• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 1999

The prevalence of alcoholism among elderly population is reported to be high in rural areas in Korea. Chronic abuse of alcohol can lead to the development of vitamin B deficiency through inadequate intake, altered absorption and metabolism, and increased excretion. The present study was conducted to assess vitamin B1 and B2 status in seventeen alcohol dependent subjects who do not exhibit any clinical neurological symptoms. Vitamin B1 and B2 nutritional states were determined enzymatically by measurement of transketolase and glutathione reductase activities in erythrocytes, respectively. And dietary intakes of nutrients were determined by a 24-hr recall method. The mean percent activation of erythrocyte transketolase was significantly higher in alcoholics than in alcoholics than in control (p<0.05). The proportion of subjects with a low and borderline status of vitamin B1, was significantly higher in alcoholics than in control (p<0.05). The mean percent activation of erythrocyte glutathione reductase was not different between alcoholics and control. And the proportion of subjects with low and borderline status of Vitamin B2, was higher in alcoholics than in control (p<0.1). Vitamin B1 and B2 status were significantly decreased in alcoholics who were smoking cigarettes compared to non-smoking and non-alcoholic subjects(p<0.05). Whether vitamin supplementation improves the vitamin status of alcohol dependent subjects remains to be researched.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.231-234
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• 1992

A 58-year-old chronic alcoholism patient, who complained of epigastric discomfort, nausea, and frequent loose stool was diagnosed as strongyloidiasis accompanied by duodenal ulcer. The symptoms first appeared two years ago and aggravated during the recent 3 months, and he lost 4 kg of his body weight. Stool examination revealed rhabditoid nematode larvae, which were confirmed as those of Strongyloides stercoralis after cultivation of them to alariform larvae. At duodenoscopy, duodenal ulcer was found. The patient was treated with albendagole (200 mg, bid, for 14 days) for stronglyloidiasis and with colloidal bismuth sulfate(240 mg, bid, for 6 weeks) for duodenal ulcer. After the medication, the symptoms of loose stool and epigastric discomfort were much improved and he was discharged with no clinical problems. This is an interesting case which suggests that S. stercoralis infection could be related with ulceration of the duodenal mucosa.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.304-307
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• 2013

Food bolus impaction is the most common cause of esophageal foreign body obstruction in adults. Other causes include intentional ingestion in psychiatric patients or prison inmates. We experienced successful treatment of a patient with intentional ingestion of multiple sharp foreign bodies(25 cutter and razor fragments). A 47-year-old male patient who was suffering from chronic alcoholism was admitted, via the emergency room, with dysphagia and neck pain. He was suffering from alcoholic liver cirrhosis and psychiatric problems, such as chronic alcoholism, anxiety disorder and insomnia. The patient had intended to leave the hospital after having swallowed the sharp objects. Plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scan showed multiple, scattered metal fragments in the esophagus, stomach, and small bowel. We performed emergent endoscopy and successfully removed one impacted blade in the upper esophagus using by a snare with an overtube. The rest of the fragments had already passed through the pylorus, so we could not find them with endoscopy. We checked the patient with simple abdominal radiographs and careful physical examinations every day. All remaining fragments were uneventfully excreted through stool during the patient's 6 day hospital stay. Finally, we were able to confirm the presence of the objects in the stool, and radiographs were negative. The patient was discharged without complications after 14 days hospital stay and then was followed by the Department of Psychiatry.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.639-647
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• 2009

Objective : This study was case report to show the good effects of herbal medicine (Daekumeum-ja) and acupuncture complex therapy for central pontine myelinolysis (CPM). Method : A 44-year-old man suffering from CPM was chronic alcoholic without electrolyte disturbance. He showed symptoms of dysarthria, dysphagia, dizziness, weakness of lower extremities and gait disturbance. CPM was diagnosed at his former hospital by MR imaging. He had no positive response to western treatments. We treated the patient with herbal extract (Daekumeum-ja) and acupuncture. Results : After our treatments, there was no change of Brain CT. But overall symptoms of CPM were improved. Conclusion : This study suggests that herbal medicine (Daekumeum-ja) and acupuncture complex therapy is probably effective in the treatment of CPM.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.28-30
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• 2013

