Trends in alcohol consumption in Spain.
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Alcohol Drinking↗
Biomedical subjects
F J Alvarez
Publications and source records attributed to F J Alvarez.
The alcoholic habit in the spanish hospital environment.
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Adolescent↗
Alcohol consumption in young adults in the rural communities of Spain.
In the spring of 1987, the patterns of alcohol consumption in 1,886 young people (14-30 years old) from the rural communities (less than 10,000 inhabitants) of Castile and León (Spain) were analysed. 64.1% of the young adults took alcoholic drinks at least once a week, while 24.4% were 'daily' consumers. Beer (56%) was the preferred drink, followed by gin (22.4%) and wine (21.3%). The age of starting to drink was close to 16 years old and the alcohol intake per capita was 19 g/day. Both frequency and intake were higher among males and at weekends. The main reported reason for drinking was 'because I like its taste' (39.1%). The results confirm the common consumption of alcoholic drinks among Spanish young adults, the establishment of beer as the preferred drink and the more extensive consumption of alcohol by males and at weekends.
Adolescent↗
[Gastroesophageal reflux and esophagitis (II). Treatment guidelines].
The current therapeutic approach to gastroesophageal reflux disease is reviewed. Dietary measures, postural measures and drug therapy can be used to alleviate symptoms and for improving healing of esophageal lesions. Surgery can be used only in a few cases. Antacids, alginic acid, and motor-stimulating drugs i.e. metoclopramide and bethanecol, may be sufficient to treat pathologic reflux without esophagitis. When erosive or ulcerative lesions, a more vigorous treatment including H2 receptor blockers and omeprazole can be used.
Esophagitis↗
Distribution of small-diameter primary afferents containing oligosaccharide residues recognized by monoclonal antibody LA4 in the dorsal horn of the cat.
Small-diameter primary afferents expressing oligosaccharide residues recognized by the monoclonal antibody LA4 constitute a newly described primary afferent population in the cat. LA4-immunoreactive primary afferents are found mainly in lamina II (LII) at all levels of the cat spinal cord. However, within LII immunoreactive fibers are most concentrated in outer LII and practically absent from the inner third of the lamina. In addition at sacral levels, a lateral bundle of immunoreactive fibers enters laminae V-VII. The distribution pattern and the type of oligosaccharide expressed by LA4-immunoreactive fibers suggest that they may be homologous to primary afferents shown in the rat to contain fluoride-resistant acid phosphatase activity. However, in the rat spinal cord the whole of inner LII is the main projection area of LA4-immunoreactive fibers (Alvarez et al., J. Neurocytol., 18 (1989) (611-629). This difference in the location of primary afferents within LII may reflect a species difference in the physiology of LII inner.
Afferent Pathways↗
Anatomy of somatostatin-immunoreactive fibres and cell bodies in the rat trigeminal subnucleus caudalis.
The distribution of somatostatin-immunoreactive fibres and cells has been analysed in the rat spinal trigeminal subnucleus caudalis. Immunoreactive fibres are most concentrated in lamina II outer but fibres and terminals occur also in lamina I, lamina II inner, and scattered in the magnocellular region and neighbouring lateral reticular area. Immunoreactive cells occur in laminae I and II and in the magnocellular region of the nucleus but are most abundant in lamina II inner. The lamina II immunoreactive cells are morphologically heterogeneous and include types which are similar to cells described in Golgi studies such as stalked and islet cells. In order to distinguish somatostatin-immunoreactive primary afferents from intrinsic sources of somatostatin such as the lamina II neurons, we have used a monoclonal antibody (LD2) which is specific for primary afferents. Using dual-colour immunofluorescence we have shown that all somatostatin-immunoreactive cells in the trigeminal ganglia express LD2 immunoreactivity. Quantitative immunostaining density profiles indicate that LD2- and somatostatin-immunoreactive fibres overlap mainly in lamina II outer and dual-colour immunofluorescence confirms that this region contains somatostatin and LD2 double-labelled fibres. In contrast, lamina I contains more somatostatin- than LD2-immunoreactive fibres and fewer double-labelled fibres. The presence of double-labelled fibres in outer lamina II indicates that somatostatin-immunoreactive primary afferents terminate largely in this sublamina. However, the small number of double-labelled fibres found suggests that somatostatin-immunoreactive fibres in laminae I and II are derived mainly from intrinsic sources such as the various types of lamina II neurons.
Animals↗
Ultrastructure of somatostatin-immunoreactive nerve terminals in laminae I and II of the rat trigeminal subnucleus caudalis.
