Sample records for clot method validation

  1. Platelet Counts in Insoluble Platelet-Rich Fibrin Clots: A Direct Method for Accurate Determination.

    PubMed

    Kitamura, Yutaka; Watanabe, Taisuke; Nakamura, Masayuki; Isobe, Kazushige; Kawabata, Hideo; Uematsu, Kohya; Okuda, Kazuhiro; Nakata, Koh; Tanaka, Takaaki; Kawase, Tomoyuki

    2018-01-01

    Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) clots have been used in regenerative dentistry most often, with the assumption that growth factor levels are concentrated in proportion to the platelet concentration. Platelet counts in PRF are generally determined indirectly by platelet counting in other liquid fractions. This study shows a method for direct estimation of platelet counts in PRF. To validate this method by determination of the recovery rate, whole-blood samples were obtained with an anticoagulant from healthy donors, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) fractions were clotted with CaCl 2 by centrifugation and digested with tissue-plasminogen activator. Platelet counts were estimated before clotting and after digestion using an automatic hemocytometer. The method was then tested on PRF clots. The quality of platelets was examined by scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometry. In PRP-derived fibrin matrices, the recovery rate of platelets and white blood cells was 91.6 and 74.6%, respectively, after 24 h of digestion. In PRF clots associated with small and large red thrombi, platelet counts were 92.6 and 67.2% of the respective total platelet counts. These findings suggest that our direct method is sufficient for estimating the number of platelets trapped in an insoluble fibrin matrix and for determining that platelets are distributed in PRF clots and red thrombi roughly in proportion to their individual volumes. Therefore, we propose this direct digestion method for more accurate estimation of platelet counts in most types of platelet-enriched fibrin matrix.

  2. Platelet Counts in Insoluble Platelet-Rich Fibrin Clots: A Direct Method for Accurate Determination

    PubMed Central

    Kitamura, Yutaka; Watanabe, Taisuke; Nakamura, Masayuki; Isobe, Kazushige; Kawabata, Hideo; Uematsu, Kohya; Okuda, Kazuhiro; Nakata, Koh; Tanaka, Takaaki; Kawase, Tomoyuki

    2018-01-01

    Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) clots have been used in regenerative dentistry most often, with the assumption that growth factor levels are concentrated in proportion to the platelet concentration. Platelet counts in PRF are generally determined indirectly by platelet counting in other liquid fractions. This study shows a method for direct estimation of platelet counts in PRF. To validate this method by determination of the recovery rate, whole-blood samples were obtained with an anticoagulant from healthy donors, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) fractions were clotted with CaCl2 by centrifugation and digested with tissue-plasminogen activator. Platelet counts were estimated before clotting and after digestion using an automatic hemocytometer. The method was then tested on PRF clots. The quality of platelets was examined by scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometry. In PRP-derived fibrin matrices, the recovery rate of platelets and white blood cells was 91.6 and 74.6%, respectively, after 24 h of digestion. In PRF clots associated with small and large red thrombi, platelet counts were 92.6 and 67.2% of the respective total platelet counts. These findings suggest that our direct method is sufficient for estimating the number of platelets trapped in an insoluble fibrin matrix and for determining that platelets are distributed in PRF clots and red thrombi roughly in proportion to their individual volumes. Therefore, we propose this direct digestion method for more accurate estimation of platelet counts in most types of platelet-enriched fibrin matrix. PMID:29450197

  3. Evaluation of high resolution ultrasound as a tool for assessing the 3D volume of blood clots during in vitro thrombolysis.

    PubMed

    Auboire, Laurent; Escoffre, Jean-Michel; Fouan, Damien; Jacquet, Jean-René; Ossant, Frédéric; Grégoire, Jean-Marc; Bouakaz, Ayache

    2017-07-24

    Thrombosis is a major cause of several diseases, i.e. myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke and pulmonary embolism. Thrombolytic therapies are required to induce fast and efficient recanalization of occluded vessels. To evaluate the in vitro efficacy of these thrombolytic strategies, measuring clot dissolution is essential. This study aimed to evaluate and validate high resolution ultrasound as a tool to assess the exact volume of clots in 3D and in real time during in vitro thrombolytic drug testing. This new method was validated by measuring the effects of concentration range of recombinant tissue type plasminogen activator on a blood clot during complete occlusion or 70% stenosis of a vessel. This study shows that high resolution ultrasound imaging allows for a real-time assessment of the 3D volume of a blood clot with negligible inter- and intra-operator variabilities. The conclusions drawn from this study demonstrate the promising potential of high resolution ultrasound imaging for the in vitro assessment of new thrombolytic drugs.

  4. An Evaluation of the Accuracy of the Subtraction Method Used for Determining Platelet Counts in Advanced Platelet-Rich Fibrin and Concentrated Growth Factor Preparations

    PubMed Central

    Watanabe, Taisuke; Isobe, Kazushige; Suzuki, Taiji; Kawabata, Hideo; Nakamura, Masayuki; Tsukioka, Tsuneyuki; Okudera, Toshimitsu; Okudera, Hajime; Uematsu, Kohya; Okuda, Kazuhiro; Nakata, Koh; Kawase, Tomoyuki

    2017-01-01

    Platelet concentrates should be quality-assured of purity and identity prior to clinical use. Unlike for the liquid form of platelet-rich plasma, platelet counts cannot be directly determined in solid fibrin clots and are instead calculated by subtracting the counts in other liquid or semi-clotted fractions from those in whole blood samples. Having long suspected the validity of this method, we herein examined the possible loss of platelets in the preparation process. Blood samples collected from healthy male donors were immediately centrifuged for advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) and concentrated growth factors (CGF) according to recommended centrifugal protocols. Blood cells in liquid and semi-clotted fractions were directly counted. Platelets aggregated on clot surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscopy. A higher centrifugal force increased the numbers of platelets and platelet aggregates in the liquid red blood cell fraction and the semi-clotted red thrombus in the presence and absence of the anticoagulant, respectively. Nevertheless, the calculated platelet counts in A-PRF/CGF preparations were much higher than expected, rendering the currently accepted subtraction method inaccurate for determining platelet counts in fibrin clots. To ensure the quality of solid types of platelet concentrates chairside in a timely manner, a simple and accurate platelet-counting method should be developed immediately. PMID:29563413

  5. Toward a computational model of hemostasis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Leiderman, Karin; Danes, Nicholas; Schoeman, Rogier; Neeves, Keith

    2017-11-01

    Hemostasis is the process by which a blood clot forms to prevent bleeding at a site of injury. The formation time, size and structure of a clot depends on the local hemodynamics and the nature of the injury. Our group has previously developed computational models to study intravascular clot formation, a process confined to the interior of a single vessel. Here we present the first stage of an experimentally-validated, computational model of extravascular clot formation (hemostasis) in which blood through a single vessel initially escapes through a hole in the vessel wall and out a separate injury channel. This stage of the model consists of a system of partial differential equations that describe platelet aggregation and hemodynamics, solved via the finite element method. We also present results from the analogous, in vitro, microfluidic model. In both models, formation of a blood clot occludes the injury channel and stops flow from escaping while blood in the main vessel retains its fluidity. We discuss the different biochemical and hemodynamic effects on clot formation using distinct geometries representing intra- and extravascular injuries.

  6. Evaluation of Collaterals and Clot Burden Using Time-Resolved C-Arm Conebeam CT Angiography in the Angiography Suite: A Feasibility Study.

    PubMed

    Yang, P; Niu, K; Wu, Y; Struffert, T; Doerfler, A; Holter, P; Aagaard-Kienitz, B; Strother, C; Chen, G-H

    2017-04-01

    The assessment of collaterals and clot burden in patients with acute ischemic stroke provides important information about treatment options and clinical outcome. Time-resolved C-arm conebeam CT angiography has the potential to provide accurate and reliable evaluations of collaterals and clot burden in the angiographic suite. Experience with this technique is extremely limited, and feasibility studies are needed to validate this technique. Our purpose was to present such a feasibility study. Ten C-arm conebeam CT perfusion datasets from 10 subjects with acute ischemic stroke acquired before endovascular treatment were retrospectively processed to generate time-resolved conebeam CTA. From time-resolved conebeam CTA, 2 experienced readers evaluated the clot burden and collateral flow in consensus by using previously reported scoring systems and assessed the clinical value of this novel imaging technique independently. Interobserver agreement was analyzed by using the intraclass correlation analysis method. Clot burden and collateral flow can be assessed by using the commonly accepted scoring systems for all eligible cases. Additional clinical information (eg, the quantitative dynamic information of collateral flow) can be obtained from this new imaging technique. Two readers agreed that time-revolved C-arm conebeam CTA is the preferred method for evaluating the clot burden and collateral flow compared with other conventional imaging methods. Comprehensive evaluations of clot burden and collateral flow are feasible by using time-resolved C-arm conebeam CTA data acquired in the angiography suite. This technique further enriches the imaging tools in the angiography suite to enable a "one-stop- shop" imaging workflow for patients with acute ischemic stroke. © 2017 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

  7. A hybrid-system model of the coagulation cascade: simulation, sensitivity, and validation.

    PubMed

    Makin, Joseph G; Narayanan, Srini

    2013-10-01

    The process of human blood clotting involves a complex interaction of continuous-time/continuous-state processes and discrete-event/discrete-state phenomena, where the former comprise the various chemical rate equations and the latter comprise both threshold-limited behaviors and binary states (presence/absence of a chemical). Whereas previous blood-clotting models used only continuous dynamics and perforce addressed only portions of the coagulation cascade, we capture both continuous and discrete aspects by modeling it as a hybrid dynamical system. The model was implemented as a hybrid Petri net, a graphical modeling language that extends ordinary Petri nets to cover continuous quantities and continuous-time flows. The primary focus is simulation: (1) fidelity to the clinical data in terms of clotting-factor concentrations and elapsed time; (2) reproduction of known clotting pathologies; and (3) fine-grained predictions which may be used to refine clinical understanding of blood clotting. Next we examine sensitivity to rate-constant perturbation. Finally, we propose a method for titrating between reliance on the model and on prior clinical knowledge. For simplicity, we confine these last two analyses to a critical purely-continuous subsystem of the model.

  8. Whole blood clot optical clearing for nondestructive 3D imaging and quantitative analysis

    PubMed Central

    Höök, Peter; Brito-Robinson, Teresa; Kim, Oleg; Narciso, Cody; Goodson, Holly V.; Weisel, John W.; Alber, Mark S.; Zartman, Jeremiah J.

    2017-01-01

    A technological revolution in both light and electron microscopy imaging now allows unprecedented views of clotting, especially in animal models of hemostasis and thrombosis. However, our understanding of three-dimensional high-resolution clot structure remains incomplete since most of our recent knowledge has come from studies of relatively small clots or thrombi, due to the optical impenetrability of clots beyond a few cell layers in depth. Here, we developed an optimized optical clearing method termed cCLOT that renders large whole blood clots transparent and allows confocal imaging as deep as one millimeter inside the clot. We have tested this method by investigating the 3D structure of clots made from reconstituted pre-labeled blood components yielding new information about the effects of clot contraction on erythrocytes. Although it has been shown recently that erythrocytes are compressed to form polyhedrocytes during clot contraction, observations of this phenomenon have been impeded by the inability to easily image inside clots. As an efficient and non-destructive method, cCLOT represents a powerful research tool in studying blood clot structure and mechanisms controlling clot morphology. Additionally, cCLOT optical clearing has the potential to facilitate imaging of ex vivo clots and thrombi derived from healthy or pathological conditions. PMID:28856043

  9. A new method for concentration analysis of bacterial endotoxins in perfluorocarbon

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Dan-Dan; Feng, Xiao-Ming; Wang, Chun-Ren; Huang, Qing-Quan; Yang, Zhao-Peng; Meng, Qing-Yuan

    2014-12-01

    This communication demonstrates the feasibility of the gel-clot method for the analysis of bacterial endotoxins in water extracts of perfluorocarbon which is a water insoluble liquid medical device. Perfluorocarbon (10 mL) was shaken with 10mL water for 15 min at 2000 r/min and the endotoxin present was extracted to the aqueous phase without interference inhibition/enhancement of the product and the recovery of endotoxin added to perfluorocarbon was determined. A validation study confirmed that endotoxins presented in perfluorocarbon pass over into the aqueous phase at concentrations of 20, 10 and 5 EU/mL with recoveries from 86.8% to 96.8%. Therefore, the gel-clot test is suitable for detecting bacterial endotoxins in perfluorocarbon which is a water insoluble medical device.

  10. High-speed shaking of frozen blood clots for extraction of human and malaria parasite DNA

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Frozen blood clots remaining after serum collection is an often disregarded source of host and pathogen DNA due to troublesome handling and suboptimal outcome. Methods High-speed shaking of clot samples in a cell disruptor manufactured for homogenization of tissue and faecal specimens was evaluated for processing frozen blood clots for DNA extraction. The method was compared to two commercial clot protocols based on a chemical kit and centrifugation through a plastic sieve, followed by the same DNA extraction protocol. Blood clots with different levels of parasitaemia (1-1,000 p/μl) were prepared from parasite cultures to assess sensitivity of PCR detection. In addition, clots retrieved from serum samples collected within two epidemiological studies in Kenya (n = 630) were processed by high speed shaking and analysed by PCR for detection of malaria parasites and the human α-thalassaemia gene. Results High speed shaking succeeded in fully dispersing the clots and the method generated the highest DNA yield. The level of PCR detection of P. falciparum parasites and the human thalassaemia gene was the same as samples optimally collected with an anticoagulant. The commercial clot protocol and centrifugation through a sieve failed to fully dissolve the clots and resulted in lower sensitivity of PCR detection. Conclusions High speed shaking was a simple and efficacious method for homogenizing frozen blood clots before DNA purification and resulted in PCR templates of high quality both from humans and malaria parasites. This novel method enables genetic studies from stored blood clots. PMID:21824391

  11. Building and validation of a prognostic model for predicting extracorporeal circuit clotting in patients with continuous renal replacement therapy.

    PubMed

    Fu, Xia; Liang, Xinling; Song, Li; Huang, Huigen; Wang, Jing; Chen, Yuanhan; Zhang, Li; Quan, Zilin; Shi, Wei

    2014-04-01

    To develop a predictive model for circuit clotting in patients with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). A total of 425 cases were selected. 302 cases were used to develop a predictive model of extracorporeal circuit life span during CRRT without citrate anticoagulation in 24 h, and 123 cases were used to validate the model. The prediction formula was developed using multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis, from which a risk score was assigned. The mean survival time of the circuit was 15.0 ± 1.3 h, and the rate of circuit clotting was 66.6 % during 24 h of CRRT. Five significant variables were assigned a predicting score according to the regression coefficient: insufficient blood flow, no anticoagulation, hematocrit ≥0.37, lactic acid of arterial blood gas analysis ≤3 mmol/L and APTT < 44.2 s. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed no significant difference between the predicted and actual circuit clotting (R (2) = 0.232; P = 0.301). A risk score that includes the five above-mentioned variables can be used to predict the likelihood of extracorporeal circuit clotting in patients undergoing CRRT.

  12. High-speed shaking of frozen blood clots for extraction of human and malaria parasite DNA.

    PubMed

    Lundblom, Klara; Macharia, Alex; Lebbad, Marianne; Mohammed, Adan; Färnert, Anna

    2011-08-08

    Frozen blood clots remaining after serum collection is an often disregarded source of host and pathogen DNA due to troublesome handling and suboptimal outcome. High-speed shaking of clot samples in a cell disruptor manufactured for homogenization of tissue and faecal specimens was evaluated for processing frozen blood clots for DNA extraction. The method was compared to two commercial clot protocols based on a chemical kit and centrifugation through a plastic sieve, followed by the same DNA extraction protocol. Blood clots with different levels of parasitaemia (1-1,000 p/μl) were prepared from parasite cultures to assess sensitivity of PCR detection. In addition, clots retrieved from serum samples collected within two epidemiological studies in Kenya (n = 630) were processed by high speed shaking and analysed by PCR for detection of malaria parasites and the human α-thalassaemia gene. High speed shaking succeeded in fully dispersing the clots and the method generated the highest DNA yield. The level of PCR detection of P. falciparum parasites and the human thalassaemia gene was the same as samples optimally collected with an anticoagulant. The commercial clot protocol and centrifugation through a sieve failed to fully dissolve the clots and resulted in lower sensitivity of PCR detection. High speed shaking was a simple and efficacious method for homogenizing frozen blood clots before DNA purification and resulted in PCR templates of high quality both from humans and malaria parasites. This novel method enables genetic studies from stored blood clots.

  13. Measuring factor IX activity of nonacog beta pegol with commercially available one-stage clotting and chromogenic assay kits: a two-center study.

    PubMed

    Bowyer, A E; Hillarp, A; Ezban, M; Persson, P; Kitchen, S

    2016-07-01

    Essentials Validated assays are required to precisely measure factor IX (FIX) activity in FIX products. N9-GP and two other FIX products were assessed in various coagulation assay systems at two sites. Large variations in FIX activity measurements were observed for N9-GP using some assays. One-stage and chromogenic assays accurately measuring FIX activity for N9-GP were identified. Background Measurement of factor IX activity (FIX:C) with activated partial thromboplastin time-based one-stage clotting assays is associated with a large degree of interlaboratory variation in samples containing glycoPEGylated recombinant FIX (rFIX), i.e. nonacog beta pegol (N9-GP). Validation and qualification of specific assays and conditions are necessary for the accurate assessment of FIX:C in samples containing N9-GP. Objectives To assess the accuracy of various one-stage clotting and chromogenic assays for measuring FIX:C in samples containing N9-GP as compared with samples containing rFIX or plasma-derived FIX (pdFIX) across two laboratory sites. Methods FIX:C, in severe hemophilia B plasma spiked with a range of concentrations (from very low, i.e. 0.03 IU mL(-1) , to high, i.e. 0.90 IU mL(-1) ) of N9-GP, rFIX (BeneFIX), and pdFIX (Mononine), was determined at two laboratory sites with 10 commercially available one-stage clotting assays and two chromogenic FIX:C assays. Assays were performed with a plasma calibrator and different analyzers. Results A high degree of variation in FIX:C measurement was observed for one-stage clotting assays for N9-GP as compared with rFIX or pdFIX. Acceptable N9-GP recovery was observed in the low-concentration to high-concentration samples tested with one-stage clotting assays using SynthAFax or DG Synth, or with chromogenic FIX:C assays. Similar patterns of FIX:C measurement were observed at both laboratory sites, with minor differences probably being attributable to the use of different analyzers. Conclusions These results suggest that, of the reagents tested, FIX:C in N9-GP-containing plasma samples can be most accurately measured with one-stage clotting assays using SynthAFax or DG Synth, or with chromogenic FIX:C assays. © 2016 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

  14. Comparison of fibrin clots derived from peripheral blood and bone marrow.

    PubMed

    Shoji, Takeshi; Nakasa, Tomoyuki; Yoshizuka, Masaaki; Yamasaki, Takuma; Yasunaga, Yuji; Adachi, Nobuo; Ochi, Mitsuo

    2017-03-01

    Autologous fibrin clots derived from peripheral blood (pb-fibrin clot) and bone marrow (bm-fibrin clot) are thought to be effective for tissue regeneration. However, there is no report detailing the amount of growth factors in pb-/bm-fibrin clot. In this study we evaluated the amount of growth factors in human pb-/bm-fibrin clot, and prove the validity of fibrin clot for clinical use. Human pb-/bm-fibrin clots were obtained during surgery. In the first experiment, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed for detecting the amount of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), fibroblast growth factor basic (bFGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), platelet derived-growth factors-AB (PDGF-AB), and stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1). In the second experiment, the efficacy of fibrin clot on the osteogenic differentiation and fibroblast proliferation was evaluated. Pb-/bm-fibrin clots were incubated in human osteoblast derived from mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) or human skin fibroblast. Alizarin red staining and real-time PCR (COL1A1, RUNX2) were performed for the detection of osteogenic potential. Cell-growth assay (WST-8) and real-time PCR (COL1A1) were also performed for the detection of the potential of fibroblast proliferation. ELISA analysis revealed that the amount of VEGF, HGF, bFGF, IGF-1, and SDF-1 of bm-fibrin clot group is higher than that of pb-fibrin clot group with statistical differences. Besides, we confirmed that bm-fibrin clot has much potential for the osteogenic differentiation and fibroblast proliferation. The positive outcomes confirm the efficacy of pb-/bm-fibrin clot, and bm-fibrin clot was proved to have much potential for tissue regeneration compared with pb-fibrin clot. The current study showed the potential of a strategy for regenerative medicine using bm-fibrin clot.

  15. Micro-elastometry on whole blood clots using actuated surface-attached posts (ASAPs).

    PubMed

    Judith, Robert M; Fisher, Jay K; Spero, Richard Chasen; Fiser, Briana L; Turner, Adam; Oberhardt, Bruce; Taylor, R M; Falvo, Michael R; Superfine, Richard

    2015-03-07

    We present a novel technology for microfluidic elastometry and demonstrate its ability to measure stiffness of blood clots as they form. A disposable micro-capillary strip draws small volumes (20 μL) of whole blood into a chamber containing a surface-mounted micropost array. The posts are magnetically actuated, thereby applying a shear stress to the blood clot. The posts' response to magnetic field changes as the blood clot forms; this response is measured by optical transmission. We show that a quasi-static model correctly predicts the torque applied to the microposts. We experimentally validate the ability of the system to measure clot stiffness by correlating our system with a commercial thromboelastograph. We conclude that actuated surface-attached post (ASAP) technology addresses a clinical need for point-of-care and small-volume elastic haemostatic assays.

  16. Thrombin like activity of Asclepias curassavica L. latex: action of cysteine proteases.

    PubMed

    Shivaprasad, H V; Rajesh, R; Nanda, B L; Dharmappa, K K; Vishwanath, B S

    2009-05-04

    To validate the scientific basis of plant latex to stop bleeding on fresh cuts. Cysteine protease(s) from Asclepias curassavica (Asclepiadaceae) plant latex was assessed for pro-coagulant and thrombin like activities. A waxy material from the latex of Asclepias curassavica latex was removed by freezing and thawing. The resulted latex enzyme fraction was assayed for proteolytic activity using denatured casein as substrate. Its coagulant activity and thrombin like activity were determined using citrated plasma and pure fibrinogen, respectively. Inhibition studies were performed using specific protease inhibitors to know the type of protease. The latex enzyme fraction exhibited strong proteolytic activity when compared to trypsin and exerted pro-coagulant action by reducing plasma clotting time from 195 to 58 s whereas trypsin reduced clotting time marginally from 195 to 155 s. The pro-coagulant activity of this enzyme fraction was exerted by selectively hydrolyzing A alpha and B beta subunits of fibrinogen to form fibrin clot when pure fibrinogen was used as substrate as assessed by fibrinogen-agarose plate method and fibrinogen polymerization assay. Trypsin failed to induce any fibrin clot under similar conditions. The electrophoretic pattern of latex enzyme fraction-induced fibrin clot was very much similar to that of thrombin-induced fibrin clot and mimic thrombin like action. The proteolytic activity including thrombin like activity of Asclepias curassavica latex enzyme fraction was completely inhibited by iodoaceticacid (IAA). Cysteine proteases from Asclepias curassavica latex exhibited strong pro-coagulant action and were found to be specific in its action (Thrombin like). This could be the basis for the use of plant latex in pharmacological applications that justify their use as folk medicine.

  17. Acoustic radiation force induced resonance elastography of coagulating blood: theoretical viscoelasticity modeling and ex vivo experimentation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhatt, Manish; Montagnon, Emmanuel; Destrempes, François; Chayer, Boris; Kazemirad, Siavash; Cloutier, Guy

    2018-03-01

    Deep vein thrombosis is a common vascular disease that can lead to pulmonary embolism and death. The early diagnosis and clot age staging are important parameters for reliable therapy planning. This article presents an acoustic radiation force induced resonance elastography method for the viscoelastic characterization of clotting blood. The physical concept of this method relies on the mechanical resonance of the blood clot occurring at specific frequencies. Resonances are induced by focusing ultrasound beams inside the sample under investigation. Coupled to an analytical model of wave scattering, the ability of the proposed method to characterize the viscoelasticity of a mimicked venous thrombosis in the acute phase is demonstrated. Experiments with a gelatin-agar inclusion sample of known viscoelasticity are performed for validation and establishment of the proof of concept. In addition, an inversion method is applied in vitro for the kinetic monitoring of the blood coagulation process of six human blood samples obtained from two volunteers. The computed elasticity and viscosity values of blood samples at the end of the 90 min kinetics were estimated at 411  ±  71 Pa and 0.25  ±  0.03 Pa · s for volunteer #1, and 387  ±  35 Pa and 0.23  ±  0.02 Pa · s for volunteer #2, respectively. The proposed method allowed reproducible time-varying thrombus viscoelastic measurements from samples having physiological dimensions.

  18. ACTIVATION OF PLATELET-RICH PLASMA USING SOLUBLE TYPE I COLLAGEN

    PubMed Central

    Fufa, Duretti; Shealy, Blake; Jacobson, May; Kevy, Sherwin; Murray, Martha M.

    2008-01-01

    PURPOSE Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has recently been found to be a useful delivery system for growth factors important in oral tissue healing. However, application of PRP in a liquid form to a wound site within the oral cavity can be complicated by significant loss of the PRP into the surrounding oral space unless gelation via the clotting mechanism is accomplished. Gelation is currently accomplished using bovine thrombin; however, rare but serious complications of this method have led to the search for alternative clotting mechanisms, including the use of soluble collagen as a clotting activator. In this paper, our hypothesis was that soluble Type I collagen would be as effective as bovine thrombin in causing clotting of the PRP and of stimulating growth factor release from the platelets and granulocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS PRP from human donors was clotted using Type I collagen or bovine thrombin. Clot retraction was determined by measuring clot diameters over time. The release of PDGF-AB, TGF-β1 and VEGF from both types of clots was measured over 10 days using ELISA. RESULTS Clots formed using Type I collagen had far less retraction than those formed with bovine thrombin. Bovine thrombin and Type I collagen stimulated similar release of PDGF-AB and VEGF between 1 and 10 days; however, thrombin activation resulted in a greater release of TGF-β1 during the first five days after activation. CONCLUSIONS The use of Type I collagen to activate clotting of PRP may be a safe and effective alternative to bovine thrombin. The use of collagen results in less clot retraction and equal release of PDGF-AB and VEGF when compared to currently available methods of clot activation. PMID:18355591

  19. A Fictitious Domain Method for Resolving the Interaction of Blood Flow with Clot Growth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mukherjee, Debanjan; Shadden, Shawn

    2016-11-01

    Thrombosis and thrombo-embolism cause a range of diseases including heart attack and stroke. Closer understanding of clot and blood flow mechanics provides valuable insights on the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of thrombotic diseases. Such mechanics are complicated, however, by the discrete and multi-scale phenomena underlying thrombosis, and the complex interactions of unsteady, pulsatile hemodynamics with a clot of arbitrary shape and microstructure. We have developed a computational technique, based on a fictitious domain based finite element method, to study these interactions. The method can resolve arbitrary clot geometries, and dynamically couple fluid flow with static or growing clot boundaries. Macroscopic thrombus-hemodynamics interactions were investigated within idealized vessel geometries representative of the common carotid artery, with realistic unsteady flow profiles as inputs. The method was also employed successfully to resolve micro-scale interactions using a model driven by in-vivo morphology data. The results provide insights into the flow structures and hemodynamic loading around an arbitrarily grown clot at arterial length-scales, as well as flow and transport within the interstices of platelet aggregates composing the clot. The work was supported by AHA Award No: 16POST27500023.

  20. Thermal Blood Clot Formation and use in Microfluidic Device Valving Applications

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Tai, Yu-Chong (Inventor); Shi, Wendian (Inventor); Guo, Luke (Inventor)

    2014-01-01

    The present invention provides a method of forming a blood-clot microvalve by heating blood in a capillary tube of a microfluidic device. Also described are methods of modulating liquid flow in a capillary tube by forming and removing a blood-clot microvalve.

  1. Cytotoxicity and Osteogenic Potential of Silicate Calcium Cements as Potential Protective Materials for Pulpal Revascularization

    PubMed Central

    Bortoluzzi, Eduardo A.; Niu, Li-na; Palani, Chithra D.; El-Awady, Ahmed R.; Hammond, Barry D.; Pei, Dan-dan; Tian, Fu-cong; Cutler, Christopher W.; Pashley, David H.; Tay, Franklin R.

    2016-01-01

    Objectives In pulpal revascularization, a protective material is placed coronal to the blood clot to prevent recontamination and to facilitate osteogenic differentiation of mesenchynal stem cells to produce new dental tissues. Although mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) has been the material of choice for clot protection, it is easily displaced into the clot during condensation. The present study evaluated the effects of recently-introduced calcium silicate cements (Biodentine and TheraCal LC) on the viability and osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) by comparing with MTA Angelus. Methods Cell viability was assessed using XTT assay and flow cytometry. The osteogenic potential of hDPSCs exposed to calcium silicate cements was examined using qRT-PCR for osteogeic gene expressions, alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity, Alizarin red S staining and transmission electron microscopy of extracellular calcium deposits. Parametric statistical methods were employed for analyses of significant difference among groups, with α=0.05. Results The cytotoxic effects of Biodentine and TheraCal LC on hDPSCs were time- and concentration-dependent. Osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs was enhanced after exposure to Biodentine that was depleted of its cytotoxic components. This effect was less readily observed in hDPSCs exposed to TheraCal LC, although both cements supported extracelluar mineralization better than the positive control (zinc oxide-eugenol–based cement). Significance A favorable tissue response is anticipated to occur with the use of Biodentine as a blood clot-protecting material for pulpal revascularizaiton. Further investigations with the use of in vivo animal models are required to validate the potential adverse biological effects of TheraCal LC on hDPSCs. PMID:26494267

  2. Segmentation of blood clot from CT pulmonary angiographic images using a modified seeded region growing algorithm method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Park, Bumwoo; Furlan, Alessandro; Patil, Amol; Bae, Kyongtae T.

    2010-03-01

    Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a medical condition defined as the obstruction of pulmonary arteries by a blood clot, usually originating in the deep veins of the lower limbs. PE is a common but elusive illness that can cause significant disability and death if not promptly diagnosed and effectively treated. CT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) is the first line imaging study for the diagnosis of PE. While clinical prediction rules have been recently developed to associate short-term risks and stratify patients with acute PE, there is a dearth of objective biomarkers associated with the long-term prognosis of the disease. Clot (embolus) burden is a promising biomarker for the prognosis and recurrence of PE and can be quantified from CTPA images. However, to our knowledge, no study has reported a method for segmentation and measurement of clot from CTPA images. Thus, the purpose of this study was to develop a semi-automated method for segmentation and measurement of clot from CTPA images. Our method was based on Modified Seeded Region Growing (MSRG) algorithm which consisted of two steps: (1) the observer identifies a clot of interest on CTPA images and places a spherical seed over the clot; and (2) a region grows around the seed on the basis of a rolling-ball process that clusters the neighboring voxels whose CT attenuation values are within the range of the mean +/- two standard deviations of the initial seed voxels. The rollingball propagates iteratively until the clot is completely clustered and segmented. Our experimental results revealed that the performance of the MSRG was superior to that of the conventional SRG for segmenting clots, as evidenced by reduced degrees of over- or under-segmentation from adjacent anatomical structures. To assess the clinical value of clot burden for the prognosis of PE, we are currently applying the MSRG for the segmentation and volume measurement of clots from CTPA images that are acquired in a large cohort of patients with PE in an on-going NIH-sponsored clinical trial.

  3. Activation of platelet-rich plasma using soluble type I collagen.

    PubMed

    Fufa, Duretti; Shealy, Blake; Jacobson, May; Kevy, Sherwin; Murray, Martha M

    2008-04-01

    Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has recently been found to be a useful delivery system for growth factors important to oral tissue healing. But application of PRP in a liquid form to a wound site within the oral cavity can be complicated by significant loss of the PRP into the surrounding oral space unless gelation through the clotting mechanism is accomplished. Gelation is currently accomplished using bovine thrombin; however, rare but serious complications of this method have led to the search for alternative clotting mechanisms, including the use of soluble collagen as a clotting activator. In this work, our hypothesis was that soluble type I collagen would be as effective as bovine thrombin in causing clotting of the PRP and stimulating growth factor release from the platelets and granulocytes. PRP from human donors was clotted using type I collagen or bovine thrombin. Clot retraction was determined by measuring clot diameters over time. The release of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from both types of clots was measured over 10 days using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assasy. Clots formed using type I collagen exhibited far less retraction than those formed with bovine thrombin. Bovine thrombin and type I collagen stimulated similar release of PDGF-AB and VEGF between 1 and 10 days; however, thrombin activation resulted in a greater release of TGF-beta1 during the first 5 days after activation. The use of type I collagen to activate clotting of PRP may be a safe and effective alternative to bovine thrombin. The use of collagen results in less clot retraction and equal release of PDGF-AB and VEGF compared with currently available methods of clot activation.

  4. Histotripsy Thrombolysis on Retracted Clots

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Xi; Owens, Gabe E.; Cain, Charles A.; Gurm, Hitinder S.; Macoskey, Jonathan; Xu, Zhen

    2016-01-01

    Retracted blood clots have been previously recognized to be more resistant to drug-based thrombolysis methods, even with ultrasound and microbubble enhancements. Microtripsy, a new histotripsy approach, has been investigated as a non-invasive, drug-free, and image-guided method that uses ultrasound to break up clots with improved treatment accuracy and a lower risk of vessel damage when compared to the traditional histotripsy thrombolysis approach. Unlike drug-mediated thrombolysis, which is dependent on the permeation of the thrombolytic agents into the clot, microtripsy controls acoustic cavitation to fractionate clots. We hypothesize that microtripsy thrombolysis is effective on retracted clots and that the treatment efficacy can be enhanced using strategies incorporating electronic focal steering. To test our hypothesis, retracted clots were prepared in vitro and the mechanical properties were quantitatively characterized. Microtripsy thrombolysis was applied on the retracted clots in an in vitro flow model using three different strategies: single-focus, electronically-steered multi-focus, and a dual-pass multi-focus strategy. Results show that microtripsy was used to successfully generate a flow channel through the retracted clot and the flow was restored. The multi-focus and the dual-pass treatments incorporating the electronic focal steering significantly increased the recanalized flow channel size compared to the single-focus treatments. The dual-pass treatments achieved a restored flow rate up to 324 mL/min without cavitation contacting the vessel wall. The clot debris particles generated from microtripsy thrombolysis remained within the safe range. The results in this study show the potential of microtripsy thrombolysis for retracted clot recanalization with the enhancement of electronic focal steering. PMID:27166017

  5. Integration of acoustic radiation force and optical imaging for blood plasma clot stiffness measurement.

    PubMed

    Wang, Caroline W; Perez, Matthew J; Helmke, Brian P; Viola, Francesco; Lawrence, Michael B

    2015-01-01

    Despite the life-preserving function blood clotting serves in the body, inadequate or excessive blood clot stiffness has been associated with life-threatening diseases such as stroke, hemorrhage, and heart attack. The relationship between blood clot stiffness and vascular diseases underscores the importance of quantifying the magnitude and kinetics of blood's transformation from a fluid to a viscoelastic solid. To measure blood plasma clot stiffness, we have developed a method that uses ultrasound acoustic radiation force (ARF) to induce micron-scaled displacements (1-500 μm) on microbeads suspended in blood plasma. The displacements were detected by optical microscopy and took place within a micro-liter sized clot region formed within a larger volume (2 mL sample) to minimize container surface effects. Modulation of the ultrasound generated acoustic radiation force allowed stiffness measurements to be made in blood plasma from before its gel point to the stage where it was a fully developed viscoelastic solid. A 0.5 wt % agarose hydrogel was 9.8-fold stiffer than the plasma (platelet-rich) clot at 1 h post-kaolin stimulus. The acoustic radiation force microbead method was sensitive to the presence of platelets and strength of coagulation stimulus. Platelet depletion reduced clot stiffness 6.9 fold relative to platelet rich plasma. The sensitivity of acoustic radiation force based stiffness assessment may allow for studying platelet regulation of both incipient and mature clot mechanical properties.

  6. In microfluidico: Recreating in vivo hemodynamics using miniaturized devices

    PubMed Central

    Zhu, Shu; Herbig, Bradley A.; Li, Ruizhi; Colace, Thomas V.; Muthard, Ryan W.; Neeves, Keith B.; Diamond, Scott L.

    2016-01-01

    Microfluidic devices create precisely controlled reactive blood flows and typically involve: (i) validated anticoagulation/pharmacology protocols, (ii) defined reactive surfaces, (iii) defined flow-transport regimes, and (iv) optical imaging. An 8-channel device can be run at constant flow rate or constant pressure drop for blood perfusion over a patterned collagen, collagen/kaolin, or collagen/tissue factor (TF) to measure platelet, thrombin, and fibrin dynamics during clot growth. A membrane-flow device delivers a constant flux of platelet agonists or coagulation enzymes into flowing blood. A trifurcated device sheaths a central blood flow on both sides with buffer, an ideal approach for on-chip recalcification of citrated blood or drug delivery. A side-view device allows clotting on a porous collagen/TF plug at constant pressure differential across the developing clot. The core-shell architecture of clots made in mouse models can be replicated in this device using human blood. For pathological flows, a stenosis device achieves shear rates of >100,000 s−1 to drive plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) to form thick long fibers on collagen. Similarly, a micropost-impingement device creates extreme elongational and shear flows for VWF fiber formation without collagen. Overall, microfluidics are ideal for studies of clotting, bleeding, fibrin polymerization/fibrinolysis, cell/clot mechanics, adhesion, mechanobiology, and reaction-transport dynamics. PMID:26600269

  7. Histotripsy Thrombolysis on Retracted Clots.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Xi; Owens, Gabe E; Cain, Charles A; Gurm, Hitinder S; Macoskey, Jonathan; Xu, Zhen

    2016-08-01

    Retracted blood clots have been previously recognized to be more resistant to drug-based thrombolysis methods, even with ultrasound and microbubble enhancements. Microtripsy, a new histotripsy approach, has been investigated as a non-invasive, drug-free and image-guided method that uses ultrasound to break up clots with improved treatment accuracy and a lower risk of vessel damage compared with the traditional histotripsy thrombolysis approach. Unlike drug-mediated thrombolysis, which is dependent on the permeation of the thrombolytic agents into the clot, microtripsy controls acoustic cavitation to fractionate clots. We hypothesize that microtripsy thrombolysis is effective on retracted clots and that the treatment efficacy can be enhanced using strategies incorporating electronic focal steering. To test our hypothesis, retracted clots were prepared in vitro and the mechanical properties were quantitatively characterized. Microtripsy thrombolysis was applied on the retracted clots in an in vitro flow model using three different strategies: single-focus, electronically-steered multi-focus and dual-pass multi-focus. Results show that microtripsy was used to successfully generate a flow channel through the retracted clot and the flow was restored. The multi-focus and the dual-pass treatments incorporating the electronic focal steering significantly increased the recanalized flow channel size compared to the single-focus treatments. The dual-pass treatments achieved a restored flow rate up to 324 mL/min without cavitation contacting the vessel wall. The clot debris particles generated from microtripsy thrombolysis remained within the safe range. The results of this study show the potential of microtripsy thrombolysis for retracted clot recanalization with the enhancement of electronic focal steering. Copyright © 2016 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Optimization of quantitative proteomic analysis of clots generated from plasma of patients with venous thromboembolism.

    PubMed

    Stachowicz, Aneta; Siudut, Jakub; Suski, Maciej; Olszanecki, Rafał; Korbut, Ryszard; Undas, Anetta; Wiśniewski, Jacek R

    2017-01-01

    It is well known that fibrin network binds a large variety of proteins, including inhibitors and activators of fibrinolysis, which may affect clot properties, such as stability and susceptibility to fibrinolysis. Specific plasma clot composition differs between individuals and may change in disease states. However, the plasma clot proteome has not yet been in-depth analyzed, mainly due to technical difficulty related to the presence of a highly abundant protein-fibrinogen and fibrin that forms a plasma clot. The aim of our study was to optimize quantitative proteomic analysis of fibrin clots prepared ex vivo from citrated plasma of the peripheral blood drawn from patients with prior venous thromboembolism (VTE). We used a multiple enzyme digestion filter aided sample preparation, a multienzyme digestion (MED) FASP method combined with LC-MS/MS analysis performed on a Proxeon Easy-nLC System coupled to the Q Exactive HF mass spectrometer. We also evaluated the impact of peptide fractionation with pipet-tip strong anion exchange (SAX) method on the obtained results. Our proteomic approach revealed 476 proteins repeatedly identified in the plasma fibrin clots from patients with VTE including extracellular vesicle-derived proteins, lipoproteins, fibrinolysis inhibitors, and proteins involved in immune responses. The MED FASP method using three different enzymes: LysC, trypsin and chymotrypsin increased the number of identified peptides and proteins and their sequence coverage as compared to a single step digestion. Peptide fractionation with a pipet-tip strong anion exchange (SAX) protocol increased the depth of proteomic analyses, but also extended the time needed for sample analysis with LC-MS/MS. The MED FASP method combined with a label-free quantification is an excellent proteomic approach for the analysis of fibrin clots prepared ex vivo from citrated plasma of patients with prior VTE.

  9. Activation of platelet-rich plasma using thrombin receptor agonist peptide.

    PubMed

    Landesberg, Regina; Burke, Andrea; Pinsky, David; Katz, Ronald; Vo, Jennifer; Eisig, Sidney B; Lu, Helen H

    2005-04-01

    This study proposes an alternative preparation method of platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Specifically, we compare the use of thrombin receptor agonist peptide-6 (TRAP) and bovine thrombin as a clotting agent in the preparation of PRP. PRP was prepared by centrifugation and clotted with thrombin or TRAP. In vitro clotting times were monitored as a function of TRAP concentration, and clot retraction was determined by measuring clot diameter over time. Following the optimization of TRAP concentration, experiments were repeated with the addition of several commercially available bone substitutes. The release of PRP-relevant growth factors as a function of PRP preparation was also determined. The most rapid polymerization of PRP takes place with the addition of thrombin, followed by TRAP/Allogro (Ceramed, Lakewood, CO), TRAP/BioGlass (Mo-Sci, Rolla, MN), TRAP/BioOss (Osteohealth, Shirley, NY), and TRAP alone. Thrombin caused considerable clot retraction (43%), whereas TRAP alone resulted in only 15% retraction. TRAP/Allogro, TRAP/BioOss, and TRAP/BioGlass all exhibited minimal retraction (8%). The use of TRAP to activate clot formation in the preparation of PRP may be a safe alternative to bovine thrombin. It results in an excellent working time and significantly less clot retraction than the currently available methods of PRP production.

  10. Moringa oleifera Lam.: Protease activity against blood coagulation cascade

    PubMed Central

    Satish, A; Sairam, Sudha; Ahmed, Faiyaz; Urooj, Asna

    2012-01-01

    Background: The present study evaluated the protease activity of aqueous extracts of Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) leaf (MOL) and root (MOR). Materials and Methods: Protease activity was assayed using casein, human plasma clot and human fibrinogen as substrates. Results: Caseinolytic activity of MOL was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than that of MOR. Similar observations were found in case of human plasma clot hydrolyzing activity, wherein MOL caused significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) plasma clot hydrolysis than MOR. Zymographic techniques were used to detect proteolytic enzymes following electrophoretic separation in gels. Further, both the extracts exhibited significant procoagulant activity as reflected by a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in recalcification time, accompanied by fibrinogenolytic and fibrinolytic activities; clotting time was decreased from 180 ± 10 sec to 119 ± 8 sec and 143 ± 10 sec by MOL and MOR, respectively, at a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL. Fibrinogenolytic (human fibrinogen) and fibrinolytic activity (human plasma clot) was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), plate method and colorimetric method. Zymographic profile indicated that both the extracts exerted their procoagulant activity by selectively hydrolyzing Aα and Bβ subunits of fibrinogen to form fibrin clot, thereby exhibiting fibrinogenolytic activity. However, prolonged incubation resulted in degradation of the formed fibrin clot, suggesting fibrinolytic like activity. Conclusions: These findings support the traditional usage of M. oleifera extracts for wound healing. PMID:22224061

  11. Integration of Acoustic Radiation Force and Optical Imaging for Blood Plasma Clot Stiffness Measurement

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Caroline W.; Perez, Matthew J.; Helmke, Brian P.; Viola, Francesco; Lawrence, Michael B.

    2015-01-01

    Despite the life-preserving function blood clotting serves in the body, inadequate or excessive blood clot stiffness has been associated with life-threatening diseases such as stroke, hemorrhage, and heart attack. The relationship between blood clot stiffness and vascular diseases underscores the importance of quantifying the magnitude and kinetics of blood’s transformation from a fluid to a viscoelastic solid. To measure blood plasma clot stiffness, we have developed a method that uses ultrasound acoustic radiation force (ARF) to induce micron-scaled displacements (1-500 μm) on microbeads suspended in blood plasma. The displacements were detected by optical microscopy and took place within a micro-liter sized clot region formed within a larger volume (2 mL sample) to minimize container surface effects. Modulation of the ultrasound generated acoustic radiation force allowed stiffness measurements to be made in blood plasma from before its gel point to the stage where it was a fully developed viscoelastic solid. A 0.5 wt % agarose hydrogel was 9.8-fold stiffer than the plasma (platelet-rich) clot at 1 h post-kaolin stimulus. The acoustic radiation force microbead method was sensitive to the presence of platelets and strength of coagulation stimulus. Platelet depletion reduced clot stiffness 6.9 fold relative to platelet rich plasma. The sensitivity of acoustic radiation force based stiffness assessment may allow for studying platelet regulation of both incipient and mature clot mechanical properties. PMID:26042775

  12. Comparative lytic efficacy of rt-PA and ultrasound in porcine versus human clots

    PubMed Central

    Shekhar, Himanshu; Holland, Christy K.

    2017-01-01

    Introduction Porcine thrombi are employed routinely in preclinical models of ischemic stroke. In this study, we examined the differential lytic susceptibility of porcine and human whole blood clots with and without the use of microbubbles and ultrasound (US) as an adjuvant. Materials and methods An in vitro system equipped with time-lapse microscopy was used to evaluate recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (rt-PA) lysis of porcine and human clots in the same species or cross species plasma. Human and porcine whole blood clots were treated with rt-PA and an echo contrast agent, Definity®, and exposed to intermittent 120 kHz US. Results and conclusions The rt-PA lytic efficacy observed for porcine clots in porcine plasma was 22 times lower than for human clots in human plasma reported previously. Further, porcine clots did not exhibit increased lysis with adjuvant Definity® and US exposure. However, the rt-PA lytic susceptibility of the porcine clots in human plasma was similar to that of human clots in human plasma. Human clots perfused with porcine plasma did not respond to rt-PA, but adjuvant use of Definity® and US enhanced lysis. These results reveal considerable differences in lytic susceptibility of porcine clots and human clots to rt-PA. The use of porcine clot models to test new human thrombolytic therapies may necessitate modulation of coagulation and thrombolytic factors to reflect human hemostasis accurately. PMID:28545055

  13. Clot retraction affects the extent of ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis in an ex vivo porcine thrombosis model

    PubMed Central

    Sutton, Jonathan T.; Ivancevich, Nikolas M.; Perrin, Stephen R.; Vela, Deborah C.; Holland, Christy K.

    2013-01-01

    Using an FDA-approved contrast agent (Definity®) and thrombolytic drug (rt-PA), we investigated ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis in two whole-blood clot models. Porcine venous blood was collected from donor hogs and coagulated in two different materials. This method produced clots with differing compositional properties, as determined by routine scanning electron microscopy and histology. Clots were deployed in an ex vivo porcine thrombolysis model, while an intermittent ultrasound scheme previously developed to maximize stable cavitation was applied and acoustic emissions were detected. Exposure of clots to 3.15 μg/mL rt-PA promoted lysis in both clot models, compared to exposure to plasma alone. However, in the presence of rt-PA, Definity®, and ultrasound, only unretracted clots experienced significant enhancement of thrombolysis compared to treatment with rt-PA. In these clots, microscopy studies revealed loose erythrocyte aggregates, a significantly less extensive fibrin network, and a higher porosity, which may facilitate increase penetration of thrombolytics by cavitation. PMID:23453629

  14. Computational analysis of blood clot dissolution using a vibrating catheter tip.

    PubMed

    Lee, Jeong Hyun; Oh, Jin Sun; Yoon, Bye Ri; Choi, Seung Hong; Rhee, Kyehan; Jho, Jae Young; Han, Moon Hee

    2012-04-01

    We developed a novel concept of endovascular thrombolysis that employs a vibrating electroactive polymer actuator. In order to predict the efficacy of thrombolysis using the developed vibrating actuator, enzyme (plasminogen activator) perfusion into a clot was analyzed by solving flow fields and species transport equations considering the fluid structure interaction. In vitro thrombolysis experiments were also performed. Computational results showed that plasminogen activator perfusion into a clot was enhanced by actuator vibration at frequencies of 1 and 5 Hz. Plasminogen activator perfusion was affected by the actuator oscillation frequencies and amplitudes that were determined by electromechanical characteristics of a polymer actuator. Computed plasminogen activator perfused volumes were compared with experimentally measured dissolved clot volumes. The computed plasminogen activator perfusion volumes with threshold concentrations of 16% of the initial plasminogen activator concentration agreed well with the in vitro experimental data. This study showed the effectiveness of actuator oscillation on thrombolysis and the validity of the computational plasminogen activator perfusion model for predicting thrombolysis in complex flow fields induced by an oscillating actuator.

  15. Imaging and Elastometry of Blood Clots Using Magnetomotive Optical Coherence Tomography and Labeled Platelets.

    PubMed

    Oldenburg, Amy L; Wu, Gongting; Spivak, Dmitry; Tsui, Frank; Wolberg, Alisa S; Fischer, Thomas H

    2011-07-21

    Improved methods for imaging and assessment of vascular defects are needed for directing treatment of cardiovascular pathologies. In this paper, we employ magnetomotive optical coherence tomography (MMOCT) as a platform both to detect and to measure the elasticity of blood clots. Detection is enabled through the use of rehydrated, lyophilized platelets loaded with superparamagnetic iron oxides (SPIO-RL platelets) that are functional infusion agents that adhere to sites of vascular endothelial damage. Evidence suggests that the sensitivity for detection is improved over threefold by magnetic interactions between SPIOs inside RL platelets. Using the same MMOCT system, we show how elastometry of simulated clots, using resonant acoustic spectroscopy, is correlated with the fibrin content of the clot. Both methods are based upon magnetic actuation and phase-sensitive optical monitoring of nanoscale displacements using MMOCT, underscoring its utility as a broad-based platform to detect and measure the molecular structure and composition of blood clots.

  16. Contraction of Blood Clots Is Impaired in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

    PubMed

    Tutwiler, Valerie; Peshkova, Alina D; Andrianova, Izabella A; Khasanova, Dina R; Weisel, John W; Litvinov, Rustem I

    2017-02-01

    Obstructive thrombi or thrombotic emboli are the pathogenic basis of ischemic stroke. In vitro blood clots and in vivo thrombi can undergo platelet-driven contraction (retraction), resulting in volume shrinkage. Clot contraction can potentially reduce vessel occlusion and improve blood flow past emboli or thrombi. The aim of this work was to examine a potential pathogenic role of clot contraction in ischemic stroke. We used a novel automated method that enabled us to quantify time of initiation and extent and rate of clot contraction in vitro. The main finding is that clot contraction from the blood of stroke patients was reduced compared with healthy subjects. Reduced clot contraction correlated with a lower platelet count and their dysfunction, higher levels of fibrinogen and hematocrit, leukocytosis, and other changes in blood composition that may affect platelet function and properties of blood clots. Platelets from stroke patents were spontaneously activated and displayed reduced responsiveness to additional stimulation. Clinical correlations with respect to severity and stroke pathogenesis suggest that the impaired clot contraction has the potential to be a pathogenic factor in ischemic stroke. The changeable ability of clots and thrombi to shrink in volume may be a novel unappreciated mechanism that aggravates or alleviates the course and outcomes of ischemic stroke. The clinical importance of clot or thrombus transformations in vivo and the diagnostic and prognostic value of this blood test for clot contraction need further exploration. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

  17. Fibrin network changes in neonates after cardiopulmonary bypass

    PubMed Central

    Brown, Ashley C.; Hannan, Riley; Timmins, Lucas H.; Fernandez, Janet D.; Barker, Thomas H.; Guzzetta, Nina A.

    2016-01-01

    Background Quantitative and qualitative differences exist between the hemostatic systems of neonates and adults, among them the presence of ‘fetal’ fibrinogen, a qualitatively dysfunctional form of fibrinogen that exists until one year of age. The consequences of ‘fetal’ fibrinogen on clot structure in neonates, particularly in the context of surgical associated bleeding, have not been well characterized. Here we examine the sequential changes in clotting components and resultant clot structure in a small sample of neonates undergoing cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods Blood samples were collected from neonates (n=10) before surgery, immediately after CPB and following the transfusion of cryoprecipitate (i.e. adult fibrinogen component). Clots were formed from patient samples or purified neonatal and adult fibrinogen. Clot structure was analyzed using confocal microscopy. Results Clots formed from plasma obtained after CPB and after transfusion were more porous than baseline clots. Analysis of clots formed from purified neonatal and adult fibrinogen, demonstrated that at equivalent fibrinogen concentrations, neonatal clots lack three-dimensional structure while adult clots were denser with significant three-dimensional structure. Clots formed from a combination of purified neonatal and adult fibrinogen were less homogenous than those formed from either purified adult or neonatal fibrinogen. Conclusions Our results confirm that significant differences exist in clot structure between neonates and adults, and that neonatal and adult fibrinogen may not integrate well. These findings suggest that differential treatment strategies for neonates should be pursued to reduce the demonstrated morbidity of blood product transfusion. PMID:26914227

  18. Contraction of Blood Clots is Impaired in Acute Ischemic Stroke

    PubMed Central

    Tutwiler, Valerie; Peshkova, Alina D.; Andrianova, Izabella A.; Khasanova, Dina R.; Weisel, John W.; Litvinov, Rustem I.

    2016-01-01

    Objective Obstructive thrombi or thrombotic emboli are the pathogenic basis of ischemic stroke. In vitro blood clots and in vivo thrombi can undergo platelet-driven contraction (retraction), resulting in volume shrinkage. Clot contraction can potentially reduce vessel occlusion and improve blood flow past emboli or thrombi. The aim of this work was to examine a potential pathogenic role of clot contraction in ischemic stroke. Approach and Results We employed a novel automated method that enabled us to quantify time of initiation, extent and rate of clot contraction in vitro. The main finding is clot contraction from the blood of stroke patients was reduced compared to healthy subjects. Reduced clot contraction correlated with a lower platelet count and their dysfunction, higher levels of fibrinogen and hematocrit, leukocytosis and other changes in blood composition that may affect platelet function and properties of blood clots. Platelets from stroke patents were spontaneously activated and displayed reduced responsiveness to additional stimulation. Clinical correlations with respect to severity and stroke etiology suggest that the impaired clot contraction has the potential to be a pathogenic factor in ischemic stroke. Conclusions The changeable ability of clots and thrombi to shrink in volume may be a novel unappreciated mechanism that aggravates or alleviates the course and outcomes of ischemic stroke. The clinical importance of clot or thrombus transformations in vivo and the diagnostic and prognostic value of this blood test for clot contraction needs further exploration. PMID:27908894

  19. Mechanical properties and fibrin characteristics of endovascular coil–clot complexes: relevance to endovascular cerebral aneurysm repair paradigms

    PubMed Central

    Haworth, Kevin J; Weidner, Christopher R; Abruzzo, Todd A; Shearn, Jason T; Holland, Christy K

    2015-01-01

    Background Although coil embolization is known to prevent rebleeding from acutely ruptured cerebral aneurysms, the underlying biological and mechanical mechanisms have not been characterized. We sought to determine if microcoil-dependent interactions with thrombus induce structural and mechanical changes in the adjacent fibrin network. Such changes could play an important role in the prevention of aneurysm rebleeding. Methods The stiffness of in vitro human blood clots and coil–clot complexes implanted into aneurysm phantoms were measured immediately after formation and after retraction for 3 days using unconfined uniaxial compression assays. Scanning electron microscopy of the coil–clot complexes showed the effect of coiling on clot structure. Results The coil packing densities achieved were in the range of clinical practice. Bare platinum coils increased clot stiffness relative to clot alone (Young’s modulus 6.9 kPa and 0.83 kPa, respectively) but did not affect fibrin structure. Hydrogel-coated coils prevented formation of a clot and had no significant effect on clot stiffness (Young’s modulus 2 kPa) relative to clot alone. Clot age decreased fiber density by 0.2 fibers/µm2 but not the stiffness of the bare platinum coil–clot complex. Conclusions The stiffness of coil–clot complexes is related to the summative stiffness of the fibrin network and associated microcoils. Hydrogel-coated coils exhibit significantly less stiffness due to the mechanical properties of the hydrogel and the inhibition of fibrin network formation by the hydrogel. These findings have important implications for the design and engineering of aneurysm occlusion devices. PMID:24668257

  20. A 96-well screen filter plate for high-throughput biological sample preparation and LC-MS/MS analysis.

    PubMed

    Peng, Sean X; Cousineau, Martin; Juzwin, Stephen J; Ritchie, David M

    2006-01-01

    A novel 96-well screen filter plate (patent pending) has been invented to eliminate a time-consuming and labor-intensive step in preparation of in vivo study samples--to remove blood or plasma clots. These clots plug the pipet tips during a manual or automated sample-transfer step causing inaccurate pipetting or total pipetting failure. Traditionally, these blood and plasma clots are removed by picking them out manually one by one from each sample tube before any sample transfer can be made. This has significantly slowed the sample preparation process and has become a bottleneck for automated high-throughput sample preparation using robotic liquid handlers. Our novel screen filter plate was developed to solve this problem. The 96-well screen filter plate consists of 96 stainless steel wire-mesh screen tubes connected to the 96 openings of a top plate so that the screen filter plate can be readily inserted into a 96-well sample storage plate. Upon insertion, the blood and plasma clots are excluded from entering the screen tube while clear sample solutions flow freely into it. In this way, sample transfer can be easily completed by either manual or automated pipetting methods. In this report, three structurally diverse compounds were selected to evaluate and validate the use of the screen filter plate. The plasma samples of these compounds were transferred and processed in the presence and absence of the screen filter plate and then analyzed by LC-MS/MS methods. Our results showed a good agreement between the samples prepared with and without the screen filter plate, demonstrating the utility and efficiency of this novel device for preparation of blood and plasma samples. The device is simple, easy to use, and reusable. It can be employed for sample preparation of other biological fluids that contain floating particulates or aggregates.

  1. Numerical investigation into blood clotting at the bone-dental implant interface in the presence of an electrical stimulus.

    PubMed

    Vanegas-Acosta, J C; Garzón-Alvarado, D A; Lancellotti, V

    2013-12-01

    The insertion of a dental implant activates a sequence of wound healing events ending with bone formation and implant osseointegration. This sequence starts with the blood coagulation process and the formation of a fibrin network that detains spilt blood. Fibrin formation can be simplified as the kinetic reaction between thrombin and fibrinogen preceding the conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin. Based on experimental observations of the electrical properties of these molecules, we present a hypothesis for the mechanism of a static electrical stimulus in controlling the formation of the blood clot. Specifically, the electrical stimulus increases the fibrin network formation in such a way that a preferential region of higher fibrin density is obtained. This hypothesis is validated by means of a numerical model for the blood clot formation at the bone-dental implant interface. Numerical results compare favorably to experimental observations for blood clotting with and without the static electrical stimulus. It is concluded that the density of the fibrin network depends on the strength of the static electrical stimulus, and that the blood clot formation has a preferential direction of formation in the presence of the electrical signal. © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Imaging and Elastometry of Blood Clots Using Magnetomotive Optical Coherence Tomography and Labeled Platelets

    PubMed Central

    Oldenburg, Amy L.; Wu, Gongting; Spivak, Dmitry; Tsui, Frank; Wolberg, Alisa S.; Fischer, Thomas H.

    2013-01-01

    Improved methods for imaging and assessment of vascular defects are needed for directing treatment of cardiovascular pathologies. In this paper, we employ magnetomotive optical coherence tomography (MMOCT) as a platform both to detect and to measure the elasticity of blood clots. Detection is enabled through the use of rehydrated, lyophilized platelets loaded with superparamagnetic iron oxides (SPIO-RL platelets) that are functional infusion agents that adhere to sites of vascular endothelial damage. Evidence suggests that the sensitivity for detection is improved over threefold by magnetic interactions between SPIOs inside RL platelets. Using the same MMOCT system, we show how elastometry of simulated clots, using resonant acoustic spectroscopy, is correlated with the fibrin content of the clot. Both methods are based upon magnetic actuation and phase-sensitive optical monitoring of nanoscale displacements using MMOCT, underscoring its utility as a broad-based platform to detect and measure the molecular structure and composition of blood clots. PMID:23833549

  3. Moringa oleifera Lam.: Protease activity against blood coagulation cascade.

    PubMed

    Satish, A; Sairam, Sudha; Ahmed, Faiyaz; Urooj, Asna

    2012-01-01

    The present study evaluated the protease activity of aqueous extracts of Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) leaf (MOL) and root (MOR). Protease activity was assayed using casein, human plasma clot and human fibrinogen as substrates. Caseinolytic activity of MOL was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than that of MOR. Similar observations were found in case of human plasma clot hydrolyzing activity, wherein MOL caused significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) plasma clot hydrolysis than MOR. Zymographic techniques were used to detect proteolytic enzymes following electrophoretic separation in gels. Further, both the extracts exhibited significant procoagulant activity as reflected by a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in recalcification time, accompanied by fibrinogenolytic and fibrinolytic activities; clotting time was decreased from 180 ± 10 sec to 119 ± 8 sec and 143 ± 10 sec by MOL and MOR, respectively, at a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL. Fibrinogenolytic (human fibrinogen) and fibrinolytic activity (human plasma clot) was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), plate method and colorimetric method. Zymographic profile indicated that both the extracts exerted their procoagulant activity by selectively hydrolyzing Aα and Bβ subunits of fibrinogen to form fibrin clot, thereby exhibiting fibrinogenolytic activity. However, prolonged incubation resulted in degradation of the formed fibrin clot, suggesting fibrinolytic like activity. These findings support the traditional usage of M. oleifera extracts for wound healing.

  4. Hypertonic saline-epinephrine local injection therapy for post-endoscopic sphincterotomy bleeding: removal of blood clots using pure ethanol local injection.

    PubMed

    Sakai, Yuji; Tsuyuguchi, Toshio; Sugiyama, Harutoshi; Nishikawa, Takao; Kurosawa, Jo; Saito, Masayoshi; Tawada, Katsunobu; Mikata, Rintaro; Tada, Motohisa; Ishihara, Takeshi; Yokosuka, Osamu

    2013-08-01

    Bleeding following endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is a rare but unavoidable complication of the procedure. We routinely perform local injection of hypertonic saline-epinephrine (HSE) for the treatment of post-EST bleeding. Any blood clot is removed only by irrigation with water after local injection of pure ethanol into the blood clot to cause crusting. We evaluated the usefulness of this treatment method. Subjects were 8 patients (1.2%) with post-EST bleeding requiring hemostatic intervention among 682 patients undergoing EST. After determination of the bleeding point, local injection of HSE was performed. When an adherent blood clot was present, pure ethanol was injected into the blood clot and then irrigation with water was performed to remove the blood clot. Endoscopic hemostasis was successfully achieved in all the 8 patients (100%). In 4 patients (50%), the adherent blood clots were successfully removed only with pure ethanol local injection into the blood clot followed by irrigation with water. No complications of the hemostatic procedure occurred in any patients. This study indicated that hemostasis with HSE local injection can be safe and useful for the treatment of post-EST bleeding, and also that blood clot removal with pure ethanol local injection can be useful.

  5. Quantification of intraventricular blood clot in MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hess, Maggie; Looi, Thomas; Lasso, Andras; Fichtinger, Gabor; Drake, James

    2015-03-01

    Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) affects nearly 15% of preterm infants. It can lead to ventricular dilation and cognitive impairment. To ablate IVH clots, MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) is investigated. This procedure requires accurate, fast and consistent quantification of ventricle and clot volumes. We developed a semi-autonomous segmentation (SAS) algorithm for measuring changes in the ventricle and clot volumes. Images are normalized, and then ventricle and clot masks are registered to the images. Voxels of the registered masks and voxels obtained by thresholding the normalized images are used as seed points for competitive region growing, which provides the final segmentation. The user selects the areas of interest for correspondence after thresholding and these selections are the final seeds for region growing. SAS was evaluated on an IVH porcine model. SAS was compared to ground truth manual segmentation (MS) for accuracy, efficiency, and consistency. Accuracy was determined by comparing clot and ventricle volumes produced by SAS and MS, and comparing contours by calculating 95% Hausdorff distances between the two labels. In Two-One-Sided Test, SAS and MS were found to be significantly equivalent (p < 0.01). SAS on average was found to be 15 times faster than MS (p < 0.01). Consistency was determined by repeated segmentation of the same image by both SAS and manual methods, SAS being significantly more consistent than MS (p < 0.05). SAS is a viable method to quantify the IVH clot and the lateral brain ventricles and it is serving in a large-scale porcine study of MRgFUS treatment of IVH clot lysis.

  6. Cytotoxicity and osteogenic potential of silicate calcium cements as potential protective materials for pulpal revascularization.

    PubMed

    Bortoluzzi, Eduardo A; Niu, Li-Na; Palani, Chithra D; El-Awady, Ahmed R; Hammond, Barry D; Pei, Dan-Dan; Tian, Fu-Cong; Cutler, Christopher W; Pashley, David H; Tay, Franklin R

    2015-12-01

    In pulpal revascularization, a protective material is placed coronal to the blood clot to prevent recontamination and to facilitate osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to produce new dental tissues. Although mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) has been the material of choice for clot protection, it is easily displaced into the clot during condensation. The present study evaluated the effects of recently introduced calcium silicate cements (Biodentine and TheraCal LC) on the viability and osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) by comparing with MTA Angelus. Cell viability was assessed using XTT assay and flow cytometry. The osteogenic potential of hDPSCs exposed to calcium silicate cements was examined using qRT-PCR for osteogenic gene expressions, alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity, Alizarin red S staining and transmission electron microscopy of extracellular calcium deposits. Parametric statistical methods were employed for analyses of significant difference among groups, with α=0.05. The cytotoxic effects of Biodentine and TheraCal LC on hDPSCs were time- and concentration-dependent. Osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs was enhanced after exposure to Biodentine that was depleted of its cytotoxic components. This effect was less readily observed in hDPSCs exposed to TheraCal LC, although both cements supported extracellular mineralization better than the positive control (zinc oxide-eugenol-based cement). A favorable tissue response is anticipated to occur with the use of Biodentine as a blood clot-protecting material for pulpal revascularization. Further investigations with the use of in vivo animal models are required to validate the potential adverse biological effects of TheraCal LC on hDPSCs. Copyright © 2015 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Experimental and Imaging Techniques for Examining Fibrin Clot Structures in Normal and Diseased States

    PubMed Central

    Fan, Natalie K.; Keegan, Philip M.; Platt, Manu O.; Averett, Rodney D.

    2015-01-01

    Fibrin is an extracellular matrix protein that is responsible for maintaining the structural integrity of blood clots. Much research has been done on fibrin in the past years to include the investigation of synthesis, structure-function, and lysis of clots. However, there is still much unknown about the morphological and structural features of clots that ensue from patients with disease. In this research study, experimental techniques are presented that allow for the examination of morphological differences of abnormal clot structures due to diseased states such as diabetes and sickle cell anemia. Our study focuses on the preparation and evaluation of fibrin clots in order to assess morphological differences using various experimental assays and confocal microscopy. In addition, a method is also described that allows for continuous, real-time calculation of lysis rates in fibrin clots. The techniques described herein are important for researchers and clinicians seeking to elucidate comorbid thrombotic pathologies such as myocardial infarctions, ischemic heart disease, and strokes in patients with diabetes or sickle cell disease. PMID:25867016

  8. Mechanisms of thrombolysis acceleration by cavitation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Weiss, Hope; Selvaraj, Prashanth; Ahadi, Golnaz; Voie, Arne; Hoelscher, Thilo; Okita, Kohei; Matsumoto, Yoichiro; Szeri, Andrew

    2012-11-01

    Recent studies, in vitro and in vivo, have shown that High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) accelerates thrombolysis, the dissolution of blood clots, for ischemic stroke. Although the mechanisms are not fully understood, cavitation is thought to play an important role in sonothrombolysis. The damage to a blood clot's fibrin fiber network from cavitation in a HIFU field is studied using two independent approaches for an embedded bubble. One method is extended to the more important scenario of a bubble outside a blood clot that collapses asymmetrically creating a jet towards the clot. There is significantly more damage potential from a bubble undergoing cavitation collapse outside the clot compared to a rapidly expanding bubble embedded within the clot structure. Also, the effects of the physical properties of skull bone when a HIFU wave propagates through it are examined by use of computer simulation. The dynamics of a test bubble placed at the focus is used in understanding of the pressure field. All other things being equal, the analysis suggests that skull thickness can alter the wave at the focus, which in turn can change the nature of cavitation bubble dynamics and the amount of energy available for clot damage. Now at MSOE.

  9. Clot retraction affects the extent of ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis in an ex vivo porcine thrombosis model.

    PubMed

    Sutton, Jonathan T; Ivancevich, Nikolas M; Perrin, Stephen R; Vela, Deborah C; Holland, Christy K

    2013-05-01

    We investigated ultrasound-enhanced thrombolysis in two whole-blood clot models using a Food and Drug Administration-approved contrast agent (Definity, Lantheus Medical Imaging; Billerica, MA USA) and thrombolytic drug (recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator [rt-PA]) (Genentech; South San Francisco, CA USA). Porcine venous blood was collected from donor hogs and coagulated in vials made of two different materials. This method produced clots with differing compositional properties, as determined by routine scanning electron microscopy and histology. Clots were deployed in an ex vivo porcine thrombosis model, and exposed to an intermittent ultrasound scheme previously developed to maximize stable cavitation while acoustic emissions were detected. Exposure to 3.15 μg/mL rt-PA promoted lysis in both clot models, compared with exposure to plasma alone. However, only unretracted clots experienced significant enhancement of thrombolysis in the presence of rt-PA, Definity, and ultrasound, compared with treatment with rt-PA. In these clots, microscopy revealed loose erythrocyte aggregates, a significantly less extensive fibrin network and a higher porosity, which may facilitate increased penetration of thrombolytics by cavitation. Copyright © 2013 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. Dielectric permittivity change detects the process of blood coagulation: Comparative study of dielectric coagulometry with rotational thromboelastometry.

    PubMed

    Otaki, Yoichi; Ebana, Yusuke; Yoshikawa, Shunji; Isobe, Mitsuaki

    2016-09-01

    Intravascular thrombus formation causes various cardiovascular diseases. To monitor coagulation is important for screening native status, prevention from bleeding and maintaining it within its therapeutic range. The prothrombin time and the activated partial thromboplastin time are widely used for assessment and recognized as the conventional methods. Prothrombin time methods employ enhancement of coagulation with thromboplastin. Since the laboratory data depend on the production lot and/or the manufacturer, the accurate methods are required for evaluation. Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) is a method based on detection of the change in resistance to rotational movement during blood clotting, while dielectric blood coagulometry (DBCM) is a novel method for assessment of clotting by measuring the change of electrical permittivity. These methods are thus based on the technology for observation of different physical phenomena. The aim of this study was to compare parameters such as the clotting time obtained by ROTEM and DBCM to evaluate their clinical usefulness. ROTEM and DBCM parameters were measured in 128 patients. The ROTEM clotting time showed a significant positive correlation with the DBCM coagulation time (R=0.707, p<0.001). Comparison of the DBCM coagulation time between patients with and without anticoagulant therapy (including novel oral anticoagulants) revealed a significant difference (43.8±11.9min in the anticoagulant group vs 29.4±8.3min in the control group, p<0.001). Evaluation of coagulation was equivalent with DBCM and ROTEM. The present study suggested that DBCM, a novel method for measuring blood clotting, could provide the detail assessment for the status of anticoagulant therapy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Nitric oxide therapies for local inhibition of platelets' activitation on blood-contacting surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Amoako, Kagya Agyeman

    Blood-contacting devices interact with blood during their function much like the endothelium that modulates hemostasis. The surfaces of these devices however, lack endothelial-like properties, and consequently, upon blood contact, activate clotting factors to form clots. Systemic heparinization for inhibiting clot formation can cause bleeding and surface coatings show insignificant benefits. This research investigated nitric oxide (NO) production mimicry of the endothehum on artificial lungs (ALs) and pediatric catheters. Their surfaces were functionalized either by (1) entrapping NO donors inside their bulk, (2) incorporating catalysts to generate NO from NO-donors or (3) supplementing NO into sweep gas of artificial lungs. Pediatric catheters functionalized with NO-donor thin coats using method 1 is limited by short NO release duration. Method 2 has not been applied to large surface-area, low-flow devices like the AL. In this work NO-generating silicone membranes were synthesized and characterized to determine the relationship between surface properties, NO flux, and blood clotting time. These outcomes helped develop and optimize NO-generating gas-exchange silicone fibers that represent the majority of ALs surface area. The first NO-generating AL prototypes, using those fibers, were manufactured, incorporated into NO-generating circuits and tested for their non-thrombogenicity. To test for NO-release duration and non-thrombogenicity, catheters were fabricated to incorporate NO-donors inside their walls, characterized for NO flux and release duration by chemilumincscence, and tested for patency using a thrombogenicity model in rabbits. Methods 1-2 involve material modification using complicated and expensive chemical formulations and/or manufacturing. Method 3 however, functionalizes ALs by only adding NO into sweep gas. Decade-long anti-clotting testing using a wide range of NO concentrations has been conducted without knowledge of what concentration yields endothelial NO flux levels in the AL. This concentration was determined for the MC3 Biolung and the Terumo capiox rx25 ALs in vitro. All these ideas have shown positive results in short-term studies, and each may play a necessary role in inhibiting clot formation in future ALs. The sufficiency however, of each idea or of a combination for clot inhibition in long-term ALs remains to be determined.

  12. Three Variations in Rabbit Angiographic Stroke Models

    PubMed Central

    Culp, William C.; Woods, Sean D.; Brown, Aliza T.; Lowery, John D.; Hennings, Leah J.; Skinner, Robert D.; Borrelli, Michael J.; Roberson, Paula K.

