The effects of neurotransmitter antagonists and glucose on luteinizing hormone secretion in growth-restricted wethers

Previous studies have reported some significant participation by gastric alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in alcohol metabolism, similar to that by hepatic ADH. However, the localization of this ADH in the stomach is not yet determined and there has been no study on the localization of ADH in the stomach of alcoholics before and after abstinence from alcohol. The aim of the present study was to reveal any changes between before and after abstinence from alcohol in the immunohistochemical localization of ADH using biopsy specimens from the gastric mucosa. Twenty male alcoholics (aged 47.8 +/- 7.4 yrs) gave signed informed consent for this investigation. Esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) and gastric corpus biopsy were performed just before abstinence and at one month later. ADH in the biopsy specimens was immunohistochemically examined with an anti-ADH antibody, using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The fluorescence intensity for ADH was compared for each pair of specimens before and after abstinence from alcohol using an image analyzer. Age, total alcohol consumption, degree of gastritis, and the liver function tests of all patients were also analyzed. The strongly immuno-positive cells for ADH in the gastric mucosa were identified as parietal cells. The fluorescence intensity for ADH was significantly higher in those specimens obtained after abstinence than in those before abstinence (p < 0.005). The immunoreactibility for ADH in the cells assessed by confocal laser scanning microscopy was greatly improved after abstinence of alcohol, suggesting recovered alcohol metabolism in the gastric mucosa after abstinence from alcohol. The present study, demonstrating the cellular ADH localization in the gastric mucosa before and after abstinence from alcohol, may contribute to clarifying gastric alcohol metabolism in alcoholics.     

Regional cerebral metabolism in female alcoholics of moderate severity does not differ from that of controls

It is generally believed that women are more vulnerable to alcohol's toxic effects than men. Studies in male alcoholics have consistently shown reductions in brain glucose metabolism. However, such studies have not been done in female alcoholics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if similar or worse brain metabolic abnormalities occurred in female alcoholics. For this purpose, we measured regional brain metabolism with positron emission tomography and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose in 10 recently detoxified female alcoholics and compared it with that in 12 age-matched female controls. There were no differences between alcoholics and control females in regional brain glucose metabolism whether we used regions of interest analysis or statistical parameter maps methods. These results do not support a higher toxicity for the effects of alcohol in the female brain, as assessed with regional brain glucose metabolism, because metabolic values in female alcoholics did not differ from those of controls, whereas metabolic values in male alcoholics are generally lower than those in controls. However, this study is confounded by the fact that the severity of alcohol use in these female alcoholics was less than that of the male alcoholics previously investigated in positron emission tomography studies. Future studies in male subjects with alcoholism of moderate severity are required to address gender differences in sensitivity to alcohol effects in brain metabolism.     

Intercomparison of radon and decay product measurements in an underground mine and EPA Radon Laboratory: a study organized by the IAEA International Radon Metrology Programme. International Atomic Energy Agency

Experiment 1 in the present study investigated the time course and dose range of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) to reduce voluntary ethanol intake in selectively bred Sardinian ethanol-preferring (sP) rats. Ethanol (10%, v/v) and tap water were offered under the two-bottle free choice regimen with unlimited access. GHB (200, 300, and 400 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered 15 20 min prior to the start of the dark phase of the light-dark cycle. Ethanol and water intakes were recorded at different time intervals during the dark phase. GHB significantly reduced ethanol intake at doses of 300 and 400 mg/kg; statistical significance occurred only at the 15-min and 30-min observation times. The GHB dose of 300 mg/kg was devoid of any sedative effect, as demonstrated in Experiment 2 by the lack of any impairment of spontaneous locomotor activity. Finally, this dose of GHB was also found to exert a robust anxiolytic effect in sP rats tested on the elevated plus maze (Experiment 3). Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrate that a non-sedative and anxiolytic dose of GHB effectively reduced voluntary ethanol intake in sP rats. The rapid onset of the reducing effect of GHB on ethanol intake, as well as its anxiolytic effect, are discussed in terms of adding further support to the hypothesis that GHB may control alcohol craving and consumption in humans by substituting for ethanol's reinforcing effects.     

Complications following vaginal hysterectomy

Model experiments with two structurally different proteins (alcohol dehydrogenase and salmine) show that glycine, alanine, and tyrosine are by far more frequently involved in photochemically induced cross-link formations with DNA than is cysteine. The yields for cross-link formation of thymidine with salmine (cysteine-free) are about as high as those with alcohol dehydrogenase (athiol protein).     

Frontal lobe dysfunctions in Korsakoff's syndrome and chronic alcoholism: Continuity or discontinuity?

