Alcohol consumption or alcohol abuse is common among pregnant HIV+ women and has been identified as a potential behavioral risk factor for the transmission of HIV. In this study, we examined the impact of alcohol on HIV infection of cord blood monocyte-derived macrophages (CBMDM). We demonstrated that alcohol treatment of CBMDM significantly enhanced HIV infection of CBMDM. Investigation of the mechanisms of alcohol action on HIV demonstrated that alcohol inhibited the expression of several HIV restriction factors, including anti-HIV microRNAs, APOBEC3G and APOBEC3H. Additionally, alcohol also suppressed the expression of IFN regulatory factor 7 (IRF-7) and retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I), an intracellular sensor of viral infection. The suppression of these IFN regulatory factors was associated with reduced expression of type I IFN. These experimental findings suggest that maternal alcohol consumption may facilitate HIV infection, promoting vertical transmission of HIV.

Obesity causes cognitive weakening and increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Myrtus communis extract (MC) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this study, it is aimed to investigate the effects of Myrtus communis on oxidative brain damage caused by a high-fat diet (HFD), using behavioral and biochemical parameters. Twenty-four Wistar albino rats (200-250 g) were divided into three groups. The control group (C) received a standard diet, while HFD groups were received HFD for 16 weeks. MC (100 mg/kg, oral) was given to the HFD + MC group for the last 4 weeks. At the end of the study, the novel object recognition test (NORT) was performed and the hippocampus and blood samples were collected. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Na + /K +-ATPase activities, malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were measured in the hippocampal samples and cholesterol levels were analyzed in sera. Findings have shown that NORT performance of the HFD group was reduced, while administration of MC prevents this reduction and in parallel, increased AChE and decreased Na⁺ /K⁺-ATPase activities were ameliorated by administration of MC. Increased MDA and 8-OHdG levels observed in the HFD group, were decreased in the MC treated HFD group. Our results point out that MC has ameliorative effects on hippocampal oxidative stress and cognitive impairment in high fat nutritioninduced obesity.

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