Alcoholic Research Articles

Exploring heterogeneity in recovery from substance use disorder following mindfulness-based relapse prevention: A latent profile analysis

IntroductionSubstance use disorder (SUD) recovery is heterogeneous. Yet, over the last 50 years, substance use treatment providers and researchers have often defined success as sustained abstinence from substance use. An often overlooked but equally valid pathway to recovery for persons with SUD is non-abstinent recovery. However, most of the literature on non-abstinent recovery exists for individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) with few studies of non-abstinent recovery for other types of SUD. Literature exploring the mechanisms that lead to non-abstinent recovery is also lacking. As such, the current study aimed to examine recovery profiles for individuals (N = 454) recruited in two randomized clinical trials comparing mindfulness-based relapse prevention with cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention and/or treatment as usual. MethodsLatent profile analysis empirically derived profiles of recovery following outpatient aftercare SUD treatment. Multinomial logistic regression examined associations between treatment assignment and recovery profile, including potential psychological mediators (e.g., mindfulness) and contextual moderators (e.g., annual household income). ResultsAnalyses supported four recovery profiles: (1) low-functioning frequent substance use; (2) low-functioning infrequent substance use; (3) high-functioning frequent substance use; (4) high-functioning infrequent substance use. There were no significant interaction effects of race or ethnicity by treatment type, or household income by treatment type, in predicting recovery profiles. Trait mindfulness, craving, and psychological flexibility failed to mediate the association between treatment assignment and recovery profile; however, there were statistically significant differences in trait mindfulness with individuals expected to be classified in the low-functioning infrequent substance use profile showing significantly lower levels of trait mindfulness compared to individuals in the two high-functioning profiles. ConclusionsFindings suggest that recovery from SUD is heterogeneous, and profiles of recovery based on dimensions of substance use and functioning can be identified across a variety of SUD, including among people with co-occurring SUD. Additionally, trait mindfulness appears to be a differentiating factor across recovery profiles. Further research is needed to explore how psychological and social factors may moderate and influence both abstinent and non-abstinent forms of recovery.

Binge ethanol consumption can be attenuated by systemic administration of minocycline and is associated with enhanced neuroinflammation in the central amygdala

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) has a complicated pathophysiology. Binge ethanol intoxication may produce long-lasting changes throughout extended amygdala neurocircuitry including neuroinflammation, often leading to relapse. Therefore, understanding the role of binge drinking induced neuroinflammation on extended amygdala neurocircuitry is critically important for treatment. We sought to understand the role of neuroinflammation in a naturalized form of rodent binge ethanol drinking (Drinking in the Dark (DID)). In a 5-week DID paradigm, we demonstrate that acute intraperitoneal (IP) injection of the anti-inflammatory drug minocycline significantly reduced binge drinking repeatedly in male and female Cx3CR1-GFP and C57BL/6J mice. Importantly, IP administration transiently decreased intermittent access sucrose consumption, was not observed on the second IP injection, but did not significantly alter food or water consumption, suggesting that minocycline may produce initial acute aversive effects and may not alter long-term consumption of natural rewards. Examination of rodent behaviors post ethanol binge drinking reveals no lasting effects of minocycline treatment on locomotion or anxiety-like behavior. To assess neuroinflammation, we developed a novel analysis method using a Matlab image analysis script, which allows for non-biased skeletonization and evaluation of microglia morphology to determine a possible activation state in Cx3CR1-GFP knock-in mice after repeated DID. We observed significant morphological changes of microglia within the CeA, but no differences in the BLA. Taken together, this study demonstrates repeated binge ethanol consumption can produce significant levels of microglia morphology changes within the CeA, and that immunomodulatory therapies may be an intriguing pharmacological candidate for the treatment of AUD.

Anxiolytic, memory improvement, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant effects of Thymus vulgaris on alcohol withdrawal syndrome in mice

