Inflammatory Hematological Indices, Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality: A Narrative Review.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide, which generates a significant economic burden of billions per year on the healthcare system. Chronic inflammation is known for its importance in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and CVDs. Currently, inflammatory hematologic indices, obtained through the results of the complete blood count (CBC), have been characterized as potential prognostic factors for mortality in CVD.

Inflammation and all-cause mortality in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate inflammatory biomarkers in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis and investigate their association with all-cause mortality or transfer to hemodialysis.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 43 patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Plasma levels of cytokines were measured using flow cytometry and capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Thrombin generation assay as a biomarker of cardiovascular outcomes and mortality: A narrative review.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are currently the leading cause of death worldwide. Therefore, there is interest in the search for cardiovascular risk markers that contribute to the early diagnosis, monitoring and prevention of cardiovascular events. Considering that CVDs present in their pathophysiology a strong interaction between inflammation and hemostasis, thrombin, a key enzyme in the clotting process can be thought as a possible biomarker of cardiovascular risk.

Plasma immune mediators as laboratorial biomarkers for Sickle Cell Disease patients according to the hydroxyurea therapy and disease severity.

In the present work, the impact of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) degrees of severity, as well hydroxyurea treatment on the systemic immunological signatures of patients was evaluated. Based on a high-throughput chemokine, cytokine and growth factor multiplex analysis, it was possible to obtain the systemic immunological profile of patients with SCD (n = 40), treated or not with hydroxyurea, as compared to healthy controls (n = 40). Overall, SCD patients with severe disease displayed increased levels of almost all biomarkers analyzed.

Performance and reference intervals of thrombin generation test: results from the Brazilian longitudinal study of adult health (ELSA-Brasil). A cross-sectional study.

Background: The thrombin generation test (TGT) has shown promise for investigation of hemorrhagic and thrombotic diseases. However, despite its potential, it still needs standardization. Moreover, few studies have established reference values for TGT parameters.

Endothelial dysfunction biomarkers in sickle cell disease: is there a role for ADMA and PAI-1?

Within the spectrum of sickle cell disease (SCD) are sickle cell anemia (SCA), presence of hemoglobin SS (HbSS), hemoglobin SC disease (HbSC), and sickle cell β-thalassemia (Sβ-thal). Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) competitively inhibits the binding of arginine to NOS, reducing NO production. In patients with HbSS, increased levels of ADMA have been reported, as well as changes in many hemostatic biomarkers, including the plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1).

ADAMTS-13-VWF axis in sickle cell disease patients.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) comprises a group of genetic disorders characterized by the presence of the hemoglobin (Hb) S in homozygosis or in heterozygosis with some other Hb variant or in interaction with thalassemia. SCD is characterized by a very complex pathophysiology, which determines a wide variability of clinical manifestations, including a chronic state of hypercoagulability responsible for the increased risk of thromboembolic events. ADAMTS13 and von Willebrand factor (VWF) play an important role in arterial and venous thrombosis.

Thrombin generation in vivo and ex vivo in sickle cell disease patients.

Activation of coagulation is an important hallmark of sickle cell disease (SCD) and it is believed that hypercoagulability plays a role to the disease pathophysiology. Studies have sought to identify how hemostatic biomarkers are expressed in SCD, however, the results are inconclusive. In this context, our objective was to evaluate the thrombin generation in vivo and ex vivo in SCD patients and the association between these biomarkers and the use of HU.

Antibiotic resistance profile and occurrence of AmpC between Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from a domestic full-scale WWTP in southeast Brazil.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) represent an important reservoir of antibiotic resistance determinants. Although many studies have been conducted to evaluate resistance profiles in Enterobacteriaceae isolates from this setting, the dynamics of this phenomenon are poorly known to the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Here we aimed to evaluate the resistance profiles and the production of AmpC β-lactamase in P.

γ-Benzylidene digoxin derivatives synthesis and molecular modeling: Evaluation of anticancer and the Na,K-ATPase activity effect.

Cardiotonic steroids (CS), natural compounds with traditional use in cardiology, have been recently suggested to exert potent anticancer effects. However, the repertoire of molecules with Na,K-ATPase activity and anticancer properties is limited. This paper describes the synthesis of 6 new digoxin derivatives substituted (on the C17-butenolide) with γ-benzylidene group and their cytotoxic effect on human fibroblast (WI-26 VA4) and cancer (HeLa and RKO) cell lines as well as their effect on Na,K-ATPase activity and expression.

Development and evaluation of sustained-release etoposide-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) implants.

Poly(ε-caprolactone) implants containing etoposide, an important chemotherapeutic agent and topoisomerase II inhibitor, were fabricated by a melt method and characterized in terms of content uniformity, morphology, drug physical state, and sterility. In vitro and in vivo drug release from the implants was also evaluated. The cytotoxic activity of implants against HeLa cells was studied.