Ethanol Levels Research Articles

Manner of death determination in a case of gastric mucosal tears

Gastric tears are rarely described in the forensic pathological literature, although they can lead to a fatal acute exsanguination.Such lesions can arise from several conditions leading to an increased intragastric pressure, such as Mallory Weiss syndrome, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, acute barotrauma and operative procedures, showing peculiar morphological features.We present a case of a 32-year-old drug addicted white woman found dead in a pool of blood in the house of her drug dealer, after taking a dose of intravenous heroin.At autopsy, abundant bloody gastric content and multiple and long gastric tears, extending from the cardias and fundus regions to the gastric corpus were observed; one of them involved the subserous region, resulting in a gastric wall rupture.The victim had no history of recent vomiting and of gastro-intestinal pathologies. Drugs and ethanol levels detected in the specimens of the victim were not consistent with lethal concentrations, thus the death was attributed to acute exsanguination.After reviewing the literature, it turned out that morphological aspects of the gastric tears, such as number, size and topographical distribution, observed at autopsy were atypical compared to those of typical gastric lacerations.

Fungal communities and their correlation with the sensory quality of rice wine from the Xiaogan and Dazhou regions in China

In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of fungal communities and cultivable yeast isolates in rice wine from the Xiaogan and Dazhou regions using Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology and traditional culture-dependent methods. And we further explored the correlation between the sensory quality and fungal communities in rice wine. The results demonstrated no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the abundance and diversity of fungal communities and cultivable yeast isolates between Xiaogan and Dazhou rice wine. The dominant fungal genera were Rhizopus and Saccharomyces, with Saccharomyces cerevisiae accounting for the greatest proportion of yeast isolates. The rice wine samples could be divided into two types based on the composition of fungal communities. Type 1 mainly contained Rhizopus and Saccharomyces, while type 2 mainly contained Rhizopus. Properties such as lightness, blueness-yellowness, methane levels, ethanol levels, organic sulfide content, and soluble solids content accounted for the main differences between the two types of rice wine. In addition, Candida and Clavispora showed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) with the aromatic substances in rice wine. The findings of the study enrich our understanding of traditional rice wine, providing meaningful information for the improvement and development of the traditional rice wine industry.

Au coated etched FBG SPR sensor for the detection of ethanol in aqueous solution

Over the past few years, there has been a growing need for reliable ethanol sensors in the pharmaceutical and food industries. These industries require constant monitoring to ensure that the acceptable ethanol levels are maintained. This study reports a new fiber optic sensor that uses etched single mode fiber Bragg grating (FBG) coated with the thin layer of 45 nm gold to produce Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). A thin layer of 45 nm gold improves the sensitivity of sensor by improving the evanescent wave around the fiber, resulting in better interaction with the analyte. The sensing performance of developed structure was examined by analyzing the change in wavelength shift observed by varying ethanol concentration in aqueous solution from 0 to 100 %. The performance of developed sensor in terms of sensitivity is 20 pm/RIU. Which is expected to play an important role in food and pharmaceutical industries to protect human health from detrimental affects due to high concentration of ethanol.

Formulation and evaluation of tenoxicam ethosomes as a novel drug carrier

The aim of this study is to create an alcohol-based tenoxicam gel for transversal delivery. Tenoxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory BCSII drug with low solubility and high permeability. It is prepared thermally using alcohol, phospholipids and ethanol. Alcosomes are phospholipid- based elastic nanoparticles containing high levels of ethanol (20-45%), which is known to be highly accessible. Ethanol systems are more effective at delivering the speed and depth of medication to the skin than liposomes or hydroalcoholic solutions. FTIR studies show that there is no interaction between the drug and the additive. Formulation F8 (ethanol 30% v/v and lecithin 1% w/w) was selected as the best formulation due to its small size, encapsulation efficiency, low turbidity, and highest in vitro release. A 3-month stability study was carried out on the F8 formulation using Carbopol 934 base (1,1.5, 2% w/w) at two different temperatures, 25°±2°C and 4°±2°C. The maximum in vitro release rate of carbomer concentration in rat skin at 1.5% w/w is 95.06 ± 0.15%, and the in vitro release rate is 86.65 ± 0.38%.

