Violencia intrafamiliar (VIF): Quinchao, Chiloé (Chile) / Intrafamilial violence (IFV): Quinchao, Chiloe (Chile)

Objetivo: Caracterizar los nuevos episodios de VIF durante el 2008 en la Comuna de Quinchao, provincia de Chiloé. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo-retrospectivo, en el cuál se analizaron las denuncias por VIF en Carabineros y en Tribunal Mixto durante el 2008. Se utilizó información de Carabineros, y de los archivos de causas procesadas y sentencias dictadas en dicho Tribunal. Resultados: De 231 acusaciones presentadas al Tribunal de Familia, 90 correspondieron a delitos por VIF. De este número, 36 no finalizaron el proceso judicial. Treinta y ocho casos presentaron VIF psicológica, agregándose física en 16 de ellos. Destaca que 43 de las 54 acusaciones presentaron consumo de alcohol concomitante. En relación al género, la mayoría de los agresores son hombres y la mayoría de las relaciones victima-victimario son de pareja (38/54).Conclusiones: Los resultados no son comparables a los nacionales por la metodología empleada. Sin embargo pudieran entrever rasgos de la idiosincrasia local, como son patrones de violencia masculina perpetuados, en parte, por el aislamiento geográfico.

Objective: To characterize the new episodes of IFV in 2008 in the Commune of Quinchao of the Province of Chiloé. Methodology: This is a retrospective descriptive study; charges of intrafamilial violence brought to the police and to the relevant judicial court during 2008 were analyzed. We utilized official information from the local police station and from the court files on cases and verdicts. Results: Of all the 231 accusations presented to the Family Court, 90 (90/231) concerned to intra familiar violence crimes. From this number, 36 of them didn’t finish the judicial process. Thirty eight presented psychological violence and 16 also had physical violence. Notably, in 43 of the se 54 cases accusations were alcohol consumption involved. Relating to the gender, most of the aggressors were men and most of the relationships between the victim and the aggressor were a couple (38/54). Conclusions: the results are similar to the national ones, but show some noveltys: the population study idiosyncrasy presents patterns of masculine violence perpetuated, in part, by the geographic isolation of the area.

The modulating effect of the androgen receptor on craving in alcohol withdrawal of men is partially mediated by leptin.

We reported recently that a functional relevant CAG trinucleotide repeat of the androgen receptor influences craving of men in alcohol withdrawal. It is known to modulate serum concentrations of leptin, which affects hypothalamic appetite regulation. Its plasma levels are elevated during chronic alcohol consumption, normalize within periods of abstinence and are associated with craving. The aim of this study was to further elucidate the role of leptin in mediating the effects of the mentioned polymorphism on craving in men undergoing alcohol withdrawal. We included 110 male in-patients who were admitted for detoxification treatment. Each one had an established diagnosis of alcohol dependence according to the DSM-IV. Our results show on the one hand negative associations between the number of CAG repeats and (i) leptin serum levels (P<0.01) and (ii) craving (P<0.05), and on the other hand, a positive association between leptin and craving of man in alcohol withdrawal (P<0.001). The path analysis revealed direct and mediated effects of the number of CAG repeats on alcohol craving, direct effects (r=-0.144) accounting for 60% and indirect, leptin-mediated effects (r=-0.096) accounting for 40% of the total effect. Dysregulation of sexual hormones influences human metabolism and seems to affect leptin homeostasis. This report suggests that the investigated polymorphism mediates its effect on craving of men in alcohol withdrawal mostly through the regulation of leptin. Nevertheless future studies are needed to further explore the functionality of the androgen receptor gene in terms of craving.

[Benzodiazepine dependence: causalities and treatment options]. / Benzodiazepin-Abhängigkeit: Ursachen und Behandlungsmöglichkeiten.

