Alcohol (Hanover, York County, Pa.)最新文献

{"title":"Validity of an Online Cognitive Screening Tool for FASD: Testing the Equivalence of BRAIN-online to Neuropsychological Assessment Measures","authors":"C. R. Veziris,&nbsp;M. R. Kelm,&nbsp;D. Connely,&nbsp;G. Chockalingham,&nbsp;J. Wozniak,&nbsp;S. N. Mattson","doi":"10.1111/acer.70414","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.70414","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The diagnostic process for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) requires investments in both time and cost. The Brief Assessment of Individual Neurobehavior, online version (BRAIN-online), is a screening tool designed to identify cognitive and behavioral symptoms associated with FASD. BRAIN-online is effective in distinguishing individuals with histories of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and FASD; however, criterion validity of this screening tool has not been established. The goal of this study was to evaluate performance on BRAIN-online against gold-standard methods of measuring cognitive functioning (i.e., in-person neuropsychological assessment).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Participants included 157 children (5–17 y) with (AE; <i>n</i> = 101) and without (CON; <i>n</i> = 56) PAE as part of the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) Phases 4 and 5. Individuals completed BRAIN-online and underwent a standardized in-person neuropsychological assessment battery; caregivers completed the BRAIN-online Behavior Questionnaire (BBQ) and a standardized behavioral questionnaire. BRAIN-online measures were matched to in-person measures, and scores were assessed for correlation. In addition, equivalence testing was performed on BRAIN-online measures and their parallel in-person measures. To assess clinical utility, neurobehavioral impairment as defined by clinical guidelines for diagnosing FASD was assessed using BRAIN-online and in-person neuropsychological assessment and compared to FASD diagnoses using sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy analyses.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Seven of the eight BRAIN-online scores were correlated with scores of their corresponding in-person measures, and seven of eight BRAIN-online subtests showed measurement equivalence with parallel in-person neuropsychological assessment measures. BRAIN-online and in-person neuropsychological assessment had similar accuracy rates of classifying FASD, with BRAIN-online having slightly higher sensitivity and slightly lower specificity.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>BRAIN-online subtests are correlated with and show measurement equivalence with gold-standard measures of cognitive functioning. Therefore, BRAIN-online may have clinical utility in identifying individuals who have symptoms associated with FASD and can benefit from comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":72145,"journal":{"name":"Alcohol (Hanover, York County, Pa.)","volume":"50 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acer.70414","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148943249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urinary Complement Proteomics: Toward Precision Biomarkers in Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease","authors":"Vatsalya Vatsalya","doi":"10.1111/acer.70405","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acer.70405","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72145,"journal":{"name":"Alcohol (Hanover, York County, Pa.)","volume":"50 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148914454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trends in Well-Being and Opportunities to Support Caregivers of Individuals With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Across the Lifespan","authors":"Katherine Flannigan,&nbsp;Kelly D. Harding,&nbsp;Dorothy Reid,&nbsp;Audrey McFarlane,&nbsp;Melissa Dobson,&nbsp;Kathy Unsworth,&nbsp;Jacqueline Pei","doi":"10.1111/acer.70363","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acer.70363","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Caregivers of individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience unique challenges, stressors, and strengths, and there is growing understanding of the needs of these caregivers. However, less is known about how the broader caregiver context, including sociodemographic and ecological factors, may be associated with well-being.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Data for this study were collected between 2021 and 2025, gathered at baseline as part of an ongoing international longitudinal survey about caregiver experiences and perspectives of raising people with FASD (<i>N</i> = 234). Information on sociodemographic factors, family characteristics, and caregiver well-being was analyzed.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Participants predominantly identified as women (95%) and had a mean age of 54 years (range 26–82); most (69%) were adoptive caregivers of children and adults with FASD and 67% were living in Canada. Family structure and composition varied across participants, and many caregivers reported financial challenges. Overall, caregivers reported high levels of stress and limited social support, along with strengths in their relationships with spouses/partners and relatives. Self-reported well-being was highest among parents who were retired, did not experience employment disruptions because of parenting responsibilities, cared for adults (as opposed to young children) with FASD, and had only one (as opposed to multiple) dependent(s) with FASD.