History Of Alcohol Consumption Research Articles

Seroprevalence and Associated Factors of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Viral Infections Among Prisoners in Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia.

Hepatitis B and C viruses are important health and socioeconomic problem across the globe, with a remarkable number of diseases and deaths in sub-Saharan African countries. The burden of hepatitis is unknown in the prison settings of Tigrai. Therefore, we aimed to describe the seroprevalence and associated factors of hepatitis B and C viruses among prisoners in Tigrai, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was carried out from February 2020 to May 2020 at the prison facilities of Tigrai. Demographics and associated factors were collected from 315 prisoners prospectively. Five milliliters of blood was collected and tested using rapid tests kits of HBsAg (Zhejiang orient Gene Biotech Co., Ltd., China) and HCV antibodies (Volkan Kozmetik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Ltd. STI, Turkey). Positive samples were confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co. Ltd). Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The overall seroprevalence of HBV and HCV were 25 (7.9%) and 1 (0.3%), respectively. The majority of hepatitis B viral infections were identified from the age groups of 18-25 years (10.7%) and unmarried prisoners (11.8%). Prisoners greater than 100 per cell (AOR=3.95, 95% CI=1.15-13.6, p=0.029) and with a history of alcohol consumption (AOR=3.01, 95% CI=1.17-7.74, p=0.022) were significantly associated with HBV infections. The seroprevalence of HBV among prisoners was nearly high or borderline (7.9%) with a very low HCV prevalence (0.3%). HBV was most prevalent among young adults, those housed with a large number of prisoners per cell, and those who had a history of alcohol consumption. This study recommends that there should be prison-focused intervention, including regular health education, with the emphasis on the mode of transmission and introducing HBV screening policy for prisoners, especially when they enter the prison.

Risk factors for irinotecan-induced liver injury: a retrospective multicentre cross-sectional study in China

ObjectivesThe hepatotoxicity of irinotecan has been widely implicated in the treatment of multiple solid tumours. However, there are few studies on the influencing factors of irinotecan-induced hepatotoxicity. Herein, we investigated...

ACUTE PANCREATITIS REVEALING MAJOR HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIA

Objective: Severe hypertriglyceridemia is a common risk factor for acute pancreatitis and atherosclerotic vascular disease. Our aim was to report a rare case of acute pancreatitis due to major hypertriglyceridemia. Design and method: We report a case of acute pancreatitis revealing major hypertriglyceridemia. Results: A 53-year-old man, was hospitalized in May 2022 in endocrinology departement with abdominal pain, nausea,vomiting and alteration of general condition. History: high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, alcohol consumption and family history of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia. Clinical examination showed defense on palapation in epigastrium and right flank. Biochemical analyses were as follows: hypertriglyceridemia at 76.42 mmol/L associated with hypercholesterolemia at 17.58 mmol/L, LDL-C = 2.25 mmol/L, HDL-C = 2.12 mmol/L, hyperglycemia = 10.62 mmol/L, HBA1C = 8.1%, Lipasemia = 281 UI/L. Abdominal ultrasound did not show lithiasis, abdominal CT scan revealed pancreatitis. The diagnosis of acute pancreatitis due to major hypertriglyceridemia was made. The patient was treated by plasmapheresis and triglyceride level was reduced to 2.5 mmol/L. The lipidogram showed an isolated elevation of VLDL and defined hypertriglyceridemia as Familial hyperlipoproteinemia type 4. Conclusions: Familial hyperlipoproteinemia type 4 syndrome is an uncommon condition. Acute pancreatitis secondary to severe hypertriglyceridemia is a condition with a high risk of mortality which requires prompt clinical suspicion and treatment.

Prevalence of alcohol consumption among clients of opioid agonist treatment (OAT) centers in Golestan province, Iran.

