Browsing by Subject "alcohol"

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Acetaldehyde Adducts in Alcoholic Liver Disease
    (2010) Setshedi, Mashiko; Wands, Jack R; de la Monte, Suzanne M
    Chronic alcohol abuse causes liver disease that progresses from simple steatosis through stages of steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and eventually hepatic failure. In addition, chronic alcoholic liver disease (ALD), with or without cirrhosis, increases risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Acetaldehyde, a major toxic metabolite, is one of the principal culprits mediating fibrogenic and mutagenic effects of alcohol in the liver. Mechanistically, acetaldehyde promotes adduct formation, leading to functional impairments of key proteins, including enzymes, as well as DNA damage, which promotes mutagenesis. Why certain individuals who heavily abuse alcohol, develop HCC (7.2–15%) versus cirrhosis (15–20%) is not known, but genetics and co-existing viral infection are considered pathogenic factors. Moreover, adverse effects of acetaldehyde on the cardiovascular and hematologic systems leading to ischemia, heart failure, and coagulation disorders, can exacerbate hepatic injury and increase risk for liver failure. Herein, we review the role of acetaldehyde adducts in the pathogenesis of chronic ALD and HCC.
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    Forensic Medicine - Alcohol Metabolism
    (2021-11-16) De Waal, Celeste
    This lightboard video is the second of three in a series, and linked to the re-enactment of the examination of an intoxicated driver video. This video graphically depicts the metabolism of alcohol as related to the (blood) alcohol curve. This foundational knowledge underscores the principles behind the examination of the intoxicated individual. It touches on aspects related to the timing of the collection of a suitable sample, mostly blood, to analyse the alcohol concentration of an arrested individual. This video can be applicable across health professions from medical students to doctors and nursing staff.
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    Forensic Medicine - Alcohol Properties
    (2021-11-16) Taylor, Laura
    This lightboard video is the first of three in a series, and linked to the re-enactment of the examination of an intoxicated driver video. This video graphically depicts the properties of alcohol as a foundation to the understanding of the effect of alcohol on the body of different individuals. This is an introduction to important principles prior to tackling the metabolism of alcohol and applying alcohol calculations related to the blood alcohol concentration. This video can be applicable across health professions from medical students to doctors and nursing staff.
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    Growth and weight status in treatment-naive 12-16 year old adolescents with Alcohol Use Disorders in Cape Town, South Africa
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2011) Naude, Celeste; Senekal, Marjanne; Laubscher, Ria; Carey, Paul; Fein, George
    BACKGROUND: Heavy alcohol consumption during adolescence has many known harmful health and social consequences and is strongly associated with numerous health risk behaviours. The consequences of heavy alcohol use during adolescence on nutritional status, specifically growth and weight status are largely unknown at this time. METHODS: Substance use, anthropometric indices of growth and weight, dietary energy intake and physical activity in heavy drinking adolescents (meeting DSM-IV criteria for alcohol use disorders) and matched light/non-drinking control adolescents were assessed. RESULTS: Lifetime alcohol dose, measured in standard drinks of alcohol, was orders of magnitude higher in adolescents with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) compared to controls. The AUDs group was selected to represent relatively 'pure' AUDs, with minimal other drug use and no psychiatric diagnoses. The growth and weight status of adolescents with AUDs were generally comparable to that of controls, and is in line with the growth and weight status of the South African adolescent population. A greater proportion of overweight/obese females was found in both groups, with this percentage tending to be greater, although not significantly so, in the AUDs group. Adolescent females with AUDs had increased odds of being overweight/obese compared to controls, after adjustment for smoking, physical activity and energy intake. CONCLUSION: Anthropometric indices of growth and weight status of participants in the Control and AUD groups were generally comparable. Female adolescents with AUDs may have an increased risk of being overweight/obese compared to adolescent females without AUDs. The presence of an AUD in our adolescent sample was associated with higher energy intake. Longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the effects of heavy alcohol use on energy balance, growth and weight status in adolescents as they age. Nonetheless, the current study contributes to our understanding of the impacts of heavy alcohol consumption on important aspects of adolescent development.
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    Reducing substance use and sexual risk behaviour among men who have sex with men in South Africa
    (2016) Parry, Charles DH
    Abstract Men who have sex with men have been identified as a population at risk of acquiring and transmitting HIV. Studies in South Africa have reported a high prevalence of HIV, as well as high levels of alcohol and other drug use, among men who have sex with men, and the use of substances (alcohol and drugs) to facilitate their sexual encounters. Since 2007, interventions focused on prevention have been rolled out to vulnerable men who have sex with men and who also use alcohol or other drugs. The interventions include community-based outreach; provision of information on HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and safer sex practices; and the development of risk-reduction plans. Among 195 men who participated in our study, there were significant reductions in the proportion who used cannabis and ecstasy, including the use of these drugs during sex. No reduction was observed in the use of any other substances. In general, after the intervention our participants reported less frequent use of alcohol and drugs and greater engagement in safer sexual practices. Despite these encouraging findings, the combination of substance use while engaging in sex had actually increased. The study findings suggest that interventions that target men who have sex with men, and who use alcohol and other drugs, could reduce risk behaviours in this population.
