Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Thursday, June 25, 2009

Short-Term Alcohol Administration Alters KiSS-1 Gene Expression in the Reproductive Hypothalamus of Prepubertal Female Rats
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research Published Online: 10 Jun 2009

Alcohol causes suppressed KiSS-1 gene expression in the reproductive hypothalamus; hence, contributing to this drug's ability to cause suppressed LHRH secretion and disruption of the pubertal process. We suggest that this action, at least in part, is through altered IGF-1 signaling.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: ldees@cvm.tamu.edu
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The Proapoptotic BH3-Only, Bcl-2 Family Member, Puma Is Critical for Acute Ethanol-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis.
Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology. POST EDITOR CORRECTIONS, 16 June 2009

Although Puma expression has been reported to be regulated by p53, p53-deficient mice exhibited a similar extent of ethanol-induced caspase-3 activation and neuronal apoptosis as wild-type mice. Mice deficient in other proapoptotic BH3-only proteins, including Noxa, Bim, or Hrk, showed no significant protection from ethanol-induced neuronal apoptosis.

Collectively, these studies indicate a p53-independent, Bax- and Puma-dependent mechanism of neuronal apoptosis and identify Puma as a possible molecular target for inhibiting the effects of intrauterine ethanol exposure in humans.


Request Reprint E-Mail: karoth@uab.edu

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A safety and tolerability laboratory study of the combination of aripiprazole and topiramate in volunteers who drink alcohol
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental Published Online: 23 Jun 2009

There was no evidence that adverse effects of aripiprazole and topiramate are additive and can, therefore, be administered safely together with a modest amount of alcohol. There was also a trend for a reduction of alcohol use by participants. This finding has implications for further investigation of this combination of drugs for alcohol dependence.


Request Reprint E-Mail: George_Kenna@Brown.edu

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in comorbidity of depression and alcohol dependence.
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental Published Online: 22 Jun 2009


Alcohol dependence is often comorbid with depression. The purpose of the present study was to compare serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels between depressive patients with and without alcohol dependence.

These results suggest that the serum BDNF level is a useful biological marker for depression in patients with alcohol dependence


Request Reprint E-Mail: yoshi621@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp

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Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) - National Report 2008

This publication reports on the results of the 2008 Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS). This is the most recent of a series of school surveys used to monitor and measure smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in Scotland. The survey was carried out in Autumn 2008 and was completed by over 10,000 pupils aged 13 years old and 15 years old across Scotland.


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Addiction neurobiology: ethical and social implications


This report reviews developments in the neuroscience of addiction, explores how they might affect the way we view and treat drug problems, and considers the issues that they raise for drug policy in Europe. In language that is easily accessible, the report presents the complex brain processes involved in addition and the ethical implications inherent to current addiction research.






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Local salsolinol modulates dopamine extracellular levels from rat nucleus accumbens: Shell/core differences
Neurochemistry InternationalVolume 55, Issue 4, September 2009, Pages 187-192

Salsolinol (SAL), a condensation product of dopamine and acetaldehyde that appears in the rat and human brain after ethanol ingestion, has been largely implicated in the aetiology of alcoholism. Although the behavioural consequences of systemic or intracerebral SAL administrations have been described, the neurochemical effects of pharmacologically relevant doses of SAL and other tetrahydroisoquinolines (THIQs) in the brain areas involved in alcohol addiction are practically unknown.

To gain an insight into this topic, male Wistar rats were stereotaxically implanted with one concentric microdialysis probe in either the shell or the core of the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Treatments involved local administration of 0.1, 5 and 25 μM SAL for 20 min through the dialysis probe. Dopamine (DA) concentrations in the shell or core of the NAc were on-line analyzed every 20 min by HPLC with electrochemical detection. Implantation of the probe was histologically evaluated at the end of the experiments.

Our results indicate that dialysis application of 5 and 25 μM SAL into the core increased the dialysate levels of DA. Conversely, the administration of the same doses of this drug into the shell significantly reduced the DA levels in this subregion.

In conclusion, these data reveal that local application of SAL affects the DA levels in the NAc subterritories in a region-specific manner. These findings may prove useful in probing CNS sites and mechanisms involved in alcohol consumption.


