Potential association of plasma lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) species with cognitive impairment in abstinent alcohol use disorders outpatients

Abstract Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) species are bioactive lipids participating in neurodevelopmental processes. The aim was to investigate whether the relevant species of LPA were associated with clinical features of alcohol addiction. A total of 55 abstinent alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients were compared with 34 age/sex/body mass index-matched controls. Concentrations of total LPA and 16:0-LPA, 18:0-LPA, 18:1-LPA, 18:2-LPA and 20:4-LPA species were quantified and correlated with neuroplasticity-associated growth factors including brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF-2, and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3). AUD patients showed dysexecutive syndrome (22.4%) and memory impairment (32.6%). Total LPA, 16:0-LPA, 18:0-LPA and 18:1-LPA concentrations, were decreased in the AUD group compared to control group. Total LPA, 16:0-LPA, 18:2-LPA and 20:4-LPA concentrations were decreased in men compared to women. Frontal lobe functions correlated with plasma LPA species. Alcohol-cognitive impairments could be related with the deregulation of the LPA species, especially in 16:0-LPA, 18:1-LPA and 20:4-LPA. Concentrations of BDNF correlated with total LPA, 18:2-LPA and 20:4-LPA species. The relation between LPA species and BDNF is interesting in plasticity and neurogenesis functions, their involvement in AUD might serve as a biomarker of cognitive impairment.

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Study of brainstem auditory evoked response and biochemical markers in patients of alcohol use disorder

Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology ◽

10.25259/ijpp_2018_oa105_m ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 65 ◽

pp. 193-200

Author(s):

Mudassir Anis Siddiqui ◽

Divya Srivastava ◽

Sandeep Choudhary

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Biochemical Parameters ◽

Alcoholic Hepatitis ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Liver Enzymes ◽

Evoked Response ◽

Transmission Time ◽

Control Group ◽

Auditory Evoked Response ◽

Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response

Objectives: Data available on brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) and its correlation with biochemical parameters in patients of alcohol use disorder (AUD) in Indian population is scanty. Therefore, this study was undertaken to focus on the effects of AUD on BAER and liver enzymes. Materials and Methods: This case-control study included 40 males in the study group who had AUD and 40 healthy males in the control group in the age group of 20–60 years. The BAER was performed using octopus NCS/ EMG/EP (Clarity) machine. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase and serum bilirubin were estimated in all the subjects. Results: We observed a highly significant increase in the absolute latencies of waves III and V and interpeak latencies (IPL) I-III and I-V of BAER in the patients of AUD in this study. Significant increase in the liver enzymes and especially AST/ALT ratio of patients of AUD was seen which indicated towards subclinical alcoholic hepatitis. The latencies of waves of EPs (waves III, V, IPL I-III and IPL I-V) were positively correlated with the biochemical parameters and duration of AUD. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that AUD lead to the increase in brainstem transmission time and also lead to subclinical alcoholic hepatitis which is reflected by the increase in the liver enzymes. We concluded that chronic alcohol consumption affected the auditory pathways and delayed the auditory transmission time which was suggestive of possible demyelination of auditory tracts.

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Physical exercise in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients affects their drinking habits: A randomized controlled trial

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/1403494818759842 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 462-468 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Kurt Jensen ◽

Charlotte Nielsen ◽

Claus Thorn Ekstrøm ◽

Kirsten K. Roessler

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Training Stimulus ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Control Group ◽

Treatment As Usual ◽

Drinking Habits ◽

Training Frequency ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Group A

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the effect of exercise training on physical capacity and alcohol consumption in alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients. Methods: One hundred and five AUD patients were randomly assigned to treatment as usual combined with running and brisk walking for 30–45 min twice a week, either in small supervised groups (GR) or individually (IND), or to a control group with no running (C). Assessments were made after 6 and 12 months of training. Results: Training volume was estimated as 36 min per training bout at an intensity of 78% of HRmax with no differences between GR and IND ( p>.05). A highly significant reduction in training frequency was seen in both training groups after the first month ( p<.0001). Only IND increased VO2max, by 5.7% ( p<.05), while no differences were seen between GR, IND and C. Alcohol intake decreased from 219 to 41 units per 30 days as the average for the entire sample with no significant difference of drinking outcomes between groups ( p<.0001). Conclusions: We saw an effect on drinking habits after running in both groups. However, no additional effect was seen when compared with the control group. A drop in the training frequency during the intervention might have resulted in an insignificant training stimulus.