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study provides insight into broad contextual factors (i.e., employment status, life stage) that may influence well-being among caregivers of people with FASD. Understanding these factors can lead to more tailored and effective responses, interventions, and policies that support stability and thriving among caregivers, families, and communities of people with FASD.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":72145,"journal":{"name":"Alcohol (Hanover, York County, Pa.)","volume":"50 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acer.70363","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cannabidiol and Alcohol Use Disorders: An Updated Review of Therapeutic Potential","authors":"Claire L. Pince,&nbsp;Eleftherios Hetelekides,&nbsp;Joseph P. Schacht,&nbsp;Joshua L. Gowin,&nbsp;L. Cinnamon Bidwell,&nbsp;Hollis C. Karoly","doi":"10.1111/acer.70377","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acer.70377","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is highly prevalent, yet current pharmacotherapies remain underutilized and demonstrate only modest efficacy. Cannabidiol (CBD) has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for numerous psychiatric conditions, including AUD. Three reviews published in 2019 examined the effects of CBD on alcohol-related outcomes, but conclusions were limited by the scarcity of clinical trials at that time. The clinical research and published literature have since expanded substantially, warranting an updated synthesis of the evidence. In this narrative review, we evaluate the current state of research on CBD as a pharmacotherapy for AUD. Despite strong preclinical evidence for CBD isolate reducing alcohol consumption, clinical trials have yielded largely null findings. Effects on alcohol craving and reward are inconsistent across human and preclinical studies. Initial evidence from observational studies suggests plant-derived CBD formulations including small amounts of THC and other cannabinoids may reduce alcohol consumption and craving, which warrants further investigation in a randomized, controlled trial. There is also growing preclinical evidence that CBD reduces symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and attenuates alcohol-induced liver disease and neurodegeneration; however, clinical evidence is limited in these domains. Several methodological considerations may account for these mixed findings. CBD has poor oral bioavailability, suggesting that alternative formulations and routes of administration may improve ecological validity and therapeutic potential. Future clinical trials should prioritize transparent reporting of cannabinoid content, including THC, as well as measurement of plasma CBD levels. Additionally, incorporating biobehavioral phenotyping approaches may help identify subgroups most likely to benefit from CBD. Overall, preclinical evidence supporting CBD as a treatment for AUD remains strong, while emerging human data are mixed. More rigorous and methodologically refined clinical trials are needed to clarify the potential therapeutic applications of CBD for AUD.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":72145,"journal":{"name":"Alcohol (Hanover, York County, Pa.)","volume":"50 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Classification of Alcohol Use Disorder With Explainable AI","authors":"Alexander S. Hatoum,&nbsp;Alex P. Miller,&nbsp;Hunter L. Mathews,&nbsp;Aaron J. Gorelik,&nbsp;David A. A. Baranger,&nbsp;Zhen Luo,&nbsp;Jodi Kutzer,&nbsp;Emma C. Johnson,&nbsp;Arpana Agrawal,&nbsp;Ryan Bogdan","doi":"10.1111/acer.70364","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acer.70364","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The wide-ranging correlates (e.g., demographic, socioeconomic status [SES], brain, genetics) of alcohol use disorder (AUD) are typically characterized by small effects and studied in isolation. Novel multivariable nonlinear approaches may help characterize the multifaceted correlates of AUD and identify its strongest predictors.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Method</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Here, using Gradient Boosted Machines (GBMs), we classify AUD in the UK Biobank (<i>N</i> = 12,178) from features (<i>n</i> = 440) within the following 5 domains: (1) demographic (<i>n</i> = 12), (2) socioeconomic status (<i>n</i> = 18), (3) non-substance mental health (<i>n</i> = 55), (4) non-alcohol substance involvement (<i>n</i> = 6), and (5) biological features (<i>n</i> = 342). We use Explainable Artificial Intelligence (xAI) to characterize each respective feature's contribution to model performance and its heterogeneity, as well as the extent to which features from each domain collectively contribute to model performance.