The signaling network of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR(mt)) and mitohormesis is a retrograde signaling pathway through which mitochondria-to-nucleus communication occurs in organisms. Recently, it has been shown that the UPR(mt) is closely associated with metabolic disorders and conditions involving insulin resistance, such as alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver and fibrotic liver disease. Scientific efforts to understand the UPR(mt) and mitohormesis, as well as to establish the mitochondrial proteome, have established the importance of mitochondrial quality control in the development and progression of metabolic liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this review, we integrate and discuss the recent data from the literature on the UPR(mt) and mitohormesis in metabolic liver diseases, including NAFLD/NASH and fibrosis.
Alcoholics ; Fatty Liver ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver Diseases ; Metabolism ; Mitochondria ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Obesity ; Proteome ; Quality Control ; Unfolded Protein Response

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to explore operational definitions and moderators of the resilience of adult children of alcoholics (ACOA) and its associated variables. METHODS: This integrative review was conducted based on a literature review method suggested by Whittemore and Knafl. Databases including PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and RISS were searched using the combinations of search terms such as; ‘adult children of alcoholics,’ ‘parental alcoholism,’ ‘resilience,’ and ‘children of alcoholics.’ RESULTS: Seventeen studies were selected for this review. Findings of integrative reviews reported operational definitions for the resilience of ACOA and moderators. The operational definition of ACOA's resilience is: (1) having no behavioral and emotional problem, (2) meeting social and developmental expectancies, (3) having the ability to cope with adversity, (4) having high self-concept, and (5) having a meaningful relationship. In addition, the varying environmental moderators include family communication, qualities of caring environment, parental communication, parentification, and social support. Several moderators were identified as positive effect, self-esteem, alcohol-specific coping style, locus of control, spirituality, the image of God, and dyadic cohesion in marital communication. CONCLUSION: Our study findings emphasize comprehensive understanding of diverse definition of resilience and moderators in developing nursing interventions to promote resilience in ACOA.
Adult Children ; Adult ; Alcoholics ; Alcoholism ; Child ; Humans ; Internal-External Control ; Methods ; Nursing ; Parents ; Resilience, Psychological ; Spirituality

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Noninvasive markers of liver fibrosis in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) are crucial to establish early intervention. Previous studies have suggested that plasma levels of cleaved keratin-18 (K18; M30) fragments can predict the severity of liver disease. The aim of this study was to correlate plasma M30 levels with stages of liver fibrosis in ALD. METHODS: Patients with ALD (n=139, 79.1% males) and liver histology were included, and plasma samples were collected to quantify plasma M30 levels. Patients were stratified into five groups by fibrosis stage (F0=14; F1=15; F2=35; F3=17; and F4=58) according to the Kleiner score. Differences between groups were evaluated using the chi-square test or analysis of variance. Trends by fibrosis stage were calculated by logistic regression analysis, and sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were determined. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in M30 levels among fibrosis stages. The correlation between plasma M30 levels and fibrosis was poor (Pearson’s correlation coefficient=0.13, Spearman rho=0.20 [p=0.02]), and M30 levels did not correlate with alcohol-specific histological features. However, significant correlations of M30 levels with aspartate aminotransferase (Spearman rho=0.653, p < 0.001) and alanine aminotransferase (Spearman rho=0.432, p < 0.001) were found. M30 levels of >200 U/L reveal a sensitivity for predicting cirrhosis of 84.5% with a negative predictive value of 73.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma M30 levels are often elevated in ALD and correlate with serum transaminases but do not reflect fibrosis. The usefulness as a prognostic marker awaits evaluation in prospective studies.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alcoholics* ; Apoptosis ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Caspases ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Keratin-18 ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; Liver* ; Logistic Models ; Plasma* ; Prospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Transaminases