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A 6-Month Randomized Trial of a Smartphone Application, UControlDrink, in Aiding Recovery in Alcohol Use Disorder

European Addiction Research ◽

10.1159/000519945 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Conor Farren ◽

Aoife Farrell ◽

Aisling Hagerty ◽

Cliodhna McHugh

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Text Messaging ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Heavy Drinking ◽

Smartphone Application ◽

Smartphone App ◽

Control Group

Background and Aims: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a substantial problem, causing early death and great economic burden. Research has highlighted the potential positive impact of technological interventions, such as smartphone applications (app) in treatment of AUD. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a smartphone app, incorporating computerized cognitive behavioural therapy and text messaging support, on alcohol outcomes over 6 months in a post-rehabilitation setting. Methods: A total of 111 participants with AUD were recruited into this randomized controlled trial, following completion of a 30-day rehabilitation programme. The intervention group (n = 54) used the smartphone app “UControlDrink” (UCD) over 6 months with treatment as usual (TAU), and the control group (n = 57) received TAU. All subjects suffered from AUD as the primary disorder, with other major psychiatric disorders excluded. All intervention subjects used the UCD smartphone app in the treatment trial, and all subjects underwent TAU consisting of outpatient weekly support groups. Drinking history in the previous 90 days was measured at baseline and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Additional measurements were made to assess mood, anxiety, craving, and motivation. Results were analysed using intention-to-treat analyses. Results: Retention in the study was 72% at 3 months and 52% at 6 months. There was a significant reduction in heavy drinking days in the intervention group relative to TAU over the 6 months, p < 0.02. Conclusions: The UCD smartphone app demonstrates a significant benefit to reducing heavy drinking days over a 6-month post-rehabilitation period in AUD.

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Effects of Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder on the Clinical Outcomes of Schizophrenia: A Nationwide Population-based Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-322353/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Soojin Ahn ◽

Youngjae Choi ◽

Woohyeok Choi ◽

Young Tak Jo ◽

Harin Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Medication Possession Ratio ◽

Small Sample ◽

Control Group ◽

Diagnostic Code ◽

Psychiatric Admissions ◽

Before And After ◽

The Impact

Abstract BackgroundAlcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common psychiatric comorbidity in schizophrenia, associated with poor clinical outcomes and medication noncompliance. Most previous studies on the effect of alcohol use in patients with schizophrenia had limitations of small sample size and a cross-sectional design. Therefore, this study aimed to use a nationwide population database to investigate the impact of AUD on clinical outcomes of schizophrenia.MethodsData from the Health Insurance Review Agency database in South Korea from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2016 was used. Among 64,442 patients with incident schizophrenia, 1,598 with comorbid AUD were selected based on the diagnostic code F10. We performed between- and within-group analyses to compare the rates of psychiatric admissions and emergency room (ER) visits and medication possession ratio (MPR) with control patients having schizophrenia matched for the onset age, sex, and observation period.ResultsThe rates of psychiatric admissions and ER visits decreased after the diagnosis of AUD in both groups; however, the decrease was significantly greater in patients with comorbid AUD compared to the control group. While the case group showed an increase in MPR after the diagnosis of AUD, MPR decreased in the control patients. The rates of psychiatric admissions, ER visits and MPR were worse in the schizophrenia group with comorbid AUD both before and after the diagnosis of AUD.ConclusionsClinical outcomes were worse in the comorbid AUD group than in the control group before and after the diagnosis of AUD. Considering that patients with schizophrenia with comorbid AUD had poorer clinical outcomes even before the diagnosis of AUD, schizophrenia with comorbid AUD could be a distinct subtype of schizophrenia.

