New anticoagulants for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Venous Thromboembolism: Unraveling the Emerging Association

Oxidative stress has emerged as a significant contributor to skeletal muscle atrophy, influencing cellular processes that underlie muscle wasting. This review article delves into the intricate interplay between oxidative stress and muscle atrophy, shedding light on its mechanisms and implications. We begin by outlining the fundamental concepts of oxidative stress, delineating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), their sources, and the ensuing oxidative damage to cellular components. Subsequently, we delve into skeletal muscle atrophy, elucidating its diverse forms, molecular pathways, key signaling cascades, and the role of inflammation in exacerbating muscle wasting. Bridging these concepts, we explore the connections between oxidative stress and muscle atrophy, unveiling how oxidative stress impacts muscle protein synthesis and breakdown, perturbs cellular signaling pathways, and contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction. The review underscores the complexity of quantifying and interpreting oxidative stress markers, highlighting the challenges posed by the dynamic nature of oxidative stress and the presence of basal ROS levels. Addressing the specificity of oxidative stress markers, we emphasize the importance of selecting markers pertinent to muscle tissue and considering systemic influences. Standardization of experimental protocols emerges as a critical need to ensure consistency and reproducibility across studies. Looking ahead, we discuss the implications of oxidative stress in diverse scenarios, encompassing age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia), muscle wasting in chronic diseases like cancer cachexia, and disuse-induced muscle atrophy. Additionally, we delve into potential therapeutic strategies, including antioxidant supplementation, exercise, pharmacological interventions, nutritional approaches, and lifestyle modifications, as avenues to mitigate oxidative stress-driven muscle atrophy. The review concludes by outlining promising future directions in this field, calling for deeper exploration of specific oxidative stress markers, understanding the temporal dynamics of oxidative stress, validation through translational studies in humans, and the development of targeted therapeutic interventions. By advancing our understanding of the intricate relationship between oxidative stress and skeletal muscle atrophy, this review contributes to paving the way for innovative strategies to address muscle wasting and improve muscle health.

Acute Portal Vein Thrombosis Treated with Recombinant Human Soluble Thrombomodulin Combined with Antithrombin III

Portal vein thrombosis is a major complication associated with liver cirrhosis. In cirrhotic patients, a decrease in procoagulant and anticoagulant factors and an unstable balance between them is observed, and a relative decrease in the activation of anticoagulant drivers is one of the main causes of portal vein thrombosis (PVT). Herein, we report a case of acute portal thrombosis associated with liver cirrhosis and treated with a recombinant form of soluble thrombomodulin (thrombomodulin alpha, TM-α) in combination with antithrombin III. TM-α was administered in accordance with the dosage and route of administration for disseminated intravascular coagulation therapy and resulted in dissolution of PVT with a gradual decrease in D-dimer levels. No adverse events were observed during the course of treatment. In the future, in addition to conventional anticoagulation therapy using heparin or antivitamin K drugs, novel therapies targeting protein C activation using a recombinant form of soluble thrombomodulin may play an important role in the treatment of acute PVT.