Opioid agonist treatments (OATs) with methadone and buprenorphine are known to be effective treatments for people with opioid use disorder (OUD). However, concomitant use of other substances such as alcohol can negatively affect OAT outcomes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of alcohol use among clients of OAT centers in the Golestan province in the northern part of Iran. This is a secondary analysis of a sample of 706 clients who were receiving OATs from certified OAT centers in Golestan province in 2015. They had been on OATs for at least 1 month and were randomly selected for the study. Data were collected via interviews with selected OAT clients. The main indicators studied in the present study were lifetime history of alcohol consumption, alcohol consumption during last month, lifetime history of excessive alcohol use on one occasion, and years of regular alcohol consumption. The prevalence of lifetime history of alcohol consumption was estimated at 39.2%. Prevalence of alcohol consumption during last month and lifetime history of excessive alcohol use on one occasion was 6.9 and 18.8%, respectively. Despite a total ban on alcohol consumption in Iran, a sub-sample of participants admitted past-month alcohol use concurrent with their OATs. The estimated past-month prevalence of alcohol use was lower than the reported prevalence in countries where the production, distribution, and consumption of alcohol are legal.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis associated with hepatocellular carcinoma.

A man in his 60s was admitted because of abdominal pain and fatigue. Contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) showed a hypovascular tumor, 7cm in size, in the left lobe of liver. He had no history of alcohol consumption. HBs antigen and HCV antibody were negative. For definitive diagnosis, biopsy of the hepatic tumor was performed. After the biopsy, the patient suddenly got high fever, and blood tests showed WBC 22,000/L, Hb 8.9g/dL, Plts 11.6 × 104/L, AST 140IU/L, ALT 93IU/L, LDH 635U/L. He died on the following day despite of supportive therapy. Autopsy revealed that the hepatic tumor was poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and that hemophagocytic macrophages were found in the bone marrow and spleen. Based on the pathological findings of autopsy, he was finally diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) associated with HCC. HLH is a rare and life-threaded disorder of immune overactivation. Malignancy-associated HLH is well-known; however, it is usually associated with malignant lymphoma. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of HLH associated with HCC, which was diagnosed by autopsy. Although extremely rare, our case highlights that HLH should be considered as a differential diagnosis of unknown high fever and bicytopenia in patients with solid tumors, including HCC.

Influencing factors of mild cognitive impairment among the Chinese elderly: a meta-analysis

Objective: To conduct a meta-analysis on the influencing factors of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the Chinese elderly. Methods: The literature related to the influencing factors of MCI in Chinese elderly population was retrieved through CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases up to March 13, 2022. Stata17.0 software was used to calculate the combined risk ratio (RR) with the 95% confidence interval (CI), test the heterogeneity, and assess the publication bias. Results: A total of 2 450 articles were retrieved, and 49 articles met the inclusion criteria, including 5 cohort studies and 44 case-control studies. Meta-analysis results showed that male (RR=0.778, 95%CI: 0.696-0.870, I2=73.1), education>6years (RR=0.428, 95%CI: 0.374-0.490, I2=86.9) and regular exercise (RR=0.496, 95%CI: 0.421-0.585, I2=81.5) were protective factors for MCI, while age≥70 years (RR=2.431, 95%CI: 2.086-2.833, I2=79.3), family history of dementia (RR=3.228, 95%CI: 2.140-4.867, I2=0.0), smoking (RR=1.214, 95%CI: 1.098-1.342, I2=78.8), alcohol consumption (RR=1.165, 95%CI: 1.047-1.297, I2=68.2), solitary living (RR=2.816, 95%CI: 2.123-3.736, I2=42.0), insomnia (RR=1.402, 95%CI: 1.093-1.799, I2=41.3), overweight/obesity (RR=1.431, 95%CI: 1.207-1.696, I2=75.9), hypertension (RR=1.731, 95%CI: 1.589-1.886, I2=67.1), hyperlipidemia (RR=1.722, 95%CI: 1.541-1.924, I2=63.9), diabetes mellitus (RR=1.495, 95%CI: 1.341-1.666, I2=71.6), cardiovascular diseases (RR=1.671, 95%CI: 1.446-1.932, I2=74.6) and cerebrovascular diseases (RR=2.309, 95%CI: 2.040-2.613, I2=76.3) were risk factors of MCI. Conclusion: The present study indicates that male, junior high school education or above and regular exercise are protective factors of MCI, while age≥70 years, family history of dementia, smoking, alcohol consumption, living alone, insomnia, overweight/obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cerebrovascular diseases are risk factors of MCI.

