Increased Glutamate Dehydrogenase Activity in Alcohol Dependent Persons: A Novel Old Marker | Chapter 1 | Recent Developments in Chemistry and Biochemistry Research Vol. 10

Alcoholism has a pronounced effect on people’s mental and physical health; in addition, it greatly influences family life as well as social and professional environments. It can be indirectly ascertained by means of some biochemical markers in serum, such as carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Combinations of alcohol markers increase sensitivity and diminish specificity. The aims of this study were as follows: to estimate and determine the role of GLDH as a marker of alcoholism, maintenance of abstinence and recurrence of alcohol consumption, and to define its specifics, sensitivity and clinical applicability. Also in the combinations with other markers after new findings about it were discovered.

The list of alcohol dependence markers in blood was assessed in 238 alcohol-dependents admitted to the hospital and 111 healthy individuals. A blood sample was taken from every alcohol-dependent three times: on admission, after 24 hours and after seven days.

Alcohol-dependents were ascertained to have higher GLDH serum activities (mean activities in men 351.53 nkat/L, women 296.08 nkat/L), the higher, the less elapsed time there was after the latest alcohol intake. In comparison with other markers, the decrease in GLDH activity is the fastest within the first 24 hours, whereas with AST and GLDH after 7 days. The kinetics of GLDH and AST is more applicable than GGT kinetics after a week’s cessation of drinking, but GLDH kinetics are the most reliable.

As no marker is known to be sufficiently specific and sensitive to diagnose chronic excessive alcohol intake, combinations of alcohol markers increase sensitivity and diminish specificity. With almost 90% specificity, GLDH was found to be the most specific laboratory marker, but a combination of GLDH and AST reached the highest specificity with 82%. The sensitivity of the combination of MCV and GLDH kinetics after one week of abstinence was indicative of 97.2%. Designed were some recommended combinations, e.g. the combination which determines MCV and GLDH kinetics in serum (a fall in the activity after 7 days) provides a 97.22% diagnostic sensitivity to alcohol addiction.

GLDH is an equally accurate marker of alcoholism over GGT or CDT if a significantly faster decrease in its activity since the last alcohol consumption in alcohol dependents is taken into consideration and is not overlooked. Therefore, watching that increased GLDH activity in sera of alcohol-dependents and the return of serum GLDH to normal activity is an effective yet overlooked aid in diagnostic cessation of drinking as a specific marker of alcohol addiction.

 

Author (s) Details

Matej Kravos
The Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška Ulica 8, 6000 Koper, Slovenia.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rdcbr/v10/3570

An Overview on Glutamate Dehydrogenase and Its Clinical Applications| Chapter 10 | New Advances in Medicine and Medical Science Vol. 7

 The aim concerning this chapter is an overview of current knowledge about Glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) in dispassionate applicability and possible hints for further search. GLDH is applicable as a marker of addiction, maintenance of abstinence and repetition of alcohol use in daily practice, nevertheless allure role as an indirect flag in determining neurodegenerative processes in the mind offers limited help.In comparison to other indicators of alcoholism is GLDH equally correct. Time aspect deliberate serum GLDH activity is an ideal gravestone of alcoholism since it is exalted in alcohol abuse but its venture declines promptly subsequently the last alcohol intake in intoxicating dependent subjects and the change ends long enough to be smart to be evaluated.  Combinations of intoxicating markers increase sensitivity and belittle specificity.The kinetics of blood corpuscle GLDH activity is a particular marker of alcohol dependence in addition to of the cessation of drinking intoxicating. Alcohol consumption reduces GLDH project to some extent and consecutively it take care of lead to increased protein result and strengthen of belittled leukocyte protective skill.The gradually decreased GLDH venture over life may have few contribution when aging the same as the GLDH endeavor in leukocytes diminishes with growing up. The decrease in GLDH activity in the cerebrospinal fluid at neurodegenerative disorders concede possibility be one of the reasons for the neuroexcitotoxic glutamate effect.

