Global Epidemiology of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease, Liver Cancer, and Alcohol Use Disorder, 2000-2021.

Background/aims: Alcohol represents a leading burden of disease worldwide, including alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). We aim to assess the global burden of AUD, ALD, and alcohol-attributable primary liver cancer between 2000-2021.

Methods: We registered the global and regional trends of AUD, ALD, and alcohol-related liver cancer using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 Study, the largest and most up-to-date global epidemiology database.

Bariatric surgery and alcohol and substance use: A case-control survey study.

Purpose: Studies suggest alcohol and/or other substance misuse may develop after bariatric surgery (BS), but findings are not consistent or conclusive.

Procedures: This cross-sectional online survey investigated alcohol and other substance use, via a modified version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, before and after bariatric surgery, compared to a non-bariatric surgery sample. Data were anonymously collected via Qualtrics from adults who reported alcohol or substance use (BS, n = 328; non-BS, n = 292).

Treatment access gap during the COVID-19 Pandemic: impact on problematic alcohol use and the moderating roles of perceived stress and resilience.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic may have interfered with individuals' access to alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment, but limited research has documented the impact of treatment interference on drinking behavior. This study's purpose was to examine the associations of AUD treatment interference with problematic alcohol use, and the moderating roles of perceived stress and resilience.

Method: A cross-sectional survey design was employed.

Liver Cancer Neuroscience: Regulating Liver Tumors via Selective Hepatic Vagotomy.

Both the prevalence and mortality of liver cancers continue to rise. Early surgical interventions, including liver transplantation or resection, remain the only curative treatment. Nerves in the periphery influence tumor growth within visceral organs.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a GHSR blocker in people with alcohol use disorder.

BACKGROUNDStudies have demonstrated the role of ghrelin in alcohol-related behaviors and consumption. Blockade of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), which is the ghrelin receptor, has been shown to decrease alcohol drinking and reward-related behaviors across several animal models. We previously conducted a human study testing a GHSR inverse agonist/competitive antagonist, PF-5190457, in individuals who are heavy drinkers and showed its safety when coadministered with alcohol.

Growth hormone secretagogue receptor and cannabinoid receptor type 1 intersection in the mouse brain.

The growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) and the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) are G-protein coupled receptors highly expressed in the brain and involved in critical regulatory processes, such as energy homeostasis, appetite control, reward, and stress responses. GHSR mediates the effects of both ghrelin and liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2, while CB1R is targeted by cannabinoids. Strikingly, both receptors mediate their effects by acting on common brain areas and their individual roles have been well characterized.

Increased mortality from alcohol use disorder, alcohol-associated liver disease, and liver cancer from alcohol among older adults in the United States: 2000 to 2021.

Background: To investigate the trends in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), liver cancer from alcohol, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) burden among older adults in the United States (US).

Methods: We gathered the ALD, liver cancer from alcohol, and AUD prevalence, mortality, and age-standardized rates (ASRs) from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021 between 2010 and 2021. We estimated the annual percent change (APC) with confidence intervals (CIs) for the burden of ALD, liver cancer from alcohol, and AUD in older adults (>70 years) in the United States.

A four-factor model of executive function: Predicting physical and academic outcomes from cognitive assessments in adolescents.

Impulsivity and cognitive function are essential for understanding behavioral regulation, particularly in relation to health-risk behaviors like substance use, physical activity, and academic performance. This study examined the factor structure underlying executive function in adolescents using the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale and NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery. We explored how parental monitoring moderates, and peer network health and perceived stress mediate, relationships between cognitive function and outcomes such as BMI, physical activity, and academic performance.

The effect of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use on vaccine acceptance, uptake, and adherence: a systematic review.

Background: Vaccine hesitancy is increasingly recognized as a health challenge affecting populations worldwide. Given the biological vulnerabilities and structural barriers people who use substances and/or have behavioral addictions face, this systematic review aims to evaluate whether this subpopulation is less prone to adhere to vaccination recommendations.

Methods: Electronic searches of published original research were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and PsycINFO from database inception to December 2022.

Barriers to Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment in Patients with Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease.

The cornerstone in managing alcohol-associated liver disease is the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Several barriers prevent the implementation of adequate treatment and integrated care models. There are patient-level barriers, including the lack of self-awareness of AUD and being ashamed of AUD.

