Co-morbidity of alcohol dependence and select affective and anxiety disorders among individuals of East Indian and African ancestry in Trinidad and Tobago / La comorbilidad de la dependencia del alcohol y trastornos particulares de la afectividad y de ansiedad entre individuos de ascendencia indooriental en Trinidad y Tobago

The present study sought to determine whether an association exists between alcohol dependence and select affective and anxiety disorders in patients presenting at substance abuse centres in Trinidad and Tobago (TT). The participants in this study were 143 alcohol dependents, of either East Indian ancestry (Indo-TT) or African ancestry (Afro-TT) and 109 controls matched by age, gender and ethnicity. A structured interview was used to gather information on demographics, psychiatric diagnoses and personal drinking and drug use. A blood sample was obtained and used to genotype for the presence of ADH and ALDH1 polymorphisms and serum levels of hepatic enzymes. Forty-one per cent of Indo-TT and 37% of Afro-TT with alcohol dependence had co-morbid major depressive disorders independent of alcohol and/or drug use. Thirty-nine per cent of Indo-TT and 37% of Afro-TT with alcohol dependence had co-morbid major depression induced by alcohol or drug use. The severity of depression was significantly associated with severity of alcohol dependence. Neither major depression nor the severity of depressive episodes was associated with values of any liver function test or the presence of ALDH1*2 or ADH1C*2 alleles. However, in participants of African descent elevated alanine transaminase ALT was associated (p = 0.038) with not having substance-induced major depression. Co-morbidity of major depressive disorder with alcohol dependence is common in the two major ethnic groups in Trinidad and Tobago and appears to be as likely the consequence of drinking and/or drug use, as the cause. Clinicians should solicit a history of depression from patients with alcohol dependence.

El presente estudio busca determinar si existe una asociación entre la dependencia del alcohol y trastornos particulares afectivos y de ansiedad en pacientes que acuden a centros de abuso de sustancia en Trinidad Tobago (TT). Los participantes en este estudio fueron 143 personas dependientes del alcohol, quienes eran bien de ascendencia indo-oriental (indo-trinitenses), o bien de ascendencia africana (afro-trinitenses), y 109 controles apareados por edad, género y etnicidad. Se usó una entrevista estructurada a fin de recoger información sobre demografía, diagnóstico psiquiátrico, así como el consumo personal de drogas y alcohol. Una muestra de sangre fue obtenida y usada para un genotipado en busca de la presencia de polimorfismos ADH y ALDH1 así como de los niveles de sueros de las enzimas hepáticas. El cuarenta y uno por ciento de los indotrinitenses y el 37% de los afrotrinitenses con dependencia de alcohol presentaban serios trastornos depresivos comórbidos, independientes del alcohol y/o uso de drogas. La severidad de la depresión estuvo asociada de manera significativa con la severidad del uso del alcohol. Ni la depresión seria ni la severidad de los episodios depresivos estuvieron asociadas con los valores de ninguna de las pruebas del funcionamiento del hígado o la presencia de alelos de ALDH1*2 o ADH1C*2. Sin embargo, en participantes de ascendencia africana, la elevada alanina transaminasa (ALT), estuvo asociada (p = 0.038) con el no tener una depresión seria inducida por sustancia. La comorbilidad del trastorno depresivo severo con dependencia del alcohol, es común en los dos grupos étnicos principales de Trinidad y Tobago, y parece ser probablemente tanto la causa como la consecuencia de darse a la bebida y/o al uso de drogas. Los clínicos debían pedir a sus pacientes con dependencia de alcohol, una historia de su depresión.

Co-morbidity of alcohol dependence and select affective and anxiety disorders among individuals of East Indian and African ancestry in Trinidad and Tobago.