Novel kombucha beverages with antioxidant activity based on fruits as alternative substrates

The consumption of kombucha drinks has remarkably grown during the last decade and, besides traditional ingredients such as tea leaves, alternative raw materials with interesting functional properties are being proposed. The aim of this study was to obtain alternative kombuchas enriched in phenolic compounds and with a high antioxidant activity using fruits instead of tea leaves, and to determine the optimal fermentation time. The fruit-based kombuchas were prepared using cherry, plum, apricot, strawberry, persimmon, grape, orange, or pomegranate and three different microbial consortia (SCOBYs/SCs). The pH, carbohydrate, ethanol, and phenolic levels, and in vitro antioxidant capacity were determined along the fermentation process (21 days). The obtained products showed safe pH values (2.5–4.2) and suitable ethanol levels (<1.2%). Their carbohydrate content was almost half that in commercial tea kombucha. The activity of fermentative microorganisms increased total phenolic content (TPC) and radical scavenging capacity (TEAC) in all preparations, and differences were found depending on the SC used. Maximum TPC and TEAC values were observed in the strawberry kombucha (up to 13.7 mg/100 mL and 2.05 μmol/mL, respectively). The results showed that fruits, mainly strawberries, could be used to obtain alternative kombucha drinks with high in vitro antioxidant activity.

Defecation alleviates hangover by terminating intestinal drinking.

The concept of "intestinal drinking" in this study refers to the continued absorption of alcohol in the gastrointestinal tract until adequate defecation occurs. A longitudinal observation of hangover symptoms and alcohol metabolites in healthy humans following binge drinking was conducted. The hangover symptoms resulting from binge alcohol consumption were relieved by defecation. Following the defecation process, not only the blood ethanol levels, but also the concentrations of blood acetaldehyde, methanol, and iso-propanol, exhibited significant reductions. This pilot study provides a different perspective for addressing hangovers and potentially mitigating the risks of alcoholic liver diseases.

Reduced Carbon Intensity of Ethanol Blend Gasoline

&lt;div&gt;Tank-to-wheels (TTW) CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; reduction for ethanol blends is determined from either gasoline composition or vehicle exhaust measurements. Fuels are characterized using a carbon intensity (CI), which is the ratio of carbon (as CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; mass) in the fuel to the net heating value. Our objective is to assess changes in CI of market gasoline with varying ethanol content that can be used to appreciate change in vehicle tailpipe greenhouse gases (GHG) in response to policy controlling the ethanol level in market fuels. Ethanol has both a reduced carbon content and a reduced net (lower) heating value relative to petroleum species, with a CI slightly lower than that of typical petroleum gasoline. However, ethanol blending offers additional CI reduction because it enables a reduction of aromatics in the petroleum blendstock for oxygenate blending (BOB) while maintaining octane rating of the blend. Aromatics have a CI about 20% higher than paraffins. The primary refinery option for aromatic reduction is through lower severity or throughput for the gasoline reformer, which ultimately reduces CI in the BOB and the finished blend. Expected gasoline market blends were projected by developing a model that addressed US refining and blending in response to octane requirements. A TTW blending CI, or BCI, for ethanol is proposed to describe the total CI reduction in the finished blend enabled by the ethanol. The ethanol BCI was found to average at 59 gCO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;/MJ for E10, E15, and E20 (10%, 15%, and 20% ethanol by volume) market fuels in this study. This is substantially below the ethanol chemical CI of 71.0 gCO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;/MJ and petroleum CI of 73.5 g CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;/MJ due to the enabling of aromatic reduction. E10 in comparison to E0 (purely petroleum) is estimated to offer a national US tailpipe CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; reduction of 16.6 billion kg annually.&lt;/div&gt;

Inhibitory Effects of Saponin-Rich Extracts from Pouteria cambodiana against Digestive Enzymes α-Glucosidase and Pancreatic Lipase.