Benzodiazepines are very often prescribed because of their anxiolytic, sedative and hypnotic properties. However, long term treatment is associated with development of benzodiazepine dependence. Besides development of physical dependence, which is linked to a typical benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome when drug intake is discontinued, also behavioural addiction to benzodiazepines has been described. Benzodiazepines are known to enhance GABAergic neurotransmission. Counter regulation of enhanced GABAergic neurotransmission by enhancement of glutamatergic neurotransmission is thought to be one reason underlying the typical symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal. Also alterations in the expression of neuropeptides like Corticotropin Releasing Hormone and Neuropeptide Y are thought to be involved in the development of benzodiazepine dependence. However, until today the knowledge of neural mechanisms underlying the development of benzodiazepine dependence remains incomplete. Because even long term treatment with small doses of benzodiazepines is associated with adverse reactions like cognitive dysfunctions withdrawal from benzodiazepines should be aimed. Anticonvulsants and antidepressants seem to reduce the intensity of benzodiazepine withdrawal and to enhance long term prognosis of dependence.

Treatment with clomethiazole is associated with lower rates of premature discharge during alcohol withdrawal.

INTRODUCTION: Numerous investigations have shown that premature discharge against medical advice from alcohol detoxification treatment is associated with poor outcome. The aim of the present study was to assess the risk of different possible influencing factors. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 168 in-patients admitted for detoxification treatment were included in the study. All patients were detoxified using clome-thiazole and/or carbamazepine in individual, symptom-triggered dosages. Possible influencing factors were recorded using a standardised interview. RESULTS: Cox regression revealed a lower risk of premature discharge being significantly asso-ciated with few preceding withdrawals, intoxication at admission and treatment with clomethiazole. Kaplan-Meier survival statistics showed a significantly lower risk only for being treated with clomethiazole (premature discharge until day 7: chi2=25.07; p<0.001; premature discharge until day 14: chi2=5.19; p=0.023). Other included demographic factors like daily intake of ethanol before admission, duration of alcohol dependence, age or smoking status were not associated with the risk of premature discharge. DISCUSSION: The present findings show that pharmacotherapy with clomethiazole may positively influence the risk of premature discharge. This might be a consequence of the psychoactive properties of the drug which leads to positive reinforcement.

[Pharmacological treatment options for prevention of alcohol relapse]. / Pharmakologische Therapieoptionen zur Prävention des Alkoholrückfalls.

Many studies address the neurobiological mechanisms of alcohol craving. The study results obtained so far show that there may be at least three subtypes of craving, which may be linked to changes in different neurotransmitter systems. Actually in Germany acamprosate and disulfiram are approved for clinical use for the prevention of alcohol relapse. Also off-label therapy with naltrexone is possible. However studies show that these substances are not effective in all patients. In the light of hypothetical changes in different neurotransmitter systems, subtype specific therapy may be necessary for successful prevention of alcohol relapse. Therefore new therapy options are needed in order to treat alcohol dependent persons. Substances that seem to have efficacy in preclinical or preliminary clinical studies are baclofen, topiramate, odansetron, rimonabant and memantine.

Bioacoustic behavior of African fishes (Mormyridae): potential cues for species and individual recognition in Pollimyrus.

An analysis of the natural bioacoustic signals made by two closely related African fishes (P. adspersus and P. isidori) revealed that these species separated along several acoustic dimensions that are likely to be important for species isolation. Both species produced grunts that were composed of a trains of pulses, but the pulse repetition rates were distinctly different (56 +/- 3 s.d. vs 44 +/- 4 s.d. pps). Complex tone bursts (moans) were also used, but the species differed substantially in the location of the fundamental peak (240 Hz +/- 12 s.d. vs 332 Hz +/- 34 s.d.). Some P. adspersus males sustained these tones for over a second (812 ms +/- 495 s.d.), whereas P. isidori produced shorter tones (121 ms +/- 35 s.d.). During interactions with females, the two species produced the grunts and moans in distinct species-typical patterns: P. adspersus males alternated grunts with moans and P. isidori produced a single grunt followed by a succession of moans. A detailed analysis of identified individual P. adspersus showed that acoustic features constituted individual signatures which could be used by conspecifics to identify individuals. Grunt spectral peak frequency was shown to be a good predictor of male mass, with peak frequency decreasing at 72 Hz per gram. Simulated standardized courtship encounters with females revealed that males differ markedly in their apparent ability to produce sustained moans and it is suggested that this may be particularly important to females in mate selection.