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Alcohol abuse is one of the main causes of health problems in the world. In response to these alcohol-related health consequences, telehealth supportive counseling has emerged, offering new strategies of dealing with addition problems. Most of telehealth supportive counseling strategies are focused on coping more precisely with positive and negative thinking. The aim of presented study was to examine the relationships between positive thinking, and other coping strategies inherent to human thinking, to refuse alcohol. For this purpose, a total of 232 people participated in the study, all of them were users of a telehealth supportive counseling in Brazil. A batch of questionnaires was employed. This included the sociodemographic information, IDHEA-AD scores and the Coping Behaviours Inventory (CBI-20). After an analysis of mediation, the results indicated that the relationship between negative and positive thinking might be mediated by the assertiveness to refuse. These results suggest that this type of supportive counseling modality might be helpful for users and health professionals. More research is needed to examine the innumerable possibilities of the telehealth tools using as a strategy to deal with the coping variables related to quitting alcohol use.

Purpose: to evaluate the effect of labor on pelvic floor muscles strength. Methods: Two hundred pregnant women at beginning of the 9th month of pregnancy were selected randomly from antenatal care clinic of Kasr Al-Aini University Hospital in Cairo, Cairo University. Their ages were ranged from 25 to 35 years old and their body mass index was not exceeding 35 kg/m2. They were Primigravida and Multigravida. Women who had history of pelvic disease, any previous pelvic operations, diabetes mellitus, history of abortion and history of pre-eclampsia or smokers and alcohol abusers are excluded from the study. 133 women delivered normal labor (55 primipara and 78 multipara) (Group A) and 67 women delivered by cesarean section (29 primipara and 38 multipara) (Group B). Pelvic floor muscles strength was evaluated for all women by using TG Myo feedback 420v at beginning of the 9th month of pregnancy and after 6 weeks postnatal. Results: Results of this study found that there was a statistically highly significant decrease (P

The future of every nation lies in the hands of the youth who are expected to be strong and healthy. Most youths put their future into jeopardy by indulging in risky health habits, particularly alcoholism. The purpose of this study was to find out the factors contributing to Alcoholism among the youth in New Edubiase. The study was quantitative with a descriptive cross-sectional design. The study population was a youth in New Edubiase. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 350. A questionnaire was used for collecting the data. The results were presented in frequencies, percentages and chi-square test. The study found out that the use of alcohol among the youth was low as most of them were uncertain of taking alcoholic beverages. Again, there was high knowledge about alcohol use and its implication on the health of abusers. Further, interventions for alcohol use include punishment of alcohol abusers, enforcement of laws on sales of alcoholic products and the prohibition of an advertisement on alcohol before 9:00 pm. In conclusion, the high knowledge of the youth about alcoholic products and the effect of the health of alcohol abusers could be due to the effort of a health care professional in educating the masses about the health implication. It was recommended that the Food and Drugs Authority must ensure that all media houses adhere to the new directive on the ban of advertisements on alcoholic beverages before 9:00 pm.

Background: Despite the growing epidemic of problematic Internet use (PIU), little information is available on PIU and related factors in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 4261 university students among 13 universities throughout the country in 2017. The data collection tool included demographic characteristics, the status of using the Internet, social media, computer games, tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs, suicide ideation and attempt, and unprotected sex. PIU was measured using the 15-item PIU questionnaire. The status of general health was evaluated using the 28-item general health questionnaire (GHQ) questionnaire. The simple and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to measure the crude and adjusted associations between various factors and PIU. Results: Of 4261 university students, 55.9% were female, 13.5% were smokers, 4.9% were drug abusers, 7.9% were alcohol abusers, 7.8% had unprotected sex in the past year, 7.4% had suicidal ideation in the past month, 1.7% had attempted suicide in the past year, and 27.3% suffered from PIU. Only 61.1% had normal health. In contrast, 30.9%, 7.2%, and 0.8% had mild, moderate, and severe general health problems, respectively. There were significant relationships between PIU and age group 20-24 vs.

DNA methylation-based clocks provide the most accurate age estimates with practical implications for clinical and forensic genetics. However, the effects of external factors that may influence the estimates are poorly studied. Here, we evaluated the effect of alcohol consumption on epigenetic age prediction in a cohort of extreme alcohol abusers. Blood samples from deceased alcohol abusers and age- and sex-matched controls were analyzed using the VISAGE enhanced tool for age prediction from somatic tissues that enables examination of 44 CpGs within eight age markers. Significantly altered DNA methylation was recorded for alcohol abusers in MIR29B2CHG. This resulted in a mean predicted age of 1.4 years higher compared to the controls and this trend increased in older individuals. The association of alcohol abuse with epigenetic age acceleration, as determined by the prediction analysis performed based on MIR29B2CHG, was small but significant (β = 0.190; P-value = 0.007). However, the observed alteration in DNA methylation of MIR29B2CHG had a non-significant effect on age estimation with the VISAGE age prediction model. The mean absolute error in the alcohol-abusing cohort was 3.1 years, compared to 3.3 years in the control group. At the same time, upregulation of MIR29B2CHG expression may have a biological function, which merits further studies.

International audience; Researchers have claimed that craving and Attentional Bias (AB) towards alcohol-related cues can be explained by a common incentive-salience mechanism. However, the exact relationship between AB and craving is a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to show that metacognitions moderate the effect of AB on craving. A sample of 38 alcohol abusers undergoing post-withdrawal treating in a hospital setting completed the visual Dot Probe Detection Task (DPDT), while both pre- and post-task measures of craving were recorded. Our results confirmed significant effects of both exposure to pictures of alcohol, and metacognitions, on craving; in particular, the interaction Metacognition * DPDT was significant. Although we initially confirmed a significant main effect of AB on craving, it became non-significant when adjusted for inter-subject variance, and metacognitions. The effect of the interaction AB * Metacognition on craving was not significant. Our findings support the hypothesis that craving and AB share variance, but the relationship appears to be spurious, and caused by confounding factors. We discuss these results with reference to the metacognitive model of addiction.

