The Effect of Low Alcohol Consumption during Pregnancy on the Metabolic Processes of Women and Their Alcohol-Exposed Babies

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of low or very low amounts of alcohol consumption on the LPO-AOD systems of pregnant women and their infants after birth, and the effect of that exposure on infant, growth, health, and development. Methods and Results: A sample of 201 pregnant women (mother-child dyads) was recruited for the study. Pregnant women were categorized into three groups according to the amount of alcohol they consume: 1) non-drinking, 2) very low drinking, and 3) low drinking. Small amounts of alcohol consumption caused dysfunction of the LPO-AOD system and the development of OS in women, and had negative effects on infants. The biomarkers of potentially harmful LPO, such as TBARs, were higher in very low and low drinking mothers. The activity of the AOD system was lower among mothers who drank alcohol. Alcohol consumption decreased levels of retinol, SOD activity, GSH, and GR activity. Higher rates of pathological conditions, delayed development, and slower growth were observed among infants who were prenatally exposed to alcohol. Conclusion: Identification and preventive interventions are needed for pregnant women who use alcohol in any amount.

Determination of Brew Fermentation Rate Using Tithonia diversifolia Catalyst

The consumption of alcoholic drinks have highly risen recently to a situation whereby there is a deficit in the stores, this is due to the higher demand compared to supply. Due to the high prices of most of the industrialized brews, consumers have opted for locally brewed drinks. Although locally manufactured brews are not recognized and certified by law, most are of good quality and with low cost of production. The use of Tithonia diversifolia can be employed to aid in improvement of the rate of production of local and industrialized brews. The main aim of this project was to improve the rate of fermentation of alcoholic beverage using both Tithonia diversifolia leaves extracts and iron II nanoparticles derived from it. It was observed that the plant catalyst reduced the time taken to produce alcohol. Alcohol fermentation rate in presence of yeast and with a tithonia extract as catalyst was measured, Rates of alcohol production was measured by UV VIS at intervals of one hour and deduced from a calibration curve. From the data, the alcohol content was higher in the sample catalyzed by the complexed extract and the one containing extracts as the catalyst as compared to the one without a catalyst. The percentage ethanol was able to be detected by finding absorbances (beer lambert law A = e l c.).

Google Trends on Obesity, Smoking and Alcoholism: Global and Country-Specific Interest

Unhealthy habits or lifestyles, such as obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption, are involved in the development of non-communicable diseases. The aim of this study was to analyze different communities’ interest in seeking obesity, smoking, and alcohol-related terms through relative search volumes (RSVs) of Google Trends (GT). Internet search query data on obesity, smoking, and alcohol-related terms were obtained from GT from the period between 2010 and 2020. Comparisons and correlations between different topics were calculated considering both global searches and English-, Spanish-, and Italian-speaking areas. Globally, the RSVs for obesity and alcohol-related terms were similar (mean RSVs: 76% and 77%), but they were lower for smoking (65%). High RSVs were found in winter for obesity and smoking-related terms. Worldwide, a negative correlation was found between alcohol and smoking terms (r = −0.72, p < 0.01). In Italy, the correlation was positive (r = 0.58). The correlation between obesity and alcohol was positive in all the cases considered. The interest of global citizens in obesity, smoking, and alcohol was high. The RSVs for obesity were globally higher and correlated with alcohol. Alcohol and smoking terms were related depending on the area considered.

One Pot Tandem Dual C=C and C=O Bond Reductions in β-Alkylation of Secondary Alcohols with Primary Alcohols by Ruthenium Complexes of Amido and Picolyl Functionalized N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

Two different class of ruthenium complexes, namely, [1-mesityl-3-(2,6-Me2-phenylacetamido)-imidazol-2-ylidene]Ru(p-cymene)Cl (1c) and {[1-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-3-(2,6-Me2-phenyl)-imidazol-2-ylidene]Ru(p-cymene)Cl}Cl (2c), successfully carried out the one-pot tandem alcohol-alcohol coupling reactions of a variety of secondary and primary alcohols, in...

Lockdown stress amid COVID-19 on Alcoholics and Drug addicts

Alcohol consumption within the COVID-19 time may be a stress reliever. Loneliness and social distancing results in the increased use of alcohol. Alcohol consumption for endless period during the isolation has created new cases of disorders associated with alcohol use. Especially the increased risk of infection and deteriorating symptoms. Citizens should be properly trained about alcohol-related problems during this emergency period. The Coronavirus Disease pandemic has undoubtedly had a serious impact on the supply of physical healthcare worldwide. The psychological state impact of this pandemic can’t be underestimated, particularly of patients affected by addiction. Heightened public stress and anxiety levels, increasing isolation and therefore the physical consequences of addiction play an outsized role within the proliferation and ongoing relapse of substance misuse and behavioural addiction.

