Alcohol Abuse Research Articles

Indonesian Patient Health Questionnaire's Clinical Utility in Psychiatric Outpatients: Ruling Out Conditions per ICD-11 Criteria

This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) for identifying common mental disorders in an outpatient clinical psychologist office setting in Indonesia. A total of 661 outpatients from a clinical psychology office in Jakarta, Indonesia, participated in the study. The complete PHQ was administered, and its results were compared with diagnoses made by clinical psychologists based on ICD-11 criteria, including somatoform disorder (n = 6), depression (n = 117), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD, n = 50), panic disorder (n = 42), bulimia nervosa (n = 2), binge eating disorder (n = 2), and other diagnoses such as OCD and BPD (n = 442). Receiver operating characteristics were computed to examine cut-off points, and optimal cut-off points based on the Youden Index were identified for somatoform disorder (PHQ-15 ≥ 13), depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 13), GAD (GAD- 7 ≥ 10), and panic disorder (PHQ-PD ≥ 7). Cut-off points for the alcohol abuse and eating disorder modules of the PHQ could not be determined due to a lack of sample, and AUC was suboptimal for PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PHQ-ED. The Indonesian PHQ demonstrated good sensitivity but low specificity in identifying somatoform disorder, depression, GAD, and panic disorders based on ICD-11 criteria among Indonesian clinical psychologist office outpatients. In the Indonesian outpatient psychiatric context, the utility of the Indonesian PHQ appeared to be most effective in ruling out diagnoses.

Association of cannabis use disorder with atrial fibrillation in young men without concomitant tobacco use: Insights from nationwide propensity matched analysis

BACKGROUND Recent data are inconclusive regarding the risk of arrhythmias among young cannabis users. Furthermore, many young adults use both cannabis and tobacco, which could add a residual confounding effect on outcomes. So, we studied young men who have cannabis use disorder (CUD) excluding tobacco use disorder (TUD) to understand their independent association with atrial fibrillation (AF) and related outcomes. AIM To study the association of CUD with AF and related outcomes. METHODS We used weighted discharge records from National Inpatient Sample (2019) to assess the baseline characteristics and mortality rates for AF-related hospitalizations in young (18-44 years) men in 1:1 propensity-matched CUD + vs CUD- cohorts without TUD. RESULTS Propensity matched CUD + and CUD- cohorts consisted of 108495 young men in each arm. Our analysis showed an increased incidence of AF in black population with CUD. In addition, the CUD + cohort had lower rates of hyperlipidemia (6.4% vs 6.9%), hypertension (5.3% vs 6.3%), obesity (9.1% vs 10.9%), alcohol abuse (15.5% vs 16.9%), but had higher rates of anxiety (24.3% vs 18.4%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (9.8% vs 9.4%) compared to CUD-cohort. After adjustment with covariates including other substance abuse, a non-significant association was found between CUD + cohort and AF related hospitalizations (odd ratio: 1.27, 95% confidence interval: 0.91-1.78, P = 0.15). CONCLUSION Among hospitalized young men, the CUD + cohort had a higher prevalence of anxiety and COPD, and slightly higher proportion of black patients. Although there were higher odds of AF hospitalizations in CUD + cohort without TUD, the association was statistically non-significant. The subgroup analysis showed higher rates of AF in black patients. Large-scale prospective studies are required to evaluate long-term effects of CUD on AF risk and prognosis without TUD and concomitant substance abuse.