Second esophageal neoplasms after head and neck index tumor: Incidence, risk factors and prognosis

ObjectivePatients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have an increased risk of second esophageal neoplasms. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the incidence, risk factors and prognosis of second esophageal neoplasms in patients with HNSCC. MethodsA retrospective study of 4711 patients with index tumor in the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx or larynx between 1985 and 2020 was conducted. ResultsDuring the period analysed 149 patients (3.2%) had a second esophageal neoplasm. The incidence of second esophageal neoplasia was 0.42% per year and remained nearly constant throughout the follow-up period. According to the results of a multivariate study, the risk factors related to the appearance of second esophageal neoplasms were a history of high alcohol consumption and the location of the primary tumor in the oropharynx or hypopharynx. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate in patients with a second esophageal neoplasm, calculated from the diagnosis of this second neoplasm, was 10.5%. ConclusionsPatients with a HNSCC have an increased risk of developing of a second esophageal neoplasm. The risk factors associated with the appearance of a second esophageal neoplasm were severe alcohol consumption and the location of the primary tumor in the oropharynx or hypopharynx.

A STUDY OF RISK FACTORS OF DELIRIUM TREMENS IN PERSONS WITH ALCOHOL USE DISORDER IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL.

Introduction: Delirium tremens is the severe form of alcohol withdrawal state that carries a certain degree of mortality. It is important to understand various risk factors associated with delirium tremens and compare with persons in alcohol withdrawal without delirium tremens. Objectives of the Study is to identify various risk factors associated with delirium tremens and to compare and identify any differences in risk factors for withdrawal syndrome in persons with alcohol use disorder with and without delirium tremens. This cross-sectional study Methodology: was conducted in the Department of Psychiatry at Hamdard Institute of Medical Science and HAHC Hospital, New Delhi on the patients with alcohol use disorder in withdrawal attending Department of Psychiatry, during period from January 2022 to June 2022. 75 patients with alcohol use disorder were taken. They were further categorised into 3 groups of patients which included patients with alcohol use disorder experiencing uncomplicated withdrawal, complicated withdrawal with or without delirium tremens. Patients with age range 18-60 years of either sex with illness of at least 12 months were taken. Severity of withdrawal was assessed by CIWA-Ar (Clinical Institute for Withdrawal of Alcohol scale containing ten items). Data was analysed using computer-based software (SPSS v16). Mean scores were calculated for both study populations for all the scales applied. Chi square test was used to make in between group comparisons for categorical variables with P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically signicant at 95 % condence level. Among the 75 patients Results: admitted for detoxication treatment during the period of January 2022- June 2023; 9 of the participants were suffering from uncomplicated withdrawal, 13 participants were suffering from complicated withdrawal without delirium tremens and 53 participants was suffering from complicated withdrawal with delirium tremens The factors signicantly associated with delirium tremens were previous history of DT (p=0.004**), binge drinking pattern (p=0.000**), history of morning alcohol consumption (p=0.000*), and delay in hospitalization (p=0.004**), and increased CIWA- AR score (p=0.001**). Patient admitted Conclusion: for detoxication should be carefully evaluated for these risk factors; and the vulnerable subjects with the presence of these risk factors should be cautiously managed and carefully monitored by the nurses taking care of these patients to prevent the occurrence of the fatal complication associated with alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Environmental manipulation, close observation and monitoring of vital signs, front loading dose of benzodiazepines are essential for preventing the occurrence of Delirium tremens during detoxication period.

Gene Expression Comparison between Alcohol-Exposed versus Not Exposed Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Patients Reveals a Peculiar TGFβ-Related Phenotype: An Exploratory Analysis.

