Environmental Path 3 Flashcards
Let’s talk about the metabolism of alcohol
- Stomach/SI - Absorb ethanol without altering it
- Distributed to all tissues in blood
2a. Oxidized in blood by: alcohol dehydrogenase, catalase, and microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system
2b. AD = cytosol of hepatocytes
2c. MEOS = During high alcohol consumption
2d. Catalase = minor importance, only 5% of ethanol in liver (uses hydrogen peroxide) - Acetaldehyde made by metabolism, converted to acetate by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, acetate used in mitochondrial respiratory chain
- 10% excreted unaltered in sweat, breath, urine
Let’s talk about how the sx of alcohol change depending on how much you have.
- 80 mg/dL (3 beers, 15 ounces wine, 4-5 ounces 80 proof liquor) = Drunk driving
- 200 mg/dL = Drowsiness
- 300 mg/dL = Stupor
- > 300 mg/dL = Respiratory arrest/coma eventually
- 700 mg/dL = Limit chronic alcoholics can tolerate due to 5-10x increase in CYP induction
What are the toxic metabolites in alcohol? Just list them now, more detail in next cards
- Acetaldehyde
- Decreased NAD
- ROS
- Endotoxin
Acetaldehyde. Tell more more.
Source: Ethanol oxidation
Sx: Flushing, Nausea, Tachycardia, Hyperventilation
Genetics: Acetaldehyde is high if acetaldehyde DH enzymes are low
Asians = ALDH22 instead of 21 = inactive form of enzyme = High Acetaldehyde
Decreased NAD. DO TELL ME MORE PLEASE
Source: AD reduces NAD to NADH. NAD needed for fatty oxidation and conversion of lactate to pyruvate. Leads to fatty accumulation in the liver and lactic acidosis (high lactate and fat)
Where are all these ROS coming from?
Source: CYP2E1 of ethanol makes ROS = lipid peroxidation in hepatocyte membranes
What’s this endotoxin you speak of?
Source: Alcohol hits gram negatives in gut causing release of LPS endotoxin to stimulate TNF and other cytokines from macrophages and kupffer cells leading to hepatic injury
What are we saying the effects of acute alcoholism are?
Fatty change: Accumulation of fat in hepatocytes
GI: Gastritis and ulcers
CNS: Depressed then stimulated = Disordered intellect and motor behavior. Eventually depressed again at cortical and medullary centers including those for respiration
What about that chronic alcoholism? More is better eh?
Ha, no.
Liver: Hepatitis, cirrhosis → Portal HTN and incr. risk of hepatocellular carcinoma
GI: Massive bleeding from ulcers or esophageal varices (associated with cirrhosis)
B1 Deficiency (Thiamine): Causes peripheral neuropathies and Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome. Eventually cerebral atrophy, cerebellar degeneration, optic neuropathy
CV: Dilated cardiomyopathy, HTN, decreased HDL → Increased chance of CAD
Endocrine: Pancreatitis (acute + chronic)
Pregnancy: FAS → Microcephaly, growth retardation, facial abnormalities, reduced mental function. Avoid alcohol in first trimester
Cancer: Acetaldehyde-DNA adducts or ALDH2*2 alleles (esophageal CA) → Oral, esophageal, liver, breast (females)
Nutrition: Alcohol = energy = empty calories = nutritional deficiencies
So no more alcohol for us ever again in the rest of our lives??? WAHHHHH
Nope, you just need to pick the right stuff:
250 mL of wine per day = Good
- Increased HDL
- Reduced platelet aggregation
- Lower fibrinogen levels
AW YEAH
Normal dosing for Acetaminophen
Normal dose = 0.5 g
Overdose = 15-25 g
Discuss the metabolism of acetaminophen?
95% detoxified in liver by phase II enzymes → excreted in urine as glucuronate or sulfate conjugates.
5% by CYP2E, producing NAPQI, a toxic metabolite. NAPQI usually gets conjugated with Glutathione. If gluthione is depleted (chronic alcholism) NAPQI accumulates and damages hepatocytes → centrilobular necrosis → liver failure
So what’s this NAPQI you speak of? Why is it so bad?
Covalent bonding to hepatic proteins → damage to cell membranes and mitochondrial dysfunction
Depletion of glutathione (GSH) → Hepatocytes more prone to damage by ROS
What are the sx of acetaminophen overdose?
- N/V/D
- Shock
- Jaundice
- Liver failure
Tx of acetaminophen overdose?
Within 12 hours = N-Acetylcysteine = Restores GSH levels.
Liver centriolobular necrosis = Liver Transplant
Discuss the pathophys involved with aspirin toxicity?
Stimulation of Respiratory System in Medulla → Alkalosis → Metabolic Acidosis → Pyruvate and lactic acid accumulation due to uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and Krebs Cycle inhibition. This metabolic acidosis enhances formation of non-ionized forms of salicylates which diffuse into the brain → Anything from nausea to coma
What are the sx associated with aspirin toxicity? (defined as 3g+/day
CNS: Headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, hearing impairment, confusion, drowsiness, seizures, coma
GI: N/V/D, erosive gastritis → bleeding and ulcers
CV: Acetylation of platelet cyclooxygenase and irreversible block of Thromboxane A2 production (needed for platelet aggregation → Excessive bleeding → Petechial hemorrhages of skin and internal viscera
What can happen with you’re doubling up on aspirin and acetaminophen
Taken chronically → Tubulointerstitial nephritis with renal papillary necrosis (analgesic nephropathy)
Cocaine. Talk about the composition and types of this drug.
Extracted from coca leaves → water soluble powder.
Mixed with Talcum powder or lactose. Snort or dissolve in water and inject.
Crack = crystallized cocaine → Heat (causes it to crackle hence the name) and inhale vapors → far more potent than cocaine but same effects