    2012-01-01

    Purpose To develop angiographic models of embolic stroke in the rabbit using pre-formed clot or microspheres to model clinical situations ranging from transient ischemic events to severe ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods New Zealand White rabbits (N=151) received angiographic access to the internal carotid artery (ICA) from a femoral approach. Variations of emboli type and quantity of emboli were tested by injection into the ICA. These included fresh clots (1.0-mm length, 3–6 h), larger aged clots (4.0-mm length, 3 days), and 2 or 3 insoluble microspheres (700–900 μm). Neurological assessment scores (NAS) were based on motor, sensory, balance, and reflex measures. Rabbits were euthanized at 4, 7, or 24 hours after embolization, and infarct volume was measured as a percent of total brain volume using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC). Results Infarct volume percent at 24 hours after stroke was lower for rabbits embolized with fresh clot (0.45% ± 0.14%), compared with aged clot (3.52% ± 1.31%) and insoluble microspheres (3.39% ± 1.04%). Overall NAS (including posterior vessel occlusions) were positively correlated to infarct volume percent measurements in the fresh clot (r=0.50), aged clot (r=0.65) and microsphere (r=0.62) models (p<0.001). Conclusion The three basic angiographic stroke models may be similar to human transient ischemic attacks (TIA) (fresh clot), major strokes that can be thrombolysed (aged clot), or major strokes with insoluble emboli such as atheromata (microspheres). Model selection can be tailored to specific research needs. PMID:23142182

  13. Increased Plasma Clot Permeability and Susceptibility to Lysis Are Associated with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding of Unknown Cause: A Case-Control Study

    PubMed Central

    Szczepaniak, Piotr; Zabczyk, Michał; Undas, Anetta

    2015-01-01

    Background Formation of compact and poorly lysable clots has been reported in thromboembolic disorders. Little is known about clot properties in bleeding disorders. Objectives We hypothesized that more permeable and lysis-sensitive fibrin clots can be detected in women with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). Methods We studied 52 women with HMB of unknown cause and 52 age-matched control women. Plasma clot permeability (Ks), turbidity and efficiency of fibrinolysis, together with coagulation factors, fibrinolysis proteins, and platelet aggregation were measured. Results Women with HMB formed looser plasma fibrin clots (+16% [95%CI 7–18%] Ks) that displayed lower maximum absorbancy (-7% [95%CI -9 – -1%] ΔAbsmax), and shorter clot lysis time (-17% [95%CI -23 – -11%] CLT). The HMB patients and controls did not differ with regard to coagulation factors, fibrinogen, von Willebrand antigen, thrombin generation markers and the proportion of subjects with defective platelet aggregation. The patients had lower platelet count (-12% [95%CI -19 – -2%]), tissue plasminogen activator antigen (-39% [95%CI -41 – -29%] tPA:Ag), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen (-28% [95%CI -38 – -18%] PAI-1:Ag) compared with the controls. Multiple regression analysis upon adjustment for age, body mass index, glucose, and fibrinogen showed that decreased tPA:Ag and shortened CLT were the independent predictors of HMB. Conclusions Increased clot permeability and susceptibility to fibrinolysis are associated with HMB, suggesting that altered plasma fibrin clot properties might contribute to bleeding disorders of unknown origin. PMID:25909989

  14. Diastolic timed Vibro-Percussion at 50 Hz delivered across a chest wall sized meat barrier enhances clot dissolution and remotely administered Streptokinase effectiveness in an in-vitro model of acute coronary thrombosis

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background Low Frequency Vibro-Percussion (LFVP) assists clearance of thrombi in catheter systems and when applied to the heart and timed to diastole is known to enhance coronary flow. However LFVP on a clotted coronary like vessel given engagement over a chest wall sized barrier (to resemble non-invasive heart attack therapy) requires study. Methods One hour old clots (n=16) were dispensed within a flexible segment of Soft-Flo catheter (4 mm lumen), weighted, interfaced with Heparinized Saline (HS), secured atop a curved dampening base, and photographed. A ~4 cm meat slab was placed over the segment and randomized to receive intermittent LFVP (engaged, - disengaged at 1 second intervals), or no LFVP for 20 minutes. HS was pulsed (~120/80 mmHg), with the diastolic phase coordinated to match LFVP delivery. The segment was then re-photographed and aspirated of fluid to determine post clot weight. The trial was then repeated with 0.5 mls of Streptokinase (15,000 IU/100 microlitre) delivered ~ 2 cm upstream from the clot. Results LFVP - HS only samples (vs. controls) showed; a) development of clot length fluid channels absent in the control group (p < 0.0002); b) enhanced dissolved clot mixing scores ( 5.0 vs. 0.8, p < 2.8 E – 6); and c) increased percent clot dissolution (23.0% vs. 1.8% respectively, p < 8.5 E-6). LFVP - SK samples had a similar comparative clot disruptive profile, however fluid channels developed faster and percent clot dissolution more than doubled (51.0% vs. 3.0%, p< 9.8 E- 6). Conclusion Diastolic timed LFVP (50 Hz) engaged across a chest wall sized barrier enhances clot disruptive effects to an underlying coronary like system. PMID:23146079

  15. Utility of single-energy and dual-energy computed tomography in clot characterization: An in-vitro study

    PubMed Central

    Michalak, Gregory; Kadirvel, Ramanathan; Dai, Daying; Gilvarry, Michael; Duffy, Sharon; Kallmes, David F; McCollough, Cynthia; Leng, Shuai

    2017-01-01

    Background and purpose Because computed tomography (CT) is the most commonly used imaging modality for the evaluation of acute ischemic stroke patients, developing CT-based techniques for improving clot characterization could prove useful. The purpose of this in-vitro study was to determine which single-energy or dual-energy CT techniques provided optimum discrimination between red blood cell (RBC) and fibrin-rich clots. Materials and methods Seven clot types with varying fibrin and RBC densities were made (90% RBC, 99% RBC, 63% RBC, 36% RBC, 18% RBC and 0% RBC with high and low fibrin density) and their composition was verified histologically. Ten of each clot type were created and scanned with a second generation dual source scanner using three single (80 kV, 100 kV, 120 kV) and two dual-energy protocols (80/Sn 140 kV and 100/Sn 140 kV). A region of interest (ROI) was placed over each clot and mean attenuation was measured. Receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated at each energy level to determine the accuracy at differentiating RBC-rich clots from fibrin-rich clots. Results Clot attenuation increased with RBC content at all energy levels. Single-energy at 80 kV and 120 kV and dual-energy 80/Sn 140 kV protocols allowed for distinguishing between all clot types, with the exception of 36% RBC and 18% RBC. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the 80/Sn 140 kV dual-energy protocol had the highest area under the curve for distinguishing between fibrin-rich and RBC-rich clots (area under the curve 0.99). Conclusions Dual-energy CT with 80/Sn 140 kV had the highest accuracy for differentiating RBC-rich and fibrin-rich in-vitro thrombi. Further studies are needed to study the utility of non-contrast dual-energy CT in thrombus characterization in acute ischemic stroke. PMID:28604189

  16. Mesoscopic Modeling of Blood Clotting: Coagulation Cascade and Platelets Adhesion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yazdani, Alireza; Li, Zhen; Karniadakis, George

    2015-11-01

    The process of clot formation and growth at a site on a blood vessel wall involve a number of multi-scale simultaneous processes including: multiple chemical reactions in the coagulation cascade, species transport and flow. To model these processes we have incorporated advection-diffusion-reaction (ADR) of multiple species into an extended version of Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) method which is considered as a coarse-grained Molecular Dynamics method. At the continuum level this is equivalent to the Navier-Stokes equation plus one advection-diffusion equation for each specie. The chemistry of clot formation is now understood to be determined by mechanisms involving reactions among many species in dilute solution, where reaction rate constants and species diffusion coefficients in plasma are known. The role of blood particulates, i.e. red cells and platelets, in the clotting process is studied by including them separately and together in the simulations. An agonist-induced platelet activation mechanism is presented, while platelets adhesive dynamics based on a stochastic bond formation/dissociation process is included in the model.

  17. In vivo flow cytometry of circulating clots using negative photothermal and photoacoustic contrasts.

    PubMed

    Galanzha, Ekaterina I; Sarimollaoglu, Mustafa; Nedosekin, Dmitry A; Keyrouz, Salah G; Mehta, Jawahar L; Zharov, Vladimir P

    2011-10-01

    Conventional photothermal (PT) and photoacousic (PA) imaging, spectroscopy, and cytometry are preferentially based on positive PT/PA effects, when signals are above background. Here, we introduce PT/PA technique based on detection of negative signals below background. Among various new applications, we propose label-free in vivo flow cytometry of circulating clots. No method has been developed for the early detection of clots of different compositions as a source of thromboembolism including ischemia at strokes and myocardial infarction. When a low-absorbing, platelet-rich clot passes a laser-irradiated vessel volume, a transient decrease in local absorption results in an ultrasharp negative PA hole in blood background. Using this phenomenon alone or in combination with positive contrasts, we demonstrated identification of white, red, and mixed clots on a mouse model of myocardial infarction and human blood. The concentration and size of clots were measured with threshold down to few clots in the entire circulation with size as low as 20 μm. This multiparameter diagnostic platform using portable personal high-speed flow cytometer with negative dynamic contrast mode has potential to real-time defining risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, and for prognosis and prevention of stroke or use clot count as a marker of therapy efficacy. Possibility for label-free detection of platelets, leukocytes, tumor cells or targeting themby negative PA probes (e.g., nonabsorbing beads or bubbles) is also highlighted. Copyright © 2011 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.

  18. In vivo flow cytometry of circulating clots using negative phototothermal and photoacoustic contrasts

    PubMed Central

    Galanzha, Ekaterina I.; Sarimollaoglu, Mustafa; Nedosekin, Dmitry A.; Keyrouz, Salah G.; Mehta, Jawahar L.; Zharov, Vladimir P.

    2012-01-01

    Conventional photothermal (PT) and photoacousic (PA) imaging, spectroscopy, and cytometry are preferentially based on positive PT/PA effects, when signals are above background. Here, we introduce PT/PA technique based on detection of negative signals below background. Among various new applications, we propose label-free in vivo flow cytometry of circulating clots. No method has been developed for the early detection of clots of different compositions as a source of severe thromboembolisms including ischemia at strokes and myocardial dysfunction at heart attack. When a low-absorbing, platelet-rich clot passes a laser-irradiated vessel volume, a transient decrease in local absorption results in an ultrasharp negative PA hole in blood background. Using this phenomenon alone or in combination with positive contrasts, we demonstrated identification of white, red and mixed clots on a mouse model of myocardial infarction and human blood. The concentration and size of clots were measured with threshold down to few clots in the entire circulation with size as low as 20 µm. This multiparameter diagnostic platform using portable personal high-speed flow cytometer with negative dynamic contrast mode has potential to real-time defining risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, and for prognosis and prevention of stroke or use clot count as a marker of therapy efficacy. Possibility for label-free detection of platelets, leukocytes, tumor cells or targeting them by negative PA probes (e.g., nonabsorbing beads or bubbles) is also highlighted. PMID:21976458

  19. Rediscovering the wound haematoma as a site of haemostasis during major arterial haemorrhage

    PubMed Central

    White, N.J.; Mehic, E.; Wang, X.; Chien, D.; Lim, E.; St. John, A.E.; Stern, S.A.; Mourad, P.D.; Rieger, M.; Fries, D.; Martinowitz, U.

    2015-01-01

    Background Treatments for major internal bleeding after injury include permissive hypotension to decrease the rate of blood loss, intravenous infusion of plasma or clotting factors to improve clot formation, and rapid surgical haemostasis or arterial embolization to control bleeding vessels. Yet, little is known regarding major internal arterial haemostasis, or how these commonly-used treatments might influence haemostasis. Objectives (1) Use a swine model of femoral artery bleeding to understand the perivascular haemostatic response to contained arterial haemorrhage. (2) Directly confirm the association between hemodynamics and bleeding velocity. (3) Observe the feasibility of delivering an activated clotting factor directly to internal sites of bleeding using a simplified angiographic approach. Methods Ultrasound was used to measure bleeding velocity and in vivo clot formation by elastography in a swine model of contained femoral artery bleeding with fluid resuscitation. A swine model of internal pelvic and axillary artery haemorrhage was also used to demonstrate feasibility of local delivery of an activated clotting factor. Results In this model, clots formed slowly within the peri-wound hematoma , but eventually containing the bleeding. Central hemodynamics correlated positively with bleeding velocity. Infusion of recombinant human activated Factor VII into the injured artery nearby the site of major internal haemorrhage in the pelvis and axillae was feasible. Conclusions We rediscover that clot formation within the peri-wound haematoma is an integral component of haemostasis and a feasible target for treatment of major internal bleeding using activated clotting factors delivered using a simplified angiographic approach. PMID:26414624

  20. Threshold Setting for Likelihood Function for Elasticity-Based Tissue Classification of Arterial Walls by Evaluating Variance in Measurement of Radial Strain

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tsuzuki, Kentaro; Hasegawa, Hideyuki; Kanai, Hiroshi; Ichiki, Masataka; Tezuka, Fumiaki

    2008-05-01

    Pathologic changes in arterial walls significantly influence their mechanical properties. We have developed a correlation-based method, the phased tracking method [H. Kanai et al.: IEEE Trans. Ultrason. Ferroelectr. Freq. Control 43 (1996) 791], for measurement of the regional elasticity of the arterial wall. Using this method, elasticity distributions of lipids, blood clots, fibrous tissue, and calcified tissue were measured in vitro by experiments on excised arteries (mean±SD: lipids 89±47 kPa, blood clots 131 ±56 kPa, fibrous tissue 1022±1040 kPa, calcified tissue 2267 ±1228 kPa) [H. Kanai et al.: Circulation 107 (2003) 3018; J. Inagaki et al.: Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 44 (2005) 4593]. It was found that arterial tissues can be classified into soft tissues (lipids and blood clots) and hard tissues (fibrous tissue and calcified tissue) on the basis of their elasticity. However, there are large overlaps between elasticity distributions of lipids and blood clots and those of fibrous tissue and calcified tissue. Thus, it was difficult to differentiate lipids from blood clots and fibrous tissue from calcified tissue by simply thresholding elasticity value. Therefore, we previously proposed a method by classifying the elasticity distribution in each region of interest (ROI) (not a single pixel) in an elasticity image into lipids, blood clots, fibrous tissue, or calcified tissue based on a likelihood function for each tissue [J. Inagaki et al.: Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 44 (2006) 4732]. In our previous study, the optimum size of an ROI was determined to be 1,500 µm in the arterial radial direction and 1,500 µm in the arterial longitudinal direction [K. Tsuzuki et al.: Ultrasound Med. Biol. 34 (2008) 573]. In this study, the threshold for the likelihood function used in the tissue classification was set by evaluating the variance in the ultrasonic measurement of radial strain. The recognition rate was improved from 50 to 54% by the proposed thresholding.

  1. Impaired contraction of blood clots as a novel prothrombotic mechanism in systemic lupus erythematosus.

    PubMed

    Le Minh, Giang; Peshkova, Alina D; Andrianova, Izabella A; Sibgatullin, Timur B; Maksudova, Adelia N; Weisel, John W; Litvinov, Rustem I

    2018-01-31

    The aim of this work was to examine a possible role of clot contraction/retraction in thrombotic complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Using a novel automated method, we investigated kinetics of clot contraction in the blood of 51 SLE patients and 60 healthy donors. The functionality of platelets in the SLE patients was assessed using flow cytometry by expression of P-selectin and fibrinogen-binding capacity. The rate and degree of clot contraction were significantly reduced in SLE patients compared with healthy subjects, especially in the patients with higher blood levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies. The reduced platelet contractility correlated with partial refractoriness of platelets isolated from the blood of SLE patients to stimulation induced by the thrombin receptor activating peptide. To test if the anti-dsDNA autoantibodies cause continuous platelet activation, followed by exhaustion and dysfunction of the cells, we added purified exogenous anti-dsDNA autoantibodies from SLE patients to normal blood before clotting. In support of this hypothesis, the antibodies first enhanced clot contraction and then suppressed it in a time-dependent manner. Importantly, a direct correlation of clot contraction parameters with the disease severity suggests that the reduced compactness of intravascular clots and thrombi could be a pathogenic factor in SLE that may exaggerate the impaired blood flow at the site of thrombosis. In conclusion, autoantibodies in SLE can affect platelet contractility, resulting in reduced ability of clots and thrombi to shrink in volume, which increases vessel obstruction and may aggravate the course and outcomes of thrombotic complications in SLE. © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society.

  2. Tumour imaging by the detection of fibrin clots in tumour stroma using an anti-fibrin Fab fragment.

    PubMed

    Obonai, Toshifumi; Fuchigami, Hirobumi; Furuya, Fumiaki; Kozuka, Naoyuki; Yasunaga, Masahiro; Matsumura, Yasuhiro

    2016-03-24

    The diagnosis of early and aggressive types of cancer is important for providing effective cancer therapy. Cancer-induced fibrin clots exist only within lesions. Previously, we developed a monoclonal antibody (clone 102-10) that recognizes insoluble fibrin but not fibrinogen or soluble fibrin and confirmed that fibrin clots form continuously in various cancers. Here, we describe the development of a Fab fragment probe of clone 102-10 for tumour imaging. The distribution of 102-10 Fab was investigated in genetically engineered mice bearing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and its effect on blood coagulation was examined. Immunohistochemical and ex vivo imaging revealed that 102-10 Fab was distributed selectively in fibrin clots in PDAC tumours 3 h after injection and that it disappeared from the body after 24 h. 102-10 Fab had no influence on blood coagulation or fibrinolysis. Tumour imaging using anti-fibrin Fab may provide a safe and effective method for the diagnosis of invasive cancers by detecting fibrin clots in tumour stroma.

  3. A simple clot based assay for detection of procoagulant cell-derived microparticles.

    PubMed

    Patil, Rucha; Ghosh, Kanjaksha; Shetty, Shrimati

    2016-05-01

    Cell-derived microparticles (MPs) are important biomarkers in many facets of medicine. However, the MP detection methods used till date are costly and time consuming. The main aim of this study was to standardize an in-house clot based screening method for MP detection which would not only be specific and sensitive, but also inexpensive. Four different methods of MP assessment were performed and the results correlated. Using the flow cytometry technique as the gold standard, 25 samples with normal phosphatidylserine (PS) expressing MP levels and 25 samples with elevated levels were selected, which was cross checked by the commercial STA Procoag PPL clotting time (CT) assay. A simple recalcification time and an in-house clot assay were the remaining two tests. The in-house test measures the CT after the addition of calcium chloride to MP rich plasma, following incubation with Russell viper venom and phospholipid free plasma. The CT obtained by the in-house assay significantly correlated with the results obtained by flow cytometry (R2=0.87, p<0.01). Though preliminary, the in-house assay seems to be efficient, inexpensive and promising. It could definitely be utilized routinely for procoagulant MP assessment in various clinical settings.

  4. Making the Right Choice: Optimizing rt-PA and eptifibatide lysis, an in vitro study

    PubMed Central

    Shaw, George J.; Meunier, Jason M.; Lindsell, Christopher J.; Pancioli, Arthur M.; Holland, Christy K.

    2010-01-01

    Introduction Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is the only FDA approved lytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke. However, there can be complications such as intra-cerebral hemorrhage. This has led to interest in adjuncts such as GP IIb-IIIa inhibitors. However, there is little data on combined therapies. Here, we measure clot lysis for rt-PA and eptifibatide in an in vitro human clot model, and determine the drug concentrations maximizing lysis. A pharmacokinetic model is used to compare drug concentrations expected in clinical trials with those used here. The hypothesis is that there is a range of rt-PA and eptifibatide concentrations that maximize in vitro clot lysis. Materials and Methods Whole blood clots were made from blood obtained from 28 volunteers, after appropriate institutional approval. Sample clots were exposed to rt-PA and eptifibatide in human fresh-frozen plasma; rt-PA concentrations were 0, 0.5, 1, and 3.15 μg/ml, and eptifibatide concentrations were 0, 0.63, 1.05, 1.26 and 2.31 μg/ml. All exposures were for 30 minutes at 37 C. Clot width was measured using a microscopic imaging technique and mean fractional clot loss (FCL) at 30 minutes was used to determine lytic efficacy. On average, 28 clots (range: 6-148) from 6 subjects (3-24) were used in each group. Results and Conclusions FCL for control clots was 14% (95% Confidence Interval: 13-15%). FCL was 58% (55-61%) for clots exposed to both drugs at all concentrations, except those at an rt-PA concentration of 3.15 μg/ml, and eptifibatide concentrations of 1.26 μg/ml (Epf) or 2.31 μg/ml. Here, FCL was 43% (36-51) and 35% (32-38) respectively. FCL is maximized at moderate rt-PA and eptifibatide concentration; these values may approximate the average concentrations used in some rt-PA and eptifibatide treatments. PMID:20813398

  5. Compaction of fibrin clots reveals the antifibrinolytic effect of factor XIII.

    PubMed

    Rijken, D C; Abdul, S; Malfliet, J J M C; Leebeek, F W G; Uitte de Willige, S

    2016-07-01

    Essentials Factor XIIIa inhibits fibrinolysis by forming fibrin-fibrin and fibrin-inhibitor cross-links. Conflicting studies about magnitude and mechanisms of inhibition have been reported. Factor XIIIa most strongly inhibits lysis of mechanically compacted or retracted plasma clots. Cross-links of α2-antiplasmin to fibrin prevent the inhibitor from being expelled from the clot. Background Although insights into the underlying mechanisms of the effect of factor XIII on fibrinolysis have improved considerably in the last few decades, in particular with the discovery that activated FXIII (FXIIIa) cross-links α2 -antiplasmin to fibrin, the topic remains a matter of debate. Objective To elucidate the mechanisms of the antifibrinolytic effect of FXIII. Methods and Results Platelet-poor plasma clot lysis, induced by the addition of tissue-type plasminogen activator, was measured in the presence or absence of a specific FXIIIa inhibitor. Both in a turbidity assay and in a fluorescence assay, the FXIIIa inhibitor had only a small inhibitory effect: 1.6-fold less tissue-type plasminogen activator was required for 50% clot lysis in the presence of the FXIIIa inhibitor. However, when the plasma clot was compacted by centrifugation, the FXIIIa inhibitor had a strong inhibitory effect, with 7.7-fold less tissue-type plasminogen activator being required for 50% clot lysis in the presence of the FXIIIa inhibitor. In both experiments, the effects of the FXIIIa inhibitor were entirely dependent on the cross-linking of α2 -antiplasmin to fibrin. The FXIIIa inhibitor reduced the amount of α2 -antiplasmin present in the compacted clots from approximately 30% to < 4%. The results were confirmed with experiments in which compaction was achieved by platelet-mediated clot retraction. Conclusions Compaction or retraction of fibrin clots reveals the strong antifibrinolytic effect of FXIII. This is explained by the cross-linking of α2 -antiplasmin to fibrin by FXIIIa, which prevents the plasmin inhibitor from being fully expelled from the clot during compaction/retraction. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

  6. Laboratory assessment of Activated Protein C Resistance/Factor V-Leiden and performance characteristics of a new quantitative assay.

    PubMed

    Amiral, Jean; Vissac, Anne Marie; Seghatchian, Jerard

    2017-12-01

    Activated Protein C Resistance is mainly associated to a factor V mutation (RQ506), which induces a deficient inactivation of activated factor V by activated protein C, and is associated to an increased risk of venous and arterial thrombosis in affected individuals, caused by the prolonged activated factor V survival. Its prevalence is mainly in Caucasians (about 5%), and this mutation is absent in Africans and Asians. Presence of Factor V-Leiden is usually evidenced with clotting methods, using a two-step APTT assay performed without or with APC: prolongation of blood coagulation time is decreased if this factor is present. The R506Q Factor V-Leiden mutation is now usually characterized using molecular biology, and this technique tends to become the first intention assay for characterization of patients. Both techniques are qualitative, and allow classifying tested individuals as heterozygotes or homozygotes for the mutation, when present. A new quantitative assay for Factor V-Leiden, using a one-step clotting method, has been developed, and designed with highly purified human coagulation proteins. Clotting is triggered with human Factor Xa, in presence of calcium and phospholipids (mixture which favours APC action over clotting process). Diluted tested plasma, is supplemented with a clotting mixture containing human fibrinogen, prothrombin, and protein S at a constant concentration. APC is added, and clotting is initiated with calcium. Calibration is performed with a pool of plasmas from patients carrying the R506Q Factor V mutation, and its mixtures with normal plasma. Homozygous patients have clotting times of about <40sec; heterozygous patients have clotting times of about 40-60sec and normal individuals yield clotting times >70sec. Factor V-Leiden concentration is usually >75% in homozygous patients, 30-60% in heterozygous patients and below 5% in normal. The assay is insensitive to clotting factor deficiencies (II, VII, VIII: C, IX, X), dicoumarol or heparin therapies, and has no interference with lupus anticoagulant (LA). This new assay for Factor V-Leiden can be easily used in any coagulation laboratory, is performed as a single test, and is quantitative. This assay has a high robustness, is accurate and presents a good intra- (<3%) and inter-assay (<5%) variability. It contributes solving most of the laboratory issues faced when testing factor V-Leiden. Quantitation of Factor V-L could contribute to a better assessment of thrombotic risk in affected patients, as this complication is first associated to and caused by the presence of a defined amount of FVa. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Application of Adaptive DP-optimality to Design a Pilot Study for a Clotting Time Test for Enoxaparin.

    PubMed

    Gulati, Abhishek; Faed, James M; Isbister, Geoffrey K; Duffull, Stephen B

    2015-10-01

    Dosing of enoxaparin, like other anticoagulants, may result in bleeding following excessive doses and clot formation if the dose is too low. We recently showed that a factor Xa based clotting time test could potentially assess the effect of enoxaparin on the clotting system. However, the test did not perform well in subsequent individuals and effectiveness of an exogenous phospholipid, Actin FS, in reducing the variability in the clotting time was assessed. The aim of this work was to conduct an adaptive pilot study to determine the range of concentrations of Xa and Actin FS to take forward into a proof-of-concept study. A nonlinear parametric function was developed to describe the response surface over the factors of interest. An adaptive method was used to estimate the parameters using a D-optimal design criterion. In order to provide a reasonable probability of observing a success of the clotting time test, a P-optimal design criterion was incorporated using a loss function to describe the hybrid DP-optimality. The use of adaptive DP-optimality method resulted in an efficient estimation of model parameters using data from only 6 healthy volunteers. The use of response surface modelling identified a range of sets of Xa and Actin FS concentrations, any of which could be used for the proof-of-concept study. This study shows that parsimonious adaptive DP-optimal designs may provide both precise parameter estimates for response surface modelling as well as clinical confidence in the potential benefits of the study.

  8. 14-Day thawed plasma retains clot enhancing properties and inhibits tPA-induced fibrinolysis.

    PubMed

    Huebner, Benjamin R; Moore, Ernest E; Moore, Hunter B; Shepherd-Singh, Raymond; Sauaia, Angela; Stettler, Gregory R; Nunns, Geoffrey R; Silliman, Christopher C

    2017-11-01

    Plasma-first resuscitation attenuates trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC); however, the logistics of plasma-first resuscitation require thawed plasma (TP) be readily available due to the obligatory thawing time of fresh frozen plasma (FFP). The current standard is storage of TP for up to 5 days at 4°C, based on factor levels at outdate, for use in patients at risk for TIC, but there remains a 2.2% outdated wastage rate. However, the multitude of plasma proteins in attenuating TIC remains unknown. We hypothesize that TP retains the ability to enhance clotting and reduce tPA-induced fibrinolysis at 14-day storage. FFP was thawed and stored at 4°C at the following intervals: 14, 10, 7, 5, 3, and 1-day prior to the experiment. Healthy volunteers underwent blood draws followed by 50% dilution with TP stored at previously mentioned intervals as well as FFP, normal saline (NS), albumin, and whole blood (WB) control. Samples underwent tPA-modified (75 ng/mL) thrombelastography (TEG) with analysis of R-time, angle, maximum amplitude (MA), and LY30. TEG properties did not change significantly over the thawed storage. 14-day TP retained the ability to inhibit tPA-induced hyperfibrinolysis (median LY30% 9.6%) similar to FFP (5.6%), WB (14.6%), and superior to albumin (59.3%) and NS (58.1%). 14-day TP also retained faster clot formation (median angle, 66.2°) and superior clot strength (MA, 61.5 mm) to albumin (34.8°, 21.6 mm) and NS (41.6°, 32.2 mm). TP plasma stored for 14 days retains clot-enhancing ability and resistance to clot degradation similar to FFP. A clinical trial is needed to validate these in vitro results. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. [Blood clots in erythrocyte concentrates during transfusion].

    PubMed

    Wagner, T; Drexler, C; Kröll, W; Jüngling, G; Lanzer, G; Gabriel, C

    2008-12-01

    The presence of multiple blood clots in leucocyte-depleted erythrocyte concentrates during a transfusion gave rise to an investigation to find the exact cause. Determination of the various blood group systems was carried out using the gel centrifugation method and also the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using sequence-specific primers. In addition the human leucocyte antigens (HLA) class 1 and class 2 markers were determined with molecular biological methods. The erythrocytes in the blood bags containing the blood clots showed a mixed-field agglutination in each blood group where the donor and recipient had different phenotypes. The HLA groups, however, could be solely attributed to the patient, since during the preparation of erythrocyte concentrates all leucocytes are removed and only very few residual cells containing DNA are present. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed report on blood clots from patient blood in erythrocyte concentrates, which occurred during a transfusion. The retrograde filling of the blood bag with patient blood during the transfusion led to coagulation in the bag. Therefore, careful attention must be taken when dealing with stored blood and corresponding training must be regularly carried out.

  10. Quantification of thrombus formation in malapposed coronary stents deployed in vitro through imaging analysis.

    PubMed

    Brown, Jonathan; O'Brien, Caroline C; Lopes, Augusto C; Kolandaivelu, Kumaran; Edelman, Elazer R

    2018-04-11

    Stent thrombosis is a major complication of coronary stent and scaffold intervention. While often unanticipated and lethal, its incidence is low making mechanistic examination difficult through clinical investigation alone. Thus, throughout the technological advancement of these devices, experimental models have been indispensable in furthering our understanding of device safety and efficacy. As we refine model systems to gain deeper insight into adverse events, it is equally important that we continue to refine our measurement methods. We used digital signal processing in an established flow loop model to investigate local flow effects due to geometric stent features and ultimately its relationship to thrombus formation. A new metric of clot distribution on each microCT slice termed normalized clot ratio was defined to quantify this distribution. Three under expanded coronary bare-metal stents were run in a flow loop model to induce clotting. Samples were then scanned in a MicroCT machine and digital signal processing methods applied to analyze geometric stent conformation and spatial clot formation. Results indicated that geometric stent features play a significant role in clotting patterns, specifically at a frequency of 0.6225 Hz corresponding to a geometric distance of 1.606 mm. The magnitude-squared coherence between geometric features and clot distribution was greater than 0.4 in all samples. In stents with poor wall apposition, ranging from 0.27 mm to 0.64 mm maximum malapposition (model of real-world heterogeneity), clots were found to have formed in between stent struts rather than directly adjacent to struts. This early work shows how the combination of tools in the areas of image processing and signal analysis can advance the resolution at which we are able to define thrombotic mechanisms in in vitro models, and ultimately, gain further insight into clinical performance. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. [Isolation and fermentation condition of milk-clotting enzyme producing strain from glutinous rice wine].

    PubMed

    Cheng, Qiaoling; Bai, Xiaojia; Wang, Yanping

    2008-06-01

    Glutinous rice wine is a traditional food in south of China and it can coagulate milk. It has been proved that its function of coagulating milk is because of the presence of milk-clotting enzyme produced by microorganisms in glutinous rice wine. The aim of this work is to isolate milk-clotting enzyme producing strain from glutinous rice wine and study the fermentation condition. We screened out four bacteria and fungus by gradient dilution. It was proved that mold played the most important role in the production of milk-clotting enzyme. This is further confirmed by casein plate method. The optimization of fermentation conditions revealed that two times concentrated potato medium supplemented with 5% glucose without additional nitrogen was better for production of the enzyme. The enzyme activity was increased 144% under the conditions established.

  12. Use of fibrin sealants for the localized, controlled release of cefazolin

    PubMed Central

    Tredwell, Stephen; Jackson, John K.; Hamilton, Donald; Lee, Vivian; Burt, Helen M.

    2006-01-01

    Background Fibrin sealants are used increasingly in surgery to reduce bleeding and improve wound healing. They have great potential as biocompatible, biodegradable drug delivery systems, because the sealant may adhere to the target tissue and allow controlled release of the drug over an extended period. We investigated the encapsulation, stability and controlled release of erythromycin and cefazolin from Beriplast fibrin sealants (Aventis Behring Canada). Methods Drug-loaded clots were cast in glass vials and allowed to set. We observed the clots for drug precipitation and aggregation, and we assessed the effect of drug encapsulation on clot strength. Drug stability and release from the clots in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was quantified by ultraviolet and visible violet absorbance spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography. Results Erythromycin was found to release slowly from the fibrin clots over the first 2 hours but then degrade rapidly. Cefazolin was found to be very stable in clots in PBS (97% stable at 2 d and 93% stable at 5 d). The drug released in a controlled manner over 2 days, with most being released during the first day. The dose of drug released could be varied by changing the amount placed in the thrombin solution. Clot thickness had no effect on the rate of cefazolin release. Conclusion Overall, the 2-day release profile and the excellent stability of the drug suggest that cefazolin-loaded fibrin sealants may offer an effective route of postoperative antibiotic delivery. PMID:17152573

  13. Time-dependent hardening of blood clots quantitatively measured in vivo with shear-wave ultrasound imaging in a rabbit model of venous thrombosis.

    PubMed

    Mfoumou, Etienne; Tripette, Julien; Blostein, Mark; Cloutier, Guy

    2014-02-01

    Provide in vivo blood clot hardening evolution with ultrasound using supersonic imaging of shear waves. We conducted a prospective study in flow stasis-induced venous thrombosis within jugular veins of white female New Zealand rabbits. Blood clot elasticity was noninvasively measured in vivo using the Young's modulus (in kilopascals), on a 2-hour and a 2-week periods after thrombus induction. Monitoring was followed by a necropsy and ex vivo mechanical characterization to validate the existence and elasticity of explanted thrombi. Stagnant blood in the region of interest underwent clotting and progressive hardening with thrombus aging. The mean Young's moduli varied from 1.0 ± 0.6 kPa (at 10 min) to 5.3 ± 1.6 kPa (at 2 hours), then to 25.0 ± 6.8 kPa (at 14 days) post-surgery. Mean ex vivo moduli of 6.2 ± 0.7 kPa at 2 hours and 29.0 ± 2.4 kPa at 2 weeks agreed with in vivo measures. Supersonic imaging of shear waves provides consistent quantitative non-invasive elasticity measurements not available with standard compression ultrasound imaging for diagnosing and following venous thromboembolism. This information translatable to humans could aid in determining whether continued anticoagulant treatment is necessary, especially in the setting of unprovoked venous thromboembolism. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Autologous Wound Matrix in the Management of Complicated, Chronic Wounds: A Pilot Study.

    PubMed

    Kushnir, Igal; Kushnir, Alon; Serena, Thomas E; Garfinkel, Doron

    2016-09-01

    The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel method using an autologous whole blood clot formed with the RedDress Wound Care System (RD1, RedDress Ltd, Israel), a provisional whole blood clot matrix used in the treatment of chronic wounds of various etiologies. Patients were treated at the bedside with the whole blood clot matrix. Blood was withdrawn from each patient using citrate, mixed with a calcium gluconate/kaolin suspension, and injected into an RD1 clotting tray. Within 10 minutes, a clot was formed, placed upon the wound, and fixed with primary and secondary dressings. Wounds were redressed weekly with a whole blood clot matrix. Treatment was terminated when complete healing was achieved, or when the clinician determined that the wound could not further improve without additional invasive procedures. Seven patients with multiple and serious comorbidities and 9 chronic wounds were treated with 35 clot matrices. Complete healing was achieved in 7 of 9 wounds (78%). In 1 venous ulcer with a nonhealing fistula, 77% healing was achieved. Treatment was terminated in 1 pressure ulcer at 82% closure, because an unexpected mechanical trauma resulted in deterioration; this was the only adverse event reported, unrelated to the product. No systemic adverse events occurred. This pilot study demonstrates the in vitro autologous whole blood clot matrix is effective and safe for treating patients with chronic wounds of different etiologies. A larger clinical trial is needed to assess the relative success rate of the matrix in different types of wounds in a diverse population with comorbidities.

  15. Investigating Interactions between Ultrasound Stimulated Microbubbles and the Fibrin Network of Blood Clots

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Acconcia, Christopher N.

    The occlusion of blood vessels by thrombus is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in cardiovascular diseases such as deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. In these contexts, prompt restoration of blood flow is of the utmost importance and is poorly addressed by current methods in many cases. For example, the treatment standard for ischemic stroke is administration of the thrombolytic agent tissue plasminogen activator, which is only minimally effective and has associated safety issues. There is, therefore, a need for the development of alternative recanalization strategies and amongst these, bubble mediated sonothrombolysis (thrombolysis by ultrasound) has emerged as a promising approach. Though it is well established that ultrasound stimulated microbubbles can potentiate the lysis of blood clots, the mechanisms are not well understood and this lack of understanding is a hindrance to the development of improved ultrasound exposure strategies. This thesis has revealed insights into the mechanisms of bubble mediated sonothrombolysis which can be used to guide the development of improved exposure strategies and contrast agents (i.e. bubble sizes) for sonothrombolysis treatments. The experimental approach involved fast frame optical imaging of ultrasound stimulated microbubbles interacting with clots, and two-photon fluorescence imaging of clots following ultrasound exposure. It was demonstrated that bubbles can penetrate fibrin clots, disrupt the fibrin network, generate patent tunnels, enhance the transport of fluid into the clot and induce clot boundary displacements. Furthermore, the occurrence and extent of these therapeutically relevant effects were shown to be highly dependent on pulse length and bubble size: longer pulses and larger bubbles were associated with greater disruption of fibrin networks and greater fluid transport distances. Finally, it was shown that bubbles can induce the ejection of erythrocytes from blood clots and produce advanced erosion effects which depend on ultrasound exposure conditions.

  16. [Decreased retraction of blood clots in patients with venous thromboembolic complications].

    PubMed

    Bredikhin, R A; Peshkova, A D; Maliasev, D V; Batrakova, M V; Le Min, J; Panasiuk, M V; Fatkhullina, L S; Ignat'ev, I M; Khaĭrullin, R N; Litvinov, R I

    Haemostatic disorders play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute venous thrombosis. One of the least studied reactions of blood coagulation and thrombogenesis is spontaneous contraction of blood clots, which takes place at the expense of the contractility apparatus of activated blood platelets adhered to fibrin fibres. The work was aimed at studying the parameters of contraction of blood clots, formed in vitro, in blood of 41 patients with acute venous thromboses as compared with the same parameters in apparently healthy donors. We used a new instrumental method making it possible to determine the time from initiation to the beginning of contraction, as well as the degree and velocity of clot contraction. It was revealed that in patients with venous thrombosis the ability of clots to shrink was significantly reduced as compared with the control. We detected a statistically significant retardation of and decrease in of blood clot concentration in patients with venous thrombosis complicated by pulmonary artery thromboembolism as compared with contraction in patients with isolated deep vein thrombosis, witch may be important for early diagnosis and determination of the risk of thromboembolism. Besides, we revealed a statistically significant retardation of contraction in patients with proximal thrombosis as compared with contraction in patients with distal thrombosis, with similar values of the degree of contraction. Contraction was statistically significantly reduced in acute thrombosis (less than 21 days), whereas in subacute thrombosis (more than 21 days) the parameters of contraction were closer to normal values. The obtained findings suggest that reduction of blood clot contraction may be a new, hitherto unstudied pathogenetic mechanism deteriorating the course and outcome of venous thrombosis. The clinical significance of contraction and its impairments, as well as the diagnostic and prognostic value of the laboratory test for blood clot contraction would merit further study.

  17. The in vivo effect of fibrinogen and factor XIII on clot formation and fibrinolysis in Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.

    PubMed

    Shenkman, Boris; Livnat, Tami; Misgav, Mudi; Budnik, Ivan; Einav, Yulia; Martinowitz, Uriel

    2012-01-01

    Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) is characterized by increased bleeding risk. The treatment options in GT are limited. The aim of this study was to test the effect of GT blood supplementation with fibrinogen and factor XIII on thrombin generation, blood clotting, and fibrinolysis. Whole blood samples of GT patients and normal donors treated with eptifibatide (GT model) were subjected to clotting by CaCl(2) and tissue factor. Thrombin generation was measured in platelet-rich plasma. Clot formation and tPA-induced fibrinolysis were evaluated in whole blood by rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM). Blood was supplemented with fibrinogen (3 g/L) and/or FXIII (2 IU/mL). Thrombin generation analysis of blood derived from GT model and GT patients revealed decreased endogenous thrombin potential and peak height and extended lag time compared to control. However, this method was not sensitive to blood spiking with fibrinogen and FXIII. ROTEM revealed lower maximum clot firmness (MCF) and area under curve (AUC) in the blood of GT model and GT patients. In the absence of exogenous tPA, blood spiking with fibrinogen markedly enhanced clot quality while FXIII had no effect. Combination of fibrinogen and FXIII did not add to the effect of fibrinogen. In contrast, by the addition of tPA, both fibrinogen and FXIII separately and, to more extent, in combination enhanced clot quality as well as resistance against tPA-induced fibrinolysis (increasing MCF, AUC, and lysis onset time). In conclusion, fibrinogen and FXIII exerted stimulation of blood clotting and inhibition of fibrinolysis. Treating normal blood with eptifibatide mimics the changes of coagulopathy in GT blood.

  18. Effects of magnesium sulphate on postoperative coagulation, measured by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM(®)).

    PubMed

    Na, H S; Chung, Y H; Hwang, J W; Do, S H

    2012-08-01

    We investigated the effects of magnesium sulphate on blood coagulation profiles using rotational thromboelastometry in gynaecological patients undergoing pelviscopic surgery. Patients were randomly allocated to the magnesium group (n = 20) or control group (n = 20). The magnesium group received magnesium sulphate (50 mg.kg(-1) followed by continuous infusion of 15 mg.kg(-1).h(-1)), whereas the control group received the same volume of isotonic saline according to the same methods. Mean (SD) postoperative serum magnesium levels were 1.58 (0.17) mmol.l(-1) in the magnesium group compared with 0.98 (0.06) mmol.l(-1) in the control group (p < 0.001). Postoperative clotting time, clot formation time, α-angle and maximum clot firmness of INTEM, and clot formation time, α-angle, and maximum clot firmness of EXTEM were significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.05). Intra-operative infusion of magnesium sulphate seems to attenuate postoperative hypercoagulability by maintaining magnesium levels at the upper limit of the normal range. Anaesthesia © 2012 The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.

  19. Tumour imaging by the detection of fibrin clots in tumour stroma using an anti-fibrin Fab fragment

    PubMed Central

    Obonai, Toshifumi; Fuchigami, Hirobumi; Furuya, Fumiaki; Kozuka, Naoyuki; Yasunaga, Masahiro; Matsumura, Yasuhiro

    2016-01-01

    The diagnosis of early and aggressive types of cancer is important for providing effective cancer therapy. Cancer-induced fibrin clots exist only within lesions. Previously, we developed a monoclonal antibody (clone 102-10) that recognizes insoluble fibrin but not fibrinogen or soluble fibrin and confirmed that fibrin clots form continuously in various cancers. Here, we describe the development of a Fab fragment probe of clone 102-10 for tumour imaging. The distribution of 102-10 Fab was investigated in genetically engineered mice bearing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and its effect on blood coagulation was examined. Immunohistochemical and ex vivo imaging revealed that 102-10 Fab was distributed selectively in fibrin clots in PDAC tumours 3 h after injection and that it disappeared from the body after 24 h. 102-10 Fab had no influence on blood coagulation or fibrinolysis. Tumour imaging using anti-fibrin Fab may provide a safe and effective method for the diagnosis of invasive cancers by detecting fibrin clots in tumour stroma. PMID:27009516

  20. Evaluation of thrombolytic potential of three medicinal plants available in Bangladesh, as a potent source of thrombolytic compounds

    PubMed Central

    Ramjan, Ali; Hossain, Marjan; Runa, Jannatul Ferdous; Md, Hasanuzzaman; Mahmodul, Islam

    2014-01-01

    Objective: The present study is aimed to investigate in vitro thrombolytic activity of three Bangladeshi medicinal plants Averrhoa bilimbi (Oxalidiaceae), Clerodendrum viscosum (Verbanaceae) and Drynaria quercifolia (Polypodiaceae). Materials and methods: Each the plant was extracted with methanol at room temperature and the concentrated methanolic extracts (MEF) were fractionated by the modified Kupchan partitioning method to render pet-ether soluble fraction (PESF), carbon tetrachloride soluble fraction (CTSF), chloroform soluble fraction (CSF) and aqueous soluble fraction (AQSF). To observe their thrombolytic potential, a prompt and swift method was involved where streptokinase and water were used as positive and negative control, respectively. Result: Among the three plants, AQSF and PESF of D. quercifolia with CTSF of C. viscosum exhibited highest thrombolytic activity by clot lysis of 34.38%, 34.27% and 28.64%, respectively. Among other extracts A. bilimbi, C. viscosun and D.quercifolia showed significant percentage (%) of clot lysis compared to standard streptokinase (41.05%) while the negative control water revealed 3.31 % lysis of clot. Conclusion: From our findings it is observed that all the plants revealed remarkable thrombolytic activity. Therefore, steps should be taken to observe in vivo clot dissolving potential and to isolate active component(s) of these extracts. PMID:25386407

  1. Unfavorably Altered Fibrin Clot Properties in Patients with Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss Syndrome): Association with Thrombin Generation and Eosinophilia

    PubMed Central

    Mastalerz, Lucyna; Celińska-Lӧwenhoff, Magdalena; Krawiec, Piotr; Batko, Bogdan; Tłustochowicz, Witold; Undas, Anetta

    2015-01-01

    Objectives Given reports on the increased prevalence of thromboembolic incidents in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA; Churg-Strauss syndrome), we investigated whether fibrin clot properties are unfavorably altered in EGPA. Methods Ex vivo plasma fibrin clot characteristics, including clot permeability, turbidimetry and efficiency of fibrinolysis using two assays, were investigated in 34 consecutive patients with remission in EGPA according to the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score version 3 (23 female, 11 male), aged 48 (range, 21–80) years. The control group comprised 34 age- and sex- matched volunteers. Results Compared with controls, patients with EGPA were characterized by denser fiber clots (estimated pore size, Ks, 7.30±0.93 vs 10.14±1.07 10−9 cm2), faster fibrin polymerization (lag phase in a turbidimetric curve, 41.8±3.6 vs 47.4±2.9 s), thicker fibrin fibers (maximum absorbance, ΔAbs, 0.87±0.09 vs 0.72±0.07), higher maximum levels of D-dimer released from clots (DDmax 4.10±0.46 vs 3.54±0.35 mg/L), and prolonged clot lysis time (t50%; 9.50±1.45 vs 7.56±0.87 min); all p<0.0001. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed denser plasma fibrin networks composed of thinner fibers formed in EGPA. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody status and C-reactive protein did not affect clot variables. Multivariate analysis adjusted for fibrinogen showed that Ks was predicted by eosinophil count, peak thrombin generation, factor VIII, and soluble CD40 ligand, whereas eosinophil count, peak thrombin generation and antiplasmin predicted t50%. Conclusion This study is the first to show that EGPA is associated with prothrombotic plasma fibrin clot phenotype, which may contribute to thromboembolic manifestations reported in this disease. PMID:26540111

  2. Correlation between clot density and recanalization success or stroke etiology in acute ischemic stroke patients

    PubMed Central

    Kallmes, David F; Brinjikji, Waleed

    2017-01-01

    Background Predicting recanalization success for patients undergoing endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke is of significant interest. Studies have previously correlated the success of recanalization with the density of the clot. We evaluated clot density and its relationship to revascularization success and stroke etiology. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 118 patients undergoing intra-arterial therapy for acute ischemic stroke. Mean and maximum thrombus density was measured by drawing a circular region of interest on an axial slice of a non-contrast computed tomography scan. T-tests were used to compare clot density to recanalization success or to stroke etiology, namely large artery atherosclerosis and cardioembolism. Recanalization success was compared in four device groups: aspiration, stent retriever, aspiration and stent retriever, and all other. Results There was no significant difference in the mean clot density in patients with successful (n = 80) versus unsuccessful recanalization (n = 38, 50.1 ± 7.4 Hounsfield unit (HU) vs. 53 ± 12.7 HU; P = 0.17). Comparing the large artery thromboembolism (n = 35) to the cardioembolic etiology group (n = 56), there was no significant difference in mean clot density (51.5 ± 7.7 HU vs. 49.7 ± 8.5 HU; P = 0.31). A subgroup analysis of middle cerebral artery occlusions (n = 65) showed similar, non-statistically significant differences between groups. There was no difference in the rate of recanalization success in patients with a mean clot density greater than 50 HU or less than 50 HU in each of the four device groups. Conclusions There was no relationship between clot density and revascularization success or stroke etiology in our study. More research is needed to determine if clot density can predict recanalization rates or indicate etiology. PMID:28604188

  3. Adenosine diphosphate-decorated chitosan nanoparticles shorten blood clotting times, influencing the structures and varying the mechanical properties of the clots

    PubMed Central

    Chung, Tze-Wen; Lin, Pei-Yi; Wang, Shoei-Shen; Chen, Yen-Fung

    2014-01-01

    Chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) decorated with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (ANPs) or fibrinogen (FNPs) were used to fabricate hemostatic NPs that can shorten blood clotting time and prevent severe local hemorrhage. The structure and mechanical properties of the blood clot induced with ANP (clot/ANP) or FNP (clot/FNP) were also investigated. The NPs, ANPs, and FNPs, which had particle sizes of 245.1±14.0, 251.0±9.8, and 326.5±14.5 nm and zeta potentials of 24.1±0.5, 20.6±1.9, and 15.3±1.5 mV (n=4), respectively, were fabricated by ionic gelation and then decorated with ADP and fibrinogen. The zeta potentials and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of the NPs confirmed that their surfaces were successfully coated with ADP and fibrinogen. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs of the structure of the clot induced with “undecorated” chitosan NPs (clot/NP), clot/ANP, and clot/FNP (at 0.05 wt%) were different, after citrated bloods had been recalcified by a calcium chloride solution containing NPs, ANPs, or FNPs. This indicated that many NPs adhered on the membrane surfaces of red blood cells, that ANPs induced many platelet aggregates, and that FNPs were incorporated into the fibrin network in the clots. Measurements of the blood clotting times (Tc) of blood clot/NPs, clot/ANPs, and clot/FNPs, based on 90% of ultimate frequency shifts measured on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), were significantly (P<0.05) (n=4) shorter than that of a clot induced by a phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) (clot/PBS) (63.6%±3.1%, 48.3%±6.2%, and 63.2%±4.7%, respectively). The ΔF2 values in the spectra of frequency shifts associated with the propagation of fibrin networks in the clot/ANPs and clot/FNPs were significantly lower than those of clot/PBS. Interestingly, texture profile analysis of the compressional properties showed significantly lower hardness and compressibility in clot/NPs and clot/ANPs (P<0.05 or better) (n=4) compared with clot/PBS and clot/FNPs. Accordingly, among the hemostatic NPs, ANP substantially reduced blood clotting times, ΔF2 values, and compression flow properties of the clot. Hence, ANPs have potential applications for preventing severe local hemorrhage. PMID:24729701

  4. Adenosine diphosphate-decorated chitosan nanoparticles shorten blood clotting times, influencing the structures and varying the mechanical properties of the clots.

    PubMed

    Chung, Tze-Wen; Lin, Pei-Yi; Wang, Shoei-Shen; Chen, Yen-Fung

    2014-01-01

    Chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) decorated with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (ANPs) or fibrinogen (FNPs) were used to fabricate hemostatic NPs that can shorten blood clotting time and prevent severe local hemorrhage. The structure and mechanical properties of the blood clot induced with ANP (clot/ANP) or FNP (clot/FNP) were also investigated. The NPs, ANPs, and FNPs, which had particle sizes of 245.1 ± 14.0, 251.0 ± 9.8, and 326.5 ± 14.5 nm and zeta potentials of 24.1 ± 0.5, 20.6 ± 1.9, and 15.3 ± 1.5 mV (n=4), respectively, were fabricated by ionic gelation and then decorated with ADP and fibrinogen. The zeta potentials and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of the NPs confirmed that their surfaces were successfully coated with ADP and fibrinogen. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs of the structure of the clot induced with "undecorated" chitosan NPs (clot/NP), clot/ANP, and clot/FNP (at 0.05 wt%) were different, after citrated bloods had been recalcified by a calcium chloride solution containing NPs, ANPs, or FNPs. This indicated that many NPs adhered on the membrane surfaces of red blood cells, that ANPs induced many platelet aggregates, and that FNPs were incorporated into the fibrin network in the clots. Measurements of the blood clotting times (Tc) of blood clot/NPs, clot/ANPs, and clot/FNPs, based on 90% of ultimate frequency shifts measured on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), were significantly (P<0.05) (n=4) shorter than that of a clot induced by a phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) (clot/PBS) (63.6% ± 3.1%, 48.3% ± 6.2%, and 63.2% ± 4.7%, respectively). The ΔF2 values in the spectra of frequency shifts associated with the propagation of fibrin networks in the clot/ANPs and clot/FNPs were significantly lower than those of clot/PBS. Interestingly, texture profile analysis of the compressional properties showed significantly lower hardness and compressibility in clot/NPs and clot/ANPs (P<0.05 or better) (n=4) compared with clot/PBS and clot/FNPs. Accordingly, among the hemostatic NPs, ANP substantially reduced blood clotting times, ΔF2 values, and compression flow properties of the clot. Hence, ANPs have potential applications for preventing severe local hemorrhage.

  5. Blood Clots

    MedlinePlus

    ... News Physician Resources Professions Site Index A-Z Blood Clots Blood clots are semi-solid masses of blood ... evaluated? How are blood clots treated? What are blood clots? Blood clots are semi-solid masses of blood. ...

  6. Whole blood clots are more resistant to lysis than plasma clots--greater efficacy of rivaroxaban.

    PubMed

    Varin, Rémi; Mirshahi, Shahsultan; Mirshahi, Pezhman; Klein, Christophe; Jamshedov, Jovid; Chidiac, Jean; Perzborn, Elisabeth; Mirshahi, Massoud; Soria, Claudine; Soria, Jeannette

    2013-03-01

    Defective thrombolysis, a thrombotic risk factor, can be attributed to the formation of a compact clot poorly accessible to fibrinolytic enzymes. Venous thrombi, rich in red blood cells (RBCs), and arterial thrombi containing various amounts of RBCS, plasma and whole blood (WB) clot permeability and degradability were compared. The effect of rivaroxaban, a potent direct factor Xa inhibitor, was also evaluated. Fibrin permeability was determined by flow measurement through the clot. Clot degradability was evaluated by the amount of D-dimer generated by clot perfusion with plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator. Fibrin clot structure was assessed by confocal microscopy. WB clot permeability (KS) and degradability were 6.7- and 38-fold lower, respectively, compared with plasma clots. This is attributed to 1) occlusion of fibrin pores by RBCs and 2) a consistent increase in thrombin generation due to platelets and RBCs inducing formation of a tighter clot. Rivaroxaban added to plasma or WB before clotting, in reducing thrombin generation, led to the formation of a looser clot that is more degradable by fibrinolytic enzymes. Permeability and degradability of whole blood clots formed in the presence of rivaroxaban were very similar to those of plasma clots. The resistance to fibrinolysis of WB clots was reduced considerably when clots were formed with rivaroxaban. These results may have implications for the development of antithrombotic agents. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Googling Service Boundaries for Endovascular Clot Retrieval Hub Hospitals in a Metropolitan Setting: Proof-of-Concept Study.

    PubMed

    Phan, Thanh G; Beare, Richard; Chen, Jian; Clissold, Benjamin; Ly, John; Singhal, Shaloo; Ma, Henry; Srikanth, Velandai

    2017-05-01

    There is great interest in how endovascular clot retrieval hubs provide services to a population. We applied a computational method to objectively generate service boundaries for such endovascular clot retrieval hubs, defined by traveling time to hub. Stroke incidence data merged with population census to estimate numbers of stroke in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. Traveling time from randomly generated addresses to 4 endovascular clot retrieval-capable hubs (Royal Melbourne Hospital [RMH], Monash Medical Center [MMC], Alfred Hospital [ALF], and Austin Hospital [AUS]) estimated using Google Map application program interface. Boundary maps generated based on traveling time at various times of day for combinations of hubs. In a 2-hub model, catchment was best distributed when RMH was paired with MMC (model 1a, RMH 1765 km 2 and MMC 1164 km 2 ) or with AUS (model 1c, RMH 1244 km 2 and AUS 1685 km 2 ), with no statistical difference between models ( P =0.20). Catchment was poorly distributed when RMH was paired with ALF (model 1b, RMH 2252 km 2 and ALF 676 km 2 ), significantly different from both models 1a and 1c (both P <0.05). Model 1a had the greatest proportion of patients arriving within ideal time of 30 minutes followed by model 1c ( P <0.001). In a 3-hub model, the combination of RMH, MMC, and AUS was superior to that of RMH, MMC, and ALF in catchment distribution and travel time. The method was also successfully applied to the city of Adelaide demonstrating wider applicability. We provide proof of concept for a novel computational method to objectively designate service boundaries for endovascular clot retrieval hubs. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

  8. Evaluation of thrombolytic potential of three medicinal plants available in Bangladesh, as a potent source of thrombolytic compounds.

    PubMed

    Ramjan, Ali; Hossain, Marjan; Runa, Jannatul Ferdous; Md, Hasanuzzaman; Mahmodul, Islam

    2014-11-01

    The present study is aimed to investigate in vitro thrombolytic activity of three Bangladeshi medicinal plants Averrhoa bilimbi (Oxalidiaceae), Clerodendrum viscosum (Verbanaceae) and Drynaria quercifolia (Polypodiaceae). Each the plant was extracted with methanol at room temperature and the concentrated methanolic extracts (MEF) were fractionated by the modified Kupchan partitioning method to render pet-ether soluble fraction (PESF), carbon tetrachloride soluble fraction (CTSF), chloroform soluble fraction (CSF) and aqueous soluble fraction (AQSF). To observe their thrombolytic potential, a prompt and swift method was involved where streptokinase and water were used as positive and negative control, respectively. Among the three plants, AQSF and PESF of D. quercifolia with CTSF of C. viscosum exhibited highest thrombolytic activity by clot lysis of 34.38%, 34.27% and 28.64%, respectively. Among other extracts A. bilimbi, C. viscosun and D.quercifolia showed significant percentage (%) of clot lysis compared to standard streptokinase (41.05%) while the negative control water revealed 3.31 % lysis of clot. From our findings it is observed that all the plants revealed remarkable thrombolytic activity. Therefore, steps should be taken to observe in vivo clot dissolving potential and to isolate active component(s) of these extracts.

  9. Limitations of using synthetic blood clots for measuring in vitro clot capture efficiency of inferior vena cava filters

    PubMed Central

    Robinson, Ronald A; Herbertson, Luke H; Das, Srilekha Sarkar; Malinauskas, Richard A; Pritchard, William F; Grossman, Laurence W

    2013-01-01

    The purpose of this study was first to evaluate the clot capture efficiency and capture location of six currently-marketed vena cava filters in a physiological venous flow loop, using synthetic polyacrylamide hydrogel clots, which were intended to simulate actual blood clots. After observing a measured anomaly for one of the test filters, we redirected the focus of the study to identify the cause of poor clot capture performance for large synthetic hydrogel clots. We hypothesized that the uncharacteristic low clot capture efficiency observed when testing the outlying filter can be attributed to the inadvertent use of dense, stiff synthetic hydrogel clots, and not as a result of the filter design or filter orientation. To study this issue, sheep blood clots and polyacrylamide (PA) synthetic clots were injected into a mock venous flow loop containing a clinical inferior vena cava (IVC) filter, and their captures were observed. Testing was performed with clots of various diameters (3.2, 4.8, and 6.4 mm), length-to-diameter ratios (1:1, 3:1, 10:1), and stiffness. By adjusting the chemical formulation, PA clots were fabricated to be soft, moderately stiff, or stiff with elastic moduli of 805 ± 2, 1696 ± 10 and 3295 ± 37 Pa, respectively. In comparison, the elastic moduli for freshly prepared sheep blood clots were 1690 ± 360 Pa. The outlying filter had a design that was characterized by peripheral gaps (up to 14 mm) between its wire struts. While a low clot capture rate was observed using large, stiff synthetic clots, the filter effectively captured similarly sized sheep blood clots and soft PA clots. Because the stiffer synthetic clots remained straight when approaching the filter in the IVC model flow loop, they were more likely to pass between the peripheral filter struts, while the softer, physiological clots tended to fold and were captured by the filter. These experiments demonstrated that if synthetic clots are used as a surrogate for animal or human blood clots for in vitro evaluation of vena cava filters, the material properties (eg, elastic modulus) and dynamic behavior of the surrogate should first be assessed to ensure that they accurately mimic an actual blood clot within the body. PMID:23690701

  10. Limitations of using synthetic blood clots for measuring in vitro clot capture efficiency of inferior vena cava filters.

    PubMed

    Robinson, Ronald A; Herbertson, Luke H; Sarkar Das, Srilekha; Malinauskas, Richard A; Pritchard, William F; Grossman, Laurence W

    2013-01-01

    The purpose of this study was first to evaluate the clot capture efficiency and capture location of six currently-marketed vena cava filters in a physiological venous flow loop, using synthetic polyacrylamide hydrogel clots, which were intended to simulate actual blood clots. After observing a measured anomaly for one of the test filters, we redirected the focus of the study to identify the cause of poor clot capture performance for large synthetic hydrogel clots. We hypothesized that the uncharacteristic low clot capture efficiency observed when testing the outlying filter can be attributed to the inadvertent use of dense, stiff synthetic hydrogel clots, and not as a result of the filter design or filter orientation. To study this issue, sheep blood clots and polyacrylamide (PA) synthetic clots were injected into a mock venous flow loop containing a clinical inferior vena cava (IVC) filter, and their captures were observed. Testing was performed with clots of various diameters (3.2, 4.8, and 6.4 mm), length-to-diameter ratios (1:1, 3:1, 10:1), and stiffness. By adjusting the chemical formulation, PA clots were fabricated to be soft, moderately stiff, or stiff with elastic moduli of 805 ± 2, 1696 ± 10 and 3295 ± 37 Pa, respectively. In comparison, the elastic moduli for freshly prepared sheep blood clots were 1690 ± 360 Pa. The outlying filter had a design that was characterized by peripheral gaps (up to 14 mm) between its wire struts. While a low clot capture rate was observed using large, stiff synthetic clots, the filter effectively captured similarly sized sheep blood clots and soft PA clots. Because the stiffer synthetic clots remained straight when approaching the filter in the IVC model flow loop, they were more likely to pass between the peripheral filter struts, while the softer, physiological clots tended to fold and were captured by the filter. These experiments demonstrated that if synthetic clots are used as a surrogate for animal or human blood clots for in vitro evaluation of vena cava filters, the material properties (eg, elastic modulus) and dynamic behavior of the surrogate should first be assessed to ensure that they accurately mimic an actual blood clot within the body.

  11. Delayed double reading of whole blood clotting test (WBCT) results at 20 and 30 minutes enhances diagnosis and treatment of viper envenomation.

    PubMed

    Benjamin, Jordan Max; Chippaux, Jean-Philippe; Sambo, Bio Tamou; Massougbodji, Achille

    2018-01-01

    The whole blood clotting test (WBCT) is a simple test of coagulation that is often used in the assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic monitoring of snakebite patients in sub-Saharan Africa. WBCT requires only a clean glass tube and several milliliters of venous blood and is ideal for use in poorly equipped health centers throughout the rural areas where 95% of snakebites occur. However, questions surrounding the accuracy and reliability of the test remain unanswered due to variations in testing conditions and a lack of comparative research with which to validate them. This is the first study to evaluate WBCT results at both 20-min (WBCT20) and 30-min (WBCT30) reading times in the same group of snakebite patients. In order to define the best reading time, the authors compared the results of serial WBCT evaluation at both 20 and 30 min after collection in 23 patients treated for snake envenomation in Bembèrèkè, northern Benin. WBCT results were identical at both reading times in patients without coagulopathy or when coagulation was restored permanently following a single dose of antivenom. Out of 17 patients with coagulopathy, 14 showed discrepancies between WBCT20 and WBCT30 results in at least one pair of serial evaluations. These could be completely contradictory results (e.g. normal clot at WBCT20 and no clot at WBCT30) or a marked difference in the quality of the clot (e.g. no clotting activity at WBCT20 and an unstable partial clot at WBCT30). WBCT discrepancies were encountered most frequently in three situations: initial normalization of hemostasis following antivenom therapy, detection of a secondary resumption of coagulopathy, or final restoration of hemostasis after a secondary resumption had occurred. This study suggests that the WBCT is robust and that a sequential reading should improve the diagnosis and monitoring of venom-induced coagulopathies. It also indicates the possibility of discrepancies in the sensitivity of WBCT20 and WBCT30 for detecting the resolution or reoccurrence of coagulopathy and identifies how these findings, if confirmed, may be used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of antivenom treatment in the field.

  12. Thromboelastography Values in Hispaniolan Amazon Parrots ( Amazona ventralis ): A Pilot Study.

    PubMed

    Keller, Krista A; Sanchez-Migallon Guzman, David; Acierno, Mark J; Beaufrère, Hugues; Sinclair, Kristin M; Owens, Sean D; Paul-Murphy, Joanne; Tully, Thomas N

    2015-09-01

    Thromboelastography (TEG) provides a global assessment of coagulation, including the rate of clot initiation, clot kinetics, achievement of maximum clot strength, and fibrinolysis. Thromboelastography (TEG) is used with increasing frequency in the field of veterinary medicine, although its usefulness in avian species has not been adequately explored. The purpose of this preliminary study was to assess the applicability of TEG in psittacine birds. Kaolin-activated TEG was used to analyze citrated whole blood collected routinely from 8 healthy adult Hispaniolan Amazon parrots ( Amazona ventralis ). The minimum and maximum TEG values obtained included time to clot initiation (2.6-15 minutes), clot formation time (4.3-20.8 minutes), α angle (12.7°-47.9°), maximum amplitude of clot strength (26.3-46.2 mm), and percentage of lysis 30 minutes after achievement of maximum amplitude (0%-5.3%). The TEG values demonstrated comparative hypocoagulability relative to published values in canine and feline species. Differences may be explained by either the in vitro temperature at which TEG is standardly performed or the method of activation used in this study. Although TEG may have significant advantages over traditional coagulation tests, including lack of need for species-specific reagents, further evaluation is required in a variety of avian species and while exploring various TEG methodologies before this technology can be recommended for use in clinical cases.

  13. Effect of clot aging and cholesterol content on ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Yufeng; Murugappan, Suresh Kanna; Sharma, Vijay Kumar

    2014-10-01

    Exposure to 2-MHz transcranial diagnostic ultrasound enhances the thrombolytic activity of intravenously administered tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) in acute ischemic stroke (sonothrombolysis). However, rates of arterial recanalization vary widely, depending upon the clot burden, its location, and stroke subtype. We evaluated the influence of age and cholesterol level of the blood clots on sonothrombolysis in an in vitro model. To "age" the clots, serum was replaced by fresh blood periodically. We increased the cholesterol content of the clots by adding cholesterin to the blood. The clots were lysed by tPA and/or transcranial Doppler ultrasound sonication for 1 h. The extent of thrombolysis induced by various treatment protocols (controls, sonication, tPA, and sonothrombolysis) was evaluated with relative changes in the clot weights and in the clot structure by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at end of the experiment. Sonothrombolysis induced significantly higher weight reduction in fresh clots (37.3 % in 2-h old clots versus 24.8 % in 10-h ones, p < 0.005) as well as the clots with higher cholesterol levels (41.7 versus 30.6 % in normal cholesterol clots, p < 0.005). SEM demonstrated patterns of clot dissolution among various treatment modalities. Sonothrombolysis induced better clot lysis in fresh thrombi with high cholesterol levels.

  14. Flow-mediated transport around a macroscopic arterial thrombus

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mukherjee, Debanjan; Garduno, Jocelyn; Shadden, Shawn

    2017-11-01

    Pathological blood clotting (thrombosis) is the acute cause of most major cardiovascular events including heart attack and stroke. Local blood and plasma transport in the neighborhood of a clot is thought to govern the thrombotic process (e.g. growth and consolidation), embolization, and the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments. To better understand the fluid mechanics near a clot it is necessary to resolve the dynamic interactions between a realistic thrombus with arbitrary shape and microstructure, and viscous, pulsatile flow. Here, we describe a computational technique to characterize flow-mediated transport phenomena in the vicinity of macro-scale arterial clots. The technique comprises (a) resolving unsteady flow around a thrombus model using a discrete particle fictitious domain finite element method; (b) identifying coherent transport features using finite time Lyapunov exponent fields, and (c) characterizing mixing using a particle-based approach. Numerical examples are discussed using realistic thrombus aggregates derived from experimental data, and pulsatile flow typical in human arteries. The results indicate the existence of local transport barriers and coherent regions in the vicinity of the clot with potential influence to local biochemical mechanics. National Science Foundation Award: 1354541; American Heart Association Award: 16POST27500023.

  15. Identification of quantitative trait loci for fibrin clot phenotypes: The EuroCLOT study

    PubMed Central

    Williams, Frances MK; Carter, Angela M; Kato, Bernet; Falchi, Mario; Bathum, Lise; Surdulescu, Gabriela; Kyvik, Kirsten Ohm; Palotie, Aarno; Spector, Tim D; Grant, Peter J

    2012-01-01

    Objectives Fibrin makes up the structural basis of an occlusive arterial thrombus and variability in fibrin phenotype relates to cardiovascular risk. The aims of the current study from the EU consortium EuroCLOT were to 1) determine the heritability of fibrin phenotypes and 2) identify QTLs associated with fibrin phenotypes. Methods 447 dizygotic (DZ) and 460 monozygotic (MZ) pairs of healthy UK Caucasian female twins and 199 DZ twin pairs from Denmark were studied. D-dimer, an indicator of fibrin turnover, was measured by ELISA and measures of clot formation, morphology and lysis were determined by turbidimetric assays. Heritability estimates and genome-wide linkage analysis were performed. Results Estimates of heritability for d-dimer and turbidometric variables were in the range 17 - 46%, with highest levels for maximal absorbance which provides an estimate of clot density. Genome-wide linkage analysis revealed 6 significant regions with LOD>3 on 5 chromosomes (5, 6, 9, 16 and 17). Conclusions The results indicate a significant genetic contribution to variability in fibrin phenotypes and highlight regions in the human genome which warrant further investigation in relation to ischaemic cardiovascular disorders and their therapy. PMID:19150881

  16. Clot stability as a determinant of effective factor VIII replacement in hemophilia A.

    PubMed

    Leong, L; Chernysh, I N; Xu, Y; Sim, D; Nagaswami, C; de Lange, Z; Kosolapova, S; Cuker, A; Kauser, K; Weisel, J W

    2017-10-01

    Factor VIII (FVIII) replacement is standard of care for patients with hemophilia A (HemA); however, patient response does not always correlate with FVIII levels. We hypothesize this may be in part due to the physical properties of clots and contributions of fibrin, platelets, and erythrocytes, which may be important for hemostasis. To understand how FVIII contributes to effective hemostasis in terms of clot structure and mechanical properties. In vitro HemA clots in human plasma or whole blood were analyzed using turbidity waveform analysis, confocal microscopy, and rheometry with or without added FVIII. In vivo clots from saphenous vein puncture in wild-type and HemA mice with varying FVIII levels were examined using scanning electron microscopy. FVIII profoundly affected HemA clot structure and physical properties; added FVIII converted the open and porous fibrin meshwork and low stiffness of HemA clots to a highly branched and dense meshwork with higher stiffness. Platelets and erythrocytes incorporated into clots modulated clot properties. The clots formed in the mouse saphenous vein model contained variable amounts of compressed erythrocytes (polyhedrocytes), fibrin, and platelets depending on the levels of FVIII, correlating with bleeding times. FVIII effects on clot characteristics were dose-dependent and reached a maximum at ~25% FVIII, such that HemA clots formed with this level of FVIII resembled clots from unaffected controls. Effective clot formation can be achieved in HemA by replacement therapy, which alters the architecture of the fibrin network and associated cells, thus increasing clot stiffness and decreasing clot permeability.

  17. Effect of Low Frequency Ultrasound on Combined rt-PA and Eptifibatide Thrombolysis in Human Clots

    PubMed Central

    Meunier, Jason M.; Holland, Christy K.; Pancioli, Arthur M.; Lindsell, Christopher J.; Shaw, George J.

    2009-01-01

    Introduction Fibrinolytics such as recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) are used to treat thrombotic disease such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and ischemic stroke. Interest in increasing efficacy and reducing side effects has led to the study of adjuncts such as GP IIb-IIIa inhibitors and ultrasound (US) enhanced thrombolysis. Currently, GP IIb-IIIa inhibitor and fibrinolytic treatment are often used in AMI, and are under investigation for stroke treatment. However, little is known of the efficacy of combined GP IIb-IIIa inhibitor, fibrinolytic and ultrasound treatment. We measure the lytic efficacy of rt-PA, eptifibatide (Epf) and 120 kHz ultrasound treatment in an in-vitro human clot model. Materials and Methods Blood was drawn from 15 subjects after IRB approval. Clots were made in 20 μL pipettes, and placed in a water tank for microscopic visualization during lytic treatment. Clots were exposed to control, rt-PA (rt-PA), eptifibatide (Epf), or rt-PA+eptifibatide (rt-PA+Epf), with or without ultrasound for 30 minutes at 37°C in human plasma. Clot lysis was measured over time, using a microscopic imaging technique. The fractional clot loss (FCL) and initial lytic rate (LR) were used to quantify lytic efficacy. Results and Conclusions LR values for (−US) treated clots were 0.8±0.1(control), 1.8±0.3 (Epf), 1.5±0.2 (rt-PA), and 1.3±0.4 (rt-PA+Epf) (% clot width/minute) respectively. In comparison, the (+US) group exhibited LR values of 1.6±0.2 (control), 4.3±0.4 (Epf), 6.3±0.4 (rt-PA), and 4.6±0.6 (rt-PA+Epf). For (−US) treated clots, FCL was 6.0±0.8 (control), 9.2±2.5 (Epf), 15.6±1.7 (rt-PA), and 28.0±2.2% (rt-PA+Epf) respectively. FCL for (+US) clots was 13.5±2.4 (control), 20.7±6.4 (Epf), 44.4±3.6 (rt-PA) and 30.3±3.6% (rt-PA+Epf) respectively. Although the addition of eptifibatide enhances the in-vitro lytic efficacy of rt-PA in the absence of ultrasound, the efficacy of ultrasound and rt-PA is greater than that of combined ultrasound, rt-PA and eptifibatide exposure. PMID:18619651

  18. Clot lysis time in platelet-rich plasma: method assessment, comparison with assays in platelet-free and platelet-poor plasmas, and response to tranexamic acid.

    PubMed

    Panes, Olga; Padilla, Oslando; Matus, Valeria; Sáez, Claudia G; Berkovits, Alejandro; Pereira, Jaime; Mezzano, Diego

    2012-01-01

    Fibrinolysis dysfunctions cause bleeding or predisposition to thrombosis. Platelets contain several factors of the fibrinolytic system, which could up or down regulate this process. However, the temporal relationship and relative contributions of plasma and platelet components in clot lysis are mostly unknown. We developed a clot lysis time (CLT) assay in platelet-rich plasma (PRP-CLT, with and without stimulation) and compared it to a similar one in platelet-free plasma (PFP) and to another previously reported test in platelet-poor plasma (PPP). We also studied the differential effects of a single dose of tranexamic acid (TXA) on these tests in healthy subjects. PFP- and PPP-CLT were significantly shorter than PRP-CLT, and the three assays were highly correlated (p < 0.0001). PFP- and PPP-, but more significantly PRP-CLT, were positively correlated with age and plasma PAI-1, von Willebrand factor, fibrinogen, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides (p < 0.001). All these CLT assays had no significant correlations with platelet aggregation/secretion, platelet counts, and pro-coagulant tests to explore factor X activation by platelets, PRP clotting time, and thrombin generation in PRP. Among all the studied variables, PFP-CLT was independently associated with plasma PAI-1, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides and, additionally, stimulated PRP-CLT was also independently associated with plasma fibrinogen. A single 1 g dose of TXA strikingly prolonged all three CLTs, but in contrast to the results without the drug, the lysis times were substantially shorter in non-stimulated or stimulated PRP than in PFP and PPP. This standardized PRP-CLT may become a useful tool to study the role of platelets in clot resistance and lysis. Our results suggest that initially, the platelets enmeshed in the clot slow down the fibrinolysis process. However, the increased clot resistance to lysis induced by TXA is overcome earlier in platelet-rich clots than in PFP or PPP clots. This is likely explained by the display of platelet pro-fibrinolytic effects. Focused research is needed to disclose the mechanisms for the relationship between CLT and plasma cholesterol and its potential pathophysiologic and clinical relevance.

  19. Pro blood clotting activity of Scoparia dulcis in rats

    PubMed Central

    Ediriweera, E. R. H. S. S.; Jayakody, J. R. A. C.; Ratnasooriya, W. D.