Background: Over the past few decades, there has been much debate and research into the link between alcohol consumption and the development and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Objectives: To contribute to the ongoing discussion and gain further insights into this topic, our study analysed the gene expression differences in PDAC patients based on their alcohol consumption history. Methods: To this end, we interrogated a large publicly available dataset. We next validated our findings in vitro. Results: Our findings revealed that patients with a history of alcohol consumption showed significant enrichment in the TGFβ-pathway: a signaling pathway implicated in cancer development and tumor progression. Specifically, our bioinformatic dissection of gene expression differences in 171 patients with PDAC showed that those who had consumed alcohol had higher levels of TGFβ-related genes. Moreover, we validated the role of the TGFβ pathway as one of the molecular drivers in producing massive stroma, a hallmark feature of PDAC, in patients with a history of alcohol consumption. This suggests that inhibition of the TGFβ pathway could serve as a novel therapeutic target for PDAC patients with a history of alcohol consumption and lead to increased sensitivity to chemotherapy. Our study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the link between alcohol consumption and PDAC progression. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the potential significance of the TGFβ pathway as a therapeutic target. The development of TGFβ-inhibitors may pave the way for developing more effective treatment strategies for PDAC patients with a history of alcohol consumption.

Evaluation of the Correlation between Coronary Artery Disease and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Is There Any Correlation?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are 2 common diseases around the globe. This investigation aimed to evaluate NAFLD prevalence in patients with CAD and the potential association between NAFLD and CAD. This case-control study was performed between January 2017 and January 2018 at Ziaeian Hospital, Tehran, Iran. All patients aged between 35 and 5 years and referred for myocardial perfusion imaging were selected for the study. Totally, 180 participants were divided into CAD+ and CAD- groups. CAD was defined as stenosis of greater than 50.0% in at least 1 coronary artery. Afterward, all the patients underwent abdominal sonography and laboratory tests for NAFLD evaluation. Patients with a history of liver diseases, alcohol consumption, and drug-induced steatosis were excluded. The study population consisted of 122 women (67.8%) and 58 men (32.2%) at a mean age of 49.31±5.42 years. NAFLD was detected in 115 patients. NAFLD prevalence in the CAD+ group was 78.9%. NAFLD was determined as an independent risk factor for CAD (OR, 3.9). NAFLD prevalence was high in the CAD+ group. The incidence of steatosis is on the rise in the general population. Hence, considering the high prevalence of abdominal obesity, all patients with NAFLD should be evaluated for CAD.

Health risk behaviors among Vietnamese students aged 13-18 in two districts in Ha Nam province and some associated factors

Objective: Risky health behaviors have an impact on physical and mental health. Data on health risk behaviors among students in Vietnam are limited. This study aims to describe and identify associated factors of health risk behaviors among Vietnamese students aged 13-18 in two districts in Ha Nam province. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 600 students aged 13-18 in two districts in Ha Nam in July - 2022. Results: There was 25.5% of participants had at least 1 health risk behavior. History of alcohol consumption was the most frequent of health risk behavior. There were 9 students had sexual intercourse. The final multi-variable logistics regression showed that students aged 14 years (aOR: 2.29, 95%CI: 1.28 – 4.20) or 16 years (aOR 7.02, 95%CI: 2.57 – 20.41) or 18 years (aOR5.58, 95%CI: 1.48 – 21.63) had a higher chance to have health risk behaviors than 13-years-old students. Female students (aOR: 0.51; 95%CI: 0.34 – 0.75) had lower rate of health risk behaviors than male students. We also found history of using tobacco (aOR: 15.7, 95%CI: 3.07 – 103.89) was associated with the history of having sex in participants. Conclusions: The prevalence of health risk behaviors among Vietnamese students aged 13-18 in Ha Nam was quite high. There should be more prevention, activities and consultation for students aged 13-18 in Viet Nam.

Prevalence, factors associated and knowledge of probable dementia among adults 50 years and over attending a faith-based geriatric center in Uganda

