Factor VIIa - antithrombin complexes are increased in asthma: relation to the exacerbation-prone asthma phenotype.

Background: Asthma is associated with a prothrombotic state. Plasma factor VIIa-antithrombin complex concentrations (FVIIa-AT) indirectly reflect the interaction of tissue factor (TF) with FVII. Since TF is a key initiator of coagulation in vivo, we hypothesized that FVIIa-AT are higher in asthma.

High prevalence of thrombophilic risk factors in patients with central retinal artery occlusion.

Introduction: Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a common cause of blindness and visual morbidity. In the majority of cases, it is related to thrombotic embolism. Nevertheless, the role of inherited or acquired thrombophilic risk factors in CRAO pathogenesis has not been comprehensively studied.

Temporal changes of hemostatic activity in patients hospitalized for COVID-19: a prospective observational study.

Introduction: Hemostatic abnormalities play an important role in the pathogenesis of COVID‑19 and are considered determinants of the patients' outcomes. Less is known about the dynamics of these abnormalities in a short‑term observation.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate hemostatic activity markers in patients hospitalized for COVID‑19 depending on the severity of respiratory failure.

Prothrombotic state, endothelial injury, and echocardiographic changes in non-active sarcoidosis patients.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory granulomatous disease of unknown cause that most commonly affects lungs and lymph nodes, with frequent yet asymptomatic cardiac involvement. The epidemiologically associated cardiovascular risk suggests an underlying prothrombotic state and endothelial dysfunction, currently understudied in the available literature. Therefore, we aimed to investigate prothrombotic plasma properties together with selected echocardiographic and laboratory biomarkers of cardiovascular injury in that disease.

Thrombin generation potential is increased in patients with autoimmune inflammatory myopathies.

Purpose: Dermatomyositis and polymyositis (DM/PM) are rare autoimmune inflammatory myopathies, characterized by an increased risk of cardiovascular and thromboembolic events, likely related to the prothrombotic plasma properties. The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro thrombin generation profile as a biomarker of plasma procoagulant properties in DM/PM patients.

Methods: In 58 clinically stable DM/PM patients and 67 controls matched for sex, age, body mass index, we measured plasma thrombin generation potential using the Calibrated Automated Thrombinography (CAT) and analyzed its relationship with clinical disease characteristics, including autoantibodies profile.

Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Is Related to Vascular Endothelial Injury and Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction.

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is an emergency state characterized by sudden, painless vision impairment. Patients with CRAO have an increased risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke, likely related to vascular endothelial damage. Therefore, we investigated flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery as a marker of endothelial dysfunction, intima-media complex thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery, pointing to the arterial wall atherosclerotic alteration, and transthoracic echocardiographic parameters in 126 consecutive CRAO patients (66 men [52.

Chronic prothrombotic tendency in patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Introduction: Patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) show increased tendency toward thromboembolic phenomena in exacerbation of their disease.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate thrombin generation potential and fibrinolytic plasma activity in patients with GPA, both in exacerbation and in remission.

Patients And Methods: We included 38 patients with GPA: 18 with exacerbated GPA and 20 in remission.

Thrombin generation potential is enhanced in systemic sclerosis: impact of selected endothelial biomarkers.

Objectives: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare immune-mediated heterogenous entity characterised by excessive tissue fibrosis and vascular injury. Recently, increased risk of thromboembolic events has been documented in that disease. Our aim was to investigate prothrombotic plasma properties together with selected laboratory biomarkers of endothelial injury in SSc.

Afibrinogenemia caused by a novel homozygous missense mutation, FGB p.Cys241Tyr, in a male patient with recurrent intracranial bleeding: case report and review of literature.

Introduction: Congenital afibrinogenemia is a severe bleeding disorder, sometimes manifesting as thrombosis and/or pregnancy complications. Intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) constitutes the major cause of death in this disease.

Methods: We present the case of a male patient with congenital afibrinogenemia, who presented with recurrent intracranial hemorrhages, despite prophylactic fibrinogen substitution.

Fibrin clot susceptibility to lysis is impaired after on-pump coronary artery by-pass grafting with tranexamic acid: clinical implications.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) done on-pump may cause a significant blood loss. Low fibrinogen is associated with perioperative bleeding. The influence of cardiopulmonary bypass on fibrin clot properties is poorly investigated.

Left Internal Mammary Artery Skeletonization Reduces Bleeding-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The objective of this study was to compare the impact of skeletonized versus pedicled left internal mammary artery (LIMA) harvesting on bleeding after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: In a randomized, single-blinded trial with a parallel group design and equal allocation, we randomly assigned 62 patients undergoing primary elective CABG in a tertiary cardiac center to skeletonized or pedicled LIMA dissection. Before surgery, all aspects of coagulation were assessed.

Determinants of plasma fibrin clot lysis measured using three different assays in healthy subjects.