    2011-01-01

    Scoparia dulcis Linn (Family: Scrophulariaceae, Sinhala: WalKoththamalli) is a perennial herb growing in many tropical countries including Sri Lanka. Traditional Physicians in rural down south areas apply crushed S. dulcis plant on cuts and bruises to stop bleeding. S. dulcis may also have Rakta Sthambhana property. The study on effect of decoction (water extract) of S. dulcis on blood clotting time in rats was carried out to investigate this. Two groups of rats, 12 males and 42 females were used in this experimental study. Forty-two female rats were assigned into seven equal groups (n = 6/gp). Different doses of DE (25, 50, 100, 1000, 1500 mg/kg) (group 1-5) or 2 ml of distilled water (DW) (group 6) were orally administered. 0.1 ml of vitamin K was injected intramuscularly (group 7) as reference drug to seventh the group. Twelve male rats were assigned into two equal groups (n = 6/gp), 2 ml of distilled water (DW) and doses of DE (1500 mg/kg) were orally administered. Clotting time was determined on the Days 1, 2, and 7 using Lee and White method. In the DE treated groups with all doses, there was no reduction in clotting time on the Day 1 but a significant reduction of clotting time (P < 0.05) was observed on the Days 2 and 7. In the group treated with vitamin K, there was no significant reduction in clotting time on Day 1 or 2, but there was a significant reduction in clotting time on Day 7. It is concluded that S. dulcis has proclotting activity (rakthasthambhana property) and this was faster than vitamin K. PMID:22408315

  20. Pro blood clotting activity of Scoparia dulcis in rats.

    PubMed

    Ediriweera, E R H S S; Jayakody, J R A C; Ratnasooriya, W D

    2011-04-01

    Scoparia dulcis Linn (Family: Scrophulariaceae, Sinhala: WalKoththamalli) is a perennial herb growing in many tropical countries including Sri Lanka. Traditional Physicians in rural down south areas apply crushed S. dulcis plant on cuts and bruises to stop bleeding. S. dulcis may also have Rakta Sthambhana property. The study on effect of decoction (water extract) of S. dulcis on blood clotting time in rats was carried out to investigate this. Two groups of rats, 12 males and 42 females were used in this experimental study. Forty-two female rats were assigned into seven equal groups (n = 6/gp). Different doses of DE (25, 50, 100, 1000, 1500 mg/kg) (group 1-5) or 2 ml of distilled water (DW) (group 6) were orally administered. 0.1 ml of vitamin K was injected intramuscularly (group 7) as reference drug to seventh the group. Twelve male rats were assigned into two equal groups (n = 6/gp), 2 ml of distilled water (DW) and doses of DE (1500 mg/kg) were orally administered. Clotting time was determined on the Days 1, 2, and 7 using Lee and White method. In the DE treated groups with all doses, there was no reduction in clotting time on the Day 1 but a significant reduction of clotting time (P < 0.05) was observed on the Days 2 and 7. In the group treated with vitamin K, there was no significant reduction in clotting time on Day 1 or 2, but there was a significant reduction in clotting time on Day 7. It is concluded that S. dulcis has proclotting activity (rakthasthambhana property) and this was faster than vitamin K.

  1. Combination of ultrasound and rtPA enhances fibrinolysis in an In Vitro clot system

    PubMed Central

    Winter, Philipp; Müller-Werkmeister, Hendrik; Strand, Susanne; König, Jochem; Kempski, Oliver; Ringel, Florian; Kantelhardt, Sven R.; Keric, Naureen

    2017-01-01

    Background Catheter-based lysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) is a well-established therapy for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The effectiveness of this therapy can be increased with ultrasound, but the optimal conditions are not yet clearly established. Using a novel in vitro system of blood clots previously developed by our group, we investigated various parameters of intralesional sonothrombolysis using an endosonography catheter in combination with rtPA. Methods Standardized human blood clots were equipped with a drainage catheter and weighed before and after 4 treatments: control (drainage only), rtPA only, ultrasound only and the combination of rtPA+ultrasound. The effectiveness of ultrasound was further analysed in terms of optimal frequency, duration and distance to the probe. Temperature and acoustic peak rarefaction pressure (APRP) were assessed to analyse potential adverse effects and quantify lysis. Histo-morphological analysis of the treated clots was performed by H&E staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy using fluorescent fibrinogen. Results The combined treatment rtPA+ultrasound achieved the highest lysis rates with a relative weight of 30.3%±5.5% (p≤0.0001) compared to all other groups. Similar results were observed when treating aged clots. Confocal fluorescent microscopy of the treated clots revealed a rarefied fibrin mesh without cavitations. No relevant temperature increase occurred (0.53±0.75°C). The optimal insonation treatment time was 1 hour. APRP measurements showed a lysis threshold of 515.5±113.4 kPa. Application of 10 MHz achieved optimal lysis and lysis radius, while simultaneously proving to be the best frequency for morphologic imaging of the clot and surrounding tissue. Conclusions These promising data provide the basis for an individualized minimal invasive ICH therapy by rtPA and sonothrombolysis independent of ICH age. PMID:29145482

  2. Honey Bee Venom (Apis mellifera) Contains Anticoagulation Factors and Increases the Blood-clotting Time

    PubMed Central

    Zolfagharian, Hossein; Mohajeri, Mohammad; Babaie, Mahdi

    2015-01-01

    Objectives: Bee venom (BV) is a complex mixture of proteins and contains proteins such as phospholipase and melittin, which have an effect on blood clotting and blood clots. The mechanism of action of honey bee venom (HBV, Apis mellifera) on human plasma proteins and its anti-thrombotic effect were studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-coagulation effect of BV and its effects on blood coagulation and purification. Methods: Crude venom obtained from Apis mellifera was selected. The anti-coagulation factor of the crude venom from this species was purified by using gel filtration chromatography (sephadex G-50), and the molecular weights of the anti-coagulants in this venom estimated by using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Blood samples were obtained from 10 rabbits, and the prothrombin time (PT) and the partial thromboplastin time (PTT) tests were conducted. The approximate lethal dose (LD) values of BV were determined. Results: Crude BV increased the blood clotting time. For BV concentrations from 1 to 4 mg/mL, clotting was not observed even at more than 300 seconds, standard deviations (SDs) = ± 0.71; however, clotting was observed in the control group 13.8 s, SDs = ± 0.52. Thus, BV can be considered as containing anti-coagulation factors. Crude BV is composed 4 protein bands with molecular weights of 3, 15, 20 and 41 kilodalton (kDa), respectively. The LD50 of the crude BV was found to be 177.8 μg/mouse. Conclusion: BV contains anti-coagulation factors. The fraction extracted from the Iranian bees contains proteins that are similar to anti-coagulation proteins, such as phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and melittin, and that can increase the blood clotting times in vitro. PMID:26998384

  3. Possible benefits of catheters with lateral holes in coronary thrombus aspiration: a computational study for different clot viscosities and vacuum pressures.

    PubMed

    Soleimani, Sajjad; Dubini, Gabriele; Pennati, Giancarlo

    2014-10-01

    According to a number of clinical studies, coronary aspiration catheters are useful tools to remove a thrombus (blood clot) blocking a coronary artery. However, these thrombectomy devices may fail to remove the blood clot entirely. Few studies have been devoted to a systematic analysis of factors affecting clot aspiration. The geometric characteristics of the aspiration catheter, the physical properties of the thrombus, and the applied vacuum pressure are crucial parameters. In this study, the aspiration of a blood clot blocking a coronary bifurcation is computationally simulated. The clot is modeled as a highly viscous fluid, and a two-phase (blood and clot) problem is solved. The effects of geometric variations in the tip of the coronary catheter, including lateral hole size and location, are investigated considering different aspiration pressures and clot viscosities. A Bird-Carreau model is adopted for blood viscosity, while a power law model is used to describe the clot rheology. Computational results for blood clot aspiration show that the presence of holes in the lateral part of the tip of the catheter can be beneficial depending on clot viscosity, hole features, and applied aspiration pressure. In general, the holes are beneficial when the clot viscosity is low, while aspiration catheters without any extra lateral holes exhibit better performance for higher clot viscosity. However, when higher aspiration pressures are applied, the catheters tend to behave relatively similarly in removing clots with various viscosities, reducing the role of the clot viscosity. Copyright © 2014 International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  4. Adhesion of Blood Clots Can Be Enhanced When Copolymerized with a Macromer That Is Crosslinked by Coagulation Factor XIIIa.

    PubMed

    Chan, Karen Y T; Zhao, Chunyi; Siren, Erika M J; Chan, Jeanne C Y; Boschman, Jeffrey; Kastrup, Christian J

    2016-06-13

    The adhesion of blood clots to blood vessels, such as through the adhesion of fibrin, is essential in hemostasis. While numerous strategies for initiating clot formation and preventing clot lysis are being developed to create improved hemostatic agents, strategies for enhancing clot adhesion have not been widely explored. Here, we show that adhesion of blood clots can be increased by adding a previously characterized synthetic polymer that is crosslinked by coagulation factor XIIIa during clotting. Addition of the polymer to normal plasma increased the adhesive strength of clots by 2-fold. It also recovered the adhesive strength of nonadhesive fibrinogen-deficient whole blood clots from <0.06 kPa to 1.9 ± 0.14 kPa, which is similar to the adhesive strength of a fibrinogen-rich clot (1.8 ± 0.64 kPa). The polymer also enabled plasma clots to remain adhered under fibrinolytic conditions. By demonstrating that the adhesive strength of clots can be increased with a synthetic material, this provides a potential strategy for creating advanced hemostatic materials, such as treatments for fibrinogen deficiency in trauma-induced coagulopathy.

  5. Plasma clots gelled by different amounts of calcium for stem cell delivery.

    PubMed

    Gessmann, Jan; Seybold, Dominik; Peter, Elvira; Schildhauer, Thomas Armin; Köller, Manfred

    2013-01-01

    Freshly prepared autologous plasma clots may serve as a carrier matrix for expanded multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) or bone marrow cells. By varying the calcium concentration, plasma clots with different properties can be produced. The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the optimal calcium concentrations for the clotting process, intra-clot cell viability, and clot lysis. Different plasma clots were prepared by adding an equal volume of RPMI1640 (with or without MSCs) to citrate plasma (either containing platelets or platelet-free). Clotting was initiated by the addition of CaCl(2) (10 g/100 ml H(2)O, 10 % solution). The final concentration of CaCl(2) ranged from 1 to 10 % by volume of plasma. Viability and distribution of the MSCs were analysed by calcein-AM/propidium iodide staining. MSC-embedded plasma clots were dissolved with trypsin (0.25 %), and recovered cells were further incubated for 1 week under cell culture conditions. The viability of MSCs embedded in clots formed by the addition of 1-8 % by volume CaCl2 was not affected by incubation of up to 1 week. In contrast, clots produced by higher volumes of CaCl(2) solutions (9-10 % by volume of plasma) showed decreased numbers of viable cells. Intra-clot cell proliferation was highest in clots produced by addition of 5 % CaCl(2) by plasma volume. Osteocalcin release was not influenced in platelet-free plasma but decreased in platelet-containing plasma. Morphological analysis of stained recovered MSCs revealed that lysis of the plasma clot did not affect cell morphology or subsequent spontaneous proliferation. Clot formation and clot stability can be controlled by changing the concentration of CaCl(2) added to plasma. The addition of 5 % CaCl(2) produced a plasma clot with optimal results for stem cell delivery.

  6. Optical aggregometry of red blood cells associated with the blood-clotting reaction in extracorporeal circulation support.

    PubMed

    Sakota, Daisuke; Kosaka, Ryo; Nishida, Masahiro; Maruyama, Osamu

    2016-09-01

    The aggregability of red blood cell (RBCs) is associated with the contribution of plasma proteins, such as fibrinogen and lipoproteids, to blood-clotting. Hence, we hypothesized that RBC aggregability reflects the blood-clotting reaction. A noninvasive optical monitoring method to measure RBC aggregability for the assessment of blood-clotting stage during mechanical circulatory support was developed. An in vitro thrombogenic test was conducted with a rotary blood pump using heparinized fresh porcine blood. Near-infrared laser light at a wavelength of 785 nm was guided by an optical fiber. The fibers for detecting incident, forward-, and backward-scattered light were fixed on the circuit tubing with an inner diameter of 1/4 inch. Because there is substantial RBC aggregation at low shear flow rates, a pulsatile flow was generated by controlling the pump rotational speed. The flow rate was changed from 0 to 8.5 L/min at a period of 40 s. The intensities of forward- and backward-scattered light changed dramatically when the flow stopped. The aggregability was evaluated by the increase ratio of the transmitted light intensity from the flow stopping in the low-flow condition. The experiment started when the anticoagulation was stopped by the addition of protamine into the circulating blood. Reduction in RBC aggregability was associated with a decrease in the amount of fibrinogen and the number of platelets. Continuous, noninvasive monitoring of thrombosis risk is possible using optical measurements combining pulsatile flow control of a rotary blood pump. RBC aggregometry is a potential label-free method for evaluating blood-clotting risk.

  7. In vivo ultrasound visualization of non-occlusive blood clots with thrombin-sensitive contrast agents.

    PubMed

    Nakatsuka, Matthew A; Barback, Christopher V; Fitch, Kirsten R; Farwell, Alexander R; Esener, Sadik C; Mattrey, Robert F; Cha, Jennifer N; Goodwin, Andrew P

    2013-12-01

    The use of microbubbles as ultrasound contrast agents is one of the primary methods to diagnose deep venous thrombosis. However, current microbubble imaging strategies require either a clot sufficiently large to produce a circulation filling defect or a clot with sufficient vascularization to allow for targeted accumulation of contrast agents. Previously, we reported the design of a microbubble formulation that modulated its ability to generate ultrasound contrast from interaction with thrombin through incorporation of aptamer-containing DNA crosslinks in the encapsulating shell, enabling the measurement of a local chemical environment by changes in acoustic activity. However, this contrast agent lacked sufficient stability and lifetime in blood to be used as a diagnostic tool. Here we describe a PEG-stabilized, thrombin-activated microbubble (PSTA-MB) with sufficient stability to be used in vivo in circulation with no change in biomarker sensitivity. In the presence of actively clotting blood, PSTA-MBs showed a 5-fold increase in acoustic activity. Specificity for the presence of thrombin and stability under constant shear flow were demonstrated in a home-built in vitro model. Finally, PSTA-MBs were able to detect the presence of an active clot within the vena cava of a rabbit sufficiently small as to not be visible by current non-specific contrast agents. By activating in non-occlusive environments, these contrast agents will be able to detect clots not diagnosable by current contrast agents. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. Use of proteomics for validation of the isolation process of clotting factor IX from human plasma.

    PubMed

    Clifton, James; Huang, Feilei; Gaso-Sokac, Dajana; Brilliant, Kate; Hixson, Douglas; Josic, Djuro

    2010-01-03

    The use of proteomic techniques in the monitoring of different production steps of plasma-derived clotting factor IX (pd F IX) was demonstrated. The first step, solid-phase extraction with a weak anion-exchange resin, fractionates the bulk of human serum albumin (HSA), immunoglobulin G, and other non-binding proteins from F IX. The proteins that strongly bind to the anion-exchange resin are eluted by higher salt concentrations. In the second step, anion-exchange chromatography, residual HSA, some proteases and other contaminating proteins are separated. In the last chromatographic step, affinity chromatography with immobilized heparin, the majority of the residual impurities are removed. However, some contaminating proteins still remain in the eluate from the affinity column. The next step in the production process, virus filtration, is also an efficient step for the removal of residual impurities, mainly high molecular weight proteins, such as vitronectin and inter-alpha inhibitor proteins. In each production step, the active component, pd F IX and contaminating proteins are monitored by biochemical and immunochemical methods and by LC-MS/MS and their removal documented. Our methodology is very helpful for further process optimization, rapid identification of target proteins with relatively low abundance, and for the design of subsequent steps for their removal or purification.

  9. Sonic Estimation of Elasticity via Resonance: A New Method of Assessing Hemostasis

    PubMed Central

    Corey, F. Scott; Walker, William F.

    2015-01-01

    Uncontrolled bleeding threatens patients undergoing major surgery and in care for traumatic injury. This paper describes a novel method of diagnosing coagulation dysfunction by repeatedly measuring the shear modulus of a blood sample as it clots in vitro. Each measurement applies a high-energy ultrasound pulse to induce a shear wave within a rigid walled chamber, and then uses low energy ultrasound pulses to measure displacements associated with the resonance of that shear wave. Measured displacements are correlated with predictions from Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) models, with the best fit corresponding to the modulus estimate. In our current implementation each measurement requires 62.4 ms. Experimental data was analyzed using a fixed-viscosity algorithm and a free-viscosity algorithm. In experiments utilizing human blood induced to clot by exposure to kaolin, the free-viscosity algorithm quantified the shear modulus of formed clots with a worst-case precision of 2.5%. Precision was improved to 1.8% by utilizing the fixed-viscosity algorithm. Repeated measurements showed a smooth evolution from liquid blood to a firm clot with a shear modulus between 1.4 kPa and 3.3 kPa. These results show the promise of this technique for rapid, point of care assessment of coagulation. PMID:26399992

  10. Comparative lytic efficacy of rt-PA and ultrasound in porcine versus human clots.

    PubMed

    Huang, Shenwen; Shekhar, Himanshu; Holland, Christy K

    2017-01-01

    Porcine thrombi are employed routinely in preclinical models of ischemic stroke. In this study, we examined the differential lytic susceptibility of porcine and human whole blood clots with and without the use of microbubbles and ultrasound (US) as an adjuvant. An in vitro system equipped with time-lapse microscopy was used to evaluate recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (rt-PA) lysis of porcine and human clots in the same species or cross species plasma. Human and porcine whole blood clots were treated with rt-PA and an echo contrast agent, Definity®, and exposed to intermittent 120 kHz US. The rt-PA lytic efficacy observed for porcine clots in porcine plasma was 22 times lower than for human clots in human plasma reported previously. Further, porcine clots did not exhibit increased lysis with adjuvant Definity® and US exposure. However, the rt-PA lytic susceptibility of the porcine clots in human plasma was similar to that of human clots in human plasma. Human clots perfused with porcine plasma did not respond to rt-PA, but adjuvant use of Definity® and US enhanced lysis. These results reveal considerable differences in lytic susceptibility of porcine clots and human clots to rt-PA. The use of porcine clot models to test new human thrombolytic therapies may necessitate modulation of coagulation and thrombolytic factors to reflect human hemostasis accurately.

  11. Model predictions of deformation, embolization and permeability of partially obstructive blood clots under variable shear flow.

    PubMed

    Xu, Shixin; Xu, Zhiliang; Kim, Oleg V; Litvinov, Rustem I; Weisel, John W; Alber, Mark

    2017-11-01

    Thromboembolism, one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, is characterized by formation of obstructive intravascular clots (thrombi) and their mechanical breakage (embolization). A novel two-dimensional multi-phase computational model is introduced that describes active interactions between the main components of the clot, including platelets and fibrin, to study the impact of various physiologically relevant blood shear flow conditions on deformation and embolization of a partially obstructive clot with variable permeability. Simulations provide new insights into mechanisms underlying clot stability and embolization that cannot be studied experimentally at this time. In particular, model simulations, calibrated using experimental intravital imaging of an established arteriolar clot, show that flow-induced changes in size, shape and internal structure of the clot are largely determined by two shear-dependent mechanisms: reversible attachment of platelets to the exterior of the clot and removal of large clot pieces. Model simulations predict that blood clots with higher permeability are more prone to embolization with enhanced disintegration under increasing shear rate. In contrast, less permeable clots are more resistant to rupture due to shear rate-dependent clot stiffening originating from enhanced platelet adhesion and aggregation. These results can be used in future to predict risk of thromboembolism based on the data about composition, permeability and deformability of a clot under specific local haemodynamic conditions. © 2017 The Author(s).

  12. A comparison of the mechanical, kinetic, and biochemical properties of fibrin clots formed with two different fibrin sealants.

    PubMed

    Hickerson, William L; Nur, Israel; Meidler, Roberto

    2011-01-01

    The objective of the present study was to compare the mechanical, kinetic, and biochemical properties of fibrin clots produced using EVICEL Fibrin Sealant (Human) and TISSEEL Fibrin Sealant. The stiffness/elasticity and strength of fibrin clots formed with EVICEL and TISSEEL were assessed using applied mechanical force and thromboelastography (TEG). The factor XIII content of the fibrin clots was also evaluated. Mean Young modulus and tensile strength of the fibrin clots produced by EVICEL were significantly higher than those of clots produced by TISSEEL (P < 0.05 for both). The mean time to initial clot formation and mean time to the predefined level of clot formation were numerically shorter for EVICEL compared with TISSEEL. Furthermore, mean maximal amplitude of the clots formed with EVICEL was significantly greater than that for the clots formed with TISSEEL. Mean concentration of factor XIII for the EVICEL fibrinogen samples tested was 9 IU/ml compared with undetectable concentrations of factor XIII for the TISSEEL fibrinogen samples. Fibrin clots formed with EVICEL have a much higher resistance to stretching and tensile strength and are more capable of maintaining their structure against applied force than those formed with TISSEEL. EVICEL also allows more rapid development of fibrin clots than TISSEEL. This superior clot strength and resilience obtained with EVICEL relative to TISSEEL may be due in large part to the presence of factor XIII.

  13. Factor XIIIa-dependent retention of red blood cells in clots is mediated by fibrin α-chain crosslinking.

    PubMed

    Byrnes, James R; Duval, Cédric; Wang, Yiming; Hansen, Caroline E; Ahn, Byungwook; Mooberry, Micah J; Clark, Martha A; Johnsen, Jill M; Lord, Susan T; Lam, Wilbur A; Meijers, Joost C M; Ni, Heyu; Ariëns, Robert A S; Wolberg, Alisa S

    2015-10-15

    Factor XIII(a) [FXIII(a)] stabilizes clots and increases resistance to fibrinolysis and mechanical disruption. FXIIIa also mediates red blood cell (RBC) retention in contracting clots and determines venous thrombus size, suggesting FXIII(a) is a potential target for reducing thrombosis. However, the mechanism by which FXIIIa retains RBCs in clots is unknown. We determined the effect of FXIII(a) on human and murine clot weight and composition. Real-time microscopy revealed extensive RBC loss from clots formed in the absence of FXIIIa activity, and RBCs exhibited transient deformation as they exited the clots. Fibrin band-shift assays and flow cytometry did not reveal crosslinking of fibrin or FXIIIa substrates to RBCs, suggesting FXIIIa does not crosslink RBCs directly to the clot. RBCs were retained in clots from mice deficient in α2-antiplasmin, thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, or fibronectin, indicating RBC retention does not depend on these FXIIIa substrates. RBC retention in clots was positively correlated with fibrin network density; however, FXIIIa inhibition reduced RBC retention at all network densities. FXIIIa inhibition reduced RBC retention in clots formed with fibrinogen that lacks γ-chain crosslinking sites, but not in clots that lack α-chain crosslinking sites. Moreover, FXIIIa inhibitor concentrations that primarily block α-, but not γ-, chain crosslinking decreased RBC retention in clots. These data indicate FXIIIa-dependent retention of RBCs in clots is mediated by fibrin α-chain crosslinking. These findings expose a newly recognized, essential role for fibrin crosslinking during whole blood clot formation and consolidation and establish FXIIIa activity as a key determinant of thrombus composition and size. © 2015 by The American Society of Hematology.

  14. High red blood cell composition in clots is associated with successful recanalization during intra-arterial thrombectomy.

    PubMed

    Shin, Jong Wook; Jeong, Hye Seon; Kwon, Hyon-Jo; Song, Kyu Sang; Kim, Jei

    2018-01-01

    We evaluated the composition of individual clots retrieved during intra-arterial thrombectomy in relation to recanalization success, stroke subtype, and the presence of clot signs on initial brain images. We analyzed clot and interventional data from 145 retrieval trials performed for 37 patients (69.5±14.0 years, 20 men, large artery atherosclerosis, n = 7; cardioembolism, n = 22; undetermined etiology, n = 8) who had undergone intra-arterial thrombectomy. Rates of clot retrieval and successful recanalization (Arterial Occlusive Lesion score of 2-3) for separate retrieval trials were evaluated. The area occupied by red blood cell (RBC), fibrin/platelets, and white blood cell (WBC) was measured from digitized images of hematoxylin-eosin stained clots. Compositional differences were compared according to recanalization success, stroke subtype, and the presence of hyperdense clot sign on initial computed tomography and/or blooming artifact on magnetic resonance image. Of the 145 total retrieval trials (3.4±2.4 times per patient), clot was retrieved in 93 trials (64%), while recanalization was successful in 73 (50%). Fibrin/platelets (63%) occupied the greatest area in retrieved clots, followed by RBCs (33%) and WBCs (4%). Clots retrieved from successful recanalization exhibited higher RBC composition (37%) than those retrieved from non-recanalization trials (20%, p = 0.001). RBC composition was higher in cardioembolic stroke (38%) rather than large artery atherosclerosis (23%) and undetermined etiology (26%, p = 0.01). Clots exhibiting clot signs (40%) had higher RBC composition than those without clot signs (19%, p = 0.001). RBC-rich clots were associated with successful recanalization of intra-arterial thrombectomy, cardioembolic stroke, and the presence of clot-signs on initial brain images.

  15. Factor XIIIa-dependent retention of red blood cells in clots is mediated by fibrin α-chain crosslinking

    PubMed Central

    Byrnes, James R.; Duval, Cédric; Wang, Yiming; Hansen, Caroline E.; Ahn, Byungwook; Mooberry, Micah J.; Clark, Martha A.; Johnsen, Jill M.; Lord, Susan T.; Lam, Wilbur A.; Meijers, Joost C. M.; Ni, Heyu; Ariëns, Robert A. S.

    2015-01-01

    Factor XIII(a) [FXIII(a)] stabilizes clots and increases resistance to fibrinolysis and mechanical disruption. FXIIIa also mediates red blood cell (RBC) retention in contracting clots and determines venous thrombus size, suggesting FXIII(a) is a potential target for reducing thrombosis. However, the mechanism by which FXIIIa retains RBCs in clots is unknown. We determined the effect of FXIII(a) on human and murine clot weight and composition. Real-time microscopy revealed extensive RBC loss from clots formed in the absence of FXIIIa activity, and RBCs exhibited transient deformation as they exited the clots. Fibrin band-shift assays and flow cytometry did not reveal crosslinking of fibrin or FXIIIa substrates to RBCs, suggesting FXIIIa does not crosslink RBCs directly to the clot. RBCs were retained in clots from mice deficient in α2-antiplasmin, thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, or fibronectin, indicating RBC retention does not depend on these FXIIIa substrates. RBC retention in clots was positively correlated with fibrin network density; however, FXIIIa inhibition reduced RBC retention at all network densities. FXIIIa inhibition reduced RBC retention in clots formed with fibrinogen that lacks γ-chain crosslinking sites, but not in clots that lack α-chain crosslinking sites. Moreover, FXIIIa inhibitor concentrations that primarily block α-, but not γ-, chain crosslinking decreased RBC retention in clots. These data indicate FXIIIa-dependent retention of RBCs in clots is mediated by fibrin α-chain crosslinking. These findings expose a newly recognized, essential role for fibrin crosslinking during whole blood clot formation and consolidation and establish FXIIIa activity as a key determinant of thrombus composition and size. PMID:26324704

  16. High red blood cell composition in clots is associated with successful recanalization during intra-arterial thrombectomy

    PubMed Central

    Shin, Jong Wook; Jeong, Hye Seon; Kwon, Hyon-Jo; Song, Kyu Sang

    2018-01-01

    We evaluated the composition of individual clots retrieved during intra-arterial thrombectomy in relation to recanalization success, stroke subtype, and the presence of clot signs on initial brain images. We analyzed clot and interventional data from 145 retrieval trials performed for 37 patients (69.5±14.0 years, 20 men, large artery atherosclerosis, n = 7; cardioembolism, n = 22; undetermined etiology, n = 8) who had undergone intra-arterial thrombectomy. Rates of clot retrieval and successful recanalization (Arterial Occlusive Lesion score of 2–3) for separate retrieval trials were evaluated. The area occupied by red blood cell (RBC), fibrin/platelets, and white blood cell (WBC) was measured from digitized images of hematoxylin-eosin stained clots. Compositional differences were compared according to recanalization success, stroke subtype, and the presence of hyperdense clot sign on initial computed tomography and/or blooming artifact on magnetic resonance image. Of the 145 total retrieval trials (3.4±2.4 times per patient), clot was retrieved in 93 trials (64%), while recanalization was successful in 73 (50%). Fibrin/platelets (63%) occupied the greatest area in retrieved clots, followed by RBCs (33%) and WBCs (4%). Clots retrieved from successful recanalization exhibited higher RBC composition (37%) than those retrieved from non-recanalization trials (20%, p = 0.001). RBC composition was higher in cardioembolic stroke (38%) rather than large artery atherosclerosis (23%) and undetermined etiology (26%, p = 0.01). Clots exhibiting clot signs (40%) had higher RBC composition than those without clot signs (19%, p = 0.001). RBC-rich clots were associated with successful recanalization of intra-arterial thrombectomy, cardioembolic stroke, and the presence of clot-signs on initial brain images. PMID:29782513

  17. Formation of blood clot on biomaterial implants influences bone healing.

    PubMed

    Shiu, Hoi Ting; Goss, Ben; Lutton, Cameron; Crawford, Ross; Xiao, Yin

    2014-12-01

    The first step in bone healing is forming a blood clot at injured bones. During bone implantation, biomaterials unavoidably come into direct contact with blood, leading to a blood clot formation on its surface prior to bone regeneration. Despite both situations being similar in forming a blood clot at the defect site, most research in bone tissue engineering virtually ignores the important role of a blood clot in supporting healing. Dental implantology has long demonstrated that the fibrin structure and cellular content of a peri-implant clot can greatly affect osteoconduction and de novo bone formation on implant surfaces. This article reviews the formation of a blood clot during bone healing in relation to the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gels. It is implicated that PRP gels are dramatically altered from a normal clot in healing, resulting in conflicting effect on bone regeneration. These results indicate that the effect of clots on bone regeneration depends on how the clots are formed. Factors that influence blood clot structure and properties in relation to bone healing are also highlighted. Such knowledge is essential for developing strategies to optimally control blood clot formation, which ultimately alter the healing microenvironment of bone. Of particular interest are modification of surface chemistry of biomaterials, which displays functional groups at varied composition for the purpose of tailoring blood coagulation activation, resultant clot fibrin architecture, rigidity, susceptibility to lysis, and growth factor release. This opens new scope of in situ blood clot modification as a promising approach in accelerating and controlling bone regeneration.

  18. A miniaturized fibrinolytic assay for plasminogen activators

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lewis, M. L.; Nachtwey, D. S.; Damron, K. L.

    1991-01-01

    This report describes a micro-clot lysis assay (MCLA) for evaluating fibrinolytic activity of plasminogen activators (PA). Fibrin clots were formed in wells of microtiter plates. Lysis of the clots by PA, indicated by change in turbidity (optical density, OD), was monitored with a microplate reader at five minutes intervals. Log-log plots of PA dilution versus endpoint, the time at which the OD value was halfway between the maximum and minimum value for each well, were linear over a broad range of PA concentrations (2-200 International units/ml). The MCLA is a modification and miniaturization of well established fibrinolytic methods. The significant practical advantages of the MCLA are that it is a simple, relatively sensitive, non-radioactive, quantitative, kinetic, fibrinolytic micro-technique which can be automated.

  19. Synthetic Strategies for Engineering Intravenous Hemostats

    PubMed Central

    Chan, Leslie W.-G.; White, Nathan J.; Pun, Suzie H.

    2015-01-01

    While there are currently many well-established topical hemostatic agents for field administration, there are still limited tools to staunch bleeding at less accessible injury sites. Current clinical methods of restoring hemostasis after large volume blood loss include platelet and clotting factor transfusion, which have respective drawbacks of short shelf-life and risk of viral transmission. Therefore, synthetic hemostatic agents that can be delivered intravenously and encourage stable clot formation after localizing to sites of vascular injury are particularly appealing. In the past three decades, platelet substitutes have been prepared using drug delivery vehicles such as liposomes and PLGA nanoparticles that have been modified to mimic platelet properties. Additionally, structural considerations such as particle size, shape, and flexibility have been addressed in a number of reports. Since platelets are the first responders after vascular injury, platelet substitutes represent an important class of intravenous hemostats under development. More recently, materials affecting fibrin formation have been introduced to induce faster or more stable blood clot formation through fibrin crosslinking. Fibrin represents a major structural component in the final blood clot, and a fibrin-based hemostatic mechanism acting downstream of initial platelet plug formation may be a safer alternative to platelets to avoid undesired thrombotic activity. This review explores intravenous hemostats under development and strategies to optimize their clotting activity. PMID:25803791

  20. Capture of lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) by the blood clot: a comparative study.

    PubMed

    Armstrong, Margaret T; Rickles, Frederick R; Armstrong, Peter B

    2013-01-01

    In vertebrates and arthropods, blood clotting involves the establishment of a plug of aggregated thrombocytes (the cellular clot) and an extracellular fibrillar clot formed by the polymerization of the structural protein of the clot, which is fibrin in mammals, plasma lipoprotein in crustaceans, and coagulin in the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus. Both elements of the clot function to staunch bleeding. Additionally, the extracellular clot functions as an agent of the innate immune system by providing a passive anti-microbial barrier and microbial entrapment device, which functions directly at the site of wounds to the integument. Here we show that, in addition to these passive functions in immunity, the plasma lipoprotein clot of lobster, the coagulin clot of Limulus, and both the platelet thrombus and the fibrin clot of mammals (human, mouse) operate to capture lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin). The lipid A core of LPS is the principal agent of gram-negative septicemia, which is responsible for more than 100,000 human deaths annually in the United States and is similarly toxic to arthropods. Quantification using the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) test shows that clots capture significant quantities of LPS and fluorescent-labeled LPS can be seen by microscopy to decorate the clot fibrils. Thrombi generated in the living mouse accumulate LPS in vivo. It is suggested that capture of LPS released from gram-negative bacteria entrapped by the blood clot operates to protect against the disease that might be caused by its systemic dispersal.

  1. Effect of chitosan and coagulation factors on the wound repair phenotype of bioengineered blood clots.

    PubMed

    Hoemann, Caroline D; Marchand, Catherine; Rivard, Georges-Etienne; El-Gabalawy, Hani; Poubelle, Patrice E

    2017-11-01

    Controlling the blood clot phenotype in a surgically prepared wound is an evolving concept in scaffold-guided tissue engineering. Here, we investigated the effect of added chitosan (80% or 95% Degree of Deacetylation, DDA) or coagulation factors (recombinant human Factor VIIa, Tissue Factor, thrombin) on inflammatory factors released by blood clots. We tested the hypothesis that 80% DDA chitosan specifically enhances leukotriene B 4 (LTB 4 ) production. Human or rabbit whole blood was combined with isotonic chitosan solutions, coagulation factors, or lipopolysaccharide, cultured in vitro at 37°C, and after 4hours the serum was assayed for LTB 4 or inflammatory factors. Only 80% DDA chitosan clots produced around 15-fold more LTB 4 over other clots including 95% DDA chitosan clots. All serum contained high levels of PDGF-BB and CXCL8. Normal clots produced very low type I cytokines compared to lipopolysaccharide clots, with even lower IL-6 and IL-12 and more CCL3/CCL4 produced by chitosan clots. Coagulation factors had no detectable effect on clot phenotype. Conclusion In blood clots from healthy individuals, 80% DDA chitosan has a unique influence of inducing more LTB 4 , a potent neutrophil chemoattractant, with similar production of PDGF-BB and CXCL8, and lower type I cytokines, compared to whole blood clots. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Viscoelasticity and structure of blood clots generated in-vitro by rheometry: A comparison between human, horse, rat, and camel.

    PubMed

    Dibiasi, Christoph; Plewka, Jacek; Ploszczanski, Leon; Glanz, Veronika; Lichtenegger, Helga; Windberger, Ursula

    2018-04-14

    Although the coagulation system is evolutionary well preserved, profound species differences exist in viscoelastic as well as in common laboratory tests of coagulation. Evaluating differences in clot formation and material characterisation of clots of four mammalian species on macro-, micro- and nanoscales by the means of rheometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS). Blood samples were collected from healthy human volunteers, laboratory rats (HL/LE inbred strain), warmblood horses and dromedary camels. Clot formation was observed by oscillating shear rheometry until plateau formation of the shear storage modulus G', at which point selected clots were prepared for scanning electron microscopy. SEM images were analysed for fibre diameter and fractal dimension. Additionally, scattering profiles for plasma and whole blood samples were obtained with SAXS. Viscoelasticity of clots showed great interspecies variation: clots of rats and horses exhibited shorter clotting times and higher G' plateau values, when compared to human clots. Camel clots showed unique clotting characteristics with no G' plateau formation in the timeframe observed. Less differentiating features were found with SEM and SAXS, although the rat fibre network appears to be more convoluted and dense, which resulted in a higher fractal dimension. Clotting kinetic differs between the species, which is not only of clinical interest, but could also be an important finding for animal models of blood coagulation.

  3. Endogenous fibrinolysis facilitates clot retraction in vivo.

    PubMed

    Samson, Andre L; Alwis, Imala; Maclean, Jessica A A; Priyananda, Pramith; Hawkett, Brian; Schoenwaelder, Simone M; Jackson, Shaun P

    2017-12-07

    Clot retraction refers to the process whereby activated platelets transduce contractile forces onto the fibrin network of a thrombus, which over time increases clot density and decreases clot size. This process is considered important for promoting clot stability and maintaining blood vessel patency. Insights into the mechanisms regulating clot retraction at sites of vascular injury have been hampered by a paucity of in vivo experimental models. By pairing localized vascular injury with thrombin microinjection in the mesenteric circulation of mice, we have demonstrated that the fibrin network of thrombi progressively compacts over a 2-hour period. This was a genuine retraction process, as treating thrombi with blebbistatin to inhibit myosin IIa-mediated platelet contractility prevented shrinkage of the fibrin network. Real-time confocal analysis of fibrinolysis after recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) administration revealed that incomplete proteolysis of fibrin polymers markedly facilitated clot retraction. Similarly, inhibiting endogenous fibrinolysis with tranexamic acid reduced retraction of fibrin polymers in vivo. In vitro clot retraction experiments indicated that subthreshold doses of tPA facilitated clot retraction through a plasmin-dependent mechanism. These effects correlated with changes in the elastic modulus of fibrin clots. These findings define the endogenous fibrinolytic system as an important regulator of clot retraction, and show that promoting clot retraction is a novel and complementary means by which fibrinolytic enzymes can reduce thrombus size. © 2017 by The American Society of Hematology.

  4. Zeolite-based hemostat QuikClot releases calcium into blood and promotes blood coagulation in vitro

    PubMed Central

    Li, Jing; Cao, Wei; Lv, Xiao-xing; Jiang, Li; Li, Yue-jun; Li, Wang-zhou; Chen, Shao-zong; Li, Xue-yong

    2013-01-01

    Aim: To examine the changes in electrolyte concentrations after addition of zeolite-based hemostat QuikClot in blood and the effects of zeolite on blood coagulation in vitro. Methods: Fresh blood was taken from healthy adult volunteers and sheep, and the electrolyte concentrations in blood were measured using a blood electrolyte analyzer. Zeolite Saline Solution (ZSS) was prepared by addition of 2 g zeolite to 0.9% NaCl solution (4, 8, or 16 mL). The electrolytes in ZSS were measured using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of blood were measured using the test tube method. The activated clotting time (ACT) and clotting rate (CR) of blood were measured with Sonoclot Coagulation and Platelet Function Analyzer. Results: Addition of zeolite (50 and 100 mg) in 2 mL human blood significantly increased Ca2+ concentration, while Na+ and K+ concentrations were significantly decreased. Addition of zeolite (50 and 100 mg) in 0.9% NaCl solution (2 mL) caused similar changes in Ca2+ and Na+ concentrations. Si4+ (0.2434 g/L) and Al3+ (0.2575 g/L) were detected in ZSS (2 g/8 mL). Addition of ZSS in sheep blood shortened APTT in a concentration dependent manner, without changing PT. ZSS or aqueous solution of CaCl2 that contained Ca2+ concentration identical to that of ZSS significantly shortened ACT in human blood without significantly changing CR, and the effect of ZSS on ACT was not significantly different from that of CaCl2. Conclusion: Zeolite releases Ca2+ into blood, thus accelerating the intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation and shortening the clot formation time. PMID:23334236

  5. Fibrinogen concentrate as first-line therapy in aortic surgery reduces transfusion requirements in patients with platelet counts over or under 100×109/L

    PubMed Central

    Solomon, Cristina; Rahe-Meyer, Niels

    2015-01-01

    Background Administration of fibrinogen concentrate, targeting improved maximum clot firmness (MCF) of the thromboelastometric fibrin-based clot quality test (FIBTEM) is effective as first-line haemostatic therapy in aortic surgery. We performed a post-hoc analysis of data from a randomised, placebo-controlled trial of fibrinogen concentrate, to investigate whether fibrinogen concentrate reduced transfusion requirements for patients with platelet counts over or under 100×109/L. Material and methods Aortic surgery patients with coagulopathic bleeding after cardiopulmonary bypass were randomised to receive either fibrinogen concentrate (n=29) or placebo (n=32). Platelet count was measured upon removal of the aortic clamp, and coagulation and haematology parameters were measured peri-operatively. Transfusion of allogeneic blood components was recorded and compared between groups. Results After cardiopulmonary bypass, haemostatic and coagulation parameters worsened in all groups; plasma fibrinogen level (determined by the Clauss method) decreased by 43–58%, platelet count by 53–64%, FIBTEM maximum clot firmness (MCF) by 38–49%, FIBTEM maximum clot elasticity (MCE) by 43–54%, extrinsically activated test (EXTEM) MCF by 11–22%, EXTEM MCE by 25–41% and the platelet component of the clot by 23–39%. Treatment with fibrinogen concentrate (mean dose 7–9 g in the 4 groups) significantly reduced post-operative allogeneic blood component transfusion requirements when compared to placebo both for patients with a platelet count ≥100×109/L and for patients with a platelet count <100×109/L. Discussion FIBTEM-guided administration of fibrinogen concentrate reduced transfusion requirements when used as a first-line haemostatic therapy during aortic surgery in patients with platelet counts over or under 100×109/L. PMID:25369608

  6. Hemophilia

    MedlinePlus

    ... have hemophilia, you have little or no clotting factor. Clotting factor is a protein needed for normal blood clotting. ... The main treatment is injecting the missing clotting factor into the bloodstream. You may need it on ...

  7. Interactions between individual ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles and fibrin clots.

    PubMed

    Acconcia, Christopher; Leung, Ben Y C; Manjunath, Anoop; Goertz, David E

    2014-09-01

    The use of ultrasound-stimulated microbubbles (USMBs) to promote thrombolysis is well established, but there remains considerable uncertainty about the mechanisms of this process. Here we examine the microscale interactions between individual USMBs and fibrin clots as a function of bubble size, exposure conditions and clot type. Microbubbles (n = 185) were placed adjacent to clot boundaries ("coarse" or "fine") using optical tweezers and exposed to 1-MHz ultrasound as a function of pressure (0.1-0.39 MPa). High-speed (10 kfps) imaging was employed, and clots were subsequently assessed with 2-photon microscopy. For fine clots, 46% of bubbles "embedded" within 10 μm of the clot boundary at pressures of 0.1 and 0.2 MPa, whereas at 0.39 MPa, 53% of bubbles penetrated and transited into the clots with an incidence inversely related to their diameter. A substantial fraction of penetrating bubbles induced fibrin network damage and promoted the uptake of nanobeads. In coarse clots, penetration occurred more readily and at lower pressures than in fine clots. The results therefore provide direct evidence of therapeutically relevant effects of USMBs and indicate their dependence on size, exposure conditions and clot properties. Copyright © 2014 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Optimization of Catheter Based rtPA Thrombolysis in a Novel In Vitro Clot Model for Intracerebral Hemorrhage

    PubMed Central

    Masomi-Bornwasser, Julia; Müller-Werkmeister, Hendrik; Kantelhardt, Sven Rainer; König, Jochem; Kempski, Oliver; Giese, Alf

    2017-01-01

    Hematoma lysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) has emerged as an alternative therapy for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Optimal dose and schedule are still unclear. The aim of this study was to create a reliable in vitro blood clot model for investigation of optimal drug dose and timing. An in vitro clot model was established, using 25 mL and 50 mL of human blood. Catheters were placed into the clots and three groups, using intraclot application of rtPA, placebo, and catheter alone, were analyzed. Dose-response relationship, repetition, and duration of rtPA treatment and its effectiveness in aged clots were investigated. A significant relative end weight difference was found in rtPA treated clots compared to catheter alone (p = 0.002) and placebo treated clots (p < 0.001). Dose-response analysis revealed 95% effective dose around 1 mg rtPA in 25 and 50 mL clots. Approximately 80% of relative clot lysis could be achieved after 15 min incubation. Lysis of aged clots was less effective. A new clot model for in vitro investigation was established. Our data suggest that current protocols for rtPA based ICH therapy may be optimized by using less rtPA at shorter incubation times. PMID:28459065

  9. Optimization of Catheter Based rtPA Thrombolysis in a Novel In Vitro Clot Model for Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

    PubMed

    Keric, Naureen; Masomi-Bornwasser, Julia; Müller-Werkmeister, Hendrik; Kantelhardt, Sven Rainer; König, Jochem; Kempski, Oliver; Giese, Alf

    2017-01-01

    Hematoma lysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) has emerged as an alternative therapy for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Optimal dose and schedule are still unclear. The aim of this study was to create a reliable in vitro blood clot model for investigation of optimal drug dose and timing. An in vitro clot model was established, using 25 mL and 50 mL of human blood. Catheters were placed into the clots and three groups, using intraclot application of rtPA, placebo, and catheter alone, were analyzed. Dose-response relationship, repetition, and duration of rtPA treatment and its effectiveness in aged clots were investigated. A significant relative end weight difference was found in rtPA treated clots compared to catheter alone ( p = 0.002) and placebo treated clots ( p < 0.001). Dose-response analysis revealed 95% effective dose around 1 mg rtPA in 25 and 50 mL clots. Approximately 80% of relative clot lysis could be achieved after 15 min incubation. Lysis of aged clots was less effective. A new clot model for in vitro investigation was established. Our data suggest that current protocols for rtPA based ICH therapy may be optimized by using less rtPA at shorter incubation times.

  10. Blood Clots

    MedlinePlus

    ... if you get hurt, your body forms a blood clot to stop the bleeding. After the bleeding stops ... some people get too many clots or their blood clots abnormally. Many conditions can cause the blood to ...

  11. Development of a microplate coagulation assay for Factor V in human plasma

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Factor V (FV) in its activated form, FVa, is a critical regulator of thrombin generation during fibrin clot formation. There is a need of a simple, fast, and inexpensive microplate-based coagulation assay to measure the functional activity of FV in human plasma. The objective of this study was to develop a microplate-based assay that measures FV coagulation activity during clot formation in human plasma, which is currently not available. Methods The FV assay requires a kinetic microplate reader to measure the change in absorbance at 405nm during fibrin formation in human plasma. The FV assay accurately measures the time, initial rate, and extent of fibrin clot formation in human plasma. Results The FV microplate assay is simple, fast, economical, sensitive to approx 24-80pM, and multiple samples may be analyzed simultaneously. All the required materials are commercially available. Standard curves of time or initial rate of fibrin clot formation vs FV activity in the 1-stage assay (Without activation by thrombin) may be used to measure FV activity in samples of human plasma. The assay was used to demonstrate that in nine patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), the FV 1-stage, 2-stage (With activation by thrombin), and total (2-stage activity - 1-stage activity) activities were decreased, on average, by approximately 54%, 44%, and 42%, respectively, from prolonged clot times when compared to normal pooled human reference plasma (NHP). The results indicate that the FV in the DIC patient plasmas supported both a delayed and slower rate of fibrin clot formation compared with NHP; however, the extent of fibrin clot formation in the DIC patients remained largely unchanged from that observed with NHP. Conclusions The FV microplate assay may be easily adapted to measure the activity of any coagulation factor using the appropriate factor-deficient plasma and clot initiating reagent. The microplate assay will find use in both research and clinical laboratories to provide measurement of the functional coagulation activity of FV in human plasma. PMID:21711555

  12. Genetics Home Reference: warfarin sensitivity

    MedlinePlus

    ... it thins the blood, preventing blood clots from forming . Warfarin is often prescribed to prevent blood clots ... much drug to prevent clots because their clot forming process is already slower than average and can ...

  13. Detection of Thrombosis in the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Circuit by Infrasound: Proof of Concept

    PubMed Central

    Fuchs, Gabriel; Berg, Niclas; Eriksson, Anders

    2016-01-01

    Abstract As of today, there exist no reliable, objective methods for early detection of thrombi in the extracorporeal membrane oxygenators (ECMO) system. Within the ECMO system, thrombi are not always fixed to a certain component or location in the circuit. Thus, clot fragments of different shapes and consistencies may circulate and give rise to vibrations and sound generation. By bedside sound measurements and additional laboratory experiments (although not detailed herein), we found that the presence of particles (clots or aggregates and fragments of clots) can be detected by analyzing the strength of infra‐sound (< 20 Hz) modes of the spectrum near the inlet and outlet of the centrifugal pump in the ECMO circuit. For the few patients that were considered in this study, no clear false positive or negative examples were found when comparing the spectral approach with clinical observations. A laboratory setup provided insight to the flow in and out of the pump, confirming that in the presence of particles a low‐amplitude low‐frequency signal is strongly amplified, enabling the identification of a clot. PMID:27654663

  14. Clot contraction: compression of erythrocytes into tightly packed polyhedra and redistribution of platelets and fibrin

    PubMed Central

    Cines, Douglas B.; Lebedeva, Tatiana; Nagaswami, Chandrasekaran; Hayes, Vincent; Massefski, Walter; Litvinov, Rustem I.; Rauova, Lubica; Lowery, Thomas J.

    2014-01-01

    Contraction of blood clots is necessary for hemostasis and wound healing and to restore flow past obstructive thrombi, but little is known about the structure of contracted clots or the role of erythrocytes in contraction. We found that contracted blood clots develop a remarkable structure, with a meshwork of fibrin and platelet aggregates on the exterior of the clot and a close-packed, tessellated array of compressed polyhedral erythrocytes within. The same results were obtained after initiation of clotting with various activators and also with clots from reconstituted human blood and mouse blood. Such close-packed arrays of polyhedral erythrocytes, or polyhedrocytes, were also observed in human arterial thrombi taken from patients. The mechanical nature of this shape change was confirmed by polyhedrocyte formation from the forces of centrifugation of blood without clotting. Platelets (with their cytoskeletal motility proteins) and fibrin(ogen) (as the substrate bridging platelets for contraction) are required to generate the forces necessary to segregate platelets/fibrin from erythrocytes and to compress erythrocytes into a tightly packed array. These results demonstrate how contracted clots form an impermeable barrier important for hemostasis and wound healing and help explain how fibrinolysis is greatly retarded as clots contract. PMID:24335500

  15. Blood Thinners

    MedlinePlus

    Blood thinners are medicines that prevent blood clots from forming. They also keep existing blood clots from getting larger. Clots in your arteries, ... down your body's process of making clots. Antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin, prevent blood cells called platelets ...

  16. The hydraulic permeability of blood clots as a function of fibrin and platelet density.

    PubMed

    Wufsus, A R; Macera, N E; Neeves, K B

    2013-04-16

    Interstitial fluid flow within blood clots is a biophysical mechanism that regulates clot growth and dissolution. Assuming that a clot can be modeled as a porous medium, the physical property that dictates interstitial fluid flow is the hydraulic permeability. The objective of this study was to bound the possible values of the hydraulic permeability in clots formed in vivo and present relationships that can be used to estimate clot permeability as a function of composition. A series of clots with known densities of fibrin and platelets, the two major components of a clot, were formed under static conditions. The permeability was calculated by measuring the interstitial fluid velocity through the clots at a constant pressure gradient. Fibrin gels formed with a fiber volume fraction of 0.02-0.54 had permeabilities of 1.2 × 10(-1)-1.5 × 10(-4)μm(2). Platelet-rich clots with a platelet volume fraction of 0.01-0.61 and a fibrin volume fraction of 0.03 had permeabilities over a range of 1.1 × 10(-2)-1.5 × 10(-5)μm(2). The permeability of fibrin gels and of clots with platelet volume fraction of <0.2 were modeled as an array of disordered cylinders with uniform diameters. Clots with a platelet volume fraction of >0.2 were modeled as a Brinkman medium of coarse solids (platelets) embedded in a mesh of fine fibers (fibrin). Our data suggest that the permeability of clots formed in vivo can vary by up to five orders of magnitude, with pore sizes that range from 4 to 350 nm. These findings have important implications for the transport of coagulation zymogens/enzymes in the interstitial spaces during clot formation, as well as the design of fibrinolytic drug delivery strategies. Copyright © 2013 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Histologic Analysis of Retrieved Clots in Acute Ischemic Stroke: Correlation with Stroke Etiology and Gradient-Echo MRI.

    PubMed

    Kim, S K; Yoon, W; Kim, T S; Kim, H S; Heo, T W; Park, M S

    2015-09-01

    It is unclear whether clot composition analysis is helpful to predict a stroke mechanism in acute large vessel occlusion. In addition, the relationship between early vessel signs on imaging studies and clot compositions has been poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between clot composition and stroke etiology following mechanical thrombectomy and to investigate the effect of varied clot compositions on gradient-echo MR imaging of clots. Histopathologic analysis of retrieved clots from 37 patients with acute MCA occlusion was performed. Patients underwent gradient-echo imaging before endovascular therapy. Retrieved clots underwent semiquantitative proportion analysis to quantify red blood cells, fibrin, platelets, and white blood cells by area. Correlations between clot compositions and stroke subtypes and susceptibility vessel signs on gradient-echo imaging were assessed. Stroke etiology was classified as cardioembolism in 22 patients (59.4%), large-artery atherosclerosis in 8 (21.6%), and undetermined in 7 (18.9%). The clots from cardioembolism had a significantly higher proportion of red blood cells (37.8% versus 16.9%, P = .031) and a lower proportion of fibrin (32.3% versus 48.5%, P = .044) compared with those from large-artery atherosclerosis. The proportion of red blood cells was significantly higher in clots with a susceptibility vessel sign than in those without it (48.0% versus 1.9%, P < .001), whereas the proportions of fibrin (26.4% versus 57.0%, P < .001) and platelets (22.6% versus 36.9%, P = .011) were significantly higher in clots without a susceptibility vessel sign than those with it. The histologic composition of clots retrieved from cerebral arteries in patients with acute stroke differs between those with cardioembolism and large-artery atherosclerosis. In addition, a susceptibility vessel sign on gradient-echo imaging is strongly associated with a high proportion of red blood cells and a low proportion of fibrin and platelets in retrieved clots. © 2015 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

  18. The Hydraulic Permeability of Blood Clots as a Function of Fibrin and Platelet Density

    PubMed Central

    Wufsus, A.R.; Macera, N.E.; Neeves, K.B.

    2013-01-01

    Interstitial fluid flow within blood clots is a biophysical mechanism that regulates clot growth and dissolution. Assuming that a clot can be modeled as a porous medium, the physical property that dictates interstitial fluid flow is the hydraulic permeability. The objective of this study was to bound the possible values of the hydraulic permeability in clots formed in vivo and present relationships that can be used to estimate clot permeability as a function of composition. A series of clots with known densities of fibrin and platelets, the two major components of a clot, were formed under static conditions. The permeability was calculated by measuring the interstitial fluid velocity through the clots at a constant pressure gradient. Fibrin gels formed with a fiber volume fraction of 0.02–0.54 had permeabilities of 1.2 × 10−1–1.5 × 10−4μm2. Platelet-rich clots with a platelet volume fraction of 0.01–0.61 and a fibrin volume fraction of 0.03 had permeabilities over a range of 1.1 × 10−2–1.5 × 10−5μm2. The permeability of fibrin gels and of clots with platelet volume fraction of <0.2 were modeled as an array of disordered cylinders with uniform diameters. Clots with a platelet volume fraction of >0.2 were modeled as a Brinkman medium of coarse solids (platelets) embedded in a mesh of fine fibers (fibrin). Our data suggest that the permeability of clots formed in vivo can vary by up to five orders of magnitude, with pore sizes that range from 4 to 350 nm. These findings have important implications for the transport of coagulation zymogens/enzymes in the interstitial spaces during clot formation, as well as the design of fibrinolytic drug delivery strategies. PMID:23601328

  19. Enhanced lysis and accelerated establishment of viscoelastic properties of fibrin clots are associated with pulmonary embolism.

    PubMed

    Martinez, Marissa R; Cuker, Adam; Mills, Angela M; Crichlow, Amanda; Lightfoot, Richard T; Chernysh, Irina N; Nagaswami, Chandrasekaran; Weisel, John W; Ischiropoulos, Harry

    2014-03-01

    The factors that contribute to pulmonary embolism (PE), a potentially fatal complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), remain poorly understood. Whereas fibrin clot structure and functional properties have been implicated in the pathology of venous thromboembolism and the risk for cardiovascular complications, their significance in PE remains uncertain. Therefore, we systematically compared and quantified clot formation and lysis time, plasminogen levels, viscoelastic properties, activated factor XIII cross-linking, and fibrin clot structure in isolated DVT and PE subjects. Clots made from plasma of PE subjects showed faster clot lysis times with no differences in lag time, rate of clot formation, or maximum absorbance of turbidity compared with DVT. Differences in lysis times were not due to alterations in plasminogen levels. Compared with DVT, clots derived from PE subjects showed accelerated establishment of viscoelastic properties, documented by a decrease in lag time and an increase in the rate of viscoelastic property formation. The rate and extent of fibrin cross-linking by activated factor XIII were similar between clots from DVT and PE subjects. Electron microscopy revealed that plasma fibrin clots from PE subjects exhibited lower fiber density compared with those from DVT subjects. These data suggest that clot structure and functional properties differ between DVT and PE subjects and provide insights into mechanisms that may regulate embolization.

  20. Enhanced lysis and accelerated establishment of viscoelastic properties of fibrin clots are associated with pulmonary embolism

    PubMed Central

    Martinez, Marissa R.; Cuker, Adam; Mills, Angela M.; Crichlow, Amanda; Lightfoot, Richard T.; Chernysh, Irina N.; Nagaswami, Chandrasekaran; Weisel, John W.

    2014-01-01

    The factors that contribute to pulmonary embolism (PE), a potentially fatal complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), remain poorly understood. Whereas fibrin clot structure and functional properties have been implicated in the pathology of venous thromboembolism and the risk for cardiovascular complications, their significance in PE remains uncertain. Therefore, we systematically compared and quantified clot formation and lysis time, plasminogen levels, viscoelastic properties, activated factor XIII cross-linking, and fibrin clot structure in isolated DVT and PE subjects. Clots made from plasma of PE subjects showed faster clot lysis times with no differences in lag time, rate of clot formation, or maximum absorbance of turbidity compared with DVT. Differences in lysis times were not due to alterations in plasminogen levels. Compared with DVT, clots derived from PE subjects showed accelerated establishment of viscoelastic properties, documented by a decrease in lag time and an increase in the rate of viscoelastic property formation. The rate and extent of fibrin cross-linking by activated factor XIII were similar between clots from DVT and PE subjects. Electron microscopy revealed that plasma fibrin clots from PE subjects exhibited lower fiber density compared with those from DVT subjects. These data suggest that clot structure and functional properties differ between DVT and PE subjects and provide insights into mechanisms that may regulate embolization. PMID:24414255

  1. Relation between lung perfusion defects and intravascular clots in acute pulmonary thromboembolism: assessment with breath-hold SPECT-CT pulmonary angiography fusion images.

    PubMed

    Suga, Kazuyoshi; Yasuhiko, Kawakami; Iwanaga, Hideyuki; Tokuda, Osamu; Matsunaga, Naofumi

    2008-09-01

    The relation between lung perfusion defects and intravascular clots in acute pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) was comprehensively assessed on deep-inspiratory breath-hold (DIBrH) perfusion SPECT-computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) fusion images. Subjects were 34 acute PTE patients, who had successfully performed DIBrH perfusion SPECT using a dual-headed SPECT and a respiratory tracking system. Automated DIBrH SPECT-CTPA fusion images were used to assess the relation between lung perfusion defects and intravascular clots detected by CTPA. DIBrH SPECT visualized 175 lobar/segmental or subsegmental defects in 34 patients, and CTPA visualized 61 intravascular clots at variable locations in 30 (88%) patients, but no clots in four (12%) patients. In 30 patients with clots, the fusion images confirmed that 69 (41%) perfusion defects (20 segmental, 45 subsegmental and 4 lobar defects) of total 166 defects were located in lung territories without clots, although the remaining 97 (58%) defects were located in lung territories with clots. Perfusion defect was absent in lung territories with clots (one lobar branch and three segmental branches) in four (12%) of these patients. In four patients without clots, nine perfusion defects including four segmental ones were present. Because of unexpected dissociation between intravascular clots and lung perfusion defects, the present fusion images will be a useful adjunct to CTPA in the diagnosis of acute PTE.

  2. Numerical Study of Blood Clots Influence on the Flow Pattern and Platelet Activation on a Stented Bifurcation Model.

    PubMed

    García Carrascal, P; García García, J; Sierra Pallares, J; Castro Ruiz, F; Manuel Martín, F J

    2017-05-01

    Stent implantation is a common procedure followed in arteries affected by atherosclerosis. This procedure can lead to other stenting-related problems. One of these is the deposition and accumulation of blood clots over stent struts. This process can have further consequences, in so far as it can introduce modifications to the flow pattern. This problem is especially critical in stented bifurcations, where resulting stent geometry is more complex. In this regard, a numerical study is presented of the effect on the flow pattern and platelet activation of blood clot depositions on the stent struts of a stented coronary bifurcation. The numerical model is first validated with experimental measurements performed for this purpose. Experiments considered a flow with suspended artificial thrombi, which naturally deposited on stent struts. The location and shape observed were used to create numerical thrombi. Following this, numerical simulations were performed to analyze the influence of the presence of thrombi depositions on parameters such as Time Averaged Wall Shear Stress, Oscillatory Shear Index or Relative Residence Time. Finally, a study was also carried out of the effect of different geometrical configurations, from a straight tube to a stented bifurcation model with thrombus depositions, on platelet activation.

  3. Clot accumulation characteristics of plasminogen-bearing liposomes in a flow-system. Groningen Utrecht Institute for Drug Exploration.

    PubMed

    Heeremans, J L; Prevost, R; Feitsma, H; Kluft, C; Crommelin, D J

    1998-01-01

    In this study, the clot accumulation properties of liposome-coupled plasminogen were compared to those of free (non-liposomal) plasminogen in an in vitro, closed-loop, flow-system. After introduction of a clot into the closed system, double-radiolabelled plasminogen-liposomes were administered and the accumulation of radiolabel on the entire clot was measured. Liposomal plasminogen showed improved accumulation over free plasminogen, on both a fibrin clot and a whole blood clot. Moreover, once liposomal plasminogen was fibrin associated, it could not be washed away with buffer, in contrast to free plasminogen. Liposomal plasminogen was able to compete successfully with an excess of free plasminogen. The plateau levels for the accumulated amount of plasminogen depended on the incubated amount of plasminogen and were influenced by partial degradation of the clot. Furthermore, it was shown that a threshold liposomal plasminogen surface-density was needed for optimum clot accumulation.

  4. Diagnosing human blood clotting deficiency.

    PubMed

    Ong, Chong Cheen; Gopinath, Subash C B; Rebecca, Leong Wei Xian; Perumal, Veeradasan; Lakshmipriya, Thangavel; Saheed, Mohamed Shuaib Mohamed

    2018-05-15

    There are different clotting factors present in blood, carries the clotting cascade and excessive bleeding may cause a deficiency in the clotting Diagnosis of this deficiency in clotting drastically reduces the potential fatality. For enabling a sensor to detect the clotting factors, suitable probes such as antibody and aptamer have been used to capture these targets on the sensing surface. Two major clotting factors were widely studied for the diagnosis of clotting deficiency, which includes factor IX and thrombin. In addition, factor IX is considered as the substitute for heparin and the prothrombotic associated with the increased thrombin generation are taking into account their prevalence. The biosensors, surface plasmon resonance, evanescent-field-coupled waveguide-mode sensor, metal-enhanced PicoGreen fluorescence and electrochemical aptasensor were well-documented and improvements have been made for high-performance sensing. We overviewed detecting factor IX and thrombin using these biosensors, for the potential application in medical diagnosis. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Developing Mesoscale Model of Fibrin-Platelet Network Representing Blood Clotting =

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sun, Yueyi; Nikolov, Svetoslav; Bowie, Sam; Alexeev, Alexander; Lam, Wilbur; Myers, David

    Blood clotting disorders which prevent the body's natural ability to achieve hemostasis can lead to a variety of life threatening conditions such as, excessive bleeding, stroke, or heart attack. Treatment of these disorders is highly dependent on understanding the underlying physics behind the clotting process. Since clotting is a highly complex multi scale mechanism developing a fully atomistic model is currently not possible. We develop a mesoscale model based on dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) to gain fundamental understanding of the underlying principles controlling the clotting process. In our study, we examine experimental data on clot contraction using stacks of confocal microscopy images to estimate the crosslink density in the fibrin networks and platelet location. Using this data we reconstruct the platelet rich fibrin network and study how platelet-fibrin interactions affect clotting. Furthermore, we probe how different system parameters affect clot contraction. ANSF CAREER Award DMR-1255288.

  6. Photoacoustic monitoring of clot formation during surgery and tumor surgery

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Juratli, Mazen A.; Galanzha, Ekaterina I.; Sarimollaoglu, Mustafa; Nedosekin, Dmitry A.; Suen, James Y.; Zharov, Vladimir P.

    2013-03-01

    When a blood vessel is injured, the normal physiological response of the body is to form a clot (thrombus) to prevent blood loss. Alternatively, even without injury to the blood vessel, the pathological condition called thromboembolism may lead to the formation of circulating blood clots (CBCs), also called emboli, which can clog blood vessels throughout the body. Veins of the extremities (venous thromboembolism), lungs (pulmonary embolism ), brain (embolic stroke), heart (myocardial infarction), kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract are often affected. Emboli are also common complications of infection, inflammation, cancer, surgery, radiation and coronary artery bypass grafts. Despite the clear medical significance of CBCs, however, little progress has been made in the development of methods for real-time detection and identification of CBCs. To overcome these limitations, we developed a new modification of in vivo photoacoustic (PA) flow cytometry (PAFC) for real-time detection of white, red, and mixed clots through a transient decrease, increase or fluctuation of PA signal amplitude, respectively. In this work, using PAFC and mouse models, we present for the first time direct evidence that some medical procedures, such as conventional or cancer surgery may initiate the formation of CBCs. In conclusion, the PA diagnostic platform can be used in real-time to define risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, assist in the prognosis and potential prevention of stroke by using a well-timed therapy or as a clot count as a marker of therapy efficacy.

  7. Threshold Switchable Particles (TSPs) To Control Internal Hemorrhage

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-09-01

    hemorrhage at local sites. Four collaborating laboratories worked together under this contract to define threshold levels of activators of blood clotting...such that the candidate clotting activators will circulate in the blood at a concentration below the threshold necessary to trigger clotting, but...accumulation of the activators at sites of internal injury/bleeding will cause the local concentration of clotting activators to exceed the clotting

  8. Factor XIII stiffens fibrin clots by causing fiber compaction.

    PubMed

    Kurniawan, N A; Grimbergen, J; Koopman, J; Koenderink, G H

    2014-10-01

    Factor XIII-induced cross-linking has long been associated with the ability of fibrin blood clots to resist mechanical deformation, but how FXIII can directly modulate clot stiffness is unknown. We hypothesized that FXIII affects the self-assembly of fibrin fibers by altering the lateral association between protofibrils. To test this hypothesis, we studied the cross-linking kinetics and the structural evolution of the fibers and clots during the formation of plasma-derived and recombinant fibrins by using light scattering, and the response of the clots to mechanical stresses by using rheology. We show that the lateral aggregation of fibrin protofibrils initially results in the formation of floppy fibril bundles, which then compact to form tight and more rigid fibers. The first stage is reflected in a fast (10 min) increase in clot stiffness, whereas the compaction phase is characterized by a slow (hours) development of clot stiffness. Inhibition of FXIII completely abrogates the slow compaction. FXIII strongly increases the linear elastic modulus of the clots, but does not affect the non-linear response at large deformations. We propose a multiscale structural model whereby FXIII-mediated cross-linking tightens the coupling between the protofibrils within a fibrin fiber, thus making the fiber stiffer and less porous. At small strains, fiber stiffening enhances clot stiffness, because the clot response is governed by the entropic elasticity of the fibers, but once the clot is sufficiently stressed, the modulus is independent of protofibril coupling, because clot stiffness is governed by individual protofibril stretching. © 2014 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

  9. A targeted ferritin-microplasmin based thrombolytic nanocage selectively dissolves blood clots.

    PubMed

    Seo, Junyoung; Al-Hilal, Taslim A; Jee, Jun-Goo; Kim, Yong-Lim; Kim, Ha-Jeong; Lee, Byung-Heon; Kim, Soyoun; Kim, In-San

    2018-04-01

    The use of thrombolytic therapies is limited by an increased risk of systemic hemorrhage due to lysis of hemostatic clots. We sought to develop a plasmin-based thrombolytic nanocage that efficiently dissolves the clot without causing systemic fibrinolysis or disrupting hemostatic clots. Here, we generated a double chambered short-length ferritin (sFt) construct that has an N-terminal region fused to multivalent clot targeting peptides (CLT: CNAGESSKNC) and a C-terminal end fused to a microplasmin (μPn); CLT recognizes fibrin-fibronectin complexes in clots, μPn efficiently dissolves clots, and the assembly of double chambered sFt (CLT-sFt-μPn) into nanocage structure protects the activated-μPn from its circulating inhibitors. Importantly, activated CLT-sFt-μPn thrombolytic nanocage showed a prolonged circulatory life over activated-μPn and efficiently lysed the preexisting clots in both arterial and venous thromboses models. Thus, CLT-sFt-μPn thrombolytic nanocage platform represents the prototype of a targeted clot-busting agent with high efficacy and safety over existing thrombolytic therapies. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. Too much TV causes lung blood clot deaths.

    PubMed

    2016-08-10

    Lung blood clots - also known as pulmonary embolisms - usually stem from clots in the leg or pelvis after inactivity has slowed blood flow. It is particularly dangerous if the clot travels to the lung and lodges in a small blood vessel.

  11. Activated Monocytes Enhance Platelet-Driven Contraction of Blood Clots via Tissue Factor Expression.

    PubMed

    Peshkova, Alina D; Le Minh, Giang; Tutwiler, Valerie; Andrianova, Izabella A; Weisel, John W; Litvinov, Rustem I

    2017-07-11

    Platelet-driven reduction in blood clot volume (clot contraction or retraction) has been implicated to play a role in hemostasis and thrombosis. Although these processes are often linked with inflammation, the role of inflammatory cells in contraction of blood clots and thrombi has not been investigated. The aim of this work was to study the influence of activated monocytes on clot contraction. The effects of monocytes were evaluated using a quantitative optical tracking methodology to follow volume changes in a blood clot formed in vitro. When a physiologically relevant number of isolated human monocytes pre-activated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) were added back into whole blood, the extent and rate of clot contraction were increased compared to addition of non-activated cells. Inhibition of tissue factor expression or its inactivation on the surface of PMA-treated monocytes reduced the extent and rate of clot contraction back to control levels with non-activated monocytes. On the contrary, addition of tissue factor enhanced clot contraction, mimicking the effects of tissue factor expressed on the activated monocytes. These data suggest that the inflammatory cells through their expression of tissue factor can directly affect hemostasis and thrombosis by modulating the size and density of intra- and extravascular clots and thrombi.

  12. Gel point and fractal microstructure of incipient blood clots are significant new markers of hemostasis for healthy and anticoagulated blood.

    PubMed

    Evans, Phillip A; Hawkins, Karl; Morris, Roger H K; Thirumalai, Naresh; Munro, Roger; Wakeman, Lisa; Lawrence, Matthew J; Williams, P Rhodri

    2010-10-28

    Here we report the first application of a fractal analysis of the viscoelastic properties of incipient blood clots. We sought to ascertain whether the incipient clot's fractal dimension, D(f,) could be used as a functional biomarker of hemostasis. The incipient clot is formed at the gel point (GP) of coagulating blood, the GP demarcating a functional change from viscoelastic liquid to a viscoelastic solid. Incipient clots formed in whole healthy blood show a clearly defined value of D(f) within a narrow range that represents an index of clotting in health, where D(f) = 1.74 (± 0.07). A significant relationship is found between the incipient clot formation time, T(GP), and the activated partial thromboplastin time, whereas the association of D(f) with the microstructural characteristics of the incipient clot is supported by its significant correlation with fibrinogen. Our study reveals that unfractionated heparin not only prolongs the onset of clot formation but has a significant effect on its fractal microstructure. A progressive increase in unfractionated heparin concentration results in a linear decrease in D(f) and a corresponding prolongation in T(GP). The results represent a new, quantitative measure of clot quality derived from measurements on whole blood samples.

  13. Blood clots are rapidly assembled hemodynamic sensors: Flow arrest triggers intraluminal thrombus contraction

    PubMed Central

    Muthard, Ryan W.; Diamond, Scott L.

    2012-01-01

    Objective Blood clots form under flow during intravascular thrombosis or vessel leakage. Prevailing hemodynamics influence thrombus structure and may regulate contraction processes. A microfluidic device capable of flowing human blood over a side channel plugged with collagen (± tissue factor) was used to measure thrombus permeability (κ) and contraction at controlled transthrombus pressure drops. Methods and Results The collagen (κcollagen = 1.98 × 10−11 cm2) supported formation of a 20-μm thick platelet layer, which unexpectedly underwent massive platelet retraction upon flow arrest. This contraction resulted in a 5.34-fold increase in permeability due to collagen restructuring. Without stopping flow, platelet deposits (no fibrin) had a permeability of κplatelet = 5.45 × 10−14 cm2 and platelet-fibrin thrombi had κthrombus = 2.71 × 10−14 cm2 for ΔP = 20.7 to 23.4 mm-Hg, the first ever measurements for clots formed under arterial flow (1130 s−1 wall shear rate). Platelet sensing of flow cessation triggered a 4.6 to 6.5-fold (n=3, P<0.05) increase in contraction rate, which was also observed in a rigid, impermeable parallel-plate microfluidic device. This triggered contraction was blocked by the myosin IIA inhibitor blebbistatin and by inhibitors of thromboxane (TXA2) and ADP signaling. In addition, flow arrest triggered platelet intracellular calcium mobilization, which was blocked by TXA2/ADP inhibitors. As clots become occlusive or vessels rupture, flow around developed clots diminishes facilitating full platelet retraction and hemostasis. Conclusion Flow dilution of ADP and thromboxane regulates platelet contractility with prevailing hemodynamics, a newly defined flow sensing mechanism to regulate clot function. PMID:23087356

  14. Platelet reactivity and thrombogenicity in postmenopausal women.

    PubMed

    Singla, Anand; Bliden, Kevin P; Jeong, Young-Hoon; Abadilla, Katrina; Antonino, Mark J; Muse, William C; Mathew, Denny P; Bailon, Oscar; Tantry, Udaya S; Gurbel, Paul A

    2013-01-01

    Age-adjusted incidence of cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction, is significantly lower in premenopausal women than in men, which is thought to be caused by the cardioprotective effects of estrogen. However, there is a consistent increase in the incidence of coronary artery disease in postmenopausal women in comparison with premenopausal women. The protective benefit of hormone therapy has not been observed in postmenopausal women. It is unknown whether measures of platelet reactivity and clot strength contribute to the disproportionate incidence of cardiovascular disease between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Fifty healthy volunteers, including 25 premenopausal women and 25 postmenopausal women, aged between 40 and 65 years were enrolled. Total estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone levels were measured for confirmation of menopausal state and comparison testing. Platelet reactivity was assessed using light transmission aggregometry and P-selectin, and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor expression was assessed using flow cytometry. Thrombelastography was used to measure clot strength, clotting time, and fibrinogen activity. Serum cholesterol, C-reactive protein, complete blood count, and comprehensive metabolic panel were also measured. Platelet reactivity did not differ among menopausal states or hormone levels. Clotting time was increased in postmenopausal women (6.6 ± 2.0 vs. 7.8 ± 1.2 min, P = 0.013) and significantly correlated with estradiol levels (r = 0.68, P < 0.001). A significantly higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was observed in postmenopausal women (P = 0.05). Mean C-reactive protein levels were numerically higher in the postmenopausal group. The thrombotic risk profile between premenopausal and postmenopausal women is similar. However, improved management of cholesterol may be of clinical benefit. Large-scale studies are required to validate these findings.

