Incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in Danish men and women with a prolonged heavy alcohol intake

Alcoholic Liver Disease in China: A Disease Influenced by Complex Social Factors That Should Not Be Neglected

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) encompasses liver damage caused by chronic, excessive alcohol consumption. It manifests initially as marked hepatocellular steatosis and can progress to steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis. With China's rapid economic growth, coupled with a complex social background and the influence of a deleterious wine culture, the number of patients with ALD in China has increased significantly; the disease has become a social and health problem that cannot be ignored. In this review, we briefly described the social factors affecting ALD in China and elaborated on differences between alcoholic and other liver diseases in terms of complications (e.g., cirrhosis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma, addiction, and other extrahepatic diseases). We also emphasized that ALD was more dangerous and difficult to treat than other liver diseases due to its complications, and that precise and effective treatment measures were lacking. In addition, we considered new ideas and treatment methods that may be generated in the future.

Cholesterol antagonism of alcohol inhibition of smooth muscle BK channel requires cell integrity and involves a protein kinase C-dependent mechanism(s)

Alcohol constricts cerebral arteries via inhibition of voltage/calcium-gated, large conductance potassium (BK) channels in vascular myocytes. Using a rat model of high-cholesterol (high-CLR) diet and CLR enrichment of cerebral arteries in vitro, we recently showed that CLR protected against alcohol-induced constriction of cerebral arteries. The subcellular mechanism(s) underlying CLR protection against alcohol-induced constriction of the artery is unclear. Here we use a rat model of high-CLR diet and patch-clamp recording of BK channels in inside-out patches from cerebral artery myocytes to demonstrate that this diet antagonizes inhibition of BK currents by 50 mM ethanol. High-CLR-driven protection against alcohol inhibition of BK currents is reversed following CLR depletion in vitro. Similar to CLR accumulation in vivo, pre-incubation of arterial myocytes from normocholesterolemic rats in CLR-enriching media in vitro protects against alcohol-induced inhibition of BK current. However, application of CLR-enriching media to cell-free membrane patches does not protect against the alcohol effect. These different outcomes point to the involvement of cell signaling in CLR-alcohol interaction on BK channels. Incubation of myocytes with the PKC activators phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol, but not with the PKC inhibitor Gouml 6983, prior to patch excision precludes CLR enrichment from antagonizing alcohol action. Thus, PKC activation either disables the CLR target(s) or competes with elevated CLR. Favoring the latter possibility, 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol protects against alcohol-induced inhibition of BK currents in patches from myocytes with naïve CLR. Our findings document that CLR antagonism of alcohol-induced BK channel inhibition requires cell integrity and is enabled by a PKC-dependent mechanism(s).

Neuroprotective Effects of Selected Microbial-Derived Phenolic Metabolites and Aroma Compounds from Wine in Human SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells and Their Putative Mechanisms of Action

Moderate wine consumption has shown the potential to delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of wine-derived phenolic and aroma compounds in a neuroinflammation model based on SIN-1 stress-induced injury in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Cell pretreatment with microbial metabolites found in blood after wine consumption, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic (3,4-DHPA), 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acids and salicylic β-d-O-glucuronide, at physiologically concentrations (0.1–10 μM) resulted in increased cell viability versus SIN-1 control group (p < 0.05). Results also showed significant decreases in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 and ERK1/2 activation as well as in downstream pro-apoptotic caspase-3 activity by some of the studied compounds. Moreover, pretreatment with p38, MEK, and ERK1/2-specific inhibitors, which have a phenolic-like structure, also resulted in an increase on cell survival and a reduction on caspase-3 activity levels. Overall, these results contribute with new evidences related to the neuroprotective actions of wine, pointing out that wine-derived human metabolites and aroma compounds may be effective at protecting neuroblastoma cells from nitrosative stress injury by inhibiting neuronal MAPK p38 and ERK1/2, as well as downstream caspase 3 activity.

Health behavior change following a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ: An opportunity to improve health outcomes

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non-invasive breast cancer that comprises approximately 20% of new breast cancer diagnoses. DCIS is predominantly detected by screening mammography prior to the development of any clinical symptoms. Prognosis following a DCIS diagnosis is excellent, due to both the availability of effective treatments and the frequently benign nature of the disease. However, a DCIS diagnosis and its treatment have psychological and physical impacts that often lead to adverse changes in health-related behaviors, including changes in physical activity, body weight, alcohol intake, and smoking, which may represent a greater threat to the woman's overall health than the DCIS itself. Depending on age at diagnosis, women diagnosed with DCIS are 3-13 times more likely to die from non-breast cancer related causes, such as cardiovascular disease, than from breast cancer. Thus, the maintenance and improvement of healthy behaviors that influence a variety of outcomes after diagnosis may warrant increased attention during DCIS management. This may also represent an important opportunity to promote the adoption of healthy behaviors, given that DCIS carries the psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis but also a favorable prognosis. Particular focus is needed to address these issues in vulnerable patient subgroups with pre-existing higher rates of unhealthy behaviors and demonstrated health disparities.

Clinical differences between alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are serious health problems worldwide. These two diseases have similar pathological spectra, ranging from simple hepatic steatosis to steatohepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although most subjects with excessive alcohol or food intake experience simple hepatic steatosis, a small percentage of individuals will develop progressive liver disease. Notably, both ALD and NAFLD are frequently accompanied by extrahepatic complications, including cardiovascular disease and malignancy. The survival of patients with ALD and NAFLD depends on various disease-associated conditions. This review delineates the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with ALD and NAFLD by comparing their epidemiology, the factors associated with disease susceptibility and progression, and the predictors and characteristics of outcomes. A comprehensive understanding of the characteristics and outcomes of ALD and NAFLD is imperative in the management of these chronic liver diseases.

Demographic and clinical profile of substance abusing women seeking treatment at a de-addiction center in north India

BACKGROUND

In the recent decades increasing number of women have been seeking deaddiction services. Despite that the report data is very limited from India.

OBJECTIVES

The present research aimed to study the demographic and clinical profile of women seeking deaddiction treatment at a tertiary care center in North India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective structured chart review of 100 women substance abusers seeking treatment at a deaddiction center between September 1978 and December 2011.

RESULTS

A typical case was of 36.3 years age, married (65%), urban (61%), nuclear family (59%) based housewife (56%), with good to fair social support (69%). The commonest substance of abuse was tobacco (60%), followed by opioids (27%), alcohol (15%), and benzodiazepines (13%). The common reasons for initiation of substance use were to alleviate frustration or stress (49%) and curiosity (37%). Family history of drug dependence (43%), comorbidity (25%), and impairments in health (74%), family (57%), and social domains (56%) were common. Only a third of the sample paid one or more follow visit, and of those 58% were abstinent at the last follow-up. Significant predictors identified were being non-Hindu and higher educational years for abstinent status at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The common substances of abuse were tobacco, opioids, and alcohol and benzodiazepines; and family history of drug abuse and comorbidity were common. The follow-up and outcome were generally poor. This profile gives us some clues to address a hidden health problem of the community.