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Translational Psychiatry Jul 2024The Addictions Neuroclinical Assessment (ANA) is a neurobiologically-informed framework designed to understand the etiology and heterogeneity of Alcohol Use Disorder... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
The Addictions Neuroclinical Assessment (ANA) is a neurobiologically-informed framework designed to understand the etiology and heterogeneity of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Previous studies validated the three neurofunctional domains of ANA: Incentive Salience (IS), Negative Emotionality (NE) and Executive Function (EF) using secondary data. The present cross-sectional observational study assessed these domains in an independent, prospective clinical sample. Adults across the drinking spectrum (N = 300) completed the ANA battery, a standardized collection of behavioral tasks and self-report assessments. Factor analyses were used to identify latent factors underlying each domain. Associations between identified domain factors were evaluated using structural equation models. Receiver operating characteristics analyses were used to determine factors with the strongest ability to classify individuals with problematic drinking and AUD. We found (1) two factors underlie the IS domain: alcohol motivation and alcohol insensitivity. (2) Three factors were identified for the NE domain: internalizing, externalizing, and psychological strength. (3) Five factors were found for the EF domain: inhibitory control, working memory, rumination, interoception, and impulsivity. (4) These ten factors showed varying degrees of cross-correlations, with alcohol motivation, internalizing, and impulsivity exhibiting the strongest correlations. (5) Alcohol motivation, alcohol insensitivity, and impulsivity showed the greatest ability in classifying individuals with problematic drinking and AUD. Thus, the present study identified unique factors underlying each ANA domain assessed using a standardized assessment battery. These results revealed additional dimensionality to the ANA domains, bringing together different constructs from the field into a single cohesive framework and advancing the field of addiction phenotyping. Future work will focus on identifying neurobiological correlates and identifying AUD subtypes based on these factors.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Alcoholism; Executive Function; Neuropsychological Tests; Motivation; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Impulsive Behavior; Young Adult; Behavior, Addictive; Emotions; Factor Analysis, Statistical
PubMed: 38956031
DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02987-9 -
Journal of Substance Use and Addiction... Jun 2024Although Black Americans tend to consume less alcohol than non-Hispanic/Latine White Americans, Black Americans who do drink alcohol appear at especially high risk for...
INTRODUCTION
Although Black Americans tend to consume less alcohol than non-Hispanic/Latine White Americans, Black Americans who do drink alcohol appear at especially high risk for negative alcohol-related problems. This alcohol-based health disparity indicates a need to identify psycho-sociocultural factors that may play a role in drinking and related problems to inform prevention and treatment efforts. Minority stress-based models posit that stressors such as racism increase negative emotions, which may be associated with using substances such as alcohol to cope with negative emotions. Yet, little research has directly assessed emotional reactions to racism and whether it plays a role in drinking-related behaviors.
METHOD
Participants were 164 Black American undergraduates at a racially/ethnically diverse university who endorsed current alcohol use 18-48 (M = 21.7, SD = 4.3). Participants completed an online survey regarding their experiences with racism and alcohol-related behaviors.
RESULTS
Experiencing more frequent racism was related to greater negative emotions experienced in response to racism (i.e., negative emotional reactivity to racism) and alcohol-related problems. More frequent racism was related to more alcohol-related problems via the sequential effects of negative emotional reactivity to racism and coping motivated drinking.
CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that the experience of negative emotions that occur after experiencing racism and attempts to cope with those negative emotions by consuming alcohol play important roles in drinking behaviors among Black Americans.
PubMed: 38955251
DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2024.209448 -
Seminars in Liver Disease Jul 2024The liver has the great ability to regenerate after partial resection or injury, and the mechanisms underlying liver regeneration have been extensively investigated....