  15. Co-ordinated spatial propagation of blood plasma clotting and fibrinolytic fronts

    PubMed Central

    Zhalyalov, Ansar S.; Panteleev, Mikhail A.; Gracheva, Marina A.; Ataullakhanov, Fazoil I.

    2017-01-01

    Fibrinolysis is a cascade of proteolytic reactions occurring in blood and soft tissues, which functions to disintegrate fibrin clots when they are no more needed. In order to elucidate its regulation in space and time, fibrinolysis was investigated using an in vitro reaction-diffusion experimental model of blood clot formation and dissolution. Clotting was activated by a surface with immobilized tissue factor in a thin layer of recalcified blood plasma supplemented with tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), urokinase plasminogen activator or streptokinase. Formation and dissolution of fibrin clot was monitored by videomicroscopy. Computer systems biology model of clot formation and lysis was developed for data analysis and experimental planning. Fibrin clot front propagated in space from tissue factor, followed by a front of clot dissolution propagating from the same source. Velocity of lysis front propagation linearly depended on the velocity clotting front propagation (correlation r2 = 0.91). Computer model revealed that fibrin formation was indeed the rate-limiting step in the fibrinolysis front propagation. The phenomenon of two fronts which switched the state of blood plasma from liquid to solid and then back to liquid did not depend on the fibrinolysis activator. Interestingly, TPA at high concentrations began to increase lysis onset time and to decrease lysis propagation velocity, presumably due to plasminogen depletion. Spatially non-uniform lysis occurred simultaneously with clot formation and detached the clot from the procoagulant surface. These patterns of spatial fibrinolysis provide insights into its regulation and might explain clinical phenomena associated with thrombolytic therapy. PMID:28686711

  16. Effects of unidirectional flow shear stresses on the formation, fractal microstructure and rigidity of incipient whole blood clots and fibrin gels.

    PubMed

    Badiei, N; Sowedan, A M; Curtis, D J; Brown, M R; Lawrence, M J; Campbell, A I; Sabra, A; Evans, P A; Weisel, J W; Chernysh, I N; Nagaswami, C; Williams, P R; Hawkins, K

    2015-01-01

    Incipient clot formation in whole blood and fibrin gels was studied by the rheometric techniques of controlled stress parallel superposition (CSPS) and small amplitude oscillatory shear (SAOS). The effects of unidirectional shear stress on incipient clot microstructure, formation kinetics and elasticity are reported in terms of the fractal dimension (df) of the fibrin network, the gel network formation time (TGP) and the shear elastic modulus, respectively. The results of this first haemorheological application of CSPS reveal the marked sensitivity of incipient clot microstructure to physiologically relevant levels of shear stress, these being an order of magnitude lower than have previously been studied by SAOS. CSPS tests revealed that exposure of forming clots to increasing levels of shear stress produces a corresponding elevation in df, consistent with the formation of tighter, more compact clot microstructures under unidirectional flow. A corresponding increase in shear elasticity was recorded. The scaling relationship established between shear elasticity and df for fibrin clots and whole blood confirms the fibrin network as the dominant microstructural component of the incipient clot in terms of its response to imposed stress. Supplementary studies of fibrin clot formation by rheometry and microscopy revealed the substantial additional network mass required to increase df and provide evidence to support the hypothesis that microstructural changes in blood clotted under unidirectional shear may be attributed to flow enhanced thrombin generation and activation. CSPS also identified a threshold value of unidirectional shear stress above which no incipient clot formation could be detected. CSPS was shown to be a valuable haemorheological tool for the study of the effects of physiological and pathological levels of shear on clot properties.

  17. Structure, Mechanics, and Instability of Fibrin Clot Infected with Staphylococcus epidermidis.

    PubMed

    Ma, Tianhui Maria; VanEpps, J Scott; Solomon, Michael J

    2017-11-07

    Health care-associated infection, over half of which can be attributed to indwelling medical devices, is a strong risk factor for thromboembolism. Although most experimental models of medical device infection draw upon isolated bacterial biofilms, in fact there is no infection without host protein contribution. Here we study, to our knowledge, a new model for medical device infection-that of an infected fibrin clot-and show that the common blood-borne pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis influences this in vitro model of a blood clot mechanically and structurally on both microscopic and macroscopic scales. Bacteria present during clot formation produce a visibly disorganized microstructure that increases clot stiffness and triggers mechanical instability over time. Our results provide insight into the observed correlation between medical device infection and thromboembolism; the increase in model clot heterogeneity shows that S. epidermidis can rupture a fibrin clot. The resultant embolization of the infected clot can contribute to the systemic dissemination of the pathogen. Copyright © 2017 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Quantitative photoacoustic characterization of blood clot in blood: A mechanobiological assessment through spectral information

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Biswas, Deblina; Vasudevan, Srivathsan; Chen, George C. K.; Sharma, Norman

    2017-02-01

    Formation of blood clots, called thrombus, can happen due to hyper-coagulation of blood. Thrombi, while moving through blood vessels can impede blood flow, an important criterion for many critical diseases like deep vein thrombosis and heart attacks. Understanding mechanical properties of clot formation is vital for assessment of severity of thrombosis and proper treatment. However, biomechanics of thrombus is less known to clinicians and not very well investigated. Photoacoustic (PA) spectral response, a non-invasive technique, is proposed to investigate the mechanism of formation of blood clots through elasticity and also differentiate clots from blood. Distinct shift (increase in frequency) of the PA response dominant frequency during clot formation is reported. In addition, quantitative differentiation of blood clots from blood has been achieved through parameters like dominant frequency and spectral energy of PA spectral response. Nearly twofold increases in dominant frequency in blood clots compared to blood were found in the PA spectral response. Significant changes in energy also help in quantitatively differentiating clots from blood, in the blood. Our results reveal that increase in density during clot formation is reflected in the PA spectral response, a significant step towards understanding the mechanobiology of thrombus formation. Hence, the proposed tool, in addition to detecting thrombus formation, could reveal mechanical properties of the sample through quantitative photoacoustic spectral parameters.

  19. Clots Are Potent Triggers of Inflammatory Cell Gene Expression: Indications for Timely Fibrinolysis.

    PubMed

    Campbell, Robert A; Vieira-de-Abreu, Adriana; Rowley, Jesse W; Franks, Zechariah G; Manne, Bhanu Kanth; Rondina, Matthew T; Kraiss, Larry W; Majersik, Jennifer J; Zimmerman, Guy A; Weyrich, Andrew S

    2017-10-01

    Blood vessel wall damage often results in the formation of a fibrin clot that traps inflammatory cells, including monocytes. The effect of clot formation and subsequent lysis on the expression of monocyte-derived genes involved in the development and progression of ischemic stroke and other vascular diseases, however, is unknown. Determine whether clot formation and lysis regulates the expression of human monocyte-derived genes that modulate vascular diseases. We performed next-generation RNA sequencing on monocytes extracted from whole blood clots and using a purified plasma clot system. Numerous mRNAs were differentially expressed by monocytes embedded in clots compared with unclotted controls, and IL-8 (interleukin 8) and MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) were among the upregulated transcripts in both models. Clotted plasma also increased expression of IL-8 and MCP-1, which far exceeded responses observed in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes. Upregulation of IL-8 and MCP-1 occurred in a thrombin-independent but fibrin-dependent manner. Fibrinolysis initiated shortly after plasma clot formation (ie, 1-2 hours) reduced the synthesis of IL-8 and MCP-1, whereas delayed fibrinolysis was far less effective. Consistent with these in vitro models, monocytes embedded in unresolved thrombi from patients undergoing thrombectomy stained positively for IL-8 and MCP-1. These findings demonstrate that clots are potent inducers of monocyte gene expression and that timely fibrinolysis attenuates inflammatory responses, specifically IL-8 and MCP-1. Dampening of inflammatory gene expression by timely clot lysis may contribute to the clinically proven efficacy of fibrinolytic drug treatment within hours of stroke onset. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

  20. 21 CFR 864.7140 - Activated whole blood clotting time tests.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Activated whole blood clotting time tests. 864....7140 Activated whole blood clotting time tests. (a) Identification. An activated whole blood clotting... pulmonary embolism by measuring the coagulation time of whole blood. (b) Classification. Class II...

  1. 21 CFR 864.7140 - Activated whole blood clotting time tests.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Activated whole blood clotting time tests. 864....7140 Activated whole blood clotting time tests. (a) Identification. An activated whole blood clotting... pulmonary embolism by measuring the coagulation time of whole blood. (b) Classification. Class II...

  2. 21 CFR 864.7140 - Activated whole blood clotting time tests.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Activated whole blood clotting time tests. 864....7140 Activated whole blood clotting time tests. (a) Identification. An activated whole blood clotting... pulmonary embolism by measuring the coagulation time of whole blood. (b) Classification. Class II...

  3. 21 CFR 864.7140 - Activated whole blood clotting time tests.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Activated whole blood clotting time tests. 864....7140 Activated whole blood clotting time tests. (a) Identification. An activated whole blood clotting... pulmonary embolism by measuring the coagulation time of whole blood. (b) Classification. Class II...

  4. 21 CFR 864.7140 - Activated whole blood clotting time tests.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Activated whole blood clotting time tests. 864....7140 Activated whole blood clotting time tests. (a) Identification. An activated whole blood clotting... pulmonary embolism by measuring the coagulation time of whole blood. (b) Classification. Class II...

  5. 21 CFR 173.150 - Milk-clotting enzymes, microbial.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Milk-clotting enzymes, microbial. 173.150 Section... HUMAN CONSUMPTION Enzyme Preparations and Microorganisms § 173.150 Milk-clotting enzymes, microbial. Milk-clotting enzyme produced by pure-culture fermentation process may be safely used in the production...

  6. 21 CFR 173.150 - Milk-clotting enzymes, microbial.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Milk-clotting enzymes, microbial. 173.150 Section... HUMAN CONSUMPTION Enzyme Preparations and Microorganisms § 173.150 Milk-clotting enzymes, microbial. Milk-clotting enzyme produced by pure-culture fermentation process may be safely used in the production...

  7. 21 CFR 173.150 - Milk-clotting enzymes, microbial.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Milk-clotting enzymes, microbial. 173.150 Section... (CONTINUED) SECONDARY DIRECT FOOD ADDITIVES PERMITTED IN FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION Enzyme Preparations and Microorganisms § 173.150 Milk-clotting enzymes, microbial. Milk-clotting enzyme produced by pure-culture...

  8. 21 CFR 173.150 - Milk-clotting enzymes, microbial.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 21 Food and Drugs 3 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Milk-clotting enzymes, microbial. 173.150 Section... HUMAN CONSUMPTION Enzyme Preparations and Microorganisms § 173.150 Milk-clotting enzymes, microbial. Milk-clotting enzyme produced by pure-culture fermentation process may be safely used in the production...

  9. Mechanical fibrinogen-depletion supports heparin-free mesenchymal stem cell propagation in human platelet lysate.

    PubMed

    Laner-Plamberger, Sandra; Lener, Thomas; Schmid, Doris; Streif, Doris A; Salzer, Tina; Öller, Michaela; Hauser-Kronberger, Cornelia; Fischer, Thorsten; Jacobs, Volker R; Schallmoser, Katharina; Gimona, Mario; Rohde, Eva

    2015-11-10

    Pooled human platelet lysate (pHPL) is an efficient alternative to xenogenic supplements for ex vivo expansion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in clinical studies. Currently, porcine heparin is used in pHPL-supplemented medium to prevent clotting due to plasmatic coagulation factors. We therefore searched for an efficient and reproducible medium preparation method that avoids clot formation while omitting animal-derived heparin. We established a protocol to deplete fibrinogen by clotting of pHPL in medium, subsequent mechanical hydrogel disruption and removal of the fibrin pellet. After primary culture, bone-marrow and umbilical cord derived MSCs were tested for surface markers by flow cytometry and for trilineage differentiation capacity. Proliferation and clonogenicity were analyzed for three passages. The proposed clotting procedure reduced fibrinogen more than 1000-fold, while a volume recovery of 99.5 % was obtained. All MSC types were propagated in standard and fibrinogen-depleted medium. Flow cytometric phenotype profiles and adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential in vitro were independent of MSC-source or medium type. Enhanced proliferation of MSCs was observed in the absence of fibrinogen but presence of heparin compared to standard medium. Interestingly, this proliferative response to heparin was not detected after an initial contact with fibrinogen during the isolation procedure. Here, we present an efficient, reproducible and economical method in compliance to good manufacturing practice for the preparation of MSC media avoiding xenogenic components and suitable for clinical studies.

  10. Real-time monitoring of human blood clotting using a lateral excited film bulk acoustic resonator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Da; Wang, Jingjng; Wang, Peng; Guo, Qiuquan; Zhang, Zhen; Ma, Jilong

    2017-04-01

    Frequent assay of hemostatic status is an essential issue for the millions of patients using anticoagulant drugs. In this paper, we presented a micro-fabricated film bulk acoustic sensor for the real-time monitoring of blood clotting and the measurement of hemostatic parameters. The device was made of an Au/ZnO/Si3N4 film stack and excited by a lateral electric field. It operated under a shear mode resonance with the frequency of 1.42 GHz and had a quality factor of 342 in human blood. During the clotting process of blood, the resonant frequency decreased along with the change of blood viscosity and showed an apparent step-ladder curve, revealing the sequential clotting stages. An important hemostatic parameter, prothrombin time, was quantitatively determined from the frequency response for different dilutions of the blood samples. The effect of a typical anticoagulant drug (heparin) on the prothrombin time was exemplarily shown. The proposed sensor displayed a good consistency and clinical comparability with the standard coagulometric methods. Thanks to the availability of direct digital signals, excellent potentials of miniaturization and integration, the proposed sensor has promising application for point-of-care coagulation technologies.

  11. Detection of Thrombosis in the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Circuit by Infrasound: Proof of Concept.

    PubMed

    Fuchs, Gabriel; Berg, Niclas; Eriksson, Anders; Prahl Wittberg, Lisa

    2017-06-01

    As of today, there exist no reliable, objective methods for early detection of thrombi in the extracorporeal membrane oxygenators (ECMO) system. Within the ECMO system, thrombi are not always fixed to a certain component or location in the circuit. Thus, clot fragments of different shapes and consistencies may circulate and give rise to vibrations and sound generation. By bedside sound measurements and additional laboratory experiments (although not detailed herein), we found that the presence of particles (clots or aggregates and fragments of clots) can be detected by analyzing the strength of infra-sound (< 20 Hz) modes of the spectrum near the inlet and outlet of the centrifugal pump in the ECMO circuit. For the few patients that were considered in this study, no clear false positive or negative examples were found when comparing the spectral approach with clinical observations. A laboratory setup provided insight to the flow in and out of the pump, confirming that in the presence of particles a low-amplitude low-frequency signal is strongly amplified, enabling the identification of a clot. © 2016 The Authors Artificial Organs published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Center for Artificial Organ and Transplantation (ICAOT).

  12. Fluid Mechanics of Blood Clot Formation.

    PubMed

    Fogelson, Aaron L; Neeves, Keith B

    2015-01-01

    Intravascular blood clots form in an environment in which hydrodynamic forces dominate and in which fluid-mediated transport is the primary means of moving material. The clotting system has evolved to exploit fluid dynamic mechanisms and to overcome fluid dynamic challenges to ensure that clots that preserve vascular integrity can form over the wide range of flow conditions found in the circulation. Fluid-mediated interactions between the many large deformable red blood cells and the few small rigid platelets lead to high platelet concentrations near vessel walls where platelets contribute to clotting. Receptor-ligand pairs with diverse kinetic and mechanical characteristics work synergistically to arrest rapidly flowing cells on an injured vessel. Variations in hydrodynamic stresses switch on and off the function of key clotting polymers. Protein transport to, from, and within a developing clot determines whether and how fast it grows. We review ongoing experimental and modeling research to understand these and related phenomena.

  13. Fluid Mechanics of Blood Clot Formation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fogelson, Aaron L.; Neeves, Keith B.

    2015-01-01

    Intravascular blood clots form in an environment in which hydrodynamic forces dominate and in which fluid-mediated transport is the primary means of moving material. The clotting system has evolved to exploit fluid dynamic mechanisms and to overcome fluid dynamic challenges to ensure that clots that preserve vascular integrity can form over the wide range of flow conditions found in the circulation. Fluid-mediated interactions between the many large deformable red blood cells and the few small rigid platelets lead to high platelet concentrations near vessel walls where platelets contribute to clotting. Receptor-ligand pairs with diverse kinetic and mechanical characteristics work synergistically to arrest rapidly flowing cells on an injured vessel. Variations in hydrodynamic stresses switch on and off the function of key clotting polymers. Protein transport to, from, and within a developing clot determines whether and how fast it grows. We review ongoing experimental and modeling research to understand these and related phenomena.

  14. [Contraction (retraction) of blood clots in patients with ischemic stroke].

    PubMed

    Peshkova, A D; Saikhunov, M V; Demin, T V; Lozhkin, A P; Panasyuk, M V; Litvinov, R I; Khasanova, D R

    2016-01-01

    To study a possible pathogenetic role of the blood clot contraction and its disturbances in the acute stage of ischemic stroke (IS). Using a new instrumental technique to study the dynamics of clot contraction in vitro, the authors have determined quantitative parameters of clot contraction (the extent and rate of contraction, duration of the lag-period) in the blood of 85 patients with acute IS. The contractile activity of blood clots was substantially reduced compared to the blood of healthy subjects. Correlations between hemostatic and contractile parameters suggest that the reduced clot contraction in stroke is due to the lower platelet count and impaired platelet functionality, higher levels of fibrinogen and antithrombin III as well as higher hematocrit and hemoglobin contents, leukocytosis, and changes in the biochemical blood composition. The results show that the reduced ability of clots may be a novel pathogenic mechanism that aggravates the course and outcomes of IS.

  15. Fibrin Clots Are Equilibrium Polymers That Can Be Remodeled Without Proteolytic Digestion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chernysh, Irina N.; Nagaswami, Chandrasekaran; Purohit, Prashant K.; Weisel, John W.

    2012-11-01

    Fibrin polymerization is a necessary part of hemostasis but clots can obstruct blood vessels and cause heart attacks and strokes. The polymerization reactions are specific and controlled, involving strong knob-into-hole interactions to convert soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin. It has long been assumed that clots and thrombi are stable structures until proteolytic digestion. On the contrary, using the technique of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we demonstrate here that there is turnover of fibrin in an uncrosslinked clot. A peptide representing the knobs involved in fibrin polymerization can compete for the holes and dissolve a preformed fibrin clot, or increase the fraction of soluble oligomers, with striking rearrangements in clot structure. These results imply that in vivo clots or thrombi are more dynamic structures than previously believed that may be remodeled as a result of local environmental conditions, may account for some embolization, and suggest a target for therapeutic intervention.

  16. Acousto-mechanical and thermal properties of clotted blooda)

    PubMed Central

    Nahirnyak, Volodymyr M.; Yoon, Suk Wang; Holland, Christy K.

    2007-01-01

    The efficacy of ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis as an adjunct treatment of ischemic stroke is being widely investigated. To determine the role of ultrasound hyperthermia in the process of blood clot disruption, the acousto-mechanical and thermal properties of clotted blood were measured in vitro, namely, density, speed of sound, frequency-dependent attenuation, specific heat, and thermal conductivity. The amplitude coefficient of attenuation of the clots was determined for 120 kHz, 1.0 MHz, and 3.5 MHz ultrasound at room temperature (20±2 °C). The attenuation coefficient ranged from 0.10 to 0.30 Np/cm in porcine clots and from 0.09 to 0.23 Np/cm in human clots. The experimentally determined values of specific heat and thermal conductivity for porcine clotted blood are (3.2±0.5)×103 J/kg·K and 0.55±0.13 W/m·K, respectively, and for human clotted blood are (3.5±0.8)×103 J/kg·K and 0.59±0.11 W/m·K, respectively. Measurements of the acousto-mechanical and thermal properties of clotted blood can be helpful in theoretical modeling of ultrasound hyperthermia in ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis and other high-intensity focused ultrasound applications. PMID:16838520

  17. ClotChip: A Microfluidic Dielectric Sensor for Point-of-Care Assessment of Hemostasis.

    PubMed

    Maji, Debnath; Suster, Michael A; Kucukal, Erdem; Sekhon, Ujjal D S; Gupta, Anirban Sen; Gurkan, Umut A; Stavrou, Evi X; Mohseni, Pedram

    2017-12-01

    This paper describes the design, fabrication, and testing of a microfluidic sensor for dielectric spectroscopy of human whole blood during coagulation. The sensor, termed ClotChip, employs a three-dimensional, parallel-plate, capacitive sensing structure with a floating electrode integrated into a microfluidic channel. Interfaced with an impedance analyzer, the ClotChip measures the complex relative dielectric permittivity, ϵ r , of human whole blood in the frequency range of 40 Hz to 100 MHz. The temporal variation in the real part of the blood dielectric permittivity at 1 MHz features a time to reach a permittivity peak, , as well as a maximum change in permittivity after the peak, , as two distinct parameters of ClotChip readout. The ClotChip performance was benchmarked against rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) to evaluate the clinical utility of its readout parameters in capturing the clotting dynamics arising from coagulation factors and platelet activity. exhibited a very strong positive correlation ( r = 0.99, p < 0.0001) with the ROTEM clotting time parameter, whereas exhibited a strong positive correlation (r = 0.85,  p < 0.001) with the ROTEM maximum clot firmness parameter. This paper demonstrates the ClotChip potential as a point-of-care platform to assess the complete hemostatic process using <10 μL of human whole blood.

  18. Alteration of blood clotting and lung damage by protamine are avoided using the heparin and polyphosphate inhibitor UHRA

    PubMed Central

    Abraham, Libin; Kapopara, Piyushkumar R.; Lai, Benjamin F. L.; Shenoi, Rajesh A.; Rosell, Federico I.; Conway, Edward M.; Pryzdial, Edward L. G.; Haynes, Charles A.

    2017-01-01

    Anticoagulant therapy–associated bleeding and pathological thrombosis pose serious risks to hospitalized patients. Both complications could be mitigated by developing new therapeutics that safely neutralize anticoagulant activity and inhibit activators of the intrinsic blood clotting pathway, such as polyphosphate (polyP) and extracellular nucleic acids. The latter strategy could reduce the use of anticoagulants, potentially decreasing bleeding events. However, previously described cationic inhibitors of polyP and extracellular nucleic acids exhibit both nonspecific binding and adverse effects on blood clotting that limit their use. Indeed, the polycation used to counteract heparin-associated bleeding in surgical settings, protamine, exhibits adverse effects. To address these clinical shortcomings, we developed a synthetic polycation, Universal Heparin Reversal Agent (UHRA), which is nontoxic and can neutralize the anticoagulant activity of heparins and the prothrombotic activity of polyP. Sharply contrasting protamine, we show that UHRA does not interact with fibrinogen, affect fibrin polymerization during clot formation, or abrogate plasma clotting. Using scanning electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, and clot lysis assays, we confirm that UHRA does not incorporate into clots, and that clots are stable with normal fibrin morphology. Conversely, protamine binds to the fibrin clot, which could explain how protamine instigates clot lysis and increases bleeding after surgery. Finally, studies in mice reveal that UHRA reverses heparin anticoagulant activity without the lung injury seen with protamine. The data presented here illustrate that UHRA could be safely used as an antidote during adverse therapeutic modulation of hemostasis. PMID:28034889

  19. Fibrin, γ’-fibrinogen, and trans-clot pressure gradient control hemostatic clot growth during human blood flow over a collagen/tissue factor wound

    PubMed Central

    Muthard, Ryan W.; Welsh, John D.; Brass, Lawrence F.; Diamond, Scott L.

    2015-01-01

    SUMMARY Objective Biological and physical factors interact to modulate blood response in a wounded vessel, resulting in a hemostatic clot or an occlusive thrombus. Flow and pressure differential (ΔP) across the wound from the lumen to the extravascular compartment may impact hemostasis and the observed core/shell architecture. We examined physical and biological factors responsible for regulating thrombin mediated clot growth. Approach and Results Using factor XIIa-inhibited human whole blood perfused in a microfluidic device over collagen/tissue factor at controlled wall shear rate and ΔP, we found thrombin to be highly localized in the P-selectin+ core of hemostatic clots. Increasing ΔP from 9 to 29 mm-Hg (wall shear rate = 400 s−1) reduced P-selectin+ core size and total clot size due to enhanced extravasation of thrombin. Blockade of fibrin polymerization with 5 mM GPRP dysregulated hemostasis by enhancing both P-selectin+ core size and clot size at 400 s−1 (20 mm-Hg). For whole blood flow (no GPRP), the thickness of the P-selectin-negative shell was reduced under arterial conditions (2000 s−1, 20 mm-Hg). Consistent with the antithrombin-1 activity of fibrin implicated with GPRP, anti-γ’-fibrinogen antibody enhanced core-localized thrombin, core size, and overall clot size, especially at venous (100 s−1) but not arterial wall shear rates (2000 s−1). Pathological shear (15,000 s−1) and GPRP synergized to exacerbate clot growth. Conclusions Hemostatic clotting was dependent on core-localized thrombin that (1) triggered platelet P-selectin display and (2) was highly regulated by fibrin and the trans-clot ΔP. Also, γ’-fibrinogen had a role in venous but not arterial conditions. PMID:25614284

  20. Phase transitions during compression and decompression of clots from platelet-poor plasma, platelet-rich plasma and whole blood.

    PubMed

    Liang, Xiaojun; Chernysh, Irina; Purohit, Prashant K; Weisel, John W

    2017-09-15

    Blood clots are required to stem bleeding and are subject to a variety of stresses, but they can also block blood vessels and cause heart attacks and ischemic strokes. We measured the compressive response of human platelet-poor plasma (PPP) clots, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) clots and whole blood clots and correlated these measurements with confocal and scanning electron microscopy to track changes in clot structure. Stress-strain curves revealed four characteristic regions, for compression-decompression: (1) linear elastic region; (2) upper plateau or softening region; (3) non-linear elastic region or re-stretching of the network; (4) lower plateau in which dissociation of some newly made connections occurs. Our experiments revealed that compression proceeds by the passage of a phase boundary through the clot separating rarefied and densified phases. This observation motivates a model of fibrin mechanics based on the continuum theory of phase transitions, which accounts for the pre-stress caused by platelets, the adhesion of fibrin fibers in the densified phase, the compression of red blood cells (RBCs), and the pumping of liquids through the clot during compression/decompression. Our experiments and theory provide insights into the mechanical behavior of blood clots that could have implications clinically and in the design of fibrin-based biomaterials. The objective of this paper is to measure and mathematically model the compression behavior of various human blood clots. We show by a combination of confocal and scanning electron microscopy that compression proceeds by the passage of a front through the sample that separates a densified region of the clot from a rarefied region, and that the compression/decompression response is reversible with hysteresis. These observations form the basis of a model for the compression response of clots based on the continuum theory of phase transitions. Our studies may reveal how clot rheology under large compression in vivo due to muscle contraction, platelet retraction and hydrodynamic flow varies under various pathophysiological conditions and could inform the design of fibrin based biomaterials. Copyright © 2017 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. [Histologic assessment of tissue healing of hyaline cartilage by use of semiquantitative evaluation scale].

    PubMed

    Vukasović, Andreja; Ivković, Alan; Jezek, Davor; Cerovecki, Ivan; Vnuk, Drazen; Kreszinger, Mario; Hudetz, Damir; Pećina, Marko

    2011-01-01

    Articular cartilage is an avascular and aneural tissue lacking lymph drainage, hence its inability of spontaneous repair following injury. Thus, it offers an interesting model for scientific research. A number of methods have been suggested to enhance cartilage repair, but none has yet produced significant success. The possible application of the aforementioned methods has brought about the necessity to evaluate their results. The objective of this study was to analyze results of a study of the effects of the use of TGF-beta gene transduced bone marrow clot on articular cartilage defects using ICRS visual histological assessment scale. The research was conducted on 28 skeletally mature sheep that were randomly assigned to four groups and surgically inflicted femoral chondral defects. The articular surfaces were then treated with TGF-beta1 gene transduced bone marrow clot (TGF group), GFP transduced bone marrow clot (GFP group), untransduced bone marrow clot (BM group) or left untreated (NC group). The analysis was performed by visual examination of cartilage samples and results were obtained using ICRS visual histological assessment scale. The results were subsequently subjected to statistical assessment using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Kruskal-Wallis test yielded statistically significant difference with respect to cell distribution. Mann-Whitney test showed statistically significant difference between TGF and NC groups (P = 0.002), as well as between BM and NC groups (P = 0.002 with Bonferroni correction). Twenty-six of the twenty-eight samples were subjected to histologic and subsequent statistical analysis; two were discarded due to faulty histology technique. Our results indicated a level of certainty as to the positive effect of TGF-beta1 gene transduced bone marrow clot in restoration of articular cartilage defects. However, additional research is necessary in the field. One of the significant drawbacks on histologic assessment of cartilage samples were the errors in histologic preparation, for which some samples had to be discarded and significantly impaired the analytical quality of the others. Defects of structures surrounding the articular cartilage, e.g., subchondral bone or connective tissue, might also impair the quality of histologic analysis. Additional analyses, i.e. polarizing microscopy should be performed to determine the degree of integration of the newly formed tissue with the surrounding cartilage. The semiquantitative ICRS scale, although of great practical value, has limitations as to the objectivity of the assessment, taking into account the analytical ability of the evaluator, as well as the accuracy of semiquantitative analysis in comparison to the methods of quantitative analysis. Overall results of histologic analysis indicated that the application of TGF-beta1 gene transduced bone marrow clot could have measurable clinical effects on articular cartilage repair. The ICRS visual histological assessment scale is a valuable analytical method for cartilage repair evaluation. In this respect, further analyses of the method value would be of great importance.

  2. The clinical evaluation of low-dose heparin in haemodialysis: a prospective study using the heparin-coated AN69 ST membrane.

    PubMed

    Chanard, Jacques; Lavaud, Sylvie; Maheut, Hervé; Kazes, Isabelle; Vitry, Fabien; Rieu, Philippe

    2008-06-01

    The AN69 ST haemodialysis membrane, a new membrane resulting from coating polyethyleneimine upon the polyacrylonitrile surface, binds heparin. In patients at risk of bleeding, a pilot study has demonstrated the efficient anticoagulant effect of this heparin-coated membrane. Study design. In chronic haemodialyzed patients, we evaluated whether this anticoagulant effect can be validated in a controlled, prospective, open study. Pragmatically, we tested the hypothesis of no difference of the massive clotting rate in two groups of patients haemodialyzed either with 50% reduced standard doses of nonfractionated heparin using the heparin-coated AN69 ST or with a full dose of heparin (100%) using another type of dialysis membrane that does not bind heparin. Secondary objectives included evaluation of partial clotting, changes in haemoglobin levels, erythropoietin consumption and dialyzer performances. One hundred and eighty-four patients were elected and 170 finally included in an 18-month follow-up study. They were allocated to one of the two arms of the study. In the heparin-reduced group (n = 85, mean age: 73 +/- 11 years), 12 472 sessions were performed after priming the AN69 ST dialyzer with 2 L of heparinized saline (5000 IU/L heparin) and using 50% reduced doses of previously administered heparin. In the control group with standard heparin (n = 85, mean age: 74 +/- 13 years), 14 154 sessions were analysed (NS), and mean heparin doses were 2718 +/- 1388 and 4800 +/- 1564 IU per session, respectively (P < 0.001). In the heparin-reduced group, massive clotting occurred in 1.4 per 1000 sessions, whereas it occurred in 1.6 per 1000 sessions in the standard heparin group (P < 0.05). Mild to moderate partial clotting in the venous drip chamber and in the dialyzer was evaluated in a subset of patients, on a visual scale. It was more frequent in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.001). Platelets, haemoglobin levels, erythropoietin needs and dialyzer performances remained unchanged in both groups. The global mean death rate was 16.8% per year and did not differ significantly between groups. The use of the heparin-coated AN69 ST membrane allows a 50% reduction of standard doses of nonfractionated heparin administration for routine haemo- dialysis without increasing the risk of massive clotting of the extracorporeal circuit. This result needs confirmation since massive clotting questions clinical practice and is team dependent.

  3. Quasi-static acoustic tweezing thromboelastometry.

    PubMed

    Holt, R G; Luo, D; Gruver, N; Khismatullin, D B

    2017-07-01

    Essentials Blood coagulation measurement during contact with an artificial surface leads to unreliable data. Acoustic tweezing thromboelastometry is a novel non-contact method for coagulation monitoring. This method detects differences in the blood coagulation state within 10 min. Coagulation data were obtained using a much smaller sample volume (4 μL) than currently used. Background Thromboelastography is widely used as a tool to assess the coagulation status of critical care patients. It allows observation of changes in material properties of whole blood, beginning with early stages of clot formation and ending with clot lysis. However, the contact activation of the coagulation cascade at surfaces of thromboelastographic systems leads to inherent variability and unreliability in predicting bleeding or thrombosis risks. Objectives To develop acoustic tweezing thromboelastometry as a non-contact method for perioperative assessment of blood coagulation. Methods Acoustic tweezing is used to levitate microliter drops of biopolymer and human blood samples. By quasi-statically changing the acoustic pressure we control the sample drop location and deformation. Sample size, deformation and location are determined by digital imaging at each pressure. Results Simple Newtonian liquid solutions maintain a constant, reversible location vs. deformation curve. In contrast, the location/deformation curves for gelatin, alginate, whole blood and blood plasma uniquely change as the samples solidify. Increasing elasticity causes the sample to deform less, leading to steeper stress/strain curves. By extracting a linear regime slope, we show that whole blood or blood plasma exhibits a unique slope profile as it begins to clot. By exposing blood samples to pro- or antithrombotic agents, the slope profile changes, allowing detection of hyper- or hypocoagulable states. Conclusions We demonstrate that quasi-static acoustic tweezing can yield information about clotting onset, maturation and strength. The advantages of small sample size, non-contact and rapid measurement make this technique desirable for real-time monitoring of blood coagulation. © 2017 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

  4. Intracameral air injection during Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in neovascular glaucoma for the prevention of tube obstruction with blood clot: Case Report.

    PubMed

    Hwang, Sung Ha; Yoo, Chungkwon; Kim, Yong Yeon; Lee, Dae Young; Nam, Dong Heun; Lee, Jong Yeon

    2017-12-01

    Glaucoma drainage implant surgery is a treatment option for the management of neovascular glaucoma. However, tube obstruction by blood clot after Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) implantation is an unpredictable clinically challenging situation. We report 4 cases using intracameral air injection for the prevention of the tube obstruction of AGV by blood clot. The first case was a 57-year-old female suffering from ocular pain because of a tube obstruction with blood clot after AGV implantation in neovascular glaucoma. Surgical blood clot removal was performed. However, intractable bleeding was noted during the removal of the blood clot, and so intracameral air injection was performed to prevent a recurrent tube obstruction. After the procedure, although blood clots formed around the tube, the tube opening where air could touch remained patent. In 3 cases of neovascular glaucoma with preoperative severe intraocular hemorrhages, intracameral air injection and AGV implantation were performed simultaneously. In all 3 cases, tube openings were patent. It appears that air impeded the blood clots formation in front of the tube opening. Intracameral air injection could be a feasible option to prevent tube obstruction of AGV implant with a blood clot in neovascular glaucoma with high risk of tube obstruction. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. A constitutive model for developing blood clots with various compositions and their nonlinear viscoelastic behavior.

    PubMed

    van Kempen, Thomas H S; Donders, Wouter P; van de Vosse, Frans N; Peters, Gerrit W M

    2016-04-01

    The mechanical properties determine to a large extent the functioning of a blood clot. These properties depend on the composition of the clot and have been related to many diseases. However, the various involved components and their complex interactions make it difficult at this stage to fully understand and predict properties as a function of the components. Therefore, in this study, a constitutive model is developed that describes the viscoelastic behavior of blood clots with various compositions. Hereto, clots are formed from whole blood, platelet-rich plasma and platelet-poor plasma to study the influence of red blood cells, platelets and fibrin, respectively. Rheological experiments are performed to probe the mechanical behavior of the clots during their formation. The nonlinear viscoelastic behavior of the mature clots is characterized using a large amplitude oscillatory shear deformation. The model is based on a generalized Maxwell model that accurately describes the results for the different rheological experiments by making the moduli and viscosities a function of time and the past and current deformation. Using the same model with different parameter values enables a description of clots with different compositions. A sensitivity analysis is applied to study the influence of parameter variations on the model output. The relative simplicity and flexibility make the model suitable for numerical simulations of blood clots and other materials showing similar behavior.

  6. Platelet factor XIII increases the fibrinolytic resistance of platelet-rich clots by accelerating the crosslinking of alpha 2-antiplasmin to fibrin

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Reed, G. L.; Matsueda, G. R.; Haber, E.

    1992-01-01

    Platelet clots resist fibrinolysis by plasminogen activators. We hypothesized that platelet factor XIII may enhance the fibrinolytic resistance of platelet-rich clots by catalyzing the crosslinking of alpha 2-antiplasmin (alpha 2AP) to fibrin. Analysis of plasma clot structure by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting revealed accelerated alpha 2AP-fibrin crosslinking in platelet-rich compared with platelet-depleted plasma clots. A similar study of clots formed with purified fibrinogen (depleted of factor XIII activity), isolated platelets, and specific factor XIII inhibitors indicated that this accelerated crosslinking was due to the catalytic activity of platelet factor XIII. Moreover, when washed platelets were aggregated by thrombin, there was evidence of platelet factor XIII-mediated crosslinking between platelet alpha 2AP and platelet fibrin(ogen). Specific inhibition (by a monoclonal antibody) of the alpha 2AP associated with washed platelet aggregates accelerated the fibrinolysis of the platelet aggregate. Thus in platelet-rich plasma clots, and in thrombin-induced platelet aggregates, platelet factor XIII actively formed alpha 2AP-fibrin crosslinks, which appeared to enhance the resistance of platelet-rich clots to fibrinolysis.

  7. Successful removal of endobronchial blood clots using bronchoscopic cryotherapy at bedside in the intensive care unit.

    PubMed

    Lee, Hongyeul; Leem, Cho Sun; Lee, Jae Ho; Lee, Choon-Taek; Cho, Young-Jae

    2014-10-01

    Acute airway obstruction after hemoptysis occurs due to the presence of blood clots. These conditions may result in life-threatening ventilation impairment. We report a case of obstruction of the large airway by endobronchial blood clots which were removed using bronchoscopic cryotherapy at the bedside of intensive care unit. A 66-year-old female with endometrial cancer who had undergone chemotherapy, was admitted to the intensive care unit due to neutropenic fever. During mechanical ventilation, the minute ventilation dropped to inadequately low levels and chest radiography showed complete opacification of the left hemithorax. Flexible bronchoscopy revealed large blood clots obstructing the proximal left main bronchus. After unsuccessful attempts to remove the clots with bronchial lavage and forceps extraction, blood clots were removed using bronchoscopic cryotherapy. This report shows that cryotherapy via flexible bronchoscopy at the bedside in the intensive of intensive care unit is a simple and effective alternative for the removal of endobronchial blood clots.

  8. Associations Between Collateral Status and Thrombus Characteristics and Their Impact in Anterior Circulation Stroke.

    PubMed

    Alves, Heitor C; Treurniet, Kilian M; Dutra, Bruna G; Jansen, Ivo G H; Boers, Anna M M; Santos, Emilie M M; Berkhemer, Olvert A; Dippel, Diederik W J; van der Lugt, Aad; van Zwam, Wim H; van Oostenbrugge, Robert J; Lingsma, Hester F; Roos, Yvo B W E M; Yoo, Albert J; Marquering, Henk A; Majoie, Charles B L M

    2018-02-01

    Thrombus characteristics and collateral score are associated with functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke. It has been suggested that they affect each other. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between clot burden score, thrombus perviousness, and collateral score and to determine whether collateral score influences the association of thrombus characteristics with functional outcome. Patients with baseline thin-slice noncontrast computed tomography and computed tomographic angiography images from the MR CLEAN trial (Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial of Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Netherlands) were included (n=195). Collateral score and clot burden scores were determined on baseline computed tomographic angiography. Thrombus attenuation increase was determined by comparing thrombus density on noncontrast computed tomography and computed tomographic angiography using a semiautomated method. The association of collateral score with clot burden score and thrombus attenuation increase was evaluated with linear regression. Mediation and effect modification analyses were used to assess the influence of collateral score on the association of clot burden score and thrombus attenuation increase with functional outcome. A higher clot burden score (B=0.063; 95% confidence interval, 0.008-0.118) and a higher thrombus attenuation increase (B=0.014; 95% confidence interval, 0.003-0.026) were associated with higher collateral score. Collateral score mediated the association of clot burden score with functional outcome. The association between thrombus attenuation increase and functional outcome was modified by the collateral score, and this association was stronger in patients with moderate and good collaterals. Patients with lower thrombus burden and higher thrombus perviousness scores had higher collateral score. The positive effect of thrombus perviousness on clinical outcome was only present in patients with moderate and high collateral scores. URL: http://www.trialregister.nl. Unique identifier: NTR1804 and URL: http://www.controlled-trials.com Unique identifier: ISRCTN10888758. © 2018 The Authors.

  9. A comparative study of tissue factor and kaolin on blood coagulation assays using rotational thromboelastometry and thromboelastography.

    PubMed

    Peng, Henry T; Grodecki, Richard; Rizoli, Sandro; Shek, Pang N

    2016-01-01

    Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and thromboelastography (TEG) have been increasingly used to diagnose acute coagulopathy and guide blood transfusion. The tests are routinely performed using different triggering activators such as tissue factor and kaolin, which activate different pathways yielding different results. To optimize the global blood coagulation assays using ROTEM and TEG, we conducted a comparative study on the activation methods employing tissue factor and kaolin at different concentrations as well as standard reagents as recommended by the manufacturer of each device. Key parameter values were obtained at various assay conditions to evaluate and compare coagulation and fibrinolysis profiles of citrated whole blood collected from healthy volunteers. It was found that tissue factor reduced ROTEM clotting time and TEG R, and increased ROTEM clot formation time and TEG K in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, tissue factor affected ROTEM alpha angle, and maximum clot firmness, especially in the absence of kaolin activation, whereas both ROTEM and TEG clot lysis (LI30, CL30, and LY30) remained unaffected. Moreover, kaolin reduced ROTEM clotting time and TEG R and K, but to a lesser extent than tissue factor, in-tem and ex-tem. Correlations in all corresponding parameters between ROTEM and TEG were observed, when the same activators were used in the assays compared with lesser correlations between standard kaolin TEG and ROTEM (INTEM/EXTEM). The two types of viscoelastic point-of-care devices provide different results, depending on the triggering reagent used to perform the assay. Optimal assay condition was obtained to reduce assay time and improve assay accuracy.

  10. Concurrent application of charge using a novel circuit prevents heat-related coagulum formation during radiofrequency ablation.

    PubMed

    Lim, Bernard; Venkatachalam, Kalpathi L; Jahangir, Arshad; Johnson, Susan B; Asirvatham, Samuel J

    2008-08-01

    Thromboembolism resulting from coagulum formation on the catheter and electrode surfaces is a serious complication with radiofrequency ablation procedures for heart rhythm disorders. Why coagulum occurs despite therapeutic heparinization is unclear. In this report, we demonstrate a novel approach to minimize coagulum formation based on the electromolecular characteristics of fibrinogen. Atomic force microscopy was used to establish that fibrinogen deposited on surfaces underwent conformational changes that resulted in spontaneous clot formation. We then immersed ablation catheters that were uncharged, negatively, or positively charged in heparinized blood for 30 minutes and noted the extent of clot formation. In separate experiments, ablation catheters were sutured to the ventricle of an excised porcine heart immersed in whole, heparinized blood and radiofrequency ablation performed for 5 minutes with and without charge delivered to the catheter tips. Electron microscopy of the catheter tips showed surface coverage of fibrin clot of the catheter to be 33.8% for negatively charged catheters, compared with 84.7% (P = 0.01) in noncharged catheters. There was no significant difference in surface coverage of fibrin clot between positively charged catheters (93.8%) and noncharged catheters (84.7%, P = ns). In contrast, the thickness of surface clot coverage for positively charged catheters was 87.5%, compared with 28.45% (P= 0.03) for noncharged catheters and 11.25% (P = 0.03) for negatively charged catheters, compared with noncharged catheters. We describe a novel method of placing negative charge on electrodes during ablation that reduced coagulum formation. This may decrease thromboembolism-related complications with radiofrequency ablation procedures.

  11. The Navy Medical Technology Watch: Hemostatic Dressing Products for the Battlefield

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-09-09

    composition and ingredients, external bleeding cessation agents all work to help the rapid formation of a thrombus (clot) or other blockage at the...clotting agent Contraindicated for internal bleeding or deep tissue wounds Collagen. Collagen-like natural substances are created from chemically...2003) Experimental (swine) Complex groin injury, arterial, venous QuikClot produced 0% mortality; RDH had a 66% mortality rate. QuikClot

  12. Ultrasound has synergistic effects in vitro with tirofiban and heparin for thrombus dissolution.

    PubMed

    Birnbaum, Y; Atar, S; Luo, H; Nagai, T; Siegel, R J

    1999-12-15

    Previous studies have shown synergism between ultrasound and thrombolytic agents or microbubbles on blood clot dissolution. It has not been investigated whether heparin or glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockers enhance clot lysis by ultrasound. We compared the blood clot dissolution effect of saline, heparin, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), tirofiban, and an echocardiographic contrast media (Optison) without and with ultrasound application. Human blood clots from four donors, 2 to 4 hours old, were cut into 200- to 400-mg sections, weighed, and immersed for 2 minutes in 1 L of normal saline 0.9% solution containing either heparin 1000 U, tirofiban 150 microg, tPA 20 mg, Optison 0.5 mL, or normal saline alone. Clots were randomized to 2 minutes ultrasound application or immersion alone without ultrasound. Ultrasound was applied with a 19.5 KHz catheter. After treatment, the clots were weighed, and the absolute and percent difference in weight was calculated. Immersion in heparin, tirofiban, and tPA without ultrasound did not augment clot disruption relative to normal saline alone. Immersion in Optison (p = 0.07) tended to result in less lysis than saline alone. Ultrasound enhanced clot dissolution compared to immersion alone with: saline (48.1+/-15.3% vs. 26.0+/-13.8%, p<0.0000002); heparin (60.8+/-17.5% vs. 30.8+/-15.1%, p = 0.000001); tirofiban (61.8+/-13.6% vs. 30.1+/-12.2%, p<0.0000001); tPA (53.1+/-15.3% vs. 30.2+/-11.5%, p<0.000002); and Optison (47.8+/-16.0% vs. 18.4+/-11.5%, p<0.0000001). The combination of tirofiban with ultrasound, as well as heparin with ultrasound, was associated with a significant augmentation of clot dissolution compared with the saline plus ultrasound group (p = 0.002, 0.013, respectively). Ultrasound with tPA or with Optison had no significant augmentation of clot dissolution over the ultrasound + saline effect. This in vitro study of catheter-delivered high-intensity low-frequency ultrasound demonstrates that: (1) tirofiban and heparin, as well as perfluorocarbon microbubbles, augment clot dissolution by ultrasound; (2) augmentation of clot dissolution is evident even after only brief exposure of ultrasound and the drug studied.

  13. Biological activity analysis of native and recombinant streptokinase using clot lysis and chromogenic substrate assay.

    PubMed

    Mahboubi, Arash; Sadjady, Seyyed Kazem; Mirzaei Saleh Abadi, Mohammad; Azadi, Saeed; Solaimanian, Roya

    2012-01-01

    DETERMINATION OF STREPTOKINASE ACTIVITY IS USUALLY ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH TWO ASSAY METHODS: a) Clot lysis, b) Chromogenic substrate assay. In this study the biological activity of two streptokinase products, namely Streptase®, which is a native product and Heberkinasa®, which is a recombinant product, was determined against the third international reference standard using the two forementioned assay methods. The results indicated that whilst the activity of Streptase® was found to be 101 ± 4% and 97 ± 5% of the label claim with Clot lysis and Chromogenic substrate assay respectively, for Heberkinasa® the potency values obtained were 42 ± 5% and 92.5 ± 2% of the label claim respectively. To shed some light on the reason for this finding, the n-terminal sequence of the streptokinase molecules present in the two products was determined. The results showed slight differences in the amino acid sequence of the recombinant product in comparison to the native one at the amino terminus. This finding supports those of other workers who found that n-terminal sequence of the streptokinase molecule can have significant effect on the activity of this protein.

  14. Plasma fibrin clot properties in the G20210A prothrombin mutation carriers following venous thromboembolism: the effect of rivaroxaban.

    PubMed

    Janion-Sadowska, Agnieszka; Natorska, Joanna; Siudut, Jakub; Ząbczyk, Michal; Stanisz, Andrzej; Undas, Anetta

    2017-08-30

    We sought to investigate whether the G20210A prothrombin mutation modifies plasma fibrin clot properties in patients after venous thromboembolism (VTE) and how rivaroxaban treatment affects these alterations. We studied 34 prothrombin mutation heterozygous carriers and sex- and age-matched 34 non-carriers, all at least three months since the first VTE episode, before and during treatment with rivaroxaban. Clot permeability (K s ) and clot lysis time (CLT) with or without elimination of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) were assessed at baseline, 2-6 hours (h) after and 20-25 h after intake of rivaroxaban (20 mg/day). At baseline, the prothrombin mutation group formed denser clots (K s -12 %, p=0.0006) and had impaired fibrinolysis (CLT +14 %, p=0.004, and CLT-TAFI +13 %, p=0.03) compared with the no mutation group and were similar to those observed in 15 healthy unrelated prothrombin mutation carriers. The G20210A prothrombin mutation was the independent predictor for K s and CLT before rivaroxaban intake. At 2-6 h after rivaroxaban intake, clot properties improved in both G20210A carriers and non-carriers (K s +38 %, and +37 %, CLT -25 % and -25 %, CLT-TAFI -20 % and -24 %, respectively, all p<0.001), but those parameters were worse in the prothrombin mutation group (K s -12.8 %, CLT +17 %, CLT-TAFI +13 %, all p<0.001). Rivaroxaban concentration correlated with fibrin clot properties. After 20-25 h since rivaroxaban intake most clot properties returned to baseline. Rivaroxaban-related differences in clot structure were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy images. In conclusion, rivaroxaban treatment, though improves fibrin clot properties, cannot abolish more prothrombotic fibrin clot phenotype observed in prothrombin mutation carriers following VTE.

  15. In vitro evaluation of clot capture efficiency of an absorbable vena cava filter.

    PubMed

    Dria, Stephen J; Eggers, Mitchell D

    2016-10-01

    The purpose of this study was to determine the in vitro clot capture efficiency (CCE) of an investigational absorbable inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) vs the Greenfield IVCF. Investigational absorbable and Greenfield filters were challenged with polyacrylamide clot surrogates ranging from 3 × 5 to 10 × 24 mm (diameter × length) in a flow loop simulating the venous system. Filters were challenged with clots until CCE standard error of 5% or less was achieved under binomial statistics. Pressure gradients across the filters were measured for the largest size clot, enabling calculation of forces on the filter. The in vitro CCE of the absorbable IVCF was statistically similar to that of the Greenfield filter for all clot sizes apart from the 3 × 10-mm clot, for which there was statistically significant difference between filter CCEs (absorbable filter, 59%; Greenfield filter, 31%; P = .0001). CCE ranged from an average 32% for the 3 × 5-mm clot to 100% for 7 × 10-mm and larger clots for the absorbable IVCF. Pressure gradient across the absorbable filter with 10 × 24-mm clot averaged 0.14 mm Hg, corresponding to a net force on the filter of 2.1 × 10(-3) N, compared with 0.39 mm Hg or 5.8 × 10(-3) N (P < .001) for the Greenfield filter. CCE of the absorbable filter was statistically similar to or an improvement on that of the Greenfield stainless steel filter for all clot sizes tested. CCE of the Greenfield filter in this study aligned with data from previous studies. Given the efficacy of the Greenfield filter in attenuating the risk of pulmonary embolism, the current study suggests that the absorbable filter may be a viable candidate for subsequent human testing. Copyright © 2016 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. International Council for Standardization in Haematology (ICSH) Recommendations for Laboratory Measurement of Direct Oral Anticoagulants.

    PubMed

    Gosselin, Robert C; Adcock, Dorothy M; Bates, Shannon M; Douxfils, Jonathan; Favaloro, Emmanuel J; Gouin-Thibault, Isabelle; Guillermo, Cecilia; Kawai, Yohko; Lindhoff-Last, Edelgard; Kitchen, Steve

    2018-03-01

    This guidance document was prepared on behalf of the International Council for Standardization in Haematology (ICSH) for providing haemostasis-related guidance documents for clinical laboratories. This inaugural coagulation ICSH document was developed by an ad hoc committee, comprised of international clinical and laboratory direct acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) experts. The committee developed consensus recommendations for laboratory measurement of DOACs (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban), which would be germane for laboratories assessing DOAC anticoagulation. This guidance document addresses all phases of laboratory DOAC measurements, including pre-analytical (e.g. preferred time sample collection, preferred sample type, sample stability), analytical (gold standard method, screening and quantifying methods) and post analytical (e.g. reporting units, quality assurance). The committee addressed the use and limitations of screening tests such as prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time as well as viscoelastic measurements of clotting blood and point of care methods. Additionally, the committee provided recommendations for the proper validation or verification of performance of laboratory assays prior to implementation for clinical use, and external quality assurance to provide continuous assessment of testing and reporting method. Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart.

  17. Atrial Fibrillation: Treatment

    MedlinePlus

    ... options include medicines, medical procedures, and lifestyle changes. Blood Clot Prevention People who have AFib are at increased ... the heart's upper chambers (the atria), causing a blood clot to form. If the clot breaks off and ...

  18. Erythrocyte migration and gap formation in rabbit blood clots in vitro.

    PubMed

    Ueki, T; Yazama, F; Horiuchi, T; Yamada, M

    2008-04-01

    Thrombolytic agents must be carried by the blood circulation to thrombi to exert their functions. Structural gaps exist between blood vessels and thrombi or in the area surrounding thrombi. Therefore, information about fundamental gap formation at thrombotic areas is critically important for thrombolytic therapy. We previously reported that t-PA accelerates the activities of bovine erythrocytes and hemoglobin (Hb) towards bovine plasminogen activation. Here, we examined gap generation by observing morphological changes during thrombolytic processes in rabbit blood clots deformation of erythrocytes from blood clots and Hb transfer from erythrocytes to serum in vitro. Rabbit venous blood samples (1 ml) were stored under sterile conditions in glass tubes at 37 degrees C for 2, 24, 48 h, 1, and 2 weeks. We examined clot diameter, erythrocyte diameter and number as well as Hb volume in the serum, as well as histological changes in the clots. The diameter of blood clots did not change until 2 weeks after sampling. Erythrocyte diameter decreased within 48 h and at 2 weeks after sampling at the clot surface (p < 0.001) and interior (p < 0.001). The number of erythrocytes in the serum started to increase starting from 24 h after sampling (p < 0.01). Serum Hb volume also gradually increased from 24 h until 2 weeks after sampling (p < 0.01). The erythrocyte envelope became disrupted and cytoplasm started to flow through pores into the serum at 24 h. The results indicated that blood clots are reduced due to clot retraction, erythrocyte dissociation and cytoplasm leakage without a distinct fibrinolytic reaction. These results indicated that gaps start to form between 2 and 24 h after blood clotting.

  19. Impact of Tissue Factor Localization on Blood Clot Structure and Resistance under Venous Shear.

    PubMed

    Govindarajan, Vijay; Zhu, Shu; Li, Ruizhi; Lu, Yichen; Diamond, Scott L; Reifman, Jaques; Mitrophanov, Alexander Y

    2018-02-27

    The structure and growth of a blood clot depend on the localization of tissue factor (TF), which can trigger clotting during the hemostatic process or promote thrombosis when exposed to blood under pathological conditions. We sought to understand how the growth, structure, and mechanical properties of clots under flow are shaped by the simultaneously varying TF surface density and its exposure area. We used an eight-channel microfluidic device equipped with a 20- or 100-μm-long collagen surface patterned with lipidated TF of surface densities ∼0.1 and ∼2 molecules/μm 2 . Human whole blood was perfused at venous shear, and clot growth was continually measured. Using our recently developed computational model of clot formation, we performed simulations to gain insights into the clot's structure and its resistance to blood flow. An increase in TF exposure area resulted not only in accelerated bulk platelet, thrombin, and fibrin accumulation, but also in increased height of the platelet mass and increased clot resistance to flow. Moreover, increasing the TF surface density or exposure area enhanced platelet deposition by approximately twofold, and thrombin and fibrin generation by greater than threefold, thereby increasing both clot size and its viscous resistance. Finally, TF effects on blood flow occlusion were more pronounced for the longer thrombogenic surface than for the shorter one. Our results suggest that TF surface density and its exposure area can independently enhance both the clot's occlusivity and its resistance to blood flow. These findings provide, to our knowledge, new insights into how TF affects thrombus growth in time and space under flow. Copyright © 2018 Biophysical Society. All rights reserved.

  20. National Blood Clot Alliance

    MedlinePlus

    ... Dec Faces of Blood Clots Follow Us On Twitter Tweets by @StopTheClot Contact Info Phone: 703.935. ... 255 Vienna, VA 22182 more info Follow us Twitter Facebook Google Plus Email YouTube Pinterest Instagram DISCLAIMER ...

  1. Blood clotting

    MedlinePlus Videos and Cool Tools

    ... the external bleeding stops. Clotting factors in the blood cause strands of blood-borne material, called fibrin, to stick together and ... the inside of the wound. Eventually, the cut blood vessel heals, and the blood clot dissolves after ...

  2. Effect of the association between citric acid and EDTA on root surface etching.

    PubMed

    Manzolli Leite, Fabio Renato; Nascimento, Gustavo Giacomelli; Manzolli Leite, Elza Regina; Leite, Amauri Antiquera; Cezar Sampaio, Josá Eduardo

    2013-09-01

    This study aims to compare the clot stabilization on root surfaces conditioned with citric acid and ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA). Scaled root samples (n = 100) were set in fve groups: group I-control group (saline solution); group II (24% EDTA); group III (25% citric acid); group IV (EDTA + citric acid); group V (citric acid + EDTA). Fifty samples were assessed using the root surface modifcation index (RSMI). The other 50 received a blood drop after conditioning. Clot formation was assessed using blood elements adhesion index (BEAI). A blind examiner evaluated photomicrographs. Statistical analysis considered p < 0.05. Groups-III and G-V attained the best results for RSMI and BEAI in comparison to control. The worst results for clot stabilization were seen in group-II. EDTA employment before citric acid (group-IV) reduced clot formation in comparison to citric acid use alone (group-III). Root conditioning with citric acid alone and before EDTA had the best results for smear layer removal and clot stabilization. EDTA inhibited clot stabilization on root surface and must have a residual activity once it has diminished clot adhesion to root even after citric acid conditioning. Thus, EDTA can be used to neutralize citric acid effects on periodontal cells without affecting clot stabilization. Clinical signifcance: To demonstrate that citric acid use on root surfaces previously affected by periodontal disease may favor clot stabilization and may have a benefcial effect on surgical outcomes. Also, EDTA can be used to neutralize citric acid effects on periodontal cells.

  3. Examining platelet-fibrin interactions during traumatic shock in a swine model using platelet contractile force and clot elastic modulus.

    PubMed

    White, Nathan J; Martin, Erika J; Brophy, Donald F; Ward, Kevin R

    2011-07-01

    A significant proportion of severely injured patients develop early coagulopathy, characterized by abnormal clot formation, which impairs resuscitation and increases mortality. We have previously demonstrated an isolated decrease in clot strength by thrombelastography in a swine model of nonresuscitated traumatic shock. In order to more closely examine platelet-fibrin interactions in this setting, we define the observed decrease in clot strength in terms of platelet-induced clot contraction and clot elastic modulus using the Hemostasis Analysis System (HAS) (Hemodyne Inc., Richmond, Virginia, USA). Whole blood was sampled for HAS measurements, metabolic measurements, cell counts, and fibrinogen concentration at baseline prior to injury and again at a predetermined level of traumatic shock defined by oxygen debt. Male swine (N=17) received femur fracture and controlled arterial hemorrhage to achieve an oxygen debt of 80 ml/kg. Platelet counts were unchanged, but fibrinogen concentration was reduced significantly during shock (167.6 vs. 66.7 mg/dl, P=0.0007). Platelet contractile force generated during clot formation did not change during shock (11.7 vs. 10.4 kdynes, P=0.41), but clot elastic modulus was dynamically altered, resulting in a lower final value (22.9 vs. 17.3 kdynes/cm, P<0.0001). In this model of traumatic shock, platelet function was preserved, whereas terminal clot elastic modulus was reduced during shock in a manner most consistent with early changes in the mechanical properties of the developing fibrin fiber network.

  4. EMBOLIC MIDDLE CEREBRAL ARTERY OCCLUSION MODEL USING THROMBIN AND FIBRINOGEN COMPOSED CLOTS IN RAT

    PubMed Central

    Ren, Ming; Lin, Zi-Jing; Qian, Hai; Gourav, Choudhury Roy; liu, Ran; Liu, Hanli; Yang, Shao-Hua

    2012-01-01

    Ischemic stroke accounts for over 80% in total human stroke which mostly affect middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. Embolic stroke models induced by injection of homologous clots into the internal carotid artery and MCA closely mimic human stroke and have been commonly used in stroke research. Studies indicate that the size and composition of clots are critical for the reproducibility of the stroke model. In the present study, we modified the homologous clots formation by addition of thrombin and fibrinogen which produced even distribution of fibrin with tight cross linkage of red blood cells. We optimized the embolic MCA occlusion model in rats using different size of the mixed clots. A precise lodgment of the clots at the MCA bifurcation and highly reproducible ischemic lesion in the MCA territory were demonstrated in the embolic MCA occlusion model induced by injection of 10 pieces of 1-mm long mixed clots made in PE-60 catheter. We further tested the effect of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) in this embolic MCA occlusion model. rtPA induced thrombolysis, improved neurological outcome, and significantly reduced ischemic lesion volume when administered at 1 hour after embolism as compared with control. In summary, we have established a reproducible embolic MCA occlusion model using clots made of homologous blood, thrombin and fibrinogen. The mixed clots enable precise lodgment at the MCA bifurcation which is responsive to thrombolytic therapy of rtPA. PMID:22985597

  5. Embolic middle cerebral artery occlusion model using thrombin and fibrinogen composed clots in rat.

    PubMed

    Ren, Ming; Lin, Zi-Jing; Qian, Hai; Choudhury, Gourav Roy; Liu, Ran; Liu, Hanli; Yang, Shao-Hua

    2012-11-15

    Ischemic stroke accounts for over 80% in total human stroke which mostly affect middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. Embolic stroke models induced by injection of homologous clots into the internal carotid artery and MCA closely mimic human stroke and have been commonly used in stroke research. Studies indicate that the size and composition of clots are critical for the reproducibility of the stroke model. In the present study, we modified the homologous clots formation by addition of thrombin and fibrinogen which produced even distribution of fibrin with tight cross linkage of red blood cells. We optimized the embolic MCA occlusion model in rats using different size of the mixed clots. A precise lodgment of the clots at the MCA bifurcation and highly reproducible ischemic lesion in the MCA territory were demonstrated in the embolic MCA occlusion model induced by injection of 10 pieces of 1-mm long mixed clots made in PE-60 catheter. We further tested the effect of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) in this embolic MCA occlusion model. rtPA induced thrombolysis, improved neurological outcome, and significantly reduced ischemic lesion volume when administered at 1h after embolism as compared with control. In summary, we have established a reproducible embolic MCA occlusion model using clots made of homologous blood, thrombin and fibrinogen. The mixed clots enable precise lodgment at the MCA bifurcation which is responsive to thrombolytic therapy of rtPA. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Case series: Bladder clot evacuation using a prostate morcellation device.

    PubMed

    Doersch, Karen M; Navetta, Andrew F; Bird, Erin T; El Tayeb, Marawan M

    2017-07-01

    We sought to provide a technical update on the use of a prostate morcellator device (PMD) to manage organized blood clots of the bladder following laser prostatectomy. Herein, we describe our experience in using the Wolf Piranha morcellator in managing organized bladder blood clots supplemented with a retrospective chart review of the patients in whom this procedure was performed. Six patients, all male with a mean age of 75 ± 8.9 years, had organized bladder clots following either holmium laser enucleation or photoselective vaporization of the prostate managed with a PMD. Clots were recognized based on hematuria or urinary retention a median of 3.5 days following the aforementioned procedures. Initial management was attempted with more conservative measures, including a three-way Foley catheter, followed by cystoscopy with an Ellik evacuator, or a glass Tommey syringe. Morcellation times were a mean of 10.2 ± 6.15 minutes (range 2-18). This technique was able to manage clots that were an average of 173.3 ± 115.9 cc in size. The procedure was well-tolerated. No patients experienced intraoperative or morcellator-related complications. Benign prostatic hypertrophy frequently requires surgical endoscopic management and can be complicated by hematuria and bladder blood clot formation. When these clots become organized, this can lead to urinary retention and the required management, evacuation, may be difficult. The use of a Wolf Piranha PMD is a safe, well-tolerated, and effective in evacuating organized blood clots of the bladder.

  7. Modelling the effect of laminar axially directed blood flow on the dissolution of non-occlusive blood clots.

    PubMed

    Sersa, I; Vidmar, J; Grobelnik, B; Mikac, U; Tratar, G; Blinc, A

    2007-06-07

    Axially directed blood plasma flow can significantly accelerate thrombolysis of non-occlusive blood clots. Viscous forces caused by shearing of blood play an essential role in this process, in addition to biochemical fibrinolytic reactions. An analytical mathematical model based on the hypothesis that clot dissolution dynamics is proportional to the power of the flowing blood plasma dissipated along the clot is presented. The model assumes cylindrical non-occlusive blood clots with the flow channel in the centre, in which the flow is assumed to be laminar and flow rate constant at all times during dissolution. Effects of sudden constriction on the flow and its impact on the dissolution rate are also considered. The model was verified experimentally by dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) microscopy of artificial blood clots dissolving in an in vitro circulation system, containing plasma with a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent and recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Sequences of dynamically acquired 3D low resolution MR images of entire clots and 2D high resolution MR images of clots in the axial cross-section were used to evaluate the dissolution model by fitting it to the experimental data. The experimental data fitted well to the model and confirmed our hypothesis.

  8. Late clotted haemothorax after blunt chest trauma.

    PubMed Central

    Sinha, P; Sarkar, P

    1998-01-01

    A clotted haemothorax can develop any time after blunt chest trauma. Two cases are described in which late clotted haemothoraces developed which were treated by limited thoracotomy and evacuation of clots. Late clotted haemothorax may occur even in the absence of any abnormal initial clinical findings. Early detection and treatment is important to avoid the complications of fibrothorax and empyema with permanent pulmonary dysfunction. After blunt chest trauma patients should be advised to return to the accident and emergency department for assessment on development of any new chest symptom. Under these circumstances a chest x ray is mandatory to exclude a haemothorax. Images Figure 1 PMID:9639184

  9. Genetics Home Reference: protein S deficiency

    MedlinePlus

    ... by the formation of blood clots within small blood vessels throughout the body. These blood clots disrupt normal blood flow and can lead to death of body tissue (necrosis). Widespread blood clotting uses up all available blood ...

  10. Genetics Home Reference: hereditary antithrombin deficiency

    MedlinePlus

    ... at higher than average risk for developing abnormal blood clots, particularly a type of clot that occurs in ... in the lungs. In hereditary antithrombin deficiency , abnormal blood clots usually form only in veins, although they may ...

  11. Localization of Short-Chain Polyphosphate Enhances its Ability to Clot Flowing Blood Plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yeon, Ju Hun; Mazinani, Nima; Schlappi, Travis S.; Chan, Karen Y. T.; Baylis, James R.; Smith, Stephanie A.; Donovan, Alexander J.; Kudela, Damien; Stucky, Galen D.; Liu, Ying; Morrissey, James H.; Kastrup, Christian J.

    2017-02-01

    Short-chain polyphosphate (polyP) is released from platelets upon platelet activation, but it is not clear if it contributes to thrombosis. PolyP has increased propensity to clot blood with increased polymer length and when localized onto particles, but it is unknown whether spatial localization of short-chain polyP can accelerate clotting of flowing blood. Here, numerical simulations predicted the effect of localization of polyP on clotting under flow, and this was tested in vitro using microfluidics. Synthetic polyP was more effective at triggering clotting of flowing blood plasma when localized on a surface than when solubilized in solution or when localized as nanoparticles, accelerating clotting at 10-200 fold lower concentrations, particularly at low to sub-physiological shear rates typical of where thrombosis occurs in large veins or valves. Thus, sub-micromolar concentrations of short-chain polyP can accelerate clotting of flowing blood plasma under flow at low to sub-physiological shear rates. However, a physiological mechanism for the localization of polyP to platelet or vascular surfaces remains unknown.

  12. Acute toxicity of diphacinone in Northern bobwhite: Effects on survival and blood clotting

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Rattner, Barnett A.; Horak, Katherine E.; Warner, Sarah E.; Johnston, John J.

    2010-01-01

    The anticoagulant rodenticide diphacinone was slightly toxic (acute oral LD50 2014 mg/kg) to Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) in a 14-day acute toxicity trial. Precise and sensitive assays of blood clotting (prothrombin time, Russell?s Viper venom time, and thrombin clotting time) were adapted for use in quail, and this combination of assays is recommended to measure the effects of anticoagulant rodenticides. A single oral sublethal dose of diphacinone (434 mg/kg body weight) prolonged clotting time at 48 h post-dose compared to controls. At 783 mg/kg (approximate LD02), clotting time was prolonged at both 24 and 48 h post-dose. Prolongation of in vitro clotting time reflects impaired coagulation complex activity, and was detected before overt signs of toxicity were apparent at the greatest dosages (2868 and 3666 mg/kg) in the acute toxicity trial. These clotting time assays and toxicity data will assist in the development of a pharmacodynamic model to predict toxicity, and also facilitate rodenticide hazard and risk assessments in avian species.

  13. Blood Clots and Travel: What You Need to Know

    MedlinePlus

    ... Icon View public health webinars on blood disorders Blood Clots and Travel: What You Need to Know Language: ... trip. Understand What Can Increase Your Risk for Blood Clots Even if you travel a long distance, the ...

  14. Computational Study of Thrombus Formation and Clotting Factor Effects under Venous Flow Conditions

    PubMed Central

    Govindarajan, Vijay; Rakesh, Vineet; Reifman, Jaques; Mitrophanov, Alexander Y.

    2016-01-01

    A comprehensive understanding of thrombus formation as a physicochemical process that has evolved to protect the integrity of the human vasculature is critical to our ability to predict and control pathological states caused by a malfunctioning blood coagulation system. Despite numerous investigations, the spatial and temporal details of thrombus growth as a multicomponent process are not fully understood. Here, we used computational modeling to investigate the temporal changes in the spatial distributions of the key enzymatic (i.e., thrombin) and structural (i.e., platelets and fibrin) components within a growing thrombus. Moreover, we investigated the interplay between clot structure and its mechanical properties, such as hydraulic resistance to flow. Our model relied on the coupling of computational fluid dynamics and biochemical kinetics, and was validated using flow-chamber data from a previous experimental study. The model allowed us to identify the distinct patterns characterizing the spatial distributions of thrombin, platelets, and fibrin accumulating within a thrombus. Our modeling results suggested that under the simulated conditions, thrombin kinetics was determined predominantly by prothrombinase. Furthermore, our simulations showed that thrombus resistance imparted by fibrin was ∼30-fold higher than that imparted by platelets. Yet, thrombus-mediated bloodflow occlusion was driven primarily by the platelet deposition process, because the height of the platelet accumulation domain was approximately twice that of the fibrin accumulation domain. Fibrinogen supplementation in normal blood resulted in a nonlinear increase in thrombus resistance, and for a supplemented fibrinogen level of 48%, the thrombus resistance increased by ∼2.7-fold. Finally, our model predicted that restoring the normal levels of clotting factors II, IX, and X while simultaneously restoring fibrinogen (to 88% of its normal level) in diluted blood can restore fibrin generation to ∼78% of its normal level and hence improve clot formation under dilution. PMID:27119646

  15. Intravenous volume tomographic pulmonary angiography imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ning, Ruola; Strang, John G.; Chen, Biao; Conover, David L.; Yu, Rongfeng

    1999-05-01

    This study presents a new intravenous (IV) tomographic angiography imaging technique, called intravenous volume tomographic digital angiography (VTDA) for cross sectional pulmonary angiography. While the advantages of IV-VTDA over spiral CT in terms of volume scanning time and resolution have been validated and reported in our previous papers for head and neck vascular imaging, the superiority of IV-VTDA over spiral CT for cross sectional pulmonary angiography has not been explored yet. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the advantage of isotropic resolution of IV-VTDA in the x, y and z directions through phantom and animal studies, and to explore its clinical application for detecting clots in pulmonary angiography. A prototype image intensifier-based VTDA imaging system has been designed and constructed by modifying a GE 8800 CT scanner. This system was used for a series of phantom and dog studies. A pulmonary vascular phantom was designed and constructed. The phantom was scanned using the prototype VTDA system for direct 3D reconstruction. Then the same phantom was scanned using a GE CT/i spiral CT scanner using the routine pulmonary CT angiography protocols. IV contrast injection and volume scanning protocols were developed during the dog studies. Both VTDA reconstructed images and spiral CT images of the specially designed phantom were analyzed and compared. The detectability of simulated vessels and clots was assessed as the function of iodine concentration levels, oriented angles, and diameters of the vessels and clots. A set of 3D VTDA reconstruction images of dog pulmonary arteries was obtained with different IV injection rates and isotropic resolution in the x, y and z directions. The results of clot detection studies in dog pulmonary arteries have also been shown. This study presents a new tomographic IV angiography imaging technique for cross sectional pulmonary angiography. The results of phantom and animal studies indicate that IV-VTDA is superior to spiral CT for cross sectional pulmonary angiography.

  16. Low frequency mechanical actuation accelerates reperfusion in-vitro

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Rapid restoration of vessel patency after acute myocardial infarction is key to reducing myocardial muscle death and increases survival rates. Standard therapies include thrombolysis and direct PTCA. Alternative or adjunctive emergency therapies that could be initiated by minimally trained personnel in the field are of potential clinical benefit. This paper evaluates a method of accelerating reperfusion through application of low frequency mechanical stimulus to the blood carrying vessels. Materials and method We consider a stenosed, heparinized flow system with aortic-like pressure variations subject to direct vessel vibration at the occlusion site or vessel deformation proximal and distal to the occlusion site, versus a reference system lacking any form of mechanical stimulus on the vessels. Results The experimental results show limited effectiveness of the direct mechanical vibration method and a drastic increase in the patency rate when vessel deformation is induced. For vessel deformation at occlusion site 95% of clots perfused within 11 minutes of application of mechanical stimulus, for vessel deformation 60 centimeters from the occlusion site 95% percent of clots perfused within 16 minutes of stimulus application, while only 2.3% of clots perfused within 20 minutes in the reference system. Conclusion The presented in-vitro results suggest that low frequency mechanical actuation applied during the pre-hospitalization phase in patients with acute myocardial infarction have potential of being a simple and efficient adjunct therapy. PMID:24257116

  17. Factor XIII in plasma, but not in platelets, mediates red blood cell retention in clots and venous thrombus size in mice

    PubMed Central

    Martin, Sara M.; Holle, Lori A.; Cooley, Brian C.; Flick, Matthew J.