Introduction: Thymus vulgaris is a plant used in Cameroon to alleviate and treat hangover symptoms. This study was conducted to assess the anxiolytic, memory-improving, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant effects of T. vulgaris on alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Methods: In this preclinical study 42 mice were grouped into seven equal sets of normal control, negative control, positive control (piracetam; 200 mg/kg), and test (T. vulgaris; 25, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) groups. All mice (except those of the normal control) were administered ethanol by gavage once daily for 28 days. After alcohol withdrawal, behavioral assessments (elevated plus maze, Y-maze, and open field) were performed from day 29 to day 31, one hour following appropriate treatments. Mice were euthanized on day 32 and the brains and the livers were used for histopathological assessment and oxidative stress parameters evaluation. Results: In the elevated plus maze test, T. vulgaris at 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly (P < 0.001) increased the number of entries and the time spent in the open arms. The plant extract (200 mg/kg) significantly (P < 0.001) increased the spontaneous alternation percentage in the Y maze. T. vulgaris administration decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in the brain and liver and increased glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT). The plant extract reduced the neuronal degeneration and hepatocyte damage induced by chronic alcohol administration. Conclusion: T. vulgaris had anxiolytic, memory-enhancing, and hepatoprotective properties against alcohol toxicity. These results may justify the use of thyme in traditional pharmacopeia in the management of alcohol use disorders (AUDs).

Alcohol exposure induces cortical activity change during quiescent state

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a significant global mental health issue that impacts both the central and peripheral systems, leading to widespread cognitive and motor dysfunctions. The primary motor cortex (M1) plays a critical role in motor planning, control, and execution, yet the effects of chronic alcohol exposure on M1 remain underexplored, particularly during quiescent states. This study investigates the functional changes in M1 due to chronic alcohol exposure using high-resolution Neuropixels electrode recordings in a mouse model. Our findings reveal alterations in neuronal firing mode, particularly in layer V, highlighting disruptions in the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance. Despite similar overall firing rates, changes in firing interval distributions suggest altered temporal dynamics of neuronal activity due to alcohol exposure. These results align with existing literature on cortical disruptions caused by alcohol and provide new insights into the specific neuronal dynamics within M1, especially in quiescent states.

Are alcohol-related attentional biases and holistic perception independent processes?

Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with the development of attentional biases for alcohol-related cues and their prioritization in heavy drinkers. Recently, it has been hypothesized that holistic processing may also play a role in this prioritization, with higher alcohol consumers exhibiting stronger holistic perception for alcohol cues. However, it is unclear how processing stimuli holistically may be related to attentional biases. We explored potential relationships between attentional biases, holistic processing, and alcohol consumption in a sample of drinkers using two tasks. In the first, a visual probe task replicated previous findings by showing an increased attentional bias for alcohol-related stimuli in individuals with higher alcohol consumption. Surprisingly, using an inversion paradigm to measure holistic perception in our second task, we showed reduced holistic processing for both alcohol and nonalcohol cues in higher alcohol consumers compared to light alcohol consumers. Although alcohol consumption was positively associated with attentional biases and negatively associated with holistic processing, these cognitive processes were not associated with each other. This study supports a model of visual perception in which attentional biases and holistic processing are independently linked with alcohol use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Diabetes, Prediabetes, and Brain Aging: The Role of Healthy Lifestyle.

Diabetes is a well-known risk factor for dementia. We investigated the association between (pre)diabetes and older brain age and whether this can be attenuated by modifiable lifestyle behaviors. The study included 31,229 dementia-free adults from the UK Biobank between the ages of 40 and 70 years. Glycemic status (normoglycemia, prediabetes, or diabetes) was ascertained based on medical history, medication use, and HbA1c measured at baseline. Information on cardiometabolic risk factors (obesity, hypertension, low HDL, and high triglycerides) and lifestyle behaviors (smoking, drinking, and physical activity) was also collected at baseline. Participants underwent up to two brain MRI scans over 11 years of follow-up. Brain age was estimated using a machine learning model based on 1,079 brain MRI phenotypes and used to calculate brain age gap (BAG; i.e., brain age minus chronological age). At baseline, 13,518 participants (43.3%) had prediabetes and 1,149 (3.7%) had diabetes. Prediabetes (β = 0.22 [95% CI 0.10, 0.34]) and diabetes (2.01 [1.70, 2.32]) were both associated with significantly higher BAG, and diabetes was further associated with significant increase in BAG over time (0.27 [0.01, 0.53]). The association between (pre)diabetes and higher BAG was more pronounced in men and in people with two or more cardiometabolic risk factors. In joint exposure analysis, having a healthy lifestyle (i.e., no smoking, no heavy drinking, and high physical activity) significantly attenuated the diabetes-BAG association. Diabetes and even prediabetes are associated with accelerated brain aging, especially among men and people with poor cardiometabolic health. However, a healthy lifestyle may counteract this.

