfully reproduced typical pathogenetic and histopathological features.The liver function and levels of hepatic lipids and serum lipids from the model rats were dramatically increased.Compared with the model group,the levels of hepatic lipids,serum lipids and hepatic function in the treatment groups were ameliorated to different degrees.The yields of purified hepatocytes in each rat were 4-5 × 108.The viability of the isolated hepatocytes was higher than 95%,with a purity over 93.2%.Cellular immunohistochemistry analysis showed that the hepatocytes were brown,while in the cellular immunofluorescence analysis,the hepatocytes showed green fluorescence.The expression levels of Nrf2,Keap-1,HO-1 and NQO1 m RNA and protein in the hepatocytes were significantly higher in the model group than in the normal group(P < 0.05,P < 0.01).Compared with the model group,the expression of Nrf2,Keap-1,HO-1 and NQO-1 m RNAs and proteins in all treatment groups increased,especially in the IG(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION:The extracts from soothing-liver and invigorating-spleen formulas may protect the liver against the injury induced by oxidative stress in hepatocytes by influencing the Nrf2-ARE pathway,which may be the mechanism having the potential for prevention and treatment of NAFLD.