http://www.rxpgnews.com/ Medical News and Information Thu, 25 Oct 2007 07:48:36 PST en-us http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Researchers-identify-alcoholism-subtypes_48026.shtml Alcohol Analyses of a national sample of individuals with alcohol dependence (alcoholism) reveal five distinct subtypes of the disease, according to a new study by scientists at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Researchers-identify-alcoholism-subtypes_48026.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Women-drinkers-could-face-more-depression_10724.shtml Alcohol New York, Jan 4 - Women who drinks alcohol heavily over a short period of time or drink continuously over a number of days or weeks are likely to face more depression than men, says a study. Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:36:03 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Women-drinkers-could-face-more-depression_10724.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Orexin-reinforces-the-euphoria-felt-when-drinking-alcohol_10014.shtml Alcohol Scientists at Melbourne’s Howard Florey Institute have discovered a system in the brain that stops an alcoholic’s craving for alcohol, as well as prevent relapse once they have recovered from alcohol addiction. Wed, 27 Dec 2006 06:58:12 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Orexin-reinforces-the-euphoria-felt-when-drinking-alcohol_10014.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/DNA_highly-promising_predictor_for_successful_trea_5032_5032.shtml Alcohol According to Dutch researcher Wendy Ooteman, the biological and genetic characteristics of alcoholics can predict which drugs will best suppress the desire to drink. Naltrexone and acamprosate are drugs that are supposed to suppress the desire for a drink. The researcher investigated which patient characteristics were responsible for predicting the drug that would work best. Thu, 05 Oct 2006 01:12:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/DNA_highly-promising_predictor_for_successful_trea_5032_5032.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Nicotine_may_actually_reduce_blood_alcohol_concent_4761_4761.shtml Alcohol It's no mystery that many drinkers smoke, and many smokers drink. What is novel is a recent finding among rodents that nicotine can reduce blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) at dosage levels that could be achieved by human smokers. This may lead to more drinking. Mon, 31 Jul 2006 17:22:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Nicotine_may_actually_reduce_blood_alcohol_concent_4761_4761.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Alcoholics_deficits_in_smell_are_linked_to_frontal_4760_4760.shtml Alcohol Prior research has shown that chronic alcoholism is associated with numerous olfactory deficits in odor judgment, odor identification, odor sensitivity, and the ability to qualitatively discriminate between odors. New findings indicate that olfactory deficits among alcoholics are associated with prefrontal cognitive dysfunction, specifically, impairment in the functional integrity of the prefrontal lobe. Mon, 31 Jul 2006 17:21:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Alcoholics_deficits_in_smell_are_linked_to_frontal_4760_4760.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Asp_carriers_of_the_OPRM1_gene_taking_naltrexone_h_4759_4759.shtml Alcohol Naltrexone (NTX) is able to reduce drinking and craving among many alcoholics and heavy drinkers, but not all of them. Polymorphisms in the D4 dopamine receptor (DRD4) gene and the ì opiate receptor (OPRM1) gene may moderate NTX's effects on craving. New findings indicate that Asp carriers of the OPRM1 gene do indeed have a different response to NTX, albeit contrary to expectations: these individuals have a greater urge to drink. Mon, 31 Jul 2006 17:10:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Asp_carriers_of_the_OPRM1_gene_taking_naltrexone_h_4759_4759.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Early_Drinking_Linked_to_Risk_of_Alcohol_Dependenc_4626_4626.shtml Alcohol Individuals who are younger when they begin drinking alcohol may face a higher risk of alcohol dependence throughout life, at a younger age and consisting of multiple episodes, according to results of a national survey published in the July issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Tue, 04 Jul 2006 13:24:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Early_Drinking_Linked_to_Risk_of_Alcohol_Dependenc_4626_4626.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Inattentional_blindness_more_likely_under_influenc_4592_4592.shtml Alcohol The study showed that subjects who were mildly intoxicated (at half the legal intoxication limit in the US) were heavily compromised in their ability to notice an unexpected visual object when they were focused on another simple task. The phenomenon, known as 'Inattentional blindness' – where unexpected, yet salient objects appear in the visual fields but fail to be detected while subjects are focused on another task– has been demonstrated under various conditions, but this is the first instance to show that these visual errors become even more likely under the influence of alcohol. Fri, 30 Jun 2006 13:06:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Inattentional_blindness_more_likely_under_influenc_4592_4592.