Request Reprint E-Mail: ana.polache@uv.es

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Alcohol consumption and body weight
Health Economics Early View 22 June 2009

The number of Americans who are overweight or obese has reached epidemic proportions. Elevated weight is associated with health problems and increased medical expenditures.

This paper analyzes Waves 1 and 2 of the National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions to investigate the role of alcohol consumption in weight gain. Alcohol is not only an addictive substance but also a high-calorie beverage that can interfere with metabolic function and cognitive processes. Because men and women differ in the type and amount of alcohol they consume, in the biological effects they experience as a result of alcohol consumption, and in the consequences they face as a result of obesity, we expect our results to differ by gender.

We use first-difference models of body mass index (BMI) and alcohol consumption (frequency and intensity) to control for time-invariant unobservable factors that may influence changes in both alcohol use and weight status.

Increasing frequency and intensity of alcohol use is associated with statistically significant yet quantitatively small weight gain for men but not for women. Moreover, the first-difference results are much smaller in magnitude and sometimes different in sign compared with the benchmark pooled cross-sectional estimates.


Request Reprint E-Mail: mfrench@miami.edu

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Alcohol use and the labor market in Uruguay
Health Economics Early View 23 June 2009


This paper is one of only a few studies to examine potential labor market consequences of heavy or abusive drinking in Latin America and the first to focus on Uruguay. We analyzed data from a Uruguayan household survey conducted in 2006 using propensity score matching methods and controlling for a number of socio-demographic, family, regional, behavioral health, and labor market characteristics.
As expected, we found a positive association between heavy drinking and absenteeism, particularly for female employees. Counter to the findings for developed countries, our results revealed a positive relationship between heavy drinking and labor force participation or employment. This result was mostly driven by men and weakened when considering more severe measures of abusive drinking.

Possible explanations for these findings are that employment leads to greater alcohol use through an income effect, that the Uruguayan labor market rewards heavy drinking, or that labor market characteristics typical of less developed countries, such as elevated safety risks or job instability, lead to problem drinking. Future research with panel data should explore these possible mechanisms.


Request Reprint E-Mail: mfrench@miami.edu

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Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
Arq. Neuro-Psiquiatr. [online]. 2009, vol.67, n.2a, pp. 254-261

This study found evidence that the left striatum and left cerebellum are affected by intrauterine exposure to alcohol. Additional studies with larger samples are necessary to expand our knowledge of the effects of fetal exposure to alcohol.



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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Typologies of Alcohol Use in White and African American Adolescent Girls
Substance Use & Misuse Published online 17 June 2009


This study examined typologies of alcohol use among 2,948 White and African American adolescent girls using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Self-report data were collected on frequency and quantity of alcohol use, negative consequences, and high-risk drinking behaviors, as well as co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems.

Latent class analysis revealed a four-group typology for White girls and a three-group typology for African American girls. Problematic drinkers reported having more internalizing and externalizing problems in both racial groups.

The study's limitations and implications are discussed.




Request Reprint -Mail: sd2368@columbia.edu

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Genetics of alcohol dependence
Human Genetics Online First 17 June 2009


Alcohol dependence (AD), a genetically influenced phenotype, is extremely costly to individuals and to society in the United States and throughout the world, contributing to morbidity and mortality and a host of economic, interpersonal, and societal problems.

Although until recently the only genes established to affect risk for AD were those encoding several alcohol metabolizing enzymes, there are now several other genes that can be regarded as confirmed risk loci, discovered through linkage and candidate gene association studies.

While the mechanism of action of the effects of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes on AD risk is thought to be well understood, we are still in the early stages of understanding the physiology of other risk loci. Further, it is clear that only a small number of the many genes that influence risk for AD have been identified.

Newer methodologies (e.g., genomewide association, study of copy number variation, and deep sequencing of candidate loci to identify rare risk variants) that have improved our understanding of other complex traits hold the promise of identifying a greater set of AD susceptibility loci.




