Clinical features of individuals with laboratory values suggestive of advanced liver fibrosis when first treated for alcohol use disorder.

Background: Effective screening for alcohol-associated liver disease is relevant in the context of chronic, excessive alcohol consumption. Patients with alcohol-associated liver disease are often not diagnosed until their liver disease is decompensated. We analyzed the prevalence and associations of Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) values suggestive of advanced liver fibrosis in patients referred for their first treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated with Advanced Liver Fibrosis and Impaired Fasting Glucose in Alcohol Use Disorder.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for liver disease, insulin resistance, and beta cell dysfunction. Individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) have many comorbidities, with a heavy burden of liver disease and metabolic complications, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Objective: We aimed to analyze the prevalence and associations of vitamin D deficiency in patients admitted for in-hospital treatment of AUD.

Treatment of alcohol use disorder in patients with alcohol-associated liver disease: Innovative approaches and a call to action.

Alcohol-associated liver disease is currently the leading cause of liver transplantation and liver deaths both in Europe and the United States. Efficacious treatments exist for alcohol use disorder, but they are seldomly prescribed for patients who need them. Besides, the presence of liver cirrhosis can complicate pharmacological treatment choices.

Substance use disorder: Epidemiology, medical consequences and treatment.

Substance use is a common health problem, and substance use disorder, which is its most severe presentation, is associated with multiple medical consequences and a negative impact on individual and on population health. Substance use disorder needs to be addressed as any chronic medical condition; therefore, it has to be detected at the early stages and has to be properly treated to prevent drug-related harm. Internists should be able to recognize and treat intoxication and abstinence.

Incidence and Determinants of COVID-19 in Patients Seeking Treatment for Substance Use Disorder: A Patient-Based Linkage Study.

Introduction: People with substance use disorder (SUD) may be at increased risk of COVID-19 infection. However, there is little evidence regarding the incidence of and determinants associated with infection in this group. The aims of the study were to determine the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 among people who sought treatment for heroin, cocaine, cannabis, and alcohol use disorder in Catalonia; to identify sociodemographic, substance, and clinical determinants associated with COVID-19 infection among SUD patients; and to compare the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 infection in the population with SUD with that of the general population.

Fungal plasma biomarkers in patients admitted for inpatient treatment of alcohol use disorder.

Background: Fungal plasma biomarkers have not been studied in patients with unhealthy alcohol use and no apparent end-stage liver disease.

Methods: We examined the prevalence of fungal plasma biomarkers, assessed by the presence of anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA; IgA and IgM), and its disease correlates in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). We performed logistic regression analyses to detect the association between clinical and laboratory characteristics and the presence of fungal plasma biomarkers.

Associations of hypomagnesemia in patients seeking a first treatment of alcohol use disorder.

Introduction: Hypomagnesemia (hypoMg) has not yet been extensively studied in alcohol use disorder (AUD) . We hypothesize that chronic, excessive alcohol consumption favors oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory alterations that may be exacerbated by hypoMg. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence and associations of hypoMg in AUD.

New Psychoactive Substances Consumption in Opioid-Use Disorder Patients.

(1) Background: Since the beginning of the 21st century, the large number and wide chemical variety of new psychoactive substances (NPS) that enter the market every year has become a public health problem. Given the rapidity with which the drug market is changing, many NPS are not clinically investigated and their effects and health risks are unknown. Drug testing is a very useful tool for this purpose, but, unfortunately, it is not very widespread in individuals with opioid-use disorder under detoxification treatment.

Abuse Potential of Cathinones in Humans: A Systematic Review.

: Assessing the abuse potential of new substances with central nervous system activity is essential for preventing possible risks of misuse and addiction. The same methodology is recommended for the evaluation of the abuse potential of recreational drugs. This systematic review aims to assess the pharmacological effects related to the abuse potential and pharmacokinetics of cathinones, which are evaluated in both experimental and prospective observational studies in humans.

Markers of Monocyte Activation, Inflammation, and Microbial Translocation Are Associated with Liver Fibrosis in Alcohol Use Disorder.

Background: The association between markers of inflammation (interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10), monocyte activation (sCD163 and sCD14), and microbial translocation (lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS binding protein) and liver fibrosis in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and no overt liver disease is not well established.

Methods: We studied patients admitted for treatment of AUD at two hospitals in Barcelona. Advanced liver fibrosis (ALF) was defined as FIB-4 > 3.

