Platelets, gender and acute cerebral infarction

Serum 4-hydroxynonenal associates with the recurrence of patients with primary cerebral infarction

Background

4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), an α, β-unsaturated hydroxyalkenal, has been found to be associated with aspirin resistance, which is a risk factor for recurrent cerebral infarction. However, its effect on recurrent cerebral infarction is less defined. We designed this study to investigate the association between 4-HNE and increased risk of recurrent cerebral infarction.

Methods

We recruited 189 patients with primary cerebral infarction from 2017 to 2019. According to the recurrence of cerebral infarction during the 3-year follow-up period, they were divided into two groups, namely, the non-recurrence group (n = 93) and the recurrence group (n = 96). All patients were analyzed to explore the risk factors for the recurrence of primary cerebral infarction and the predictive value of serum 4-HNE for the recurrence of cerebral infarction.

Results

The levels of serum 4-HNE in patients of the recurrence group were significantly higher than that in patients of the non-recurrence group. There was a positive correlation between serum 4-HNE levels and the serum levels of triglyceride (r = 0.448, p = 0.008) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; r = 0.442, p = 0.002) in primary cerebral infarction patients. Cox proportional hazards modeling showed that demographic and certain clinical parameters, such as age, serum triglyceride levels, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, and serum 4-HNE levels, were independent factors for the recurrence in patients. The results of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) value of serum 4-HNE in patients with cerebral infarction recurrence was 0.703, and when the cutoff value of serum 4-HNE was set at 42.34 ng/ml, the sensitivity and specificity values of serum 4-HNE in predicting recurrent cerebral infarction were 79.20 and 52.70%, respectively.

Conclusion

Serum 4-HNE is an independent risk factor for the recurrence of patients with primary cerebral infarction, and it may become a new intervention way to prevent the recurrence of patients with cerebral infarction.

A Single-Center Clinical Study to Evaluate Shenxiong Glucose Injection Combined with Edaravone in the Treatment of Acute Large-Area Cerebral Infarction

Objectives

To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of Shenxiong glucose injection combined with edaravone in the treatment of acute large-area cerebral infarction.

Methods

156 patients with acute large-area cerebral infarction admitted to our hospital from July 2015 to January 2017 were included in the analysis. The patients were randomly divided into experimental (78 cases) and control (78 cases) groups. Patients in the experimental group were given a 30 mg injection of edaravone in 100 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride solution by intravenous drip, twice a day within 30 minutes and a daily 200 ml injection of Shenxiong glucose by intravenous drip. Patients in the control group were given a 30 mg edaravone injection in 100 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride solution by intravenous drip, twice a day, and the drip was completed within 30 minutes. Patients in both groups were treated for 2 weeks. The levels of fibrinogen (FIB), D-dimer, interleukin 6 (IL-6), P-selectin (CD62P), and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were evaluated in the two groups of patients. Neurological disability was evaluated using the modified Rankin scale (mRS) and the neurological deficit score (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS). Adverse reactions to the treatments were also recorded.

Results

No significant differences in age, gender, medical histories, and blood biochemical indices were observed between the two groups before treatment (P > 0.05). After treatment, the levels of FIB, D-dimer, IL-6, CD62P, and hs-CRP were significantly lower following treatment and compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Also, the mRS and NIHSS scores were significantly lower after treatment and compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The total effective rate of the treatment in the experimental group was significantly higher compared to the control group (P < 0.05). During the treatment period, no obvious adverse reactions were observed in the two groups of patients.

Conclusions

In addition to the routine basic treatment of acute large-area cerebral infarction, the addition of Shenxiong glucose injection combined with edaravone injection can improve platelet aggregation and reduce inflammation by affecting P-selectin, D-dimer, and FIB. This treatment approach promotes the recovery of nerve defect function without obvious adverse reactions in patients with acute large-area cerebral infarction.