La thérapie des schémas est-elle pertinente pour une population adulte souffrant de TSPT et de TSPT-complexe ? Une revue de littérature systématique qualitative

ContextSchema therapy (ST) involves two core concepts: early maladaptive schemas and modes. Early maladaptive schemas play a key role in the development and maintenance of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while observed modes reflect the internalized relationships of the traumatized individual. Given this context, how might ST be an interesting psychotherapeutic approach for a population suffering from PTSD or complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD)? ObjectivesConsidering the impact of trauma and/or adversity on the subject's psychological development, ST could be relevant for a population suffering from PTSD or CPTSD. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of ST in treating an adult population suffering from PTSD or CPTSD, through a review of qualitative literature. MethodsFollowing the PRISMA guidelines, articles were searched from December 2023 to May 2024 on PubMed, Google Scholar, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Library, with specific eligibility criteria: studies on ST, adult population with PTSD or CPTSD, with no publication year limit. Data extraction considered the studied pathology (PTSD or CPTSD), research methodology, therapeutic setting (group/individual), measurement tools, and therapy effects. ResultsNumerous studies explore the early maladaptive schemas of traumatized individuals, while others observe the effectiveness of ST in various clinical populations. However, few studies focus specifically on PTSD or CPTSD. The research process, summarized in a flow diagram, identified 989 articles, of which twelve were selected and analyzed, involving for 302 participants. Given the predominantly qualitative nature of the studies, a qualitative synthesis was deemed appropriate. Researchers’ chosen diagnoses varied according to the nosographic reference (DSM-5 for PTSD, ICD-11 for CPTSD). ST was found to reduce post-traumatic symptoms but also impacts overall psychiatric symptoms, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and the severity of substance and/or alcohol addiction. Improvements were observed in overall functioning, emotional regulation, interpersonal relationships, socio-professional life, quality of life, and self-esteem. ST is found to be relevant when exposure therapy was ineffective for trauma treatment. Research methodologies varyQuantitative studies demonstrated ST's effectiveness, while case studies explore the process of change at work in therapy and ST's efficacy. Some biases were noted, particularly in session transcription practices, the small number of comparison groups, and the absence of independent evaluations. Psychotherapeutic interventions included individual and/or group-based approaches, utilizing cognitive, behavioral, and experiential tools, including imagery rescripting or chair work. Only one study adapted its group therapy content to the three-phase approach recommended in psychotraumatology. As an integrative approach, some researchers innovatively combined ST with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to address traumatic and addiction memories or with psychoanalysis to work on dreams through imagery rescripting. DiscussionSeveral discussion points were explored. Contemporary psychotraumatology and its theoretical foundations, particularly the concepts of dissociation and integration, could enrich ST work for the studied population. Studying common factors, particularly the therapeutic alliance, would further illuminate the psychotherapeutic process, given ST's emphasis on the therapeutic relationship and attachment. Group therapy seems to reawaken previous family issues, with emotional regulation strategies implemented within the group. Examining group cohesion quality would clarify individual and group psychotherapeutic progress. Finally, contextual ST, integrating acceptance and commitment therapy principles, remains an unexplored avenue with this population. ConclusionTo bridge the gap between research and practice, action research in ST, combining individual and group therapy for CPTSD patients, would enhance understanding of the mechanisms of change within this therapeutic model.

Child Protection Staff Perspectives of the SOFT Program: Touch, Textures, Weights, and Pressures

ABSTRACT Aboriginal children are overrepresented in Australia’s child protection system, and limited tools are available to assist with connecting these children to their culture. The Stitching Our Future Together (SOFT) Program, developed in consultation with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples, services, and other specialists, is used within the Department of Communities’ Child Protection and Family Support (CPFS) Division in Western Australia to address big emotions and safe behaviours with Aboriginal children in care. This study used phenomenology and social constructivism to explore CPFS staff’s perspectives and experiences of the SOFT Program. Seven semistructured in-depth interviews took place with CPFS staff. Five themes were identified: the SOFT Program and its use, culturally responsive practice, facilitating relationships, communication, and recommendations and implementation challenges. Participants expressed that the SOFT Program fostered an understanding of, and communication about, pertinent issues such as family and domestic violence, drug and alcohol addiction, mental health, and child neglect and abuse. The findings show how staff described the program’s capacity to help them navigate complex situations, highlighting the need to incorporate more culturally centred and creative-based work into child protection practice. IMPLICATIONS The SOFT Program positively supports culturally responsive practice and facilitates relationships and communication for child protection workers and children in care. The integration of creative and legislated practices assists with personalising and enhancing the effectiveness of child protection work with children in care.

