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Agarwal K, Luk JW, Stangl BL, Schwandt ML, Momenan R, Goldman D, Diazgranados N, Kareken DA, Leggio L, Ramchandani VA, Joseph PV. Parosmia Is Positively Associated With Problematic Drinking, as Is Phantosmia With Depressive Symptoms. J Addict Med 2024:01271255-990000000-00315. [PMID: 38776446 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a global health problem with significant negative consequences, including preventable deaths. Although olfactory dysfunction is associated with chronic alcohol drinking, the relationship among specific types of olfactory deficits, depressive symptoms, and problematic drinking remains to be explored. Here, we examined the prevalence of olfactory distortion (parosmia) and hallucination (phantosmia) and assessed their associations with problematic drinking and depressive symptoms. METHODS In April-June 2022, 250 participants across the spectrum of AUD were recruited for assessment in the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Alcohol study. Surveys covered self-reported olfactory function, depressive symptoms, and problematic drinking, with key measures assessed, including the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Patient Health Questionnaire. Predictors in the analysis included parosmia and phantosmia, with covariates comprising age, sex, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, COVID-19 infection status, and smoking status. RESULTS Among 250 individuals, 5.2% experienced parosmia and 4.4% reported phantosmia. Parosmia was associated with higher Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores (β = 7.14; 95% confidence interval = 3.31, 10.96; P < 0.001), whereas phantosmia was linked to higher Patient Health Questionnaire scores (β = 3.32; 95% confidence interval = 0.22, 6.42; P = 0.03). These associations persisted in both the full sample and the subset of participants without COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights strong existing links among olfactory deficits, problem drinking, and depressive symptoms, underscoring the need to assess smell impairments in clinical settings. Future research should explore these connections further to develop new treatments for individuals with AUD and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khushbu Agarwal
- From the Section of Sensory Science and Metabolism, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (KA, PVJ); Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (JWL, MLS, DG, ND); Human Psychopharmacology Laboratory, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (BLS, VAR); Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD (DG); Clinical NeuroImaging Research Core, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD (RM); Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN (DAK); and Section on Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research and National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health (LL)
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Addolorato G, Alho H, Bresciani M De Andrade P, Lesch OM, Liu L, Johnson B. Safety and compliance of long-term low-dose ondansetron in alcohol use disorder treatment. Eur J Intern Med 2024:S0953-6205(24)00123-7. [PMID: 38521730 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2024.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The increasing prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and the parallel surge in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive alcohol management strategies. Low-dose ondansetron (AD04, a 5-HT3 antagonist) was shown recently to be a promising treatment for AUD with a specific genotypic profile (5-marker). The liver safety of AD04 has never been evaluated in subjects with AUD. The aim of the present study was to assess the liver safety profile of AD04 compared with placebo in subjects with AUD. METHODS Liver biochemical parameters were assessed in subjects with AUD with a 5-marker genetic profile who participated in a Phase 3 randomized controlled trial and received either twice-daily, low-dose AD04 (ondansetron 0.33 mg twice daily) or matching placebo, combined with brief psychosocial counseling. ALT, AST, GGT, Serum Bilirubin, MCV, and Prothrombin were evaluated at weeks 0, 12, and 24. Adverse cardiac events, general well-being, and study completion were also assessed. RESULTS Low-dose AD04 did not significantly change biochemical markers of liver injury, such as ALT, AST, and Serum Bilirubin. While patients with AUD displayed elevated GGT levels, typically associated with increased alcohol consumption, this parameter remained unaffected by low-dose AD04. Notably, no significant adverse effects were observed due to oral low-dose AD04 treatment. CONCLUSIONS Low-dose AD04 has the potential to be a safe treatment option for subjects with AUD and ALD, indicating the need for an RCT for this specific cohort. Such a trial would pave the way for the design of a precision treatment for combined AUD with ALD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Addolorato
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Università Cattolica di Roma, Rome, Italy; Internal Medicine and Alcohol Related Disease Unit, Columbus-Gemelli Hospital, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Hannu Alho
- Addiction Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland; Addictum Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | - Lei Liu
- Division of Biostatistics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bankole Johnson
- Medical Officer, Adial Pharmaceuticals Inc., Division of Biomedical Sciences, Larkin University, Miami, USA
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Díaz LA, Arab JP, Leggio L. Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor use in alcohol-associated hepatitis: is it time to promote liver regeneration? THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2024; 50:128-131. [PMID: 38593134 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2024.2308789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Luis Antonio Díaz
