An open trial of pharmacological treatment with fluoxetine, ranging from 20 mg every other day to 80 mg per day, led to a significant improvement in Clinical Global Impressions ratings of Clinical Severity in 15 of 23 subjects with autistic disorder and 10 of 16 subjects with mental retardation Six of 23 patients with autistic disorder and 3 of 16 patients with mental retardation had side effects which significantly interfered with function, consisting predominantly of restlessness, hyperactivity, agitation, decreased appetite, or insomnia Double-blind studies of the efficacy of pharmacological agents that potently inhibit 5-IIT uptake in the treatment of mental retardation coexisting with Axis I psychiatric disorders (especially obsessive-compulsive disorder) and autistic disorder are warranted

Fluoxetine treatment of children and adults with autistic disorder and mental retardation

Effect of pH, ethanol and acidity on astringency and bitterness of grape seed tannin oligomers in model wine solution

The contribution of brain reward circuits to the obesity epidemic

Quality of life among opiate-dependent individuals: A review of the literature

Alcohol and alcohol-related diseases have become a major cause of death in Western countries. The most sensitive and specific of the commonly used biomarkers of alcohol intake are carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), and the combination of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and CDT. Other widely used laboratory markers are GGT, mean corpuscular volume of erythrocytes and the ratio of aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase. Blood ethanol levels reveal recent alcohol use. However, more specific and sensitive biomarkers to improve the detection of excessive alcohol use at an early stage are needed. New biomarkers, not yet used in routine clinical work, include phosphatidylethanol, fatty acid ethyl esters, ethyl glucuronide, sialic acid, and acetaldehyde adducts.

Biochemical markers of alcoholism.

Bitter and sweet components of ethanol taste in humans.

The aim of the present study was to compare taste responses (intensity and pleasantness/unpleasantness) to sweet, bitter, sour, and salty solutions in sons of male alcoholics (SOMAs) and control subjects with no family history of alcoholism. In addition, responses to Coca-Cola flavour were evaluated in both groups. Unpleasantness of salty solutions was significantly enhanced and intensity of sour solutions tended to be higher in the SOMAs. There were no other differences between the groups. Thus, contrary to previous suggestions, genetically determined vulnerability to alcohol dependence may not be associated with altered responses to sweet substances. The present findings would rather suggest that increased aversive responses to salt taste may predict future development of alcohol dependence.

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Taste responses in sons of male alcoholics.

The aim of the present study was to compare taste responses to sweet, bitter, sour and salty solutions in male alcoholics and control subjects. The groups did not differ in terms of rated intensity or pleasantness of sucrose (1-30%), quinine (0.001-0.005%), citric acid (0.02-0.1%) and sodium chloride (0.18-0.9%) solutions. The proportion of sweet-likers was also similar in both groups.

/pdf/taste-responses-in-alcohol-dependent-men-37vvwg7wjt.pdf

Taste responses in alcohol-dependent men

Taste function in methadone-maintained opioid-dependent men

It has been shown repeatedly that opioid dependence is associated with increased consumption of refined sugars. It is possible that this association results from altered taste reactivity in opioid-dependent subjects. Thus, in the present study, we compared taste responses to sweet, bitter, sour and salty solutions in methadone-maintained opioid-dependent men and healthy control subjects. The two groups did not differ in terms of rated intensity or pleasantness of sucrose (1/30%), quinine (0.001/0.005%), citric acid (0.02/0.1%) and sodium chloride (0.18/0.9%) solutions. Proportions of ‘sweet-likers’, i.e. subjects rating a 30% sucrose (0.88 M) solution as the most pleasant, were also similar in both groups. In line with the previous findings, the methadone-maintained subjects reported adding more table sugar to caffeinated beverages. The results of the present study suggest that changes in taste reactivity may not be responsible for altered dietary choices in opioid addicts. # 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Boguslaw Habrat

Papers

Bitter and sweet components of ethanol taste in humans.

Taste responses in sons of male alcoholics.

Taste responses in alcohol-dependent men

Taste function in methadone-maintained opioid-dependent men

Short communication Taste function in methadone-maintained opioid-dependent men