Request Reprint E-Mail: joel.gelernter@yale.edu

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Mortality and predictors of death in a cohort of patients presenting to an eating disorders service
International Journal of Eating Disorders Published Online: 19 Jun 2009

Anorexia nervosa had a ten-fold increased risk of early death, but there was also evidence of increased risk in other groups of patients, including eating disorder not otherwise specified. A number of clinical factors predicted increased mortality risk, especially very low body mass index and the presence of alcohol misuse.

The study confirms previous evidence of a markedly increased mortality risk for anorexia nervosa, but also suggests that the risk is not confined to this eating disorder and that greater attention needs to be focused on wider psychiatric comorbidity.




Request Reprint E-Mail: eric.button@leicspart.nhs.uk_

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Event-Related Oscillations (EROs) as risk markers in genetic mouse models of high alcohol preference
Neuroscience Article in Press 21 June 2009


Mouse models have been developed to simulate several relevant human traits associated with alcohol use and dependence. However, the neurophysiological substrates regulating these traits remain to be completely elucidated. We have previously demonstrated that differences in the event-related potential (ERP) responses can be found that distinguish high-alcohol preferring from low alcohol preferring mice that resemble difference seen in human studies of individuals with high and low risk for alcohol dependence.

Recently, evidence of genes that affect event-related oscillations (EROs) and the risk for alcohol dependence has emerged, however, to date EROs have not been evaluated in genetic mouse models of high and low alcohol preference. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to characterize EROs in mouse models of high (B6 and HAP-1 mice) and low (D2 and LAP-1 mice) alcohol preference.

A time-frequency representation method was used to determine delta, theta and alpha/beta ERO energy and the degree of phase variation in these mouse models. The present results suggest that the decrease in P3 amplitudes previously shown in B6 mice, compared to D2 mice, is related to reductions in evoked delta ERO energy and delta and theta phase locking. In contrast, the increase in P1 amplitudes reported in HAP-1 mice, compared to LAP mice, are associated with increases in evoked theta ERO energy.

These studies suggest that differences in delta and theta ERO measures in mice mirror changes observed between groups at high- and low-risk for alcoholism where changes in EROs were found to be more significant than group differences in P3 amplitudes, further suggesting that ERO measures are more stable endophenotypes in the study of alcohol dependence.

Further studies are needed to determine the relationship between expression of these neurophysiological endophenotypes and the genetic profile of these mouse models.




Request Reprint E-Mail: cindye@scripps.edu

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A proteomic workflow for discovery of serum carrier protein-bound biomarker candidates of alcohol abuse using LC-MS/MS
ELECTROPHORESIS Published Online: 19 Jun 2009

The diagnosis and care of patients with alcohol abuse and dependence is hampered by a lack of sensitive and specific screening and monitoring tests. Proteomics is a good approach to search for biomarkers of alcohol abuse. Serum carrier protein-bound proteins have attracted significant interest because they remain a relatively un-mined region of the proteome.

In the present study, a proteomic workflow including LC-MS/MS with enrichment of serum carrier protein-bound biomarkers technique was applied to profile the changes in quality and quantity of serum carrier protein-bound proteins for the discovery of novel biomarker candidates of alcohol abuse.

In total, 311 proteins identified with high confidence were discovered to be bound to serum carrier proteins. Complement isoforms, Ig fragments, and apolipoprotein family proteins are the main serum carrier-bound proteins. Protein quantification analysis with and without concern as to gender revealed that gender is a critical consideration for biomarker development in alcohol abuse.

Identified proteins not previously associated with alcohol abuse include gelsolin, selenoprotein P, serotransferrin, tetranectin, hemopexin, histidine-rich glycoprotein, plasma kallikrein, and vitronectin. Altered abundance of these proteins suggests that they may be potential novel biomarkers for alcohol abuse.




Request Reprint E-Mail: fwitzman@iupui.edu

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Alcohol Screening Scores Predict Risk of Subsequent Fractures
Substance Use & Misuse Published online 17 June 2009


These results can be used to provide feedback to patients linking their alcohol screening scores to medical outcomes—a critical component of evidence-based brief counseling for alcohol misuse. The study's limitations are noted.





