Deck 10: Alcohol

Question 1

Which of the following does not modify the concentration of alcohol in the blood?

A) The presence of food in the stomach
B) The dose of alcohol consumed
C) Sex differences in metabolism
D) A cold shower

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Eating while drinking alcohol _______ its absorption by _______ gastric emptying.

A) increases; slowing down
B) speeds up; increasing
C) slows down; slowing down
D) reduces; increasing

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The first step in the metabolism of alcohol is its conversion to

A) formaldehyde.
B) acetaldehyde.
C) acetic acid.
D) aldehyde dehydrogenase.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following correctly represents the enzymatic steps involved in alcohol metabolism?

A) Alcohol $\rightarrow$ alcohol dehydrogenase $\rightarrow$ acetaldehyde $\rightarrow$ acetaldehyde dehydrogenase $\rightarrow$ acetic acid
B) Alcohol $\rightarrow$ alcohol dehydrogenase $\rightarrow$ acetic acid $\rightarrow$ acetaldehyde dehydrogenase $\rightarrow$ acetaldehyde
C) Alcohol $\rightarrow$ acetaldehyde dehydrogenase $\rightarrow$ acetaldehyde $\rightarrow$ alcohol dehydrogenase $\rightarrow$ acetic acid
D) Alcohol $\rightarrow$ acetaldehyde dehydrogenase $\rightarrow$ acetic acid $\rightarrow$ alcohol dehydrogenase $\rightarrow$ acetaldehyde

Question 5

Alcohol is metabolized in the liver by two systems of enzymes, _______ and _______.

A) aldehyde dehydrogenase; cytochrome P450
B) alcohol dehydrogenase; acetaldehyde
C) alcohol dehydrogenase; cytochrome P450
D) alcohol dehydrogenase; aldehyde dehydrogenase

Question 6

A decrease in _______ activity can lead to toxicity, including flushing, nausea, and vomiting.

A) alcohol dehydrogenase
B) acetaldehyde dehydrogenase
C) acetaldehyde
D) formaldehyde

Question 7

Why can taking certain drugs while also drinking alcohol lead to dangerous levels of the drugs?

A) The enzymes that metabolize alcohol also metabolize certain drugs, thus the alcohol and drugs compete for the same enzyme molecules as alcohol.
B) The alcohol enhances the drug effects even though both are being metabolized.
C) Alcohol destroys the enzymes that metabolize the drugs.
D) The enzymes that metabolize the drugs cease to function when alcohol and drugs are taken together.

Question 8

Fomepizole and ethanol can be used to treat methanol poisoning because both

A) compete with methanol for aldehyde dehydrogenase.
B) compete with methanol for alcohol dehydrogenase.
C) are alcohol dehydrogenase agonists.
D) are mGluR2 agonists.

Question 9

_______ tolerance to alcohol results from a(n) _______ of liver enzymes.

A) Metabolic; reduction
B) Pharmacodynamic; reduction
C) Metabolic; induction
D) Acute; induction

Question 10

In _______ tolerance, the effects of alcohol _______ when blood alcohol levels are falling compared to when they are rising even if the BAC remains the same.

A) acute; decrease
B) acute; increase
C) pharmacodynamic; increase
D) acute; remain the same

Question 11

Which type of tolerance to alcohol is characterized by an increase the P450 liver microsomal enzymes?

A) Acute
B) Pharmacodynamic
C) Metabolic
D) Behavioral

Question 12

An intense withdrawal syndrome after long-term heavy drinking that includes irritability, convulsions, and hallucinations would be considered

A) delirium tremens.
B) a hangover.
C) psychosis.
D) physical dependence.

Question 13

Which of the following is not a potential explanation for a hangover?

A) Toxic effects of congeners in the alcohol
B) Residual acetaldehyde in the body
C) Excessive fluid loss during the drinking bout
D) Residual acetic acid in the body

Question 14

During _______ an individual may behave quite normally but will have total amnesia for the events that occurred while impaired.

A) delirium tremens
B) a blackout
C) a hangover
D) Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

Question 15

A blood alcohol level of approximately _______% is lethal in half of the population, but because unconsciousness occurs at a BAC of approximately _______%, drinking is often stopped before the lethal level is reached.

A) 0.35; 0.15
B) 0.45; 0.1
C) 0.45; 0.35
D) 0.60; 0.1

Question 16

Fatalities from acute alcohol ingestion occur because

A) of cardiac arrhythmias leading to heart failure.
B) the respiratory centers in the brainstem shut down.
C) the heart becomes too sedated and stops beating.
D) that much alcohol causes brain death.

