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May 18, 2007 14:00:00Title: Alcohol and Teens
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 5/18/2007
Last Editorial Review: 5/18/2007 - [Read more] |
Practical demonstration of personal daily consumption limits: a useful intervention tool to promote
November 30, 1999 00:00:00
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of a short, practical pouring exercise as a means of illustrating the details of the UK `Sensible Drinking guidelines. Methods Participants ($N = 297$, 53% male) recruited at four Edinburgh employment sites, each completed a short non-standardized questionnaire and poured their `usual measure of wine or spirit into a glass (purchased from four `high street outlets). The actual and estimated unit content of their poured drinks and reactions to feedback were noted. Participants were informed of their daily limit of consumption in terms of this drink. Results On average, drinks contained 2.05 UK units. Only 27% ($N = 79$) of respondents estimated the unit content of their drink within 10% of the true value. Of drinkers, 20.5% ($N = 61$) indicated that the results of the pouring test would influence their future pouring (70% of these were women). When informed of daily limits of consumption in terms of personal drink measure, 46% ($N = 132$) of drinkers indicated they would usually exceed this. Conclusion A practical demonstration of health guidelines presented in terms of personal drinking habits may contribute to dissemination of responsible drinking messages. Preliminary evidence suggests women may be particularly open to this approach. The utility of this intervention is underscored by recent figures highlighting the increasing preference for home drinking.
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Relationship between serum sialic acid and sialylated glycoproteins in alcoholics
November 30, 1999 00:00:00
Aims: Total sialic acid (TSA) has been suggested as a marker for chronic alcohol abuse. It seems that the elevation of TSA during excessive alcohol consumption reflects the changes in sialylated glycoproteins in the sera. On the other hand, chronic ethanol consumption increases the desialylation rate of many serum glycoproteins. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the total and free form of sialic acid levels (FSA), and the concentration of sialylated glycoproteins in alcoholics. Methods: We determined the serum concentration of many glycoproteins (1-antitrypsin, 1-acid glycoprotein, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, complement C3 protein, fibrinogen and immunoglobulin G) in a sample of 100 alcoholics and 30 healthy controls. Total sialic acid was determined by the enzymatic method and its free form by using a modification of the thiobarbituric acid method. Results Among alcoholics, we found increased concentrations of 1-antitrypsin and 1-acid glycoprotein but decreased levels of transferrin. The concentrations of TSA and FSA were significantly higher in alcoholics than in healthy controls. The tested glycoproteins, except for transferrin and immunoglobulin G, positively correlated with TSA and FSA. The correlations with TSA were higher than that with FSA. Conclusions Chronic alcohol abuse alters the concentrations of some sialylated glycoproteins in the sera. The 1-antitrypsin, 1-acid glycoprotein, and transferrin are the only affected glycoproteins. The serum level of total and free form of sialic acid in the sera of alcoholics depends on the concentration of the most sialylated glycoproteins.
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Topiramate (Topamax) Reduces Conditioned Abstinence Behaviours and Handling-Induced Convulsions (HIC
November 30, 1999 00:00:00
Topiramate has emerged as one of the promising drugs for the treatment of alcoholism and alcohol addiction. Recent studies have shown that topiramate reduces harmful drinking and initiates abstinence in humans, but little is known as to why this drug is effective. Aims: In the present study, we examined the effects of topiramate in reducing convulsions during alcohol withdrawal using a procedure called the handling-induced convulsion (HIC) test in male Swiss-Webster mice. In addition, we examined the ability of topiramate to reduce alcohol conditioned and anxiety related behaviours during conditioned abstinence using the elevated plus maze (EPM) test. Methods: HICs were examined 10 h after the 3rd daily alcohol (2.5 g/kg; 20% w/v) + 4 methylpyrazole (4MP) (9 mg/kg) intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection with topiramate (0, 10 or 20 mg/kg ip) administered 30 min before testing. In the EPM, alcohol (1.75 g/kg; 20%, i.p.) or saline was administered daily for 9 days and subjects were immediately placed on the maze. Anxiety related behaviours included the amount of time spent and number of entries in the open or closed arms and grooming bouts, and conditioned behaviours including the stretched-attend posture were examined 24 h after the last day of alcohol injection. Results: Topiramate (10 and 20 mg/kg) significantly reduced HIC scores (P < 0.05) compared to the alcohol/saline group. In the EPM, topiramate (20 mg/kg) reduced the stretched-attend postures (P < 0.001) compared to the alcohol/saline group. Conclusion: These findings suggest that topiramate reduces HICs during alcohol withdrawal and alcohol-conditioned behaviours during conditioned abstinence in Swiss-Webster mice.
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Drinking By Parents, Siblings, And Friends As Predictors Of Regular Alcohol Use In Adolescents And Y
November 30, 1999 00:00:00
Aims: The aim of this study was to examine whether the drinking habits of parents, siblings, and friends were related to regular drinking in adolescents and young adults, cross-sectionally as well as longitudinally. Methods: Data of 12–30-year-old twins from the Netherlands Twin Register were analysed. Information on regular drinking was collected in 1993, 1995, and 2000. Logistic regression analyses were conducted on cross-sectional data of 1993 (N = 3760), short-term longitudinal data of 1993–95 (N = 2919), and the long-term longitudinal data of 1993–2000 (N = 1779). Results: Results show that age, sex, and ones own previous drinking habits were important predictors of later-life regular drinking. Drinking habits of parents showed small but persistent positive associations. Alcohol use of the co-twin was strongly related to alcohol use of the participants, especially in the cross-sectional analyses, while alcohol use of additional siblings other than the co-twin was relatively unimportant. Cross-sectionally, friends alcohol use showed a high association with regular drinking, but this association decreased over time. Conclusion: Cross-sectional analyses showed that a substantial part (29%) of the variance in regular drinking habits of adolescents and young adults was explained by the drinking habits of family members and friends, in particular, by drinking of co-twins and friends. But, over time, drinking by family members and friends could only explain a relatively small part (4–5%) of the variance in adolescents and young adults alcohol use.
