Thrombosis research
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Thrombosis research · May 2012
Unfractionated heparin promotes LPS-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction: a preliminary study on the roles of angiopoietin/Tie2 axis.
Heparins, including unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH), are anticoagulants approved as a treatment for severe sepsis, which can also prevent apoptosis and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether UFH prevents vascular leakage induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and to define the role of angiopoietin (Ang)/Tie2 signaling pathway since LPS is usually used to mimic the initiation of sepsis. ⋯ This study demonstrates that UFH enhances endothelial barrier function and Ang/Tie2 axis probably represents one of the mechanisms by which UFH exerts its protective effect.
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Thrombosis research · May 2012
Association of blood transfusion and venous thromboembolism after colorectal cancer resection.
Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is a common event in the perioperative course of patients undergoing surgery. Transfused blood can disrupt the balance of coagulation factors and modulates the inflammatory cascade. Since inflammation and coagulation are tightly coupled, we postulated that RBC transfusion may be associated with the development of venous thromboembolic phenomena. We queried the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database to examine the relationship between intraoperative blood transfusion and development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing colorectal resection for cancer. ⋯ In this study of 21943 patients undergoing colorectal resection for cancer, blood transfusion is associated with increased risk of VTE. Malignancy and surgery are known prothrombotic stimuli, the subset of patients receiving intraoperative RBC transfusion are even more at risk for VTE, emphasizing the need for sensible use of transfusions and rigorous thromboprophylaxis regimens.
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Thrombosis research · May 2012
Practice GuidelinePrevention of venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer: guidelines of the Italian Society for Haemostasis and Thrombosis (SISET)(1).
Prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients remains controversial in most clinical settings. ⋯ Results of the systematic literature review and an explicit approach to consensus techniques have led to recommendations for the most clinically important issues in the prevention of VTE in cancer patients.