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Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical... 2019To review knowledge on therapeutic uses of ethanol and the latter's effectiveness and safety profiles in a range of indications. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
To review knowledge on therapeutic uses of ethanol and the latter's effectiveness and safety profiles in a range of indications.
METHODS
MEDLINE and PubMed databases were searched for relevant peer-reviewed papers published in English between 1888 and 2018 using the following search terms: ethanol, therapeutic, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, antiseptic, antidote, methanol, ethylene glycol, neurolysis, embolization, cyst, sclerosing agent, sclerotherapy, arteriovenous malformations, ablating agent. Studies providing information about association between alcohol and therapeutic indications, or mechanic explanation for the association were included for review.
RESULTS
According to the World Health Organization, approximately three millions deaths worldwide are attributable to alcohol consumption each year. However, the low-to-moderate consumption of ethanol has a number of beneficial effects (mainly on cardiovascular mortality and diabetes). Hence, ethanol has an unusual spectrum of effects that seems interesting for therapeutic purposes. Ethanol's risk-benefit ratio appears to be positive in some therapeutic indications such as antidote to methanol or ethylene glycol poisoning, neurolysis, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, or antiseptic.
CONCLUSION
With the development of interventional radio technologies, and thus extremely precise access to anatomical structures, alcohol has been given new indications - particularly as an embolization, sclerosing or ablation agent. Moreover, constant progress in our knowledge of ethanol's pharmacodynamics might highlight other therapeutic indications for this compound in the future. Ethanol's low cost and wide availability make it a valuable therapeutic agent, compared with other reference treatments. Furthermore, ethanol has a long track record of safety and effectiveness in the indications mentioned above.
Topics: Cardiovascular Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus; Ethanol; Humans
PubMed: 31604058
DOI: 10.18433/jpps30572 -
Gut Microbes 2022Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of liver disease and represents a global burden, as treatment options are scarce. Whereas 90% of ethanol abusers...
Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of liver disease and represents a global burden, as treatment options are scarce. Whereas 90% of ethanol abusers develop alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD), only a minority evolves to steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. Alcohol increases lipogenesis and suppresses lipid-oxidation implying steatosis, although the key role of intestinal barrier integrity and microbiota in ALD has recently emerged. () is a prominent member of human and murine intestinal microbiota, and plays important functions in metabolism, gut immunity, and mucosal barrier. We aimed to investigate the role of in the genesis of ethanol-induced liver steatosis. DNA was measured in feces of wild-type mice receiving a Lieber-DeCarli diet supplemented with an increase in alcohol concentration. In a second step, ethanol-fed mice were orally treated with living , followed by analysis of intestinal homeostasis and histological and biochemical alterations in the liver. Alcohol feeding reduced abundance, which was preserved by oral supplementation. -treated mice displayed lower hepatic steatosis and triglyceride content. restored mucosal barrier and reduced LPS translocation by enhancing mucus thickness and production of Mucin2. Furthermore, up-regulated (GLP-1) expression and restored ethanol-induced (FGF15) down-regulation. Lipid metabolism was consequently affected as administration reduced fatty acid synthesis (FA) and improved FA oxidation and lipid exportation. Moreover, treatment with preserved the mitochondrial fitness and redox state in alcohol-fed mice. In conclusion, recovery of ethanol-induced depletion by oral supplementation was associated with restored intestinal homeostasis and ameliorated experimental ALD. could serve as a novel probiotic to treat ALD in the future.