Pouteria cambodiana is a perennial plant that has a wide distribution in tropical regions. It is commonly referred to as 'Nom-nang' in the northern region of Thailand. The bark of this plant has been used for the purpose of promoting lactation among breastfeeding mothers. Moreover, P. cambodiana bark has a high nutraceutical potential due to the presence of saponins, which are secondary metabolites. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal conditions for ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of saponins from the bark of P. cambodiana and to assess the in vitro inhibitory activities of saponin-rich extracts. The most effective extraction conditions involved a temperature of 50 °C and a 50% concentration level of ethanol as the solvent, which allowed the extraction of saponin at a concentration of 36.04 mg/g. Saponin-rich extracts and their hydrolysates from P. cambodiana bark were evaluated for their ability to inhibit α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. The IC50 values for saponin- and sapogenin-rich extracts inhibiting α-glucosidase were 0.10 and 2.98 mg/mL, respectively. Non-hydrolysed extracts also had a stronger inhibitory effect than acarbose. In the case of pancreatic lipase, only the hydrolysed extracts exhibited inhibitory effects on pancreatic lipase (IC50 of 7.60 mg/mL). Thus, P. cambodiana bark may be an applicable natural resource for preparing ingredients for functional products with inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. The phenolic contents, saponin contents, and antioxidant activities of the dried extract stored at a low temperature of 25 °C for 2 months showed the best stability, with more than 90% retention.

Serum metabolome differences associated with subclinical intramammary infection caused by Streptococcus agalactiae and Prototheca spp. in multiparous dairy cows

Mastitis is one of the most significant diseases in dairy cows and causes several economic losses. Somatic cell count (SCC) is often used as an indirect diagnostic tool for mastitis, especially for subclinical mastitis (SCM) where no symptoms or signs can be detected. Streptococcus agalactiae is one of the main causes of contagious mastitis, while Prototheca spp. is an alga inducing environmental mastitis that is not always correlated with increased milk SCC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the metabolomic profile of blood in relation to subclinical intramammary infection (sIMI) in dairy cows. In addition, differences due to the etiologic agent causing mastitis were also considered. Forty Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in mid and late lactation were enrolled in this study with a cross-sectional design. Based on the bacteriological examination of milk, the animals were divided into 3 groups: Group CTR (control group; n = 16); Group A (affected by SCM with IMI of Streptococcus agalactiae; n = 17); and Group P (affected by SCM with IMI of Prototheca spp.; n = 7). Blood samples were collected in tubes containing clot activator from jugular vein. The serum aliquot was stored until metabolomic analysis by 1H-NMR. Statistical analysis was conducted fitting a linear model with the group as fixed effect and SCC as covariate. Forty-two metabolites were identified and among them, 10 were significantly different among groups. Group A and P showed greater level of His and lactose, and lower level of acetate, Asn, and dimethylamine compared with Group CTR. Group A showed high level of Val, while the Group P showed also high level of Cit and methylguanidine, and lower level of 3-hydroxybutyrate, acetone, allantoin, carnitine, citrate, and ethanol. These metabolites were related to ruminal fermentations, energy metabolism, urea synthesis and metabolism, immune and inflammatory response, and mammary gland permeability. These results are suggestive of a systemic involvement of sIMI and that the metabolic profile of animals with SCM undergoes changes related to the etiological agent of mastitis.

Alcohol consumption modulates Candida albicans-induced oral carcinogenesis and progression

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the impact of low levels of alcohol consumption on the interaction of the oral cavity with Candida albicans, a species that is commonly found at higher levels in the oral cavities of regular alcohol consumers, patients with pre-malignant diseases, and patients with existing oral cancer (OC). MethodsThe gingival squamous cell carcinoma cell line, Ca9-22, was subjected to low-level ethanol exposure before co-culture with heat-inactivated C. albicans (HICA). We performed cell viability assays, measured reactive oxygen species, and used Western blot analysis for cell death markers to examine the effect of ethanol and HICA on cells. Scratch assays and anchorage-independent growth assays were used to determine cell behavioral changes. ResultsThe results showed that ethanol in combination with HICA exacerbated cell death and cell cycle disruption, delayed NF-κB signaling, increased TIMP-2 secretion, and subsequently decreased MMP-2 secretion when compared to exposure to HICA alone. Conversely, both ethanol and HICA independently increased proliferation of Ca9-22 cells in scratch assays, and in combination, increased their capacity for anchorage-independent growth. ConclusionLow levels of ethanol may provide protective effects against Candida-induced inflammatory oral carcinogenesis or OC progression.