Purpose\ud Autonomic dysfunction is a known consequence of chronic and excessive alcohol consumption. The aim of this systematic review was to characterise this phenomenon, describe the frequency at which it occurs and to explore the best management strategies.\ud \ud Methods\ud A systematic, computer-based search was conducted using the PubMed database. All studies identified by the search were evaluated independently by at least three authors. For inclusion, studies had to report human subjects consuming ethanol in excess. Case reports and non-original studies were excluded from this review.\ud \ud Results\ud A total of 55 studies were included in this review. According to cardiovascular reflex tests, 16–73% of chronic alcohol abusers suffer from autonomic dysfunction. The most commonly occurring symptom is erectile dysfunction, whilst other features such as postural dizziness are rare. The most important risk factor for this condition is total lifetime dose of ethanol, although there is mixed evidence supporting the role of other risk factors. The only management strategy currently explored in the literature is abstinence, which appears to lead to significant improvement in autonomic investigations.\ud \ud Conclusion\ud Current literature includes studies of highly heterogeneous populations, consuming differing volumes of alcohol over variable periods of time and utilising a number of different autonomic test batteries and criteria to diagnose autonomic dysfunction. Therefore, further research using homogeneous methods for measuring autonomic dysfunction in the field is needed. Despite this limitation, our review demonstrated that autonomic dysfunction is very common among alcohol abusers.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible differences between adolescents with an acute alcohol intoxication living in high- and low-population-density areas. Data were used from the Dutch Pediatric Surveillance System, which monitors acute alcohol intoxication among treated adolescents. During treatment, questionnaires are completed by the pediatricians involved, covering socio-demographic characteristics and circumstantial and treatment data. Adolescents eligible for inclusion in the current study had to be under the age of 18 years and have a positive blood alcohol concentration, and the living region was known. This resulted in analyzing data from the years 2007 until 2015, with a total of 4,895 questionnaires. This study shows that treated adolescents who are living in a high-population-density area are significantly younger (15.3 versus 15.5 years) and have a lower blood alcohol concentration at admittance (1.86 versus 1.90 g/l). The patients in the high-population-density areas are less from an autochthonous Dutch origin (86.0% versus 90.7%) and are more often enrolled in a higher educational level (45.4% versus 38.1%). Adolescents in urban areas drink more on the streets (27.7% versus 16.3%), in contrast to those living in a lower-population-density area, who drink in a bar or comparable place. Adolescents living is urban areas are overrepresented in the intoxication sample. This article is the first to describe the differences between alcohol-intoxicated adolescents in high- and low-population-density areas in the Netherlands. These findings are important for the awareness of alcohol abusers, and the design of future prevention strategies.Key messages Demographic, drinking, and intoxication characteristics during alcohol intoxication treatment differ for youngsters coming from high- and low-population-density areas. Youngsters from low-population areas turn out to be older, lower educated, more often Dutch, and drink more in bars, than their counterparts from high-population-density areas. Youngsters from lower density areas have higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels, and more often have parental approval to drink. Hospitalization periods are equal for both groups.

Purpose Determine the differences between those attempting the suicide for the first time and those having the recurrent suicide attempts. Material & method The consecutive 144 patients applied to the emergency department with the suicide attempt reason were prospectively evaluated. The patients attempting the suicide in previous years were grouped as the Recurrent Suicide Attempt (RSA) and patients attempting the suicide for the first time were grouped as the First Suicide Attempt (FSA), and their results were analyzed. Results 144 patients, whose ages were between 18 and 74 years old and age averages were 28.03 ± 9.9/years, were included in our study. 67% (n = 97) of the patients was female and 32.6% (n = 47) of them was male, and the female/male rate was 2.06. It was determined that the recurrent suicide attempts were more risky as 8.45 fold (p = 0.001, S.E = 0.650, HR: 8.45 (1.361–30.219.9)) in the smokers and 2.66 fold (S.E. = 0.476, p = 0.04, HR = 2.66 (1.047–6.765)) in the alcohol abusers with reference to the logistic regression analysis. Conclusion There are many risk factors depending on the individual and social environment in the RSA attempts. It was determined in our study that just the smoking and drinking alcohol increased the recurrent suicide attempt risk.

INTRODUZIONE E SCOPO: L'incremento di peso si osserva frequentemente nei pazienti sotto- posti a Trapianto di Fegato. Questa condizione e spesso associata allo sviluppo di altre compli- canze che potrebbero influenzare la sopravvivenza a lungo termine. Tuttavia, i fattori di rischio non sono stati ancora chiarificati. Lo scopo dello studio e di rilevare la prevalenza di sovrappeso e obesitaI€, e la variazione del BMI nei tre anni successivi al trapianto, e di identificare i fattori di rischio associati. METODO: Sono stati retrospettivamente reclutati i soggetti sottoposti a Trapianto di Fegato, presso la Fondazione IRCCS " CaI€ Granda – Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico" di Milano dal 1° Gennaio 2005 al 30 Giugno 2014.Sono stati reperiti parametri clinici, biochimici e farmaco- logici, alla dimissione e ad 1,2,3 anni dal trapianto di fegato. RISULTATI: Sono stati inclusi 145 soggetti, 95(66%) uomini, 53 anni (44-59), 48(33%) affetti da Cirrosi HBV+HDV correlata, 30(21%) da Cirrosi Etiltossica. Alla dimissione il BMI dei soggetti era 21.9 Kg/m2 e la prevalenza di sovrappeso era del 14%; gli stessi parametri dopo 1,2 e 3 anni di follow-up erano, rispettivamente, 25.6 Kg/m2 e 40%, 25.5 Kg/m2 e 41%, 25.4 Kg/m2 e 37%. L'incremento medio di peso corporeo, durane il primo anni, e stato di 9.8 Kg(p

In low tuberculosis incidence regions, tuberculosis is mainly concentrated among hard-to-reach populations like migrants, homeless people, drug or alcohol abusers, prisoners and people living with HIV. To be able to eliminate tuberculosis from these low incidence regions tuberculosis screening and treatment programs should focus on these hard-to-reach populations. Here we discuss the barriers and facilitators of health care-seeking, interventions improving tuberculosis screening uptake and interventions improving treatment adherence in these hard-to-reach populations.

Introduction: The article reviews attachment-oriented research in individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). Based on attachment theory, substance abuse can be understood as "self-medication," as an attempt to compensate for lacking attachment strategies. Attachment theory suggests a developmental pathway from insecure attachment to SUD and, on the other hand, a negative impact of substance abuse on attachment security. Earlier reviews have indicated a general link but have been inconclusive with regard to other aspects. In the light of a growing body of research, this review is looking for evidence for the general link, for its direction, for differences due to different patterns of attachment, different substances and severities, comorbid psychiatric disorders, and age groups. Methods: Using medical and psychological databases, 34 cross-sectional studies, three longitudinal studies, and a systematic meta-analysis were identified. Methodological problems such as poor assessment of SUD and the use of different measures of attachment limit comparability. Results: All cross-sectional studies in the review confirm a link between insecure attachment and SUD. Results of longitudinal studies show insecure attachment to be a risk factor for SUD, while continued substance abuse impairs the ability to form close relationships. With regard to specific patterns of attachment, results mainly point toward very insecure patterns. They indicate different patterns of attachment in different groups of substance abusers, suggesting different developmental pathways. Fearful-avoidant attachment was frequent in heroin addicts, while alcohol abusers displayed more heterogeneous patterns. Comorbid mental disorders and severity of SUD seem to be important factors, but data are still inconclusive. The link between insecure attachment and SUD seems to be stronger in adolescence compared to adulthood. Discussion: The last decades have seen a substantial growth in studies on attachment and SUDs. Despite methodological problems, the general link between insecure attachment and SUD today is well established. Attachment theory might contribute to the understanding and treatment of SUDs in a significant way. But to do so, a lot of open questions have to be answered. We will need more carefully designed longitudinal studies, more studies connecting psychological data with brain processes, and more clinical trials.