The morphology and distribution of somatostatin-immunoreactive synaptic boutons was studied in the rat trigeminal subnucleus caudalis using pre-embedding electron microscopic techniques. Immunoreactive terminals were found in lamina I and throughout lamina II but were more concentrated in outer lamina II. All immunoreactive terminals contained many round or pleomorphic agranular small synaptic vesicles and some large dense-cored vesicles. Lamina I terminals were all simple dome-shaped and relatively small. They established one asymmetric or slightly asymmetric synapse over a dendritic spine or a small, medium or large dendritic shaft. The large dendrites are probably derived from Waldeyer neurons. Many lamina II immunoreactive terminals were also simple dome-shaped terminals and established asymmetric synaptic contacts with one postsynaptic structure, usually a dendritic spine or a small to medium-sized dendritic shaft. However, other lamina II immunoreactive terminals were larger and displayed more complex morphology and synaptology. Complex immunoreactive terminals had scalloped or smooth contours and made synaptic contacts with more than one postsynaptic profile. In outer lamina II they sometimes constituted the central terminals of typical glomerular synaptic complexes. We conclude that many of the immunoreactive simple terminals probably originate from intrinsic somatostatin-immunoreactive interneurons while some of the more complex ones and the central glomerular terminals are likely to originate from primary afferents. These results are consistent with our accompanying light microscopic study (Alvarez and Priestley, Neuroscience 38, 343-357, 1990) which indicates that somatostatin-immunoreactive primary afferents project preferentially to outer lamina II while the lamina I somatostatin-immunoreactive plexus is likely to originate largely from laminae I and II interneurons. In addition somatostatin-immunoreactive cell bodies were found in lamina II. The heaviest immunoreactivity in these cells was in the Golgi apparatus. Also some vesicles containing dendrites were immunostained, and these were most abundant in inner lamina II. Thus, in trigeminal subnucleus caudalis, somatostatin may be derived from primary afferent synaptic boutons, interneuron synaptic boutons and interneuron dendrites. However, each of these sites probably makes a proportionately different contribution to the total amount of somatostatin released in each lamina or sublamina.
Animals↗
Cholinergic receptors in the rat and human brain: microscopic visualization.
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Animals↗
Light and electron microscopic study of galanin-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the rat posterior thalamus.
Light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry was used to study certain cell groups in the posteromedial thalamus which contain galanin-immunoreactive (GAL-IR) fibers. The nuclei subparafascicularis pars parvicellularis (SPFpc) and parafascicularis (PF) contain a dense network of GAL-IR fibers which form basketlike structures around unstained cells. The periventricular area also contains numerous GAL-IR fibers and these also occasionally form basketlike structures. The GAL-IR terminal fields continue caudally in the mesodiencephalic junction and merge with other GAL-IR fibers in the dorsal aspects of the substantia nigra and around the dorsolateral tip of the medial lemniscus. Ultrastructural analysis of the GAL-IR basketlike structures revealed that GAL-IR terminals make numerous synapses with the cell bodies and proximal dendrites of SPFpc neurones. These results suggest that the activity of cells in the SPFpc and PF nuclei may be strongly influenced by galanin-containing nerve fibers probably originating in the spinal cord.
Animals↗
Morphology and distribution of primary afferent fibres expressing alpha-galactose extended oligosaccharides in the spinal cord and brainstem of the rat. Light microscopy.
The light microscopic morphology and distribution of non-substance P-containing small primary afferent fibres were studied. These fibres were labelled using LD2 and LA4 monoclonal antibodies which recognize alpha-galactose extended oligosaccharides expressed by primary afferent neurons. The LD2 and LA4 antibodies immunostained small primary afferent fibres ending mainly in lamina II of the spinal cord dorsal horn and trigeminal subnucleus caudalis of the rat. The lamination pattern of both types of primary afferents was assessed using an image analysis system. The highest density of LD2-immunoreactive fibres was located in a patchy band located in lamina II outer, while LA4-immunoreactive fibres were distributed mainly through lamina II inner. In lateral regions of cervical and lumbar dorsal horn the LA4-immunoreactive band is broader and comprises almost all lamina II. In contrast to substance P-containing primary afferents, a low density of LD2- or LA4-immunoreactive fibres was found in lamina I, and no terminal fields were found in lamina V or lamina X of the spinal cord or in levels of the trigeminal system outside the subnucleus caudalis. Both antibodies also labelled the parent fibres in the white matter fasciles. LD2-immunoreactive fibres were located in the dorsal roots, medial regions of the Lissauer tract, dorsal columns of the spinal cord, outer regions of the spinal trigeminal tract and dorsal to the cuneatus and gracilis nuclei. In contrast, LA4-immunoreactive fibres were restricted to the dorsal roots, medial and lateral regions of the Lissauer tract and the outer regions of the trigeminal tract. Immunostained fibres in the rootlets of the X and IX nerves and immunoreactive terminal arborizations in various subnuclei of the nucleus tractus solitarius were seen using both antibodies. These results show that subpopulations of small primary afferents stained by LD2 and LA4 antibodies have distinct patterns of central distribution and are consistent with a subdivision of small primary afferents into peptide- and non-peptide-containing groups.