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Moderate_alcohol_intake_associated_with_better_men_4339_4339.shtml Alcohol Research involving more than 7,000 older women found that those who drink a moderate amount of alcohol have slightly higher levels of mental function than non-drinkers, particularly in verbal abilities, according to researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues. Thu, 01 Jun 2006 13:12:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Moderate_alcohol_intake_associated_with_better_men_4339_4339.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Medical_management_with_naltrexone_or_behavioral_t_4260_4260.shtml Alcohol Medical management combined with the drug naltrexone or with a specialized behavioral therapy can be effective treatments for alcohol dependence, according to a study in the May 3 issue of JAMA. About 8 million individuals in the U.S. currently meet diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence (also called alcoholism), a leading preventable cause of illness and death and a major contributor to health care costs, according to background information in the article. In primary care settings, the prevalence of alcohol use disorders ranges from 20 percent to 36 percent; most of those patients are never treated and, if they are, do not receive specialty care. Several behavioral treatments and at least two medications approved by the U.S. FDA, naltrexone and acamprosate, have shown efficacy in the treatment of alcohol dependence. However, no large-scale randomized controlled study has evaluated whether combined drug treatment with or without behavioral therapy could improve outcome. Sun, 07 May 2006 18:59:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Medical_management_with_naltrexone_or_behavioral_t_4260_4260.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Underage_drinkers_account_for_about_17_percent_of__4259_4259.shtml Alcohol Underage drinking contributes an estimated $23 billion yearly to the alcohol industry, more than 17 percent of the total consumer expenditures for alcohol, according to an article in the May issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Sun, 07 May 2006 18:53:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Underage_drinkers_account_for_about_17_percent_of__4259_4259.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Alcohol_could_make_you_more_depressed_study_4082_4082.shtml Alcohol People who drink alcohol to feel better are wrong. In fact, they are at increased risk of depression, scientists in Britain have found. Wed, 19 Apr 2006 17:27:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Alcohol_could_make_you_more_depressed_study_4082_4082.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Scientists_unravel_genetic_predisposition_to_alcoh_4072_4072.shtml Alcohol Genes could be the reason for some people to drink high amounts of alcohol, says a study which could lead to a better understanding of alcoholism. Tue, 18 Apr 2006 14:11:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Scientists_unravel_genetic_predisposition_to_alcoh_4072_4072.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/At-risk_drinking_associated_with_higher_death_rate_3992_3992.shtml Alcohol Older men who drink as few as two drinks twice a week and also have diseases that could be worsened by alcohol or cause problems with medications taken while drinking alcohol have higher death rates, as compared to men who either drink less or may drink more but don't have such comorbidities. Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:49:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/At-risk_drinking_associated_with_higher_death_rate_3992_3992.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Young_British_women_out-drinking_men_3720_3720.shtml Alcohol Young women are out-drinking men of the same age in Britain, says a study pointing out that many of them were beginning to suffer from liver disease in their late teens. Wed, 22 Mar 2006 01:20:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Young_British_women_out-drinking_men_3720_3720.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Alcohol_Quantity_Depends_on_Shape_of_Glass_3056_3056.shtml Alcohol People pour 20-30% more alcohol into short, wide glasses than into tall, narrow ones of the same volume, but they wrongly believe that tall glasses hold more, finds a study in this week’s BMJ. Even professional bartenders pour more into short, wide “tumblers” than into “highball” glasses, suggesting that experience of pouring alcohol has little effect. The study involved 198 college students and 86 bartenders from a large city in the United States. Tue, 27 Dec 2005 05:29:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Alcohol_Quantity_Depends_on_Shape_of_Glass_3056_3056.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Interventions_for_preventing_or_treating_alcohol_h_3053_3053.shtml Alcohol No compelling evidence exists to suggest that any complementary or conventional intervention is effective for treating or preventing alcohol hangover, say researchers in this week’s BMJ. In Britain, alcohol hangovers account for about £2bn in lost wages each year, mostly due to sickness absence, and a plethora of “hangover cures” is on offer. Tue, 27 Dec 2005 03:41:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Interventions_for_preventing_or_treating_alcohol_h_3053_3053.