Endothelial damage and complement dysregulation in fetuses from pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.

Introduction: Our objective was to evaluate the endothelial function profile and complement system in fetuses from preeclamptic pregnancies using ex vivo and in vitro approaches.

Material And Methods: A total of 66 singleton pregnancies were prospectively recruited comprising 34 cases of preeclampsia and 32 normotensive pregnancies matched for baseline characteristics. In the ex vivo approach, soluble tumor necrosis factor-a receptor 1 (sTNFR1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), Von Willebrand factor (sVWF), terminal complement complex (sC5b-9), Factor H, complement component C3a and Factor Bb were analyzed in fetal cord blood samples.

Circulating extracellular vesicles and neutrophil extracellular traps contribute to endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy complication characterized by hypertension, proteinuria, endothelial dysfunction, and complement dysregulation. Placenta-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), necessary in maternal-fetal communication, might contribute to PE pathogenesis. Moreover, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play a pathogenic role in other complement-mediated pathologies, and their contribution in PE remains unexplored.

T-TAS 01 as a new tool for the evaluation of hemostasis in thrombocytopenic patients after platelet transfusion.

Background: Current laboratory tests fail to evaluate the hemostatic function of platelets in patients with thrombocytopenia. We investigated the use of the Total Thrombus-Formation Analysis System (T-TAS 01 [Fujimori Kogyo Co, Tokyo, Japan]) to evaluate hemostasis under conditions of experimental thrombocytopenia, and in patients before and after platelet transfusion.

Materials And Methods: Specific T-TAS 01 chips, for thrombocytopenic conditions, were used.

Easix Score Correlates With Endothelial Dysfunction Biomarkers and Predicts Risk of Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease After Allogeneic Transplantation.

Plasma biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction have been postulated for the diagnosis and prognosis of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). However, their use is not validated in clinical practice yet. The endothelial activation and stress index (EASIX), a simple score based on routine laboratory parameters, is considered to be an indirect marker of endothelial damage.

Functionalization of 3D printed polymeric bioresorbable stents with a dual cell-adhesive peptidic platform combining RGDS and YIGSR sequences.

Biomimetic surface modification with cell-adhesive peptides is a promising approach to improve endothelialization of current bioresorbable stents (BRS). Among them, RGDS and YIGSR sequences have been reported to mediate adhesion and migration of endothelial cells (ECs) while preventing platelet activation. This work presents the functionalization of novel 3D-printed poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and poly(L-lactic--ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) BRS with linear RGDS and YIGSR sequences, as well as a dual platform (PF) containing both motifs within a single biomolecule.

Differences and similarities in endothelial and angiogenic profiles of preeclampsia and COVID-19 in pregnancy.

Background: COVID-19 presents a spectrum of signs and symptoms in pregnant women that might resemble preeclampsia. Differentiation between severe COVID-19 and preeclampsia is difficult in some cases.

Objective: To study biomarkers of endothelial damage, coagulation, innate immune response, and angiogenesis in preeclampsia and COVID-19 in pregnancy in addition to in vitro alterations in endothelial cells exposed to sera from pregnant women with preeclampsia and COVID-19.

An endothelial proinflammatory phenotype precedes the development of the engraftment syndrome after autologous Hct.

Engraftment syndrome (ES) is a common complication after autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (auto-HCT) whose pathophysiological substrate remains unclear. We investigated whether endothelial damage could contribute to ES. Circulating ECs-damage biomarkers were measured in plasma from patients with (ES; n = 14) or without ES (non-ES; n = 20), collected at different time points: before HCT, 5 (S5) and 10 days (S10) after HCT, and at either the ES onset (SON) or the discharge day (SDIS).

BioExcel Building Blocks, a software library for interoperable biomolecular simulation workflows.

In the recent years, the improvement of software and hardware performance has made biomolecular simulations a mature tool for the study of biological processes. Simulation length and the size and complexity of the analyzed systems make simulations both complementary and compatible with other bioinformatics disciplines. However, the characteristics of the software packages used for simulation have prevented the adoption of the technologies accepted in other bioinformatics fields like automated deployment systems, workflow orchestration, or the use of software containers.

Nucleosome Dynamics: a new tool for the dynamic analysis of nucleosome positioning.

We present Nucleosome Dynamics, a suite of programs integrated into a virtual research environment and created to define nucleosome architecture and dynamics from noisy experimental data. The package allows both the definition of nucleosome architectures and the detection of changes in nucleosomal organization due to changes in cellular conditions. Results are displayed in the context of genomic information thanks to different visualizers and browsers, allowing the user a holistic, multidimensional view of the genome/transcriptome.

Role of sodium tungstate as a potential antiplatelet agent.

Purpose: Platelet inhibition is a key strategy in the management of atherothrombosis. However, the large variability in response to current strategies leads to the search for alternative inhibitors. The antiplatelet effect of the inorganic salt sodium tungstate (Na2O4W), a protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitor, has been investigated in this study.

Distinct deleterious effects of cyclosporine and tacrolimus and combined tacrolimus-sirolimus on endothelial cells: protective effect of defibrotide.

Endothelial dysfunction seems to be a key factor in the development of several complications observed early after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The conditioning regimen and many other factors associated with the procedure are responsible for this endothelial damage. The effects of immunosuppressive agents on endothelial function have not been explored in detail.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of coagulation factors in cryoprecipitate prepared from fresh-frozen plasma inactivated with amotosalen and ultraviolet A light.

Background: There were no previous studies about the quality of cryoprecipitate prepared from fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) inactivated with amotosalen and ultraviolet A (UVA) light. The aim of this study was to analyze the quantity and quality of coagulation factors in cryoprecipitate prepared from FFP treated with amotosalen and UVA light.

Study Design And Methods: FFP was obtained from whole blood donations and inactivated with amotosalen and UVA light according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Preanalytical treatment of EDTA-anticoagulated blood to ensure stabilization of the mean platelet volume and component measured with the ADVIA counters.

The mean platelet component (MPC) parameter calculated by the ADVIA blood cell analyzers provides direct information on density, or granularity, of platelets and could become a useful biomarker to detect in vivo platelet activation. Unfortunately, it is largely affected by time and storage conditions in standard anticoagulants based on EDTA. The present study was designed to improve the stability of the MPC in blood specimens to facilitate a more standardized use in different laboratories.

Effects on primary haemostasis of an anti-inflammatory agent with 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity.

Objective: Licofelone ([2,2-dimethyl-6-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolizine-5-yl]-acetic acid) has been demonstrated to inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, and 5-lipoxygenase. The aim of this study was to investigate the in-vitro effects of licofelone on platelet function. Effects observed were compared with those produced by the classic COX-1 inhibitor aspirin (ASA).

Effects of beta2-glycoprotein I and monoclonal anticardiolipin antibodies in platelet interaction with subendothelium under flow conditions.

Objective: To evaluate whether the effect of human monoclonal anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) on platelet interaction with the subendothelium under flow conditions is dependent on beta(2)-glycoprotein I (beta(2)GPI).

Methods: Three monoclonal IgM aCL with anti-beta(2)GPI activity (TM1B3, GR1D5, and EY2C9) obtained from patients with antiphospholipid syndrome, a monoclonal aCL with lupus anticoagulant activity but without anti-beta(2)GPI activity (FRO) obtained from a patient with a splenic lymphoma, and a control monoclonal IgM without aCL activity were used. TM1B3, GR1D5, EY2C9, FRO, and control IgM (30 microg/ml) were added to reconstituted blood containing gel-filtered platelets (200 x 10(9)/liter), factor VIII (100 units/dl), and fibrinogen (1.