Centre of pressure changes during stance but not during gait in young women after alcohol intoxication.

Background: Women are underrepresented in research focused on alcohol (e.g., Brighton, Moxham & Traynor, 2016; DOI 10.1097/JAN.0000000000000136) despite the changing patterns of alcohol consumption, which has been increasing in women in recent decades. The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between habitual alcohol consumption and centre of pressure (CoP) parameters during stance and gait while intoxicated by alcohol. Methods: Thirty women (24.39 ± 2.93 years) participated in this study. All participants were asked to answer the AUDIT questionnaire. Stance and gait analysis were repeated under two conditions on a Zebris platform (FDM GmbH; Munich, Germany): when the participants were sober (0.00% breath alcohol concentration, BrAC) and when they were in an intoxicated state (0.11% BrAC). Participants were divided by their AUDIT score into a low-risk alcohol consumption group (n = 15; AUDIT score: 3 to 6) and a hazardous alcohol consumption group (n = 15; AUDIT score: 7 to 13). Results: No statistical difference was observed in stance and gait parameters when comparing the low-risk and hazardous groups under 0.00% BrAC and 0.11% BrAC conditions. A statistically significant difference was observed when comparing 0.00% BrAC and 0.11% BrAC conditions within each group. This significant difference was found in CoP path length and CoP average velocity during quiet stance. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in CoP parameters during gait. An alcohol intoxication of 0.11% BrAC was not sufficient to cause statistically significant impairments in butterfly parameters of gait.

Modified sharp regression discontinuity model to settings with fuzzy variables.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to develop a Modified Sharp Regression Discontinuity model to predict alcohol consumption in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Previous studies focused on either fuzzy dependent or fuzzy independent variables separately. However, there is a gap in research that examines the interaction between both types of fuzzy variables thus the model considers both dependent and independent fuzzy variables. METHODS: A statistical model was developed to predict the relationship between alcohol consumption and HIV progression. The model equations are solved numerically using parametric estimation. RESULTS: In simulation studies, as the sample size expanded, the estimates derived from the modified sharp regression discontinuity model exhibited probabilistic convergence towards the true value, thereby validating the estimator of the Average Causal Effect's consistency. Counseling has an average causal effect in the sharp Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) for compliers that is roughly equal to 0.199. This was the variation in Alcohol Use Detective Identification Test (AUDIT) threshold scores or the change in intercept scores when counseling was effective. Following six months of participation in the counseling program, AUDIT scores decreased, leading to an increase in Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4) counts and a decrease in viral loads. CONCLUSION: The Modified Sharp RDD offers a robust approach to handle fuzzy variables in causal inference. Our study contributes to the advancement of RDD methodology and its applicability in real-world settings with uncertain data.

Pattern and determinants of alcohol and tobacco co-use and its relationship with smoking cessation in Hong Kong.

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol and tobacco are often used together. Studies have shown that some biological factors contribute to the concurrent use of alcohol and nicotine. There have been comparatively few studies that document the concurrent prevalence and correlates of alcohol and tobacco use among adults. A better understanding of the smokers who also drink is needed to help them to quit smoking. METHODS: A retrospective case review study on smokers who voluntarily joined our service in 2014-2017 was conducted. Characteristics of tobacco users only, and alcohol and tobacco co-users were reviewed. The quit rate of smoking related to alcohol use was analyzed. Participants were contacted by phone at week 26 and 52 to ascertain smoking status and abstinence. RESULTS: There were 4602 alcohol and tobacco co-users and 2732 tobacco only users. Co-users had higher education level and better income than tobacco only users. In all, 52.24% of co-users were aged 21-40 years. For the alcohol users, their mean AUDIT score was only 6.17 (SD: 5.67). Multivariate analysis showed that age and gender were associated with co-use while high personal income had lower odds of co-use. Quit rate decreased as the AUDIT score increased. Those who had binge drinking more than once a month had lower quit rate compared with binge drinking less than once a month at week 26 (34.2% vs 43.19%, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol and tobacco co-users should acknowledge alcohol-tobacco interactions to reduce alcohol use and prevent smoking relapse. Healthcare providers should screen for alcohol use in smoking cessation interventions.