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    Relationship between online-learning self-efficacy and risk for psychological distress and harmful substance use in South African university students
    (2022) Henning, Tiffany Joy; Kaminer, Debra
    The COVID-19 pandemic brought about rapid emergency changes in learning formats at universities globally, with a mass migration to online learning. Students' level of online learning self-efficacy (OLSE) may be an important determinant of how they cope with these changes. This study explored whether sociodemographic and online learning context factors are associated with OLSE among South African university students, whether OLSE predicts psychological distress and harmful substance use, and whether level of perceived social support moderates these relationships. It also examined whether psychological distress mediates the relationship between OLSE and problematic substance use. A cross-sectional online survey was administered to students from the University of Cape Town (n = 627). Students who had higher levels of access to online learning resources, and students who were white had higher levels of OLSE, while students on a government bursary and those living in university residences rather than with family members had lower OLSE. Lower OLSE was found to be a significant predictor of higher psychological distress and increased harmful substance use, when controlling for sociodemographic and online learning context factors. Psychological distress mediated the relationships between OLSE and harmful alcohol and marijuana use. Perceived social support did not moderate the relationships between OLSE and mental health difficulties or substance use. These findings indicate that OLSE is an important predictor of how university students cope with online learning demands and suggest that students with lower OLSE should be identified and better supported with strategies to improve their OLSE levels. Further, students with lower OLSE levels may need greater mental health support from universities within the context of online learning, as the existing social supports do not appear to be adequately protective for students.
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    Risk factors for substance use in pregnant women in South Africa
    (2012) Vythilingum, Bavanisha; Roos, Annerine; Faure, Sheila C; Geerts, Lut; Stein, Dan J
    Objectives. To study the prevalence of alcohol and substance use in a South African antenatal population and its correlates with socio-demographic factors, depression and perceived stress. Methods. A prospective self-report study on all women presenting for their first antenatal visit who consented to the study at a midwife obstetric unit (MOU) in the East Metropole district, Cape Town, using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT), Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Statistical analyses using the chi-square test, separate one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) and logistic regression analyses were performed as appropriate. Outcome measures were depression, alcohol use and substance use. Results. The questionnaire was completed by 323 women. During pregnancy 36.8% of women smoked, 20.2% used alcohol and 4% used substances. Using EDS cut-off scores of 12 and 15, respectively, 48.9% and 33.6% of the sample had scores consistent with major depression. An EDS cut-off score of 12 was significantly associated with both alcohol use (25.9% v. 15.2%, p=0.019) and risky drinking (76.9% v. 36.8%, p=0.04), while an EDS cut-off score of 15 was significantly associated with substance use (8.2% v. 1.4%, p=0.004) as well as alcohol dependence (23.1% v. 3.1%). Conclusions. We found high rates of both alcohol abuse and antenatal depression, and a significant association between depression, substance use and alcohol abuse; EDS scores greater than 12 could be used to identify women at risk of alcohol dependence and/or substance abuse.
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    Violence, alcohol and symptoms of depression and in Cape Town's poorest communities: results of a community survey
    (2018-04-20) Cassidy, Tali; Lloyd, Sam; Bowman, Brett; Myers, J E; Parry, Charles; Makanga, Tatenda; Corrigall, Joanne; Thompson, Mary Lou; Matzopoulos, Richard
    Introduction This paper summarises key findings from the first of three household surveys conducted in three high-violence areas in the Cape Town, investigating community members’ experiences of alcohol use, their built environment, violence and symptoms of depression, together with their views on alcohol and other interventions. Methods A stratified random sample of 1500 dwellings, 1200 in Khayelitsha and 300 in Gugulethu and Nyanga (“Gunya”) was selected using GIS address data for formal areas and aerial photography for informal areas. Fieldwork took place from July to November 2013. Responses to questions were summarized by area, gender, age and formal vs. informal settlement type. Results After substitution and data cleaning, 1213 Khayelitsha households and 286 Gunya households were included. In Gunya, 29% of respondents reported that they or their family members had been affected by at least one violent crime (murder, assault, domestic violence, rape) in the past year, compared with 12% in Khayelitsha. Using a CES-D-10 cut-off of 10, 44% of respondents were classified as depressed. More than half the respondents reported having experienced some form of alcohol nuisance. Respondents were supportive of alcohol interventions such as increased taxes and police regulation of outlets, particularly in Gunya (87%) and amongst female respondents (76%). Satisfaction with infrastructure such as street lighting and drainage was generally low. Conclusions The results describe the co-occurring burdens of alcohol and drug use, violence, depression and deprivation in our study populations.