Animals↗
Ultrastructure of primary afferent fibres and terminals expressing alpha-galactose extended oligosaccharides in the spinal cord and brainstem of the rat.
The ultrastructural characteristics of primary afferent fibres, which express alpha-galactose extended oligosaccharides recognized by LD2 and LA4 monoclonal antibodies, and the subcellular localization of these oligosaccharides were studied. LD2 and LA4 antibodies both label intensely the plasma membrane of primary afferent fibres, and with LD2 antibody all immunoreactive profiles also possessed strong intracellular staining. In contrast, intracellular staining with LA4 antibody was observed in only a subpopulation of stained profiles. LD2-immunoreactive fibres were detected in trigeminal and Lissauer tracts and in lamina I (LI) and lamina II (LII), and appeared as a mixture of unmyelinated and myelinated fibres. The highest density of LD2-immunoreactive synaptic boutons was found in lamina II outer (LIIo). Many of the terminals were simple dome-shaped terminals, making single asymmetric synapses over small and medium-sized dendritic shafts and dendritic spines. All LA4-immunoreactive fibres were unmyelinated. In addition, some small scalloped central-glomerular terminals contacting two or three dendrites were found. LA4-immunoreactive fibres were found more frequently than terminals and appeared most heavily immunostained in trigeminal and Lissauer tracts. In the neuropil of LI and LII, LA4 profiles were generally very weakly immunostained, although a small sample of immunostained synaptic boutons was detected. All LA4-immunoreactive terminals were found in lamina II inner (LIIi) and made simple asymmetric axodendritic synapses. In addition to axons and terminals, some dendrites exhibited LD2 immunoreactivity and this was most intense in the region of synaptic vesicles. In addition to neurons, some endothelial cells were immunostained with LD2 antibody and astrocytes were immunostained with LA4 antibody.
Animals↗
Localization of C-PON immunoreactivity in the rat main olfactory bulb. Demonstration that the population of neurons containing endogenous C-PON display NADPH-diaphorase activity.
The presence of the neuropeptide C-terminal flanking peptide of neuropeptide-Y, C-PON, has been investigated in the main olfactory bulb of the rat using conventional fluorescence and peroxidase-antiperoxidase immunocytochemical techniques. The distribution of immunoreactive structures to C-PON was examined in both horizontal and coronal sections. Endogenous C-PON was localized within two types of short-axon cells including (1) superficial short-axon cells in the glomerular layer and (2) deep short-axon cells lying in the deepest portion of the granule cell layer and in the adjacent white matter. In addition, varicose immunoreactive processes were detected in all layers, although they were more numerous in the deepest portion of the granule cell layer. Immunoreactive cell bodies and processes were also observed in the nucleus olfactorius anterior and in the intrabulbar portion of the anterior commissure. Nevertheless, immunoreactive structures were not localized in the lateral olfactory tract. The indirect immunofluorescence technique to detect endogenous C-PON in combination with the enzyme histochemical demonstration of NADPH-diaphorase activity, in single sections, showed that the NADPH-diaphorase procedure is a reliable marker for these C-PON positive cells. Also, indirectly, that, in the rat main olfactory bulb, C-PON and neuropeptide-Y are contained in the same cell types. Many glomeruli were stained following the NADPH-diaphorase procedure, but they were not C-PON immunoreactives. Results of this study provide evidence suggesting that C-PON may influence polysynaptically the function of mitral cells and, therefore, the olfactory bulb output.
Animals↗
The role of calcium ions and bile salts on the pancreatic lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of triglyceride emulsions stabilized with lecithin.
Lecithin-stabilized triglyceride emulsions are subject to hydrolysis by pancreatic lipase. The time profiles of these reactions are characterized by a lag-phase and a zero-order phase. Lag phases are more pronounced with long-chain triglycerides. Ca2+ is effective in reducing the lag-phase and activating lipase. Kinetic analysis of the reactions suggests that, like previous findings by others, taurodeoxycholate (TDC) micellar solutions combine with the lipase-colipase complex to form another catalytically active enzyme form. This enzyme form exhibits reduced activity in the absence of Ca2+. In the presence of Ca2+ the mixed micelle-lipase complex becomes more active and opens a new pathway for lipolysis. It is suggested that this enzyme form can bind more easily to interfaces with different physicochemical properties. Under these conditions, Ca2+ activates the lipolysis of short-, medium-, and long-chain triglycerides by a similar mechanism. Maximum activities were measured in the presence of approximately 6 mM TDC and 30 mM Ca2+. The experimental conditions approximate the physiological conditions in the gastrointestinal tract since all of the factors studied here have been reported to be necessary for in vivo lipolysis and/or absorption of triglycerides. A mechanistic model for lipolysis in the presence of Ca2+ and the bile salt TDC is proposed which accounts for most of the experimental observations in a quantitative manner.