A 66-year-old male with chronic alcoholism presented with tremor, gait disturbance, memory impairment, insomnia, decreased appetite, and confusion. The patient had been taking lithium daily for treatment of bipolar disorder. Brain CT showed no specific abnormality, and serum lithium and ammonia levels were 3.63 mEq/L (therapeutic range, 0.6~1.2 mEq/L) and $85{\mu}g/dL$ (reference range: $19{\sim}54{\mu}g/dL$), respectively. Therefore, the initial differential diagnosis included chronic lithium intoxication, hepatic encephalopathy, Wernicke encephalopathy, or alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Even with the provision of adequate hydration, the patient's neurologic status did not show improvement, so that lactulose enema, thiamine replacement, and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) were started on the third admission day. By the fifth admission day he had made a rapid neurologic recovery, and was discharged on the 20th admission day. Therefore, CVVHDF might be a treatment for patients with chronic lithium intoxication, because, even if serum lithium concentration is normal, lithium concentration in the brain may be different from that of the serum.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Objectives Ethanol is a potent inhibitor of muscle protein synthesis. Muscle mass is regulated by the balance between rates of protein synthesis and protein breakdown. Both acute and chronic alcohol consumption inhibits synthesis to a greater extent than degradation. Protein synthesis is more intensely decreased in type II fibers than in type I fibers. Apoptosis has been shown to occur frequently in a variety of tissues in response to chronic alcohol feeding. Increased muscle fiber apoptosis has been shown in alcoholics with myopathy. Pueraria radix has been used for many disorders such as fevers, gastrointestinal disorders, muscle aches, allergies, respiratory problems, skin problems, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, lowering cholesterol and treating chronic alcoholism. We therefore tested the hypothesis that oral treatment with Pueraria radix could reduce the ethanol-induced muscle atrophy. Methods Young male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally given 25% ethanol (5 ml/kg, body weight) daily with Ethanol for 4 weeks. Normal group was similarly administrated with saline. The Rats of Pueraria radix treated group (EtOH+PR) were orally administrated Pueraria radix water extract, and rats of EtOH group were given with the vehicle only. After 4 week, the morphology of gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The immunoreactivities of pre-apoptotic BAX and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins were also measured. Results The muscles from rats of EtOH group represented a significant reduction in average cross section area compared to Normal group. EtOH+PR group had increased fiber compared to the EtOH group. Moreover, to investigate the ethanol-induced muscular apoptosis, the immunohistochemical analysis of Bax and Bcl-2 was carried out. The treatment with Pueraria radix (EtOH+PR) significantly decreased BAX expression and increased Bcl-2 expression 4 weeks after ethanol administration when compared with Normal group. Conclusions These results suggest that Pueraria radix water extract has protective effects on chronic alcohol induced myopathy.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 1991

While the threat from traditional communicable diseases have been decreasing non communicable chronic diseases are increasing due to the aging of population and change in life pattern of the people such as over intake of cholesterol and lack of physical exercise etc. On the other hand, since 1980s, AIDS is spreading rapidly throughout the globe and environmental pollution, accidents, addictive diseases such as drug abuse and alcoholism are becoming serious factors to hinder the health promotion of the people. In order to improve general public health and promote individual health status, existing program for communicable disease control by the government such as tuberculosis, leprosy, STD and acute communicable diseases should be effectively continued. In principle, effort should be placed on eradication of source of infection, reduction of communicability of source in infection, treatment of source of infection as well as increase of individual registance to the diseases through immunization and improvement of physical status. Since the pattern of illness is being shifted from communicable diseases to non communicable chronic diseases such as cancer, cerebral hemorrhage, heart disease and hypertention etc., special emphasis should be placed on the prevention and control of those adult diseases. Early detection of the patients, registration and treatment of patients and health education should be systematically developed for effective control of the diseases. In addition, program activities on MCH, nutrition, dentistry, mental health, environmental health, accident prevention. medical delivery system, health insurance. and all other health issues should be improved in order to achieve our goal of health promotion.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 1999.11a
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• pp.170-171
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• 1999

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.91-95
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• 2004

Wernicke's encephalopathy is an acute-onset illness characterized by mental confusion, ataxia and ophthalmoplegia due to a thiamine deficiency. Immediate administration of thiamine prevents progression of the disease and reverses brain lesions. We have experienced a case of Wernicke's encephalopathy associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. As Wernicke's encephalopathy is mostly associated with chronic alcoholism, the possibility of Wernicke's encephalopathy may be ignored in young women. We emphasize the need for thiamine supplementation in the patient requiring intravenous alimentation such as hyperemesis gravidarum.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.54-57
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• 2004

Disulfiram (tetraethylthiuram disulphid) is used in the treatment of chronic alcoholism since it causes an unpleasant aversive reaction to alcohol. It works by inactivating hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase, leading to pronounced rise in the acetaldehyde concentration when ethanol is metabolized. Acetaldehyde causes alcohol sensitivity, which involve vasodilation associated with feeling of hotness and facial flushing, increased heart rate and respiration rates, lowered blood pressure, nausea, headache. One of its metabolites, diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) can inhibit the enzyme dopamine $\beta$-hydroxylase (DBH), this may account for the profound refractory hypotension and hypothermia seen with the disulfiram-ethanol reaction (DER), resulting from norepinephrine depletion. This report is presents the case of a patient we met, who presented with hypothermia caused by the disulfiram-ethanol reaction, and along with a brief review of the subject.