Fast Interpretation of Thromboelastometry and Aggregometry in Patients Suffering from Chronic Liver Disease.

Background: Collective specific variegated alterations in the hemostatic system cast doubt on the uncritical usage of standard hemotherapy algorithms in patients with chronic liver disease. The aims of the present study were to examine the applicability of commonly used early viscoelastic parameters in this particular collective and to develop first-time thresholds for the early detection of clinically relevant platelet dysfunction.

Methods: Patients suffering from advanced chronic liver disease were enrolled in this prospective single-centre study and consecutively allocated to Group 1 (MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score 6 - 11) or Group 2 (MELD score > 16).

Targeting caspase-1 by inhalation-therapy: effects of Ac-YVAD-CHO on IL-1 beta, IL-18 and downstream proinflammatory parameters as detected in rat endotoxaemia.

Objective: We set out to investigate whether the nebulized and inhaled specific caspase-1 inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CHO has the potential to attenuate the pulmonary and systemic release of the caspase-1-dependent cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) as well as their downstream enzymes iNOS and COX-2 in rat experimental endotoxaemia.

Design And Setting: Controlled, randomized animal study in a university research facility.

Subject: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=32) were randomly treated as follows: Inhaled Ac-YVAD-CHO was administered in eight rats at a inhaled total dosage of 5 mg and in eight rats at a inhaled total dose of 0.