Bile Acids and Salts↗
Pancreatic lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of esters of hydroxymethyl phenytoin dissolved in various metabolizable vehicles, dispersed in micellar systems, and in aqueous suspensions.
Lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of fatty acid esters of 3-hydroxymethyl phenytoin was studied in various triglyceride and ethyl oleate emulsions, dispersed in micellar solutions, and suspended in an aqueous buffered solution. Phenytoin release from ethyl oleate emulsions of the prodrugs show apparent first-order kinetics with the pentanoate to nonanoate derivatives and sigmoidal kinetics with the long-chain fatty acid derivatives (stearate and oleate). A transition in the kinetic behavior, between the short- and the long-chain acyl prodrugs, was observed with the decanoate derivative. These observations are accounted for by a proposed kinetic model. Phenytoin release from the solid prodrugs follows zero-order kinetics and is independent of the total amounts of suspended material but directly proportional to the lipase concentration. Lipolysis of the solid suspended prodrugs was dependent on the length of the acyl side chain of the prodrug, with maxima for the pentanoate and the octanoate derivatives. The short-chain derivatives, acetate and propionate, as well as the long-chain prodrug, stearate, showed the slowest lipolysis rate when present as solid dispersions. The zero-order rate is qualitatively correlated with the melting point of the prodrugs. This result might be expected if the melting point is taken as a measure of the cohesivity or packing of the molecules at the surface of a crystal.
Catalysis↗
Patterns of drug use by young people in the rural community of Spain.
The patterns of drug use were studied in 1886 14-30-year-olds in rural (less than 10,000 inhabitants) Spain in 1987. Cannabis was the most frequently consumed drug. For the 'past month', the frequency of drug consumption was 10.07% of the population for cannabis, and ranged between 1.01% for amphetamines and 0.11% for inhalants. Drug consumption was more frequent among males than among females. The earlier start in consumption was among inhalants (15.3 years) whereas cocaine consumers started later (20 years). 'New sensations and curiosity' was the most frequently reported reason for the initial consumption of the various drugs, whereas the 'search for pleasure and happiness', and 'to relax' (for tranquillizers) were the principal reasons given for continuing use. 'Euphoria' and 'well-being' were the principal effects felt under the influence of the different drugs. The present data show that drug consumption is common among young people in Spanish rural communities.
Adolescent↗
Knowledge about and attitudes towards drinking among university students in Spain.
A total of 545 Spanish university students from the University of Valladolid, were surveyed in 1985 about their alcohol use, knowledge of the effects of alcohol, and attitudes towards social drinking and towards alcoholism and alcoholics. The knowledge regarding alcohol (mean scores 7.7 +/- 0.1, ranging 1-15) was associated with academic aspects: it was higher among medicine and nursing students and increased according to the length of stay at university. The attitudes both towards social drinking (mean scores 0.6 +/- 0.1, ranging -9 to 9) and towards alcoholism and the alcoholics (mean scores 3.0 +/- 0.1, ranging -6 to 9), were related to alcohol consumption: those students self-reported as "heavy" and "moderate" drinkers, and those with alcohol intake over 40 g/day, had a more favourable attitude. The results suggest a need for education on alcohol.
Adult↗
Patterns of alcohol use among university students in Spain.
A total of 545 university students in Valladolid, Burgos and Palencia (Spain) were surveyed in 1985 with regard to their consumption of alcohol. Alcoholic drinks were taken frequently (daily, 13.6% of the subjects; weekly, 66.2%; monthly, 71.3%), the per capita consumption being 8.4 litres of pure alcohol per year. Consumption was higher among males and during the weekend. Beer, wine and, among spirits, gin, were the favourites. Most students started drinking before the age of 18 (81.2%), most commonly taking alcoholic drinks when 'going out in the evening' (62.2%); their principal reason for drinking was 'because the people I am with are drinking' (71.6%) and 52.8% admitted to having been drunk within their 'lifetime'. Most of the differences in patterns of alcohol consumption were related to sex, and more infrequently were related to the different faculties, cities and academic years.
Alcohol Drinking↗
C-PON containing neurons in the rat striatum are also positive for NADPH-diaphorase activity. A light microscopic study.
The indirect immunofluorescence technique to detect endogenous C-flanking peptide of neuropeptide Y (NPY), C-PON, in combination with NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry, were applied to the same sections to establish whether C-PON containing cell bodies in the rat striatum can be labelled by their content of NADPH-diaphorase activity. NADPH-diaphorase activity proved to be a reliable marker for these positive C-PON neurons. Our results suggest that, in the rat striatum, C-PON, SOM and NPY co-exist in the same cells.
Animals↗