L. de Haan

The positive regulator CfaD overcomes the repression mediated by histone-like protein H-NS (H1) in the CFA/I fimbrial operon of Escherichia coli.

CFA/I fimbriae of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli are expressed at 37 degrees C and not at 20 degrees C. Expression of CFA/I fimbriae requires two DNA regions (regions 1 and 2) which are separated by 40 kb on the wild type plasmid. Region 2 encodes a protein (CfaD) which activates the promoter in region 1. We investigated whether the histone‐like protein H‐NS (H1) of E.coli is involved in the temperature regulated expression of CFA/I fimbriae. As demonstrated recently with other temperature regulated genes, a mutation in the gene coding for this nucleoid‐associated H‐NS (H1) protein resulted in derepression of CFA/I expression. CFA/I fimbriae were now expressed both at 20 degrees C and 37 degrees C. More strinkingly, the positive regulator CfaD was not needed for CFA/I expression in an H‐NS‐ strain. This indicates that CfaD diminishes an inhibitory effect of the H‐NS nucleoid‐associated protein. We also showed that in the H‐NS‐ strain the CfaD protein still has a positive effect on the transcription of CFA/I.

Caffeinated Drinks, Alcohol Consumption, and Hangover Severity

This study examined the relationship between consumption of caffeinated beverages and alcohol, and effects on next day hangover severity. In 2010, a survey funded by Utrecht University was conducted among N=549 Dutch students. Beverages consumed on their latest drinking session that produced a hangover were recorded. Hangover severity was scored using the Acute Hangover Scale. No significant correlation between caffeine use and hangover severity was found. Subjects who mixed alcohol with colas consumed significantly more alcohol than those who drank alcohol alone (p=0.001), or mixed alcohol with energy drinks (p=0.001). Future studies with larger sample sizes should confirm these findings.

The relation between risk-taking behavior and alcohol use in young adults is different for men and women

OBJECTIVE The present study examined the relationship of risk-taking behavior and alcohol use and the role of sex herein, while adjusting for age, depression, anxiety, stress and lifestyle. METHODS Participants were 6002 university students. They were classified as either abstinent, drinker but non-binge drinker, or binge drinker based on self-reported alcohol consumption. Risk-taking and risk assessment were evaluated with the RT-18 and depression, anxiety and stress with the DASS-21. RESULTS The odds of being a binge versus non-binge drinker increased with risk-taking as well as risk assessment for both men and women. The odds being a non-binge drinker versus abstinent were increased by risk-taking for women only. For binge drinking versus abstinence, risk-taking had a significant increasing effect for both sexes, but risk assessment was only significant in women. CONCLUSION These results may assist with alcohol use prevention techniques because risk-taking behavior exerts, even when corrected for age, lifestyle, depression, anxiety, and stress levels, a solid, sex-specific independent effect on alcohol use.