Request Reprint E-Mail: alexsox@sbcglobal.net

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The ISAJE/WHO Young Scholars Award

Applications are invited for the 2009 ISAJE/ WHO Young Scholars Award. This award aims to provide recognition for the contributions to addiction science of young scholars from low and middle income countries and to promote their involvement in the field. The award is given for the best paper published by a young scholar from a low or middle income country on any topic related to addiction. The winner will receive a certificate and financial support to attend an international scientific or clinical meeting in the addiction or substance abuse field, to be chosen by the winner in consultation with the Award Committee.



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Alcohol and Suicide Among Racial/Ethnic Populations --- 17 States, 2005--2006
MMWR June 19, 2009 / 58(23);637-641


During 2001--2005, an estimated annual 79,646 alcohol-attributable deaths (AAD) and 2.3 million years of potential life lost (YPLL) were attributed to the harmful effects of excessive alcohol use (1). An estimated 5,800 AAD and 189,667 YPLL were associated annually with suicide (1).

The burden of suicide varies widely among racial and ethnic populations in the United States, and limited data are available to describe the role of alcohol in suicides in these populations. To examine the relationship between alcohol and suicide among racial/ethnic populations, CDC analyzed data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) for the 2-year period 2005--2006 (the most recent data available).

This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that the overall prevalence of alcohol intoxication (i.e., blood alcohol concentration [BAC] at or above the legal limit of 0.08 g/dL) was nearly 24% among suicide decedents tested for alcohol, with the highest percentage occurring among American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) (37%), followed by Hispanics (29%) and persons aged 20--49 years (28%).

These results indicate that many populations can benefit from comprehensive and culturally appropriate suicide-prevention strategies that include efforts to reduce alcohol consumption, especially programs that focus on persons aged <50>


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Monday, June 22, 2009

SAMHSA Releases Latest TEDS Report on Discharges from Substance Abuse Treatment Services Provide Nationwide Data Substance Abuse Treatment Experiences

This report presents summary results from the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) for 2007. The report provides infor mation on the demographic and substance abuse characteristics of the 1.8 million annual admissions to treatment for abuse of alcohol and drugs in facilities that report to individual State administrative data systems

Read Full Report (PDF)

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Fathers’ Alcohol Use May Significantly Affect Their Adolescent Childrens’ Use of Alcohol and Drugs According to New Nationwide Study

In 2006-2007, almost one in twelve (7.9 percent) fathers living with adolescents aged 12 to 17 had an alcohol use disorder, and 68.1 percent used alcohol in the past year but did not have an alcohol use disorder. The rate of past year alcohol use among adolescents was lower for those who lived with a father who did not use alcohol in the past year than for those who lived with a father who used alcohol but did not have an alcohol use disorder and for those who lived with a father with an alcohol use disorder (21.1 vs. 33.2 and 38.8 percent, respectively).


The percentage of adolescents using illicit drugs in the past year increased with the level of paternal alcohol use, with illicit drug use reported by 14.0 percent of adolescents who lived with a father who did not use alcohol in the past year, 18.4 percent of those who lived with a father who used alcohol but did not have an alcohol use disorder, and 24.2 percent of those who lived with a father with an alcohol use disorder.


Read Full Report (PDF)

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Commentary - High risk behaviours & alcohol dependence
Indian J Med Res 129, April 2009, pp 354-356

Notwithstanding the methodological problems which have probably arisen due to logistical constraints, this study raises some important issues. The first deals with the consequences of alcohol use and the second, the role that personality factors of alcohol abusers and the bearing these factors have on issues such as the antecedents of alcohol dependence and the determinants of the varying outcomes in patients with alcohol dependence.
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High risk behaviours following alcohol use in alcohol dependent men
Indian J Med Res 129, April 2009, pp 376-381


Our findings indicated that there was a high prevalence of high risk behaviour following an episode of heavy drinking in male patients with alcohol dependence syndrome. Both, severity of drinking and personality factors were associated with the occurrence of high risk behaviour as a consequence of heavy drinking.


Read Full Article (PDF)

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Reducing alcohol-related harm in the workplace: a feasibility study of screening and brief interventions for hazardous drinkers.
Alcohol Insight number 63

The main results from the trial suggest that brief interventions in the workplace have the potential to reduce alcohol related harm and also save public sector resources. The employees in the intervention group reported greater reductions than those in the control group in terms of the mean alcohol use variables, and fewer days use of hospital services and primary care than at baseline compared with those in the control group, whose use of such services rose at follow-up.