The effect of long-term heavy alcohol consumption on brain functions is still under debate. The authors investigated a sample of 17 Korsakoff amnesics, 23 alcoholics without Korsakoff's syndrome, and 21 controls with peripheral nerve diseases, matched for intelligence and education. Executive functions were examined for word fluency, the modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, an alternate response task, and an "n-back" working memory task. Korsakoff amnesics, but not alcoholics, showed a marked memory impairment. They also scored lower in each of the executive tasks--the alcoholics only in the alternate response task. This task also correlated with the years of the alcohol dependency. First, the authors conclude that Korsakoff's syndrome is associated not only with a memory impairment but also with a global executive deficit. Second, the decline in the ability to alternate between different responses argues for a restricted neurotoxic effect of alcohol on some frontal lobe areas (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationships among aging, IQ, and intracranial volume in alcoholics and control subjects.

The current article examined the relationships among aging, intelligence, intracranial volume, and brain shrinkage in alcoholics and nonalcoholic controls. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure intracranial and cerebral volumes in 146 subjects with alcohol use disorders and 42 comparison subjects who were not alcoholic. The authors' findings show that performance on Block Design decreases as alcoholics age, and this decrease is predicted by brain shrinkage. This is consistent with a process of cumulative brain damage related to alcohol use. However, the authors' data also show that vocabulary does not decrease with age and is correlated with premorbid brain size as measured by intracranial volume, suggesting that lower verbal ability precedes heavy alcohol use and may be a risk factor for alcoholism. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Problem-solving appraisal in an alcoholic population.

The major purpose of this study was to generalize research on problem-solving appraisal beyond normal populations to a clinical population, namely, inpatient recovering male alcoholics from a Veterans Administration hospital. Seventy-eight veterans were administered the Problem-Solving Inventory, the Mooney Problem Checklist, and the Psychiatric Diagnostic Interview. The results indicated that inpatient male alcoholics reported their problem-solving appraisal as more similar to late adolescents than to adults to whom they were closer in age. The severity of alcohol abuse did not positively correlate with problem-solving appraisal, but it did correlate with acknowledged personal problems. No differences were found between three major subgroups of alcoholics as to how they appraised their problem-solving ability. The results suggest that problem-solving appraisal of recovering alcoholics do not correspond with their ability to manage everyday life and their alcohol abuse. The results are further discussed in terms of psychological adjustment, the congruence between appraisal and ability, and "over-approaching" problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Human mu-opioid receptor variation and alcohol dependence

Mu-Opioid receptor-mediated neurotransmission is involved in the reward, tolerance, and withdrawal effects of alcohol. The present association study tested the hypothesis that the common Asn40Asp substitution polymorphism in the N-terminal domain of the human mu-opioid receptor (OPRM) confers vulnerability to subtypes of alcohol dependence. The genotypes of the Asn40Asp substitution polymorphism were assessed in 327 German alcohol-dependent subjects (according to ICD-10) and in 340 control subjects of German descent, using an assay based on allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. To select alcoholics with a presumed high genetic load, three subgroups were delineated, marked by (1) a family history of parental alcoholism (n = 114); (2) the inability to abstain from alcohol before the age of 26 years (n = 73); and (3) a history of alcohol withdrawal seizure or delirium (n = 107). The frequency of the Asp40 allele did not differ significantly between the controls [f(Asp40) = 0.078] and either the entire group of alcoholics [f(Asp40) = 0.107; p = 0.066], or the alcoholics with parental alcoholism [f(Asp40) = 0.114; p = 0.094], or the early-onset alcoholics [f(Asp40) = 0.096; p = 0.471,[ or the alcoholics with severe withdrawal symptoms [f(Asp40) = 0.098; p = 0.350]. Our results do not provide evidence that the common Asn40Asp substitution polymorphism of the OPRM gene contributes a major effect to the pathogenesis of alcohol dependence.     

Reduced central serotonin transporters in alcoholism

OBJECTIVE: Dysfunction of monoamine uptake mechanisms has been implicated in the pathogenesis of alcohol dependence. The authors explored whether serotonergic dysfunction is associated with anxiety and depression, which increase the risk of relapse in alcoholics. METHOD: The availability of serotonin and dopamine transporters in 22 male alcoholics and 13 healthy male volunteers was measured with the use of [123I] beta-CIT and single photon emission computed tomography, and psychopathological correlates were assessed. RESULTS: A significant reduction (a mean of about 30%) in the availability of brainstem serotonin transporters was found in the alcoholics, which was significantly correlated with lifetime alcohol consumption and with ratings of depression and anxiety during withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the hypothesis of serotonergic dysfunction in alcoholism and in withdrawal-emergent depressive symptoms.     

Marital stability in alcoholic-spouse relationships as a function of drinking pattern and location.

