A Study of Three Groups of Urban Men from the General Population with Different Alcohol Habits and Drug Use and Their Serum Levels of Liver-related Enzymes and Haematological Variables

AbstractAnhedonia and amotivation are debilitating symptoms and represent unmet therapeutic needs in a range of clinical conditions. The gut-microbiome-endocannabinoid axis might represent a potential modifiable target for interventions. Based on results obtained from animal models, we tested the hypothesis that the endocannabinoid system mediates the association between gut-microbiome diversity and anhedonia/amotivation in a general population cohort. We used longitudinal data collected from 786 volunteer twins recruited as part the TwinsUK register. Our hypothesis was tested with a multilevel mediation model using family structure as random intercept. The model was set using alpha diversity (within-individual gut-microbial diversity) as predictor, serum and faecal levels of the endocannabinoid palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) as mediator, and anhedonia/amotivation as outcome. PEA is considered the endogenous equivalent of cannabidiol, with increased serum levels believed to have anti-depressive effects, while increased stool PEA levels, reflecting increased excretion, are believed to have opposite, detrimental, effects on mental health. We therefore expected that either reduced serum PEA or increased stool PEA would mediate the association between microbial diversity and anhedonia amotivation. Analyses were adjusted for obesity, diet, antidepressant use, sociodemographic and technical covariates. Data were imputed using multiple imputation by chained equations. Mean age was 65.2 ± 7.6; 93% of the sample were females. We found a direct, significant, association between alpha diversity and anhedonia/amotivation (β = −0.37; 95%CI: −0.71 to −0.03; P = 0.03). Faecal, but not serum, levels of the endocannabinoid palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) mediated this association: the indirect effect was significant (β = −0.13; 95%CI: −0.24 to −0.01; P = 0.03), as was the total effect (β = −0.38; 95%CI: −0.72 to −0.04; P = 0.03), whereas the direct effect of alpha diversity on anhedonia/amotivation was attenuated fully (β = −0.25; 95%CI: −0.60 to 0.09; P = 0.16). Our results suggest that gut-microbial diversity might contribute to anhedonia/amotivation via the endocannabinoid system. These findings shed light on the biological underpinnings of anhedonia/amotivation and suggest the gut microbiota-endocannabinoid axis as a promising therapeutic target in an area of unmet clinical need.

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Assessment of the relationship of serum liver enzymes activity with general and abdominal obesity in an urban Bangladeshi population

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-86216-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Nurshad Ali ◽

Abu Hasan Sumon ◽

Khandaker Atkia Fariha ◽

Md Asaduzzaman ◽

Rahanuma Raihanu Kathak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Abdominal Obesity ◽

Liver Enzymes ◽

Serum Levels ◽

General Obesity ◽

Enzymes Activity ◽

Elevated Liver Enzymes ◽

Bangladeshi Population ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

AbstractObesity is a global health concern because of its increasing trend both in developed and developing countries. A limited number of studies have evaluated the association of liver enzymes with both general and abdominal obesity in the general population; data for the Bangladeshi population are not available yet. This study aimed to assess the relationship of serum liver enzymes activity with both general and abdominal obesity in Bangladeshi adults. In total, 540 blood samples were obtained from the participants (388 males and 152 females) and analyzed for serum levels of ALT, AST, GGT, and ALP using standard methods. General obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 27.5 kg/m2 and abdominal obesity was defined as waist circumference (WC) ≥ 90 cm in males and ≥ 80 cm in females. The relationship between liver enzymes and obesity was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression models. Overall, 58% of participants in the general obesity group and 55% of the participants in the abdominal obesity group had at least one or more elevated levels of liver enzymes. The prevalence of elevated liver enzymes was significantly higher in the obesity group compared to the normal BMI and WC groups (p < 0.05 for all cases). The mean level of serum ALT, AST and GGT were significantly higher in the obesity group than the normal BMI group (p < 0.05). In the WC groups, mean AST and GGT were significantly higher in the obesity group compared to the normal group (p < 0.05). In regression analysis, serum levels of ALT showed an independent and significant association with general obesity, whereas, serum GGT showed a significant association with both general and abdominal obesity. In conclusion, a high prevalence of elevated liver enzymes was observed among participants included in the present study. Of the four enzymes, serum GGT was independently associated with both general and abdominal obesity. Further studies are required to understand the complex relationship between liver enzymes and obesity in the general population.

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Frequency of and Determinants for Psychotropic Drug Use in an Institution for the Mentally Retarded

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.156.4.525 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 156 (4) ◽

pp. 525-530 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Olav M. Linaker

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

General Population ◽

Psychotropic Drug ◽

Small Proportion ◽

Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽

Anticonvulsant Drug ◽

Mentally Retarded ◽

Significant Trend ◽

Disruptive Behaviour ◽

Psychiatric Diagnoses

The frequency of psychotropic and anticonvulsant drug use in 168 institutionalised mentally retarded adults was studied. Use of neuroleptics and anticonvulsants was more frequent and use of hypnotics and antidepressants less frequent than in the general population. Neuroleptics were given to 49% of the population. Clients with no psychiatric diagnosis consumed less neuroleptics than those with such a diagnosis, and there was a non-significant trend for those with a more serious diagnosis (e.g. schizophrenia) to take a higher dosage. The degree of disruptive behaviour and the availability of a physician were related to dosage of neuroleptics. The various psychiatric diagnoses given could explain only a small proportion of the variance in dosage.

