Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Jan 2014
Multicenter StudyThe Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) in the assessment of alcohol use disorders among acute injury patients.
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C) is a brief alcohol screening test and a candidate for inclusion in recommended screening and brief intervention protocols for acute injury patients. The objective of the current study was to examine the performance of the AUDIT-C to risk stratify injury patients with regard to their probability of having an alcohol use disorder. ⋯ The findings of SSLR analysis can be used to improve estimates of the probability of alcohol use disorder in acute injury patients based on AUDIT-C scores. In turn, this information can inform clinical interventions and the development of screening and intervention protocols in a range of settings.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Dec 2013
The cytokine mRNA increase induced by withdrawal from chronic ethanol in the sterile environment of brain is mediated by CRF and HMGB1 release.
Many neurobiological factors may initiate and sustain alcoholism. Recently, dysregulation of the neuroimmune system by chronic ethanol (CE) has implicated Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation. Even though TLR4s are linked to CE initiation of brain cytokine mRNAs, the means by which CE influences neuroimmune signaling in brain in the absence of infection remains uncertain. Therefore, the hypothesis is tested that release of an endogenous TLR4 agonist, high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and/or corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) during CE withdrawal are responsible for CE protocols increasing cytokine mRNAs. ⋯ By blocking HMGB1 or CRF action during CE withdrawal, evidence is provided that HMGB1 and CRF release are critical for the CE withdrawal induction of selected brain cytokine mRNAs. Consequently, these results clarify a means by which withdrawal from CE exposure activates neuroimmune function in the sterile milieu of brain.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Oct 2013
Multicenter StudyNeurocognition in 1-month-abstinent treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent individuals: interactive effects of age and chronic cigarette smoking.
Increasing age and chronic cigarette smoking are independently associated with adverse effects on multiple aspects of neurocognition in those seeking treatment for alcohol use disorders. However, the potential interactive effects of age and cigarette smoking on neurocognition in early abstinent alcohol-dependent individuals (ALC) have not investigated. ⋯ The age-related findings suggest that the combination of active chronic smoking and alcohol dependence in this 1-month-abstinent ALC cohort was associated with greater than normal age-related effects in multiple domains. In general, a low level of clinically significant impairment was observed in the alcohol-dependent participants. The findings from this study, in conjunction with previous research, strongly support smoking cessation interventions for those seeking treatment for alcohol and substance use disorders.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Oct 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialEmergency department-based brief intervention to reduce risky driving and hazardous/harmful drinking in young adults: a randomized controlled trial.
Risky driving and hazardous drinking are associated with significant human and economic costs. Brief interventions for more than one risky behavior have the potential to reduce health-compromising behaviors in populations with multiple risk-taking behaviors such as young adults. Emergency department (ED) visits provide a window of opportunity for interventions meant to reduce both risky driving and hazardous drinking. ⋯ Our findings indicate that SBIRT reduced risky driving and hazardous drinking in young adults, but its effects did not persist after 9 months. Future research should explore methods for extending the intervention effect.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Sep 2013
Observational StudyImpact of lifetime alcohol use on liver fibrosis in a population of HIV-infected patients with and without hepatitis C coinfection.
The effect of alcohol on liver disease in HIV infection has not been well characterized. ⋯ In this cohort of HIV-infected patients with alcohol problems, we found no significant association between lifetime alcohol consumption and the absence of liver fibrosis or the presence of advanced liver fibrosis, suggesting that alcohol may be less important than other known factors that promote liver fibrosis in this population.