    2018-01-01

    The transglutaminase factor XIII (FXIII) stabilizes clots against mechanical and biochemical disruption and is essential for hemostasis. In vitro and in vivo models of venous thrombosis demonstrate that FXIII mediates clot size by promoting red blood cell (RBC) retention. However, the key source of FXIII and whether FXIII activity can be reduced to suppress thrombosis without imposing deleterious hemostatic consequences are 2 critical unresolved questions. FXIII is present in multiple compartments, including plasma (FXIIIplasma) as a heterotetramer of A2 and B2 subunits and platelets (FXIIIplt) as an A2 homodimer. We determined the role of the FXIII compartment and level in clot contraction, composition, and size in vitro and using in vivo models of hemostasis and venous thrombosis. Reducing overall FXIII levels decreased whole blood clot weight but did not alter thrombin generation or contraction of platelet-rich plasma clots. In reconstituted platelet-rich plasma and whole blood clot contraction assays, FXIIIplasma, but not FXIIIplt, produced high-molecular-weight fibrin crosslinks, promoted RBC retention, and increased clot weights. Genetically imposed reduction of FXIII delayed FXIII activation and fibrin crosslinking, suggesting FXIII levels mediate the kinetics of FXIII activation and activity and that the timing of these processes is a critical determinant of RBC retention during clot formation and contraction. A 50% reduction in FXIIIplasma produced significantly smaller venous thrombi but did not increase bleeding in tail transection or saphenous vein puncture models in vivo. Collectively, these findings suggest that partial FXIII reduction may be a therapeutic strategy for reducing venous thrombosis. PMID:29344582

  18. Factor XIII in plasma, but not in platelets, mediates red blood cell retention in clots and venous thrombus size in mice.

    PubMed

    Kattula, Sravya; Byrnes, James R; Martin, Sara M; Holle, Lori A; Cooley, Brian C; Flick, Matthew J; Wolberg, Alisa S

    2018-01-09

    The transglutaminase factor XIII (FXIII) stabilizes clots against mechanical and biochemical disruption and is essential for hemostasis. In vitro and in vivo models of venous thrombosis demonstrate that FXIII mediates clot size by promoting red blood cell (RBC) retention. However, the key source of FXIII and whether FXIII activity can be reduced to suppress thrombosis without imposing deleterious hemostatic consequences are 2 critical unresolved questions. FXIII is present in multiple compartments, including plasma (FXIII plasma ) as a heterotetramer of A 2 and B 2 subunits and platelets (FXIII plt ) as an A 2 homodimer. We determined the role of the FXIII compartment and level in clot contraction, composition, and size in vitro and using in vivo models of hemostasis and venous thrombosis. Reducing overall FXIII levels decreased whole blood clot weight but did not alter thrombin generation or contraction of platelet-rich plasma clots. In reconstituted platelet-rich plasma and whole blood clot contraction assays, FXIII plasma , but not FXIII plt , produced high-molecular-weight fibrin crosslinks, promoted RBC retention, and increased clot weights. Genetically imposed reduction of FXIII delayed FXIII activation and fibrin crosslinking, suggesting FXIII levels mediate the kinetics of FXIII activation and activity and that the timing of these processes is a critical determinant of RBC retention during clot formation and contraction. A 50% reduction in FXIII plasma produced significantly smaller venous thrombi but did not increase bleeding in tail transection or saphenous vein puncture models in vivo. Collectively, these findings suggest that partial FXIII reduction may be a therapeutic strategy for reducing venous thrombosis.

  19. Sonothrombolysis is effective with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator, but not with Abciximab. Results from an in vitro study with whole blood clots and platelet-rich clots.

    PubMed

    Eggers, Jürgen; Ossadnik, Stefan; Hütten, Heiko; Seidel, Günter

    2009-12-01

    Transcranial "diagnostic" ultrasound (US) has been shown to accelerate thrombolysis related to recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA). In this in vitro study, we evaluated the potential of US to increase clot dissolution mediated by Abciximab (Abc) compared to rt-PA. The effect of 1.8-MHz pulsed wave (PW) Doppler US on dissolution of whole venous blood clots (WBC) and platelet-rich clots (PRC) treated with Abc and rt-PA was investigated in an in vitro model. Clot dissolution was measured by weight loss. Abc-related WBC dissolution was enhanced by additional US, but the effect was not any more detectable when the US was attenuated by a human temporal bone (US-tb). In PRC there was no additional effect of US on the Abc-related clot lysis. Rt-PA-related clot dissolution was increased by US in WBC and PRC as well, however, US-tb was only effective in WBC. The effect of insonation on WBC dissolution treated with the combination of Abc plus rt-PA was lower compared with those treated with rt-PA. In this in vitro experiment, the additional effect of "diagnostic" US in combination with Abc was only present in WBC and less strong than with rt-PA. The results do not support the use of Abc for sonothrombolysis targeting both, fibrin-rich and platelet-rich clots. In contrast, US when combined with rt-PA increases dissolution in both, WBC and PRC as well.

  20. A Computational Model for Thrombus Formation in Response to Cardiovascular Implantable Devices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Horn, John; Ortega, Jason; Maitland, Duncan

    2014-11-01

    Cardiovascular implantable devices elicit complex physiological responses within blood. Notably, alterations in blood flow dynamics and interactions between blood proteins and biomaterial surface chemistry may lead to the formation of thrombus. For some devices, such as stents and heart valves, this is an adverse outcome. For other devices, such as embolic aneurysm treatments, efficient blood clot formation is desired. Thus a method to study how biomedical devices induce thrombosis is paramount to device development and optimization. A multiscale, multiphysics computational model is developed to predict thrombus formation within the vasculature. The model consists of a set of convection-diffusion-reaction partial differential equations for blood protein constituents involved in the progression of the clotting cascades. This model is used to study thrombus production from endovascular devices with the goal of optimizing the device design to generate the desired clotting response. This work was performed in part under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

  1. Blood Clots That Kill: Preventing DVT | NIH MedlinePlus the Magazine

    MedlinePlus

    ... please turn Javascript on. Feature: Deep Vein Thrombosis Blood Clots That Kill: Preventing DVT Past Issues / Spring 2011 ... Contents Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the ...

  2. Intrapleural fibrinolysis in clotted haemothorax.

    PubMed

    Agarwal, R; Aggarwal, A N; Gupta, D

    2006-11-01

    The immediate treatment of haemothorax is thoracostomy tube insertion. One complication of haemothorax is retained blood and if improperly managed, this can lead to complications such as empyema and fibrothorax. The ideal management of clotted haemothorax is a matter of controversy. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is believed to be the best available modality for the management of clotted haemothorax. However, VATS is not routinely available in many centres. One easily available and effective alternative to VATS is the use of intrapleural fibrinolysis. We report the successful management of a post-traumatic clotted haemaothorax in a 34-year-old man, using intrapleural instillation of streptokinase, and review the literature on the management of clotted haemothorax.

  3. Kinetics and mechanics of clot contraction are governed by the molecular and cellular composition of the blood.

    PubMed

    Tutwiler, Valerie; Litvinov, Rustem I; Lozhkin, Andrey P; Peshkova, Alina D; Lebedeva, Tatiana; Ataullakhanov, Fazoil I; Spiller, Kara L; Cines, Douglas B; Weisel, John W

    2016-01-07

    Platelet-driven blood clot contraction (retraction) is thought to promote wound closure and secure hemostasis while preventing vascular occlusion. Notwithstanding its importance, clot contraction remains a poorly understood process, partially because of the lack of methodology to quantify its dynamics and requirements. We used a novel automated optical analyzer to continuously track in vitro changes in the size of contracting clots in whole blood and in variously reconstituted samples. Kinetics of contraction was complemented with dynamic rheometry to characterize the viscoelasticity of contracting clots. This combined approach enabled investigation of the coordinated mechanistic impact of platelets, including nonmuscle myosin II, red blood cells (RBCs), fibrin(ogen), factor XIIIa (FXIIIa), and thrombin on the kinetics and mechanics of the contraction process. Clot contraction is composed of 3 sequential phases, each characterized by a distinct rate constant. Thrombin, Ca(2+), the integrin αIIbβ3, myosin IIa, FXIIIa cross-linking, and platelet count all promote 1 or more phases of the clot contraction process. In contrast, RBCs impair contraction and reduce elasticity, while increasing the overall contractile stress generated by the platelet-fibrin meshwork. A better understanding of the mechanisms by which blood cells, fibrin(ogen), and platelet-fibrin interactions modulate clot contraction may generate novel approaches to reveal and to manage thrombosis and hemostatic disorders. © 2016 by The American Society of Hematology.

  4. Kinetics and mechanics of clot contraction are governed by the molecular and cellular composition of the blood

    PubMed Central

    Tutwiler, Valerie; Litvinov, Rustem I.; Lozhkin, Andrey P.; Peshkova, Alina D.; Lebedeva, Tatiana; Ataullakhanov, Fazoil I.; Spiller, Kara L.; Cines, Douglas B.

    2016-01-01

    Platelet-driven blood clot contraction (retraction) is thought to promote wound closure and secure hemostasis while preventing vascular occlusion. Notwithstanding its importance, clot contraction remains a poorly understood process, partially because of the lack of methodology to quantify its dynamics and requirements. We used a novel automated optical analyzer to continuously track in vitro changes in the size of contracting clots in whole blood and in variously reconstituted samples. Kinetics of contraction was complemented with dynamic rheometry to characterize the viscoelasticity of contracting clots. This combined approach enabled investigation of the coordinated mechanistic impact of platelets, including nonmuscle myosin II, red blood cells (RBCs), fibrin(ogen), factor XIIIa (FXIIIa), and thrombin on the kinetics and mechanics of the contraction process. Clot contraction is composed of 3 sequential phases, each characterized by a distinct rate constant. Thrombin, Ca2+, the integrin αIIbβ3, myosin IIa, FXIIIa cross-linking, and platelet count all promote 1 or more phases of the clot contraction process. In contrast, RBCs impair contraction and reduce elasticity, while increasing the overall contractile stress generated by the platelet-fibrin meshwork. A better understanding of the mechanisms by which blood cells, fibrin(ogen), and platelet-fibrin interactions modulate clot contraction may generate novel approaches to reveal and to manage thrombosis and hemostatic disorders. PMID:26603837

  5. Chitosan inhibits platelet-mediated clot retraction, increases platelet-derived growth factor release, and increases residence time and bioactivity of platelet-rich plasma in vivo.

    PubMed

    Deprés-Tremblay, Gabrielle; Chevrier, Anik; Tran-Khanh, Nicolas; Nelea, Monica; Buschmann, Michael D

    2017-11-10

    Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been used to treat different orthopedic conditions, however, the clinical benefits of using PRP remain uncertain. Chitosan (CS)-PRP implants have been shown to improve meniscus, rotator cuff and cartilage repair in pre-clinical models. The purpose of this current study was to investigate in vitro and in vivo mechanisms of action of CS-PRP implants. Freeze-dried formulations containing 1% (w/v) CS (80% degree of deacetylation and number average molar mass 38 kDa), 1% (w/v) trehalose as a lyoprotectant and 42.2 mM calcium chloride as a clot activator were solubilized in PRP. Gravimetric measurements and molecular/cellular imaging studies revealed that clot retraction is inhibited in CS-PRP hybrid clots through physical coating of platelets, blood cells and fibrin strands by chitosan, which interferes with platelet aggregation and platelet-mediated clot retraction. Flow cytometry and ELISA assays revealed that platelets are activated and granules secreted in CS-PRP hybrid clots and that cumulative release of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-AB) and epidermal growth factor is higher from CS-PRP hybrid clots compared to PRP clots in vitro. Finally, CS-PRP implants resided for up to 6 weeks in a subcutaneous implantation model and induced cell recruitment and granulation tissue synthesis, confirming greater residency and bioactivity compared to PRP in vivo.

  6. Disulfide bond exchanges in integrins αIIbβ3 and αvβ3 are required for activation and post-ligation signaling during clot retraction.

    PubMed

    Mor-Cohen, Ronit; Rosenberg, Nurit; Averbukh, Yulia; Seligsohn, Uri; Lahav, Judith

    2014-05-01

    Integrin αIIbβ3 mediates platelet adhesion, aggregation and fibrin clot retraction. These processes require activation of αIIbβ3 and post-ligation signaling. Disulfide bond exchanges are involved in αIIbβ3 and αvβ3 activation. In order to investigate the role of integrin activation and disulfide bond exchange during αIIbβ3- and αvβ3-mediated clot retraction, we co-expressed in baby hamster kidney cells wild-type (WT) human αIIb and WT or mutated human β3 that contain single or double cysteine substitutions disrupting C523-C544 or C560-C583 bonds. Flow cytometry was used to measure surface expression and activation state of the integrins. Time-course of fibrin clot retraction was examined. Cells expressed WT or mutated human αIIbβ3 as well as chimeric hamster/human αvβ3. The αIIbβ3 mutants were constitutively active and the thiol blocker dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) did not affect their activation state. WT cells retracted the clot and addition of αvβ3 inhibitors decreased the retraction rate. The active mutants and WT cells activated by anti-LIBS6 antibody retracted the clot faster than untreated WT cells, particularly in the presence of αvβ3 inhibitor. DTNB substantially inhibited clot retraction by WT or double C523S/C544S mutant expressing cells, but minimally affected single C523S, C544S or C560S mutants. Anti-LIBS6-enhanced clot retraction was significantly inhibited by DTNB when added prior to anti-LIBS6. Both αIIbβ3 and αvβ3 contribute to clot retraction without prior activation of the integrins. Activation of αIIbβ3, but not of αvβ3 enhances clot retraction. Both αIIbβ3 activation and post-ligation signaling during clot retraction require disulfide bond exchange. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. On-Chip Titration of an Anticoagulant Argatroban and Determination of the Clotting Time within Whole Blood or Plasma Using a Plug-Based Microfluidic System

    PubMed Central

    Song, Helen; Li, Hung-Wing; Munson, Matthew S.; Van Ha, Thuong G.; Ismagilov, Rustem F.

    2006-01-01

    This paper describes extending plug-based microfluidics to handling complex biological fluids such as blood, solving the problem of injecting additional reagents into plugs, and applying this system to measuring of clotting time in small volumes of whole blood and plasma. Plugs are droplets transported through microchannels by fluorocarbon fluids. A plug-based microfluidic system was developed to titrate an anticoagulant (argatroban) into blood samples and to measure the clotting time using the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) test. To carry out these experiments, the following techniques were developed for a plug-based system: (i) using Teflon AF coating on the microchannel wall to enable formation of plugs containing blood and transport of the solid fibrin clots within plugs, (ii) using a hydrophilic glass capillary to enable reliable merging of a reagent from an aqueous stream into plugs, (iii) using bright-field microscopy to detect the formation of a fibrin clot within plugs and using fluorescent microscopy to detect the production of thrombin using a fluorogenic substrate, and (iv) titration of argatroban (0–1.5 μg/mL) into plugs and measurement of the resulting APTTs at room temperature (23 °C) and physiological temperature (37 °C). APTT measurements were conducted with normal pooled plasma (platelet-poor plasma) and with donor’s blood samples (both whole blood and platelet-rich plasma). APTT values and APTT ratios measured by the plug-based microfluidic device were compared to the results from a clinical laboratory at 37 °C. APTT obtained from the on-chip assay were about double those from the clinical laboratory but the APTT ratios from these two methods agreed well with each other. PMID:16841902

  8. Zeolite-based hemostat QuikClot releases calcium into blood and promotes blood coagulation in vitro.

    PubMed

    Li, Jing; Cao, Wei; Lv, Xiao-xing; Jiang, Li; Li, Yue-jun; Li, Wang-zhou; Chen, Shao-zong; Li, Xue-yong

    2013-03-01

    To examine the changes in electrolyte concentrations after addition of zeolite-based hemostat QuikClot in blood and the effects of zeolite on blood coagulation in vitro. Fresh blood was taken from healthy adult volunteers and sheep, and the electrolyte concentrations in blood were measured using a blood electrolyte analyzer. Zeolite Saline Solution (ZSS) was prepared by addition of 2 g zeolite to 0.9% NaCl solution (4, 8, or 16 mL). The electrolytes in ZSS were measured using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of blood were measured using the test tube method. The activated clotting time (ACT) and clotting rate (CR) of blood were measured with Sonoclot Coagulation and Platelet Function Analyzer. Addition of zeolite (50 and 100 mg) in 2 mL human blood significantly increased Ca(2+) concentration, while Na(+) and K(+) concentrations were significantly decreased. Addition of zeolite (50 and 100 mg) in 0.9% NaCl solution (2 mL) caused similar changes in Ca(2+) and Na(+) concentrations. Si(4+) (0.2434 g/L) and Al(3+) (0.2575 g/L) were detected in ZSS (2 g/8 mL). Addition of ZSS in sheep blood shortened APTT in a concentration dependent manner, without changing PT. ZSS or aqueous solution of CaCl2 that contained Ca(2+) concentration identical to that of ZSS significantly shortened ACT in human blood without significantly changing CR, and the effect of ZSS on ACT was not significantly different from that of CaCl2. Zeolite releases Ca(2+) into blood, thus accelerating the intrinsic pathway of blood coagulation and shortening the clot formation time.

  9. In Vitro Assessment of Nanoparticle Effects on Blood Coagulation.

    PubMed

    Potter, Timothy M; Rodriguez, Jamie C; Neun, Barry W; Ilinskaya, Anna N; Cedrone, Edward; Dobrovolskaia, Marina A

    2018-01-01

    Blood clotting is a complex process which involves both cellular and biochemical components. The key cellular players in the blood clotting process are thrombocytes or platelets. Other cells, including leukocytes and endothelial cells, contribute to clotting by expressing the so-called pro-coagulant activity (PCA) complex on their surface. The biochemical component of blood clotting is represented by the plasma coagulation cascade, which includes plasma proteins also known as coagulation factors. The coordinated interaction between platelets, leukocytes, endothelial cells, and plasma coagulation factors is necessary for maintaining hemostasis and for preventing excessive bleeding. Undesirable activation of all or some of these components may lead to pathological blood coagulation and life-threatening conditions such as consumptive coagulopathy or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In contrast, unintended inhibition of the coagulation pathways may lead to hemorrhage. Thrombogenicity is the property of a test material to induce blood coagulation by affecting one or more elements of the clotting process. Anticoagulant activity refers to the property of a test material to inhibit coagulation. The tendency to cause platelet aggregation, perturb plasma coagulation, and induce leukocyte PCA can serve as an in vitro measure of a nanomaterial's likelihood to be pro- or anticoagulant in vivo. This chapter describes three procedures for in vitro analyses of platelet aggregation, plasma coagulation time, and activation of leukocyte PCA. Platelet aggregation and plasma coagulation procedures have been described earlier. The revision here includes updated details about nanoparticle sample preparation, selection of nanoparticle concentration for the in vitro study, and updated details about assay controls. The chapter is expanded to describe a method for the leukocyte PCA analysis and case studies demonstrating the performance of these in vitro assays.

  10. Reference values for rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) in clinically healthy cats.

    PubMed

    Marly-Voquer, Charlotte; Riond, Barbara; Jud Schefer, Rahel; Kutter, Annette P N

    2017-03-01

    To establish reference intervals for rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) using feline blood. Prospective study. University teaching hospital. Twenty-three clinically healthy cats between 1 and 15 years. For each cat, whole blood was collected via jugular or medial saphenous venipuncture, and blood was placed into a serum tube, a tube containing potassium-EDTA, and tubes containing 3.2% sodium citrate. The tubes were maintained at 37°C for a maximum of 30 minutes before coagulation testing. ROTEM tests included the EXTEM, INTEM, FIBTEM, and APTEM assays. In addition, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and fibrinogen concentration (Clauss method) were analyzed for each cat. Reference intervals for ROTEM were calculated using the 2.5-97.5 th percentile for each parameter, and correlation with the standard coagulation profile was performed. Compared to people, clinically healthy cats had similar values for the EXTEM and INTEM assays, but had lower plasma fibrinogen concentrations (0.9-2.2 g/L), resulting in weaker maximum clot firmness (MCF, 3-10 mm) in the FIBTEM test. In 18 cats, maximum lysis (ML) values in the APTEM test were higher than in the EXTEM test, which seems unlikely to have occurred in the presence of aprotinin. It is possible that the observed high maximum lysis values were due to clot retraction rather than true clot lysis. Further studies will be required to test this hypothesis. Cats have a weaker clot in the FIBTEM test, but have a similar clot strength to human blood in the other ROTEM assays, which may be due to a stronger contribution of platelets compared to that found in people. In cats, careful interpretation of the results to diagnose hyperfibrinolysis is advised, especially with the APTEM test, until further data are available. © Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2017.

  11. Effects of Heparin and ε-Aminocaproic Acid in Dogs on Plasmin- 125I Generation in Response to Urokinase Injections and Venous Injury

    PubMed Central

    Takeda, Y.; Parkhill, T. R.; Nakabayashi, M.

    1972-01-01

    The isotopic method described previously for quantification of plasmin- 125I by disc gel electrophoresis was modified by inclusion of euglobulin precipitation to expand its applicability to plasmas containing low radioactivity of plasmin- 125I and plasminogen- 125I. It was found that the euglobulin precipitation method precipitates 72.4±2.1 (sd)% of both plasmin- 125I and plasminogen- 125I. Using this method and plasminogen- 125I as a tracer, studies were first made of the effects of heparin and ε-aminocaproic acid in dogs on plasmin- 125I generation in responese to a single injection of urokinase and to venous injury; second, of the effects of venous occlusion and thrombosis on plasmin- 125I generation; and third, in vitro studies of plasminogen- 125I affinity to fibrin and its activation in blood clots. The venous injury was produced by the damage of venous endothelium by an injection of 90% phenol and the thrombosis by a thrombin injection into an occluded vein. Heparin and ε-aminocaproic acid under the present experimental conditions inhibited about 78 and 100%, respectively of plasmin- 125I generation by the urokinase injection. Similar inhibitory effects of heparin and ε-aminocaproic acid were observed on plasmin- 125I generation in response to venous injury. The venous occlusion caused a small degree of plasmin- 125I generation, but thrombin thrombosis did not seem to stimulate the generation of plasmin- 125I. The in vitro studies showed that plasminogen- 125I does not have a specific affinity to fibrin and is incorporated into blood clots in approximately equal concentrations as those in serum during clotting processes, and that blood clots per se do not stimulate plasmin- 125I generation. These results suggest that injured veins release considerable amounts of vascular plasminogen activators into circulation and that these play an important role in thrombus dissolution in vivo. PMID:4262519

  12. Blood Thinners: Can I Still Get Blood Clots?

    MedlinePlus

    ... get blood clots? If you're taking a blood thinner, is it still possible to get a blood clot? Answers from Rekha Mankad, M.D. Yes. Medications that are commonly called blood thinners — such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), dabigatran ( ...

  13. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) / Pulmonary Embolism (PE) - Blood Clot Forming in a Vein

    MedlinePlus

    ... Controls Cancel Submit Search the CDC Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots) Note: Javascript is disabled or is not supported ... Challenge HA-VTE Data & Statistics HA-VTE Resources Blood Clots and Travel Research and Treatment Centers Data & Statistics ...

  14. Molecular mechanisms of the effect of ultrasound on the fibrinolysis of clots

    PubMed Central

    Chernysh, Irina N.; Everbach, E. Carr; Purohit, Prashant K.; Weisel, John W.

    2016-01-01

    Summary Background Ultrasound accelerates tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA)-induced fibrinolysis of clots in vitro and in vivo. Objective To identify mechanisms for the enhancement of t-PA-induced fibrinolysis of clots. Methods Turbidity is an accurate and convenient method, not previously used, to follow the effects of ultrasound. Deconvolution microscopy was used to determine changes in structure, while fluorescence recovery after photobleaching was used to characterize the kinetics of binding/unbinding and transport. Results The ultrasound pulse repetition frequency affected clot lysis times, but there were no thermal effects. Ultrasound in the absence of t-PA produced a slight but consistent decrease in turbidity, suggesting a decrease in fibrin diameter due solely to the action of the ultrasound, likely caused by an increase in protofibril tension because of vibration from ultrasound. Changes in fibrin network structure during lysis with ultrasound were visualized in real time by deconvolution microscopy, revealing that the network becomes unstable when 30–40% of the protein in the network was digested, whereas without ultrasound, the fibrin network was digested gradually and retained structural integrity. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching during lysis revealed that the off-rate of oligomers from digesting fibers was not much affected but the number of binding/unbinding sites was increased. Conclusions Ultrasound causes a decrease in the diameter of the fibers due to tension as a result of vibration, leading to increased binding sites for plasmin(ogen)/t-PA. The positive feedback of this structural change together with increased mixing/transport of t-PA/plasmin(ogen) is likely to account for the observed enhancement of fibrinolysis by ultrasound. PMID:25619618

  15. Synergism of aspirin and heparin with a low-frequency non-invasive ultrasound system for augmentation of in-vitro clot lysis.

    PubMed

    Atar, Shaul; Neuman, Yoram; Miyamoto, Takashi; Chen, Ming; Birnbaum, Yochai; Luo, Huai; Kobal, Sergio; Siegel, Robert J

    2003-06-01

    Aspirin, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors and heparin are routinely used in acute coronary syndromes. Previously we showed that there is synergism between ultrasound and heparin and tirofiban in augmenting blood clot disruption. However, there is a little data on a possible synergism of low-frequency ultrasound with aspirin for in-vitro clot dissolution, and especially on the combination of aspirin with heparin and/or glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. Human blood clots (n = 320) were incubated for 10 or 20 minutes in saline containing aspirin alone or combined with heparin and/or tirofiban and/or eptifibatide. Clots were randomly treated with low-frequency ultrasound (27.3 kHz) or incubation only. The percent clot weight loss and the incremental effect of ultrasound were calculated. The most significant incremental effect of ultrasound on clot weight reduction was detected with aspirin alone (5.2 +/- 2.3% and 5.2 +/- 2.6% after 10' and 20', p = 0.04 and p = 0.06, respectively) and in combination with heparin (8.8 +/- 2.5% and 11.5 +/- 2.7% after 10' and 20', p = 0.01 and p = 0.0001, respectively). The greatest absolute magnitude of clot weight reduction was observed with ultrasound combined with aspirin and heparin (48.5 +/- 9.5% after 20'). The addition of tirofiban or eptifibatide to aspirin, heparin and ultrasound did not increase clot lysis. However, eptifibatide had significantly better synergism than tirofiban (p = 0.025 and p = 0.015, after 10 and 20 minutes, respectively). Aspirin alone or in combination with heparin results in significant augmentation of clot lysis and is synergistic with application of low-frequency ultrasound for 10 and 20 minutes only. These results may have important implications for a possible use of low-frequency ultrasound in treatment algorithms of acute coronary syndromes.

  16. A novel mechanism for hypofibrinolysis in diabetes: the role of complement C3.

    PubMed

    Hess, K; Alzahrani, S H; Mathai, M; Schroeder, V; Carter, A M; Howell, G; Koko, T; Strachan, M W J; Price, J F; Smith, K A; Grant, P J; Ajjan, R A

    2012-04-01

    Impaired fibrin clot lysis is a key abnormality in diabetes and complement C3 is one protein identified in blood clots. This work investigates the mechanistic pathways linking C3 and hypofibrinolysis in diabetes using ex vivo/in vitro studies. Fibrinolysis and C3 plasma levels were determined in type 1 diabetic patients and healthy controls, and the effects of glycaemia investigated. C3 incorporation into fibrin clots and modulation of fibrinolysis were analysed by ELISA, immunoblotting, turbidimetric assays and electron and confocal microscopy. Clot lysis time was longer in diabetic children than in controls (599 ± 18 and 516 ± 12 s respectively; p < 0.01), C3 levels were higher in diabetic children (0.55 ± 0.02 and 0.43 ± 0.02 g/l respectively; p < 0.01) and both were affected by improving glycaemia. An interaction between C3 and fibrin was confirmed by the presence of lower protein levels in sera compared with corresponding plasma and C3 detection in plasma clots by immunoblot. In a purified system, C3 was associated with thinner fibrin fibres and more prolongation of lysis time of clots made from fibrinogen from diabetic participants compared with controls (244 ± 64 and 92 ± 23 s respectively; p < 0.05). Confocal microscopy showed higher C3 incorporation into diabetic clots compared with controls, and fully formed clot lysis was prolonged by 764 ± 76 and 428 ± 105 s respectively (p < 0.05). Differences in lysis, comparing diabetes and controls, were not related to altered plasmin generation or C3-fibrinogen binding assessed by plasmon resonance. C3 incorporation into clots from diabetic fibrinogen is enhanced and adversely affects fibrinolysis. This may be one novel mechanism for compromised clot lysis in diabetes, potentially offering a new therapeutic target.

  17. Plasma clot formation and clot lysis to compare effects of different anticoagulation treatments on hemostasis in patients with atrial fibrillation.

    PubMed

    Königsbrügge, Oliver; Weigel, Günter; Quehenberger, Peter; Pabinger, Ingrid; Ay, Cihan

    2018-02-07

    The effect of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) on turbidimetric measurements of plasma clot formation and susceptibility to fibrinolysis may facilitate a comparison between different classes of anticoagulants in plasma samples. We obtained 424 citrate plasma samples from 226 atrial fibrillation patients on anticoagulation and 24 samples without anticoagulation serving as controls. As comparators, we measured the international normalized ratio (INR) for phenprocoumon samples (N = 166), anti-Xa for low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) samples (N = 42), and DOAC levels with mass spectrometry (dabigatran N = 40, rivaroxaban N = 110, apixaban N = 42). Plasma clot formation and lysis were recorded continuously on a photometer after addition of an activation mix (tissue factor 2 pmol/l and tissue plasminogen activator 333 ng/ml). We used linear regression and ANCOVA for correlation analysis. Clot formation lag phase was prolonged in the presence of anticoagulants in a concentration-dependent manner for DOACs (dabigatran Spearman r = 0.74; rivaroxaban r = 0.78; apixaban r = 0.72, all p < 0.0001), INR dependent for phenprocoumon (r = 0.59, p < 0.0001), anti-Xa level dependent in LMWH samples (r = 0.90, p < 0.0001). Maximum rate of clot formation and peak clot turbidity were reduced in the presence of anticoagulants, but correlated only moderately with the comparator measures of anticoagulation. The clot lysis time was inversely correlated with DOAC concentrations in the presence of recombinant thrombomodulin. A direct ex vivo comparison between the effects of different classes of anticoagulants is possible with turbidimetric measurement of plasma clot formation and lysis. Anticoagulation inhibited clot formation in a plasma concentration manner for DOACs, INR dependent for phenprocoumon, and anti-Xa dependent for LMWH. Susceptibility to fibrinolysis increased with increasing DOAC concentrations.

  18. Chronologic echogenicity changes and histologic correlates in experimental blood clots: a serial sonographic study.

    PubMed

    Watanabe, Masaki; Majidi, Shahram; Chaudhry, Saqib A; Qureshi, Adnan I

    2012-12-01

    We performed this study to identify echogenicity changes in clots and their correlations with histologic characteristics over time. B-mode sonography was performed at 2, 6, 24, and 48 hours after clot formation in venous blood from healthy donors. Analysis of echogenicity was performed by grayscale median measurement with normalization. We classified clots into 3 groups: dense, intermediate, and loose according to red blood cell (RBC) density on hematoxylin-eosin staining. Statistically significant chronologic changes in the grayscale median measurements were shown, with a trough at 6 hours and a peak at 24 hours (mean ± SD: 2 hours, 46.8 ± 4.1; 6 hours, 32.2 ± 13.1; 24 hours, 55.4 ± 9.9; 48 hours, 49.0 ± 13.9; P = .027). The grayscale median value was higher in dense RBC clots and lower in loose RBC clots (dense, 61.0 ± 10.6; intermediate, 49.4 ± 13.1; loose, 34.0 ± 12.1; P < .0353). Sonography using the grayscale median showed chronologic echogenicity changes in clots over a 48-hour period, and the grayscale median correlated with RBC density.

  19. Measurement of Factor V Activity in Human Plasma Using a Microplate Coagulation Assay

    PubMed Central

    Tilley, Derek; Levit, Irina; Samis, John A.

    2012-01-01

    In response to injury, blood coagulation is activated and results in generation of the clotting protease, thrombin. Thrombin cleaves fibrinogen to fibrin which forms an insoluble clot that stops hemorrhage. Factor V (FV) in its activated form, FVa, is a critical cofactor for the protease FXa and accelerator of thrombin generation during fibrin clot formation as part of prothrombinase 1, 2. Manual FV assays have been described 3, 4, but they are time consuming and subjective. Automated FV assays have been reported 5-7, but the analyzer and reagents are expensive and generally provide only the clot time, not the rate and extent of fibrin formation. The microplate platform is preferred for measuring enzyme-catalyzed events because of convenience, time, cost, small volume, continuous monitoring, and high-throughput 8, 9. Microplate assays have been reported for clot lysis 10, platelet aggregation 11, and coagulation Factors 12, but not for FV activity in human plasma. The goal of the method was to develop a microplate assay that measures FV activity during fibrin formation in human plasma. This novel microplate method outlines a simple, inexpensive, and rapid assay of FV activity in human plasma. The assay utilizes a kinetic microplate reader to monitor the absorbance change at 405nm during fibrin formation in human plasma (Figure 1) 13. The assay accurately measures the time, initial rate, and extent of fibrin clot formation. It requires only μl quantities of plasma, is complete in 6 min, has high-throughput, is sensitive to 24-80pM FV, and measures the amount of unintentionally activated (1-stage activity) and thrombin-activated FV (2-stage activity) to obtain a complete assessment of its total functional activity (2-stage activity - 1-stage activity). Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an acquired coagulopathy that most often develops from pre-existing infections 14. DIC is associated with a poor prognosis and increases mortality above the pre-existing pathology 15. The assay was used to show that in 9 patients with DIC, the FV 1-stage, 2-stage, and total activities were decreased, on average, by 54%, 44%, and 42%, respectively, compared with normal pooled human reference plasma (NHP). The FV microplate assay is easily adaptable to measure the activity of any coagulation factor. This assay will increase our understanding of FV biochemistry through a more accurate and complete measurement of its activity in research and clinical settings. This information will positively impact healthcare environments through earlier diagnosis and development of more effective treatments for coagulation disorders, such as DIC. PMID:22987015

  20. Measurement of factor v activity in human plasma using a microplate coagulation assay.

    PubMed

    Tilley, Derek; Levit, Irina; Samis, John A

    2012-09-09

    In response to injury, blood coagulation is activated and results in generation of the clotting protease, thrombin. Thrombin cleaves fibrinogen to fibrin which forms an insoluble clot that stops hemorrhage. Factor V (FV) in its activated form, FVa, is a critical cofactor for the protease FXa and accelerator of thrombin generation during fibrin clot formation as part of prothrombinase (1, 2). Manual FV assays have been described (3, 4), but they are time consuming and subjective. Automated FV assays have been reported (5-7), but the analyzer and reagents are expensive and generally provide only the clot time, not the rate and extent of fibrin formation. The microplate platform is preferred for measuring enzyme-catalyzed events because of convenience, time, cost, small volume, continuous monitoring, and high-throughput (8, 9). Microplate assays have been reported for clot lysis (10), platelet aggregation (11), and coagulation Factors (12), but not for FV activity in human plasma. The goal of the method was to develop a microplate assay that measures FV activity during fibrin formation in human plasma. This novel microplate method outlines a simple, inexpensive, and rapid assay of FV activity in human plasma. The assay utilizes a kinetic microplate reader to monitor the absorbance change at 405 nm during fibrin formation in human plasma (Figure 1) (13). The assay accurately measures the time, initial rate, and extent of fibrin clot formation. It requires only μl quantities of plasma, is complete in 6 min, has high-throughput, is sensitive to 24-80 pM FV, and measures the amount of unintentionally activated (1-stage activity) and thrombin-activated FV (2-stage activity) to obtain a complete assessment of its total functional activity (2-stage activity - 1-stage activity). Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an acquired coagulopathy that most often develops from pre-existing infections (14). DIC is associated with a poor prognosis and increases mortality above the pre-existing pathology (15). The assay was used to show that in 9 patients with DIC, the FV 1-stage, 2-stage, and total activities were decreased, on average, by 54%, 44%, and 42%, respectively, compared with normal pooled human reference plasma (NHP). The FV microplate assay is easily adaptable to measure the activity of any coagulation factor. This assay will increase our understanding of FV biochemistry through a more accurate and complete measurement of its activity in research and clinical settings. This information will positively impact healthcare environments through earlier diagnosis and development of more effective treatments for coagulation disorders, such as DIC.

  1. The Fibrin slide assay for detecting urokinase activity in human fetal kidney cells

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Sedor, K.

    1985-01-01

    The Fibrin Slide Technique of Hau C. Kwaan and Tage Astrup is discussed. This relatively simple assay involves two steps: the formation of an artificial clot and then the addition of an enzyme (UKOKINASE) to dissolve the clot. The actual dissolving away of the clot is detected by the appearance of holes (lysis zones) in the stained clot. The procedure of Kwaan and Astrup is repeated, along with modifications and suggestions for improvements based on experience with the technique.

  2. Blood coagulation abnormalities in multibacillary leprosy patients.

    PubMed

    Silva, Débora Santos da; Teixeira, Lisandra Antonia Castro; Beghini, Daniela Gois; Ferreira, André Teixeira da Silva; Pinho, Márcia de Berredo Moreira; Rosa, Patricia Sammarco; Ribeiro, Marli Rambaldi; Freire, Monica Di Calafiori; Hacker, Mariana Andrea; Nery, José Augusto da Costa; Pessolani, Maria Cristina Vidal; Tovar, Ana Maria Freire; Sarno, Euzenir Nunes; Perales, Jonas; Bozza, Fernando Augusto; Esquenazi, Danuza; Monteiro, Robson Queiroz; Lara, Flavio Alves

    2018-03-01

    Leprosy is a chronic dermato-neurological disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae infection. In 2016, more than 200,000 new cases of leprosy were detected around the world, representing the most frequent cause of infectious irreversible deformities and disabilities. In the present work, we demonstrate a consistent procoagulant profile on 40 reactional and non-reactional multibacillary leprosy patients. A retrospective analysis in search of signs of coagulation abnormalities among 638 leprosy patients identified 35 leprosy patients (5.48%) which displayed a characteristic lipid-like clot formed between blood clot and serum during serum harvesting, herein named 'leprosum clot'. Most of these patients (n = 16, 45.7%) belonged to the lepromatous leprosy pole of the disease. In addition, formation of the leprosum clot was directly correlated with increased plasma levels of soluble tissue factor and von Willebrand factor. High performance thin layer chromatography demonstrated a high content of neutral lipids in the leprosum clot, and proteomic analysis demonstrated that the leprosum clot presented in these patients is highly enriched in fibrin. Remarkably, differential 2D-proteomics analysis between leprosum clots and control clots identified two proteins present only in leprosy patients clots: complement component 3 and 4 and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor family heavy chain-related protein (IHRP). In agreement with those observations we demonstrated that M. leprae induces hepatocytes release of IHRP in vitro. We demonstrated that leprosy MB patients develop a procoagulant status due to high levels of plasmatic fibrinogen, anti-cardiolipin antibodies, von Willebrand factor and soluble tissue factor. We propose that some of these components, fibrinogen for example, presents potential as predictive biomarkers of leprosy reactions, generating tools for earlier diagnosis and treatment of these events.

  3. Fibrin clot structure is affected by levels of particulate air pollution exposure in patients with venous thrombosis.

    PubMed

    Pan, Xiaoxi; Gong, Yun Yun; Martinelli, Ida; Angelici, Laura; Favero, Chiara; Bertazzi, Pier Alberto; Mannucci, Pier M; Ariëns, Robert A S; Routledge, Michael N

    2016-01-01

    Particulate air pollution is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and thrombosis. Long-term exposure to particulate matter with a diameter<10μm (PM10) has been associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not particulate air pollution alters fibrin clot structure and thus modulates thrombosis risk. We investigated fibrin polymerization by turbidity (maximum absorbance mOD), clot structure by confocal microscopy (fibre number per μm) and fibrin pore size by permeability (Ks×10(-10)cm(2)) in 103 patients with deep vein thrombosis and 121 healthy controls, for whom levels of air pollution exposure had been recorded. Exposure groups were defined by mean PM10 concentrations over the 730days before the event. We found a higher average number of fibres per clot area in patients than controls, but no difference in Ks or fibre thickness. When the two groups were divided into high or low exposure to PM10, a significantly denser fibrin clot network structure with thicker fibres (higher maximum absorbance, p<0.05), decreased permeability (lower Ks value, p<0.05) and higher average fibre numbers per clot area (p<0.05) was observed in patients in the high exposure group compared to those with low exposure. There were no significant differences in fibrin clot structure between the two exposure levels in healthy subjects. PM10 levels are associated with altered fibrin clot structure in patients with deep vein thrombosis but not in controls, suggesting that air pollution may trigger differences in fibrin clot structure only in patients predisposed to thrombotic disease. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Effects of MASP-1 of the Complement System on Activation of Coagulation Factors and Plasma Clot Formation

    PubMed Central

    Hess, Katharina; Ajjan, Ramzi; Phoenix, Fladia; Dobó, József; Gál, Péter; Schroeder, Verena

    2012-01-01

    Background Numerous interactions between the coagulation and complement systems have been shown. Recently, links between coagulation and mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease-1 (MASP-1) of the complement lectin pathway have been proposed. Our aim was to investigate MASP-1 activation of factor XIII (FXIII), fibrinogen, prothrombin, and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) in plasma-based systems, and to analyse effects of MASP-1 on plasma clot formation, structure and lysis. Methodology/Principal Findings We used a FXIII incorporation assay and specific assays to measure the activation products prothrombin fragment F1+2, fibrinopeptide A (FPA), and activated TAFI (TAFIa). Clot formation and lysis were assessed by turbidimetric assay. Clot structure was studied by scanning electron microscopy. MASP-1 activated FXIII and, contrary to thrombin, induced FXIII activity faster in the Val34 than the Leu34 variant. MASP-1-dependent generation of F1+2, FPA and TAFIa showed a dose-dependent response in normal citrated plasma (NCP), albeit MASP-1 was much less efficient than FXa or thrombin. MASP-1 activation of prothrombin and TAFI cleavage were confirmed in purified systems. No FPA generation was observed in prothrombin-depleted plasma. MASP-1 induced clot formation in NCP, affected clot structure, and prolonged clot lysis. Conclusions/Significance We show that MASP-1 interacts with plasma clot formation on different levels and influences fibrin structure. Although MASP-1-induced fibrin formation is thrombin-dependent, MASP-1 directly activates prothrombin, FXIII and TAFI. We suggest that MASP-1, in concerted action with other complement and coagulation proteins, may play a role in fibrin clot formation. PMID:22536427

  5. Fibrinolytic activity and dose-dependent effect of incubating human blood clots in caffeic acid phenethyl ester: in vitro assays.

    PubMed

    Elnager, Abuzar; Hassan, Rosline; Idris, Zamzuri; Mustafa, Zulkifli; Wan-Arfah, Nadiah; Sulaiman, S A; Gan, Siew Hua; Abdullah, Wan Zaidah

    2015-01-01

    Background. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) has been reported to possess time-dependent fibrinolytic activity by in vitro assay. This study is aimed at investigating fibrinolytic dose-dependent activity of CAPE using in vitro assays. Methods. Standardized human whole blood (WB) clots were incubated in either blank controls or different concentrations of CAPE (3.75, 7.50, 15.00, 22.50, and 30.00 mM). After 3 hours, D-dimer (DD) levels and WB clot weights were measured for each concentration. Thromboelastography (TEG) parameters were recorded following CAPE incubation, and fibrin morphology was examined under a confocal microscope. Results. Overall, mean DD (μg/mL) levels were significantly different across samples incubated with different CAPE concentrations, and the median pre- and postincubation WB clot weights (grams) were significantly decreased for each CAPE concentration. Fibrin removal was observed microscopically and indicated dose-dependent effects. Based on the TEG test, the Ly30 fibrinolytic parameter was significantly different between samples incubated with two different CAPE concentrations (15.0 and 22.50 mM). The 50% effective dose (ED50) of CAPE (based on DD) was 1.99 mg/mL. Conclusions. This study suggests that CAPE possesses fibrinolytic activity following in vitro incubation and that it has dose-dependent activities. Therefore, further investigation into CAPE as a potential alternative thrombolytic agent should be conducted.

  6. Non-Invasive Thrombolysis Using Pulsed Ultrasound Cavitation Therapy – Histotripsy

    PubMed Central

    Maxwell, Adam D.; Cain, Charles A.; Duryea, Alexander P.; Yuan, Lingqian; Gurm, Hitinder S.; Xu, Zhen

    2009-01-01

    Clinically available thrombolysis techniques are limited by either slow reperfusion (drugs) or invasiveness (catheters), and carry significant risks of bleeding. In this study, the feasibility of using histotripsy as an efficient and non-invasive thrombolysis technique was investigated. Histotripsy fractionates soft tissue through controlled cavitation using focused, short, high-intensity ultrasound pulses. In-vitro blood clots formed from fresh canine blood were treated by histotripsy. The treatment was applied using a focused 1-MHz transducer, with 5-cycle pulses at a pulse repetition rate of 1 kHz. Acoustic pressures varying from 2 – 12 MPa peak negative pressure were tested. Our results show that histotripsy can perform effective thrombolysis with ultrasound energy alone. Histotripsy thrombolysis only occurred at peak negative pressure ≥6 MPa when initiation of a cavitating bubble cloud was detected using acoustic backscatter monitoring. Blood clots weighing 330 mg were completely broken down by histotripsy in 1.5 – 5 minutes. The clot was fractionated to debris with >96% weight smaller than 5 μm diameter. Histotripsy thrombolysis treatment remained effective under a fast, pulsating flow (a circulatory model) as well as in static saline. Additionally, we observed that fluid flow generated by a cavitation cloud can attract, trap, and further break down clot fragments. This phenomenon may provide a non-invasive method to filter and eliminate hazardous emboli during thrombolysis. PMID:19854563

  7. Reduced clot debris size using standing waves formed via high intensity focused ultrasound

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guo, Shifang; Du, Xuan; Wang, Xin; Lu, Shukuan; Shi, Aiwei; Xu, Shanshan; Bouakaz, Ayache; Wan, Mingxi

    2017-09-01

    The feasibility of utilizing high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to induce thrombolysis has been demonstrated previously. However, clinical concerns still remain related to the clot debris produced via fragmentation of the original clot potentially being too large and hence occluding downstream vessels, causing hazardous emboli. This study investigates the use of standing wave fields formed via HIFU to disintegrate the thrombus while achieving a reduced clot debris size in vitro. The results showed that the average diameter of the clot debris calculated by volume percentage was smaller in the standing wave mode than in the travelling wave mode at identical ultrasound thrombolysis settings. Furthermore, the inertial cavitation dose was shown to be lower in the standing wave mode, while the estimated cavitation bubble size distribution was similar in both modes. These results show that a reduction of the clot debris size with standing waves may be attributed to the particle trapping of the acoustic potential well which contributed to particle fragmentation.

  8. In vitro investigations into enhancement of tPA bioavailability in whole blood clots using pulsed-high intensity focused ultrasound exposures.

    PubMed

    Jones, Guy; Hunter, Finnie; Hancock, Hilary A; Kapoor, Ankur; Stone, Michael J; Wood, Bradford J; Xie, Jianwu; Dreher, Matthew R; Frenkel, Victor

    2010-01-01

    Investigations were carried out on the manner by which pulsed-high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) enhances the effectiveness of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in whole blood clots, in vitro. Scanning electronic microscope (SEM) of the surface of the clots showed that the exposures increased exposed fibrin, as well as the number of openings to more interior regions. These findings were supported by fluorescent antibody labeling of tPA in frozen sections of clots treated post-HIFU. Here, improved accumulation at the surface and penetration of the tPA into the clots were observed in those treated with HIFU. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching was also performed, indicating that the diffusion coefficient increased 6.3-fold for fluorescently labeled dextrans, comparable in size to tPA, in the HIFU-treated clots. Improved understanding of the manner by which pulsed--HIFU exposures can improve the effectiveness of thrombolytics will help optimize the exposures for this application and potentially facilitate translation to the clinic.

  9. In Vitro Investigations Into Enhancement of tPA Bioavailability in Whole Blood Clots Using Pulsed–High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Exposures

    PubMed Central

    Jones, Guy; Hunter, Finnie; Hancock, Hilary A.; Kapoor, Ankur; Stone, Michael J.; Wood, Bradford J.; Xie, Jianwu; Dreher, Matthew R.

    2012-01-01

    Investigations were carried out on the manner by which pulsed–high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) enhances the effectiveness of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in whole blood clots, in vitro. Scanning electronic microscope (SEM) of the surface of the clots showed that the exposures increased exposed fibrin, as well as the number of openings to more interior regions. These findings were supported by fluorescent antibody labeling of tPA in frozen sections of clots treated post-HIFU. Here, improved accumulation at the surface and penetration of the tPA into the clots were observed in those treated with HIFU. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching was also performed, indicating that the diffusion coefficient increased 6.3-fold for fluorescently labeled dextrans, comparable in size to tPA, in the HIFU-treated clots. Improved understanding of the manner by which pulsed–HIFU exposures can improve the effectiveness of thrombolytics will help optimize the exposures for this application and potentially facilitate translation to the clinic. PMID:20064753

  10. QuikClot masquerading as Glaser shot: a new forensic pathology artifact?

    PubMed

    Moeng, Shirley Faith Angela Portia; Moar, Joshua J

    2012-09-01

    Although in the forensic sphere, Glaser ammunition or handgun shot cartridges represent one of the most significant advances in firearms ballistics in the past 100 years, the mineral-based zeolite hemostatic agent QuikClot represents a no less significant development in the surgical and clinical context of the trauma-induced management of battlefield wounding and hemorrhage. Because of the essential structural configuration of both Glaser ammunition and QuikClot, consisting as they do of metallic beads on the one hand and mineral-based spherules on the other, the possibility exists that a medicolegal autopsy on a victim of gunshot wounding and on whom surgery has been performed with introduction of QuikClot in an effort to stem bleeding, the spherules of QuikClot might be misinterpreted as the pellets of handgun shot cartridges.We present a case of fatal wounding by a 9-mm handgun in which the discovery of QuikClot in the peritoneal cavity at autopsy initially raised the possibility of wounding by Glaser ammunition.

  11. Particle-Based Methods for Multiscale Modeling of Blood Flow in the Circulation and in Devices: Challenges and Future Directions

    PubMed Central

    Yamaguchi, Takami; Ishikawa, Takuji; Imai, Y.; Matsuki, N.; Xenos, Mikhail; Deng, Yuefan; Bluestein, Danny

    2010-01-01

    A major computational challenge for a multiscale modeling is the coupling of disparate length and timescales between molecular mechanics and macroscopic transport, spanning the spatial and temporal scales characterizing the complex processes taking place in flow-induced blood clotting. Flow and pressure effects on a cell-like platelet can be well represented by a continuum mechanics model down to the order of the micrometer level. However, the molecular effects of adhesion/aggregation bonds are on the order of nanometer. A successful multiscale model of platelet response to flow stresses in devices and the ensuing clotting responses should be able to characterize the clotting reactions and their interactions with the flow. This paper attempts to describe a few of the computational methods that were developed in recent years and became available to researchers in the field. They differ from traditional approaches that dominate the field by expanding on prevailing continuum-based approaches, or by completely departing from them, yielding an expanding toolkit that may facilitate further elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of blood flow and the cellular response to it. We offer a paradigm shift by adopting a multidisciplinary approach with fluid dynamics simulations coupled to biophysical and biochemical transport. PMID:20336827

  12. Effect of SanOrg123781A, a synthetic hexadecasaccharide, on clot-bound thrombin and factor Xa in vitro and in vivo.

    PubMed

    Hérault, J-P; Cappelle, M; Bernat, A; Millet, L; Bono, F; Schaeffer, P; Herbert, J-M

    2003-09-01

    Factor (F)Xa and thrombin bound to the clot during its formation contribute to the propensity of thrombi to activate the coagulation system. The aim of this work was to study the inhibition of clot-bound FXa and clot-bound thrombin by SanOrg123781A, a synthetic hexadecasaccharide that enhances the inhibition of thrombin and FXa by antithrombin (AT). SanOrg123781A, designed to exhibit low non-specific binding to proteins other than AT, was compared with heparin. In buffer, heparin and SanOrg123781A inhibited FXa and thrombin at similar concentrations [concentration inhibiting 50% (IC50) of Xa and IIa activity were, respectively: heparin 120 +/- 7 and 3 +/- 1 ng mL-1; SanOrg123781A 77 +/- 5 and 4 +/- 1 ng mL-1]. In human plasma, the activity of both compounds was reduced, although the activity of heparin was much more affected than that of SanOrg123781A (IC50 values for inhibition of FXa and FIIa activity were, respectively: heparin 100 +/- 5 and 800 +/- 40 ng mL-1; SanOrg123781A 10 +/- 5 and 30 +/- 3 ng mL-1). We demonstrated, in agreement with our previous results, that the procoagulant activity of the clot is essentially due to clot-bound FXa and to some extent to clot-bound thrombin. We showed that heparin and SanOrg123781A were able to inhibit fragment F1+2 generation induced by clot-bound FXa with IC50 values of 2 +/- 0.5 micro g mL-1 and 0.6 +/- 0.2 micro g mL-1, respectively. Both compounds also inhibited clot-bound thrombin activity, the IC50 values of heparin and SanOrg123781A being 1 +/- 0.01 micro g mL-1 and 0.1 +/- 0.1 micro g mL-1, respectively. Moreover, both heparin and SanOrg123781A significantly inhibited fibrinopeptide A generated by the action of clot-bound thrombin on fibrinogen but also by free thrombin generated from prothrombin by clot-bound FXa with IC50 values of 4 +/- 0.6 and 1 +/- 0.1 micro g mL-1, respectively. As with clot-bound enzymatic activities, SanOrg123781A was three times more active than heparin in vivo on fibrinogen accretion onto a pre-existing thrombus and as activators of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator-induced thrombolysis. In conclusion, due to the specific activities of SanOrg123781A, this compound is much more active than heparin in the presence of plasma proteins, on clot-bound enzymes and in in vivo models of thrombosis/thrombolysis.

  13. Antibacterial effects of fibrin glue-antibiotic mixtures.

    PubMed

    Kram, H B; Bansal, M; Timberlake, O; Shoemaker, W C

    1991-02-01

    In the present in vitro study, we investigated the duration of action and antibacterial effects of nonautologous fibrin glue (FG) combined with antibiotics (Abs) including Ciprofloxacin, Teicoplanin, Cefoxitin, and Gentamicin; the effect of FG alone on bacterial growth was also evaluated. The rate of Ab diffusion from combined FG-Ab clots was evaluated by separate elution with pooled human serum (HS) and normal saline (NS); supernatants were removed daily and assayed for active concentrations of each Ab. The effects of FG and combined FG-Ab clots on bacterial growth were evaluated by inoculating brain-heart infusion (BHI) with Staphylococcus aureus, followed by the addition of FG or FG-Ab clots; a separate set of studies was also performed with the addition of mouse lung homogenate (MLH) as well. The addition of Ab to FG clots resulted in continuous diffusion of the Ab into the surrounding HS or NS for up to 5 to 7 days; however, more than two-thirds of the Ab diffused out within 2 to 3 days regardless of the Ab used. The antibacterial effects of FG-Ciprofloxacin and FG-Teicoplanin clots were significant compared to those of FG clots not containing Ab. In addition, the presence of FG clots (in BHI) resulted in a reduction in bacterial growth compared to that of BHI alone. The addition of MLH to BHI resulted in increased bacterial growth, but this effect was inhibited by the presence of combined FG-Ab clots.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

  14. Effect of homogenization and heat treatment on the behavior of protein and fat globules during gastric digestion of milk.

    PubMed

    Ye, Aiqian; Cui, Jian; Dalgleish, Douglas; Singh, Harjinder

    2017-01-01

    The effects of homogenization and heat treatment on the formation and the breakdown of clots during gastric digestion of whole milk were investigated using a human gastric simulator. Homogenization and heat treatment led to formation of coagula with fragmented and crumbled structures compared with the coagulum formed from raw whole milk, but a larger fraction of the protein and more fat globules were incorporated into the coagula induced by action of the milk-clotting enzyme pepsin. The fat globules in the whole milk appeared to be embedded in the clots as they formed. After formation of the clot, the greater numbers of pores in the structures of the clots formed with homogenized milk and heated whole milk led to greater rates of protein hydrolysis by pepsin, which resulted in faster release of fat globules from the clots into the digesta. Coalescence of fat globules occurred both in the digesta and within the protein clots no matter whether they were in homogenized or heated milk samples. The formation of clots with different structures and hence the changes in the rates of protein hydrolysis and the release of milk fat into the digesta in the stomach provide important information for understanding the gastric emptying of milk and the potential to use this knowledge to manipulate the bioavailability of fat and other fat-soluble nutrients in dairy products. Copyright © 2017 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. An exploration of the reflow technique for the fabrication of an in vitro microvascular system to study occlusive clots.

    PubMed

    Li, Yang; Pan, Chuer; Li, Yunfeng; Kumacheva, Eugenia; Ramachandran, Arun

    2017-09-08

    Embolic ischemia and pulmonary embolism are health emergencies that arise when a particle such as a blood clot occludes a smaller blood vessel in the brain or the lungs, and restricts flow of blood downstream of the vessel. In this work, the reflow technique (Wang et al. Biomed. Microdevices 2007, 9, 657) was adapted to produce a microchannel network that mimics the occlusion process. The technique was first revisited and a simple geometrical model was developed to quantitatively explain the shapes of the resulting microchannels for different reflow parameters. A critical modification was introduced to the reflow protocol to fabricate nearly circular microchannels of different diameters from the same master, which is not possible with the traditional reflow technique. To simulate the phenomenon of occlusion by clots, a microchannel network with three generations of branches with different diameters and branching angles was fabricated, into which fibrin clots were introduced. At low constant pressure drop (ΔP), a clot blocked a branch entrance only partially, while at higher ΔP, the branch was completely blocked. Instances of simultaneous blocking of multiple channels by clots, and the consequent changes in the flow rates in the unblocked branches of the network, were also monitored. This work provides the framework for a systematic study of the distribution of clots in a network, and the rate of dissolution of embolic clots upon the introduction of a thrombolytic drug into the network.

  16. Blood clot detection using magnetic nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khurshid, Hafsa; Friedman, Bruce; Berwin, Brent; Shi, Yipeng; Ness, Dylan B.; Weaver, John B.

    2017-05-01

    Deep vein thrombosis, the development of blood clots in the peripheral veins, is a very serious, life threatening condition that is prevalent in the elderly. To deliver proper treatment that enhances the survival rate, it is very important to detect thrombi early and at the point of care. We explored the ability of magnetic particle spectroscopy (MSB) to detect thrombus via specific binding of aptamer functionalized magnetic nanoparticles with the blood clot. MSB uses the harmonics produced by nanoparticles in an alternating magnetic field to measure the rotational freedom and, therefore, the bound state of the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles' relaxation time for Brownian rotation increases when bound [A.M. Rauwerdink and J. B. Weaver, Appl. Phys. Lett. 96, 1 (2010)]. The relaxation time can therefore be used to characterize the nanoparticle binding to thrombin in the blood clot. For longer relaxation times, the approach to saturation is more gradual reducing the higher harmonics and the harmonic ratio. The harmonic ratios of nanoparticles conjugated with anti-thrombin aptamers (ATP) decrease significantly over time with blood clot present in the sample medium, compared with nanoparticles without ATP. Moreover, the blood clot removed from the sample medium produced a significant MSB signal, indicating the nanoparticles are immobilized on the clot. Our results show that MSB could be a very useful non-invasive, quick tool to detect blood clots at the point of care so proper treatment can be used to reduce the risks inherent in deep vein thrombosis.

  17. In vitro evaluation of the effect of haemodilution with dextran 40 on coagulation profile as measured by thromboelastometry and multiple electrode aggregometry.

    PubMed

    Kam, Pca; Liou, Jpc; Yang, Kxf

    2017-09-01

    We evaluated the effects of haemodilution with either dextran 40 or 0.9% normal saline on coagulation in vitro using rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®, Pentapharm Co., Munich, Germany) and multiple electrode aggregometry (Multiplate® Platelet Function Analyser, Dynabyte, Munich, Germany). Venous blood samples obtained from 20 healthy volunteers were diluted in vitro with dextran 40 or normal saline by 5%, 10% and 15%. Fibrinogen concentration, ROTEM-EXTEM® (screening test for the extrinsic coagulation pathway), FIBTEM® (an EXTEM-based assay of the fibrin component of clot) parameters including coagulation time, clot formation time, alpha angle, maximum clot firmness and lysis index were measured in the undiluted sample and at each level of haemodilution. Dextran 40 at 15% haemodilution significantly prolonged coagulation time, clot formation time and significantly decreased the alpha angle and maximal clot firmness (EXTEM amplitude at five minutes [A5] and ten minutes [A10]) compared with normal saline. The FIBTEM assay (maximal clot firmness and FIBTEM A5 and A10) showed a marked decrease in maximal clot firmness at all dilutions suggesting impaired fibrinogen activity and a risk of bleeding. Multiple electrode aggregometry did not demonstrate any platelet dysfunction. Haemodilution with dextran 40 causes significant impairment in clot formation and strength compared to saline haemodilution and undiluted blood. At the levels of in vitro haemodilution designed to reflect the clinical use of dextran infusions, no significant fibrinolysis or platelet inhibition was observed.

  18. Zakharov equations for viscous flow and their use in the blood clot formation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhou, Ai-Ping; Li, Xiao-Qing

    2017-12-01

    For theoretical study, blood can be regarded as a viscous electrically conducting fluid of negative ions and protons. Zakharov equations including viscosity are relevant for describing the behaviour of blood plasma. The dispersion formula is derived from the perturbation method and is solved numerically. It turns out that the imaginary part of one root of the perturbation frequency is greater than zero, and modulation instability occurs. This would lead to the formation of blood clot. The viscous force can suppress the occurrence of instability and prevent thrombosis. One can find that the chaotic state of blood signals human health.

  19. A novel clot lysis assay for recombinant plasminogen activator.

    PubMed

    Jamialahmadi, Oveis; Fazeli, Ahmad; Hashemi-Najafabadi, Sameereh; Fazeli, Mohammad Reza

    2015-03-01

    Recombinant plasminogen activator (r-PA, reteplase) is an engineered variant of alteplase. When expressed in E. coli, it appears as inclusion bodies that require refolding to recover its biological activity. An important step following refolding is to determine the activity of refolded protein. Current methods for enzymatic activity of thrombolytic drugs are costly and complex. Here a straightforward and low-cost clot lysis assay was developed. It quantitatively measures the activity of the commercial reteplase and is also capable of screening refolding conditions. As evidence for adequate accuracy and sensitivity of the current assay, r-PA activity measurements are shown to be comparable to those obtained from chromogenic substrate assay.

  20. How to Spot and Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis

    MedlinePlus

    ... leg. But if your symptoms stem from a blood clot deep in your leg, it can be dangerous. Blood clots can happen to anyone, anytime. But some people ... Taking steps to reduce your chances of a blood clot forming in your veins can help you avoid ...

  1. Effects of an acidic environment on coagulation dynamics.

    PubMed

    Gissel, M; Brummel-Ziedins, K E; Butenas, S; Pusateri, A E; Mann, K G; Orfeo, T

    2016-10-01

    Essentials Acidosis, an outcome of traumatic injury, has been linked to impaired procoagulant efficiency. In vitro model systems were used to assess coagulation dynamics at pH 7.4 and 7.0. Clot formation dynamics are slightly enhanced at pH 7.0 in blood ex vivo. Acidosis induced decreases in antithrombin efficacy offset impairments in procoagulant activity. Background Disruption of hydrogen ion homeostasis is a consequence of traumatic injury often associated with clinical coagulopathy. Mechanisms by which acidification of the blood leads to aberrant coagulation require further elucidation. Objective To examine the effects of acidified conditions on coagulation dynamics using in vitro models of increasing complexity. Methods Coagulation dynamics were assessed at pH 7.4 and 7.0 as follows: (i) tissue factor (TF)-initiated coagulation proteome mixtures (±factor [F]XI, ±fibrinogen/FXIII), with reaction progress monitored as thrombin generation or fibrin formation; (ii) enzyme/inhibitor reactions; and (iii) TF-dependent or independent clot dynamics in contact pathway-inhibited blood via viscoelastometry. Results Rate constants for antithrombin inhibition of FXa and thrombin were reduced by ~ 25-30% at pH 7.0. At pH 7.0 (+FXI), TF-initiated thrombin generation showed a 20% increase in maximum thrombin levels and diminished thrombin clearance rates. Viscoelastic analyses showed a 25% increase in clot time and a 25% reduction in maximum clot firmness (MCF). A similar MCF reduction was observed at pH 7.0 when fibrinogen/FXIII were reacted with thrombin. In contrast, in contact pathway-inhibited blood (n = 6) at pH 7.0, MCF values were elevated 6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1%-11%) in TF-initiated blood and 15% (95% CI: 1%- 29%) in the absence of TF. Clot times at pH 7.0 decreased 32% (95% CI: 15%-49%) in TF-initiated blood and 51% (95% CI: 35%-68%) in the absence of TF. Conclusions Despite reported decreased procoagulant catalysis at pH 7.0, clot formation dynamics are slightly enhanced in blood ex vivo and suppression of thrombin generation is not observed. A decrease in antithrombin reactivity is one potential mechanism contributing to these outcomes. © 2016 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

  2. 21 CFR 864.7275 - Euglobulin lysis time tests.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... time required for the lysis (dissolution) of a clot formed from fibrinogen in the euglobulin fraction (that fraction of the plasma responsible for the formation of plasmin, a clot lysing enzyme). This test evaluates natural fibrinolysis (destruction of a blood clot after bleeding has been arrested). The test also...

  3. 21 CFR 864.7275 - Euglobulin lysis time tests.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... time required for the lysis (dissolution) of a clot formed from fibrinogen in the euglobulin fraction (that fraction of the plasma responsible for the formation of plasmin, a clot lysing enzyme). This test evaluates natural fibrinolysis (destruction of a blood clot after bleeding has been arrested). The test also...

  4. 21 CFR 864.7275 - Euglobulin lysis time tests.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... time required for the lysis (dissolution) of a clot formed from fibrinogen in the euglobulin fraction (that fraction of the plasma responsible for the formation of plasmin, a clot lysing enzyme). This test evaluates natural fibrinolysis (destruction of a blood clot after bleeding has been arrested). The test also...

  5. 21 CFR 864.7275 - Euglobulin lysis time tests.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... time required for the lysis (dissolution) of a clot formed from fibrinogen in the euglobulin fraction (that fraction of the plasma responsible for the formation of plasmin, a clot lysing enzyme). This test evaluates natural fibrinolysis (destruction of a blood clot after bleeding has been arrested). The test also...

  6. 42 CFR 410.63 - Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors: Conditions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ... 42 Public Health 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors... Other Health Services § 410.63 Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors: Conditions... under § 410.10, subject to the specified conditions: (a) Hepatitis B vaccine: Conditions. Effective...

  7. Removal of Chronic Intravascular Blood Clots using Liquid Plasma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jung, Jae-Chul; Choi, Myeong; Koo, Il; Yu, Zengqi; Collins, George

    2011-10-01

    An electrical embolectomy device for removing chronic intravascular blood clots using liquid plasma under saline environment was demonstrated. We employed a proxy experimental blood clot model of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and actual equine blood clot. Thermal damage to contiguous tissue and the collagen denaturing via the plasma irradiation were investigated by histological analysis using birefringence of the tissue and verified by FT-IR spectroscopic study, respectively, which showed the high removal rate up to 2 mm per minute at room temperature and small thermal damage less than 200 μm.

  8. Conservative treatment of concomitant extraperitoneal bladder rupture and intrabladder blood clot formation: Case report of application of ureteral catheterization.

    PubMed

    Fu, Chih-Yuan; Shih, Chun-Han; Chang, Po-Yen; Hsiao, Chi-Hao; Wang, Yu-Chun; Chen, Ray-Jade

    2012-12-01

    Most extraperitoneal bladder ruptures can be treated conservatively with catheter drainage only. However, in patients with concomitant intrabladder blood clot formation and extraperitoneal bladder rupture, surgery for blood clot evacuation and bladder repair are usually needed due to occlusion of the urinary catheter. In our patient, we used a ureteral catheter to bypass the clots in the bladder to provide adequate urinary drainage. This procedure serves as a valuable tool in the conservative treatment of extraperitoneal bladder injury.

  9. Recurrent clot anuria following laparoscopic pyeloplasty in a solitary functioning kidney: managing with double guide wire technique

    PubMed Central

    Kumar, Santosh; Singh, Shivanshu; Parmar, Kalpesh Mahesh; Garg, Nitin

    2014-01-01

    Clot anuria in a solitary functioning kidney is an emergency situation. Haematuria with clot anuria in an early postoperative period represents a challenge, as treatment options are limited. Manipulation of the anastomotic site may lead to anastomotic disruption and urinoma while use of thrombolytic therapy poses the danger of increasing haematuria. We report a case of anuria due to clot retention in the upper tract following laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty in a solitary functioning kidney, managed successfully with double guide wire technique. PMID:25540210

  10. Common agents used to unblock blood clots within tympanostomy tubes: an ex vivo study and review of literature.

    PubMed

    Burke, Emily L; Walvekar, Rohan R; Lin, James; Hagan, Joseph; Kluka, Evelyn A

    2009-12-01

    To determine the efficacy of common solutions used to dissolve blood clots blocking tympanostomy tubes (TTs) of differing lengths and diameters. An ex vivo experimental study. Ear models were built by the study investigator. Tympanostomy tubes were inserted into the models and blocked with blood clots. Test solutions were applied to the blood clots, and time for clearance was recorded via microscopic visual confirmation. Richards T-tube had higher odds of unclogging than collar button tubes (odds ratio: 2.37, 95% confidence intervals 1.02-5.54, p=0.042). Vinegar and 3% hydrogen peroxide were most effective for Richards T-tubes and collar button tubes, respectively. Common solutions (vinegar and hydrogen peroxide) were more effective than antibiotic drops in clearing blood clot blocking TTs.

  11. Circulating Microparticles Alter Formation, Structure, and Properties of Fibrin Clots.

    PubMed

    Zubairova, Laily D; Nabiullina, Roza M; Nagaswami, Chandrasekaran; Zuev, Yuriy F; Mustafin, Ilshat G; Litvinov, Rustem I; Weisel, John W

    2015-12-04

    Despite the importance of circulating microparticles in haemostasis and thrombosis, there is limited evidence for potential causative effects of naturally produced cell-derived microparticles on fibrin clot formation and its properties. We studied the significance of blood microparticles for fibrin formation, structure, and susceptibility to fibrinolysis by removing them from platelet-free plasma using filtration. Clots made in platelet-free and microparticle-depleted plasma samples from the same healthy donors were analyzed in parallel. Microparticles accelerate fibrin polymerisation and support formation of more compact clots that resist internal and external fibrinolysis. These variations correlate with faster thrombin generation, suggesting thrombin-mediated kinetic effects of microparticles on fibrin formation, structure, and properties. In addition, clots formed in the presence of microparticles, unlike clots from the microparticle-depleted plasma, contain 0.1-0.5-μm size granular and CD61-positive material on fibres, suggesting that platelet-derived microparticles attach to fibrin. Therefore, the blood of healthy individuals contains functional microparticles at the levels that have a procoagulant potential. They affect the structure and stability of fibrin clots indirectly through acceleration of thrombin generation and through direct physical incorporation into the fibrin network. Both mechanisms underlie a potential role of microparticles in haemostasis and thrombosis as modulators of fibrin formation, structure, and resistance to fibrinolysis.

  12. Circulating Microparticles Alter Formation, Structure, and Properties of Fibrin Clots

    PubMed Central

    Zubairova, Laily D.; Nabiullina, Roza M.; Nagaswami, Chandrasekaran; Zuev, Yuriy F.; Mustafin, Ilshat G.; Litvinov, Rustem I.; Weisel, John W.

    2015-01-01

    Despite the importance of circulating microparticles in haemostasis and thrombosis, there is limited evidence for potential causative effects of naturally produced cell-derived microparticles on fibrin clot formation and its properties. We studied the significance of blood microparticles for fibrin formation, structure, and susceptibility to fibrinolysis by removing them from platelet-free plasma using filtration. Clots made in platelet-free and microparticle-depleted plasma samples from the same healthy donors were analyzed in parallel. Microparticles accelerate fibrin polymerisation and support formation of more compact clots that resist internal and external fibrinolysis. These variations correlate with faster thrombin generation, suggesting thrombin-mediated kinetic effects of microparticles on fibrin formation, structure, and properties. In addition, clots formed in the presence of microparticles, unlike clots from the microparticle-depleted plasma, contain 0.1–0.5-μm size granular and CD61-positive material on fibres, suggesting that platelet-derived microparticles attach to fibrin. Therefore, the blood of healthy individuals contains functional microparticles at the levels that have a procoagulant potential. They affect the structure and stability of fibrin clots indirectly through acceleration of thrombin generation and through direct physical incorporation into the fibrin network. Both mechanisms underlie a potential role of microparticles in haemostasis and thrombosis as modulators of fibrin formation, structure, and resistance to fibrinolysis. PMID:26635081

  13. Mechanisms by which thrombolytic therapy results in nonuniform lysis and residual thrombus after reperfusion.

    PubMed

    Anand, S; Kudallur, V; Pitman, E B; Diamond, S L

    1997-01-01

    A transport-reaction model describing penetration of plasmin by diffusion and permeation into a dissolving fibrin gel was solved numerically to explore mechanisms that lead to the formation and growth of dissolution fingers through blood clots during thrombolytic therapy. Under conditions of fluid permeation driven by arterial pressures, small random spatial variations in the initial fibrin density within clots (+/-4 to 25% peak variations) were predicted by the simulation to result in dramatic dissolution fingers that grew in time. With in vitro experiments, video microscopy revealed that the shape of the proximal face of a fibrin gel, when deformed by pressure-driven permeation, led to lytic breakthrough in the center of the clot, consistent with model predictions of increased velocities in this region leading to cannulation. Computer simulation of lysis of fibrin retracted by platelets (where more permeable regions are expected in the middle of the clot due to retraction) predicted cannulation of the clot during thrombolysis. This residual, annular thrombus was predicted to lyse more slowly, because radial pressure gradients to drive inner clot permeation were quite small. In conjunction with kinetic models of systemic pharmacodynamics and plasminogen activation biochemistry, a two-dimensional transport-reaction model can facilitate the prediction of the time and causes of clot cannulation, poor reperfusion, and embolism during thrombolysis.

  14. Mechanics and contraction dynamics of single platelets and implications for clot stiffening

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lam, Wilbur A.; Chaudhuri, Ovijit; Crow, Ailey; Webster, Kevin D.; Li, Tai-De; Kita, Ashley; Huang, James; Fletcher, Daniel A.

    2011-01-01

    Platelets interact with fibrin polymers to form blood clots at sites of vascular injury. Bulk studies have shown clots to be active materials, with platelet contraction driving the retraction and stiffening of clots. However, neither the dynamics of single-platelet contraction nor the strength and elasticity of individual platelets, both of which are important for understanding clot material properties, have been directly measured. Here we use atomic force microscopy to measure the mechanics and dynamics of single platelets. We find that platelets contract nearly instantaneously when activated by contact with fibrinogen and complete contraction within 15 min. Individual platelets can generate an average maximum contractile force of 29 nN and form adhesions stronger than 70 nN. Our measurements show that when exposed to stiffer microenvironments, platelets generated higher stall forces, which indicates that platelets may be able to contract heterogeneous clots more uniformly. The high elasticity of individual platelets, measured to be 10 kPa after contraction, combined with their high contractile forces, indicates that clots may be stiffened through direct reinforcement by platelets as well as by strain stiffening of fibrin under tension due to platelet contraction. These results show how the mechanosensitivity and mechanics of single cells can be used to dynamically alter the material properties of physiologic systems.

