Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs : What they can do to you and your family

This sheet written in English and Spanish tells of the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and drug use during pregnancy and how you can get help in quitting these habits.

The effect of acute alcohol exposure on hepatic oxidative stress and function: prevention by micronutrients

Alcohol binge drinking, especially in teenagers and young adults is a major public health issue in the UK, with the number of alcohol related liver disorders steadily increasing. Understanding the mechanisms behind liver disease arising from binge-drinking and finding ways to prevent such damage are currently important areas of research. In the present investigation the effect of acute ethanol administration on hepatic oxidative damage and apoptosis was examined using both an in vivo and in vitro approach; the effect of micronutrient supplementation prior and during ethanol exposure was also studied. The following studies were performed: (1) ethanol administration (75 mmol/kg body weight) and cyanamide pre-treatment followed by ethanol to study elevated acetaldehyde levels with liver tissue analysed 2.5, 6 and 24 hours post-alcohol; (2). Using juvenile animals, 2% betaine supplementation followed by acute ethanol with tissue analysed 24 hrs post ethanol; and (3). Micronutrient supplementation during concomitant ethanol exposure to hepG2 cells. It was found that a single dose of alcohol caused oxidative damage to the liver of rats at 2.5 hr post-alcohol as evidenced by decreased glutathione levels and increased malondialdehyde levels in both the cytosol and mitochondria. Liver function was also depressed but there were no findings of apoptosis as cytochrome c levels and caspase 3 activity was unchanged. At 6 hours, the effect of ethanol was reduced suggesting some degree of recovery, however, by 24 hours, increased mitochondrial oxidative stress was apparent. The effect of elevated acetaldehyde on hepatic damage was particularly evident at 24 hours, with some oxidative changes at earlier time points. At 24 hours, acetaldehyde caused a profound drop in glutathione levels in the cytosol and hepatic function was still deteriorating. Studies examining ethanol exposure to juvenile livers showed that glutathione levels were increased, suggesting an overtly protective response not seen in with older animals. It also showed that despite cytochrome c release into the cytosol, caspase-3 levels were not increased. This suggests that ATP depletion is preventing apoptosis initiation. Betaine supplementation prevented almost all of the alcohol-mediated changes, suggesting that the main mechanism behind alcohol-mediated liver damage is oxidative stress. Results using the hepG2 cell line model showed that micronutrients involved in glutathione synthesis can protect against hepatocyte damage caused by alcohol metabolism, with reduced reactive oxygen species and increased/maintained glutathione levels. In summary, these results demonstrate that both acute alcohol and acetaldehyde can have damaging effects to the liver, but that dietary intervention may be able to protect against ethanol induced oxidative stress.

Labour and the politics of alcohol: the decline of a cause

This paper shows that, contrary to existing historiography, the politics of alcohol remained important within the Labour party. It explains how and why the party thereafter moved away from this issue and the consequences in terms of party policy up to the 2003 Licensing Act.

Determination of free furfuryl alcohol in foundry resins by chromatographic techniques

Two chromatographic methods, gas chromatography with flow ionization detection (GC���FID) and liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (LC���UV), were used to determine furfuryl alcohol in several kinds of foundry resins, after application of an optimised extraction procedure. The GC method developed gave feasibility that did not depend on resin kind. Analysis by LC was suitable just for furanic resins. The presence of interference in the phenolic resins did not allow an appropriate quantification by LC. Both methods gave accurate and precise results. Recoveries were >94%; relative standard deviations were ���7 and ���0.3%, respectively for GC and LC methods. Good relative deviations between the two methods were found (���3%).

Red nacional para el estudio de los incendios forestales y sus efectos en los suelos ��� RIS./ Rede nacional para o estudo dos Inc��ndios florestais e seus efeitos nos Solos

En enero de 2014, continuando con la intenci��n expresada en Guimar��es (Portugal), en noviembre de 2013, durante la VII Reuni��n de la Geograf��a F��sica y Medio Ambiente (EGFA VII), la Asociaci��n Portuguesa de Prevenci��n de Riesgos y Seguridad (RISCOS) cre�� las condiciones para el establecimiento de una secci��n tem��tica dedicada al estudio de los efectos de los incendios sobre los suelos y que vendr��a a ser conocida ���Red Nacional para el Estudio de los Incendios Forestales y sus Efectos sobre los Suelos��� (RIS). Esta fue una iniciativa inspirada en Fuegored (Red Tem��tica Nacional Efectos de los Incendios Forestales sobre los Suelos) y que, de esta manera, desea establecer una red nacional de investigadores con el fin de facilitar la promoci��n y difusi��n de los resultados de sus pesquisas cient��ficas sobre este tema, realizadas en Portugal, as�� como la interacci��n entre el mundo cient��fico y el manejo forestal . La RIS fue fundada por 12 miembros, que representan 7 universidades portuguesas y en la actualidad cuenta con 23 miembros de 9 universidades y escuelas polit��cnicas. Se espera que crezca y que puede a��adir todos los que participan en la investigaci��n cient��fica de los incendios forestales y sus efectos en los suelos.

