bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Racial Patterns of Alcoholic Beverage Use
Authors: Klatsky Arthur L. , Siegelaub Abraham B. , Landy Cynthia , Friedman Gary D.
Published: February 2008

Among 59,766 persons who had routine health examinations in the years 1978 through 1980, the proportions reporting drinking among self‐classified racial groups were: white, 89.5%; Latin, 84.8% Japanese, 81.9% black, 79.8%; Chinese, 88.1%; Filipino, 63.9%. Reported use of 3 or more drinks daily was similar in whites, Latins, and blacks but was much lower in the Asian groups. Men of all races reported more drinking than women. A large proportion of drinkers in all race‐sex subgroups reported use of small amounts of alcohol, and most nondrinkers reported lifelong abstinence. Wine drinking (2+ days/week) was favored over spirits or beer by whites of both sexes and women of most races; beer use was favored by men of all races except white. All race‐sex groups reported a strong alcoholcigarette smoking association. Comparison with data collected 15 years earlier showed a substantial decline in reported proportions of abstainers and heavier (3+) drinkers as well as apparent narrowing of race‐sex differences.
Patterns of Alcohol Abuse and Family Stability
Authors: Jacob Theodore , Dunn Nancy Jo , Leonard Kenneth
Published: February 2008

Male alcoholics and their spouses participating in an ongoing family interaction study were assessed as to drinking patterns, psychiatric symptoms, and marital satisfaction. Analyses of these data indicated that high alcohol consumption was associated with high satisfaction and reduced symptomatology in the spouses of steady but not binge drinkers. Findings are discussed In terms of Steinglass' suggestion that alcohol can have “adaptive” consequences for the marriage and family life of alcoholics.
Bimanual Tactual Discrimination in Aging Alcoholics
Authors: Oscar‐Berman Marlene , Weinstein Amy , Wysocki Diane
Published: February 2008

Somesthesis and perceptual laterality were studied in normal aging and in aging alcoholic populations. The bimanual (dichhaptic) stimulation technique that was employed required participants to recognize and identify items traced onto the palms of both hands simultaneously, thereby eliciting competition for analysis by the two cerebral hemispheres. Performance of five groups of participants was compared (younger and older alcoholics and age‐matched normal controls, and alcoholic Korsakoff patients); Within each of the groups, the ability to identity verbal stimuli (letters) was compared with nonverbal stimuli (lines differing in orientation) for the right and the left hands separately. The results suggest that tactile discrimination accuracy for nonverbal information is disrupted by aging, but that alcoholism per se does not have this effect. The combined effects of alcohol abuse and aging were seen only on the tactual tasks that required identification of verbal items. Lateralization measures based upon performance by the two hands separately did not differentiate among the groups.
Release of Glucagon in Male Alcoholics with Vagal Neuropathy
Authors: Tan Edward T. H. , Lambie David G. , Johnson Ralph H. , Whiteside Edwin A.
Published: February 2008

There is evidence supporting involvement of the parasympathetic nervous system in the control of glucagon secretion. We have investigated the possible role of vagal neuropathy in alcoholics as a cause of alcoholic hypoglycemia. Slow infusions of insulin (2.4 U/hr) were carried out in ten male alcoholics, four with and six without evidence of vagal neuropathy, and in six male controls. the fall in blood glucose levels and the rise in serum glucagon levels in the alcoholics with or without vagal neuropathy were not significantly different from controls. We conclude that vagal neuropathy in alcoholics has no effect on the glucagon response to hypoglycemia.
Elevated Concentrations of Ethanol in Plasma Do Not Suppress Voluntary Ethanol Consumption in C57BL Mice
Authors: Gentry R. Thomas , Rappaport Michael S. , Dole Vincent P.
Published: February 2008

The 24‐hr patterns of ethanol intake and resulting concentrations of ethanol in plasma are described for male C57BL/6J mice given free access to water and a 10% v/v solution of ethanol. Animals treated with the alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor Cmethylpyrazole developed peak plasma concentrations of 116 ± 20 mg/100 ml, while controls given daily injections of saline exhibited peak plasma concentrations of 11± 7 mg/100 ml. Ethanol consumption as measured by total daily intake and preference was not signiflcantly different in the two groups of mice. The absence of an effect on ethanol consumption despite a tenfold difference in peak plasma levels suggests that concentrations of circulating ethanol within the range observed do not limit voluntary consumption of ethanol.
Ethanol‐Related Changes in Liver Microsomes and Mitochondria from the Monkey, Macaca fascicularis
Authors: Cunningham Carol C. , Bottenus Ralph E. , Spach Priscilla I. , Rudel Lawrence L.
Published: February 2008

Four Macaca fascicularis monkeys were maintained 1 year on a liquid diet containing 26% of calories as ethanol. Four control animals were fed a liquid diet of equivalent calories with protein, carbohydrate, and fat being substituted for ethanol calories. In liver mitochondria prepared from ethanol‐fed monkeys (ethanol mitochondria), respiratory control was lowered 20% due to a decrease in state 3 respiration (28%). This was also accompanied by a 20% decrease in ADP translocation Into ethanol mitochondria. The major change was a 61% decrease in cytochrome oxidase activity. The respiratory rate in the presence of uncoupler war also lowered 14%, but the decrease was not statistically significant. In contrast with our earlier observations with Macaca nemestrina, no significant ethanol‐induced changes were observed in enzyme activities associated with the microsomal electron transport system, and no ethanol‐elicited fatty liver was evident. The major changes in fatty acid composition of microsomal and mitochondrial phospholipids were increased amounts of paimitoleic and oleic acids, and decreased amounts of linoleic and arachidonic acids.
Elimination of Artifactual Acetaldehyde in the Measurement of Human Blood Acetaldehyde by the Use of Polyethylene Glycol and Sodium hide: Normal Blood Acetaldehyde Levels in the Dog and Human after Ethanol
Authors: DeMaster Eugene G. , Redfern Beth , Weir E. Kenneth , Pierpont Gordon L. , Crouse Linda J.
Published: February 2008

