Treatment variability and its relationships to outcomes among patients with Wernicke's encephalopathy: A multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Despite guidelines and recommendations, Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) treatment lacks evidence, leading to clinical practice variability.

Aims: Given the overall lack of information on thiamine use for WE treatment, we analyzed data from a large, well-characterized multicenter sample of patients with WE, examining thiamine dosages; factors associated with the use of different doses, frequencies, and routes; and the influence of differences in thiamine treatment on the outcome.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted with data from 443 patients from 21 centers obtained from a nationwide registry of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (from 2000 to 2012).

Alcoholic Liver Disease Among Patients with Wernicke Encephalopathy: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Background: data regarding the association between Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) and alcoholic liver disease (ALD) are scarce in spite of alcohol consumption being the main risk factor for WE.

Aims: to describe the frequency of ALD in a cohort of patients diagnosed with WE and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and to compare the characteristics of WE patients with and without ALD.

Methods: we conducted an observational study in 21 centers through a nationwide registry of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine.

Role of microRNAs in alcohol-induced liver disorders and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate multiple physiological and pathological functions through the modulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Accumulating evidence has established a role for miRNAs in the development and pathogenesis of liver disease. Specifically, a large number of studies have assessed the role of miRNAs in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), two diseases that share common underlying mechanisms and pathological characteristics.

False-Positive Results of Serological Tests for Allergy in Alcoholic Patients.

Background And Objective: Alcohol consumption is associated with enhanced TH2 immune responses. Objective: To investigate the frequency of false-positive results in serological tests for allergy in alcoholic patients.

Methods: A total of 138 alcoholic patients consecutively admitted to hospital underwent a panel of allergy tests that included serum total IgE, a multiallergen IgE test (UniCAP Phadiatop), and skin prick tests to relevant aeroallergens in the area, which were considered the standard reference for atopy.

Compliance with current VTE prophylaxis guidelines and risk factors linked to complications of VTE prophylaxis in medical inpatients: a prospective cohort study in a Spanish internal medicine department.

Objectives: To evaluate the degree of compliance with the current guidelines regarding venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in medical patients during admission and to identify risk factors linked to complications of VTE prophylaxis.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: The Internal Medicine Department of the University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (tertiary referral hospital).