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1032715 tn?1315984234

Interesting Research!!

Chilean researchers say they are developing a vaccine against alcoholism that could be tested on humans starting next year and works by neutralising an enzyme that metabolises alcohol.

The genetic therapy is based on aldehyde dehydrogenase, a group of enzymes that metabolise alcohol and are thus responsible for alcohol tolerance, said Juan Asenjo, who heads a team of researchers at Chile's Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics and the private lab Recalcine.

About 20 per cent of the Asian population lacks this enzyme and thus experience "such a strong reaction that it discourages consumption," he added.

The vaccine would similarly increase unease, nausea and tachycardia (accelerated heart beat).

"With the vaccine, the desire to consume alcohol will be greatly reduced thanks to these reactions," Asenjo told Radio Cooperativa.

Researchers have already successfully tested the vaccine on rats who were dependent on alcohol, and got them to halve their consumption.

"The idea is to have 90-95 per cent reduction of consumption for humans," Asenjo said.

It would work like patches or pills that help smokers kick the habit, but with better efficiency by specifically targeting liver cells and avoiding collateral effects on all cells.

This year, researchers plan to focus on mass production of virus cells and conduct tests on animals to determine proper dosage before launching human tests in 2012.

In October, US researchers announced they had discovered a gene variation known as CYP2EI that can protect against alcoholism and could lead to a preventative treatment.

The gene variant known as CYP2EI is linked to people's response to alcohol, and for 10 to 20 per cent of people who have it, just a few glasses leads them to feeling more drunk than the rest of the population, said University of North Carolina researchers at the Chapel Hill School of Medicine

This CYP2EI gene - located in the brain, not the liver - has long been known to hold an enzyme for metabolising alcohol, and generates molecules known as free radicals.

But a specific variant of the gene makes people more sensitive to alcohol, according to University of North Carolina researchers.

Drugs that can be created to induce the CYP2E1 gene could eventually make people more sensitive to alcohol or help sober them up if they have had to much, according to that research team.

Interesting,I wonder if it will work.
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
well we're sober/clean and comfy in our loose fitting peasant garb!:)
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1032715 tn?1315984234
LOL,you two,I think every country has their peasants.And I'm definitely in that bracket.
also no wine or fancy clothes,
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
me 2!well we're the sober rowdy peasants!no wine and uncomfortable rich looking garments for us!:)
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495284 tn?1333894042
Why do i always end up being the peasant?!!!  lol
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
wealth and power rule in this country....just a very modernized dressed up version of kings over peasants that has evolved thru the centuries.....in essence and theory it is the same!
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495284 tn?1333894042
It's almost criminal what they are doing........
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr is a understatement!oh mr.ceo NEVER goes without!see if we get ill..die.....then the insurance co's don't have 2 cover and social security saves $$$$ by not having to pay u!conspiracy theories aren't farfetched!:)
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495284 tn?1333894042
Insurance companies are a disgrace in my opinion.  Rates go up coverage goes down or if you are like me you have no insurance as i cant afford 1,000 a month premium that doesnt cover a dam thing.  I am always so happy to read in the paper that the BCBS CEO is the highest paid person in my state.  I would hate to think of him going without.  grrr
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
this is my take on the entire health care insurance quagmire in this country......for 2 many years...2 many presidents and congressman have taken kickbacks perks and campaign contributions from the moguls in this industry which has resulted in them having free reign for profit and no concern for us.It is a disgrace that us...the allegedly wealthiest country in the world have children die...and adults suffer and die because they cannot access affordable health care or be able to afford health care coverage.I think it is a tangled medusa's head that no one will ever unravel.......i mean the powers to be would lose those $$$$ perks!can't have that now can we?:)
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
whatever the obama administration would try to implement the GOP will try to undo it!Back in the 70's and 80's insurance companies paid well for treatment...in 1983 my total bill for 25 days was around $9000.....in the 90's this went up to around $14,000...then u saw ins.co's refusing to pay for it due to ppl constantly relapsing and wanting to go back in the hospital!Many ins. co's today will pay for detox only...rarely do i see them pay for a full inpatient stay of 10 days plus.Most inpatient stays do not like to use Suboxone as a part of treatment...they view it as a crutch!We have seen many sucesses w/it as long as one comes to counseling,recovery group and/or 12 step involvement.There are those who try to divert the S to pay for their dope...we are savvy to this but if they refuse to work w/us then we have to boot them and tell them to come back when their ready.We just love having ppl get busted w/dope and Suboxone and cops ask where did u get that?and the reply is our agency...we do not welcome the police at our back door badmouthing our program!there will always be those who dork around...but we focus on those who its working for and will go to any lengths to stay sober/clean...and i've seen em thank God!And then we have the ER docs who give opiate pain relievers to folks who TELL them hey i'm an addict-can't take them!and the doc hands them the scrip and says just use as needed!???????YIKES!
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495284 tn?1333894042
Now I am not a right wing or left wing or tea party, just a wingnut!!!  Anyways at one point the Obama admin. was going to implement a new campaign to bring addiction to light and make more help available to addicts.  It sounded like they wanted to be pro active in this fight.  So far i have heard nothing more.  Pill addiction is the fastest growing addiction in the country right now along with alcoholism.  The high school here had a town meeting on drug/alcohol abuse.  I read the article and the doctor who is a part of this committee actually said that the substance is only a symptom of this addiction.  I know this doctor and he is a godsend to this community.  If only they all thought the way he did~~~
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
Treating alcoholics/addicts is low priority on our governments list.....i could count the ways.....we got a new governor in Ohio.....yeegads....medhelp would bleep out my comments..he initially threatenend to cut more from social service programs and education.....and has recanted thank God at least for now b4 he changes his mind again as he seems to do every 24 hours......our resources to treat the stream of heroin/opiate addicts that come thru our doors are woefully inadequate.....but a blessing...he has appointed at a state level the head of alcohol/drug addiction services.....a man who started the first  Suboxone treatment program in 04 to attempt to stem the tide of this epidemic...so we are encouraged...a smart move indeed from a politician who is scary to say the least!:)i didn't vote for him!!!!
Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
If it would make sense narla our gov't wont go for it!!!

It is rather interesting info.......
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1032715 tn?1315984234
You'd think the governments would subsidise it.It would save them heaps of money in the long run if it works.
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
wonder how much it will cost???Vivitrol for opiate addicts costs $1000 a shot!who has that lying around?
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