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Excessive Alcohol Consumption (excessive + alcohol_consumption)
Selected AbstractsTranscallosal White Matter Degradation Detected With Quantitative Fiber Tracking in Alcoholic Men and Women: Selective Relations to Dissociable FunctionsALCOHOLISM, Issue 7 2010Adolf Pfefferbaum Introduction:, Excessive alcohol consumption can adversely affect white matter fibers and disrupt transmission of neuronal signals. Here, we examined six anatomically defined transcallosal white matter fiber bundles and asked whether any bundle was specifically vulnerable to alcohol, what aspect of white matter integrity was most affected, whether women were more vulnerable than men, and whether evidence of compromise in specific bundles was associated with deficits in balance, sustained attention, associative learning, and psychomotor function, commonly affected in alcoholics. Methods:, Diffusion tensor imaging quantitative fiber tracking assessed integrity of six transcallosal white matter bundles in 87 alcoholics (59 men, 28 women) and 88 healthy controls (42 men, 46 women). Measures included orientational diffusion coherence (fractional anisotropy, FA) and magnitude of diffusion, quantified separately for axial (longitudinal; ,L) and radial (transverse; ,T) diffusivity. The Digit Symbol Test and a test of ataxia were also administered. Results:, Alcoholism negatively affected callosal FA and ,T of all but the sensory-motor bundle. Women showed no evidence for greater vulnerability to alcohol than men. Multiple regression analyses confirmed a double dissociation: higher diffusivity in sensory-motor and parietal bundles was associated with poorer balance but not psychomotor speed, whereas higher diffusivity in prefrontal and temporal bundles was associated with slower psychomotor speed but not balance. Conclusions:, This study revealed stronger alcohol effects for FA and radial diffusivity than axial diffusivity, suggesting myelin degradation, but no evidence for greater vulnerability to alcohol in women than men. The presence of brain-behavior relationships provides support for the role of alcoholism-related commissural white matter degradation as a substrate of cognitive and motor impairment. Identification of a double dissociation provides further support for the role of selective white matter integrity in specific domains of performance. [source] Lack of association of iron metabolism and Dupuytren's diseaseJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 4 2008J Hnanicek Abstract Background,Iron accumulation as seen in genetic haemochromatosis is a major cause of hepatic fibrogenesis. A link between chronic liver disease and Dupuytren's disease (DD) is well established, especially in alcoholics. Aim The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that iron accumulation might cause fibrosis of the palmar aponeurosis leading to DD. Patients and methods We examined iron metabolism, mutations of the HFE gene, serum cholesterol, alcohol consumption, presence of chronic liver disease, diabetes and history of severe manual work in a group of 90 patients who had undergone surgery for a severe form of DD. The tissue removed during surgery was histologically examined to confirm the diagnosis of DD. For a control group, we used 33 healthy subjects with similar profiles. Results The DD group consisted of 82 men and 8 women. Chronic liver disease was found in 27% of DD patients, compared with 6.1% of control subjects (P = 0.013). A history of hand traumatization was present in 33% of DD patients vs. 15% of control subjects (P = 0.048). Excessive alcohol consumption was present in 35.5% of DD patients compared with 15.1% of controls (P = 0.029). None of the other tested parameters, including the prevalence of HFE gene mutations, showed a significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions Iron accumulation does not play a major role in the pathogenesis of DD. However, sex, age, manual labour and alcohol consumption are risk factors for progression of DD. We observed a high incidence of chronic liver disease in patients with DD. [source] Changes in patterns of excessive alcohol consumption in 25 years of high security hospital admissions from England and WalesCRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 1 2003Celia McMahon Background It is now generally acknowledged that alcohol abuse increases the risk of violence among people with major mental disorder. Studies in the 1980s and earlier, however, tended to report an inverse relationship between their alcohol use and violence. Aims A study was undertaken to test a hypothesis that among people with major mental disorder considered to pose a serious risk to others the likelihood of excessive alcohol consumption in a period leading up to a violent or dangerous act has increased over time. Methods Analysis was made of annual high security hospital admission cohort case register data of 1 January 1975 to 31 December 1999; alcohol use data were taken from interview and records, and problem drinking defined as consumption of alcohol in excess of 21 units per week during the 12 months prior to the index offence or act. Results There was a linear increase in the proportion of patients in five-year admission cohorts who had engaged in excessive alcohol consumption during the year prior to their index offence