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The Validity of the Alcohol-Use-Disorder-Identification-Test and a Novel Proxy Test in the Assessment of Alcohol Consumption in the Cognitively Impaired Elderly

Journal of Addiction Research ◽

10.33140/jar.02.01.06 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Alcohol Intake ◽

Elderly Population ◽

Screening Tool ◽

Alcohol Misuse ◽

The Elderly ◽

Identification Test ◽

Disorder Identification

Aims: Alcohol is consumed excessively by almost a quarter of the population. A report by highlighted underdiagnosis of alcohol misuse in the elderly [1]. There is a lack of research focusing on assessment of alcohol use and its impact in older people. This study aimed to assess the validity of the Alcohol-Use-Disorder-Identification-Test (AUDIT) in an elderly population with cognitive impairment and to establish the validity of a novel adaption of the AUDIT used as a proxy measure. Methods: Opportunistic observational study examining the assessment of alcohol consumption in an elderly population with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia. The study aimed to evaluate the self-report AUDIT versus a “proxy” AUDIT compared to a plasma Carbohydrate-deficientTransferrin (CDT) level. Findings: Scores were comparable between the “proxy” AUDIT and the AUDIT. Neither measure of alcohol intake correlated significantly with CDT levels. There was no association between alcohol intake and cognition or quality of life ratings. Conclusions: We suggest the AUDIT could be a useful screening tool in detecting alcohol misuse in the elderly with cognitive impairment. The “proxy” AUDIT was also found to be a valid screening tool, however further work is needed to confirm these findings.

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Effects of comorbid alcohol use disorder on the clinical outcomes of first-episode schizophrenia: a nationwide population-based study

Annals of General Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12991-021-00353-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Soojin Ahn ◽

Youngjae Choi ◽

Woohyeok Choi ◽

Young Tak Jo ◽

Harin Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Small Sample ◽

First Episode ◽

Control Group ◽

Diagnostic Code ◽

Psychiatric Admissions ◽

First Episode Schizophrenia ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common psychiatric comorbidity in schizophrenia, associated with poor clinical outcomes and medication noncompliance. Most previous studies on the effect of alcohol use in patients with schizophrenia had limitations of small sample size or a cross-sectional design. Therefore, we used a nationwide population database to investigate the impact of AUD on clinical outcomes of schizophrenia. Methods Data from the Health Insurance Review Agency database in South Korea from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2016 were used. Among 64,442 patients with first-episode schizophrenia, 1598 patients with comorbid AUD were selected based on the diagnostic code F10. We performed between- and within-group analyses to compare the rates of psychiatric admissions and emergency room (ER) visits, and medication possession ratio (MPR) between the patients with comorbid AUD and control patients matched for the onset age, sex, and observation period. Results The rates of psychiatric admissions and ER visits in both groups decreased after the time point of diagnosis of AUD; however, the decrease was significantly greater in the patients with comorbid AUD compared to the control patients. While the comorbid AUD group showed an increase in MPR after the diagnosis of AUD, MPR decreased in the control group. The rates of psychiatric admissions, ER visits, and MPR were worse in the comorbid AUD group both before and after the diagnosis of AUD. Conclusions The results emphasize an importance of psychiatric comorbidities, especially AUD, in first-episode schizophrenia and the necessity of further research for confirmative findings of the association of AUD with clinical outcomes of schizophrenia.

