Current status of carbohydrate defi cient transferrin,total serum sialic acid, sialic acid index of apolipoprotein J and serum b-hexosaminidase as markers for alcohol consumption. Addiction, 2003:98;(Suppl. 2), 45 -50

After administration, ethanol and its metabolites go through the kidneys and are excreted into urine. The kidney seems to be the only vital organ generally spared in chronic alcoholics. Therefore, we investigated the multiple effects of chronic ethanol exposure on renal function tests and on oxidative stress related parameters in the kidney. Chronic ethanol (1.6 g ethanol/ kg body weight/ day) exposure did not show any significant change in relative weight (g/ 100g body weight) of kidneys, serum calcium level or glutathione s-transferase activity. However, urea and creatinine concentration in serum, and TBARS level in kidney elevated significantly, while reduced glutathione content and activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase diminished significantly after 12 weeks of ethanol exposure. Catalase activity showed increased activity after 4 weeks of ethanol exposure and decreased activity after 12 weeks of ethanol exposure. Genesis of renal ultrastructural abnormalities after 12 weeks of ethanol exposure may be important for the development of functional disturbances. This study revealed that chronic ethanol exposure for longer duration is associated with deleterious effects in the kidney.

Alcohol consumption and health outcomes are complex and multidimensional. Ethanol (1.6g / kg body weight/ day) exposure initially affects liver function followed by renal function of 16-18 week-old male albino rats of Wistar strain weighing 200-220 g. Chronic ethanol ingestion increased in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances level and glutathione s-transferase activity; while decreased reduced gluatathione content and activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in a time dependent manner in the hemolysate. Though superoxide dismutase activity increased initially might be due to adaptive response, but decreased later. Elevation of serum nitrite level and transforming growth factor-b(1) activity indicated that long-term ethanol consumption may cause hepatic fibrosis and can elicit pro-angiogenic factors. However, no alteration in vascular endothelial growth factor-C activity indicated that ethanol consumption is not associated with lymphangiogenesis. Therefore, we conclude that long-term ethanol-induced toxicity is linked to an oxidative stress, which may aggravate to fibrosis and elevate pro-angiogenic factors, but not associated with lymphangiogenesis.

Alcoholic beverages, and the problems they engender, have been familiar in human societies since the beginning of recorded history. Among a variety of blood tests used to aid the diagnosis of alcohol consumption and related disorders, laboratory tests are particularly useful in settings where cooperativeness is suspected or when a history is not available. Biochemical and haematological tests, such as gamma-glutamyltransferase activity, aspartate aminotransferase activity and erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume, are established markers of alcohol intake. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin is the only test approved by the FDA for the identification of heavy alcohol use. Total serum sialic acid and sialic acid index of Apolipoprotein J have the potential to be included in a combination of measurements providing an accurate, more exact, assessment of alcohol consumption in a variety of clinical and research settings. Several other markers with considerable potential for measuring recent alcohol intake include beta-hexosaminidase, acetaldehyde adducts and the urinary ratio of serotonin metabolites, 5-hydroxytryptophol and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. These markers provide hope for more sensitive and specific aids to diagnosis and improved monitoring of alcohol intake.

Chronic pancreatitis, an irreversible inflammatory disease of the pancreas, is associated with the replacement of the destroyed parenchyma by extended development of fibrosis. Despite marked progress in diagnostic tools, no consensus has been reached in diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. In this study we examined the hematological and biochemical parameters among 40 chronic pancreatitis patients within 18 to 67 yrs. ESR level and ALP activity was elevated in 40% cases. Serum amylase activity increased in 32 patients and it showed significant correlation with ALP (r=0.458, p=0.003), CA-19.9 (r=0.556, p<0.001), and calcium level (r=-0.472, p=0.002). Type IV collagen level in chronic pancreatitis also elevated (164.4 ± 55.5 ng/ml) and showed negative significant correlation with calcium level (r= -0.505, p=0.001). However, no significant correlation was observed between amylase activity and type IV collagen (r=0.289, p= 0.07).