Effect of Greek Raisins (Vitis Vinifera L.) From Different Origins on Gastric Cancer Cell Growth

Currants and Sultanas (Vitis vinifera L.) are dried vine products produced in Greece and used broadly in the Mediterranean diet. We aimed to investigate the gastric cancer preventive activity of methanol extracts obtained from currants from three different origins in Greece (Vostizza, Nemea, and Messinia) as well as methanol extracts obtained from Sultanas cultivated in the island of Crete as to inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and inhibition of inflammation. All extracts from 500 μg dried raisins studied suppressed cell proliferation, significantly those obtained from Sultanas from Crete and currants from Nemea. Flow cytometric analysis of Annexin-V labeled cells indicated that Cretan Sultana, Nemea, and Messinia currants at 500 μg dried product/ml medium significantly induced cell death. All extracts from 500 μg dried raisins statistically decreased protein and mRNA levels of ICAM-1 in TNF-alpha stimulated cells. Measurement of IL-8 protein levels and quantification for IL-8 mRNA showed no significant decrease. These results indicate that the methanol extracts from currants, rich in phenolic compounds, exhibit cancer preventive efficacy by limiting cell proliferation, inducing cell death, and suppressing ICAM-1 levels in AGS cells.     

Hybrid procedures for the treatment of multi-focal ipsilateral internal carotid and proximal common carotid or innominate artery lesions

We report three cases with concomitant ipsilateral proximal common carotid and internal carotid artery stenosis treated in one stage with carotid endarterectomy and retrograde primary stenting of the common carotid artery. The internal carotid artery was clamped during stenting to avoid cerebral embolization. All procedures were successfully completed and all patients remain asymptomatic at 18 months follow up. The one-stage hybrid approach appears to be a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of ipsilateral multifocal significant lesions.     

Pharmacosimulation of delays and interruptions during administration of tirofiban: a systematic comparison between EU and US dosage regimens

Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis - Tirofiban is a glycoproteine (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor antagonist, which inhibits platelet-platelet aggregation and is a potential adjunctive antithrombotic...     

Impact of point-of-care testing for CYP2C19 on platelet inhibition in patients with acute coronary syndrome and early dual antiplatelet therapy in the emergency setting

Aims

Only limited data exist about the role of point of care CYP2C19 testing in the acute setting in the early phase of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the impact of CYP2C19 loss-of–function point-of-care (POC) genotyping in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and treated with dual antiplatelet therapy in the emergency setting.

Methods and Results

137 subjects with ACS scheduled for percutaneous coronary intervention were consecutively enrolled. Pre- and on-treatment platelet aggregation was assessed by multiple electrode aggregometry (MEA) after stimulation with adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Patients were loaded according to current guideline adherent indications and contraindications for use of P2Y₁₂ inhibitors in ACS. POC genotyping for CYP2C19*2 was performed in the emergency room after obtaining a buccal swab using the Spartan RX CYP2C19 system and obtaining patient’s informed consent. Prasugrel and ticagrelor treated patients had significantly lower PR compared to clopidogrel-treated patients. The benefits of prasugrel and ticagrelor compared to clopidogrel treated patients in terms of platelet inhibition were more pronounced in CYP2C19*2 carriers. Non-carriers showed similar inhibition regardless of particular P2Y₁₂ inhibitor treatment. Statistical analyses adjusting for factors associated with response (e.g. smoking) revealed that CYP2C19*2 allele carrier status and loading with different type of P2Y12 receptor blockers were significant predictors of on-treatment platelet reactivity in the early phase of ACS.

Conclusion

The results of this pilot study of treatment of patients in the early phase of ACS indicate that CYP2C19*2 POC genotyping might help to identify patients at risk with poor response to clopidogrel treatment, thereby benefiting from reloading and switching to alternative P2Y₁₂ receptor inhibition.     

Factors associated with the development of superficial vein thrombosis in patients with varicose veins

Introduction

Superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) is a common and controversial clinical entity. Recent studies have demonstrated that SVT should be seen as a venous thromboembolism (VTE). The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of thrombophilia defects and to estimate the role of age, sex and body mass index (BMI) in patients with varicose veins (VVs) and SVT.

Materials and Methods

A total of 230 patients with VVs, 128 with, and 102 without SVT underwent thrombophilia testing included factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and plasminogen activator inhibitor- 1 mutations, protein C, protein S (PS), anti-thrombin III and plasminogen deficiencies and levels of A₂ antiplasmin, activate protein C resistance and lupus anticoagulant. According to Clinical- Etiology- Anatomy- Pathophysiology (CEAP) classification patients were categorized in two subgroups: moderate disease (C_2,3) and severe disease (C_4,5,6). Age and body mass index were also assessed.

Results

The prevalence of thrombophilia defects was significantly higher in patients with moderate disease and SVT (p = 0.002). In the C_2,3 group, SVT was associated with PS deficiency (p = 0.018), obesity (p < 0.001), male gender (p = 0.047) and age (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in patients with severe disease.

Conclusions

Age, male sex, obesity and PS deficiency are factors associated with SVT development among patients with VVs having moderate disease (C_2,3).