Voluntary alcohol consumption in BXD recombinant inbred mice: relationship to alcohol metabolism

Studies were initiated to characterize behaviorally and biochemically C57BL/6J and DBA/2J inbred mice, as well as BXD Recombinant Inbred (RI) strains derived from them. The C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, and 7 BXD RI strains were tested for voluntary alcohol consumption (VAC) by receiving 4 days of forced exposure to a 10% (w/v) solution of alcohol, followed by 3 weeks of free choice between water and 10% alcohol. Measures of VAC included the absolute intake of alcohol (g/kg), as well as alcohol preference. A wide range of VAC was displayed by the various BXD RI strains with a continuous (rather than bimodal) distribution, indicating that there is likely to be additive effects of several genes involved in regulating alcohol-related behaviors. Kinetic characteristics of aldehyde dehydrogenase and catalase in liver and brain of the C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, and BXD strains of mice were determined to test the hypothesis that the genetic regulation of the levels of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes mediate differences in VAC. Aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was determined spectrophotometrically by observing the change in absorption at 340 nm. Catalase activity was determined by measuring oxygen production with a Yellow Springs Biological Oxygen monitor and oxygen electrode. There was a strong negative relationship between VAC and brain catalase activity in the BXD RI and parental strains. These data suggest that RI strains are likely to be useful genetic models in the examination of quantitative trait loci controlling VAC and other responses to alcohol.     

Langerhans cells in normal and pathological vocal cord mucosa

The Langerhans cells in samples of histologically normal and pathological vocal cord mucosa were counted after identification using S-100 polyclonal antibody. Langerhans cells were commonly seen in vocal cord polyp epithelium but were infrequent in normal cord mucosa. They were also identified in samples of squamous carcinoma, severe dysplasia and chronic inflammation.     

Hostility, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption in the general population

Hostility has been associated with coronary heart disease, and hostility may affect coronary risk through its influence on risk factors such as cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. The objective of this study was to determine relationships between hostile personality, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption in the general population. The Edinburgh Artery Study comprises a cross-sectional survey of 1592 men and women aged 55-74 years sampled from age-sex registers of 10 general practices throughout the city. The Bedford-Foulds Personality Deviance Questionnaire was used to elicit extrapunitiveness (including hostile thoughts), dominance (including hostile acts) and intropunitiveness. Social class, age and deprivation score were controlled for in multivariate analyses. The hostile thoughts scale emerged as a significant independent predictor of alcohol consumption in men and women (P < or = 0.01), and the models accounted for 4-9% of the variance in alcohol consumption. Hostile acts were independently predictive of smoking in men (P < or = 0.001), with the model accounting for 5% of the variance in smoking. Hostile thoughts were independently predictive of smoking in women (P < or = 0.001), and the model accounted for 4% of the variance in their smoking. We conclude that hostility may affect coronary risk through its influence on lifestyle-related coronary risk factors, although in future further elucidation of hostility type and standard measurement of hostility are necessary.     

Voluntary alcohol consumption in vervet monkeys: individual, sex, and age differences

The patterns of voluntary alcohol consumption were studied in 35 vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops), classified into four groups. Each monkey showed a fairly steady rate during the studied period, resulting in individual differences that became more evident as the treatment evolved. Females showed higher alcohol intake frequencies than males. This sexual difference was maintained among adults and juveniles. Age differences were also observed: juveniles showed higher frequencies of intake than adults, both in general and in each sex group. Intake frequency was not related to age in prepubertal subjects, neither in general nor in each particular sex. The origin of these sex and age alcohol consumption differences remains to be studied, but differences in alcohol metabolism and factors related to puberty are possible influences.     

