The Covert Surge: Murine Bile Acid Levels Are Associated With Pruritus in Pediatric Autoimmune Sclerosing Cholangitis.

Objectives: The exact etiology of pruritus in chronic cholestasis is unknown. Pruritus intensity does not correlate with common biochemical indices and there is a lack of biomarkers guiding diagnosis and treatment. We explored profiles of bile acids (BA) and muricholic acids (MCA) as well as autotaxin (ATX) antigen levels as potential circulating biomarkers of pruritus in pediatric patients.

Bile acid-induced tissue factor activity in hepatocytes correlates with activation of farnesoid X receptor.

Bile acids (BA) have been found to promote coagulation by increasing tissue factor (TF) activity. The contribution of elevated BA levels and cholestasis to TF decryption within the liver parenchyma and the role of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) in this process remain unclear. We investigated the effects of BA on TF activity and thrombin generation in hepatocytes and correlated these effects with activation of FXR-dependent signaling and apoptosis.

Self-referential processing and perspective taking in patients with a borderline personality disorder.

Divergent self- and other-referential processes play a particular role in the development and maintenance of borderline personality disorder (BPD). This study investigated self-referential processes in patients with BPD and age-matched controls. Participants performed a trait-judgment task, taking their own and the perspective of a close other person.

Impact of electric cardioversion on platelet activation.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) comes along with high risk of stroke. This risk continues even after re-establishing sinus rhythm with cardioversion. Aim of this study is to evaluate the contribution of electric cardioversion (EC) to platelet activation and procoagulatory tendency.

[Supporting Interventions for Families with Children of Mentally Ill Parents: An Overview of Family-Oriented Complex Interventions in German-Speaking Countries].

Objective: The aim of the present review was to identify all outpatient, family-oriented complex interventions for children of mentally ill parents known in the German-speaking countries on the basis of defined minimum requirements and to give an overview of their structure, content and proof of effectiveness.

Methodology: The interventions were identified by means of internet and literature research. If the defined criteria were met, the providers were contacted and asked to participate in a written survey.

Borderline personality disorder and childhood trauma: Exploring the buffering role of self-compassion and self-esteem.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) show lower self-compassion and self-esteem than healthy controls and whether patients' self-compassion and self-esteem moderate the association between childhood trauma and the severity of their BPD symptoms.

Method: Self-reported self-compassion, self-esteem, and the current severity of BPD symptoms were assessed in 35 female patients with BPD and 35 age-matched control participants. Further, traumatic childhood experiences were recorded in the patient group.

Increased tissue factor activity promotes thrombin generation at type 1 diabetes onset in children.

Objective: In type 1 diabetes (T1D), a prothrombotic status due to elevated coagulation factors coincides with metabolic derailment. In a previous study, we discovered altered thrombin generation profiles in children with T1D. These alterations are potentially most pronounced at T1D onset and ameliorated after insulin treatment.

New insights into neonatal coagulation: normal clot formation despite lower intra-clot thrombin levels.

Background: Healthy neonates exhibit no bleeding tendencies, but exhibit longer partial thromboplastin times than adults. Lower clotting factor levels may be balanced by lower inhibitor levels, which is not reflected in routine coagulation assays, but could result in normal clot formation in vivo. The novel thrombodynamics assay simulates a damaged vessel with tissue factor immobilized to a surface.

Neonatal thrombocytopenia: Thrombin generation in presence of reduced platelet counts and effects of rFVIIa in cord blood.

Healthy neonates exhibit a well-functioning haemostatic system despite peculiarities regarding composition of clotting factors and inhibitors as well as impaired platelet aggregation. Thrombocytopenia and severe bleeding events are feared in sick infants. Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) is a haemostatic agent used as a last resort in neonates with refractory bleedings.

Polyphosphate in Neonates: Less Shedding from Platelets and Divergent Prothrombotic Capacity Due to Lower TFPI Levels.

The neonatal hemostatic system exhibits a fragile balance featuring lower levels of clotting factors as well as inhibitors. Neonatal platelets show hypoaggregability, but neonates exhibit well-functioning primary and secondary hemostasis despite this impairment. Recently, polyphosphate shed by activated platelets has been shown to induce a prothrombotic shift on the plasmatic coagulation system of adults.

Non-enzymatic quantification of polyphosphate levels in platelet lysates and releasates.

Inorganic polyphosphate has been shown to be shed upon platelet activation inducing prothrombotic stimuli on the coagulation system. Several methods have been published to detect and quantify polyphosphate in various cells and tissues, but evaluation of platelet content has only been achieved by indirect detection of orthophosphate after enzymatic digestion, thus, relying heavily on specificity of an exopolyphosphatase that is not commercially available. We present a non-enzymatic method for quantification of platelet-derived polyphosphate featuring optimized extraction on silica spin-columns, followed by specific fluorescence detection using DAPI.