High prevalence of alcohol use disorder & psychiatric comorbidity among coal mine workers: Observations from a cross-sectional study in West Bengal

Background & objectives Tobacco (30%), alcohol (21.4%) and cannabis (3%) are the three most commonly abused substances in India. Tobacco and alcohol abuse have higher prevalence rates among different occupational groups as compared to that in general population in the country. Both tobacco and alcohol lead to significant occupational harm in terms of absenteeism, injuries, sickness and lost productivity. This study estimated the patterns of substance use and associated common psychiatric comorbidity in a sample of coal mine workers. Methods Coal mine workers at the age of 18 yr or above engaged in mining activities (skilled/semi-skilled/unskilled) were recruited from the Raniganj – Asansol coal mining areas of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). Participants were screened to identify patterns of substance use and other common mental health problems. All participants were administered ASSIST (The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test); GENACIS (Gender, Alcohol and Culture: An International Study) modified questionnaire; and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for primary screening for anxiety and depression. Results Out of 202 participants 69 per cent (n=140) were found with either ‘hazardous and harmful’ (moderate risk); or ‘dependent’ (high risk) patterns of use of either tobacco or alcohol or cannabis or of more than one substance. Only 31 per cent (n=62) were ‘low-risk’ for all substances. Almost 65 per cent (n=132) and 49 per cent (n=99) participants out of the whole sample (n=202) belonged to ‘hazardous and harmful’ (moderate risk) and ‘dependent’ (high risk) pattern of tobacco and alcohol consumption, respectively. About 28.8 per cent (n=38) and 23.7 per cent (n=31) of all participants had anxiety and depression, respectively. Combined moderate to high use of both alcohol and tobacco use was significantly associated with the risk of having anxiety [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=4.896, P<0.015] and depression (AOR=5.335, P<0.012). Interpretation & conclusions Alcohol and tobacco are major substance abuse problems among coal mine workers. This population requires early community and primary care based brief intervention as well as additional community-based pharmacotherapy for substance dependence problems as well as intervention for common mental health issues.

Effects of Melatonin on Sleep Quality and Patient-Reported Outcomes After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

Sleep disturbance is a significant symptom associated with both rotator cuff tears and arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Melatonin has been shown to be safe and effective in managing multiple sleep disorders, including secondary sleep disorders, with relatively minor adverse effects and lack of addictive potential. To investigate the effects of oral melatonin on postoperative sleep quality after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. This was a prospective randomized clinical trial evaluating patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Exclusion criteria included history of alcohol abuse, current antidepressant or sedative use, revision rotator cuff repair, severe glenohumeral arthritis, and concurrent adhesive capsulitis. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to 1 of 2 groups: 5-mg dose of melatonin 1 hour before bedtime or standard sleep hygiene (≥6 hours per night, avoiding caffeine and naps in the evening). Patients in the melatonin group took their assigned melatonin dose for 6 weeks beginning the day of surgery. Patient-reported outcome assessments, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES), and the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), and pain medication charts were collected preoperatively as well as at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, and 6 months postoperatively. Numeric variables were analyzed using paired and unpaired t tests, with significance set at P < .05. Eighty patients were included for final analysis (40 in the control group, 40 in the melatonin group). Patient characteristics such as age, sex, race, body mass index, and laterality did not differ significantly (P≥ .05). Preoperative ASES, SANE, and PSQI scores did not differ between groups (P≥ .055). PSQI scores were significantly lower (better quality sleep) in the melatonin group at the 6-week postoperative period (P = .036). There was a positive correlation between how patients rated the intensity of their pain and the PSQI at the 6-week postoperative period (0.566). The PSQI question regarding sleep quality was found to be significantly lower in the melatonin group at the 3-month, 4-month, and 6-month postoperative periods (P = .015, P = .041, and P≤ .05, respectively). SANE scores were significantly lower in the melatonin group (P = .011) at 6 weeks and then higher in the melatonin group (P = .017) at 6 months. ASES scores were significantly higher in the melatonin group at 4 and 6 months (P = .022 and P = .020, respectively). Lastly, patients who were randomized into the melatonin group were found to use significantly less narcotic medication at the 4-month postoperative period (P = .046). Melatonin use after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair led to improved sleep quality (PSQI) in the early postoperative period as well as improved functional outcomes (ASES and SANE scores) and decreased narcotic use in the later postoperative period. Patients with significant sleep disturbances associated with rotator cuff repairs may benefit from the use of melatonin. NCT04278677 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).