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Pablo Arab
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University & London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Lorenzo Leggio
- Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Division of Addiction Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
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Luk JW, Satre DD, Cheung R, Wong RJ, Monto A, Chen JY, Batki SL, Ostacher MJ, Snyder HR, Shui AM, Liao M, Haight CG, Khalili M. Problematic alcohol use and its impact on liver disease quality of life in a multicenter study of patients with cirrhosis. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0379. [PMID: 38315141 PMCID: PMC10843394 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Management of cirrhosis is challenging and has been complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic due to decreased access to care, increased psychological distress, and alcohol misuse. Recently, The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has broadened the definition of recovery from alcohol use disorder to include quality of life (QoL) as an indicator of recovery. This study examined the associations of alcohol-associated cirrhosis etiology and problematic drinking with liver disease QoL (LDQoL). METHODS Patients with cirrhosis (N=329) were recruited from 3 sites (63% from 2 Veterans Affairs Health Care Systems and 37% from 1 safety net hospital) serving populations that are economically or socially marginalized. Cirrhosis etiology was ascertained by chart review of medical records. Problematic drinking was defined by ≥8 on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Multivariable general linear modeling adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, site, pandemic-related stress, and history of anxiety/depressive disorder were conducted. Sensitivity analyses further adjusted for indicators of liver disease severity. RESULTS Participants were on average 64.6 years old, 17% female, 58% non-White, 44% with alcohol-associated cirrhosis, and 17% with problematic drinking. Problematic drinking was significantly associated with worse LDQoL scores in the overall scale and in the memory/concentration and health distress subscales. These associations remained significant after adjusting for indicators of liver disease severity, including Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Sodium score and decompensated cirrhosis status. CONCLUSIONS Among patients with cirrhosis, problematic drinking was associated with worse LDQoL, especially in the domains of memory/concentration and health distress. Assessment and awareness of cognitive deficits and negative emotionality within the context of cirrhosis and problematic drinking may help clinicians provide better integrated care for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy W. Luk
- Office of the Clinical Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Derek D. Satre
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Division of Research, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Ramsey Cheung
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Gastroenterology Section, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Robert J. Wong
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Gastroenterology Section, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Alexander Monto
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Veterans Affairs San Francisco Health Care System, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jennifer Y. Chen
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zuckerberg San Francisco General, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Steven L. Batki
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Mental Health Service, Veterans Affairs San Francisco Health Care System, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Michael J. Ostacher
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Hannah R. Snyder
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Amy M. Shui
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Meimei Liao
- Gastroenterology Section, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Christina G. Haight
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Veterans Affairs San Francisco Health Care System, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Mandana Khalili
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zuckerberg San Francisco General, San Francisco, California, USA
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Julien J, Ayer T, Tapper EB, Chhatwal J. The Rising Costs of Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease in the United States. Am J Gastroenterol 2024; 119:270-277. [PMID: 37463414 PMCID: PMC10872874 DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is rising in the United States because of an increase in high-risk drinking, but population-level ALD cost is unknown. Our aim was to project the direct and indirect costs associated with ALD in the US population through 2040. METHODS We used a previously validated microsimulation model of alcohol consumption and ALD with model parameters estimated from publicly available data sources, including the National Epidemiologic Survey Alcohol and Related Conditions-III, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and published studies informing the impact of alcohol consumption on ALD severity in the United States resident population. The simulated scenario included current and projected ALD-associated costs. RESULTS From 2022 to 2040, the ALD is projected to cost $880 billion, $355 billion in direct healthcare-related costs, and $525 billion in lost labor and economic consumption. The annual cost of ALD is projected to increase from $31 billion in 2022 to $66 billion (118% increase) in 2040. Although the female population makes up 29% of these costs in 2022, by 2040 on a per annum basis, female costs would be 43% of the total annual expenditure. DISCUSSION Increased consumption of alcohol in the US population, especially in females, will cause a steep rise in the economic burden of ALD in the United States. These findings highlight the need for planners and policymakers to plan for the increased impact of liver disease in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jovan Julien