The relation between alcohol consumption and marital stability was assessed longitudinally in two groups of male alcoholics: in-home (n?=?4) and out-of-home (n?=?4) drinkers. Through the use of univariate and bivariate time-series analyses, the study identified a causal relation between alcohol consumption and marital stability and a significant impact of drinking location on obtained relations. Findings are discussed in terms of Steinglass's suggestion that alcohol can have adaptive consequences for the marriage and family life of alcoholics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Selective processing of visual alcohol cues in abstinent alcoholics: an approach-avoidance conflict?

When symptomatic individuals selectively attend to emotionally relevant stimuli, the ability to shift attention away from such material is impaired. Subjects may, however, seek to avoid further processing of these stimuli, which would facilitate attentional shifts. This was examined in a group of abstinent alcoholics' responses to stimuli related to alcohol. Eight alcohol and eight neutral words served as cues in a covert attention task. The cues were either valid (2/3 of trials) or invalid (1/3 of trials) indicators of where a response target would appear after 100 or 500 milliseconds. The short interval was expected to interact with an initial approach toward the alcohol word, while the long interval would interact with a subsequent avoidance of the stimulus. As predicted, the alcoholics showed slower reaction times (RTs) to targets invalidly cued by alcohol words in the short interval, reflecting increased difficulties to shift attention. However, the alcoholics demonstrated faster RTs to targets invalidly cued by the alcohol words in the long interval. This indicates that the alcohol cue elicited emotional associations that, subsequent to initial stimulus identification, trigger an interrupting function of the attentional system.     

Mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase isoenzyme: a biochemical marker for the clinical management of alcoholics?

Serum mitochondrial and total aspartate aminotransferase activity was quantified by a characterized immunochemical method in 126 subjects, 44 healthy controls and 82 chronic alcoholics (51 outpatients and 31 monitored through 15 days). The monitored alcoholics were divided into actual abstinents (n = 21) and drinkers (n = 10) by blood ethanol concentration performed daily. The aims of the present study were: (a) to compare the diagnostic diagnostic usefulness of the mitochondrial isoenzyme and the mitochondrial/total aspartate aminotransferase ratio to detect problematic drinkers; (b) to evaluate the suitability of these indices to monitor abstinence, a difficulty not yet solved in the clinical management of alcoholics. The results demonstrated the mitochondrial isoenzyme to be more suitable to discriminate between controls and alcoholics (Kruskal and Wallis ANOVA, Bonferroni test, P < 10(-5) and mostly between actual drinkers and other alcoholics (P < 0.041). So acute alcohol consumption may be a significant, suggestive and until now inadequately examined factor in evaluating the suitability of mAST as a marker. The results, showing that mAST peaks quickly appear in the presence of a new alcohol intake, should indicate mAST as a possible marker of acute alcohol intake useful in checking self-claimed abstinence.     

The effects of familial risk, personality, and expectancies on alcohol use and abuse.

This study tested a structural model of the association between familial risk, personality risk, alcohol expectancies, and alcohol abuse in a sample of 224 young adult offspring of alcoholics and 209 offspring of nonalcoholics. The results provided support for 2 personality-risk pathways, a social deviance proneness and an excitement/pleasure seeking path, that accounted for a significant portion of the association between a familial alcoholism and alcohol abuse. The path from familial alcoholism to social deviance proneness lead directly to alcohol problems. The path from familial alcoholism to excitement/ pleasure seeking was associated with increased drinking, which, in turn, was associated with alcohol problems. Positive alcohol expectancies accounted for part of the association between excitement seeking and alcohol use. The results suggest 2 different biopsychosocial mechanisms that elevate risk for abuse in the offspring of alcoholics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship of alcohol consumption to changes in HDL-subfractions

Epidemiological studies have consistently shown an apparent protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption on coronary artery disease (CAD). This has been considered to be due to the rise in the high-density cholesterol lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol). Since the response of the HDL-subfractions to moderate or heavy dose of alcohol is less clear, we now compared the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol status between groups consuming different amounts of alcohol. In this population-based survey serum total high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and its HDL2 and HDL3 subfractions were blindly compared between 264 consecutive middle-aged men (37 teetotallers, 137 moderate drinkers, 90 heavy drinkers) participating in a voluntary health screening and 104 male alcoholics. Alcohol consumption correlated significantly (P < 0.001) with total HDL-cholesterol, HDL2, HDL3 when all subjects (n = 368) were included but the correlation disappeared when alcoholics were excluded (n = 264). In comparison with teetotallers, alcoholics had significantly higher total HDL-cholesterol, HDL2 and HDL3 values (P < 0.001). Moderate or heavy intake of alcohol had no effect on HDL2 but increased the HDL3-fraction. If the protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption is mediated by high-density lipoprotein, it may not be accounted for by changes in the HDL2-fraction. The observed increases in the concentration of the HDL3-fraction, however, suggest that this subfraction may not be inert with respect to coronary disease and could possibly have a role in the protective effect.     