A new procedure is described for the preparation of human blood samples for analysis of acetaldehyde and ethanol by head space gas chromatography. High concentrations of polyethylene glycol were used to remove the hemoglobin and approximately 50% of the plasma protein. Artifactual formation of acetaldehyde from ethanol was inhibaed by sodium azide. Using this method, no artifactual acetaldehyde was detectable in human, dog, sheep, and rat blood when spiked with ethanol in final concentrations of 65 mM. The recovery of added acetaldehyde was approximately 80% for human dog, and sheep blood, whereas it was only 30% for rat blood.

Following ethanol administration, acetaldehyde levels were determined in blood taken from the pulmonary artery and descending aorta of the dog and human, and also from the hepatic vein of the latter. The relative blood acetaldehyde concentrations at these sites were hepatic vein > pulmonary artery > descending aotta.
Selective Breeding for a Multivariate Index of Ethanol Dependence in Mice: Results from the First Five Generations
Authors: Allen Darrel L. , Petersen Dennis R. , Wilson James R. , McClearn Gerald E. , Nishimoto Teresa K.
Published: February 2008

Starting with a population of genetically heterogeneous mice (HS/ Ibg), selection for a multivariate index of the ethanol Withdrawal syndrome has been initiated. The study uses within‐litter selection to minimize inbreeding and includes replicate high, low, and control lines. After five generations, results indicate that selection is proceeding successfully. There is evidence of asymmetry in the Selection, i.e., selection is proceeding more rapidly for signs of severe withdrawal than for mild withdrawal signs. The realized heritability after five generations of within‐family selection is approximately 0.15. These selected lines should eventually prove useful in determining some of the underlying genetic, physiological, and biochemical mechanisms involved in ethanol dependence.
Family System Variables in Alcoholism
Authors: Kaufman Edward
Published: February 2008

The social system of the family is a major variable in the syndrome of alcoholism. The family system may generate or promote the development of alcoholism in a family member. The alcoholic behavior of a family member may disrupt and impair family system function. Although these relationships highlight important correlations between alcoholism and family function, research evidence demonstrates that the relationship is complex. Simple models of a typical alcoholic family no longer suffice. Research on four aspects of family alcoholism are reviewed: family reactivity patterns, ethnic family styles, gender of the alcoholic spouse, and stages of alcoholism. These data support the conclusion that family systems are an important variable in the genesis, consequences, and treatment of alcoholism.
Self‐Help Large‐Group Therapy for Alcoholism: A Controlled Study
Authors: Galanter Marc
Published: February 2008

An innovative approach to ambulatory alcoholism treatment is proposed, based on adapting a self‐help modality to the institutional clinic setting, for more cost‐effective care. It draws on the principles of social influence in large groups, and diffuses the therapist's Derogative* among more advanced patients. The program thereby operates with half the usual counseling staff. In this study (n = 235), a controlled comparison of this approach was made with more conventional clinic treatment, based on small‐group therapy. Retention and visit rates of the experimental patients over 1 year of care were no different from the control patients, and engagement of inpatients into ambulatory care was more effective.
Ethanol Metabolism in Women Taking Oral Contraceptives
Authors: Jones Marilyn K. , Jones Ben Morgan
Published: February 2008

The relationship between oral contaceptives and ethanol metabolism in women was examined in a group of 40 female social drinkers between the ages of 21 and 30. Twenty women taking oral contraceptives and 20 women not taking oral contraceptives were given a moderate dose of ethanol (0.52 g/kg) during the menstrual, intermenstrual and premenstrual phases of the menstrual cycle. The group of women taking oral contraceptives demonstrated a significantly decreased ethanol elimination rate (105 mg/kg/hr) than the women not taking oral contraceptives (121 mg/kg/hr, p < 0.005). Ethanol disappearance rate also was significantly decreased for women taking oral contraceptives (0.015%/hr) than women not taking them (0.019%/hr, p < 0.001). These results were consistent across the three phases of the menstrual cycle and when body leanness was taken into consideration. The decreased rate of ethanol metabolism in women taking oral contraceptives is consistent with reports of other drugs having decreased metabolic rates in women taking birth control pills. These results suggest that women taking oral contraceptives should be cautioned concerning their possMe interaction with ethanol, as well as other drugs.
Growth Hormone, Vasopressin, Cortisol, and Catecholamine Responses to Insulin Hypoglycemia in Alcoholics
Authors: Eisenhofer Graeme , Johnson Ralph H. , Lambie David G.
Published: February 2008