Introduction: Several methods for measuring fibrinolytic capacity in plasma have been developed yielding frequently inconsistent results. We investigated which factors determine fibrinolytic capacity in three plasma-based assays.

Material And Methods: In 80 apparently healthy controls (aged 43 ± 10 years, 50 women [62.

Endothelial dysfunction in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Introduction: Patients with systemic sclerosis experience endothelial dysfunction and damage even in the absence of clinical manifestations.

Aim: To evaluate various methods for assessing the endothelial function for their applicability to clinical practice.

Material And Methods: Forty-two patients (7 men and 35 women) with systemic sclerosis and 36 controls (11 men and 25 women) matched for age, sex, body mass index, smoking habit, and comorbidities were enrolled in the study.

Citrullinated histone H3, a marker of extracellular trap formation, is increased in blood of stable asthma patients.

Background: Emerging data indicates that extracellular traps (ETs), structures formed by various immune cell types, may contribute to the pathology of noninfectious inflammatory diseases. Histone hypercitrullination is an important step in ETs formation and citrullinated histone H3 (H3cit) is considered a novel and specific biomarker of that process. In the present study we have evaluated circulating H3cit in stable asthmatics and investigated its relationship with asthma severity, pulmonary function and selected blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) biomarkers.

Potential roles of psychological and oxidative stress in insulin resistance: a cohort-based study.

Background: The present study investigated the relationships between psychological stress indices and oxidative stress marker, also when combined with emergent insulin resistance (IR), in the non-diabetic, middle-aged subjects, exposed to frequent/chronic psychological stressors.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from a cohort of non-diabetic police officers (n = 234; 19F), aged 27-56 years, were used. Plasma inflammatory (CRP, TNF-α), oxidative stress (free 8-iso-prostaglandin F; 8-iso-PGF) markers, and insulin were measured.

Perioperative cardiovascular complications rate and activity of coagulation and fibrinolysis among patients undergoing vascular surgery for peripheral artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Objectives: To compare preoperative coagulation and fibrinolysis activity and incidence of perioperative complications between patients undergoing vascular procedures for peripheral artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Methods: This is a substudy of a prospective observational cohort study (VISION; NCT00512109) in which we recruited patients aged ≥45 years, undergoing surgery for peripheral artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Blood samples were obtained 24 h preoperatively to measure platelet count, concentrations of coagulation coagulation (fibrinogen, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor:Ristocetin cofactor, antithrombin III), fibrinolysis (dimer D, plasmin-antiplasmin complexes, tissue plasminogen activator) markers and level of soluble CD40 ligand.

Six molecular patterns leading to hemophilia A phenotype in 18 females from Poland.

Introduction: Female hemophilia is an intriguing rare disorder and few larger reports on its genetic etiology are available. While historically the diagnosis was satisfactorily reached by factor VIII activity assays, the clinical and potentially therapeutic heterogeneity of female hemophilia calls for comprehensive molecular diagnosis in each case. Currently, the genetic investigations are not a part of routine, state-funded, diagnostics in Poland, and thus molecular epidemiological data are missing.

Effects of rivaroxaban and dabigatran on local expression of coagulation and inflammatory factors within human aortic stenotic valves.

Background: Treatment with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) such as dabigatran (a direct thrombin inhibitor) or rivaroxaban (a direct inhibitor of factor [F] Xa) attenuates atherosclerotic plaque progression in hypercholesterolemic mice.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of NOACs application on the expression of coagulation proteins in loco within stenotic aortic valves and in valve interstitial cells (VICs) from patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS).

Methods: Primary cultures of VICs obtained from 90 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement were stimulated with TNF-α (50 ng/mL) and pre-treated with rivaroxaban (1 and 10 ng/mL) or dabigatran (25 and 250 ng/mL).

Endothelial Dysfunction and Pentraxin-3 in Clinically Stable Adult Asthma Patients.

Background And Objective: Asthma is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation, prothrombotic state, and premature atherosclerosis. Objective: To evaluate the relationships between asthma, inflammatory biomarkers, and parameters of endothelial dysfunction.

Material And Methods: We analyzed flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery using ultrasound in 92 clinically stable adult asthmatics and 62 well-matched controls.

Influence of statin therapy on antiphospholipid antibodies and endothelial dysfunction in young patients with coronary artery disease and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction: Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) affect atherogenesis and may cause thromboembolism in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and coronary artery disease (CAD). Intensive treatment with statins may reduce inflammation and decrease the number of thrombotic events. That may explain the beneficial effect of statin therapy in SLE and CAD.

Genetic and clinical characterization of congenital fibrinogen disorders in Polish patients: Identification of three novel fibrinogen gamma chain mutations.

Introduction: Congenital fibrinogen disorders are poorly explored in Slavic populations. The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic background and clinical manifestations of fibrinogen disorders in the Polish case series.

Materials And Methods: In 27 unrelated patients (mean [SD] age, 30.