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Health Economics Jul 2023A large fraction of people in East Asia are incapable of digesting alcohol because of a genetic deficiency. This study examines whether the variation in alcohol...
A large fraction of people in East Asia are incapable of digesting alcohol because of a genetic deficiency. This study examines whether the variation in alcohol tolerance contributes to inequality in the labor market. We conduct our original surveys in Japan, Taiwan, and Korea with the measurement of respondents' degree of alcohol tolerance by a bio-marker test. We find that alcohol-tolerant men consume significantly more alcohol, but their earnings and hours worked do not differ from those of alcohol-intolerant men. Despite a prevalent view that drinking alcohol is indispensable to establish good relationships with colleagues and business partners, our results suggest that there is no systematic impact of alcohol tolerance on labor market outcomes.
Topics: Male; Humans; Alcohol Drinking; Flushing; Japan; Ethanol; Income
PubMed: 37088538
DOI: 10.1002/hec.4675 -
Skin Research and Technology : Official... Nov 2017Severe alcohol intolerance characterized by flushing, headache, nausea, and tachycardia even after very modest oral alcohol consumption, is common among East Asians...
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE
Severe alcohol intolerance characterized by flushing, headache, nausea, and tachycardia even after very modest oral alcohol consumption, is common among East Asians (Chinese, Japanese, Koreans) and has been associated with the accumulation of acetaldehyde resulting from genetic polymorphism of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). These individuals also display erythema of the skin in response to exposure to topical alcohol. We have recently observed that dietary phytochemicals such as sulforaphane can accelerate the disposal of acetaldehyde from cells and animals by inducing ALDH. The goal of this study was to quantify the erythema response of skin to topical alcohol exposure.
METHODS
The erythema response of the forearm skin of healthy Japanese with unusual alcohol sensitivity evoked by a range of very low doses of alcohol (2, 4, 8, and 16 μmol/cm ) was determined by means of a chromometer, which measures a* values (red-green scale).
RESULTS
The magnitude of the a* response (∆a*) to alcohol was time- and dose-dependent, but differed considerably among individuals. It was much higher in those individuals who claimed to be alcohol intolerant, and ∆a* was unrelated to the initial a* values of the skin prior to alcohol challenge.
CONCLUSION
The ∆a* index is suitable for the quantitative determination of topical alcohol-induced erythema response, and the evaluation of effectiveness of protective strategies against erythema response.
Topics: Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Asian People; Central Nervous System Depressants; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Erythema; Ethanol; Asia, Eastern; Female; Forearm; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Male; Young Adult
PubMed: 28513003
DOI: 10.1111/srt.12376 -
Current Protein & Peptide Science 2022The major drawbacks of biofuel production at the commercial level are its low yield, nonavailability of feedstock, feedback inhibition, presence of inhibitory pathways... (Review)
Review
The major drawbacks of biofuel production at the commercial level are its low yield, nonavailability of feedstock, feedback inhibition, presence of inhibitory pathways in various organisms, and biofuel intolerance of organisms. The present review focuses on the implications of the CRISPRCas9 mediated gene editing tool to alter the genome of bacteria, algae, fungi, and higher plants for efficient biofuel production. Gene knockout and gene cassette insertions employing CRISPR-Cas9 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces marxianus have resulted in enhanced production of bioethanol and 2-Phenyl ethanol in these organisms, respectively. Genomes of several bacterial strains were also modified to enhance ethanol and butanol production in them. CRISPR-Cas9 modification of microalgae has demonstrated improved total lipid content, a prerequisite for biofuel production. All over, CRISPR-Cas9 has emerged as a tool of choice for engineering the genome and metabolic pathways of organisms for producing industrial biofuel. In plant-based biofuel production, the biosynthetic pathways of lignin interfere with the satisfactory release of fermentable sugars thus hampering efficient biofuel production. CRISPR-Cas9 has shown a promising role in reducing lignin content in various plants including barley, switchgrass, and rice straw.
Topics: Biofuels; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Lignin; Gene Editing; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Ethanol
PubMed: 36082852
DOI: 10.2174/1389203723666220907110310 -
Best Practice & Research. Clinical... 2009Breath tests provide a valuable non-invasive diagnostic strategy to in vivo assess a variety of enzyme activities, organ functions or transport processes. Both the... (Review)
Review
Breath tests provide a valuable non-invasive diagnostic strategy to in vivo assess a variety of enzyme activities, organ functions or transport processes. Both the hydrogen breath tests and the (13)C-breath tests using the stable isotope (13)C as tracer are non-radioactive and safe, also in children and pregnancy. Hydrogen breath tests are widely used in clinical practice to explore gastrointestinal disorders. They are applied for diagnosing carbohydrate malassimilation, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and for measuring the orocecal transit time. (13)C-breath tests non-invasively monitor the metabolisation of a (13)C-labelled substrate. Depending on the choice of the substrate they enable the assessment of gastric bacterial Helicobacter pylori infection, gastric emptying, liver and pancreatic function as well as measurements of many other enzyme activities. The knowledge of potential pitfalls and influencing factors are important for correct interpretation of breath test results before drawing clinical conclusions.