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In an out-of-sample hold-out test set (<i>n</i> = 6089), our model classified lifetime AUD well (AUC = 0.80). Notably, feature importance analyses revealed that demographic (age, sex, income), substance use (ever smoke tobacco or ever use cannabis), and mental health questionnaires (social isolation) were most informative to classifying AUD. The gradient boosted machine significantly outperformed a linear model and implicated non-zero pairwise interactions among variables, suggesting potential heterogeneity of AUD presentation by income and sex. Further, incrementally incorporating neuroimaging and genetic data as features led to small but consistent improvement in classifying AUD, with small effect sizes distributed across a number of variables (0%–2% gain based on overall model classification). This suggests the continued importance of biological features in classifying AUD beyond psychological and demographic measures, though classification with single selected brain regions may be limited.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Multimodal multivariable approaches considering nonlinear relationships may improve our understanding of AUD correlates. Particularly, accounting for interactions with demographic factors and integrating information across biological features may enhance model performance.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":72145,"journal":{"name":"Alcohol (Hanover, York County, Pa.)","volume":"50 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Produces Selective Changes in Neuroimmune Gene Expression Across Brain Regions of Adult Mice","authors":"Alissa N. Jones,&nbsp;Ariana N. Pritha,&nbsp;Ashlynn M. Aguilar,&nbsp;Andrea A. Pasmay,&nbsp;Justin R. Carter,&nbsp;Nikolaos Mellios,&nbsp;Shahani Noor","doi":"10.1111/acer.70406","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.70406","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>An overwhelming body of evidence suggests neuroimmune dysfunction as a key underlying mechanism of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)-associated adverse central nervous system (CNS) outcomes. While few studies have highlighted the lingering effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on producing specific immune factors, others suggest a primed neuroimmune state in adulthood, in which a proinflammatory bias is unmasked following subsequent immune activation in later life. However, the PAE-induced neuroimmune landscape in adulthood remains poorly defined. We hypothesized that PAE induces long-term changes in gene expression linked to neuroimmune function that may be brain region-specific.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using long-read next-generation RNA sequencing of brain tissues from a previously established model of a moderate PAE in mice, we compared across six regions: medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), hypothalamus, hippocampus, midbrain, and medulla. A comprehensive bioinformatics analysis investigated PAE-induced changes, dysregulated gene pathways, and transcriptional regulators with a focus on neuroimmune function.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our data identified at least 60 differentially expressed genes per brain region, many of which were associated with neuroimmune function. Upregulation of multiple pro-inflammatory factors and pathways was observed, suggesting ongoing baseline neuroimmune activation, potentially involving PXR, TNF, TLR4, the complement pathway, and various cytokine and chemokine signaling. A comparative analysis identified multiple upstream transcriptional regulators across multiple brain regions, including MECP2, TCF7L2, and IL-4. Importantly, this unbiased analysis revealed heterogeneity across brain regions in the activation of canonical immune pathways and highlighted previously unprecedented roles of pathways such as PXR, matrix metalloproteases, and cytokine signaling (e.g., IL-15, IL-27, IL-17) in PAE.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>PAE creates a unique inflammatory signature in the adult brain, even in the absence of secondary injury, with novel patterns of region-specific changes in genes implicated in glial-immune function. These data identify potential immune targets to elucidate the mechanisms underlying behavioral dysfunction and provide a framework for future therapeutic interventions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":72145,"journal":{"name":"Alcohol (Hanover, York County, Pa.)","volume":"50 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acer.70406","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148903802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Acute Low- and Moderate-Dose Alcohol on Chronic Disease-Related Biomarkers in Healthy Light and Heavy Drinkers","authors":"Mollie A. Monnig,&nbsp;Samantha E. Clark,&nbsp;Peter M. Monti","doi":"10.1111/acer.70362","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acer.70362","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Background&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Alcohol consumption is a major contributor to global chronic disease, with growing evidence indicating health risks even at low levels of intake. However, mechanistic understanding of these risks relies heavily on preclinical models and observational data, leaving a critical gap in controlled experimental evidence regarding how alcohol perturbs human biological systems in vivo.