The hormonal responses to insulin‐induced hypoglycemia were studied in 15 abstinent alcoholics with varying degrees of central and peripheral nerve damage and in six normal controls. Blood samples were taken at intervals after the injection of soluble insulin (0.1 U/ kg of body weight). Growth hormone responses were significantly depressed (p < 0.05) in nine alcoholics with severe central nerve damage (Korsakoff's psychosis) as compared to other alcoholic subjects. The alcoholic subjects with Korsakoff's psychosis also showed significant depression (p < 0.01) of glucose recovery from hypoglycemia as compared with controls. However, responses of vasopressin, Cortisol, and catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) were generally normal in the Korsakoff patients. Our results do not support previous suggestions that impairment of memory in alcoholism may be related to altered vasopressin secretion, even though the reduced growth hormone secretion in brain‐damaged alcoholics does indicate some hypothalamic‐pituitary dysfunction.
Age and Alcoholism: Independent Memory Decrements
Authors: Riege Walter H. , Tomaszewski Robert , Lanto Andrew , Metter E. Jeffrey
Published: February 2008

Similarities and differences in performances on 18 verbal and nonverbal memory tasks were studied in young and old alcoholics and in young and old controls as test of hypotheses postulating that cognitive decrements from alcoholism either mimic “premature aging,” are “age sensitive,” or are “independent” from those of normal aging. Young and old alcoholics were matched in length and rate of heavy drinking and were also equated with their controls in age, education, and vocabulary. The multivariate memory and decision data, when converted to independent factor scores, separated alcoholic from control groups on a factor reflecting memory for auditorily presented information. This was independent from factor scores affected mainly by age, such as memory for visuospatial items or decision bias. Age and alcoholism produced overlapping but distinctly different profiles of memory impairments. Decrements in young alcoholics did not resemble those of aging nor did old alcoholics surpass old controls in any but one factor, so that neither the premature aging nor the age sensitivity hypothesis were invariably supported.
Sweat‐Patch Testing Detects Inaccurate Self‐Reports of Alcohol Consumption
Authors: Phillips Michael
Published: February 2008

The object of this study was to measure how accurately drinkers report their consumption of alcohol. Twenty‐two normal volunteers kept a written record of all alcoholic beverages they consumed in 1 week. During the same period, their actual intake was monitored by the sweat‐patch test for alcohol consumption. Only nine subjects (40.9%) reported their alcohol consumption accurately; two (9.1%) overreported their intake, and 11 (50%) underreported their intake. Five (22.7%) of those who underreported their consumption claimed to have drunk no alcohol at all, but elevated ethanol levels in their sweat‐patch tests indicated otherwise. These data suggest that self‐reported claims concerning alcohol consumption or abstinence should be received with a degree of skepticism, and that greater emphasis should be placed upon objective laboratory tests for the diagnosis of alcohol abuse.
Prolonged Feeding of Ethanol to the Young Growing Guinea Pig. II. A Model to Study the Effects of Severe Ischemia on Cardiac Protein Synthesis
Authors: Schreiber Sidney S. , Evans Carole D. , Reff Franctne , Oratz Murray , Rothschild Marcus A.
Published: February 2008

Although acute perfusion of guinea pig hearts with ethanol does not affect cardiac protein synthesis, the latter is inhibited after prolonged ingestion of ethanol when tested in an in vitro system with the working right ventricle. This study reports on the added stress of ischemia on such hearts. Hearts were removed from maturing guinea pigs after 13–16 weeks of ingesting 10% ethanol and were perfused in vitro under conditions of relative ischemia (one‐sixth of normal coronary flow) with maintenance of right ventricular load and outflow resistance identical to normal pre‐ischemic levels. With this degree of ischemia, there was a 4–6 fold increase in lactate production, an 80% drop in ATP, and a 90% decrease in creatine phosphate after 150 min of the ischemia. Incorporation of both labeled lysine and phenylalanine into cardiac protein was also diminished to 35% of control in the left ventricle and 55% of control in the right This diminution of protein synthesis was the same in hearts from ethanoJ‐drinking and matched control animals. Thus, prior prolonged ingestion of ethanol old not worsen the inhibition of protein synthesis by oxygen deprivation. There were, however, two significant differences in hemodynamic response to the ischemia by the right ventricles of hearts from ethanol‐drinking guinea pigs compared to their matched controls. The first was a decreased ability of the ventricles to maintain the same peak systolic pressure as the controls during ischemia (4.8 ± 0.8 mm Hg compared to 7.5 ± 0.06, p < 0.02), and the second was a significant increase in coronary resistance in hearts from ethanol‐drinking animals as the ischemic perfusion progressed (coronary pressure 23.6 ± 1.3 mm Hg compared to 17.0 ± 0.8 in controls, p < 0.001). The findings suggest that although contractility of hearts from ethanol‐consummg animals may not show impairment of contraction under normal conditions, the imposition of another stress such as ischemia may expose a contractile deficiency.
Neuropsychological Differences between Male Familial and Nonfamilial Alcoholics and Nonalcoholics
Authors: Schaeffer Kim Walter , Parsons Oscar A. , Yohman J. Robert
Published: February 2008