Addressing India’s alcohol misuse crisis: The urgent need for screening and brief intervention to bridge the healthcare gap

India faces a significant challenge with alcohol misuse, as evidenced by the national survey revealing that 57 million out of 160 million persons with alcohol use exhibit harmful or dependent patterns, necessitating professional assistance. The Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health (2018) indicates a rising per capita alcohol consumption in the Southeast Asian Region, with India contributing substantially. To address this, implementing policies and programs to curb hazardous alcohol use is crucial. Despite a shortage of mental health professionals in India, they remain the primary caregivers for those with alcohol-related issues. Only one in five individuals with problematic alcohol use can access professional help. I argue for adopting Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI) to bridge this healthcare gap. SBI is a concise, structured counseling approach that proves effective and scalable. It can be delivered by various healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, counselors, and paramedics. Hence, it can be seamlessly integrated into primary care, emergency, and nonclinical settings. The efficacy of SBI extends to electronic formats, providing a scope of expansion through telehealth. The WHO advocates SBI by its SAFER initiative aimed at reducing negative alcohol-associated health and social consequences. SBI is effective across age groups, including adolescents and young adults, constituting most of India’s population. Emerging evidence suggests that SBI is acceptable, feasible, and effective in the Indian context. Universal or targeted SBI can be a pivotal tool in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (2030) and global commitments for noncommunicable diseases, fortifying efforts to prevent and treat alcohol misuse.

Vaping among adults in England who have never regularly smoked: a population-based study, 2016–24

E-cigarettes are increasingly used by smokers and ex-smokers, often to support smoking cessation, but also among those who have never regularly smoked. The aim of our study is to estimate time trends in vaping prevalence among adults who have never regularly smoked and describe the profile of adult never-regular-smokers who vape. In this nationally representative, monthly cross-sectional survey in England, 153 073 participants (aged ≥18 years) were recruited from July, 2016, to April, 2024. 94 107 (61·5%) of the 153 073 participants had never regularly smoked. Logistic regression estimated associations between survey wave and current vaping, overall, and by sociodemographic characteristics and alcohol consumption. Vaping prevalence among never-regular-smokers was relatively stable up to 2021, at an average of 0·5% (95% CI 0·5-0·6) between July, 2016, and December, 2020; it then increased rapidly, reaching 3·5% (2·8-4·4) in April, 2024. This increase was largely driven by young adults (19·0% [13·9-25·4] among individuals aged 18 years) and those with higher alcohol consumption levels (22·1% [11·7-37·8%] among the heaviest drinkers). By contrast, trends among all adults (including current and former smokers) suggested the rise in vaping prevalence plateaued among all ages by early 2023. In 2023-24, 55·6% (48·2-62·8) of never-regular-smokers who vaped reported vaping daily; 81·7% (75·4-86·7) had been vaping for 6 months or more. The most used devices in 2023-24 were disposables (50·2% [42·9-57·5]) and the most commonly used e-liquids contained 20 mg/mL or more nicotine (44·6% [37·4-52·0]). The number of adults in England who vape but have never regularly smoked rose rapidly between 2021 and 2024, particularly in younger age groups and most of these individuals reported vaping regularly over a sustained period. The public health impacts of this finding will depend on what these people would otherwise be doing: it is likely that some might have smoked if vaping were not an available option (exposing them to more harm), whereas others might not have smoked or vaped. Cancer Research UK.

Sex-dependent effects of ethanol withdrawal from a single- and repeated binge episode exposures on social anxiety-like behavior and neuropeptide gene expression in adolescent rats

Ethanol withdrawal sensitivity is a risk factor for the development of alcohol use disorder. Heavy episodic drinking during adolescence often encompasses repeated periods of withdrawal. Adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure of laboratory rodents produces several neurobiological deficits that differ between sexes, but the sensitivity to withdrawal as a contributor to the observed sex differences is not clear. The current study assessed the impact of acute withdrawal from a single- and repeated binge ethanol episodes during adolescence as well as protracted abstinence from repeated binge episodes on social anxiety-like behavior (indexed via significant decreases of social investigation) as well as oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP) system gene expression in the hypothalamus (HYP) and central amygdala (CeA) in male and female Sprague Dawley rats. Females displayed social anxiety-like behavior during withdrawal from a single binge episode, whereas both sexes showed social anxiety-like changes following acute withdrawal from repeated binge episodes. After a period of protracted abstinence, only males still displayed ethanol-associated social alterations. Analysis of gene expression in separate, non-socially tested subjects revealed that withdrawal from repeated binge episodes during adolescence increased AVP gene expression in the HYP of males and decreased it in females. Males also displayed increased AVP and OXTR gene expression during acute withdrawal from repeated binge episodes in the CeA, with these changes persisting into adulthood. Together, these findings suggest that adolescent females are sensitive to withdrawal from both acute and repeated ethanol exposures, whereas males are sensitive to withdrawal from repeated ethanol exposures, with affective and transcriptional changes persisting into adulthood.