Aim Despite knowledge regarding the existence of alcohol cardiomyopathy the exact impact of alcohol abuse in consecutive subject is poorly examined. We aimed to evaluate the left ventricle (LV) function in chronic abusers group and compared classical and novel echocardiography parameters in alcohol abusers (ALC) and control group (C). Methods We compared 75 adults (mean age 48±12, 60 male) without other overt heart disease, coronary artery disease excluded, but with alcohol abuse history: average alcohol intake 32 alcohol unit per week (AUW) with control group consisted of 40 subjects without history of excessive drinking, abstinents or drinking ≤8 AUW (mean age 50±4, 16 men). One unit was defined as 10 grams of pure etanol. All patients underwent TTE examination including ejection fraction (EF) calculation with 3D and longitudinal strain assessment by AFI method. Results ALC group showed LV systolic dysfunction expressed as EF 48±14 vs 60±9%, global longitudinal strain (AFI GLS) −15.6±6.6 vs −18.7±3.4; p ALC vs Control group comparison ALC N75 C N40 p value Age 48±12 50±4 ns BMI 24±6 28±6 0.0009 LVd 48±13 47±4 ns LVs 34±15 32±4 ns LA 38±9 38±3 ns EF 48±14 60±9 Conclusions Chronic alcohol abuse revealed harmful effect on LV systolic function which can be assessed quantitatively by both decreased EF and absolute values of myocardial longitudinal strain. This systolic function impairment seems to anticipate the overt remodelling of the heart.

Club drugs and alcohol abuse are prevalent among methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients. However, little is known about the association between these abuse and treatment outcomes among MMT patients. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of club drugs and alcohol abuse among MMT patientsand to investigate the associations between these abuse and treatment outcomes – drop-out and poor adherence. In this one-year cohort study conducting in Guangzhou, China, data including background characteristics, club drugs use in the last six months, alcohol use history and treatment-related information was collected. Cox regression analyses and log-binomial regression analyses were applied to identify the associations between these abuse and drop-out and poor adherence respectively. Thirty-seven participants (9.2%) admitted to the use of at least one type of club drugs in the last six months and eighty-eight (21.9%) were identified as alcohol abusers. Of all participants, 21.0% had dropped out of treatment and 27.7% exhibited poor adherence during the study period. Adjusting for significant background variables, use of at least one type of club drugs [hazards ratio (HR) = 1.90, 95% confidence Interval (CI) = 1.01–3.56] and use of methamphetamine in the last six months (HR = 2.26, 95%CI = 1.15–4.43) significantly predicted drop-out. Frequency of having six or more drinks on one drinking occasion when drinking [risk ratio (RR) = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.16–2.95] significantly predicted poor adherence. Our findings indicated that club drugs and alcohol abuse predicted drop-out and poor adherence among MMT patients. Early identification and intervention for the abuse should be taken into consideration when developing interventions tailored to improve treatment outcomes among MMT patients.

Denne artikel undersøger interaktionen mellem deltagerne i gruppeterapi på en døgninstitution for alkoholmisbrugere. Dette sker med udgangspunkt i et analytisk begrebsapparat baseret på en sammentænkning af Foucaults magtanalytik (1982, 2008) og Goffmans rolleanalyse (1967, 1992). Begrebsapparatet muliggør analyser af magtudøvelser forstået som magtteknikker, der formes i ansigt-til-ansigt-interaktion. Tilgangen sætter fokus på mangfoldigheden i måderne, hvorpå magtteknikker og modstand udfoldes, ligesom der åbnes for analyser af magtens forskellige effekter. Tilgangen søger derved en nuanceret forståelse af, hvordan mennesker formes igennem specifikke magtudøvelser. Artiklens analyse undersøger gruppeterapien som en magtteknik, der er baseret på beboernes bekendelser. Analysen fremanalyserer tre bekendelsesformer, hvor magtteknikken udfoldes, og forskellige modstandsformer indgår. Bekendelsesformerne indebærer forskellige forsøg på at forandre klienterne. Afhængigt af klienternes modstandsformer varierer socialarbejdernes tilgang til bekendelsen mellem en positivt støttende og en konfrontativ tilgang. I forlængelse heraf demonstrerer artiklen, at modstandsformerne, der er rettet mod forskellige aspekter af bekendelserne, til tider begrænser bekendelsen som magtteknik til at forandre individet. Endeligt viser artiklen, hvordan klienterne, i kraft af deres måde at indgå i bekendelserne, skabes som subjekter på forskellig vis. ENGELSK ABSTRACT: Kristian Fahnøe: Confessions in Group Therapy for Alcohol Abusers. An Interaction Based Analysis of a Power Technique This article explores group therapy at an inpatient treatment facility for alcoholics. Based on an analytical approach which combines Foucault’s work on power (1982, 2008) with Goffman’s interactionism (1967, 1992), it analyses group therapy sessions as a power technique that is shaped through the face-to-face interaction between the participants. The analytical approach entails an exploration of the various ways power techniques are exercised in practice and their resulting effects. As such, the approach provides a nuanced understanding of how individuals are molded through specific acts of power. The approach is also able to highlight the entwinement of power and knowledge. The analysis explores group therapy as a power technique based on confessions given by the clients. Focusing on three forms of confession, the analysis demonstrates how the forms of confession involve both acts of power and resistance. These forms of confession entail different efforts to change the clients in which the social workers’ involvements span from appreciative to confrontational. The acts of resistance target various elements of the confession and shape the exercise of the power technique. This means that clients are shaped as various subjects depending on how they engage in the confessions. Keywords: power, social work, substance abuse treatment, Foucault, Goffman.

The tendency to anxiety is a characteristic feature of alcohol abusers, and anxiety can be a symptom of alcohol withdrawal as well as comorbid disorder. The frequent comorbidity of alcohol use disorders and anxiety is due to a number of reasons including general hereditary predisposition, mutual conditioning and similar pathogenesis. Pharmacological therapy of anxiety disorders in alcohol-dependent patients is carried out on the basis of general principles of anxiety treatment and involves the use of benzodiazepines, antidepressants and, in some cases, antipsychotics as second-line medicines.Характерной особенностью индивидов, злоупотребляющих алкоголем, является склонность к тревоге, которая может служить симптомом отмены алкоголя при прекращении его употребления и выступать в качестве коморбидного расстройства. Частая коморбидность указанных расстройств может быть объяснена общим наследственным предрасположением и сходным патогенезом. Фармакологическая терапия тревожных расстройств у пациентов с алкогольной зависимостью происходит на основе общих принципов лечения тревоги и предполагает применение бензодиазепинов, антидепрессантов, а в отдельных случаях, в качестве препаратов второй линии - антипсихотиков.