  15. Caseinolytic and milk-clotting activities from Moringa oleifera flowers.

    PubMed

    Pontual, Emmanuel V; Carvalho, Belany E A; Bezerra, Ranilson S; Coelho, Luana C B B; Napoleão, Thiago H; Paiva, Patrícia M G

    2012-12-01

    This work reports the detection and characterization of caseinolytic and milk-clotting activities from Moringa oleifera flowers. Proteins extracted from flowers were precipitated with 60% ammonium sulphate. Caseinolytic activity of the precipitated protein fraction (PP) was assessed using azocasein, as well as α(s)-, β- and κ-caseins as substrates. Milk-clotting activity was analysed using skim milk. The effects of heating (30-100°C) and pH (3.0-11.0) on enzyme activities were determined. Highest caseinolytic activity on azocasein was detected after previous incubation of PP at pH 4.0 and after heating at 50°C. Milk-clotting activity, detected only in the presence of CaCl(2), was highest at incubation of PP at pH 3.0 and remained stable up to 50°C. The pre-treatment of milk at 70°C resulted in highest clotting activity. Enzyme assays in presence of protease inhibitors indicated the presence of aspartic, cysteine, serine and metallo proteases. Aspartic proteases appear to be the main enzymes involved in milk-clotting activity. PP promoted extensive cleavage of κ-casein and low level of α(s)- and β-caseins hydrolysis. The milk-clotting activity indicates the application of M. oleifera flowers in dairy industry. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. An Investigation Into the Effects of In Vitro Dilution With Different Colloid Resuscitation Fluids on Clot Microstructure Formation.

    PubMed

    Lawrence, Matthew James; Marsden, Nick; Kaczynski, Jakub; Davies, Gareth; Davies, Nia; Hawkins, Karl; Perumal, Sounder; Brown, Martin Rowan; Morris, Keith; Davidson, Simon J; Williams, Phylip Rhodri; Evans, Phillip Adrian

    2016-11-01

    Balancing the beneficial effects of resuscitation fluids against their detrimental effect on hemostasis is an important clinical issue. We aim to compare the in vitro effects of 3 different colloid resuscitation fluids (4.5% albumin, hydroxyethyl starch [Voluven 6%], and gelatin [Geloplasma]) on clot microstructure formation using a novel viscoelastic technique, the gel point. This novel hemorheologic technique measures the biophysical properties of the clot and provides an assessment of clot microstructure from its viscoelastic properties. Importantly, in contrast to many assays in routine clinical use, the measurement is performed using unadulterated whole blood in a near-patient setting and provides rapid assessment of coagulation. We hypothesized that different colloids will have a lesser or greater detrimental effect on clot microstructure formation when compared against each other. Healthy volunteers were recruited into the study (n = 104), and a 20-mL sample of whole blood was obtained. Each volunteer was assigned to 1 of the 3 fluids, and the sample was diluted to 1 of 5 different dilutions (baseline, 10%, 20%, 40%, and 60%). The blood was tested using the gel point technique, which measures clot mechanical strength and quantifies clot microstructure (df) at the incipient stages of fibrin formation. df and clot mechanical strength decrease with progressive dilution for all 3 fluids. A significant reduction in df from baseline was recorded at dilutions of 20% for albumin (P < .0001), 40% for starch (P < .0001), and 60% for gelatin (P < .0001). We also observed significant differences, in terms of df, when comparing the different types of colloid (P < .0001). We found that albumin dilution produced the largest changes in clot microstructure, providing the lowest values of df (= 1.41 ± 0.061 at 60% dilution) compared with starch (1.52 ± 0.081) and gelatin (1.58 ± 0.063). We show that dilution with all 3 fluids has a significant effect on coagulation at even relatively low dilution volumes (20% and 40%). Furthermore, we quantify, using a novel viscoelastic technique, how the physiochemical properties of the 3 colloids exert individual changes on clot microstructure.

  17. Two-incision laparoscopic appendectomy for a severe hemophilia A child patient with coagulation factor VII deficiency: Case report and review of literature.

    PubMed

    He, Jin Peng; Feng, Jie Xiong

    2017-10-01

    The main complication of patients with severe hemophilia is recurrent bleeding events that usually affected musculoskeletal contractures. And replacement therapy methods were continuously improved to minimize adverse impacts brought by those complications. However, only several cases reported about the appendectomy for hemophilia A. We report a case of acute appendicitis treated by two-incision laparoscopy in a boy with hemophilia A and coagulation factor VII deficiency for the first time. An 8y7m-old Chinese boy presented with half a day of right sided abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. He received a computed tomography (CT) scan which revealed an enlarged appendix, thickened wall and appendiceal fecalith, and had received a conservative anti-bacterial treatment for his acute appendicitis but failed. He was diagnosed with hemophilia A and coagulation factor VII deficiency. Two-incision laparoscopic appendectomy was made in success with a careful management of perioperative period. We monitored the clotting factor FVIII level and gave him a replacement therapy. The patient had an uneventful recovery. It is important to exclude intraabdominal or retroperitoneal hemorrhage in patients suffering from hemophilia and acute abdominal pain. Pre-operative evaluation of validity of the FVIII replacement therapy is another effective strategy to assess the safety and feasibility of applying an operation procedure. The two-incision laparoscopic appendectomy is an effective treatment for this kind of patients for its minimal trauma and fast recovery characteristics. Our report shows that laparoscopic appendectomy is feasible in a child suffering from hemophilia after adequate blood clotting factor replacement treatment.

  18. Availability of the B beta(15-21) epitope on cross-linked human fibrin and its plasmic degradation products

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chen, F.; Haber, E.; Matsueda, G. R.

    1992-01-01

    The binding of radiolabeled monoclonal antifibrin antibody 59D8 (specific for fibrin but not fibrinogen) to a series of degraded fibrin clots showed that the availability of the B beta(15-21) epitope (against which 59D8 had been raised) was inversely proportional to the extent of clot lysis. Examination of digest supernatants revealed that the B beta(15-21) epitope was released from clots as a high molecular weight degradation product in the presence of calcium ions but that the generation of low molecular weight peptides occurred in the absence of calcium ions. To address the question of epitope accessibility, we compared levels of fibrin clot binding among four radioactively labeled antibodies: antifibrin monoclonal antibody 59D8, two antifibrinogen monoclonal antibodies that cross-reacted with fibrin, and an affinity-purified polyclonal antifibrinogen antibody. We expected that the antifibrinogen antibodies would show enhanced binding to clots in comparison with the antifibrin antibody. However, the epitope accessibility experiments showed that all four antibody preparations bound fibrin clots at comparable levels. Taken together, these studies demonstrated that one fibrin-specific epitope, B beta(15-21), remains available on clots as they undergo degradation by plasmin and, importantly, that the epitope is not solubilized at a rate faster than the rate at which the clot is itself solubilized. The availability of the B beta(15-21) epitope during the course of plasminolysis assures the potential utility of antifibrin antibodies such as 59D8 for detecting thrombi and targeting plasminogen activators.

  19. Pulsed focused ultrasound-induced displacements in confined in vitro blood clots.

    PubMed

    Wright, Cameron C; Hynynen, Kullervo; Goertz, David E

    2012-03-01

    Ultrasound has been shown to potentiate the effects of tissue plasminogen activator to improve clot lysis in a range of in vitro and in vivo studies as well as in clinical trials. One possible mechanism of action is acoustic radiation force-induced clot displacements. In this study, we investigate the temporal and spatial dynamics of clot displacements and strain initiated by focused ultrasound pulses. Displacements were produced by a 1.51 MHz f-number 1 transducer over a range of acoustic powers (1-85 W) in clots constrained within an agar vessel phantom channel. Displacements were tracked during and after a 5.45 ms therapy pulse using a 20 MHz high-frequency ultrasound imaging probe. Peak thrombus displacements were found to be linear as a function of acoustic power up to 60 W before leveling off near 128 μm for the highest transmit powers. The time to peak displacement and recovery time of blood clots was largely independent of acoustic powers with measured values near 2 ms. A linear relationship between peak axial strain and transmit power was observed, reaching a peak value of 11% at 35 W. The peak strain occurred ~0.75 mm from the focal zone for all powers investigated in both lateral and axial directions. These results indicate that substantial displacements can be induced by focused ultrasound in confined blood clots, and that the spatial and temporal displacement patterns are complex and highly dependent on exposure conditions, which has implications for future work investigating their link to clot lysis and for developing approaches to exploit these effects.

  20. Rediscovering the wound hematoma as a site of hemostasis during major arterial hemorrhage.

    PubMed

    White, N J; Mehic, E; Wang, X; Chien, D; Lim, E; St John, A E; Stern, S A; Mourad, P D; Rieger, M; Fries, D; Martinowitz, U

    2015-12-01

    Treatments for major internal bleeding after injury include permissive hypotension to decrease the rate of blood loss, intravenous infusion of plasma or clotting factors to improve clot formation, and rapid surgical hemostasis or arterial embolization to control bleeding vessels. Yet, little is known regarding major internal arterial hemostasis, or how these commonly used treatments might influence hemostasis. (i) To use a swine model of femoral artery bleeding to understand the perivascular hemostatic response to contained arterial hemorrhage. (ii) To directly confirm the association between hemodynamics and bleeding velocity. (iii) To observe the feasibility of delivering an activated clotting factor directly to internal sites of bleeding using a simplified angiographic approach. Ultrasound was used to measure bleeding velocity and in vivo clot formation by elastography in a swine model of contained femoral artery bleeding with fluid resuscitation. A swine model of internal pelvic and axillary artery hemorrhage was also used to demonstrate the feasibility of local delivery of an activated clotting factor. In this model, clots formed slowly within the peri-wound hematoma, but eventually contained the bleeding. Central hemodynamics correlated positively with bleeding velocity. Infusion of recombinant human activated factor VII into the injured artery near the site of major internal hemorrhage in the pelvis and axillae was feasible. We rediscovered that clot formation within the peri-wound hematoma is an integral component of hemostasis and a feasible target for the treatment of major internal bleeding using activated clotting factors delivered using a simplified angiographic approach. © 2015 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

  1. Application of actuator-driven pulsed water jet in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage surgery: its effectiveness for dissection around ruptured aneurysmal walls and subarachnoid clot removal.

    PubMed

    Endo, Hidenori; Endo, Toshiki; Nakagawa, Atsuhiro; Fujimura, Miki; Tominaga, Teiji

    2017-07-01

    In clipping surgery for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), critical steps include clot removal and dissection of aneurysms without premature rupture or brain injuries. To pursue this goal, a piezo actuator-driven pulsed water jet (ADPJ) system was introduced in this study. This study included 42 patients, who suffered aSAH and underwent clipping surgery. Eleven patients underwent surgery with the assistance of the ADPJ system (ADPJ group). In the other 31 patients, surgery was performed without the ADPJ system (Control group). The ADPJ system was used for clot removal and aneurysmal dissection. The clinical impact of the ADPJ system was judged by comparing the rate of premature rupture, degree of clot removal, and clinical outcomes. Intraoperatively, a premature rupture was encountered in 18.2 and 25.8% of cases in the ADPJ and control groups, respectively. Although the differences were not statistically significant, intraoperative observation suggested that the ADPJ system was effective in clot removal and dissection of aneurysms in a safe manner. Computed tomography scans indicated the achievement of higher degrees of clot removal, especially when the ADPJ system was used for cases with preoperative clot volumes of more than 25 ml (p = 0.047, Mann-Whitney U test). Clinical outcomes, including incidence of postoperative brain injury or symptomatic vasospasm, were similar in both groups. We described our preliminary surgical results using the ADPJ system for aSAH. Although further study is needed, the ADPJ system was considered a safe and effective tool for clot removal and dissection of aneurysms.

  2. Invadopodia formation in blood clots: Not so SLUGgish after all.

    PubMed

    Knowles, Lynn M; Maranchie, Jodi K; Pilch, Jan

    2014-01-01

    Blood clotting specifically supports the metastatic dissemination of malignant cells to the lung. We have recently demonstrated that 2 tumor types that are prone to form lung metastases, renal cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma, share specific adhesive mechanisms that support the invasion and colonization of blood clots in the pulmonary vasculature.

  3. 7 CFR 58.436 - Rennet, pepsin, other milk clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 3 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Rennet, pepsin, other milk clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes. 58.436 Section 58.436 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued... clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes. Enzyme preparations used in the manufacture of cheese shall be safe...

  4. 7 CFR 58.436 - Rennet, pepsin, other milk clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 3 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Rennet, pepsin, other milk clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes. 58.436 Section 58.436 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued... clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes. Enzyme preparations used in the manufacture of cheese shall be safe...

  5. 7 CFR 58.436 - Rennet, pepsin, other milk clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 3 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Rennet, pepsin, other milk clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes. 58.436 Section 58.436 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued... clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes. Enzyme preparations used in the manufacture of cheese shall be safe...

  6. 7 CFR 58.436 - Rennet, pepsin, other milk clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 3 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Rennet, pepsin, other milk clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes. 58.436 Section 58.436 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued... clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes. Enzyme preparations used in the manufacture of cheese shall be safe...

  7. 7 CFR 58.436 - Rennet, pepsin, other milk clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 3 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Rennet, pepsin, other milk clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes. 58.436 Section 58.436 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued... clotting enzymes and flavor enzymes. Enzyme preparations used in the manufacture of cheese shall be safe...

  8. 42 CFR 410.63 - Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors: Conditions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-10-01

    ... 42 Public Health 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors... Other Health Services § 410.63 Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors: Conditions. Notwithstanding the exclusion from coverage of vaccines (see § 405.310 of this chapter) and self-administered...

  9. 42 CFR 410.63 - Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors: Conditions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-10-01

    ... 42 Public Health 2 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors... Other Health Services § 410.63 Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors: Conditions. Notwithstanding the exclusion from coverage of vaccines (see § 405.310 of this chapter) and self-administered...

  10. 42 CFR 410.63 - Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors: Conditions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-10-01

    ... 42 Public Health 2 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors... Other Health Services § 410.63 Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors: Conditions. Notwithstanding the exclusion from coverage of vaccines (see § 405.310 of this chapter) and self-administered...

  11. 42 CFR 410.63 - Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors: Conditions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-10-01

    ... 42 Public Health 2 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors... Other Health Services § 410.63 Hepatitis B vaccine and blood clotting factors: Conditions. Notwithstanding the exclusion from coverage of vaccines (see § 405.310 of this chapter) and self-administered...

  12. Contributions of Antoine Barthélémy Clot (1793-1868): A historiographical reflection of public health in Ottoman Egypt.

    PubMed

    Aboul-Enein, Basil H; Puddy, William

    2016-08-01

    This paper reviews the selected historiographic and contemporary literature that discussed the medical and public health contribution of Antoine Barthélémy Clot (Clot Bey) and how these contributions shaped modern public health in Ottoman Egypt, and the major features that led to the development of the public health infrastructure of early modern Egypt based on the contributions of Clot Bey. The literature discussed the establishment of Egypt's first modern public health and medical schools under the direct administration and guidance of Clot Bey, and his major contribution in the fields of vaccination, quarantine, the development of a culturally congruent curriculum for medical students, and the public health policies and practices enacted during the reign of Muhammad Ali Pasha that addressed major communicable diseases affecting Egypt. With considerable support from the viceroy of Egypt despite popular resistance, Clot Bey significantly modernized Egyptian medicine, medical education and reformed the public health infrastructure. He became one of the preeminent medical figures of nineteenth century Ottoman Egypt. © The Author(s) 2016.

  13. Unfavorably Altered Fibrin Clot Properties in Patients with Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss Syndrome): Association with Thrombin Generation and Eosinophilia.

    PubMed

    Mastalerz, Lucyna; Celińska-Lӧwenhoff, Magdalena; Krawiec, Piotr; Batko, Bogdan; Tłustochowicz, Witold; Undas, Anetta

    2015-01-01

    Given reports on the increased prevalence of thromboembolic incidents in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA; Churg-Strauss syndrome), we investigated whether fibrin clot properties are unfavorably altered in EGPA. Ex vivo plasma fibrin clot characteristics, including clot permeability, turbidimetry and efficiency of fibrinolysis using two assays, were investigated in 34 consecutive patients with remission in EGPA according to the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score version 3 (23 female, 11 male), aged 48 (range, 21-80) years. The control group comprised 34 age- and sex- matched volunteers. Compared with controls, patients with EGPA were characterized by denser fiber clots (estimated pore size, Ks, 7.30±0.93 vs 10.14±1.07 10-9 cm2), faster fibrin polymerization (lag phase in a turbidimetric curve, 41.8±3.6 vs 47.4±2.9 s), thicker fibrin fibers (maximum absorbance, ΔAbs, 0.87±0.09 vs 0.72±0.07), higher maximum levels of D-dimer released from clots (DDmax 4.10±0.46 vs 3.54±0.35 mg/L), and prolonged clot lysis time (t50%; 9.50±1.45 vs 7.56±0.87 min); all p<0.0001. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed denser plasma fibrin networks composed of thinner fibers formed in EGPA. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody status and C-reactive protein did not affect clot variables. Multivariate analysis adjusted for fibrinogen showed that Ks was predicted by eosinophil count, peak thrombin generation, factor VIII, and soluble CD40 ligand, whereas eosinophil count, peak thrombin generation and antiplasmin predicted t50%. This study is the first to show that EGPA is associated with prothrombotic plasma fibrin clot phenotype, which may contribute to thromboembolic manifestations reported in this disease.

  14. The Effect of a Simulated Commercial Flight Environment with Hypoxia and Low Humidity on Clotting, Platelet, and Endothelial Function in Participants with Type 2 Diabetes - A Cross-over Study.

    PubMed

    Konya, Judit; Al Qaissi, Ahmed; Sathyapalan, Thozhukat; Ajjan, Ramzi; Madden, Leigh; Naseem, Khalid M; Garrett, Andrew Thomas; Kilpatrick, Eric; Atkin, Stephen L

    2018-01-01

    To determine if clotting, platelet, and endothelial function were affected by simulated short-haul commercial air flight conditions (SF) in participants with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) compared to controls. 10 participants with T2DM (7 females, 3 males) and 10 controls (3 females, 7 males) completed the study. Participants were randomized to either spend 2 h in an environmental chamber at sea level conditions (temperature: 23°C, oxygen concentration 21%, humidity 45%), or subject to a simulated 2-h simulated flight (SF: temperature: 23°C, oxygen concentration 15%, humidity 15%), and crossed over 7 days later. Main outcome measures: clot formation and clot lysis parameters, functional platelet activation markers, and endothelial function measured by reactive hyperemia index (RHI) by EndoPAT and serum microparticles. Comparing baseline with SF conditions, clot maximal absorption was increased in controls (0.375 ± 0.05 vs. 0.39 ± 0.05, p  < 0.05) and participants with T2DM (0.378 ± 0.089 vs. 0.397 ± 0.089, p  < 0.01), while increased basal platelet activation for both fibrinogen binding and P-selectin expression ( p  < 0.05) was seen in participants with T2DM. Parameters of clot formation and clot lysis, stimulated platelet function (stimulated platelet response to ADP and sensitivity to prostacyclin), and endothelial function were unchanged. While SF resulted in the potential of denser clot formation with enhanced basal platelet activation in T2DM, the dynamic clotting, platelet, and endothelial markers were not affected, suggesting that short-haul commercial flying adds no additional hazard for venous thromboembolism for participants with T2DM compared to controls.

  15. The application of large amplitude oscillatory stress in a study of fully formed fibrin clots

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lamer, T. F.; Thomas, B. R.; Curtis, D. J.; Badiei, N.; Williams, P. R.; Hawkins, K.

    2017-12-01

    The suitability of controlled stress large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOStress) for the characterisation of the nonlinear viscoelastic properties of fully formed fibrin clots is investigated. Capturing the rich nonlinear viscoelastic behaviour of the fibrin network is important for understanding the structural behaviour of clots formed in blood vessels which are exposed to a wide range of shear stresses. We report, for the first time, that artefacts due to ringing exist in both the sample stress and strain waveforms of a LAOStress measurement which will lead to errors in the calculation of nonlinear viscoelastic properties. The process of smoothing the waveforms eliminates these artefacts whilst retaining essential rheological information. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential of LAOStress for characterising the nonlinear viscoelastic properties of fibrin clots in response to incremental increases of applied stress up to the point of fracture. Alternating LAOStress and small amplitude oscillatory shear measurements provide detailed information of reversible and irreversible structural changes of the fibrin clot as a consequence of elevated levels of stress. We relate these findings to previous studies involving large scale deformations of fibrin clots. The LAOStress technique may provide useful information to help understand why some blood clots formed in vessels are stable (such as in deep vein thrombosis) and others break off (leading to a life threatening pulmonary embolism).

  16. What is this chocolate milk in my circuit? A cause of acute clotting of a continuous renal replacement circuit: Questions.

    PubMed

    Kakajiwala, Aadil; Chiotos, Kathleen; Brothers, Julie; Lederman, April; Amaral, Sandra

    2016-12-01

    One of the greatest problems associated with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is the early clotting of filters. A literature search revealed three case reports of lipemic blood causing recurrent clotting and reduced CRRT circuit survival time in adult patients, but no reports of cases in children. A 23-month-old male infant with Martinez-Frias syndrome and multivisceral transplant was admitted to the hospital with severe sepsis and hemolytic anemia. He developed acute kidney injury, fluid overload and electrolyte imbalances requiring CRRT and was also administered total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and fat emulsion. The first circuit lasted 60 h before routine change was required. The second circuit showed acute clotting after only 18 h, and brownish-milky fluid was found in the circuit tubing layered between the clotted blood. The patient's serum triglyceride levels were elevated at 988 mg/dL. The lipid infusion was stopped and CRRT restarted. Serum triglyceride levels improved to 363 mg/dL. The new circuit lasted 63 h before routine change was required. Clotting of CRRT circuits due to elevated triglyceride levels is rare and has not been reported in the pediatric population. Physicians should be mindful of this risk in patients receiving TPN who have unexpected clotting of CRRT circuits.

  17. Antiplatelet Usage Impacts Clot Density in Acute Anterior Circulation Ischemic Stroke

    PubMed Central

    Pikija, Slaven; Magdic, Jozef; Lukic, Anita; Schreiber, Catharina; Mutzenbach, Johannes Sebastian; McCoy, Mark R.; Sellner, Johann

    2016-01-01

    We explored whether clot density in middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion is related to clinical variables, stroke etiology, blood constituents, and prestroke medication. We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with acute ischemic stroke of the anterior circulation admitted to two Central European stroke centers. The acquisition of non-contrast enhanced CT (NECT) and CT angiography (CTA) within 4.5 h of symptom onset was obligatory. We assessed the site of MCA occlusion as well as density, area, and length of the clot in 150 patients. The Hounsfield unit values for the clot were divided with contralateral MCA segment to yield relative Hounsfield Unit ratio (rHU). The site of the vessel occlusion (M1 vs. M2) and antiplatelet usage, but not stroke etiology, significantly influenced rHU. We found an inverse correlation of rHU with erythrocyte count (p < 0.001). The multivariate analysis revealed that a higher rHU (i.e., clot being more hyperdense) was more likely with the use of antiplatelets (OR 4.24, CI 1.10–16.31, p = 0.036). Erythrocyte (OR 0.18, CI 0.05–0.55, p = 0.003), and thrombocyte counts (OR 0.99, CI 0.98–0.99, p = 0.029) were associated with odds for more hypodense clots (lower rHU). Our study disclosed that antiplatelet therapy impacts the composition of intracranial clots of the anterior circulation. PMID:27563874

  18. Action of Nanoparticles on Platelet Activation and Plasmatic Coagulation

    PubMed Central

    Fröhlich, Eleonore

    2016-01-01

    Nanomaterials can get into the blood circulation after injection or by release from implants but also by permeation of the epithelium after oral, respiratory or dermal exposure. Once in the blood, they can affect hemostasis, which is usually not intended. This review addresses effects of biological particles and engineered nanomaterials on hemostasis. The role of platelets and coagulation in normal clotting and the interaction with the immune system are described. Methods to identify effects of nanomaterials on clotting and results from in vitro and in vivo studies are summarized and the role of particle size and surface properties discussed. The literature overview showed that mainly pro-coagulative effects of nanomaterials have been described. In vitro studies suggested stronger effects of smaller than of larger NPs on coagulation and a greater importance of material than of surface charge. For instance, carbon nanotubes, polystyrene particles, and dendrimers inferred with clotting independent from their surface charge. Coating of particles with polyethylene glycol was able to prevent interaction with clotting by some particles, while it had no effect on others and the more recently developed bio-inspired surfaces might help to design coatings for more biocompatible particles. The mainly pro-coagulative action of nanoparticles could present a particular risk for individuals affected by common diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Under standardized conditions, in vitro assays using human blood appear to be a suitable tool to study mechanisms of interference with hemostasis and to optimize hemocompatibility of nanomaterials. PMID:26063498

  19. Adaptive force sonorheometry for assessment of whole blood coagulation.

    PubMed

    Mauldin, F William; Viola, Francesco; Hamer, Theresa C; Ahmed, Eman M; Crawford, Shawna B; Haverstick, Doris M; Lawrence, Michael B; Walker, William F

    2010-05-02

    Viscoelastic diagnostics that monitor the hemostatic function of whole blood (WB), such as thromboelastography, have been developed with demonstrated clinical utility. By measuring the cumulative effects of all components of hemostasis, viscoelastic diagnostics have circumvented many of the challenges associated with more common tests of blood coagulation. We describe a new technology, called sonorheometry, that adaptively applies acoustic radiation force to assess coagulation function in WB. The repeatability (precision) of coagulation parameters was assessed using citrated WB samples. A reference range of coagulation parameters, along with corresponding measurements from prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT), were obtained from WB samples of 20 healthy volunteers. In another study, sonorheometry monitored anticoagulation with heparin (0-5 IU/ml) and reversal from varied dosages of protamine (0-10 IU/ml) in heparinized WB (2 IU/ml). Sonorheometry exhibited low CVs for parameters: clot initiation time (TC1), <7%; clot stabilization time (TC2), <6.5%; and clotting angle (theta), <3.5%. Good correlation was observed between clotting times, TC1 and TC2, and PTT (r=0.65 and 0.74 respectively; n=18). Linearity to heparin dosage was observed with average linearity r>0.98 for all coagulation parameters. We observed maximum reversal of heparin anticoagulation at protamine to heparin ratios of 1.4:1 from TC1 (P=0.6) and 1.2:1 from theta (P=0.55). Sonorheometry is a non-contact method for precise assessment of WB coagulation. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Fibrinolytic Activity and Dose-Dependent Effect of Incubating Human Blood Clots in Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester: In Vitro Assays

    PubMed Central

    Elnager, Abuzar; Hassan, Rosline; Idris, Zamzuri; Mustafa, Zulkifli; Wan-Arfah, Nadiah; Sulaiman, S. A.; Gan, Siew Hua; Abdullah, Wan Zaidah

    2015-01-01

    Background. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) has been reported to possess time-dependent fibrinolytic activity by in vitro assay. This study is aimed at investigating fibrinolytic dose-dependent activity of CAPE using in vitro assays. Methods. Standardized human whole blood (WB) clots were incubated in either blank controls or different concentrations of CAPE (3.75, 7.50, 15.00, 22.50, and 30.00 mM). After 3 hours, D-dimer (DD) levels and WB clot weights were measured for each concentration. Thromboelastography (TEG) parameters were recorded following CAPE incubation, and fibrin morphology was examined under a confocal microscope. Results. Overall, mean DD (μg/mL) levels were significantly different across samples incubated with different CAPE concentrations, and the median pre- and postincubation WB clot weights (grams) were significantly decreased for each CAPE concentration. Fibrin removal was observed microscopically and indicated dose-dependent effects. Based on the TEG test, the Ly30 fibrinolytic parameter was significantly different between samples incubated with two different CAPE concentrations (15.0 and 22.50 mM). The 50% effective dose (ED50) of CAPE (based on DD) was 1.99 mg/mL. Conclusions. This study suggests that CAPE possesses fibrinolytic activity following in vitro incubation and that it has dose-dependent activities. Therefore, further investigation into CAPE as a potential alternative thrombolytic agent should be conducted. PMID:25664321

  1. Optical sensing of anticoagulation status: Towards point-of-care coagulation testing

    PubMed Central

    Tripathi, Markandey M.; Hajjarian, Zeinab; Van Cott, Elizabeth M.; Nadkarni, Seemantini K.

    2017-01-01

    Anticoagulant overdose is associated with major bleeding complications. Rapid coagulation sensing may ensure safe and accurate anticoagulant dosing and reduce bleeding risk. Here, we report the novel use of Laser Speckle Rheology (LSR) for measuring anticoagulation and haemodilution status in whole blood. In the LSR approach, blood from 12 patients and 4 swine was placed in disposable cartridges and time-varying intensity fluctuations of laser speckle patterns were measured to quantify the viscoelastic modulus during clotting. Coagulation parameters, mainly clotting time, clot progression rate (α-angle) and maximum clot stiffness (MA) were derived from the clot viscoelasticity trace and compared with standard Thromboelastography (TEG). To demonstrate the capability for anticoagulation sensing in patients, blood samples from 12 patients treated with warfarin anticoagulant were analyzed. LSR clotting time correlated with prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin time (r = 0.57–0.77, p<0.04) and all LSR parameters demonstrated good correlation with TEG (r = 0.61–0.87, p<0.04). To further evaluate the dose-dependent sensitivity of LSR parameters, swine blood was spiked with varying concentrations of heparin, argatroban and rivaroxaban or serially diluted with saline. We observed that anticoagulant treatments prolonged LSR clotting time in a dose-dependent manner that correlated closely with TEG (r = 0.99, p<0.01). LSR angle was unaltered by anticoagulation whereas TEG angle presented dose-dependent diminution likely linked to the mechanical manipulation of the clot. In both LSR and TEG, MA was largely unaffected by anticoagulation, and LSR presented a higher sensitivity to increased haemodilution in comparison to TEG (p<0.01). Our results establish that LSR rapidly and accurately measures the response of various anticoagulants, opening the opportunity for routine anticoagulation monitoring at the point-of-care or for patient self-testing. PMID:28771571

  2. Catheter placement for lysis of spontaneous intracerebral hematomas: does a catheter position in the core of the hematoma allow more effective and faster hematoma lysis?

    PubMed

    Malinova, Vesna; Schlegel, Anna; Rohde, Veit; Mielke, Dorothee

    2017-07-01

    For the fibrinolytic therapy of intracerebral hematomas (ICH) using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA), a catheter position in the core of the hematoma along the largest clot diameter was assumed to be optimal for an effective clot lysis. However, it never had been proven that core position indeed enhances clot lysis if compared with less optimal catheter positions. In this study, the impact of the catheter position on the effectiveness and on the time course of clot lysis was evaluated. We analyzed the catheter position using a relative error calculating the distance perpendicular to the catheter's center in relation to hematoma's diameter and evaluated the relative hematoma volume reduction (RVR). The correlation of the RVR with the catheter position was evaluated. Additionally, we tried to identify patterns of clot lysis with different catheter positions. The patient's outcome at discharge was evaluated using the Glasgow outcome score. A total of 105 patients were included in the study. The mean hematoma volume was 56 ml. The overall RVR was 62.7 %. In 69 patients, a catheter position in the core of the clot was achieved. We found no significant correlation between catheter position and hematoma RVR (linear regression, p = 0.14). Core catheter position leads to more symmetrical hematoma RVR. Faster clot lysis happens in the vicinity of the catheter openings. We found no significant difference in the patient's outcome dependent on the catheter position (linear regression, p = 0.90). The catheter position in the core of the hematoma along its largest diameter does not significantly influence the effectiveness of clot lysis after rtPA application.

  3. Ultrastructure of hybrid chitosan-glycerol phosphate blood clots by environmental scanning electron microscopy.

    PubMed

    Iliescu, M; Hoemann, C D; Shive, M S; Chenite, A; Buschmann, M D

    2008-03-01

    Chitosan-based polymers have been extensively studied for biomedical applications. Recently, liquid solutions of chitosan in a glycerol phosphate buffer (chitosan-GP) with physiological pH and osmolality were mixed with autologous blood to form hybrid chitosan-GP/blood implants that improved the repair of articular cartilage lesions in a large animal model. The mixture of chitosan-GP and blood forms a viscous liquid, which solidifies in minutes via normal blood coagulation as well as chitosan-mediated mechanisms. Here we have examined the ultrastructure of these chitosan-GP/blood clots as well as regular blood clots and chitosan-GP gels, the latter produced by heating. Both unfixed and fixed samples of chitosan-GP/blood clots, regular blood clots, and chitosan-GP gels were investigated by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) in conjunction with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), the former permitting direct observation of the ultrastructure in hydrated conditions simulating the natural state. By examination of unfixed specimens using ESEM we found that chitosan formed a network structure in both chitosan-GP gels and chitosan-GP/blood clots; however this structure was altered by aldehyde fixation to produce artifactual aggregates of chitosan microparticles. We were also able to identify chitosan in chitosan-GP/blood clots by washing samples in low concentration NaCl solutions followed by local EDS analyses to identify excess chloride versus sodium, and thus presence of cationic chitosan in analyzed features. Additional results indicated that the majority of glycerol phosphate diffuses freely from chitosan-GP gels (by EDS of phosphorus) and that hyperosmotic paraformaldehyde-based fixatives (i.e. 4% w/v) significantly disturb erythrocyte morphology in fixed whole blood clots. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  4. The t-PA-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles shelled with CS or CS-GRGD alter both permeation through and dissolving patterns of blood clots compared with t-PA solution: an in vitro thrombolysis study.

    PubMed

    Wang, Shoei-Shen; Chou, Nai-Kuan; Chung, Tze-Wen

    2009-12-01

    Accelerated thrombolysis by pressure-driven permeation has been demonstrated in in vitro and in vivo animal models by using plasminogen activators (PAs) encapsulated liposomes or PEG microparticles. Recent reports have also described acceleration of thrombolysis using tissue type PA (t-PA) encapsulated in PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) coated with chitosan (CS) or CS-GRGD by interactions between the NPs and blood clots. However, the permeation through and dissolving patterns in thrombolysis with the aforementioned microparticles or NPs, which may be clinically relevant to the recovery status of the posttreatments, have not been reported. Therefore, this work studied such phenomena in thrombolysis with t-PA encapsulated in NPs. The t-PA solution and the NPs exhibited distinctly different permeation patterns of dissolved clots. Plasma permeates through clots showed a stream flow or burst flow phenomena when lyzed with NPs shelled with CS or CS-GRGD, respectively, whereas a diffusion pattern was observed in those lyzed with t-PA solution. At the outlet position of clots, the clots dissolved with PLGA/CS and PLGA/CS-GRGD NPs revealed extremely rough surfaces to a depth of 100 mum, indicating that a cross-permeation direction of clot lysis occurred, while those dissolved with t-PA solution showed slightly rough surfaces to a depth of 12 mum. Permeation through and clot dissolution patterns of thrombolysis with t-PA encapsulated in NPs shelled with CS or CS-GRGD distinctly differed from those dissolved with t-PA solutions in this in vitro thrombolysis model, These findings may be relevant to posttreatment of patients with conventional PA thrombolysis. Copyright 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  5. Reduced Plasminogen Binding and Delayed Activation Render γ′-Fibrin More Resistant to Lysis than γA-Fibrin*

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Paul Y.; Vu, Trang T.; Leslie, Beverly A.; Stafford, Alan R.; Fredenburgh, James C.; Weitz, Jeffrey I.

    2014-01-01

    Fibrin (Fn) clots formed from γ′-fibrinogen (γ′-Fg), a variant with an elongated γ-chain, are resistant to lysis when compared with clots formed from the predominant γA-Fg, a finding previously attributed to differences in clot structure due to delayed thrombin-mediated fibrinopeptide (FP) B release or impaired cross-linking by factor XIIIa. We investigated whether slower lysis of γ′-Fn reflects delayed plasminogen (Pg) binding and/or activation by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), reduced plasmin-mediated proteolysis of γ′-Fn, and/or altered cross-linking. Clots formed from γ′-Fg lysed more slowly than those formed from γA-Fg when lysis was initiated with tPA/Pg when FPA and FPB were both released, but not when lysis was initiated with plasmin, or when only FPA was released. Pg bound to γ′-Fn with an association rate constant 22% lower than that to γA-Fn, and the lag time for initiation of Pg activation by tPA was longer with γ′-Fn than with γA-Fn. Once initiated, however, Pg activation kinetics were similar. Factor XIIIa had similar effects on clots formed from both Fg isoforms. Therefore, slower lysis of γ′-Fn clots reflects delayed FPB release, which results in delayed binding and activation of Pg. When clots were formed from Fg mixtures containing more than 20% γ′-Fg, the upper limit of the normal level, the delay in lysis was magnified. These data suggest that circulating levels of γ′-Fg modulate the susceptibility of clots to lysis by slowing Pg activation by tPA and provide another example of the intimate connections between coagulation and fibrinolysis. PMID:25128532

  6. High-quality and -quantity DNA extraction from frozen archival blood clots for genotyping of single-nucleotide polymorphisms.

    PubMed

    Bank, Steffen; Nexø, Bjørn Andersen; Andersen, Vibeke; Vogel, Ulla; Andersen, Paal Skytt

    2013-06-01

    The recovery of biological samples for genetic epidemiological studies can be cumbersome. Blood clots are routinely collected for serological examinations. However, the extraction of DNA from blood clots can be difficult and often results in low yields. The aim was to compare the efficiency of commercial purification kits for extracting DNA from long-term frozen clotted blood. Serum tubes with clotted blood were stored at -20°C for 1 to 2.5 years before DNA extraction. DNA was extracted from 10 blood clot samples using PureGene (Qiagen) with and without glycogen, the QIAamp DNA Micro kit (Qiagen), and the Nucleospin 96 Blood kit (Macherey-Nagel). Furthermore, blood clots from 1055 inflammatory bowel disease patients were purified using the Maxwell 16 Blood purification kit (Promega). The DNA was extracted according to the manufacturers` instructions and real-time PCR and the A(260)/A(280) ratio were used to evaluate the quality of the extracted DNA. The highest DNA yield was obtained by the Maxwell 16 Blood purification kit (Promega) with a median of 4.90 μg (range 0.8-25 μg) pr 300 μL total blood. PureGene with glycogen (Qiagen) had the second highest yield with a median of 0.65 μg (range 0.5-2.6 μg) pr 300 μL total blood. The yield obtained by the different commercial kits varied considerably. Our work demonstrates that high-quality and -quantity DNA can be extracted with the Maxwell 16 Blood purification kit (Promega) from cryopreserved blood clots, even after prolonged storage. The recovered DNA served as a reliable PCR template for single-nucleotide polymorphism assays.

  7. Comparison of Hemostasis Times With a Kaolin-Based Hemostatic Pad (QuikClot Radial) vs Mechanical Compression (TR Band) Following Transradial Access: A Pilot Prospective Study.

    PubMed

    Roberts, Jonathan S; Niu, Jianli; Pastor-Cervantes, Juan A

    2017-10-01

    Hemostasis following transradial access (TRA) is usually achieved by mechanical compression. We investigated use of the QuikClot Radial hemostasis pad (Z-Medica) compared with the TR Band (Terumo Medical) to shorten hemostasis after TRA. Thirty patients undergoing TRA coronary angiography and/or percutaneous coronary intervention were randomized into three cohorts post TRA: 10 patients received mechanical compression with the TR Band, 10 patients received 30 min of compression with the QuikClot Radial pad, and 10 patients received 60 min of compression with the QuikClot Radial pad. Times to hemostasis and access-site complications were recorded. Radial artery patency was evaluated 1 hour after hemostasis by the reverse Barbeau's test. There were no differences in patient characteristics, mean dose of heparin (7117 ± 1054 IU), or mean activated clotting time value (210 ± 50 sec) at the end of procedure among the three groups. Successful hemostasis was achieved in 100% of patients with both the 30-min and 60-min compression groups using the QuikClot pad. Hemostasis failure occurred in 50% of patients when the TR Band was initially weaned at the protocol-driven time (40 min after sheath removal). Mean compression time for hemostasis with the TR Band was 149.4 min compared with 30.7 min and 60.9 min for the 30-min and 60-min QuikClot groups, respectively. No radial artery occlusion occurred in any subject at the end of the study. Use of the QuikClot Radial pad following TRA in this pilot trial significantly shortened hemostasis times when compared with the TR Band, with no increased complications noted.

  8. Characterisation of clot microstructure properties in stable coronary artery disease.

    PubMed

    Sabra, Ahmed; Lawrence, Matthew James; Aubrey, Robert; Obaid, Daniel; Chase, Alexander; Smith, Dave; Thomas, Phillip; Storton, Sharon; Davies, Gareth R; Hawkins, Karl; Williams, Phylip Rhodri; Morris, Keith; Evans, Phillip Adrian

    2017-01-01

    Coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with an increased prothrombotic tendency and is also linked to unfavourably altered clot microstructure. We have previously described a biomarker of clot microstructure (d f ) that is unfavourably altered in acute myocardial infarction. The d f biomarker assesses whether the blood will form denser or looser microstructures when it clots. In this study we assessed in patients with stable chest pain whether d f can differentiate between obstructed and unobstructed CAD. A blood sample prior to angiography was obtained from 251 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. Patients were categorised based on angiographic findings as presence or absence of obstructive CAD (stenosis ≥50%). The blood sample was assessed using the d f biomarker, standard laboratory markers and platelet aggregometry (Multiplate). A significant difference (p=0.028) in d f was observed between obstructive CAD (1.748±0.057, n=83) and unobstructive CAD (1.732±0.052, n=168), where patients with significant CAD produce denser, more tightly packed clots. d f was also raised in men with obstructive CAD compared with women (1.745±0.055 vs 1.723±0.052, p=0.007). Additionally d f significantly correlated with the platelets response to arachidonic acid as measured by the ASPItest area under the curve readings from platelet aggregometry (correlation coefficient=0.166, p=0.008), a low value of the ASPItest indicating effective aspirin use was associated with looser, less dense clots. For the first time, we characterise clot microstructure, as measured by d f , in patients with stable CAD. d f can potentially be used to risk-stratify patients with stable CAD and assess the efficacy of therapeutic interventions by measuring changes in clot microstructure.

  9. The combination of recombinant factor VIIa and fibrinogen correct clotting ex vivo in patient samples obtained following cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

    PubMed

    Sørensen, Benny; Asvaldsdottir, Hanna S; Gudmundsdottir, Brynja R; Onundarson, Pall T

    2009-12-01

    Cardiac surgery involving cardio pulmonary bypass (CPB) may be associated with development of a coagulopathy that increases risk of bleeding. In the present ex vivo study we investigated the influence of fibrinogen and rFVIIa, alone or in combination, on whole blood coagulation thromboelastometry using pre- and postoperative blood samples from 18 consecutive adult patients undergoing CPB surgery. Dynamic thromboelastometric clotting profiles were recorded using citrated whole blood activated with trace amounts of tissue factor (Innovin, final dilution 1:17000). Blood samples were collected before surgery (control) and postoperative samples were obtained following in vivo neutralization of heparin with protamine sulphate. All blood samples were treated with heparinase to ensure neutralization of possible residual heparin effect. The post-operative blood samples were spiked with buffer, rFVIIa (2 microg/mL), fibrinogen (1 mg/mL), or the combination of rFVIIa and fibrinogen. Despite neutralization of heparin, CPB surgery left a measurable coagulopathy that was thromboelastometrically characterized by prolonged onset of clotting, reduced maximum velocity of clot formation (MaxVel), and decreased maximum clot firmness (MCF). Ex vivo spiking of the postoperative samples with rFVIIa shortened the clotting time. Fibrinogen also shortened the clotting time and, in addition, improved the MaxVel, and MCF. Finally, adding the combination of rFVIIa and fibrinogen to the postoperative samples corrected all thromboelastometric parameters to the preoperative range. In conclusion, the correction of whole blood clotting abnormalities that occurs with rFVIIa and/or fibrinogen suggests that future clinical trials on treatment of bleeding during CPB surgery should study the haemostatic effect of fibrinogen or possibly the combination of rFVIIa and fibrinogen.

  10. Development of a new clot formation protocol for standardized in vitro investigations of sonothrombolysis.

    PubMed

    Roessler, Florian C; Teichert, Andrea; Ohlrich, Marcus; Marxsen, Jan H; Stellmacher, Florian; Tanislav, Christian; Seidel, Günter

    2014-11-30

    Agreement about the most suitable clot formation protocol for sonothrombolysis investigations is lacking. Lysis rates vary strongly owing to different test conditions and, thus, cannot be compared. We aim to establish a simple but physiologically grounded protocol for in vitro coagulation to enable standardized sonothrombolysis investigations. Clots were generated from platelet-rich plasma (PRP) obtained by centrifugation (10 min, 180 × g) of human venous blood (VB). PRP was mixed with the boundary layer formed between the supernatant and the erythrocyte layer. To achieve clots with different platelet counts, PRP was gradually substituted with platelet-free plasma (PFP), harvested from the supernatant of VB after centrifugation (10 min, 2570 × g). Clot types were examined for histological appearance, hydrodynamic resistance under physiological flows, and lysis rate measured by weight loss after a 2-h treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) (60 kU/ml). Lysis rates of the most suitable clot were measured after a 1-h treatment with rt-PA (60 kU/ml), and combined treatment with rt-PA and 2-MHz transcranial color-coded sonography (TCCS) (0.179 W/cm(2)) or 2-MHz transcranial Doppler (TCD) (0.457 W/cm(2)). With increased platelet count, the hydrodynamic resistance of the artificial clots increased, their histological appearance became more physiological, and lysis rates decreased. The most suitable clots consisted of 1.5-ml PRP, 2.0-ml PFP, and 0.5-ml boundary layer. Their lysis rates were 36.7 ± 7.8% (rt-PA), 40.8 ± 8.6% (rt-PA+TCCS), and 40.4 ± 8.3% (rt-PA+TCD). These systemic investigations were conducted for the first time. This protocol should be used for standardized sonothrombolysis investigations. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Thrombolytic along with anti-platelet activity of crinumin, a protein constituent of Crinum asiaticum.

    PubMed

    Singh, Kunwar Awaneesh; Nayak, Manasa K; Jagannadham, Medicherla V; Dash, Debabrata

    2011-08-15

    Several anticoagulants, anti-platelet and thrombolytic medications are used for the treatment of thrombotic disorders. Anti-coagulants and anti-platelet agents prevent the formation of blood clots but do not dissolve existing clots, whereas thrombolytic agents are able to dissolve a clot but emboli can form even after successful treatment. Thus, none of them provide a permanent and complete solution. In this regard a single molecule that could both dissolve the clot and prevent the formation of new clots would be useful in the treatment of thrombotic diseases. Crinumin, a stable and active (in many adverse conditions) serine protease, shows plasmin-like fibrinolytic activity and inhibits platelet aggregation and P-selectin exposure, as established by photography, phase contrast microscopy, whole blood optical Lumi-aggregometry and flow cytometry. Crinumin could be an efficient and inexpensive therapeutic agent for the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic diseases. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. [THROMBIN-MEDIATED EFFECTS OF BLOOD MICROPARTICLES ON FORMATION, STRUCTURE, AND STABILITY OF FIBRIN CLOTS].

    PubMed

    Nabiullina, R M; Mustafin, I G; Ataullakhanov, F I; Litvinov, R I; Zubairova, L D

    2015-07-01

    The effects of blood microparticles (MPs) on the dynamics of fibrin polymerization, clot structure and susceptibility to fibrinolysis were studied. Kinetics of fibrin polymerization, fibrinolysis, thrombin generation in platelet-free, microparticle-depleted and microparticle-depleted plasma replenished with cephalin, from healthy donors were analyzed in parallel. MPs have profound effects on all stages of fibrin formation, decrease its turbidity. All parameters obtained in the absence of MPs were recovered after reconstitution of phospholipids. Thrombin generation rates were reduced in the absence of MPs. In the presence of MPs the fibrin networks had less poro us structures with thinner fibers, while clots formed in the absence of MPs had larger pores and were built of thicker fibers. Clots formed in the presence of MPs were significantly more resistant to fibrinolysis. Results show that normally circulating MPs can support the formation of stable clots at the sites of vascular injury.

  13. Single-platelet nanomechanics measured by high-throughput cytometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Myers, David R.; Qiu, Yongzhi; Fay, Meredith E.; Tennenbaum, Michael; Chester, Daniel; Cuadrado, Jonas; Sakurai, Yumiko; Baek, Jong; Tran, Reginald; Ciciliano, Jordan C.; Ahn, Byungwook; Mannino, Robert G.; Bunting, Silvia T.; Bennett, Carolyn; Briones, Michael; Fernandez-Nieves, Alberto; Smith, Michael L.; Brown, Ashley C.; Sulchek, Todd; Lam, Wilbur A.

    2017-02-01

    Haemostasis occurs at sites of vascular injury, where flowing blood forms a clot, a dynamic and heterogeneous fibrin-based biomaterial. Paramount in the clot's capability to stem haemorrhage are its changing mechanical properties, the major drivers of which are the contractile forces exerted by platelets against the fibrin scaffold. However, how platelets transduce microenvironmental cues to mediate contraction and alter clot mechanics is unknown. This is clinically relevant, as overly softened and stiffened clots are associated with bleeding and thrombotic disorders. Here, we report a high-throughput hydrogel-based platelet-contraction cytometer that quantifies single-platelet contraction forces in different clot microenvironments. We also show that platelets, via the Rho/ROCK pathway, synergistically couple mechanical and biochemical inputs to mediate contraction. Moreover, highly contractile platelet subpopulations present in healthy controls are conspicuously absent in a subset of patients with undiagnosed bleeding disorders, and therefore may function as a clinical diagnostic biophysical biomarker.

  14. The use of alteplase for the resolution of an intravesical clot in a neonate receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

    PubMed

    Olarte, J L; Glover, M L; Totapally, B R

    2001-01-01

    We present a case of the use of alteplase for the lysis of a large urinary bladder clot. A neonate presented with respiratory failure, secondary to a left diaphragmatic hernia necessitating the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. On day 3 of ECMO support, hematuria was noted, and a subsequent urinary bladder ultrasound revealed a significant urinary bladder clot. Alteplase (0.5-1 mg) was instilled into the urinary bladder via a 10 French Foley catheter (Sherwood Medical, St. Louis, MO). The catheter was clamped for 1 hour, followed by irrigation with normal saline. Multiple doses of alteplase were administered, resulting in complete resolution of the bladder clot. No adverse effects were attributed to the use of the intravesical alteplase. Alteplase seems to be safe and effective for the resolution of bladder clots, thereby potentially avoiding more invasive surgical procedures.

  15. Isolation and characterization of a new clotting factor from Bothrops jararacussu (jararacuçu) venom.

    PubMed

    Andrião-Escarso, S H; Sampaio, S V; Cunha, O A; Marangoni, S; Oliveira, B; Giglio, J R

    1997-07-01

    A detailed procedure for the isolation of a new clotting enzyme from the venom of Bothrops jararacussu (common name jararacuçu) is described. The estimated mol. wt of the native protein was 30,100 but 37,500 after reduction by dithiothreitol. Two major close bands corresponding to pI 5.18 and 5.20 were detected by electrofocusing but, after methanolysis, a single band focused at pI 8.20. The mol. wt of the protein moiety of this glycoprotein was 28,500, showing V-V-G-A-D-N-C-N-F-N... as N-terminal sequence. The content of neutral sugar was 4.8% and that of total sugars 5.3%. This clotting factor degraded only the A alpha-chain of the fibrinogen molecule. The stability of the clot, when produced in the presence of aprotinin opens new uses for snake clotting enzymes in the production of fibrin glue.

  16. A novel platelet concentrate: titanium-prepared platelet-rich fibrin.

    PubMed

    Tunalı, Mustafa; Özdemir, Hakan; Küçükodacı, Zafer; Akman, Serhan; Yaprak, Emre; Toker, Hülya; Fıratlı, Erhan

    2014-01-01

    We developed a new product called titanium-prepared platelet-rich fibrin (T-PRF). The T-PRF method is based on the hypothesis that titanium may be more effective in activating platelets than the silica activators used with glass tubes in Chouckroun's leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) method. In this study, we aimed to define the structural characteristics of T-PRF and compare it with L-PRF. Blood samples were collected from 10 healthy male volunteers. The blood samples were drawn using a syringe. Nine milliliters was transferred to a dry glass tube, and 9 mL was transferred to a titanium tube. Half of each clot (i.e., the blood that was clotted using T-PRF or L-PRF) was processed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The other half of each clot was processed for fluorescence microscopy analysis and light microscopy analysis. The T-PRF samples seemed to have a highly organized network with continuous integrity compared to the other L-PRF samples. Histomorphometric analysis showed that T-PRF fibrin network covers larger area than L-PRF fibrin network; also fibrin seemed thicker in the T-PRF samples. This is the first human study to define T-PRF as an autogenous leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin product. The platelet activation by titanium seems to offer some high characteristics to T-PRF.

  17. Particle-based methods for multiscale modeling of blood flow in the circulation and in devices: challenges and future directions. Sixth International Bio-Fluid Mechanics Symposium and Workshop March 28-30, 2008 Pasadena, California.

    PubMed

    Yamaguchi, Takami; Ishikawa, Takuji; Imai, Y; Matsuki, N; Xenos, Mikhail; Deng, Yuefan; Bluestein, Danny

    2010-03-01

    A major computational challenge for a multiscale modeling is the coupling of disparate length and timescales between molecular mechanics and macroscopic transport, spanning the spatial and temporal scales characterizing the complex processes taking place in flow-induced blood clotting. Flow and pressure effects on a cell-like platelet can be well represented by a continuum mechanics model down to the order of the micrometer level. However, the molecular effects of adhesion/aggregation bonds are on the order of nanometer. A successful multiscale model of platelet response to flow stresses in devices and the ensuing clotting responses should be able to characterize the clotting reactions and their interactions with the flow. This paper attempts to describe a few of the computational methods that were developed in recent years and became available to researchers in the field. They differ from traditional approaches that dominate the field by expanding on prevailing continuum-based approaches, or by completely departing from them, yielding an expanding toolkit that may facilitate further elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of blood flow and the cellular response to it. We offer a paradigm shift by adopting a multidisciplinary approach with fluid dynamics simulations coupled to biophysical and biochemical transport.

  18. Is higher body temperature beneficial in ischemic stroke patients with normal admission CT angiography of the cerebral arteries?

    PubMed Central

    Kvistad, Christopher Elnan; Khanevski, Andrej; Nacu, Aliona; Thomassen, Lars; Waje-Andreassen, Ulrike; Naess, Halvor

    2014-01-01

    Background Low body temperature is considered beneficial in ischemic stroke due to neuroprotective mechanisms, yet some studies suggest that higher temperatures may improve clot lysis and outcomes in stroke patients treated with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). The effect of increased body temperature in stroke patients treated with tPA and with normal computed tomography angiography (CTA) on admission is unknown. We hypothesized a beneficial effect of higher body temperature in the absence of visible clots on CTA, possibly due to enhanced lysis of small, peripheral clots. Methods Patients with ischemic stroke admitted to our Stroke Unit between February 2006 and April 2013 were prospectively registered in a database (Bergen NORSTROKE Registry). Ischemic stroke patients treated with tPA with normal CTA of the cerebral arteries were included. Outcomes were assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) after 1 week. An excellent outcome was defined as mRS=0, and a favorable outcome as mRS=0–1. Results A total of 172 patients were included, of which 48 (27.9%) had an admission body temperature ≥37.0°C, and 124 (72.1%) had a body temperature <37.0°C. Body temperature ≥37.0°C was independently associated with excellent outcomes (odds ratio [OR]: 2.8; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24–6.46; P=0.014) and favorable outcomes (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.13–4.98; P=0.015) when adjusted for confounders. Conclusion We found an association between higher admission body temperature and improved outcome in tPA-treated stroke patients with normal admission CTA of the cerebral arteries. This may suggest a beneficial effect of higher body temperature on clot lysis in the absence of visible clots on CTA. PMID:24482573

  19. Clot formation is associated with fibrinogen and platelet forces in a cohort of severely-injured Emergency Department trauma patients

    PubMed Central

    White, Nathan J.; Newton, Jason C.; Martin, Erika J.; Mohammed, Bassem M.; Contaifer, Daniel; Bostic, Jessica L.; Brophy, Gretchen M.; Spiess, Bruce D.; Pusateri, Anthony E.; Ward, Kevin R.; Brophy, Donald F.

    2015-01-01

    Introduction Anticoagulation, fibrinogen consumption, fibrinolytic activation, and platelet dysfunction all interact to produce different clot formation responses after trauma. However, the relative contributions of these coagulation components to overall clot formation remains poorly defined. We examined for sources of heterogeneity in clot formation responses after trauma. Methods Blood was sampled in the Emergency Department from patients meeting trauma team activation criteria at an urban trauma center. Plasma prothrombin time (PT) ≥ 18 sec was used to define traumatic coagulopathy. Mean kaolin-activated thrombelastography (TEG) parameters were calculated and tested for heterogeneity using Analysis of Means (ANOM). Discriminant analysis and forward stepwise variable selection with linear regression were used to determine if PT, fibrinogen, platelet contractile force (PCF), and D-Dimer concentration, representing key mechanistic components of coagulopathy, each contribute to heterogeneous TEG responses after trauma. Results Of 95 subjects, 16% met criteria for coagulopathy. Coagulopathic subjects were more severely injured with greater shock, and received more blood products in the first 8 hours compared to non-coagulopathic subjects. Mean (SD) TEG maximal amplitude (MA) was significantly decreased in the coagulopathic group=57.5 (4.7) mm, vs. 62.7 (4.7), T test p<0.001. The MA also exceeded the ANOM predicted upper decision limit for the non-coagulopathic group and the lower decision limit for the coagulopathic group at alpha=0.05, suggesting significant heterogeneity from the overall cohort mean. Fibrinogen and PCF best discriminated TEG MA using discriminant analysis. Fibrinogen, PCF, and D-Dimer were primary covariates for TEG MA using regression analysis. Conclusion Heterogeneity in TEG-based clot formation in Emergency Department trauma patients was linked to changes in MA. Individual parameters representing fibrin polymerization, platelet contractile forces, and fibrinolysis were primarily associated with TEG MA after trauma and should be the focus of early hemostatic therapies. PMID:25643013

  20. Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Emergency Trauma Admissions.

    PubMed

    Maegele, Marc; Grottke, Oliver; Schöchl, Herbert; Sakowitz, Oliver A; Spannagl, Michael; Koscielny, Jürgen

    2016-09-05

    Direct (non-vitamin-K-dependent) oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are given as an alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKA) to prevent stroke and embolic disease in patients with atrial fibrillation that is not due to pathology of the heart valves. Fatal hemorrhage is rarer when DOACs are given (nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: odds ratio [OR] 0.68; 95% confidence interval [95% CI: 0.48; 0.96], and venous thromboembolism: OR 0.54; [0.22; 1.32]). 48% of emergency trauma patients need an emergency operation or early surgery. Clotting disturbances elevate the mortality of such patients to 43%, compared to 17% in patients without a clotting disturbance. This underscores the impor tance of the proper, targeted treatment of trauma patients who are aking DOAC. This review is based on articles retrieved by a selective search in PubMed and on a summary of expert opinion and the recommendations of the relevant medical specialty societies. Peak DOAC levels are reached 2-4 hours after the drug is taken. In patients with normal renal and hepatic function, no drug accumulation, and no drug interactions, the plasma level of DOAC 24 hours after administration is generally too low to cause any clinically relevant risk of bleeding. The risk of drug accumulation is higher in patients with renal dysfunction (creatinine clearance [CrCl] of 30 mL/min or less). Dabigatran levels can be estimated from the thrombin time, ecarin clotting time, and diluted thrombin time, while levels of factor Xa inhibitors can be estimated by means of calibrated chromogenic anti-factor Xa activity tests. Routine clotting studies do not reliably reflect the anticoagulant activity of DOAC. Surgery should be postponed, if possible, until at least 24-48 hours after the last dose of DOAC. For patients with mild, non-life threatening hemorrhage, it suffices to discontinue DOAC; for patients with severe hemorrhage, there are special treatment algorithms that should be followed. DOACs in the setting of hemorrhage are a clinical challenge in the traumatological emergency room because of the inadequate validity of the relevant laboratory tests. An emergency antidote is now available only for dabigatran.

  1. Effect of low frequency ultrasound on combined rt-PA and eptifibatide thrombolysis in human clots.

    PubMed

    Meunier, Jason M; Holland, Christy K; Pancioli, Arthur M; Lindsell, Christopher J; Shaw, George J

    2009-01-01

    Fibrinolytics such as recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) are used to treat thrombotic disease such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and ischemic stroke. Interest in increasing efficacy and reducing side effects has led to the study of adjuncts such as GP IIb-IIIa inhibitors and ultrasound (US) enhanced thrombolysis. Currently, GP IIb-IIIa inhibitor and fibrinolytic treatment are often used in AMI, and are under investigation for stroke treatment. However, little is known of the efficacy of combined GP IIb-IIIa inhibitor, fibrinolytic and ultrasound treatment. We measure the lytic efficacy of rt-PA, eptifibatide (Epf) and 120 kHz ultrasound treatment in an in-vitro human clot model. Blood was drawn from 15 subjects after IRB approval. Clots were made in 20 microL pipettes, and placed in a water tank for microscopic visualization during lytic treatment. Clots were exposed to control, rt-PA (rt-PA), eptifibatide (Epf), or rt-PA+eptifibatide (rt-PA + Epf), with (+US) or without (-US) ultrasound for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C in human plasma. Clot lysis was measured over time, using a microscopic imaging technique. The fractional clot loss (FCL) and initial lytic rate (LR) were used to quantify lytic efficacy. LR values for (- US) treated clots were 0.8+/-0.1(control), 1.8+/-0.3 (Epf), 1.5+/-0.2 (rt-PA), and 1.3+/-0.4 (rt-PA + Epf) (% clot width/minute) respectively. In comparison, the (+ US) group exhibited LR values of 1.6+/-0.2 (control), 4.3+/-0.4 (Epf), 6.3+/-0.4 (rt-PA), and 4.6+/-0.6 (rt-PA + Epf). For (- US) treated clots, FCL was 6.0+/-0.8 (control), 9.2+/-2.5 (Epf), 15.6+/-1.7 (rt-PA), and 28.0+/-2.2% (rt-PA + Epf) respectively. FCL for (+ US) clots was 13.5+/-2.4 (control), 20.7+/-6.4 (Epf), 44.4+/-3.6 (rt-PA) and 30.3+/-3.6% (rt-PA + Epf) respectively. Although the addition of eptifibatide enhances the in-vitro lytic efficacy of rt-PA in the absence of ultrasound, the efficacy of ultrasound and rt-PA is greater than that of combined ultrasound, rt-PA and eptifibatide exposure.

  2. Pilot study of Alteplase (tissue plasminogen activator) for treatment of urinary clot retention in an in vitro model.

    PubMed

    Ritch, Chad R; Ordonez, Maria A; Okhunov, Zhamshid; Araujo, Juan; Walsh, Rhonda; Baudin, Vania; Lee, Daniel; Badani, Ketan K; Gupta, Mantu; Landman, Jaime

    2009-08-01

    The management of urinary clot retention and hematuria involves manual irrigation with sterile water or normal saline via a Foley catheter followed by continuous bladder irrigation. Irrigation may become difficult because of the formation of dense blood clots. Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA/Alteplase) may be a useful pharmacological agent to improve the efficacy of manual irrigation of large, dense clots. The goal of the current study was to compare t-PA to sterile water for clot irrigation in an in vitro model. In vitro models of clot retention were created using 500-cc urinary leg bags each filled with 80 cc of unpreserved whole blood from a healthy volunteer. Each model was incubated at 25 degrees C for 24 hours to allow clot formation. Four models each with 25 mL solution of t-PA at concentrations of 2, 1, 0.5, and 0.25 mg/mL were evaluated and compared to a control (25 mL sterile water). Models were instilled with solution (t-PA or control) and incubated for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C, and then irrigated with sterile water via 18F Foley by a blinded investigator. Three separate experiments were conducted, and statistical analysis was performed comparing various irrigation parameters. Clot evacuation with 25 mL of t-PA at a concentration of 2 mg/mL (50 mg) was significantly easier (p = 0.05) and faster (p < 0.05) than the sterile water control. The mean time for clot evacuation in this model was 2.7 minutes for t-PA solution 2 mg/mL versus 7.3 minutes for the control (p < 0.05). Compared to the control, irrigation with t-PA solution 2 mg/mL also required less irrigant (180 mL vs. 500 mL) (p < 0.05) for complete evacuation. There was a similar trend in efficacy for the lower doses of t-PA, but this was not statistically significant. In this in vitro study, a single 25 mL instillation of t-PA solution 2 mg/mL is significantly better than sterile water alone for clot evacuation. In vivo animal studies are pending.

  3. The Effect of Short Duration Ultrasound Pulses on the Interaction Between Individual Microbubbles and Fibrin Clots.

    PubMed

    Acconcia, Christopher; Leung, Ben Y C; Manjunath, Anoop; Goertz, David E

    2015-10-01

    In previous work, we examined microscale interactions between microbubbles and fibrin clots under exposure to 1 ms ultrasound pulses. This provided direct evidence that microbubbles were capable of deforming clot boundaries and penetrating into clots, while also affecting fluid uptake and inducing fibrin network damage. Here, we investigate the effect of short duration (15 μs) pulses on microscale bubble-clot interactions as function of bubble diameter (3-9 μm) and pressure. Individual microbubbles (n = 45) were placed at the clot boundary with optical tweezers and exposed to 1 MHz ultrasound. High-speed (10 kfps) imaging and 2-photon microscopy were performed during and after exposure, respectively. While broadly similar phenomena were observed as in the 1 ms pulse case (i.e., bubble penetration, network damage and fluid uptake), substantial quantitative differences were present. The pressure threshold for bubble penetration was increased from 0.39 MPa to 0.6 MPa, and those bubbles that did enter clots had reduced penetration depths and were associated with less fibrin network damage and nanobead uptake. This appeared to be due in large part to increased bubble shrinkage relative to the 1 ms pulse case. Stroboscopic imaging was performed on a subset of bubbles (n = 11) and indicated that complex bubble oscillations can occur during this process. Copyright © 2015 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Insights into abnormal hemostasis in the Quebec platelet disorder from analyses of clot lysis.

    PubMed

    Diamandis, M; Adam, F; Kahr, W H A; Wang, P; Chorneyko, K A; Arsenault, A L; Rivard, G E; Hayward, C P M

    2006-05-01

    The Quebec platelet disorder (QPD) is inherited and characterized by delayed-onset bleeding following hemostatic challenge. Other characteristics include increased expression and storage of active urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) in platelets in the setting of normal to increased u-PA in plasma. There is also consumption of platelet plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and increased generation of plasmin in platelets accompanied by proteolysis of stored alpha-granule proteins, including Factor V. Although fibrinolysis has been proposed to contribute to QPD bleeding, the effects of QPD blood and platelets on clot lysis have not been evaluated. We used thromboelastography (TEG), biochemical evaluations of whole blood clot lysis, assessments of clot ultrastructure, and perfusion of blood over preformed fibrin to gain insights into the disturbed hemostasis in the QPD. Thromboelastography was not sensitive to the increased u-PA in QPD blood. However, there was abnormal plasmin generation in QPD whole blood clots, generated at low shear, with biochemical evidence of increased fibrinolysis. The incorporation of QPD platelets into a forming clot led to progressive disruption of fibrin and platelet aggregates unless drugs were added to inhibit plasmin. In whole blood perfusion studies, QPD platelets showed normal adherence to fibrin, but their adhesion was followed by accelerated fibrinolysis. The QPD is associated with "gain-of-function" abnormalities that increase the lysis of forming or preformed clots. These findings suggest accelerated fibrinolysis is an important contributor to QPD bleeding.

  5. Emergency management of epidural haematoma through burr hole evacuation and drainage. A preliminary report.

    PubMed

    Liu, J T; Tyan, Y S; Lee, Y K; Wang, J T

    2006-03-01

    Blood clot evacuation through an osteoplastic craniotomy, a procedure requiring neurosurgical expertise and modern medical facilities, is the accepted method for treatment of a pure traumatic epidural haematoma following closed head injury. In certain emergency situations and/or in less sophisticated settings, however, use of this procedure may not be feasible. The present study was undertaken to ascertain whether placement of a burr hole and drainage under negative pressure constituted a rapid, effective and safe approach to manage patients with simple epidural haematomas. Thirteen patients suffering from a traumatic epidural haematoma were treated from January, 1999 to October, 2002. Twelve patients presented with skull fracture but no fracture was depressed. Placement of flexible tubes through a burr hole, followed by continuous suction under negative pressure, enabled aspiration of the clot and drainage of the cavity. In 8 cases, the procedure was performed under local anaesthesia with 2% Xylocaine and with intravenous sedation with propofol as needed. The operative procedure was accomplished within 30 min, and the drainage tube was left in place for 3-5 days. CT scans were performed daily from days 1 to 5. In 11 of 13 cases, clots were evacuated successfully and patients regained consciousness within 2 hours. Recoveries occurred without significant sequelae. In the remaining 2 cases, the drainage tube was found to be obstructed by a blood clot such that the haematoma was unaffected. A traditional craniotomy was performed within 8-12 hours, and these 2 patients recovered consciousness within the subsequent 6 hours. Burr hole evacuation followed by drainage under negative pressure is a safe and effective method for emergency management of a pure traumatic epidural haematoma. To assure safety patients given this procedure should be monitored by daily CT scans. Decompressive craniotomy should be performed if consciousness does not improve within several hours.

  6. Thrombosis in Cerebral Aneurysms and the Computational Modeling Thereof: A Review

    PubMed Central

    Ngoepe, Malebogo N.; Frangi, Alejandro F.; Byrne, James V.; Ventikos, Yiannis

    2018-01-01

    Thrombosis is a condition closely related to cerebral aneurysms and controlled thrombosis is the main purpose of endovascular embolization treatment. The mechanisms governing thrombus initiation and evolution in cerebral aneurysms have not been fully elucidated and this presents challenges for interventional planning. Significant effort has been directed towards developing computational methods aimed at streamlining the interventional planning process for unruptured cerebral aneurysm treatment. Included in these methods are computational models of thrombus development following endovascular device placement. The main challenge with developing computational models for thrombosis in disease cases is that there exists a wide body of literature that addresses various aspects of the clotting process, but it may not be obvious what information is of direct consequence for what modeling purpose (e.g., for understanding the effect of endovascular therapies). The aim of this review is to present the information so it will be of benefit to the community attempting to model cerebral aneurysm thrombosis for interventional planning purposes, in a simplified yet appropriate manner. The paper begins by explaining current understanding of physiological coagulation and highlights the documented distinctions between the physiological process and cerebral aneurysm thrombosis. Clinical observations of thrombosis following endovascular device placement are then presented. This is followed by a section detailing the demands placed on computational models developed for interventional planning. Finally, existing computational models of thrombosis are presented. This last section begins with description and discussion of physiological computational clotting models, as they are of immense value in understanding how to construct a general computational model of clotting. This is then followed by a review of computational models of clotting in cerebral aneurysms, specifically. Even though some progress has been made towards computational predictions of thrombosis following device placement in cerebral aneurysms, many gaps still remain. Answering the key questions will require the combined efforts of the clinical, experimental and computational communities. PMID:29670533

  7. Thrombosis in Cerebral Aneurysms and the Computational Modeling Thereof: A Review.

    PubMed

    Ngoepe, Malebogo N; Frangi, Alejandro F; Byrne, James V; Ventikos, Yiannis

    2018-01-01

    Thrombosis is a condition closely related to cerebral aneurysms and controlled thrombosis is the main purpose of endovascular embolization treatment. The mechanisms governing thrombus initiation and evolution in cerebral aneurysms have not been fully elucidated and this presents challenges for interventional planning. Significant effort has been directed towards developing computational methods aimed at streamlining the interventional planning process for unruptured cerebral aneurysm treatment. Included in these methods are computational models of thrombus development following endovascular device placement. The main challenge with developing computational models for thrombosis in disease cases is that there exists a wide body of literature that addresses various aspects of the clotting process, but it may not be obvious what information is of direct consequence for what modeling purpose (e.g., for understanding the effect of endovascular therapies). The aim of this review is to present the information so it will be of benefit to the community attempting to model cerebral aneurysm thrombosis for interventional planning purposes, in a simplified yet appropriate manner. The paper begins by explaining current understanding of physiological coagulation and highlights the documented distinctions between the physiological process and cerebral aneurysm thrombosis. Clinical observations of thrombosis following endovascular device placement are then presented. This is followed by a section detailing the demands placed on computational models developed for interventional planning. Finally, existing computational models of thrombosis are presented. This last section begins with description and discussion of physiological computational clotting models, as they are of immense value in understanding how to construct a general computational model of clotting. This is then followed by a review of computational models of clotting in cerebral aneurysms, specifically. Even though some progress has been made towards computational predictions of thrombosis following device placement in cerebral aneurysms, many gaps still remain. Answering the key questions will require the combined efforts of the clinical, experimental and computational communities.

  8. Qualification of a select one-stage activated partial thromboplastin time-based clotting assay and two chromogenic assays for the post-administration monitoring of nonacog beta pegol.

    PubMed

    Tiefenbacher, S; Bohra, R; Amiral, J; Bowyer, A; Kitchen, S; Lochu, A; Rosén, S; Ezban, M

    2017-10-01

    Essentials Nonacog beta pegol (N9-GP) is an extended half-life, recombinant human factor IX (FIX). One-stage clotting (OSC) and chromogenic FIX activity assays were assessed for N9-GP recovery. OSC STA ® -Cephascreen ® , ROX FIX and BIOPHEN FIX chromogenic assays were qualified for N9-GP. Other extended half-life factor products should be assessed in a similar way prior to approval. Background Nonacog beta pegol (N9-GP) is an extended half-life, glycoPEGylated recombinant human factor IX that is under development for the prophylaxis and treatment of bleeding episodes in hemophilia B patients. Considerable reagent-dependent variability has been observed when one-stage clotting assays are used to measure the recovery of recombinant FIX products, including N9-GP. Objective To qualify select one-stage clotting and chromogenic FIX activity assays for measuring N9-GP recovery. Methods The accuracy and precision of the one-stage clotting assay (with the STA-Cephascreen activated partial thromboplastin [APTT] reagent) and the ROX Factor IX and BIOPHEN Factor IX chromogenic assays for measuring N9-GP recovery were assessed in N9-GP-spiked hemophilia B plasma samples in a systematic manner at three independent sites, with manufacturer-recommended protocols and/or site-specific assay setups, including different instruments. Results For each of the three FIX activity assays qualified on five different reagent-instrument systems, acceptable intra-assay and interassay accuracy and precision, dilution integrity, reagent robustness and freeze-thaw and short-term sample stabilities were demonstrated. The STA-Cephascreen assay showed a limited reportable range at one of the three qualification sites, and the BIOPHEN Factor IX assay showed suspect low-end sensitivity at one of the three qualification sites. An individual laboratory would account for these limitations by adjusting the assay's reportable range; thus, these findings are not considered to impact the respective assay qualifications. Conclusion The one-stage clotting assay with the STA-Cephascreen APTT reagent, the ROX Factor IX chromogenic assay and the BIOPHEN Factor IX chromogenic assay are considered to be qualified for the measurement of N9-GP in 3.2% (0.109 m) citrated human plasma. © 2017 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

  9. Numerical Simulation of Rheological, Chemical and Hydromechanical Processes of Thrombolysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khramchenkov, E.; Khramchenkov, M.

    2015-04-01

    Mathematical model of clot lysis in blood vessels is developed on the basis of equations of convection-diffusion. Fibrin of the clot is considered stationary solid phase, and plasminogen, plasmin and plasminogen-activators - as dissolved fluid phases. As a result of numerical solution of the model predictions of lysis process are gained. Important influence of clot swelling on the process of lysis is revealed.

  10. Cloning and expression of clt genes encoding milk-clotting proteases from Myxococcus xanthus 422.

    PubMed

    Poza, M; Prieto-Alcedo, M; Sieiro, C; Villa, T G

    2004-10-01

    The screening of a gene library of the milk-clotting strain Myxococcus xanthus 422 constructed in Escherichia coli allowed the description of eight positive clones containing 26 open reading frames. Only three of them (cltA, cltB, and cltC) encoded proteins that exhibited intracellular milk-clotting ability in E. coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Pichia pastoris expression systems.