Lockdown stress amid COVID-19 on Alcoholics and Drug addicts

Alcohol consumption within the COVID-19 time may be a stress reliever. Loneliness and social distancing results in the increased use of alcohol. Alcohol consumption for endless period during the isolation has created new cases of disorders associated with alcohol use. Especially the increased risk of infection and deteriorating symptoms. Citizens should be properly trained about alcohol-related problems during this emergency period. The Coronavirus Disease pandemic has undoubtedly had a serious impact on the supply of physical healthcare worldwide. The psychological state impact of this pandemic can’t be underestimated, particularly of patients affected by addiction. Heightened public stress and anxiety levels, increasing isolation and therefore the physical consequences of addiction play an outsized role within the proliferation and ongoing relapse of substance misuse and behavioural addiction.

Structural Systematics of Lanthanide(III) Picrate Solvates: Adducts of the Carboxamide Ligands Dimethylacetamide and N-Methylpyrrolidinone

The carboxamide-O donor ligands dimethylacetamide (dma) and N-methylpyrrolidinone (nmp) form complexes of lanthanide picrates, Ln(pic)3, of stoichiometry Ln(pic)3(carboxamide)3 in a remarkable variety of phases. Complexes [Ln(pic)3(dma)3], Ln=La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Yb, Lu, and Y, adopt the 9-coordinate molecular form of tricapped trigonal-prismatic coordination geometry seen to predominate, as two stereoisomers, in related species involving dimethylsulfoxide (dmso), trimethylphosphate (tmp), and hexamethylphosphoramide (hmpa) but as four different phases (depending on Ln), none of which is the same as for the previously known La complex. For Ln=Pr, 9-coordinate species of composition [Pr(pic)3(dma)2(alcohol)] (alcohol=ethanol and propan-2-ol) have been characterised and a low quality determination indicates that a similar species (with propan-2-ol) is formed by Y. For nmp, the composition [Ln(pic)3(nmp)3] is maintained across the series for Ln=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu but 9-coordination is not for Ln=Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu. A decreased coordination there is a result of one or two picrate ligands acting as phenoxide-O donors only, a marked contrast with the analogous Ln(pic)3 complexes with dmso, tmp, hmpa, and dma, where picrate chelation is universal, but with some parallel to related ScIII complexes. Several polymorph pairs can be identified among the nmp complexes.

Alcohol Dependence Conceptualized as a Stress Disorder

Alcohol use disorder is a chronically relapsing disorder that involves (1) compulsivity to seek and take alcohol, (2) difficulty in limiting alcohol intake, and (3) emergence of a negative emotional state (e.g., dysphoria, anxiety, irritability) in the absence of alcohol. Alcohol addiction encompasses a three-stage cycle that becomes more intense as alcohol use progresses: binge/intoxication, withdrawal/negative affect, and preoccupation/anticipation. These stages engage neuroadaptations in brain circuits that involve the basal ganglia (reward hypofunction), extended amygdala (stress sensitization), and prefrontal cortex (executive function disorder). This chapter discusses key neuroadaptations in the hypothalamic and extrahypothalamic stress systems and the critical role of glucocorticoid receptors. These neuroadaptations contribute to negative emotional states that powerfully drive compulsive alcohol drinking and seeking. These changes in association with a disruption of prefrontal cortex function that lead to cognitive deficits and poor decision making contribute to the chronic relapsing nature of alcohol dependence.

Self-Expression While Drinking Alcohol: Alcohol Influences Personality Expression During First Impressions

People are motivated to be perceived both positively and accurately and, therefore, approach social settings and adopt means that allow them to reach these goals. We investigated whether alcohol consumption helps or hinders the positivity and accuracy of social impressions using a thin-slicing paradigm to better understand the effects of alcohol in social settings and the influence of alcohol on self-expression. These possibilities were tested in a sample of 720 participants randomly assigned to consume an alcohol, placebo, or control beverage while engaged in conversation in three-person groups. We found support for the hypothesis that alcohol (compared with placebo or control) increased the positivity of observers’ personality expression, but did not find support for the hypothesis that alcohol increased the accuracy of personality expression. These findings contribute to our understanding of the social consequences of alcohol consumption, shedding new light on the interpersonal benefits that alcohol can foster.