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Victorian society, characterised by industrial expansion, economic growth, and a strong emphasis on imperialism, was equally renowned for its adherence to tradition and a preserved way of life, in which personal and collective emotions were often kept beneath the surface, rather than openly expressed. However, as art always mirrors the Zeitgeist, Victorian-era literature has not failed to identify such nuances. The goal of this article was to explore the connection, from a digital humanities perspective, between drinking habits and emotional expression in Victorian literature, focusing on alcoholic beverages but also other drinks like tea, coffee, and lemonade. Our study uncovered patterns that reveal how drinking practices shaped personal and social emotions. The corpus of analysis consists of ten major Victorian novels through distant reading methods and sentiment analysis conducted in R. We observed that emotions related to drinking were largely negative, with alcohol playing a significant role in how emotions were portrayed. Interestingly, almost half of the passages reflected negative emotions, challenging the common belief that Victorian literature often leans toward more positive expressions. The findings also suggest that drinking was closely tied to both public and private emotional experiences, mirroring larger societal concerns about morality, social status, and gender in the Victorian era. This research offers a deeper insight into how emotions are represented in Victorian literature and points to the need to explore further the links reflected through art, between emotions, drinking behaviours, and gendered social norms during this period, which can have significant comparative relevance to modern-day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection can lead to gastric atrophy. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with gastric atrophy in H. pylori eradication patients with drinking habits. Of the 250 patients who visited Hamamatsu University Hospital for H. pylori eradication and underwent eradication treatment between April 2017 and December 2020, 127 patients with drinking habits were included in this study. The degree of gastric atrophy of the patients was classified based on endoscopy. The relationship between patient attributes (sex, age, alcohol consumption, frequency of drinking, smoking status, and medication use) and a highly atrophic stomach was statistically analyzed. The results showed that gastric atrophy was significantly higher in males and in those aged 60 years or older and that gastric atrophy tended to be higher in those who drank 20 g or more per day and 5 days or more a week. There was also a trend toward higher atrophy in sake drinkers and lower atrophy in wine drinkers. This study provides useful knowledge for patient management and guidance after H. pylori eradication treatment and indicates the importance of comprehensive measures, including alcohol consumption control and lifestyle modification, especially for men and older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Dietary habits are crucial for maintaining overall health and have been shown to impact academic performance. However, little research has been conducted on the specific eating, drinking, and smoking habits during the exam period and their effect on academic performance. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate dietary and smoking habits and their relationship with academic performance among medical students at Damascus University. Findings from this study can inform interventions to improve both dietary habits and academic performance. Methods A cross-sectional design was used to investigate the association between dietary habits during the exam period and academic performance among 608 medical students. Data were collected using a self-administered paper-based questionnaire that was randomly distributed across multiple classes. The statistical analysis employed Spearman’s rank correlation and multiple linear regression to examine the relationship between the different amounts of diet behaviour during the exams and the reported average students’ grades from the last two semesters. The regression model was adjusted for age, sex, residency type, and residency partners. Results In both Spearman's rank correlation and multiple linear regression analyses, we observed consistent negative associations between specific dietary habits and self-reported average grades. These included daily consumption of tea (B = -0.334, p = 0.022), instant coffee (B = -0.682, p = 0.001), and weekly fast food consumption (B = -0.583, p = 0.038). Notably, traditional coffee was found to be significant in the Spearman analysis but did not exhibit significance in the regression analysis. Furthermore, the regression analysis revealed a negative association between water pipe consumption and academic performance (B = -0.700, p = 0.049). No significant association was observed between other dietary habits, cigarette smoking, and academic performance. Conclusions The study highlights a negative, but weak, association between academic achievement and specific dietary habits during the exam period. However, further longitudinal studies are needed to establish causal relationships. Additionally, the study suggests exploring the impact of other habits such as study and sleeping habits, which may have a more significant impact on academic achievement.

