Alcohol Flashcards
1
Q
Fermentation
A
-yeast + sugar + water = CO2 + ethanol
- yeast converts sugar molecules into alcohol and CO2
- yeast are living micro-organisms which die in concentrations of alcohol greater than 15%
2
Q
Distillation
A
- boiling point of alcohol is lower than water
- hard liquor 40-50% alcohol
- whisky = distilled grain
- rum = distilled molasses
- gin = any sugar source
3
Q
Alcohol content of beverage
A
-specific gravity of alcohol is 0.8 of that of water
- 1L of alcohol weighs 800g
- percentage may be by weight or vol
-40% alcohol by weight = 50% by volume
4
Q
History
A
- frugivore: eater of fruit
- hominin ancestors were frugivors
- fruit contains sugar and subject to fermentation
- alcohol has been a part of evolutionary diet
- taste and smell associated with food and nourishment
- brewing alcohol since 10,000 years ago
- fermentation used by Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks, romans
- distillation invented by alchemists 1000 years ago
- production of spirits became widespread in Europe in 17th century
5
Q
BAL
A
- measured indirectly in exhaled air by breathalyzer
- 0.08% = 80mg alcohol/100ml blood
6
Q
Absorption
A
- small simple molecule that cannot be ionized
- low lipid solubility
- passes through membranes easily
- absorbed from small intestine (90%) and stomach (10%)
- small molecules move across membrane barriers through passive diffusion
- readily entering most tissues including brain
- food slows absorption by delaying movement to small intestine
- carbonated drinks absorbed more rapidly because carbonation speeds movement from stomach to intestine
7
Q
Factors affecting absorption
A
- concentration
- increases absorption up to 40% (by weight) and then decreases
- previous drinking speeds absorption
- more efficient absorption and metabolism
- ulcer medications/aspirin impairs gastric metabolism and increases
8
Q
Metabolism
A
- follows zero order kinetics
- rate of metabolism is constant regardless of concentration in blood
- average metabolism is about 1 drink per hour
- alcohol dehydrogenase and CYP enzymes in liver metabolize alcohol (through oxidation)
- presence of other drugs can affect CYP ability to metabolize alcohol
- regular alcohol consumption increases CYP enzymes - metabolic tolerance
9
Q
Metabolism/excretion
A
- alcohol converted to acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase
- acetaldehyde converted to Acetyl CoA
- acetyl CoA converted to water and CO2 in citric acid cycle
- 95% secreted as CO2 and water in urine, while 5% excreted through lungs
10
Q
Neuropharmacology
A
- actions similar to general anaesthetics and many solvents
- does not work at a receptor site or sites
- blocked the ion channel controlled by glutamate via NMDA receptor sites
- antagonist
- causes cognitive impairment and analgesia effects
- inhibits LTP (black outs)
11
Q
Serotonin
A
- stimulated serotonin receptors which contribute to release of dopamine in nucleus acumbens
- reinforcing affect
- serotonin antagonists block some effects of alcohol
- LSD
12
Q
GABA
A
- enhances GABA inhibition effect at GABA-A receptors
- some alcohol effects can be blocked by a GABA blocker
-also alters MAO and responsiveness of endogenous opiate system
13
Q
NTs involved
A
- affects NT and neuromodulator systems
- DA, NE, 5HT, Glutamate, GABA, Ach, adenosine, and opioid peptide systems
- DA and GABA most important in addictive properties
- actions on other systems help modulate is DA and GABA effects
14
Q
BA conc curve
A
- in rising stage increased DA cell firing
- stimulation - energy, excited, talkative
- in decreasing stage GABA effects more prominent
- continued drinking needed to maintain DA release
- high GABA will inhibit DA release
15
Q
HR and sensitivity to DA related effects
A
- increased cardiac reactivity during ascending limb of BAC has been proposed to be a marker for heightened sensitivity to alcohols DA related effects
- elevated HR response to alcohol associated with increased risk for developing alcohol related problems
16
Q
Alcohol induced HR change and stimulant related effects
A
-High heart rate response to alcohol associated with a reward seeking personality profile
17
Q
Role of dopamine in alcohol self administration in humans
A