The hypothesis was tested that neuropsychological differences exist between males who have an alcoholic parent, sister, or brother (FH+) versus those who do not (FH‐). Neuropsychological tests measuring verbal, learning/memory, abstracting/problem solving, and perceptual‐motor performance were given to four groups of middle‐aged subjects: alcoholic FH+ (n= 41); alcoholic FH‐ (n= 27); nonalcoholic FH+ (n= 19); and nonalcoholic FH‐ (n= 43). FH+ subjects performed significantly poorer than FH‐ subjects on the abstracting/ problem solving and perceptual‐motor tasks, and approached significance on the verbal and teaming/memory measures. Alcoholics performed more poorly than nonalcoholics on abstracting/problem solving and learning/memory tasks. There were no groups by family history significant interactions. From these results we suggest (1) a performance deficit in abstracting/problem solving and possibly learning/memory may antedate the alcoholic stage in FH+ individuals; (2) alcoholism and positive famiry history of alcoholism have independent, additive deleterious effects on cognitive‐perceptual functioning; and (3) future neuropsychological studies of alcoholism should consider the frequency of FH+ and FH‐ individuals in both alcoholic and control groups.
Alcoholic Fathering and Its Relation to Child's Intellectual Development: A Pilot Investigation
Authors: Ervin Cynthia S. , Little Ruth E. , Streissguth Ann Pytkowicz , Beck Don E.
Published: February 2008

In this study, the relationship between being raised by an alcoholic father and intellectual and academic achievement of the child were investigated. One hundred children of non‐alcoholic mothers, 50 of whom had alcohoec fathers and 50 of whom had non‐alcoholic fathers, were administered age‐appropriate IQ, developmental, and achievement tests. Analysis of covariance revealed significant relationships between alcoholic fathering and IQ and achievement scores, independent of a number of possibly confounding variables. When children with alcoholic biological fathers were excluded, a relationship between IQ and alcoholic fathering persisted. Thus children raised by alcoholic fathers are a population at risk, in need of further scientific and clinical attention.
Effects of Ethanol
Authors: Wilson James R. , Erwin V. Gene , McClea Gerald E. , Plomin Robert , Johnson Ronald C. , Ahem Frank M. , Cole Robert E.
Published: February 2008

Two doses of ethyl alcohol were administered to 48 young male subjects (24 brother‐pairs), and placebo doses were administered, to five brother‐pairs (controls). Dose 1 amount was calculated to result in a peak blood alcohol content (BAC) of 100 mg/100 ml; dose 2 was given when BAC had fallen to one‐half the peak BAC resulting from dose 1, in an attempt to raise BAC back to 100 mg/100 ml. Prior to alcohol dosage, baseHne measurements were made on a number of behavioral tests. Behavioral performances during metabolism of doses 1 and 2 were compared to baseline performance. Sensitivity to ethanol was indicated by performance decrements on nearly all. tests after ethanol dosing. Acute behavioral tolerance to ethanol (ABTE) was indicated for some tests by improved performance after dose 2 compared to performance at a time after dose 1 when BACs were about equivalent A preliminary search for possible genetic components of sensitivity and ABTE was undertaken by comparing the scores of the brothers.

1. Sensitivity to ethanol, measured via a mean performance decrement, was found for many of the tests employed in this study, with larger decrements seen on motor tasks.

2. Despite the overall picture of average performance decrements, there was striking individual variability in performance, and a few individuals performed better after ethanol dosage.

3. Mean scores revealed a consistent trend for improved performance during clearance of the second dose of ethanol. We have termed this phenomenon “acute behavioral tolerance to ethanol.” When the short individual tests were summed to form a “motor” test battery and a “written” test battery, ABTE was clearly a significant effect.

4. Even though tests of familiality (via resemblance of brothers) were not definitive, perhaps due to the small sample size, several promising leads for further research on familiality of responses to ethanol were revealed.
Genetic and Biochemical Factors Relevant to Alcoholism
Authors: Thacker Stephen B. , Veech Richard L. , Vernon Andrew A. , Rutstein David D.
Published: February 2008

Important biochemical clues from animal and human studies as well as epidemiologic studies of twins and adoptees suggest that genetic factors may predispose to alcohol addiction. This paper critically examines the epidemiology and biochemistry literature to assess the strength of the evidence supporting a genetic element in alcohol addiction. Then, a biochemical hypothesis is presented that involves the identification of specific metabolic pathways, pathway controls, and metabolites that may be unique to alcoholics, and which has been tested by experiment.
Interaction of Acute Ethanol Administration with Acetaminophen Metabolism and Toxicity in Rats Fed Alcohol Chronically
Authors: Altomare Emanuele , Leo Maria A. , Lieber Charles S.
Published: February 2008

In rats fed alcohol chronically, acetaminophen induced severe hepatotoxicity as judged by serum enzyme activities, liver histology, and mortality, whereas in both rats fed alcohol chronically and in their pair‐fed controls, acute ethanol administration decreased acetaminophen hepatotoxicity. Since acetaminophen hepatotoxicity is increased in rats fed alcohol chronically and acute ethanol has been shown to inhibit the biotransformation of acetaminophen to reactive metabolite(s) by mixed function oxidation, we postulate that acute ethanol administration decreases acetaminophen‐induced hepatotoxicity in rats fed alcohol chronically by inhibiting the enhanced production of toxic metabolites.
Drinking and Reproductive Dysfunction among Women in a 1981 National Survey
Authors: Wilsnack Sharon C. , Klassen Albert D. , Wilsnack Richard W.
Published: February 2008