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The emergence of a specialist role in rural alcohol and drug service delivery: Lessons from a review in rural Victoria, Australia
Drugs: education, prevention and policy published online 18 June 2009


Many aspects of the rural AOD service provider's role enhance service delivery by extending reach and capacity. This occurs through AOD models, such as outreach, as well as strategies for working with other systems that include networking and secondary consultation. While there is task diffusion beyond traditional understandings of AOD treatment, the service delivery role may be understood as specialist in its own right. Recognition of this role as specialist may support staff recruitment and retention, while building potential for career pathways.




Request Reprint E-Mail: lynda.berends@turningpoint.org.au

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Sunday, June 21, 2009

Is it time to ban alcohol advertising?
Clinical Medicine, Journal of the Royal College of Physicians, Volume 9, Number 2, April 2009 , pp. 121-124


All European countries, with the exception of the UK, have a ban on one or more types of advertising. Since self-regulation is reported as failing to prevent marketing which has an impact on younger people, and since advertising commonly crosses country borders, there is an argument to approximate advertising rules across Europe banning alcohol advertising targeted at young people, a highly cost-effective measure to reduce harmful alcohol use, and one supported by European citizens and case law.


Read Full Article (PDF)

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Saturday, June 20, 2009

Reducing harm in drinking environments

This fact sheet was prepared as part of the Focus on Alcohol Safe Environments (FASE) project co-financed by the European Commission. It discusses alcohol-related harm in European drinking environments and how this can be prevented.


Read Full Fact Sheet (PDF)

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An evaluation of the Young Persons' Alcohol Intervention Programme in the Wirral: an interim report

The Young Person’s Alcohol Intervention Programme (YPAIP) was established in Wirral to provide referrals to those arrested or stopped by police for an alcohol-related offence to a local support service for young people. This is delivered through Response (established as part of the Children and Young People’s Department).Representatives from Response attempt to contact individual young people and/or their parents to assess their needs and deliver appropriate interventions. The Centre for Public Health were invited to evaluate the service. This interim report presents analysis of the existing data from Police and Response.


Read Report (PDF)
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Alcohol and Risk of Breast Cancer by Histologic Type and Hormone Receptor Status in Postmenopausal Women
American Journal of Epidemiology Advance Access published online on June 18, 2009


Moderate consumption of alcohol was associated with breast cancer, specifically hormone receptor-positive tumors.



Request Reprint E-Mail: parkyik@mail.nih.gov

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Thursday, June 18, 2009

Genetic Variability and Collective Social Norms: The Case of Binge Drinking

This paper explores how collective social norms can have individual-level genetic foundation. Our study is the first we know to report a plausible link between genetically founded individual preferences in a fraction of a population and social norms governing behavior of all individuals.

As our motivating example, we focus on patterns of Excessive Drinking in Social Situations (EDSS) across Europe that are possibly triggered by genetically caused variations in personality. The genetic trait is shyness, which correlates with eye color.

We present empirical results indicating that alcohol consumption in social situations correlate with eye color and a model which suggests that conditions exist in which EDSS can emerge as a strategy in a larger fraction of the population than is genetically redisposed to EDSS.

In addition, our model shows that alcohol taxes may be counter-productive in controlling the emergence of EDSS as a social norm.


Read Full Paper (PDF)

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WHA passes social determinants resolution
2009-06-18
Øystein Bakke

The WHO member states keeps the Social Determinants of Health process on track by passing a resolution based on the commission report at the World Health Assembly last month. The Health Assembly next year will discuss a proposed global strategy to reduce harmful use of alcohol.

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Corporate Social Responsibility: the New Marketing Tool

Recent trends in alcohol advertising and promotion can be found on this page of EUCAM. After an introduction of the new trend, possible risks of the trend are described, which is followed by examples of marketing practices from in outside the European continent.

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The burden of alcohol-related ill health in the United Kingdom
Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on June 3, 2009


We estimate that alcohol consumption was responsible for 31 000 deaths in the UK in 2005 and that alcohol consumption cost the UK NHS £3.0 billion in 2005–06. Alcohol consumption was responsible for 10% of all disability adjusted life years in 2002 (male: 15%; female: 4%) in the UK.