Reactivity of alcoholics and nonalcoholics to drinking cues.

An interest in reducing relapse among alcoholics has led to a consideration of stimulus control factors in drinking. Research suggests that through classical conditioning alcoholics may develop reactions to cues previously associated with drinking and that these reactions might be an important determinant of relapse. Although this model indicates the potential for cue exposure treatment methods to alter conditioned reactions, data on reactivity to alcohol cues by alcoholics and nonalcoholics are scarce. Two studies are presented that address this issue and provide evidence for the validity of salivation as a measure of cue reactivity. Alcoholics and nonalcoholics were presented with the sight and smell of their preferred brand of alcohol and a control beverage. Self-report, behavioral, and psychophysiological data were collected. Alcoholics salivated more than nonalcoholics to alcohol cues and more to alcohol than to the control beverage. Alcoholics salivated differentially to cues, whereas nonalcoholics did not. Patterns of reactivity were consistent with a conditioning model. Both groups reported greater urges to drink alcohol in the presence of alcohol, but neither group reported more thoughts about alcohol in the presence of alcohol as compared with the control beverage. Implications of salivary reactivity for theory and treatment are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Loss of control drinking in alcoholics: An experimental analogue.

Presented 2 groups of 32 male 23-65 yr old nonabstinent alcoholics and social drinkers with an ad-lib supply of either alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages in a taste-rating task. Ss were assigned to 1 of 2 instructional set conditions in which they were led to expect that the beverage to be rated contained alcohol (vodka and tonic) or consisted only of tonic. The actual beverage administered consisted of either vodka and tonic or tonic only. Results show that instructional set is a significant determinant of the amount of beverage consumed and posttask estimates of the alcoholic content of the drinks. The actual beverage administered did not significantly affect the drinking rates of either alcoholics or social drinkers. Loss-of-control drinking, in the form of increased consumption by alcoholics who were administered alcohol, did not occur during the drinking task. Results are discussed in terms of implications for treatment and for the conception of alcoholism as a disease. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fetal heart modelling based on a pressure-volume relationship

A structured in-depth interview employing standardized criteria was used to determine the prevalence of lifetime and current alcohol dependence (alcoholism) in unselected consecutive patients admitted to a regional Level I trauma center. Of 629 patients, 157 (25.0%) were current alcoholics at the time of injury. An additional 87 (13.8%) were diagnosed as lifetime non-current alcoholics. There was no significant difference in the rates of current alcohol dependence among patients injured in vehicular crashes (23.5%), other unintentional trauma victims (29.3%), and those injured as a result of violence (24.6%). Of BAC+ (blood alcohol concentration positive) patients, 54.5% were current alcoholics. However, 14.4% of alcohol-negative patients were also diagnosed as alcohol dependent.     

Amygdala core nuclei volumes are decreased in recurrent major depression

Chronic myopathy is a common complication of alcoholism, but its natural history has not been well described. We, therefore, studied muscle structure and function in a 5-year study of 30 chronic alcoholics who became abstinent and 20 who relapsed, and 40 control subjects. The mean strength of the abstaining alcoholics increased from 18.6 to 23.2 kg; but, after 5 years, they were still substantially weaker than controls. In a subset who showed histological myopathy, the strength of half of the patients remained two standard deviations below that of controls. Alcoholics who relapsed tended to become progressively weaker (21.7 kg vs. 18.2 kg) and develop histological evidence of myopathy. Thus, continued alcohol abuse was generally reflected in deterioration of muscle strength and the appearance of histological injury to muscle. Importantly, almost half of the sober patients did not recover to normal levels, indicating that alcoholic myopathy is only partially reversible. We also unexpectedly found that, in some alcoholics, a substantial reduction in the amount of alcohol consumed may be as effective as complete abstinence in improving muscle strength or preventing its deterioration.     

Oral and dental health in alcohol misusing patients

Dental and oral health and their relationship to nutritional status among a group of alcohol misusers (n = 107) from south London is reported. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire was validated as an accurate and reliable screening questionnaire for use in alcohol misuse detection by a dentist. Half of the study population consumed >200 units of alcohol/week, and 80% were heavy smokers. A high incidence of tooth wear and trauma to the dentition was recorded. Eight subjects had oral mucosal lesions, including two previously treated carcinomas. The dental health in alcoholics overall was not compromised, but nutritional impairment (body mass index and reduced midarm muscle circumference) was associated with periodontal lesions. Oral mucosal health of alcoholics is of concern, particularly in heavy smokers. The interrelationships between dental-oral health and alcohol-tobacco usage have implications for preventative counseling in this patient group.