Changes in cigarette smoking and coffee drinking after alcohol detoxification in alcoholics.

Aims: To assess the changes in cigarette smoking and coffee drinking after alcohol detoxification in alcoholics.

Design: Evaluation at admission and an average 16 days following discharge.

Setting: Alcohol detoxification inpatient programme.

Copper oxidation of in vitro dioleolylphosphatidylcholine-enriched high-density lipoproteins: physicochemical features and cholesterol effluxing capacity.

Susceptibility of lipoproteins to oxidation is partly determined by their content in endogenous antioxidants, but also by the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)/monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) ratio. The aim of our study was to enrich human high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) with dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) in order to modify the PUFA/MUFA ratio while maintainig the alpha-tocopherol/PUFA ratio constant and to appreciate the consequences of this enrichment before and after copper-induced oxidation. The enrichment of HDLs with DOPC was obtained by incubation of these lipoproteins with DOPC liposomes and further reisolation of HDLs.

Joint influence of alcohol, tobacco, and coffee on biological markers of heavy drinking in alcoholics.

Background: Recent reports suggest that gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) decreases with coffee intake. The aim of this study was to examine the joint influence of alcohol, tobacco, cotinine, coffee, and caffeine on biological markers of heavy drinking in an alcoholic population.

Methods: Subjects were 160 alcohol-dependent inpatients.

How useful is aminolevulinic acid dehydratase as a marker of recent alcohol intake?

Erythroycte delta aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) has been suggested as a marker for detecting recent alcohol intake. Unlike other markers, ALAD activity decreases after alcohol intake. Review of the literature suggests that the main interest in this marker is because it increases rapidly after withdrawal.