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J Neurol 2018 Nov 22. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Academic Department of Neurosciences, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Sheffield, UK.

The primary aim of this systematic review was to establish the prevalence, character, and risk factors of peripheral neuropathy amongst chronic alcohol abusers and to identify the most appropriate management strategies. In this review, possible pathogenetic mechanisms are also discussed. A systematic, computer-based search was conducted using the PubMed database. Read More

Clin Liver Dis 2019 Feb;23(1):141-155

Department of Neurology, Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Baylor College of Medicine, 7200 Cambridge Street, 9th Floor, MS:BCM609, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address:

Chronic alcohol use induces silent changes in the structure and function of the central and peripheral nervous systems that eventually result in irreversible, debilitating repercussions. Once identified, nutritional supplementation and cessation measures are critical in preventing further neurologic damage. The proposed mechanisms of neuronal injury in chronic alcohol abuse include direct toxic effects of alcohol and indirect effects, including those resulting from hepatic dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, and neuroinflammation. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2018 Oct 26;19:1272-1278. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Department of Internal Medicine, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.

BACKGROUND Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome characterized by muscle necrosis and secretion of intracellular muscle components into the blood circulation. Acute compartment syndrome is a potential complication of severe rhabdomyolysis. CASE REPORT We report 3 cases of compartment syndrome-related peripheral neuropathy in alcoholic individuals with rhabdomyolysis. Read More

Acta Histochem 2018 Nov 14;120(8):789-796. Epub 2018 Sep 14.

Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Electronic address:

The chronic use of ethanol causes neuropathy and atrophy of type II fibers and promotes vitamin D decrease. This study evaluated cholecalciferol effects on the deep fibular nerve and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle using an UChB ethanol-preferring rats model. Blood analyses were carried out to measure levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D), calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Read More

Phytomedicine 2018 Sep 17;48:129-140. Epub 2018 Apr 17.

Cancer Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical college, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. Electronic address:

Background: Pathological pain conditions can be triggered after peripheral nerve injury and/or inflammation. It is a major clinical problem that is poorly treated with available therapeutics. Curcumin is a phenolic compound derived from Curcuma longa, being widely used for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Read More

J Diabetes Complications 2018 Mar 29;32(3):321-324. Epub 2017 Dec 29.

Dept of Endocrinology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Road, Camperdown, New South Wales 2050, Australia; Greg Brown Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Laboratory, Charles Perkins Centre and Bosch Institute, Building D17, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. Electronic address:

Aims: The impact of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) presence and severity on the diabetes phenotype remains unclear. Our study aimed to explore and contrast the phenotypes associated with higher ALT and high-risk NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) in type 2 diabetes.

Methods: 324 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were seen at a diabetes centre for a complications assessment with data for NFS were available for study. Read More

J Neuroophthalmol 2018 Jun;38(2):167-171

Department of Ophthalmology (FP, MSS, MBK), Eye Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Tehran, Iran; Department of Ophthalmology (FP), Eye Research Center, Farabi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Eye Research Center (AN, NP), Farabi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences; and Department of Internal Medicine (AH), Rassoul Akram Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Methanol poisoning can cause an optic neuropathy that is usually severe and irreversible and often occurs after ingestion of illicit or homemade alcoholic beverages. In this study, we evaluated the potential neuroprotective effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on visual acuity (VA) in patients with methanol optic neuropathy.

Methods: In a prospective, noncomparative interventional case series, consecutive patients with methanol optic neuropathy after alcoholic beverage ingestion were included. Read More

Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2018 01 8;164:1-4. Epub 2017 Nov 8.

Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences (BioNeC), University of Palermo, Italy. Electronic address:

Thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency is a common condition in alcohol abusers, which can lead to damage of both the peripheral and the central nervous systems. Here we describe the case of an alcoholic patient who presented with acute onset of ataxia, severe weakness of the four limbs, and hypoesthesia and dysesthesia of the distal portion of the upper and lower extremities. The clinical picture also included mental confusion and amnesia. Read More

Clin Mol Hepatol 2018 Dec 25;24(4):417-423. Epub 2017 Oct 25.