The Association of Alcohol Use Disorder and Chronic Plaque Psoriasis: Results of a Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Association between alcohol consumption, alcohol use disorder, and clinical features of psoriasis patients has not been adequately studied in the Indian context. OBJECTIVES: To study the frequency of alcohol consumption, alcohol use disorder, and its association with age, gender, duration, and severity of psoriasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty-six (M: F 6.3:1) patients completed the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire by World Health Organization (WHO). Excessive drinkers, occasional drinkers, and abstainers were defined. AUDIT provided a measure of alcohol consumption, its dependence, and its impact on daily life. The severity of psoriasis was graded as mild, moderate, and severe. RESULTS: Seventy-four (50.7%) patients were aged ≤40 years and 51.4% of patients had the disease for <5 years. Psoriasis was mild in 48.6% and moderate to severe in 51.4% of patients, respectively. Only males (32.9%) were consuming alcohol in varying amounts; 19.9% were occasional drinkers (AUDIT score <8). Other 67.1% of patients completely abstained from alcohol consumption (AUDIT score 0). The remaining 13% were regular drinkers (AUDIT score >8) and had more severe psoriasis compared to patients having AUDIT score <8 (P < 0.05). A high level of alcohol use disorder and alcohol dependence was present in one patient each. LIMITATIONS: Few patients, particularly females may not have disclosed their alcohol consumption due to fear of stigmatization. Small number of patients, hospital-based cross-sectional study design, and no follow-up for clinical improvement after cessation of alcohol are other limitations. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol consumption was associated with alcohol use disorder in 32.9% of patients (AUDIT score >8) and significantly severe psoriasis compared to 67.1% abstainers. Whether increased alcohol consumption is a consequence or a risk factor for chronicity of psoriasis needs large linear studies for confirmation.

Alcohol consumption among French physicians: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Data regarding French physicians' alcohol behaviours are scarce and most studies address this issue within the population of either medical students or residents. We aim to describe and assess the prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption among French physicians. METHODS: A regional, cross-sectional, survey was conducted in 2018 using an online questionnaire among Parisian general practitioners and hospital doctors. Hazardous alcohol consumption was defined by an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score ≥ 8. Data were analysed in 2020. RESULTS: Five hundred fifteen physicians completed the survey: 108 general practitioners and 407 hospital physicians. The median age was 40 years [32-55] and 59 % were women. They considered their physical and mental health as average or bad in 10 % and 8% of cases, respectively. The prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption was 12.6 %. Among the 65 physicians with hazardous alcohol consumption, 27 (41.5 %) did not considered it as risky and four (6.2 %) mentioned a potentially negative impact on patients' care. Factors independently associated with hazardous alcohol consumption were illegal drugs consumption (OR 4.62 [2.05-10.37]) and fixed term contract for hospital doctors (OR 2.69 [1.14-6.36]). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption among French physicians was 12.6 %. Illegal substance users and fix-termed contract hospital doctors were more likely to have risky alcohol consumption. A large-scale national study would confirm the factors associated with hazardous alcohol consumption and could explore the efficacy of preventive measures to insure the safety and health of physicians and their patients.

Development of a Column-Switching HPLC-MS/MS Method and Clinical Application for Determination of Ethyl Glucuronide in Hair in Conjunction with AUDIT for Detecting High-Risk Alcohol Consumption.

It is critical to assess the severity of alcohol consumption in certain diseases such as alcohol liver disease and alcohol addiction. Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a highly stable metabolite of ethanol in hair; thus, it was proposed as a long-term monitoring marker for alcohol consumption. Therefore, an HPLC-MS/MS method for EtG in hair was developed and applied to a clinical setting to assess the relevance of the EtG concentration and/or the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score to high-risk alcohol consumption. EtG was extracted from 10 mg of hair using water and analyzed using on-line sample purification coupled to HPLC-MS/MS. The diagnostic performances of the EtG concentration and/or the AUDIT score for detecting high-risk alcohol consumption were statistically evaluated between alcohol addicts (n = 44) and average alcohol users (n = 19). The on-line sample purification resulted in labor-saving with smaller sample amount. Both the EtG concentrations (4.0⁻587.4 pg/mg vs. 12.9⁻74.9 pg/mg) and the AUDIT scores (4⁻40 vs. 5⁻28) obtained from the alcohol addicts were significantly higher than those from the average alcohol users. The performance evaluation demonstrated that the integration score of the EtG concentration and the AUDIT score increased diagnostic performance for high-risk alcohol consumption.