Emotions, stress, smoking, alcohol consumption and cancer--the correlational and causal connections

Correlative and causal relationships are discussed between emotions, stress, smoking, drinking, and cancer. The following conclusions have been drawn. Emotions control the physiological stress reactions: the negative emotions initiate and maintain stress, and positive emotions stop it. A dissatisfied need provokes the development of the state of emotional stress. There are two types of emotional stress states: the active stress which is directed to "overcoming" and the passive state of "waiting till the stress is over". Individuals differ in emotionality, stress reactivity, and inclination to the active and passive emotional stress. The passive emotional stress increases the probability of cancer. This effect is caused by the development of the hormonal and neurotransmitter state, which provokes immunosuppression, DNA damage, and stimulation of hemopoiesis. Smoking and drinking are the ways of modifying the psychoemotional state. These habits as well as development of cancer are the effects of the same cause--stress. Thus, cases of correlation between smoking and drinking do not reflect the causal relationships. Only intensive smoking and drinking which lead to tissue damage can increase the incidence of cancer.     

Assessment of cell surface glycoconjugates in normal, benign and malignant human nasal mucosa

Aberrant glycosylation of proteins is a common characteristic of neoplastic changes. No reports exist relating cell surface glycoconjugates to normal, benign and malignant human nasal mucosa. Using lectin affinity histochemistry, glycoconjugate reactivities for peanut agglutinin (PNA), concanavalin A (Con A), Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin II (GSA-II), soy bean agglutinin (SBA) and Ulex europaeus agglutinin l (UEA-I) were analysed in the following groups: normal, benign (polyp, papilloma, and inverted papilloma) and malignant (squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) alone, SCC arising in inverted papilloma, and adenocarcinoma). The positive rate of lectin staining was evaluated using a quantitative AutoCAD programme. We correlated glycoconjugate expression to clinical features, diagnosis, and malignant transformation. The positive rate of PNA after neuraminidase pre-treatment (NA-PNA) staining was higher in inverted papilloma, while all-negative in polyp and papilloma. NA-PNA staining may be used as a differential diagnostic tool. Both inverted papilloma portions and SCC portions of the SCC synchronized with inverted papilloma subjects showed similar Con A and NA-PNA staining patterns. The biological characteristics define inverted papilloma as a pre-malignant neoplasm. The positive rate of PNA staining was significantly higher in inverted papilloma (inverted papilloma transformed to SCC) compared to inverted papilloma alone. Hence, PNA staining may predict malignant transformation of inverted papilloma. However, further investigations are required to prove this possibly worthwhile prognostic marker.     

Epidemiological study on diet, smoking and alcohol drinking in the relationship to prostatic weight

BACKGROUND: There have been no epidemiological studies on the relationship between the prostatic weight and blood examination data. This study was carried out to evaluate this relationship. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Blood examination (beta-carotene, GOT, GPT, total cholesterol, etc.) and measurement of the prostatic weight were performed in 432 subjects aged 50 years or more of a town in Japan, and the possible relationship between blood analysis data and the prostatic weight was evaluated. The prostates were examined by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and classified into the normal prostate and benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The prostatic weight was measured by Watanabe's method based on TRUS images. In addition, the possible association between the prostatic weight and smoking, drinking, height, body weight, or age was evaluated. RESULTS: Analysis by the logistic procedure and the general linear models procedure showed a significant positive correlation between the normal prostatic weight and beta-carotene, height, as well as body weight and a significant negative correlation between the normal prostatic weight and smoking. Comparison between subjects with the normal prostate and those with BPH suggested that serum beta-carotene is a significant positive risk for BPH, and HDL-cholesterol, drinking, and smoking are negative risks by logistic procedure analysis. CONCLUSION: It was thought that serum beta-carotene and smoking are associated with the development of BPH.     

