Alcohol Drinking Behavior Research Articles

Alcohol Withdrawal and Proopiomelanocortin Neuropeptides in an Animal Model of Alcohol Dependence

Background: Alcohol is one of the leading threats to health worldwide. Craving for alcohol makes abstinence a difficult challenge by maintaining alcohol dependence. Many studies suppose the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, especially the proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived neuropeptides, to mediate craving during withdrawal in alcohol dependence. Evidence is available that the two POMC proteins, α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and β-endorphin (β-END) are altered by alcohol consumption and influence alcohol consumption, respectively. Objectives: We investigated the dynamics of α-MSH and β-END during alcohol withdrawal and the influence of intraperitoneal administration of either α-MSH or β-END in an established rodent model (Wistar rats) for alcohol dependence. Results: After long-term alcohol self-administration over 12 months and repeated deprivation periods for 3 days, we found a significant decrease in α-MSH levels during withdrawal in rodents (p = 0.006) compared to controls, while β-END levels remained unchanged. Treatment with intraperitoneally administered α-MSH and β-END did not affect alcohol drinking behavior after deprivation. Conclusion: We demonstrate the effects of alcohol deprivation on α-MSH in alcohol-dependent rodents, which appear to mimic α-MSH alteration found after fasting periods during appetite regulation. Therefore, low α-MSH levels are a possible indicator for craving in alcohol-dependent individuals and hence would be a potential target for anti-craving treatment.

Analysis of the alcohol drinking behavior and influencing factors among emerging adults and young adults: a cross-sectional study in Wuhan, China

BackgroundThe relationship between alcohol use in adolescents and young adults and outcomes has not been widely researched in China. The aim of the current study was to understand the current status of drinking behavior of Chinese youth transitioning into adulthood.MethodsThe cross-sectional study included 1634 participants between 18 and 34 years of age. The participants were randomly chosen from 13 administrative districts in Wuhan, and invited to complete a questionnaire. Univariate analysis was performed to describe the demographic distribution of alcohol consumption and the association with drinking status. Stepwise Logistic regression analysis was undertaken analyzing the factors influencing the drinking behaviors. The data were weighted to the population in Wuhan and analyzed using SAS version 9.3.ResultsFor our sample of emerging and young Chinese adults the prevalence of drinking alcohol was 45.84%. The non-drinkers predominated, accounting for 54.16% and light drinkers accounted for 42.94%, while moderate and heavy drinkers were in the minority (2.90%). The earlier the age of first alcohol drinking or the age of first being intoxicated, the greater the likelihood of being a moderate or heavy drinker. People with high emerging adulthood were more likely to have moderate or heavy drinking behaviors. The logistic regression analysis indicated that heavy drinkers were more likely to not be married and to be classified as high emerging adulthood.ConclusionsOur findings suggested that the drinking pattern should be further evaluated over time to explore the ways in which social and cultural factors shape the drinking route of this age group. Effective drinking behavior prevention and interventions and appropriate guidance should be formulated to establish an appropriate attitude towards drinking alcohol and develop a drinking behavior which is conducive to physical and mental health between this particular demographic.

Increased alcohol consumption and development of tolerance to alcohol‐induced sedation in NBCn1 knockout mice