Alcohol consumption is a considerable public health burden in the UK. The comparison of the health and economic burden of various lifestyle factors is essential in prioritizing and resourcing public health action.


Request Reprint E-Mail: steven.allender@dphpc.ox.ac.uk

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The Price of Everything, The Value of Nothing: A (Truly) External Review Of BERL’s Study Of Harmful Alcohol and Drug Use

In March 2009, Business and Economic Research Limited ("BERL") published “Costs of Harmful Alcohol and Other Drug Use,” a report jointly commissioned by the Ministry of Health and ACC. BERL was asked to measure the costs of drug and alcohol abuse to New Zealand society, but not to evaluate specific interventions. BERL calculated annual social costs of alcohol and illicit drug consumption of $6.8 billion, including $4.8 billion in social costs from alcohol alone. The report was cited by Law Commission President Sir Geoffrey Palmer as evidence in support of greater regulation, gaining considerable media coverage.

We find substantial flaws in BERL’s method that together account for well over 90% of BERL’s calculated costs of alcohol use. Corrected external costs of alcohol use amount to $662 million and are roughly matched by the $516 million collected in alcohol excise taxes. The BERL report is wholly inadequate for use in assisting policy development.

Read Full Working Paper (PDF)

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Alcohol and Suicide Among Racial/Ethnic Populations --- 17 States, 2005--2006
MMWR Weekly June 19, 2009 / 58(23);637-641

During 2001--2005, an estimated annual 79,646 alcohol-attributable deaths (AAD) and 2.3 million years of potential life lost (YPLL) were attributed to the harmful effects of excessive alcohol use (1). An estimated 5,800 AAD and 189,667 YPLL were associated annually with suicide (1). The burden of suicide varies widely among racial and ethnic populations in the United States, and limited data are available to describe the role of alcohol in suicides in these populations.

To examine the relationship between alcohol and suicide among racial/ethnic populations, CDC analyzed data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) for the 2-year period 2005--2006 (the most recent data available).

This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that the overall prevalence of alcohol intoxication (i.e., blood alcohol concentration [BAC] at or above the legal limit of 0.08 g/dL) was nearly 24% among suicide decedents tested for alcohol, with the highest percentage occurring among American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) (37%), followed by Hispanics (29%) and persons aged 20--49 years (28%).

These results indicate that many populations can benefit from comprehensive and culturally appropriate suicide-prevention strategies that include efforts to reduce alcohol consumption, especially programs that focus on persons aged <50>



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The effect of ethanol on human brain metabolites longitudinally characterized by proton MR spectroscopy
Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism (2009) 29, 891–902

Fronto-mesial and cerebellar ethanol concentrations over time were similar as determined by the LCModel analysis of spectral data.

Alcohol-induced changes of fronto-mesial creatine, choline, glucose, inositol and aspartate levels for 5.792.94 mins upon ingestion as well as cerebellar choline and inositol levels for 8.642.98 mins past exposure.

Closely associated with ethanol concentrations, supratentorial creatine, choline, inositol and aspartate levels decreased after ethanol administration, whereas glucose levels increased. Similarly, infratentorial choline and inositol concentrations were negatively correlated with ethanol levels over time. There were no changes in N-acetyl-aspartate levels upon alcohol exposure.

Furthermore, no influence of ethanol on brain water integrals was detected. Ethanol consumption may directly increase oxidative stress and the neuronal vulnerability to it.

In addition, our results are compatible with ethanol-induced cell membrane modifications and alternative energy substrate usage upon alcohol




Request Reprint E-Mail: armin_biller@med.uni-heidelberg.de


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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

GABRR1 and GABRR2, encoding the GABA-A receptor subunits 1 and 2, are associated with alcohol dependence
American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics Published Online: 17 Jun 2009

The genes encoding several GABA-A receptor subunits, including GABRA2, have been associated with alcoholism, suggesting that variations in gaba signaling contribute to risk. Therefore, as part of a comprehensive evaluation of the GABA receptor genes, we evaluated the potential association of GABRR1 and GABRR2, which encode the 1 and 2 subunits of the pentameric GABA-A/GABA-C receptors. GABRR1 and GABRR2 lie in a head to tail orientation spanning 137 kb on chromosome 6q14-16.

