To evaluate the effect of thrombin on the dynamics of thrombolysis, we infused rabbits with heparin or hirudin alone or in conjunction with tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and monitored the kinetics of fibrinolysis and changes in ex vivo platelet aggregation responses over time. Both heparin and hirudin enhanced total fibrinolysis in an ex vivo arteriovenous shunt preparation: 82 +/- 2...

T hrough evolution, several animal species have been endowed with salivary anticoagulants, presumably to secure their nutritional requirements for fluid blood from their prey. It has been known for centuries that the bites of leeches, certain snakes, insects, and vampire bats can result in local and systemic bleeding. The use of the medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, for therapeutic bloodlett...

Composites of polyaniline with calcium carbonate particles (PANI/CaCO3) with <span style="font-size: 10p...

BACKGROUND Platelet-thrombus formation is a complication of arterial wall deep injury by balloon angioplasty that may lead to acute arterial occlusion and may contribute to restenosis. METHODS AND RESULTS Because common platelet-inhibitor drugs with a heparin bolus (100 units/kg) may be effective in inhibiting platelet-thrombus formation after arterial angioplasty, these were compared with a ...

BACKGROUND Heparin and direct thrombin inhibitors, such as hirudin, have limitations in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes. Heparin does not inactivate fibrin-bound thrombin, whereas hirudin fails to block thrombin generation. In contrast, Vasoflux is a novel anticoagulant that inactivates fibrin-bound thrombin and attenuates factor Xa generation. METHODS AND RESULTS Vasoflux is prepar...

Current clinically approved thrombolytic agents have significant drawbacks including reocclusion and bleeding complications. To address these problems, a staphylokinase-based thrombolytic agent equipped with antithrombotic activity from hirudin was engineered. Because the N termini for both staphylokinase and hirudin are required for their activities, a Y-shaped molecule is generated using engi...

objective(s):previous studies demonstrate that changes in pre-mrna splicing play a significant role in human disease development. furthermore, many cancer-associated genes are regulated by alternative splicing. there are mounting evidences that splice variants which express predominantly in tumors, have clear diagnostic value and may provide potential drug targets. located on the x chromosome, ...

BACKGROUND Fibrinogen (Fg) has been considered essential for platelet aggregation. However, we recently demonstrated formation of occlusive thrombi in Fg-deficient mice and in mice doubly deficient for Fg and von Willebrand factor (Fg/VWF(-/-)). METHODS AND RESULTS Here we studied Fg/VWF-independent platelet aggregation in vitro and found no aggregation in citrated platelet-rich plasma of Fg/...

Therapeutic oligonucleotides including siRNA and immunostimulatory ligands of Toll-like receptors (TLR) or RIG-I like helicases (RLH) are a promising novel class of drugs. They are in clinical development for a broad spectrum of applications, e.g. as adjuvants in vaccines and for the immunotherapy of cancer. Species-specific immune activation leading to cytokine release is characteristic for th...

To evaluate the effect of thrombin on the dynamics of thrombolysis, we infused rabbits with heparin or hirudin alone or in conjunction with tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and monitored the kinetics of fibrinolysis and changes in ex vivo platelet aggregation responses over time. Both heparin and hirudin enhanced total fibrinolysis in an ex vivo arteriovenous shunt preparation: 82±2% an...