The Na/HCO3 cotransporter NBCn1 plays a role in regulating synaptic pH. We recently reported that a human SLC4A7 gene polymorphism identified as a marker for polysubstance abuse is responsible for the production of a transporter variant that has a defect in function and expression. This finding prompted us to test whether NBCn1 is involved in alcoholism. Here, we examined alcohol‐drinking behaviors, as well as locomotor/anxiety and spatial learning behaviors, in NBCn1 knockout (KO) mice. In the open filed test, NBCn1 KO mice displayed decreased locomotor activity compared to wild type (WT) littermates. However, the activity in the elevated plus maze test was similar between WT and KO mice, indicating negligible change in anxiety. In the Morris water maze test, both groups of mice had learning behaviors improving each day with similar latency to escape in repeated trainings and distance traveled. The two groups learned the platform location with similar time spent in the trained quadrant during the probe trials. Thus, hippocampal‐based spatial learning was not altered in KO mice. Next, alcohol‐related behaviors were tested in a two‐bottle choice drinking experiment, in which mice were given to 3–15% ethanol with 3% increments at 4 days and alcohol consumption was measured. KO mice consumed more alcohol than WT mice with higher alcohol preference (p < 0.05). The consumption was also increased after repeated alcohol withdrawals. In the loss of righting reflex test following alcohol administration (3.5 g/kg alcohol; intraperitoneal), KO mice had a longer duration of sedation, but blood alcohol concentration did not differ. The duration became shorter when KO mice were pretreated with alcohol for 7 days, indicating the development of tolerance to the hypnotic effects of alcohol. Whole cell current clamp of hippocampal neurons showed that neurons from KO mice had a higher action potential threshold, no recurrent action potential, and a more depolarized membrane potential. These results indicate that abnormalities in NBCn1 alter alcohol consumption and alcohol‐related behaviors by changing neuronal excitability. Increased voluntary alcohol consumption in KO mice is probably driven by decreased rewarding value of alcohol. Neurons from KO mice are less excitable, which would lead to decreased neurotransmitter release. Thus, the rewarding value of alcohol is reduced, requiring more alcohol to achieve the same level of hedonic response.Support or Funding InformationNIH and Emory URCThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

The Cortical Neuroimmune Regulator TANK Affects Emotional Processing and Enhances Alcohol Drinking: A Translational Study.

Alcohol abuse is a major public health problem worldwide. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that control regular drinking may help to reduce hazards of alcohol consumption. While immunological mechanisms have been related to alcohol drinking, most studies reported changes in immune function that are secondary to alcohol use. In this report, we analyse how the gene “TRAF family member-associated NF-κB activator” (TANK) affects alcohol drinking behavior. Based on our recent discovery in a large GWAS dataset that suggested an association of TANK, SNP rs197273, with alcohol drinking, we report that SNP rs197273 in TANK is associated both with gene expression (P = 1.16 × 10−19) and regional methylation (P = 5.90 × 10−25). A tank knock out mouse model suggests a role of TANK in alcohol drinking, anxiety-related behavior, as well as alcohol exposure induced activation of insular cortex NF-κB. Functional and structural neuroimaging studies among up to 1896 adolescents reveal that TANK is involved in the control of brain activity in areas of aversive interoceptive processing, including the insular cortex, but not in areas related to reinforcement, reward processing or impulsiveness. Our findings suggest that the cortical neuroimmune regulator TANK is associated with enhanced aversive emotional processing that better protects from the establishment of alcohol drinking behavior.

Prediagnostic Smoking and Alcohol Drinking and Gastric Cancer Survival: A Korean Prospective Cohort Study.

Behavioral factors, such as smoking and heavy alcohol consumption, increase the risk of gastric cancer (GC), but their effects on survival are not clear. We examined associations between prediagnostic smoking and alcohol drinking behavior and GC death by long-term follow-up. The participants were 508 GC patients enrolled at Chungnam University Hospital and Hanyang University Guri Hospital from 2001 to 2006. Information on clinicopathologic and behavioral risk factors was collected, and patient survival was prospectively followed until 2016 by medical chart review and telephone survey. During above 10 years follow-up period, overall death was 46.2% (n=226) and GC deaths was 38.2% (n=187) among the 489 GC patients included in the analysis. No significant association was found between smoking habits and overall or GC survival. However, after stratification by histological type, the hazard ratio (HR) of GC death for current smokers tended to be higher for the diffuse type (HR 1.61, 95% CI 0.57-4.59 for current vs. never) rather than for the intestinal type (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.28-2.19 for current vs. never). Light alcohol consumption was found to be associated with a significantly lower risk of GC death (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.36-0.75 for <20 g/day for women or <40 g/day for men vs. never and past), and the effects of alcohol drinking habits had similar effects on GC death for the intestinal and diffuse types. These results suggest smoking and alcohol drinking behaviors before a diagnosis of GC are weakly associated with GC survival. Nevertheless, the effect of smoking behavior on prognosis appears to depend on the histological type of GC.