Parents’ perceptions of the safe environment for every kid (SEEK) model in the Swedish child health services

BackgroundThe Safe Environment for Every Kid (SEEK) model was developed to address psychosocial risk factors (financial worries, depressive symptoms, major parental stress, alcohol misuse and intimate partner violence) in the pediatric primary care setting but has not been evaluated from the parents’ perspective. To further investigate the usefulness of SEEK, it is important to explore how parents perceive the model.ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to explore parents’ perceptions of the SEEK model as a part of regular health visits in the Child Health Services in Sweden.Participants and settingEighteen parents (13 women and five men) in two Swedish counties participated in the study.MethodsSemi-structured telephone interviews were conducted, and the resulting data were analyzed using reflective thematic analysis.ResultsThree themes were identified: Acceptance and understanding of the SEEK model in the child health services, The questionnaire as a bridge to a dialogue, and Feeling trust in the system and the child health nurse’s professional competence. Further, an overarching theme was created that encompassed a core meaning of all three themes; SEEK provides a process-oriented framework to receive support in parenting with a focus on child health.ConclusionsThe study showed that parents express both acceptance and understanding of the SEEK model and they perceive that the model provides an avenue for repeated dialogues about the family’s situation during the child’s upbringing and an opportunity to access support if needed.

Copper excess in psychiatric disorders: a focus on mood spectrum disorders and sex

BackgroundMeta-analyses show increased copper (Cu) levels in major depression disorder. However, the association of Cu biomarkers with clinical classification in other mental health disorders has not been fully explored. MethodsTo this aim, we compared an extensive panel of Cu biomarkers, composed of Cu, ceruloplasmin (Cp) Cp activity, Cp specific activity, Cu not bound to ceruloplasmin (non-Cp Cu, also known as ‘free’ copper) in 171 consecutive patients affected by psychiatric disorders and in 61 healthy controls (HC) using MANOVA adjusting for the effect of sex and age, and studied their association with the clinical scale outcomes at psychiatric examination, namely Global Assessment of Functioning, Clinical Global Impression, and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Resultsindividuals with psychiatric disorders were classified as 109 patients affected by mood spectrum disorders (MSD), 20 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), and 42 with personality disorders (PD). Cu and non-Cp Cu were increased in psychiatric individuals than in HC, which also differed among the patients stratified per the clinical classification, being higher in the MSD individuals. The analysis stratified for sex revealed that women from the patient group, and specifically from the MSD group, had increased levels of Cu and non-Cp Cu than healthy women, while no difference was revealed in men. A logistic regression model considering the effect of sex and age revealed that non-Cp Cu could explain 26 % increased odds of having MSD per µmol/L unit increase (OR = 1.26; p = 0.0008; 95 % CI 1.099–1.436), that reached 40 % when considering only women. This result was driven by non-Cp Cu that correctly classified 64.1 % MSD (70 % in women) individuals vs. HC in a decision tree model, with values higher than 2.1 µmol/L which could distinguish the majority of MSD patients (86.3 % MSD vs. 13.7 % HC in women). None of the biological variables under study correlated with outcomes of the clinical scales, substances, or alcohol abuse. ConclusionCurrent results suggest mild Cu toxicity in women with MSD, as revealed by a value of non-Cp Cu higher than 2.1 µmol/L, which can be further investigated to assess its potential diagnostic accuracy in bigger and longitudinal cohorts.

Efficacy of Behavioral Intervention, Text Messaging, and Extended Intervention to Address Alcohol Misuse in Sexual Minority Men with HIV: A Factorial Randomized Clinical Trial.