or act. The increase was steeper among women than men, but cut across all diagnosis and offending groups. It was strongly associated with increasing tendency to abuse illicit drugs. Conclusions The greater proportion of patients affected by excessive alcohol consumption occurred in spite of a reduction over the same period in admission of people in the diagnostic groups most likely to be implicated in substance misuse (personality disorder). This increased trend may simply reflect similar trends in the general population, but may also be associated with a lack of services or current consensus on appropriate treatment for patients whose mental illness is complicated by excessive alcohol use. Regardless, the trend suggests a growing need for ,dual diagnosis' services within and outside high security hospital. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Pre-operative screening for excessive alcohol consumption among patients scheduled for elective surgeryDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 2 2007SWATI SHOURIE Abstract Pre-operative intervention for excessive alcohol consumption among patients scheduled for elective surgery has been shown to reduce complications of surgery. However, successful intervention depends upon an effective and practical screening procedure. This study examines current screening practices for excessive alcohol consumption amongst patients scheduled for elective surgery in general hospitals. It also examines the appropriateness of potential sites and staff for pre-operative screening. Forms used routinely to assess alcohol consumption in the pre-admission clinics (PAC) of eight Sydney hospitals were examined. In addition, the appropriateness of six staff categories (surgeons, surgeons' secretaries, junior medical officer, anaesthetists, nurses and a research assistant) and of two sites (surgeons' office and PAC) in conducting additional screening was assessed at two hospitals. Outcomes included observed advantages and disadvantages of sites and personnel, and number of cases with excessive drinking identified. There was duplication in information collected routinely on alcohol use in the PACs in eight Sydney Hospitals. Questions on alcohol consumption in patient self-completion forms were not validated. The PAC provided for efficient screening but time to surgery was typically too short for successful intervention in many cases. A validated tool and efficient screening procedure is required to detect excessive drinking before elective surgery. Patients often present to the PAC too close to the time of surgery for any change in drinking to reverse alcohol's effects. The role of the referring general practitioner and of printed advice from the surgeon in preparing patients for surgery needs further investigation. [source] The ubiquitin-proteasome system and its role in ethanol-induced disordersADDICTION BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2002Terrence M. Donohue Jr The levels of these proteins are controlled by their rates of degradation. Similarly, protein catabolism plays a crucial role in prolonging cellular life by destroying damaged proteins that are potentially cytotoxic. A major player in these catabolic reactions is the ubiquitin-proteasome system, a novel proteolytic system that has become the primary proteolytic pathway in eukaryotic cells. Ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis is now regarded as the major pathway by which most intracellular proteins are destroyed. Equally important, from a toxicological standpoint, is that the ubiquitin-proteasome system is also widely considered to be a cellular defense mechanism, since it is involved in the removal of damaged proteins generated by adduct formation and oxidative stress. This review describes the history and the components of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, its regulation and its role in pathological states, with the major emphasis on ethanol-induced organ injury. The available literature cited here deals mainly with the effects of ethanol consumption on the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in the liver. However, since this proteolytic system is an essential pathway in all cells it is an attractive experimental model and therapeutic target in extrahepatic organs such as the brain and heart that are also affected by excessive alcohol consumption. [source] Is self-reported alcohol consumption associated with osteoporotic mandibular bone loss in women?EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 1 2009Olivia Nackaerts The aim of this study was to determine whether alcohol consumption would predict mandibular bone quality and quantity in a large European female population. In total, 672 middle-aged and elderly women (45,70 yr of age; standard deviation = 6) were recruited in the study. Alcohol consumption was recorded through a self-reported questionnaire. Mandibular cortical width was measured, by five observers, in the mental foramen region on panoramic radiographs. Mandibular bone density, expressed as aluminium thickness, was recorded on intra-oral radiographs. Alcohol consumption was associated with a reduction of mandibular bone density and cortical width. This association was higher in subjects with excessive alcohol consumption, defined in the present study as > 14 units consumed per week. This study showed