Influencing Factors of Recanalization after Intravenous Thrombolysis with Urokinase in Acute Cerebral Infarction Patients

BACKGROUND

Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with urokinase is the standard reperfusion therapy for acute cerebral infarction (ACI) in China. Only about 30% patients who use urokinase for IVT can recanalize. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the influencing factors of recanalization after IVT using urokinase in ACI patients.

METHODS

A total of 391 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of ACI from January 2013 to October 2019 were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: patients without recanalization and patients with recanalization. Related data were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in gender, atrial fibrillation, erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume, platelet large cell ratio (P-LCR), glucose (GLU), and severity of ICAS between patients without recanalization and patients with recanalization (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that P-LCR (odds ratio [OR] = 0.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.03-0.89, p = 0.04), GLU (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.11-0.67, p = 0.004), and ICAS severity (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.32-0.76, p = 0.001) were the influencing factors of recanalization.

CONCLUSION

For patients with higher levels of P-LCR, GLU, or ICAS severity, the recanalization rate might decrease after ACI.

Sex differences in stress and immune responses during confinement in Antarctica

Background

Antarctica challenges human explorers by its extreme environment. The effects of these unique conditions on the human physiology need to be understood to best mitigate health problems in Antarctic expedition crews. Moreover, Antarctica is an adequate Earth-bound analogue for long-term space missions. To date, its effects on human physiology have been studied mainly in male cohorts though more female expeditioners and applicants in astronaut training programs are selected. Therefore, the identification of sex differences in stress and immune reactions are becoming an even more essential aim to provide a more individualized risk management.

Methods

Ten female and 16 male subjects participated in three 1-year expeditions to the German Antarctic Research Station Neumayer III. Blood, saliva, and urine samples were taken 1–2 months prior to departure, subsequently every month during their expedition, and 3–4 months after return from Antarctica. Analyses included cortisol, catecholamine and endocannabinoid measurements; psychological evaluation; differential blood count; and recall antigen- and mitogen-stimulated cytokine profiles.

Results

Cortisol showed significantly higher concentrations in females than males during winter whereas no enhanced psychological stress was detected in both sexes. Catecholamine excretion was higher in males than females but never showed significant increases compared to baseline. Endocannabinoids and N-acylethanolamides increased significantly in both sexes and stayed consistently elevated during the confinement. Cytokine profiles after in vitro stimulation revealed no sex differences but resulted in significant time-dependent changes. Hemoglobin and hematocrit were significantly higher in males than females, and hemoglobin increased significantly in both sexes compared to baseline. Platelet counts were significantly higher in females than males. Leukocytes and granulocyte concentrations increased during confinement with a dip for both sexes in winter whereas lymphocytes were significantly elevated in both sexes during the confinement.

Conclusions

The extreme environment of Antarctica seems to trigger some distinct stress and immune responses but—with the exception of cortisol and blood cell counts—without any major relevant sex-specific differences. Stated sex differences were shown to be independent of enhanced psychological stress and seem to be related to the environmental conditions. However, sources and consequences of these sex differences have to be further elucidated.

Consumption of alcohol leads to platelet inhibition in men

INTRODUCTION

Alcohol consumption has been shown to alter coagulation. However, thromboelastography with platelet mapping (TEG PM) to evaluate platelet function has not been studied.

METHODS

A prospective, non-randomized study of healthy volunteers was conducted. Baseline TEG PM were collected. Subjects consumed alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages for 2 h. Repeat TEG PM was collected.

RESULTS

Fifty-four volunteers entered either the experimental group (EG, 17 women and 16 men) or control group (CG, 11 women and 10 men). After 2 h of alcohol or non-alcoholic drink consumption the median breath alcohol level was 0.08 [IQR 0.05, 0.12] in the EG and 0.00 in the CG. After consumption of alcohol, male EG subjects demonstrated higher median Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) inhibition of platelet function (15.7% [3.9, 39.3] vs 8.2% [0, 30.1), p = 0.035), but female subjects did not. There was no evidence of increased arachidonic acid (AA) platelet inhibition in the EG compared to CG. Clot strength (TEG maximum amplitude) was not different between groups.