The present study sought to determine whether an association exists between alcohol dependence and select affective and anxiety disorders in patients presenting at substance abuse centres in Trinidad and Tobago (TT). The participants in this study were 143 alcohol dependents, of either East Indian ancestry (Indo-TT) or African ancestry (Afro-TT) and 109 controls matched by age, gender and ethnicity. A structured interview was used to gather information on demographics, psychiatric diagnoses and personal drinking and drug use. A blood sample was obtained and used to genotype for the presence of ADH and ALDH1 polymorphisms and serum levels of hepatic enzymes. Forty-one per cent of Indo-TT and 37% of Afro-TT with alcohol dependence had co-morbid major depressive disorders independent of alcohol and/or drug use. Thirty-nine per cent of Indo-TT and 37% of Afro-TT with alcohol dependence had co-morbid major depression induced by alcohol or drug use. The severity of depression was significantly associated with severity of alcohol dependence. Neither major depression nor the severity of depressive episodes was associated with values of any liver function test or the presence of ALDH1*2 or ADH1C*2 alleles. However in participants of African descent elevated alanine transaminase ALT was associated (p = 0.038) with not having substance-induced major depression. Co-morbidity of major depressive disorder with alcohol dependence is common in the two major ethnic groups in Trinidad and Tobago and appears to be as likely the consequence of drinking and/or drug use, as the cause. Clinicians should solicit a history of depression from patients with alcohol dependence.

Pyruvate phosphate dikinase and pyrophosphate metabolism in the glycosome of Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes.

Pyruvate phosphate dikinase (PPDK) was recently reported in trypanosomatids, but its metabolic function is not yet known. The present work deals with the cellular localization and the function of the Trypanosoma cruzi enzyme. First, we show by digitonin titration and cell fractionation that the enzyme was essentially present in the glycosome matrix of the epimastigote form. Second, we address the issue of the direction of the reaction inside the glycosome for one part, our bibliographic survey evidenced a quite exergonic DeltaGo' (at least -5.2 kcal/mol at neutral pH and physiologic ionic strength); for another part, no pyrophosphatase (PPase) could be detected in fractions corresponding to the glycosomes; therefore, glycosomal PPDK likely works in the direction of pyruvate production. Third, we address the issue of the origin of the glycosomal pyrophosphate (PPi): several synthetic pathways known to produce PPi are already considered to be glycosomal. This work also indicates the presence of an NADP(+)-dependent beta-oxidation of palmitoyl-CoA in the glycosome. Several pyruvate-consuming activities, in particular alanine dehydrogenase (ADH) and pyruvate carboxylase (PC), were detected in the glycosomal fraction. PPDK appears therefore as a central enzyme in the metabolism of the glycosome of T. cruzi by providing a link between glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation and biosynthetic PPi-producing pathways. Indeed, PPDK seems to replace pyrophosphatase in its classical thermodynamic role of displacing the equilibrium of PPi-producing reactions, as well as in its role of eliminating the toxic PPi.

Nitrogen metabolism and chloramphenicol production in Streptomyces venezuelae.

The relationship between chloramphenicol production and nitrogen metabolism in Streptomyces venezuelae was examined in stirred jar cultures under pH control. Nitrogen sources that supported rapid biomass accumulation gave low rates of antibiotic synthesis during growth. This was consistent with a general incompatibility between fast growth and high yields of chloramphenicol. In media where the growth rate was reduced below the attainable maximum by the rate at which nitrogen could be assimilated, chloramphenicol production was associated with biomass accumulation. Enzymes that are potentially associated with nitrogen assimilation pathways were assayed in cultures supplied with nitrogen sources supporting markedly different growth rates. The results indicated that glutamine synthetase and alanine dehydrogenase levels were relatively insensitive to changes in growth rate and nitrogen source depletion. Glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamate synthase, on the other hand, showed high activity in cultures assimilating ammonium nitrogen and markedly decreased activity with poorer nitrogen sources or when ammonium was depleted. If chloramphenicol biosynthesis is coordinately controlled by mechanisms that regulate nitrogen assimilation, glutamate synthase and glutamate dehydrogenase are the most likely enzymes that manifest the regulatory linkage.