- mixture deficient in phenylalanine and tyrosine causes protein synthesis diminishing the body’s stores of those two AAs and increasing competition of other AAs for transport across BBB
- reduced DA production
- those with HHRR saw a depletion of DA release
- no difference in LHRR individuals
-DA important for some people but not others
18
Q
Psychostimulant users sensitive to stimulant properties of alcohol as indexed by cardigan reactivity
A
Stimulant users show higher DA than hallucinogen users or none users
19
Q
Effects on the body
A
- increased blood flow to skin
- increased urination
- decreases time to sleep but doesnt increase total sleep time
- REM depression with rebound in single night or after several nights
- alcohol withdrawal can involve disrupted sleep patterns
20
Q
Effects of behaviour and performance
A
- 0.05-0.1
- talkative, excitable
- 0.1-0.15
- talkative, cheerful, loud, then sleepy
- 0.15+
- nausea, vomiting
- 0.2+
- sleepy, noisy, inattentive
- 0.3-0.4
- unconscious
- 0.5
- LD50
-variability due to drinking history, tolerance, environment, motivation,
21
Q
Perception
A
- 0.07
- decreased visual acuity
- decreased peripheral vision
- 0.08
- decreased pain sensitivity
22
Q
Performance
A
- 0.08
- slows reaction time by 10%
- greater effect on complex reaction time and tasks requiring information processing
- PET shows decreased blood flow to cerebellum (disrupts hand eye coordination)
- can occur at 0.02 BAC
- decreases performance in dose related manner
- drowsiness interferes with vigilance and concentration
- disruption of DSST
- expectancy and motivation can alter effects
23
Q
Memory
A
- storage and retrieval disrupted
- PET studies in long term alcohol abusers show decreased metabolism in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
- correlated with deficits in memory and attention
24
Q
Driving
A
- effects detected at 0.05
- driving errors correlated with functional changes in orbitofrontal cortex and motor regions
- risk of accident increases with BAL
- different for different populations
- young people more susceptible
25
Q
Disinhibition
A
- adverse consequences
- lose ability to control behaviour
- go-stop task
- alcohol doesnt interfere with GO signal
- decreases STOP signal latency
-doesnt consider negative consequences as much
26
Q
Tolerance
A
-acute tolerance = effects of alcohol are greater when blood level is rising than when falling
- chronic tolerance
- metabolism tolerance somewhat faster in light to moderate drinkers
- Behavioural tolerance due to practice while intoxicated
27
Q
Withdrawal
A
- stage 1
- early minor symptoms
- 8-12 hours - 48 hours
- tremors, agitation, cramps
- stage 2
- late major symptoms
- delirium, DTs
- 5% withdrawal admissions
- disorientation, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, death
- death possibly 37% if untreated, 2% if treated
- hallucinations are usually small animals
28
Q
Human self-administration factors that affect consumption
A
- women drink less but achieve same BAL (explained by gender differences in body weight and composition)
- as people age they drink just as often but consume less on each occasion
29
Q
Change in drinking patterns 2002-2012
A
- higher proportion of alcohol consumption
- women account for most of the change
- societal shifts
30
Q
Adverse effects
A
- ED50 0.15
- LD50 0.5
- therapeutic index = 3.5
- very low
- death due to respiratory depression or inhaled vomit
31
Q
Hangover
A
- could be due to dehydration, low blood sugar, or irritation of digestive system
- can be serious for other with epilepsy, heart disease or diabetes
32
Q
Harmful effects
A
-liver cirrhosis
-scarring of liver
-usually fatal if drinking not stopped
-5 year survival rate if drinking not stopped is 35-48%
If stopped 63-77%
-mouth, throat, liver cancers
33
Q
FAS
A
- fetal alcohol syndrome
- symptoms include retardation, poor coordination, loss of muscle tone, low birth weigh, slow growth, malformation of internal organs, peculiar facial characteristics
34
Q
Antabuse
A
- treatment for alcoholism
- black aldehyde dehydrogenase and allows build up of acetaldehyde which makes people sick
- if you drink alcohol you get sick
- not effective alone
35
Q
Serotonin drugs
A
- SSRIs reduce cravings/drinking
- may be related to antidepressant effects
