A review on alcohol: from the central action mechanism to chemical dependency.

INTRODUCTION: alcohol is a psychotropic depressant of the central nervous system (CNS) that promotes simultaneous changes in several neuronal pathways, exerting a profound neurological impact that leads to various behavioral and biological alterations. OBJECTIVES: to describe the effects of alcohol on the CNS, identifying the signaling pathways that are modified and the biological effects resulting from its consumption. METHODS: a literature review was conducted and articles published in different languages over the last 15 years were retrieved. RESULTS: the studies reviewed describe the direct effect of alcohol on several neurotransmitter receptors (gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA], glutamate, endocannabinoids AEA and 2-AG, among others), the indirect effect of alcohol on the limbic and opioid systems, and the effect on calcium and potassium channels and on proteins regulated by GABA in the hippocampus. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: the multiple actions of alcohol on the CNS result in a general effect of psychomotor depression, difficulties in information storage and logical reasoning and motor incoordination, in addition to stimulating the reward system, a fact that may explain the development of addiction. Knowledge on the neuronal signaling pathways that are altered by alcohol allows the identification of effectors which could reduce its central action, thus, offering new therapeutic perspectives for the rehabilitation of alcohol addicts.

A review on alcohol: from the central action mechanism to chemical dependency / Uma revisão sobre o álcool: do mecanismo de ação central à dependência química

SummaryIntroduction:alcohol is a psychotropic depressant of the central nervous system (CNS) that promotes simultaneous changes in several neuronal pathways, exerting a profound neurological impact that leads to various behavioral and biological alterations.Objectives:to describe the effects of alcohol on the CNS, identifying the signaling pathways that are modified and the biological effects resulting from its consumption.Methods:a literature review was conducted and articles published in different languages over the last 15 years were retrieved.Results:the studies reviewed describe the direct effect of alcohol on several neurotransmitter receptors (gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA], glutamate, endocannabinoids AEA and 2-AG, among others), the indirect effect of alcohol on the limbic and opioid systems, and the effect on calcium and potassium channels and on proteins regulated by GABA in the hippocampus.Discussion and conclusion:the multiple actions of alcohol on the CNS result in a general effect of psychomotor depression, difficulties in information storage and logical reasoning and motor incoordination, in addition to stimulating the reward system, a fact that may explain the development of addiction. Knowledge on the neuronal signaling pathways that are altered by alcohol allows the identification of effectors which could reduce its central action, thus, offering new therapeutic perspectives for the rehabilitation of alcohol addicts.

ResumoIntrodução:o álcool é uma substância psicotrópica depressora do sistema nervoso central (SNC), que promove alteração simultânea de inúmeras vias neuronais, gerando profundo impacto neurológico e traduzindo-se em diversas alterações biológicas e comportamentais.Objetivos:descrever as ações do álcool sobre o SNC, identificando as vias de sinalização modificadas e os efeitos biológicos gerados pelo seu consumo.Métodos:revisão bibliográfica, priorizando trabalhos multilinguísticos publicados nos últimos 15 anos.Resultados:são descritas ação direta do álcool em inúmeros receptores de neurotransmissores (ácido gama-aminobutírico – GABA, glutamato, endocanabinoides AEA e 2-AG, entre outros), ação indireta do álcool no sistema límbico e opioide, ação sobre canais de cálcio, potássio e proteínas reguladas por GABA no hipocampo, além de ações centrais mediadas pela deficiência de vitamina B1.Conclusão:a ação multifocal do álcool sobre o SNC resulta em efeito geral de depressão psicomotora, dificuldades no armazenamento de informações e no raciocínio lógico, incoordenação motora, além da estimulação do sistema de recompensa, o que pode explicar o desenvolvimento da dependência química. O conhecimento das vias de sinalização neuronais alteradas pelo álcool permite reconhecer a descrição de efetores que possam reduzir sua ação central e, assim, vislumbrar novas perspectivas terapêuticas para a reabilitação de adictos a essa substância.

[Diabetes mellitus risk screening of parents of private school students in the city of Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil]. / Rastreamento do risco de desenvolvimento de diabetes mellitus em pais de estudantes de uma escola privada na cidade de Jundiaí, São Paulo.