This clinical trial examined the individual and combined effects of three different approaches to reducing alcohol misuse among a sample of sexual minority men (SMM) with HIV. Specifically, we used a 2 × 2 × 2 randomized factorial design to compare: (a) behavioral intervention based in motivational interviewing (MI) vs. brief intervention (BI), (b) interactive text messaging (ITM) for alcohol use vs. no ITM, and (c) extended intervention (EI) length of nine months vs. a one-month intervention duration. Participants (N = 188) were SMM with HIV and alcohol misuse recruited in Miami, FL, and Boston, MA. Participants were randomized to one of eight intervention combinations and assessed at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. Large reductions of over 50% in drinks per week and heavy drinking days were observed in all conditions at follow-up. Those who received ITM, compared to those who did not, reported significantly lower drinks consumed per week at 6 and 12 months (incidence rate ratios = 0.73 [95% CI = 0.57, 0.90] and 0.72 [95% CI = 0.56, 0.87], respectively), and increased odds of cessation of alcohol misuse at 12 months, odds ratio = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.03, 2.08. Results provided no evidence of better alcohol use outcomes for either MI or EI relative to their comparison conditions, and no specific combination of intervention components demonstrated a notable benefit. This study suggests a two-session BI can effectuate substantial reductions in alcohol use in SMM with HIV and that adding one month of ITM can yield further improvements. Clinical Trials Number: NCT02709759.

Combined effect of alcohol consumption patterns and marital status on all-cause mortality among middle- and old-aged people: A longitudinal study from Korea

PurposesThe association between alcohol consumption, health, and mortality is intricate, with marital status being a determinant of drinking behavior. This study investigated the combined effect of alcohol consumption patterns and marital status on mortality in middle-aged and older Korean individuals. MethodsThis prospective longitudinal study used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, conducted from 2006 to 2020. The study population comprised individuals who were consuming alcohol around the time of the basic survey and participated in the 1st wave 2006 study. We divided 3,823 drinkers older than 45 into four groups: “normal drinker and married (NM),” “normal drinker and unmarried (NUM),” “excessive drinker and married (EM),” and “excessive drinker and unmarried (EUM).” A Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed for survival analysis. ResultsThe median survival time of the EUM group was 11.9 years. After adjusting for the covariates, the mortality risk among the NUM, EM, and EUM was approximately 1.67 times, 1.33 times, and 3.10 times higher than that among the NM, respectively. ConclusionsMiddle- and old-aged unmarried people with excessive drinking patterns constitute a high-risk group for mortality. Community healthcare providers should focus on characteristics that differ by age, considering family-related factors and assessing alcohol consumption patterns to reduce mortality. Among middle and old-aged people, support for unmarried and excessive drinkers should be strengthened, and consultation on visiting community-based clinics should be promoted to improve firmly established alcohol consumption patterns.

Associations between soft drinks intake and primary dysmenorrhea among Chinese undergraduate female students

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is a common global health concern. However, limited studies explored the association between soft drinks intake and PD among female undergraduates in China. To determine the association between soft drinks (carbonated soft drinks, etc.) as well coffee intake and the incidence/severity of PD among female undergraduates in China. We performed a cross-sectional study among 1809 female undergraduates in China from September 29, 2020 to October 22, 2020. The demographic information and menstrual information of the participants were collected by a self-administrated questionnaire. Chi-square test, ANOVA test, and logistic regression test were used to investigate the association between soft drinks intake and the incidence/severity of PD. We also conducted stratification analysis among different locations (rural or urban). The prevalence of PD was 47.1% (n = 852). There were 221 (25.9%) participants suffered from severe pain. In the participants with PD, the OR of carbonated soft drinks intake was 1.244 (95% CI 1.010–1.533). Among the participants with PD from rural areas, the OR of carbonated soft drinks intake was 1.402 (95% CI 1.045–1.881), compared with the non-carbonated soft drink group. In the participants with moderate and severe PD, the OR of coffee intake was 0.451 (95% CI 0.228–0.892), compared with the non-coffee-drinking group. There was a significant association between carbonated soft drinks intake frequency and the severity of PD (P < 0.05). Our study showed that carbonated soft drinks intake is a risk factor for PD, especially in participants from rural areas. Coffee intake is a protective factor for the severity of PD. Periodical awareness programs about adverse effects of excessive soft drink consumption should be introduced to reduce the prevalence and exacerbation of PD. Coffee intake might be helpful to relieve the severity of PD.

Trends in incidence of self-harm, neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions among university students compared to the general population: a nationwide electronic data linkage study in Wales.