  11. Faster Blood Flow Rate Does Not Improve Circuit Life in Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

    PubMed

    Fealy, Nigel; Aitken, Leanne; du Toit, Eugene; Lo, Serigne; Baldwin, Ian

    2017-10-01

    To determine whether blood flow rate influences circuit life in continuous renal replacement therapy. Prospective randomized controlled trial. Single center tertiary level ICU. Critically ill adults requiring continuous renal replacement therapy. Patients were randomized to receive one of two blood flow rates: 150 or 250 mL/min. The primary outcome was circuit life measured in hours. Circuit and patient data were collected until each circuit clotted or was ceased electively for nonclotting reasons. Data for clotted circuits are presented as median (interquartile range) and compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Survival probability for clotted circuits was compared using log-rank test. Circuit clotting data were analyzed for repeated events using hazards ratio. One hundred patients were randomized with 96 completing the study (150 mL/min, n = 49; 250 mL/min, n = 47) using 462 circuits (245 run at 150 mL/min and 217 run at 250 mL/min). Median circuit life for first circuit (clotted) was similar for both groups (150 mL/min: 9.1 hr [5.5-26 hr] vs 10 hr [4.2-17 hr]; p = 0.37). Continuous renal replacement therapy using blood flow rate set at 250 mL/min was not more likely to cause clotting compared with 150 mL/min (hazards ratio, 1.00 [0.60-1.69]; p = 0.68). Gender, body mass index, weight, vascular access type, length, site, and mode of continuous renal replacement therapy or international normalized ratio had no effect on clotting risk. Continuous renal replacement therapy without anticoagulation was more likely to cause clotting compared with use of heparin strategies (hazards ratio, 1.62; p = 0.003). Longer activated partial thromboplastin time (hazards ratio, 0.98; p = 0.002) and decreased platelet count (hazards ratio, 1.19; p = 0.03) were associated with a reduced likelihood of circuit clotting. There was no difference in circuit life whether using blood flow rates of 250 or 150 mL/min during continuous renal replacement therapy.

  12. A Synthetic Fibrin-Crosslinking Polymer for Modulating Clot Properties and Inducing Hemostasis

    PubMed Central

    Chan, Leslie W.-G.; Wang, Xu; Wei, Hua; Pozzo, Lilo D.; White, Nathan J.; Pun, Suzie H.

    2015-01-01

    Clotting factor replacement is the standard management of acute bleeding in congenital and acquired bleeding disorders. We present a synthetic approach to hemostasis using an engineered hemostatic polymer (PolySTAT) that circulates innocuously in the blood, identifies sites of vascular injury, and promotes clot formation to stop bleeding. PolySTAT induces hemostasis by crosslinking the fibrin matrix within clots, mimicking the function of the transglutaminase Factor XIII. Furthermore, synthetic PolySTAT binds specifically to fibrin monomers and is uniformly integrated into fibrin fibers during fibrin polymerization, resulting in a fortified, hybrid polymer network with enhanced resistance to enzymatic degradation. In vivo hemostatic activity was confirmed in a rat model of trauma and fluid resuscitation in which intravenous administration of PolySTAT improved survival by reducing blood loss and resuscitation fluid requirements. PolySTAT-induced fibrin crosslinking is a novel approach to hemostasis utilizing synthetic polymers for non-invasive modulation of clot architecture with potentially wide-ranging therapeutic applications. PMID:25739763

  13. Comparison of the milk-clotting properties of three plant extracts.

    PubMed

    Mazorra-Manzano, Miguel A; Perea-Gutiérrez, Teresa C; Lugo-Sánchez, María E; Ramirez-Suarez, Juan C; Torres-Llanez, María J; González-Córdova, Aarón F; Vallejo-Cordoba, Belinda

    2013-12-01

    Several proteases from plant sources have been proposed as milk coagulants, however, limited research has been done on their milk-clotting properties. The effect of temperature on the milk-clotting activity of kiwi fruit, melon and ginger extracts was evaluated, as well as the effects of the different extracts on curd properties. Melon extracts showed high milk-clotting activity over a broad temperature range (45-75 °C) while kiwi fruit and ginger extracts showed high activity over a narrower temperature range, with a maximum at 40 and 63 °C, respectively. Curds produced using kiwi extracts had textural properties comparable with those obtained using commercial rennet, while melon extracts produced a fragile gel and low curd yield. The milk-clotting behavior of the three plant extracts was related to the protease specificity present in these extracts. The kiwi proteases displayed chymosin-like properties and thus hold the best potential for use as a milk coagulant in cheese production. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  14. Erythrocyte-Derived Nanoparticles as a Theranostic Agent for Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging and Thrombolysis of Blood Clots.

    PubMed

    Vankayala, Raviraj; Corber, Samantha R; Mac, Jenny T; Rao, Masaru P; Shafie, Mohammad; Anvari, Bahman

    2018-04-01

    Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot obstructs or narrows the arteries that supply blood to the brain. Currently, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a thrombolytic agent, is the only United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pharmacologic treatment for ischemic stroke. Despite its effective usage, the major limitation of tPA that stems from its short half-life in plasma (≈5 min) is the potential for increased risk of hemorrhagic complications. To circumvent these limitations, herein, the first proof-of-principle demonstration of a theranostic nanoconstruct system derived from erythrocytes doped with the FDA-approved near-infrared (NIR) imaging agent, indocyanine green, and surface-functionalized with tPA is reported. Using a clot model, the dual functionality of these nanoconstructs in NIR fluorescence imaging and clot lysis is demonstrated. These biomimetic theranostic nanoconstructs may ultimately be effective in imaging and treatment of blood clots involved in ischemic stroke. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  15. Platelets are responsible for the accumulation of β-amyloid in blood clots inside and around blood vessels in mouse brain after thrombosis.

    PubMed

    Kucheryavykh, Lilia Y; Dávila-Rodríguez, Josué; Rivera-Aponte, David E; Zueva, Lidia V; Washington, A Valance; Sanabria, Priscilla; Inyushin, Mikhail Y

    2017-01-01

    Platelets contain beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) as well as Aβ peptide (Aβ) that can be released upon activation. During thrombosis, platelets are concentrated in clots and activated. We used in vivo fluorescent analysis and electron microscopy in mice to determine to what degree platelets are concentrated in clots. We used immunostaining to visualize Aβ after photothrombosis in mouse brains. Both in vivo results and electron microscopy revealed that platelets were 300-500 times more concentrated in clots than in non-clotted blood. After thrombosis in control mice, but not in thrombocytopenic animals, Aβ immunofluorescence was present inside blood vessels in the visual cortex and around capillaries in the entorhinal cortex. The increased concentration of platelets allows enhanced release of Aβ during thrombosis, suggesting an additional source of Aβ in the brains of Alzheimer's patients that may arise if frequent micro-thrombosis events occur in their brains. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Utility of Milk Coagulant Enzyme of Moringa oleifera Seed in Cheese Production from Soy and Skim Milks

    PubMed Central

    Sánchez-Muñoz, María Alejandra; Valdez-Solana, Mónica Andrea; Avitia-Domínguez, Claudia; Ramírez-Baca, Patricia; Candelas-Cadillo, María Guadalupe; Aguilera-Ortíz, Miguel; Meza-Velázquez, Jorge Armando; Téllez-Valencia, Alfredo; Sierra-Campos, Erick

    2017-01-01

    In this study, the potential use of Moringa oleifera as a clotting agent of different types of milk (whole, skim, and soy milk) was investigated. M. oleifera seed extract showed high milk-clotting activity followed by flower extract. Specific clotting activity of seed extract was 200 times higher than that of flower extract. Seed extract is composed by four main protein bands (43.6, 32.2, 19.4, and 16.3 kDa). Caseinolytic activity assessed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and tyrosine quantification, showed a high extent of casein degradation using M. oleifera seed extract. Milk soy cheese was soft and creamy, while skim milk cheese was hard and crumbly. According to these results, it is concluded that seed extract of M. oleifera generates suitable milk clotting activity for cheesemaking. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report comparative data of M. oleifera milk clotting activity between different types of soy milk. PMID:28783066

  17. Utility of Milk Coagulant Enzyme of Moringa oleifera Seed in Cheese Production from Soy and Skim Milks.

    PubMed

    Sánchez-Muñoz, María Alejandra; Valdez-Solana, Mónica Andrea; Avitia-Domínguez, Claudia; Ramírez-Baca, Patricia; Candelas-Cadillo, María Guadalupe; Aguilera-Ortíz, Miguel; Meza-Velázquez, Jorge Armando; Téllez-Valencia, Alfredo; Sierra-Campos, Erick

    2017-08-05

    In this study, the potential use of Moringa oleifera as a clotting agent of different types of milk (whole, skim, and soy milk) was investigated. M. oleifera seed extract showed high milk-clotting activity followed by flower extract. Specific clotting activity of seed extract was 200 times higher than that of flower extract. Seed extract is composed by four main protein bands (43.6, 32.2, 19.4, and 16.3 kDa). Caseinolytic activity assessed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and tyrosine quantification, showed a high extent of casein degradation using M. oleifera seed extract. Milk soy cheese was soft and creamy, while skim milk cheese was hard and crumbly. According to these results, it is concluded that seed extract of M. oleifera generates suitable milk clotting activity for cheesemaking. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report comparative data of M. oleifera milk clotting activity between different types of soy milk.

  18. CANINE HEMOPHILIA

    PubMed Central

    Graham, John B.; Buckwalter, Joseph A.; Hartley, L. J.; Brinkhous, Kenneth M.

    1949-01-01

    A study was made of the clotting defect and the course of the malady in a group of male dogs with an inherited, sex-linked bleeding disease. The clotting defect is characterized by a prolonged clotting time and a delayed prothrombin utilization, and is corrected by the addition either of thromboplastin or of normal plasma. A plasma protein fraction, fraction I, also corrects the defect. The defect appears to be due to a deficiency of a plasma factor, which normally, in the presence of platelets, makes thromboplastin available in shed blood. The clotting anomaly appears to be identical with that found in human hemophilia. The hemostatic defect is characterized by repeated hemorrhages, usually without obvious relationship to trauma. Hemarthroses occur frequently and may result in permanent joint deformity. The animals usually die early in life from massive hemorrhage. Transfusions with normal blood or plasma correct the clotting defect and readily control the hemorrhagic phenomena. By the use of transfusions, these dogs have been reared to maturity. PMID:18136192

  19. Talin-dependent integrin activation is required for fibrin clot retraction by platelets

    PubMed Central

    Haling, Jacob R.; Monkley, Susan J.; Critchley, David R.

    2011-01-01

    Talin functions both as a regulator of integrin affinity and as an important mechanical link between integrins and the cytoskeleton. Using genetic deletion of talin, we show for the first time that the capacity of talin to activate integrins is required for fibrin clot retraction by platelets. To further dissect which talin functions are required for this process, we tested clot retraction in platelets expressing a talin1(L325R) mutant that binds to integrins, but exhibits impaired integrin activation ascribable to disruption of the interaction between talin and the membrane-proximal region (MPR) in the β-integrin cytoplasmic domain. Talin-deficient and talin1(L325R) platelets were defective in retracting fibrin clots. However, the defect in clot retraction in talin1(L325R) platelets, but not talin-deficient platelets, was rescued by extrinsically activating integrins with manganese, thereby proving that integrin activation is required and showing that talin1(L325R) can form functional links to the actin cytoskeleton. PMID:20971947

  20. Positive interference in lithium determinations from clot activator in collection container.

    PubMed

    Sampson, M; Ruddel, M; Albright, S; Elin, R J

    1997-04-01

    We describe positive interference with the ion-selective electrode determination of lithium (Lytening 2Z analyzer; Dade) when blood is collected in a 10-mL plain red-top plastic Vacutainer Plus Tube (Becton Dickinson) containing a silica clot activator and silicone surfactant (prod. no. 36-7820). We evaluated both the original tube (blue-labeled) and a new tube formulated to contain less silicone surfactant (striped-labeled). We determined that the interference is from either the silica clot activator or the silicone surfactant used to fix the silica to the tube and is inversely related to the volume of blood in the tube. Long-term intermittent exposure of the Li ion-selective electrode to the silica clot activator or surfactant results in decreased Li values--in terms of both the positive interference by the silica clot activator or surfactant and the actual Li determinations. Moreover, this long-term interference with the Li ion-selective electrode for patient's specimens is undetected by the Dade control material (QCLytes).

  1. Fixation of split-thickness skin graft using fast-clotting fibrin glue containing undiluted high-concentration thrombin or sutures: a comparison study.

    PubMed

    Han, Hyun Ho; Jun, Daiwon; Moon, Suk-Ho; Kang, In Sook; Kim, Min Cheol

    2016-01-01

    For skin defects caused by full-thickness burns, trauma, or tumor tissue excision, skin grafting is one of the most convenient and useful treatment methods. In this situation, graft fixation is important in skin grafting. This study was performed to compare the effectiveness of skin graft fixation between high-concentration fibrin sealant and sutures. There have been numerous studies using fibrin sealant for graft fixation, but they utilized slow-clotting fibrin sealant containing less than 10 IU/mL thrombin. Twenty-five patients underwent split-thickness skin grafting using fast-clotting fibrin sealant containing 400 IU/mL thrombin, while 30 patients underwent grafting using sutures. Rates of hematoma/seroma formation, graft dislocation, graft necrosis, and graft take were investigated postoperatively. The graft surface area was calculated using Image J software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA). After 5 days, rates of hematoma/seroma formation and graft dislocation were 7.84 and 1.29% in group I, and 9.55 and 1.45% in group II, respectively. After 30 days, rates of graft necrosis and graft take were 1.86 and 98.14% in group I, and 4.65 and 95.35% in group II. Undiluted fibrin sealant showed significantly superior results for all rates ( p  < 0.05) except graft dislocation. When high-concentration fast-clotting fibrin sealant was applied to skin grafts without dilution, no difficulty was experienced during surgery. Sealant showed superior results compared with sutures and had an excellent graft take rate. II.

  2. Evaluation of Blood Cell Attachment on Er:Yag Laser Applied Root Surface Using Scanning Electron Microscopy

    PubMed Central

    CEKICI, Ali; MADEN, Ilay; YILDIZ, Sercan; SAN, Tangul; ISIK, Gulden

    2013-01-01

    Background: Periodontal regeneration is dependent on the uninterrupted adhesion, maturation and absorption of fibrin clots to a periodontally compromised root surface. The modification of the root surface with different agents has been used for better fibrin clot formation and blood cell attachment. It is known that Er:YAG laser application on dentin removes the smear layer succesfully. Aim: The aim of this study is to observe blood cell attachment and fibrin network formation following ER:YAG laser irradiation on periodontally compromised root surfaces in comparison to chemical root conditioning techniques in vitro. Materials and methods: 40 dentin blocks prepared from freshly extracted periodontally compromised hopeless teeth. Specimens were divided in 5 groups; those applied with PBS, EDTA, Citric acid and Er:YAG. They were further divided into two groups: those which had received these applications, and the control group. The specimens were evaluated with scanning electron microscope and micrographs were taken. Smear layer and blood cell attachment scoring was performed. Results: In the Er:YAG laser applied group, smear layer were totally removed. In the blood applied specimens, better fibrin clot formation and blood cell attachment were observed in the Er:YAG group. In the group that had been applied with citric acid, the smear layer was also removed. The smear layer could not be fully removed in the EDTA group. Conclusion: Er:YAG laser application on the root dentin seems to form a suitable surface for fibrin clot formation and blood cell attachment. Further clinical studies to support these results are necessitated. PMID:23533017

  3. Thrombi produced in stagnation point flows have a core-shell structure.

    PubMed

    Herbig, Bradley A; Diamond, Scott L

    2017-12-01

    In regions of flow separation/reattachment within diseased arteries, the local hemodynamics can result in stagnation point flow that provides an atypical environment in atherosclerosis. Impinging flows occur with recirculation eddies distal of coronary stenosis or diseased carotid bifurcations. By perfusing whole blood directly perpendicular to a fibrillar collagen thrombotic surface, a microfluidic device produced a stagnation point flow. Side view visualization of thrombosis in this assay allowed for observation of clot structure and composition at various flow rates and blood biochemistry conditions. For clotting over collagen/tissue factor surfaces, platelet thrombi formed in this device displayed a core-shell architecture with a fibrin-rich, platelet P-selectin-positive core and an outer platelet P-selectin-negative shell. VWF was detected in clots at low and high shear, but when N-acetylcysteine was added to the whole blood, both platelet and VWF deposition were markedly decreased at either low or high flow. To further examine the source of clot stability, 1 mM GPRP was added to prevent fibrin formation while allowing the PAR1/4-cleaving activity of thrombin to progress. The inhibition of fibrin polymerization did not change the overall structure of the clots, demonstrating the stability of these clots without fibrin. Impinging flow microfluidics generate thrombi with a core-shell structure.

  4. Aβ delays fibrin clot lysis by altering fibrin structure and attenuating plasminogen binding to fibrin

    PubMed Central

    Zamolodchikov, Daria

    2012-01-01

    Alzheimer disease is characterized by the presence of increased levels of the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) in the brain parenchyma and cerebral blood vessels. This accumulated Aβ can bind to fibrin(ogen) and render fibrin clots more resistant to degradation. Here, we demonstrate that Aβ42 specifically binds to fibrin and induces a tighter fibrin network characterized by thinner fibers and increased resistance to lysis. However, Aβ42-induced structural changes cannot be the sole mechanism of delayed lysis because Aβ overlaid on normal preformed clots also binds to fibrin and delays lysis without altering clot structure. In this regard, we show that Aβ interferes with the binding of plasminogen to fibrin, which could impair plasmin generation and fibrin degradation. Indeed, plasmin generation by tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), but not streptokinase, is slowed in fibrin clots containing Aβ42, and clot lysis by plasmin, but not trypsin, is delayed. Notably, plasmin and tPA activities, as well as tPA-dependent generation of plasmin in solution, are not decreased in the presence of Aβ42. Our results indicate the existence of 2 mechanisms of Aβ42 involvement in delayed fibrinolysis: (1) through the induction of a tighter fibrin network composed of thinner fibers, and (2) through inhibition of plasmin(ogen)–fibrin binding. PMID:22238323

  5. Ultrastructural characteristics of fibrin clots from canine and feline platelet concentrates activated with calcium gluconate or calcium gluconate plus batroxobin.

    PubMed

    Silva, Raúl F; Carmona, Jorge U; Rezende, Cleuza M F

    2013-04-15

    The aim of this study was to use transmission electron microscopy to describe the ultrastructural characteristics of clots obtained from canine and feline platelet concentrates (PC) that had been activated with calcium gluconate (CG) or CG plus batroxobin (CGB). Platelets from fibrin clots were classified according their morphological changes. The area of the intercellular space (μm2), the area of the fibrin fibers (μm2), and the width of the fibrin fibers (μm) were determined for the dog clots. The platelet area (μm2), the area of fibrin fibers (μm2), the ratio of the minor and major axes of platelets, the ratio of the major and minor axes of platelets, and the number of α-granules found within platelets were measured for the cat clots. Cat platelets displayed full activation. Dog platelets displayed lysis with loss of normal architecture. In both species, a statistically significant difference was found (P < 0.01) between the fibrin fiber measurements in the PC clots activated with CG and CGB. The findings suggest that activation with CG caused platelet alpha granules to release their contents. In cats, fibrin production was greater when the PC was activated with CG. In dogs, activation with CG produced thick fibrin fibers.

  6. In vitro effects of recombinant activated factor VII on thrombin generation and coagulation following inhibition of platelet procoagulant activity by prasugrel.

    PubMed

    Mazzeffi, Michael; Szlam, Fania; Jakubowski, Joseph A; Tanaka, Kenichi A; Sugidachi, Atsuhiro; Levy, Jerrold H

    2013-07-01

    Prasugrel is a thienopyridyl P2Y12 antagonist with potent antiplatelet effects. At present, little is known about its effects on thrombin generation or what strategies may emergently reverse its anticoagulant effects. In the current study we evaluated whether recombinant activated factor VII may reverse prasugrel induced effects and increase thrombin generation in an in vitro model. The effect of prasugrel active metabolite, PAM (R-138727), was evaluated on platelet aggregation, thrombin generation, and rotational thromboelastometry parameters using blood from 20 healthy volunteers. Additionally, we evaluated the effects of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and recombinant activated factor VII on restoring these parameters towards baseline values. PAM reduced maximum platelet aggregation and led to platelet disaggregation. It also decreased peak thrombin, increased lag time, and increased time to peak thrombin. Treatment with recombinant activated factor VII restored all three parameters of thrombin generation towards baseline. ADP decreased lag time and time to peak thrombin, but had no effect on peak thrombin. When recombinant activated factor VII and ADP were combined they had a greater effect on thrombin parameters than either drug alone. PAM also increased thromboelastometric clotting time and clot formation time, but had no effect on maximum clot firmness. Treatment with either recombinant activated factor VII or ADP restored these values towards baseline. Recombinant activated factor VII restores thrombin generation in the presence of PAM. In patients taking prasugrel with life-threatening refractory bleeding it has the potential to be a useful therapeutic approach. Additional clinical studies are needed to validate our findings. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. "Aspirin resistance" in ischemic stroke: insights using short thrombelastography.

    PubMed

    Sambu, Nalyaka; Radhakrishnan, Ashwin; Englyst, Nicola; Weir, Nicolas; Curzen, Nick

    2013-11-01

    Aspirin achieves its antithrombotic effect through inactivation of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-1, thereby preventing generation of thromboxane (TX)A2 from arachidonic acid (AA). The reported prevalence of aspirin "resistance" varies significantly and is usually based on platelet function tests (PFTs) that use AA-induced platelet reactivity as a surrogate measure of the effect of aspirin, rather than specific assessment of its effect on its therapeutic target (ie, COX-1 inhibition). The reported rates are not only assay specific but also condition specific, with particularly high rates (up to 70%) previously reported in the stroke population. We investigated whether pharmacological responses to aspirin can be reliably determined from a functional test of AA-induced whole-blood clotting. A prospective study included 35 patients admitted with ischemic stroke and commenced on 300 mg aspirin. AA-induced whole-blood clotting was measured using short thrombelastography, a previously extensively validated near-patient PFT. Serum TXB2 and inflammatory biomarkers were also measured. The prevalence of apparent aspirin resistance measured using AA was high (range from 49% to 67%). However, serum [TXB2] was consistently low, thereby confirming adequate inhibition of COX-1 by aspirin. Mean inflammatory biomarker levels were elevated throughout. This study demonstrates that although COX-1 activity is adequately and consistently suppressed by aspirin in stroke patients, this effect is not reliably indicated by whole-blood clotting in response to AA. These data help to explain why the reported prevalence of aspirin resistance in stroke from studies employing AA-induced platelet reactivity is high and cast doubt on the veracity of such reports. Copyright © 2013 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Artificial Stroke Clots: How Wide is the Gap to the Real World?

    PubMed

    Berndt, Maria; Prothmann, Sascha; Maegerlein, Christian; Oberdieck, Paul; Zimmer, Claus; Hegge, Barbara; Pelisek, Jaroslav; Schirmer, Lucas; Poppert, Holger; Boeckh-Behrens, Tobias

    2018-02-01

    Especially since the establishment of mechanical thrombectomy as part of standard stroke therapy, artificial thrombi have become important in the training of interventionalists as well as for the development and testing of devices. So far, these in vitro clots have lacked direct comparisons with ex vivo thrombi. We therefore compared the histologic appearance of dynamically produced clots with that of stroke thrombi acquired during mechanical recanalization. Thrombi of 145 consecutive patients with stroke with large-vessel occlusions were histologically compared with 10 artificial clots, dynamically created from human blood and pig's blood using a Chandler loop system. Quantified FP/RBC ratios (fibrin/platelets divided by red blood cell fraction) and white blood cell (WBC) fractions were identified and compared between artificial (human and pig) and ex vivo thrombi obtained from patients with various stroke causes. There were no significant differences in the analysis of FP/RBC ratios between artificial thrombi and ex vivo thrombi (P = 0.42) or in the more precise analyses considering etiologic subgroups. Distinct differences were observed for the WBC fraction, with lower values in artificial thrombi (median, 1.34%) than in ex vivo thrombi (median, 5%) (P < 0.001). The main clot components, FP and RBC, are presumably the most influential factors for clot stability and mechanical resistance. Similarities between artificially generated and ex vivo stroke clots (and when considering different stroke subgroups) support the usefulness of these artificial thrombi in the pre-evaluation of thrombus extraction devices and as appropriate training material. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Relative effects of plasma, fibrinogen concentrate, and factor XIII on ROTEM coagulation profiles in an in vitro model of massive transfusion in trauma.

    PubMed

    Schmidt, David E; Halmin, Märit; Wikman, Agneta; Östlund, Anders; Ågren, Anna

    2017-10-01

    Massive traumatic haemorrhage is aggravated through the development of trauma-induced coagulopathy, which is managed by plasma transfusion and/or fibrinogen concentrate administration. It is yet unclear whether these treatments are equally potent in ensuring adequate haemostasis, and whether additional factor XIII (FXIII) administration provides further benefits. In this study, we compared ROTEM whole blood coagulation profiles after experimental massive transfusion with different transfusion regimens in an in vitro model of dilution- and transfusion-related coagulopathy. Healthy donor blood was mixed 1 + 1 with six different transfusion regimens. Each regimen contained RBC, platelet concentrate, and either fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or Ringer's acetate (RA). The regimens were further augmented through addition of a low- or medium-dose fibrinogen concentrate and FXIII. Transfusion with FFP alone was insufficient to maintain tissue-factor activated clot strength, coincidental with a deficiency in fibrin-based clot strength. Fibrinogen concentrate conserved, but did not improve coagulation kinetics and overall clot strength. Only combination therapy with FFP and low-dose fibrinogen concentrate improved both coagulation kinetics and fibrin-based clot strength. Administration of FXIII did not result in an improvement of clot strength. In conclusion, combination therapy with both FFP and low-dose fibrinogen concentrate improved clotting time and produced firm clots, representing a possible preferred first-line regimen to manage trauma-induced coagulopathy when RBC and platelets are also transfused. Further research is required to identify optimal first-line transfusion fluids for massive traumatic haemorrhage.

  10. Profound effects of cardiopulmonary bypass priming solutions on the fibrin part of clot formation: an ex vivo evaluation using rotation thromboelastometry.

    PubMed

    Brinkman, Arinda C M; Romijn, Johannes W A; van Barneveld, Lerau J M; Greuters, Sjoerd; Veerhoek, Dennis; Vonk, Alexander B A; Boer, Christa

    2010-06-01

    Dilutional coagulopathy as a consequence of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) system priming may also be affected by the composition of the priming solution. The direct effects of distinct priming solutions on fibrinogen, one of the foremost limiting factors during dilutional coagulopathy, have been minimally evaluated. Therefore, the authors investigated whether hemodilution with different priming solutions distinctly affects the fibrinogen-mediated step in whole blood clot formation. Prospective observational laboratory study. University hospital laboratory. Eight male healthy volunteers. Blood samples diluted with gelatin-, albumin-, or hydroxyethyl starch (HES)-based priming solutions were ex-vivo evaluated for clot formation by rotational thromboelastometry. The intrinsic pathway (INTEM) coagulation time increased from 186 +/- 19 seconds to 205 +/- 16, 220 +/- 17, and 223 +/- 18 seconds after dilution with gelatin-, albumin-, or HES-containing prime solutions (all p < 0.05 v baseline). The extrinsic pathway (EXTEM) coagulation time was only minimally affected by hemodilution. Moreover, all 3 priming solutions significantly reduced the INTEM and EXTEM maximum clot firmness. The HES-containing priming solution induced the largest decrease in the maximum clot firmness attributed to fibrinogen, from 13 +/- 1 mm (baseline) to 6 +/- 1 mm (p < 0.01 v baseline). All studied priming solutions prolonged coagulation time and decreased clot formation, but the fibrinogen-limiting effect was the most profound for the HES-containing priming solution. These results suggest that the composition of priming solutions may distinctly affect blood clot formation, in particular with respect to the fibrinogen component in hemostasis. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Metabolic Biofouling of Glucose Sensors in Vivo: Role of Tissue Microhemorrhages

    PubMed Central

    Klueh, Ulrike; Liu, Zenghe; Feldman, Ben; Henning, Timothy P; Cho, Brian; Ouyang, Tianmei; Kreutzer, Don

    2011-01-01

    Objective: Based on our in vitro study that demonstrated the adverse effects of blood clots on glucose sensor function, we hypothesized that in vivo local tissue hemorrhages, induced as a consequence of sensor implantation or sensor movement post-implantation, are responsible for unreliable readings or an unexplained loss of functionality shortly after implantation. Research Design and Methods: To investigate this issue, we utilized real-time continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels in a mouse model. Direct injection of blood at the tissue site of sensor implantation was utilized to mimic sensor-induced local tissue hemorrhages. Results: It was found that blood injections, proximal to the sensor, consistently caused lowered sensor glucose readings, designated temporary signal reduction, in vivo in our mouse model, while injections of plasma or saline did not have this effect. Conclusion: These results support our hypothesis that tissue hemorrhage and resulting blood clots near the sensor can result in lowered local blood glucose concentrations due to metabolism of glucose by the clot. The lowered local blood glucose concentration led to low glucose readings from the still functioning sensor that did not reflect the systemic glucose level. PMID:21722574

  12. Development of a microplate coagulation assay for Factor V in human plasma.

    PubMed

    Tilley, Derek; Levit, Irina; Samis, John A

    2011-06-28

    Factor V (FV) in its activated form, FVa, is a critical regulator of thrombin generation during fibrin clot formation. There is a need of a simple, fast, and inexpensive microplate-based coagulation assay to measure the functional activity of FV in human plasma. The objective of this study was to develop a microplate-based assay that measures FV coagulation activity during clot formation in human plasma, which is currently not available. The FV assay requires a kinetic microplate reader to measure the change in absorbance at 405nm during fibrin formation in human plasma. The FV assay accurately measures the time, initial rate, and extent of fibrin clot formation in human plasma. The FV microplate assay is simple, fast, economical, sensitive to approx 24-80pM, and multiple samples may be analyzed simultaneously. All the required materials are commercially available. Standard curves of time or initial rate of fibrin clot formation vs FV activity in the 1-stage assay (Without activation by thrombin) may be used to measure FV activity in samples of human plasma. The assay was used to demonstrate that in nine patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), the FV 1-stage, 2-stage (With activation by thrombin), and total (2-stage activity - 1-stage activity) activities were decreased, on average, by approximately 54%, 44%, and 42%, respectively, from prolonged clot times when compared to normal pooled human reference plasma (NHP). The results indicate that the FV in the DIC patient plasmas supported both a delayed and slower rate of fibrin clot formation compared with NHP; however, the extent of fibrin clot formation in the DIC patients remained largely unchanged from that observed with NHP. The FV microplate assay may be easily adapted to measure the activity of any coagulation factor using the appropriate factor-deficient plasma and clot initiating reagent. The microplate assay will find use in both research and clinical laboratories to provide measurement of the functional coagulation activity of FV in human plasma.

  13. Two-incision laparoscopic appendectomy for a severe hemophilia A child patient with coagulation factor VII deficiency

    PubMed Central

    He, Jin Peng; Feng, Jie Xiong

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Rationale: The main complication of patients with severe hemophilia is recurrent bleeding events that usually affected musculoskeletal contractures. And replacement therapy methods were continuously improved to minimize adverse impacts brought by those complications. However, only several cases reported about the appendectomy for hemophilia A. We report a case of acute appendicitis treated by two-incision laparoscopy in a boy with hemophilia A and coagulation factor VII deficiency for the first time. Patient concerns: An 8y7m-old Chinese boy presented with half a day of right sided abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Diagnoses: He received a computed tomography (CT) scan which revealed an enlarged appendix, thickened wall and appendiceal fecalith, and had received a conservative anti-bacterial treatment for his acute appendicitis but failed. He was diagnosed with hemophilia A and coagulation factor VII deficiency. Interventions: Two-incision laparoscopic appendectomy was made in success with a careful management of perioperative period. We monitored the clotting factor FVIII level and gave him a replacement therapy. Outcomes: The patient had an uneventful recovery. Lessons: It is important to exclude intraabdominal or retroperitoneal hemorrhage in patients suffering from hemophilia and acute abdominal pain. Pre-operative evaluation of validity of the FVIII replacement therapy is another effective strategy to assess the safety and feasibility of applying an operation procedure. The two-incision laparoscopic appendectomy is an effective treatment for this kind of patients for its minimal trauma and fast recovery characteristics. Our report shows that laparoscopic appendectomy is feasible in a child suffering from hemophilia after adequate blood clotting factor replacement treatment. PMID:29019885

  14. Kinetic Model Facilitates Analysis of Fibrin Generation and Its Modulation by Clotting Factors: Implications for Hemostasis-Enhancing Therapies

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-01-01

    facilitates analysis of fibrin generation and its modulation by clotting factors : implications for hemostasis-enhancing therapies† Alexander Y...investigate the ability of fibrinogen and a recently proposed prothrombin complex concentrate composition, PCC-AT (a combination of the clotting factors II...kinetics. Moreover, the model qualitatively predicted the impact of tissue factor and tPA/tenecteplase level variations on the fibrin output. In the

  15. Spatiotemporal Characterization of a Fibrin Clot Using Quantitative Phase Imaging

    PubMed Central

    Gannavarpu, Rajshekhar; Bhaduri, Basanta; Tangella, Krishnarao; Popescu, Gabriel

    2014-01-01

    Studying the dynamics of fibrin clot formation and its morphology is an important problem in biology and has significant impact for several scientific and clinical applications. We present a label-free technique based on quantitative phase imaging to address this problem. Using quantitative phase information, we characterized fibrin polymerization in real-time and present a mathematical model describing the transition from liquid to gel state. By exploiting the inherent optical sectioning capability of our instrument, we measured the three-dimensional structure of the fibrin clot. From this data, we evaluated the fractal nature of the fibrin network and extracted the fractal dimension. Our non-invasive and speckle-free approach analyzes the clotting process without the need for external contrast agents. PMID:25386701

  16. Multi-analyte validation in heterogeneous solution by ELISA.

    PubMed

    Lakshmipriya, Thangavel; Gopinath, Subash C B; Hashim, Uda; Murugaiyah, Vikneswaran

    2017-12-01

    Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) is a standard assay that has been used widely to validate the presence of analyte in the solution. With the advancement of ELISA, different strategies have shown and became a suitable immunoassay for a wide range of analytes. Herein, we attempted to provide additional evidence with ELISA, to show its suitability for multi-analyte detection. To demonstrate, three clinically relevant targets have been chosen, which include 16kDa protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, human blood clotting Factor IXa and a tumour marker Squamous Cell Carcinoma antigen. Indeed, we adapted the routine steps from the conventional ELISA to validate the occurrence of analytes both in homogeneous and heterogeneous solutions. With the homogeneous and heterogeneous solutions, we could attain the sensitivity of 2, 8 and 1nM for the targets 16kDa protein, FIXa and SSC antigen, respectively. Further, the specific multi-analyte validations were evidenced with the similar sensitivities in the presence of human serum. ELISA assay in this study has proven its applicability for the genuine multiple target validation in the heterogeneous solution, can be followed for other target validations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. 21 CFR 864.7340 - Fibrinogen determination system.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... disseminated intravascular coagulation (nonlocalized clotting within the blood vessels) and primary fibrinolysis (the dissolution of fibrin in a blood clot). (b) Classification. Class II (performance standards...

  18. 21 CFR 864.7340 - Fibrinogen determination system.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... disseminated intravascular coagulation (nonlocalized clotting within the blood vessels) and primary fibrinolysis (the dissolution of fibrin in a blood clot). (b) Classification. Class II (performance standards...

  19. 21 CFR 864.7340 - Fibrinogen determination system.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... disseminated intravascular coagulation (nonlocalized clotting within the blood vessels) and primary fibrinolysis (the dissolution of fibrin in a blood clot). (b) Classification. Class II (performance standards...

  20. 21 CFR 864.7340 - Fibrinogen determination system.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... disseminated intravascular coagulation (nonlocalized clotting within the blood vessels) and primary fibrinolysis (the dissolution of fibrin in a blood clot). (b) Classification. Class II (performance standards...

  1. 21 CFR 864.7340 - Fibrinogen determination system.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... disseminated intravascular coagulation (nonlocalized clotting within the blood vessels) and primary fibrinolysis (the dissolution of fibrin in a blood clot). (b) Classification. Class II (performance standards...

  2. Thromboelastograms of dogs with acute and subacute lesions due to inhalation of americium 241 and plutonium 239 nitrates

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kalmykova, Z.I.

    1978-01-01

    The effects of inhalation of americium 241 and plutonium 231 on the clotting mechanism of dogs were investigated. Thromboelastograms of whole venous blood were used as the method for studying coagulation properties.

  3. Incorporation of albumin fusion proteins into fibrin clots in vitro and in vivo: comparison of different fusion motifs recognized by factor XIIIa.

    PubMed

    Sheffield, William P; Eltringham-Smith, Louise J

    2011-12-20

    The transglutaminase activated factor XIII (FXIIIa) acts to strengthen pathological fibrin clots and to slow their dissolution, in part by crosslinking active α(2)-antiplasmin (α(2)AP) to fibrin. We previously reported that a yeast-derived recombinant fusion protein comprising α(2)AP residues 13-42 linked to human serum albumin (HSA) weakened in vitro clots but failed to become specifically incorporated into in vivo clots. In this study, our aims were to improve both the stability and clot localization of the HSA fusion protein by replacing α(2)AP residues 13-42 with shorter sequences recognized more effectively by FXIIIa. Expression plasmids were prepared encoding recombinant HSA with the following N-terminal 23 residue extensions: H(6)NQEQVSPLTLLAG(4)Y (designated XL1); H(6)DQMMLPWAVTLG(4)Y (XL2); H(6)WQHKIDLPYNGAG(4)Y (XL3); and their 17 residue non-His-tagged equivalents (XL4, XL5, and XL6). The HSA moiety of XL4- to XL6-HSA proteins was C-terminally His-tagged. All chimerae were efficiently secreted from transformed Pichia pastoris yeast except XL3-HSA, and following nickel chelate affinity purification were found to be intact by amino acid sequencing, as was an N-terminally His-tagged version of α(2)AP(13-42)-HSA. Of the proteins tested, XL5-HSA was cross-linked to biotin pentylamine (BPA) most rapidly by FXIIIa, and was the most effective competitor of α(2)AP crosslinking not only to BPA but also to plasma fibrin clots. In the mouse ferric chloride vena cava thrombosis model, radiolabeled XL5-HSA was retained in the clot to a greater extent than recombinant HSA. In the rabbit jugular vein stasis thrombosis model, XL5-HSA was also retained in the clot, in a urea-insensitive manner indicative of crosslinking to fibrin, to a greater extent than recombinant HSA. Fusion protein XL5-HSA (DQMMLPWAVTLG4Y-HSAH6) was found to be more active as a substrate for FXIIIa-mediated transamidation than seven other candidate fusion proteins in vitro. The improved stability and reactivity of this chimeric protein was further evidenced by its incorporation into in vivo clots formed in thrombosis models in both mice and rabbits.

  4. Pericellular plasma clot negates the influence of scaffold stiffness on chondrogenic differentiation.

    PubMed

    Arora, Aditya; Kothari, Anjaney; Katti, Dhirendra S

    2016-12-01

    Matrix stiffness is known to play a pivotal role in cellular differentiation. Studies have shown that soft scaffolds (<2-3kPa) promote cellular aggregation and chondrogenesis, whereas, stiffer ones (>10kPa) show poor chondrogenesis in vitro. In this work we investigated if fibrin matrix from clotted blood can act as a soft surrogate which nullifies the influence of the underlying stiff scaffold, thus promoting chondrogenesis irrespective of bulk scale scaffold stiffness. For this we performed in vitro chondrogenesis on soft (∼1.5kPa) and stiff (∼40kPa) gelatin scaffolds in the presence and absence of pericellular plasma clot. Our results demonstrated that in absence of pericellular plasma clot, chondrocytes showed efficient condensation and cartilaginous matrix secretion only on soft scaffolds, whereas, in presence of pericellular plasma clot, cell rounding and cartilaginous matrix secretion was observed in both soft and stiff scaffolds. More specifically, significantly higher collagen II, chondroitin sulfate and aggrecan deposition was observed in soft scaffolds, and soft and stiff scaffolds with pericellular plasma clot as compared to stiff scaffolds without pericellular plasma clot. Moreover, collagen type I, a fibrocartilage/bone marker was significantly higher only in stiff scaffolds without plasma clot. Therefore, it can be concluded that chondrocytes surrounded by a soft fibrin network were unable to sense the stiffness of the underlying scaffold/substrate and hence facilitate chondrogenesis even on stiff scaffolds. This understanding can have significant implications in the design of scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering. Cell fate is influenced by the mechanical properties of cell culture substrates. Outside the body, cartilage progenitor cells express significant amounts of cartilage-specific markers on soft scaffolds but not on stiff scaffolds. However, when implanted in joints, stiff scaffolds show equivalent expression of markers as seen in soft scaffolds. This disparity in existing literature prompted our study. Our results suggest that encapsulation of cells in a soft plasma clot, present in any surgical intervention, prevents their perception of stiffness of the underlying scaffold, and hence the ability to distinguish between soft and stiff scaffolds vanishes. This finding would aid the design of new scaffolds that elicit cartilage-like biochemical properties while simultaneously being mechanically comparable to cartilage tissue. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Identification and characterization of α1 -antitrypsin in fibrin clots.

    PubMed

    Talens, S; Malfliet, J J M C; van Hal, P Th W; Leebeek, F W G; Rijken, D C

    2013-07-01

    Preliminary studies indicated that α1 -antitrypsin (A1AT) is the most abundant protein that is non-covalently bound to fibrin clots prepared from plasma. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize fibrin(ogen)-bound A1AT. Plasma clots were prepared and extensively washed with saline. Clot-bound A1AT could only be extracted using denaturing agents such as urea, thiourea or SDS, pointing to an apparently strong association. Purified fibrinogen, but still containing A1AT as a contaminant, was gel filtered, which showed that the A1AT was bound to fibrinogen. A specific ELISA detected the presence of A1AT-fibrinogen complexes in both purified fibrinogen and pooled normal plasma. Finally, fibrin(ogen)-Sepharose chromatography indicated that A1AT purified from plasma contained a small fraction of fibrin(ogen)-binding A1AT. To study the inhibitory activity of fibrin(ogen)-bound A1AT, both fibrinogen containing A1AT and washed plasma clots were incubated with increasing amounts of elastase. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting showed under both conditions the generation of the A1AT-elastase complex as well as cleaved A1AT. The inhibitory activity of fibrin(ogen)-bound A1AT was also demonstrated by measuring elastase-induced lysis of fibrin clots. Fibrin clots contain strongly bound A1AT, which is functionally active as a serine protease inhibitor (serpin). This A1AT might play a role in the local regulation of proteases involved in coagulation or fibrinolysis and represent a novel link between the inflammatory and hemostatic systems. © 2013 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

  6. Long-term cytokine and growth factor release from equine platelet-rich fibrin clots obtained with two different centrifugation protocols.

    PubMed

    Jiménez-Aristizabal, Román F; López, Catalina; Álvarez, María E; Giraldo, Carlos; Prades, Marta; Carmona, Jorge U

    2017-09-01

    To compare the temporal release (over three weeks) of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) and transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β 1 ) from two platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) preparations from equine blood obtained at either 240g/8min or 416g/10min. Whole blood from 10 horses was used to obtain PRF clots by two different centrifugation protocols. After 1h of rest, PRF clots were deposited in wells with culture medium, which was changed at 6h, 24h and then every 48h to 21days. Cytokines and GFs were measured by ELISA at 1h (serum supernatants from PRF clots) and all time points of culture medium change. A negative control (plasma) and a positive control (blood lysate) were also included. There were no relevant differences between the two protocols for the temporal release of proteins. However, a significant (p=0.01) effect of time was noted. All cytokines were detected after 6h of PRF clot culture until day 21. GF were detected at 1h until day 21. The concentrations for these proteins diminished gradually over time. A highly significant (p=0.01) correlation was noticed between all the proteins evaluated. Leukocytes enmeshed in PRF clots were able to produce cytokines, TGF-β 1 and PDGF-BB. These findings demonstrate a paramount role of leukocytes in wound healing induced or modified by PRF clots in mammals. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Temperature affects thrombolytic efficacy using rt-PA and eptifibatide, an in vitro study.

    PubMed

    Meunier, Jason M; Chang, Wan-Tsu W; Bluett, Brent; Wenker, Evan; Lindsell, Christopher J; Shaw, George J

    2012-09-01

    The potential for hypothermia as a neuroprotectant during stroke has led to its increase in clinical use. At the same time, combination pharmaceutical therapies for ischemic stroke using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), and GP IIb-IIIa inhibitors, such as Eptifibatide (Epf ), are under study. However, there is little data on how the reactions triggered by these agents are impacted by temperature. Here, clot lysis during exposure to the combination of rt-PA and Epf is measured in an in vitro human clot model at hypothermic temperatures. The hypothesis is that lytic efficacy of rt-PA and Epf decreases with decreasing temperature. Whole blood clots from 31 volunteers were exposed to rt-PA (0.5 μg/mL) and Epf (0.63 μg/mL) in human fresh-frozen plasma (rt-PA+Epf ), rt-PA alone in plasma (rt-PA Alone), or to plasma alone (Control), at temperatures from 30°C to 37°C, for 30 minutes. Clot lysis was measured using a microscopic imaging technique; the mean fractional clot loss (FCL) at 30 minutes was used to determine lytic efficacy. Temperature had a significant impact on FCL in clots exposed to rt-PA+Epf, with the FCL being lower at 30°C to 36°C than at 37°C. The FCL remained significantly higher for rt-PA+Epf–treated clots than Controls regardless of temperature, with the exception of measurements made at 30°C when no significant differences in the FCL were observed between groups. The use of hypothermia as a neuroprotectant may negatively impact the therapeutic benefit of thrombolytic agents.

  8. Temperature Affects Thrombolytic Efficacy Using rt-PA and Eptifibatide, an In Vitro Study

    PubMed Central

    Chang, Wan-Tsu W.; Bluett, Brent; Wenker, Evan; Lindsell, Christopher J.; Shaw, George J.

    2012-01-01

    The potential for hypothermia as a neuroprotectant during stroke has led to its increase in clinical use. At the same time, combination pharmaceutical therapies for ischemic stroke using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), and GP IIb-IIIa inhibitors, such as Eptifibatide (Epf ), are under study. However, there is little data on how the reactions triggered by these agents are impacted by temperature. Here, clot lysis during exposure to the combination of rt-PA and Epf is measured in an in vitro human clot model at hypothermic temperatures. The hypothesis is that lytic efficacy of rt-PA and Epf decreases with decreasing temperature. Whole blood clots from 31 volunteers were exposed to rt-PA (0.5 μg/mL) and Epf (0.63 μg/mL) in human fresh-frozen plasma (rt-PA+Epf ), rt-PA alone in plasma (rt-PA Alone), or to plasma alone (Control), at temperatures from 30°C to 37°C, for 30 minutes. Clot lysis was measured using a microscopic imaging technique; the mean fractional clot loss (FCL) at 30 minutes was used to determine lytic efficacy. Temperature had a significant impact on FCL in clots exposed to rt-PA+Epf, with the FCL being lower at 30°C to 36°C than at 37°C. The FCL remained significantly higher for rt-PA+Epf–treated clots than Controls regardless of temperature, with the exception of measurements made at 30°C when no significant differences in the FCL were observed between groups. The use of hypothermia as a neuroprotectant may negatively impact the therapeutic benefit of thrombolytic agents. PMID:23667777

  9. Honey Bee Venom (Apis mellifera) Contains Anticoagulation Factors and Increases the Blood-clotting Time.

    PubMed

    Zolfagharian, Hossein; Mohajeri, Mohammad; Babaie, Mahdi

    2015-12-01

    Bee venom (BV) is a complex mixture of proteins and contains proteins such as phospholipase and melittin, which have an effect on blood clotting and blood clots. The mechanism of action of honey bee venom (HBV, Apis mellifera) on human plasma proteins and its anti-thrombotic effect were studied. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-coagulation effect of BV and its effects on blood coagulation and purification. Crude venom obtained from Apis mellifera was selected. The anti-coagulation factor of the crude venom from this species was purified by using gel filtration chromatography (sephadex G-50), and the molecular weights of the anti-coagulants in this venom estimated by using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Blood samples were obtained from 10 rabbits, and the prothrombin time (PT) and the partial thromboplastin time (PTT) tests were conducted. The approximate lethal dose (LD) values of BV were determined. Crude BV increased the blood clotting time. For BV concentrations from 1 to 4 mg/mL, clotting was not observed even at more than 300 seconds, standard deviations (SDs) = ± 0.71; however, clotting was observed in the control group 13.8 s, SDs = ± 0.52. Thus, BV can be considered as containing anti-coagulation factors. Crude BV is composed 4 protein bands with molecular weights of 3, 15, 20 and 41 kilodalton (kDa), respectively. The LD50 of the crude BV was found to be 177.8 μg/mouse. BV contains anti-coagulation factors. The fraction extracted from the Iranian bees contains proteins that are similar to anti-coagulation proteins, such as phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and melittin, and that can increase the blood clotting times in vitro.

  10. Clot retraction is mediated by factor XIII-dependent fibrin-αIIbβ3-myosin axis in platelet sphingomyelin-rich membrane rafts.

    PubMed

    Kasahara, Kohji; Kaneda, Mizuho; Miki, Toshiaki; Iida, Kazuko; Sekino-Suzuki, Naoko; Kawashima, Ikuo; Suzuki, Hidenori; Shimonaka, Motoyuki; Arai, Morio; Ohno-Iwashita, Yoshiko; Kojima, Soichi; Abe, Mitsuhiro; Kobayashi, Toshihide; Okazaki, Toshiro; Souri, Masayoshi; Ichinose, Akitada; Yamamoto, Naomasa

    2013-11-07

    Membrane rafts are spatially and functionally heterogenous in the cell membrane. We observed that lysenin-positive sphingomyelin (SM)-rich rafts are identified histochemically in the central region of adhered platelets where fibrin and myosin are colocalized on activation by thrombin. The clot retraction of SM-depleted platelets from SM synthase knockout mouse was delayed significantly, suggesting that platelet SM-rich rafts are involved in clot retraction. We found that fibrin converted by thrombin translocated immediately in platelet detergent-resistant membrane (DRM) rafts but that from Glanzmann's thrombasthenic platelets failed. The fibrinogen γ-chain C-terminal (residues 144-411) fusion protein translocated to platelet DRM rafts on thrombin activation, but its mutant that was replaced by A398A399 at factor XIII crosslinking sites (Q398Q399) was inhibited. Furthermore, fibrin translocation to DRM rafts was impaired in factor XIII A subunit-deficient mouse platelets, which show impaired clot retraction. In the cytoplasm, myosin translocated concomitantly with fibrin translocation into the DRM raft of thrombin-stimulated platelets. Furthermore, the disruption of SM-rich rafts by methyl-β-cyclodextrin impaired myosin activation and clot retraction. Thus, we propose that clot retraction takes place in SM-rich rafts where a fibrin-αIIbβ3-myosin complex is formed as a primary axis to promote platelet contraction.

  11. Shrimp Alpha-2-Macroglobulin Prevents the Bacterial Escape by Inhibiting Fibrinolysis of Blood Clots

    PubMed Central

    Chaikeeratisak, Vorrapon; Somboonwiwat, Kunlaya; Tassanakajon, Anchalee

    2012-01-01

    Proteomic analysis of the hemocytic proteins of Penaeus monodon (Pm) has previously shown that alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) was among the proteins that showed substantially altered expression levels upon Vibrio harveyi infection. Therefore, in this study its potentially important role in the response of shrimp to bacterial infection was further characterized. The yeast two-hybrid system revealed that the receptor binding domain of PmA2M interacted with the carboxyl-terminus of one or both of the transglutaminase type II isoforms, which are key enzymes involved in the shrimp clotting system. In accord with this, PmA2M was found to be localized on the extracellular blood clots and to colocalize with clottable proteins. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of A2M transcript levels reduced the PmA2M transcript levels (∼94%) and significantly reduced the bacterial seizing ability of the clotting system, resulting in an up to 3.3-fold higher number of V. harveyi that systemically disseminated into the circulatory system at 5 min post-infection before subsequent clearance by the immune system. Furthermore, an appearance of PmA2M depleted clots in the presence of V. harveyi strikingly demonstrated fibrinolysis zones surrounding the bacteria. This study provides the first evidence of the vital role of PmA2M in enhancing bacterial sequestration by protecting blood clots against fibrinolysis. PMID:23082160

  12. Shrimp alpha-2-macroglobulin prevents the bacterial escape by inhibiting fibrinolysis of blood clots.

    PubMed

    Chaikeeratisak, Vorrapon; Somboonwiwat, Kunlaya; Tassanakajon, Anchalee

    2012-01-01

    Proteomic analysis of the hemocytic proteins of Penaeus monodon (Pm) has previously shown that alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) was among the proteins that showed substantially altered expression levels upon Vibrio harveyi infection. Therefore, in this study its potentially important role in the response of shrimp to bacterial infection was further characterized. The yeast two-hybrid system revealed that the receptor binding domain of PmA2M interacted with the carboxyl-terminus of one or both of the transglutaminase type II isoforms, which are key enzymes involved in the shrimp clotting system. In accord with this, PmA2M was found to be localized on the extracellular blood clots and to colocalize with clottable proteins. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of A2M transcript levels reduced the PmA2M transcript levels (∼94%) and significantly reduced the bacterial seizing ability of the clotting system, resulting in an up to 3.3-fold higher number of V. harveyi that systemically disseminated into the circulatory system at 5 min post-infection before subsequent clearance by the immune system. Furthermore, an appearance of PmA2M depleted clots in the presence of V. harveyi strikingly demonstrated fibrinolysis zones surrounding the bacteria. This study provides the first evidence of the vital role of PmA2M in enhancing bacterial sequestration by protecting blood clots against fibrinolysis.

  13. A Serpin Released by an Entomopathogen Impairs Clot Formation in Insect Defense System

    PubMed Central

    Hao, YouJin; Balasubramanian, Natesan; Jing, Yingjun; Montiel, Rafael; Faria, Tiago Q.; Brito, Rui M.; Simões, Nelson

    2013-01-01

    Steinernema carpocapsae is an entomopathogenic nematode widely used for the control of insect pests due to its virulence, which is mainly attributed to the ability the parasitic stage has to overcome insect defences. To identify the mechanisms underlying such a characteristic, we studied a novel serpin-like inhibitor (sc-srp-6) that was detected in a transcriptome analysis. Recombinant Sc-SRP-6 produced in Escherichia coli had a native fold of serpins belonging to the α-1-peptidase family and exhibited inhibitory activity against trypsin and α-chymotrypsin with Ki of 0.42×10−7 M and 1.22×10−7 M, respectively. Functional analysis revealed that Sc-SRP-6 inhibits insect digestive enzymes, thus preventing the hydrolysis of ingested particles. Moreover, Sc-SRP-6 impaired the formation of hard clots at the injury site, a major insect defence mechanism against invasive pathogens. Sc-SRP-6 does not prevent the formation of clot fibres and the activation of prophenoloxidases but impairs the incorporation of the melanin into the clot. Binding assays showed a complex formation between Sc-SRP-6 and three proteins in the hemolymph of lepidopteran required for clotting, apolipophorin, hexamerin and trypsin-like, although the catalytic inhibition occurred exclusively in trypsin-like. This data allowed the conclusion that Sc-SRP-6 promotes nematode virulence by inhibiting insect gut juices and by impairing immune clot reaction. PMID:23874900

  14. Ultrasound active nanoscaled lipid formulations for thrombus lysis.

    PubMed

    Becker, Andreas; Marxer, Elena; Brüssler, Jana; Hoormann, Anne Sophia; Kuhnt, Daniela; Bakowsky, Udo; Nimsky, Christopher

    2011-04-01

    In the present study, we investigated the sonothrombolytic effect of new nanoscaled lipid formulations in human blood clots, using diagnostic ultrasound. Human blood clots of 1 ml were incubated with 1 μl of the different lipid dispersions DPPC/CH, DPPC/PEG40S, DSPC/PEG40S and the commercially available ultrasound contrast agent SonoVue®. Clots were stored for 3 days at 5 °C to obtain maximal clot retraction and lytic resistance. Each clot weight was determined before and after continuous insonation for 1h of insonation at 1.4 MHz. The pressure in the insonation chamber was 80 mm Hg to mimic middle arterial blood pressure. There were no significant differences in thrombus weight before insonation. All nanoscaled formulations and SonoVue® were able to reduce thrombus weight compared to the weight loss of clots that were not insonated but kept under pressure for one hour (p < 0.001). We found a highly significant weight reduction with DSPC/PEG40S compared to SonoVue® (p = 0.007). Nanoscaled DSPC/PEG40S dispersion could be a promising formulation in ultrasound enhanced thrombolysis even without thrombolytic drugs. Stable cavitation is a crucial parameter in fragmentation of thrombus architecture. Further studies of physicochemical properties of DSPC/PEG40S are necessary to corroborate our hypothesis. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. An Investigation of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Thrombolysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wright, Cameron; Hynynen, Kullervo; Goertz, David

    2011-09-01

    Investigations into high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) thrombolysis in vitro and in vivo in a rabbit femoral artery thrombus model were performed. A 1.51 MHz focused transducer was used to treat clots with pulse lengths of 1-10 ms, acoustic powers of 1-300 W and exposure durations of 5-20 s. Our measurements indicate the creation of acoustic radiation force induced clot displacements are insufficient to mechanically fractionate clots, despite reaching displacements >100 μm. Only under the presence of inertial cavitation was HIFU able to disrupt clots. Cavitation thresholds of 160 W in vitro and 215 W in vivo were observed. In vitro, clots insonified at powers above the cavitation threshold eroded regions up to 2.5× the transducer beam width. Successful recanalization in vivo occurred in 5/20 cases for 1ms pulses at powers >215 W. 10 ms pulses created high incidences of symptomatic bleeding while 1 ms pulses did not. These results demonstrate treatment feasibility in vivo, although further work is required to understand the influence of different acoustic parameters on treatment outcome.

  16. Detection and isolation of Japanese encephalitis virus from blood clots collected during the acute phase of infection.

    PubMed

    Sapkal, Gajanan N; Wairagkar, Nitin S; Ayachit, Vijay M; Bondre, Vijay P; Gore, Milind M

    2007-12-01

    Clinical specimens from an encephalitis outbreak in the Lakhimpur area of Uttar Pradesh, India, were investigated for identification and characterization of the etiologic agent. IgM capture ELISA showed recent Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection. JEV isolation was attempted from white blood cells (WBCs) separated from blood clots of 12 patients (9 IgM positive and 3 negative) by serial co-culturing with phytohemagglutinin P-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMCs) obtained from pre-screened JEV sero-negative healthy individuals. JEV was isolated from two IgM-positive blood clots. Isolate 014178 was detected in WBCs and in the first passage of PBMCs by ELISA and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Isolate 014173 was detectable only after a second passage in PBMC co-culture. Sequence analysis of 346 nt of the C-prM region showed homology with JEV strain GP78. This is the first report on isolation of JEV from patient blood clots. Our study shows that the co-cultures of PBMCs separated from patient blood clots provide an additional source for JEV isolation.

  17. Purification and properties of rennin-like enzyme from Aspergillus ochraceus.

    PubMed

    Ismail, A A; Foda, M S; Khorshid, M A

    1978-01-01

    An active milk-clotting enzyme was purified some 40-fold from culture supernatant of Aspergillus ochraceus. The purification steps included ammonium sulfate precipitation, G-100 Sephadex gel filtration, and ion exchange chromatography, using DEAE Cellulose column. The enzyme exhibited milk-clotting activity and proteolytic behaviour, an optimum at pH 6.0 and in the range of 7--8.5, respectively. The purified enzyme was actively proteolytic against casein, haemoglobin, and bovine serum albumin at pH 8. The milk-clotting activity was greatly enhanced by manganous ions and by increasing concentrations of calcium chloride. Copper, zinc, and ammonium ions were potent inhibitors of the milk-curdling activity of the purified enzyme. Significant inhibition was also noted with sodium chloride at concentrations of 3% or more. Under the specified reaction condition, maximum rate of proteolysis against casein was obtained at 0.4% substrate concentration, whereas the milk-clotting time was linear proportional to dry skim milk concentration in the range of 8 to 24%. The results are discussed in comparison with other microbial milk-clotting enzymes, and limitations of applicability are also presented.

  18. Carboxylator: incorporating solvent-accessible surface area for identifying protein carboxylation sites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lu, Cheng-Tsung; Chen, Shu-An; Bretaña, Neil Arvin; Cheng, Tzu-Hsiu; Lee, Tzong-Yi

    2011-10-01

    In proteins, glutamate (Glu) residues are transformed into γ-carboxyglutamate (Gla) residues in a process called carboxylation. The process of protein carboxylation catalyzed by γ-glutamyl carboxylase is deemed to be important due to its involvement in biological processes such as blood clotting cascade and bone growth. There is an increasing interest within the scientific community to identify protein carboxylation sites. However, experimental identification of carboxylation sites via mass spectrometry-based methods is observed to be expensive, time-consuming, and labor-intensive. Thus, we were motivated to design a computational method for identifying protein carboxylation sites. This work aims to investigate the protein carboxylation by considering the composition of amino acids that surround modification sites. With the implication of a modified residue prefers to be accessible on the surface of a protein, the solvent-accessible surface area (ASA) around carboxylation sites is also investigated. Radial basis function network is then employed to build a predictive model using various features for identifying carboxylation sites. Based on a five-fold cross-validation evaluation, a predictive model trained using the combined features of amino acid sequence (AA20D), amino acid composition, and ASA, yields the highest accuracy at 0.874. Furthermore, an independent test done involving data not included in the cross-validation process indicates that in silico identification is a feasible means of preliminary analysis. Additionally, the predictive method presented in this work is implemented as Carboxylator (http://csb.cse.yzu.edu.tw/Carboxylator/), a web-based tool for identifying carboxylated proteins with modification sites in order to help users in investigating γ-glutamyl carboxylation.

  19. D-dimer test

    MedlinePlus

    ... vein thrombosis - D-dimer; Pulmonary embolism - D-dimer; Blood clot to the lungs - D-dimer ... dimer test if you are showing symptoms of blood clots, such as: Swelling, pain, warmth, and changes in ...

  20. During Pregnancy

    MedlinePlus

    ... miscarriages or infant deaths. Top of Page Other Concerns Bleeding and Clotting Disorders : Bleeding and clotting disorders ... anyone affected, but pregnant women often have special concerns. Learn more about infections, medications, vaccinations, and toxins ...

  1. Blood Clots

    MedlinePlus

    ... sitting for long periods. If you travel by airplane, walk the aisle periodically. For long car trips, ... Your-Risk-for-Excessive-Blood-Clotting_UCM_448771_Article.jsp. Accessed April 18, 2016. What causes excessive ...

  2. Arteriovenous Malformation

    MedlinePlus

    ... blood clot to close the lesion or focused irradiation treatment that is designed to damage the blood ... blood clot to close the lesion or focused irradiation treatment that is designed to damage the blood ...

  3. Antiplatelet Therapy

    MedlinePlus

    ... platelets from sticking together and forming blood clots. Aspirin is the most common type of antiplatelet medicine. ... are recovering from a heart attack are given aspirin to prevent further blood clots from forming in ...

  4. Multifrequency acoustics as a probe of mesoscopic blood coagulation dynamics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ganesan, Adarsh; Rajendran, Gokulnath; Ercole, Ari; Seshia, Ashwin

    2016-08-01

    Coagulation is a complex enzymatic polymerisation cascade. Disordered coagulation is common in medicine and may be life-threatening yet clinical assays are typically bulky and/or provide an incomplete picture of clot mechanical evolution. We present the adaptation of an in-plane acoustic wave device: quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation at multiple harmonics to determine the time-evolution of mesoscale mechanical properties of clot formation in vitro. This approach is sensitive to changes in surface and bulk clot structure in various models of induced coagulopathy. Furthermore, we are able to show that clot formation at surfaces has different kinetics and mechanical strength to that in the bulk, which may have implications for the design of bioprosthetic materials. The "Multifrequency acoustics" approach thus enables unique capability to portray biological processes concerning blood coagulation.

  5. Factors influencing intracranial vessel densities on unenhanced computed tomography: differences between hemispheres.

    PubMed

    Grams, Astrid E; Rehwald, Rafael; Schmittnägel, Charlotte; Schmidt, Thorsten; Tanislav, Christian; Berghoff, Martin; Krombach, Gabriele A; Moritz, Regina; Obert, Martin; Gizewski, Elke R; Glodny, Bernhard

    The aim was to identify the factors influencing intracranial vessel density (VD). The Hounsfield units of the dense vessel and the contralateral side were measured in 34 patients with arterial clots, 20 with venous clots, and 196 without clots and correlated with skull thickness, density and dimensions, gender, age, red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (HB), hematocrit (HT), creatinine, and sodium. Positive correlations were found between VD and HT, RBC, HB, creatinine, and occipital bone density. Density differences between the right and left intracranial vessels were more accurate (sensitivity/specificity/accuracy=0.91/0.93/0.93 and 0.75/0.87/0.85, respectively) for detecting clots than VD alone. HT, RBC, and HB are the main factors that correlate with VD. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Structural properties of fracture haematoma: current status and future clinical implications.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xin; Friis, Thor; Glatt, Vaida; Crawford, Ross; Xiao, Yin

    2017-10-01

    Blood clots (haematomas) that form immediately following a bone fracture have been shown to be vital for the subsequent healing process. During the clotting process, a number of factors can influence the fibrin clot structure, such as fibrin polymerization, growth factor binding, cellular infiltration (including platelet retraction), protein concentrations and cytokines. The modulation of the fibrin clot structure within the fracture site has important clinical implications and could result in the development of multifunctional scaffolds that mimic the natural structure of a haematoma. Artificial haematoma structures such as these can be created from the patient's own blood and can therefore act as an ideal bone defect filling material for potential clinical application to accelerate bone regeneration. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  7. Fibrin clot structure remains unaffected in young, healthy individuals after transient exposure to diesel exhaust

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Exposure to urban particulate matter has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and thrombosis. We studied the effects of transient exposure to diesel particles on fibrin clot structure of 16 healthy individuals (age 21- 44). The subjects were randomly exposed to diesel exhaust and filtered air on two separate occasions. Blood samples were collected before exposure, and 2 and 6 hours after exposure. There were no significant changes on clot permeability, maximum turbidity, lag time, fibre diameter, fibre density and fibrinogen level between samples taken after diesel exhaust exposure and samples taken after filtered air exposure. These data show that there are no prothrombotic changes in fibrin clot structure in young, healthy individuals exposed to diesel exhaust. PMID:20565709

  8. Reduced Rift Valley fever virus infection rates in mosquitoes associated with pledget feedings.

    PubMed

    Turell, M J

    1988-12-01

    Infection rates were compared in Culex pipiens and Aedes taeniorhynchus after they fed on Rift Valley fever (RVF) viremic hamsters or ingested similar doses of RVF virus from blood-soaked pledgets. Infection rates were significantly lower for mosquitoes that ingested virus from a pledget than for those that ingested similar doses from viremic hamsters. The method used to prevent normal clot formation for the pledget feedings (i.e., defibrination by shaking with glass beads or addition of heparin) did not affect subsequent infection rates. Both inhibition of normal clot formation and freezing of virus after it had last been propagated were associated with significantly reduced infection rates with the pledget feedings. Laboratory studies using artificial feeding techniques may not give reliable estimates of the vector competence of mosquitoes for arboviruses.

  9. In Vitro Evaluation of a Rheolytic Thrombectomy System for Clot Removal from Five Different Temporary Vena Cava Filters

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Buecker, Arno; Neuerburg, Joerg; Schmitz-Rode, Thomas

    1997-11-15

    Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of thrombus removal from temporary vena cava filters using a rheolytic thrombectomy device and to assess the embolization rate of this procedure. Methods: Five temporary vena cava filters together with porcine thrombi were placed in a vena cava flow model (semitranslucent silicone tube of 23 mm diameter, pulsatile flow at a mean flow rate of 4 L/min). A rheolytic thrombectomy system (Hydrolyser) was used with a 9 Fr guiding catheter to remove the clots. The effluent was passed through filters of different size and the amount of embolized particles as well as the remaining thrombusmore » were measured. Results: Thrombus removal rates ranged from 85% to 100%. Embolization rates between 47% and 60% were calculated for the different filters. Conclusion: The Hydrolyser is able to remove sufficiently high amounts of thrombus from temporary vena cava filters. However, the amount of embolized particles makes it impossible to utilize this method without special precautions against embolization.« less

  10. [Hemostatic and analgesic effect of Gonghuan Zhixue Tablet on mice].

    PubMed

    Fu, Ling-Mei; You, Zhao-Ling; Lei, Lei; Wen, Le-Xi; Chen, Huan-Ming

    2004-03-01

    To explore the hemostatic and analgesic effect of Gonghuan Zhixue Tablet (GHZXT) on mice and to produce experimental evidence for exploiting new drug for endometrorrhagia caused by Cu-intrauterine contraceptive device (Cu-IUD). Compared with 6-aminocaproic acid and notoginseng, the effects of GHZXT on clotting and bleeding time of mice with capillary method and severed tail were investigated; and compared with aspirin, the analgesic effects of GHZXT on mice were investigated with hot plate and torsive body method. The clotting time of mice was remarkably shortened with a rising of the dosage of GHZXT and the difference between each therapeutic group and distilled water group was remarkable. As compared with distilled water group, the bleeding time of each dosage group of GHZXT was obviously shortened; and each dosage of GHZXT could prolong the time of pain reaction to hot plate and decrease the degree of torsive body of the mice. Pharmacological experiment has proved that GHZXT has evident hemostatic and analgesic function.

  11. [CHANGES OF THE HEMOSTASIS SYSTEM IN THE INJURED PERSONS IN FRACTURES OF LONG BONES OF THE LOWER EXTREMITIES].

    PubMed

    Tarabrin, O O; Grichushenko, I S

    2015-09-01

    The changes of hemostasis in the injured persons, in the lower extremities long bones fracture were analyzed. Complex dynamic investigation of the hemostasis system was conducted preoperatively in 76 injured persons, in whom long bones of the lower extremities fracture have occurred, and in 31--with injury of meniscus. Instrumental diagnostic method--a low-frequency piezoelectric thromboelastography--was applied for investigation of the blood coagulation system. The shift in a system of hemostasis towards hypercoagulation, fibrinolytic and the thrombine activity inhibition, the thrombocytes spontaneous aggregation intensity, duration of formation of a clot fibrinthrombocytic structure; the blood fibrinthrombocytic constanta enhancement, a summary index of the clot retraction and spontaneous lysis reduction were revealed in a hemostasis system before start of the treatment. The hemostasis system disorders in the injured persons may cause thrombohemorrhagic complications, what trusts a necessity for rational choice of preoperative methods of prophylaxis and intensive therapy in a system of hemostasis.

  12. Design and Testing of a Minimally Invasive Blood Clot Removal Device ConstructedWith Elements of Superelastic Nitinol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Puffer, Andrew J.

    Many vascular system problems stem from insufficient blood return flow to the heart. One of the main causes is a blockage within veins or arteries known as a blood clot, or thrombus. This can occur after trauma, surgery, or other phenomenological reasons. Each year in the U.S. more than 175,000 bypass procedures and more than 160,000 amputations resulting from peripheral vessel disease are performed. Clinical data indicates that clot removal devices and procedures can reduce the need for an amputation by 80 percent. Percutaneous thrombectomy refers to the removal of thrombus using catheter based non-surgical methods. The ultimate goal of any modality to treat these conditions of the arterial or venous system is to restore patency, quickly, safely, and cost effectively. Catheter directed thrombectomy and thrombolysis is less traumatic and avoids the morbidity and mortality associated with conventional surgical technique. As a result, there has been a push recently for the use of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) devices. However, all devices have their own set of drawbacks: distal embolization, vessel wall trauma, hemolysis, to name a few. Ongoing efforts have been made to create a prototype thrombectomy device that uses elements of superelastic nitinol (a type of shape memory alloy), that seeks to address some of the drawbacks of current devices. The prototype was designed and tested in a simulated human circulatory system along side a commercially available device (The DiverCE Clot Extraction Catheter). The test evaluated how well the devices minimized distal embolization of a human blood clot created in vitro.. Results of the testing showed that the prototype device created significantly less embolization when compared to the DiverCE particles greater than 102mum (p = 0.0332). Means were statistically not different for particles between 25mum and 102mum (p = 0.2454), and particles between 5mum and 25mum (p = 0.6524). In addition the prototype was shown to create insignificant embolization when compared to a control (p = 0.108). The DiverCE, on the other hand, was shown to create significant embolization when compared to a control (p = 0.027).

  13. Tissue factor-expressing monocytes inhibit fibrinolysis through a TAFI-mediated mechanism, and make clots resistant to heparins

    PubMed Central

    Semeraro, Fabrizio; Ammollo, Concetta T.; Semeraro, Nicola; Colucci, Mario

    2009-01-01

    Background Thrombin is the main activator of the fibrinolysis inhibitor TAFI (thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor) and heightened clotting activation is believed to impair fibrinolysis through the increase of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activation. However, the enhancement of thrombin generation by soluble tissue factor was reported to have no effect on plasma fibrinolysis and it is not known whether the same is true for cell-associated tissue factor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tissue factor-expressing monocytes on plasma fibrinolysis in vitro. Design and Methods Tissue factor expression by human blood mononuclear cells (MNC) and monocytes was induced by LPS stimulation. Fibrinolysis was spectrophotometrically evaluated by measuring the lysis time of plasma clots containing LPS-stimulated or control cells and a low concentration of exogenous tissue plasminogen activator. Results LPS-stimulated MNC (LPS-MNC) prolonged fibrinolysis time as compared to unstimulated MNC (C-MNC) in contact-inhibited but not in normal citrated plasma. A significantly prolonged lysis time was observed using as few as 30 activated cells/μL. Fibrinolysis was also impaired when clots were generated on adherent LPS-stimulated monocytes. The antifibrinolytic effect of LPS-MNC or LPS-monocytes was abolished by an anti-tissue factor antibody, by an antibody preventing thrombin-mediated thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activation, and by a TAFIa inhibitor (PTCI). Assays of thrombin and TAFIa in contact-inhibited plasma confirmed the greater generation of these enzymes in the presence of LPS-MNC. Finally, the profibrinolytic effect of unfractionated heparin and enoxaparin was markedly lower (~50%) in the presence of LPS-MNC than in the presence of a thromboplastin preparation displaying an identical tissue factor activity. Conclusions Our data indicate that LPS-stimulated monocytes inhibit fibrinolysis through a tissue factor-mediated enhancement of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor activation and make clots resistant to the profibrinolytic activity of heparins, thus providing an additional mechanism whereby tissue factor-expressing monocytes/macrophages may favor fibrin accumulation and diminish the antithrombotic efficacy of heparins. PMID:19377079

  14. Identification of potential serum peptide biomarkers of biliary tract cancer using MALDI MS profiling

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Background The aim of this discovery study was the identification of peptide serum biomarkers for detecting biliary tract cancer (BTC) using samples from healthy volunteers and benign cases of biliary disease as control groups. This work was based on the hypothesis that cancer-specific exopeptidases exist and that their activities in serum can generate cancer-predictive peptide fragments from circulating proteins during coagulation. Methods This case control study used a semi-automated platform incorporating polypeptide extraction linked to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to profile 92 patient serum samples. Predictive models were generated to test a validation serum set from BTC cases and healthy volunteers. Results Several peptide peaks were found that could significantly differentiate BTC patients from healthy controls and benign biliary disease. A predictive model resulted in a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 93.8% in detecting BTC in the validation set, whilst another model gave a sensitivity of 79.5% and a specificity of 83.9% in discriminating BTC from benign biliary disease samples in the training set. Discriminatory peaks were identified by tandem MS as fragments of abundant clotting proteins. Conclusions Serum MALDI MS peptide signatures can accurately discriminate patients with BTC from healthy volunteers. PMID:24495412

  15. Chitosan-glycerol phosphate/blood implants improve hyaline cartilage repair in ovine microfracture defects.

    PubMed

    Hoemann, Caroline D; Hurtig, Mark; Rossomacha, Evgeny; Sun, Jun; Chevrier, Anik; Shive, Matthew S; Buschmann, Michael D

    2005-12-01

    Microfracture is a surgical procedure that is used to treat focal articular cartilage defects. Although joint function improves following microfracture, the procedure elicits incomplete repair. As blood clot formation in the microfracture defect is an essential initiating event in microfracture therapy, we hypothesized that the repair would be improved if the microfracture defect were filled with a blood clot that was stabilized by the incorporation of a thrombogenic and adhesive polymer, specifically, chitosan. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate (1) blood clot adhesion in fresh microfracture defects and (2) the quality of the repair, at six months postoperatively, of microfracture defects that had been treated with or without chitosan-glycerol phosphate/blood clot implants, using a sheep model. In eighteen sheep, two 1-cm2 full-thickness chondral defects were created in the distal part of the femur and treated with microfracture; one defect was made in the medial femoral condyle, and the other defect was made in the trochlea. In four sheep, microfracture defects were created bilaterally; the microfracture defects in one knee received no further treatment, and the microfracture defects in the contralateral knee were filled with chitosan-glycerol phosphate/autologous whole blood and the implants were allowed to solidify. Fresh defects in these four sheep were collected at one hour postoperatively to compare the retention of the chitosan-glycerol phosphate/blood clot with that of the normal clot and to define the histologic characteristics of these fresh defects. In the other fourteen sheep, microfracture defects were made in only one knee and either were left untreated (control group; six sheep) or were treated with chitosan-glycerol phosphate/blood implant (treatment group; eight sheep), and the quality of repair was assessed histologically, histomorphometrically, and biochemically at six months postoperatively. In the defects that were examined one hour postoperatively, chitosan-glycerol phosphate/blood clots showed increased adhesion to the walls of the defects as compared with the blood clots in the untreated microfracture defects. After histological processing, all blood clots in the control microfracture defects had been lost, whereas chitosanglycerol phosphate/blood clot adhered to and was partly retained on the surfaces of the defect. At six months, defects that had been treated with chitosan-glycerol phosphate/blood were filled with significantly more hyaline repair tissue (p < 0.05) compared with control defects. Repair tissue from medial femoral condyle defects that had been treated with chitosan-glycerol phosphate/blood contained more cells and more collagen compared with control defects and showed complete restoration of glycosaminoglycan levels. Solidification of a chitosan-glycerol phosphate/blood implant in microfracture defects improved cartilage repair compared with microfracture alone by increasing the amount of tissue and improving its biochemical composition and cellular organization.

