Comparison of seven prognostic tools to identify low-risk pulmonary embolism in patients aged <50 years

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Rate and duration of hospitalisation for acute pulmonary embolism in the real-world clinical practice of different countries : Analysis from the RIETE registry

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Deep Venous Thrombosis as the Clinical Expression of POEMS Syndrome

This case suggests that POEMS syndrome does present with a constellation of signs and symptoms that may lead a clinician to a multitude of other possible diagnoses. Diagnosis is often difficult and delayed. A good history and physical examination as well as a careful review of all workups are paramount in establishing this particular diagnosis. The major criteria of diagnostic for the syndrome are polyradiculoneuropathy, clonal plasma disorder, sclerotic bone lesions, the presence of Castleman disease, and elevated vascular endothelial growth factor. Minor features include organomegaly, extravascular volume overload, endocrinopathy, characteristic skin changes, papilledema, and thrombocytosis. The diagnosis is made with three of the major criteria, two of which must include polyradiculoneuropathy and clonal plasma cell disorder, and at least one of the minor criteria. In this article, we discuss the differential diagnosis and outline the clinical evaluation indicated

Anemia and bleeding in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy for venous thromboembolism.

In patients receiving anticoagulant therapy for venous thromboembolism (VTE), the important issue of anemia influence on the risk of bleeding has not been consistently studied. We used the large registry data RIETE (Registro Informatizado Enfermedad Tromboembólica) to compare the rate of major bleeding in patients receiving anticoagulant therapy for VTE according to the presence or absence of anemia at baseline. Patients with or without cancer were separately studied. Until August 2016, 63492 patients had been enrolled. Of these, 21652 (34%) had anemia and 14312 (23%) had cancer. Anemia was found in 57% of the patients with cancer and in 28% without (odds ratio 3.46; 95% CI 3.33-3.60). During the course of anticoagulant therapy, 680 patients with cancer had a major bleeding event (gastrointestinal tract 43%, intracranial 14%, hematoma 12%). Cancer patients with anemia had a higher rate of major bleeding (rate ratio [RR]: 2.52; 95% CI 2.14-2.97) and fatal bleeding (RR 2.73; 95% CI 1.95-3.86) than those without anemia. During the course of anticoagulation, 1133 patients without cancer had major bleeding (gastrointestinal tract 32%, hematoma 24%, intracranial 21%). Patients with anemia had a higher rate of major bleeding (RR 2.84; 95% CI 2.52-2.39) and fatal bleeding (RR 2.76; 95% CI 2.07-3.67) than those without. On a multivariable analysis, anemia independently predicted the risk for major bleeding in patients with and without cancer (hazard ratios: 1.66; 95% CI 1.40-1.96 and 1.95; 95% CI 1.72-2.20, respectively). During anticoagulation for VTE, both cancer- and non-cancer anemic patients had a higher risk for major bleeding than those without anemia. In anemic patients (with or without cancer), the rate of major bleeding during the course of anticoagulant therapy exceeded the rate of VTE recurrences. In patients without anemia the rate of major bleeding was lower than the rate of VTE recurrences

Data for: "Menstrual health and school absenteeism among adolescent girls in Uganda (MENISCUS): feasibility study"

The MENISCUS study investigated menstrual health and reasons for school absenteeism among adolescent girls in Uganda. The quantitative dataset contains questionnaire responses provided by 352 female students (one record per row), aged 12-20 (median age 16 years) recruited from four secondary schools in Entebbe sub-district, Uganda, in October and November 2015. Variables cover knowledge and perceptions about menstrual hygiene management and reasons for school absenteeism, as well as socio-demographic characteristics of each respondent. Qualitative data collected through in-depth interviews with selected girls are not included in the data collection

Appropriateness of antiplatelet therapy for primary and secondary cardio- and cerebrovascular prevention in acutely hospitalized older people

Aims: Antiplatelet therapy is recommended for the secondary prevention of cardio- and cerebrovascular disease, but for primary prevention it is advised only in patients at very high risk. With this background, this study aims to assess the appropriateness of antiplatelet therapy in acutely hospitalized older people according to their risk profile. Methods: Data were obtained from the REPOSI register held in Italian and Spanish internal medicine and geriatric wards in 2012 and 2014. Hospitalized patients aged ≥65 assessable at discharge were selected. Appropriateness of the antiplatelet therapy was evaluated according to their primary or secondary cardiovascular prevention profiles. Results: Of 2535 enrolled patients, 2199 were assessable at discharge. Overall 959 (43.6%, 95% CI 41.5–45.7) were prescribed an antiplatelet drug, aspirin being the most frequently chosen. Among patients prescribed for primary prevention, just over half were inappropriately prescribed (52.1%), being mainly overprescribed (155/209 patients, 74.2%). On the other hand, there was also a high rate of inappropriate underprescription in the context of secondary prevention (222/726 patients, 30.6%, 95% CI 27.3–34.0%). Conclusions: This study carried out in acutely hospitalized older people shows a high degree of inappropriate prescription among patients prescribed with antiplatelets for primary prevention, mainly due to overprescription. Further, a large proportion of patients who had had overt cardio- or cerebrovascular disease were underprescribed, in spite of the established benefits of antiplatelet drugs in the context of secondary prevention