Objective and ApproachThey are growing concerns that self-harm and mental health conditions are increasing in university students. This may reflect widening access to higher education, existing population trends or stressors associated with this setting. We linked real-world data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency between 2012-2018 with primary and secondary healthcare records. Students were undergraduates aged 18 to 24 years at university entry. Non-students were pseudo-randomly selected based on an equivalent age distribution. We used regression approach to examine characteristics of students and non-students and their risks of self-harm and mental health conditions before and during university. ResultsThis e-cohort study included 96,760 students and 151,795 non-students. Being male, self-harm and mental-health conditions recorded before university entry, and higher deprivation levels resulted in lower odds of entering university and higher odds of dropout. Risks of self-harm, Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), depression, anxiety, drug misuse, and schizophrenia were lower for students. Risks of self-harm, ASD, ADHD, depression, alcohol misuse and schizophrenia were increasing more in students over time. Older students experienced higher risk of self-harm and mental-health conditions. Younger students were more at risk of alcohol misuse than non-students. ConclusionsMental health conditions in students are common, diverse and they influence their academic outcomes. University students have mental health needs and trajectories that differ from those of the general population. ImplicationsThe diversity and complexity of students’ needs require integrated person-centred stepped care approach within universities including triage, access to well-being support, counselling, and referral pathways to mental health services.

Implications of the shift to DSM-5 for alcohol use disorder prevalence estimates in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) is a commonly used source for estimating trends in alcohol use disorders (AUD) in the United States. From 2015 to 2019 the annual prevalence of people diagnosed with either Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 4th edition (DSM-IV) alcohol abuse or dependence ranged from 5.3 to 5.9%. More recent estimates, using the DSM 5th edition (DSM-5) AUD diagnostic formulation, have been higher, with AUD base rates ranging from 10.1 to 10.7% from 2020 to 2022. This study aimed to compare the past 12-month base rates of AUD in the United States general population when using the DSM-5 versus DSM-IV AUD (i.e. abuse or dependence) and assess the AUD severity of individuals captured with each diagnostic formulation using DSM-5 AUD symptom counts. We examined descriptive trends in the rate of past-year NSDUH AUD diagnoses from 2015 to 2022. We contrasted them with trends in drinking behavior: the percentage of individuals who had ever reported drinking and the number of drinking days and binge drinking days for those who drink. We also analyzed the concordance between DSM-IV and DSM-5 AUD diagnoses in the 2020 NSDUH, which concurrently assessed AUD with both diagnostic formulations. The transition to DSM-5 AUD formulation coincided with a drastic increase in AUD prevalence rates that occurred without increases in drinking behavior. In 2020 NSDUH data, the estimated past-year DSM-5 AUD prevalence rate was 10.1% compared with a 5.4% rate of past-year DSM-IV abuse or dependence. The DSM-5 AUD formulation captured more mild-severity individuals than the DSM-IV formulation. Higher recent base rates of alcohol use disorders (AUD) in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health are likely, at least partially, explained by measurement changes in AUD; specifically, the shift from DSM-IV abuse or dependence to DSM-5 AUD. The DSM-5 formulation appears substantially more inclusive than the DSM-IV formulation, leading to a larger number of mild severity individuals being captured.

Muslims perceptions of safe alcohol use: a qualitative study in the Gulf Council Cooperation countries

AimThe purpose of this study was to explore Muslim’s perceptions and views of raising awareness on safe alcohol use and counterfeit alcohol harms in Islamic countries.Subject and methodsQualitative semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample from the Gulf Council Cooperation (GCC) countries. The data were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis method.ResultsTwenty-three participants took part in this study. We have identified five themes from the data, including perceptions on alcohol use in the GCC, community’s openness to alcohol discussions, approaches to raising awareness on alcohol use, all forbidden is desirable, and legalisation is the solution. All participants acknowledged the existence of alcohol use in GCC communities and advocated for the need to raise public awareness about the harms of alcohol use. Opinions on approaches to raising awareness varied. Some participants suggested focusing awareness on the religious messages prohibiting alcohol use, emphasising that alcohol is harmful in any quantity. For some, raising awareness of safe alcohol consumption was viewed as accepting and encouraging alcohol use, which goes against Islamic religious beliefs. Some participants attributed alcohol misuse and the consumption of counterfeit alcohol to the ban on alcohol products in some GCC countries.ConclusionsMuslims acknowledge the existence of alcohol use in Muslim communities, yet there is a hesitancy in raising awareness of safe alcohol use. Although challenging, there is a need to combine the public health perspective on safe alcohol use while providing messages that acknowledge the religious aspect.