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Somkers_drinking_behavior_linked_alcohol_addiction_3038_3038.shtml Alcohol Scientists have found in a study of tobacco users that their drinking behavior is linked to some of the same chromosome regions associated with alcohol addiction. The study, published in the December issue of the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, offers evidence that the interaction between smoking and alcohol consumption may partly be due to overlapping genetic risk factors. The results also provide further confirmation that alcoholism is a complex behavior drawing from both environmental and genetic factors. Thu, 22 Dec 2005 16:11:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Somkers_drinking_behavior_linked_alcohol_addiction_3038_3038.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Maternal_influences_set_drinking_path_2906_2906.shtml Alcohol Teenagers are more likely to develop drinking problems if their mothers are depressed and drink regularly. The findings come from University of Queensland researchers who tracked alcohol related disorders of children through adulthood as part of one of the world's longest health studies. Data was collected from 2551 Brisbane mothers and their children at six months, five, 14 and 21 years of age. Fri, 25 Nov 2005 06:18:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Maternal_influences_set_drinking_path_2906_2906.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Fetal_alcohol_exposure_affects_brain_s_dopamine_sy_2436_2436.shtml Alcohol In a study of adult monkeys who were exposed to moderate amounts of alcohol in utero, scientists have found that prenatal exposure to alcohol - even in small doses - has pronounced effects on the development and function later in life of the brain's dopamine system, a critical component of the central nervous system that regulates many regions of the brain. Tue, 20 Sep 2005 21:56:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Fetal_alcohol_exposure_affects_brain_s_dopamine_sy_2436_2436.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Researchers_Discover_Cost_Effective_Alcohol_Treatm_2348_2348.shtml Alcohol Research published today by psychologists at the University of Birmingham in The BMJ (9th September 05) has found that two different strategies of treatment are highly effective for those who are alcohol dependent and that for every £1 spent on these treatments, £5 of the tax payers’ money is saved. Sat, 10 Sep 2005 00:24:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Researchers_Discover_Cost_Effective_Alcohol_Treatm_2348_2348.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Effectiveness_of_treatment_for_alcohol_problems_-__2344_2344.shtml Alcohol Two types of non-residential treatments for alcohol abuse are highly effective and save society five times as much as they cost to run, say two papers in this week’s BMJ. Sat, 10 Sep 2005 00:10:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Effectiveness_of_treatment_for_alcohol_problems_-__2344_2344.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Gamblers_and_alcoholics_have_distinctive_personali_2070_2070.shtml Alcohol There are two types of addiction-related craving: one is physical, which is related to withdrawal; and the other is memory-based, consisting of a desire that persists long after withdrawal has been subdued. A study in the August issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research compares craving between pathological gamblers and alcoholics, correlating craving with personality. Results indicate that gamblers and alcoholics have distinctive personality traits that affect their cravings Mon, 15 Aug 2005 20:36:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Gamblers_and_alcoholics_have_distinctive_personali_2070_2070.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Chronobiological_disruptions_in_human_alcoholics_-_2062_2062.shtml Alcohol Circadian rhythms refer to biological phenomena that oscillate within a 24-hour cycle, in keeping with the earth's rotation. A review in the August issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research summarizes new findings on interactions between alcohol and the "clock genes" that underlie circadian rhythmicity. Mon, 15 Aug 2005 17:53:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Chronobiological_disruptions_in_human_alcoholics_-_2062_2062.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/The_Role_of_Genes_in_Alcohol_Dependence_1884_1884.shtml Alcohol Clues looking into the root causes of alcoholism are emerging from new findings that center on the genetic patterns of young drinkers, with particular focus on why adolescents are more likely to drink large quantities of alcohol even if they need more alcohol to get the effects they desire. Fri, 22 Jul 2005 00:32:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/The_Role_of_Genes_in_Alcohol_Dependence_1884_1884.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Women_who_drink_excessively_are_more_likely_to_exp_1659_1659.shtml Alcohol Women who drink to excess are more likely to experience depression and anxiety according to new research. Wed, 08 Jun 2005 13:46:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Women_who_drink_excessively_are_more_likely_to_exp_1659_1659.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/College_Students_Who_Get_Drunk_Weekly_Have_Higher__1552_1552.shtml Alcohol College students who get drunk at least once a week are significantly more likely to be hurt or injured than other student drinkers, according to new research from Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Tue, 24 May 2005 12:37:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/College_Students_Who_Get_Drunk_Weekly_Have_Higher__1552_1552.