Energy drinks mixed with alcohol: Are there any risks?

There have now been a number of publications, including laboratory studies and surveys, on alcohol mixed with energy drinks. Some authors have highlighted problems associated with consumption of this beverage combination, including reduced perception of alcohol intoxication and greater alcohol consumption with more negative consequences as a result. For example, the recent article by Marczinski and Fillmore entitled “Energy drinks mixed with alcohol: what are the risks?” suggests that “consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks is riskier than consuming alcohol alone and constitutes a public health concern.”1 While some publications conclude that consumption of energy drinks mixed with alcohol is problematic, others do not support these claims and point out the methodological shortcomings of many studies in this area

Contextualisation of the gospel among muslims

Contextualisation is considered crucial in relating the gospel to culture. However, when reaching Muslims by means of the Christian gospel it is also important to evaluate the concept of contextualisation, as different approaches enable one to understand the mission to Muslims in different ways. There are still divergent views ranging from total rejection of any aspect of the Muslim culture and beliefs to full acceptance of the Muslim religious culture. Various exponents have attempted in different ways to deal with the issue. Phil Parshall is regarded as a leader in this field. This article suggests a holistic Scriptural view rather than accepting contextualisation as a means to relate the gospel to Muslims. This view is intrinsically bound to Scripture and the acceptance of Scripture as the revelation of God. It is argued that Muslims should be approached with great respect while emphasising the true revelation of God in Christ

Energy drinks mixed with alcohol: misconceptions, myths, and facts

Joris C Verster1, Christoph Aufricht2, Chris Alford31Utrecht University, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht, The Netherlands; 2Medical University of Vienna, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Währinger Gürtel, Wien, Austria; 3University of the West of England, Psychology Department, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, UKBackground: Whilst energy drinks improve performance and feelings of alertness, recent articles suggest that energy drink consumption combined with alcohol may reduce perception of alcohol intoxication, or lead to increased alcohol or drug use. This review discusses the available scientific evidence on the effects of mixing energy drinks with alcohol.Methods: A literature search was performed using the keywords “energy drink and Red Bull®” and consulting Medline/Pubmed, PsycINFO, and Embase.Results: There is little evidence that energy drinks antagonize the behavioral effects of alcohol, and there is no consistent evidence that energy drinks alter the perceived level of intoxication of people who mix energy drinks with alcohol. No clinically relevant cardiovascular or other adverse effects have been reported for healthy subjects combining energy drinks with alcohol, although there are no long-term investigations currently available. Finally, whilst several surveys have shown associations, there is no direct evidence that coadministration of energy drinks increases alcohol consumption, or initiates drug and alcohol dependence or abuse.Conclusion: Although some reports suggest that energy drinks lead to reduced awareness of intoxication and increased alcohol consumption, a review of the available literature shows that these views are not supported by direct or reliable scientific evidence. A personality with higher levels of risk-taking behavior may be the primary reason for increased alcohol and drug abuse per se. The coconsumption of energy drinks being one of the many expressions of that type of lifestyle and personality.Keywords: energy drink and Red Bull®, Red Bull®, alcohol, intoxication, caffeine, maskin

Gemaskerde depressie

Masked depression is a condition in which the classic affective and cognitive symptoms of depression are hidden behind a variety of somatic complaints or behavioural problems. Patients suffering from masked depression are usually incorrectly diagnosed and treated symptomatically with little success. The condition is often encountered in the medical literature from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, but little has been published about it in recent years. This review discusses the changing ideas and approach with regard to masked depression and examines whether they are still relevant today. The literature published in each of the previous decades is studied and specific attention is given to cultural differences in a South African context. Although little has been published on masked depression in the past few years, somatic complaints in depression are still regularly examined in the literature. A significant number of patients with depression are still not correctly diagnosed and masked depression therefore remains relevant. Doctors should be aware of the presenting complaints in these patients and should understand the reasons for somatisation

Alcohol Hangover and Multitasking: Effects on Mood, Cognitive Performance, Stress Reactivity, and Perceived Effort

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of hangover on mood, multitasking ability, and psychological stress reactivity to cognitive demand. Using a crossover design and semi-naturalistic methodology, 25 participants attended the laboratory in the morning following a night of (i) alcohol abstinence and (ii) alcohol self-administration during a typical night out (with order counterbalanced across participants). They completed a four-module multitasking framework (MTF, a widely used laboratory stressor) and a battery of questionnaires assessing mood, hangover symptom severity, and previous night’s sleep. The effects of the MTF on mood and perceived workload were also assessed. Participants in the hangover condition reported significantly lower alertness and contentment coupled with a higher mental fatigue and anxiety. Multitasking ability was also significantly impaired in the hangover condition. Completion of the cognitive stressor increased reported levels of mental demand, effort, and frustration, and decreased perceived level of performance. MTF completion did not differentially affect mood. Lastly, participants rated their sleep as significantly worse during the night prior to the hangover compared with the control condition. These findings confirm the negative cognitive and mood effects of hangover on mood. They also demonstrate that hangover is associated with greater perceived effort during task performance

