Exploring the Impact of Alcohol Consumption and Smoking on Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: A Mendelian Randomization Study

Objective: Utilizing Mendelian Randomization, this study employs Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables to explore the causal relationships between bibulosity, smoking, and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG). Methods: GWAS data for bibulosity, smoking, and POAG were obtained from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium website and the IEU OpenGWAS Project website, respectively. Using a P-value threshold of −8, a linkage disequilibrium coefficient (r2) of 0.001, and a linkage disequilibrium region width of 10,000 kb, the data were aggregated, resulting in 6 SNPs for bibulosity and 253 SNPs for smoking. Three regression models, MR-Egger, Weighted Median Estimator (WME), and Random-Effects Inverse-Variance Weighted (IVW) were applied to analyze the causal impact of bibulosity and smoking on POAG. Results: The GWAS data for alcohol consumption and smoking were derived from European populations, while the GWAS data for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) were sourced from East Asian populations, with no gender restrictions. Analysis using three different regression models revealed that neither excessive alcohol consumption nor smoking significantly increased the risk of developing POAG. Specifically, the odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals for the alcohol consumption group were 0.854 (0.597 - 1.221) in MR-Egger regression, 0.922 (0.691 - 1.231) in WME regression, and 0.944 (0.711 - 1.252) in IVW regression. For the smoking group, the odds ratios were 1.146 (0.546 - 2.406) in MR-Egger regression, 0.850 (0.653 - 1.111) in WME regression, and 0.939 (0.780 - 1.131) in IVW regression. Given the significant heterogeneity in the SNPs associated with smoking, the focus was primarily on the results from the IVW regression model. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption and smoking are not significant risk factors for the development of POAG.

Parental Alcoholism,Adverse Childhood Experiences,and Later Risk of Personal Alcohol Abuse among Chinese Medical Students

Objective To determine the status of adverse childhood experiences （ACEs） and the association of multiple ACEs with both parental alcoholism and later personal alcohol abuse among Chinese medical students with a view of improving adolescent health and reducing alcohol abuse among them. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 2073 Chinese medical students completed a survey on ten categories of ACEs in Anhui province of China. The association of parental alcoholism with ACEs and personal alcohol abuse was assessed by logistic regression analyses. Results The adjusted odds ratio （OR） for each category of ACEs in the subjects whose parents （either fathers or mothers or both） had alcohol abuse was 2 to 14 times higher than that in those with parental alcoholism （P〈0.05）. Subjects with bi-parental alcoholism had the highest likelihood of ACEs. Compared with the subjects without ACEs, therisk of personal alcohol abuse was increased by 2-4-folds in the subjects with ACEs, irrespective of parental alcoholism （P〈0.05）. The total number of ACEs （ACE score） had a graded relationship to 4 categories of personal alcohol abuse with or without parental alcoholism. The prevalence of personal alcohol abuse among the subjects with parental alcoholism was higher, which was independent of ACE scores. Conclusion The prevalence of ACEs is generally serious in China. Efforts should be made to prevent and treat children with ACEs and subsequently to reduce alcohol abuse and later problems.

Trends in hospitalization for alcoholic hepatitis from 2011 to 2017:A USA nationwide study

BACKGROUND Severe alcoholic hepatitis(AH)is one of the most lethal manifestations of alcoholassociated liver disease.In light of the increase in alcohol consumption worldwide,the incidence of AH is on the rise,and data examining the trends of AH admission is needed.AIM To examine inpatient admission trends secondary to AH,along with their clinical outcomes and epidemiological characteristics.METHODS The National Inpatient Sample(NIS)database was utilized,and data from 2011 to 2017 were reviewed.We included individuals aged≥21 years who were admitted with a primary or secondary diagnosis of AH using the International Classification of Diseases(ICD)-9 and its correspondent ICD-10 codes.Hepatitis not related to alcohol was excluded.The national estimates of inpatient admissions were obtained using sample weights provided by the NIS.RESULTS AH-related hospitalization demonstrated a significant increase in the USA from 281506(0.7%of the total admission in 2011)to 324050(0.9%of the total admi-ssion in 2017).The median age was 54 years.The most common age group was 45–65 years(range 57.8%–60.7%).The most common race was white(63.2%–66.4%),and patients were predominantly male(69.7%–71.2%).The primary healthcare payers were Medicare(29.4%–30.7%)and Medicaid(21.5%–32.5%).The most common geographical location was the Southern USA(33.6%–34.4%).Most patients were admitted to a tertiary care center(50.2%–62.3%)located in urban areas.Mortality of AH in this inpatient sample was 5.3%in 2011 and 5.5%in 2017.The most common mortality-associated risk factors were acute renal failure(59.6%–72.1%)and gastrointestinal hemorrhage(17.2%–20.3%).The total charges were noted to range between$25242.62 and$34874.50.CONCLUSION The number of AH inpatient hospitalizations significantly increased from 2011 to 2017.This could have a substantial financial impact with increasing healthcare costs and utilization.AH-mortality remained the same.