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Greater_vulnerability_of_women_s_brains_to_alcohol_1506_1506.shtml Alcohol Women appear to be more vulnerable to chronic drinking than men are. Yet few studies have looked at gender differences in alcohol's effects on the brain. A study in the May issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research addresses this gap in research, using computed tomography (CT) to examine brain atrophy in the brains of alcoholic men and women. The findings support and build upon a prior hypothesis that women develop alcohol-related brain damage more readily than men. Wed, 18 May 2005 23:51:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Greater_vulnerability_of_women_s_brains_to_alcohol_1506_1506.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Alcohol_Leads_to_Brain_Cell_Growth_1309_1309.shtml Alcohol Moderate alcohol consumption over a relatively long period of time can enhance the formation of new nerve cells in the adult brain. The new cells could prove important in the development of alcohol dependency and other long-term effects of alcohol on the brain. The findings are published by Karolinska Institutet. Fri, 29 Apr 2005 20:13:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Alcohol_Leads_to_Brain_Cell_Growth_1309_1309.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Alcohol_binges_can_upset_Circadian_Rhythm_1139_1139.shtml Alcohol In a study believed to have implications for children and adults suffering from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, rat pups given alcohol during a period of rapid brain development demonstrated significant changes in circadian or 24-hour rhythms as adults. Fri, 15 Apr 2005 18:31:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Alcohol_binges_can_upset_Circadian_Rhythm_1139_1139.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Once-a-month_naltrexone_successfully_used_to_treat_1015_1015.shtml Alcohol Long-acting injections of the drug naltrexone, combined with psychotherapy, significantly reduced heavy drinking in patients being treated for alcohol dependence, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association by a Yale School of Medicine researcher. Fri, 08 Apr 2005 01:43:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Once-a-month_naltrexone_successfully_used_to_treat_1015_1015.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/A_few_drinks_do_not_promote_optimal_Lactation_1001_1001.shtml Alcohol Despite age-old claims advising breastfeeding moms that alcoholic beverages can improve their nursing performance, researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center report that even moderate doses of alcohol affect the hormones responsible for lactation in a counterproductive manner. Wed, 06 Apr 2005 19:14:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/A_few_drinks_do_not_promote_optimal_Lactation_1001_1001.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Gene_Expression_Patterns_in_Brain_Changes_by_Alcoh_513_513.shtml Alcohol Researchers have identified several genetic changes in the brains of mice caused by ethanol, which may help researchers better understand how and why people become addicted to alcohol. Wed, 02 Mar 2005 17:51:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Gene_Expression_Patterns_in_Brain_Changes_by_Alcoh_513_513.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Tolerance_Levels_to_Alcohol_May_be_Genetically_Wir_414_414.shtml Alcohol Scientists at the David Geffen School of Medicine at Univesity Of California,Los Angeles (UCLA), have deciphered how a naturally occurring gene mutation in rats' brains lowers the animals' tolerance to alcohol, leading to rapid and acute intoxication after the equivalent of one drink. Mon, 21 Feb 2005 10:05:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Tolerance_Levels_to_Alcohol_May_be_Genetically_Wir_414_414.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Pattern_of_alcohol_use_is_found_to_determine_Body__364_364.shtml Alcohol In an analysis of data collected from more than 37,000 people who had never smoked, researchers found that BMI was associated with the number of drinks individuals consumed on the days they drank. Calculated as an individual's weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared, BMI measures whether or not a person is at a healthy weight – low BMI values generally indicate leanness and higher BMI values indicate being overweight. Wed, 16 Feb 2005 15:49:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Pattern_of_alcohol_use_is_found_to_determine_Body__364_364.shtml http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Alcohol_Drinkers_Three_Times_as_Likely_to_Die_from_343_343.shtml Alcohol People who regularly drink alcohol are three times as likely to die from injury as are non-drinkers and former drinkers of alcohol, according to new research from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. This is the first study to examine drinking behavior in relation to all major categories of injuries. In particular, the study authors found that the risk of drowning was most strongly related to current drinkers. Fri, 11 Feb 2005 16:42:00 PST http://www.rxpgnews.com/alcoholabuse/Alcohol_Drinkers_Three_Times_as_Likely_to_Die_from_343_343.shtml