Limits of usual biochemical alcohol markers in cord blood at term: a fetal/maternal population-based study.

Background: After maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy, many neonates affected by less apparent forms of fetal alcohol syndrome disorder (FASD) do not receive proper diagnosis or treatment. There is thus a need for laboratory markers for early detection of alcohol-exposed neonates. The aim of our study was to assess the efficiency of the usual alcohol biomarkers measured in cord blood to identify alcohol-exposed neonates immediately after birth.

Comparative pilot study of repeated large volume paracentesis vs the combination on clonidine-spironolactone in the treatment of cirrhosis-associated refractory ascites.

Objectives: To study the usefulness of the combination of clonidine--spironolactone in refractory ascites.

Methods: Twenty cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites were randomly assigned to receive repeated large volume paracentesis plus intravenous albumin (group 1), or a combination of clonidine (0.075 mg twice daily) and spironolactone (200 to 400 mg daily) (group 2).

Performance of asialotransferrin in detecting alcohol abuse.

Background: The spectrum of alcohol use disorders covers hazardous use, alcohol abuse, and alcohol dependence. The present study evaluated the performance of asialotransferrin, a newly proposed biomarker for alcohol use disorders, in detecting alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence.

Method: A 4-month trial was conducted in three groups of participants: alcohol abusers and alcohol-dependent patients, as defined in DSM-IV, and a control group.

Analyte comigrating with trisialotransferrin during capillary zone electrophoresis of sera from patients with cancer.

Background: Serum concentrations of monoglycosylated isoforms of transferrin are increased by chronic ethanol intake. We investigated transferrin glycosylation in patients with cancer, in which aberrant glycosylation is also induced.

Methods: We used a P/ACE 5000 series capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) apparatus and a CZE carbohydrate-deficient transferrin reagent set to study 200 cancer patients who consumed alcohol moderately and 33 who were alcohol abusers; we then compared these patients with 56 healthy teetotalers, 89 moderate, and 112 excessive alcohol drinkers without known malignancies.

Use of capillary zone electrophoresis for differentiating excessive from moderate alcohol consumption.

Background: The poorly sialylated transferrin isoforms in serum were analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) to differentiate moderate from heavy alcohol consumption.

Methods: We enrolled 614 volunteers, classified after interviews, self-reported drinking habits, and AUDIT scores as alcohol abusers (consuming >50 g/day ethanol for the previous 3 months or longer; n = 413) or moderate drinkers (<30 g/day ethanol; n = 201). Serum transferrin isoforms were separated at 28 kV and monitored at 214 nm on a P/ACE 5500 CZE with use of fused-silica capillaries and the related CEofix CDT reagent set.

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin isoforms measured by capillary zone electrophoresis for detection of alcohol abuse.

Background: Measurements of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) are used as markers of alcohol abuse. We developed a capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method aimed at improving accuracy of CDT testing.

Methods: We studied 111 alcohol abusers with Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores >11 and 50 teetotalers.