Genetic determinants of beverage consumption: Implications for nutrition and health.

Beverages make important contributions to nutritional intake and their role in health has received much attention. This review focuses on the genetic determinants of common beverage consumption and how research in this field is contributing insight to what and how much we consume and why this genetic knowledge matters from a research and public health perspective. The earliest efforts in gene-beverage behavior mapping involved genetic linkage and candidate gene analysis but these approaches have been largely replaced by genome-wide association studies (GWAS). GWAS have identified biologically plausible loci underlying alcohol and coffee drinking behavior. No GWAS has identified variants specifically associated with consumption of tea, juice, soda, wine, beer, milk or any other common beverage. Thus far, GWAS highlight an important behavior-reward component (as opposed to taste) to beverage consumption which may serve as a potential barrier to dietary interventions. Loci identified have been used in Mendelian randomization and gene×beverage interaction analysis of disease but results have been mixed. This research is necessary as it informs the clinical relevance of SNP-beverage associations and thus genotype-based personalized nutrition, which is gaining interest in the commercial and public health sectors.

HUBUNGAN PENGETAHUAN TERHADAP PERILAKU KONSUMSI MINUMAN KERAS MAHASISWA SUMBA DI DUSUN TAMBAK BAYAN KECAMATAN DEPOK KABUPATEN SLEMAN YOGYAKARTA

ABSTRACT Background: The area of Tambak Bayan Village, Depok District, SlemanRegency is dominated by boarding houses, rent houses, and student dormitories. Most of the students who live in this area are originally from Sumba Regency. In a previous study conducted in this village, more than 75% of students from Sumba in this region drink alcoholic beverages. Knowledge is the basis for the formation of a behavior. The drinking often triggers social issues such as commotion, acts of violence, beatings, and other things that disturb public security in the Tambak Bayan Village.Aim: To analyze the relation between knowledge and alcohol drinking behavior of Sumba students in Tambak Bayan Village, Depok District, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta. Method: This was an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design. The study subjects were 80 individuals. The data was collected via questionnaires and analyzed with the fisher analysis. Results: There were 98,8 % (79 respondents) individuals who had goodknowledge and 80 % (64 respondents) individuals admitted to drinking alcoholic beverages. There was no relation between knowledge and alcohol drinking behavior of Sumba students in Tambak Bayan Village, Depok District, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta (p-value 0,2 &gt; 0,05). Suggestion: Good knowledge does not guarantee a person not to drink alcoholic beverages.

Role of MCP-1 and CCR2 in alcohol neurotoxicity.

Alcohol abuse causes profound damage to both the developing brain and the adult brain. Prenatal exposure to alcohol results in a wide range of deficits known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Alcohol abuse in adults is associated with brain shrinkage, memory and attention deficits, communication disorders and physical disabilities. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) is one of the key chemokines that regulate the recruitment and activation of monocytes and microglia. Both MCP-1 and its receptor C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2) expressed in the brain are involved in various neuroinflammatory disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the role of MCP-1/CCR2 in alcohol-induced brain damage is unclear. Recent evidence indicates that alcohol exposure increased the activity of MCP-1/CCR2 in both mature and developing central nervous systems (CNS). MCP-1/CCR2 signaling in the brain was involved in alcohol drinking behavior. MCP-1/CCR2 inhibition alleviated alcohol neurotoxicity by reducing microglia activation/neuroinflammation in the developing brain and spinal cord. In this review, we discussed the role of MCP-1/CCR2 signaling in alcohol-induced neuroinflammation and brain damage. We also discussed the signaling cascades that are involved in the activation of MCP-1/CCR2 in response to alcohol exposure.