Juvenile variable stress modulates, in female but not in male Wistar rats, ethanol intake in adulthood

Early stress can increase vulnerability to psychopathological disorders, including substance use disorders. The effects of stress in the juvenile period of the rat, that extends between weaning and the onset of adolescence (equivalent to late human childhood), have received little attention. This study assessed short and long-term behavioral effects of juvenile stress, with a focus on effects on ethanol intake. Male and female Wistar rats were exposed to variable stress (restraint, elevated platform, forced swimming, and social instability) or to restraint stress only, between postnatal days 26 to 29 (PDs 26–29). During adolescence, patterns of anxiety (PD 31) and depression (PD 33), ethanol intake (PDs 36–45) and behavioral sensitivity to the effects of acute stress (PD 47) were evaluated. In adulthood, alcohol ingestion was assessed through two-bottle ethanol intake tests (PDs 75–85). An additional experiment measured blood ethanol levels after a limited access intake session in adolescence. Exposure to juvenile variable stress exerted very mild effects in adolescence, but reduced ethanol ingestion in adulthood, in females only. Ethanol intake during the limited access session was significantly correlated to blood alcohol levels. The results indicate that a schedule of juvenile variable stress that did not significantly alter anxiety-related behaviors induced, nonetheless, sexually dimorphic effects on ethanol intake in adulthood. Early stress exposure that reduced alcohol intake in Wistar rats has been associated with changes on brain opioid and dopamine receptors. These results highlight the impact of early stress exposure on adult female ethanol consumption and its possible underlying neurobiological changes, involving opioid and dopamine receptors.

Investigation of the enhancement mechanism of ethanol addition on the gel performance of heat-induced surimi

This study investigated the mechanism of ethanol enhancing the gel properties of heat-induced silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) surimi gels. The presence of ethanol reduced the thermal stability of surimi protein, and the denaturation temperature of myosin decreased by approximately 7 °C in the presence of 5% ethanol. The gel strength, textural characteristics, and storage modulus (G′) of the gels improved depending on ethanol levels, while the water holding capacity (WHC) remained steady. Adding ethanol stabilized the α-helix and β-sheet in the protein structures of the gels, reducing the content of the random coil. Appropriate heat denaturation rate induced by ethanol increased protein cross-linking, which may relate to forming more disulfide bonds. In addition, ethanol incorporation promoted the formation of more isopeptide bonds catalyzed by transglutaminase (TGase) and weakened the hydrolysis of surimi proteins by cathepsins, further enhancing the formation of a dense and uniform gel network.

Using Sparfloxacin-Capped Gold Nanoparticles to Modify a Screen-Printed Carbon Electrode Sensor for Ethanol Determination.

Alcohol is a dangerous substance causing global mortality and health issues, including mental health problems. Regular alcohol consumption can lead to depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, and increased risk of alcohol-related disorders. Thus, monitoring ethanol levels in biological samples could contribute to maintaining good health. Herein, we developed an electrochemical sensor for the determination of ethanol in human salivary samples. Initially, the tetra-chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) was chemically reduced using sparfloxacin (Sp) which also served as a stabilizing agent for the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). As-prepared Sp-AuNPs were comprehensively characterized and confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and elemental mapping analysis. The average particle size (~25 nm) and surface charge (negative) of Sp-AuNPs were determined by using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Zeta potential measurements. An activated screen-printed carbon electrode (A-SPE) was modified using Sp-AuNPs dispersion, which exhibited greater electrocatalytic activity and sensitivity for ethanol (EtOH) oxidation in 0.1 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). DPV showed a linear response for EtOH from 25 µM to 350 µM with the lowest limit of detection (LOD) of 0.55 µM. Reproducibility and repeatability studies revealed that the Sp-AuNPs/A-SPEs were highly stable and very sensitive to EtOH detection. Additionally, the successful electrochemical determination of EtOH in a saliva sample was carried out. The recovery rate of EtOH spiked in the saliva sample was found to be 99.6%. Thus, the incorporation of Sp-AuNPs within sensors could provide new possibilities in the development of ethanol sensors with an improved level of precision and accuracy.

3D‐printed amperometric sensor for the detection of ethanol in saliva

AbstractIn this work, we report a non‐enzymatic and metal‐free ethanol sensor based on 3D PLA‐graphene electrodes. We evaluated the optimal activation treatment for PLA‐graphene to achieve a sensor for monitoring ethanol levels in saliva samples, following the legal limits for drivers in various countries. The analytical performance of the sensor was determined through amperometric measurements, demonstrating a linear detection ranging supporting electrolyte (0.990–19.3 mmol L−1) and artificial saliva sample (0.990–17.4 mmol L−1), with respective limits of detection of 0.135 and 0.239 mmol L−1. The 3D‐printed sensor exhibited excellent repeatability and reproducibility. This method was effectively employed for ethanol detection, highlighting its potential as an alternative approach for assessing ethanol levels in drivers while considering diverse legal regulations across different countries.