Gallstone prevalence in relation to smoking, alcohol, coffee consumption, and nutrition. The Ulm Gallstone Study

BACKGROUND: Besides considering well-known risk factors for the development of gallbladder stones, such as age, sex, fecundity, and hereditary predisposition, efforts at prevention have focused increasingly on other factors, such as nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine consumption, as well as general nutrition, which may be modified. METHODS: A total of 1116 blood donors were examined between April 1994 and February 1995 in the central blood bank of the German Red Cross in Ulm, Germany. Each subject received a questionnaire and underwent to an upper abdominal ultrasound examination. RESULTS: Gallbladder stone disease (current cholecystolithiasis and history of cholecystectomy) was detailed in 5.8% of the men and 6.3% of the women. Neither regularity nor number of daily meals correlated with the frequency of gallstone disease. Vegetarians (n = 48), as a group, were not found to have gallstones. In relation to the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine higher prevalence of cholecystolithiasis was found only in heavy drinkers of coffee (P = 0.051; odds ratio (OR), 1.083; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.999, 1.174). CONCLUSION: Results of the present study do not show a definite relationship between nutritional factors and the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine and an increased prevalence of gallbladder stone disease.     

The effects of age, smoking, and alcohol on routine laboratory tests

The effects of age, smoking, and alcohol intake on the results of some routine hematology and clinical chemistry tests have been determined for a group of 1,826 healthy male workers. Increasing age was significantly associated with higher hemoglobin, hematocrit, SGOT, BUN, and creatinine levels and with lower total protein concentration, but there was no significant association with leukocyte count, total bilirubin, or alkaline phosphatase. Smoking was significantly associated with higher hemoglobin, hematocrit, leukocyte count, and alkaline phosphatase, and with lower total bilirubin, SGOT, total protein, and BUN, but there was no significant association with creatinine levels. Alcohol consumption was significantly associated with higher hematocrit, bilirubin, and SGOT and with lower BUN and creatinine, but there was no significant association with hemoglobin, leukocyte count, alkaline phosphatase, or total protein. The possible reasons for these effects, and their implications, are discussed.     

Effect of snuff and smoking on tenascin expression in oral mucosa

We have shown, by using two monoclonal antibodies (143DB7 and 100EB2), that the expression of the extracellular matrix protein tenascin (Tn) is increased in the connective tissue of biopsies taken from snuff users' and tobacco smokers' oral mucosa. In normal oral mucosa Tn was seen to underlie the epithelium as a thin delicate band. The most increase in Tn reaction was observed in snuff users' mucosa while the immunoreaction in smokers' mucosa was less conspicuous. Often the most prominent Tn reaction took place in association with round cell inflammatory infiltration, indicating epithelial irritation. Tn has been shown to take part in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during embryogenesis, wound healing and tumorigenesis. Here, a superficial epithelial irritant has been shown to cause conspicuous alterations not only in the epithelial cell layers but also in the underlying connective tissue by increasing its Tn content. As a result of our findings we suggest a further link for Tn in a dynamic epithelial-mesenchymal interplay by virtue of this marked connective tissue reaction in snuff users' and smokers' oral mucosa.     

Correlation between the combination of alcohol consumption and smoking in oral cancer (screening of the population at risk)

The mortality from tumours of all kinds doubled in Hungary between 1960 and 1993, whereas the mortality from tumorous diseases of the oral cavity in the same period increased 5-fold. The results of stomato-oncological screening studies on volunteers from the general population do not reflect this alarming rise. However, the risk of tumorous diseases of the oral cavity may be expected to be much higher among those who smoke and drink heavily. Accordingly, a screening study was carried out among such and endangered population: 300 (230 men and 70 women) subjects who were either homeless or participating in alcohol withdrawal treatment. The results of this screening confirmed the expectation: precancerous lesions were found in or around the oral cavity in 14% of this population, benign tumours in 2.33%, and malignancies in 2.66%.     

Passive smoking, active smoking, and education: their relationship to weight history in women in Geneva

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to determine the relationship of education and tobacco smoke to lifetime weight history in women. METHODS: Information on passive smoking, active smoking, and weight history was collected from 928 women aged 29 to 74 years selected from the general population of Geneva, Switzerland. Multivariate analysis of variance was performed for weight, weight at age 20, and weight changes since age 20. RESULTS: Education was inversely related to weight at age 20, current weight, and weight gain since age 20. The least educated group had a current weight of 4 kg more than the most educated group. Differences across smoking categories were small: passive smokers had the highest current weight (63.4 kg) and former active smokers had the lowest (60.4 kg). Weight gain since age 20 tended to be smaller in former and current active smokers (5.5 to 7.2 kg) than in passive smokers (8.3 to 10.4 kg) and those never exposed (9.1 kg). CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, education was an important predictor of women's current weight and weight history. Passive and active smoking had little long-term effect on weight.     