Background Tobacco and alcohol are among the top causes of preventable deaths in the world, in most cases both these substances are used together. This study aims to compare the differences in nicotine dependence and the readiness to quit among past and present alcohol abusers. Methods Snowball sampling methodology was used to recruit past alcohol abusers from an Alcohol Anonymous group in Chennai, of the 25 people who were contacted over phone only 10 were ready to participate in the study and they were all grouped as past alcohol abusers, as they absented themselves from consuming alcohol for more 60 days, And to recruit present alcohol abusers two Alcoholic bars was selected and the patrons were questioned before they could consume alcohol, of the 24 people contacted 20 were ready to participate, for the subjects who participated in both the groups the levels of nicotine dependence were recorded using Fagestrom test for nicotine dependence and their readiness to quit tobacco was recorded using readiness to quit tobacco ladder which is available online, both these were recorded by the interviewer. Results Group 1 are past alcohol abusers, of which 3 had low dependence,3 had moderate dependence and 4 had high dependence and only one of them was ready to quit tobacco within 30 days, in group 2 which consists present alcohol abusers, 8 had low dependence, 10 had moderate dependence and 2 had high dependence, of which 2 people have actually absented themselves from using tobacco for 10 days but worry about slipping back, 4 of them have strong determination not to quit tobacco abuse at all. Conclusions From the pilot study it was found that 4 past alcohol abusers were highy nicotine dependent, and many of the present alcohol abusers were in pre-contemplation stage compared to past alcohol abusers.

Despite the promising results which were achieved under different intervention programs in alcohol abuse, its beneficial effects seem to vary among patients. In this way, a variable of interest might be the way to deal with a specific situation. Not surprisingly, escaping addiction has also been studied as an underlying ineffective strategy. Thus, to assess the effect of brief motivational intervention on coping strategies, a 6 months treatment was carried out in alcohol abusers. Moreover, differences among these patients’ profiles were examined according to their coping outcomes. The survey was conducted by telephone, employing the Coping Behaviours Inventory (CBI) as a dependent measure. A sample of 120 participants took part in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups: Intervention (IBM) or control (without intervention). The analysis of the participants’ profiles resulted in 3 different groups: i) Most of the participants were in the control group and did not stop drinking, ii) All participants were in the control group and stopped drinking, and iii) All the participants were in the experimental group and almost all of them stopped drinking. With regards to coping strategies, participants in the last group showed better CBI scores. The results help to better understand the profile of users of alcohol following treatment, as well as the kind of strategies that they might use to stop substance use. They also depicted a more homogeneous coping pattern for those participants after intervention and some unusual profile features among the control group.

Abstact: The study sought to assess the factors that influence the increase of prostitution in Bulawayo’s Business Centre. It is generally noted that many young women married or unmarried, employed and unemployed, including teenagers of between 13 to17 years are involved in prostitution. It is observed that there many brothels, bars and hotels that attract quite a number of young women. The government’s efforts initiated in curtailing the rate of prostitution through criminalising commercial sex-work by arresting and detaining those suspected of loitering or soliciting for clients seems to have failed. A Mixed Methods Approach which combines quantitative and qualitative paradigms was adopted. Due to the clandestine operation of prostitutes, the exact size could not be ascertained; however, a sample of 25 respondents was used in the study which was selected through snowballing sampling technique. The findings revealed that Zimbabwe’s dire economic situation has forced many young women into prostitution. The majority of the prostitutes were also found to be drug and alcohol abusers. The study also revealed that the enforcement agents were the main prostitute-abusers who arrested women walking in the streets at night on suspicion of loitering or soliciting for commercial sexwork. The increase of women involved in prostituting activitiesin a country that criminalises the phenomenon indicates that the country is not addressing the problem but the symptom. Therefore, the major focus should be directed towards equalization of political opportunities in which women are educationally and economically empowered. Key terms:prostitutes, commercial sexworkers, prostitution.

Background Negative emotional status and adverse emotional events increase vulnerability to alcohol abuse. Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) emitted by rats are a well-established model of emotional status that can reflect positive or negative affective responses in real time. Most USV studies assess counts, yet each USV is a multidimensional data point characterized by several acoustic characteristics that may provide insight into the neurocircuitry underlying emotional response. Methods USVs emitted from selectively bred alcohol-naive and alcohol-experienced alcohol-preferring and nonpreferring rats (P and NP rats) were recorded during 4-hour sessions on alternating days over 4 weeks. Linear mixed modeling (LMM) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were applied to USV acoustic characteristics (e.g., frequency, duration, power, and bandwidth) of negative affect (22 to 28 kilohertz [kHz])- and positive (50 to 55 kHz) affect-related USVs. Results Hundred percent separation between alcohol-naive P and NP rats was achieved through a linear combination (produced by LDA) of USV acoustic characteristics of 22- to 28-kHz USVs, whereas poor separation (36.5%) was observed for 50- to 55-kHz USVs. 22- to 28-kHz LDA separation was high (87%) between alcohol-experienced P and NP rats, but was poor for 50- to 55-kHz USVs (57.3%). USV mean frequency and duration were the highest weighted characteristics in both the naive and experienced 22- to 28-kHz LDA representations suggesting that alcohol experience does not alter the representations. LMM analyses of 22- to 28-kHz USV acoustic characteristics matched the LDA results. Poor LDA separation was observed between alcohol-naive and alcohol-experienced P rats for both 22- to 28-kHz and 50- to 55-kHz USVs. Conclusions Advanced statistical analysis of negative affect-associated USV data predicts future behaviors of excessive alcohol drinking and alcohol avoidance in selectively bred rats. USV characteristics across rat lines reveal affect-related motivation to consume alcohol and may predict neural pathways mediating emotional response. Further characterization of these differences could delineate particular neurocircuitry and methods to ameliorate dysregulated emotional states often observed in human alcohol abusers.

BackgroundAlcohol abusers have increased risk of wound complications following surgical procedures, however the development of complications is reduced after preoperative withdrawal from alcohol. Therefore the aim of the study was to evaluate wound healing at alcohol abuse and after withdrawal. MethodsIn total 16 alcohol abusers were included and tested. Nine abusers were able to abstain from alcohol and were retested after 8 weeks of abstinence. No patients had clinical or biochemical signs of hepatic or renal disease. Collagen and total protein accumulation in wound granulation tissue were evaluated from the deposited amount of hydroxyproline and proline in two subcutaneously implanted polytetrafluoroetylene tubes.ResultsThe amount of proline and total protein increased significantly after 8 weeks of abstinence, median 81.3 nmoI/mm (inter-quartile range: 77.1-92.9) versus 69.3 nmol/mm (68.5-76.3), p < 0.05, and 632 nmol/mm (505-1,127) versus 571 nmol/mm (544-831), p < 0.05, respectively. There was no significant change of hydroxyproline. ConclusionThis study showed a change in the protein level of the wound healing process among alcohol abusers, which seemed reversible after withdrawal. (Less)

A retrospective study of 30 patients (12 alcoholics and 18 nonalcoholics) was performed to determine whether the fracture healing time (T) was longer in alcoholics and smokers. Fracture healing time (mean ± standard error) was longer in alcoholics (24.1 ± 5.8 weeks vs. 11.4 ±1.1 weeks in nonalcoholics, p=0.001) and in 21 smokers (15.8 ± 2.9 weeks) vs. 9 nonsmokers (18.2 ± 5.9 weeks) (p=0.045). Delayed union, defined as T > 26 weeks, was more prevalent in alcoholics (4 out of 12) than in nonalcoholics (0 out of 18) (p = 0.018). Experimental evidence from fracture healing studies in ethanol-fed rats indicates that ethanol adversely affects the early stages of fracture healing. Findings in this preliminary study are consistent with this hypothesis, but are based on small number of patients. Nevertheless, they suggest that standard orthopedic treatments may not be sufficient to prevent delay of fracture healing in alcoholics.