Topics: Animals; Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron; Ethanol; Fatty Liver; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Liver Diseases; Mice; Triglycerides
PubMed: 35786161
DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2022.2089006 -
Nutrients Sep 2022The consumption of alcohol is associated with well-known health harms and many governments worldwide are actively engaged in devising approaches to reduce them. To this... (Review)
Review
The consumption of alcohol is associated with well-known health harms and many governments worldwide are actively engaged in devising approaches to reduce them. To this end, a common proposed strategy aims at reducing alcohol consumption. This approach has led to the development of non-alcoholic drinks, which have been especially welcome by younger, wealthier, health-conscious consumers, who have been turning away from alcohol to look toward alternatives. However, a drawback of non-alcoholic drinks is that they do not facilitate social interaction in the way alcohol does, which is the main reason behind social drinking. Therefore, an alternative approach is to develop functional drinks that do not use alcohol yet mimic the positive, pro-social effects of alcohol without the associated harms. This article will discuss (1) current knowledge of how alcohol mediates its effects in the brain, both the desirable, e.g., antistress to facilitate social interactions, and the harmful ones, with a specific focus on the pivotal role played by the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter system and (2) how this knowledge can be exploited to develop functional safe alternatives to alcohol using either molecules already existing in nature or synthetic ones. This discussion will be complemented by an analysis of the regulatory challenges associated with the novel endeavour of bringing safe, functional alternatives to alcohol from the bench to bars.
Topics: Alcohol Drinking; Brain; Ethanol; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
PubMed: 36145137
DOI: 10.3390/nu14183761 -
Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal Apr 2021Catheter-based radiofrequency (RF) ablation is an effective, well-established therapy for ventricular tachycardia (VT). However, a large number of patients still have... (Review)
Review
Catheter-based radiofrequency (RF) ablation is an effective, well-established therapy for ventricular tachycardia (VT). However, a large number of patients still have recurrences, particularly those with substrates arising from intramural locations that are inaccessible through endo- or epicardial catheter approaches. Several unconventional ablation techniques have been proposed to treat RF-refractory VT, including transarterial coronary ethanol ablation and retrograde coronary venous ethanol ablation. We review the evidence regarding the mechanisms, procedural aspects, and alcohol ablation outcomes for ventricular arrhythmias.
Topics: Ablation Techniques; Action Potentials; Ethanol; Heart Rate; Humans; Tachycardia, Ventricular; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34104316
DOI: 10.14797/NECT9586 -
Frontiers in Neural Circuits 2023Alcohol is one of the most widely used substances. Alcohol use accounts for 5.1% of the global disease burden, contributes substantially to societal and economic costs,... (Review)
Review
Alcohol is one of the most widely used substances. Alcohol use accounts for 5.1% of the global disease burden, contributes substantially to societal and economic costs, and leads to approximately 3 million global deaths yearly. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) includes various drinking behavior patterns that lead to short-term or long-lasting effects on health. Ethanol, the main psychoactive molecule acting in alcoholic beverages, directly impacts the GABAergic system, contributing to GABAergic dysregulations that vary depending on the intensity and duration of alcohol consumption. A small number of interventions have been developed that target the GABAergic system, but there are promising future therapeutic avenues to explore. This review provides an overview of the impact of alcohol on the GABAergic system, the current interventions available for AUD that target the GABAergic system, and the novel interventions being explored that in the future could be included among first-line therapies for the treatment of AUD.
Topics: Humans; Alcoholism; Alcohol Drinking; Ethanol
PubMed: 37929054
DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1218737 -
American Journal of Public Health Jun 2019
Topics: Commerce; Costs and Cost Analysis; Ethanol; Ontario
PubMed: 31067119
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2019.305104 -
Biomolecules Dec 2018Excess alcohol consumption is a global crisis contributing to over 3 million alcohol-related deaths per year worldwide and economic costs exceeding $200 billion dollars,... (Review)
Review
Excess alcohol consumption is a global crisis contributing to over 3 million alcohol-related deaths per year worldwide and economic costs exceeding $200 billion dollars, which include productivity losses, healthcare, and other effects (e.g., property damages). Both clinical and experimental models have shown that excessive alcohol consumption results in multiple organ injury. Although alcohol metabolism occurs primarily in the liver, alcohol exposure can lead to pathophysiological conditions in multiple organs and tissues, including the brain, lungs, adipose, liver, and intestines. Understanding the mechanisms by which alcohol-mediated organ dysfunction occurs could help to identify new therapeutic approaches to mitigate the detrimental effects of alcohol misuse. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 is a transcription factor comprised of HIF-1α and HIF-1β subunits that play a critical role in alcohol-mediated organ dysfunction. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent studies examining the relationship between HIF-1α and alcohol consumption as it relates to multiple organ injury and potential therapies to mitigate alcohol's effects.
