PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Bogusław Habrat

Publications and source records attributed to Bogusław Habrat.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Combining markers of nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity for improved monitoring and detection of chronic alcohol abuse.

BACKGROUND: Most of the commonly used markers of chronic alcohol abuse reflect alcohol hepatotoxicity; however, such abuse is deleterious to the kidneys as well. Combined use of serum markers of liver origin and urinary markers of kidney origin may be of diagnostic advantage. METHODS: The study was performed in 73 male alcoholics undergoing detoxification and 36 male alcoholics who had maintained abstinence for > or =6 weeks. Factor analysis, discriminant analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were used to assess the discriminative power of two urinary markers of alcohol nephrotoxicity, namely beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (Hex, EC 3.2.1.52) and alanine aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.2), and of three serum markers of alcohol hepatotoxicity, namely aspartate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1), alanine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.2) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT, EC 2.3.2.2), and of their quantitative combinations. RESULTS: The discriminative power of the urinary markers matched that of the serum markers. Hex and GGT appeared to be the best for discriminating the study groups. Their combination given by the equation G&H=0.62 x ln(GGT)+0.72 x ln(Hex) showed excellent discriminative ability (ROC area under the curve 0.92) that was significantly higher than that of any single marker in this report, indicating superior diagnostic accuracy of the compound marker. CONCLUSIONS: Kidney-derived urinary markers, particularly Hex, can complement or replace, if necessary, serum markers of chronic alcohol abuse that relate to alcohol hepatotoxicity. The compound marker proposed seems a promising tool for the monitoring and perhaps detection of chronic alcohol abuse and warrants further studies.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Polymorphisms of apolipoprotein E and angiotensin-converting enzyme genes and carotid atherosclerosis in heavy drinkers.

AIMS: To investigate the influence of apolipoprotein E (APOE) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphisms on carotid artery atherosclerosis in alcoholism. METHODS: Polymorphism of both genes was identified by DNA analysis in 130 male alcohol-dependent patients. Intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured ultrasonographically. RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis showed that of all the known risk factors the greatest impact on carotid atherosclerosis in alcoholics was exerted by age, hypertension, LDL cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose levels. Subjects carrying the APO E epsilon4 allele were more liable to develop atherosclerotic changes in carotid arteries compared with subjects with the epsilon3/3 genotype, which showed statistical significance in patients under 50 years of age. No association was shown between ACE I/D polymorphism and carotid atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: APO E polymorphism can increase the risk of carotid atherosclerosis development in an alcoholic subject. The association of the APO E epsilon4 allele with carotid atherosclerosis was significant in younger patients. Since the elevated carotid IMT is considered to be a good marker of increased risk of generalized atherosclerosis the consequences could involve both cardiac and cerebrovascular events.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Recreational amitriptyline abuse.

UNLABELLED: Amitriptyline is a potent anticholinergics, rarely used as a drug of abuse. Two cases of amitriptyline dependency lasting for almost twelve months were described. According to the patients the abuse with amitriptyline guarantee them safety not to be uncovered by parents and doctors who systematically checked their urine with typical narcotic tests. CASE REPORT: Two patients with a history of abuse with amphetamine and clonazepam were admitted to the Clinic because of intoxication with amitriptyline. They denied the suicidal attempt and explained that they used amitriptyline in a dosage of 100 to 200 mg per day as a drug of abuse. On the day of admission one of the patients had increased the dosage up to 600 mg which caused an acute intoxication. CONCLUSION: Antidepressants should be treated as a drugs with possible abuse ability.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

The activity of beta-hexosaminidase (uHex) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (uGGT) in urine as non-invasive markers of chronic alcohol abuse: II. Opiate-dependent subjects receiving methadone substitution.