Background Transferrin is the major plasma transport protein for iron. We aimed to investigate the characteristics of transferrin variant by carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) test using capillary zone electrophoresis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the CDT tests of 2449 patients from March 2009 to May 2017 at a tertiary hospital in Korea. CDT was quantified using a Capillarys 2 system (Sebia, Lisses, France) by capillary zone electrophoresis. The characteristics of variant transferrin patterns using electropherogram of CDT tests were analyzed. Results Seventy-seven (3.1%) patients were classified as variant transferrin. Mean age of these patients was 51.8 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 3.5:1. The most common variants were the BC variants (n = 37), followed by the CD variants (n = 27), unclear patterns (n = 7), BD variants (n = 3), CC variants (n = 2), misclassification (n = 1). In the variant Tf group, the most common disease was alcoholic liver cirrhosis (n = 22, 28.6%), followed by the toxic effects of substances (n = 17, 22.1%), and mental and behavioral disorders attributable to alcohol (n = 11, 14.3%). Nonvariant group showed a predominance of the toxic substance effects (n = 880, 37.1%), a personal history of suicide attempts (n = 634, 26.7%), and mental and behavioral disorders due to alcohol (n = 336, 14.2%). Conclusion We analyzed the basic characteristics of variant transferrin by CDT tests using capillary zone electrophoresis. The prevalence of variant transferrin was 3.1% of the study subjects. Male patients, alcohol abusers, and liver cirrhosis patients predominated in the variant transferrin population. Further prospective studies are warranted to elucidate variant transferrin in clinical practice.

Plasma lipid concentrations cannot properly account for the complex interactions prevailing in lipoprotein (patho)physiology. Sequential ultracentrifugation (UCF) is the gold standard for physical lipoprotein isolations allowing for subsequent analyses of the molecular composition of the particles. Due to labor and cost issues, however, the UCF-based isolations are usually done only for VLDL, LDL, and HDL fractions; sometimes with the addition of intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) particles and the fractionation of HDL into HDL(2) and HDL(3) (as done here; n = 302). We demonstrate via these data, with the lipoprotein lipid concentration and composition information combined, that the self-organizing map (SOM) analysis reveals a novel data-driven in silico phenotyping of lipoprotein metabolism beyond the experimentally available classifications. The SOM-based findings are biologically consistent with several well-known metabolic characteristics and also explain some apparent contradictions. The novelty is the inherent emergence of complex lipoprotein associations; e.g., the metabolic subgrouping of the associations between plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations and the structural subtypes of LDL particles. Importantly, lipoprotein concentrations cannot pinpoint lipoprotein phenotypes. It would generally be beneficial to computationally enhance the UCF-based lipoprotein data as illustrated here. Particularly, the compositional variations within the lipoprotein particles appear to be a fundamental issue with metabolic and clinical corollaries.

Alcohol and drug abuse are detrimental to general and oral health. Though we know the effects of these harmful habits on oral mucosa, their independent and combined effect on the dental caries experience is unknown and worthy of investigation. We compared 363 “alcohol only” abusers to 300 “alcohol and drug” abusers to test the hypothesis that various components of their dental caries experience are significantly different due to plausible sociobiological explanations. After controlling for the potential confounders, we observe that the “alcohol and drug” group had a 38% higher risk of having decayed teeth compared to the “alcohol only” group ( 𝑃 < . 0 5 ). As expected, those who belonged to a higher social class ( O R = 1 . 9 8 ; 95% C I = 1 . 4 3 –2.75) and drank wine ( O R = 1 . 8 5 ; 95% C I = 1 . 1 6 –2.96) had a higher risk of having more filled teeth. We conclude that the risk of tooth decay among “alcohol only” abusers is significantly lower compared to “alcohol and drug” abusers.

Alkoholmisbruk er en viktig risikofaktor for selvmord og annen villet egenskade. Denne artikkelen gir en oversikt over empirisk forskning som har belyst sammenhenger mellom alkoholmisbruk og suicidal atferd pa individniva og viser at de observerte sammenhengene er bade betydelige, men ogsa varierende mellom studier. Ved selvmord finner man at mellom 15 og 61 % hadde et alkoholmisbruk, og blant personer med alkoholmisbruk er risikoen for selvmord om lag 10 ganger hoyere enn i befolkningen ellers. Ogsa alkoholberuselse er en viktig risikofaktor for suicidal atferd; ved selvmord finner man at mellom 10 og 69 % var alkoholpavirket. Artikkelen drofter mulighetene for at en persons alkoholmisbruk eller alkoholberuselse kan ha betydning for suicidal atferd hos andre, som for eksempel barn eller andre naere parorende. Artikkelen diskuterer ogsa ulike underliggende mekanismer som kan forklare de observerte sammenhengene. Alcohol abuse is a major risk factor for suicide and other deliberate self harm. This article provides an overview of empirical research that has examined the relationship between alcohol abuse and suicidal behavior at the individual level and shows that the observed correlations are not only significant, but also varying between studies. Among suicides, it is found that 15 to 69 % of the deceased had alcohol abuse and among alcohol abusers the suicide risk is about ten times that of the general population. Also alcohol intoxication is an important risk factor for suicidal behavior; among suicides it is found that 10 to 69 % were under the influence of alcohol at the time of death. The article discusses the possibility that a person's alcohol abuse and alcohol intoxication may affect suicidal behavior in others, such as in children or other close relatives. Finally, the article discusses different underlying mechanisms that can explain the observed correlations.