The liver has the great ability to regenerate after partial resection or injury, and the mechanisms underlying liver regeneration have been extensively investigated. Interestingly, acute liver injuries triggered by various etiologies are associated with the formation of necrotic lesions, and such necrotic lesions are also rapidly resolved. However, how necrotic liver lesions are repaired has not been carefully investigated until recently. In this review, we briefly summarize the spatiotemporal process of necrotic liver lesion resolution in several liver injury models including immune-mediated liver injury and drug-induced liver injury. The roles of liver non-parenchymal cells and infiltrating immune cells in controlling necrotic liver lesion resolution are discussed, which may help identify potential therapies for acute liver injury and failure.
PubMed: 38955211
DOI: 10.1055/a-2358-9505 -
Inflammation Jul 2024Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a metabolic dysregulation-related disorder that is generally characterized by lipid metabolism dysfunction and an excessive...
BACKGROUND
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a metabolic dysregulation-related disorder that is generally characterized by lipid metabolism dysfunction and an excessive inflammatory response. Currently, there are no authorized pharmacological interventions specifically designed to manage NASH. It has been reported that Ginkgolide C exhibits anti-inflammatory effects and modulates lipid metabolism. However, the impact and function of Ginkgolide C in diet-induced NASH are unclear.
METHODS
In this study, mice were induced by a Western Diet (WD) with different doses of Ginkgolide C with or without Compound C (adenosine 5 '-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor). The effects of Ginkgolide C were evaluated by assessing liver damage, steatosis, fibrosis, and AMPK expression.
RESULTS
The results showed that Ginkgolide C significantly alleviated liver damage, steatosis, and fibrosis in the WD-induced mice. In addition, Ginkgolide C markedly improved insulin resistance and attenuated hepatic inflammation. Importantly, Ginkgolide C exerted protective effects by activating the AMPK signaling pathway, which was reversed by AMPK inhibition.
CONCLUSION
Ginkgolide C alleviated NASH induced by WD in mice, potentially via activating the AMPK signaling pathway.
PubMed: 38954260
DOI: 10.1007/s10753-024-02086-3 -
Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford,... May 2024This study aims to clarify differences in mood, craving, and treatment response between reward and relief/habit individuals in a study of naltrexone, varenicline, and... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
INTRODUCTION
This study aims to clarify differences in mood, craving, and treatment response between reward and relief/habit individuals in a study of naltrexone, varenicline, and placebo. We hypothesized that relief/habit individuals would have a poorer mood during early abstinence and higher levels of alcohol craving than reward individuals. We hypothesized that reward individuals would demonstrate better drinking outcomes on naltrexone versus placebo.
METHODS
Data were culled from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial of 53 individuals (18F/16M) with alcohol use disorder randomized to varenicline (n = 19), naltrexone (n = 15), or matched placebo (n = 19). In this 6-day practice quit trial, participants attempted to abstain from drinking and completed daily diaries. Participants were classified into reward or relief/habit subgroups based on self-reported motivation for drinking. Multilinear models tested differences in mood and alcohol craving between reward and relief/habit individuals. General linear models tested differences between reward and relief/habit individuals' drinking outcomes on each medication versus placebo.
RESULTS
Relief/habit individuals showed decreases in positive mood and increases in negative mood over the quit attempt across medications, compared to reward individuals (P's < .05). Reward individuals' tension decreased on naltrexone, while relief/habit individuals' tension remained stable (F = 3.64, P = .03). Reward individuals in the placebo group had higher percent days abstinent than relief individuals in the placebo group (P < .001).
DISCUSSION
This study suggests relief/habit individuals' mood worsens during early abstinence. Our finding that reward individuals' tension decreased on naltrexone and increased on placebo may suggest a clinical response to the medication.
Topics: Humans; Naltrexone; Male; Reward; Varenicline; Female; Double-Blind Method; Adult; Alcoholism; Craving; Middle Aged; Affect; Narcotic Antagonists; Alcohol Drinking; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 38953743
DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agae044 -
Alcohol and Alcoholism (Oxford,... May 2024Reward processing and regulation of emotions are thought to impact the development of addictive behaviors. In this study, we aimed to determine whether neural responses...