Dementia is on the rise due to increasing proportion of old people in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Although dementia is misattributed to normal ageing or supernatural causes in SSA, it is a brain disease with well-established etiologies. Limited knowledge and understanding of dementia means that many older people are suffering without seeking help and are undiagnosed and untreated. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with probable dementia and to describe the knowledge of the disease among adults 50 years and over attending a faith-based geriatric center in Uganda. This was a cross-sectional study using quantitative methods. A total of 267 adults 50 years and over attending a faith-based geriatric center in Mukono, Uganda were interviewed between 1 April and 15 May 2022. Interviews were administered using the Early Dementia Questionnaire (EDQ) and Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS). Data on participants’ socio-demographics, economic income, living arrangement, history of smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise and past medical history was collected using an additional questionnaire. Adults 50 years and over were included in the study. Logistic regression analyses were done. Probable dementia was 46.2% in the sample. The most common symptoms of probable dementia in the order of their severity were memory symptoms, (β co-efficient β 0.08, p < .001), physical symptoms (β 0.08, p < .001), sleep disturbances (β 0.81, p < .001) and emotions (β 0.04, p < .027). The final degree of association as determined by adjusted PR in the multivariable model revealed that only older age (aPR = 1.88, p < .001) and occasional/non-believer (aPR = 1.61, p = .001) remained significantly related to probable dementia. The study also found that 8.0% of the participants had optimal knowledge of dementia. There is high burden of probable dementia among adults 50 years and over attending a faith-based geriatric center in Mukono, Uganda. Factors associated with probable dementia are older age and being an occasional/non-believer. Knowledge of dementia among older adults is low. There is need to promote integrated early dementia screening, care and educational program in primary care to reduce the disease burden. Spiritual support would be a rewarding investment in the lives of the ageing population.

Epidemiology and factors associated with cannabis use among patients with glaucoma in the All of Us Research Program

PurposeTo examine the epidemiology and factors of cannabis use among open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, OAG participants in the All of Us database were included. Cannabis ever-users were defined based on record of cannabis use. Demographic and socioeconomic data were collected and compared between cannabis ever-users and never-users using Chi-Square tests and logistic regression. Odds ratios (OR) of potential factors associated with cannabis use were examined in univariable and multivariable models. ResultsAmong 3723 OAG participants, 1436 (39%) were cannabis ever-users. The mean (SD) age of never-users and ever-users was 72.9 (10.4) and 69.2 (9.6) years, respectively (P < 0.001). Compared to never-users, Black (34%) and male (55%) participants were better represented in ever-users, while Hispanic or Latino participants (6%) were less represented (P < 0.001). Diversity was also observed in socioeconomic characteristics including marital status, housing security, and income/education levels. A higher percentage of ever-users had a degree ≥12 grades (91%), salaried employment (26%), housing insecurity (12%), and history of cigar smoking (48%), alcohol consumption (96%), and other substance use (47%) (P < 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, Black race (OR [95% CI] = 1.33 [1.06, 1.68]), higher education (OR = 1.19 [1.07, 1.32]), and history of nicotine product smoking (OR: 2.04–2.83), other substance use (OR = 8.14 [6.63, 10.04]), and alcohol consumption (OR = 6.80 [4.45, 10.79]) were significant factors associated with cannabis use. Increased age (OR = 0.96 [0.95, 0.97]), Asian race (OR = 0.18 [0.09, 0.33]), and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity (OR = 0.43 [0.27, 0.68]) were associated with decreased odds of use (P < 0.02). ConclusionsThis study elucidated the previously uncharacterized epidemiology and factors associated with cannabis use among OAG patients, which may help to identify patients requiring additional outreach on unsupervised marijuana use.

Comparison of Machine Learning Models and the Fatty Liver Index in Predicting Lean Fatty Liver

The reported prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in studies of lean individuals ranges from 7.6% to 19.3%. The aim of the study was to develop machine-learning models for the prediction of fatty liver disease in lean individuals. The present retrospective study included 12,191 lean subjects with a body mass index < 23 kg/m2 who had undergone a health checkup from January 2009 to January 2019. Participants were divided into a training (70%, 8533 subjects) and a testing group (30%, 3568 subjects). A total of 27 clinical features were analyzed, except for medical history and history of alcohol or tobacco consumption. Among the 12,191 lean individuals included in the present study, 741 (6.1%) had fatty liver. The machine learning model comprising a two-class neural network using 10 features had the highest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) value (0.885) among all other algorithms. When applied to the testing group, we found the two-class neural network exhibited a slightly higher AUROC value for predicting fatty liver (0.868, 0.841-0.894) compared to the fatty liver index (FLI; 0.852, 0.824-0.81). In conclusion, the two-class neural network had greater predictive value for fatty liver than the FLI in lean individuals.