GHSR blockade, but not reduction of peripherally circulating ghrelin via β-adrenergic receptor antagonism, decreases binge-like alcohol drinking in mice.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and binge drinking are highly prevalent public health issues. The stomach-derived peptide ghrelin, and its receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), both of which are expressed in the brain and periphery, are implicated in alcohol-related outcomes. We previously found that systemic and central administration of GHSR antagonists reduced binge-like alcohol drinking, whereas a ghrelin vaccine did not.

Centrally administered growth hormone secretagogue receptor antagonist DLys decreases alcohol intake and preference in male mice.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a highly prevalent public health problem. The ghrelin system has been identified as a potential target for therapeutic intervention for AUD. Previous work showed that systemic administration of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) antagonist DLys reduced alcohol intake and preference in male mice.

Moxie begets MOXI: The journey to a novel hypothesis about Mu-opioid and OXytocin system Interactions.

This narrative review summarizes the early life of the author, Khalin E. Nisbett, and highlights the factors that led to her career in research and her development of two novel research hypotheses: the u-opioid and ytocin system nteraction (MOXI) hypothesis and u-Opioid receptor antagonist and ytocin receptor gonist n ombination (MOXAIC) treatment hypothesis. Notably, Nisbett's career began in the era after countless studies demonstrated that oxytocin is not just a female neurotransmitter and not just a female reproductive hormone, an era in which researchers are exploring the role of oxytocin in emotion regulation, social interaction, and cognitive processing across both sexes.

The crosstalk between fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) system and substance use.

Existing literature indicates that communication between the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system is disrupted by substance use disorders (SUDs), including alcohol use disorder (AUD). Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a liver-brain axis hormone governing energy homeostasis, has been shown to modulate alcohol intake/preference and other substances. To further elucidate the relationship between FGF21, alcohol use, and other substance use, we conducted a scoping review to explore the association between FGF21 and SUDs.

IUPHAR review - Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and substance use disorders: An emerging pharmacotherapeutic target.

Addiction is a chronic relapsing disease with high morbidity and mortality. Treatments for addiction include pharmacological and psychosocial interventions; however, currently available medications are limited in number and efficacy. The glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) system is emerging as a potential novel pharmacotherapeutic target for alcohol and other substance use disorders (ASUDs).

Trajectories of craving in the course of pharmacotherapy trials for methamphetamine use disorder.

Aims: The aim of this study was to measure trajectories of craving for methamphetamine during the course of pharmacotherapy trials for methamphetamine use disorder.

Design, Setting And Participants: Craving trajectories were identified using Group-Based Trajectory Modeling. The association of craving trajectories with drug use trajectories was examined using a dual trajectory model.

The mGlu5 receptor negative allosteric modulator mavoglurant reduces escalated cocaine self-administration in male and female rats.

Rationale: Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a brain disorder for which there is no Food and Drug Administration-approved pharmacological treatment. Evidence suggests that glutamate and metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGlu5) play critical roles in synaptic plasticity, neuronal development, and psychiatric disorders.

Objective: In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the mGlu5 receptor is functionally involved in intravenous cocaine self-administration and assessed the effects of sex and cocaine exposure history.

Gut microbial diversity and functional characterization in people with alcohol use disorder: A case-control study.

Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) typically have comorbid chronic health conditions, including anxiety and depression disorders, increased sleep disruption, and poor nutrition status, along with gut microbial dysbiosis. To better understand the effects of gut dysbiosis previously shown in individuals with AUD, gut microbiome and metabolome were investigated between three cohorts. Two groups of individuals with AUD included treatment-seeking newly abstinent for at least six weeks (AB: N = 10) and non-treatment-seeking currently drinking (CD: N = 9) individuals.

Designing clinical trials to address alcohol use and alcohol-associated liver disease: an expert panel Consensus Statement.

Most patients with alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) engage in heavy drinking defined as 4 or more drinks per day (56 g) or 8 (112 g) or more drinks per week for women and 5 or more drinks per day (70 g) or 15 (210 g) or more drinks per week for men. Although abstinence from alcohol after diagnosis of ALD improves life expectancy and reduces the risk of decompensation of liver disease, few studies have evaluated whether treatment of alcohol use disorders will reduce progression of liver disease and improve liver-related outcomes. In November 2021, the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism commissioned a task force that included hepatologists, addiction medicine specialists, statisticians, clinical trialists and members of regulatory agencies to develop recommendations for the design and conduct of clinical trials to evaluate the effect of alcohol use, particularly treatment to reduce or eliminate alcohol use in patients with ALD.