reduced jaw-bone quality in older individuals and in those with increased alcohol consumption. [source] The feasibility of providing community pharmacy-based services for alcohol misuse: A literature reviewINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 4 2009Dr Margaret C. Watson Abstract Objectives Excessive consumption of alcohol is a major public health concern. The use of community pharmacies and pharmacists as sources of public health information and services is gaining greater recognition. The objective of this review was to provide an overview of the evidence on the feasibility, effectiveness and acceptability of providing community pharmacy-based services to address the excessive consumption of alcohol. Methods Electronic databases were searched for the period 1996,2007 to identify relevant evidence. Searches were also conducted of relevant pharmacy and addiction journals. Information was sought from key contacts in pharmacy and alcohol research. Studies were included if they were conducted in a community pharmacy setting. Key findings The review comprised three feasibility studies which included 14 pharmacies and 500 customers. Non-significant reductions in alcohol consumption were reported with two studies following brief interventions by pharmacists. Between 30% and 53% of pharmacy customers were identified as having hazardous or harmful drinking behaviour. Customer opinion of the pharmacy-based alcohol services was not reported. Conclusions There has been little empirical evaluation of the effectiveness of community pharmacy-based services for alcohol misuse. The evidence presented in this review suggests that community pharmacy-based screening is feasible. Organisations and individuals involved with tackling excessive alcohol consumption should consider the inclusion of community pharmacies and pharmacists as part of their strategies to address this problem. Large-scale studies are needed to evaluate the short- and long-term effects and cost-effectiveness of community pharmacy-based interventions to reduce excessive alcohol consumption, as well as to explore the acceptability of the service to users. [source] Social and Financial Resources and High-Risk Alcohol Consumption Among Older AdultsALCOHOLISM, Issue 4 2010Rudolf H. Moos Background:, This study examined long-term mutual predictive associations between social and financial resources and high-risk alcohol consumption in later life. Method:, A sample of 55- to 65-year-old older adults (n = 719) was surveyed at baseline and 10 years and 20 years later. At each contact point, participants completed an inventory that assessed social and financial resources and alcohol consumption. Results:, Over the 20-year interval, there was evidence of both social causation and social selection processes in relation to high-risk alcohol consumption. In support of a social causation perspective, higher levels of some social resources, such as participation in social activities, friends' approval of drinking, quality of relationship with spouse, and financial resources, were associated with a subsequent increased likelihood of high-risk alcohol consumption. Conversely, indicating the presence of social selection, high-risk alcohol consumption was associated with subsequent higher levels of friends' approval of drinking and quality of the spousal relationship, but lower quality of relationships with extended family members. Conclusions:, These findings reflect mutual influence processes in which older adults' social resources and high-risk alcohol consumption can alter each other. Older adults may benefit from information about how social factors can affect their drinking habits; accordingly, information about social causation effects could be used to guide effective prevention and intervention efforts aimed at reducing the risk that late-life social factors may amplify their excessive alcohol consumption. [source] Moderate Alcohol Consumption Aggravates High-Fat Diet Induced Steatohepatitis in RatsALCOHOLISM, Issue 3 2010Yan Wang Background:, Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) develops in the absence of chronic and excessive alcohol consumption. However, it remains unknown whether moderate alcohol consumption aggravates liver inflammation in pre-existing NASH condition. Methods:, Sprague-Dawley rats were first fed ad libitum with Lieber-DeCarli high-fat diet (71% energy from fat) for 6 weeks to induce NASH, as demonstrated previously. Afterwards, these rats were continuously fed with high-fat diet (HFD, 55% total energy from fat) or high fat plus alcohol diet (HFA, 55% energy from fat and 16% energy from alcohol) for an additional 4 weeks. Pathological lesions including fat accumulation and inflammatory foci in liver were examined and graded. Lipid peroxidation and apoptotic hepatocytes in the liver were assessed. The mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-, (TNF,) and TNF receptor 1 (TNF-R1), Fas death receptor (Fas) and Fas ligant (FasL), IL-1, and IL-12 were determined by real-time PCR. Protein levels of total and cleaved caspase-3, CYP2E1, Bax, and Bcl-2 were measured by western blotting. Results:, The number of hepatic inflammatory foci and apoptotic hepatocytes were significantly increased in rats fed with HFA as compared with those in HFD-fed rats. The aggravated inflammatory response and cellular apoptosis