CONCLUSION

After consumption of alcohol, healthy male volunteers demonstrate ADP platelet inhibition by TEG PM.

Identification of active ingredients mediating anti-platelet aggregation effects of BuyangHuanwu decoction using a platelet binding assay, solid phase extraction, and HPLC-MS/MS

BuyangHuanwu decoction (BHD) is widely used as a traditional herbal medicine because of its antithrombotic effect, which is attributed to the inhibition of platelet aggregation; however, its active compounds remain unknown. In this study, we developed a method involving platelet binding, solid-phase extraction, and HPLC-MS/MS for screening BHD compounds with potential anti-platelet aggregation properties. Five compounds showing platelet binding affinity were identified as 6-hydroxykaempferol-di-O-glucoside, paeoniflorin, calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside, galloylpaeoniflorin, and formononetin-7-O-β-d-glucoside. The results of anti-platelet aggregation experiments in vitro confirmed that these compounds inhibited adenosine diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation. Our results suggest that a platelet binding assay combined with solid-phase extraction and HPLC-MS/MS is an effective method for screening anti-platelet aggregation agents in traditional Chinese medicines.

Preclinical models in the study of sex differences

The biology of sex differences deals with the study of the disparities between females and males and the related biological mechanisms. Gender medicine focuses on the impact of gender and sex on human physiology, pathophysiology and clinical features of diseases that are common to women and men. The term gender refers to a complex interrelation and integration of sex-as a biological and functional determinant-and psychological and cultural behaviours (due to ethnical, social or religious background). The attention to the impact of gender differences on the pathophysiology and, therefore, on the clinical management of the most common diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD), neurodegenerative disorders, immune and autoimmune diseases as well as several tumours, is in fact often neglected. Hence, studies covering different fields of investigation and including sex differences in the pathogenesis, in diagnostic and prognostic criteria as well as in response to therapy appear mandatory. However, prerequisites for this development are preclinical studies, including in vitro and in vivo approaches. They represent the first step in the development of a drug or in the comprehension of the pathogenetic mechanisms of diseases, in turn a necessary step for the development of new or more appropriate therapeutic strategies. However, sex differences are still poorly considered and the great majority of preclinical studies do not take into account the relevance of such disparities. In this review, we describe the state of the art of these studies and provide some paradigmatic examples of key fields of investigation, such as oncology, neurology and CVD, where preclinical models should be improved.

Human cells involved in atherosclerosis have a sex

The influence of sex has been largely described in cardiovascular diseases. Atherosclerosis is a complex process that involves many cell types such as vessel cells, immune cells and endothelial progenitor cells; however, many, if not all, studies do not report the sex of the cells. This review focuses on sex differences in human cells involved in the atherosclerotic process, emphasizing the role of sex hormones. Furthermore, we report sex differences and issues related to the processes that determine the fate of the cells such as apoptotic and autophagic mechanisms. The analysis of the data reveals that there are still many gaps in our knowledge regarding sex influences in atherosclerosis, largely for the cell types that have not been well studied, stressing the urgent need for a clear definition of experimental conditions and the inclusion of both sexes in preclinical studies.

Platelets and Inflammatory Parameters Do Not Affect Long-Term Survival after Acute Stroke

RATIONALE

According to literature, the inflammatory response and platelets are associated with coronary heart disease mortality. In this study, we examine if similar relationships exist after acute cerebral infarctions.

DESIGN

Between 2005 and 2007, individuals (n = 61) hospitalized with acute stroke were investigated 2.1 ± .3 (SD) days after hospital admission. After 9.3 ± .7 (SD) years, 29 patients (age 79 ± 8 [SD]; 12 women) had died. They were compared with survivors (age 69 ± 9 [SD]; 9 women) with respect to inflammatory parameters and platelet features such as activity and reactivity.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

Inflammation and platelets at the acute event do not forecast long-term survival of stroke sufferers.