Background: Dietary habits are crucial for maintaining overall health and have been shown to impact academic performance. However, little research has been conducted on the specific eating, drinking, and smoking habits during the exam period and their effect on academic performance. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate dietary and smoking habits and their relationship with academic performance among medical students at Damascus University. Findings from this study can inform interventions to improve both dietary habits and academic performance. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to investigate the association between dietary habits during the exam period and academic performance among 608 medical students. Data were collected using a self-administered paper-based questionnaire that was randomly distributed across multiple classes. The statistical analysis employed Spearman's rank correlation and multiple linear regression to examine the relationship between the different amounts of diet behaviour during the exams and the reported average students' grades from the last two semesters. The regression model was adjusted for age, sex, residency type, and residency partners. Results: In both Spearman's rank correlation and multiple linear regression analyses, we observed consistent negative associations between specific dietary habits and self-reported average grades. These included daily consumption of tea (B = -0.334, p = 0.022), instant coffee (B = -0.682, p = 0.001), and weekly fast food consumption (B = -0.583, p = 0.038). Notably, traditional coffee was found to be significant in the Spearman analysis but did not exhibit significance in the regression analysis. Furthermore, the regression analysis revealed a negative association between water pipe consumption and academic performance (B = -0.700, p = 0.049). No significant association was observed between other dietary habits, cigarette smoking, and academic performance. Conclusions: The study highlights a negative, but weak, association between academic achievement and specific dietary habits during the exam period. However, further longitudinal studies are needed to establish causal relationships. Additionally, the study suggests exploring the impact of other habits such as study and sleeping habits, which may have a more significant impact on academic achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic gastritis caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection can lead to gastric atrophy. This study aimed to identify the factors associated with gastric atrophy in H. pylori eradication patients with drinking habits. Of the 250 patients who visited Hamamatsu University Hospital for H. pylori eradication and underwent eradication treatment between April 2017 and December 2020, 127 patients with drinking habits were included in this study. The degree of gastric atrophy of the patients was classified based on endoscopy. The relationship between patient attributes (sex, age, alcohol consumption, frequency of drinking, smoking status, and medication use) and a highly atrophic stomach was statistically analyzed. The results showed that gastric atrophy was significantly higher in males and in those aged 60 years or older and that gastric atrophy tended to be higher in those who drank 20 g or more per day and 5 days or more a week. There was also a trend toward higher atrophy in sake drinkers and lower atrophy in wine drinkers. This study provides useful knowledge for patient management and guidance after H. pylori eradication treatment and indicates the importance of comprehensive measures, including alcohol consumption control and lifestyle modification, especially for men and older people.

Abstract Aim This study addresses the risk and protective factors for alcohol consumption among medical‐technology high school students. The specific objectives of the study were to analyse standard influences on excessive alcohol consumption (influence of parents and upbringing) and possible modern influences, represented by social networks and internet use. Design A cross‐sectional analysis. Methods The sample included the entire cohort of third‐year students attending high school in Varaždin (n = 1,352). Data were collected using an anonymous questionnaire. The bivariate analysis used an independent t test and a Chi‐squared test. The multivariate analysis used logistic regression. The study was conducted from September 2018 to February 2019. Results Alcohol consumption was most prevalent among vocational students, followed by college‐preparatory students and medical‐technology students. Style of parenting and maternal authority have a positive influence on less alcohol use among students. The results showed that smartphone ownership and internet use do not correlate with alcohol use among high school students.