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Methods&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;The present study utilized plasma samples from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effects of low-dose (0.35 g/kg) and moderate-dose (0.60 g/kg) alcohol on disease-relevant biomarkers in 32 healthy adults (mean age = 25.0 ± 3.8 years; 21 female/11 male), characterized by light (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 15) or heavy (&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt; = 17) drinking. This design enabled evaluation of effects across dose, timescale, and drinking history, as well as assessment of their interactions. Plasma was collected at prebeverage baseline and hourly for 4 h afterward. Immunoassays quantified 10 disease-related biomarkers: adiponectin, angiogenin, D-dimer, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1), Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), Matrix Metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7), Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), soluble Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-products (sRAGE), and Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid cells 2 (TREM2).&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Results&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Main effects of group indicated that even in this young healthy sample, heavy drinking status was associated with higher levels of adiponectin, angiogenin, ICAM-1, LCN2, and sRAGE, a profile suggesting altered vascular and metabolic activity. Acute alcohol administration induced changes in sRAGE and hsCRP. Specifically, moderate-dose alcohol triggered an increase in the immunoglobulin sRAGE, which may reflect an acute compensatory response to inflammation and/or oxidative stress. Compared to placebo, hsCRP was lower in the low-dose alcohol condition; however, this finding should be interpreted in light of CRP biology. MMP-7, MMP-9, and LCN2 showed time-dependent fluctuations that were independent of experimental condition, highlighting the critical importance of placebo-controlled designs to account for diurnal/postprandial variation in immune biomarkers.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Findings provide translational evidence that alcohol is associated with multisystem biomarker changes relevant to chronic disease and that alcohol-related biomarker perturbations vary by dose and chronicity.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 ","PeriodicalId":72145,"journal":{"name":"Alcohol (Hanover, York County, Pa.)","volume":"50 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acer.70362","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ethanol Self-Administration Reduces mGlu2/3 Protein Expression in the Nucleus Accumbens and mGlu2/3 Activation Suppresses Binge Drinking in Male Mice","authors":"Cassandra G. Modrak,&nbsp;Sarah E. Holstein,&nbsp;April Kim,&nbsp;Elizabeth G. Shannon,&nbsp;Sara Faccidomo,&nbsp;Joyce Besheer,&nbsp;Clyde W. Hodge","doi":"10.1111/acer.70409","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acer.70409","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with dysregulated glutamatergic signaling within mesocorticolimbic circuits that govern reinforcement and excessive ethanol intake. Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu2/3) act primarily as presynaptic autoreceptors that regulate glutamate release. However, how voluntary alcohol intake alters mGlu2/3 expression within reward circuitry remains unclear.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods and Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We examined mGlu2/3 protein expression following a history of voluntary ethanol exposure and operant self-administration and, in separate cohorts, assessed the functional impact of group II receptor modulation on binge-like ethanol intake. Male C57BL/6J mice received two weeks of home-cage access to sweetened ethanol or sucrose followed by 35 days of operant self-administration. Immediately after the final session, tissue punches from the nucleus accumbens (NAc), amygdala, and prefrontal cortex were collected for immunoblot analysis. mGlu2/3 expression was reduced in the NAc of ethanol-exposed mice with no statistically significant changes detected in the amygdala or prefrontal cortex. In separate binge-drinking cohorts, systemic administration of the mGlu2/3 agonist LY379268 reduced binge-like ethanol intake in a limited-access home-cage drinking model, whereas positive allosteric modulation of mGlu2 receptors with LY487379 was ineffective.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Voluntary ethanol self-administration was associated with reduced mGlu2/3 protein expression in the NAc. Systemic pharmacological activation of group II receptors suppressed binge-like ethanol consumption. These findings identify mGlu2/3 dysregulation in a key reward-related brain region as a molecular adaptation associated with voluntary ethanol intake and demonstrate mechanistic regulation of binge drinking. This suggests that group II metabotropic glutamate signaling is a viable therapeutic target for treating AUD.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":72145,"journal":{"name":"Alcohol (Hanover, York County, Pa.)","volume":"50 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nailfold Capillary Morphology as a Potential Biomarker of Cardiovascular or Metabolic Risk in Children Aged 3–17 Years Prenatally Exposed to Alcohol","authors":"Florencia Anunziata,&nbsp;Julie A. Kable,&nbsp;Marla C. Castañeda,&nbsp;Melanie H. Koslosky,&nbsp;Bretten Pickering,&nbsp;Deanna Beach,&nbsp;Claire D. Coles,&nbsp;Christina D. Chambers,&nbsp;the CIFASD Consortium","doi":"10.1111/acer.70408","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acer.70408","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Emerging evidence indicates that individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) may be at risk for cardiometabolic dysfunction. Nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) is a noninvasive method for visualizing microvascular dysfunction, which often precedes clinical disease. In this study, we examined whether children and adolescents with confirmed PAE differed in nailfold capillary morphology from unexposed peers.