Evaluation of the anti-factor Xa chromogenic assay for the measurement of rivaroxaban plasma concentrations using calibrators and controls.

Rivaroxaban is an oral, direct factor Xa inhibitor. Routine coagulation monitoring is not required, but a quantitative determination of rivaroxaban concentrations might be useful in some clinical circumstances. This multicentre study assessed the suitability of the anti-factor Xa chromogenic assay for the measurement of rivaroxaban plasma concentrations (ng/ml) using rivaroxaban calibrators and controls, and the inter-laboratory precision of the measurement.

Evaluation of prothrombin complex concentrate and recombinant activated factor VII to reverse rivaroxaban in a rabbit model.

Background: As a potent anticoagulant agent, rivaroxaban exposes a risk of bleeding. An effective way to reverse its effects is needed. Objectives were to study efficacy and safety of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) and prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) to reverse the anticoagulant effect of an overdose of rivaroxaban in a rabbit model of bleeding and thrombosis.

In vitro study of the anticoagulant effects of edoxaban and its effect on thrombin generation in comparison to fondaparinux.

Introduction: Edoxaban, an oral direct factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor, is in Phase III development for prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disorders. Fondaparinux is an approved indirect FXa inhibitor. This study compared the effects of edoxaban and fondaparinux on thrombin generation (TG) using the calibrated automated thrombogram (CAT).

Pneumothorax recurrence after surgery in women: clinicopathologic characteristics and management.

Background: Our aim was to study the clinical, surgical, and pathological characteristic of women with homolateral recurrence of pneumothorax despite previous surgery.

Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of the clinical and pathological records of all consecutive women of reproductive age hospitalized in a thoracic surgery department for surgical treatment of pneumothorax recurrence despite previous surgery between 2000 and 2009.

Results: During the study period, 35 women were operated on.

Value of large scale expansion of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in a compartmentalised gas-permeable bag: interests for adoptive immunotherapy.

Background: Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) has emerged as an effective treatment for patients with metastatic melanoma. However, there are several logistical and safety concerns associated with large-scale ex vivo expansion of tumour-specific T lymphocytes for widespread availability of ACT for cancer patients. To address these problems we developed a specific compartmentalised bag allowing efficient expansion of tumour-specific T lymphocytes in an easy handling, closed system.

New anticoagulants: pharmacology and clinical studies.

The marketing of new anticoagulant drugs has led us to review the development of rivaroxaban and apixaban (oral anti-Xa drugs) and dabigatran (an oral thrombin inhibitor). The results are different in terms of efficacy and tolerance. Each molecule has its own field of application but it is not at all certain that each will find its place.

Drotrecogin alpha: a rational approach to the treatment of submassive pulmonary embolism?

Combining therapeutic doses of low-molecular-weight heparins and increasing doses of recombinant activated protein C - Drotrecogin alpha (activated), or DAA - is of theoretical interest with regard to the control of coagulation activation. The study by Dempfle and colleagues presents new data showing that endogenous activated protein C levels do not increase in nonseptic patients with pulmonary embolism. However, the results of the addition of these two treatments are puzzling, leaving unresolved the questionable clinical relevance of this combination and the possible increase in bleeding risk.

Use of low-molecular-weight heparins and new anticoagulants in elderly patients with renal impairment.

Elderly people with renal impairment are at high risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and acute coronary syndromes (ACS); however, they are also at increased risk for bleeding complications. Evidence-based data for the management of anticoagulation in elderly patients with severe renal impairment, in particular, are limited. These patients are frequently excluded from randomized clinical trials evaluating anticoagulants, confounding clinical decision making.

Laboratory assessment of new anticoagulants.

With the introduction of new anticoagulant agents, there is a need for information on which coagulation tests are most suitable. These agents react differently to assays used to monitor older anticoagulant agents because they have alternative modes of action. Therefore, other tests, or modifications of existing tests which are more appropriate for newer agents, are needed.

Perioperative deep vein thrombosis prevention: what works, what does not work and does it improve outcome?

Purpose Of Review: To critically evaluate the benefit/risk ratio of some strategies for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis (VTE) RECENT FINDINGS: A growing body of evidence shows that graduated elastic stockings are not effective in medical patients. Special surgical settings as bariatric surgery deserve attention with a high VTE risk and no evidence-based data with regard to prophylaxis. Extended prophylaxis is being evaluated in these patients, whereas its efficacy has been demonstrated in abdominal and pelvic surgery for cancer.

The mechanism of action of rivaroxaban--an oral, direct Factor Xa inhibitor--compared with other anticoagulants.

Although results of some phase III clinical trials of new oral anticoagulants are now known, it is important to understand the mechanisms of their actions. These new agents exert their anticoagulant effect via direct inhibition of a single Factor within the coagulation cascade (such as Factor Xa or thrombin). Rivaroxaban--the first oral, direct Factor Xa inhibitor--is a small-molecule oxazolidinone derivative that binds directly and reversibly to Factor Xa via the S1 and S4 pockets.

Long-term followup of penile carcinoma with high risk for lymph node invasion treated with inguinal lymphadenectomy.

Purpose: The current penile cancer problem is defining lymph node invasion types for which inguinal lymphadenectomy is effective in terms of patient survival and the number of inguinal metastases beyond which combination therapy should be proposed. We evaluated survival of patients with penile cancer at high risk for lymph node invasion treated with inguinal lymphadenectomy.