- Institute for Technology Assessment, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Turgay Ayer
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
| | | | - Jagpreet Chhatwal
- Institute for Technology Assessment, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Center for Health Decision Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
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Bhala N, Mellinger J, Asrani SK, Shah VH. Tackling the burden of preventable liver disease in the USA. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 9:9-10. [PMID: 37956688 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-1253(23)00361-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Neeraj Bhala
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
| | - Jessica Mellinger
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sumeet K Asrani
- Baylor University Medical Center, Baylor Scott and White Health, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Vijay H Shah
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Tyler RE, Leggio L. Biological basis of addiction and alcohol use disorder. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken) 2024; 23:e0177. [PMID: 38831763 PMCID: PMC11146604 DOI: 10.1097/cld.0000000000000177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
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Yamashiki N, Kawabata K, Murata M, Ikeda S, Fujimaki T, Suwa K, Seki T, Aramaki E, Naganuma M. Narrowing the Patient-Physician Gap Based on Self-Reporting and Monthly Hepatologist Feedback for Patients With Alcohol-Related Liver Disease: Interventional Pilot Study Using a Journaling Smartphone App. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e44762. [PMID: 38113066 PMCID: PMC10762609 DOI: 10.2196/44762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Screening and intervention for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are recommended to improve the prognosis of patients with alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). Most patients' smartphone app diaries record drinking behavior for self-monitoring. A smartphone app can be expected to also be helpful for physicians because it can provide rich patient information to hepatologists, leading to suitable feedback. We conducted this prospective pilot study to assess the use of a smartphone app as a journaling tool and as a self-report-based feedback source for patients with ALD. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were assessment of whether journaling (self-report) and self-report-based feedback can help patients maintain abstinence and improve liver function data. METHODS This pilot study used a newly developed smartphone journaling app for patients, with input data that physicians can review. After patients with ALD were screened for harmful alcohol use, some were invited to use the smartphone journaling app for 8 weeks. Their self-reported alcohol intake, symptoms, and laboratory data were recorded at entry, week 4, and week 8. Biomarkers for alcohol use included gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), percentage of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin to transferrin (%CDT), and GGT-CDT (GGT-CDT= 0.8 × ln[GGT] + 1.3 × ln[%CDT]). At each visit, their recorded data were reviewed by a hepatologist to evaluate changes in alcohol consumption and laboratory data. The relation between those outcomes and app usage was also investigated. RESULTS Of 14 patients agreeing to participate, 10 completed an 8-week follow-up, with diary input rates between 44% and 100% of the expected days. Of the 14 patients, 2 withdrew from clinical follow-up, and 2 additional patients never used the smartphone journaling app. Using the physician's view, a treating hepatologist gave feedback via comments to patients at each visit. Mean self-reported alcohol consumption dropped from baseline (100, SD 70 g) to week 4 (13, SD 25 g; P=.002) and remained lower at week 8 (13, SD 23 g; P=.007). During the study, 5 patients reported complete abstinence. No significant changes were found in mean GGT and mean %CDT alone, but the mean GGT-CDT combination dropped significantly from entry (5.2, SD 1.2) to the week 4 visit (4.8, SD 1.1; P=.02) and at week 8 (4.8, SD 1.0; P=.01). During the study period, decreases in mean total bilirubin (3.0, SD 2.4 mg/dL to 2.4, SD 1.9 mg/dL; P=.01) and increases in mean serum albumin (3.0, SD 0.9 g/dL to 3.3, SD 0.8 g/dL; P=.009) were recorded. CONCLUSIONS These pilot study findings revealed that a short-term intervention with a smartphone journaling app used by both patients and treatment-administering hepatologists was associated with reduced drinking and improved liver function. TRIAL REGISTRATION UMIN CTR UMIN000045285; http://tinyurl.com/yvvk38tj.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriyo Yamashiki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University Medical Center, Osaka, Japan
- The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kyoko Kawabata
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Miki Murata
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University Medical Center, Osaka, Japan
- The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shunichiro Ikeda