Bakgrunn En rekke studier har vist at alkoholmisbruk er forbundet med en forhoyet risiko for selvmord og at selvmordsforsok er svaert utbredt blant alkoholmisbrukere. Formalet med denne studien var a undersoke forekomst av selvmordstanker og selvmordsforsok blant alkoholmisbrukere innlagt til avrusning, samt a belyse kliniske og demografiske kjennetegn ved pasienter som rapporterte slik suicidal atferd, og a undersoke i hvilken grad disse pasientene far avtaler om videre behandlings- og omsorgstiltak. Materiale og metode Studien bygger pa data fra 508 pasienter med alkoholmisbruk innlagt i en avrusingsavdeling. Et standardisert kartleggingskjema ble benyttet for innhenting av informasjon om selvmordsforsok, selvmordstanker, sosiodemografiske forhold, psykisk helse og avtale om videre oppfolging etter avrusingsoppholdet. Resultater Blant pasientene som hadde besvart sporsmal om suicidal atferd (n=342/337), hadde 30 % noen gang forsokt a ta sitt eget liv og 52 % hadde noen gang hatt perioder med alvorlige selvmordstanker, mens 46 % hadde hatt alvorlige selvmordstanker i lopet av de siste 4 uker. Disse andelene var saerlig hoyere blant pasienter som hadde hatt alvorlig depresjon, alvorlig angst eller hallusinasjoner. En av fem alkoholmisbrukere fikk ingen avtale om videre oppfolging i helse-, omsorgs- eller sosialtjeneste etter avrusingsoppholdet, og denne andelen var noe hoyere blant dem med alvorlige selvmordstanker siste 4 uker for inntak. Fortolkning Resultatene er i trad med funn fra tidligere studier, men peker ogsa i retning av behov for systematisk kartlegging av suicidalitet blant pasienter med alkoholmisbruk og behov for mer kunnskap om oppfolgingen av denne pasientgruppen. Background It is well demonstrated that alcohol abuse is associated with an increased risk of suicide and that attempted suicide is prevalent among alcohol abusers. This study aimed at examining the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempted suicide among alcohol abusers admitted for detoxification and to assess clinical and demographic characteristics of patients who reported such suicidal behavior, and finally to explore to what extent there are made agreements for these patients regarding continued treatment and care subsequent to alcohol detoxification. Data and methods Data from 508 patients admitted to a detoxification clinic were collected by a standard patient questionnaire. The data comprised information about suicide attempt, suicidal ideation, socio-demographics, mental health and agreements regarding continued treatment and care after detoxification. Results Among the patients to answered questions about suicidal behavior (n= 342/337), a total of 30 % had ever tried to take their own life and 52% had ever had periods with severe suicidal ideation, whereas 46 % reported to have had severe suicidal ideation in the past 4 weeks. Suicide attempts and severe suicidal ideation were more frequently reported by patients who also reported severe depression, anxiety or hallucinations. For one in five patients no agreements were made for any form of treatment or care after detoxification and this proportion was somewhat higher among those with severe suicidal ideation during the 4 weeks prior to admission. Interpretation The findings are in line with those from previous studies, and suggest that suicidal behaviour needs to be systematically surveyed among patients with alcohol abuse. Moreover, further knowledge about continuity in treatment and care in this patient group is warranted.

ObjectiveThe CAGE questionnaire is considered a useful screening and case-finding tool for alcohol use disorders in clinical populations. Our objectives were to validate the French version of the CAGE against DSM-IV criteria and to assess performance of each item of the scale.MethodData were extracted from a hospital morbidity study conducted in central France. It concerned 5452 patients—48.5% men—in short and medium-stay units. Patients answered the CAGE questionnaire as a past-year assessment. The alcohol use disorders were diagnosed by the physicians using DSM-IV alcohol abuse or dependency criteria.ResultsThe CAGE questionnaire for a cut-off of 2 had a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 94%. The CAGE test was more sensitive for patients diagnosed as alcohol-dependent than for alcohol abusers (61% vs. 84%) with the same specificity (94%). These values are close to those for the English-language CAGE. The first three items (CAG) were very similar, with sensitivity 70% and specificity 94%. The eye-opening question (E) differentiated sharply between abuse and dependency, with sensitivities of 18% and 46%, respectively. A questionnaire comprising only the CAG questions of the CAGE had properties similar to the full questionnaire.ConclusionCAGE is a good screening tool for alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency. Given the frequent—and insufficiently diagnosed—alcohol problems among inpatients, CAGE is indicated as a first-line tool for screening for the most severe alcohol use disorders in hospital. It should ideally be used systematically. A positive reply to any of the first three items should alert the clinician and prompt further investigation.

This article examines the sociodemographic conditions and the factors influencing the exit of homelessness for three groups of marginalized homeless individuals in Denmark: drug addicts, alcohol abusers, and those with mental health problems. Previous research in the field has only looked superficially at exit of homelessness for these groups. The data used are part of a consultancy report made for The Ministry of Social Affairs published in May 2005. The study is based on a survey conducted in 2004 with 842 individuals who were homeless in 1997, combined with register data from 2002-3 and going back to 1977. We are, therefore, able to examine a broad and detailed set of individual characteristics. Some notable results are that women have a higher probability of surmounting homelessness, public debt is related to a lower probability of exit from homelessness, and a lower or moderate number of convictions is related to a higher probability of finding a way out from homelessness. We discuss these results an...

Background: The poorly sialylated transferrin isoforms in serum were analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) to differentiate moderate from heavy alcohol consumption. Methods: We enrolled 614 volunteers, classified after interviews, self-reported drinking habits, and AUDIT scores as alcohol abusers (consuming >50 g/day ethanol for the previous 3 months or longer; n = 413) or moderate drinkers ( Results: The asialylated isoform was missing in 95% of moderate drinkers but present in 92% of alcohol misusers. Disialotransferrin had a specificity and sensitivity of 0.75 at a cutoff of 0.7% of total transferrin, whereas the sum (asialo- + disialotransferrin) at a threshold of 1.2% had a sensitivity of 0.73 and a specificity of 0.92. Trisialotransferrin values did not distinguish between the two populations. Sensitivities and specificities of %CDT averaged 0.77 and 0.74, respectively, at a 2.6% cutoff; 0.67 and 0.83 at 2.8%; and 0.63 and 0.90 at 3%. CDT data were more sensitive and specific for males. Conventional biomarkers appeared less discriminating. Conclusions: Asialotransferrin detected by CZE in sera of alcohol abusers offers the highest discrimination between excessive and moderate drinking.