Use of reconstituted kefir consortia to determine the impact of microbial composition on kefir metabolite profiles

Kefir is fermented traditionally with kefir grains, but commercial kefir production often relies on fermentation with planktonic cultures. Kefir has been associated with many health benefits, however, the utilization of kefir grains to facilitate large industrial production of kefir is challenging and makes to difficult to ensure consistent product quality and consistency. Notably, the microbial composition of kefir fermentations has been shown to impact kefir associated health benefits. This study aimed to compare volatile compounds, organic acids, and sugar composition of kefir produced through a traditional grain fermentation and through a reconstituted kefir consortium fermentation. Additionally, the impact of two key microbial communities on metabolite production in kefir was assessed using two modified versions of the consortium, with either yeasts or lactobacilli removed. We hypothesized that the complete kefir consortium would closely resemble traditional kefir, while the consortia without yeasts or lactobacilli would differ significantly from both traditional kefir and the complete consortium fermentation. Kefir fermentations were examined after 12 and 18 h using two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS) to identify volatile compounds and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to identify organic acid and sugar composition. The traditional kefir differed significantly from the kefir consortium fermentation with the traditional kefir having 15–20 log2(fold change) higher levels of esters and the consortium fermented kefir having between 1 and 3 log2(fold change) higher organic acids including lactate and acetate. The use of a version of kefir consortium that lacked lactobacilli resulted in between 2 and 20 log2(fold change) lower levels of organic acids, ethanol, and butanoic acid ethyl ester, while the absence of yeast from the consortium resulted in minimal change. In summary, the kefir consortium fermentation is significantly different from traditional grain fermented kefir with respect to the profile of metabolites present, and seems to be driven by lactobacilli, as evidenced by the significant decrease in multiple metabolites when the lactobacilli were removed from the fermentation and minimal differences observed upon the removal of yeast.

The Determination of Ethanol Levels in Facial Freshener Using the NIR Spectroscopy and Chemometric Method

A facial freshener, also known as toner, is a cosmetic product that is commonly used to invigorate the face after a busy day. Ethanol serves as a key component in toner, serving multiple purposes such as being a solvent, preservative, and antimicrobial agent. However, it's important to note that toner formulated for normal skin types typically contain ethanol in small concentrations, adhering to a limit of not more than 10%. Therefore, this study aims to determine ethanol levels in toner using the NIR spectroscopy and chemometric techniques. The NIR spectra of the simulated samples were correlated with ethanol concentration using chemometric calibration model. The calibration models used were partial least square (PLS), principal component regression (PCR), and support vector regression (SVR). The calibration model was validated by leave one out cross validation (LOOCV) as well as the external validation, and the precision and accuracy of the method was evaluated. Among the calibration models, the PLS model exhibited the best performance, yielding an impressive R2 0.9976; with an RMSEC value of 0.4364 and RMSECV value of 0.4704. The internal validation yield R2 value more than 0.99 and RMSE of less than 0,4198. Furthermore, external validation showed the R2 and RMSEP value of 0.989 and 0.920 respectively. The %recovery and RSD value were 101.2% and 0.129%. Comparing ethanol measurements obtained through the NIR chemometric method with those obtained using gas chromatography as the reference method, no significant difference was observed at a 95% confidence levels, as indicated by a significance value of 0.231.

The performance of saliva test strips for determining ethanol levels, as compared to gas chromatography and breathalyser methods

We set out to determine the performance of the Testi Technologies enzymatic assay saliva ethanol test strips of three different detection levels: 0 g/L, 0.2 g/L and 0.5 g/L, using as the reference method a gas chromatography analyser (GC). Alcohol levels were measured in 104 volunteers at up to three points in time, using up to three test strips per measurement, while gathering blood samples and breathalyser readings in parallel. The plasma alcohol concentrations (PAC) were determined from the plasma samples using GC. The qualitative results of the test strips were compared to the quantitative results from the reference method, as well as the breathalyser readings, and the amount of true and false positive and true and false negative results were classified using predetermined cut-off levels. The best performing test strips were the 0 g/L and the 0.2 g/L strips. The 0 g/L strips had a sensitivity and specificity of 1.00, as false negatives and false positives were not detected. The 0.2 g/L strips had a sensitivity and specificity [95% confidence interval (CI)] of 0.98 (0.96 − 1.00) and 0.83 (0.62 − 1.00) respectively, an accuracy of 0.97 (0.95 − 0.99), and a diagnostic odds ratio of 205.00 (35.33 − 1189.66). The test strips perform their intended purpose of screening for alcohol consumption well, with their great sensitivity as a defining property compared to other testing methods. For them to be able to be implemented in a clinical setting however, further refinement of the tests’ characteristics would be required.