mediated by HFA were associated with elevated mRNA expression of Fas/FasL and cleaved caspase-3 protein. Although no significant differences were observed between HFD and HFA groups, the levels of lipid peroxidation, Bax and Bcl-2 protein concentration, and mRNA levels of other inflammatory cytokines were significantly higher in these 2 groups than those in the control group. Conclusions:, These data suggest that even moderate alcohol consumption can cause more hepatic inflammation and cellular apoptosis in a pre-existing NASH condition. [source] The Alcohol Deprivation Effect in C57BL/6J Mice is Observed Using Operant Self-Administration Procedures and is Modulated by CRF-1 Receptor SignalingALCOHOLISM, Issue 1 2009Dennis R. Sparta Background:, The alcohol deprivation effect (ADE) is characterized by transient excessive alcohol consumption upon reinstatement of ethanol following a period of ethanol deprivation. While this phenomenon has been observed in rats using both bottle drinking (consummatory behavior) and operant self-administration (consummatory and appetitive "ethanol-seeking" behavior) procedures, ADE studies in mice have primarily relied on bottle drinking measures. Furthermore, the neurochemical pathways that modulate the ADE are not well understood. Therefore, we determined whether the ADE can be observed in C57BL/6J mice using operant self-administration procedures and if expression of the ADE is modulated by the corticotropin releasing factor-1 (CRF-1) receptor. Methods:, C57BL/6J mice were trained in a 2-hour operant self-administration paradigm to lever press for 10% ethanol or water on separate response keys. Between operant sessions, mice had access to ethanol in their homecage. Once stable responding occurred, mice were deprived of ethanol for 4 days and were then retested with ethanol in the operant paradigm for 3 consecutive days. Next, to assess the role of the CRF-1 receptor, mice were given intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection (0, 10, or 20 mg/kg) of the CRF-1 receptor antagonist CP-154,526 30 minutes before ADE testing. Additional experiments assessed (i) ADE responding in which the alternate response lever was inactive, (ii) the effects of CP-154,526 on self-administration of a 1% sucrose solution following 4 days of deprivation, and (iii) ADE responding in which mice did not received i.p. injections throughout the experiment. Results:, Mice exhibited a significant increase in postdeprivation lever responding for ethanol with either a water reinforced or inactive alternate lever. Interestingly, i.p. injection of a 10 mg/kg dose of CP-154,526 protected against the ADE while not affecting lever responding for a sucrose solution. Finally, baseline and deprivation-induced increases of ethanol reinforced lever responding were greater in mice not given i.p. injections. Conclusions:, The ADE in C57BL/6J mice can be modeled using the operant self-administration paradigm and increased ethanol self-administration associated with the ADE is modulated by CRF-1 receptor signaling. [source] Moderate Alcohol Intake in Humans Attenuates Monocyte Inflammatory Responses: Inhibition of Nuclear Regulatory Factor Kappa B and Induction of Interleukin 10ALCOHOLISM, Issue 1 2006Pranoti Mandrekar Background: In contrast to the deleterious effects of chronic excessive alcohol consumption on the liver and cardiovascular system, modest alcohol intake, such as 1 to 2 drinks per day, has benefits on cardiovascular mortality. Little is known about the length of time or the amounts of alcohol consumed that may cause alterations in inflammatory cells such as monocytes that are crucial to atherosclerotic vascular disease. Here, we determine in vivo effects of acute alcohol consumption on inflammatory cytokine production and nuclear regulatory factor ,B (NF- ,B) binding in human monocytes. Methods: Human blood monocytes were isolated by plastic adherence before and after acute alcohol consumption (2 ml vodka/kg body weight). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and superantigen-induced tumor necrosis factor , (TNF ,), interleukin (IL)-1,, and IL-10 production were then determined in monocytes by ELISA. Nuclear regulatory factor- ,B activity of monocytes before and after alcohol consumption was estimated by electromobility shift assay and promoter-driven reporter activity. I,B, was determined by Western blotting in the cytoplasmic extracts. Results: Eighteen hours after moderate alcohol consumption, we found a significant reduction in monocyte production of inflammatory mediators, TNF- , and IL-1,, in response to LPS or staphylococcal enterotoxin B stimulation. Acute alcohol consumption inhibited LPS-induced DNA binding of the p65/p50 NF- ,B in monocytes that regulates the expression of both the TNF- , and the IL-1, genes. Consistent with this, acute alcohol treatment (25 mM) significantly reduced LPS-induced activation of an NF- ,B-driven reporter gene suggesting inhibition of this proinflammatory signaling pathway. Further, LPS-induced I,B, degradation was not affected by acute alcohol consumption indicating an I,B, -independent mechanism, as observed earlier in the in vitro acute alcohol studies. In contrast, monocyte production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, was augmented by acute alcohol intake. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that acute alcohol consumption has dual anti-inflammatory effects that involve augmentation of IL-10 and attenuation of monocyte inflammatory responses involving inhibition of NF- ,B. These mechanisms may contribute to the beneficial effects of moderate alcohol use on atherosclerosis. [source] Enhanced Clinical Utility of ,-CDT in a General PopulationALCOHOLISM, Issue 8 2000Pekka Sillanaukee Background: The use of a combination of markers to detect excessive alcohol consumption has been reported to provide better sensitivity in the diagnosis of alcohol abuse than single markers. However, the optimal combination of markers for the diagnosis of alcohol abuse has not yet been found. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic value of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) and ,-glutamyltransferase (GGT) to discriminate among heavy drinkers (>280 g/week), moderate drinkers (105,280 g/week), and light drinkers (<105 g/week). Their mathematical combination, named ,-CDT, which has been found to be a strong marker of alcohol abuse in a former study, was also evaluated. Methods: The study was conducted in a group of 6962 subjects (3974 males and 2988 females), between the ages of 25 and 74 years, who participated in a large cross-sectional risk factor survey carried out in five geographic areas in Finland. In each study area, an age- and gender-stratified random sample was drawn from the general population. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate the performance of CDT, GGT, and ,-CDT. Results: For both sexes, the combined marker had the highest specificity (95%) and sensitivity in detecting heavy drinkers. In all cases, ,-CDT had the highest area under ROC plots. Our results also showed that GGT and CDT have similar, and rather low, sensitivity but high specificity in a general population. Conclusions: Compared with single markers, a significant improvement of sensitivity was obtained when the combination of both markers was used, especially in females. [source] Moderate alcohol intake increases fibrosis progression in untreated patients with hepatitis C virus infectionJOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS, Issue 3 2002J. Westin Although excessive alcohol consumption in combination with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is known to increase the risk of liver cirrhosis, the effect of moderate alcohol intake remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on fibrosis progression in HCV infection. A group of 78 patients with HCV infection and moderate alcohol consumption were analysed retrospectively. All patients had undergone two liver biopsies, with a median time between biopsies of 6.3 years, and had not received any antiviral therapy. Their lifetime drinking history was recorded. All patients except one had daily alcohol consumption below 40 g of ethanol (median 4.8 g/day, interquartile range 1.1,11.6 g/day) during the period between the biopsies. The patients whose liver fibrosis had deteriorated had a higher total alcohol consumption and higher drinking frequency between the biopsies. The degree of fibrosis progression was greater in patients with a total alcohol intake and drinking frequency above the median level for the group. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that drinking frequency and time between biopsies were independently associated with fibrosis progression. Hence, even moderate alcohol intake seems to increase fibrosis progression in HCV-infected patients. From that point of view, total abstention ought to be recommended. If this is not achieved, occasional use of alcohol is probably less harmful than daily drinking for patients with low or moderate alcohol consumption. [source] Differences in Peripheral Noradrenergic Function among Actively Drinking and Abstinent Alcohol-dependent IndividualsTHE AMERICAN JOURNAL ON ADDICTIONS, Issue 3 2004Ashwin A. Patkar M.D., MRCPsych We examined whether excessive alcohol consumption was related to changes in plasma levels of noradrenaline (NA) and whether these changes recover following abstinence. We also explored whether there were differences in NA levels between Type I and Type II alcoholics and controls during active drinking and abstinence. Plasma concentrations of NA were determined in (1) 27 Caucasian men with alcohol dependence who were regularly drinking (active drinkers) within 24 hours of hospitalization, (2) 29 Caucasian alcohol-dependent men who were in remission (abstinent for a minimum of three months), and (3) 28 race- and gender-matched healthy controls. NA concentrations were significantly higher in actively drinking alcohol-dependent subjects compared to those in remission and controls. While Type I and Type II alcoholic individuals differed across clinical measures, NA levels were similar in the two subtypes. Both subtypes showed an elevation in NA levels during active drinking compared to controls, but NA levels did not differ between the two subtypes and controls during remission. The findings indicate that chronic exposure to alcohol may lead to disturbances in NA activity that may manifest in early abstinence. However, the changes in NA activity appears to normalize after a longer period of abstinence. Alterations in NA activity do not seem to be specific for Type I or Type II subtypes of alcoholism. [source] | |||||||||||||