OBJECTIVE: To screen the risk of developing diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) in adult individuals. METHODS: Several risk factors for DM2 (sedentary lifestyle, previous coronary artery disease, hyperglycemia-inducing medications, body mass index [BMI], blood pressure, serum triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol levels) were assessed in 314 adults as a function of gender and age group. RESULTS: 73.2% of the population had two or more concurrent risk factors and 26.8% had less than two factors. The occurrence of risk factors for DM2 development was observed even in young adults, and the risk factors are likely associated with aging. Differences in risk factors and incidence were observed between men and women in the same age group. CONCLUSION: Regardless the age studied, the most prevalent risk factors associated with DM2 were: BMI, sedentary lifestyle, and reduced serum HDL-cholesterol, which are modifiable, thus increasing the importance of preventive measures. Discrepancies found in prevalent risk factors in men and women also suggest that sociocultural differences influence the risk of developing DM.

Rastreamento do risco de desenvolvimento de diabetes mellitus em pais de estudantes de uma escola privada na cidade de Jundiaí, São Paulo / Diabetes mellitus risk screening of parents of private school students in the city of Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Este trabalho objetivou rastrear em indivíduos adultos o risco de vir a desenvolver diabetes mellitus (DM) tipo 2. MÉTODOS: Diversos fatores de risco para DM (sedentarismo, doença coronariana prévia, uso de medicação hiperglicemiante, índice de massa corporal (IMC), pressão arterial, níveis séricos de triglicerídeos e colesterol HDL-col) foram avaliados em 314 adultos, em funçãodosexoe faixa etária. RESULTADOS: 73,2% da população somou dois ou mais fatores de risco simultaneamente, e 26,8% apresentaram menos de dois fatores. Observou-se a ocorrência de fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento da DM mesmo entre adultos jovens, e a ocorrência dos mesmos tende a estra associada com o avanço da idade. Foram observadas diferenças nos fatores e incidência de risco entre homens e mulheres na mesma faixa etária. CONCLUSÃO: Independentemente da idade estudada, os fatores de risco associados a DM de maior prevalência foram: IMC, sedentarismo e diminuição do HDL-colesterol, os quais podem ser modificáveis, reforçando a importância de medidas preventivas. Divergências encontradas entre os fatores de risco prevalentes em homens e mulheres sugerem também que diferenças socioculturais influenciam o risco de desenvolvimento da DM.

OBJECTIVE: To screen the risk of developing diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) in adult individuals. METHODS: Several risk factors for DM2 (sedentary lifestyle, previous coronary artery disease, hyperglycemia-inducing medications, body mass index [BMI], blood pressure, serum triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol levels) were assessed in 314 adults as a function of gender and age group. RESULTS: 73.2% of the population had two or more concurrent risk factors and 26.8% had less than two factors. The occurrence of risk factors for DM2 development was observed even in young adults, and the risk factors are likely associated with aging. Differences in risk factors and incidence were observed between men and women in the same age group. CONCLUSION: Regardless the age studied, the most prevalent risk factors associated with DM2 were: BMI, sedentary lifestyle, and reduced serum HDL-cholesterol, which are modifiable, thus increasing the importance of preventive measures. Discrepancies found in prevalent risk factors in men and women also suggest that sociocultural differences influence the risk of developing DM.

Hydroxyzine, promethazine and thioridazine interaction with phospholipid monomolecular layers at the air-water interface.

In this work the interaction of Hydroxyzine, Promethazine and Thioridazine with Langmuir films of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (dpPC) and dipalmitoylphosphatidic acid (dpPA), is studied. Temporal variations in lateral surface pressure (pi) were measured at different initial pi (pi(i)), subphase pH and drug-concentration. Drugs with the smallest (PRO) and largest (HYD) molecular size exhibited the lowest adsorption (k(a)) and the highest desorption (k(d)) rate constant values, respectively. The affinity binding constants (K(b)) obtained in monolayers followed the same profile (K(b,PRO) < K(b,HYD) < K(b,THI)) of the egg-PC/water partition coefficients (P) determined in bilayers. The drug concentration required to reach the half-maximal Deltapi at pi(i) = 14 mN/m (K(0.5)), was very sensitive to pH. The maximal increment in pi upon drug incorporation into the monolayer (deltapi(max)) will depend on the phospholipid collapse pressure (pi(c)), the monolayers's compressibility and drug's size, shape and charge. The higher pi(c) of dpPC lead to higher pi(cut-off) values (maximal pi allowing drug penetration), if compared with dpPA. In dpPC and dpPA pi(cut-off) decreased as a function of the molecular size of the uncharged drugs. In dpPA, protonated drugs became electrostatically trapped at the monolayer surface hence drug penetration, monolayer deformation and pi increase were impaired and the correlation between pi(cut-off) and drug molecular size was lost.