Abstract Background and Aim The number of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) has been increasing in Japan. To elucidate the risk factors for developing UC in Japan, a hospital‐based case–control study was conducted. This study examined the association between smoking/drinking habits and UC onset in detail. Methods Cases comprised 132 Japanese patients who had been newly diagnosed with UC between 2008 and 2014 at 38 collaborating hospitals in Japan, and controls comprised 167 patients without UC. Detailed data on smoking and drinking habits were collected using a self‐administered questionnaire. Results Ex‐smokers showed an increasing odds ratio (OR) for UC development compared with never smokers (OR 2.42, 95% confidence interval 1.24–4.72). The ORs of ex‐smokers were particularly high among subjects aged less than 40 years, subjects who had smoked more than 10 pack‐years, and subjects who were within 13 years of quitting smoking. Regarding drinking habits, ex‐drinkers also showed a more than twofold higher OR for UC compared to never drinkers. Ex‐drinkers 40 years or older, ex‐drinkers who had consumed more than 364 drink‐years, and subjects who were less than 6 years after quitting drinking showed increased ORs for UC. Conclusion These findings suggest the need for careful attention for UC onset among heavy smokers who quit smoking before 40 years of age and heavy drinkers who quit drinking at ≥40 years of age.

Copyright of Gaceta Médica de Caracas is the property of Academia Nacional de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: The influence of habitual alcohol consumption on insomnia symptoms in healthy workers remains unclear. In this study, we evaluated the association between habitual alcohol consumption among civil servants and insomnia symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and tiredness after sleep, using longitudinal data. Methods: We enrolled civil servants in a prospective cohort study who completed questionnaires at baseline. Of those, 2861 participants were revaluated in a 5-year follow-up survey. Insomnia symptoms during the past month were assessed using self-reporting. Alcohol drinking habits were assessed by querying the frequency of drinking alcohol as well as the amount of alcohol usually consumed per one occasion. Results: Drinking alcohol every day was less likely to have difficulty falling asleep (odds ratio, 0.42 95% confidence interval, 0.20–0.89), and drinking alcohol 3 or more days a week was associated with difficulty staying asleep (odds ratio, 1.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.16–1.90). Conclusions: Drinking alcohol every day may produce subjective improvement in sleep onset. However, drinking alcohol 3 or more days a week may increase arousal during sleep, which contributes to reduced sleep quality. These results suggest the possibility that long-term daily habitual drinking may reinforce a sense of improvement in subjective sleep onset but may possibly induce sleep disturbance.

Aim: This study addresses the risk and protective factors for alcohol consumption among medical‐technology high school students. The specific objectives of the study were to analyse standard influences on excessive alcohol consumption (influence of parents and upbringing) and possible modern influences, represented by social networks and internet use. Design: A cross‐sectional analysis. Methods: The sample included the entire cohort of third‐year students attending high school in Varaždin (n = 1,352). Data were collected using an anonymous questionnaire. The bivariate analysis used an independent t test and a Chi‐squared test. The multivariate analysis used logistic regression. The study was conducted from September 2018 to February 2019. Results: Alcohol consumption was most prevalent among vocational students, followed by college‐preparatory students and medical‐technology students. Style of parenting and maternal authority have a positive influence on less alcohol use among students. The results showed that smartphone ownership and internet use do not correlate with alcohol use among high school students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The number of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) has been increasing in Japan. To elucidate the risk factors for developing UC in Japan, a hospital‐based case–control study was conducted. This study examined the association between smoking/drinking habits and UC onset in detail. Methods: Cases comprised 132 Japanese patients who had been newly diagnosed with UC between 2008 and 2014 at 38 collaborating hospitals in Japan, and controls comprised 167 patients without UC. Detailed data on smoking and drinking habits were collected using a self‐administered questionnaire. Results: Ex‐smokers showed an increasing odds ratio (OR) for UC development compared with never smokers (OR 2.42, 95% confidence interval 1.24–4.72). The ORs of ex‐smokers were particularly high among subjects aged less than 40 years, subjects who had smoked more than 10 pack‐years, and subjects who were within 13 years of quitting smoking. Regarding drinking habits, ex‐drinkers also showed a more than twofold higher OR for UC compared to never