Markers of Intestinal Permeability Are Rapidly Improved by Alcohol Withdrawal in Patients with Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

Changes in intestinal microbiome and barrier function are critical in the development of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). Here, we determined the effects of a one-week alcohol withdrawal on parameters of intestinal barrier function in heavy drinkers with ALD in comparison to healthy non-drinkers (controls). In serum samples of 17 controls (m = 10/f = 7) and 37 age-matched ALD patients (m = 26/f = 11) undergoing a one-week alcohol withdrawal, markers of liver health and intestinal barrier function were assessed. Liver damage, e.g., fibrosis and hepatic steatosis, were assessed using FibroScan. Before alcohol withdrawal, markers of liver damage, lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) and overall TLR4/TLR2 ligands in serum were significantly higher in ALD patients than in controls, whereas intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) and zonulin protein concentrations in serum were lower. All parameters, with the exception of LBP, were significantly improved after alcohol withdrawal; however, not to the level of controls. Our data suggest that one-week of abstinence improves markers of intestinal barrier function and liver health in ALD patients.     

Alcohol Use as a Function of Physical Activity and Golfing Motives in a National Sample of United States Golfers

Alcohol and physical inactivity are risk factors for a variety of cancer types. However, alcohol use often co-occurs with physical activity (PA), which could mitigate the cancer-prevention benefits of PA. Alcohol is integrated into the culture of one of the most popular physical activities for adults in the United States (U.S.), golf. This study examined how alcohol use was associated with total PA, golf-specific PA, and motives for golfing in a national sample of golfers in the U.S. Adult golfers (n = 338; 51% male, 81% White, 46 ± 14.4 years) self-reported alcohol use, golfing behavior and motives, and PA. Most (84%) golfers consumed alcohol, averaging 7.91 servings/week. Golf participation, including days/week, holes/week, and practice hours/week, was not associated with alcohol use. Golfers with stronger social motives were 60% more likely to consume alcohol. Weekly walking (incident risk ratio (IRR) = 7.30), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA; IRR = 5.04), and total PA (IRR = 4.14) were associated with more alcohol servings/week. Golfers’ alcohol use may be higher than the general adult population in the U.S. and contributes 775 extra kilocalories/week, a surplus that may offset PA-related energy expenditure and cancer-protective effects. Alcohol use interventions targeting golfers may facilitate weight loss and reduce cancer risk, especially for golfers motivated by social status.     

Gut Microbiota Prevents Sugar Alcohol-Induced Diarrhea

While poorly-absorbed sugar alcohols such as sorbitol are widely used as sweeteners, they may induce diarrhea in some individuals. However, the factors which determine an individual’s susceptibility to sugar alcohol-induced diarrhea remain unknown. Here, we show that specific gut bacteria are involved in the suppression of sorbitol-induced diarrhea. Based on 16S rDNA analysis, the abundance of Enterobacteriaceae bacteria increased in response to sorbitol consumption. We found that Escherichia coli of the family Enterobacteriaceae degraded sorbitol and suppressed sorbitol-induced diarrhea. Finally, we showed that the metabolism of sorbitol by the E. coli sugar phosphotransferase system helped suppress sorbitol-induced diarrhea. Therefore, gut microbiota prevented sugar alcohol-induced diarrhea by degrading sorbitol in the gut. The identification of the gut bacteria which respond to and degrade sugar alcohols in the intestine has implications for microbiome science, processed food science, and public health.     

Associations of Lifestyle Factors with Osteopenia and Osteoporosis in Polish Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Reduced physical activity (PA), smoking, and coffee and alcohol drinking constitute risk factors of osteoporosis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the study was to measure the bone mineral density (BMD) and frequency of osteopenia and osteoporosis in patients with IBD and their correlation with PA, smoking, coffee, and alcohol. The study group consisted of 208 patients with IBD-103 with Crohn’s disease (CD), 105 suffering from ulcerative colitis (UC). Densitometric measurements were performed using the DXA. All patients completed a questionnaire concerning PA, smoking, and coffee and alcohol consumption. The prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis (L2–L4) in the IBD group was 48.1%; in the CD group, it amounted to 48.6%, and in the UC group, the prevalence was equal to 33.3%. Patients with CD who were diagnosed with osteopenia and osteoporosis demonstrated reduced PA compared to patients with a normal BMD who exercised regularly (p = 0.0335). A similar observation was made in the group of women with IBD. Women with a normal BMD exercised significantly more often than women suffering from osteopenia and osteoporosis (p = 0.0146). However, no differences in BMD were observed with regard to coffee use, alcohol consumption, or smoking. Thus, since the incidence of osteoporosis in IBD patients is high, it may be dependent on PA.     

Small area influences on the individual unhealthy lifestyle behaviors: A multilevel analysis of discriminatory accuracy

We estimated the discriminatory power of area of residence (census tract) on the prevalence of main risk factors for chronic diseases. Results, based on a sample of 21,007 participants from the 2011–2012 National Health Survey of Spain, show a differential influence of the geosocial environment on the four health risk factors. Accounting for census tracts substantially increases the discriminatory power regarding at-risk alcohol consumption, unbalanced diet, and leisure-time sedentarism but not tobacco consumption. However, the socioeconomic characteristics of the tracts played a minor role. Further research on the specific geosocial contextual variables explaining variability in these risk factors is necessary.     