In vitro and in vivo models of acute alcohol exposure

Alcohol abuse is a global problem due to the financial burden on society and the healthcare system. While the harmful health effects of chronic alcohol abuse are well established, more recent data suggest that acute alcohol consumption also affects human wellbeing. Thus, there is a need for research models in order to fully understand the effect of acute alcohol abuse on different body systems and organs. The present manuscript summarizes the interdisciplinary advantages and disadvantages of currently available human and non-human models of acute alcohol abuse, and identifi es their suitability for biomedical research.

Impact of comorbidities on the severity of chronic hepatitis B at presentation

AIM:To evaluate the clinical relevance of each cofactor on clinical presentation of chronic hepatitis B.METHODS:Out of 1366 hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) positive subjects consecutively observed in 79 Italian hospitals,53(4.3%) showed as the only cofactor hepatitis D virus(HDV) infection [hepatitis B virus(HBV)/HDV group],130(9.5%) hepatitis C virus(HCV)(group HBV/HCV),6(0.4%) human immunodeficiencyvirus(HIV)(group HBV/HIV),138(10.2%) alcohol abuse(group HBV/alcohol);109(8.0%) subjects had at least two cofactors and 924 were in the cofactor-free(CF) group.RESULTS:Compared with patients in group CF those in group HBV/alcohol were older and more frequently had cirrhosis(P < 0.001),those in group HBV/HDV were younger(P < 0.001),more frequently resided in the south of the country and had cirrhosis(P <0.001),those in group HBV/HCV were older(P < 0.001) and more frequently had cirrhosis(P < 0.001).These cofactors were all independent predictors of liver cirrhosis in HBsAg positive patients.Multivariate analysis showed that an older age [odds ratio(OR) 1.06,95% CI:1.05-1.08],alcohol abuse with more than 8 drinks daily(OR 2.89,95% CI:1.81-4.62) and anti-HDV positivity(OR 3.48,95% CI:2.16-5.58) are all independently associated with liver cirrhosis.This association was found also for anti-HCV positivity in univariate analysis,but it was no longer associated(OR 1.23,95% CI:0.84-1.80) at multivariate analysis.CONCLUSION:Older age,HDV infection and alcohol abuse are the major determinants of severe liver disease in chronic HBV infection,while HCV replication plays a lesser role in the severity of hepatic damage.

Chunggan extract, a traditional herbal formula, ameliorated alcohol-induced hepatic injury in rat model

AIM: To evaluate protective effects of Chunggan extract (CGX), a traditional herbal formula, under 4 wk of alcohol consumption-induced liver injury.

Social Support and Adolescents’ Alcohol Use: An Integrative Literature Review

The trajectories at treatment of alcohol use and abuse among adolescents have become a major health concern. The purpose of this paper was to discuss alcohol use and abuse among adolescents and its relationship to social support. Integrative review has been utilized to address the issue. There is a presentation of findings from research examining social support concepts and their relationship to adolescents’ alcohol use and abuse. Treatment requires awareness of underlying causes in order to establish effective treatment approaches. Determining these underlying causes requires adequate knowledge of family, peers, and societal influences on adolescents’ alcohol use and abuse. Health professionals across disciplines have an important role in implementing multidisciplinary interventions. The purpose of this paper was to discuss alcohol use and abuse among adolescents and its relationship to social support. Results, controversies and concerns raised by the reported results are addressed. Implications for future research are delineated.

Mental health status in veterans residing in rural versus non-rural areas: results from the veterans’ health study

Background: The majority of Veterans Affair(VA) hospitals are in urban areas. We examined whether veterans residing in rural areas have lower mental health service use and poorer mental health status.Methods: Veterans with at least 1 warzone deployment in central and northeastern Pennsylvania were randomly selected for an interview. Mental health status, including posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD), major depression, alcohol abuse and mental health global severity, were assessed using structured interviews. Psychiatric service use was based on self-reported utilization in the past 12 months. Results were compared between veterans residing in rural and non-rural areas. Data were also analyzed using multivariate logistic regression to minimize the influence by confounding factors.Results: A total of 1730 subjects(55% of the eligible veterans) responded to the survey and 1692 of them had complete geocode information. Those that did not have this information(n=38), were excluded from some analyses. Veterans residing in rural areas were older, more often of the white race, married, and experienced fewer stressful events. In comparison to those residing in non-rural areas, veterans residing in rural areas had lower global mental health severity scores;they also had fewer mental health visits. In multivariate logistic regression, rural residence was associated with lower service use, but not with PTSD, major depression, alcohol abuse, and global mental health severity score after adjusting confounding factors(e.g., age, gender, marital status and education).Conclusions: Rural residence is associated with lower mental health service use, but not with poor mental health in veterans with former warzone deployment, suggesting rural residence is possibly protective.

