Ivana Mudnić

Antioxidant and vasodilatory effects of blackberry and grape wines.

In contrast to the well-described various biological effects of grape wines, the potential effects of commonly consumed blackberry wine have not been studied. We examined in vitro antioxidant and vasodilatory effects of four blackberry wines and compared them with the effects of two red and two white grape wines. Although some blackberry wines had lower total phenolic content relative to the red grape wines, their antioxidant capacity was stronger, which may be related to a higher content of non-flavonoid compounds (most notably gallic acid) in blackberry wines. Although maximal vasodilation induced by blackberry wines was generally similar to that of red wines, blackberry wines were less potent vasodilators. Vasodilatory activity of all wines, in addition to their flavonoid and total phenolic content, was most significantly associated with their content of anthocyanins. No association of vasodilation with any individual polyphenolic compound was found. Our results indicate the biological potential of blackberry wines, which deserves deeper scientific attention.

A complex pattern of agreement between oscillometric and tonometric measurement of arterial stiffness in a population-based sample

Objective: Arterial stiffness can be estimated by several noninvasive methods. In a large population-based sample we performed an agreement analysis of the set of arterial stiffness indices (ASIs) measured by tonometric (SphygmoCor) and oscillometric (Arteriograph) techniques. Methods: Central augmentation index (cAIx) and peripheral augmentation index (pAIx), as well as central SBP (cSBP) were measured in 1012 participants from a population-based study. Data were analyzed using Bland–Altman agreement analysis, multivariate adaptive regression splines and Fishers linear discriminant analysis. Results: In contrast to high initial correlation between two devices (r = 0.87 for pAIx, 0.88 for cAIx and 0.95 for cSBP), plotting against each other the values of measured ASIs revealed their uneven distribution and grouping into three distinctive clusters of participants. The strongest cluster discriminators were age and DBP (cluster 1: age <40, DBP 70.42 ± 7.41; cluster 2: age >40, DBP 77.36 ± 10.16; cluster 3: age >60, DBP 82.56 ± 9.48). Bland–Altman analysis of clusters showed complex differences in agreement pattern for cAIx and pAIx. For cAIx SphygmoCor gives lower readings, especially in cluster 1, whereas for pAIx Arteriograph gives lower readings in cluster 1 and higher readings in clusters 2 and 3. The agreement for pAIx was better in younger participants and the same for cAIx in older participants. Conclusion: ASIs obtained by SphygmoCor and Arteriograph cannot be interchangeably used as they seem to be differently influenced by predictors of arterial stiffness, predominantly by age. Different pattern of pAIx and cAIx agreement across clusters demonstrates importance of distinguishing cAIx and pAIx. Homogeneity of the study population for age should be considered when interpreting results of the studies investigating ASI.

Normative equations for central augmentation index: assessment of inter-population applicability and how it could be improved

Common reference values of arterial stiffness indices could be effective screening tool in detecting vascular phenotypes at risk. However, populations of the same ethnicity may differ in vascular phenotype due to different environmental pressure. We examined applicability of normative equations for central augmentation index (cAIx) derived from Danish population with low cardiovascular risk on the corresponding Croatian population from the Mediterranean area. Disagreement between measured and predicted cAIx was assessed by Bland-Altman analysis. Both, cAIx-age distribution and normative equation fitted on Croatian data were highly comparable to Danish low-risk sample. Contrarily, Bland-Altman analysis of cAIx disagreement revealed a curvilinear deviation from the line of full agreement indicating that the equations were not equally applicable across age ranges. Stratification of individual data into age decades eliminated curvilinearity in all but the 30–39 (men) and 40–49 (women) decades. In other decades, linear disagreement independent of age persisted indicating that cAIx determinants other than age were not envisaged/compensated for by proposed equations. Therefore, established normative equations are equally applicable to both Nordic and Mediterranean populations but are of limited use. If designed for narrower age ranges, the equations’ sensitivity in detecting vascular phenotypes at risk and applicability to different populations could be improved.

Thermally treated wine retains vasodilatory activity in rat and guinea pig aorta.

In contrast to the intact wine, cardiovascular effects of the thermally treated wine have not been studied, despite widespread habits of cooking with wine and consumption of mulled wine. Vasodilatory effects of the red wine heated at 75 and 125°C were examined in the isolated rat and guinea pig aorta and compared with the intact and wine dealcoholized without thermal stress. Samples were analyzed for their phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, resveratrol and ethanol contents. Heating-induced degradation of individual phenolic fraction was observed only in the samples treated at 125°C, although total phenolic concentration and related antioxidant activity increased in the thermally treated samples due to the reduction in their volume. All wine samples regardless of treatment caused similar maximal relaxation in both species, but the response was stronger in aortas from guinea pigs. At the lowest concentrations up to 1‰, dealcoholized wine produced vasodilation greater than that produced by intact wine and wines treated at 75 and 125°C, which showed similar vasodilating activity at all concentrations. Our results indicate that wine thermally treated under heating conditions applicable to the preparation of a mulled wine and cooking with wine largely retains vasodilatory activity in vitro despite significant heat-induced changes in its composition.

Expression of adhesion molecules on granulocytes and monocytes following myocardial infarction in rats drinking white wine

Neutrophils and monocytes through their CD15s, CD11b and CD44 adhesion molecules are implicated in the initiation and resolution of cardiac inflammation as well as in healing processes after the myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of white wine consumption on granulocyte and monocyte CD15s, CD11b, and CD44 expression 24h after the surgically inflicted MI. Granulocytes and monocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry, using whole blood of male Sprague–Dawley rats that consumed white wine for 4 weeks. This group was compared with water only drinking controls, sham animals (subject to surgery without myocardial infarction) and baseline group (intact animals that received no intervention prior to being sacrificed). Sham animals did not differ from baseline animals in CD11b+CD44+ percentage and CD44+ median fluorescence intensity. Wine drinking was associated with striking increase in CD44 expression on monocyte subpopulations. Its expression was three and fourfold increased on monocytes and large monocytes, respectively, relative to the water only drinking controls. Because of known role of CD44 on suppression of post-infarction inflammation, its upregulation on granulocytes and monocytes may significantly contribute to the microenvironment favourable for the cardiac regeneration.