Biological, psychological, and behavioral correlates of the alcohol hangover

# S14.1 BEHAVIOURAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALCOHOL HANGOVER - PRELIMINARY FINDINGS {#article-title-2} Attention and memory appear broadly to be affected by alcohol hangover, but research examining these effects in greater detail, together with executive functioning, is required (Ling et al, 2010). We have recently secured an EU Marie Curie Research Fellowship to allow Dr Lauren to conduct research assessing the cognitive consequences of the alcohol hangover. In this on-going randomised, repeated measures, crossover trial, participants are being recruited from Keele University to take part in a study assessing neurocognitive effects of alcohol hangover in a sample of 200 adults. In order to comprehensively assess the cognitive domains most susceptible to the effects of alcohol hangover a battery of Computerised Mental Performance Assessment (COMPASS) tasks are being used. Cognitive domains assessed include; immediate and delayed declarative memory, working memory, attention and executive function and mood. Participants are tested on 2 occasions following both an evening alcohol consumption and abstention. The Bond Lader Visual Analogue scale revealed significantly reduced feelings of alertness, contentment and a trend for reduced feelings of calmness, following a hangover. Alcohol hangover also resulted in impaired performance on the spatial working memory, and numeric working memory as well as significantly slower reaction times on the attention and response inhibition task. Alcohol hangover also leads to greater number of errors during Rapid Visual Information Processing. The present results suggest that tasks, which rely heavily on medial temporal and frontal processing, appear to be most greatly affected. Furthermore overall speed of information processing appears to be impeded. # S14.2 PROSPECTIVE MEMORY DEFICITS ASSOCIATED WITH A STATE OF ALCOHOL HANGOVER {#article-title-3} Background. Alcohol hangover leads to deficits on a range higher order cognitive processes, including executive functions. The current study attempts to extend this focus to observe whether alcohol hangover impedes everyday prospective memory (PM: memory for future events). Methods. An existing groups design was used to compare a group of students who were recovering from alcohol hangover the day after a heavy drinking session, with a group who were hangover-free. A hangover rating scale was used to measure hangover effects; a drug-use questionnaire measured alcohol and other drug use; the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale measured mood and the Prospective Remembering Video Procedure (PRVP) measured objective PM. Anyone who reported using an illegal substance or suffering from a psychiatric illness (such as depression) were excluded from the study. Results. After observing no significant between-group differences on age, weekly alcohol use, weekly cigarette use, anxiety or depression scores, the alcohol hangover group recalled significantly fewer items on the PRVP than the hangover-free control group. Conclusion. Impaired Everyday PM should be added to the list of cognitive deficits associated with a state of alcohol hangover. # S14.3 LAPSES OF ATTENTION DURING DRIVING IN THE ALCOHOL HANGOVER STATE {#article-title-4} Background. The morning after a drinking session, i.e. during the alcohol hangover state, people commonly report reduced alertness and ability to concentrate. Thus, it is likely that lapses of attention may occur. These lapses may compromise safety in potentially dangerous activities such as driving a car. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of lapses of attention during driving in the hangover state. Methods. In N = 47 healthy volunteers, driving performance was tested the morning following an evening of consuming on average 10.2 (4.2) alcoholic drinks (alcohol hangover) and on a control day (no alcohol consumed). Subjects performed a standardized 100-km highway driving test in the STISIM driving simulator when BAC was zero. Lapses of attention were examined, defined as a continuous change of lateral position >100 cm for at least 8 seconds. The number of lapses, maximum lateral deviation, and total time of lapses were computed. Results were compared with subjective assessments of driving quality and driving style. Hangover severity was scored with a visual analog scale ranging from 0 (absent) to 10 (extreme). Δlapses (hangover – control) was related to subjective outcome measures. Results. Data from 4 subjects were excluded as they reported that they had no hangover. Another subject was excluded because he scored positively (6out of 10) on the hangover scale on the control day. Data from N = 42 subjects are presented. During hangover, a significantly increased number of lapses relative to the control day (7.7 versus 5.3 lapses, p = 0.019), and an increased total lapse time (182.7 versus 127.3 seconds, p = 0.040) were observed. The maximum lapse deviation did not differ between hangover and control sessions (p = 0.130). Δlapses was significantly correlated to difference scores on subjective driving quality (p = 0.025) and mental effort to perform the test (p = 0.042). Δlapses was not significantly related to subjective assessments of driving style, sleep quality, or sleepiness scores obtained before or after driving. Driving impairment was significantly related to hangover severity scores. A significant positive relationship was found between difference scores on hangover severity and number of lapses (r = 0.373, p = 0.015) and total lapse time (r = 0.380, p = 0.013). There was no relationship with the number of consumed alcoholic drinks the night before. Conclusions. Driving is significantly impaired during alcohol hangover. Funding: This study was funded by Utrecht University. # S14.4 BIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND BEHAVIORAL CORRELATES OF THE ALCOHOL HANGOVER {#article-title-5} Background. Alcohol intake is a necessary precondition for a hangover. However the amount of alcohol consumed is not proportionally related to the presence and/or severity of the hangover symptoms. Although increased research attention has provided some knowledge regarding its contributory factors, the etiology of the hangover remains merely unknown. Methods. A naturalistic study consisting of an alcohol and a control (alcohol-free) condition was set up, in order to investigate several biological, psychological and behavioral correlates of alcohol hangovers in social drinkers. The day following an evening of alcohol consumption, participants completed a survey and saliva samples were collected. The same procedure was followed after an evening on which no alcohol was consumed. Results. Psychological complaints, smoking, sleeping time, age and sex do not seem to play a decisive role in hangover etiology. Hangover severity and binge drinking were accompanied by a significantly suppressed immune effect compared to the control condition. Hangover severity could be predicted for 36% by blood alcohol concentration estimates, dancing activity, hangover frequency and changes in IFN-γ and TNF-α levels. Conclusions. The day after an evening of alcohol consumption, a suppression of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines was observed. More research is needed to investigate how and to what extent changes of cytokine concentrations, psychological and personality characteristics, and other biomarkers are related to the presence and severity of alcohol hangover. Funding: This study was funded by Utrecht University.

S14THE HEALTH AND BEHAVIOURAL CONSEQUENCES OF ALCOHOL HANGOVER

# S14.1 BEHAVIOURAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALCOHOL HANGOVER - PRELIMINARY FINDINGS {#article-title-2} Attention and memory appear broadly to be affected by alcohol hangover, but research examining these effects in greater detail, together with executive functioning, is required (Ling et al, 2010). We have recently secured an EU Marie Curie Research Fellowship to allow Dr Lauren to conduct research assessing the cognitive consequences of the alcohol hangover. In this on-going randomised, repeated measures, crossover trial, participants are being recruited from Keele University to take part in a study assessing neurocognitive effects of alcohol hangover in a sample of 200 adults. In order to comprehensively assess the cognitive domains most susceptible to the effects of alcohol hangover a battery of Computerised Mental Performance Assessment (COMPASS) tasks are being used. Cognitive domains assessed include; immediate and delayed declarative memory, working memory, attention and executive function and mood. Participants are tested on 2 occasions following both an evening alcohol consumption and abstention. The Bond Lader Visual Analogue scale revealed significantly reduced feelings of alertness, contentment and a trend for reduced feelings of calmness, following a hangover. Alcohol hangover also resulted in impaired performance on the spatial working memory, and numeric working memory as well as significantly slower reaction times on the attention and response inhibition task. Alcohol hangover also leads to greater number of errors during Rapid Visual Information Processing. The present results suggest that tasks, which rely heavily on medial temporal and frontal processing, appear to be most greatly affected. Furthermore overall speed of information processing appears to be impeded. # S14.2 PROSPECTIVE MEMORY DEFICITS ASSOCIATED WITH A STATE OF ALCOHOL HANGOVER {#article-title-3} Background. Alcohol hangover leads to deficits on a range higher order cognitive processes, including executive functions. The current study attempts to extend this focus to observe whether alcohol hangover impedes everyday prospective memory (PM: memory for future events). Methods. An existing groups design was used to compare a group of students who were recovering from alcohol hangover the day after a heavy drinking session, with a group who were hangover-free. A hangover rating scale was used to measure hangover effects; a drug-use questionnaire measured alcohol and other drug use; the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale measured mood and the Prospective Remembering Video Procedure (PRVP) measured objective PM. Anyone who reported using an illegal substance or suffering from a psychiatric illness (such as depression) were excluded from the study. Results. After observing no significant between-group differences on age, weekly alcohol use, weekly cigarette use, anxiety or depression scores, the alcohol hangover group recalled significantly fewer items on the PRVP than the hangover-free control group. Conclusion. Impaired Everyday PM should be added to the list of cognitive deficits associated with a state of alcohol hangover. # S14.3 LAPSES OF ATTENTION DURING DRIVING IN THE ALCOHOL HANGOVER STATE {#article-title-4} Background. The morning after a drinking session, i.e. during the alcohol hangover state, people commonly report reduced alertness and ability to concentrate. Thus, it is likely that lapses of attention may occur. These lapses may compromise safety in potentially dangerous activities such as driving a car. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of lapses of attention during driving in the hangover state. Methods. In N = 47 healthy volunteers, driving performance was tested the morning following an evening of consuming on average 10.2 (4.2) alcoholic drinks (alcohol hangover) and on a control day (no alcohol consumed). Subjects performed a standardized 100-km highway driving test in the STISIM driving simulator when BAC was zero. Lapses of attention were examined, defined as a continuous change of lateral position >100 cm for at least 8 seconds. The number of lapses, maximum lateral deviation, and total time of lapses were computed. Results were compared with subjective assessments of driving quality and driving style. Hangover severity was scored with a visual analog scale ranging from 0 (absent) to 10 (extreme). Δlapses (hangover – control) was related to subjective outcome measures. Results. Data from 4 subjects were excluded as they reported that they had no hangover. Another subject was excluded because he scored positively (6out of 10) on the hangover scale on the control day. Data from N = 42 subjects are presented. During hangover, a significantly increased number of lapses relative to the control day (7.7 versus 5.3 lapses, p = 0.019), and an increased total lapse time (182.7 versus 127.3 seconds, p = 0.040) were observed. The maximum lapse deviation did not differ between hangover and control sessions (p = 0.130). Δlapses was significantly correlated to difference scores on subjective driving quality (p = 0.025) and mental effort to perform the test (p = 0.042). Δlapses was not significantly related to subjective assessments of driving style, sleep quality, or sleepiness scores obtained before or after driving. Driving impairment was significantly related to hangover severity scores. A significant positive relationship was found between difference scores on hangover severity and number of lapses (r = 0.373, p = 0.015) and total lapse time (r = 0.380, p = 0.013). There was no relationship with the number of consumed alcoholic drinks the night before. Conclusions. Driving is significantly impaired during alcohol hangover. Funding: This study was funded by Utrecht University. # S14.4 BIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND BEHAVIORAL CORRELATES OF THE ALCOHOL HANGOVER {#article-title-5} Background. Alcohol intake is a necessary precondition for a hangover. However the amount of alcohol consumed is not proportionally related to the presence and/or severity of the hangover symptoms. Although increased research attention has provided some knowledge regarding its contributory factors, the etiology of the hangover remains merely unknown. Methods. A naturalistic study consisting of an alcohol and a control (alcohol-free) condition was set up, in order to investigate several biological, psychological and behavioral correlates of alcohol hangovers in social drinkers. The day following an evening of alcohol consumption, participants completed a survey and saliva samples were collected. The same procedure was followed after an evening on which no alcohol was consumed. Results. Psychological complaints, smoking, sleeping time, age and sex do not seem to play a decisive role in hangover etiology. Hangover severity and binge drinking were accompanied by a significantly suppressed immune effect compared to the control condition. Hangover severity could be predicted for 36% by blood alcohol concentration estimates, dancing activity, hangover frequency and changes in IFN-γ and TNF-α levels. Conclusions. The day after an evening of alcohol consumption, a suppression of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines was observed. More research is needed to investigate how and to what extent changes of cytokine concentrations, psychological and personality characteristics, and other biomarkers are related to the presence and severity of alcohol hangover. Funding: This study was funded by Utrecht University.

S14THE HEALTH AND BEHAVIOURAL CONSEQUENCES OF ALCOHOL HANGOVERS14.1BEHAVIOURAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALCOHOL HANGOVER - PRELIMINARY FINDINGSS14.2PROSPECTIVE MEMORY DEFICITS ASSOCIATED WITH A STATE OF ALCOHOL HANGOVERS14.3LAPSES OF ATTENTION DURING DRIVING IN THE ALCOHOL HANGOVER STATES14.4BIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND BEHAVIORAL CORRELATES OF THE ALCOHOL HANGOVER

# S14.1 BEHAVIOURAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALCOHOL HANGOVER - PRELIMINARY FINDINGS {#article-title-2} Attention and memory appear broadly to be affected by alcohol hangover, but research examining these effects in greater detail, together with executive functioning, is required (Ling et al, 2010). We have recently secured an EU Marie Curie Research Fellowship to allow Dr Lauren to conduct research assessing the cognitive consequences of the alcohol hangover. In this on-going randomised, repeated measures, crossover trial, participants are being recruited from Keele University to take part in a study assessing neurocognitive effects of alcohol hangover in a sample of 200 adults. In order to comprehensively assess the cognitive domains most susceptible to the effects of alcohol hangover a battery of Computerised Mental Performance Assessment (COMPASS) tasks are being used. Cognitive domains assessed include; immediate and delayed declarative memory, working memory, attention and executive function and mood. Participants are tested on 2 occasions following both an evening alcohol consumption and abstention. The Bond Lader Visual Analogue scale revealed significantly reduced feelings of alertness, contentment and a trend for reduced feelings of calmness, following a hangover. Alcohol hangover also resulted in impaired performance on the spatial working memory, and numeric working memory as well as significantly slower reaction times on the attention and response inhibition task. Alcohol hangover also leads to greater number of errors during Rapid Visual Information Processing. The present results suggest that tasks, which rely heavily on medial temporal and frontal processing, appear to be most greatly affected. Furthermore overall speed of information processing appears to be impeded. # S14.2 PROSPECTIVE MEMORY DEFICITS ASSOCIATED WITH A STATE OF ALCOHOL HANGOVER {#article-title-3} Background. Alcohol hangover leads to deficits on a range higher order cognitive processes, including executive functions. The current study attempts to extend this focus to observe whether alcohol hangover impedes everyday prospective memory (PM: memory for future events). Methods. An existing groups design was used to compare a group of students who were recovering from alcohol hangover the day after a heavy drinking session, with a group who were hangover-free. A hangover rating scale was used to measure hangover effects; a drug-use questionnaire measured alcohol and other drug use; the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale measured mood and the Prospective Remembering Video Procedure (PRVP) measured objective PM. Anyone who reported using an illegal substance or suffering from a psychiatric illness (such as depression) were excluded from the study. Results. After observing no significant between-group differences on age, weekly alcohol use, weekly cigarette use, anxiety or depression scores, the alcohol hangover group recalled significantly fewer items on the PRVP than the hangover-free control group. Conclusion. Impaired Everyday PM should be added to the list of cognitive deficits associated with a state of alcohol hangover. # S14.3 LAPSES OF ATTENTION DURING DRIVING IN THE ALCOHOL HANGOVER STATE {#article-title-4} Background. The morning after a drinking session, i.e. during the alcohol hangover state, people commonly report reduced alertness and ability to concentrate. Thus, it is likely that lapses of attention may occur. These lapses may compromise safety in potentially dangerous activities such as