2024-03-28T20:56:22Zhttp://open-archive.highwire.org/handler
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/3932015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
DHARAM PAL AGARWAL (1938-2003)
Seitz, Helmut K.
OBITUARY
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/393
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg103
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/3942015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
EFFECTS OF ACUTE ETHANOL ON THE Ca2+ RESPONSE TO AMPA IN CULTURED RAT CORTICAL GABAergic NONPYRAMIDAL NEURONS
Fischer, Wolfgang
Franke, Heike
Illes, Peter
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
<b>Aims and Methods:</b> Immunocytochemical studies revealed that the vast majority of neurons in our primary cultures of rat cortical cells are GABA-positive and represent nonpyramidal interneuron-like cells. The influence of ethanol on (S)-α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid (AMPA)-induced Ca2+ influx was investigated in multipolar, medium-sized neurons by using single-cell fura-2 microfluorimetry. <b>Results:</b> In a first series of experiments, the results showed a small but significant decrease of 17–22% by ethanol (100 mm) of the intracellular Ca2+ signals induced by slowly superfused AMPA (10, 30, 100 μm). This finding is comparable with the inhibitory activity of ethanol on <it>N</it>-methyl-<it>D</it>-aspartic acid (NMDA)-induced Ca2+ signals in these cells. Further studies with a fast pressure-application of AMPA (30 μm) showed a similar degree of inhibition by ethanol (100 mm). Superfusion with tetrodotoxin/bicuculline, to rule out possible effects of spontaneously released GABA and synaptic spike activity, did not significantly influence the AMPA-induced Ca2+ response nor the inhibitory effect of ethanol. <b>Conclusions:</b> The present findings indicate that ethanol at high concentrations inhibits Ca2+ signaling via both AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptors in cortical interneuron-like cells. These effects may contribute to the central depressant action of this drug.
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/394
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg108
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/4002015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
L-CARNITINE ALLEVIATES ALCOHOL-INDUCED LIVER DAMAGE IN RATS: ROLE OF TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR-ALPHA
Bykov, I.
Järveläinen, H.
Lindros, K.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
<b>Aims:</b> Excessive alcohol intake induces hepatic fatty infiltration, which has been suggested to sensitize the liver to further damage. To test this hypothesis, <scp>l</scp>-carnitine, a constitutional lipotropic compound, was administered to rats chronically treated with ethanol by liquid diet feeding for 10 weeks. <b>Results:</b> Ethanol administration caused marked steatosis, mild inflammation and elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentrations. Dietary supplementation with <scp>l</scp>-carnitine significantly reduced all these parameters as well as the hepatic concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, an indicator of lipid peroxidation products. Pretreatment with <scp>l</scp>-carnitine also significantly blunted ethanol-induced stimulation of TNF-α release by isolated Kupffer cells. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study provides direct support for the notion that steatosis sensitizes the liver to further damage and suggests an involvement of TNF-α in this process.
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/400
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg109
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/4072015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
DUPLEX POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION WITH CONFRONTING TWO-PAIR PRIMERS (PCR-CTPP) FOR GENOTYPING ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE {beta} SUBUNIT (ADH2) AND ALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASE 2 (ALDH2)
Tamakoshi, Akiko
Hamajima, Nobuyuki
Kawase, Haruya
Wakai, Kenji
Katsuda, Nobuyuki
Saito, Toshiko
Ito, Hidemi
Hirose, Kaoru
Takezaki, Toshiro
Tajima, Kazuo
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
<b>Aims:</b> Alcohol dehydrogenase β subunit (<it>ADH2</it>) Arg47His and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (<it>ALDH2</it>) Glu487Lys were genotyped by a duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with confronting two-pair primers (PCR–CTPP), which allows DNA amplification with one-tube PCR including eight primers, and subsequent electrophoresis. <b>Methods:</b> Several PCR conditions were tested to establish the optimal conditions for distinguishing the allele-specific bands for the two polymorphisms. Under the optimal PCR conditions, 454 Japanese health check-up examinees were genotyped. <b>Results:</b> The allele-specific bands were successfully amplified under the optimal conditions of the duplex PCR–CTPP. The genotype distributions were within the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The bands produced by the duplex PCR-CTPP genotyping were clearer than those produced by PCR–CTPP, conducted solely for <it>ADH2</it>. <b>Conclusions:</b> <it>ADH2</it> Arg47His and <it>ALDH2</it> Glu487Lys were successfully genotyped by this newly developed duplex PCR–CTPP, an inexpensive and time-saving genotyping tool, which will be useful in epidemiological studies on alcoholism, as well as risk estimation of alcohol-related diseases.
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/407
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg096
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/4112015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
PRIMARY HUMAN HEPATOCYTES ARE PROTECTED AGAINST PROLONGED AND REPEATED EXPOSURE TO ETHANOL BY SILIBININ-DIHEMISUCCINATE
Van Pelt, Jos F.
