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La Clinica Terapeutica May 2022Alcohol is a legal and yet detrimental psychoactive substance, capable of establishing addiction and impacting the physical, mental, social, and economic health of...
Alcohol is a legal and yet detrimental psychoactive substance, capable of establishing addiction and impacting the physical, mental, social, and economic health of people. Alcohol intake causes a large variety of tissue damages severely impacting the nervous system, digestive and cardiovascular systems and causing oral cavity, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, esophageal, colon-rectal, laryngeal, liver and intrahepatic bile duct, and breast cancers. Alcohol can also play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus, cardiomyopathy and hemorrhagic strokes. When drunk during pregnancy it is proved to be responsible for serious damage to fetuses causing a wide range of pathological conditions from miscarriage to Fetal Alcoholic Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Acute ethanol intoxication happens when the amount of alcohol consumed is greater than the disposal capacity of the liver, causing an accumulation of its metabolites displayed by initial dysphoria and disinhibition. Nausea, vomiting, memory loss could happen. Although, it can lead to more serious conditions like impaired speaking, impaired coordination, unstable gait, nystagmus, stupor, or coma. Respiratory depression and death could also happen in such cases. Unfortunately, diagnosis of acute alcohol intoxication is difficult because most of the drinkers deny or minimize their assumption. It is dramatically important to assess when the last intake happened to avoid withdrawal syndrome. Alcohol acute intoxication can be considered a serious harm to health and a relevant issue for healthcare provid-ers working in emergency rooms. Differential diagnosis is crucial to avoid serious outcomes. There is no consensus about therapies for acute intoxication, but supportive and symptomatic treatments were proved effective. The repercussions of alcohol misuse over drinkers' social, familiar, economical and working life enhance the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in such cases.
Topics: Acute Disease; Alcohol Drinking; Alcoholic Intoxication; Alcoholism; Ethanol; Humans; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome
PubMed: 35612344
DOI: 10.7417/CT.2022.2432 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2016Alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine and spirits are widely consumed around the world. However, alcohol and its metabolite acetaldehyde are toxic and harmful to human... (Review)
Review
Alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine and spirits are widely consumed around the world. However, alcohol and its metabolite acetaldehyde are toxic and harmful to human beings. Chronic alcohol use disorder or occasional binge drinking can cause a wide range of health problems, such as hangover, liver damage and cancer. Some natural products such as traditional herbs, fruits, and vegetables might be potential dietary supplements or medicinal products for the prevention and treatment of the problems caused by excessive alcohol consumption. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of effective natural products for the prevention and treatment of hangover and alcohol use disorder, and special emphasis is paid to the possible functional component(s) and related mechanism(s) of action.
Topics: Alcoholic Intoxication; Antidotes; Beer; Biological Products; Ethanol; Fruit; Humans; Plants, Medicinal; Vegetables; Wine
PubMed: 26751438
DOI: 10.3390/molecules21010064 -
Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... Sep 2019
Topics: Adolescent; Aftercare; Alcoholic Intoxication; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Dangerous Behavior; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders; Young Adult
PubMed: 31556530
DOI: 10.4045/tidsskr.19.0513 -
European Review For Medical and... Sep 2020Acute alcohol intoxication is actually a common admission cause in the Emergency Department and represents an increasing public health burden, in particular among... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Acute alcohol intoxication is actually a common admission cause in the Emergency Department and represents an increasing public health burden, in particular among adolescents. It involves possible and significant illness and injury, which can quickly get worse and may need to be managed in the emergency room.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We conducted a narrative review of the literature regarding the effectiveness of first aid role of the Emergency Department setting.
RESULTS
This review included eighteen studies about alcohol intoxication management in the Emergency Department; most of all highlights the emerging phenomenon in Europe and around the world of acute alcohol intoxication management in first aid. The treatment of acute alcohol intoxication depends on general clinical conditions of the patient, vital signs, hemodynamic stability, cognitive state, alcohol-related complications, which are closely related to the blood alcohol concentration. At the same time, symptoms could be extremely variable due to individual differences in alcohol metabolism. In case of mild-moderate intoxication (blood alcohol concentration < 1 g/L), no drugs are necessary. In case of severe intoxication (blood alcohol concentration > 1 g/L), it is necessary to support with intravenous fluids, treat hypoglycemia, hypotension, hypothermia and electrolyte imbalance, administer complex B and C vitamins and accelerate alcohol elimination from blood with metadoxine. Unlike adults, adolescents are more exposed to the toxic effect of alcohol (because of their immature hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity), and then, acute alcohol-related complications are more frequent and dangerous in young people than in adult population. In many cases, patients affected by acute alcohol intoxication referring to an Emergency Department have mild-moderate transitory symptoms that do not require the use of drugs; they can benefit from a clinical observation, with a clinical course often completed within 24 hours with a favorable outcome. Clinical observation with vital signs control is necessary also to evaluate the possible development of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome (that involves a specific treatment) and to evaluate also possible pathological complications of the organism, above all acute liver damage.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients affected by acute alcohol intoxication are the best candidates to apply the rules of the Temporary Observation Unit in the Emergency Department, because of a clinical course often completed within 24 hours, a favorable outcome and without the need for hospitalization. In many cases, hospitalization could be not necessary, but the patient affected by Alcohol Use Disorder must be referred to an Alcohol Addiction Unit for the follow-up, to reduce the risk of alcohol relapse and complications related to alcohol abuse, and financial costs of hospitalization.