Gender differences in cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking among adolescents and young adults in Hanoi, Shanghai, and Taipei.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine gender differences in smoking and alcohol drinking behaviors in three Asian cities of Hanoi, Shanghai, and Taipei, and to assess the magnitude of gender differences across the three cities.MethodsA total of 17,016 adolescents (age: 15–19 years) and young adults (age: 20–24 years) were selected using multi-stage sampling methods and surveyed in face-to-face interviews. A total of 16,554 unmarried respondents were included in this analysis.ResultsGender differences were significant for smoking only, drinking only, and both behaviors in each city. Male respondents were 30.66 times more likely to report smoking only than female respondents in Hanoi, followed by Shanghai and Taipei. This pattern was similar for drinking only and both smoking and drinking behaviors.ConclusionsThe magnitude of gender differences in smoking only, drinking only, and both behaviors widely varies across the three cities. Further research can examine how these differences may be used to prevent and reduce smoking and drinking in the adolescent and young adult population.

Predictors of alcohol consumption among in-school adolescents in the Central Region of Ghana: A baseline information for developing cognitive-behavioural interventions.

Background and purposeDespite a recent shift in school going adolescents’ engagement in health compromising behaviours and their related socio-economic implications on developing societies, it is surprising that baseline information for planned interventions is sparse. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of alcohol drinking and related behaviours among in-school adolescents in the Junior High Schools (JHS) in the Central Region of Ghana.Methods and resultsDescriptive cross-sectional design was employed with multistage sampling procedures to sample 1400 school going adolescents in JHS in the Central Region. Preliminary findings using simple frequencies and percentages revealed 42% alcohol drinking prevalence in the region. High prevalence of drunkenness (73%, n = 406) and early exposure to alcohol drinking when students were in primary school (52%, n = 286) were noted. Community festivals and use of alcohol as a form of medicine were enabling factors of alcohol consumption in the region. Binary logistic regression analysis also showed that geographical location was a significant predictor of alcohol drinking among school going adolescents, with students in the southern and central part of the region at greater risks of drinking alcohol than those from the northern part (OR = .696, 95% CI = 0.52–926, p = .013). However, no statistical significant variations were found in the odds of drinking alcohol for age (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.86–1.48, p = .370), gender (OR = .81, 95% CI = 0.65–1.01, p = .06), religious affiliation (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 0.94–1.89, p = .10), parental communication (OR = .86, 95% CI = 0.66–1.06, p = .13), academic performance (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.79–1.45, p = .05) and socioeconomic status (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.95–1.53, p = .12).ConclusionsWith this baseline data, it was recommended that schools’ curricula should include preventive cognitive-behavioural interventions that teach drug resistance skills and anti-drug norms. These interventions would foster the development of requisite knowledge and social skills (e.g., developing competence) for resisting social and peer influences that may trigger alcohol use and perhaps other drugs. Potentially, the motivation for alcohol use among school going adolescents in the region would be minimized, if not prevented.

Vasopressin and alcohol: a multifaceted relationship.

Arginine vasopressin (VP) has been implicated in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders with an emphasis on situations where stress increased the severity of the disorder. Based on this hypothesized role for VP in neuropsychiatric disorders, much research is currently being undertaken in humans and animals to test VP as a target for treatment of a number of these disorders including alcohol abuse. To provide a summary of the literature regarding the role of VP in alcohol- and stress-related behaviors including the use of drugs that target VP in clinical trials. Changes in various components of the VP system occur with alcohol and stress. Manipulating VP or its receptors can alter alcohol- and stress-related behaviors including tolerance to alcohol, alcohol drinking, and anxiety-like behavior. Finally, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to alcohol is also altered by manipulating the VP system. However, clinical trials of VP antagonists have had mixed results. A review of VP's involvement in alcohol's actions demonstrates that there is much to be learned about brain regions involved in VP-mediated effects on behavior. Thus, future work should focus on elucidating relevant brain regions. By using previous knowledge of the actions of VP and determining the brain regions and/or systems involved in its different behavioral effects, it may be possible to identify a specific receptor subtype target, drug treatment combination, or specific clinical contexts that may point toward a more successful treatment.

