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Biomedical subjects

J A Ewing

Publications and source records attributed to J A Ewing.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Swift increase in alcohol metabolism in humans.

One hundred and fifteen human male subjects, 19-30 years of age, received ethanol orally as vodka (0.55, 0.7, or 0.85 g/kg) followed by a second drink (0.3-0.4 g/kg) given 3-4 hr later. After both doses, blood ethanol levels reached approximately 100 mg/dl. Breath samples were taken every 20-30 min and rates of ethanol elimination were determined. In addition to the design described above, 100 subjects received 0.7 g/kg ethanol in two separate visits to the laboratory. In a third experimental design, ethanol was given i.v. to 12 subjects. With the single-day experimental design, the frequency distribution of changes in rates of ethanol elimination between the first compared with the second administration of ethanol was not unimodal. Up to 20% of the subjects demonstrated rates more than 40% greater than basal values in response to ethanol. Based on these findings in humans, a Swift Increase in Alcohol Metabolism (SIAM) was defined as an increase in the rate of ethanol elimination of at least 40% over the basal rate. Under these conditions, the frequency of SIAM was dose dependent (studied with 0.55, 0.7, and 0.85 g/kg); nearly 20% of the subjects demonstrated SIAM with a dose of ethanol of 0.85 g/kg. In the two-day experimental design, a SIAM response was also observed in about 10% of 49 well-fed subjects; however, none of 51 subjects tested exhibited a SIAM response following an overnight fast. In addition, a rapid and transient SIAM reflecting a 60% increase in the rate of ethanol elimination above basal values was observed when ethanol was given continuously for 5 hr i.v.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1989

The outbreeding of alcoholism.

A hypothesis on the outbreeding of alcoholism is presented. Supporting evidence includes historical and biologic factors as well as the inverse relationship between the length of exposure to alcohol and the prevalence of alcoholism in societies.

Alcoholic Beverages↗
PubMed1984

Detecting alcoholism. The CAGE questionnaire.

Four clinical interview questions, the CAGE questions, have proved useful in helping to make a diagnosis of alcoholism. The questions focus on Cutting down, Annoyance by criticism, Guilty feeling, and Eye-openers. The acronym "CAGE" helps the physician to recall the questions. How these questions were identified and their use in clinical and research studies are described.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1984

Selective attenuation of ethanol-induced performance impairment by naloxone in humans.

Healthy human subjects performed a vigilance task involving decision making and motor responses under four drug conditions involving random assignment and double blind procedures. Naloxone (0.4 mg) or saline was injected intravenously before subjects consumed a drink of alcohol (0.56 gm ethanol per kg body weight) or a simulated alcoholic drink. Blood alcohol concentrations averaged 60 mg/dl. The impaired performance of the task by this blood alcohol concentration was ameliorated by prior administration of naloxone at one testing point in the study sequence (40 minutes after ingesting the alcohol). The effect was associated with a history of light drinking (mean intake 0.93 gm/kg of body weight/month). Further studies to characterize this phenomenon more fully are proposed.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Are the endorphins involved in mediating the mood effects of ethanol?

The opiate antagonist, naloxone, was used in a double-blind study of endorphin involvement in ethanol intoxication. Naloxone should block the effect of any endorphins released during ethanol intoxication. Healthy human subjects received intravenous (IV) ethanol plus naloxone, IV ethanol plus saline, IV saline plus naloxone, or IV saline plus saline. There were 20 subjects in each group. Anxiety was aroused after administration of the IV fluids. The effects of ethanol were clear in terms of the mood and physiological measures used, but were not modified by naloxone. A mean blood alcohol concentration of 63 mg/100 ml did not modify the experience of anxiety.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Alcohol consumption while viewing alcoholic beverage advertising.

Three hypotheses related to viewing alcoholic beverage advertising were examined: (1) alcohol advertising cues drinkings, (2) alcohol advertising prompts faster drinking, and (3) drinkers are more influenced by alcohol advertising when they are drinking. Alcoholic beverage advertisements did not increase either the quantity of liquor poured in mixed drinks or the rate of drinking. However, subjects with an alcoholic predrink who viewed alcohol advertisements second, drank more and reached higher blood alcohol concentrations than alcohol predrinkers who viewed the alcohol advertisements first. In some situations, distilled spirits advertisements may encourage continued drinking.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Aversive factors in alcohol drinking in humans and animals.

In human subjects there is a wide range of response to the taste of alcohol in varying concentrations. What some people find totally aversive may be accepted with relish by others. Both individual and racial responses to ingested or injected alcohol can be aversive, since markedly dysphoric experiences can occur. Human studies also suggest that the euphorigenic properties of alcohol are very variable between subjects and that this correlates with characteristics of biogenic amines present in the body. Except for relatively low concentrations, the laboratory rat, used commonly in alcohol drinking experiments, avoids the selection of alcohol. Paralleling human studies are animal investigations that manipulate the levels of chemical substances in the brain and demonstrate effects of this upon alcohol self-selection. When certain tetrahydroisoquinolines or beta-carboline substances are infused into the brain of the rat or monkey, the aversive nature of orally ingested alcohol, particularly in very high concentrations, is overcome. In contrast, however, when a high dose of a tetrahydropapaveroline is infused, the animal's volitional intake of alcohol is inhibited and even weak concentrations of alcohol are rejected. The possible mechanisms for this phenomenon and the recent investigations of agents acting on CNS opiate receptors in reinstating alcohol aversion are considered.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMed1980

Corneal arcus as a sign of possible alcoholism.

North Carolina males with alcoholism showed significantly greater age-adjusted prevalence rates of corneal arcus than those without alcoholism. Thus, arcus senilis should always indicate to the physician the need to explore the possibility of alcoholism, particularly when it is detected in males under the age of 60.

Adolescent↗