Question 17

The memory disturbances seen in Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome include

A) a loss of memory for events in the distant past.
B) total amnesia.
C) inability to form new memories.
D) little actual memory impairment.

Question 18

While widespread brain damage can be seen in alcoholics, thiamine deficiency causes specific damage to the

A) cerebellum.
B) frontal cortex.
C) hippocampus.
D) thalamus

Question 19

Fatty liver occurs due to of a buildup of _______ in the liver, while cirrhosis is the result of the formation of _______ in the liver.

A) acetaldehyde; scar tissue
B) scar tissue; triglycerides
C) triglycerides; scar tissue
D) acetaldehyde; triglycerides

Question 20

A child with facial malformations and a below-average IQ that was born at a low birthweight, most likely would have

A) fetal alcohol syndrome.
B) Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.
C) alcohol abstinence syndrome.
D) a thiamine deficiency.

Question 21

Why is it advisable for a pregnant woman not to drink alcohol at any stage of her pregnancy?

A) All alcohol consumption during pregnancy always leads to fetal damage.
B) Alcohol causes different adverse effects on a fetus during different stages of development.
C) The effects of alcohol on a developing fetus are largely unknown.
D) Drinking during pregnancy increases a woman's risk for alcoholism.

Question 22

The earliest known alcoholic beverage was

A) a thick, hearty beer.
B) mead.
C) wine.
D) gin.

Question 23

During fermentation, yeast converts each _______ molecule into two molecules of _______ and two molecules of carbon dioxide.

A) sugar; alcohol
B) fat; alcohol
C) alcohol; sugar
D) sugar; fat

Question 24

Alcohol is involved in about _______ of all highway deaths, in part because it reduces _______.

A) one-third; reaction time
B) half; memory skills
C) half; reaction time
D) two-thirds; memory

Question 25

A patient that presents with symptoms of AUD, including impaired gait, tremor, cognitive deficits, but does not have Wernicke's encephalopathy, would most likely have

A) Korsakoff syndrome.
B) fetal alcohol syndrome.
C) fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome.
D) thiamine deficiency.

Question 26

A benefit of low to moderate alcohol consumption may be a(n)

A) increase in cognitive function
B) increase in "good" cholesterol.
C) decrease in insomnia
D) increased ability to form new memories.

Question 27

_______ can be used to assess genetic differences among animals that differ in some alcohol-related behavior, while _______ are used to determine the role of a particular protein in alcohol's effects.

A) Selectively bred lines; knockout animals
B) Knockout animals; genetic screens
C) Selectively bred lines; genetic screens
D) Genetic screens; selectively bred lines

Question 28

Alcohol _______ the effectiveness of glutamate at NMDA receptors and _______ glutamate release.

A) reduces; increases
B) increases; increases
C) increases; reduces
D) reduces; reduces

Question 29

After withdrawal from chronic alcohol use, an increase in _______ is correlated with an increase in behavioral signs of _______.

A) glutamate release; intoxication
B) glutamate release; withdrawal hyperexcitability
C) receptor inhibition; intoxication
D) receptor inhibition; withdrawal hyperexcitability

Question 30

In general, the cellular effects of chronic alcohol on various neurotransmitter systems are _______ the effects of acute alcohol administration.

A) the same as
B) the opposite of
C) double
D) many times greater than

Question 31

Alcohol and benzodiazepines most likely show cross-tolerance and cross-dependence because they both _______ the effects of _______ at _______ receptors.

A) decrease; glutamate; NMDA
B) enhance; glutamate; NMDA
C) decrease; GABA; GABA_A
D) enhance; GABA; GABA_A

Question 32

Acute alcohol intake _______ GABA_A-mediated chloride flux, and chronic alcohol use _______ it.

A) enhances; inhibits
B) inhibits; inhibits
C) enhances; enhances
D) inhibits; enhances

Question 33

Changes in which two neurotransmitter systems are most likely involved in the hyperexcitability seen during withdrawal from chronic alcohol?

A) GABA and glutamate
B) GABA and dopamine
C) Dopamine and glutamate
D) The opioids and dopamine

Question 34

Alcohol increases synaptic levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens by

A) blocking the reuptake of dopamine by transporters.
B) increasing the firing rate of cells in the VTA.
C) inhibiting the metabolism of dopamine in the synaptic cleft.
D) decreasing action of autoreceptors that normally decrease release.

Question 35

Which of the following is not seen during alcohol withdrawal?

A) Decrease in dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens
B) Increase in the amount of current needed for intracranial brain stimulation
C) Increase in glutamate release
D) Increase in chloride flux through GABA_A receptors

Question 36

_______ are two neurotransmitters that most likely are involved in the reinforcing effects of alcohol.

A) GABA and serotonin
B) Dopamine and opioids
C) Norepinephrine and serotonin
D) Glutamate and GABA

Question 37

Which statement about the role of the endogenous opioid system in alcohol's reinforcing effects is false?