drinkers. Ex‐drinkers 40 years or older, ex‐drinkers who had consumed more than 364 drink‐years, and subjects who were less than 6 years after quitting drinking showed increased ORs for UC. Conclusion: These findings suggest the need for careful attention for UC onset among heavy smokers who quit smoking before 40 years of age and heavy drinkers who quit drinking at ≥40 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Workers in the maintenance and repair division's shipping division work in outdoor physical environments, which get hot temperatures from the environment. They cause excessive sweating while working and can cause dehydration if not drinking enough water. Methods: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between drinking habits and work climate perception with dehydration status in shipping companies' workers. The research method was analytic observational, with a cross-sectional design in 2019 in one of the shipping companies with a sample size of 49 workers who were selected using simple random sampling from 55 worker populations. The independent variables included respondent characteristics, drinking water consumption habits, and work climate perceptions, while the dependent variable was dehydration status. Dehydration status among workers was measured base on the specific gravity of urine measured in the laboratory, and the working climate was measured using a heat stress monitor. Result: The results showed that 85.71% of workers had minimum dehydration status, and 14.29% had significant dehydration. Then, there was a meaningful relationship between drinking water habits and dehydration status (r = -0.320 and p = 0.025). There was also a relationship between workers' work climate perceptions and dehydration status (r = -0.283 and p = 0.049). Conclusion: The relationship showed a weak negative meaning that the less habit of drinking water among workers, the higher the dehydration status of the workers. The more disturbed they perceive the working climate; the less dehydrated status of workers will be. So it can be ignored that there were drinking habits and the work climate perceptions with dehydrated status in shipping companies' workers. Keywords: dehydration status, drinking habits, work climate perceptions.

• People who engage in poor lifestyle behaviors – such as smoking or having a low-quality diet – are more likely to be frail. • Physical activity was associated with lower frailty levels even in people who engaged in poor lifestyle behaviors. This association was strongest in older adults. • It is important to know how the relationship between physical activity and frailty is impacted by lifestyle so that interventions can be refined appropriately. To examine the association of lifestyle behaviours (LSB) with physical activity (PA) and frailty; also, to examine if associations differ by sex and age. 24,828 individuals [49.6 ± 17.6 years (range: 20–85), 51.6 % female] from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (cycles 2009–2018) were included. Individuals were divided into Active (≥150 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)) and Inactive (<150 min/week MVPA) based on self-reported PA. Frailty was measured by a 46-item Frailty Index (FI). LSB consisted of stationary time, sleep, diet quality, and alcohol and smoking habits. LSB was summed into a score [0–5]. Linear regression models were used with each LSB in isolation and the summed LSB with frailty. There were 7,495 (30.1 %) Active and 17,333 (69.8 %) Inactive individuals. The FI was lower in the Active participants (Active: 0.10 ± 0.08; Inactive: 0.15 ± 0.12; p < 0.01). A worse LSB score was associated with an increased FI in all behaviours but females who binge drink and smoke (p-all>0.14). For inactive individuals, all LSBs were associated with an increased FI except those who binge drink and male smokers (p = 0.08). There was a significant association between increased summed LSB and an increased FI (β range: Active, 0.024–0.037; Inactive, 0.028, 0.046. p-all<0.01); the Active group had a lower FI at every age group than the Inactive group (p < 0.001). PA was associated with a lower FI even among those with a poor LSB score. This association is dependent on age, with older individuals reporting a stronger association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea is the second-most drank and refreshing beverage after water since the time immemorial. Tea harbours more than 700 bioactive compounds viz, different classes of polyphenols, unique amino acid L-Theanine, alkaloids (Caffeine, Theobromine), and Volatile Flavor Compounds (VFC). Tea's polyphenols make its inherent therapeutic potential unlimited. Tea's significance in managing cancer, diabetes, stomach ulcer, influenza, neurological diseases, etc. is well-documented. However, advantageous biochemical capabilities of tea have yet to be fully utilised. Hence, this review aims at to examine tea's variety, drinking habits, biochemistry, and therapeutic qualities. A number of significant online resources, including Google Scholar, Pub Med, Science Direct, and others, were searched for various research works on tea and its healthpromoting qualities by using keywords like tea, health benefits, bioactive components against diseases, etc. Current review highlighted that drinking a cup or more green tea is recommended for improving antioxidant status and to manage diabetes and obesity related problem. However after detailed review work on tea it become clear that not only green tea but also other varies of tea like black, white tea are also harbour lots of bioactive molecules since they are processed from same plant. Tea improves antioxidant status and manages diabetes and obesity. It also helps prevent and cure heart disease, malignancy, digestive dysfunction, and metabolic disorders including obesity and diabetes. Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), found in tea, has been shown to reduce complications from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV 2) infection. When taken in its traditional form to manage ailments, tea is sometimes controversialdue to a lack of confirming evidence of its benefits. The paper covers the numerous health advantages of tea, focusing on the specific components contributing to such benefits, and stresses the value of diverse brewing processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although tea can be beneficial for our health, consuming excess trace elements in tea can be harmful. In this study, the carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic health risk for trace elements in tea influenced by the country of origin, tea type, and infusion process was assessed. Tea (Camellia sinensis) purchased from China, India, and the USA, including black and green tea, were analyzed for essential micronutrients (Cu, Se, and Zn) and nonessential trace elements (Ag, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, and Pb) in leaves and three types of infusions. The results showed that country of origin, tea type, and infusion process had a significant influence on the trace element contents in tea leaves and infusions, also on health risk. Country of origin had a significant influence on Ba, Cr, Pb, and Zn contents in tea leaves and on As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn contents in tea infusions. Black tea had significantly higher (p < 0.05) Cr and Cu content in tea leaves than green tea, but only Cr content was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of green tea in tea infusion. The trace element contents were the highest in the first infusion and decreased as the number of infusion steps increased. The results showed that the consumption of tea infusion was not likely to cause noncarcinogenic risk. However, the carcinogenic risk for As was of concern. Our results indicate that avoiding drinking the first infusion can help to reduce both carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic health risks for trace elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a minor, non-oxidative ethanol metabolite detectable in several matrices for specific periods of time. In recent years, quantification of EtG in hair has been established as the most reliable biomarker for long-term alcohol consumption, with the Society of Hair Testing offering cut-off values for assessment of both abstinence and heavy drinking. Instrumental constrains and wide inter- and intra-laboratory variability represent the ultimate barriers to widespread acceptance of hair EtG determination in the forensic context. In this study, a new analytical method for hair EtG based on gas chromatographic (GC) separation, electron impact (EI) ionization, and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection was developed and validated. At the same time, several parameters for sample pretreatment and instrumental analysis were optimized using real hair samples obtained from different drinking subjects. A full-factorial design-of-experiment approach included procedures for hair washing, pulverization, and extraction. Rigorous multi-step washing proved not to reduce the EtG content extracted in the subsequent sample incubation. Hair pulverization with a ball mill significantly improved the EtG extraction from the keratin matrix and allowed us to reduce the time needed for the subsequent extraction step, without affecting the extraction recovery. The hair extract was derivatized with N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide. Upon electron impact ionization of the EtG-TMS derivative, triple quadrupole mass analyzers were operated in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode using the fragment m/z 405 as the precursor ion (m/z 410 for the EtG-D5 internal standard), the transitions m/z 405 → 359 and m/z 410 → 359 for quantitation, and m/z 405 → 331 and m/z 405 → 287 for qualification/confirmation, all at 10 V collision energy. The final method was fully validated and then applied to 25 real hair samples. The calibration curve proved linear between 6 and 60 pg/mg. The limit of detection (LOD) was 4 pg/mg. Intra- and inter-assay precision and accuracy tests showed a variability and bias close to 15% or lower over the entire calibration range. The new method is routinely applied in the Italian State Police’s toxicology laboratory for hair analyses addressed to exclude excessive alcohol drinking and verify the psycho-physical requirements of the personnel.