Department of Neurology, Stroke Unit, University Hospital of Nancy, France.

Anemia appears frequently in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) but has never been linked to bilateral nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). A 65-year-old woman with a medical history of alcoholic cirrhosis was admitted for bilateral NAION. On admission, she was found to have a low arterial pressure and severe normocytic anemia (48 g/L). Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2017 Sep 26;2017. Epub 2017 Sep 26.

Department of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Suwa Central Hospital, Chino, Nagano, Japan.

Copper deficiency is a disease that causes cytopaenia and neuropathy and can be treated by copper supplementation. Long-term tube feeding, long-term total parenteral nutrition, intestinal resection and ingestion of zinc are known copper deficiency risk factors; however, alcohol abuse is not. In this case, a 71-year-old man had difficulty waking. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2017 Sep 23;9(10). Epub 2017 Sep 23.

In Vitro Drug Safety and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L5, Canada.

Previously called Crow-Fukase syndrome, POEMS syndrome is characterized by poly-neuropathy, osteo-sclerotic myeloma, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal plasma cell disorder, and skin changes. Extremely elevated levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are characteristic of the syndrome. Chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infections can also be present in POEMS. Read More

Metab Brain Dis 2017 10 28;32(5):1649-1657. Epub 2017 Jun 28.

Section of Neuromuscular Disorders, Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou Medical Center and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 5 Fuhsing Street, Kueishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

In this study, we present the clinical manifestations, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and concurrent polyneuropathies in two patients with non-alcoholic Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) after gastrojejunostomy (Billroth II) anastomosis procedures. These patients developed sub-acute onset of disorientation and disturbance of consciousness following several weeks of poor intake. Peripheral neuropathy of varying severity was noted before and after the onset of WE. Read More

Muscle Nerve 2018 Jan 19;57(1):33-39. Epub 2017 Jun 19.

University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.

Introduction: This study describes clinical, laboratory, and electrodiagnostic features of a severe acute axonal polyneuropathy common to patients with acute nutritional deficiency in the setting of alcoholism, bariatric surgery (BS), or anorexia.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical, electrodiagnostic, and laboratory data of patients with acute axonal neuropathy.

Results: Thirteen patients were identified with a severe, painful, sensory or sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy that developed over 2-12 weeks with sensory ataxia, areflexia, variable muscle weakness, poor nutritional status, and weight loss, often with prolonged vomiting and normal cerebrospinal fluid protein. Read More

J Fr Ophtalmol 2017 Jun 13;40(6):e235-e239. Epub 2017 May 13.

CHU Brugmann, 4, place Arthur-Van-Gehuchten, 1020 Bruxelles, Belgique.

Indian J Dermatol 2017 Mar-Apr;62(2):184-190

Department of Dermatology, Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India.

Background: Chronic alcohol intake impacts skin directly, through organ dysfunction or by modifying preexisting dermatoses. However, dermatoses afflicting chronic alcoholics figure in a few studies only.

Aim: This study aims to correlate the spectrum of dermatoses in chronic alcoholics with the quantum/duration of alcohol intake and raised liver transaminases. Read More

J Diabetes Complications 2017 Jun 12;31(6):1021-1026. Epub 2017 Feb 12.

Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.

Aims: Presently, data on the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and distal symmetric polyneuropathy in people with diabetes are scarce and conflicting. The aim of this retrospective, cross-sectional study was to examine whether NAFLD was associated with an increased prevalence of distal symmetric polyneuropathy in type 1 diabetic adults.

Methods: We studied all white type 1 diabetic outpatients (n = 286, 42. Read More

J Pain Res 2017 20;10:219-228. Epub 2017 Jan 20.

Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.

Neuropathic pain (NeuP) is a syndrome that results from damaged nerves and/or aberrant regeneration. Common etiologies of neuropathy include chronic illnesses and medication use. Chronic disorders, such as diabetes and alcoholism, can cause neuronal injury and consequently NeuP. Read More

Presse Med 2017 Mar 3;46(2 Pt 1):165-171. Epub 2016 Nov 3.

Centre hospitalier Sainte-Anne, université Paris 5, Descartes, service d'addictologie, 1, rue Cabanis, 75014 Paris, France.

Thiamine deficiency (vitamin B1) is common in patients with alcohol dependence. Cognitive impairments may be an early consequence of thiamine deficiency. Wernicke's encephalopathy is underdiagnosed and undertreated. Read More

J Diabetes Investig 2016 Nov 20;7(6):889-894. Epub 2016 Apr 20.

Key Laboratory of Hormones and Development (Ministry of Health), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Metabolic Diseases, Tianjin Metabolic Diseases Hospital & Tianjin Institute of Endocrinology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.

Aims/introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic disorder of the liver. The relationship between NAFLD and type 2 diabetes remains largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of complications arising from the interaction between NAFLD and type 2 diabetes. Read More

J Leukoc Biol 2016 11 26;100(5):951-959. Epub 2016 Jul 26.

Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), which results from ethanol exposure during pregnancy, and alcohol use disorder (AUD), which includes both binge and chronic alcohol abuse, are strikingly common and costly at personal and societal levels. These disorders are associated with significant pathology, including that observed in the CNS. It is now appreciated in both humans and animal models that ethanol can induce inflammation in the CNS. Read More

Neurology 2016 Nov 28;87(21):2220-2229. Epub 2016 Oct 28.

From the Department of Neurology (H.K., S.I., M.T., Y.K., M.I., M.K., G.S.) and Research Division of Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease (G.S.), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine; Department of Neurology (Y.M., Y.A.), Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University; and Department of Medicine (Neurology and Rheumatology) (S.-i.I.), Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.

Objective: To examine the morphology of Schwann cells and endoneurial microvessels with electron microscopy.

Methods: Sural nerve biopsy specimens from 49 patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) with transthyretin Val30Met mutation were assessed. Patients included 11 early-onset cases from endemic foci and 38 late-onset cases from nonendemic areas. Read More

J Dig Dis 2016 Nov;17(11):735-746

Clinica Medica 'A. Murri', Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, 'Aldo Moro' University Medical School, Bari, Italy.

Objective: To carry out a comprehensive study on gastrointestinal symptoms, motility and autonomic neuropathy in chronic alcoholics before and one year after abstinence.

Methods: Dyspeptic symptoms (questionnaires), fasting and postprandial gallbladder and gastric motility (ultrasonography), oro-cecal transit time (lactulose H -breath test), stool form score (indirect marker of colonic transit), and autonomic neuropathy (sweat spot test, R-R ratio) were assessed at baseline in 268 subjects (136 chronic alcoholics and 132 healthy controls). A subgroup of 39 patients was re-evaluated after 12 months of abstinence. Read More

J Ethnopharmacol 2016 Dec 23;194:117-130. Epub 2016 Aug 23.

Pharmaceutical Research Center, Department of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: According to traditional medicine, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) has been used in many ailments such as dysmenorrhea, rheumatic pain and stomachache.

Aim Of The Study: This work was carried out to evaluate putative anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic effects of Rosmarinus officinalis alcoholic extract and some spinal cord molecular changes on a neuropathic pain model in rats.

Materials And Methods: Peripheral neuropathy was induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of sciatic nerve. Read More

Curr Treat Options Neurol 2016 Aug;18(8):37

Gastrenterology and Hepatology Service, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal.