Topics: Alcohol Drinking; Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator; Ethanol; Humans; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; Liver; Multiple Organ Failure
PubMed: 30544759
DOI: 10.3390/biom8040170 -
International Journal of Hyperthermia :... Dec 2017Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common subtype of thyroid malignancy and has a good prognosis and low mortality rate. Surgery is the standard treatment for... (Review)
Review
Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common subtype of thyroid malignancy and has a good prognosis and low mortality rate. Surgery is the standard treatment for patients with primary and recurrent thyroid cancer. Although patients with PTC usually exhibit excellent treatment outcome, the incidence of recurrence in the neck ranges from 20% to 59%. When a patient with thyroid cancer is contraindicated for surgery, ultrasound (US)-guided ablation techniques, including ethanol ablation (EA) and thermal ablations, are suggested alternatives. In this review, we evaluated the indications, devices, techniques, clinical outcomes, and complications associated with US-guided EA and thermal ablations based on available scientific evidence and expert opinions regarding the use of ablation for primary and recurrent thyroid cancers.
Topics: Ablation Techniques; Ethanol; Humans; Thyroid Neoplasms
PubMed: 28797186
DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2017.1361048 -
Trends in Pharmacological Sciences Jun 2017Limited attention has been given to our understanding of how the brain responds to low-dose alcohol (ethanol) and what molecular and cellular targets mediate these... (Review)
Review
Limited attention has been given to our understanding of how the brain responds to low-dose alcohol (ethanol) and what molecular and cellular targets mediate these effects. Even at concentrations lower than 10mM (0.046 g% blood alcohol concentration, BAC), below the legal driving limit in the USA (BAC 0.08 g%), alcohol impacts brain function and behavior. Understanding what molecular and cellular targets mediate the initial effects of alcohol and subsequent neuroplasticity could provide a better understanding of vulnerability or resilience to developing alcohol use disorders. We review here what is known about the neurobiology of low-dose alcohol, provide insights into potential molecular targets, and discuss future directions and challenges in further defining targets of low-dose alcohol at the molecular, cellular, and circuitry levels.
Topics: Alcoholic Intoxication; Animals; Brain; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ethanol; Humans
PubMed: 28372826
DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2017.03.002 -
Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental... Feb 2017Decades of alcohol research have established the health risks and pharmacodynamic profile of oral alcohol consumption. Despite isolated periods of public health concern,... (Review)
Review
Decades of alcohol research have established the health risks and pharmacodynamic profile of oral alcohol consumption. Despite isolated periods of public health concern, comparatively less research has evaluated exposure to alcohol vapor. Inhaled alcohol initially bypasses first-pass metabolism and rapidly reaches the arterial circulation and the brain, suggesting that this route of administration may be associated with pharmacological effects that increase the risk of addiction. However, detailed reviews assessing the possible effects of inhaled alcohol in humans are lacking. A comprehensive, systematic literature review was conducted using Google Scholar and PubMed to examine manuscripts studying exposure to inhaled alcohol and measurement of biomarkers (biochemical or functional) associated with alcohol consumption in human participants. Twenty-one publications reported on alcohol inhalation. Fourteen studies examined inhalation of alcohol vapor associated with occupational exposure (e.g., hand sanitizer) in a variety of settings (e.g., naturalistic, laboratory). Six publications measured inhalation of alcohol in a controlled laboratory chamber, and 1 evaluated direct inhalation of an e-cigarette with ethanol-containing "e-liquid." Some studies have reported that inhalation of alcohol vapor results in measurable biomarkers of acute alcohol exposure, most notably ethyl glucuronide. Despite the lack of significantly elevated blood alcohol concentrations, the behavioral consequences and subjective effects associated with repeated use of devices capable of delivering alcohol vapor are yet to be determined. No studies have focused on vulnerable populations, such as adolescents or individuals with alcohol use disorder, who may be most at risk of problems associated with alcohol inhalation.
Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Alcohol Drinking; Animals; Central Nervous System Depressants; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Ethanol; Humans; Vaping
PubMed: 28054395
DOI: 10.1111/acer.13291