Brazilian propolis (AF-08) inhibits collagen-induced platelet aggregation without affecting blood coagulation

Research on the hemostasis and coagulation effects of Callicarpa nudiflora based on the spectrum-effect relationship

Callicarpa nudiflora (C. nudiflora) is widely used in the treatment of bleeding related diseases. However, its main material basis has not been fully defined which limits the in-depth study of screening out the material basis of hemostasis and coagulation from C. nudiflor. In this study, the method of spectrum-effect relationship was used to quickly screen the material basis of hemostasis and coagulation. The five compounds related to hemostasis and coagulation were screened as Alyssonoside (P24), Luteolin (P25), Quercetin (P26), Apigenin (P28), Isorhamnetin (P29). And the contribution of these five peaks to hemostasis and coagulation efficacy was P24 > P25 > P28 > P26 > P29.

Association between multiple coagulation-related factors and lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer: A retrospective cohort study

Background

Patients with tumors generally present with accompanying activation of the coagulation system, which may be related to tumor stage. To our knowledge, few studies have examined the activation of the coagulation system in reference to lymph node metastasis within gastric cancer. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between multiple coagulation-related factors and lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer after excluding the influence of tumor T stage.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between lymph node metastasis and coagulation-related factors in 516 patients with T4a stage gastric cancer. We further analyzed influencing factors for lymph node metastasis and verified the predictive value of maximum amplitude (MA, a parameter of thromboelastography which is widely used to assess the strength of platelet-fibrinogen interaction in forming clots) in reference to lymph node metastasis.

Results

Platelet counts (P=0.011), fibrinogen levels (P=0.002) and MA values (P=0.006) were statistically significantly higher in patients with T4a stage gastric cancer presenting with lymph node metastasis than in those without lymph node metastasis. Moreover, tumor N stage was statistically significantly and positively correlated with platelet count (P<0.001), fibrinogen level (P=0.003), MA value (P<0.001), and D-dimer level (P=0.010). The MA value was an independent factor for lymph node metastasis (β=0.098, 95% CI: 1.020-1.193, P=0.014) and tumor N stage (β=0.059, 95% CI: 0.015-0.104, P=0.009), and could be used to predict the presence of lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer (sensitivity 0.477, specificity 0.783, P=0.006). The independent influencing factors for MA value mainly included platelet levels, fibrinogen levels, D-dimer and hemoglobin levels; we found no statistically significant correlations with tumor diameter, tumor area, and other evaluated factors.

Conclusion

We conclude that MA value is an independent influencing factor for lymph node metastasis and tumor N stage in patients with T4a stage gastric cancer. The MA value has important value in predicting the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis in patients with gastric cancer.

Clinical trial registration

http://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2200064936.

Dangers of Using Bee Propolis and Foeniculum Vulgare Before Browplasty

Several medicinal herbs have been associated with coagulopathy. They can be readily purchased at a local herb store without prescription or expert opinion based on scientific evidence. This is probably why patients do not disclose using these herbs to health care providers even on direct questioning. Here, we focus on two commonly used herbs in our community, bee propolis, and Foeniculum vulgare, also known as fennel seeds, as our patient ingested them before a scheduled browplasty. The significance of this anecdote is the concomitant ingestion of fennel seeds and bee propolis. Arguably, their consumption resulted in excessive intraoperative and postoperative bleeding in a previously healthy subject. This complication is undesirable in any aesthetic surgery, as it affects wound healing and the final cosmetic outcome. We hope that such bioactive herbs are warned against and that their risks are known to patients and physicians alike.