Blood Alcohol (blood + alcohol)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Terms modified by Blood Alcohol

  • blood alcohol concentration
  • blood alcohol level

  • Selected Abstracts


    Early predictors of morbidity and mortality in trauma patients treated in the intensive care unit

    ACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 8 2010
    O. BRATTSTRÖM
    Background: We investigated the incidence and severity of post-injury morbidity and mortality in intensive care unit (ICU)-treated trauma patients. We also identified risk factors in the early phase after injury that predicted the later development of complications. Methods: A prospective observational cohort study design was used. One hundred and sixty-four adult patients admitted to the ICU for more than 24 h were included during a 21-month period. The incidence and severity of morbidity such as multiple organ failure (MOF), acute lung injury (ALI), severe sepsis and 30-day post-injury mortality were calculated and risk factors were analyzed with uni- and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: The median age was 40 years, the injury severity score was 24, the new injury severity score was 29, the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II score was 15, sequential organ failure assessment maximum was 7 and ICU length of stay was 3.1 days. The incidences of post-injury MOF were 40.2%, ALI 25.6%, severe sepsis 31.1% and 30-day mortality 10.4%. The independent risk factors differed to some extent between the outcome parameters. Age, severity of injury, significant head injury and massive transfusion were independent risk factors for several outcome parameters. Positive blood alcohol was only a predictor of MOF, whereas prolonged rescue time only predicted death. Unexpectedly, injury severity was not an independent risk factor for mortality. Conclusions: Although the incidence of morbidity was considerable, mortality was relatively low. Early post-injury risk factors that predicted later development of complications differed between morbidity and mortality. [source]


    Effects of Alcohol on Polysomnographically Recorded Sleep in Healthy Subjects

    ALCOHOLISM, Issue 9 2006
    Bernd Feige
    Background: After studying the sleep of alcohol-dependent patients at the beginning and over the course of abstinence in earlier studies, our interest in the current study focused on the direct effect of 2 doses of alcohol [0.03 and 0.1% blood alcohol level (BAL)] on healthy sleep. This is the first polysomnographic study testing the impact of 2 doses of alcohol ingestion (thus reflecting "normal" social drinking and alcohol abuse) in a single-blind randomized design in healthy volunteers. The study evaluated a short-term acute drinking period for 3 and 2 days of withdrawal from alcohol not only for polysomnographic variables but also for subjective estimates of sleep quality. Methods: In a crossover design with a 1-week interval, healthy subjects received alcohol to raise their blood alcohol to either 0.03 or 0.1% BAL at bedtime for 3 consecutive nights after an alcohol-free baseline night. Objective (polysomnography) and subjective sleep (questionnaires) was recorded each night. During the following 2 days, alcohol was discontinued with simultaneous measurements of sleep to gauge withdrawal effects. Results: At a dose of alcohol leading to BAL of 0.03%, no clear effects could be detected. Following an evening BAL of 0.1%, a hypnotic-like effect (shortened sleep latency, reduced number of wake periods, decreased stage 1 sleep) occurred primarily during the first half of the night with signs of rebound effects being already present during the second half of the night (increased stage 1 sleep). At this dose, alcohol significantly increased slow-wave sleep (SWS) in the first half of the night and reduced REM density in the beginning of the night. After discontinuation of the higher alcohol dose, REM sleep amount increased. No significant withdrawal or rebound effects could be observed for parameters of sleep continuity during the 2 nights after discontinuation from alcohol at a BAL of 0.1%. Conclusions: Owing to the small sample size, the results of this study need to be interpreted with caution. Short-term moderate alcohol consumption (BAL 0.03%) did not significantly alter objective or subjective parameters of sleep. Higher doses of alcohol resulting in a BAL level of 0.10% immediately before going to bed mainly influenced sleep in the first half of the night, resembling the effects of a short-acting hypnotic drug, including a suppression of phasic aspects of REM sleep (REM density). Interestingly, analysis of the latter part of these nights indicated the immediate presence of withdrawal effects (increased light sleep). No statistically significant effects on sleep parameters were observable during the 2 nights of withdrawal from alcohol at the higher BAL. Interpreted carefully, our data indicate that negative effects on sleep occur already with short-term use of alcohol at doses of BAL of 0.10%, despite hypnotic-like effects during the first hours of sleep, especially during the latter part of the night. [source]


    Effects of Variation at the ALDH2 Locus on Alcohol Metabolism, Sensitivity, Consumption, and Dependence in Europeans

