Pharmacodynamic changes of platelet reactivity status in patients with chronic kidney disease after coronary artery stenting

Inhibition of CTCF-regulated miRNA-185-5p mitigates renal interstitial fibrosis of chronic kidney disease

Aim: The present study aimed to elucidate the effect of CTCF on renal interstitial fibrosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and underlying mechanisms. Materials & methods: We measured NPHS2 expression and investigated its function in a unilateral ureteral obstruction-induced mouse model of CKD. Results: NPHS2 was poorly expressed in CKD mice. miR-185-5p targeted NPHS2 and reduced its expression, leading to increased α-SMA and COL I/III expression, increased renal interstitial fibrosis area and elevated phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein/vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein ratio. Co-treatment with CTCF downregulated miR-185-5p expression and abolished its effects in the CKD model. Conclusion: CTCF suppressed miR-185-5p and upregulated its target NPHS2, with a net effect of alleviating renal interstitial fibrosis in CKD.

Association between renal function and platelet reactivity during aspirin therapy in elderly patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Background

Aspirin is the key treatment in the secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. High on-treatment platelet reactivity (HTPR) to aspirin has been reported to partially account for the enhanced risk of thrombotic events. In particular, HTPR has been described more frequently among elderly patients. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical and biological factors associated with HTPR in a real-life elderly population.

Methods

In this retrospective study, elderly patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease on regular aspirin treatment were enrolled. Cardiovascular risk factors, routine biological parameters, comorbidities, and concomitant medications were recorded. The upper quartile of the platelet aggregation rate, determined by light transmission aggregometry with arachidonic acid, was defined as the HTPR group.

Results

A total of 304 patients were included (mean age 77 ± 8 years, 76% men). Patients in the HTPR group were older than the patients in the non-HTPR group (mean age: 79 ± 7 vs. 76 ± 8 years, p = 0.008). Patients with moderately decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) had a higher frequency of HTPR than patients with slightly decreased eGFR or normal eGFR (35.8, 22.5, 12.2%, respectively, p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, an independent risk factor for HTPR was the eGFR (OR: 0.984, 95% CI: 0.980–0.988, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Advanced age and decreased eGFR are correlated with poor pharmacodynamic response to aspirin.

Stability and anti-proliferative properties of biologically active compounds extracted from Cistus L. after sterilization treatments

The growing interest of oncologists in natural compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids is encouraging the development of innovative and efficient carriers for the delivery of those drugs. This study examines carboxymethyl chitosan-based microcapsules created by spray drying as a method for delivering biologically active compounds isolated from the Cistus herb. Effects of sterilization and encapsulation on the polyphenol and flavonoid content of Cistus extract were investigated to optimize the production process. Furthermore, in vitro studies were carried out to examine the anticancer properties of sterilized polyphenols and flavonoids on glioblastoma cells isolated from oncological patients. Acquired results show high anticancer potential towards glioblastoma as well as low cytotoxicity towards non-cancer cell lines by the substances in question. Steam sterilization is shown to affect the content of biologically active compounds the least. We demonstrate that the investigated form of drug encapsulation is both efficient and potentially possible to scale up from the viewpoint of the pharmaceutical industry.