Impact of sample processing on the measurement of circulating microparticles: storage and centrifugation parameters.

Background: Microparticles (MPs) have been shown to be markers of cellular activation and interactions. Pre-analytical conditions such as the centrifugation protocol and sample storage conditions represent an important source of variability in determining MPs values. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the influence of sample storage conditions and centrifugation speed and temperature on the determination of MPs in plasma.

Phase II trial of irinotecan and metronomic temozolomide in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

This phase II study was conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of metronomic temozolomide (TMZ) in combination with irinotecan in glioblastoma (GB) at first relapse. Patients with GB at first relapse received TMZ 50 mg/m/2day divided into three doses, except for a single 100 mg/m2 dose, administered between 3 and 6 h before every irinotecan infusion. Irinotecan was given intravenously at the previously established dose of 100 mg/m2 on days 8 and 22 of 28-day cycles.

High correlation between 2 flow cytometry platforms in the microparticles analysis using a new calibrated beads strategy.

Microparticles (MPs) are potential noninvasive biomarkers for diagnosis or prognosis in pathologic conditions. However, the lack of standardization of the preanalytical and analytical methods leads to a wide variability in MPs results. The recently developed Megamix-Plus beads, a new bead-based standardization tool optimized to specific types of flow cytometers, could help circumvent this problem.

Increased circulating endothelial cells and microparticles in patients with psoriasis.

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic pathology characterized by increased inflammation that can be associated with changes in the vascular endothelium. We quantified the levels of circulating endothelial cells (CECs) and microparticles (MPs) in patients with psoriasis in order to analyze their relationship with endothelial and inflammation markers, subclinical atherosclerosis and microcirculation.

Methods: We studied 20 patients and 20 controls.

Circulating endothelial cells and procoagulant microparticles in patients with glioblastoma: prognostic value.

Aim: Circulating endothelial cells and microparticles are prognostic factors in cancer. However, their prognostic and predictive value in patients with glioblastoma is unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential prognostic value of circulating endothelial cells and microparticles in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma treated with standard radiotherapy and concomitant temozolomide.

Association of the thrombomodulin gene c.1418C>T polymorphism with thrombomodulin levels and with venous thrombosis risk.

Objective: To investigate the association of the THBD c.1418C>T polymorphism, which encodes for the replacement of Ala455 by Val in thrombomodulin (TM), with venous thromboembolism (VTE), plasma soluble TM, and activated protein C levels. In addition, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) isolated from 100 umbilical cords were used to analyze the relation between this polymorphism and THBD mRNA and TM protein expression.

Circulating endothelial cells and microparticles as prognostic markers in advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Circulating endothelial cells and microparticles have prognostic value in cancer, and might be predictors of response to chemotherapy and antiangiogenic treatments. We have investigated the prognostic value of circulating endothelial cells and microparticles in patients treated for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Methodology/principal Findings: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 60 patients before first line, platinum-based chemotherapy +/- bevacizumab, and after the third cycle of treatment.

Are there differences in acute phase inflammation markers regarding the type of heart failure?

This study aimed to determine if there are differences in inflammatory markers in the acute phase between systolic heart failure and heart failure with preserved systolic function. One hundred and thirty-one patients with acute heart failure were recruited consecutively. At admission, plasma fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, sialic acid, von Willebrand factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-6 and NTproBNP were all evaluated.

Circulating endothelial cells in patients with heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction.

Introduction And Aims: Acute and chronic heart failure may manifest different degrees of endothelial damage and angiogenesis. Circulating endothelial cells (CEC) have been identified as marker of vascular damage. The aim of our study was to evaluate the evolution of the CEC at different stages of patients with heart failure.

Atorvastatin neutralises the thrombin-induced tissue factor expresion in endothelial cells via geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate.

Statins may have beneficial effects in atherogenesis given their antithrombotic properties involving non-lipid mechanisms that modify endothelial function of tissue factor induction by thrombin. In this study, we investigate the effect of atorvastatin on tissue factor (TF) activity in thrombin-stimulated endothelial cells and its regulation through mevalonate or its derivatives. First subculture of human umbilical endothelial cells was used for this study.

[Circulating endothelial cells and microparticles in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies].

Background And Objective: To determine whether circulating endothelial cells (CECs), circulating microparticles (MPs) and von Willebrand factor (vWF), established markers of endothelial dysfunction/damage, are elevated in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) and its possible correlation with inflammation and coagulation.

Patients And Methods: Twelve patients with aPL and 12 healthy subjects were studied. Levels of CECs, MPs, vWF, C reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (Fg), sialic acid (SA), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tissue factor (TF), thrombin generation (TG) and prothrombin (F1+2) and fibrin (DD) fragments were determined.

Circulating endothelial and endothelial progenitor cells in non-small-cell lung cancer.

New treatments have recently been introduced for treating non-small-cell lung cancer. Chemotherapeutic agents, such as pemetrexed, and targeted therapies, such as bevacizumab, erlotinib or gefitinib, have extended treatment options for selected histological subgroups. Antiangiogenic treatments, either associated with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs or given alone as maintenance therapy, constitute an active clinical research field.

Circulating markers of angiogenesis, inflammation, and coagulation in patients with glioblastoma.

