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K Blum

Publications and source records attributed to K Blum.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1971

Interaction effects of ethanol and pyrazole in laboratory rodents.

1. Interactions of pyrazole and ethanol were studied in three laboratory test procedures. They included sleeping time in mice, rotor rod balance in rats and lever pressing behaviour of rats.2. Equimolar concentrations of pyrazole and 3-methylpyrazole were compared for effects on enhancement of ethanol's activity on rotor rod holding time of rats.3. Minimally effective doses of pyrazole, the LADH inhibitor, and 3-methylpyrazole, a non-inhibitor of LADH, when administered before ethanol, resulted in an increased behavioural depression. These interaction effects are probably not caused by inhibition of LADH but rather by an increase in the direct depressant action of either one or both of the compounds.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Enkephalinase inhibition: regulation of ethanol intake in genetically predisposed mice.

This is the first report of alteration in alcohol intake in mice with a genetic predisposition to alcohol preference and known to have innate brain enkephalin deficiencies. We have been able to significantly attenuate both volitional and forced ethanol intake respectively by acute and chronic treatment with hydrocinnamic acid and D-phenylalanine, known carboxypeptidase (enkephalinase) inhibitors. Since these agents, through their enkephalinase inhibitory activity, raise brain enkephalin levels, we propose that excessive alcohol intake can be regulated by alteration of endogenous brain opioid peptides.

Alcoholism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Enkephalinase inhibition and precursor amino acid loading improves inpatient treatment of alcohol and polydrug abusers: double-blind placebo-controlled study of the nutritional adjunct SAAVE.

We investigated the effects of the amino acid and vitamin mixture SAAVE in inpatient, chemically-dependent subjects to evaluate the role of neurotransmitters in facilitating recovery and adjustment to a detoxified, sober state. SAAVE is formulated from amino acids that are precursors for neurotransmitters and neuromodulators thought to be involved in alcohol and drug seeking behavior. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study of 62 alcoholics and polydrug abusers, SAAVE patients had a significantly reduced stress response as measured by the skin conductance level (SCL), and significantly improved Physical Scores and BESS Scores (behavioral, emotional, social and spiritual). After detoxification there was a six-fold decrease in AMA rates when comparing SAAVE vs. placebo groups. In this inpatient treatment experience SAAVE facilitated the rate of recovery and allowed patients to respond more fully and more quickly to the behavioral goals of the program, for example as measured by the BESS Score. The use of SAAVE to achieve enkephalinase inhibition and precursor amino acid loading in the acute inpatient treatment environment provides the practitioner with the potential ability to restore the neurochemical changes inherent to alcoholism and drug abuse. These findings increase our understanding of the clinically relevant neurobiological mechanisms which underlie compulsive disease.

Alcoholism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Association of the A1 allele of the D2 dopamine receptor gene with severe alcoholism.

In a blinded study, 159 subjects composed of nonalcoholics (N = 43), less severe alcoholics (N = 44), severe alcoholics (N = 52) and young children of alcoholics (CoAs, N = 20) were studied for their allelic association with the D2 dopamine receptor (D2DR) gene utilizing peripheral lymphocytes as the DNA source. The combined alcoholic group compared to the nonalcoholic group showed a significantly greater association with the A1 allele of the D2DR gene. Furthermore, an even more robust association was found when severe alcoholics were compared to nonalcoholics. CoAs also showed a significantly greater association with the A1 allele than nonalcoholics but not when compared to alcoholics. Analysis of risk of alcoholism severity suggests that it comprises of two independent components: family history of alcoholism and presence of the A1 allele. Genotype and allelic frequency of the D2DR gene were also analyzed with respect to race. A higher percentage of blacks compared to whites had the A1/A1 genotype, and A1 allelic frequency in the total sample of blacks was significantly greater than in the total sample of whites. Moreover, frequency of the A1 allele was significantly greater in severe alcoholics compared to nonalcoholics in both whites and blacks. However, due to the small sample size of blacks, these racial differences need to be further studied. This study, of the largest sample of alcoholics to date, strongly affirms association of severe alcoholism with the A1 allele of the D2DR gene.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Genetic predisposition in alcoholism: association of the D2 dopamine receptor TaqI B1 RFLP with severe alcoholics.

Previous studies have shown an association of the 3' Taq1 A1 allele of the D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) gene with severe alcoholism. The recent demonstration of a new polymorphism located closer to the regulatory regions of this gene, permits an associational analysis of these 5' Taq1 B alleles with alcoholism and a comparison with the 3' Taq1 A alleles. Restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology was used to analyze a total of 133 blood samples of nonalcoholics, less severe alcoholics, and severe alcoholics. In white subjects (n = 115), no significant difference in the prevalence of the B1 allele is found between nonalcoholics (n = 30) and less severe alcoholics (n = 36). However, the prevalence of this allele is significantly higher in severe alcoholics (n = 49) when compared to either nonalcoholics (p = 0.008) or less severe alcoholics (p = 0.005). When Taq1 B and Taq1 A alleles of the DRD2 gene are compared in whites, the prevalence of the A1 allele is significantly higher than the B1 allele only in the severe alcoholic group. In conclusion, alleles in both the 5' and 3' region of the DRD2 gene associate with severe alcoholism. This suggests that the DRD2 gene may have an etiological role in some severe alcoholics.

Adult↗