The trauma questionnaire proposed as a brief and non-intimidating instrument to identify alcohol abuse was applied in a Brazilian group of 109 known alcoholics and 109 non-alcoholics. Although the sensitivity (66%) and specificity (81%) values found were similar to figures previously reported, it was found that sensitivity is influenced by the respondents socioeconomic background. The finding that the only direct item on drinking was the one that most contributed to the sensitivity of the test was discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Monitoring alcoholism treatment: the appropriateness of choice between gamma GT or MCV evaluation after a short time of abstinence.

Gamma glutamyl transferase (gamma GT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were evaluated in 58 alcoholics entering alcoholism treatment. The same patients were reassessed after one month of abstinence. Group results revealed a significant reduction of gamma GT from 80.2 to 43.1 IU/l while no alteration was detected for MCV (from 97.1 to 96.7 mu 3). However, individual analysis showed that the average MCV results obtained from the 2nd evaluation masked important within-individual differences. Thus, although a considerable percentage of alcoholics with initial high values showed an improvement, 44% of those with initial normal results had abnormally high reevaluation values. Limitations of serial MCV measurement during alcoholism treatment follow-up are discussed in light of these data.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation between biological state markers of alcohol abuse and severity of alcohol dependence syndrome.

Data on the correlation between the degree of severity of the alcohol dependence syndrome, as evaluated through the Short Alcohol Dependence Data (SADD) questionnaire, and alterations of four biological state markers of alcohol abuse, namely gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), glutamate oxalacetate transaminase (SGOT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), in a sample of 137 alcoholics, are presented. A significant increase in the proportion of altered GGT and SGOT results was found in those patients with higher scores in the SADD. The analysis of the correlation (Spearman coefficient) between the values of each biological test and the SADD scores showed only a significant, though low, positive correlation for SGOT (r = 0.29).

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Lack of effect of the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist Ro 15-1788 on ethanol-induced intoxication in mice.

The effects of 3, 6 and 48 mg/kg of the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist Ro 15-1788 on the ethanol-induced depressant action were evaluated in mice. These results support and extend previous findings in experimental animals and show that Ro 15-1788 in doses devoid of intrinsic effects, does not antagonize the motor impairment, hypnotic effect or lethality induced by ethanol.

Alcoholic Intoxication↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Increased stimulatory effect by the combined administration of cocaine and alcohol in mice.

Locomotor activity was recorded after 5-30 mg/kg of cocaine in mice pretreated or not with a stimulant dose of ethanol (2.0 g/kg). The increase in locomotion induced by the association of cocaine plus ethanol was significantly larger when compared to either the group injected with only cocaine or only ethanol.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Use of substances for immediate management of pain in patients with headache. Study in an ambulatory population].

Data about the use of pain relieving drugs in 411 patients, collected during 24 months are presented. The patients were interviewed personally by one of the authors during a selection process. Demographic data were obtained as well as information about headaches and other pains, duration of the disease, previous headache treatment, clinical characteristics of the headache and a diagnostic hypothesis was formulated. Regarding the use of medication the following factors were considered: amount and quality of medication taken, duration of disease, person responsible for the prescription and awareness of side effects. The results showed that 82% of the patients used substances for immediate relief to headache. Eighty per cent of these patients used commercial products without ergot derivatives, 9% with ergot derivatives and 12%, both. At the same time, 27% of the patients used 3 or more commercial products. The most frequently used substance was dipyrone. Several patients used, as PRD, substances without these properties. Forty eight per cent of the patients used PRD daily or more than once a day and 63% used them for over 90 days. Thirty two per cent of the patients used 5 or more doses of PRD during one single crisis of pain. Seventy four per cent of the patients used self-medication and 81% were not aware of side effects. The present data indicate that the use of PRD is high and chronic. The main implications of this fact and preventive measures are discussed.

Adult↗