Age- versus clinical pretest probability-adjusted D-dimer to rule out lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis in ambulatory patients with active cancer.

Background: In patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT), D-dimer thresholds adjusted to age or clinical pretest probability (CPTP) increase the proportion of patients in whom DVT can be safely excluded compared to a standard approach using a fixed D-dimer threshold. Performance of these diagnostic strategies among cancer patients is uncertain.

Aim: To compare the performance of age- and CPTP-adjusted D-dimer approaches among cancer outpatients with clinically suspected DVT, and derive a cancer-specific CPTP rule.

Frailty phenotype as a predictor of bleeding and mortality in ambulatory patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants.

Background: Limited prospective data exist about the clinical relevance of frailty in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) or venous thromboembolism (VTE) receiving direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether frailty phenotype identifies DOAC-treated patients at higher risk of adverse clinical outcomes.

Methods: Consecutive, adult outpatients treated with DOACs for AF or VTE were prospectively enrolled.

Long-term performance of risk scores for venous thromboembolism in ambulatory cancer patients.

The long-term performance of prediction scores for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients has been poorly investigated. We evaluated the discriminatory performance of the Khorana, PROTECHT, CONKO, and ONKOTEV scores for the first 3-6 months and for 12 months, and re-assessed scores after 3-6 months to determine the influence of variations in patients' risk classification on performance. Retrospective cohort of ambulatory patients with active cancer who were scheduled to receive first or new line of chemotherapy.

Effects of multiple inherited and acquired thrombophilia on outcomes of in-vitro fertilization.

Introduction: The effects of multiple inherited and acquired thrombophilic defects on the outcome of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) remain unexplored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between multiple thrombophilia and clinical outcomes in a large prospective cohort of women undergoing IVF.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive women scheduled for IVF were eligible.

Safety and feasibility of a diagnostic algorithm combining clinical probability, d-dimer testing, and ultrasonography for suspected upper extremity deep venous thrombosis: a prospective management study.

Background: Although well-established for suspected lower limb deep venous thrombosis, an algorithm combining a clinical decision score, d-dimer testing, and ultrasonography has not been evaluated for suspected upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT).

Objective: To assess the safety and feasibility of a new diagnostic algorithm in patients with clinically suspected UEDVT.

Design: Diagnostic management study.

Effects of toll-like receptor-4 gene polymorphisms on soluble P-selectin and von Willebrand factor levels in hypercholesterolemic patients.

Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) gene polymorphisms have been associated with a lower risk of atherosclerosis. High levels of soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) and von Willebrand factor predict an increased risk for cardiovascular events and correlate to atherosclerotic risk factors. The relationship between these markers and TLR-4 gene polymorphisms was evaluated in a cohort of consecutive hypercholesterolemic outpatients.

Circulating leptin is associated with oxidized LDL in postmenopausal women.

Recently, leptin has been suggested as a possible cause of atherosclerotic disease. In the present study, we have investigated in postmenopausal women (n = 60; age: 52 +/- 13) the relationship between circulating levels of leptin, oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) and other biochemical and anthropometric variables of atherosclerotic risk. In addition, we have evaluated soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) as a marker of endothelial damage.