Development and validation of a risk model for prediction of hazardous alcohol consumption in general practice attendees : the PredictAL study

Background: Little is known about the risk of progression to hazardous alcohol use in people currently drinking at safe limits. We aimed to develop a prediction model (predictAL) for the development of hazardous drinking in safe drinkers. Methods: A prospective cohort study of adult general practice attendees in six European countries and Chile followed up over 6 months. We recruited 10,045 attendees between April 2003 to February 2005. 6193 European and 2462 Chilean attendees recorded AUDIT scores below 8 in men and 5 in women at recruitment and were used in modelling risk. 38 risk factors were measured to construct a risk model for the development of hazardous drinking using stepwise logistic regression. The model was corrected for over fitting and tested in an external population. The main outcome was hazardous drinking defined by an AUDIT score >= 8 in men and >= 5 in women. Results: 69.0% of attendees were recruited, of whom 89.5% participated again after six months. The risk factors in the final predictAL model were sex, age, country, baseline AUDIT score, panic syndrome and lifetime alcohol problem. The predictAL model's average c-index across all six European countries was 0.839 (95% CI 0.805, 0.873). The Hedge's g effect size for the difference in log odds of predicted probability between safe drinkers in Europe who subsequently developed hazardous alcohol use and those who did not was 1.38 (95% CI 1.25, 1.51). External validation of the algorithm in Chilean safe drinkers resulted in a c-index of 0.781 (95% CI 0.717, 0.846) and Hedge's g of 0.68 (95% CI 0.57, 0.78). Conclusions: The predictAL risk model for development of hazardous consumption in safe drinkers compares favourably with risk algorithms for disorders in other medical settings and can be a useful first step in prevention of alcohol misuse.

Simuladores Fisiológicos na avalia����o metrol��gica de esfigmoman��metros

Este documento apresenta uma avalia����o sobre o uso dos simuladores fisiológicos como padr��o para avalia����o metrol��gica dos esfigmoman��metros autom��ticos na estima����o da press��o sangu��nea pelo m��todo n��o invasivo (PNI). O presente estudo procurou avaliar o enquadramento destes equipamentos com os procedimentos das normas e recomenda����es usadas para aprecia����o metrol��gica dos esfigmoman��metros digitais. No contexto da pr��tica metrol��gica existente determinou-se a exist��ncia de uma oportunidade de melhoria nos processos relacionados. O trabalho procurou obter resposta a diversas quest��es, relacionando a medi����o da press��o pelo m��todo n��o invasivo, com o uso dos simuladores fisiológicos, o contexto em que estes podem ser usados, as formas de simula����o, as medi����es e os resultados, procurando a perspetiva metrol��gica como enquadramento. As recomenda����es existentes [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8], s��o muito claras nos procedimentos, valida����o e nos desvios permitidos para os monitores da tens��o arterial (MTA), equipamento que permite a avalia����o dos par��metros fisiológicos do paciente, no entanto, quando se pretende avan��ar para outro dom��nio, como o do uso dos simuladores, em particular para a simula����o da PNI, n��o existem recomenda����es ou normas t��o claras, e n��o existe sobretudo um padr��o de refer��ncia que imite a natureza din��mica que caracteriza a press��o sangu��nea. O trabalho procurou ainda estabelecer a liga����o entre o m��todo cl��ssico de ausculta����o (o principio de determina����o da PS), a t��cnica digital de medi����o e os simuladores, para uma melhor compreens��o do que �� a press��o sangu��nea, e como relacionar a problem��tica da simula����o e a de um padr��o de refer��ncia. Neste trabalho est��o ainda presentes abordagens a diversos t��picos, como as valida����es cl��nicas, acess��rios, ou a metrologia e que influenciam no final os equipamentos e o contexto que se pretende avaliar. Os diversos equipamentos testados procuraram conter amostras diversificadas, quer para os MTA de uso profissional ou dom��stico, assim como para os simuladores. A avalia����o dos simuladores foi realizada contra um grupo de MTAs. Foi testada a influ��ncia na medi����o, causada pela mudan��a de acess��rios, ou seja, nos resultados, merecendo considera����o pela perspetiva metrol��gica. No resumo dos testes e do estudo sobre este tema, verificou-se que esta tipologia de equipamentos pode contribuir como complemento do processo de calibra����o t��pico (est��tico). N��o constitui por si s�� um m��todo alternativo, mas permitiu estimar poss��veis limites de erro e desvio padr��o a partir da observa����o dos resultados pr��ticos, limites esses inferiores aos processos de valida����o cl��nica. Atendendo ��s particularidades, estimou-se como desvio aceit��vel um erro mais desvio padr��o de 5 + 3 mmHg para o processo de simula����o. Contudo considera-se ainda importante os testes adicionais em que o simulador permite, ao verificar as medidas de seguran��a implementadas no equipamento e a condi����o dos acess��rios, que como verificado afetam os resultados. No entanto nem todos os simuladores se mostram adequados a este processo pelo que a qualidade da sele����o do equipamento para este fim pode eventualmente reduzir ainda mais os poss��veis limites.

