Plasma osteopontin levels are elevated in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes.

Background: The regions of ruptured atherosclerotic plaques have numerous macrophages. Osteopontin that modulates macrophage function has been shown in atherosclerotic plaques. We aimed to study the plasma levels of osteopontin in patients with unstable angina or non-ST-seg ment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and the rela tionship between osteopontin and the extent of the coronary artery disease (CAD).

Plasma soluble osteopontin concentrations are increased in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis and associated with the severity of mitral valve calcium.

Although the severity of valvular calcification is an important prognostic indicator, the cellular mechanisms of the calcification process are unknown. Osteopontin modulates inflammation and biomineralization, and increased osteopontin expression has been demonstrated in calcified degenerative or rheumatic cardiac valves. The present study evaluated soluble plasma osteopontin in 32 patients with echocardiographically determined rheumatic mitral stenosis and compared the results to those of a control group of 22 healthy patients.

The evaluation of blood donor deferral causes.

Safety of blood and blood products is a major problem all over the world. Screening for the markers of infectious diseases is an incomplete solution. One of the most important steps in improving the safety of blood and blood products is donor selection.

Echocardiographic predictors of left atrial appendage spontaneous echocontrast in patients with stroke and atrial fibrillation.

Objective: The presence of spontaneous echocontrast (SEC) in the left atrium (LA) or LA appendage (LAA) has been associated with a higher risk of thromboembolism and cerebrovascular accidents. The purpose of this study was to define the new transesophageal echocardiographic predictors of SEC for patients with stroke and atrial fibrillation.

Methods: We studied 47 patients with stroke and atrial fibrillation who were undergoing transesophageal echocardiography for the evaluation of source of cardiac emboli.

Increased soluble glycoprotein V concentration during the acute onset of unstable angina pectoris in association with chronic cigarette smoking.

Platelet hyperactivity is important in the pathobiology of acute coronary syndromes. Glycoprotein V (GPV) is an integral membrane protein of platelets in the function of the GPIb-V-IX receptor for vWf/shear-dependent platelet adhesion in arteries. Soluble GPV is a novel marker of platelet activation.