Distinct pleiotropic effects of direct oral anticoagulants on cultured endothelial cells: a comprehensive review.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) have simplified the treatment of thromboembolic disease. In addition to their established anticoagulant effects, there are indications from clinical and preclinical studies that DOACs exhibit also non-anticoagulant actions, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant actions, advocating overall cardiovascular protection. In the present study, we provide a comprehensive overview of the existing knowledge on the pleiotropic effects of DOACs on endothelial cells (ECs) and their underlying mechanisms, while also identifying potential differences among DOACs.

Lysed Erythrocyte Membranes Promote Vascular Calcification.

Background: Intraplaque hemorrhage promotes atherosclerosis progression, and erythrocytes may contribute to this process. In this study we examined the effects of red blood cells on smooth muscle cell mineralization and vascular calcification and the possible mechanisms involved.

Methods: Erythrocytes were isolated from human and murine whole blood.

A pilot study on plasma levels of micro-RNAs involved in angiogenesis and vascular maturation in patients with breast cancer.

Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) have a complex role in carcinogenesis and tumour progression. Several miRNAs, such as miR-221, miR-27b and miR-132, have been implicated in the regulation of VEGF tumour angiogenic activity. In this pilot study, we assessed angiogenesis and DLL4+ vascular maturation index (VMI) in breast cancer tissues, in parallel with the plasma levels of the above-mentioned miRNAs.

Differences between perivascular adipose tissue surrounding the heart and the internal mammary artery: possible role for the leptin-inflammation-fibrosis-hypoxia axis.

Aim: The factors mediating the paracrine effects of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in atherosclerosis are largely unknown. The adipokine leptin has been implicated in the increased cardiovascular risk in obesity and may locally promote neointima formation independently of circulating leptin levels. In patients with established coronary artery disease, we examined the expression of leptin as well as of its possible inducers in 'cardiac' PVAT surrounding the aortic root and coronary arteries (C-PVAT), and compared it to the PVAT surrounding the internal mammary artery (IMA-PVAT), a vessel resistant to atherosclerosis.

Genotoxic effect of tocolytic drug ritodrine in combination with smoking during pregnancy.

Objective: Tocolytic drugs are used widely in order to prevent preterm birth. Ritodrine, is the only food and drug administration (FDA) approved drug for tocolytic use. We estimated the cytogenetic effect of ritodrine administered as maternal therapy, alone or in combination with smoking, in women and their neonates.

Spot urine albumin to creatinine ratio outperforms novel acute kidney injury biomarkers in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication in patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and is associated with in-hospital and long-term morbidity and mortality. We prospectively assessed the diagnostic performance of spot urine albumin to creatinine ratio (uACR) in an adequately sized multicenter cohort of patients admitted to hospital with AMI. We further compared uACR to novel renal injury associated biomarkers regarding their diagnostic ability.

The cytogenetic action of ifosfamide, mesna, and their combination on peripheral rabbit lymphocytes: an in vivo/in vitro cytogenetic study.

Ifosfamide (IFO) is an alkylating nitrogen mustard, administrated as an antineoplasmic agent. It is characterized by its intense urotoxic action, leading to hemorrhagic cystitis. This side effect of IFO raises the requirement for the co-administration with sodium 2-sulfanylethanesulfonate (Mesna) aiming to avoid or minimize this effect.

Effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy on fetus: a cytogenetic perspective.

Objective: The examination of the genotoxic, cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of smoking during pregnancy.

Method: Lymphocyte cultures of peripheral blood were received from 20 women who smoked during pregnancy as well as umbilical cord blood of their newborns. Fluorescence Plus Giemsa staining technique was used in order to perform cytogenetic analyses for three indices, Sister Chromatid Exchanges (SCEs), Proliferation Rate Index (PRI) and Mitotic Index (MI).

Cytogenetic evaluation of pre-pregnancy smoking in maternal and newborn lymphocytes.

Objective: To study cytogenetic damage in order to estimate the effect of pre-pregnancy smoking on pregnant women and their foetuses.

