Alcohol and Abnormal Protein Biosynthesis: Biochemical and Clinical focuses on the methods for measuring protein metabolism and the effects of alcohol and altered protein intake as they affect the heart, liver, skeletal muscle, and the brain. Organized into six sections, this book begins with an overview on malnutrition and alcoholism, as well as available techniques for the study of protein synthesis. Subsequent section details the adaptation of protein synthesis and transport to alcohol and malnutrition. Section three discusses the skeletal and cardiac muscle protein metabolism. The last three sections describe the reaction of hepatic protein synthesis to malnutrition and alcohol; effects of alcohol on brain RNA metabolism; and alcohol associated cardiac and hepatic disease.

Abstract: The proceedings of a 1980 workshop presents 19 expert papers on various aspects of the effect of alcohol (ethanol) intake on in vivo protein biosynthesis. The papers are grouped among 3 principal themes: 1) the effects of alcohol on the biosynthesis of brain protein and nucleic acid macromolecules; 2) the effects of ethanol on eukaryotic protein biosynthesis; and 3) biobehavioral and cellular studies on ethanol effects. The adverse consequences of maternal alcoholism on fetal protein metabolism and the neurological aspects and complications of alcoholism also are addressed. (wz).

Alcohol abuse is this culture's most important drug problem. Statistics indicate that it is exacting a great and relentlessly increasing toll of human suffering. It is clear that the problem is not being dealt with in any effective manner. At the invitation of the. Canadian Hepatic Foundation, many of the world's experts gathered in Toronto, May 14-15 1976, to focus attention on one of the most important aspects of the alcohol problem -alcohol induced liver damage. The epidemiology of alcohol induced liver disease was discussed and current views on the pathogenesis of the problem were reviewed. New insight into the pathological alterations of the liver was presented and some of our current therapeutic capabilities were discussed. Dr. Hans Popper summarized the Symposium and presented some of his views on those aspects of the problem which will require early attention by the research community. The Symposium achieved its immediate objective -that of bringing together the committed experts of various disciplines for an updating of our understanding of alcohol and the liver and for a discussion of new approaches to the problem. As a backdrop to the Symposium, however, was large writing on the wall to the effect that we are expending our research talents and efforts on a totally unnecessary problem. Right now we probably know enough and have sufficient resources at our disposal to solve the problem.

From the President of the Research Society on Alcoholism The field of alcohol research has been slowly but continuously evolving, taking into its domain an ever-increasing array of scientific disciplines. This senes is designed to fill the need for ,a review publication that covers the broad range of research into alcohol actions and alcoholism. Research in alcohol concerns social, epidemiological, and legal concerns in addition to biomedical and behavioral topics to greater degree than research with many other drugs. A publication devoted to alcohol research should serve the broadest existing research community, but perhaps more important, it should also provide a means to recruit new investigators with fresh approaches to the field. We can and must demonstrate that legitimate, high-quality research is being done, but we must also highlight the opportunity for new workers to make a real impact on the problem. The Research Society on Alcoholism seeks to provide such a service not only through this publication but also through other ac tivities. Richard A. Deitrich, Ph.D.

In the first section of Volume 2, toxicological factors affecting nutritional status are discussed. Medications and alcohol may affect nutritional status. Section 2 provides a discussion of nutrition-related diseases which occur more frequently among the elderly. Cardiovascular diseases including coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease are the leading causes of death in the U.S. The relative importance of cardiovascular diseases, in terms of all deaths for the given age group, rises steadily with age. The death rate from these diseases is 28% for the middle age group (35 to 44) and is 69% for the old age group (age 75 and above. This reflects the continued progression of artherosclerosis with aging. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. The death rate from cancer also rises steadily with age. The death rate from diabetes mellitus increases progressively with age and more rapidly after the age of 45. The incidence of diabetes mellitus is 0.23% under age 25 and 6.2% over 45.

Over the past decade, much has been learned about the damaging effects that moderate to severe alcohol use has on tissue nutrient levels and dietary intake. In addition to alcohol's potential to damage every organ in the body, alcohol abuse or heavy use causes poorer dietary intake and provides a greater risk of alcohol's damage while increasing th