Alcohol and atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is manifested as coronary artery disease (CAD), ischemic stroke and peripheral vascular disease. Moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with reduction of CAD complications. Apparently, red wine offers more benefits than any other kind of drinks, probably due to flavonoids. Alcohol alters lipoproteins and the coagulation system. The flavonoids induce vascular relaxation by mechanisms that are both dependent and independent of nitric oxide, inhibits many of the cellular reactions associated with atherosclerosis and inflammation, such as endothelial expression of vascular adhesion molecules and release of cytokines from polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Hypertension is also influenced by the alcohol intake. Thus, heavy alcohol intake is almost always associated with systemic hypertension, and hence shall be avoided. In individuals that ingest excess alcohol, there is higher risk of coronary occlusion, arrhythmias, hepatic cirrhosis, upper gastrointestinal cancers, fetal alcohol syndrome, murders, sex crimes, traffic and industrial accidents, robberies, and psychosis. Alcohol is no treatment for atherosclerosis; but it doesn't need to be prohibited for everyone. Thus moderate amounts of alcohol (1-2 drinks/day), especially red wine, may be allowed for those at risk for atherosclerosis complications.     

Metabolism of Alcohol

Ethanol can be used as a calorie source in normal man. The metabolism of ethanol is, however, quite unique. It changes the redox potential of the liver cells and decreases the activity in the citric acid cycle. These changes have important effects on carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism in a way which makes the use of this calorie source questionable. Other effects, on hormone and drug metabolism for instance, make the question mark still bigger.
In the treatment of post-traumatic patients, it does not seem justified today to use ethanol as a source of caloric supply. Other effects on normal man achieved by peroral use of ethanol can possibly be tolerated, if they are not experienced too frequently.     

Fatal penetrating injuries caused by incorrect use of angular abrasive wheels

Two workmen suffered avoidable fatal injuries from broken parts of abrasive wheels during inexpert handling of these machine tools. The high kinetic energy of these broken machine parts can exercise an effect like bullets.     

Influence of Moderate Alcohol Intake on Thiopental Anesthesia

The relationship between alcohol intake over the week preceding anesthesia and various anesthetic parameters was examined in 119 women scheduled for termination of pregnancy under thiopental-nitrous oxide anesthesia. In terms of pure alcohol, the weekly intake was 1.0±1.09 ml·kg^-1 (mean±s.d.), range 0–5.93. i.e. below average consumption in Denmark. Alcohol intake was negatively correlated with anesthetic sleeping time (P <0.01). Time and quality of anesthesia induction and frequency of anesthetic complications were not significantly correlated with the use of alcohol. Preanesthetic anxiety was not significantly correlated with any of the above data. Induction time and postoperative awareness were positively and sleeping time negatively correlated with age (P <0.05). The results indicate cross-tolerance between alcohol and thiopental, even when the regular intake of the former is low, and increasing thiopental requirements with increasing age.     

Well on wheels intervention: Satisfaction with life and health for adults with spinal cord injuries

Objective/Background: To examine how demographic and injury characteristics identify satisfaction with life (SWL), and assess the differential effects of a wellness intervention by baseline SWL groups.

Design: Baseline and longitudinal analysis of a randomized controlled pilot intervention using decision tree regression and linear mixed models.

Setting: Community based.

Participants: Seventy-two individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) were randomized to an intervention group (n?=?39) or control group (n?=?33). Participants were aged 44.1?±?13.0 years and 13.1?±?10.6 years post-injury. Most participants were male (n?=?50; 69.4%) and had paraplegia (n?=?38; 52.7%). Participants were classified as high versus low SWL at baseline using a cutoff score of 20.

Interventions: The intervention aimed to increase self-efficacy, and in turn, increase engagement in health-promoting behaviors related to SWL. Six 4-hour in-person workshops were conducted over a 3-month period led by experts and peer-mentors who were available for support.

Outcome measure(s): Self-efficacy for health practices, secondary condition severity, health-promoting behaviors, perceived stress, and SWL.

Results: At baseline, participants with low SWL were recently injured (<4.5 years), while persons with high SWL were married and younger (<49 years old). Intervention participants with low SWL at baseline significantly improved SWL over time compared to those with high SWL (P?=?0.02).

Conclusion: Certain injury and demographic characteristics were associated with SWL, and intervention participants with low SWL at baseline improved their SWL over 2 years. Healthcare providers should consider time post-injury, marital status, and age in identifying individuals at risk for low SWL that may benefit from wellness interventions.     

饮酒与骨质疏松症

本文主要总结酒精性骨质疏松发病机制的研究进展,包括中医学的病因病机和病理变化,饮酒量与骨质疏松的关系,说明了酒精对骨髓基质细胞、成骨细胞、破骨细胞、钙调节激素、肝脏、性腺及营养等方面的影响,并且指出该病的研究现状和存在的问题,需要进一步深入研究,而从中西医结合角度研究将会是一个新的研究方向。     

生物降解聚乙烯醇研究进展

聚乙烯醇(PVA)在纺织工业中被广泛用作上浆剂.经PVA上浆的棉织物必须经过退浆处理,以增加棉织物对水的吸收性.相对于传统的热水退浆法,生物降解PVA可以节省较多的热能,其生物分解性好,没有二次污染.因此,很多研究者致力于PVA的生物降解的研究并已取得一定的研究成果.在总结文献的基础上,重点介绍了PVA降解菌的培养特性、共生关系,PVA降解酶的性质及对PVA的生物降解过程,PVA降解酶相关基因的研究进展,并给出了PVA降解酶将来可能的发展方向.     

Craniofacial lesions by grindstone wheels

The authors report two new cases of craniofacial lesions due to the explosion of grindstone wheels and consider, after a short technological introduction, the specific features of these lesions diagnostically and therapeutically. These wheels are subject to mechanical shocks, may be run too fast for their capabilities, and may become overheated during use. In explosions, fragments may penetrate deeply, and are frequently small and difficult to see on X-rays because they are not very radio-opaque. Prevention of these injuries is most important: when they happen, surgeons must search carefully for all fragments.     

Alcohol and anaesthesia

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. Key points

Consumption of alcohol is widespread in British societyand a common co-factor in emergency hospital admissions.

Morbidityassociated with chronic alcohol abuse appears to be increasingand affecting younger patients.

Anaesthetists must considerthe acute and chronic effects of alcohol at all stages of thepatient pathway.

Alcohol withdrawal is a potentially life-threateningcomplication that must be diagnosed and actively managed.

Anaesthetistsare as susceptible to alcohol-related disease as others in thesame socio-economic group.

  Two-thirds of adults in England drink alcohol on a weekly basis,and 30% drink more than the recommended daily level.¹ Amongchildren, 46% of 15 yr olds and 3% of 11 yr olds admit to drinkingperiodically.² Alcohol misuse is estimated to cost the NHS £3 billionper year. Alcohol-related disease was the primary or secondarydiagnosis for over 180 000 NHS hospital admissions in 2004/2005.³This includes a doubling in the number . . . [Full Text of this Article]