AIMS
Reward processing and regulation of emotions are thought to impact the development of addictive behaviors. In this study, we aimed to determine whether neural responses during reward anticipation, threat appraisal, emotion reactivity, and cognitive reappraisal predicted the transition from low-level to hazardous alcohol use over a 12-month period.
METHODS
Seventy-eight individuals aged 18-22 with low-level alcohol use [i.e. Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) score <7] at baseline were enrolled. They completed reward-based and emotion regulation tasks during magnetic resonance imaging to examine reward anticipation, emotional reactivity, cognitive reappraisal, and threat anticipation (in the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, superior frontal gyrus, and insula, respectively). Participants completed self-report measures at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-up time points to determine if they transitioned to hazardous use (as defined by AUDIT scores ≥8).
RESULTS
Of the 57 participants who completed follow-up, 14 (24.6%) transitioned to hazardous alcohol use. Higher baseline AUDIT scores were associated with greater odds of transitioning to hazardous use (odds ratio = 1.73, 95% confidence interval 1.13-2.66, P = .005). Brain activation to reward, threat, and emotion regulation was not associated with alcohol use. Of the neural variables, the amygdala response to negative imagery was numerically larger in young adults who transitioned to hazardous use (g = 0.31), but this effect was not significant.
CONCLUSIONS
Baseline drinking levels were significantly associated with the transition to hazardous alcohol use. Studies with larger samples and longer follow-up should test whether the amygdala response to negative emotional imagery can be used to indicate a future transition to hazardous alcohol use.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Young Adult; Reward; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Emotional Regulation; Adolescent; Alcoholism; Brain; Alcohol Drinking; Amygdala; Emotions; Adult
PubMed: 38953742
DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agae043 -
The International Journal of Eating... Jul 2024Adults with binge-eating disorder (BED), compared with those without BED, demonstrate higher blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) response to food cues in reward-related...
OBJECTIVE
Adults with binge-eating disorder (BED), compared with those without BED, demonstrate higher blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) response to food cues in reward-related regions of the brain. It is not known whether cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can reverse this reward system hyperactivation. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessed changes in BOLD response to binge-eating cues following CBT versus wait-list control (WLC).
METHOD
Females with BED (N = 40) were randomized to CBT or WLC. Participants completed assessments at baseline and 16 weeks including measures of eating and appetite and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure BOLD response while listening to personalized scripts of binge-eating and neutral-relaxing cues. Data were analyzed using general linear models with mixed effects.
RESULTS
Overall retention rate was 87.5%. CBT achieved significantly greater reductions in binge-eating episodes than WLC (mean ± standard error decline of 14.6 ± 2.7 vs. 5.7 ± 2.8 episodes in the past 28 days, respectively; p = 0.03). CBT and WLC did not differ significantly in changes in neural responses to binge-eating stimuli during the fMRI sessions. Compared with WLC, CBT had significantly greater improvements in reward-based eating drive, disinhibition, and hunger as assessed by questionnaires (ps < 0.05).
DISCUSSION
CBT was effective in reducing binge eating, but, contrary to our hypothesis, CBT did not improve BOLD response to auditory binge-eating stimuli in reward regions of the brain. Further studies are needed to assess mechanisms underlying improvements with CBT for BED.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03604172.
PubMed: 38953334
DOI: 10.1002/eat.24244 -
Gut and Liver Jul 2024Young Korean men are obligated to serve in the military for 18 to 21 months. We investigated the effects of military service on steatotic liver disease (SLD) and other...
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Young Korean men are obligated to serve in the military for 18 to 21 months. We investigated the effects of military service on steatotic liver disease (SLD) and other metabolic parameters.
METHODS
Pre-enlistment health check-up performed from 2019 to 2022 and in-service health check-up performed from 2020 to 2022 were merged as paired data. SLD was defined as a hepatic steatosis index of 36 or higher. Hypertension (HTN) and hypertriglyceridemia were also included in the analysis.
