0000000000190294
AUTHOR
Hubertus Himmerich
Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) and HDL cholesterol (HDL) are highly correlated in male alcohol dependent patients.
Background: Serum levels of total HDL cholesterol (HDL) are reportedly influenced by recent alcohol intake. We examined the correlation between HDL cholesterol and widely used markers of excessive alcohol intake, such as carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), γ-glutamyl-transferase (GGT), or mean corpuscular volume of erythrocytes (MCV), of which CDT is thought to be the most specific. Methods: Several serological markers [i.e., CDT, GGT, aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), MCV, and HDL] were determined in 100 actively drinking male patients with alcohol dependence (DSM-IV) and in 27 non-alcohol-dependent controls, according to routine procedures. Spearman…
Distigmine bromide induced acute psychotic disorder in a patient with multiple sclerosis.
AbstractA female patient with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffered from an acute psychotic disorder after taking distigmine bromide for detrusor dysfunction. She showed a dramatic relief of her symptoms after the medication, distigmine bromide, was stopped. Distigmine is not supposed to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, in MS patients a leakage of the BBB could be hypothesized.
Reliability and validity of the German version of the European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI).
This study provides data on the psychometric characteristics of the German version of the European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI). The ASI is a frequently used clinical and research instrument that measures problem severity among people with substance dependence.The German ASI was used in a sample of 112 consecutively admitted male psychiatric inpatients seeking treatment for severe alcohol problems. The conceptual structure of the German ASI subscales was investigated by analyzing the intercorrelations of the severity ratings and composite scores. Internal consistency, interrater reliability and concurrent validity in terms of correlations with other assessment instruments were evalua…
Vitamin B12 and hepatic enzyme serum levels correlate in male alcohol-dependent patients.
- Vitamin B12 serum levels and markers for alcohol consumption were determined in 80 male alcohol-dependent patients. Spearman correlation coefficients (r(S)) were calculated. Significant positive correlations between vitamin B12 and hepatic enzyme values were found (gamma-glutamyltransferase: r(S) = 0.58; alanine aminotransferase: r(S) = 0.43; aspartate aminotransferase: r(S) = 0.47; glutamate dehydrogenase: r(S) = 0.43; all P:0.001). Therefore, for a proper interpretation of vitamin B12 levels, it may be clinically relevant to take markers of hepatocellular damage into account.
No Association Between the Dopamine D2 Receptor Taq I A1 Allele and Earlier Age of Onset of Alcohol Dependence According to Different Specified Criteria
BACKGROUND: The presence of the A1 allele of the dopamine D2 receptor TaqI restriction fragment length polymorphism has been reported to be associated with an earlier age of onset of alcohol dependence as a marker for severity. METHODS: We tested this hypothesis with special regard to the definition of the age of onset of alcoholism in 243 patients with alcohol dependence, according to DSM-IV criteria assessed by the standardized interview Munchner Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI), consecutively admitted for detoxification. Additionally, the Addiction Severity Index (ASI) was performed. The TaqIA polymorphism was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the PCR…
Differentiating moderate and severe depression using the Montgomery–Åsberg depression rating scale (MADRS)
MADRS cut-off scores for moderate and severe depression were estimated in relation to the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD(17)) and the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI).HAMD(17), MADRS, and CGI ratings from patients with major depression (DSM-IV) were analyzed (N=85). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were applied.Mean age was 51.4+/-14.5 years, 69% were female. Mean MADRS scores were 23.4+/-13.2, HAMD(17), MADRS, and CGI scores were highly correlated (r0.85; P0.0001). Best separation between moderate and severe depression according to CGI criteria was achieved with a MADRS score of 31 (sensitivity 93.5%, specificity 83.3%).Studies to validate severity gradations …
The TPH intron 7 A218C polymorphism and TCI dimension scores in alcohol-dependent patients: hints to nonspecific psychopathology
Abstract Aims A linkage of certain alleles of the tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) intron 7 A218C polymorphism to suicidality and antisocial behaviour has been described. The aim of our study was to find any association between dimensions of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) indicating impulsivity and the TPH polymorphism alleles in unselected alcohol-dependent patients and age-matched controls. Methods We examined 159 alcohol-dependent patients and 161 controls with the TCI and genotyped them for the TPH intron 7 A218C polymorphism alleles. Results Although homozygous TPH genotypes were found more often in alcohol-dependent patients than in controls, an association between TCI dime…