Superficial scald development in ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Nicoter’ apples: The role of key volatile compounds when fruit are stored under dynamic controlled atmosphere

A positive correlation of α-farnesene and its oxidation metabolites with superficial scald is commonly reported in apples stored in air or controlled atmosphere (CA) systems, where O2 levels are above the lower oxygen limit (LOL) tolerated by the fruit. Nevertheless, the LOL can be monitored by the dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) techniques and to provide different physiological responses. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate key volatile metabolites from ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Nicoter’ (‘Kanzi®’) apples stored under dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) monitored by respiratory quotient (RQ), i. e. at extremely low oxygen partial pressures (ELO) and correlate their emissions with the incidence of superficial scald (SS). The volatile compounds (VCs) were isolated by solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography. For the first time, higher concentrations of α-farnesene and its oxidation metabolites (6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol) were negatively correlated with SS in DCA-RQ. This is likely due to the higher levels of ethanol in fruit stored under this condition having an inhibitory effect on SS incidence even when α-farnesene, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol accumulate. Additionally, SS is more correlated to internal ethylene concentration (IEC) than α-farnesene accumulation and their metabolites, even when fruit were stored under ELO, where ethylene action is reduced.

Astrocytic Responses to Binge Alcohol Intake in the Mouse Hindbrain.

Ethanol is the most commonly used toxic chemical in human cultures. Ethanol predominantly damages the brain causing various neurological disorders. Astrocytes are important cellular targets of ethanol in the brain and are involved in alcoholic symptoms. Recent studies have revealed the diversity of astrocyte populations in the brain. However, it is unclear how the different astrocyte populations respond to an excess of ethanol. Here we examined the effect of binge ethanol levels on astrocytes in the mouse brainstem and cerebellum. Ethanol administration for four consecutive days increased the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactive signals in the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve (stTN) and reticular nucleus (RN). Another astrocyte marker, aquaporin 4 (AQP4), was also increased in the stTN with a pattern similar to that of GFAP. However, in the RN, the immunoreactive signals of AQP4 were different from that of GFAP and were not changed by ethanol administration. In the cerebellum, GFAP-positive signals were found in all four astrocytic populations, and those in the Bergmann glia were selectively eliminated by ethanol administration. We next examined the effect of estradiol on the ethanol-induced changes in astrocytic immunoreactive signals. The administration of estradiol alone increased the AQP4-immunoreactivity in the stTN with a pattern similar to that of ethanol, whereas the co-administration of estradiol and ethanol suppressed the intensity of the AQP4-positive signals. Thus, binge levels of ethanol intake selectively affect astrocyte populations in the brainstem and cerebellum. Sex hormones can affect the ethanol-induced neurotoxicity via modulation of astrocyte reactivity.

Impact of ethanol on continuous inline diafiltration of liposomal drug products.

Liposomal drug products are playing an increasing role in the field of drug delivery. With this increased demand comes the need to increase the capabilities and capacity of manufacturing options. Continuous manufacturing techniques present a significant opportunity to address these needs for liposomal manufacturing processes. Liposomal formulations have unique considerations that impact translation from batch to continuous process designs. This article examines aspects of converting to a continuous design that were previously viewed as inconsequential in a batch process. The batch process involves the removal of ethanol through tangential flow filtration (TFF). Ethanol was found to reduce the permeability of the hollow fibers used for TFF. This effect was determined to have minimal impact on the overall batch process design but considerable influence on the design of continuous TFF such as inline diafiltration (ILDF). Using a pilot scale setup, ethanol was found to decrease permeability in an inverse manner to ethanol concentration. Further assessment found that dilution of the ethanol levels prior to diafiltration can significantly reduce the amount of ILDF stages needed and that a continuous design requires less buffer to the commensurate batch design. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.