Video Laryngoscopy as a Screening Tool for Laryngeal Changes in Chronic Smokers and Alcoholics

Aim and Objectives The main aim of this study was to identify the evolving, early changes, premalignant and malignant lesions of larynx among smokers, and alcoholics by video laryngoscopy and to correlate the duration, frequency, and amount of smoking and alcohol with spectrum of symptoms presented and laryngeal morphology. Methods and Methodology This study was prospective study done on a total of 165 patients who attended the department of otorhinolaryngology, at a tertiary care center in South India with various ENT complaints. Patients who were above 18 years of age from both sexes and gave history of smoking and alcohol consumption were included in this study irrespective of their complaints. All these patients underwent video laryngoscopy, which helped in early diagnosing various laryngeal lesions and screening tool for development of laryngeal lesions. Following diagnosis, patients were treated accordingly with lifestyle modifications and abstinence from smoking and alcohol. The primary outcome measure is screening for laryngeal morphology and secondary outcome measures are identifiable laryngeal benign and malignant lesions among smokers and alcoholics who required appropriate treatment. Results There was a significant association between the type of lesion and age group, type of lesion and smoking, and type of lesion and alcohol when compared with nonsmokers and non-alcoholics. As the pack years and amount of alcohol consumption increased, there was a significant increase in the severity and association of lesions. Conclusion We were able to diagnose a large number of laryngeal lesions that helped in the early detection of premalignant and malignant lesions and their early treatment. The patients who were diagnosed with premalignant and malignant changes underwent microlaryngeal excision of the lesion and were in close follow-up to detect any recurrence.

Risk factors for cancer of unknown primary: a literature review

Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) is metastatic cancer with an unidentifiable primary tumour origin during life. It remains difficult to study the occurrence and aetiology of CUP. Hitherto, it is unclear whether risk factors are associated with CUP, yet identifying these factors could reveal whether CUP is a specific entity or a cluster of metastasised cancers from various primary tumour origins. Epidemiological studies on possible CUP risk factors were systematically searched in PubMed and Web of Science on February 1st, 2022. Studies, published before 2022, were included if they were observational human-based, provided relative risk estimates, and investigated possible CUP risk factors. A total of 5 case–control and 14 cohort studies were included. There appears to be an increased risk for smoking in relation to CUP. However, limited suggestive evidence was found to link alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, and family history of cancer as increased risks for CUP. No conclusive associations could be made for anthropometry, food intake (animal or plant-based), immunity disorders, lifestyle (overall), physical activity, or socioeconomic status and CUP risk. No other CUP risk factors have been studied. This review highlights smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus and family history of cancer as CUP risk factors. Yet, there remains insufficient epidemiological evidence to conclude that CUP has its own specific risk factor profile.

Interleukin 6 and Interleukin 1β hypomethylation and overexpression are common features of apical periodontitis: A case-control study with gingival tissue as control

ObjectivesApical periodontitis is a periradicular tissue disorder that usually arises from infection by microorganisms in the root canal system resulting in local bone resorption. This usually involves the dysregulation of inflammatory mediators, which can be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate Interleukin 6 (IL6) and Interleukin 1β (IL1β) and DNA methylation and gene expression levels in apical periodontitis. MethodsGene expression was analyzed in 60 participants using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, while the methylation levels of IL6 and IL1β promoters were analyzed in 72 patients using pyrosequencing. All statistical analyzes were performed using the GraphPad Prism software version 8.0. The p value was considered statistically significant when < 0.05. ResultsA significantly higher IL6 and IL1β expression levels were observed in cases relative to controls (fold-changes of 27.4 and 11.43, respectively, and p < 0.0001). By comparing the same groups, lower promoter methylation levels were observed for both genes in cases (methylation percentage delta relative to controls of −24.57% and −16.02%, respectively, and p < 0.0001). A significant inverse correlation between gene expression and promoter methylation was observed for both IL6 (p = 0.0002) and IL1β (p = 0.001). Neither IL6 expression nor promoter methylation were significantly associated with cases’ age, smoking history, alcohol consumption history or sex. For IL1β, alcoholic cases showed lower methylation level relative to non-alcoholic cases (p = 0.01), while females showed higher methylation levels relative to males (p = 0.03). ConclusionsOur data suggest a role for DNA methylation in IL6 and IL1β upregulation in apical periodontitis.