Study Design: Lymphocyte cultures were obtained from peripheral blood of 20 women who quit smoking during pregnancy, and umbilical cord blood of their newborns at delivery. Cytogenetic analyses were performed for sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), proliferation rate index (PRI) and mitotic index (MI) using the Fluorescence Plus Giemsa staining technique.

Cytogenetic and antineoplastic effects by newly synthesised steroidal alkylators in lymphocytic leukaemia P388 cells in vivo.

New compounds with potential antitumour activity were synthesised by combining nitrogen mustard with the steroidal skeleton, in an effort to improve specificity and at the same time reduce systemic toxicity. The steroidal part is aimed to serve as a biological platform enabling the alkylating moiety to approach its site of action by altering its physicochemical properties. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate these compounds for anti-neoplastic activity.

Synergistic cytogenetic and antineoplastic effects by the combined action of esteric steroidal derivatives of nitrogen mustards.

We studied the effect of five newly synthesized steroidal derivatives of nitrogen mustards. These derivatives have as alkylators either P-N, N-bis(2-chloroethyl)aminophenyl-butyrate (CHL) or P-N, N-bis(2-chloroethyl)aminophenyl-acetate (PHE) groups esterified with different modified steroidal nuclei. We examined them alone or in combination, on sister chromatid exchange rates and on human lymphocyte proliferation kinetics.

Distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups in Greece: an update.

The aim of this study was to investigate and evaluate the frequency of the antigens classifying the ABO and Rh blood groups in the Greek population. In this study the 3.5% were first generation immigrants with both their parents immigrants from countries of the USSR, while 1.

Cytogenetic evaluation and DNA interaction studies of the food colorants amaranth, erythrosine and tartrazine.

Food coloring agents, amaranth, erythrosine and tartrazine have been tested at 0.02-8mM in human peripheral blood cells in vitro, in order to investigate their genotoxic, cytotoxic and cytostatic potential. Amaranth at the highest concentration (8mM) demonstrates high genotoxicity, cytostaticity and cytotoxicity.

Prognostic and predictive factors of invasive ductal breast carcinomas.

Purpose: To investigate the significance of certain immunohistochemical markers, namely estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PgR), c-erbB-2 oncogene, p53 tumor suppressor gene and E-cadherin adhesion molecule, in invasive ductal breast carcinomas.

Methods: A series of 102 primary breast carcinomas of the ductal type and a standard immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the aforementioned biological markers. The findings were related to various clinical and pathological tumor characteristics, including lymph node metastases.

Frequency of genetic diseases and health coverage of children requiring admission in a general pediatric clinic of northern Greece.

Background: In order to estimate the causes of pediatric morbidity in our area, with particular emphasis on diseases with a genetic background, we retrospectively categorized the admissions of all children hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics of the University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, in the area of Evros, Thrace, Greece over the three year period 2005-2007. Finally, in order to guide health care administrators to improve the delivery of pediatric health care services, we estimated the percentage of hospitalized children who were uninsured and the type of health insurance of those who had medical coverage.

Patients And Methods: The causes of admission, as recorded in the medical records were categorized in terms of the major organ and/or system involved and/or the underlying pathology, with emphasis on diseases with a genetic background.

Attenuation of cytogenetic effects by erythropoietin in human lymphocytes in vitro and P388 ascites tumor cells in vivo treated with irinotecan (CPT-11).

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a protein widely used against drug induced anemia at cancer patients. Irinotecan (CPT-11) is a genotoxic topoisomerase I inhibitor. We investigated the genotoxic, cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of EPO in the presence and in the absence of CPT-11 in human lymphocytes in vitro and in ascites cells of P388 leukemia in vivo.

Cytoprotective activity of amifostine on cultured human lymphocytes exposed to irinotecan.

Irinotecan (camptothecin, CAM) is a topoisomerase-I inhibitor with a well established action in the chemotherapy of colorectal and ovarian cancer. Hematological and intestinal toxicity are commonly noted in patients treated with CAM. In this study, we examined the cytoprotective efficacy of amifostine (ethyol, ETH) against chromosomal damage induced by this drug on cultured peripheral human lymphocytes.