Alcohol use disorder and liver injury related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Alcohol use disorder is a complex and heterogeneous phenomenon that can be studied from several points of view by focusing on its different components.Alcohol is a hepatotoxin whose metabolism creates profound alterations within the hepatocyte.The liver is the central organ in the metabolism of alcohol,a process that also involves other organs and tissues such as the brain,heart and muscles,but the most relevant organ is the liver.The anatomopathological alterations in the liver associated with the prolonged use of alcohol range from the simple accumulation of neutral fats in the hepatocytes,to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.Alcohol abuse frequently leads to liver disease such as steatosis,steatohepatitis,fibrosis,cirrhosis,and tumors.Following the spread of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),there was an increase in alcohol consumption,probably linked to the months of lockdown and smart working.It is known that social isolation leads to a considerable increase in stress,and it is also recognized that high levels of stress can result in an increase in alcohol intake.Cirrhotic patients or subjects with liver cancer are immunocompromised,so they may be more exposed to COVID-19 infection with a worse prognosis.This review focuses on the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has made the emergence of alcohol-induced liver damage a major medical and social problem.

Hospital admissions from alcohol-related acute pancreatitis during the COVID-19 pandemic:A single-centre study

BACKGROUND The United Kingdom government introduced lockdown restrictions for the first time on 23 March 2020 due to coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.These were partially lifted on 15 June and further eased on 4 July.Changes in social behaviour,including increased alcohol consumption were described at the time.However,there were no data available to consider the impact of these changes on the number of alcohol-related disease admissions,specifically alcoholrelated acute pancreatitis(AP).This study evaluated the trend of alcohol-related AP admissions at a single centre during the initial COVID-19 lockdown.AIM To evaluate the trend in alcohol-related AP admissions at a single centre during the initial COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom.METHODS All patients admitted with alcohol-related AP from March to September 2016 to 2020 were considered in this study.Patient demographics,their initial presentation with AP,any recurrent admissions,disease severity and length of stay,were evaluated using ANOVA andχ^(2)and Kruskal–Wallis tests.RESULTS One hundred and thirty-six patients were included in the study.The highest total number of AP admissions was seen in March–September 2019 and the highest single-month period was in March–May 2020.Admissions for first-time presentations of AP were highest in 2020 compared to other year groups and were significantly higher compared to previous years,for example,2016(P<0.05).Furthermore,the rate of admissions decreased by 38.89%between March–May 2020 and June–September 2020(P<0.05),coinciding with the easing of lockdown restrictions.This significant decrease was not observed in the previous year groups during those same time periods.Admissions for recurrent AP were highest in 2019.The median length of hospital stay did not differ between patients from each of the year groups.CONCLUSION An increased number of admissions for alcohol-related AP were observed during months when lockdown restrictions were enforced;a fall in figures was noted when restrictions were eased.

Glial plasticity after hexahydrobenzene exposure

The organic solvents are not only utilized in industrial processes,but also as drugs of abuse.In fact,solvent consumption represents the fourth option for drug users just after alcohol,tobacco and marijuana.In humans,intentional inhalation of volatile drugs impairs the function of central nervous system,

Multiple Symmetric Lipomas: A Case Report

Multiple symmetric lipomas are a rare disease characterized by multiple symmetrical deposits of adipose tissue associated with alcohol abuse.A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for being operated on for a mass growth on the neck and back.Based on the patient’s medical history and preoperative magnetic resonance imaging findings,we performed surgical resection.There was no recurrence at one year postoperatively.

Drug, Alcohol Abuse on Rise in U.S. After Sept. 11

911事件给美国留下了什么?给美国民众的心理投下了怎样的阴影?本文作了有说服力的披露:more Americans to seek treatment for drug andalcohol abuse!此言暗示读者,美国吸毒酗酒者在911之后人数有增无减,具体的数字是:10％to 12％!但是,这个数字仍将上升,因为:1995年美国俄克拉荷马城发生了一恶性爆炸事件: Timothy McVeigh was executed for setting off a powerful truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah federal office building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people. 结果是该城experienced a dramatic increase in the need for treatment services!】