This paper presents the first data available on drinking and reproductive dysfunction from a representative national sample of women. In this stratified household sample of 917 women (weighted n = 2552), dysmenorrhea, heavy menstrual flow, and premenstrual discomfort increased with drinking level and were particularly strongly associated with reported consumption of 6 or more drinks a day at least once a week. Women who consumed 6 or more drinks/day at least 5 times a week had elevated rates of gynecologic surgery other than hysterectomy, but hysterectomy was less common among women averaging 2 oz or more of ethanol/day, with age effects controlled. Lifetime rates of obstetric disorders showed significant elevations at upper levels of drinking (6 or more drinks/day at least 3 times a week for miscarriage or stillbirth and prematurity, and 6 or more drinks/day at least 5 times a week for infertility and birth defects). An unexpected finding was the high rates of menstrual disorders, hysterectomy, miscarriage or stillbirth, and prematurity among temporary abstainers (women reporting alcohol consumption in the past 12 months but not the past 30 days) who had previously drunk only infrequently.
The Duffy Blood System and Alcoholic Liver Disease in Baltimore Black Patients
Authors: Miller Joseph M. , Miller John M. , Iber Frank L.
Published: February 2008

Determination of the Duffy antigen status was made in a group of Baltimore patients with alcoholic liver disease. A parallel group of patients with chronic alcoholism but who did not show evidence of liver impairment was studied in a similar manner. An association between the presence of a positive Duffy antigen and alcoholic liver disease could not be demonstrated.
Cardiac Function Assessed by Gated Heart Pool Studies in an Alcohol Clinic Population: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Read R. , Bell J. , Batey R.
Published: February 2008

The nuclear gated heart pool scan was used to assess the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in 19 patients attending the Drug and Alcohol Unit for treatment of their alcoholism. Eighteen of the patients were asymptomatic and had no signs of cardiac impairment. In 14 subjects (13 asymptomatic), the LVEF was subnormal. Repeat studies were performed in 10 of the subjects following a period of 4‐9 months of reduced intake of alcohol or abstinence. The LVEF improved in four subjects, remained unchanged in four, and actually decreased in two others despite a reduction in reported alcohol intake.
Clinical Limitations of Neuropsychological Testing in Predicting Treatment Outcome among Alcoholics
Authors: Donovan Dennis M. , Kivlahan Daniel R. , Walker R. Dale
Published: February 2008

The purpose of the present study was to investigate a number of factors that may influence the relationship between neuropsychological impairment and treatment outcome among alcoholics. Cognitive deficit upon admission to treatment was significantly related to the individual's age but independent of the years of problem drinking and the recency of the last drink prior to assessment. Significant improvement was noted on measures of neuropsychological function over the period from treatment admission to 6‐month follow‐up assessment On the average, improvement in functioning occurred across time despite drinking relapses during the intervening period. The individual's age, but not years of problem drinking, was associated with recovery of function; neither of these variables interacted with subsequent drinking status to affect differentially the changes in cognitive functioning. Finally, selected measures of neuropsychological function assessed both at admission and 6‐month follow‐up were reliably related to follow‐up employment status but unrelated to the average amount of alcohol consumed per day and to the number of heavy drinking days during the 3‐month period between the 6‐ and 9‐month foltow‐ups. The results are discussed in terms of the need for determining the utility of neuropsychological measures in predicting everyday functioning among alcoholics and for selecting domains of assessment other than cognitive status to predict treatment outcome.
Correlative Analysis of Ethanol‐Related Phenotypes in Rat Inbred Strains
Authors: Spuhler Karen , Deitrich Richard A.
Published: February 2008

As a summary presentation of the ethanol‐related traits in the rat inbred strains, the responses to ethanol for various traits of the eight strains were analyzed. The intercorrelations among the means of the strains were computed and the interrelationships among the strain con‐elations were determined further by partial correlation and factor analysis. Sources of data on strain ethanol response included measures from laboratories of Drs. Deitrich, Li, Erickson, Pohorecky, and Tabakoff, who have participated in this joint study on the development of the rat heterogeneous stock (N/Nih). Although there are problems with estimating strain correlations from data collected in different laboratories, some informative associations among the ethanol‐related traits were apparent Genetic variation for behavioral and physiological responses to ethanol was indicated by the inbred strain distribution. The strains cleariy differed in response to ethanol, with the mean of the National Institutes of Health stock falling intermediate within the range of the inbred strain distribution. For the ethanol‐related traits considered jointly, an association between initial behavioral sensitivity, ethanol intake, and metabolism, as well as an association between development of tolerance, initial sensitivity, and several physiological measures, was suggested. Thus, the rat heterogeneous stock, a systematically outbred population, should provide a useful animal model with which to study the physiological oasis for ethanol intake and preference, response to acute ethanol, and the development of tolerance.
Initial Sensitivity of Rat Inbred Strains to Acute Alcohol
Authors: Deitrich Richard A. , Baker Rodney C.
Published: February 2008

The ethanol sensitivity of eight inbred strains and one heterogeneous stock of rats has been determined by the assessment of “sleep time” and blood alcohol levels upon awakening. In addition, levels of liver alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases and phenobarbital‐inducible aldehyde dehydrogenase were determined. These data are presented as baseline values for correlation and selective breeding studies using the heterogeneous rats.
Simultaneous Pair‐Feeding System for the Administration of Alcohol‐Containing Liquid Diets
Authors: Israel Yedy , Oporto Betsavel , Macdonald Alain D.
Published: February 2008

