Nimesulide 90 mg orally twice daily does not influence postoperative morphine requirements after major chest surgery.

Background: Cyclooxygenase 2 inhibition has proven analgesic efficacy in a variety of surgical procedures. We postulated that perioperative cyclooxygenase 2 inhibition significantly reduces postoperative morphine requirements after major thoracic surgery and investigated the site of this potential analgesic effect.

Methods: Ninety-two patients participated in this single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial.

Effect of enteric coating on antiplatelet activity of low-dose aspirin in healthy volunteers.

Background And Purpose: Aspirin resistance may be relatively common and associated with adverse outcome. Meta-analysis has clearly shown that 75 mg plain aspirin is the lowest effective dose; however, it is not known whether the recent increased use of enteric-coated aspirin could account for aspirin resistance. This study was designed to determine whether enteric-coated aspirin is as effective as plain aspirin in healthy volunteers.

The impact of genetic variation in the region of the GPIIIa gene, on Pl expression bias and GPIIb/IIIa receptor density in platelets.

Some studies have suggested that genetic variability in the glycoprotein (GP) IIIa gene modulates expression of platelet GPIIb/IIIa (alpha(2b)beta(3)). We sought to determine as to whether combinations of genetic variants within the GPIIIa gene (haplotypes) influenced the expression of GPIIIa RNA and protein levels in human platelets. Three promoter polymorphisms, Pl(A1/A2) genotype and platelet receptor densities were determined in 207 acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.

Platelet response to low-dose enteric-coated aspirin in patients with stable cardiovascular disease.

Objectives: We investigated whether use of low-dose enteric-coated (EC) aspirin for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events has sufficient bioavailability to achieve complete platelet cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition in all individuals.

Background: Aspirin reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with pre-existing vascular disease; however, there is variability in the way individuals respond. Persistent normal platelet function despite therapy, referred to as "aspirin resistance," is associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events.