Opinion Statement: Liver disease, both in its acute and chronic forms, can be associated with a wide spectrum of neurologic manifestations, both central and peripheral, ranging in severity from subclinical changes to neurocritical conditions. Neurologists are frequently consulted to participate in their management. In this review, we present an overview of management strategies for patients with hepatic disease whose clinical course is complicated by neurologic manifestations. Read More

Diabetologia 2016 07 22;59(7):1422-1429. Epub 2016 Apr 22.

Human Development and Health Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The Institute of Developmental Sciences (IDS), MP887, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.

Aims/hypothesis: The effect of n-3 fatty acid treatment on temperature perception as a sensory nerve function modality is uncertain. In patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) both with and without type 2 diabetes, we: (1) tested whether 15-18 months' treatment with 4 g/day of docosahexaenoic plus eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA+EPA) improved hot (HPT) and cold (CPT) temperature perception thresholds and (2) explored factors associated with HPT and CPT, in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Methods: The effect of treatment (n = 44) on HPT, CPT and temperature perception index (TPI: difference between HPT and CPT) was measured at the big toe in 90 individuals without neuropathy (type 2 diabetes; n = 30). Read More

J Med Case Rep 2016 Mar 31;10:72. Epub 2016 Mar 31.

Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles County Medical Center, 1520 San Pablo Street Suite 3000, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.

Background: Neuropathy is a rare adverse side effect of disulfiram therapy and is under-recognized. There have been few case reports documenting this side effect.

Case Presentation: Two cases of disulfiram peripheral neuropathy are discussed. Read More

Mymensingh Med J 2016 Jan;25(1):176-8

Dr Abed Hussain Khan, Medical Officer, Department of Internal Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Shahbagh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

A 28-year-old man, smoker having history of occasional alcohol intake--was admitted in the Department of Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) with gradual diminution of vision in both eyes 10 days after consumption of homemade alcoholic beverage in a wedding ceremony. His initial acuity of vision was limited to no perception of light in right eye and hand movement in left eye. Fundus examination revealed pale optic discs in both eyes. Read More

Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi 2015 Dec;35(12):1463-8

Objective: To observe the effects of acupuncture on neurofunction and neuropsychological factors of chronic alcoholic peripheral neuropathy (CAPN) patients.

Methods: Totally 120 CAPN patients were assigned to the common treatment group, acupuncture group A, and acupuncture group B according to random digit table, 40 in each group. All patients recieved conventional drug therapy. Read More

Eksp Klin Farmakol 2016;79(12):29-33

The aim of this work was to study the behavioral and histopathomorphological signs of peripheral neuropathy development in male Wistar rats on the model of alcoholic neuropathy. Chronic consumption of ethanol solution with concentration increasing from 7.47 to 26. Read More

Am J Med 2016 Mar 6;129(3):e15-6. Epub 2015 Nov 6.

Department of General Internal Medicine, National Center for Global Health and Medicine Hospital, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan.

Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2015 Sep-Oct;37(5):e1-4. Epub 2013 Oct 16.

M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore.

Diabet Med 2016 Feb;33(2):e5-7

Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, St James' University Hospital, Leeds, UK.

Background: Liver disease in diabetes is common and is frequently the result of hepatic steatosis. Diabetic hepatosclerosis is a relatively recent description of sinusoidal fibrosis, without steatosis, observed in liver biopsies of people with diabetes presenting with cholestasis. Its association with other microvascular complications suggests it is a form of hepatic diabetic microangiopathy. Read More

J Diabetes Complications 2015 Nov-Dec;29(8):1240-7. Epub 2015 Jul 3.

Central Clinical School, Room 408, Blackburn Building D06, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2006; Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Road, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia, 2050; Charles Perkins Centre and Bosch Institute, Building D17, The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2006. Electronic address:

Aim: To examine for an association of elevated lower-limb vibration perception threshold (VPT) with NAFLD fibrosis.

