The parameter mean platelet volume (MPV) is a simple and relatively inexpensive laboratory measure that reliably reflects size. Evidence has been provided increased MPV values may be hallmark of several thrombotic disorders, including acute coronary syndrome, stroke, venous thromboembolism, abdominal vein thrombosis, even preeclampsia.[1] Although the clinical significance this remains only par...

All vascular implants, including stents, heart valves and graft materials exhibit suboptimal biocompatibility that significantly reduces their clinical efficacy. A range of biomolecules in the subendothelial space have been shown to play critical roles in local regulation of thrombosis, endothelial growth and smooth muscle cell proliferation, making these attractive candidates for modulation of...

Duringhumanfulminanthepatic failure (FHF) circulating levels of most hemostatic proteins fall dramatically. Concurrently, factor VIII (fVIII) procoagulant activity rises despite destruction of the hepatocytes considered responsible for fVIII synthesis. This observation suggests a role for cells other than hepatocytes in fVIII biosynthesis during FHF. We have attempted to identify nonhepatocytic...

It has been established that amelioration of murine immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) by IVIg is dependent on the inhibitory receptor Fc RIIB. Co–cross-linking of the Fc RIIB with the B-cell receptor complex or with Fc RI in mast cells results in cell inhibition, which is mediated by recruitment of the inositol phosphatase SHIP1 to the cytoplasmic tail of the Fc R. The Fc RIIB can also asso...

A20 binding inhibitor of NFB activation-2, ABIN-2, is a newly identified intracellular protein that interacts with the zinc finger protein A20. ABIN-2 inhibits nuclear factor– B (NFB) activity and is a possible effector of A20 regulation of NFB. Although A20 is a potent inhibitor of endothelial apoptosis, the effect of ABIN-2 on apoptosis is not known. ABIN-2 also interacts with the endothelial...

Congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP/HUS) is associated with an inherited von Willebrand factor–cleaving protease (ADAMTS13 [a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type I domains 13]) deficiency. In this study, we identified novel mutations in the ADAMTS13 gene in a patient with TTP. The patient was a 51-year-old Japanese male who exhibite...

1Center for Vascular Biology Research and Division of Molecular and Vascular Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA; 2Center for Blood Research (CBR) Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; 3Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA; 4Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, ...

Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) correlate with increased risk of cardiovascular and Alzheimer diseases. We studied the effect of elevated Hcy on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to explore the possibility of a vascular link between the 2 diseases. On a hyperhomocysteinemic diet, cystathionine beta-synthase (Cbs)– heterozygous mice develop hyperhomocysteinemia. Intravital microscopy an...

PURPOSE To determine whether MR angiography can be used to differentiate between the two vascular causes of bithalamic hyperintensity on T2-weighted MR images: "top of the basilar" artery occlusion and deep cerebral vein thrombosis. METHODS A retrospective review identified six patients with bithalamic T2 hyperintensity of vascular causes. MR angiography was performed in four patients, MR ang...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate umbilical cord abnormalities predisposing to mechanical cord compression and determine their relationship to adverse clinical outcomes and stasis-associated histologic changes in the placenta. METHODS Placental slides of 224 singleton pregnancies with gross cord abnormality (true knots, long cords, nuchal/body cords, abnormal cord insertion, hypercoiled cords, narrow cor...