Willingness to wait outperforms delay discounting in predicting drinking severity.

Alcohol misuse ranks among the leading causes of preventable death worldwide. Therefore, discovering measures that can predict hazardous drinking is critical. The delay discounting paradigm-which assesses relative preference for immediate rewards over larger, later rewards-has frequently been used as a proxy for impulsive choice, but it does not capture how long someone is willing to wait for delayed rewards when the arrival time is uncertain. In contrast, a newer willingness-to-wait task measures how long someone is willing to wait for a delayed reward of uncertain timing before giving up. We hypothesized that performance in this willingness-to-wait task would be associated with drinking severity and that this task may even outperform delay discounting as a predictor of drinking severity. We pooled data from multiple studies of mostly college-aged adult participants. Drinking severity was assessed with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Willingness to wait under temporal uncertainty, but not delay discounting, was associated with severity of alcohol problems among participants who drank (n = 212). Individuals engaging in hazardous drinking were less willing to wait for rewards when delays were unknown than were individuals with low-risk drinking habits. Thus, willingness to wait under temporal uncertainty may be an important predictor of problematic drinking.

Alcohol abuse among adolescents and suicide risk - is there a correlation?

Introduction: Adolescent alcohol abuse is a critical public health issue with far-reaching consequences for individual development and societal well-being. Adolescent alcohol consumption poses significant health risks, particularly due to its effects on brain development and its association with increased suicide risk. Purpose of the work: This study aims to investigate the relationship between alcohol abuse and suicide risk in adolescents. Materials and methods: A comprehensive analysis of research papers available on PubMed and Google Scholar was undertaken using the search terms including the following keywords: alcohol abuse/ alcohol abuse in adolescence/ alcohol consumption in adolescence/ alcohol abuse and suicide risk in adolescence/ suicide risk factors in adolescence/ suicidal tendencies among teenagers. Conclusions:Adolescent alcohol abuse has profound implications for brain development and mental health, significantly increasing the risk of suicide. Effective public health strategies, including early intervention, education, and strong support systems, are essential to mitigate these risks and promote healthier environments for young individuals. Addressing the underlying causes of alcohol abuse and providing targeted support can reduce its long-term consequences and improve adolescent well-being.

Lifetime exposure to smoking and substance abuse may be associated with late-onset multiple sclerosis: a population-based case-control study