Tuberculosis (TB) patients in Mekelle Zone, Tigray Region, in Ethiopia. To investigate adherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment. A cross-sectional study in health facilities providing anti-tuberculosis treatment was conducted. Adherence was measured in three ways: through self-reported missed doses, by visual analogue scale whereby patients rate their own adherence and by record review. A patient was considered to be adherent if 90% or more of the prescribed medication was taken. Of 278 TB patients included, 101 were in the intensive and 177 in the continuation phase. Respectively 67 (24.1%), 130 (46.8%) and 80 (28.8%) patients had smear-positive, smear-negative and extra-pulmonary TB. Self-report of missed doses and record review indicated adherence of respectively 273 (97.3%) and 271 (97.5%) patients. By visual analogue scale, 250 (91.6%) patients rated themselves as adherent. History of drug side effects (aOR 0.25, 95%CI 0.08-0.77) and knowledge about TB prevention (aOR 0.19, 95%CI 0.05-0.8) were independently associated with being adherent in this setting. Adherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment was high in our study. Adherence support should be given to the poor, the elderly, patients co-infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, alcohol abusers and smokers. Health education on TB prevention should be given to all TB patients regularly. Abstract available from the publisher. Abstract available from the publisher

Background: Biochemical markers can provide objective evidence of high alcohol consumption. However, currently available markers have limitations in their diagnostic performance. Methods: The diagnostic values of the most frequently used markers [carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and mean corpuscular volume] were studied in an analysis of six different clinical studies (n = 1412) on alcohol abusers and social drinkers. The purpose of the analyses was to determine whether a combination of markers would improve the diagnosis of subjects. Results: Discrimination between alcohol abusers and social drinkers, as measured by the areas under nonparametric ROC plots, was significantly better (P Conclusions: The combined variable γ-CDT is a powerful tool to discriminate alcohol abusers from social drinkers and is recommended for clinical use.

Alcohol abusers have a threefold increased risk of post-operative morbidity after surgery. The most frequent complications are infections, cardiopulmonary insufficiency, and bleeding episodes. Pathogenesis is suppressed immune capacity, subclinical cardiac dysfunction, and haemostatic imbalance. The economic implications of alcohol abuse in surgical patients are tremendous. Interventional studies are required to reduce future increases in post-operative morbidity.

To anticoagulate or not to anticoagulate? That is the question…that is regularly encountered by physicians and their patients, and the consequences of making the wrong decision may include devastating outcomes such as stroke, pulmonary embolism, and life-threatening hemorrhage. Physicians help guide patient decision-making by assessing individualized risks and benefits. While there is substantial evidence available regarding benefits, physicians have inadequate tools to predict risk for major hemorrhage. While bleeding risk scores are available, such as HAS-BLED and HEMORR2HAGES, they are only slightly better than chance at identifying patients who will bleed.1 Most physicians tend to overestimate a patient’s risk for bleeding,2 and this is a key reason why anticoagulants are underused in key populations, such as patients with atrial fibrillation.3 One potential risk factor for bleeding during anticoagulant use is substance abuse, but it is unclear whether anticoagulants should be avoided among substance abusers. Efird et al. analyzed the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) database to retrospectively assess the risk of anticoagulation among substance abusers.4 They determined that both alcohol and drug abusers had significantly worse anticoagulation control, and higher rates of bleeding independent of anticoagulation control. Poor outcomes were substantially higher for drug abusers than alcohol abusers. The most interesting and novel finding in this study was the association between AST:ALT ratio and poor outcomes. Among alcohol abusers, an AST:ALT ratio > 2.0 was associated with both poor anticoagulation control and a three-times increased rate of bleeding. Meanwhile, an AST:ALT ratio of < 1.5 among alcohol abusers was not associated with an increased rate of major hemorrhage. This simple clinical measure may be a means to risk-stratify alcohol abusers into two groups: those with substantial increased risk for bleeding on anticoagulation versus those with no increased risk compared to non-abusers. Future work should involve the incorporation of the AST:ALT ratio into risk prediction schemes, and its utility for prospectively predicting bleeding events should be tested. At present, this study should give providers pause in providing anti-coagulation to their patients who also suffer from substance abuse.

Blood serum phospholipids were investigated in alcohol abusing patients with tonsillitis. Most significant changes in phospholipids spectrum (low relative content of lysophospholipids and higher phosphatidylholine and phosphatidyletanolamin) in alcohol abusing patients with tonsillitis were observed, compared with alcohol abusers. This may be attributed to the prevailing influence of bacterial infection.

Daugiausiai įtakos savižudybės pasirinkimui turintiems veiksniams priskiriami psichikos sutrikimai, ankstesni bandymai žudytis bei priklausomybė nuo alkoholio ar trankviliantų. Net 47 proc. bandžiusių žudytis asmenų intensyviai vartojo alkoholį ar buvo nuo jo priklausomi (Goldney, 2002; Ingvar, 1997). Be to, nuostatos savižudybių atžvilgiu taip pat įvardijamos kaip vienas iš veiksnių, turinčių įtakos savižudiškoms mintims ar suicidiniam elgesiui (Gailienė, 2000). Tam, kad priklausomi nuo alkoholio asmenys dažniau bando nusižudyti arba nusižudo, įtakos gali turėti jų nuostatos, labiau pateisinančios savižudybes - didesnė suicidiško elgesio tolerancija gali didinti savižudiško elgesio tikimybę (Žemaitienė, 2000). Tyrimo tikslas - nustatyti, ar priklausomybė nuo alkoholio yra susijusi su palankesnėmis nuostatomis savižudybių atžvilgiu bei palyginti priklausomų nuo alkoholio ir jį aktyviai vartojančių, nuo priklausomybės sveikstančių ir nepriklausomų nuo alkoholio asmenų nuostatas savižudybių atžvilgiu. Tyrime dalyvavo 117 respondentų, kurie sudarė 3 tikslines tiriamąsias grupes: priklausomų nuo alkoholio ir jį aktyviai vartojančių (38 asmenys), priklausomų nuo alkoholio ir jo nevartojančių ilgiau nei metus (39 asmenys) ir kontrolinė priklausomybės alkoholiui neturinčių asmenų grupė (40 respondentų). Priklausomi nuo alkoholio asmenys tyrimo metu gydėsi Vilniaus priklausomybės ligų centro Detoksikacijos skyriuje arba pagal Minesotos programą. Visiems tiriamiesiems tiesiogiai arba per jų gydytoją buvo pateikiamas Nuostatų savižudybių atžvilgiu klausimynas (angl. Attitudes Towards Suicide - ATTS). Tyrimo metu paaiškėjo, kad nuostatos savižudybių atžvilgiu tarp trijų tiriamųjų grupių reikšmingai skyrėsi: nuo alkoholio priklausomi ir jį vartojantys asmenys buvo linkę labiau smerkti savižudybės reiškinį nei alkoholio ilgiau kaip metus nevartojantys priklausomi nuo alkoholio bei tokios priklausomybės neturintys respondentai. Dviejų pastarųjų grupių respondentų nuostatos savižudybių atžvilgiu buvo panašios bei ne tokios smerkiančios savižudybės reiškinį nei priklausomų nuo alkoholio ir jį vartojančių asmenų. Be to, priklausomi nuo alkoholio ir jį vartojantys asmenys yra dažniau bandę nusižudyti nei kitų grupių respondentai. Mental disorders, previous suicide attempts and addiction to alcohol or tranquillisers are considered the factors that may have the biggest influence on the phenomenon of suicide. 47% of suicide attempters were addicted to alcohol or used it intensively (Goldney, 2002; Ingvar, 1997). Furthermore, attitudes towards suicide are also one of the factors that may have influence on self-destructive thoughts or decision to end one's own life (Gailienė, 2000). More positive attitudes towards suicide may have impact on that alcohol abusers quite often choose voluntary death or try to commit suicide - greater tolerance ofsuicidal behaviour can enhance the probability to choose it (Žemaitienė, 2000; Gailienė, 2000). Research aim was to investigate if alcohol abusers who drink alcohol intensively differ from the alcohol abusers who do not drink alcohol for longer than one year or who do not have addiction to alcohol at all, and to compare their attitudes towards suicide. 117 respondents took part in this research. They were divided into three groups: alcohol abusers who drink alcohol (38 persons), alcohol abusers who do not drink alcohol for longer than one year (39 persons) and control group of respondents who do not have addiction to alcohol (40 persons). All the alcohol abusers at the time of research were hospitalized in Vilnius Center for Addictive Disorders, Department of Treatment of the Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome or have finished In-patient 28 day "Minnesota" Program. All the respondents filled in a questionnaire about attitudes towards suicide. The questionnaire was given to them directly or by their doctor. It was found that attitudes towards suicide differed among three researched groups. Alcohol abusers who drink alcohol were inclined to have more negative attitudes towards suicide than alcohol abusers who do not drink alcohol for longer than one year and respondents without addiction to alcohol. The two latter groups expressed similar and more positive attitudes towards suicide. Furthermore, alcohol abusers who drink alcohol intensively had attempted suicide more often in their lives than other respondents did.