Eksplorasie van paradokse en die nut daarvan vir die gesinsterapie praktyk

Text in Afrikaans'n Terapeutiese sisteem word gevorm, wanneer 'n terapeut hom by 'n gesin aansluit. 'n Terapeut fokus op patrone van interaksie en verhoudinge van die gesin wat terapie benodig. Deur met die gesin te bind, tree die terapeut in interaksie met die ekologie van die gesin. Sekere idees word hierdeur gegenereer aangaande die moontlike intervensies, wat tot die verlangde veranderinge kan lei. In die studie, tree ek as navorser op en as gesinsterapeut gedurende die terapeutiese interaksie, het dit geblyk dat die patrone in die gesin, elemente van paradokse bevat. T een-paradokse is as intervensies geformuleer. Paradokse en die nut daarvan in die gesin, het die navorser/terapeut se verbeelding geprikkel. Hierdie studie verteenwoordig sommige teoretiese aspekte aangaande paradokse en 'n demonstrasie van aanwending van die paradoks, soos toegepas gedurende drie sessies 'n gesinterapie. Ek deel ook my punktuasies aangaande die nut van die paradoks vir die die gesinsterapie-praktyk,met die Ieser.A therapeutic system is formed when the therapist enters a particular family. A therapist focuses on the patterns of interaction and the relationships of a family that requires therapeutic intervention. By joining the family, the therapist finds in the ecology of the family some ideas for the possible interventions that might lead to the desired changes. In this study, I acted as both researcher and family therapist. During the therapeutic interaction it became aparent that the patterns in the family contained elements of paradoxes. Counter-paradoxes were formulated as interventions. The phenomenon of paradoxes and its usefulness in family therapy captured the researcher/therapist's imagination. This study presents some theoretical aspects regarding paradoxes, and a demonstration of the use of the paradox as applied during three sessions in family therapy. I also share my punctuations of the usefulness of the paradox for the family therapy practice with the reader.Social WorkM.A. (Sosiale Wetenskappe (Geestesgesondheid)

p–n Junction as an ultra linear calculable thermometer

Описано режим роботи p-n переходу, у якому вихідна напруга лінійно залежить від температури, незалежно від геометрії пристрою чи матеріалу напівпровідника і визначається тільки фундаментальними фізичними константами та струмом.The mode of operation of the p - n junction is described, which leads to an output voltage linearly dependent on temperature, regardless of the geometry of the device or semiconductor material and is determined only by fundamental physical constants and current.Описан режим работы p - n-перехода, который приводит к выходному напряжению, линейно зависящему от температуры, независимо от геометрии устройства или материала полупроводника и определяемого только фундаментальными физическими константами и током

Are energy drinks unique mixers in terms of their effects on alcohol consumption and negative alcohol-related consequences?

© 2018 Johnson et al. Introduction: Previous research has suggested that consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AMED) increases overall alcohol consumption. However, there is limited research examining whether energy drinks are unique in their effects when mixed with alcohol, when compared with alcohol mixed with other caffeinated mixers (AOCM). Therefore, the aim of this survey was to investigate alcohol consumption on AMED occasions, to that on other occasions when the same individuals consumed AOCM or alcohol only (AO). Methods: A UK-wide online student survey collected data on the frequency of alcohol consumption and quantity consumed, as well as the number of negative alcohol-related consequences reported on AO, AMED and AOCM occasions (N=250). Results: Within-subjects analysis revealed that there were no significant differences in the number of alcoholic drinks consumed on a standard and a heavy drinking session between AMED and AOCM drinking occasions. However, the number of standard mixers typically consumed was significantly lower on AMED occasions compared with AOCM occasions. In addition, when consuming AMED, students reported significantly fewer days consuming 5 or more alcohol drinks, fewer days mixing drinks, and fewer days being drunk, compared with when consuming AOCM. There were no significant differences in the number of reported negative alcohol-related consequences on AMED occasions to AOCM occasions. Of importance, alcohol consumption and negative alcohol-related consequences were significantly less on both AMED and AOCM occasions compared with AO occasions. Conclusion: The findings that heavy alcohol consumption occurs significantly less often on AMED occasions compared with AOCM occasions is in opposition to some earlier claims implying that greatest alcohol consumption occurs with AMED. The overall greatest alcohol consumption and associated negative consequences were clearly associated with AO occasions. Negative consequences for AMED and AOCM drinking occasions were similar, suggesting that energy drink was comparable with AOCM in this regard