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Sildenafil citrate in the treatment of sexual dysfunction and its effect on quality of life in alcoh
November 30, 1999 00:00:00
Background: Alcohol-dependent men commonly suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED) and men with ED are frequently chronic alcohol addicts. Sildenafil is used for treatment of ED caused by diverse factors. The aim of this study was to examine (i) the effect of sildenafil citrate (VIAGRA) on ED in alcohol dependent men, and (ii) whether the effective treatment of ED with sildenafil improves the patients QoL and related emotional distress. Methods: Fifty-four men with an ICD-10 diagnosis of alcohol dependence (AD) and concomitant ED agreed to enter an open-label trial, in which they were assigned to take 50 mg of sildenafil as add-on to a standard treatment for AD for 12 weeks. Fifty patients (92.3%) completed all baseline and endpoint assessments. Efficacy was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire and General Health Questionnaire. Results: At endpoint, total IIEF scores had improved significantly ( = 16.9), reflecting a 42% improvement (P < 0.0001). A significant increase in the mean scores of each sexual function domain was also noted among all subjects. Sildenafils positive effect was accompanied by a significant improvement (P < 0.001) in satisfaction with overall QoL and specific life-domains, as well as a significant reduction in emotional distress scores (P < 0.001).Conclusion: The sildenafil add-on evaluated in this trial had a marked beneficial effect on ED and QoL, and was associated with a significant reduction in emotional distress among men with AD. The information obtained is valuable for both clinicians and policymakers in developing innovative therapeutic strategies for men with AD.
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Russian alcohol policy in the making
November 30, 1999 00:00:00
Aims: This paper examines implementation of the 2005 federal alcohol control law in the Russian Federation.Methods: The documents on the Russian Federation federal legislation on the control of the production and turnover of ethyl alcohol, and ethyl alcohol containing products, news reports, research, and historical documents were gathered and analysed for implementation barriers. Results: Consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially spirits, has been one the most significant public health problems in Russia for many centuries. Prior attempts to control alcohol consumption have been unsuccessful, in part due to the governments reliance on alcohol revenue, and its inability to implement creative and manageable solutions in the light of the high drinking rates. Implementation of this legislation has been a challenge in Russia because of administrative oversight, lack of organizational preparation, and corruption. Conclusions: The law discussed in this paper presented a window of opportunity to ameliorate the deteriorating health status and reverse the impending mortality crisis. However, a number of barriers presnted substantial setbacks toward realization of this legislation.
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Response of the exocrine pancreas to the CCK on offspring rats of ethanol dams. effects of folic aci
November 30, 1999 00:00:00
Aims: The aim of this study was to study the reverse effect of folic acid administered during gestation and lactation to ethanol-treated dams, on cholecystokinin Cholecystokinin (CCK) stimulus-secretion coupling in pancreatic exocrine secretion in offspring rats. Methods: Animals were randomized into three groups: Control group (C) received water and basic diet during pregnancy and lactation period; ethanol- treated rats (E) received ethanol and basic diet; the ethanol + folic acid group (EF) received folic acid supplement concomitantly with ethanol administration. Results: Body and pancreatic weight was lower in offsprings after ethanol treatment. Folic acid supplementation increased these parameters with respect to ethanol rats. After CCK stimulation, a significant decrease in amylase, lipase and chymotrypsin activities in the duodenal juice were detected in ethanol, this trend was partially corrected with folate supplementation. Conclusion: Ethanol exerts its action on exocrine pancreatic secretion by two pathways: ‘per se’ and diminishing the folic acid content, because a folic acid supplement in rats during pregnancy and lactation periods produces an advantageous effect on amylase, lipase and chymotrypsin secretion in their offspring. Although extrapolation from animal studies may be tenuous, the present findings may explain the use of folic acid in the prevention of ethanol-induced damage by increasing the enzyme levels to adequate physiological concentrations.
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Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and the Neuroapoptosis with Long-Term Effect in Visual Cortex of Mice
November 30, 1999 00:00:00
Aims: The prenatal ethanol exposure induced neuroapoptosis and neuron loss in visual cortex would be investigated in mice at P0, P7 and P14. Methods: Intubating pregnant mice ethanol daily began on E5 and continued through the pups birth. The neuroapoptosis in visual cortex was visualized by the caspase 3 immunocytochemistry, and the neuron loss was observed with Nissl method as well. Results: With prenatal ethanol exposure, the dose-dependent neuroapoptosis and neuron loss in visual cortex could be found at P0 and even at P7 and P14 as well. Conclusions: The prenatal ethanol exposure induced neuroapoptosis and neuron loss will persist into postnatal stage, and the long-term effect of neuroapoptosis might be one of the causes of postnatal neurobehavioural disturbances associated with fetal alcohol syndrome.
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