Rate and predictors of thromboprophylaxis in internal medicine wards: Results from the AURELIO study.

Background: Randomized controlled trials suggest that prophylactic doses of anticoagulants effectively prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalized medical patients with high thromboembolic risk. However, no prospective studies exist regarding the real-world prevalence of prophylactic anticoagulant use. This prospective study aimed to determine the rate and predictors of thromboprophylaxis in an unselected population of patients hospitalized in medical departments.

Elevated Interleukin-6 Levels Are Associated With an Increased Risk of QTc Interval Prolongation in a Large Cohort of US Veterans.

Background: Although accumulating data indicate that IL-6 (interleukin-6) can promote heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation via direct and indirect effects on cardiac electrophysiology, current evidence comes from basic investigations and small clinical studies only. Therefore, IL-6 is still largely ignored in the clinical management of long-QT syndrome and related arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to estimate the risk of QTc prolongation associated with elevated IL-6 levels in a large population of unselected subjects.

Asymptomatic and symptomatic deep venous thrombosis in hospitalized acutely ill medical patients: risk factors and therapeutic implications.

Background: Acutely ill medical patients experience deep venous thrombosis (DVT) during the hospitalization, however the time course of DVT is still unclear.

Objectives: To evaluate risk factors in acutely ill hospitalized medical patients for proximal asymptomatic DVT (ADVT) and symptomatic DVT (SDVT) at admission and discharge.

Patients/methods: In this prospective observational study, consecutive acutely ill medical patients (hospitalized mainly for acute medical disease as infections, neoplasm, anemia, heart failure) underwent compression ultrasonography (CUS) of proximal lower limb veins within 48 h from admission and at discharge to diagnose ADVT and SDVT.

Adherence to Mediterranean diet moderates the association between multimorbidity and depressive symptoms in older adults.

Aim: Adherence to Mediterranean Diet (Med-Diet) has been associated with a lower incidence of chronic diseases and may be associated with lower risk for depression. The aim of the present study was to investigate (i) the association of adherence to Med-Diet with depressive symptoms and multimorbidity in a cohort of geriatric medical outpatients, and (ii) the role of Med-Diet in mediating the association between depressive symptoms and multimorbidity.

Methods: A total of 143 geriatric patients (mean age: 73.

Low Rate of Intrahospital Deep Venous Thrombosis in Acutely Ill Medical Patients: Results From the AURELIO Study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of hospitalization on deep venous thrombosis (DVT) rate by the cumulative incidence of DVT in the proximal venous tract of the lower limbs at admission and discharge.

Methods: The AURELIO (rAte of venoUs thRombosis in acutEly iLl patIents hOspitalized in internal medicine wards) multicenter observational study was carried out in hospital-university internal medicine wards including consecutive acutely ill medical patients. Patients underwent compression ultrasonography (CUS) of proximal lower limb veins at admission and discharge.

Impact of combined therapy with alpha-lipoic and ursodeoxycolic acid on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: double-blind, randomized clinical trial of efficacy and safety.

Background And Purpose: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the causes of a fatty liver, occurring when fat is deposited (steatosis) in the liver not due to excessive alcohol use. It is related to insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of combination therapy with alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) on NAFLD.