Verslype, Chris
Crabbé, Tina
Zaman, Zahur
Fevery, Johan
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
<b>Aims and methods:</b> We investigated the effect of silibinin-C-2′,3′-dihydrogensuccinate (SDH) on primary human hepatocytes when exposed to ethanol for 14 days. At regular intervals, the medium was refreshed and liver enzymes and secreted protein in the medium were determined. <b>Results:</b> The ethanol-induced release of lactate dehydrogenase (at 34 mM ethanol) was completely blocked by 20 μM SDH. SDH itself stimulated fibrinogen release and had no toxic effect. <b>Conclusions:</b> We can conclude that SDH has a beneficial effect on human hepatocytes when exposed to ethanol <it>in vitro</it>.
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/411
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg099
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/4152015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT CARBOHYDRATE-DEFICIENT TRANSFERRIN METHODS IN THE DETECTION OF PROBLEM DRINKING: EFFECTS OF LIVER DISEASE AND ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
Anttila, Petra
Järvi, Kimmo
Latvala, Jaana
Blake, Joan E.
Niemelä, Onni
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
<b>Aims:</b> Due to methodological heterogeneity, conflicting views have been expressed on the validity of CDT measurements in the detection of alcohol misuse. <b>Methods:</b> We compared the characteristics of the conventional CDTect method and the Axis turbidimetric CDT assays in the assessment of 62 alcoholics, who were either with (<it>n</it> = 33) or without (<it>n</it> = 29) liver disease, as analysed by combined clinical, laboratory, and morphological indices. Controls were 45 healthy volunteers who were either social drinkers or abstainers. <b>Results:</b> In the total sample of alcoholics, the sensitivity of the %CDT method, which excludes the trisialotransferrin isoform from the measurement, was 63% for men and 46% for women, as compared to 65% and 36% of CDTect, respectively. Both of these methods showed higher sensitivities than the %CDT–TIA method, which reacts with trisialotransferrin (32% and 25%, respectively). The assay specificities were 100% for men and 91% for women with %CDT, and 96% and 87% with the CDTect, respectively. The correlation between the CDTect and %CDT method was higher in men (<it>r</it> = 0.86) than in women (<it>r</it> = 0.57). The presence of liver disease was found to influence the results of the CDTect method, such that the highest CDT concentrations were observed in patients with mild to moderate liver disease, especially among women, whereas the %CDT method was less sensitive to the effect of liver pathology. The self-reported alcohol consumption from the 4 weeks prior to sampling showed a higher correlation between the %CDT results (<it>r</it> = 0.64, <it>P</it> < 0.0001) than with the CDTect results (<it>r</it> = 0.40; <it>P</it> < 0.01). <b>Conclusions:</b> The data indicate that the new %CDT method offers advantages over the previous versions of the CDT methods. The improved characteristics may be most useful in assays for excessive alcohol consumption in female alcoholics, patients with liver disease, and in patients with abnormal serum transferrin concentrations.
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/415
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg102
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/4212015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
IS ATTENDANCE AT ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS MEETINGS AFTER INPATIENT TREATMENT RELATED TO IMPROVED OUTCOMES? A 6-MONTH FOLLOW-UP STUDY
Gossop, Michael
Harris, Jennifer
Best, David
Man, Lan-Ho
Manning, Victoria
Marshall, Jane
Strang, John
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
<b>Aims:</b> This study investigates the relationship between attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings prior to, during, and after leaving treatment, and changes in clinical outcome following inpatient alcohol treatment. <b>Methods:</b> A longitudinal design was used in which participants were interviewed at admission (within 5 days of entry), and 6 months following departure. The sample comprised 150 patients in an inpatient alcohol treatment programme who met ICD-10 criteria for alcohol dependence. The full sample was interviewed at admission to treatment. Six months after departure from treatment, 120 (80%) were re-interviewed. <b>Results:</b> Significant improvements in drinking behaviours (frequency, quantity and reported problems), psychological problems and quality of life were reported. Frequent AA attenders had superior drinking outcomes to non-AA attenders and infrequent attenders. Those who attended AA on a weekly or more frequent basis after treatment reported greater reductions in alcohol consumption and more abstinent days. This relationship was sustained after controlling for potential confounding variables. Frequent AA attendance related only to improved drinking outcomes. Despite the improved outcomes, many of the sample had alcohol and psychiatric problems at follow-up. <b>Conclusions:</b> The importance of aftercare has long been acknowledged. Despite this, adequate aftercare services are often lacking. The findings support the role of Alcoholics Anonymous as a useful aftercare resource.
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/421
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg104
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/4272015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
ALCOHOL USE AND INTOXICATION IN SPORT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Lorente, Fabrice O.
Peretti-Watel, Patrick
Griffet, Jean
Grélot, Laurent
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
<b>Aims:</b> To investigate patterns of alcohol consumption and intoxication in French sport science students. <b>Methods:</b> Second- and third-year sport university students (<it>n</it> = 677) completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire. <b>Results and Conclusions:</b> 20.4% reported more than six episodes of intoxication during the previous year. Male students drank more frequently and were more frequently intoxicated than were female students. Compared to their peers in the general population, sport students drank less frequently, but reported more episodes of intoxication. There were no differences in frequency of intoxication according to competitive level.