Methods: Two cohorts from a tertiary diabetes centre were studied - Cohort 1, n=456 with type 1 or 2 diabetes, and Cohort 2, n=106 with type 2 diabetes mellitus. All underwent a detailed assessment, including VPT measurement. Read More

J Diabetes Res 2015 2;2015:307285. Epub 2015 Jul 2.

Department of Veterans Affairs Iowa City Health Care System, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA ; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA ; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.

We examined whether reversal of high fat diet, stimulating weight loss, compared to two treatments previously shown to have beneficial effects, could improve glucose utilization and peripheral neuropathy in animal models of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Rats were fed a high fat diet and treated with a low dose of streptozotocin to create models of diet induced obesity or type 2 diabetes, respectively. Afterwards, rats were transferred to a normal diet or treated with enalapril or dietary enrichment with menhaden oil for 12 weeks. Read More

World J Hepatol 2015 May;7(9):1258-64

Emilio González-Reimers, Geraldine Quintero-Platt, Eva Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Antonio Martínez-Riera, Julio Alvisa-Negrín, Francisco Santolaria-Fernández, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38320 Canary Islands, Spain.

Alcoholism has been associated with growth impairment, osteomalacia, delayed fracture healing, and aseptic necrosis (primarily necrosis of the femoral head), but the main alterations observed in the bones of alcoholic patients are osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures. Decreased bone mass is a hallmark of osteoporosis, and it may be due either to decreased bone synthesis and/or to increased bone breakdown. Ethanol may affect both mechanisms. Read More

J Biol Chem 2015 Jun 6;290(25):15380-9. Epub 2015 May 6.

From the Schools of Biology and Chemistry & Biochemistry, and the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332

The traditional backbones of mammalian sphingolipids are 2-amino, 1,3-diols made by serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT). Many organisms additionally produce non-traditional, cytotoxic 1-deoxysphingoid bases and, surprisingly, mammalian SPT biosynthesizes some of them, too (e.g. Read More

Diabetes Technol Ther 2015 Jan;17(1):29-34

Department of Diabetic Neurology, Hospital of Metabolic Disease, Tianjin Medical University , Tianjin, China .

Background: This study investigated the relationship among β-cell function, metabolic control, and diabetic microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Subjects And Methods: In total, 885 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) were recruited from January 2012 to January 2014 and grouped into three groups according to the area under the curve of C-peptide [AUC(C-pep)] during the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between C-peptide and microvascular complications. Read More

Med Sci (Paris) 2014 Dec 24;30(12):1161-8. Epub 2014 Dec 24.

Inserm UMR 1078 ; Université de Bretagne occidentale, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé ; Établissement français du sang (EFS) ; CHRU Brest, hôpital Morvan, laboratoire de génétique moléculaire, 22, avenue Camille Desmoulins 29200 Brest, France.

Since its discovery and description by Louis Pasteur, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which was used for thousands of years for alcoholic fermentation and as a leavening agent, has become a popular model system in biology. One of the reasons for this popularity is the strong conservation from yeast to human of most of the pathways controlling cell growth and fate. In addition, at least 30 % of human genes involved in diseases have a functional homolog in yeast. Read More

Orv Hetil 2014 Dec;155(51):2041-7

Péterfy Sándor Utcai Kórház-Rendelőintézet és Baleseti Központ Központi Aneszteziológiai és Intenzív Terápiás Osztály Budapest Péterfy S. u. 8-14. 1076.

Neurological diseases and nutrition are in complex relationship. In the first part of this review the nutritional consequences of acute neurological diseases is presented, with special emphasis on traumatic injuries of the nervous system and stroke. Nutritional therapy of these patients is described in detail. Read More

J Diabetes Investig 2014 Nov 2;5(6):714-21. Epub 2014 Apr 2.

Department of Endocrinology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh, India.