A longitudinal study of work load and variations in psychological well-being, cortisol, smoking, and alcohol consumption

PURPOSE: Although public health interventions have not specifically targeted high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, observed changes in the prevalence of other cardiovascular risk factors would be expected to have differential effects on HDL. This study examined secular trends in HDL in relation to changes in other cardiovascular risk factors for the years 1981 through 1993 in the Pawtucket Heart Health Program (PHHP) study communities. METHODS: Nonfasting HDL levels were assessed in 12,223 respondents to six biennial population random sample surveys. RESULTS: Between 1981 and 1993, mean HDL cholesterol declined by 0.08 mmol/L in both men and women after adjustment for age, city, education, hormone use, medications, recent alcohol use, smoking, regular exercise, body mass index (BMI), and total cholesterol, (p for trend < 0.001). There was no apparent laboratory explanation for the trend which occurred concurrent with decreased smoking prevalence, increasing BMI and decreased prevalence of recent alcohol use. Decreasing HDL cholesterol was observed consistently across subgroups defined by smoking, alcohol use and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Although several favorable cardiovascular risk factor trends have been observed in recent decades, declining HDL cholesterol is also of interest, particularly in conjunction with population increases in BMI.     

IQ at age 4 in relation to maternal alcohol use and smoking during pregnancy.

Examined the relationship of prenatal alcohol exposure to the IQ of children at age 4 in a longitudinal prospective, population-based study. Multiple-regression analyses on data from 421 children indicated that use of more than 1.5 oz (44 ml, or approximately 3 drinks) of alcohol per day during pregnancy was significantly related to an average IQ decrement of almost 5 IQ points (? of a standard deviation; p?=?.008), even after adjustment for maternal and paternal education, race, prenatal nutrition, aspirin and antibiotics, child's sex and birth order, mother–child interaction, and preschool attendance. We caution against using these data to describe "safe" drinking levels, because other outcomes, more sensitive than IQ tests, show significant alcohol effects at lower drinking levels. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes in parietal and mucous cell mass in the gastric mucosa of normal subjects with age: a morphometric study

Whether or not the gastric mucosa undergoes significant changes in normal aging subjects is still open to debate. In 51 subjects undergoing endoscopy and lacking any significant endoscopic or histologic modification we evaluated mucosal thickness, gland number, numbers of parietal, chief and mucous cells at the fundus and of mucopeptic cells at the antrum, with a morphometric method, subgrouping the patients according to their age class. Our findings demonstrate that the number of parietal cells tends to increase with age and, on the other hand, the number of mucous cells is reduced in elderly subjects (p < 0.05). When considering the parietal-to-mucous cell ratio, this is significantly increased (p = 0.0005) with age. Acid secretion being an offensive factor and mucus a fundamental component of the gastric mucosal barrier, these findings suggest an increased susceptibility of the gastric mucosa to damage in the elderly.     

Cigarette smoking, alcohol, tea and coffee consumption and pancreas cancer risk: a case-control study from Opole, Poland