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate associations of spiritual well-being, attitude toward death, and quality of life among Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). METHODS: This study was cross-sectional and descriptive in design. The data was collected from August to September 2018 with 133 AA members drawn from two provinces of South Korea. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA with Turkey tests, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses using SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. RESULTS: The existential spiritual well-being (β=.52, p<.001), attitude toward death (β=.24, p<.001), dual diagnosis (β=−.17, p=.003), occupation (β=.12, p=.035) of the participants were significant factors, which explained 63.7% of the variance of quality of life. CONCLUSION: The study findings highlight the need to develop psychological nursing strategies to enhance the spiritual well-being and improve a positive attitude toward death based on the job and dual diagnosis among AA members to improve their better quality of life.
Alcohol-Related Disorders ; Alcoholics Anonymous ; Alcoholics ; Attitude to Death ; Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry) ; Humans ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Nursing ; Occupations ; Quality of Life ; Spirituality ; Turkey

Clinical studies published over the past two decades have consistently demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy and safety of anti-craving medications. To use anti-craving agents more effectively in clinical settings, it is important to set clear treatment goals. Because alcoholic patients have lost control of drinking alcohol, it is recommended to set ‘abstinence’ as a goal rather than ‘controlled drinking’. Indeed, the therapeutic effects of anti-craving medication are higher when abstinence is set as the target. On the other hand, if abstinence is the sole criterion, it is difficult to elicit the motivation of a patient who lacks motivation in clinical practice. In the case of patients who have not yet gained insight, the initial goal might be set to gradually reduce the amount of alcohol consumed and prevent at-risk heavy drinking. Even in this case, anti-craving can help clinically. To increase the effectiveness of anti-craving medications, it is best to start at least four to seven days after the patient has stopped drinking. If the patient has alcohol withdrawal symptoms, they should be treated first.
Alcoholics ; Craving ; Drinking ; Hand ; Humans ; Motivation ; Naltrexone ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; Therapeutic Uses

In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver cirrhosis (LC) accompanied by hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection, hepatic failure often leads to debility. Here, we report about a 63-year-old man with alcoholic LC who was referred to our hospital with jaundice and abdominal distension 10 days earlier. Abdominal computed tomography showed necrotic HCC accompanied by left lobe shrinkage without tumor progression. Laboratory and imaging findings revealed no acute infection focus. The patient reported no herbal medicine or alcohol consumption, and there was no evidence of acute viral hepatitis. One month later, HEV immunoglobulin M positivity was confirmed, and deterioration of liver function due to HEV infection was suspected. The patient often ate raw oysters and sashimi, as well as boar meat, which is a well-known risk food for HEV infection. His umbilical hernia deteriorated due to tense ascites and infection by skin abrasion. The patient progressed to hepatorenal syndrome and eventually died. Liver function preservation is important when treating HCC patients. Therefore, clinicians should pay more attention to the prevention of HEV and others causes of direct liver injury.
Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholics ; Ascites ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Hepatitis E virus ; Hepatitis E ; Hepatitis ; Hepatorenal Syndrome ; Herbal Medicine ; Hernia, Umbilical ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Jaundice ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Liver Failure ; Meat ; Middle Aged ; Ostreidae ; Skin ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation

Wernicke encephalopathy is a syndrome caused by thiamine deficiency whose three typical symptoms are ophthalomoplegia, ataxia, and confusion. There are also rare reports of bilateral hearing loss, which can be caused by damage to the bilateral inferior colliculus or thalamic lesions, or by energy failure of the cochlea. This case suggests that thiamine should be administered based on the possibility of Wernicke encephalopathy occurring in malnourished or alcoholic patients with sudden bilateral hearing loss.
Alcoholics ; Ataxia ; Cochlea ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Bilateral ; Humans ; Inferior Colliculi ; Thiamine ; Thiamine Deficiency ; Wernicke Encephalopathy