Effects of activation of an alcohol metabolic gene, cigarette smoking, and alcohol intake on the incidence of metachronous gastric cancer in patients who underwent endoscopic resection for gastric cancer: A multicenter retrospective pilot study.

Metachronous gastric cancer (GC) frequently occurs in patients who have undergone endoscopic resection (ER) for GC. We evaluated the risk for development of metachronous GC following ER for GC based on genetic polymorphisms for alcohol dehydrogenase-1B (ADH1B) and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2), as well as alcohol consumption and smoking habits. We studied 77 patients who underwent ER for GC (median follow-up of 84 months). Genotyping of ADH1B/ALDH2 was performed using saliva sampling. Histories of alcohol consumption and smoking before and after ER and Helicobacter pylori eradication were documented. Multivariate analyses revealed that homozygous slow-metabolizing ADH1B (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.38, P < 0.13), heavy smoking (HR = 2.36, P < 0.09), and cigarette smoking after ER (HR = 2.47, P < 0.10) were not independently associated with the risk of secondary GC development. We analyzed the cessation status of the 38 patients who were classified as heavy smokers before ER based on their smoking habits after the ER and divided them into a cessation group (n = 27, non-smokers after ER) and a non-cessation group (n = 11). Cumulative incidence curves of secondary GC in the cessation and non-cessation groups revealed 5-year incidence rates of 19.0% and 45.0%, respectively (P = 0.02). Continued cigarette smoking, at a high level, may be an important risk factor for the development of metachronous GC. Advice for smoking cessation should be given.

Alcohol Use and Alcoholism Among Individuals with Schizophrenia in the North of Iran

Background: Alcohol consumption is one of the most common problematic issues globally that usually causes high costs for the health system. Also, schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder responsible for a heavy burden on healthcare providers. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate alcohol use and alcoholism in schizophrenia in Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study was conducted on 400 individuals with schizophrenia referred to the psychiatry hospital of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. History of alcohol consumption and the criteria of alcohol use disorder according to DSM-5-TR were sought during the interviews using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). Results: Of the patients, 45.5% had drunk alcohol at some point in their lives, 23% had low-risk alcohol consumption, and 10% experienced high-risk consumption. In addition, 1.5% of our sample suffered from alcoholism, according to the AUDIT. Conclusions: The results of our study in Iran regarding alcohol use in schizophrenia are more similar to those of Western countries than eastern countries. The ratio of alcohol use in schizophrenia compared with the general population was even higher in our study than in western countries.

Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Receiving Palliative Chemotherapy: Incidence and Effect on Prognosis

This study evaluated the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) at the authors' institution and analyzed the risk factors associated with VTE and the overall survival (OS). One hundred and seventy patients with locally advanced or metastatic PDAC who received palliative chemotherapy at Daegu Catholic University Medical Center from January 2011 to December 2020 were included. During a median follow-up period of 341 days, 24 patients (14.1%) developed VTE. Cumulative incidence values of VTE were 4.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.39-9.22) at 90 days, 9.9% (95% CI, 6.14-15.59) at 180 days, and 16.9% (95% CI, 11.50-24.36) at 360 days. Multivariate analysis showed that a carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) level over 1,000 U/mL (hazard ratio [HR], 2.666; 95% CI, 1.112-6.389; p=0.028) and a history of alcohol consumption (HR, 0.327; 95% CI, 0.109-0.981; p=0.046) were significant factors associated with VTE. Patients with VTE showed a shorter median survival (347 days vs. 556 days; p=0.041) than those without VTE. Multivariate analysis revealed VTE (HR, 1.850; 95% CI, 1.049-3.263; p=0.033) and CA 19-9 level over 1,000 U/mL (HR, 1.843; 95% CI, 1.113-3.052; p=0.017) to be significant risk factors associated with OS. The cumulative incidence of VTE in patients with advanced PDAC was 16.9% at 360 days. While a history of alcohol consumption was a protective factor, a high CA19-9 level was a risk factor for VTE. In addition, the occurrence of VTE was associated with poor prognosis.