Materials And Methods: A total of 114 patients underwent lymphadenectomy for penile cancer with no palpable inguinal lymph nodes (cN0) but at intermediate or high risk for lymph node invasion, or with 1 or several palpable inguinal lymph nodes (cN1-3).

Assessment of laboratory assays to measure rivaroxaban--an oral, direct factor Xa inhibitor.

Although there is no need for routine coagulation monitoring with rivaroxaban--an oral, direct factor Xa inhibitor--a haemostasis assay might be valuable to measure its pharmacodynamic effects. This study aimed to find assays, among those commercially available, to measure rivaroxaban pharmacodynamics. Several global conventional clotting tests, as well as clotting or chromogenic assays to measure anti-factor Xa activity, were studied.

Primary chordoma of the lung.

We report the case of a 79-year-old woman referred to our institution for persistent cough and right-sided chest pain. A computed tomographic scan revealed a 2-cm round nodule in the right lower lobe. A wedge resection of the lesion was achieved by video-assisted thoracic surgery.

Chemotherapy regimens for non-small cell lung cancer.

In spite of medical progresses, lung cancer still remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Treatment of lung cancer is based on a multidisciplinary approach including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, molecular targeted therapies and supportive cares. These different treatments have been largely evaluated in the last decades with an enormous quantity of available literature.

Newer anticoagulants in 2009.

Several newer anticoagulants are under clinical development. Recently two of them, Dabigatran etexilate/Pradaxa. and Rivaroxaban/Xarelto obtained marketing authorization in Europe and Canada for the prevention of thromboembolic events following major orthopedic surgery such as total hip and knee replacement.

Preoperative localization of parathyroid lesions. Value of 99mTc-MIBI tomography and factors influencing detection.

Unlabelled: The AIM of our study was to assess retrospectively the value of (99m)Tc-MIBI SPECT in the localization of parathyroid lesions in primary hyperparathyroidism and to determine the impact of PTH level, age, sex, characteristics of the lesions and thyroid nodules on the sensitivity of imaging.

Patients, Methods: Fifty nine patients who were cured after the resection of 60 lesions (50 adenomas, 9 hyperplasias and 1 carcinoma, 9 of them in ectopy) were selected. (99m)TcO(4)(-), early and late (99m)Tc-MIBI planar images (n = 59), (99m)Tc-MIBI SPECT (n = 58) and ultrasound (n = 50) performed preoperatively were analyzed.

Prevention of venous thromboembolism: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition).

This article discusses the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and is part of the Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition). Grade 1 recommendations are strong and indicate that the benefits do or do not outweigh risks, burden, and costs. Grade 2 suggestions imply that individual patient values may lead to different choices (for a full discussion of the grading, see the "Grades of Recommendation" chapter by Guyatt et al).

New antithrombotic drugs: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition).

This chapter focuses on new antithrombotic drugs that are in phase II or III clinical testing. Development of these new agents was prompted by limitations of existing antiplatelet, anticoagulant, or fibrinolytic drugs. Addressing these unmet needs, this chapter (1) outlines the rationale for development of new antithrombotic agents, (2) describes the new antiplatelet, anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic drugs, and (3) provides clinical perspectives on the opportunities and challenges faced by these novel agents.

Parenteral anticoagulants: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition).

This chapter describes the pharmacology of approved parenteral anticoagulants, including the indirect anticoagulants, unfractionated heparin (UFH), low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs), fondaparinux, and danaparoid as well as the direct thrombin inhibitors hirudin, bivalirudin, and argatroban. UFH is a heterogeneous mixture of glycosaminoglycans that bind to antithrombin via a unique pentasaccharide sequence and catalyze the inactivation of thrombin factor Xa and other clotting factors. Heparin also binds to cells and other plasma proteins, endowing it with unpredictable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, and can lead to nonhemorrhagic side effects, such as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and osteoporosis.

Prothrombin complex concentrates: a brief review.

Prothrombin complex concentrates are haemostatic blood products containing four vitamin K-dependent clotting factors (II, VII, IX and X). They are a useful, reliable and fast alternative to fresh frozen plasma for the reversal of the effects of oral anticoagulant treatments (vitamin K antagonists). They are sometimes used for factor II or factor X replacement in patients with congenital or acquired deficiencies.

Surgical treatment of bronchiectasis: early and long-term results.

Management of bronchiectasis remains controversial and information on long-term results of surgical treatment is poor. Clinical records of 45 patients, who underwent surgery for bronchiectasis in an 8-year period, were retrospectively reviewed. Bronchiectasis focus was isolated in 24 cases, associated with a limited homolateral or controlateral focus in 9 and 11, respectively; two patients had bilateral evident foci.

Endobronchial sclerosing hemangioma: a rare presentation of a parenchymal tumor.

Endobronchial localization of sclerosing hemangioma is extremely rare. Exact localization of lesion at preoperative work-up allows parenchymal-sparing procedures. We report a case of endobronchial sclerosing hemangioma diagnosed preoperatively and treated by lingular-sparing upper lobectomy with nodal dissection.

Treatment of obturator neuralgia with laparoscopic neurolysis.

Purpose: Obturator neuralgia is a cause of pelvic and perineal pain that is rarely suggested, probably because it is poorly understood. We report the results of a pilot study of laparoscopic treatment for obturator neuralgia.

Materials And Methods: Seven patients (8 nerves) with obturator neuralgia were treated at our department.