BackgroundLate-onset multiple sclerosis (LOMS), defined as the development of MS after the age of 50, has shown a substantial surge in incidence rates and is associated with more rapid progression of disability. Besides, studies have linked tobacco smoking to a higher chance of MS progression. However, the role of smoking on the risk of developing LOMS remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the possible association between lifetime exposure to cigarette and waterpipe smoking, drug abuse, and alcohol consumption and the risk of LOMS.MethodsThis population-based case-control study involved LOMS cases and healthy sex and age-matched controls from the general population in Tehran, Iran. The primary data for confirmed LOMS cases were obtained from the nationwide MS registry of Iran (NMSRI), while supplementary data were collected through telephone and on-site interviews. Predesigned questionnaire for multinational case-control studies of MS environmental risk factors was used to evaluate the LOMS risk factors. The study employed Likelihood ratio chi-square test to compare qualitative variables between the two groups and utilized two independent sample t-test to compare quantitative data. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for age along with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using matched logistic regression analysis in SPSS 23.ResultsTotally, 83 LOMS cases and 207 controls were included in the analysis. The female to male ratio in the cases was 1.5: 1. The mean ± SD age of 83 cases and 207 controls was 61.14 ± 5.38) and 61.51 ± 7.67 years, respectively. The mean ± SD expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score was 3.68 ± 2.1. Although the results of waterpipe exposure had no significant effect on LOMS development (P-value: 0.066), ever cigarette-smoked participants had a significantly higher risk of developing LOMS than those who never smoked (AOR: 2.57, 95% CI: 1.44–4.60). Furthermore, people with a history of smoking for more than 20 years had 3.45 times the odds of developing MS than non-smokers. Drug and alcohol abuse were both associated with LOMS in our study; of which opioids (AOR: 5.67, 95% CI: 2.05–15.7), wine (AOR: 3.30, 95% CI: 1.41–7.71), and beer (AOR: 3.12, 95% CI: 1.45–6.69) were found to pose the greatest risk of LOMS, respectively.ConclusionFor the first time, we identified smoking, drug, and alcohol use as potential risk factors for LOMS development. According to the global increase in cigarette smoking and alcohol use, these findings highlight the importance of conducting interventional approaches for prevention.

Mesocorticolimbic and Cardiometabolic Diseases-Two Faces of the Same Coin?

The risk behaviors underlying the most prevalent chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) encompass alcohol misuse, unhealthy diets, smoking and sedentary lifestyle behaviors. These are all linked to the altered function of the mesocorticolimbic (MCL) system. As the mesocorticolimbic circuit is central to the reward pathway and is involved in risk behaviors and mental disorders, we set out to test the hypothesis that these pathologies may be approached therapeutically as a group. To address these questions, the identification of novel targets by exploiting knowledge-based, network-based and disease similarity algorithms in two major Thomson Reuters databases (MetaBase™, a database of manually annotated protein interactions and biological pathways, and IntegritySM, a unique knowledge solution integrating biological, chemical and pharmacological data) was performed. Each approach scored proteins from a particular approach-specific standpoint, followed by integration of the scores by machine learning techniques yielding an integrated score for final target prioritization. Machine learning identified characteristic patterns of the already known targets (control targets) with high accuracy (area under curve of the receiver operator curve was ~93%). The analysis resulted in a prioritized list of 250 targets for MCL disorders, many of which are well established targets for the mesocorticolimbic circuit e.g., dopamine receptors, monoamino oxidases and serotonin receptors, whereas emerging targets included DPP4, PPARG, NOS1, ACE, ARB1, CREB1, POMC and diverse voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Our findings support the hypothesis that disorders involving the mesocorticolimbic circuit may share key molecular pathology aspects and may be causally linked to NCDs, yielding novel targets for drug repurposing and personalized medicine.

Organizational on-boarding practices and shifts in alcohol misuse among at-risk college recruits

With a significant proportion of college students in many countries engaging in risky drinking behavior, this study examines the tendency of such young adults to ‘mature out’ of such behavior in their first year of employment after graduating, and the degree to which three mainstream organizational on-boarding experiences may expedite such ‘maturing out’. Focusing on newcomers’ experiences with alcohol-oriented job orientation, job empowerment, and organizational efforts to facilitate the development of supportive peer relationships, we test hypotheses regarding the direct effects of time on the change in alcohol misuse among those reporting misuse in college, as well as the degree to which individual on-boarding experiences account for the variance in young adults’ maturing out trajectories over the course of their first year of employment. Findings generated from data collected from over 400 young adults over multiple waves offer important theoretical and practical implications regarding how and why particular onboarding tactics may be more or less effective in influencing newcomers’ health-related behaviors.

Predictors of white matter hyperintensities in the elderly Congolese population.