Abstract In Norway in the 19th and 20th century the consumption of liquor formed the basis for a peculiar political culture manifested in restrictive alcohol legislation in combination with a strong temperance movement. A restrictive alcohol culture in a country where the alcohol consumption was low in comparison with other countries in Europe at that time is in this article perceived as a paradox. The article investigates how drinking habits were practiced among the elites and common people in rural and urban areas in the county of Telemark and concludes that drinking habits in Telemark in the 19th century confirm the impression of Telemark as divided. In the rural and western part of the county popular drinking habits and practices were maintained. People seemed to express a mentality in which maintenance of traditions, habits and practices was valued. A premise for social and cultural acceptance was to sustain the norms and values that old practices represented. In the urban areas in Telemark the bourgeoisie influenced social manners and drinking practices. According to their economic and cultural power, the bourgeois way of life served as an example in local communities. Continental manners, which also meant heavy drinking, were practiced but this way of drinking was perceived as more “sophisticated”.

Aims/materials: This reflection piece reviews some of the key results and conclusions from the book Näin Suomi juo (This is how Finns drink, 2018), based on the Finnish Drinking Habits Survey. Our aim was to go through the results taking the perspective of prevention workers and policymakers: how could they benefit from the scientific findings when tackling alcohol-related harm? Results/reflections: The reflections displayed in this article provide some useful arguments and justifications for population-level alcohol policy in the controversial alcohol policy debate. Harms do not only arise among the heaviest drinkers, and efficient methods to prevent harm may be found among the prevention efforts that apply to populations rather than only to the heaviest drinkers. The article also illustrates how the results from a population survey can be used in order to identify specific challenges and solutions for alcohol prevention in a given population. The results help in identifying the population groups and situations with an elevated risk of alcohol-related harm and in characterising the drinking patterns and social situations in which drinking takes place in these vulnerable parts of the population. Conclusions: The review illustrates that a many-sided understanding of alcohol consumption and the related harm, based on survey results, is more far-reaching in terms of prevention and policy than a knowledge base built solely on register data on the development of alcohol consumption and harm. For example, the respondents' drinking patterns are linked not only to their attitudes and risk perceptions but also to what people consider to be appropriate means to reduce alcohol use and the related harm in terms of alcohol policy, informal social control and people's life management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Alcohol consumption and policy in Finland have undergone a variety of changes in the two last decades. In several cases, trends in both consumption and policy have shifted direction when moving from the first decade of the 21st century to the second one. The aim of the overview is to summarise the trends. Data: The overview draws on results primarily from the cross-sectional Finnish Drinking Habits Survey (FDHS) in 2000, 2008 and 2016, and also from the whole series including altogether seven separate data collections carried out every eight years from 1968 to 2016 and mainly covering Finns aged 15–69 years. Response rates show a falling trend (78% in 2000, 74% in 2008 and 60% in 2016). The overview also makes use of data collected within the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD) and, for the elderly, the National FinSote study carried out by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Results: After an all-time high of 12.7 litres of pure alcohol per capita 15 years and over in 2007, total consumption of alcohol had decreased by 21% by the year 2019. Underage drinking has decreased ever since the millennium shift. Older people's drinking has continued increasing or levelled out. Along with reduced total consumption, heavy episodic drinking (HED) has also decreased, but the differences between manual and white-collar workers in HED have continued to grow. Drinking alcoholic beverages with meals has also declined since 2008. Liberal and restrictive alcohol policy measures have alternated. Conclusions: Finnish drinking culture seems to change at a slow pace; several typical drinking habits have remained unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present article summarises status and trends in the 21st century in older people's (60–79 years) drinking behaviour in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden and concludes this thematic issue. Each country provided a detailed report analysing four indicators of alcohol use: the prevalence of alcohol consumers, the