Psychological well-being and its associations with sociodemographic characteristics, physical health, substance use and other mental health outcomes among adults in Canada

Introduction Psychological well-being (PWB) is an important component of positive mental health (PMH) and an asset for population health. This study examined correlates of PWB among community-dwelling adults (18+ years) in the 10 Canadian provinces. Methods Using data from the 2019 Canadian Community Health Survey Rapid Response on PMH, we conducted linear regression analyses with sociodemographic, mental health, physical health and substance use variables as predictors of PWB. PWB was measured using six questions from the Mental Health Continuum—Short Form, which asked about feelings of self-acceptance, personal growth, environmental mastery, autonomy, positive relations and purpose in life during the past month. Results In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, older age, being married or in a commonlaw relationship and having a BMI in the overweight category (25.00–29.99) were associated with higher PWB, while reporting a mood disorder, anxiety disorder, high perceived life stress, engaging in heavy episodic drinking and frequent cannabis use were associated with lower PWB. Sex, having children living at home, immigrant status, racialized group membership, educational attainment, household income tertile, having a BMI in the obese category (≥30.00), major chronic disease and smoking status were not significantly associated with PWB. Conclusion This research identifies sociodemographic, mental health, physical health and substance use factors associated with PWB among adults in Canada. These findings highlight groups and characteristics that could be the focus of future research to promote PMH.

Binge Alcohol Consumption Elevates Sympathetic Transduction to Blood Pressure: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Alcohol consumption is associated with cardiovascular disease, and the sympathetic nervous system is a suspected mediator. The present study investigated sympathetic transduction of muscle sympathetic nerve activity to blood pressure at rest and in response to cold pressor test following evening binge alcohol or fluid control, with the hypothesis that sympathetic transduction would be elevated the morning after binge alcohol consumption. Using a randomized, fluid-controlled (FC) crossover design, 26 healthy adults (12 male, 14 female, 25±6 years, 27±4 kg/m2) received an evening binge alcohol dose and a FC. All participants underwent next-morning autonomic-cardiovascular testing consisting of muscle sympathetic nerve activity, beat-to-beat blood pressure, and heart rate during a 10-minute rest period and a 2-minute cold pressor test. Sympathetic transduction was assessed at rest and during the cold pressor test in both experimental conditions. Evening alcohol increased heart rate (FC: 60±9 versus alcohol: 64±9 bpm; P=0.010) but did not alter resting mean arterial pressure (FC: 80±6 versus alcohol: 80±7 mm Hg; P=0.857) or muscle sympathetic nerve activity (FC: 18±9 versus alcohol: 20±8 bursts/min; P=0.283). Sympathetic transduction to mean arterial pressure (time×condition; P=0.003), diastolic blood pressure (time×condition; P=0.010), and total vascular conductance (time×condition; P=0.004) was augmented after alcohol at rest. Sympathetic transduction during the cold pressor test was also elevated after evening binge alcohol consumption (P=0.002). These findings suggest that evening binge alcohol consumption leads to augmented morning-after sympathetic transduction of muscle sympathetic nerve activity to blood pressure, highlighting a new mechanism whereby chronic or excessive alcohol consumption contributes to cardiovascular disease progression via altered end-organ responsiveness to sympathetic neural outflow. URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03567434; Unique identifier: NCT03567434.