Inflammation, angiogenesis, and coagulation are linked to the development of cancer. In glioblastoma, microvascular proliferation is a hallmark, and lymphocytic infiltration is a common finding. Thromboses are frequent in patients with glioblastoma.

Follow-up study on the utility of von Willebrand factor levels in the diagnosis of cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

Background: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is the major cause of late death in patients undergoing heart transplantation (HT). The most validated method for its diagnosis is intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), and there are no sufficiently reliable non-invasive methods. von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a marker of endothelial dysfunction/activity that is rarely studied in the context of CAV.

Inflammatory markers in stable heart failure and their relationship with functional class.

Introduction And Objectives: While it appears to be clear that an inflammatory process occurs in heart failure (HF), it is still to be defined whether inflammation depends to a greater extent on HF etiology, functional class (FC), or the extent of depression of ejection fraction (EF). Our objectives were to analyze differences in inflammatory marker levels as compared to a healthy population, to assess differences depending on HF etiology, and to relate values with FC and EF.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-nine consecutive outpatients with stable HF (57 + or - 9 years, 89% males) and 59 controls (55 + or - 8 years, 85% males) were enrolled into the study.

Atorvastatin neutralizes the up-regulation of thrombospondin-1 induced by thrombin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Statins have been reported to affect blood vessel formation. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a multifunctional protein that affects vasculature systems such as platelet activation, angiogenesis, and wound healing. This study was designed to investigate the effect of atorvastatin on TSP-1 synthesis in thrombin-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and its regulation by mevalonate or its derivatives.

Inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and angiogenesis markers in chronic heart failure patients.

This study was conducted to assess the relationship among circulating markers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and angiogenesis in 59 chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. Increased concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), von Willebrand factor (VWF) and fibrinogen are strongly implicated in the development of CHF. Increased vascular endothelium grow factor (VEGF) and decreased thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) concentrations suggest a role of angiogenesis in the maintenance and repair of luminal endothelium in CHF.

Effect of oral anticoagulant therapy on thrombospondin-1 and von Willebrand factor in patients with stable heart failure.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is associated with coagulation activation, abnormal inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. High levels of von Willebrand factor (VWF) may manifest endothelial dysfunction and hypercoagulable state. The haemostatic activity of VWF is a function of multimers size; only large multimers of VWF are haemostatically active.

Regulation of cytosolic PlA2 activity by PP1/PP2A serine/threonine phosphatases in human platelets.

Platelet thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthesis is an important pathway of platelet reactivity. We report that in thrombin-stimulated platelets, PP1/PP2A serine/threonine phosphatases regulate phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) activity, which is required for TXA2 synthesis. Two mechanisms are involved: (a) constitutively active PP1/PP2A regulate cPLA2 phosphorylation, and (b) PP1/PP2A activity mediates agonist-induced increase in cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i).

Sialic acid is an inflammation marker associated with a history of deep vein thrombosis.

Introduction: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) induces a systemic chronic inflammation and it has been associated with atherosclerosis. Increased levels of total sialic acid (TSA) have been shown to correlate with inflammation and atherosclerotic processes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not increased levels of TSA are associated with a history of DVT and with inflammation and coagulation markers, as well as with the lipid profile.

Association between inflammation and hemostatic markers in atherothrombotic stroke.

Introduction: It has been reported that the influence of fibrinogen on the incidence of ischemic events is related to inflammation processes and reflects an association with advance atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of thrombogenic and inflammatory profiles in patients who have suffered a stroke.

Materials And Methods: The study involved 17 patients with atherothrombotic stroke and 34 healthy subjects as control group.

Influence of plasma and erythrocyte factors on red blood cell aggregation in survivors of acute myocardial infarction.

Increased erythrocyte aggregation (EA) has been observed in patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD), although most of these studies have been performed in the acute phase when reactant proteins may account for this increase. Little is known about the role played by the erythrocyte itself in this aggregation process. To ascertain the contribution of both plasma and erythrocyte factors to EA in IHD, we investigated the following parameters in 78 survivors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and in a well-matched control group of 98 subjects: EA, glucose, total cholesterol (T-Chol), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-Chol), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-Chol), triglycerides, apolipoproteins A(1) and B, protein and functional fibrinogen, plasma sialic acid, membrane sialic acid, and the cholesterol and phospholipid content of the erythrocyte membrane.

Effect of unfractionated heparin and a low molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin) on coagulant activity of cultured human endothelial cells.

Background And Objectives: Unfractionated heparin and low molecular weight heparins exert their anticoagulant effect by mobilizing tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) from the vascular endothelium into the blood circulation. We compared the influence of unfractionated heparin and enoxaparin on the anticoagulant function of cultured human endothelial cells.

Design And Methods: Monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells were treated with 10 U/mL unfractionated heparin or enoxaparin for different periods of time (30min-48h).

Inflammation, fibrinogen and thrombin generation in patients with previous myocardial infarction.

Background And Objectives: It has been reported that the influence of plasma fibrinogen on the incidence of myocardial infarction is related to inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between inflammatory activity, fibrinogen and thrombin generation in patients 5 years after the acute phase of myocardial infarction.

Design And Methods: Sixty-seven patients 5 years after a myocardial infarction and 67 control subjects were studied.