Assessment of liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C and unhealthy alcohol use.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and unhealthy alcohol use are major drivers of the burden of liver disease worldwide and commonly co-occur. Assessment of underlying liver damage is a cornerstone of the clinical care of patients with chronic HCV infection and/or unhealthy alcohol use because many of them are diagnosed at advanced stages of disease. Early diagnosis of liver disease before decompensated liver cirrhosis becomes established is essential for treatment with direct acting antivirals and/or abstinence from alcohol consumption, which are the main therapeutic approaches for clinical management.

Long-Term Outcomes of Patients With Cocaine Use Disorder: A 18-years Addiction Cohort Study.

Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD) has been associated with multiple complications and premature death. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the relationship between baseline medical comorbidity and long-term medical outcomes (i.e.

Monitoring hepatitis C virus treatment rates in an Opioid Treatment Program: A longitudinal study.

Background: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are recommended for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients treated with methadone or buprenorphine.

Aim: To assess HCV treatment rates in an Opioid Treatment Program (OTP).

Methods: This longitudinal study included 501 patients (81.

Cannabis use is associated with monocyte activation (sCD163) in patients admitted for alcohol use disorder treatment.

Background: The effect of concomitant cocaine and cannabis use on monocyte activation and inflammation in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) is unknown.

Methods: To analyze the impact of cocaine and cannabis use on levels of markers of monocyte activation (sCD163 and sCD14) and systemic inflammation (interleukin-6 [IL-6]) in AUD patients admitted for hospital treatment between 2013 and 2018. Clinical and laboratory parameters were obtained upon admission.

Significance of Markers of Monocyte Activation (CD163 and sCD14) and Inflammation (IL-6) in Patients Admitted for Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment.

Background: Monocyte activation and inflammation are prominent features of alcohol-related liver disease; however, they have not been thoroughly assessed in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) without overt liver disease. This study aimed to analyze associations among clinical and laboratory variables and markers of monocyte activation (CD163 and sCD14), and inflammation (interleukin [IL]-6) among AUD patients.

Methods: We analyzed the aforementioned associations in the highest quartile in 289 patients (77.

Five-Year Incidence of Hospital-Based Emergencies Related to Acute Recreational Intoxication in Minors.

Background: Alcohol or other drug (AOD) intoxication in minors is a public health challenge. We characterized underage patients admitted to an emergency department (ED) with acute, recreational AOD intoxication.

Methods: We conducted a 5-year (2012 to 2016) analysis of minors admitted to the only hospital-based pediatric ED in an urban area.

Cannabinoids: from pot to lab.

Cannabis is becoming increasingly present in our society. In recent years, the line between the natural (cannabis) and the synthetic (synthetic cannabinoids), the recreational (cannabis) and the medical (pharmaceutical cannabinoids and medical cannabis) has been crossed. In this paper we review some of the novel aspects of cannabis and cannabinoids in relation to their legal situation, changes in their composition and forms of cannabis use, the concept of medical cannabis, and synthetic cannabinoids as new psychoactive substances (NPS).

Ultrasound findings of liver damage in a series of patients consecutively admitted for treatment of alcohol use disorder.

Background: To analyze ultrasound findings of liver damage in alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of detoxification patients. Clinical and laboratory parameters were obtained at admission.

Cardiovascular disease burden among human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection affects 36.7 million people worldwide, it accounted for 1.1 million deaths in 2015.

Folate deficiency in patients seeking treatment of alcohol use disorder.

Introduction: Nutritional deficiency is frequent in patients with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). We aimed to analyze serum and erythrocyte folate deficiency in a case series of patients that initiated treatment of AUD.

Patients And Methods: A cross-sectional study in patients admitted for detoxification between 2007 and 2015 was performed.

Over-expression of CD8 T-cell activation is associated with decreased CD4 cells in patients seeking treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder.

Introduction: Harmful alcohol consumption may have an impact on the adaptive immune system through an imbalance in T cell subpopulations and changes in cell activation. We aimed to analyze profiles of CD4 and CD8T cell activation in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Methods: We used a cross-sectional study with patients seeking treatment of the disorder.

Clinical Pharmacology of the Synthetic Cathinone Mephedrone.

4-Methyl-N-methylcathinone (mephedrone) is a popular new psychoactive substance (NPS) that is structurally related to the parent compound cathinone, the β-keto analogue of amphetamine. Mephedrone appeared on the street drug market as a substitute for 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) and was subsequently banned due to the potential health risks associated with its use. Nevertheless, mephedrone continues to be widely consumed among specific populations, with unique patterns of misuse.