ALCOHOLISM

Author: QUETGLAS FERRIOL BERNARDO.
Year: 2003.
University: ZARAGOZA [www.unizar.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE MEDICINA.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE MEDICINA.

Summary: Shows Community 9739 subjects 55 years or more in the city of Zaragoza, selected to conduct an epidemiological study of those who could be interviewed 4803. It examines the prevalence of alcohol consumption in general (and wine specifically) and their relationship to socio-demographic variables, psychopathology and cognitive performance. It managed a series of standardized instruments in our midst: Review Cognitive 'Mini Mental (35 items) ECMM 35), battery GMS-HAS AGECAT indices and Katz and Lawton-Brody, all through the administration of the interview ZARADEMP-I . Statistical Analysis with SPSS. The prevalence of alcohol consumption for the entire sample was 37.7%, while wine was 33%, only 5.8% of the subjects consumed alcohol but not wine. A 3.3% had a level of excessive consumption (high risk with the criteria of WHO). According to the socio-demographic variables were those who drank more men; decreased with increasing age consumption; married or separated and divorced couples, those who lived with spouses, and the highest proportion who have studied or above means, but much illiterate. Subjects prisocpatológicamente healthy were those who consumed alcohol more frequently (41.4%) and with a prevalence of excessive consumption significantly increased 3.6%. In relation to the known and expected decline in cognitive performance associated with the age measured criteria ECMM-35 (total score corrected), the lowest scores are among the subjects abstemious: significant differences with regard to presenting low consumption of alcohol (under irrigation c on the WHO criteria or 1-2 glasses of wine a day), from 65 years and especially in subjects 85 years or more. In addition, the following areas cognosctivias of ECMM 35, was significantly lower proportion of lso failure among individuals who consume alcohol, in relation to the abstemious: guidance témporo-espacial, fixing memory, calculation, digits Conversely, articulation, abstraction, written order, write and draw the pentagons. Neither alcohol nor wine altered significantly the risk of dementia. Only the consumption of 5 or more glasses of wine a day could be a risk factor for cognitive impairment (1.96, 95% CI. 1.01-3.78). Both on prevalent cases. The current results in this sample population representative suggested that while excessive consumption (generally alcohol or wine in particular) could have negative implications for health and cognitive performance, moderate consumption is compatible with good mental health and it might be a good marker of the same. One might even hipotetizarse that moderate consumption is protective of cognitive decline associated with age.

Author: MARIN MANRIQUE HECTOR.
Year: 2004.
University: JAUME I DE CASTELLON [www.uji.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD CIENCIAS HUMANAS Y SOCIALES.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD CIENCIAS HUMANAS Y SOCIALES.

Summary: The encefálica catalase, the enzyme with the ability to oxidize ethanol acetaldehido seems involved in some behavioral effects produced by the alcohol. Indeed, it has proved so strong that the manipulations that alter the activity of this enzyme in the brain, produce proportional changes in locomotor activity induced by the drug of abuse. Ethanol, like other drugs, powerful social memory in rodents when administered immediately after the occurrence of learning. However, it is unknown whether alcohol oxidation catalasémica this is a prerequisite for the facilitating effect takes place. In this research we administer inhibitors (sodium azide and aminotriazol) and inductors (acid 3-nitropropiónico) of the enzyme catalase and demonstrated that these compounds prevent and reinforces respectively, the facilitating effect that ethanol has on his mind. In addition, we tested the specificity of the interaction between inhibitors and inducers of catalase and ethanol using other compounds with the ability to enhance memory (NMDA and nicotine). Our data suggest that the catalase interferes with the facilitation of memory through production acetaldehido directly in the brain. Thus, it would be the acetaldehido formed centrally agent responsible for the facilitation of memory. Given that the empowerment of memory is one of the defining properties of the boosters, our data provide indirect evidence for fortifying the ability of acetaldehido and, consequently, his presumed involvement in the abuse of alcohol.

Author: Robles Muñoz Noemí.
Year: 2005.
University: AUTÓNOMA DE BARCELONA [www.uab.es].
Place of defense: Facultad de Medicina.
Place of preparation: Facultad de Medicina.

Summary: Chronic ethanol consumption is associated with irreversible illnesses, as well as severe cognitive impairment. memory. These studies were conducted using experimental rats as subjects, who underwent a procedure for voluntary alcoholización which obtubo a stable pattern of consumption to moderate doses. The test results showed that behavioral alcohol, under the terms of the model used, not intererían negatively in the processes of learning and memory. Likewise, we see changes in nicotinic receptors in the hippocampus-dependent subunits that made up the receiver as well as the period of consumption. These changes could be reversed by a period of abstinence in one of the subtypes.

Author: FONT HURTADO LAURA.
Year: 2005.
University: JAUME I DE CASTELLON [www.uji.es].
Place of defense: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS JURÍDICAS Y ECONÓMICAS.
Place of preparation: FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS HUMANAS Y SOCIALES.

Summary: The hypothesis proposes that acetaldehyde some of the effects of alcohol metabolism require a prior brain. The acetaldehyde is a molecule structurally very simple, however it is much more reactive to alcohol, which suggests that the acetaldehyde can form macromolecules that could interact with the neural substrate. This thesis aims to demonstrate that the brain deactivation of acetaldehyde, through treatment with the compound D-penicillamine, reduces the ability reforzadora alcohol, bringing a new approach to address the hypothesis of acetaldehyde. We know that the D-penicillamine conjugated form stable under physiological conditions with acetaldehyde, and thus produces its deactivation. The pilot phase of this thesis has been divided into 4 studies. In the first three turns to the effect of the deactivation of acetaldehyde in the effects motor stimulation, the conditioning, and the voluntary consumption of alcohol. In the past, it has been determined chromatographic proceeds derived from the condensation between D-penicillamine and acetaldehyde in the brain, blood and liver of rats treated with D-penicillamine and ethanol. The data presented support our assumptions and involve directly to acetaldehyde in the effects of alcohol enhancers

Author: Sabater Mora Mercedes.
Year: 2006.
University: AUTÓNOMA DE BARCELONA [www.uab.es].
Place of defense: Sala de Grados de la Escuela de Postgrado.
Place of preparation: Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona.