Flush response

Higuchi S, Parrish KM, Dufour MC, Towle LH, Harford TC. The relationship between three subtypes of the flushing response and DSM-III alcohol abuse in Japanese. J Stud Alcohol 1992 53 553-560. 

Another reason the Japanese did not develop an epidemic of alcohol problems may be biological. The phenomenon of importance here is the Asian flushing response." It is a physical reaction that occurs with drinking alcohol it consists of cutaneous flushing and sometimes other symptoms, including palpitations, tachycardia, perspiration, and headache. As the name implies, the reaction occurs in Asians but not in people of other races. 

It appears to be due to a deficiency in aldehyde isozyme, which leads to a buildup of acetaldehyde when drinking, as alcohol metabolism is disrupted. The acetaldehyde causes the flushing response. The important point is that this response is assumed to be unpleasant to most people and thus may set a biological limit on the amount of alcohol that is drunk on an occasion (Kitano, 1989). 

Not all Asians show the flushing response, and those who do, show it to different degrees (Higuchi, Parrish, Dufour, Towle, Harford, 1992). However, this biological reaction, coupled with cultural customs for alcohol use in the Japanese, provides an excellent example of how different types of factors work together to influence adcohol use. 

A recent study showed abnormal niacin sensitivity in schizophrenia patients as evidenced by attenuation of the flush response to niacin in schizophrenia. However, there is still an ongoing debate whether this response is due to altered pharmacological sensitivity to niacin or an inadequate cutaneous vasodilatory response to the stimulus (Messamore et al. 2003). Early studies even attempted to use niacin as an augmenting agent for the treatment of schizophrenia with mixed results (Ananth et al. 1973 Petrie et al. 1981). In a placebo-controlled comparative study by Ramsay et al. (1970), it was found that, while no significant differences were seen in total Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) scores prior to commencement of the clinical trial, statistically significant... 

Brooks PJ, Enoch MA, Goldman D, Li TK, Yokoyama A. The alcohol flushing response an imrecognized risk factor for esophageal cancer from alcohol consumption. PLoS Med. 2009 6(3) e50. 

Combined Hj /H2 receptor stimulation by histamine is responsible for vasodilation-related symptoms, such as hypotension, flushing, and headache, as well as for tachycardia stimulated indirecdy through vasodilation and catecholamine secretion. 

Health Hazards Information - Recommended Personal Protective Equipment Chemical goggles face shield oil-resistant gloves Symptoms Following Exposure Contact with eyes causes mild inflammation. Contact with skin may produce allergic response General Treatment for Exposure EYES or SKIN remove excess oil with cloth or absorbent paper then wash with soapy water and flush with clear water consult a physician Toxicity by Inhalation (Threshold Limit Value) Data not available Short-Term Inhalation Limits Data not available Toxicity by Ingestion Grade 0 LDjj > 15 g/kg Late Toxicity Data not available Vapor (Gas) Irritant Characteristics Data not available Liquid or Solid Irritant Characteristics Data not available Odor Threshold Data not available. 

It is essential to ensure that the following criteria are met otherwise errors will result. First, the mouth of the hole inside the duct must be smooth and flush with the duct inner surface. No burrs or other irregularities must be on the surface in the vicinity of the hole. Second, the hole must be perpendicular to the tube axis. The size of the hole has an effect on the measured pressure as well. A general rule is, the smaller the hole the better. Very small holes do, however, slow down the response of the instrument. Usually the hole diameter is a few millimeters. Note also that the smaller the hole, the greater the risk of blockage. Further information on the effect of the hole size can be found, e.g., in Ower and Pankhurst. 

Assessing the patient s general condition and including observations such as skin color (pale, cyanotic, flushed), orientation, level of consciousness, and the patient s general status (such as appears acutely ill or appears somewhat ill). All observations must be recorded to provide a means of evaluating the response to drag therapy. 

Stewart RD, Hake CL, Peterson JE. 1974c. "Degreasers flush" Dermal response to trichloroethylene and ethanol. Arch Environ Health 29 1-5. 

When the jewel light was illuminated, each response on the Lindsley lever produced a brief feedback tone. Upon completion of the FR requirement, the jewel light was extinguished and the 5 mL drug injeetion was begun, followed by a 5 mL flush injection. Following the completion of the injections, the 5x5 cm translucent panel was illuminated for a 1-hour period, and the 3-hour timeout period was begun. There was no time limit for the completion of the response requirement. 

The modem HPLC system is a very powerful analytical tool that can provide very accurate and precise analytical results. The sample injection volume tends to be a minor source of variation, although fixed-loop detectors must be flushed with many times their volume in sample to attain high precision. Assuming adequate peak resolution, fluorimetric, electrochemical, and UV detectors make it possible to detect impurities to parts per billion and to quantitate impurities to parts per thousand or, in favorable cases, to parts per million. The major sources of error in quantitation are sample collection and preparation. Detector response and details of the choice of chromatographic method may also be sources of error. 

In addition to stability effects, pH adjustment can influence comfort, safety, and activity of the product. Comfort can be described as the subjective response of the patient after instillation of the product in the cul-de-sac (i.e., whether it may cause a pain response such as stinging or burning). Eye irritation is normally accompanied by an increase in tear fluid secretion (a defense mechanism) to aid in the restoration of normal physiological conditions. Accordingly in addition to the discomfort encountered, products that produce irritation will tend to be flushed from the eye, and hence a more rapid loss of medication may occur with a probable reduction in the therapeutic response [15]. 

Responsible disposal of chemicals, samples and consumables is likewise an important aspect of good operating procedures in the laboratory. Regulations are fairly strict in terms of what may be disposed of into the drainage system. It may be permissible to dispose of some chemicals directly down the drain, flushed down with copious volumes of water. For other chemicals, specific disposal instructions, where available, must be followed. These will include collection of specific types of chemical waste in containers for disposal by incineration, landfill, etc. 

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