RESULTS
A total of 503,136 paired cases were included in the analysis. Comparing pre-enlistment and in-service health check-ups, the prevalence of SLD (22.2% vs 17.6%, p<0.001), HTN (7.6% vs 4.3%, p<0.001), and hypertriglyceridemia (8.1% vs 2.9%, p<0.001) decreased during military service. In terms of body mass index, the proportion of underweight (8.2% vs 1.4%, p<0.001) and severely obese (6.1% vs 4.9%, p<0.001) individuals decreased over time. Regarding factors associated with SLD development and resolution, age was positively associated with SLD development (odds ratio, 1.146; p<0.001) and a health check-up interval of <450 days was a protective factor for SLD development (odds ratio, 0.746; p<0.001). Those serving in the marines were less likely to develop SLD, whereas those serving in the navy were more likely to develop SLD. Serving in the army or the navy was negatively associated with SLD resolution, whereas serving in the air force was positively associated with SLD resolution.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of SLD, HTN, and hypertriglyceridemia decreased substantially during Korean military service.
PubMed: 38953118
DOI: 10.5009/gnl240077 -
Heliyon Jun 2024Decne. (Family Rhamnaceae Juss.) leaf is commonly prepared as a anti-inflammatory herbal medicine and used for tea production. To investigate the mechanism of Decne....
Decne. (Family Rhamnaceae Juss.) leaf is commonly prepared as a anti-inflammatory herbal medicine and used for tea production. To investigate the mechanism of Decne. aqueous extract (RDAE) against acute alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in mice. The ALD mouse (Male ICR) model was induced via intragastric administration of 52 % alcohol. Mice in each group were treated by gavage once daily with the RDAE (1.12, 2.25, 4.500 g/kg). The expression of proteins involved in the MAPKs/NF-κB/COX-2-iNOS pathway was measured by western blotting. Non-targeted metabolomics was used to determine metabolic profiles and critical pathways, while targeted metabolomics validated key amino acid metabolites. After administration of RDAE, the body mass of mice was significantly increased. The liver index was significantly decreased. Meanwhile, the serum levels of AST, ALT, TG, TC, MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly decreased ( < 0.05, < 0.01), but GSH level was inversely increased ( < 0.05). Metabolomic analysis revealed nine major pathways involved in the therapeutic effect of RDAE, including fructose and mannose metabolism. The levels of 7 amino acids including leucine, proline and alanine/sarcosine were significantly upregulated. Additionally, protein levels of p-NF-κB (p65)/NF-κB (p65), -ERK/ERK, -JNK/JNK, p-p38/p38, COX-2 and iNOS were significantly decreased ( < 0.01, < 0.05). RDAE is used to treat acute ALD by improving lipid metabolism, inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and regulating MAPKs/NF-κB/COX-2-iNOS signalling pathway. These findings provide valuable insights for acute ALD therapy based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
PubMed: 38952369
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32523 -
Journal of the Science of Food and... Jul 2024This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of oleuropein (OLE) ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its underlying mechanisms.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of oleuropein (OLE) ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its underlying mechanisms.
RESULTS
Male C57BL/6J mice were fed either a low-fat diet (LFD), a high-fat diet (HFD), or a HFD supplemented with 0.03% (w/w) OLE for 16 weeks. OLE supplementation decreased body weight and liver weight, improved serum lipid profiles, and ameliorated HFD-induced hepatic dysfunction. Liver metabolomics analysis revealed that OLE increased the levels of nicotinamide, tauroursodeoxycholic acid, taurine, and docosahexaenoic acid, which were beneficial for lipid homeostasis and inflammation regulation. OLE exerted its protective effects by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), a key transcription factor that regulates fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) expression and modulates lipid oxidation, lipogenesis and inflammation pathways. Importantly, OLE supplementation did not significantly affect body weight or liver weight in PPARα knockout (PPARα KO) mice, indicating that PPARα is essential for OLE-mediated NAFLD prevention.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that OLE alleviates NAFLD in mice by activating PPARα and modulating liver metabolites. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
PubMed: 38952322
DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.13691