Endothelial Barrier Integrity Is Disrupted by Heme and by Serum From Sickle Cell Disease Patients.

Free extracellular heme has been shown to activate several compartments of innate immunity, acting as a danger-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) in hemolytic diseases. Although localized endothelial barrier (EB) disruption is an important part of inflammation that allows circulating leukocytes to reach inflamed tissues, non-localized/deregulated disruption of the EB can lead to widespread microvascular hyperpermeability and secondary tissue damage. In mouse models of sickle cell disease (SCD), EB disruption has been associated with the development of a form of acute lung injury that closely resembles acute chest syndrome (ACS), and that can be elicited by acute heme infusion.

Hypofibrinolysis induced by tranexamic acid does not influence inflammation and mortality in a polymicrobial sepsis model.

The biological relevance of fibrinolysis to the host response to sepsis is illustrated by pathogens such as S. pyogenes and Y. pestis, whose virulence factors are proteins that challenge the balance between pro- and anti-fibrinolytic factors of the host, and by the consistent finding of hypofibrinolysis in the early stages of sepsis.

Role of innate immunity-triggered pathways in the pathogenesis of Sickle Cell Disease: a meta-analysis of gene expression studies.

Despite the detailed characterization of the inflammatory and endothelial changes observed in Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), the hierarchical relationship between elements involved in the pathogenesis of this complex disease is yet to be described. Meta-analyses of gene expression studies from public repositories represent a novel strategy, capable to identify key mediators in complex diseases. We performed several meta-analyses of gene expression studies involving SCD, including studies with patient samples, as well as in-vitro models of the disease.

Vacuum-assisted drainage in cardiopulmonary bypass: advantages and disadvantages.

Systematic review of vacuum assisted drainage in cardiopulmonary bypass, demonstrating its advantages and disadvantages, by case reports and evidence about its effects on microcirculation. We conducted a systematic search on the period 1997-2012, in the databases PubMed, Medline, Lilacs and SciELO. Of the 70 selected articles, 26 were included in the review.