Topics: Alcoholic Intoxication; Blood Alcohol Content; Emergency Service, Hospital; First Aid; Hospitalization; Humans
PubMed: 32965003
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202009_22859 -
The International Journal on Drug Policy Jul 2020
Topics: Adolescent; Alcohol Drinking; Alcoholic Intoxication; Brain; Ethanol; Gender Identity; Humans; Young Adult
PubMed: 32423660
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102780 -
BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) Jan 1997
Topics: Alcoholic Intoxication; Ethanol; Humans; Methanol
PubMed: 9001463
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.314.7073.2 -
The Milbank Quarterly Dec 2015
Topics: Alcohol Drinking in College; Alcoholic Intoxication; Binge Drinking; Female; Humans; Life Style; Male; Peer Group; Risk-Taking; Students; United States; Universities
PubMed: 26626974
DOI: 10.1111/1468-0009.12153 -
Jornal de Pediatria 2017To review the screening, diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of intoxication by alcohol and other drugs in children and adolescents in the emergency scenario. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To review the screening, diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of intoxication by alcohol and other drugs in children and adolescents in the emergency scenario.
DATA SOURCE
This was a narrative literature review.
DATA SUMMARY
The detection of this problem in the emergency room can be a challenge, especially when its assessment is not standardized. The intentional and episodic use of large amounts of psychoactive substances by adolescents is a usual occurrence, and unintentional intoxication is more common in children younger than 12 years. The clinical picture in adolescents and children differs from that in adults and some particularities are important in the emergency scenario. After management of the acute condition, interventions targeting the adolescent at risk may be effective.
CONCLUSION
The diagnosis and treatment of intoxication by alcohol and other drugs in adolescents and children in the emergency scenario requires a systematic evaluation of the use of these drugs. There are few specific treatments for intoxication, and the management comprehends support measures and management of related clinical complications.
Topics: Accidents, Home; Adolescent; Alcoholic Intoxication; Child; Emergency Service, Hospital; Humans; Psychotropic Drugs
PubMed: 28886402
DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2017.06.015 -
Gastroenterology Nov 2021The role of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) during human alcoholic pancreatitis is unknown. We compared FAEEs levels with their nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs)... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
BACKGROUND & AIMS
The role of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) during human alcoholic pancreatitis is unknown. We compared FAEEs levels with their nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) precursors during alcohol intoxication and clinical alcoholic pancreatitis. The pathophysiology underlying FAEEs increase and their role as diagnostic biomarkers for alcoholic pancreatitis was investigated.
METHODS
A prospective blinded study compared FAEEs, NEFAs, and ethanol blood levels on hospitalization for alcoholic pancreatitis (n = 31), alcohol intoxication (n = 25), and in normal controls (n = 43). Serum FAEEs were measured at admission for nonalcoholic pancreatitis (n = 75). Mechanistic cell and animal studies were done.
RESULTS
Median FAEEs were similarly elevated during alcohol intoxication (205 nmol/L; 95% confidence interval [CI], 71.8-515 nmol/L, P < .001) and alcoholic pancreatitis (103.1 nmol/L; 95% CI, 53-689 nmol/L, P < .001) vs controls (1.7 nmol/L; 95% CI, 0.02-4.3 nmol/L) or nonalcoholic pancreatitis (8 nmol/L; 95% CI, 1.1-11.5 nmol/L). Alcoholic pancreatitis increased serum NEFAs (1024 ± 710 μmol/L vs 307 ± 185 μmol/L in controls, P < .05). FAEEs comprised 0.1% to 2% of the parent NEFA concentrations. FAEES correlated strongly with NEFAs independent of ethanol levels in alcoholic pancreatitis but not during alcohol intoxication. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for diagnosing alcoholic pancreatitis, the area under the curve for serum FAEEs was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.78-0.95, P < .001). In mice and cells, alcohol administration transiently increased all FAEEs. Oleic acid ethyl ester was the only FAEE with a sustained increase up to 24 hours after intraperitoneal oleic acid plus ethanol administration.
CONCLUSIONS
The sustained, alcohol-independent, large (20- to 50-fold) increase in circulating FAEEs during alcoholic pancreatitis results from their visceral release and mirrors the 2- to 4-fold increase in parent NEFA. The large areas under the curve of FAEEs on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis supports their role as alcoholic pancreatitis biomarkers.
Topics: Adult; Alcoholic Intoxication; Biomarkers; Blood Alcohol Content; Case-Control Studies; Fatty Acids; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreatitis, Alcoholic; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Up-Regulation
PubMed: 34303660
DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.07.029 -
The Western Journal of Medicine Sep 1994Alcoholism, a worldwide disorder, is the cause of a variety of neurologic disorders. In this article we discuss the cellular pathophysiology of ethanol addition and... (Review)
Review
Alcoholism, a worldwide disorder, is the cause of a variety of neurologic disorders. In this article we discuss the cellular pathophysiology of ethanol addition and abuse as well as evidence supporting and refuting the role of inheritance in alcoholism. A genetic marker for alcoholism has not been identified, but neurophysiologic studies may be promising. Some neurologic disorders related to longterm alcoholism are due predominantly to inadequate nutrition (the thiamine deficiency that causes Wernicke's encephalopathy), but others appear to involve the neurotoxicity of ethanol on brain (alcohol withdrawal syndrome and dementia) and peripheral nerves (alcoholic neuropathy and myopathy).
Topics: Alcoholic Intoxication; Alcoholism; Brain; Ethanol; Humans; Nervous System Diseases; Peripheral Nerves
PubMed: 7975567
DOI: No ID Found