We present studies in which a new, simultaneous pair‐feeding system is utilized to administer alcohol‐containing liquid diets to rats. In this system, consumption of an alcohol‐containing diet by an animal leads to the corresponding delivery of the same amount of control diet to a control animal, which avidly consumes its diet upon presentation. Thus, circadian nutritional pairing is possible, avoiding the long period of fasting to which control animals are exposed, on a daily basis, when the diets are administered by the conventional pair‐feeding system with Richter tubes. The new system does not require actual daily measurement of the diet consumed by the ethanol‐fed animal and allows the conservation of the diet for prolonged periods, thus not requiring daily diet changes. The feeding system also allows the pair‐feeding of more than one simultaneous control and can be adapted to a number of other fluids and to other animals species, when paired delivery of the fluid is desired.
A Genetic Analysis of Ethanol, Pentobarbital, and Methyprylon Sleep‐Time Response
Authors: Howerton Thomas C. , Burch James B. , O'Connor Michael F. , Miner Lucinda L. , Collins Allan C.
Published: February 2008

The sleep‐time responses to ethanol, pentobarbital, and methyprylon were assessed in various generations derived from crossing the long‐sleep (LS) and short‐sleep (SS) mouse lines in order to assess whether common or different genes regulate response to these agents. The LS and SS mice were selectively bred for differences in duration of ethanol‐induced sleep time. Ethanol and pentobarbital responses segregate in a different fashion into F1 and F2 generations derived from the LS and SS lines, indicating different genie control and probably different mechanisms of action for these two agents. Ethanol and methyprylon response segregated similarly but fewer genes seem to influence methyprylon response. These results support the notion that water‐soluble depressants have common mechanisms of action.
Mitochondrial Respiration after Cardiac Perfusion with Ethanol or Acetaldehyde
Authors: Segel Leigh D.
Published: February 2008

Hemodynamics, energetics, and mechanics of isolated working rat hearts were studied during perfusion with Krebs‐Henseleit medium containing either ethanol (24 ± 2 mti) or acetaldehyde (74 ± 6 μM). After 60‐min perfusion with agent, mitochondria were isolated from the hearts and assayed polarographicalry using glutamate, α‐keto‐glutarate, pyruvate‐malate, and succinate‐rotenone substrates. Hemodynamic and mechanical function of the ethanol‐treated hearts declined significantly more than that of control hearts during the 60‐min perfusion. The acetatdehyde‐perfused hearts did not differ from the controls. A 90‐sec washout period reversed the ethanol‐induced depression of physiologic function. Respiratory function (respiratory control ratio and Qo2) of mitochondria isolated from the ethanol‐ and acetaldehyde‐treated hearts was slightly, though not significantly, depressed compared with control hearts. These data indicate that ethanol and acetaldehyde, at physiologically significant concentrations, have dissimilar effects on cardiac hemodynamics and mechanics: ethanol has a direct depressive effect which is reversible; acetaldehyde has no significant effect Mitochondrial respiration is not irreversibly affected by brief exposure to ethanol or acetaldehyde at the concentrations tested.
Effect of Ethanol on [3H]Nitrendipine Binding to Calcium Channels in Brain Membranes
Authors: Greenberg David A. , Cooper Edward C.
Published: February 2008

We examined the effect of ethanol on [3H]nitrendipine binding to ret brain membranes, to investigate the possibility that voltage‐dependent calcium channels are involved in synaptic actions of ethanol. Ethanol inhibited specific [3H]nitrendipine binding with K1= 460 mM, by decreasing binding affinity without altering the maximal number of sites labeled. At a lower concentration (100 mM), ethanol had no effect on inhibition of binding by verapamil or diltiazem. The high concentrations of ethanol required to produce alterations in [3H] nitrendipine binding suggest that ethanol and classical calcium channel antagonists influence calcium‐mediated synaptic processes by separate mechanisms.
No Effect of Acute Ethanol Administration on Hepatic Protein Synthesis and Export in the Rat in Vivo
Authors: Wallin Bengt , Bessesen Atle , Fikke Anne‐Marie , Aarbakke Jarle , Morland Jorg
Published: February 2008

Ethanol was administered as a single p.o. dose (2.88 g kg‐1) to male rats (220–265 g body weight) to give blood alcohol concentrations of 40–50 IDM for the following 3 hr. Controls were given isoenergetic amounts of either sucrose or lipid. Liver protein synthetic rates were measured during a 20 min interval at the end of the 3 hr period following the administration of diets. Although ethanol caused a 32% reduction of the incorporation of labelled valine into liver protein compared to the sucrose group during the 20 min interval, no such reduction was found when the synthetic rate of stationary liver protein was calculated (182 vs. 214 (not significant) pmol mg protein‐1 min‐1) for same interval. There was no difference between the ethanol and lipid group with regard to either incorporation or synthetic rates. Incorporation of valine into plasma proteins was reduced in the ethanol group compared to the sucrose group, but not compared to the lipid control group, again demonstrating no ethanol‐specific effect When the incorporation into plasma proteins was divided by the specific radioactivity of valyl‐tRNA at 20 min, the difference between the ethanol and the sucrose group disappeared. The fraction of newly synthesized proteins exported to the plasma measured 40 min after the injection of labeled valine, was equal in all three treatment groups. It was concluded that acute administration of ethanol has no consistent effect on liver protein synthesis and secretion in vivo.
Effect of Fasting on the Activity and Turnover of Rat Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase
Authors: Bosron William F. , Crabb David W. , Housinger Terry A. , Li Ting‐Kai
Published: February 2008