Commercial determinants of health and cancer prevention in South Africa

Aim Commercial determinants, encompassing marketing strategies, corporate social responsibility, and lobbying, significantly contribute to avoidable cancer deaths globally. In South Africa, 30-50% of cancers are preventable, but SA focuses mainly on tobacco control, ignoring major causes of cancer such as alcohol, obesity, and ultra-processed foods. This paper highlights the role of these commercial determinants in contributing to cancer in SA. It outlines strategies and barriers in addressing these determinants. Approach While conventional approaches focus on individual responsibility relating to risk factors like tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy diets, the role of industries in promoting these risk factors remains inadequately addressed. The paper explores the marketing and non-marketing methods employed by industries, such as tobacco, alcohol, and ultra-processed products, to maximise profits while neglecting public health consequences. Findings The article sheds light on industry tactics, including strategic partnerships, sponsorship, and diversionary narratives during crises, aimed at safeguarding profits. It emphasises the less-explored realm of non-marketing strategies, such as political lobbying, industry-funded research, and the ‘revolving door’ phenomenon where industry insiders become policymakers. Conclusions The article advocates for a paradigm shift in cancer prevention policies, urging the government to implement a comprehensive suite of measures that include increased taxation on harmful products, strict restrictions on marketing, enhanced product labelling, and eliminating conflict of interest in health research and policies. Addressing the commercial determinants necessitates not only recognising their impact but also adopting a multi-level governance approach that prioritises public health over corporate profits. The paper concludes by emphasising the urgency of recognising the links between alcohol, food regulation, and cancer prevention. The overarching goal is to shift power relations, fostering governance for the collective good and ensuring equitable access to preventive measures, especially for vulnerable populations.

Characterization of Serum Biochemical Changes in Response to Alcohol Consumption Using FT‐Raman Spectroscopy

ABSTRACTAlcohol is one of the most widely used stimulants globally, with increasing consumption rates annually. Prolonged alcohol consumption leads to significant physiological and neurological changes, potentially resulting in various diseases, which could be detect in serum. Therefore, FT‐Raman spectroscopy was used to measure chemical changes in the serum of heavy drinkers, and these results were compared with the serum composition of a control group of non‐drinkers. Obtained results showed a significant increase in lipids and a decrease in the amide/lipid ratio after alcohol administration. Additionally, higher amide III/amide II and lower amide II/amide I ratios were observed in the serum of alcohol‐addicted patients. These shifts of 892, 966, 1286, 1459 and 2940 cm−1 peaks indicate alterations in the protein‐lipid balance due to alcohol consumption. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to further analyze the spectral data, with the first three principal components accounting for 95.36% of total data variability. A Bayesian‐optimized k‐nearest neighbor (BO‐KNN) model was applied for classification. The optimal hyperparameters—two neighbors, correlation distance metric, and squared inverse distance weight—were determined after seven iterations, resulting in a remarkably low classification error of 0.0384. The BO‐KNN model achieved training and test accuracies of 95.92% and 90.48%, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 1.00 for the training set and 0.90 for the test set, demonstrating the model's high precision and robustness. In conclusion, FT‐Raman spectroscopy effectively revealed significant chemical changes in the serum of alcohol‐addicted individuals, providing valuable insights into the biochemical impact of alcohol consumption.

Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System of Morin: A New Approach for Combating Acute Alcohol Intoxication.

Acute alcohol intoxication (AAI) is a life-threatening medical condition resulting from excessive alcohol consumption. Our research revealed the potential of morin (MOR) in treating AAI. However, MOR's effectiveness against AAI was hindered by its poor solubility in water and low bioavailability. In this study, our aim was to develop a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) to enhance MOR's solubility and bioavailability, evaluate its anti-AAI effects, and investigate the underlying mechanism. The composition of MOR-loaded self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (MOR-SNEDDS) was determined by constructing pseudo-ternary phase diagrams, and its formulation proportion was optimized using the Box-Behnken design. Following characterization of MOR-SNEDDS, we investigated its pharmacokinetics and biodistribution in healthy animals. Additionally, we assessed the anti-AAI effects and gastric mucosal protection of MOR-SNEDDS in an AAI mice model, exploring potential mechanisms. After breaking down into tiny droplets, the optimized mixture of MOR-SNEDDS showed small droplet size on average, even distribution, strong stability, and permeability. Pharmacokinetic studies indicated that MOR-SNEDDS, compared to a MOR suspension, increased the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-t) by 10.43 times. Additionally, studies on how drugs move and are distributed in the body showed that MOR-SNEDDS had an advantage in passively targeting the liver. Moreover, in a mouse model for alcohol addiction, MOR not only decreased alcohol levels by boosting the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in the stomach and liver, which counteracted the loss of righting reflex (LORR), but also reduced alcohol-induced damage to the stomach lining by lowering malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Furthermore, MOR-SNEDDS notably amplified these effects. MOR exhibits significant potential as a new medication for treating AAI, and utilizing MOR-SNEDDS with high oral bioavailability represents a promising new strategy in combating AAI.