Topics: Breath Tests; Carbon Isotopes; Fructose; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Humans; Lactose; Lactose Intolerance; Pancreatic Function Tests; Sorbitol
PubMed: 19505663
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2009.02.014 -
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy Jun 2014Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is currently at epidemic proportions and the forecast is for a continued sharp increase in global prevalence. An even larger proportion... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is currently at epidemic proportions and the forecast is for a continued sharp increase in global prevalence. An even larger proportion of the population has prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance [IGT]) underscoring the urgent need for preventive strategies. Even in the presence of adequate glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, postprandial hyperglycemia can occur and is known to have a stronger association with cardiovascular morbidity than fasting glucose. The α-glucosidase inhibitor voglibose is widely used in Japan to improve postprandial hyperglycemia.
AREAS COVERED
This review examines the literature for the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and safety of voglibose in patients with T2DM. Particular focus is on its efficacy in preventing T2DM in individuals with IGT and its efficacy as add-on therapy or in combination with other oral antidiabetic agents in patients with T2DM.
EXPERT OPINION
As the relationship between glucose levels and cardiovascular risk extends below the diabetic threshold, postprandial hyperglycemia is recognized as a key therapeutic target in the treatment of T2DM. Strategies to prevent the progression of IGT to overt T2DM have enormous potential to reduce the individual and societal burden of disease. Voglibose is the first oral antidiabetic agent to gain approval in Japan for this indication.
Topics: Atherosclerosis; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetic Angiopathies; Drug Therapy, Combination; Glucose Intolerance; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; Inositol; Insulin; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 24798092
DOI: 10.1517/14656566.2014.918956 -
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan) 2013Coronary spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease (CHD) and angina pectoris caused by coronary spasm or coronary spastic angina (CSA)...
OBJECTIVE
Coronary spasm plays an important role in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease (CHD) and angina pectoris caused by coronary spasm or coronary spastic angina (CSA) is prevalent in Japan. However, the precise mechanisms underlying coronary spasm are unclear. Alcohol intolerance is prevalent among East Asians, and we previously reported that coronary spasm could be induced by alcohol intake in CSA patients. We herein examined whether CSA is associated with alcohol intolerance in Japanese subjects.
METHODS
The study subjects consisted of 80 CSA patients (57 men/ 23 women, mean age 62 ± 12) and 52 non-CSA patients (25 men/27 women, mean age 63 ± 10). The ethanol patch test (EPT) and questionnaire which evaluates flushing after ethanol intake, along with an examination of clinical features and laboratory chemistry data for CHD risk factors were done. Gender (male) and smoking were higher (p=0.007, and p=0.019, respectively) and plasma HDL cholesterol level was lower (p=0.035) in the CSA patients than in the non-CSA patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis including age, EPT, smoking, and plasma HDL cholesterol level as independent variables revealed that positive EPT and smoking were significant predictors of CSA (p=0.011 and p=0.016, respectively).
CONCLUSION
Positive EPT and alcohol flushing following alcohol intake, as well as smoking and plasma levels of HDL cholesterol, were significantly associated with CSA in Japanese patients. Therefore, alcohol ingestion as well as smoking is a significant risk factor for CSA in Japanese.
Topics: Aged; Alcohol Drinking; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial; Angina Pectoris; Asian People; Case-Control Studies; Coronary Vasospasm; Ethanol; Female; Flushing; Humans; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Patch Tests; Polymorphism, Genetic; Risk Factors
PubMed: 24292747
DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.52.0894 -
Clinics in Dermatology 2022Cocktails are mixed drinks that typically contain alcohol and are enjoyed worldwide. For some people, however, drinking cocktails can result in life-threatening or...
Cocktails are mixed drinks that typically contain alcohol and are enjoyed worldwide. For some people, however, drinking cocktails can result in life-threatening or severely distressing cutaneous reactions. This contribution examines five areas of concern in this regard: (1) food allergies, (2) food intolerances, (3) phytophotodermatitis, (4) skin reactions to quinine present in tonic water, and (5) traumatic injuries from cocktail sticks and burns from flaming cocktails.