    ALCOHOLISM, Issue 7 2006
    Peter A. Dickson
    Background: The low-activity variant of the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene found in East Asian populations leads to the alcohol flush reaction and reduces alcohol consumption and risk of alcohol dependence (AD). We have tested whether other polymorphisms in the ALDH2 gene have similar effects in people of European ancestry. Methods: Serial measurements of blood and breath alcohol, subjective intoxication, body sway, skin temperature, blood pressure, and pulse were obtained in 412 twins who took part in an alcohol challenge study. Participants provided data on alcohol reactions, alcohol consumption, and symptoms related to AD at the time of the study and subsequently. Haplotypes based on 5 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used in tests of the effects of variation in the ALDH2 gene on alcohol metabolism and alcohol's effects. Results: The typed SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium and 2 complementary haplotypes comprised 83% of those observed. Significant effects of ALDH2 haplotype were observed for breath alcohol concentration, with similar but smaller and nonsignificant effects on blood alcohol. Haplotype-related variation in responses to alcohol, and reported alcohol consumption, was small and not consistently in the direction predicted by the effects on alcohol concentrations. Conclusions: Genetic variation in ALDH2 affects alcohol metabolism in Europeans. However, the data do not support the hypothesis that this leads to effects on alcohol sensitivity, consumption, or risk of dependence. [source]


    COST, DEMOGRAPHICS AND INJURY PROFILE OF ADULT PEDESTRIAN TRAUMA IN INNER SYDNEY

    ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 1-2 2006
    Timothy J. Small
    Background: Pedestrian accidents are associated with substantial morbidity, mortality and cost; however, there has been very little published work on this topic in Australasia over recent years. The objective of this study was to examine the demographics, injury profile, outcomes and cost of pedestrian versus motor vehicle accidents in a central city hospital in Sydney. Methods: Consecutive pedestrians injured by motor vehicles and admitted as inpatients during the years 2002,2004 were identified from our prospective trauma registry. A retrospective review included patient profiles (age, sex, time of injury and blood alcohol), injury pattern, cost, morbidity and mortality. Results: A total of 180 patients (64% men and 36% women) with a mean age of 46 and mean injury severity score of 14.1 were identified. Two peak injury periods were observed: one between 17.00 and 18.00 hours (P < 0.01) and the other between 20.00 and 22.00 hours (P < 0.01). Significantly more injuries occurred on Friday (P < 0.01) and during autumn months (P < 0.05). Musculoskeletal (34.3%), head (31.8%) and external (20.2%) injuries predominated. Forty-nine per cent of patients tested positive for consuming alcohol, with an average blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.22%. Alcohol consumption was associated with a worse outcome in terms of hospital and intensive care unit stay, morbidity and mortality. The average length of stay was 13.4 days costing $A16320 per admission. Sixteen patients died (mortality rate of 8.9%), with the highest rate in the elderly group (22.7%) (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Pedestrian accidents in inner Sydney are common with injuries predominating in intoxicated adult males. Mortality was higher in the elderly group. Injuries to the head and lower extremities predominate. Hospital stays are lengthy, resulting in a high cost for each admission. [source]


    Hepatoprotective Activity of Polyherbal Formulation (Normeta®) in Oxidative Stress Induced by Alcohol, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Iron in Rats

    BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
    Shilpa N. Patere
    The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of oral treatment with polyherbal formulation Normeta® (2 ml and 4 ml/kg) on hepatic damage induced by alcohol 10,30% (blood alcohol was maintained at levels between 150 and 350 mg/dl), thermally oxidized oil (polyunsaturated fatty acids) (15% of diet) and carbonyl iron (1.5,2% of diet) for 30 days in rats. In vitro studies with 1, 1-Diphenyl, 2-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Nitric oxide and Ferric chloride (Fe+3 ions) showed that Normeta® possesses antioxidant and metal chelating activity. Alcohol, polyunsaturated fatty acids and iron feeding produced an increase in serum levels of iron, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase and decrease in serum proteins. It was also associated with elevated lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and disruption of antioxidant defence mechanism in liver, decreased body weight and increased liver to body weight ratio. Oral administration of Normeta® along with alcohol, polyunsaturated fatty acids and iron decreased the serum iron, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase levels and increased serum protein levels. The levels of liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were decreased and the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase were increased. Improvement in body weight and liver to body weight ratio was also observed. The effects of Normeta® on physico-metabolic parameters were comparable with silymarin. This indicates that Normeta® has favourable effect in bringing down the severity of hepatotoxicity. [source]