- Department of Psychiatry, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takako Fujimaki
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Kanehiko Suwa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University Medical Center, Osaka, Japan
- The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toshihito Seki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University Medical Center, Osaka, Japan
| | - Eiji Aramaki
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Ikoma, Japan
| | - Makoto Naganuma
- The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
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Diaz LA, Winder GS, Leggio L, Bajaj JS, Bataller R, Arab JP. New insights into the molecular basis of alcohol abstinence and relapse in alcohol-associated liver disease. Hepatology 2023:01515467-990000000-00605. [PMID: 37862466 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder remains a significant public health concern, affecting around 5% of adults worldwide. Novel pathways of damage have been described during the last years, providing insight into the mechanism of injury due to alcohol misuse beyond the direct effect of ethanol byproducts on the liver parenchyma and neurobehavioral mechanisms. Thus, the gut-liver-brain axis and immune system involvement could be therapeutic targets for alcohol use disorder. In particular, changes in gut microbiota composition and function, and bile acid homeostasis, have been shown with alcohol consumption and cessation. Alcohol can also directly disrupt intestinal and blood-brain barriers. Activation of the immune system can be triggered by intestinal barrier dysfunction and translocation of bacteria, pathogen-associated molecular patterns (such as lipopolysaccharide), cytokines, and damage-associated molecular patterns. These factors, in turn, promote liver and brain inflammation and the progression of liver fibrosis. Other involved mechanisms include oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and the release of extracellular vesicles and miRNA from hepatocytes. Potential therapeutic targets include gut microbiota (probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation), neuroinflammatory pathways, as well as neuroendocrine pathways, for example, the ghrelin system (ghrelin receptor blockade), incretin mimetics (glucagon-like peptide-1 analogs), and the mineralocorticoid receptor system (spironolactone). In addition, support with psychological and behavioral treatments is essential to address the multiple dimensions of alcohol use disorder. In the future, a personalized approach considering these novel targets can contribute to significantly decreasing the alcohol-associated burden of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Antonio Diaz
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Lorenzo Leggio
- Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology Section, Translational Addiction Medicine Branch, National Institutes of Health, NIDA and NIAAA, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jasmohan S Bajaj
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Virginia Commonwealth University and Central Virginia Veterans Health Care System, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Ramon Bataller
- Liver Unit, Hospital Clinic, Institut d'Investigacions August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Pablo Arab
- Departamento de Gastroenterología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract
Clinical trials have been a central driver of change and have provided the evidence base necessary to advance new therapies for liver diseases. This review provides a perspective on the status of trials in hepatology and a vantage point into the emerging capabilities and external forces that will shape the conduct of clinical trials in the future. The adaptations to clinical trial operations in response to the disruptions by the COVID-19 pandemic and opportunities for innovation in hepatology trials are emphasized. Future trials in hepatology will be driven by unmet therapeutic needs and fueled by technological advances incorporating digital capabilities with expanded participant-derived data collection, computing, and analytics. Their design will embrace innovative trial designs adapted to these advances and that emphasize broader and more inclusive participant engagement. Their conduct will be further shaped by evolving regulatory needs and the emergence of new stakeholders in the clinical trials ecosystem. The evolution of clinical trials will offer unique opportunities to advance new therapeutics that will ultimately improve the lives of patients with liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Y Kwo
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Tushar Patel
- Department of Transplantation, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
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11
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Lin CY, Omoscharka E, Liu Y, Cheng K. Establishment of a Rat Model of Alcoholic Liver Fibrosis with Simulated Human Drinking Patterns and Low-Dose Chemical Stimulation. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1293. [PMID: 37759693 PMCID: PMC10526499 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Although alcohol is a well-known causal factor associated with liver diseases, challenges remain in inducing liver fibrosis in experimental rodent models. These challenges include rodents' natural aversion to high concentrations of alcohol, rapid alcohol metabolism, the need for a prolonged duration of alcohol administration, and technical difficulties. Therefore, it is crucial to establish an experimental model that can replicate the features of alcoholic liver fibrosis. The objective of this study was to develop a feasible rat model of alcoholic liver fibrosis that emulates human drinking patterns and combines low-dose chemicals within a relatively short time frame. We successfully developed an 8-week rat model of alcoholic liver fibrosis that mimics chronic and heavy drinking patterns. Rats were fed with a control liquid diet, an alcohol liquid diet, or alcohol liquid diet combined with multiple binges via oral gavage. To accelerate the progression of alcoholic liver fibrosis, we introduced low-dose carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) through intraperitoneal injection. This model allows researchers to efficiently evaluate potential therapeutics in preclinical studies of alcoholic liver fibrosis within a reasonable time frame.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Yu Lin