A) Mice that lack the μ-opioid receptor do not self-administer alcohol.
B) Opioid receptor antagonists reduce alcohol self-administration in animals.
C) Clinical trials show that opioid receptor antagonists reduce alcohol craving and relapse in humans.
D) Chronic alcohol use increases gene expression of endorphin and enkephalin.

Question 38

Understanding the neurochemical effects of alcohol is difficult because

A) animals will not spontaneously drink enough alcohol to become intoxicated.
B) alcohol can affect multiple organ systems.
C) alcohol does not affect specific receptor proteins.
D) alcohol can alter the composition of the lipid bilayer of cell membranes.

Question 39

The specific actions of alcohol on neuronal membranes include all of the following except

A) direct interactions with channel proteins.
B) modification of gating mechanisms inside a channel.
C) actions at neurotransmitter binding sites.
D) alteration of lipid composition.

Question 40

Binge drinking is defined as

A) any rapid consumption of alcohol that causes intoxication.
B) drinking until passing out.
C) five or more drinks in a row for males and four in a row for females.
D) drinking to remain intoxicated for at least two days.

Question 41

The risks of drinking at a young age include neurologic impairments due to altered _______, and these impairments _______.

A) synaptic pruning, receptor number/sensitivity, refinement of neural circuitry; last into later life
B) synaptic pruning, receptor number/sensitivity, refinement of neural circuitry; disappear in later life
C) function of major organs; increase in later life
D) metabolism of alcohol; disappear in later life

Question 42

According to Cloninger's alcoholic subtypes, type II alcoholics are characterized by

A) a high extent of genetic influence, early age of onset, and thrill-seeking behavior.
B) a high extent of genetic influence, age of onset after 25, and guilt and fear about alcohol.
C) age of onset after 25, inability to stop alcohol use, and low incidence of novelty-seeking personality.
D) use of alcohol to escape and a moderate extent of genetic influence.

Question 43

In the _______ method of genetic study, genes of affected and unaffected individuals that are not related are compared in order to search for alleles that may be common among affected individuals.

A) selective breeding
B) linkage study
C) case-control
D) family history

Question 44

In Schuckit's study, a greater risk of developing alcoholism was seen in young men who experienced _______ subjective "high" and had a _______ sway score after consuming alcohol.

A) a greater; lower
B) a greater; higher
C) less of a; higher
D) less of a; lower

Question 45

To combat the unpleasant side effects of withdrawal from alcohol a frequent first step in supervised detoxification is the use of _______ in place of alcohol.

A) benzodiazepines
B) antipsychotics
C) beta blockers
D) opioids

Question 46

The hyperexcitability that people with AUD experience during withdrawal could potentially be treated by the NMDA receptor antagonist

A) picrotoxin.
B) biculline.
C) valium.
D) ketamine.

Question 47

Disulfiram (antabuse) makes consumption of alcohol unpleasant because it

A) blocks the conversion of alcohol to acetaldehyde.
B) blocks the conversion of acetaldehyde to acetic acid.
C) blocks μ-opioid receptors.
D) acts as a partial agonist at NMDA receptors.

Question 48

In animal models, blockade of _______ reduces stress-induced relapse and withdrawal-induced alcohol consumption, but this approach hasn't worked in humans because _______.

A) opioid receptors; people will not take the medication required for the test
B) NK1R; humans do not possess this receptor type
C) CRF₁ receptors; these antagonists do not cross the blood-brain barrier
D) glutamate receptors; stress is not a major factor in human alcohol consumption

Question 49

Describe the ways men and women differ with regard to the effects of alcohol.

Question 50

Compare and contrast pharmacodynamic, metabolic, and behavioral tolerance.

Question 51

How can classical conditioning contribute to behavioral tolerance?

Question 52

What are the effects of alcohol on sleep?

Question 53

What are the some of the possible health benefits of light to moderate alcohol consumption and what is the scientific evidence that refutes the evidence supporting health benefits? What amount of alcohol is considered moderate?

Question 54

Describe three ways animal models can make important contributions to alcohol research.

Question 55

How can the effects of chronic alcohol on GABA and glutamate systems be related to tolerance and signs of withdrawal?

Question 56

Describe the evidence that intoxicating concentrations of alcohol alter GABA_A receptor function.

Question 57

Describe some of the contributing factors to alcoholism according to the three-factor vulnerability model.

Question 58

How are naltrexone and acamprosate thought to decrease relapse rates in alcoholics?