The Orbitofrontal Cortex to Striatal Cholinergic Interneuron Circuit Controls Cognitive Flexibility Shaping Alcohol-Seeking Behavior

A top-down neuronal circuit from the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) to the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) appears to be critical for cognitive flexibility. However, how OFC projections to different types of neurons in the DMS control cognitive flexibility and contribute to substance seeking and use, which are relatively inflexible behaviors, remains unclear. Mice were trained on two-bottle choice and operant alcohol self-administration procedures. The cognitive flexibility of the mice was tested through a place discrimination task. Electrophysiology and in vivo optogenetics were used to test the function of neural circuits in alcohol-seeking behavior. We depicted a connection from the OFC to striatal neurons and found that OFC afferents could elicit functional flexibility in striatal cholinergic interneurons (CINs). A mouse model of chronic alcohol consumption showed impaired cognitive flexibility and reduced burst-pause firing. The impairment of the OFC-DMS circuit resulted in a reduction in glutamatergic transmission in OFC-medium spiny neurons (MSNs) through a CIN-mediated pre-inhibition mechanism. Importantly, remodeling the OFC-DMS circuit by inducing LTP restored cognitive flexibility. Furthermore, CINs were responsible for the impact of remodeling of the OFC-DMS circuit on cognitive flexibility. This regulatory role of CINs preferentially facilitated the potentiation of glutamatergic transmission in D2 receptor-expressing medium spiny neurons (D2-MSNs) but not in D1-MSNs. Finally, activation of the OFC-CIN-D2-MSN circuit decreased alcohol-seeking behavior. Improving OFC-CIN circuit-mediated cognitive flexibility may provide a novel strategy for treating uncontrolled alcohol-seeking behavior.

Wernicke encephalopathy due to hyperemesis gravidarum in pregnancy

Wernicke’s encephalopathy is a life-threatening acute or sub-acute neurological emergency characterized by a triad of ataxia, confusion, ophthalmoplegia caused by thiamine deficiency, mostly observed in chronic alcohol users. Wernicke's encephalopathy due to causes other than alcohol abuse is uncommon and often misdiagnosed. In pregnancy, it is an unknown pathology, with poor prognosis, which occurs secondarily to hyperemesis gravidarum. We present a rare case of a 30-year-old female with mild learning disability, at 15 weeks of gestational age, with a history of previous hospital admission for severe vomiting and referred to Maternal Mental Health Clinic for abnormal behaviour. She had classic symptoms of Wernicke’s Encephalopathy on presentation, and was immediately treated with thiamine. Her symptoms improved in a few days.

S1845 A Cross-Sectional Study of Alcohol Awareness, Consumption Patterns, and Alcohol Related Disease in a Tertiary Center Liver Clinic

S1845 A Cross-Sectional Study of Alcohol Awareness, Consumption Patterns, and Alcohol Related Disease in a Tertiary Center Liver Clinic

Linear Monotonic Inter-electrode Associations as Quantitative EEG for Alcoholism Diagnosis

Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are associated with alterations in EEG patterns that reflect underlying neural dysfunctions, such as impaired cognitive processing, reduced neural connectivity, and disrupted brain rhythms. These EEG alterations can be indicative of several brain disorders, including cognitive deficits, mood disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, which are often exacerbated by chronic alcohol abuse. Cognitive impairment in alcoholic subjects is caused due to altered functional connectivity between brain regions that can be quantified using statistical measures such as correlation. This paper proposes novel Quantitative EEG (QEEG) features comprising the band-wise absolute value of inter-electrode correlations as a measure of brain functional connectivity to classify alcoholic and non-alcoholic EEG. The EEG signal is first decomposed into five frequency sub-bands. In each sub-band, the absolute value of the linear Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient is computed between time-series EEG recorded by electrode pairs placed over different brain regions. To reduce the dimensionality of the feature vector, an ensemble feature selection approach is adopted, utilizing ANOVA and Chi-square, in conjunction with greedy forward feature selection wrapper algorithm. Four classifiers, namely SVM, KNN, ANN and RF are utilized for the classification. Among them, the SVM classifier achieves the best classification accuracies of 100% on validation with test data and 99.58% on cross-validation with train data, respectively.