prevalence of frequent use, typical amounts of use, and the prevalence of heavy episodic drinking (HED). The specific aim of this article is to compare the results of the country reports. Findings: Older people's drinking became more common first in Denmark in the 1970s and then in the other countries by the 1980s. Since 2000 the picture is mixed. Denmark showed decreases in drinking frequency, typically consumed amounts and HED, while in Sweden upward trends were dominant regarding prevalence of consumers and frequency of drinking as well as HED. Finland and Norway displayed both stable indicators except for drinking frequency and proportion of women consumers where trends increased. In all four countries, the gender gap diminished with regard to prevalence and frequency of drinking, but remained stable in regard to consuming large amounts. In Norway the share of alcohol consumers among women aged 60–69 years exceeded the share among men. During the late 2010s, Denmark had the highest prevalence of alcohol consumers as well as the highest proportion drinking at a higher frequency. Next in ranking was Finland, followed by Sweden and Norway. This overall rank ordering was observed for both men and women. Conclusion: As the populations aged 60 years and older in the Nordic countries continue to grow, explanations for the drivers and consequences of changes in older people's drinking will become an increasingly relevant topic for future research. Importantly, people aged 80 years and older should also be included as an integral part of that research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The main reason for not applying to the programme is the cost. • Some offenders are afraid to be regarded as alcoholics if they install an interlock. • Finding an interlock service centre is easier than finding an appropriate doctor. • Programme participants improve their health more than non-participants. Abstract A permanent alcohol interlock programme was introduced in Sweden in 2012. The programme is voluntary and allows drink driving offenders to keep their driving licenses if they install alcohol interlocks in their vehicles. The duration of the programme is one or two years, depending on the severity of the drink driving offence. This study aims to improve our knowledge of drink drivers' views of the programme, among both participants and those who chose not to participate. These views were collected through paper questionnaires mailed to the drink drivers' residences. Of 1550 questionnaires mailed to participants and 1492 to non-participants, 689 and 408 were completed, for response rates of 45% among participants and 28% among non-participants (excluding returns because of incorrect addresses or because the respondent was deceased). For participants who were employed or had their own business (n = 513), the main reasons for choosing the alcohol interlock were the need to operate a vehicle at work (69.6%, 95% CI: 65.6–73.6%) and to get to/from work (69.4%, 95% CI: 65.4–73.4%). For those not working (n = 153), the main reasons for participating were that the driving license was required to have a social life and meaningful leisure time (79.7%, 95% CI: 73.3–86.2%) and for shopping (65.4%, 95% CI: 57.7–73.0%). For non-participants, the main reasons for not applying were programme costs (64.4%, 95% CI: 59.5–69.3%), being afraid of being considered alcoholics (37.1%, 95% CI: 32.2–42.1%), and doing well without a license (26.5%, 95% CI: 22.0–31.0%). The results also indicate improved health after the drink driving offence. The largest improvement was found in participants in the two-year programme, in which the proportion of respondents who felt good or very good increased by 39.4% (95% CI: 34.2–44.5%) compared to before the drink driving offence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pylori is a cause of stomach cancer and peptic ulcer. For prevention, improving the eradication rate of H. pylori is crucial. However, the association between eradication and lifestyle of infected patients, including alcohol consumption, remains unclear. We explored associations between failed primary eradication therapy and drinking status by sex. This study involved 356 patients who visited a pharmacy with prescriptions for primary H. pylori eradication therapy. We assessed drinking habits using a questionnaire. Data on patients with failed primary eradication were provided by the nearby local clinic. We performed logistic regression analysis to examine the effect of drinking habit and frequency of drinking on failed primary eradication by sex. The odds ratio of primary eradication failure in female patients with a drinking habit was 3.75 (P = 0.001), but that in male patients was not significant. The odds ratio tended to increase in relation to drinking frequency in women. Frequent consumption of alcohol is not only likely to affect eradication, but also has a large impact on the bodies of women, who are more susceptible than men to the effects of alcohol. Thus, women should take greater care in alcohol consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rechtsmedizin is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: It is common