Alcohol

Question 1

what are 2 characteristics of EtOH?

Answer 1

water-soluble and can cross membranes

Question 2

how much EtOH is there in one drink? (1 glass of wine/beer/shot)

Answer 2

13.98g (23.3g EtOH/oz. x 0.6 oz)

Question 3

what is considered alcoholic binging?

Answer 3

4 or 5 drinks on one occasion in the last 30 days

Question 4

how does food affect alcohol absorption?

Answer 4

slows absorption and decreases peak [alcohol]

Question 5

where is EtOH mostly absorbed in GI tract?

Answer 5

small intestine (also absorbed in stomach)

Question 6

t/f: low pH in stomach alters ethanol

Answer 6

false

Question 7

is BAC higher in females or males?

Answer 7

females

Question 8

how does weight correlate with BAC?

Answer 8

larger ppl have lower BAC (vs small size allows passage into brain)

Question 9

how does leanness correlate with BAC?

Answer 9

leaner ppl have lower BAC (incr water V for body V)

Question 10

what does BAC stand for?

Answer 10

blood alcohol conc.

Question 11

what is 100% BAC (ie. 0.08 mg/100mL) in mols (M)?

Answer 11

17 µM

Question 12

how does sex difference in alcohol distribution affect capabilities?

Answer 12

women require lower BAC to impair driving skills, be legally intoxicated, have criminal penalties and death

Question 13

what are some acute effects of EtOH consumption?

Answer 13

inhibited judgment, unstable moods, incr emotions, decr t to sleep, impaired memory and coordination, dilated blood vessels

Question 14

what order of kinetics describes alcohol metabolism? what does that mean for its elimination curve?

Answer 14

0 order kinetics; linear elimination curve

Question 15

what are the 2 main enzymes for alcohol metabolism?

Answer 15

alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase

Question 16

what are 2 flaws of the enzymes that metabolize alcohol?

Answer 16

saturate quickly and require NAD+ to operate

Question 17

how much BAC do enzymes eliminate per hour?

Answer 17

0.015 BAC/hr

Question 18

what fraction of BAC is exhaled?

Answer 18

~1/2200

Question 19

what are the 2 phases of acute EtOH effects?

Answer 19

1. BAC rises (stimulant)

2. BAC declines (depressant)

Question 20

what causes biphasic pattern for acute EtOH effects?

Answer 20

metabolism

Question 21

t/f: fat does not retain alcohol

Answer 21

true, it doesn’t

Question 22

how does EtOH alter Glu and GABA receptor activity?

Answer 22

decr Glu and incr GABA (hyperpolarization/inhibition)

Question 23

which receptor does low [EtOH] affect and how?

Answer 23

potentiation of GABA(a) receptors

Question 24

which receptors/channels does high [EtOH] affect and how?

Answer 24

inhibits Glu-NMDA and voltage gated Ca channels

Question 25

what is the overall effect of EtOH activating GABA(a) receptors and inhibiting Glu-NMDA and Ca channels?

Answer 25

neuronal inhibition, sedative-like effects

Question 26

what is asphyxiation?

Answer 26

stop breathing

Question 27

what causes asphyxiation from lethal alcohol doses?

Answer 27

0.4-5 BAC depresses activity in ANS

Question 28

which superfamily are GABA(a) receptors in?

Answer 28

cys-loop ligand-gated channel superfamily

Question 29

GABA(a) receptors are _____ (homo/hetero)____ (di/tri/tetra/penta)meric

Answer 29

heteropentameric (2 a, 2 B, and 1 other subunit)

Question 30

what do GABA(a) receptors conduct?

Answer 30

Cl- ions into neurons (hyperpol./deactivating)

Question 31

which superfamily are Glu receptors in?

Answer 31

ionotropic Glu receptor superfamily

Question 32

Glu receptors are _____ (homo/hetero)____ (di/tri/tetra/penta)meric

Answer 32

heterotetrameric (2 NR1, and 2 NR2 or n NR3 subunits)

Question 33

what do Glu receptors conduct?

Answer 33

positive ions (Ca, Na) into neurons (depol./activating)

Question 34

why is alcohol addictive?

Answer 34

releases dopamine in brain

Question 35

how does EtOH cause DA release in brain? (neuronal loop)

Answer 35

disinhibits DA by inh Glu which decr GABA and incr DA, also activates opiod receptors to inh GABA

Question 36

what are 3 physiological effects of EtOH?

Answer 36

vasodilation (autonomic brainstem nuclei: warm skin, decr internal temp), ulcers (erodes stomach lining), and the spins

Question 37

how does EtOH cause the spins?

Answer 37

EtOH permeates endolymph and cupula in semicircular canals, when BAC declines, EtOH diffuses out of cupula before endolymph, cupula denser and doesn't stabilize, activates sensory fibres which is interpreted as motion

Question 38

what allows incr ability to drink with incr drinking?

Answer 38

up-regulation of metabolic enzymes

Question 39

what are the physical, psychological, and immunological symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?

Answer 39

phys: headache, diarrhea, fatigue, restlessness, nausea psych: haziness, slow cognition, decr rxn times, poor reasoning immune: incr cytokine via thromboxane pathway (inflammation)

Question 40

when do symptoms of alcohol withdrawal peak?

Answer 40

when BAC reaches 0

Question 41

what is congener?

Answer 41

a minor chemical (flavour/colour) constituent that gives a distinctive character to wine/liquor or responsible for physiological effects

Question 42

what is the effect of congeners?

Answer 42

incr hangover severity

Question 43

t/f: alcohol has lots of calories but provides little nutritional value

Answer 43

true

Question 44

how does alcohol cause metabolic changes to energy usage?

Answer 44

causes brain to metabolize acetate instead of glucose for energy

Question 45

what is fetal alcohol spectrum disease?

Answer 45

altered synaptogenesis and facial development of child due to mother drinking alcohol during 3rd trimester

Question 46

how does alcohol affect liver long-term?

Answer 46

causes fatty liver and cirrhosis in severe cases

Question 47

how does alcohol incr brain fissures?

Answer 47

acetaldehyde is reactive (ethanol metabolite) and modifies proteins (myelin) which causes apoptosis

Question 48

how does alcohol act as a carcinogen?

Answer 48

acetaldehyde interferes w/ DNA synthesis and repair (especially upper GI: 10-100x higher conc.)

Question 49

how does smoking affect acetaldehyde production?

Answer 49

incr acetaldehyde production

Question 50

what is the safest drinking level? (daily)

Answer 50

0 drinks daily

Question 51

how many ppl who drink 1/day/year will experience alcohol-related problems vs abstinent vs 2 drinks?

Answer 51

918 vs 914 (low ARR) vs 977