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Evanthia Omoscharka
- Department of Pathology, University Health/Truman Medical Center, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2301 Holmes Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Yanli Liu
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
| | - Kun Cheng
- Division of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2464 Charlotte Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
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12
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Mellinger JL, Fernandez AC, Winder GS. Management of alcohol use disorder in patients with chronic liver disease. Hepatol Commun 2023; 7:e00145. [PMID: 37314739 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) rates have risen dramatically in the United States, resulting in increasing rates of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), but many patients struggle to access alcohol use treatment. AUD treatment improves outcomes, including mortality, and represents the most urgent means by which care can be improved for those with liver disease (including ALD and others) and AUD. AUD care for those with liver disease involves 3 steps: detecting alcohol use, diagnosing AUD, and directing patients to alcohol treatment. Detecting alcohol use can involve questioning during the clinical interview, the use of standardized alcohol use surveys, and alcohol biomarkers. Identifying and diagnosing AUD are interview-based processes that should ideally be performed by a trained addiction professional, but nonaddiction clinicians can use surveys to determine the severity of hazardous drinking. Referral to formal AUD treatment should be made, especially where more severe AUD is suspected or identified. Therapeutic modalities are numerous and include different forms of one-on-one psychotherapy, such as motivational enhancement therapy or cognitive behavior therapy, group therapy, community mutual aid societies (such as Alcoholics Anonymous), inpatient addiction treatment, and relapse prevention medications. Finally, integrated care approaches that build strong relationships between addiction professionals and hepatologists or medical providers caring for those with liver disease are crucial to improving care for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Mellinger
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Anne C Fernandez
- Department of Psychiatry, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - G Scott Winder
- Department of Psychiatry, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Neurology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Boschuetz N, German MN. Alcohol use disorder: Recognition, testing, and initial management strategies. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken) 2023; 22:18-22. [PMID: 37521184 PMCID: PMC10378729 DOI: 10.1097/cld.0000000000000062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
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Alcohol consumption and metabolic syndrome: Clinical and epidemiological impact on liver disease. J Hepatol 2023; 78:191-206. [PMID: 36063967 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use and metabolic syndrome are highly prevalent in the population and frequently co-exist. Both are implicated in a large range of health problems, including chronic liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related outcomes (i.e. decompensation or liver transplantation). Studies have yielded mixed results regarding the effects of mild-moderate alcohol consumption on the risk of metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease, possibly due to methodological differences. The few available prospective studies have indicated that mild-moderate alcohol use is associated with an increase in liver-related outcomes. This conclusion was substantiated by systems biology analyses suggesting that alcohol and metabolic syndrome may play a similar role in fatty liver disease, potentiating an already existing dysregulation of common vital homeostatic pathways. Alcohol and metabolic factors are independently and jointly associated with liver-related outcomes. Indeed, metabolic syndrome increases the risk of liver-related outcomes, regardless of alcohol intake. Moreover, the components of metabolic syndrome appear to have additive effects when it comes to the risk of liver-related outcomes. A number of population studies have implied that measures of central/abdominal obesity, such as the waist-to-hip ratio, can predict liver-related outcomes more accurately than BMI, including in individuals who consume harmful quantities of alcohol. Many studies even point to synergistic interactions between harmful alcohol use and many metabolic components. This accumulating evidence showing independent, combined, and modifying effects of alcohol and metabolic factors on the onset and progression of chronic liver disease highlights the multifactorial background of liver disease in the population. The available evidence suggests that more holistic approaches could be useful for risk prediction, diagnostics and treatment planning.
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