Alcohol and relatively pure cannabis use, but not schizotypy, are associated with cognitive attenuations

Elevated schizotypy relates to similar cognitive attenuations as seen in psychosis and cannabis/polydrug use. Also, in schizotypal populations cannabis and polydrug (including licit drug) use are enhanced.These cognitive attenuations may therefore either be a behavioral marker of psychotic (-like) symptoms or the consequence of enhanced drug use in schizotypal populations.To elucidate this, we investigated the link between cognitive attenuation and cannabis use in largely pure cannabis users (35) and non-using controls (48), accounting for the potential additional influence of both schizotypy and licit drug use (alcohol, nicotine). Cognitive attenuations commonly seen in psychosis were associated with cannabis and alcohol use, but not schizotypy. Future studies should therefore consider (i) non-excessive licit substance use (e.g., alcohol) in studies investigating the effect of cannabis use on cognition and (ii) both enhanced illicit and licit substance use in studies investigating cognition in schizotypal populations.

A follow-up study on the quality of alcohol dependence-related information on the web.

ABSTRACT: In order to evaluate the one-year evolution of web-based information on alcohol dependence, we re-assessed alcohol-related sites in July 2007 with the same evaluating tool that had been used to assess these sites in June 2006. Websites were assessed with a standardized form designed to rate sites on the basis of accountability, presentation, interactivity, readability, and content quality. The DISCERN scale was also used, which aimed to assist persons without content expertise in assessing the quality of written health publications. Scores were highly stable for all components of the form one year later (r = .77 to .95, p < .01). Analysis of variance for repeated measures showed no time effect, no interaction between time and scale, no interaction between time and group (affiliation categories), and no interaction between time, group, and scale. The study highlights lack of change of alcohol-dependence-related web pages across one year.

Associations between alcohol consumption and selected cytokines in a Swiss population-based sample (CoLaus study).

To assess the associations between alcohol consumption and cytokine levels (interleukin-1beta - IL-1��; interleukin-6 - IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-�� - TNF-��) in a Caucasian population. Population sample of 2884 men and 3201 women aged 35-75. Alcohol consumption was categorized as nondrinkers, low (1-6 drinks/week), moderate (7-13/week) and high (14+/week). No difference in IL-1�� levels was found between alcohol consumption categories. Low and moderate alcohol consumption led to lower IL-6 levels: median (interquartile range) 1.47 (0.70-3.51), 1.41 (0.70-3.32), 1.42 (0.66-3.19) and 1.70 (0.83-4.39) pg/ml for nondrinkers, low, moderate and high drinkers, respectively, p<0.01, but this association was no longer significant after multivariate adjustment. Compared to nondrinkers, moderate drinkers had the lowest odds (Odds ratio=0.86 (0.71-1.03)) of being in the highest quartile of IL-6, with a significant (p<0.05) quadratic trend. Low and moderate alcohol consumption led to lower TNF-�� levels: 2.92 (1.79-4.63), 2.83 (1.84-4.48), 2.82 (1.76-4.34) and 3.15 (1.91-4.73) pg/ml for nondrinkers, low, moderate and high drinkers, respectively, p<0.02, and this difference remained borderline significant (p=0.06) after multivariate adjustment. Moderate drinkers had a lower odds (0.81 [0.68-0.98]) of being in the highest quartile of TNF-��. No specific alcoholic beverage (wine, beer or spirits) effect was found. Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with lower levels of IL-6 and (to a lesser degree) of TNF-��, irrespective of the type of alcohol consumed. No association was found between IL-1�� levels and alcohol consumption.

Alcohol Brief Intervention in Primary Care: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present review was to evaluate the evidence of the effectiveness of brief interventions aimed at reducing chronic alcohol use and harm related to alcohol consumption, conducted among individuals actively attending primary care but who were not seeking help for alcohol problems. METHODS: Randomised trials reporting at-least one outcome related to alcohol consumption and conducted in outpatients who were actively attending primary care centre or provider were selected using Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ISI Web of Science, ETOH database, and bibliographies of the retrieved references and previous reviews. Selection and data abstraction were performed independently and in duplicate. We assessed validity of the studies and performed a meta-analysis for studies reporting alcohol consumption at 6 or 12 months follow up. RESULTS: We included 24 reports, reporting results of 19 trials and including 5,639 individuals. Seventeen trials reported a measure of alcohol consumption, eight reporting a significant effect of intervention. The meta-analysis showed a mean pooled difference of -41 (95% CI: −54; −28) g of pure ethanol per week in favour of brief intervention group. Evidences for other outcomes (laboratory values, health related quality of life, morbidity and mortality, health care utilisation) were inconclusive. CONCLUSION: Our systematic review indicated that brief intervention might be effective for both men and women in reducing alcohol consumption compared to a controlled intervention, in a primary health care population. The meta-analysis confirmed the reduction in alcohol consumption at 6 and 12 month. Further research should precise the components of effectiveness of brief intervention and the evidence of effects on morbidity, mortality, and quality of life related outcomes.