OPRM1 A118G and serum β-endorphin interact with sex and digit ratio (2D:4D) to influence risk and course of alcohol dependence

Activation of mesolimbic mu-opioid receptors by their endogenous ligand, β-endorphin, can mediate the rewarding effects of alcohol. However, there is conflicting evidence on the relationship between the mu-opioid receptor (OPRM1) A118G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and alcohol dependence risk. Preclinical evidence suggests that sex and sex hormone-dependent prenatal brain organization may interact with the opioid system to influence alcohol drinking behavior. We genotyped 200 alcohol-dependent patients and 240 healthy individuals for the OPRM1 A118G SNP and measured serum β-endorphin level at recruitment and after acute withdrawal. We then determined the association between these factors and alcohol dependence risk and 24-month outcome in the context of both sex and second-to-fourth digit lengths ratio (2D:4D) – a biomarker of prenatal sex hormone levels. The OPRM1 A118G AA genotype associated with elevated risk of alcohol-related hospital readmission, more readmissions, and fewer days until first readmission in male patients only. After normalizing patient 2D:4D against control 2D:4D, we found that normalized 2D:4D ratios were lower in male 118G patients than male AA patients, suggesting prenatal androgens interact with OPRM1 to influence alcohol dependence risk. In addition, β-endorphin levels after acute withdrawal correlated negatively with withdrawal severity in females but not in males, which may indicate β-endorphin protects against withdrawal-induced stress in a sex-specific manner.

Assessment of the joint approach of family, school and family physician in smoking and alcohol drinking behaviors of adolescents

Assessment of the joint approach of family, school and family physician in smoking and alcohol drinking behaviors of adolescents

GMO safety assessment in the Russian Federation: the immunotoxicological studies

Ethanol (also called alcohol or ethyl alcohol) is the most commonly abused psychoactive drug. Its metabolism is the cause of a vast array of pathologic manifestations which affects almost all organs. The goal of this article is to describe and update the pathways responsible for the metabolism of ethanol and understand the factors which regulate its metabolism. Most alcohol is oxidized in the liver and general principles and overall mechanisms for alcohol oxidation will be summarized including the enzymatic pathways responsible for this metabolism. Rate-limiting steps in the overall metabolism of ethanol, including the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase isoforms, and the necessity to reoxidize NADH by substrate shuttle pathways and the mitochondrial respiratory chain will be discussed. Other ethanol-metabolizing pathways such as catalase and the microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system/CYP2E1 system will be characterized. The metabolism and role of acetaldehyde in the toxic actions of alcohol and ethanol drinking behavior will be discussed. Despite much knowledge of alcohol pharmacokinetics and metabolism, numerous questions which remain for further evaluation are presented and future research directions are suggested.

A randomized trial of low-dose gabapentin for post hospitalization relapse prevention in a Thai clinical sample of alcohol dependence

Pharmacological treatments for alcohol use disorder show a modest effect, and they are unavailable in certain countries. The study's aim is to investigate the effects of gabapentin on alcohol drinking. One hundred twelve Thai individuals with alcohol dependence and very high alcohol consumption were randomly assigned to either of two groups: gabapentin treatment or placebo. Oral treatment with at least 300 mg of gabapentin per day or placebo was administered once a day for twelve weeks. The alcohol drinking pattern was assessed by means of the timeline followback method. The drinking behaviours of the two groups were compared by means of the Poisson repeated measures model and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) analysis. Twenty subjects (35.7%) from the gabapentin group and 14 subjects (25.0%) from the placebo group completed the study protocol. The participants in the gabapentin group did not differ from those in the placebo group with respect to demographics or baseline alcohol drinking behaviour. After follow-up, the gabapentin group showed a lower percentage of heavy drinking days per week than the placebo group (p < 0.005). GEE analysis showed treatment by time interaction on lowering drinking days within a week (p < 0.05). In conclusion, gabapentin may be used to reduce alcohol-drinking behaviours.

