Complexity in hospital internal medicine departments: What are we talking about?

Internal medicine (IM) patients are mostly elderly, with multiple complex co-morbidities, usually chronic. The complexity of these patients involves the intricate entanglement of two or more systems (e.g. body and disease, family-socio-economic and environmental status, coordination of care and therapies) and this requires comprehensive, multi-dimensional assessment (MDA). Despite attempts to improve management of chronic conditions, and the availability of several MDA tools, defining the complex patient is still problematic. The complex profile of our patients can only be described through the best assessment tools designed to identify their characteristics. In order to do this, the Federation of Associations of Hospital Doctors on Internal Medicine FADOI has created its own vision of IM. This involves understanding the different needs of the patient, and analyzing diseases clusters and the possible relationships between them. By exploring the real complexity of our patients and selecting their real needs, we can exercise holistic, anthropological and appropriate choices for their treatment and care. A simpler assessment approach must be adopted for our complex patients, and alternative tools should be used to improve clinical evaluation and prognostic stratification in a hierarchical selection of priorities. Further investigation of complex patients admitted to IM wards is needed

Medicina interna, paziente complesso, evidence based medicine e le non evidenze

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Influence of safety warnings on the prescribing attitude of JAK 2inhibitors for rheumatoid arthritis in Italy

The Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) tofacitinib (TOFA), baricitinib (BARI), upadacitinib (UPA) and 74 filgotinib (FILGO) are effective drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. However, the US 75 Food & Administration (FDA) raised concerns on the safety of TOFA after its approval. This 76 prompted the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to issue two safety warnings for limiting TOFA 77 use then extended in a third warning to all Jaki in patients at high risk of developing serious adverse 78 events (SAE). These included thrombosis, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and cancer. Thepurpose of this work was to analyze how the first two safety warnings from EMA affected the pre- 80 scribing of Jaki by rheumatologists in Italy. All patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had been 81 prescribed JAKi for the first time in a 36-month period from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2022 were con- 82 sidered. Data were obtained from the medical records of 29 Italian tertiary referral rheumatology 83 centers. Patients were divided into three groups of 4 months each, depending on whether the JAKi 84 prescription had occurred before the EMA's first safety alert (July 1-October 31, 2019, Group 1), 85 between the first and second alerts (November 1, 2019-February 29, 2020, Group 2), or between the 86 second and third alerts (March 1, 2021-June 30, 2021, Group 3). Percentage and absolute changes in 87 patients prescribed the individual JAKi were analyzed. Differences among the three Groups of pa- 88 tients in demographic and clinical characteristics were also assessed. A total of 864 patients were 89 prescribed a JAKi during the entire period considered. Of these, 343 were identified in Group 1, 233 90 in Group 2 and 288 in Group 3. An absolute reduction of 32% was observed in the number of patients 91 prescribed a JAKi between Group 1 and Group 2 and 16% between Group 1 and Group 3. In contrast, 92 there was a 19% increase in the prescription of a JAKi in patients between Group 2 and Group 3. In 93 the first Group, BARI was the most prescribed drug (227 prescriptions, 66.2% of the total), followed 94 by TOFA (115, 33.5%) and UPA (1, 0.3%). In the second Group, the most prescribed JAKi was BARI 95 (147, 63.1%), followed by TOFA (65, 27.9%) and UPA (33, 11.5%). In the third Group, BARI was still 96 the most prescribed JAKi (104 prescriptions, 36.1%), followed by UPA (89, 30.9%), FILGO (89, 21.5%) 97 and TOFA (33, 11.5%). The number of patients prescribed TOFA decreased significantly between 98 Group 1 and Group 2 and between Group 2 and Group 3 (p ˂ 0.01). Patients who were prescribed 99 BARI decreased significantly between Group 1 and Group 2 and between Group 2 and Group 3 (p 100 ˂ 0.01). In contrast, patients prescribed UPA increased between Group 2 and Group 3 (p ˂ 0.01). 101 These data suggest that the warnings issued for TOFA were followed by a reduction in total JAKi 102 prescriptions. However, the more selective JAKi (UPA and FILGO) were perceived by prescribers 103 as favorable in terms of risk/benefit ratio and their use gradually increased at the expense of the 104 other molecules

Favourable response to infliximab in a case of bilateral Mooren's ulcer

A woman with progressive bilateral Mooren's ulcer developed recurrent corneal perforations and melting requiring tectonic grafts, despite conventional immunosuppressant therapy. Following treatment with infliximab, an anti-tumour necrosis factor agent, the patient showed marked reduction in conjunctival inflammation and no further recurrence of corneal thinning and perforation during 2-year follow up on maintaining treatment

Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations in Internal Medicine

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the second leading cause of hospitalization in Internal Medicine departments in Italy and the fourth leading cause of death all over the word. By 2020, COPD will be the third leading cause of death and the fifth leading cause of disability. It is — along with chronic congestive heart failure — one of the most common causes of unscheduled hospital readmissions, and as such it represents a significant economic burden for the health-care system. Exacerbations of COPD are important events in the natural history of this prevalent condition. Discussion: This review provides a comprehensive state-of-the-art look at prevention and management of COPD exacerbations. Treatment of these episodes has to be tailored to the severity of the clinical presentation. We now have a wide range of therapeutic available options, based on the results of clinical trials. Management of the acute event should include the necessary measures (mainly the administration of inhaled short-acting bronchodilators, inhaled or oral corticosteroids, and antibiotics), with or without oxygen and ventilator support. Conclusions: To improve the management of COPD exacerbations, the focus of care must be shifted from the episodic acute complications to their systematic prevention. The management of COPD, which is often associated with multiple co-morbidities, is complex and requires a tailored, multifaceted and multidisciplinary approach. Integrated care for COPD also requires that patients be informed about their condition, that they participate actively in their care, and that they have easy access to the necessary health-care services

Ortner's syndrome: a rare case of cardiovocal hoarseness

Introduction Ortner's syndrome, also known as cardiovocal syndrome, is a rare clinical entity with hoarseness due to left recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy owing to a cardiovascular disease. Norbert Ortner ascribed hoarseness of voice RLN palsy in patients with several mitral stenosis, postulating that an enlarged left atrium could be responsible for the recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Case report A 63-year-old man with a history of progressive hoarseness of voice developed since over three months. Flexible laryngoscopy revealed a fixed left vocal cord in the paramedian position. The chest enhanced axial computed tomography confirmed a large left ventricular aneurysm. Conclusions Hoarseness has significant public health implications. Patients suffer from social deprivation, depression and a poor quality of life. Several underlying conditions are associated with the cardiovocal syndrome, including iatrogenic, congenital, mitral valve disorders, aortic and ventricular aneurysms. Laryngoscopy is indicated for the assessment of hoarseness if symptoms fail to improve or resolve within three months, or at any time when the clinician suspects a serious underlying disorder

Skin signs in acute pancreatitis: a case report

Introduction: Subcutaneous manifestations of severe acute pancreatitis (Cullen’s sign, Gray- Turner’s sign, Fox’s sign, and Bryant’s sign) are often discussed in journals and textbooks, but seldom observed. Although historically associated with acute pancreatitis, these clinical signs have been described in various other conditions associated with retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Case report: We describe the case of a 61-year-old male with no history of alcohol intake, who was admitted for epigastric pain, vomiting, and increasing serum amylase and lipase levels. Five days after admission, ecchymotic skin discoloration was noted over both flanks (Gray-Turner’s sign) and the upper third of the thighs (Fox’s sign). Ten days later, he developed multiorgan failure and was transferred to the ICU for 5 days. Computed tomography revealed a large pancreatic fluid collection, which was subjected to EUS-guided drainage. Cholecystectomy was later performed for persistent obstructive jaundice. After more than 4 months of hospitalization, he died as a result of severe gastrointestinal bleeding. Discussion and conclusions: Skin manifestations of retroperitoneal hemorrhage in a patient with acute pancreatitis indicate a stormy disease course and poor prognosis. The severity of acute pancreatitis is currently estimated with validated scoring systems based on clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings. However, skin signs like the ones discussed above can represent a simple and inexpensive parameter for evaluating the severity and prognosis of this disease

Internal medicine, complexity, evidence based medicine, almost ‘‘without evidences’’

Background: Internal medicine has been defined as the specialty of the adult medical complex patients. Complexity science suggests that illness (and health) results from complex, dynamic, and unique interactions between different components of the overall system. In a patient, complexity involves the intricate entanglement of two or more systems (e.g.; body-diseases, family, socioeconomic status, therapies). Aim of the study: To evaluate the real applicability of Evidence Based Medicne (EBM) in clinical Departments of Internal Medicine and its critical perspectives. Discussion: Habitually the internist takes decisions in these situations: a) certainty (the ideal decision is adopted and the corresponding strategy follows), b) risk (the more suitable alternative selected can be the determination of the probable value or mathematical hope) and c) uncertainty, in which decisions linked to triple agents: beliefs and personal values of the doctors (I) for their patients (II) in the society (III). In the medical decisions there are often different factors that go beyond the field of technical and scientific knowledge (family, social, economic problems, etc.) and demanding an ethical analysis of the decision. Conclusions: The ‘‘evidence-based medicine’’, as other models of care, has — in itself — some limitations. ‘‘No evidence in medicine’’ matters that the postulates of the EBM are not always applicable to the real patients of Internal Medicine wards, mostly elderly, frail, complex, with comorbidities and polipharmacy, often with cognitive dysfunction and limitation of autonomy, with psycho-emotional, social and economic problems. The interacting effects of overall involved diseases/factors and their management require more complex and individualised care than simply the sum of separate guideline components. Further innovation is required to resolve the need to enhance integration of evidence with our patients’ values at the ‘‘bedside and/or clinic’’ management

Understanding magnetic relaxation in high blocking-temperature single-ion magnets

The recent discovery of single-ion magnets with magnetic hysteresis above liquid-nitrogen temperatures placed these compounds among the best candidates to realize high-density storage devices. Starting from a prototypical dysprosocenium molecule, showing hysteresis up to 60 K, we derive here a general recipe to design high-blocking-temperature rare-earth single-ion magnets. The complex magnetic relaxation is unraveled by combining magnetization and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements with inelastic neutron scattering experiments and ab initio calculations, thus disentangling the different mechanisms and identifying the key ingredients behind slow relaxation