磁处理对白酒、乙醇等液体粘度的影响

目的：探讨白酒经磁处理后粘度下降与白酒中乙醇及自来水粘度变化的关系。方法：用奥氏粘度计平行测定磁处理和未经磁处理的白酒、乙醇、自来水和蒸馏水的粘度。结果：与未经磁处理的白酒、无水乙醇、自来水、蒸馏水相比,磁处理白酒的粘度降低0．8900s;磁处理乙醇的粘度降低0．3800s;磁处理自来水的粘度降低0．1566s;而磁处理蒸馏水的粘度升高0．1867s,差异均显著或非常显著（P＜0．05,P＜0．01）。结论：白酒经磁处理后其粘度降低与其主要成份乙醇及自来水粘度下降有关。     

冰糖增加口服四环素吸收作用机理的初步研究

目的 :对中药冰糖增加口服四环素吸收作用机理进行初步的实验研究。方法 :参考 Masahiro Fukahori等介绍的方法 ,分别给大白鼠单独口服 (灌胃 )四环素或合并不同浓度冰糖溶液 (2 0 %、40 %、6 0 %、80 % )口服 (灌胃 )后 ,采用改进的荧光光度法测定血药浓度及肠内液药物浓度及含量 ,并称量与比较肠内容物量。结果 :合并使用冰糖可使大白鼠血中四环素的浓度明显提高 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,并在 2 0 %～ 6 0 %范围内呈明显的线性关系 ,而肠道内液四环素的含量则明显降低 (P<0 .0 5 )。但肠道内容物量与冰糖浓度并无明显相关性。结论 :冰糖可明显增加大白鼠口服四环素在肠道的吸收 ;而冰糖浓度对肠腔液体量没有明显影响。结果提示冰糖增加口服四环素吸收可能通过主动吸收过程。     

不同浓度酒精灭活后的国人成骨肉瘤细胞超微结构的变化

目的 :探讨两种不同浓度的酒精灭活骨肉瘤细胞 (OS- 732 )后细胞内部结构变化和临床应用价值。方法 :75%和 95%酒精灭活骨肉瘤细胞 ,光镜和电镜下观察细胞形态 ,MTT法检测细胞活性。结果 :灭活后的细胞内部结构发生明显改变 ,形成不可逆性损伤。 MTT法检测证明处理后的肿瘤细胞已无生存能力。结论 :两种浓度的酒精对骨肉瘤细胞的灭活是有效的 ,为临床上骨肉瘤的保肢治疗提供良好的选择。     

大鼠酒精性肝病血浆内毒素水平及其对肝脏的损害作用

目的　观察实验性大鼠酒精性肝病时血浆内毒素水平及其在酒精性肝损害中的作用。方法　随机将Wistar大鼠分为乙醇喂养组和葡萄糖喂养对照组。乙醇喂养组大鼠饮水中加入乙醇 (剂量 5～ 1 2 g·kg-1·d-1)喂养 ,对照组饮水中加入相同量的葡萄糖。两组大鼠分别于 4周和 8周活杀取材测定其血浆中内毒素浓度变化及血清中谷丙转氨酶 (ALT)水平变化 ,并在光镜和电镜下观察肝脏的形态学改变。结果　乙醇喂养组大鼠喂养 4周和 8周时血浆内毒素浓度分别为 1 2 9± 2 1 pg/ml和 1 87±3 5pg/ml,明显高于对照组的 48± 9pg/ml和 53± 1 1 pg/ml(P <0 0 5) ;乙醇组血清ALT浓度为 1 1 2± 1 5IU/L和 1 47± 2 2IU/L。也明显高于对照组的 3 1± 1 2IU/L和 3 3± 9IU/L(P <0 0 5)。乙醇组肝组织发生显著的病理变化 ,主要表现为脂肪变性、炎性细胞浸润及细胞坏死。对照组肝组织病理变化不明显。结论　乙醇能诱导大鼠血中内毒素浓度升高 ,造成肝脏损害     

大学生饮酒情况和相关问题的调查

①目的　了解大学生饮酒情况及相关问题。②方法　采用整群抽样调查方法 ,使用自行设计的调查问卷 ,调查了 16 2 4例 18～ 2 2岁的大学生饮酒情况及其相关的社会、心理和躯体问题。③结果　 16 2 4例大学生中有 82 9例饮酒 ,饮酒率为 5 1.1% ,男生饮酒率为 78.8% ,女生饮酒率为 2 4.1% ,男生饮酒率明显高于女生 ,差异有极显著意义 (χ2 =486 .36 ,P <0 .0 0 1) ;饮酒引起的与躯体损害有关的疾病以消化道疾病为主 ;饮酒的原因除了自身的因素外 ,家庭和社会因素起着重要作用。饮酒组学生的学习成绩低于非饮酒组。④结论　饮酒影响了大学生心身健康和学习成绩