Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Aug 2014
A moderating role for gender in racial/ethnic disparities in alcohol services utilization: results from the 2000 to 2010 national alcohol surveys.
Few nationally representative studies have examined racial/ethnic disparities in alcohol services utilization. Further, little is known about whether racial/ethnic disparities generalize across genders, and what factors account for these disparities. Thus, we aimed to describe the combined impact of race/ethnicity and gender on alcohol services utilization, and to explore the roles for social influence factors in explaining racial/ethnic and gender disparities. ⋯ Findings for substantial Latino-White and Black-White disparities, especially among women, highlight the need for continuing research on explanatory factors and the development of appropriate interventions. Meanwhile, our evidence for persistent gender disparities and for social influence factors as drivers of these disparities tentatively suggests a need for intensified outreach to female heavy drinkers.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Jul 2014
Associations between a history of binge drinking during adolescence and self-reported responses to alcohol in young adult Native and Mexican Americans.
Binge drinking during adolescence is common and may predict increased drinking in young adulthood and enhanced risk of alcohol dependence. Variation in level of response to the hedonic and adverse effects of alcohol is in part an inherited factor that may also influence its use, abuse, and dependence. This study investigated, in young adults, whether an association could be demonstrated between variation in self-reported responses to alcohol and a history of binge drinking during adolescence. ⋯ These data suggest that a history of adolescent binge drinking is associated with a reduction in the self-reported level of intoxication in young adulthood, a factor that could theoretically lead to increased risk of alcohol dependence.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Jun 2014
Modulation of fatty acid and bile acid metabolism by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α protects against alcoholic liver disease.
Chronic alcohol intake affects liver function and causes hepatic pathological changes. It has been shown that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα)-null mice developed more pronounced hepatic changes than wild-type (WT) mice after chronic exposure to a diet containing 4% alcohol. The remarkable similarity between the histopathology of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in Ppara-null model and in humans, and the fact that PPARα expression and activity in human liver are less than one-tenth of those in WT mouse liver make Ppara-null a good system to investigate ALD. ⋯ These observations indicate that PPARα plays a protective role to enhance mitochondrial function in response to chronic alcohol consumption by adaptive transcriptional activation and suggest that activation of this nuclear receptor may be of therapeutic value in the treatment for ALD.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · Jun 2014
Racial/ethnic disparities in alcohol-related problems: differences by gender and level of heavy drinking.
While prior studies have reported racial/ethnic disparities in alcohol-related problems at a given level of heavy drinking (HD), particularly lower levels, it is unclear whether these occur in both genders and are an artifact of racial/ethnic differences in drink alcohol content. Such information is important to understanding disparities and developing specific, targeted interventions. This study addresses these questions and examines disparities in specific types of alcohol problems across racial-gender groups. ⋯ This study highlights the gender-specific nature of racial/ethnic disparities. Interventions focused on reducing HD might not address disparities in alcohol-related problems that exist at low levels of HD. Future research should consider the potential role of environmental and genetic factors in these disparities.
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Alcohol. Clin. Exp. Res. · May 2014
International alcohol control study: pricing data and hours of purchase predict heavier drinking.
This study reports findings from the International Alcohol Control (IAC) study that assesses the impact of alcohol control policy on consumption and policy-related behaviors. Modeled on the International Tobacco Control study that uses longitudinal surveys with comparison between countries, the baseline survey was carried out in New Zealand. This study reports analysis of the purchasing behavior respondents report separately for on- and off-premise outlets, providing validation data for both alcohol consumption and reported prices. ⋯ Valid survey data were collected to give an accurate picture of alcohol consumption and prices paid by drinkers. Heavy drinkers were more likely to buy cheaper alcohol and purchase at later times; 2 policy issues under discussion in many settings. This analysis suggests the IAC study that has the potential to provide data to contribute to the debate on appropriate policy responses to reduce alcohol-related harm.