We genotyped 73 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), covering both genes and extending 31 kb upstream of GABRR2 and 95 kb downstream of GABRR1, in a sample of 1923 European Americans from 219 multiplex alcohol-dependent families. Family-based association analyses demonstrated that SNPs in both GABRR1 and GABRR2 were significantly associated with alcohol dependence.

Among the associated SNPs was rs282129, a coding SNP (Met430Thr) in GABRR2. Secondary analysis using a median split for age of onset suggests that the association is strongest when the analysis is focused upon those with earlier onset of alcohol dependence.

Haplotypes in each gene were significantly overtransmitted to family members who did not meet criteria for alcohol dependence and a haplotype in GABRR2 was significantly overtransmitted to family members who met a broader definition of alcoholism as well as DSM-IV dependence.


Request Reprint E-Mail: xxuei@iupui.edu

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Too much too young - alcohol misuse report
London Assembly Reports - Health and Public Services
June 2009

Our report reveals that the capital’s 11-15 year olds now drink the equivalent of 180,000 bottles of lager every week – and the amount they drink is on the rise. The investigation found a lack of senior leadership both locally and regionally means efforts to tackle the problem are not always effectively prioritised or co-ordinated. To address this, the Committee believes the Mayor and local leaders need to focus more effort on tackling alcohol.

Read Full Report (PDF)

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News Release - Finnish Parliament raises alcohol tax by 10 pct
15.6.2009

The Finnish Parliament on Monday approved a ten per cent increase in alcohol taxes. The higher tax rate is expected to raise alcohol prices by an average of 4.5 per cent from the beginning of October. . . . . .
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Alcohol industry differs on ‘higher’ taxation
By JUSTUS ONDARI Posted Wednesday, June 17 2009

The alcohol industry has petitioned the government over the new tax measures on wines and spirits contained in the 2009 Budget as the implications of the proposals presented to Parliament last week dawn on various sectors. . . . . .


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Crossing Our Lines:
Working Together to Reform the U.S. Health System

Crossing Our Lines is a bipartisan agreement for comprehensive health reform reached by Senators Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, and Bob Dole. It is the culmination of an inclusive year-and-a-half effort that included strategic outreach to key health care stakeholders, a series of state-based public policy forums, and months of personal deliberations by the Leaders.

Pg. 53 Ensuring Budget Neutrality—Guarantee that the entire reform package is budget neutral by paying for the remaining cost of approximately $200 billion . . . . .

. . . . . Congress could choose from among the following proposals, or others, to offset the remaining deficit:

. . . . . Increase cigarette and alcohol taxes

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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The ANKK1 Kinase Gene and Psychiatric Disorders
Neurotoxicity Research Volume 16, Number 1 / July, 2009 pp.50-59

The TaqIA single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, rs1800497), which is located in the gene that codes for the putative kinase ANKK1 (ANKK1) near the termination codon of the D2 dopamine receptor gene (DRD2; chromosome 11q22–q23), is the most studied genetic variation in a broad range of psychiatric disorders and personality traits. A large number of individual genetic association studies have found that the TaqIA SNP is linked to alcoholism and antisocial traits.

Current data show that the TaqIA polymorphism may be a marker of both DRD2 and ANKK1 genetic variants. ANKK1 would belong to a family of kinases involved in signal transduction. This raises the question of whether signaling players intervene in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Basic research on the ANKK1 protein and its putative interaction with the D2 dopamine receptor could shed light on this issue.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: jhoenicka@gmail.com
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High Level of α-Synuclein mRNA in Peripheral Lymphocytes of Patients with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine Volume 146, Number 5 / November, 2008 pp.609-611
The content of mRNA for α-synuclein (a key protein of the dopaminergic system) was elevated in the peripheral lymphocytes of patients with alcohol dependence syndrome. Increased level of α-synuclein mRNA was not associated with changes in the expression of NR4A2 gene encoding Nurrl, one of the main transcription factors of dopaminergic neurons.
Request Reprint E-Mail: ataraskina@mail.ru
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Selective detection of phosphatidylethanol homologues in blood as biomarkers for alcohol consumption by LC-ESI-MS/MS
Journal of Mass Spectrometry Published Online: 12 Jun 2009

A new validated method for the quantitation of the abnormal phospholipid phosphatidylethanol (PEth) - a biomarker for ethanol uptake - has been developed by LC-ESI-MS/MS following miniaturised organic solvent extraction and reversed phase chromatography with phosphatidylbutanol (PBut) as internal standard.