driving a car. The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of lapses of attention during driving in the hangover state. Methods. In N = 47 healthy volunteers, driving performance was tested the morning following an evening of consuming on average 10.2 (4.2) alcoholic drinks (alcohol hangover) and on a control day (no alcohol consumed). Subjects performed a standardized 100-km highway driving test in the STISIM driving simulator when BAC was zero. Lapses of attention were examined, defined as a continuous change of lateral position >100 cm for at least 8 seconds. The number of lapses, maximum lateral deviation, and total time of lapses were computed. Results were compared with subjective assessments of driving quality and driving style. Hangover severity was scored with a visual analog scale ranging from 0 (absent) to 10 (extreme). Δlapses (hangover – control) was related to subjective outcome measures. Results. Data from 4 subjects were excluded as they reported that they had no hangover. Another subject was excluded because he scored positively (6out of 10) on the hangover scale on the control day. Data from N = 42 subjects are presented. During hangover, a significantly increased number of lapses relative to the control day (7.7 versus 5.3 lapses, p = 0.019), and an increased total lapse time (182.7 versus 127.3 seconds, p = 0.040) were observed. The maximum lapse deviation did not differ between hangover and control sessions (p = 0.130). Δlapses was significantly correlated to difference scores on subjective driving quality (p = 0.025) and mental effort to perform the test (p = 0.042). Δlapses was not significantly related to subjective assessments of driving style, sleep quality, or sleepiness scores obtained before or after driving. Driving impairment was significantly related to hangover severity scores. A significant positive relationship was found between difference scores on hangover severity and number of lapses (r = 0.373, p = 0.015) and total lapse time (r = 0.380, p = 0.013). There was no relationship with the number of consumed alcoholic drinks the night before. Conclusions. Driving is significantly impaired during alcohol hangover. Funding: This study was funded by Utrecht University. # S14.4 BIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND BEHAVIORAL CORRELATES OF THE ALCOHOL HANGOVER {#article-title-5} Background. Alcohol intake is a necessary precondition for a hangover. However the amount of alcohol consumed is not proportionally related to the presence and/or severity of the hangover symptoms. Although increased research attention has provided some knowledge regarding its contributory factors, the etiology of the hangover remains merely unknown. Methods. A naturalistic study consisting of an alcohol and a control (alcohol-free) condition was set up, in order to investigate several biological, psychological and behavioral correlates of alcohol hangovers in social drinkers. The day following an evening of alcohol consumption, participants completed a survey and saliva samples were collected. The same procedure was followed after an evening on which no alcohol was consumed. Results. Psychological complaints, smoking, sleeping time, age and sex do not seem to play a decisive role in hangover etiology. Hangover severity and binge drinking were accompanied by a significantly suppressed immune effect compared to the control condition. Hangover severity could be predicted for 36% by blood alcohol concentration estimates, dancing activity, hangover frequency and changes in IFN-γ and TNF-α levels. Conclusions. The day after an evening of alcohol consumption, a suppression of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines was observed. More research is needed to investigate how and to what extent changes of cytokine concentrations, psychological and personality characteristics, and other biomarkers are related to the presence and severity of alcohol hangover. Funding: This study was funded by Utrecht University.