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Association of PIP4K2A Polymorphisms with Alcohol Use Disorder

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes12101642 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 1642

Author(s):

Olga Yu. Fedorenko ◽

Ekaterina V. Mikhalitskaya ◽

Valentina A. Toshchakova ◽

Anton J.M. Loonen ◽

Nikolay A. Bokhan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Social Impact ◽

National Level ◽

Control Group ◽

Excessive Alcohol Consumption ◽

Lateral Habenula ◽

Healthy Men ◽

Excessive Alcohol ◽

First Time

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) not only influences individuals and families but also has a lasting social impact on communities at the national level. Dopaminergic neurotransmission is involved in excessive alcohol consumption. Phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate-4-kinase type 2 α (PIP4K2A) plays an important role in the regulation of ascending dopamine pathways. In this study; we determined possible associations between nine polymorphisms in PIP4K2A and AUD in Russian men. Methods: 279 Russian men with AUD were investigated. The control group consisted of 222 healthy men from the general Russian population. Genotyping of DNA samples for nine polymorphic variants of PIP4K2A was carried out by the Applied Biosystems™ QuantStudio™ 5 Real-Time PCR System with use of the TaqMan1 Validated SNP Genotyping Assay (Applied Biosystems; CШA). Results: Carriage of the PIP4K2A rs2230469*TT/T genotype/allele was a relative risk factor for developing AUD in men (p = 0.026 and p = 0.0084 accordingly). Moreover; men with AUD had a higher frequency of PIP4K2A rs746203*T allele (p = 0.023) compared to healthy men. Conclusions: For the first time; we demonstrated different PIP4K2A polymorphisms to be associated with AUD presumably due to dopamine system modulation resulting from regulation of the lateral habenula.

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Remote Monitoring Telemedicine (REMOTE) Platform for Patients With Anxiety Symptoms and Alcohol Use Disorder: Protocol for a Case-Control Study

JMIR Research Protocols ◽

10.2196/16964 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. e16964

Author(s):

Núria Pastor ◽

Elizabeth Khalilian ◽

Elsa Caballeria ◽

Danielle Morrison ◽

Unai Sanchez Luque ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Wearable Sensors ◽

Anxiety Symptoms ◽

Sleep Cycle ◽

Control Group ◽

Wearable Sensor ◽

Additional Function ◽

Promising Tool ◽

Hospital Clinic

Background Monitoring mental health outcomes has traditionally been based on heuristic decisions, often based on scarce, subjective evidence, making the clinical decisions made by professionals, as well as the monitoring of these diseases, subject to flaws. However, the digital phenotype, which refers to the analysis of data collected by measuring human behavior with mobile sensors and smart bracelets, is a promising tool for filling this gap in current clinical practice. Objective The objectives of this study are to develop the digital phenotyping of patients with alcohol use disorder and anxiety symptoms using data collected from a mobile device (ie, smartphone) and a wearable sensor (ie, Fitbit) and to analyze usability and patient satisfaction with the data collection service provided by the app. Methods We propose to conduct a study among a group of 60 participants split into two subgroups—experimental and control—of 30 participants each. The experimental group will be recruited by physicians from the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, and the control group will be recruited on a volunteer basis through fliers and social media. All participants will go through pretraining to ensure technological capability and understanding of tasks, then each participant will download the HumanITcare app and will be given a wearable sensor (ie, Fitbit). Throughout the 4-month period, participants will be monitored on a range of factors, including sleep cycle, heart rate, movement patterns, and sociability. All data from the wearable sensors and the mobile devices will be saved and sent to the HumanITcare server. Participants will be asked to complete weekly questionnaires about anxiety, depression, and alcohol use disorder symptoms. Research assistants will ensure timely responses. The data from both sensors will then be compared to the questionnaire responses to determine how accurately the devices can predict the same symptoms. Results The recruitment phase was completed in November 2019 and all the data were collected by the end of December 2019. Data are being processed; this process is expected to be completed by October 2020. Conclusions This study was created and conducted as a pilot study with the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, with the purpose of exploring the feasibility of our approach. The study is focused on patients diagnosed with anxiety and alcohol use disorder, but participants were also monitored for depressive symptoms throughout the trial, although these were not part of the initial inclusion criteria. A limitation to our study was the exclusive use of Android smartphones over iOS devices; this could result in a potential selection bias, due to the accessibility and affordability of Android phones as opposed to iOS-based phones. Another limitation might be that reviews of usability and satisfaction could be confounded by factors such as age and familiarity. An additional function that we might add in future studies is the ability for patients to manage their own data. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/16964

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