Alcohol Use and Abuse Conspires With HIV Infection to Aggravate Intestinal Dysbiosis and Increase Microbial Translocation in People Living With HIV: A Review

The intestinal microbiome is an essential so-called human “organ”, vital for the induction of innate immunity, for metabolizing nutrients, and for maintenance of the structural integrity of the intestinal barrier. HIV infection adversely influences the richness and diversity of the intestinal microbiome, resulting in structural and functional impairment of the intestinal barrier and an increased intestinal permeability. Pathogens and metabolites may thus cross the “leaky” intestinal barrier and enter the systemic circulation, which is a significant factor accounting for the persistent underlying chronic inflammatory state present in people living with HIV (PLWH). Additionally, alcohol use and abuse has been found to be prevalent in PLWH and has been strongly associated with the incidence and progression of HIV/AIDS. Recently, converging evidence has indicated that the mechanism underlying this phenomenon is related to intestinal microbiome and barrier function through numerous pathways. Alcohol acts as a “partner” with HIV in disrupting microbiome ecology, and thus impairing of the intestinal barrier. Optimizing the microbiome and restoring the integrity of the intestinal barrier is likely to be an effective adjunctive therapeutic strategy for PLWH. We herein critically review the interplay among HIV, alcohol, and the gut barrier, thus setting the scene with regards to development of effective strategies to counteract the dysregulated gut microbiome and the reduction of microbial translocation and inflammation in PLWH.

“Addiction is a strange bastard”: Alcohol(ism) in Irish Fiction

Although it is hard to challenge the claim that alcohol can be considered inherent in Irish culture, the common perception of the fact often feeds on clichés. What helps understand this question is Irish literature. On the one hand, it portrays jubilant festivity to be found in many literary works; on the other, it renders the drama behind alcohol dependency, shifting the focus from joviality towards the more murky aspects of drink consumption, mostly thematised in contemporary literature. This article takes a closer look at how Irish literature renders alcohol use and abuse, and how the literary representations offer a broader perspective, allowing to reconsider some of the stereotypical notions of the proverbial Irish propensity for drink.

Effects of Negative Societal Reaction to Alcoholism on Alcoholics’ Participation in Development Project in Nyahururu Sub County, Laikipia County, Kenya

Many societies across the globe have been using alcohol for religious, social, cultural, and recreational purposes for ages. Over the period, societies have come to recognize the negative outcomes of alcohol misuse to individual users, their families, and the society in general. Different societies therefore adopted various ways of controlling alcohol misuse, mainly guided by a society’s cultural and social norms. Norms related to alcohol use and misuse therefore plays an important role in determining how a specific society reacts to alcohol use and abuse. Negative societal reaction to alcoholism and alcoholics influences levels of alcoholics’ interaction with other members of the society as well as their access to information on development projects in their localities. Alcoholics’ reaction on societal sanctions related to alcoholism and alcoholics determines as well determines their level of marginalization. Level of alcoholics’ social interaction and access to information, influences their participation in development project. This article explores effects of negative societal reaction to alcoholism on alcoholics’ participation in development projects in Nyahururu Sub County, Kenya. It outlines the findings, conclusions and recommendations of the study with a view of creating awareness on identified effects and recommends ways of minimizing alcoholics’ marginalization in development projects.