Aims/introduction: The study was carried out to assess the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), compare the prevalence between known diabetes mellitus (KDM) and newly detected diabetes mellitus (NDDM), identify risk factors associated, its prevalence pattern and to assess if any sex-specific differences are present.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a tertiary care hospital. Patients with duration of diabetes ≤6 months were considered to be NDDM. Read More

J Assoc Physicians India 2014 Jan;62(1):24-7

Aims And Objectives: 1) To study types of neuropathy in Type 2 diabetes. 2) To correlate clinical features of peripheral neuropathy with nerve conduction study in Type 2 diabetes.

Material: A total of 50 diabetics, whose onset of diabetes after the age of 30 years were studied from Dr. Read More

Handb Clin Neurol 2014 ;125:513-25

College of Pharmacy, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA. Electronic address:

Long-term, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages produces a peripheral neuropathy with symptoms of decreased superficial sensation, hyperalgesia, and weakness. Alcoholic neuropathy is characterized by axonal degeneration with reduced density of both small and large fibers and axonal sprouting. Electrophysiologic studies reveal a marked reduction in the amplitude of sensory potentials and moderate slowing of nerve conduction, mainly in the lower extremities. Read More

Oman J Ophthalmol 2014 May;7(2):72-4

Department of Neuro-Ophthalmology, Sankara Nethralaya, Medical Research Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

A 53-year-old man with a history of alcoholism since 10 years admitted for jaundice elsewhere developed bilateral simultaneous decrease in vision in both the eyes 4 days after admission. His best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes. Visual field evaluation revealed an inferior altitudinal defect in both the eyes. Read More

Acta Pharmacol Sin 2014 Aug;35(8):981-93

Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are defined as alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence, which create large problems both for society and for the drinkers themselves. To date, no therapeutic can effectively solve these problems. Understanding the underlying mechanisms leading to AUD is critically important for developing effective and safe pharmacological therapies. Read More

Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2014 Jul 24;38(7):1965-72. Epub 2014 Jun 24.

Department of Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.

Background: Alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy (ALN) is generally characterized as an axonal large-fiber polyneuropathy caused by thiamine deficiency. We hypothesized, based on clinical observations, that ALN is associated with a small-fiber polyneuropathy that can be diagnosed with skin biopsy in heavy alcohol drinking subjects with normal thiamine status.

Methods: Eighteen individuals (9 heavy alcohol drinking subjects and 9 healthy control subjects) were assessed for the potential utility of skin biopsies in detecting ALN-associated small nerve fiber degeneration. Read More

Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2014 Jul 24;38(7):2034-8. Epub 2014 Jun 24.

Department of Internal Medicine and Addiction, Hôpital Saint-Eloi, University Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier Cedex 5, France; INSERM U844, Montpellier, France; Montpellier University of Medicine (UM1), Rue de l'école de médecine, Montpellier, France.

Background: Alcohol has particularly toxic effects on the central and peripheral nervous systems. Optic neuropathy (ON) is one of these neurological complications. Its diagnosis has not been codified, and its prevalence is poorly known. Read More

Neurogastroenterol Motil 2014 Aug 23;26(8):1188-99. Epub 2014 Jun 23.

Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.

Background: Disorders of gastrointestinal functions that are controlled by enteric neurons commonly accompany fatty liver disease. Established fatty liver disease is associated with diabetes, which itself induces enteric neuron damage. Here, we investigate the relationship between fatty liver disease and enteric neuropathy, in animals fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet in the absence of diabetes. Read More

MMW Fortschr Med 2014 Feb;156(3):34

PLoS One 2014 23;9(5):e97139. Epub 2014 May 23.

Cardiovascular, Metabolic & Endocrine Disease Research Unit, Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.

Hyperglycemia resulting from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the main cause of diabetic complications such as retinopathy and neuropathy. A reduction in hyperglycemia has been shown to prevent these associated complications supporting the importance of glucose control. Glucokinase converts glucose to glucose-6-phosphate and determines glucose flux into the β-cells and hepatocytes. Read More