SUMMARY Environmental contamination and use of alcohol may be a cause of immune system disturbances and various diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes of different alcohol consumption intensity on the immune condition of women and men living in a district contaminated with industrial siftings (Trakai) and in a relatively clean district (Sirvintos). The immune system parameters were investigated in 282 Trakai district inhabitants (127 males and 155 females) and in 282 Sirvintos district inhabitants (129 males and 153 females). Due to gender and alcohol consumption intensity the immune system functions were evaluated in the following groups: abstainers, light alcohol users, moderate alcohol users and alcohol abusers. Absolute number of CD5+, CD4+, concentration of IgA in blood serum and some other investigated indices of light alcohol users were signifi cantly increased in the male group of Trakai district in comparison with females of this district. However, in the same group of light alcohol drinkers of Sirvintos district, males had lower indices (CD5+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, IgM) than females. Immune system parameters of males who were light and moderate alcohol users in Trakai district were stimulated in comparison with the same alcohol consumption groups of males in Sirvintos district. Our investigations showed that combination of environmental pollution and different intensity of alcohol consumption cause various alterations of immune system functions in males and females.

Results The phenomenon of autoagressive behavior, individual psychological profile, the level of psychic and social adaptation in alcohol drinkers was described in the article. The predictors and prognostic markers of suicidal activity were revealed. The patients (28 subjects) with parasuicides and alcohol abusers undergone the special testing to reveal the degree of suicide risk. The authors marked the criteria for the groups of high suicide risk. There is a connection with suicides and geliogeophysical factors: geomagnetical and gravitation fluctuation.

Objective To examine the patterns of adult inhalant use and correlates of inhalant use disorder. Method We drew study data from the 2002 and 2003 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). We used logistic regression to identify the characteristics associated both with inhalant use and inhalant use disorder. Results One in 10 of all adults had used an inhalant at least once in their lives, and 0.5% used one in the past year. Among all past year inhalant users, 8% met the criteria for an inhalant use disorder (i.e., 6.6% for abuse and 1.1% for dependence) within that period. We found an increased prevalence of past year inhalant use among young adults aged 18–25 years, Asians, past year alcohol abusers and dependents, lifetime drug users, white women, and men reporting symptoms of serious mental illness. Inhalant-using adults who met the criteria for an inhalant use disorder were predominantly adults aged 35–49 years and were less educated, had received recent professional treatment for emotional or psychological problems, used inhalants weekly, and had a coexisting alcohol use disorder. Conclusion The patterns and consequences of adult inhalant use differ from those of adolescents. Compared with adolescent inhalant users, adult users tend not to initiate inhalant use until adulthood, use inhalants less frequently, use fewer inhalants, and are less likely to engage in criminal activities.

This study examined the proposition that the experience of alcoholic blackouts is related to other indices of cerebral involvement in the alcoholic process. In particular it was suggested that those who experience alcoholic blackouts would also show signs of the effects of alcoholic damage in the form of lower scores on cognitive functions vulnerable to the effects of long-term alcohol abuse. While some evidence was found linking the experience of blackout to the severity of the alcohol problem, no relationship was found between cognitive functioning and the experience of blackout. The possibility that different mechanisms may underlie the various cognitive sequelae of alcohol abuse is raised.

The increased prevalence of heavy alcohol use and abuse among depressed adolescents has been well documented (as reviewed in Bukstein et al 1989). As an example, Greenbaum et al (1991) studied 547 adolescents having serious emotional disturbances, and found that adolescents with severe depressive disorders were more likely to be diagnosed with a substance-abuse disorder, including alcohol abuse/dependency, than were adolescents without depressive disorders (48.3% versus 17.0%). A high prevalence of-alcohol abuse in depressed adolescents also has been documented in nonclinical samples (Deykin et al 1987). Recognition and appropriate treatment of alcohol abuse in depressed adolescents are critical. Both alcohol abuse and depression tend to be chronic conditions with high rates of secondary problems. The co-occurrence of alcohol abuse and depression is particularly problematic, having been associated with an increased risk for suicidal behavior in adolescents (King et al 1993; Pfeffer et al 1988). Despite the importance of identifying and treating each of these conditions, common clinical features make differentiation difficult. Studies with adults suggest that depression may actually motivate treatment-seeking in alcohol abusers (Regier et al 1990), but that the alcohol abuse often goes unrecognized by treatment providers (Helzer and Pryzbeck 1988). The recognition of alcohol-abuse patterns in depressed adolescents would be assisted by information on the phenomenology of depression in adolescents who abuse alcohol. This study was conducted to determine the nhennmennlcmv of depressive symn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 " . . . . . . . . . ~ . . . . . ~ d " " 1 "

The purpose of this symposium is to introduce Motivational Interviewing, which accomplished a great deal regarding what is known about addiction therapy. It is an innovative treatment method for alcohol or drug dependent people, which was developed in the 1980's and which emerged from an evolutionary process of cognitive behavioral therapy. The first book on this issue was published by Miller and Rollnick in 1991. It has given us opportunities to help our clients engage in their addiction treatment, even when they have little motivation to change. According to the directions of this method, we do not need to force our clients to admit that they are dependent on alcohol and have to stop drinking. As a result of this non-judgmental way of counseling, many alcohol abusers can join the addiction treatment in order to assist their lasting recovery. Learning this method, we have become to take care of our clients in the early stages of addiction. From the perspective of addiction therapy, this could become a fundamental method in Japan in the near future, as it is in the U.S.