OBJECTIVE: Brain atrophy and brain herniation are gaining a lot of attention separately, but a limited amount of studies connected them together, and because of this, we are going to review and examine the subject in the current meta-analysis. METHODS: The authors collected data reporting brain atrophy of alcoholic and schizophrenic cause, as well as data on control patients, all of which was published on MEDLINE between 1996 and 2018. The included 11 articles were processed with a statistical program. RESULTS: We found that the pericerebral space is unequal among the groups, while the intracranial volume is strongly correlated to the biggest foramen of the body. The effect of this inequality, however, is expressed in emergency cases, where the patients with brain atrophy will have more time before the final stage of brain herniation CONCLUSION: The current study raises a controversial issue that requires careful investigation and high attention from the health care personnel.
Alcoholics ; Atrophy ; Brain ; Delivery of Health Care ; Emergencies ; Foramen Magnum ; Humans ; Research Design ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Ticks

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Acute hepatic dysfunction combined with alcoholic hepatitis (AH) in alcoholic cirrhosis is related to hepatic hypo-perfusion secondary to intrahepatic necroinflammation, neoangiogenesis, and shunt. The hepatic vein arrival time (HVAT) assessed by microbubble contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is closely correlated with the severity of intrahepatic changes. We investigated the usefulness of HVAT to predict short-term mortality of AH in cirrhosis. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (27 males) and AH were prospectively enrolled. HVAT study was performed within 3 days after admission using ultrasonic contrast (SonoVue®). The primary outcome was 12-week mortality. RESULTS: Twelve-week mortality developed in nine patients. HVAT was significantly different between the mortality and survival groups (9.3±2.0 seconds vs 12.6±3.5 seconds, p=0.002). The odds ratio of a shortened HVAT for 12-week mortality was 1.481 (95% confidence interval, 1.050–2.090; p=0.025). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of HVAT for 12-week mortality was 0.787 (p=0.010). The combination of MDF and HVAT ≥11.0 seconds resulted in an 87.5% survival rate even if the MDF score ≥32; however, HVAT < 11.0 seconds was related with mortality despite a MDF score < 32. CONCLUSIONS: HVAT using microbubble CEUS could be a useful additional index to predict short-term mortality in patients with AH and cirrhosis.
Alcoholics* ; Fibrosis* ; Hepatic Veins ; Hepatitis, Alcoholic* ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic ; Microbubbles ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Pilot Projects* ; Prognosis* ; Prospective Studies* ; ROC Curve ; Survival Rate ; Ultrasonics ; Ultrasonography*

Investigations into the development of new therapeutic agents for lung inflammatory disorders have led to the discovery of plant-based alternatives. The rhizomes of Anemarrhena asphodeloides have a long history of use against lung inflammatory disorders in traditional herbal medicine. However, the therapeutic potential of this plant material in animal models of lung inflammation has yet to be evaluated. In the present study, we prepared the alcoholic extract and derived the saponin-enriched fraction from the rhizomes of A. asphodeloides and isolated timosaponin A-III, a major constituent. Lung inflammation was induced by intranasal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mice, representing an animal model of acute lung injury (ALI). The alcoholic extract (50–200 mg/kg) inhibited the development of ALI. Especially, the oral administration of the saponin-enriched fraction (10–50 mg/kg) potently inhibited the lung inflammatory index. It reduced the total number of inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Histological changes in alveolar wall thickness and the number of infiltrated cells of the lung tissue also indicated that the saponin-enriched fraction strongly inhibited lung inflammation. Most importantly, the oral administration of timosaponin A-III at 25–50 mg/kg significantly inhibited the inflammatory markers observed in LPS-induced ALI mice. All these findings, for the first time, provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of A. asphodeloides and its major constituent, timosaponin A-III, in alleviating lung inflammation.
Acute Lung Injury ; Administration, Intranasal ; Administration, Oral ; Alcoholics ; Anemarrhena* ; Animals* ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Lung* ; Mice ; Models, Animal* ; Plants ; Pneumonia* ; Rhizome*