<UL>
<LI>Drinking among adults has traditionally been linked to individual characteristics</LI>
<LI>The influence of friends on adult drinking habits may have been underestimated</LI>
<LI>The year before marriage is considered a key…
Alcohol, Friends and Courtship
Untangling the Matrix of Risk Factors for Alcoholism
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<LI>A family history of alcoholism places a person at greater risk of developing alcohol problems</LI>
<LI>Children of alcoholics also tend to exhibit other types of behavioral and emotional problems</LI>
<LI>The neurotransmitter…
Measuring Alcohol Levels in Breath, Blood … and Now the Brain
- The brain is a critical organ system through which alcohol’s effects can lead to intoxication, tolerance and dependence
- Scientists have found a new means to measure directly alcohol concentrations throughout the brain
- The technology is called proton (1H)…
Alcohol and the Human Fetal Brain
- The first step in the metabolism of alcohol is its conversion to acetaldehyde (AcHO)
- AcHO is a highly reactive and toxic chemical that can damage the cells of all living things
- In adults, AcHO is blocked from entering the brain
- The prenatal brain may metabolize…
Fine-Tuning Naltrexone Treatment for Alcoholics
- In 1994, the Food and Drug Administration approved naltrexone for the treatment of alcoholism
- It has since proven to be highly effective for many in recovery, but it does not work for everyone
- A recent study has found that individual metabolism may be a factor in…
Beyond the French Paradox
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the single largest killer of U.S. males and females
- CHD is caused by partial or complete clogging of the coronary arteries that nourish the heart
- Atherosclerosis refers to the accumulation of fatty streak lesions in the coronary arteries…
Tracking a Genetic Basis for Alcohol-Related Hypertension
- Hypertension (high blood pressure) leads to strokes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease
- Chronic alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for hypertension
- The human and mouse genomes share a high similarity in their makeup
- A study has found that one…
When Alcohol and Nicotine Interact
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<LI>A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) indicates both a level of intoxication and severity of toxicity</LI>
<LI>Nicotine can significantly reduce the peak BAC among newborn rodents</LI>
<LI>People who drink and smoke at the same time…
Exploring the Complexities of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
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<LI>Prenatal alcohol exposure remains the leading cause of mental retardation in the United States</LI>
<LI>Children prenatally exposed to alcohol demonstrate distinct deficits in social and adaptive behavior</LI>
<LI>Researchers have…
Pregnancy, Drugs & Alcohol, Emotional Instability: What Nightmares Are Made of
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<LI>Psychopathology is the study of emotional, behavioral and psychological problems</LI>
<LI>Pregnant women with co-occurring alcohol and drug dependencies have a unique psychopathology</LI>
<LI>They have more symptoms of depression,…