Alcohol

Question 1

What is Alcohol

Answer 1

a natural by-product of fermentation

Sugar + Water + Air

Microbial growth (yeast) consumes sugar

Metabolic by product- ethanol + CO2

Question 2

When and from where were distillation processes brought to Europe?

Answer 2

In the middle ages from the Middle East.

Distillation procedures were brought to Europe in the middle ages from the middle east

Question 3

What is the oldest known alcoholic beverage

Answer 3

Wine ( e.g. ancient egypt and rome)

Question 4

Distillation procedures brought to Europe in the middle ages frm the middle east led to …..

Answer 4

Led to the making of spiriits, such as brandy, whiskey (WATER OF LIFE) etc.

Question 5

Where is alcohol metabolized?

Answer 5

Metabolized in the stomach and the liver…

Book says 80% in the liver… Slides say more than 95% in the liver

Question 6

Major Enzymes involved in Alcohol Metabolizing

Answer 6

alcohol dehydrogenasse ( converts alcohol into acetaldehyde) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase further breaksdown

Question 7

What are the variations in enzymes - females vs males and ethnic wise

Answer 7

Females have 60% less alcohol dehydrogenase- higher risk of liver failure

Ethnic - 50% Asians have low acetaldehyde dehydrogenase- which can lead to nausea when drinking

Question 8

What is BAC influenced by? (5 things)

Answer 8

Rate of absorption (e.g. 30 -90 mins)
Weight - greater weight = lower BAC
Adipose tissue (direct relationship)
Aspirin (reduces metabolism- makes you drunker- not good)
Metabolic Rate

Question 9

Behavioral Effects of Alcohol..

Answer 9

Mild Euphoria/Relaxation = Positive Reinforcement - This reinforces continued drinking

Relieves anxiety/arousal = Negative Reinforcement - This also reinforces continued drinking

Question 10

What is the Lethal Dose of Alcohol - LD50? - 50% of your population has to die at this rate

Answer 10

approximately 25 standard drinks per hour

Question 11

Is it true that alcohol is easily soluble in water and fat? If so what does this mean?

Answer 11

yes. Therefore, it readily diffuses across all cell membranes and easily crosses the blood brain barrier, with brain levels of alcohol rising quickly .

This means that alcohols ability to cross cell membranes means that alcohol can disrupt cell functions

Question 12

What is the constant rate of the metabolism of alcohol?

Answer 12

Approximately .035 oz per hour

Question 13

What are the grim facts of alcohol (3)?

Answer 13

Alcohol is a greater cost to society than any other drug

A large percentage of deaths and injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents are related to alcohol

Alcohol is the leading cause of mental retardation due to consumption by pregnant women

Question 14

What countries consume the most alcohol? (4)

Answer 14

Great Britain, Eastern Europe, France, and Germany

Question 15

What is Korsakoff’s Syndrome?

Answer 15

observed quite commonly in alcoholics, due to a Vitamin B deficiency - It leads to impaired functioning in the frontal lobe, basal ganglia, and amygdala - which are all responsible for controlling your behavior.

You begin to observe confabulatiton- what these people say is not true at all- however, they begin to believe what they are saying is true

Question 16

Basic Statistics of Alcohol Use

Answer 16

Males drink more than females ( 4:1 )

Greater % of drinkers are Caucasian

Alcohol related car accidents are seen more with males then females (4:1)

In 2009, alcohol-related traffic fatalities accounted for 325 of all traffic fatalities
There is one alcohol-related fatality every 48 minutes (in 2009)

Question 17

True or False 56% of fatal car accidents involved a blood alcohol level of 0.15% or higher in 2009?

Answer 17

True

Question 18

What is binge drinking? About how many female students will binge drink? and about how many male students will binge drink?

Answer 18

Binge Drinking is having 5+ more STANDARD drinks on a single occassion

Approx 40% of female students will binge drink
Approx 50% of male students will binge drink

Question 19

Pharmacology of Alcohol

Answer 19

Alcohol is a Central Nervous System Depressant

Its lipid solubility disrupts cell function- interferes with neural impulses

Question 20

Psychological Withdrawal Symptoms of Alcohol Use (mild-moderate)

Answer 20

Mild-Moderate : anxiety/nervousness, depression, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, irritability/excitability, jumpiness/shakiness, nightmares, emotional lability

Question 21

Physical Withdrawal Symptoms of Alcohol - Mild to Moderate

Answer 21

clammy skin/perspiration, pupil dilation, headaches, insomnia, anorexia, nausea/vomiting, paleness, tachycardia, tremors

Question 22

Physical Withdrawal Symptoms of Alcohol - SEVERE

Answer 22

Agitation, fever, seizures, delirium tremens (visual hallucinations and excessived confusion

Question 23

Pharmacokinetics of Alcohol ( through the body)

Answer 23

Largely intestinal absorption

Limiting Factors: Food in stomach slows absorption
Ethanol concentration
Pylorospasm- can restrict approximately 75% of alcohol leaving the stomach -keeps alcohol in the stomach and doesnt allow it to go to the intestines

Question 24

Does alcohol increase activity of the HPA axis? If so what does this produce

Answer 24

Yes it does, producing stress like effects

Question 25

What are the effects of activating HPA?

Answer 25

increased cortisol in humans

Altered metabolism

Gene suppression

Risk of suppressing immune system- increased infection