The usefulness of beta-hexosaminidase (uHex) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (uGGT) activity in urine as markers of chronic alcohol abuse was examined in male methadone programme participants. The group consisted of 24 non-abusing and 21 alcohol-abusing men. It has been demonstrated that the uHex test is one of the best alcohol abuse markers for opiate-dependent individuals (Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) 0.82, sensitivity 0.70, specificity 0.82). The uGGT test can be used as a marker of alcohol abuse in opiate-dependent men, however, its parameters are worse than those of uHex (ROC AUC 0.73, sensitivity 0.71, specificity 0.77). Among serum markers, only the relative amount of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (s%CDT) has parameters sufficient for diagnostic use (ROC AUC 0.74, sensitivity 0.60, specificity 0.86). Factors other than alcohol can render the commonly used sGGT and sHex tests useless (differences between means for abusing and abstinent patients were insignificant, AUC ROC were lower than 0.7-0.65 and 0.69, respectively). Their good parameters, low costs, ease of use and non-invasive character are all features which make uHex and uGGT highly useful tools in the detection of chronic alcohol abuse in opiate-dependent patients participating in a methadone substitution programme.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Subjective Quality of Life in opiate-dependent patients before admission after six months and one-year participation in methadone program].

The aim of this study was to compare a subjective Quality of Life (QoL) assessment before, after six and twelve months of participating in methadone program. There were included 61 patients (39 males and 22 females). The SF-36 questionnaire was used. We found that in our patients before admission to methadone program QoL was extremely low. After six-months participation in substitution therapy QoL increased significantly in seven from eight subscales of SF-36. During next six months QoL unexpectedly decrease, but not to prior level. There were not significant differences in QoL between men and women although men beneficiated from methadone program more than women. In our study HIV seropositivity hadn't influence on QoL.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinical course and evolution of lesion in MRI in central pontine myelinolysis in a patient abusing alcohol].

The authors report a 44-year-old patient with at least a 10-year history of alcohol abuse in whom an organic brain syndrome developed with cerebellar ataxia, left-side hemiparesis and bulbar symptoms. MR imaging of the head demonstrated a large hyperintense focus in T2-weighted images involving the central part of the pons. Central pontine myelinolysis was diagnosed. Laboratory investigations showed no hyponatraemia. After withdrawal treatment and motor function rehabilitation the neurological symptoms regressed nearly completely. After 18 months control MR imaging demonstrated considerable reduction in the size of the myelinolysis area in the brainstem, despite the fact that the patient resumed alcohol drinking.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A double-blind controlled study of the efficacy and acceptability of tianeptine in comparison with fluvoxamine in the treatment of depressed alcoholic patients].

AIM: The main objective of the study was the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of tianeptine (T) (37.5 mg/day) in comparison with fluvoxamine (F) (100 mg/day) in depressed patients with alcohol dependence or harmful use who had abstained from alcohol, in a 6-week treatment period. The secondary objectives were the assessment of the acceptability of both drugs and analysis of the alcohol craving behaviour regarding both treatments. METHOD: Outpatients who met ICD-10 criteria for depression and alcohol dependence or harmful use were randomised to a double-blind 6-week comparative trail. Responders (50% or more reduction in baseline HDRS) were proposed to continue the same treatment up to 90 days. The antidepressant efficacy was assessed with the use of the HDRS (main criterion). Other scales used in the study were HARS, CGI and OCDS. Tolerance was evaluated by monitoring of adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 298 (150 in T group and 148 in F group) were randomized. Both drugs showed good efficacy in the treatment of depressive symptoms. In Full Analysis Set (FAS) mean HDRS score significantly decreased in both groups from 22.2 at baseline to 10.6 at end-point in T group and from 21.8 to 11.4 in F group. There was no statistical difference between groups. The number of patients found to be responders at end-point was 72.1% in the T group and 67.1% in the F group. There was significant improvement in both treatment groups in HARS and CGI. Also analysis of alcohol craving by the OCDS scale showed significant improvement in both groups. No significant difference between treatment groups regarding those scales was noted. In a 6-week treatment period, statistically significantly more patients continued the study in the T group. Tolerability of both drugs was good. 16.7% of the patients experienced at least one adverse event in the T group and 20.3% in the F group. CONCLUSION: Tianeptine and fluvoxamine are effective and safe in the treatment of depression in the group of patients with alcohol dependence.

Alcoholism↗