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/427
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg105
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/4312015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
INVESTIGATION OF ALCOHOL METABOLIZING ENZYME GENES IN CHINESE ALCOHOLICS WITH AVASCULAR NECROSIS OF HIP JOINT, PANCREATITIS AND CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER
Chao, You-Chen
Wang, Shyu-Jye
Chu, Heng-Cheng
Chang, Wei-Kuo
Hsieh, Tsai-Yuan
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
<b>Aims and Methods:</b> Alcoholism may cause a range of diseases including avascular necrosis of the hip joint (AVN), cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis and oesophageal carcinoma. Chinese alcoholic patients diagnosed with AVN have a higher incidence of cirrhosis than of acute pancreatitis or oesophageal cancer. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate genetic differences in polymorphisms of the alcohol-metabolizing enzymes ADH2, ADH3, ALDH2 and P4502E1 for subgroups of Chinese alcoholic patients, defined by diagnoses of AVN (<it>n</it> = 51), acute pancreatitis (<it>n</it> = 92) and liver cirrhosis (<it>n</it> = 159), and for 280 non-alcoholic patients. <b>Results:</b> Analysis revealed that ADH2*1 allele frequency was significantly lower for the alcoholic AVN than for the cirrhosis subgroup. However, no significant difference was found between the alcoholic AVN and pancreatitis subgroups. Furthermore, ALDH2*2 prevalence was not found to differ significantly between the alcoholic subgroups. When compared with our previously published data for alcoholic patients with oesophageal carcinoma, ADH2*1 carriage was significantly less frequent for the alcoholic AVN patients in the current study. Further, ALDH2*2 carriage was significantly less frequent for the alcoholic AVN subgroup than for the oesophageal carcinoma patients. <b>Conclusions:</b> The allele frequencies for ADH2*1 and ALDH2*2 are different when comparing subpopulations of alcoholics defined by presence of specific alcohol-induced diseases, suggesting that genetic variation in alcohol-metabolizing enzyme genes accounts for, at least in part, the specific types of organ damage observed. We also found the combination of AVN and cirrhosis to be more prevalent than that of AVN and acute pancreatitis. In contrast, the ADH2 and ALDH2 allele frequencies for the AVN subgroup were more similar to those of the acute-pancreatitis than to the cirrhosis subgroup. These data indicate the possibility that other genetic variations may also influence the type of organ-specific complications in Chinese alcoholics.
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/431
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg106
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/4372015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
INCENTIVES TO INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN AN INTERNET SURVEY OF ALCOHOL USE: A CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT
Kypri, Kypros
Gallagher, Stephen J.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
<b>Aims:</b> To examine the use of the Internet in a survey of drinking among students, and the effectiveness of incentives to encourage participation. <b>Methods:</b> In a survey of drinking in university students, a random sample of 160 students were randomly assigned to one of four token incentive conditions. All received posted invitations, and reminders by e-mail and telephone. <b>Results:</b> Overall response was 85% and did not differ significantly by incentive condition. <b>Conclusion:</b> Internet surveys are effective in obtaining alcohol use information from students. Minimal incentives may suffice if coupled with intensive follow-up.
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/437
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg107
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/442-a2015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
REPLY
Niederhofer, Helmut
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
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http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/442-a
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg098
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/4422015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
CYANAMIDE OR DISULFIRAM IN THE TREATMENT OF ADOLESCENT ALCOHOL MISUSERS?
Brewer, Colin
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/442
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg097
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/4432015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
REPLY TO THE COMMENTARY BY KARI POIKOLAINEN ON EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF TREATMENT OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROBLEMS BY THE SWEDISH COUNCIL ON TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT IN HEALTH CARE (SBU)
Berglund, Mats
Thelander, Sten
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/443
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg100
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/4452015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
REPLY: THE SBU EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF TREATMENT OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROBLEMS
Poikolainen, Kari
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/445
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg101
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/4462015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
SEROTONIN TRANSPORTER PROMOTER POLYMORPHISM AND DIFFERENCES IN ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOUR IN A COLLEGE STUDENT POPULATION
Herman, Aryeh I.
Philbeck, John W.
Vasilopoulos, Nicholas L.
Depetrillo, Paolo B.
RAPID COMMUNICATION
<b>Aims and methods:</b> In the present study, differences in alcohol consumption behaviour associated with the presence of the short variant (S) of the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) was investigated in a Caucasian subset (<it>n</it> = 204) of 268 college students. <b>Results:</b> Students who were homozygous for the S allele were more likely to engage in binge-drinking behaviour, drank more alcohol per occasion, and reported drinking to get drunk more often. <b>Conclusions:</b> In this Caucasian sample, the 5-HTTLPR strongly influences alcohol consumption in late pubescence.
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/446
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agg110
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol
oai:open-archive.highwire.org:alcalc:38/5/4512015-05-19HighWireOUPalcalc:38:5
9th CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH ON ALCOHOLISM-ABSTRACTS
ABSTRACTS
Oxford University Press
2003-09-01 00:00:00.0
TEXT
text/html
http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/38/5/451
en
Copyright (C) 2003, Medical Council on Alcohol