Author(s) Details:

Matej Kravos,
ZPA Dr. Kravos, Trg Svobode 26, 2310 Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenia and The Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška ulica 8, 6000 Koper, Slovenia.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/NAMMS-V7/article/view/11040

Drug Misuse, Consequences and Some Preventive Strategies | Chapter 5 | Emerging Trends in Disease and Health Research Vol. 8

Introduction: Drug abuse and its associated repercussions are now a global problem that affects many countries and worries both governments and the general populace. These societal problems include gangsterism, rape, prostitution, kidnapping, armed robbery, assault, and assassinations. The non-therapeutic (licit/legal) drugs like caffeine, tobacco/nicotine, or alcohol, as well as OTC drugs, prescription drugs, and illicit/illegal psychoactive substances like cannabis (use of this drug is now legalised in some countries, but not in Nigeria), cocaine and crack, morphine, and amphetamines are among the drugs that are misused. heroin, benzodiazepines, tramadol, codeine, etc. The abuse of these medications has sharply escalated, with severe health and social repercussions that every healthcare provider and government must acknowledge and address. Despite this despicable predicament, the cure for drug abuse has remained a mystery. This review intends to inform readers and offer support in easing and minimising the problems caused by drug abuse and its effects, especially in Nigeria.

Methods: A manual literature search as well as an online search (using databases like Medline, HINARI, PubMed, and others) were done.

Results: It was discovered that the medications being abused have a well-known propensity for addiction, which gives them the special capacity to be continued by impairing reason and wrecking havoc on the faculty of self-preservation. This results in a molecular brain illness that invariably brings about disarray, malfunction, or even obliteration. Substances that are addictive cause happy or pleasant feelings (euphoria in the first stage) or alleviate discomfort. Continuous usage causes the central nervous system (CNS) to adapt, which results in tolerance, dependence, sensitization (reverse tolerance), yearning, and relapse, all of which have detrimental effects on one's physical health as well as their social, psychological, spiritual, and economic well-being. Reducing damage, psychotherapy, drug treatment, and preventative programmes are among the methods used to regulate drug abuse. Religious group activities are a safeguard, and realistic media literacy for youth is essential.

Drug abuse is a significant global public health concern. Misuse corrections aim to enhance political and economical situations while also restoring the overall wellness of the person and their family. All hands must be on deck to minimise risk factors and increase protective variables since prevention is the key to effective management. Only then will we be able to successfully reduce and cure the sad effects of drug usage and its repercussions on individuals, families, and nations.

Author(s) Details:

S. I. Iyalomhe,

Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.

R. N. Osunde,

Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.

I. Omoregbe,

Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.

I. O. Edeawe,

Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.

O. E. Iyalomhe,

Institute of Lassa Fever and Research, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria.

G. B. S. Iyalomhe,

Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/ETDHR-V8/article/view/7231

Increasing Social Problems Due to Addiction and Drug Abuse: A Socio-Pathological Study | Chapter 12 | Current Topics in Medicine and Medical Research Vol. 11

 The paper examines the existence of social problems associated with increasing addiction and substance abuse in all communities, especially among young people of both sexes. Earlier societies used to have a definite structure, but in the past two centuries it has been subject to rising change due to industrialization and urbanisation. Due to changing communities into an industrial-urban world that has changed beliefs, norms, relationships, etc the two faces of addiction and substance abuse are commonly and rapidly emerging in modern times. Therefore, populations need to be sociologically and pathologically observed in such circumstances to achieve a form of social regulation as far as newborn anomalies are concerned. By social pathology, we mean some serious misadjustments between the different elements of the cultural configuration in order to jeopardise the group's existence or to seriously interfere with the fulfilment of its members' fundamental desires, with the consequence that social harmony is broken. Thus, social pathology is the study of the inability of man to adapt himself and his institutions to the requirements of life so that he can live and satisfy the felt needs of his nature equally. It also studies and monitors the rising crime rate. The research approach used in current research is qualitative in nature.

Author(s) Details

Dr. Mohammad Taghi Sheykhi
Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Alzahra University Tehran, Iran.

View Book :- https://bp.bookpi.org/index.php/bpi/catalog/book/331