Effect of alcohol consumption on peripheral blood Alu methylation in Korean men.

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are defined as alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence, which create a substantial public health problem worldwide. To date, no therapeutic can effectively solve these problems. They are complex diseases characterized by both genetic and environmental factors. DNA methylation can act as a downstream effector of environmental signals and account for multi-factorial nature of the disease. Global DNA methylation of peripheral blood cells has recently been proposed as a potential biomarker for disease risk. Alu elements host one-quarter of CpG dinucelotides in the genome to function as proxies for global DNA methylation. In this study, we evaluated the Alu methylation in the peripheral blood DNA of healthy volunteers and AUD patients using the pyrosequencing technology. The Alu methylation level is significantly higher in AUD compared to healthy controls (23.4 ± 1.6 versus 22.1 ± 1.0, t = 7.83, p < 0.0001). Moreover, significant correlation was found between Alu methylation and alcohol use disorders identification test score (r = 0.250, p < 0.0001), alcohol problem (r = 0.294, p < 0.0001), and life position (r = -0.205, p = 0.0005). Overall, these novel findings indicate that alcohol-related increase in Alu methylation might play a complex role in the etiology and pathogenesis of AUD. Further studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this relationship.

The Problem Drinking and Related Factors in Female Firefighters / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate problem drinking and analyze factors associated with alcohol use among female firefighters, as well as to provide useful data for management of alcohol use by female firefighters. METHODS: The study includeed 1,587 female firefighters from throught Koea. Data were collected from June to July in 2008 using self-administered questionnaires including a general questionnaire, work related questionnaire, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Korean Occupational Stress Scale Short Form (KOSS-26), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD). Among 1,263 female firefighters (75.6%) surveyed, the results of 1,084 qualified questionnaires (70.5%) were analyzed using the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of problem drinking (AUDIT score > or =8) in female firefighters was 12.5%. Multiple logistic analysis showed that being single, smoking and depression were correlated with problem drinking. Single female firefighter, present smokers and individuals positive for symptoms of depression had OR values of 2.11, 17.58 and 1.76, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Three factors were found to influnce the occurrence of problem drinking. Accordingly, smoking related education, counseling to cope effectively with depression and health promotion programs that consider psychological effects of job stress are needed to reduce work related factors that lead to problem drinking by female firefighters.

Dietary Habits of Hazardous Drinkers and Heavy Episodic Drinkers in Partial Area of Gyeonggi

The purpose of this study is to assess dietary habits of the hazardous drinkers and the heavy episodic drinkers in Korean adults. The respondents consisted of 814 adults (415 male and 399 female) who are 20~69 years of age by random selection in partial area of Gyeonggi. A self-report questionnaire was used to cover questions regarding dietary habits, drinking behavior and physical activity. Total dietary habit scores in hazardous drinker group (63.25) was significantly lower than normal drinker group (68.61) in male respondents (P<0.001). Male hazardous drinker group less eat fruit (P<0.01), eat more processed food (P<0.01) than male normal drinker group. Female hazardous drinker group doesn't eat 3 meals a day than female normal drinker group. Total dietary habit scores in heavy episodic drinker group [occasional heavy episodic drinker (62.76), frequent heavy episodic drinker (63.77)] were significantly lower than abstainer group (69.16) in male respondents (P<0.001). Male heavy episodic drinker group less eat fruit (P<0.01), eats more processed food (P<0.01), salty food (P<0.001), sugary food (P<0.05), animal fat (P<0.01) and eats out often (P<0.01) than male abstainer group. Male heavy episodic drinker group significantly less apply nutrition knowledge to their life (P<0.05) and less exercise everyday-more than 1 hour (P<0.01) than male abstainer group. In drinking behavior index, AUDIT (alcohol use disorder identification test) score was negatively correlated with age (P<0.01). There was a positive correlation between dietary habits and physical activity (P<0.01) but there was negative correlation between dietary habits and AUDIT score (P<0.01). This study highlights that AUDIT score was negatively influenced dietary habits.