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are strongly linked to cardiovascular risk factors and other health conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. However, there is a dearth of research on this topic in low-income countries and underserved populations, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where the population is aging rapidly with increasing cardiovascular risk factors and dementia-related diseases. This study evaluates health factors associated with WMH in the elderly Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), specifically Congolese adults. In a cross-sectional study of 77 people from the DRC, participants underwent neuroimaging to analyze WMH volume and completed clinical evaluation, laboratory-based blood exams, self-reported questionnaires, and interviews. A simple linear regression model was conducted to test the association between WMH and potential predictors (neurological status, age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, tobacco abuse, stroke, high cholesterol, cardiovascular medication, and alcohol abuse). Stepwise selection and backward elimination analyses were performed to obtain the final model. Finally, a multiple linear regression model was conducted to assess the association between WMH and variables retained in the final model (neurological status, sex, and age). Of the 77 individuals, 47 (61%) had dementia, 40 (52.6%) were males, and the mean age was 73 years (± 8.0 years standard deviation). In simple linear regression models, WMH was significantly associated with dementia (expβ1=1.75, 95% CI=1.14 - 2.71, p-value=0.01) though it had a weak association with age (expβ1=1.03, 95% CI=1.00 - 1.05, p-value=0.05) and sex (male) (expβ1=0.66, 95% CI=0.43 - 1.01, p-value=0.05). In multiple linear regression models, WMH was statistically significantly associated with dementia (expβ1=1.97, 95% CI=1.31 - 2.95, p-value =0.001), male sex (expβ2=0.54, 95% CI=0.36 - 0.80, p-value=0.003), and age (expβ3=1.03, 95% CI=1.00 - 1.06, p-value=0.03). However, WMH was not significantly associated with common cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, tobacco use, obesity, and high cholesterol levels. WMH is significantly associated with neurological status, sex, and age in the Congolese population. Understanding these predictors may improve our ability to diagnose, assess, and develop preventative treatments for white matter disease in SSA/DRC populations, where neuroimaging is difficult to obtain.

Consumption of Sylimarin, Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Sodium Salt and Myricetin: Effects on Alcohol Levels and Markers of Oxidative Stress-A Pilot Study.

Alcohol abuse is one of the most common causes of mortality worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a treatment in reducing circulating ethanol and oxidative stress biomarkers. Twenty wine-drinking subjects were investigated in a randomized controlled, single-blind trial (ClinicalTrials.gov. Identifier: NCT06548503; Ethical Committee of the University of Padova (HEC-DSB/12-2023) to evaluate the effect of the intake of a product containing silymarin, pyrroloquinoline quinone sodium salt, and myricetin (referred to as Si.Pi.Mi. for this project) on blood alcohol, ethyl glucuronide (EtG: marker for alcohol consumption) and markers of oxidative stress levels (Reactive Oxygen Species-ROS, Total Antioxidant Capacity-TAC, CoQ10, thiols redox status, 8-isoprostane, NO metabolites, neopterin, and uric acid). The effects of the treatment versus placebo were evaluated acutely and after 1 week of supplementation in blood and/or saliva and urine samples. Si.Pi.Mi intake reduced circulating ethanol after 120 min (-33%). Changes in oxidative stress biomarkers, particularly a TAC (range +9-12%) increase and an 8-isoprostane (marker of lipidic peroxidation) decrease (range -22-27%), were observed too. After the administration of Si.Pi.Mi, the data seemed to suggest a better alcohol metabolism and oxidative balance in response to wine intake. Further verification is requested.

Overcoming Rape: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding Psychological and Physical Health Functioning of Male Survivors.

When examining sexual assault, men are often hidden from the literature. The current study employed a mixed-methods, convergent parallel design to examine the experiences of 22 male survivors of sexual assault (mean age = 44.19, SD = 13.28, range 18-65; 91% European American; 50% heterosexual). Survivors were administered an online survey using quantitative and qualitative questions to assess rape myths, gender roles, self-esteem, self-efficacy, resiliency, coping, overall mental and physical health, and diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and sexual dysfunction. Three key themes emerged from the integration of quantitative and qualitative data: (a) Help is Elusive, (b) Internal Struggles and External Strengths, and (c) Living with Clinical Diagnoses. This study adds to an important area of the literature that increases understanding of men's experiences with sexual violence and honors the voices of these survivors.