Glutathione S-Transferase activity and total thiol status in chronic alcohol abusers before and 30 days after alcohol abstinence

Background: Glutathione S Transferase (GST) has been involved in detoxification process in the liver and its activity has been shown to be increased in alcohol abusers. In the current work we measured the GST activity, total thiol status, AST, ALT, and direct bilirubin in chronic alcohol abusers before and 30 days after alcohol abstinence and lifestyle modification. Methods: Serum and urine GST activity and total thiol status were determined using spectrophotometric methods and serum transaminases were determined using clinical chemistry analyzer. Results: We found,significant increase in serum and urine GST (p<0.001), AST (p<0.001), ALT (p<0.001), and decrease in total thiol status (p<0.001) in chronic alcohol abusers. GST activity significantly decreased (p<0.001) and total thiol status were improved significantly (p<0.001) 30 days after alcohol abstinence and lifestyle modification. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary data to suggest the role of GST as prognostic indicator of alcohol abstinence with possible trend towards an improvement in liver function

A Comparative Study Between Alcoholics of Koraga Community, Alcoholics of General Population and Healthy Controls for Antioxidant Markers and Liver Function Parameters

Objectives: It is well established that long-term alcohol consumption leads to liver cirrhosis and other related disorders. Sufficient work has been done on biochemical markers of liver damage and antioxidant status of chronic alcoholics in general population. In the current study chronic alcoholics from a community called Koraga are analysed for the same parameters in a view to assess the extent of liver damage as compared to healthy controls and other alcoholics. Methods: Serum and urine samples from Koraga alcoholics (n=28), general alcoholics (n=30) and healthy controls (n=31) were analysed for liver function parameters and antioxidant markers. Liver function parameters were determined by automated analyzer. Markers of antioxidant status were estimated spectrophotometrically. The data was analysed using SPSS version 16.0. Results: There was significant increase in serum AST, serum ALT, serum GST and urine GST in both general and Koraga alcoholics when compared to healthy controls (p<0.0001). Serum ALT, serum GST and urine GST activity was significantly higher in general alcoholics when compared to Koraga alcoholics (p<0.001). Serum and urine total thiol levels were significantly lower in general alcoholics when compared to healthy controls and Koraga alcoholics (p<0.0001). We have observed no difference in total thiols level between healthy controls and Koraga alcoholics, in fact, there was significant increase in urine total thiols level in Koraga alcoholics compared to healthy controls (p<0.001). On Pearson’s correlation serum AST, serum ALT correlated positively with serum and urine GST (p<0.0001) and negatively with serum total thiols (p<0.0001). Serum GST correlated negatively with serum total thiols (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Results of our study possibly indicate that the extent of alcohol induced liver damage in Koraga subjects is comparatively lower than general alcoholics, even though the alcohol consumption is found to be higher in them. There may be some mechanism that is rendering them resistant to alcoholic liver damage which needs to be explored through further studies at molecular level

Burden and Coping in Informal Caregivers of Persons with Dementia: A Cross Sectional Study

Caring for persons affected with dementia is associated with substantial psychological strain as evidenced by high rates of psychiatric morbidity and high levels of caregiver strain. Dementia care in developing countries will continue to be provided by immediate family members at home and is unlikely to be taken over by institutions due to socio-cultural reasons. This study aims to examine the relationship of selected factors of patients affected with dementia and their caregivers that were associated with the burden and coping of family caregivers. This is a cross sectional study of a long term project by the author (RJ), involves face-to-face interview with questionnaires with family caregivers of patients with dementia. Burden was related to patient’s behavioral problems, gender, family type and the years of care giving. Principal component analysis of Brief Cope revealed 6 major dimensions: acceptance, humor, religion, substance use, behavioral disengagement and self blame as significant coping skills. Care giving was associated with more psychological complaints and a poor quality of life both physical and psychological. Self blame, behavioral disengagement, venting & emotional support emerged as an important variable as the care giver relation differ in the kind of care giving and care giving burden. Results highlight the importance of improving the mixed coping skills in burdened caregivers. Interventions need to designed and tailored to the specific needs of caregivers

Broken Heart Syndrome: Is The Heart Really Broken?

Stress induced cardiomyopathy, which is also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a cardiac syndrome of a transient, reversible left ventricular dysfunction that is caused by emotional and/or physical stress. Its clinical manifestations are similar to those of myocardial ischemia without a coronary artery lesion. Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is more common in middle-aged women, and the prognosis is favorable. We report the case of a 54-year-old female who had consulted a psychiatrist regarding her problematic son and were in the process of venting her feelings when she had an episode of cardiomyopathy. She fulfilled the ICD criteria for a Double Depression. Implications of condition are discussed