Alcohol dehydrogenase activity in rat Uver decreased with fasting to about 60% of the fed level, but the specific activities of the enzyme purified from livers of fed and 12‐ or 48‐hr fasted animals were similar, 3.2–3.4 U/mg protein. Therefore, the decrease in enzyme activity with fasting should have resulted from a decrease in the amount of enzyme protein. Accordingly, the turnover of alcohol dehydrogenase was examined in fed and fasted rats. The fractional rate of enzyme synthesis (ks) in fed rats was determined by radioisotopic methods to be 0.13 day‐1 and it increased to 0.18 day‐1 after a 12‐ or 48‐hr fast The absolute rate of synthesis (V) and the fractional rate of degradation (M were calculated from these k. values and the total enzyme content in livers from animals that were fasted for 8 to 72 hr. After 48–72 hr of fasting, V decreased 16% and k. increased about 20% with respect to the fed values. Together, these changes accounted for the lowered enzyme activity in the fasted state. The rapid decrease in enzyme activity with fasting, tY2= 16 hr, was found to be due to a rapid increase in k0 from 0.14‐0.16 day‐1 in fed animals to 0.61 day‐1 during the first 8 hr after the initiation of fast Thereafter, k0, decreased steadily to reach 0.18 day‐1 after 48–72 hr of fasting.
Ethanol‐Induced Microcephaly in Neonatal Rats: Relation to Dose
Authors: Samson Herman H. , Grant Kathleen A.
Published: February 2008

Neonatal rats were exposed to several different doses of ethanol during the first part of the brain growth spurt (postnatal days 5, 6, 7 and 8) and examined for decreased brain weights at 18 days of age. The occurrence of reduced brain weight was found to require a dose of at least 6.0 g ethanol/kg body weight/day. Above this dose, the extent of brain weight reduction was related to increased dose, provided death from overdose did not occur. Measured blood ethanol levels suggested that blood levels below 100 mg/100 ml failed to result in significant brain weight reductions. The possibility that Mood ethanol levels below this point may impair brain growth in more subtle ways remains to be determined
Circadian Variations in Behavioral and Biological Sensitivity to Ethanol
Authors: Brick John , Pohorecky Larissa A. , Faulkner William , Adams Maryna N.
Published: February 2008

In rats, behavioral (startle response and motor activity) and physiological (plasma corticosterone, nonesterified fatty acids, blood ethanol levels, liver alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, and body temperature) responses to ethanol were measured over the 24‐hr cycle. The response to ethanol for many of these measures showed circadian variations. Both stimulatory and inhibitory effects of ethanol were observed for several dependent variables at the same time, relative to controls. These results suggest that many discrepancies in the ethanol literature may be due to a light cycle x dependent variable interaction.
Antibodies to Cytokeratin Filaments in Patients with Alcoholic Liver Disease
Authors: Kurki Pekka , Virtanen Ismo , Lehto Veli‐Pekka , Atfthan Olof , Salaspuro Mikko
Published: February 2008

Previous studies have suggested that cytosketetal elements in an altered form in vivo (alcoholic hyalin, AH) are targets for an autoimmune reaction in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). In this study we assayed autoantibodies to cytosketetal cytokeratin filaments, intermediate filaments of epithelial cells, by indirect immunofluorescence technique (IIF) using cultured human amnion epithelial ceils and PtK 2 ceils as targets. Sera from 20 patients with ALO, 38 patients with urogenital cancer, 22 patients with renal diseases, and from 18 healthy controls were studied

Patients with ALO had a significantly increased prevalence of cytokeratin filament autoantibodies using both PtK 2 cells (69%) and human amnion epithelial ceils (69%) as substrate, as compared to other groups. The antibodies were mainly of IgA and IgM class and could be demonstrated in all forms of ALD. Interestingly, cytoskeieton antibodies have previously been observed in diseases of viral and “autoimmune” origin
A Field Test of the Sweat Patch
Authors: Phillips E. Louise R. , Little Ruth E. , Hillman Robert S. , Labbe Robert F. , Campbell Caryl
Published: February 2008

The sweat patch is a new, noninvasive method designed to estimate the ethanol consumption of drinking subjects. It consists of salt‐impregnated absorbent pads protected by a plastic chamber with attached water‐tight adhesive. The patch reportedly collects trans‐epidermal fluid at a steady rate for up to 10 days. Recent laboratory research has indicated a linear relationship between the concentration of ethanol in transepidermal fluid and mean concentration of ethanol in blood. Levels of ethanol in the sweat patch allowed identification of persons drinking at least 0.5 g of ethanol/kg/day with 100% sensitivity and specificity. The study reported here was conducted to test the field effectiveness of this sweat patch in normal, active research subjects.

First, several pretests were conducted to determine the optimal location of the patch on the body and its fluid uptake at various sites. A laboratory experiment using nonalcoholic subjects was conducted to replicate previous work, and methods of measuring ethanol concentration in the patch were refined.