Topics: Humans; Alcoholic Beverages; Food Hypersensitivity; Ethanol; Burns
PubMed: 35931250
DOI: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2022.07.006 -
The Chinese Journal of Physiology 1997Orthostatic hypotension is a well-recognized medical problem in patients whose blood pressure falls dramatically with standing. Much less recognized is the syndrome of... (Review)
Review
Orthostatic hypotension is a well-recognized medical problem in patients whose blood pressure falls dramatically with standing. Much less recognized is the syndrome of orthostatic intolerance. In patients with orthostatic intolerance, there are symptoms evoked by standing, but little actual fall in blood pressure. On the other hand, orthostatic intolerance patients frequently have a brisk tachycardia on standing. It has recently been recognized that many such individuals have a mild dysautonomia which may be brought on by conditions such as an antecedent viral illness, a rheumatologic disorder, or surgery/anesthesia. Recent studies of the hyperadrenergic (elevated plasma norepinephrine) subgroup of orthostatic intolerance is documenting a clinical spectrum including attenuated plasma renin activity and aldosterone, reduced supine blood volume coupled with dynamic orthostatic hypovolemia, elevated plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine, impaired clearance of norepinephrine from the circulation and evidence of partial dysautonomia. The emergence of partial dysautonomia as an important mechanism of orthostatic intolerance may lead to a substantial alteration in therapeutic approach.
Topics: Autonomic Nervous System; Humans; Hypotension, Orthostatic; Norepinephrine
PubMed: 9170549
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Gastroenterology Nov 2016Fatty liver disease is associated with glucose intolerance and hepatic insulin resistance. However, there are distinct etiologies for alcoholic versus non-alcoholic...
BACKGROUND
Fatty liver disease is associated with glucose intolerance and hepatic insulin resistance. However, there are distinct etiologies for alcoholic versus non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and it is unknown whether alcohol consumption influences the onset of glucose intolerance in fatty liver disease patients. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between fatty liver disease and the onset of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) with respect to alcohol consumption.
METHODS
The records of 6804 Japanese subjects were reviewed to identify those meeting the criteria for IFG. Male and female subjects were classified into five and four groups, respectively, based on average alcohol consumption (g/week). IFG onset was defined as fasting plasma glucose levels ≥110 mg/dl.
RESULTS
In the non-drinker, >0-70 g/week, >70-140 g/week, >140-210 g/week (men only), and >210 g/week (men only) or >140 g/week (women only) groups, 7.3, 6.7, 6.4, 9, and 6.4 % of men and 2, 1.7, 3.1, and 3.2 % of women, respectively, developed IFG. Fatty liver was positively associated with the onset of IFG in men of the >0-70 g/week group (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.808; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.605-5.049, p < 0.001) and women of the >70-140 g/week group (aHR, 4.193; 95 % CI, 1.036-14.584, p = 0.045) after adjusting for previously reported IFG risk factors. No associations were observed in the other groups.
CONCLUSIONS
A small amount of alcohol consumption is a significant risk factor for the onset of IFG in NAFLD patients; onset risk differs according to the amount of alcohol consumption.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alcohol Drinking; Blood Glucose; Ethanol; Fasting; Female; Glucose Intolerance; Glucose Tolerance Test; Humans; Japan; Male; Middle Aged; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 26971094
DOI: 10.1007/s00535-016-1194-0 -
Journal of Lipid Research Jul 2020Alcohol's impairment of both hepatic lipid metabolism and insulin resistance (IR) are key drivers of alcoholic steatosis, the initial stage of alcoholic liver disease...
Alcohol's impairment of both hepatic lipid metabolism and insulin resistance (IR) are key drivers of alcoholic steatosis, the initial stage of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Pharmacologic reduction of lipotoxic ceramide prevents alcoholic steatosis and glucose intolerance in mice, but potential off-target effects limit its strategic utility. Here, we employed a hepatic-specific acid ceramidase (ASAH) overexpression model to reduce hepatic ceramides in a Lieber-DeCarli model of experimental alcoholic steatosis. We examined effects of alcohol on hepatic lipid metabolism, body composition, energy homeostasis, and insulin sensitivity as measured by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Our results demonstrate that hepatic ceramide reduction ameliorates the effects of alcohol on hepatic lipid droplet (LD) accumulation by promoting VLDL secretion and lipophagy, the latter of which involves ceramide cross-talk between the lysosomal and LD compartments. We additionally demonstrate that hepatic ceramide reduction prevents alcohol's inhibition of hepatic insulin signaling. These effects on the liver are associated with a reduction in oxidative stress markers and are relevant to humans, as we observe peri- LD ASAH expression in human ALD. Together, our results suggest a potential role for hepatic ceramide inhibition in preventing ALD.
Topics: Animals; Body Composition; Ceramides; Ethanol; Fatty Liver; Homeostasis; Insulin Resistance; Liver; Mice; Organ Specificity; Oxidative Stress
PubMed: 32398264
DOI: 10.1194/jlr.RA119000446