국내 1인가구 성인여성의 음주행위

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to compare alcohol drinking behaviors between living alone and living together women in Korea. Methods: 6∼7th National Heath and Nutrition Examination Survey(2013∼2016) data were analyzed using SPSS statistics complex samples. 9,373 Korean Women, aged 19-65 years were included in this study. Among them, 560 participants(5.1%) was living alone women and analyzed between characteristics of drinking behaviors of living alone and living together women. Results: Adjusted confounding variables were analyzed and the risk of light drinking behavior was not significant between the groups. However the group of living alone women showed in higher risk of binge drinking(OR=1.57, 95%CI=1.19-2.07) than those of living together women. Conclusions: Living alone women were associated with binge drinking behaviors compared to living together women. Thus, living alone women are needed to concern on social behaviors including alcohol drinking.

The mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone reduces alcohol self-administration in female and male rats

Cortisol/corticosterone and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis serve an important role in modulating alcohol drinking behaviors. To date most alcohol research has focused on the functional involvement of corticosterone and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), the primary receptor for corticosterone. Recent studies have indicated that the related mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), which binds both corticosterone and aldosterone, may also play a role in alcohol drinking. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to test the functional role of MR signaling in alcohol self-administration via pharmacological antagonism of the MR with spironolactone. Male and female Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer a sweetened alcohol solution (15% (v/v) alcohol +2% (w/v) sucrose). The effects of spironolactone (0, 10, 25, 50 mg/kg; IP) were tested on alcohol self-administration and under “probe extinction” conditions to measure the persistence of responding in the absence of the alcohol reinforcer. Parallel experiments in sucrose self-administration trained rats were used to confirm the specificity of spironolactone effects to an alcohol reinforcer. In female rats spironolactone (50 mg/kg) reduced alcohol self-administration and persistence of alcohol responding. In male rats spironolactone (25 and 50 mg/kg) reduced alcohol self-administration, but not persistence of alcohol responding. Spironolactone reduced sucrose intake in female rats only, and locomotion in male and female rats during sucrose self-administration. There was no effect of spironolactone on persistence of sucrose responding. These studies add to growing evidence that the MR is involved in alcohol drinking, while underscoring the importance of studying both male and female animals.

Prenatal stress leads to chromatin and synaptic remodeling and excessive alcohol intake comorbid with anxiety-like behaviors in adult offspring

Epidemiologic evidence suggests that individuals during their prenatal development may be especially vulnerable to the effects of environmental factors such as stress that predisposes them to psychiatric disorders including alcohol use disorder (AUD) later in life. Currently, the epigenetic mechanisms of anxiety comorbid with AUD induced by prenatal stress (PRS) remain to be elucidated. Here, we examined anxiety-like and alcohol drinking behaviors in adult offspring of prenatally stressed dam (PRS-mice) using elevated plus maze, light/dark box and two-bottle free-choice paradigm. It was found that PRS-mice exhibit heightened anxiety-like behaviors and increased alcohol intake in adulthood and these behavioral deficits were associated with a significant decrease in dendritic spine density (DSD) in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) relative to non-stressed mice (NS mice). To determine the mechanisms by which PRS reduces DSD, we examined the expressions of key genes associated with synaptic plasticity, including activity regulated cytoskeleton associated protein (Arc), spinophilin (Spn), postsynaptic density 95 (Psd95), tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), protein kinase B (Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and period 2 (Per2) in mPFC of PRS and NS mice. The mRNA levels of these genes were significantly decreased in PRS mice. Methylated DNA and chromatin immunoprecipitation studies revealed hyper DNA methylation or reduced histone H3K14 acetylation on promoters of above genes suggesting that epigenetic dysregulation may be responsible for the deficits in their expression. Findings from this study suggest that prenatal stress induced abnormal epigenetic mechanisms and synaptic plasticity-related events may be associated with anxiety-like and alcohol drinking behaviors in adulthood.

Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Related Seizures in Patients With Epilepsy.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess alcohol consumption and the occurrence of alcohol-related seizures in patients with epilepsy within the last 12 months.Methods: In an epilepsy outpatient clinic, a standardized questionnaire was used to collect data retrospectively from consecutive adult epilepsy patients who had been suffering from the disease for at least 1 year. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors.Results: A total of 310 patients with epilepsy were included. Of these, 204 subjects (65.8%) consumed alcohol within the last 12 months. Independent predictors for alcohol use were antiepileptic drug monotherapy (OR 1.901) and physicians' advice that a light alcohol intake is harmless (OR 4.102). Seizure worsening related to alcohol consumption was reported by 37 of the 204 patients (18.1%) who had used alcohol. All 37 subjects had consumed large quantities of alcohol prior to the occurrence of alcohol-related seizures regardless of their usual alcohol-drinking behavior. The amount of alcohol intake prior to alcohol-related seizures was at least 7 standard drinks, which is equivalent to 1.4 L of beer or 0.7 L of wine. In 95% of cases, alcohol-related seizures occurred within 12 h after cessation of alcohol intake. Independent predictors for alcohol-related seizures were generalized genetic epilepsy (OR 5.792) and chronic heavier alcohol use (OR 8.955).Conclusions: Two-thirds of interviewed subjects had consumed alcohol within the last 12 months. This finding may be an underestimate due to patients' self-reporting and recall error. In all cases, the occurrence of alcohol related-seizures was associated with timely consumption of considerably large amounts of alcohol. Thus, a responsible alcohol intake seems to be safe for most patients with epilepsy. However, subjects with epilepsy and especially those with generalized genetic epilepsy should be made aware of an increased risk for seizures related to heavy alcohol consumption. Factors accompanying acute heavy alcohol intake such as altered sleep architecture, impaired adherence to antiepileptic medication, and metabolic disturbances may further facilitate the occurrence of seizures.

Ethnic Drinking Culture, Acculturation, and Enculturation in Relation to Alcohol Drinking Behavior Among Marriage-Based Male Immigrants in Taiwan.

Drinking behavior among immigrants could be influenced by drinking-related cultural norms in their country of origin and host country. This study examined the association of ethnic drinking culture, acculturation, and enculturation with alcohol drinking among male immigrants in Taiwan. This cross-sectional survey recruited 188 male immigrants. Ethnic drinking culture was divided into dry and wet according to per capita alcohol consumption and abstinent rate in the countries of origin in reference to that in Taiwan. A scale, Bidimensional Acculturation Scale for Marriage-Based Immigrants, was developed to measure acculturation (adaptation to the host culture) and enculturation (maintenance of the original culture). Drinking patterns (abstinent, low-risk drinking, and hazardous drinking) were determined by scores on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. There was a significant interaction between ethnic drinking culture and enculturation/acculturation on drinking patterns. Multinomial logistic regression models identified that for those from dry ethnic drinking cultures, a high level of acculturation was associated with increased low-risk drinking, while a high level of enculturation was associated with decreased low-risk drinking. For those from wet ethnic drinking cultures, a low level of acculturation and high level of enculturation were associated with increased hazardous drinking. High family socioeconomic status was associated with increased drinking, while perceived insufficient family income was positively associated with hazardous use. To prevent hazardous use of alcohol, health education should be targeted at immigrant men who drink, especially among those who have economic problems, are from wet ethnic drinking cultures, and demonstrate low adaptation to the host culture.