for persons with psychiatric disorders to also have alcohol problems. Studies in the general population as well as in clinical samples have found hazardous or harmful alcohol habits to be particularly prevalent in the presence of psychiatric disorders. This study sought to explore the relationships between drinking habits and health care utilization (psychiatric as well as general medical) in persons seeking psychiatric treatment and to investigate the associations among age, sex, and type or number of diagnoses and health care use and costs. For the planning of targeted interventions, we also sought to identify subgroups with a high prevalence of hazardous drinking habits. Methods: From a psychiatric clinic for affective disorders at a university hospital in Sweden, patients who had been screened for hazardous drinking (N = 609) were selected. Patients with primary psychosis or substance use disorder receive treatment at other clinics and did not participate. Medical records data were grouped and compared. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10) was used for diagnoses and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for screening. Patients were grouped by drinking habits and sex, age, and diagnosis group, and their psychiatric as well as general medical health care use was compared. Results: Abstainers used psychiatric care more than all other drinking groups (p <.001). Psychiatric health care costs were higher in abstainers and low-risk drinkers (1.64 to 1). No differences in general medical care could be identified between drinking groups. Specific subgroups with higher rates of hazardous drinking could not be identified (44% of all males and 34% of all females reported such habits). Inconclusive results from previous research are most likely due to different methods used to classify drinking problems. Conclusions: Abstainers and low-risk drinkers used psychiatric health care to a higher cost than the other drinking groups. Possible explanations are discussed from a clinical and scientific perspective. This study clarifies the need for uniform measures when classifying alcohol use in studies of relationships between alcohol use and health care use. There is also a need to separate former drinkers from abstainers in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated whether non- or occasional drinkers' changes in drinking habits during a one-year period were related to psychological distress. Overall, 2,495 non- or occasional drinking employees (2,109 men and 386 women) completed a self-administered questionnaire measuring alcohol intake, psychological distress (12-item General Health Questionnaire), and demographic characteristics at baseline and one-year follow-up. They also completed a Web-based version of the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire to assess job stressors at baseline. Participants were categorized into three groups (stable non- or occasional drinkers; new light drinkers; new moderate drinkers) according to weekly alcohol consumption at follow-up (males 0 g/wk, 1 - 79 g/wk, and = 80 g/wk; females 0 g/wk, 1 - 39 g/wk, and = 40 g/wk, respectively); multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted by sex. Among only male participants, both stable non- or occasional drinkers and new moderate drinkers showed significantly higher odds ratios for psychological distress at followup than new light drinkers after adjusting for demographic characteristics, job stressors, and psychological distress at baseline (adjusted odds ratios of 1.72 and 1.99, respectively). These findings suggest that men who started to drink 80 g or more alcohol per week during the one-year follow-up period should have been monitored for psychological distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human body requires water for the active and healthy life. Water is actually a nutrient, and there is a tendency that some people neglect its important roles for health. Water requirements can vary depends on physical activity, age groups, body weight, climate, and diet (energy intake). Objective: The study aimed to identify drinking habits and to assess water intake and its adequacy of teenagers in urban. Method: Cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2009 in high school SMAN 2 Bogor. The samples were healthy student at grade X and XI. The number of sample was 83 students which calculated based on mean estimation. Food and beverages consumption was assessed with 2 x 24 hours recall during a week-day and a week-end. Meanwhile, the last week drinking habits was collected by interviewed. Statistical analysis used here was independent t-test. Results: The average of water intake was 2582 ± 834 ml, whereas 2939 ± 922 ml for boys and 2250 ± 581 ml for girls. The total water intake was from solid foods (656 ± 265 ml) and beverages (1927 ± 704 ml). The contribution of drinking water to the total water intake was 51% for boys (1495 ml) and 58% for girls (1311 ml). The average water adequacy was 132% for boys and 111% for girls. Conclusion: The average of water intake was consider adequate in teenagers, however there was still 24.1% of them consumed less than 90% of water adequacy.