Polypharmacy Management in a Gender Perspective: At the Heart of the Problem: Analysis of Major Cardiac Diseases, SARS-CoV-2 Affection and Gender Distribution in a Cohort of Patients in Internal Medicine Ward.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 patients with any pre-existing major cardio-vascular disease (CVD) are at the highest risk of viral infection and of developing severe disease. The pathophysiological mechanism is characterized by the viral link to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the involvement of the endothelial system with the release of cytokines and the inflicting of direct damage to the myocardium, the induction of microthrombosis, and the initiation of alterations in oxygen diffusion. The aim of the study is to analyze the clinical course and outcomes in patients (gender-stratified) with pre-existing major CVD. METHODS: Out of the 1833 (973 M/860 F) patients admitted to the Internal Medicine COVID-19 Unit of "Castelli Hospital", Lazio, Italy, from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021, 600 patients (320 M/280 F) with a mean age of 77 (78.6 M/75.1 F) previously had CVD. Demographic characteristics, length of the stay (LOS) and oxygen therapy were evaluated. RESULTS: All of the CVD COVID-19 patients underwent non-invasive ventilation (NIV). CVD was linked with increased LOS (21 days F/22 M) compared to no CVD (19 days). In total, 32.7% of total patients had major CVD. CONCLUSIONS: Timely identification and evaluation of patients with pre-existing major CVD are fundamental for adequate treatment based on gender, severity, state of illness and for risk reduction.

Green Line Hospital-Territory Study: A Single-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial for Evaluation of Technological Challenges of Continuous Wireless Monitoring in Internal Medicine, Preliminary Results.

BACKGROUND: Wireless vital parameter continuous monitoring (WVPCM) after discharge is compared to regular monitoring to provide data on the clinical-economic impact of complex patients (CPs) discharged from Internal Medicine Units of Ospedale dei Castelli, Lazio. PRIMARY OUTCOME: Major complications (MC) reduction. SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Patients who reached discharge criteria within the 7th day from admission; difference in MC incidence at the conclusion of the standard telemonitoring/clinical monitoring phase, 5 and 30 days after discharge; and conditions predisposing to MC occurrence. METHODS: Open label randomized controlled trial with wearable wireless system that creates alerts on portable devices. Continuous glycemic monitoring is performed for patients with diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: There were 110 patients enrolled (mean age: 76.2 years). Comorbidity: Cumulative Illness Rating Scale CIRS-CI (comorbidities index): 3.93, CIRS SI (severity index): 1.93. About 19% scored a BRASS (Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score) ≥20 indicating need for discharge planning requiring step-down care. Globally, 48% of patients in the control group had major complications (27 out of 56 patients), in contrast to 22% in the intervention group (12 out of 54 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Since WVPCM detects early complications during the post-discharge CPs monitoring, it increases safety and reduces inappropriate access to the Emergency Room, preventing avoidable re-hospitalizations.

No evidence for genetically determined alteration in insulin secretion or sensitivity predisposing to type 1 diabetes: a study of identical twins.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether inherited changes in insulin secretion or sensitivity could predispose to type 1 diabetes, we studied identical twins of type 1 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied prospectively a consecutive series of 27 identical twins of patients with type 1 diabetes who were initially nondiabetic, as well as 14 control subjects, over a period of 18 years. Of these 27 twins, 15 remain nondiabetic (now estimated at low disease risk) and 12 developed diabetes (pre-diabetic twins). Subjects were tested when not diabetic on at least two occasions with an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), and we estimated insulin secretion as first-phase insulin response (FPIR), glucose clearance (K(g)), and insulin sensitivity both by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and relative to insulin response by the basal HOMA-IR-to-FPIR ratio. RESULTS: Twins now at low risk and control subjects had similar fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, FPIR, K(g), HOMA-IR, and HOMA-IR-to-FPIR ratio. In contrast, pre-diabetic twins compared with control twins had higher fasting insulin levels (10.3 +/- 6.0 vs. 4.6 +/- 4.0 mIU/ml), lower FPIR (245 +/- 129 vs. 796 +/- 622 mIU . ml(-1) . 10 min(-1)), lower K(g) (1.5 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.8% per min), and higher HOMA-IR-to-FPIR ratio (0.007 +/- 0.005 vs. 0.001 +/- 0.0009) (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These observations in low-risk nondiabetic identical twins failed to identify a familial alteration in either insulin secretion or sensitivity predisposing to type 1 diabetes.