Because of its higher sensitivity, there is a potential to detect single heavy drinking by LC-MS/MS, when PEth is formed in very low concentrations.

This opens a new field of application of PEth to uncover single or multiple heavy drinking at a lower frequency and with a larger window of detection in blood than before by HPLC/ELSD or by use of other direct markers, e.g. ethyl glucuronide or ethyl sulfate.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: wolfgang.weinmann@uniklinik-freiburg.de
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News Release - Alcohol advertising needs to be restricted to protect young people


The National Youth Council of Ireland are launching a unique report tomorrow (Tuesday June 9th) at 12pm entitled “Get ‘em Young – Mapping young people’s exposure to alcohol marketing in Ireland.” The report will be launched in Buswells Hotel by Senator Joe O’Toole and will show the prevalence of alcohol marketing across the country and its impact on young people.

This report is the first of its kind in Ireland as it involves young people recording their experience of alcohol advertising and marketing in their own surroundings.

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Read Full Report (PDF)
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Alcohol’s Good for You? Some Scientists Doubt It
By RONI CARYN RABIN
Published: June 15, 2009

By now, it is a familiar litany. Study after study suggests that alcohol in moderation may promote heart health and even ward off diabetes and dementia. The evidence is so plentiful that some experts consider moderate drinking — about one drink a day for women, about two for men — a central component of a healthy lifestyle.

But what if it’s all a big mistake? . . . . .


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Monday, June 15, 2009

Evaluating a Comprehensive Campus-Community Prevention Intervention to Reduce Alcohol-Related Problems in a College Population
J. Stud Alcohol Drugs, Supplement No. 16: 21-27, 2009

This article evaluates Western Washington University's Neighborhoods Engaging with Students project--a comprehensive strategy to decrease disruptive off-campus parties by increasing student integration into and accountability to the neighborhoods in which they live.

The results suggest that alcohol control measures can be effective in reducing problematic drinking in college settings. These findings strongly support conducting a replication with greater power and a more rigorous design


Request Reprint E-Mail: saltz@prev.org
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NIAAA's Rapid Response to College Drinking Problems Initiative: Reinforcing the Use of Evidence-Based Approaches in College Alcohol Prevention
J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, Supplement No. 16: 5-11, 2009

College drinking remains a daunting problem on many campuses, but evidence-based strategies--such as those described in this supplement--provide hope that more effective solutions can be found. The Rapid Response initiative has helped solidify the necessary link between research and practice in college alcohol prevention and treatment.

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Request Reprint E-Mail: wdejong@bu.edu

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Magnitude of and Trends in Alcohol-Related Mortality and Morbidity Among U.S. College Students Ages 18-24, 1998-2005
J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, Supplement No. 16: 12-20,2000
The persistence of college drinking problems underscores an urgent need to implement prevention and counseling approaches identified through research to reduce alcohol-related harms among college students and other young adults.


Request reprint E-Mail: rhingson@mail.nih.gov
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News Release - Concerns about health and looks are driving thousands to cut back on alcohol

Men are worried that drinking too much alcohol will affect their appearance according to a new survey for the Know Your Limits campaign published today.

Released during Men's Health Week, the statistics show that watching the waistline is no longer only the preserve of women, with more than one in three men (37%) claiming they would reduce their drinking to cut down on the number of calories they consume. Only money-saving (44%) is a bigger incentive.

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Red wine consumption and risk of prostate cancer: The California Men's Health Study
International Journal of Cancer
Published Online: 11 Jun 2009

Neither red wine nor total alcohol consumption were associated with prostate cancer risk in this population of moderate drinkers.


Request Reprint E-Mail: chun.r.chao@kp.org

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