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We used a cross-sectional design to compare nailfold capillary morphology in children and adolescents aged 3–17 years with confirmed PAE versus no or minimal PAE, enrolled as part of a multi-site Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) study. Participants completed nailfold capillaroscopy using a high-resolution video microscope (Optilia Instruments). Quantitative measures included capillary density, average capillary width (μm), and average inter-capillary distance (μm). Morphological abnormalities (enlarged, branched, broken, crossed, and multi-crossed capillaries) were also assessed. Separate multivariable linear regression models were fit for each outcome, adjusting for child age and sex.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The sample included 27 children with PAE (mean age = 8.3 ± 4.0 years; 52% male; 70% White; 66% Hispanic) and 10 with no/minimal PAE (mean age = 11.2 ± 4.7 years; 50% male; 70% White; 60% non-Hispanic). After adjusting for age and sex, participants with PAE showed lower capillary density (mean = 9.4 ± 2.6 vs. 13.2 ± 3.0; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), greater average intercapillary distance (mean = 171.3 μm ± 28.9 vs. 136.6 μm ± 27.3; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), greater average capillary width (mean = 43.9 μm ± 11.4 vs. 35.2 μm ± 6.1; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), and a higher percentage of enlarged capillaries (mean = 71.4 ± 19.1 vs. 46.6 ± 13.8; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) compared to controls. Age was negatively associated with density (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), whereas the child's sex was associated with width (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), with females exhibiting wider capillaries.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>These findings, to our knowledge, provide the first characterization of nailfold microvascular morphology in children and adolescents with PAE and support NFC as a potential early biomarker of cardiometabolic risk.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":72145,"journal":{"name":"Alcohol (Hanover, York County, Pa.)","volume":"50 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acer.70408","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148901645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined With Electroencephalography Analysis Suggest Time-Dependent and Region-Specific Modulation of Cortical Excitability During Acute Alcohol Intoxication","authors":"Virve Kekkonen,&nbsp;Evita Fonsén,&nbsp;Elisa Kallioniemi,&nbsp;Laura Säisänen,&nbsp;Tommi Tolmunen,&nbsp;Mervi Könönen,&nbsp;Petri Kivimäki,&nbsp;Sara Määttä","doi":"10.1111/acer.70407","DOIUrl":"10.1111/acer.70407","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Longitudinal excessive alcohol consumption has adverse effects on brain structure and functions. The immediate effects of alcohol consumption on the activity and functioning of different circuits in the brain are less known. This exploratory study aimed to examine the effects of acute alcohol exposure on cortical activity in healthy adults.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The study included 34 adults, aged 29–36 years, who took part in the Youth and Alcohol Project's (YAP) alcohol exposure test. The participants' alcohol consumption was measured with the shortened version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C). Cortical functioning was investigated at baseline (BL) before alcohol intoxication, and 30 min (T2) and 120 min (T3) after alcohol intoxication using navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with electroencephalography (TMS-EEG), focusing on TMS-evoked EEG potential (TEP) peaks P30, N45, P60, N100, and P180. The blood alcohol level was monitored using an alcohol breathalyzer.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>During alcohol intoxication, there were changes in the global mean field power (GMFP) and TEP magnitudes compared to BL. After alcohol consumption, the global mean field power (GMFP) amplitude decreased from approximately 80 ms poststimulus onward. For P30, N45, P60, and P180, the mean amplitude decreased in T2 compared to BL and recovered in T3. For N100, the mean amplitude decreased in T2 and in T3. Differences in TEP peaks between BL and T2 or BL and T3 were emphasized in frontal and central brain regions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusions</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The results suggest time-dependent and region-specific modulation of cortical excitability during acute alcohol intoxication. Alcohol's effects are dynamic, regionally heterogeneous, and not limited to simple global suppression. TMS-EEG offers a promising tool for assessing alcohol-related changes in cortical functions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":72145,"journal":{"name":"Alcohol (Hanover, York County, Pa.)","volume":"50 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13545659/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148892843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}