A population-based, case-control study of pancreas cancer was undertaken in Opole, Poland, within the framework of the SEARCH Programme of the International Agency for Research on Cancer: this is the first aetiological study of pancreas cancer reported from Poland where the reported mortality rate has doubled since 1963. This study of pancreas cancer has provided some further supporting evidence of an association between increased pancreas risk with increasing levels of cigarette smoking. The risk rose with increasing lifetime cigarette consumption with a trend which was weakly significant (p = 0.061). Findings regarding lifetime tea and coffee consumption were not consistent with intake of either beverage increasing the risk of this disease. There was a strongly significant trend of decreasing risk with increasing lifetime consumption of tea (p < 0.001), which was also apparent when the analysis was restricted to subjects who were interviewed directly. For coffee consumption, which is low in Poland, there was also a negative association apparent in the data which was not statistically significant among the sub-set of subjects who were directly interviewed. The findings regarding alcoholic beverages were overall null, although the weakly positive trend in risk with spirits consumption (p = 0.71) may deserve further investigation in view of the special nature of the source of spirits (vodka) in Poland.     

Echographic evaluation with image analysis of normal skin: variations according to age and sex

In order to identify and characterize the sonographic variations between different age groups, 48 subjects, 24 aged 27-30, and 24 over 60, were studied with a 20-MHz B scanner on six skin sites. Images were evaluated by the instrument's standard programme and by a new image analysis software package enabling the characterization of steady structures or transitory functional aspects of skin reactions, by highlighting areas in which the echo amplitudes are included within selected values, and by calculating their extension. Three bands were selected as intervals of interest, respectively, highlighting hyporeflecting parts of the dermis, tissue reflecting with intermediate amplitude values and hyperreflecting epidermis and dermis. This method was employed to assess skin thickness, demonstrating its decrease in elderly skin, to characterize and quantify the hypoechogenic subepidermal band appearing in the elderly at volar and dorsal forearm skin, and to evaluate echogenicity of the upper and lower dermis. Our data show that there is a great regional variation in the behaviour of ultrasound reflection of elderly skin in respect to the skin of young subjects. However, a general trend can be identified, consisting in a shift from low-intensity ultrasound echoes, characteristic in the dermis of young subjects, to intermediate or high reflection amplitudes, which are more frequent in elderly skin. Thus, the echographic method provides two parameters for the evaluation of skin aging.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Serum leptin levels in normal children: relationship to age, gender, body mass index, pituitary-gonadal hormones, and pubertal stage

It is commonly accepted that at least in girls puberty starts when a minimum level of body mass or a certain amount of body fat are present. However the precise signal by which adipose stores inform the hypothalamus of the degree of energetic reserves is unknown. Leptin is a hormone produced by the adipocytes to regulate food intake and energy expenditure at the hypothalamic level. To understand whether leptin is the adipose tissue signal that allows puberty, 789 normal children of both sexes, age 5-15 yr, were transversally studied. Leptin levels, as well as gonadal and gonadotropins, levels, were analyzed in addition to the determination of auxological parameters. In an age-related analysis, leptin levels in girls rose from 5-15 yr (from 4.3 +/- 0.4 to 8.5 +/- 0.9 micrograms/L) in parallel with body weight. Boys always had lower leptin levels than girls (3.3 +/- 0.3 micrograms/L at 5 yr), but they rose in parallel with weight until 10 yr (5.3 +/- 0.7 micrograms/L), when a striking decrease was observed until 15 yr (3.0 +/- 0.3 micrograms/L). In girls, leptin was the first hormone to rise followed by FSH and later by LH and estradiol. A similar pattern occurred in boys, despite the fact that leptin dropped after 10 yr when testosterone rises. Divided into three pubertal stages, i.e. P1 = prepuberty, P2 = early puberty, and P3 = overt puberty, in girls the four hormones rose progressively from P1 to P3, but from P2 to P3 the present increment was greater for LH and estradiol. In boys, leptin decreased from P1 to P3, whereas FSH, LH, and testosterone rose. The age-related changes were not caused by adiposity variations, because data did not change when subtracting values of children over 97% of standard deviation score of body mass index. In conclusion: 1) leptin appears to increase in both boys and girls before the appearance of other reproductive hormones related to puberty; 2) leptin levels in boys are always lower than in girls, although they increase with age until the age 10 yr; 3) leptin in boys declines about the time testosterone increases. Leptin may well be a permissive factor for the initiation of pubertal events.