A field test of the patch was then carried out Healthy active volunteers drank a single “moderate” dose of ethanol (0.5 g of ETOH/kg of body weight) and then remained abstinent for the next 3 days. A week later, a “heavy” dose (1.0/kg of body weight) was consumed. Only a trace of ethanol was detected in any of the patches worn in either experiment. The patch did not measure ethanol in the transepidermal fluid under field conditions. Thus, further design modifications and pilot testing are required before the full benefits of this unobtrusive measure of drinking can be realized.
Brain and Liver Monoamine Oxidase Type A and Type B Activity in Alcoholics and Controls
Authors: Major Leslie F. , Hawtey Rollin J. , Saini Nirmal , Garrick Nancy A. , Murphy Dennis L.
Published: February 2008

Monoamine oxidase activity in human postmortem brain and liver samples m measured In a group of patients with a prior history of atcoholiam and compared to a control group with no prior history of atcoholiam. liver samples from patients with a prior history of alcoholism showed signtficantly lower monoamine oxidase activity with both phenytethytemine and serotonin as substrates. Postmortem brain samples however, were not different in the two groups
Relationship between γ‐Glutamyl Transpeptidase and Mean Urinary Alcohol Levels in Alcoholics While Drinking and after Alcohol Withdrawal
Authors: Orrego H. , Blake J. E. , Israel Y.
Published: February 2008

In 42 patients with alcoholic Hvor disease in whom daily urinary othsnol concentrations wars measured for 3 months, aftar an abstinence of at toast 1 month, ssrum γ‐gfutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity was found to corraiata (r = 0.69; p < 0.0001) with moan urinary alcohol levels. Ttia halt‐life of sorum GGT decay in 32 patients who remained abstinent for an 6‐week period was calculated to be 26 days. This prolonged half‐life can result in high serum GGT levels in patients abstinent for prolonged periods, in whom serum GGT baselines before abstinence were very high. Individual variations in serum GGT levels should be interpreted in relation to continued alcohol consumption, keeping in mind the long halMrfe for this enzyme in theee patients.
BOOK REVIEW
Authors: PhD Earl X Freed
Published: February 2008

Book reviewed in this article:

Glasser, William: Take Effective Control of Your Life, Harper and Row, New York
Double‐Blind Trial of Alprazolam and Chlordiazepoxide in the Management of the Acute Ethanol Withdrawal Syndrome
Authors: Wilson Allan , Vulcano Brent A.
Published: February 2008

A sequential sample of 101 patients hospitalized for ethanol withdrawal and requiring sedation for evolving withdrawal syndromes was assigned randomly according to a double‐blind protocol to treatment with either alprazolam or cWofdiazepojtlde administered orally. The data from one patient were unevaluable due to acute bleeding, leaving a sample of 100 (SO in each condition). At discharge, three independent ratings of diaphoresis, tremor, hallucinations, nausea/vomiting, and overall severity of withdrawal were obtained, and the occurrence of delirium tremens and grand mai seizures was noted. Patients also completed the Beck Depression Inventory, and their disposition following discharge was recorded. There were no statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups on any of the dependent variables studied. H was concluded that the choice between alprazolam and chlordiazepoxide for managing ethanol withdrawal should be based on criteria other than efficacy of control. Potential antidepressant effects and drug kinetics were suggested as the basis for rational decision‐making.
Alcohol Use Patterns of First‐Year Medical Students: I. Development of Shared Norms
Authors: Clark David C. , Eckenfels Edward J. , Daugherty Steven R. , Rives Cathy M.
Published: February 2008

Freshman medical students (96% of one class; n = 116) completed questionnaires on alcohol use at orientation, and again in April (n = 106) of that same year. Quantity /frequency and serf‐label ratings of alcohol use were employed to define normative ranges (in ethanol oz/wk). The confidentially of student participants was protected. Males consumed five drinks per week over the summer and dropped to four per week during school; females consumed two drinks per week over both periods. Summertime and school year consumption rates were strongly correlated. Normative ranges of drinking converged from September to April, suggesting the emerging norms were the product of social experience with classmates. Class norms described a “outpoint” separating acceptable range from excessive drinking (more than two drinks per day). The authors conclude that reliable “community norms” for medical students could be identified, the norms evolve over time, end they can be employed to determine the boundaries of acceptable drinking for research and screening purposes.
Correlation of Purkinje Neuron Depression and Hypnotic Effects of Ethanol in Inbred Strains of Rats
Authors: Johnson Steven W. , Hoffer Barry J. , Baker Rodney , Freedman Robert
Published: February 2008

The effect of locally appled ethanol on spontaneous discharge rates of cerebollar Purtcinje neurons was compered In two inbred etroins of rats which differ in their sensitivities to the acute hypnotic effects of this agent. Ethanol, applied locally to neurone by micropressuts election with multibarred micropipettes, was significantly more potent for reducing neuronal firing rates in Fischer 344 rats when compared to Brown Norway rats. The hypnotic effect of ethanol, measured by lose of righting reflex, lasted significantly longer in the Fischer 344 strain of rats. These results suggest that susceptibility to a behavioral effect of ethanol might correlate with an effect on firing rates of cerebeller Purkinje cells in rats. In mice, selective breeding has produced “long sleep” and “short‐sleep” strains of mice which differ not only In sensitivity to the hypnotic effect of ethanol, but also to the enesitivity of cerebeaer Purkinje cells to depressant effects of this drug. Because electrophysiological investigations are in many ways easier to perform in rats than In mice, genetic differences in rats may provide an important means for analyzing central nervous system actions of acute ethanol administration.