A pilot, prospective evaluation of a direct thrombin inhibitor, bivalirudin (Angiomax), in patients undergoing lower extremity bypass

An objective comparison between bivalirudin and heparin during peripheral vascular interventions

ABSTRACT 

Patients undergoing percutaneous peripheral interventions are at increased risk for thrombotic complications hence the routine use of periprocedural anticoagulants. There is currently no American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for periprocedural anticoagulants use in percutaneous peripheral interventions. Historically, unfractionated heparin has been the most common periprocedural anticoagulant used during percutaneous peripheral interventions. There may be a role for more predictable periprocedural anticoagulants in percutaneous peripheral interventions as has been demonstrated in percutaneous coronary interventions. Our review focuses on the evidence supporting the use of bivalirudin in percutaneous peripheral interventions.

Bioactive proteins and peptides isolated from Chinese medicines with pharmaceutical potential

Some protein pharmaceuticals from Chinese medicine have been developed to treat cardiovascular diseases, genetic diseases, and cancer. Bioactive proteins with various pharmacological properties have been successfully isolated from animals such as Hirudo medicinalis (medicinal leech), Eisenia fetida (earthworm), and Mesobuthus martensii (Chinese scorpion), and from herbal medicines derived from species such as Cordyceps militaris, Ganoderma, Momordica cochinchinensis, Viscum album, Poria cocos, Senna obtusifolia, Panax notoginseng, Smilax glabra, Ginkgo biloba, Dioscorea batatas, and Trichosanthes kirilowii. This article reviews the isolation methods, molecular characteristics, bioactivities, pharmacological properties, and potential uses of bioactive proteins originating from these Chinese medicines.