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Serum levels of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans and PCBs in the general population living near an urban waste treatment plant in Biscay, Basque Country

Chemosphere ◽

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.04.061 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 76 (6) ◽

pp. 784-791 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

M.B. Zubero ◽

J.M. Ibarluzea ◽

J.J. Aurrekoetxea ◽

J. Rivera ◽

J. Parera ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Waste Treatment ◽

Basque Country ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Urban Waste ◽

Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins ◽

Waste Treatment Plant

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Epidemiology of illicit and abused drugs in the general population, emergency department drug-related episodes, and arrestees

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/42.8.1330 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 42 (8) ◽

pp. 1330-1336 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

B A Rouse

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Substance Abuse ◽

Drug Abuse ◽

Drug Use ◽

General Population ◽

Household Survey ◽

Data Systems ◽

General Decline ◽

Abused Drugs ◽

National Trends

Abstract National trends in substance abuse are presented: the civilian noninstitutionalized general population; drug-related emergency department episodes; and booked arrestees. Major metropolitan differences are also noted. This study was based on the primary national data systems for these groups: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, SAMHSA's Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), and the National Institute of Justice Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) system. While the most prevalent drug differed in the three data sources, all three showed recent increases in marijuana. Despite the general decline in drug use seen in the general population, both the number of drug-related cases in the DAWN system and the drug use detected in the DUF arrestees showed recent increases.

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Why do People Stop Their Drug Use? Results from a General Population Sample

Contemporary Drug Problems ◽

10.1177/009145099902600408 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 695-710 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

John A. Cunningham ◽

Anja Koski-Jännes ◽

Tony Toneatto

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

General Population ◽

Population Sample ◽

General Population Sample

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The epidemiology of illicit and licit drug use in Greece: a nationwide general population survey

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/0767-399x(96)80061-7 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 175-182 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

MG Madianos ◽

D Gefou-Madianou ◽

CN Stefanis

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

General Population ◽

Illicit Drug ◽

Occupational Status ◽

Population Sample ◽

Age Groups ◽

Illicit Drug Use ◽

Total Sample ◽

General Population Sample ◽

Cross Sectional

SummaryA cross-sectional home survey on the epidemiology of drug use in Greece, with a nationwide general population sample of 4,291 respondents aged 12 to 64, was carried out. The weighted life prevalence of reported illicit drug use in the total sample was found to be 9% among males and 2.5% among females, with a ratio of 3.6: 1. Six and a half percent of males of all ages had used, at some time, licit psychotropic drugs without a doctor's order, while females presented much higher prevalence rates (14.9%). Young adults reported higher rates of both illicit and licit lifetime and past-year use, compared to the other age groups. Illicit drug use was less common, in females of all ages. Cannabis was the most common illicit drug used. Current as well as lifetime use of pain relievers without a doctor's prescription was found to be highest among all other licit substances. This holds true for all age groups and for both sexes. Tranquillizers were predominantly used by females of all ages. Certain sociodemographic variables, such as sex, educational level, marital status, place of residence and occupational status were found to be related to drug use in Greece.

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Accumulation of hexachlorobenzene in humans: a long standing risk

Human & Experimental Toxicology ◽

10.1177/096032719501400105 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 20-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

J. To-Figueras ◽

C. Barrot ◽

M. Rodamilans ◽

J. Gómez-Catalán ◽

M. Torra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

Body Burden ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Blood Bank ◽

The Body ◽

Human Tissues ◽

Internal Dose ◽

Similar Survey ◽

Made In

1 Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) internal dose in the general population of Barcelona (Spain) was estimated after new indications of the carcinogenicity of this chemical in humans were recently reported. Hospital blood bank facilities and randomly selected volunteers were used for HCB analyses in serum ( n=100) and cerumen ( n=25). Other main organochlorine residues often found in human tissues and blood (pp'DDE, β-HCH,) were also determined. 2 HCB serum levels currently found (Range 0.7-19.7 ng ml-1; X ± s.d.: 4.13 ± 3.61; GM: 3.05) were compared to those found in a similar survey made in 1986 on the same population. The serum HCB levels showed a sig nificant decrease ( P<0.001) when compared to the for mer results and correlated with age ( P<0.001) suggest ing a progressive preponderance of a stable blood-adi pose equilibrium with fewer variations due to recent and variable intake of the chemical. 3 Cerumen analyses revealed detectable concentrations of HCB in all samples (Range: 160-4790 ng g -1 in extractable lipid basis) and confirmed the suitability of this matrix to assess the body burden of residues accumulated in adipose and lipid-rich tissues. The set of results shows that, although HCB exposure has been reduced, the overall population under study still accumulates significant amounts of this possible car cinogen.

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