[Biomarkers of alcohol abuse. Part I. Traditional biomarkers and their interpretation]. / Biomarkery naduzywania alkoholu. Czesc I. Biomarkery tradycyjne i ich interpretacja.

Approximately 15% of the Polish population abuse alcohol. Early detection of alcohol problems may prevent their further development and progression. The study reviews traditional biomarkers associated with alcohol abuse. The nature of biomarkers, their practical application and limitations in alcohol abuse detection, in assessment and monitoring of drinking, are reviewed. Despite the limited sensitivity and specificity in alcohol abuse detection, traditional biomarkers remain useful in alcohol abuse detection. They are widely available and relatively inexpensive, providing valuable data on complications of drinking and prognosis as well as on concurrent conditions affected by drinking.

[Impact of alcohol dependence on the course and psychopathology of schizophrenia]. / Wplyw uzaleznienia od alkoholu na przebieg i obraz kliniczny schizofrenii.

AIM: The study was undertaken to investigate possible influence of alcoholism on the course and psychopathology of schizophrenia. METHOD: A representative sample of 61 subjects was selected from schizophrenic patients with a history of alcohol dependence (dual diagnosis) registered in the period of 1997-2000. They were compared with 60 control patients with a single diagnosis of schizophrenia. In two groups, with the interview and clinical scales, the onset, course and psychopathology of schizophrenia were assessed. RESULTS: Male patients with schizophrenia and alcohol dependence had a later mean age at onset of mental illness, women--a higher rate of alcohol abuse in the family compared to the control groups. In men with dual diagnosis, the negative symptoms were less prominent. Women with schizophrenia and alcohol dependence reported more depressive symptomatology.

[The organic disorders in the course of Lyme disease]. / Zaburzenia organiczne w przebiegu choroby z Lyme.

In the last decade the number of patients with Lyme disease has been continuously growing worldwide including Poland. Psychiatric examinations with the help of psychometric tests were performed in the group of 77 patients with arthritis, in 20 with neuroborreliosis and 26 with erythema migrans. First evaluations started before antibiotic therapy, second 5-6 months after the treatment, third one year since the first assessment. Mental state examinations and psychometric testing revealed in majority of the patients, mainly in those suffered from neuroborreliosis and erythrema migrans evidence of various psychiatric symptomatology. The range of psychiatric presentations included: mild cognitive deficits, organic mood disorders, mild dementias, depressive and anxiety episodes with non organic etiology.

[The activity of N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase and gamma-glutamyltransferase in the serum of alcohol dependent people hospitalised after a long-lasting drinking period]. / Aktywnosc N-acetylo-beta-heksozoaminidazy i gamma-glutamylotransferazy w surowicy osób uzaleznionych od alkoholu hospitalizowanych po okresie przewleklego picia.

AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the activity of N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase (HEX) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) in the serum of alcohol dependent people hospitalised after a long-lasting drinking period. METHOD: The studied group consisted of 30 alcohol dependent men hospitalised after a long-lasting drinking period. The control group consisted of 30 healthy men--social drinkers. The activity of HEX was determined with colorimetric method Chatteriee (modified by Zwierz). The activity of GGT was determined by kinetic method. RESULTS: The medium activity of HEX in the serum in the studied group on the 1st day of abstinence was 2.3 times higher than the control group (p < 0.05). The activity of HEX decreased during abstinence. Starting from the 10th day of abstinence the activity of HEX was similar to the control group. The medium activity of GGT in the serum of the studied group on the 1st day of abstinence was 7 times higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). The activity of GGT decreased during abstinence. On the 30th day of abstinence the activity of GGT in the studied group was 2.7 times higher as compared to the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The activity of HEX and GGT in the serum significantly increases during long-lasting drinking period in alcohol dependent people. Increased HEX activity in the serum can be a more sensitive marker of long-lasting drinking period than GGT activity. The normalisation of HEX activity in the serum during abstinence in alcohol dependent people takes place significantly faster than the normalisation of GGT activity.