  16. Mesenteric artery ischemia

    MedlinePlus

    ... blood to the intestines run directly from the aorta, the main artery from the heart. Hardening of ... clots most often come from the heart or aorta. These clots are more commonly seen in people ...

  17. 21 CFR 864.7300 - Fibrin monomer paracoagulation test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... clotting within a blood vessel) or in the differential diagnosis between disseminated intravascular coagulation and primary fibrinolysis (dissolution of the fibrin in a blood clot). (b) Classification. Class II...

  18. Eltrombopag

    MedlinePlus

    ... the number of platelets (cells that help the blood clot) to decrease the risk of bleeding in adults ... of the eye that may cause vision problems), blood clots, any condition that increases the risk that you ...

  19. 21 CFR 864.7300 - Fibrin monomer paracoagulation test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... clotting within a blood vessel) or in the differential diagnosis between disseminated intravascular coagulation and primary fibrinolysis (dissolution of the fibrin in a blood clot). (b) Classification. Class II...

  20. 21 CFR 864.7320 - Fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products assay.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... dissolution of the fibrin in a blood clot) and in monitoring therapy for disseminated intravascular coagulation (nonlocalized clotting in the blood vessels). (b) Classification. Class II (performance standards...

  1. 21 CFR 864.7300 - Fibrin monomer paracoagulation test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... clotting within a blood vessel) or in the differential diagnosis between disseminated intravascular coagulation and primary fibrinolysis (dissolution of the fibrin in a blood clot). (b) Classification. Class II...

  2. 21 CFR 864.7320 - Fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products assay.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... dissolution of the fibrin in a blood clot) and in monitoring therapy for disseminated intravascular coagulation (nonlocalized clotting in the blood vessels). (b) Classification. Class II (performance standards...

  3. 21 CFR 864.7320 - Fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products assay.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... dissolution of the fibrin in a blood clot) and in monitoring therapy for disseminated intravascular coagulation (nonlocalized clotting in the blood vessels). (b) Classification. Class II (performance standards...

  4. 21 CFR 864.7300 - Fibrin monomer paracoagulation test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... clotting within a blood vessel) or in the differential diagnosis between disseminated intravascular coagulation and primary fibrinolysis (dissolution of the fibrin in a blood clot). (b) Classification. Class II...

  5. 21 CFR 864.7320 - Fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products assay.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... dissolution of the fibrin in a blood clot) and in monitoring therapy for disseminated intravascular coagulation (nonlocalized clotting in the blood vessels). (b) Classification. Class II (performance standards...

  6. 21 CFR 864.7300 - Fibrin monomer paracoagulation test.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... clotting within a blood vessel) or in the differential diagnosis between disseminated intravascular coagulation and primary fibrinolysis (dissolution of the fibrin in a blood clot). (b) Classification. Class II...

  7. Deep Vein Thrombosis

    MedlinePlus

    ... of medication may also prevent new clots from forming. They do not, however, break up existing clots ... to promote blood flow. Anticoagulant therapy lots from forming and diminishes the risk of a pulmonary embolus. ...

  8. Stable angina

    MedlinePlus

    ... pain. Anti-clotting drugs such as aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix), ticagrelor (Brilinta) or prasugrel (Effient) can help prevent ... is especially true for anti-clotting drugs (aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor and prasugrel). Your provider may recommend a ...

  9. Learning about Hemophilia

    MedlinePlus

    ... A or B may need to have an infusion of clotting factor taken from donated human blood ... for bleeding is serious, a doctor may give infusions of clotting factor to avoid bleeding (preventive infusions) ...

  10. Estriol-induced fibrinolysis due to the activation of plasminogen to plasmin by nitric oxide synthesis in platelets.

    PubMed

    Jana, Pradipta; Maiti, Smarajit; Kahn, Nighat N; Sinha, Asru K

    2015-04-01

    Estriol, an oestrogen, at 0.6 nmol/l was reported to inhibit ADP-induced platelet aggregation through nitric oxide synthesis. As nitric oxide has been reported to cause fibrinolysis due to the activation of plasminogen to plasmin, the role of estriol as a fibrinolytic agent was investigated. Also, the mechanism of estriol-induced nitric oxide synthesis in anucleated platelets was investigated. The estriol-induced lysis of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) clot was determined by photography of the clot lysis and by the assay of fibrin degradation products in the lysate and was obtained by SDS-PAGE. Nitric oxide was determined by methemoglobin method. The platelet membrane protein was isolated from the platelets by using Triton X-100 (0.05% v/v). The binding of estriol to the protein was determined by Scatchard plot by using an ELISA for estriol. Estriol at 0.6 nmol/l was found to lyse the clotted PRP due to fibrinolysis that produced fibrin degradation products in the lysate. The amino acid analysis of the platelet membrane protein, which resembles with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, was activated nearly 10-fold over the control in the presence of estriol and was identified to be a human serum albumin precursor (Mr. 69 kDa) that binds to estriol with Kd1 of 6.0 × 10 mol/l and 39 ± 2 molecules of estriol bound the NOS molecule. The estriol-induced nitric oxide is capable of inducing fibrinolysis of the clotted PRP. The binding of estriol to platelet membrane NOS activated the enzyme in the absence of DNA in the platelet.

  11. Coagulopathy and traumatic shock: Characterizing hemostatic function during the critical period prior to fluid resuscitation

    PubMed Central

    White, Nathan J.; Martin, Erika J.; Brophy, Donald F.; Ward, Kevin R.

    2009-01-01

    Aims Identifying early changes in hemostatic clot function as a result of tissue injury and hypoperfusion may provide important information regarding the mechanisms of traumatic coagulopathy. A combat-relevant swine model was used to investigate the development of coagulopathy during trauma by monitoring hemostatic function during increasing severity of shock. Methods Swine were injured (soft tissue + femur fracture) and hemorrhaged while continuously monitoring Oxygen Debt (OD) by indirect calorimetry at the airway. Hemostatic function was assessed by Thrombelastography (TEG), prothrombin time (PT), partial Thromboplastin time (PTT), and fibrinogen concentration and compared before hemorrhage (D0) and during shock when OD= 40 and 80 ml/kg. An instrumented sham group was used for comparison. Results N=23 swine (n=18 hemorrhage, n=5 sham) weighing 45+/−6 Kg were studied after removing an average of 34+/−14% of blood volume during hemorrhage. Hgb, Hct, platelet counts, PT and PTT did not change with increasing OD (p>0.05). Fibrinogen was reduced significantly by OD=40 ml/kg (mean diff =−59.9 mg/dl, 95% CI diff [−95.1, −24.6]). TEG parameters representing clot initiation (R) and polymerization (K and Alpha Angle) did not change with increasing OD during shock (p>0.053). Clot strength (MA) was reduced in the hemorrhage group by OD=80 ml/kg (mean diff = −4.1 mm, 95% CI diff [−7.4, −0.8]). Conclusion In this swine model of traumatic shock, fibrinogen was significantly reduced and an isolated reduction in clot strength (MA) was found with increasing OD. Fibrinogen consumption and altered platelet function may account for the earliest changes in hemostatic function during traumatic shock. PMID:19854556

  12. Thrombin-inhibiting nanoparticles rapidly constitute versatile and detectable anticlotting surfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wheatley Myerson, Jacob; He, Li; Allen, John Stacy; Williams, Todd; Lanza, Gregory; Tollefsen, Douglas; Caruthers, Shelton; Wickline, Samuel

    2014-09-01

    Restoring an antithrombotic surface to suppress ongoing thrombosis is an appealing strategy for treatment of acute cardiovascular disorders such as erosion of atherosclerotic plaque. An antithrombotic surface would present an alternative to systemic anticoagulation with attendant risks of bleeding. We have designed thrombin-targeted nanoparticles (NPs) that bind to sites of active clotting to extinguish local thrombin activity and inhibit platelet deposition while exhibiting only transient systemic anticoagulant effects. Perfluorocarbon nanoparticles (PFC NP) were functionalized with thrombin inhibitors (either D-phenylalanyl-L-prolyl-L-arginyl-chloromethyl ketone or bivalirudin) by covalent attachment of more than 15 000 inhibitors to each PFC NP. Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) ELISA demonstrated that thrombin-inhibiting NPs prevented cleavage of fibrinogen by both free and clot-bound thrombin. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed that a layer of thrombin-inhibiting NPs prevented growth of clots in vitro. Thrombin-inhibiting NPs were administered in vivo to C57BL6 mice subjected to laser injury of the carotid artery. NPs significantly delayed thrombotic occlusion of the artery, whereas an equivalent bolus of free inhibitor was ineffective. For thrombin-inhibiting NPs, only a short-lived (˜10 min) systemic effect on bleeding time was observed, despite prolonged clot inhibition. Imaging and quantification of in vivo antithrombotic NP layers was demonstrated by MRI of the PFC NP. 19F MRI confirmed colocalization of particles with arterial thrombi, and quantitative 19F spectroscopy demonstrated specific binding and retention of thrombin-inhibiting NPs in injured arteries. The ability to rapidly form and image a new antithrombotic surface in acute vascular syndromes while minimizing risks of bleeding would permit a safer method of passivating active lesions than current systemic anticoagulant regimes.

  13. Analytical Comparison of In Vitro-Spiked Human Serum and Plasma for PCR-Based Detection of Aspergillus fumigatus DNA: a Study by the European Aspergillus PCR Initiative

    PubMed Central

    Mengoli, Carlo; Springer, Jan; Bretagne, Stéphane; Cuenca-Estrella, Manuel; Klingspor, Lena; Lagrou, Katrien; Melchers, Willem J. G.; Morton, C. Oliver; Barnes, Rosemary A.; Donnelly, J. Peter; White, P. Lewis

    2015-01-01

    The use of serum or plasma for Aspergillus PCR testing facilitates automated and standardized technology. Recommendations for serum testing are available, and while serum and plasma are regularly considered interchangeable for use in fungal diagnostics, differences in galactomannan enzyme immunoassay (GM-EIA) performance have been reported and are attributed to clot formation. Therefore, it is important to assess plasma PCR testing to determine if previous recommendations for serum are applicable and also to compare analytical performance with that of serum PCR. Molecular methods testing serum and plasma were compared through multicenter distribution of quality control panels, with additional studies to investigate the effect of clot formation and blood fractionation on DNA availability. Analytical sensitivity and time to positivity (TTP) were compared, and a regression analysis was performed to identify variables that enhanced plasma PCR performance. When testing plasma, sample volume, preextraction-to-postextraction volume ratio, PCR volume, duplicate testing, and the use of an internal control for PCR were positively associated with performance. When whole-blood samples were spiked and then fractionated, the analytical sensitivity and TTP were superior when testing plasma. Centrifugation had no effect on DNA availability, whereas the presence of clot material significantly lowered the concentration (P = 0.028). Technically, there are no major differences in the molecular processing of serum and plasma, but the formation of clot material potentially reduces available DNA in serum. During disease, Aspergillus DNA burdens in blood are often at the limits of PCR performance. Using plasma might improve performance while maintaining the methodological simplicity of serum testing. PMID:26085614

  14. Analytical Comparison of In Vitro-Spiked Human Serum and Plasma for PCR-Based Detection of Aspergillus fumigatus DNA: a Study by the European Aspergillus PCR Initiative.

    PubMed

    Loeffler, Juergen; Mengoli, Carlo; Springer, Jan; Bretagne, Stéphane; Cuenca-Estrella, Manuel; Klingspor, Lena; Lagrou, Katrien; Melchers, Willem J G; Morton, C Oliver; Barnes, Rosemary A; Donnelly, J Peter; White, P Lewis

    2015-09-01

    The use of serum or plasma for Aspergillus PCR testing facilitates automated and standardized technology. Recommendations for serum testing are available, and while serum and plasma are regularly considered interchangeable for use in fungal diagnostics, differences in galactomannan enzyme immunoassay (GM-EIA) performance have been reported and are attributed to clot formation. Therefore, it is important to assess plasma PCR testing to determine if previous recommendations for serum are applicable and also to compare analytical performance with that of serum PCR. Molecular methods testing serum and plasma were compared through multicenter distribution of quality control panels, with additional studies to investigate the effect of clot formation and blood fractionation on DNA availability. Analytical sensitivity and time to positivity (TTP) were compared, and a regression analysis was performed to identify variables that enhanced plasma PCR performance. When testing plasma, sample volume, preextraction-to-postextraction volume ratio, PCR volume, duplicate testing, and the use of an internal control for PCR were positively associated with performance. When whole-blood samples were spiked and then fractionated, the analytical sensitivity and TTP were superior when testing plasma. Centrifugation had no effect on DNA availability, whereas the presence of clot material significantly lowered the concentration (P = 0.028). Technically, there are no major differences in the molecular processing of serum and plasma, but the formation of clot material potentially reduces available DNA in serum. During disease, Aspergillus DNA burdens in blood are often at the limits of PCR performance. Using plasma might improve performance while maintaining the methodological simplicity of serum testing. Copyright © 2015 Loeffler et al.

  15. Intraoperative bronchoscopic visualization of left ventricular assist device thrombus.

    PubMed

    Yost, Gardner; Bhat, Geetha; Modi, Sejal; Pappas, Pat; Tatooles, Antone

    2016-07-01

    Despite advancements in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) design and clinical management, device thrombosis remains a pertinent complication. Limited imaging makes precise visualization of clot location and shape very challenging. We report the usage of videobronchoscopic exploration of explanted LVADs for direct visualization of clot in two patients. This technique is a rapid and inexpensive means of improving our understanding of LVAD clot formation and may be useful in surgical exploration of inflow and outflow tracts during LVAD exchange. © The Author(s) 2015.

  16. 21 CFR 203.22 - Exclusions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... a bleeding or clotting disorder, or anemia; (2) Blood collection container approved under section... qualifies as a health care entity, any drug indicated for a bleeding or clotting disorder, or anemia, or any...

  17. Pulmonary Embolism

    MedlinePlus

    ... a lung artery. The cause is usually a blood clot in the leg called a deep vein thrombosis ... pain or coughing up blood. Symptoms of a blood clot include warmth, swelling, pain, tenderness and redness of ...

  18. 21 CFR 203.22 - Exclusions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... a bleeding or clotting disorder, or anemia; (2) Blood collection container approved under section... qualifies as a health care entity, any drug indicated for a bleeding or clotting disorder, or anemia, or any...

  19. 21 CFR 203.22 - Exclusions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... a bleeding or clotting disorder, or anemia; (2) Blood collection container approved under section... qualifies as a health care entity, any drug indicated for a bleeding or clotting disorder, or anemia, or any...

  20. 21 CFR 203.22 - Exclusions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... a bleeding or clotting disorder, or anemia; (2) Blood collection container approved under section... qualifies as a health care entity, any drug indicated for a bleeding or clotting disorder, or anemia, or any...

  1. 21 CFR 203.22 - Exclusions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... a bleeding or clotting disorder, or anemia; (2) Blood collection container approved under section... qualifies as a health care entity, any drug indicated for a bleeding or clotting disorder, or anemia, or any...

  2. [Risk assessment of thrombotic events in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder in the acute state: the 'fibrinodynamics' technology].

    PubMed

    Brusov, O S; Matveev, I A; Kirillov, P S; Faktor, M I; Karpova, N S; Vasilyeva, E F; Katasonov, A B; Zozulya, S A; Klushnik, T P

    To assess the risk of thrombotic events in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder based on 'fibrinodynamics' technology. A group of 76 women, including 38 with paranoid schizophrenia (F20.0), 18 with schizoaffective disorder (F25.1) in the acute stage, and 20 healthy controls, participated in the study. The technology includes the study of coagulation and fibrinolysis, Karmin author software, and calculation of peak time and hemostasis potential of spontaneous clots. Growth and lysis of fibrin clots were studied in plasma purified from platelets. All preanalytic procedures were conducted within 30 minutes after blood sampling. Blood serum was studied separately using the neuroimmunological test. Dynamic of brightness profiles of the clots was determined and a number of parameters (peak time and hemostasis potential of spontaneous clots) were calculated using the Karmin software. In patients with schizophrenia, the dynamic brightness profile of the clots has two peaks: the first peak is formed as a result of the growth and lysis of the clot initiated by the activator, the second peak is due to the growth and lysis of spontaneous clots in the volume of the measuring cuvette far from the activator. In healthy donors, the second peak under experimental conditions is absent. In the group of schizophrenic patients, a strong negative correlation is observed between the peak time of the second peak and the activity of leukocyte elastase (Spearman R = -0.75, p<0.0001), i.e. the greater the activity of elastase, the earlier the maximum of the second peak is formed and vice versa. In the control group, there is no such correlation. Evaluation of the potential of hemostasis of spontaneous clots showed that in 42% of schizophrenic patients this parameter is shifted above the norm, which indicates an increased risk of thrombosis of small brain arteries in these patients. The developed technology of 'fibrinodynamics' has a good potential for introduction into personalized medicine to identify increased risks of thrombosis of small cerebral vessels in patients with acute schizophrenia leading to the development of cognitive disorders and to control the normalization of hemostasis with antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs.

  3. Complications and salvage options after laser lithotripsy for a vesical calculus in a tetraplegic patient: a case report.

    PubMed

    Vaidyanathan, Subramanian; Singh, Gurpreet; Selmi, Fahed; Hughes, Peter L; Soni, Bakul M; Oo, Tun

    2015-01-01

    Laser lithotripsy of vesical calculi in tetraplegic subjects with long-term urinary catheters is fraught with complications because of bladder wall oedema, infection, fragile urothelium, bladder spasms, and autonomic dysreflexia. Severe haematuria should be anticipated; failure to institute measures to minimise bleeding and prevent clot retention can be catastrophic. We present an illustrative case. A tetraplegic patient underwent laser lithotripsy of vesical stone under general anaesthesia. During lithotripsy, severe bladder spasms and consequent rise in blood pressure occurred. Bleeding continued post-operatively resulting in clot retention. CT revealed clots within distended but intact bladder. Clots were sucked out and continuous bladder irrigation was commenced. Bleeding persisted; patient developed repeated clot retention. Cystoscopy was performed to remove clots. Patient developed abdominal distension. Bladder rupture was suspected; bed-side ultrasound scan revealed diffuse small bowel dilatation with mild peritoneal effusion; under-filled bladder containing small clot. Patient developed massive abdominal distension and ileus. Two days later, CT with oral positive contrast revealed intra-peritoneal haematoma at the dome of bladder with perforation at the site of haematoma. Free fluid was noted within the peritoneal cavity. This patient was managed by gastric drainage and intravenous fluids. Patient's condition improved gradually with urethral catheter drainage. Follow-up CT revealed resolution of bladder rupture, perivesical haematoma, and intra-peritoneal free fluid. If bleeding occurs, bladder irrigation should be commenced immediately after surgery to prevent clot retention. When bladder rupture is suspected, CT of abdomen should be done instead of ultrasound scan, which may not reveal bladder perforation. It is debatable whether laparotomy and repair of bladder rupture is preferable to nonoperative management in tetraplegics. Anti-muscarinic drugs should be prescribed prior to lithotripsy to control bladder spasms; aspirin and ibuprofen should be omitted. If significant bleeding occurs during lithotripsy, procedure should be stopped and rescheduled. Percutaneous cystolithotripsy using a wide channel could be quicker to clear stones, as larger fragments could be retrieved; lesser stimulant for triggering autonomic dysreflexia, as it avoids urethral manipulation. But in patients with small, contracted bladder, and protuberant abdomen, percutaneous access to urinary bladder may be difficult and can result in injury to bowels.

  4. Atherosclerosis and Stroke

    MedlinePlus

    ... Stroke and atherosclerosis There are two types of ischemic stroke caused by blood clots, narrowing of blood vessels ... 2 What Is an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)? 3 Ischemic Strokes (Clots) 4 Hemorrhagic Strokes (Bleeds) 5 What You ...

  5. Aminocaproic Acid Injection

    MedlinePlus

    ... is used to control bleeding that occurs when blood clots are broken down too quickly. This type of ... doctor if you have or have ever had blood clots or heart, liver or kidney disease.tell your ...

  6. CT angiography - chest

    MedlinePlus

    ... aortic aneurysm - CTA chest; Venous thromboembolism - CTA lung; Blood clot - CTA lung; Embolus - CTA lung; CT pulmonary angiogram ... angiogram may be done: For symptoms that suggest blood clots in the lungs, such as chest pain, rapid ...

  7. Pulmonary angiography

    MedlinePlus

    ... to the blood vessel as the needle and catheter are inserted Blood clot traveling to the lungs, causing an embolism Excessive bleeding or a blood clot where the catheter is inserted, which can reduce blood flow to ...

  8. 21 CFR 173.150 - Milk-clotting enzymes, microbial.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    .... Milk-clotting enzyme produced by pure-culture fermentation process may be safely used in the production... from one of the following organisms by a pure-culture fermentation process: (1) Endothia parasitica...

  9. Gaucher Disease in Pregnancy

    MedlinePlus

    ... You may also have new symptoms start during pregnancy. Women with Gaucher disease are at an increased risk ... blood platelet count, which can affect clotting) in pregnancy. Women with severe thrombocytopenia and/or clotting abnormalities could ...

  10. Current status of clot dissolution therapy.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1962-11-01

    Clot dissolution using fibrinolytic agents is a promising approach to the treatment of thromboembolic disease, particularly peripheral venous and arterial occlusion. In their present state of development, these agents are not recommended for general ...

  11. Some Important Milestones in the Field of Blood Clotting.

    PubMed

    Doolittle, Russell F

    2016-01-01

    Several different kinds of 'milestone' in the field of blood coagulation are described from the middle decades of the 20th century. Although viewed from the standpoint of clotting per se, attention is also given to implications for innate immunity. The first milestone considered is the protracted saga of clotting dependence on vitamin K, an adventure that spanned more than five decades beginning in the 1920s. The second has to do with the discovery of a half-dozen 'new' clotting factors during the period immediately following World War II. A third pursues a narrower focus and examines the once mysterious transformation of fibrinogen into fibrin. Finally, the clinical treatment of classical hemophilia had a remarkable turning point in the 1960s as the result of simple but sensible measures. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  12. Arterial and venous embolization: Declotting of dialysis shunts by direct injection of streptokinase

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zeit, R.M.

    1986-06-01

    During the past 33 months, thrombolysis of 79 clotted hemodialysis shunts was attempted by injecting small quantities of dilute streptokinase solution directly into the clotted shunt, followed by massage of the clot. Embolization of clot fragments in six of 79 cases (7.6%) was demonstrated angiographically. In four of the six cases embolization involved the brachial artery or its branches. In one case embolization involved an arm vein, and in one case embolization involved both the bracial artery and axillary vein. All patients remained asymptomatic, and repeat angiographic study, usually performed the following day, showed resolution of the emboli in fourmore » of five cases. The incidence of embolization in direct-injection thrombolysis reported in this study appears to be comparable to that reported in studies using the streptokinase infusion technique.« less

  13. A model comparing how rapidly transfusion of solvent detergent plasma restores clotting factors versus infusion of albumin-saline.

    PubMed

    Jilma-Stohlawetz, Petra; Kursten, Friedrich W; Horvath, Michaela; Leitner, Gerda; List, Jana; Marcek, Jana; Quehenberger, Peter; Schwameis, Michael; Bartko, Johann; Jilma, Bernd

    2015-12-01

    A recent randomized controlled trial demonstrated the bioequivalence between universally applicable and AB0 compatible transfusion plasma in healthy volunteers. There was a limited change in coagulation factor levels and inhibitors before and after plasmapheresis and subsequent plasma transfusion. The aim of this extension trial was to investigate the true capacity of these plasma products to restore baseline levels of coagulation factors and inhibitors after plasma depletion in comparison to haemodilution induced by infusion of albumin solution. Fourteen healthy subjects, who completed both plasma transfusion periods, underwent an additional plasmapheresis (600 mL) followed by an infusion of 1200 mL albumin (3.125%) in a third period. The fibrinogen levels, as well as other clotting factors (FII, FV, FVII and FXI), decreased by 10% after plasmapheresis, and subsequent infusion of albumin solution further aggravated this drop in clotting factors to approximately 20-25%. The clotting factors with a long half-life were not even restored 24 hours after infusion of albumin solution, whereas those with a short half-life were replenished by endogenous synthesis within 24 hours. In contrast, transfusion of either plasma product rapidly restored all clotting parameters and inhibitors (protein S and plasmin inhibitor) immediately after transfusion. This study demonstrates that albumin solution induces an enhanced dilution of clotting factors and inhibitors, whereas both plasma products quickly compensated for the experimental loss of these plasma proteins. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  14. Genotyping of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in DNA Isolated from Serum Using Sequenom MassARRAY Technology.

    PubMed

    Clendenen, Tess V; Rendleman, Justin; Ge, Wenzhen; Koenig, Karen L; Wirgin, Isaac; Currie, Diane; Shore, Roy E; Kirchhoff, Tomas; Zeleniuch-Jacquotte, Anne

    2015-01-01

    Large epidemiologic studies have the potential to make valuable contributions to the assessment of gene-environment interactions because they prospectively collected detailed exposure data. Some of these studies, however, have only serum or plasma samples as a low quantity source of DNA. We examined whether DNA isolated from serum can be used to reliably and accurately genotype single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using Sequenom multiplex SNP genotyping technology. We genotyped 81 SNPs using samples from 158 participants in the NYU Women's Health Study. Each participant had DNA from serum and at least one paired DNA sample isolated from a high quality source of DNA, i.e. clots and/or cell precipitates, for comparison. We observed that 60 of the 81 SNPs (74%) had high call frequencies (≥95%) using DNA from serum, only slightly lower than the 85% of SNPs with high call frequencies in DNA from clots or cell precipitates. Of the 57 SNPs with high call frequencies for serum, clot, and cell precipitate DNA, 54 (95%) had highly concordant (>98%) genotype calls across all three sample types. High purity was not a critical factor to successful genotyping. Our results suggest that this multiplex SNP genotyping method can be used reliably on DNA from serum in large-scale epidemiologic studies.

  15. Comparison of various solutions to dissolve critical care diet clots.

    PubMed

    Parker, Valerie J; Freeman, Lisa M

    2013-01-01

    Enteral feeding tubes are frequently placed in animals to provide assisted nutritional support; however, one major reported complication is clogging of the tubes. The goal of this study was to determine which solution is most effective at dissolving in vitro clots made using a veterinary canned critical care diet. Various solutions were tested for their ability to dissolve enteral feed clots, including water, meat tenderizers in water, predetermined amounts of pancreatic enzymes (with and without sodium bicarbonate) in water, carbonated beverages, and cranberry juice. The solution that resulted in the greatest dissolution was ¼ teaspoon pancreatic enzymes and 325 mg sodium bicarbonate in 5 mL water, which was significantly better than all other solutions (water: P = 0.03; ¼ teaspoon pancreatic enzymes in water: P = 0.002; all others: P < 0.001). Water was significantly better than all carbonated beverages and cranberry juice (P < 0.001). The least successful solution was ½ teaspoon pancreatic enzymes and sodium bicarbonate in water. Despite anecdotal reports of using carbonated beverages, cranberry juice, and ½ teaspoon pancreatic enzymes to unclog feeding tubes, all were significantly less effective than water. In vivo studies to evaluate the effectiveness of methods to unclog feeding tubes are warranted to further investigate these findings. © Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2013.

  16. The effect of intravenous safflower oil emulsion on the clotting mechanism.

    PubMed

    Van Way, C W; Dunn, E L; Hamstra, R D

    1983-08-01

    A new fat emulsion for intravenous use, derived from safflower oil (Abbott Laboratories), was studied. The clotting mechanism was compared with a battery of tests performed during the infusion of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) using glucose alone and during infusion of TPN using both glucose and fat. Five adult surgical patients underwent TPN with 7.0 per cent amino acid solution for ten days, receiving glucose as their only nonprotein calorie source on days one, two, nine, and ten (40 kcal/kg/day). On days three through eight, 10 per cent fat emulsion (600-900 ml/day) was given each day to provide one-third of the nonprotein calories. Simplate bleeding time, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen (Biuret method), platelet count, platelet aggregation, serum functional antithrombin, and viscoelastic curves were measured on days one, three, six, and ten. Some of these studies were abnormal at baseline and during the study. No significant changes were seen with fat emulsion infusion. The patients did not exhibit any evidence of clinical bleeding. This new intravenous fat emulsion did not appear to be associated with alterations in the clotting mechanism. However, two of five patients showed increases in serum triglycerides and one patient died during the study.

  17. Blood Flow: Multi-scale Modeling and Visualization (July 2011)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    None

    2011-01-01

    Multi-scale modeling of arterial blood flow can shed light on the interaction between events happening at micro- and meso-scales (i.e., adhesion of red blood cells to the arterial wall, clot formation) and at macro-scales (i.e., change in flow patterns due to the clot). Coupled numerical simulations of such multi-scale flow require state-of-the-art computers and algorithms, along with techniques for multi-scale visualizations. This animation presents early results of two studies used in the development of a multi-scale visualization methodology. The fisrt illustrates a flow of healthy (red) and diseased (blue) blood cells with a Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) method. Each bloodmore » cell is represented by a mesh, small spheres show a sub-set of particles representing the blood plasma, while instantaneous streamlines and slices represent the ensemble average velocity. In the second we investigate the process of thrombus (blood clot) formation, which may be responsible for the rupture of aneurysms, by concentrating on the platelet blood cells, observing as they aggregate on the wall of an aneruysm. Simulation was performed on Kraken at the National Institute for Computational Sciences. Visualization was produced using resources of the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility at Argonne National Laboratory.« less

  18. Application of a clot-based assay to measure the procoagulant activity of stored allogeneic red blood cell concentrates

    PubMed Central

    Wannez, Adeline; Bailly, Nicolas; Alpan, Lutfiye; Gheldof, Damien; Douxfils, Jonathan; Deneys, Véronique; Bihin, Benoît; Chatelain, Bernard; Dogné, Jean-Michel; Chatelain, Christian; Mullier, François

    2018-01-01

    Background Thrombotic effects are possible complications of red blood cell transfusion. The generation and accumulation of procoagulant red blood cell extracellular vesicles during storage may play an important role in these thrombotic effects. The objective of this study was to assess the value of a simple phospholipid-dependent clot-based assay (STA®-Procoag-PPL) to estimate the procoagulant activity of stored red blood cells and changes in this activity during storage of the blood component. Materials and methods Extracellular vesicles from 12 red blood cell concentrates were isolated at 13 storage time-points and characterised by quantitative and functional methods: the degree of haemolysis (direct spectrophotometry), the quantification and determination of cellular origin (flow cytometry) and the procoagulant activity (thrombin generation and STA®-Procoag-PPL assays) were assessed. Results The mean clotting time of extracellular vesicles isolated from red blood cell concentrates decreased from 117.2±3.6 sec on the day of collection to 33.8±1.3 sec at the end of the storage period. This illustrates the phospholipid-dependent procoagulant activity of these extracellular vesicles, as confirmed by thrombin generation. Results of the peak of thrombin and the STA®-Procoag-PPL were well correlated (partial r=−0.41. p<0.001). In parallel, an exponential increase of the number of red blood cell-derived extracellular vesicles from 1,779/μL to 218,451/μL was observed. Discussion The STA®-Procoag-PPL is a potentially useful technique for assessing the procoagulant activity of a red blood cell concentrate. PMID:28287378

  19. In vitro comparison of Günther Tulip and Celect filters: testing filtering efficiency and pressure drop.

    PubMed

    Nicolas, M; Malvé, M; Peña, E; Martínez, M A; Leask, R

    2015-02-05

    In this study, the trapping ability of the Günther Tulip and Celect inferior vena cava filters was evaluated. Thrombus capture rates of the filters were tested in vitro in horizontal position with thrombus diameters of 3 and 6mm and tube diameter of 19mm. The filters were tested in centered and tilted positions. Sets of 30 clots were injected into the model and the same process was repeated 20 times for each different condition simulated. Pressure drop experienced along the system was also measured and the percentage of clots captured was recorded. The Günther Tulip filter showed superiority in all cases, trapping almost 100% of 6mm clots both in an eccentric and tilted position and trapping 81.7% of the 3mm clots in a centered position and 69.3% in a maximum tilted position. The efficiency of all filters tested decreased as the size of the embolus decreased and as the filter was tilted. The injection of 6 clots raised the pressure drop to 4.1mmHg, which is a reasonable value that does not cause the obstruction of blood flow through the system. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Data and Statistics of DVT/PE

    MedlinePlus

    ... Controls Cancel Submit Search the CDC Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots) Note: Javascript is disabled or is not supported ... Challenge HA-VTE Data & Statistics HA-VTE Resources Blood Clots and Travel Research and Treatment Centers Data & Statistics ...

  1. Rapid multiplexed genotyping for hereditary thrombophilia by SELDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Yang, Shangbin; Xu, Lihui; Wu, Haifeng M

    2010-03-01

    Approximately 50% of patients with venous thromboembolism also present with hereditary predisposition. The most common genetic factors are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T. Genotyping these SNPs helps clinicians to correctly diagnose the disease and properly manage patients. In this study, we report a novel method using surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionization time of flight mass spectrometry to rapidly genotype, in a multiplex fashion, 3 SNPs that predispose patients to thrombosis. First, patient DNA samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction to amplify and extend the DNA products with masses corresponding to specific genotypes. Polymerase chain reaction products were then applied to Q10 anionic protein chips, undergoing on-chip sample enrichment and clean-up. Finally, the genotypes of the SNPs were determined by surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. This method offers a rapid turnaround time of less than 5 hours from sample collection to result reporting. The analytical accuracy of each SNP genotyping result has been confirmed by DNA sequencing. In addition, the genotype results produced by this method were validated by comparing them with results obtained by the approved method in the clinical reference laboratory. This novel method is fast, accurate, and reproducible, and thus provides an excellent platform to promote personalized medicine in the management of clotting disorders.

  2. Simulation study on compressive laminar optical tomography for cardiac action potential propagation

    PubMed Central

    Harada, Takumi; Tomii, Naoki; Manago, Shota; Kobayashi, Etsuko; Sakuma, Ichiro

    2017-01-01

    To measure the activity of tissue at the microscopic level, laminar optical tomography (LOT), which is a microscopic form of diffuse optical tomography, has been developed. However, obtaining sufficient recording speed to determine rapidly changing dynamic activity remains major challenges. For a high frame rate of the reconstructed data, we here propose a new LOT method using compressed sensing theory, called compressive laminar optical tomography (CLOT), in which novel digital micromirror device-based illumination and data reduction in a single reconstruction are applied. In the simulation experiments, the reconstructed volumetric images of the action potentials that were acquired from 5 measured images with random pattern featured a wave border at least to a depth of 2.5 mm. Consequently, it was shown that CLOT has potential for over 200 fps required for the cardiac electrophysiological phenomena. PMID:28736675

  3. Plasma Cell Disorders

    MedlinePlus

    ... Time Poses Clot Risk (News) New Hemophilia Treatment Stems Bleeding Episodes (News) Quickly Treating Mini-Stroke Can Cut Risk for Future Stroke (News) Zelboraf Approved for Rare Blood Cancer (Video) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (Video) Blood Clots: Plugging the Breaks Additional Content ...

  4. Ischemic Strokes (Clots)

    MedlinePlus

    ... Month Infographic Stroke Hero F.A.S.T. Quiz Ischemic Strokes (Clots) Updated:May 21,2018 Ischemic stroke accounts for about 87 percent of all cases. View a detailed animation of ischemic stroke . Ischemic strokes occur as a result of an ...

  5. Breathing difficulties - first aid

    MedlinePlus

    ... walk around every few hours to avoid forming blood clots in your legs. While seated, do ankle circles ... lower your heels, toes, and knees to increase blood flow in your legs. Clots can break off and lodge in your lungs. ...

  6. Probing the coagulation pathway with aptamers identifies combinations that synergistically inhibit blood clot formation

    PubMed Central

    Bompiani, Kristin M; Lohrmann, Jens L; Pitoc, George A; Frederiksen, James W; Mackensen, George B; Sullenger, Bruce A

    2014-01-01

    SUMMARY Coordinated enzymatic reactions regulate blood clot generation. To explore the contributions of various coagulation enzymes in this process, we utilized a panel of aptamers against factors VIIa, IXa, Xa, and prothrombin. Each aptamer dose-dependently inhibited clot formation, yet none was able to completely impede this process in highly procoagulant settings. However several combinations of two aptamers synergistically impaired clot formation. One extremely potent aptamer combination was able to maintain human blood fluidity even during extracorporeal circulation, a highly procoagulant setting encountered during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Moreover, this aptamer cocktail could be rapidly reversed with antidotes to restore normal hemostasis, indicating that even highly potent aptamer combinations can be rapidly controlled. These studies highlight the potential utility of using sets of aptamers to probe the functions of proteins in molecular pathways for research and therapeutic ends. PMID:25065530

  7. Hemostatic potential of natural/synthetic polymer based hydrogels crosslinked by gamma radiation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barba, Bin Jeremiah D.; Tranquilan-Aranilla, Charito; Abad, Lucille V.

    2016-01-01

    Various raw materials and hydrogels prepared from their combination were assessed for hemostatic capability using swine whole blood clotting analysis. Initial screening showed efficient coagulative properties from κ-carrageenan and its carboxymethylated form, and α-chitosan, even compared to commercial products like QuikClot Zeolite Powder. Blending natural and synthetic polymers formed into hydrogels using gamma radiation produced materials with improved properties. KC and CMKC hydrogels were found to have the lowest blood clotting index in granulated form and had the higher capacity for platelet adhesion in foamed form compared to GelFoam. Possible mechanisms involved in the evident thrombogenicity of the materials include adsorption of platelets and related proteins that aid in platelet activation (primary hemostasis), absorption of water to concentrate protein factors that control the coagulation cascade, contact activation by its negatively charged surface and the formation of gel-blood clots.

  8. Ultrasoft microgels displaying emergent platelet-like behaviours

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brown, Ashley C.; Stabenfeldt, Sarah E.; Ahn, Byungwook; Hannan, Riley T.; Dhada, Kabir S.; Herman, Emily S.; Stefanelli, Victoria; Guzzetta, Nina; Alexeev, Alexander; Lam, Wilbur A.; Lyon, L. Andrew; Barker, Thomas H.

    2014-12-01

    Efforts to create platelet-like structures for the augmentation of haemostasis have focused solely on recapitulating aspects of platelet adhesion; more complex platelet behaviours such as clot contraction are assumed to be inaccessible to synthetic systems. Here, we report the creation of fully synthetic platelet-like particles (PLPs) that augment clotting in vitro under physiological flow conditions and achieve wound-triggered haemostasis and decreased bleeding times in vivo in a traumatic injury model. PLPs were synthesized by combining highly deformable microgel particles with molecular-recognition motifs identified through directed evolution. In vitro and in silico analyses demonstrate that PLPs actively collapse fibrin networks, an emergent behaviour that mimics in vivo clot contraction. Mechanistically, clot collapse is intimately linked to the unique deformability and affinity of PLPs for fibrin fibres, as evidenced by dissipative particle dynamics simulations. Our findings should inform the future design of a broader class of dynamic, biosynthetic composite materials.

  9. Effects of exercise and conditioning on clotting and fibrinolytic activity in men

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ferguson, Earl W.; Bernier, Lani L.; Banta, Guy R.; Yu-Yahiro, Janet; Schoomaker, Eric B.

    1987-01-01

    Blood clotting and fibrinolytic activity in three groups of nonsmoking, nonobese, healthy men ranging from 19 to 59 years are studied. The groups consisted of (1) marathoners (men running more than 50 miles/week); (2) joggers (men running 5-15 miles/week; and (3) sedentary subjects (men who did not exercise routinely). It is observed that the rate of blood clotting is accelerated by exercise; marathoners had greater increases in fibrinolytic activity than the other two groups; and fibrin degradation products increased with exercise. The data reveal that the changes in clotting assays with exercise do not correlate with changes in whole blood lactate, blood pyruvate, or rectal temperatures. It is noted that the level of acceleration for fibrinolytic activity is directly related to the maximum aerobic capacity and work load of the individual, and that conditioning enhances the fibrinolytic response to exercise.

  10. Impaired thrombin generation and fibrin clot formation in patients with dilutional coagulopathy during major surgery.

    PubMed

    Schols, S E M; Lancé, M D; Feijge, M A H; Damoiseaux, J; Marcus, M A; Hamulyák, K; Ten Cate, H; Heemskerk, J W M; van Pampus, E C M

    2010-02-01

    Patients subjected to haemodilution during surgery are at increased risk of bleeding. We hypothesised that, in the acquired dilutional coagulopathy, insufficient haemostasis is due to either insufficient thrombin generation or insufficient fibrin clot formation. In tissue factor-activated plasmas from patients with coagulation deficiency, we measured time curves of thrombin generation and fibrin clot formation (thromboelastography). Investigated were in study A: 10 patients treated with vitamin K antagonist and five healthy subjects; in study B: 30 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery and infused with on average 2,000 ml crystalloids and colloids (no major bleeding); in study C: 58 patients undergoing major general surgery, and transfused with >5,000 ml crystalloids, colloids and red cell concentrates, who experienced major bleeding and were post-transfused with fresh frozen plasma. The treatment with vitamin K antagonist led to a progressive reduction in thrombin generation but not fibrin clot formation. In CPB patients, plasma factor levels post-surgery were 53-60% of normal. This was accompanied by moderate reduction in both haemostatic processes. In plasmas from patients undergoing major surgery, factor levels were 38-41% of normal, and these levels increased after plasma transfusion. Taking preset thresholds for normal thrombin generation and fibrin clot formation, at least one of these processes was low in 88-93% of the patients with (persistent) bleeding, but only in 40-53% of the patients without bleeding. In conclusion, the ability of thrombin generation and fibrin clot formation is independently reduced in acquired dilutional coagulopathy, while minimal levels of both are required for adequate haemostasis.

  11. Treatment protocol based on assessment of clot quality during endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke using the Trevo stent retriever

    PubMed Central

    Ishikawa, Kojiro; Ohshima, Tomotaka; Nishihori, Masahiro; Imai, Tasuku; Goto, Shunsaku; Yamamoto, Taiki; Nishizawa, Toshihisa; Shimato, Shinji; Kato, Kyozo

    2016-01-01

    ABSTRACT The optional endovascular approach for acute ischemic stroke is unclear. The Trevo stent retriever can be used as first-line treatment for fast mechanical recanalization. The authors developed a treatment protocol for acute ischemic stroke based on the assessment of clot quality during clot removal with the Trevo. This prospective single-center study included all patients admitted for acute ischemic stroke between July 2014 and February 2015, who underwent emergency endovascular treatment. According to the protocol, the Trevo was used for first-line treatment. Immediately after the Trevo was deployed, the stent delivery wire was pushed to open the stent by force (ACAPT technique). Clot quality was assessed on the basis of the perfusion status after deployment of the Trevo; continued occlusion or immediate reopening either reoccluded or maintained after the stent retriever had been in place for 5 min. If there was no obvious clot removal after the first pass with the Trevo, according to the quality of the clot, either a second pass was performed or another endovascular device was selected. Twelve consecutive patients with acute major cerebral artery occlusion were analyzed. Thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score 2b and 3 was achieved in 11 patients (91.7%) and 9 (75%) had a good clinical outcome after 90 days based on a modified Rankin scale score ≤ 2. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 1 patient (8.3%). The overall mortality rate was 8.3%. Endovascular thrombectomy using the Trevo stent retriever for first-line treatment is feasible and effective. PMID:27578909

  12. Evaluation of laser photobiomodulation on bone defect in the femur of osteoporotic rats: a Raman spectral study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Soares, Luiz Guilherme P.; Aciole, Jouber Mateus d. S.; Neves, Bruno Luiz R. C.; Silveira, Landulfo; Pinheiro, Antônio L. B.

    2015-03-01

    Phototherapies have shown positive effects on the bone repair process, increasing the blood supply to the injured area. The aim of this study was to assess through Raman spectroscopy, the efficacy of laser phototherapy (λ = 780 nm, P = 70 mW, CW, 20.4 J/cm2 per session, 163.2 J/cm2 per treatment) on the bone repair process of osteoporotic rats. The osteoporosis induction was achieved by ovariectomy surgery. Thirty Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (Basal; OVX, OVX + Clot and OVX + Clot + Laser), then subdivided into 2 subgroups according to the experimental time (15 and 30 days). After the osteoporosis induction time (60 days), a bone defect with 2 mm was created with a trephine drill in the right femur in the animals of groups OVX, Clot and Clot + Laser. After surgery, the irradiation protocol was applied in the same groups on repeated sessions every 48 hours during 15 days. The samples were analyzed by Raman Spectroscopy to assess the inorganic content of phosphate and carbonated hydroxyapatite (~960 and 1070 cm-1, respectively) and organic lipids and proteins (~1454 cm-1). Statistical analysis (ANOVA, Student-T test) showed significant difference between groups Basal, OVX + Clot, and OVX + Clot + Laser for the inorganic content peaks at ~960 (p≤0.001), and ~1070 cm-1 (p≤0.001) in both periods of 15 and 30 days, however on peak at ~1450 cm-1 no differences were detected. It was concluded that the Laser phototherapy increased deposition of HA on bone repair process of osteoporotic rats.

  13. Thromboelastography in wild Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris).

    PubMed

    Barratclough, Ashley; Floyd, Ruth Francis; Reep, Roger L; Ball, Ray L; Conner, Bobbi J

    2018-03-09

    Thromboelastography (TEG) provides a comprehensive evaluation of blood clot formation. This test can be used to identify abnormalities in coagulation by assessing multiple aspects of the clotting cascade, including the speed of clot initiation and formation, clot strength, and ultimately fibrinolysis. Thromboembolic disease has been hypothesized to play a role in the pathophysiology of cold stress syndrome (CSS), an important cause of mortality in the threatened Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris). The objective of this study was to establish thromboelastography RIs using the TEG 5000 with citrated whole blood samples and kaolin activation in wild, healthy manatees. In December 2014 and January 2015, 29 wild manatees (17 male and 12 female) were blood sampled as part of the annual wild manatee health assessments organized by United States Geological Survey (USGS). TEG was performed using citrated kaolin-activated samples. The samples were obtained from manatees caught in Crystal River, Citrus County, and used to identify the mean ± SD of normal TEG parameters: R = reaction time 2.1 minutes (0.8), K = clot formation time 0.8 min (0), α angle = 83.1° (2), MA = maximum amplitude 75 mm (7.6), and LY30 = clot lysis 0.41% (0.68). No significant differences were found between manatee size, sex, or time between sampling and running the test. Manatee TEG parameters demonstrate a relatively hypercoagulable condition when compared to other mammals. This information will facilitate detection of changes in hemostasis during injury and disease and provide a valuable reference range. © 2018 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.

  14. Factor V Leiden

    MedlinePlus

    ... and where it travels. A clot in a deep vein This is known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Deep vein thrombosis may not cause any symptoms. If ... as a pulmonary embolism, this occurs when a deep vein clot breaks free and travels through the ...

  15. Comparison of Submental Blood Collection with the Retroorbital and Submandibular Methods in Mice (Mus musculus)

    PubMed Central

    Regan, Rainy D; Fenyk-Melody, Judy E; Tran, Sam M; Chen, Guang; Stocking, Kim L

    2016-01-01

    Nonterminal blood sample collection of sufficient volume and quality for research is complicated in mice due to their small size and anatomy. Large (>100 μL) nonterminal volumes of unhemolyzed or unclotted blood currently are typically collected from the retroorbital sinus or submandibular plexus. We developed a third method—submental blood collection—which is similar in execution to the submandibular method but with minor changes in animal restraint and collection location. Compared with other techniques, submental collection is easier to perform due to the direct visibility of the target vessels, which are located in a sparsely furred region. Compared with the submandibular method, the submental method did not differ regarding weight change and clotting score but significantly decreased hemolysis and increased the overall number of high-quality samples. The submental method was performed with smaller lancets for the majority of the bleeds, yet resulted in fewer repeat collection attempts, fewer insufficient samples, and less extraneous blood loss and was qualitatively less traumatic. Compared with the retroorbital technique, the submental method was similar regarding weight change but decreased hemolysis, clotting, and the number of overall high-quality samples; however the retroorbital method resulted in significantly fewer incidents of insufficient sample collection. Extraneous blood loss was roughly equivalent between the submental and retroorbital methods. We conclude that the submental method is an acceptable venipuncture technique for obtaining large, nonterminal volumes of blood from mice. PMID:27657712

  16. Precautions and Adverse Reactions during Blood Transfusion

    MedlinePlus

    ... Time Poses Clot Risk (News) New Hemophilia Treatment Stems Bleeding Episodes (News) Quickly Treating Mini-Stroke Can Cut Risk for Future Stroke (News) Zelboraf Approved for Rare Blood Cancer (Video) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (Video) Blood Clots: Plugging the Breaks Additional Content ...

  17. Stroke - secondary to cardiogenic embolism

    MedlinePlus Videos and Cool Tools

    A blood clot, or embolus, can form and break-off from the heart. The clot travels through the bloodstream where it can lodge in an artery of the brain, blocking the flow of oxygen-rich blood. The lack of oxygen results in damage, destruction, ...

  18. Hidden Risk Factors for Women

    MedlinePlus

    ... risk factors are present. History of Preeclampsia/Eclampsia: Women with a history of preeclampsia/eclampsia have an increased risk of ... can increase the risk of stroke. Clotting disorders: Women who’ve ... can include previous history of clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) ...

  19. Effects of Chitosan Derivative N-[(2-Hydroxy-3-Trimethylammonium)Propyl]Chloride on Anticoagulant Activity of Guinea Pig Plasma.

    PubMed

    Drozd, N N; Shagdarova, B Ts; Il'ina, A V; Varlamov, V P

    2017-07-01

    Intravenous injection of protamine sulfate or quarternized chitosan derivative to guinea pigs after injection of 70 aIIa U/kg non-fractionated heparin shortened plasma clotting time (shown by partial activated thromboplastin time, thrombin time, and prothrombin time). Intravenous injection of protamine sulfate or quarternized chitosan derivative to guinea pigs after injection of 1 mg/kg (100 aXa U/kg) low-molecular-weight heparin (clexane) led to shortening of plasma clotting time in the ReaClot Heparin test and to prolongation of plasma amidolytic activity in the factor Xa chromogenic substrate test.

  20. The effective control of a bleeding injury using a medical adhesive containing batroxobin.

    PubMed

    You, Kyung Eun; Koo, Min-Ah; Lee, Dae-Hyung; Kwon, Byeong-Ju; Lee, Mi Hee; Hyon, Suong-Hyu; Seomun, Young; Kim, Jong-Tak; Park, Jong-Chul

    2014-04-01

    Many types of hemostatic agents have been studied for the effective control of bleeding. In this study, a powdery medical adhesive composed of aldehyded dextran and ε-poly (L-lysine) was used with the recombinant batroxobin. Batroxobin is a venomous component from the snake Bothrops atrox moojeni and catalyzes fibrinogen conversion to form soluble fibrin clots. This research aims to examine the performance of the batroxobin-containing adhesive for hemostasis, and evaluate its potential as a novel hemostatic adhesive. The fibrinogen conversion ability of batroxobin was evaluated by a fibrinogen clotting assay and a whole blood clotting assay. Both experiments demonstrated the effectiveness of the batroxobin-containing adhesive for blood clot formation. Animal experiments were also conducted. After a pricking wound was made in an ICR (imprinting control region) mouse liver, the adhesive and various concentrations of batroxobin were applied. The total amount of blood loss was reduced with increasing concentrations of batroxobin. For excessive bleeding conditions, the femoral artery wound model of SD (Sprague-Dawley) rats was adopted. With higher concentrations of batroxobin, hemostasis was more rapidly achieved. Histological analysis of the liver model also supports the hemostatic effects through fibrin clot formation. In conclusion, batroxobin and medical adhesive effectively facilitate blood coagulation, and could be developed for clinical use.

  1. Blood clots in the cumulus-oocyte complex predict poor oocyte quality and post-fertilization development.

    PubMed

    Ebner, T; Moser, M; Shebl, O; Sommergruber, M; Yaman, C; Tews, G

    2008-06-01

    Assessment of oocyte maturity and quality (morphological appearance) at the time of retrieval is difficult as the egg is obscured by a large cumulus mass that hinders adequate scoring. Since no data are available on the possible relationship between the cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) and oocyte morphology, this prospective intracytoplasmic sperm injection study was set up in 87 consecutive patients. COC were grouped according to expansion of both corona radiata and cumulus matrix. Special emphasis was placed on recording morphological anomalies of COC (inclusion of blood clots and amorphous clumps). For all mature ovae, quality was assessed and preimplantation development followed up to blastocyst stage if fertilized. The risk of not harvesting an oocyte was higher in COC with blood clots compared with normal cumulus matrices (P = 0.004). COC expansion did not allow for prediction of either nuclear status or quality of the egg. The presence of blood clots within the cumulus matrix was associated with reduced oocyte quality (dense central granulation), fertilization rate and blastocyst formation, compared with unaffected COC (P < 0.05). It may be postulated that COC showing blood inclusions derive from poor quality follicles, which has a detrimental effect on oocyte quality and further cleavage to blastocyst stage. Consequently, mechanical removal of blood clots cannot rescue the corresponding embryo.

  2. Alteration of blood clot structures by interleukin-1 beta in association with bone defects healing

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Xin; Friis, Thor E.; Masci, Paul P.; Crawford, Ross W.; Liao, Wenbo; Xiao, Yin

    2016-01-01

    The quality of hematomas are crucial for successful early bone defect healing, as the structure of fibrin clots can significantly influence the infiltration of cells, necessary for bone regeneration, from adjacent tissues into the fibrin network. This study investigated if there were structural differences between hematomas from normal and delayed healing bone defects and whether such differences were linked to changes in the expression of IL-1β. Using a bone defect model in rats, we found that the hematomas in the delayed healing model had thinner fibers and denser clot structures. Moreover, IL-1β protein levels were significantly higher in the delayed healing hematomas. The effects of IL-1β on the structural properties of human whole blood clots were evaluated by thrombelastograph (TEG), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), compressive study, and thrombolytic assays. S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) was applied to modulate de novo hematoma structure and the impact on bone healing was evaluated in the delayed healing model. We found that GSNO produced more porous hematomas with thicker fibers and resulted in significantly enhanced bone healing. This study demonstrated that IL-1β and GSNO had opposing effects on clot architecture, the structure of which plays a pivotal role in early bone healing. PMID:27767056

  3. Radiation dosimetry of the fibrin-binding probe 64Cu-FBP8 and its feasibility for positron emission tomography imaging of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in rats

    PubMed Central

    Blasi, Francesco; Oliveira, Bruno L; Rietz, Tyson A; Rotile, Nicholas J; Day, Helen; Naha, Pratap C; Cormode, David P; Izquierdo-Garcia, David; Catana, Ciprian; Caravan, Peter

    2016-01-01

    The diagnosis of deep venous thromboembolic disease is still challenging despite the progress of current thrombus imaging modalities and new diagnostic algorithms. We recently reported the high target uptake and thrombus imaging efficacy of the novel fibrin-specific positron emission tomography probe 64Cu-FBP8. Here, we tested the feasibility of 64Cu-FBP8-PET to detect source thrombi and culprit emboli after deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (DVT-PE). To support clinical translation of 64Cu-FBP8, we performed a human dosimetry estimation using time-dependent biodistribution in rats. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats (n=7) underwent ferric chloride application on the femoral vein to trigger thrombosis. Pulmonary embolism was induced 30 min or 2 days after deep vein thrombosis by intrajugular injection of a preformed blood clot labeled with 125I-Fibrinogen. PET imaging was performed to detect the clots, and single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) was used to confirm in vivo the location of the pulmonary emboli. Ex vivo gamma-counting and histopathology were used to validate the imaging findings. Detailed biodistribution was performed in healthy rats (n=30) at different time-points after 64Cu-FBP8 administration to estimate human radiation dosimetry. Longitudinal whole-body PET/MR imaging (n=2) was performed after 64Cu-FBP8 administration to further assess radioactivity clearance. Results 64Cu-FBP8-PET imaging detected the location of lung emboli and venous thrombi after DVT-PE, revealing significant differences in uptake between target and background tissues (P<0.001). In vivo SPECT imaging and ex vivo gamma-counting confirmed the location of the lung emboli. PET quantification of the venous thrombi revealed that probe uptake was greater in younger clots than in older ones, a result confirmed by ex vivo analyses (P<0.001). Histopathology revealed an age-dependent reduction of thrombus fibrin content (P=0.006), further supporting the imaging findings. Biodistribution and whole-body PET/MR imaging showed rapid, primarily renal, body clearance of 64Cu-FBP8. The effective dose was estimated to be 0.021 mSv/MBq for male and 0.027 mSv/MBq for female, supporting the feasibility of using 64Cu-FBP8 in human trials. Conclusions We showed that 64Cu-FBP8-PET is a feasible approach to image DVT-PE, and that radiogenic adverse health effects should not limit the clinical translation of 64Cu-FBP8. PMID:25977464

  4. Evaluation of thrombelastographic platelet-mapping in healthy cats.

    PubMed

    Blois, Shauna L; Banerjee, Amrita; Wood, R Darren

    2012-06-01

    Thrombelastography (TEG) permits analysis of clot formation but it is not specific for platelet activity. TEG PlateletMapping (TEG-PM) is a modification of TEG that uses adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and arachidonic acid (AA) as platelet agonists to define the contribution of platelets to clot formation. The objectives of this study were to determine values for TEG-PM in healthy cats and the interassay variation of TEG-PM. TEG-PM analysis was performed on blood specimens collected from 12 healthy cats and was repeated using a second blood specimen collected 2 hours later. Maximum amplitudes generated by thrombin (MA(thrombin)), fibrin (MA(fibrin)), ADP-stimulated platelet activity (MA(ADP)), and AA-stimulated platelet activity (MA(AA)) were recorded. Mean ± SD for MA(thrombin) was 51.1 ± 8.5 mm, for MA(fibrin) was 32.3 ± 17.7 mm, for MA(ADP) was 32.3 ± 15.0 mm, and for MA(AA) was 24.5 ± 12.2 mm. Mean MA(ADP) and MA(fibrin) were not significantly different, whereas mean MA(AA) was significantly lower than mean MA(fibrin). Results from the first and second specimens were not significantly different. Correlation between the first and second specimens was moderate for MA(thrombin), MA(fibrin), and MA(ADP), but was poor for MA(AA). A high degree of variability (coefficient of variation 47.7-60.0%) was observed for MA(fibrin), MA(ADP), and MA(AA). As MA(ADP) and MA(AA) (AA) were the same as or lower than MA(fibrin), a valid baseline to determine platelet-stimulated clot formation could not be established. Considerable interassay variation and wide intervals for MA(fibrin), MA(ADP), and MA(AA) values in this study indicate that TEG-PM should be used cautiously in feline patients. Several preanalytical factors should be examined in further detail. © 2012 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.

  5. Chocolate: A Heart-healthy Food? Show Me the Science!

    PubMed

    Hannum, Sandra M.; Schmitz, Harold H.; Keen, Carl L.

    2002-01-01

    Cocoa and chocolate foods produced by appropriate methods can contribute significant amounts of heart-healthy flavanols to the diet. These flavanols may enhance cardiovascular health by delaying blood clotting, improving vascular endothelial function, and helping to moderate inflammation. The benefits of chocolate can be enjoyed without guilt as part of a healthful balanced diet.

  6. Establishment of the 2nd Korean national biological reference standard for blood coagulation factor VIII:C concentrate.

    PubMed

    Lee, Naery; Seo, Ji Suk; Kim, Jae Ok; Ban, Sang Ja

    2017-05-01

    Since the 1st Korean national biological reference standard for factor (F)VIII concentrate, established in 2001, has shown declining potency, we conducted this study to replace this standard with a 2nd Korean national biological reference standard for blood coagulation FVIII concentrate. The candidate materials for the 2nd standard were prepared in 8000 vials with 10 IU/ml of target potency, according to the approved manufacturing process of blood coagulation Factor VIII:C Monoclonal Antibody-purified, Freeze-dried Human Blood Coagulation Factor VIII:C. Potency was evaluated by one-stage clotting and chromogenic methods and the stability was confirmed to meet the specifications during a period of 73 months. Since the potencies obtained by the two methods differed significantly (P < 0.015), the values were determined separately according to the geometric means (8.9 and 7.4 IU/vial, respectively). The geometric coefficients of interlaboratory variability were 3.4% and 7.6% by the one-stage clotting and chromogenic assays, respectively. Copyright © 2017 International Alliance for Biological Standardization. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Effects of etravirine on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of warfarin in rats

    PubMed Central

    John, J; John, M; Wu, L; Hsiao, C; Abobo, CV; Liang, D

    2013-01-01

    Background and Purpose Warfarin is often used with etravirine (ETV) to prevent HIV-related thromboembolic events. As both warfarin and ETV bind to plasma proteins and are metabolized by hepatic cytochrome P450s, they are likely to interact. Hence, we evaluated the effect of ETV on the pharmacokinetics and blood clotting time of racemic warfarin in rats. Experimental Approach Two groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats, in which the jugular vein had been cannulated, were studied. The control group (n = 10) received 1 mg·kg−1 racemic warfarin i.v., and the test group (n = 13) 1 mg·kg−1 of racemic warfarin followed by 25 mg·kg−1 ETV i.v. Serial blood samples were collected for up to 144 h and the blood clotting time (calculated as international normalized ratio [INR]) measured in blood plasma at each sample point. Plasma concentrations of R-warfarin, S-warfarin, R-7-hydroxywarfarin and S-7-hydroxywarfarin were measured by a LC/MS/MS method using a chiral lux cellulose-1 column. Pharmacokinetic parameters were analysed using non-compartmental methods. Key Results ETV significantly increased, by threefold, the systemic clearance and volume of distribution of S-warfarin, but not those of R-warfarin. ETV decreased the total AUC of warfarin, but had no effect on its elimination half-life. ETV also increased the systemic clearance of both R-7-hydroxywarfarin and S-7-hydroxywarfarin but only increased the volume of distribution of R-7-hydroxywarfarin. Interestingly, the effect of warfarin on blood clotting time (INR) was significantly increased in the presence of etravirine. Conclusion and Implications Our data suggest that etravirine may potentiate the anticoagulant effect of warfarin and this could have clinical significance. PMID:23215758

  8. Site-specific thromboembolism: a novel animal model for stroke.

    PubMed

    Ringer, Andrew J; Guterman, Lee R; Hopkins, L Nelson

    2004-02-01

    To develop a technique for site-specific placement of a thrombus of predetermined volume in an animal model for the purpose of evaluating methods of intravascular thrombolysis and clot retrieval. Six swine were subjected to thrombus injection bilaterally in the ascending pharyngeal artery (APA). Each animal underwent transfemoral angiography while under general anesthesia. A nondetachable balloon catheter and a 3-French microcatheter were then advanced into the common carotid artery through a 7-French guide catheter. With the microcatheter in the proximal APA and the balloon inflated proximally, a bolus of preformed thrombus composed of 0.9 mL of autologous blood and 0.1 mL of bovine thrombin (200 IU/mL) was injected through the microcatheter while local flow arrest was maintained for 15 min. The balloon was deflated and removed. The occluded arteries were observed by serial angiography for 3 hr and then resected for gross examination and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Each APA was occluded angiographically and did not recanalize during the 3-hr observation period. Persistent, proximal progression of thrombus to the superior thyroid artery origin occurred in three animals. Gross inspection revealed that the resected arteries contained thrombus in the proximal APA but not in the common carotid artery. Histologic examination revealed organized thrombus, without evidence of intimal injury. Our model provides a simple, reliable method for site-specific injection of a thrombus of predetermined volume. Site-specific placement is important for evaluation of the efficacy of thrombolytic agents and techniques. Angiographic evidence of brain revascularization can be used to grade revascularization and clot volume. The ability to specifically localize and estimate clot volume makes our model well suited for the evaluation and comparison of thrombolytic agents and endovascular techniques.

  9. Evaluation of Optical Coherence Tomography for the Measurement of the Effects of Activators and Anticoagulants on the Blood Coagulation In Vitro

    PubMed Central

    Geng, Jinhai; Liu, Gangjun; Chen, Zhongping

    2013-01-01

    Optical properties of human blood during coagulation were studied using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the parameter of clotting time derived from the 1/e light penetration depth (d1/e) versus time was developed in our previous work. In this study, in order to know if a new OCT test can characterize the blood-coagulation process under different treatments in vitro, the effects of two different activators (calcium ions and thrombin) and anticoagulants, i.e., acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, a well-known drug aspirin) and melagatran (a direct thrombin inhibitor), at various concentrations are evaluated. A swept-source OCT system with a 1300 nm center wavelength is used for detecting the blood-coagulation process in vitro under a static condition. A dynamic study of d1/e reveals a typical behavior due to coagulation induced by both calcium ions and thrombin, and the clotting time is concentration-dependent. Dose-dependent ASA and melagatran prolong the clotting times. ASA and melagatran have different effects on blood coagulation. As expected, melagatran is much more effective than ASA in anticoagulation by the OCT measurements. The OCT assay appears to be a simple method for the measurement of blood coagulation to assess the effects of activators and anticoagulants, which can be used for activator and anticoagulant screening. PMID:23392340

  10. Evaluation of optical coherence tomography for the measurement of the effects of activators and anticoagulants on the blood coagulation in vitro.

    PubMed

    Xu, Xiangqun; Geng, Jinhai; Liu, Gangjun; Chen, Zhongping

    2013-08-01

    Optical properties of human blood during coagulation were studied using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the parameter of clotting time derived from the 1/e light penetration depth (d(1/e)) versus time was developed in our previous work. In this study, in order to know if a new OCT test can characterize the blood-coagulation process under different treatments in vitro, the effects of two different activators (calcium ions and thrombin) and anticoagulants, i.e., acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, a well-known drug aspirin) and melagatran (a direct thrombin inhibitor), at various concentrations are evaluated. A swept-source OCT system with a 1300 nm center wavelength is used for detecting the blood-coagulation process in vitro under a static condition. A dynamic study of d1/e reveals a typical behavior due to coagulation induced by both calcium ions and thrombin, and the clotting time is concentration-dependent. Dose-dependent ASA and melagatran prolong the clotting times. ASA and melagatran have different effects on blood coagulation. As expected, melagatran is much more effective than ASA in anticoagulation by the OCT measurements. The OCT assay appears to be a simple method for the measurement of blood coagulation to assess the effects of activators and anticoagulants, which can be used for activator and anticoagulant screening.

  11. Thrombus Degradation by Fibrinolytic Enzyme of Stenotrophomonas sp. Originated from Indonesian Soybean-Based Fermented Food on Wistar Rats

    PubMed Central

    Tjandrawinata, Raymond R.

    2016-01-01

    Objective. To evaluate thrombus degrading effect of a fibrinolytic enzyme from food origin Stenotrophomonas sp. of Indonesia. Methods. Prior to animal study, the enzyme safety was tested using cell culture. The effect on expression of tissue plasminogen activator was also analysed in the cell culture. For in vivo studies, 25 Wistar rats were used: normal control, negative control, treatment groups with crude and semipurified enzyme given orally at 25 mg/kg, and positive control group which received Lumbrokinase at 25 mg/kg. Blood clot in the tail was induced by kappa carrageenan injection at 1 mg/kg BW. Results. Experiment with cell culture confirmed the enzyme safety at the concentration used and increased expression of tPA. Decreasing of thrombus was observed in the positive group down to 70.35 ± 23.11% of the negative control animals (100%). The thrombus observed in the crude enzyme treatment was down to 56.99 ± 15.95% and 71.5 ± 15.7% for semipurified enzyme. Scanning electron microscopy showed clearly that bood clots were found in the animals injected with kappa carrageenan; however, in the treatment and positive groups, the clot was much reduced. Conclusions. Oral treatment of enzyme from Stenotrophomonas sp. of Indonesian fermented food was capable of degrading thrombus induced in Wistar rats. PMID:27635131

  12. Variable Resistance to Plasminogen Activator Initiated Fibrinolysis for Intermediate-Risk Pulmonary Embolism

    PubMed Central

    Stubblefield, William B.; Alves, Nathan J.; Rondina, Matthew T.; Kline, Jeffrey A.

    2016-01-01

    Background We examine the clinical significance and biomarkers of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-catalyzed clot lysis time (CLT) in patients with intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods Platelet-poor, citrated plasma was obtained from patients with PE. Healthy age- and sex-matched patients served as disease-negative controls. Fibrinogen, α2-antiplasmin, plasminogen, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), plasminogen activator Inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), thrombin time and D-dimer were quantified. Clotting was induced using CaCl2, tissue factor, and phospholipid. Lysis was induced using 60 ng/mL tPA. Time to 50% clot lysis (CLT) was assessed by both thromboelastography (TEG) and turbidimetry (A405). Results Compared with disease-negative controls, patients with PE exhibited significantly longer mean CLT on TEG (+2,580 seconds, 95% CI 1,380 to 3,720 sec). Patients with PE and a short CLT who were treated with tenecteplase had increased risk of bleeding, whereas those with long CLT had significantly worse exercise tolerance and psychometric testing for quality of life at 3 months. A multivariate stepwise removal regression model selected PAI-1 and TAFI as predictive biomarkers of CLT. Conclusion The CLT from TEG predicted increased risk of bleeding and clinical failure with tenecteplase treatment for intermediate-risk PE. Plasmatic PAI-1 and TAFI were independent predictors of CLT. PMID:26866684

  13. Exploring the efficacy of cyclic vs static aspiration in a cerebral thrombectomy model: an initial proof of concept study.

    PubMed

    Simon, Scott; Grey, Casey Paul; Massenzo, Trisha; Simpson, David G; Longest, P Worth

    2014-11-01

    Current technology for endovascular thrombectomy in ischemic stroke utilizes static loading and is successful in approximately 85% of cases. Existing technology uses either static suction (applied via a continuous pump or syringe) or flow arrest with a proximal balloon. In this paper we evaluate the potential of cyclic loading in aspiration thrombectomy. In order to evaluate the efficacy of cyclic aspiration, a model was created using a Penumbra aspiration system, three-way valve and Penumbra 5Max catheter. Synthetic clots were aspirated at different frequencies and using different aspiration mediums. Success or failure of clot removal and time were recorded. All statistical analyses were based on either a one-way or two-way analysis of variance, Holm-Sidak pairwise multiple comparison procedure (α=0.05). Cyclic aspiration outperformed static aspiration in overall clot removal and removal speed (p<0.001). Within cyclic aspiration, Max Hz frequencies (∼6.3 Hz) cleared clots faster than 1 Hz (p<0.001) and 2 Hz (p=0.024). Loading cycle dynamics (specific pressure waveforms) affected speed and overall clearance (p<0.001). Water as the aspiration medium was more effective at clearing clots than air (p=0.019). Cyclic aspiration significantly outperformed static aspiration in speed and overall clearance of synthetic clots in our experimental model. Within cyclic aspiration, efficacy is improved by increasing cycle frequency, utilizing specific pressure cycle waveforms and using water rather than air as the aspiration medium. These findings provide a starting point for altering existing thrombectomy technology or perhaps the development of new technologies with higher recanalization rates. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

  14. A French National Survey on Clotting Disorders in Mastocytosis.

    PubMed

    Carvalhosa, Ana B; Aouba, Achille; Damaj, Gandhi; Canioni, Danielle; Brouzes, Chantal; Gyan, Emmanuel; Durupt, Stéphane; Durieu, Isabelle; Cathebras, Pascal; Costédoat-Chalumeau, Nathalie; Launay, David; Pilmis, Benoit; Barete, Stephane; Frenzel, Laurent; Lortholary, Olivier; Hermine, Olivier; Hermans, Cedric; Chandesris, Marie-Olivia

    2015-10-01

    Mastocytosis is characterized by a clonal mast cell proliferation with organ infiltration and uncontrolled degranulation. Although not characteristic and poorly explained, some patients develop clotting abnormalities. We retrospectively identified patients with established diagnosis of mastocytosis and related clotting abnormalities (clinical and/or biological) using the national French Reference Centre for Mastocytosis database. From our cohort of 14 adult patients with clotting abnormalities (median age 46 years [range 26-75]), 4 had a presentation suggestive of a primary hemostasis disorder alone (by their symptoms and/or abnormal clotting tests [PFA, von Willebrand's disease [vWD] screening]) and 10 had a laboratory impairment of secondary hemostasis. Among these, 7 had bleeds characteristic of a coagulation cascade disorder (severe/life-threatening in 5 and mild in 2 patients). Clotting abnormalities were of variable severity, typically related to intense crisis of degranulation, such as anaphylactic reactions, and/or to severe organ infiltration by mast cells. Importantly, classical hemostatic management with platelet transfusion, fresh frozen plasma, or vitamin K infusions was unsuccessful, as opposed to the use of agents inhibiting mast cell activity, particularly steroids. This illustrates the crucial role of mast cell mediators such as tryptase and heparin, which interfere both with primary (mainly via inhibition of von Willebrand factor) and secondary hemostasis. There was interestingly an unusually high number of aggressive mastocytosis (particularly mast cell leukemia) and increased mortality in the group with secondary hemostasis disorders (n = 5, 36% of the whole cohort). Mast cell degranulation and/or high tumoral burden induce both specific biologic antiaggregant and anticoagulant states with a wide clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic to life-threatening bleeds. Hemostatic control is achieved by mast cell inhibitors such as steroids.

  15. Optical thromboelastography (OTEG) for diagnosis of hyperfibrinolysis in patients (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tripathi, Markandey M.; Tshikudi, Diane M.; Nadkarni, Seemantini K.

    2016-03-01

    Fibrinolysis is a process that regulates the breakdown of a blood clot to enable wound healing and is an essential component of hemostasis. Abnormalities in the fibrinolysis pathway may cause hyperfibrinolysis, associated with the increased risk of life-threatening bleeding particularly following acute trauma or major surgery. Assessing fibrinolytic activity in bleeding patients at the bedside can enable the timely administration of fibrinolysis inhibitors to improve prognosis. Optical thromboelastography (OTEG), a novel technique to assess blood coagulation status, has the potential to quantify fibrinolysis in real-time at PoC. The goal of the current study is to test the accuracy of OTEG in quantifying fibrinolytic status of human blood. Fibrinolysis is activated by adding varying concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a known fibrinolysis activator. The blood sample is illuminated by laser light and the resultant speckle intensity autocorrelation curve is used to derive changes in clot viscoelastic modulus during coagulation. From the OTEG trace, the coagulation parameters, clotting time (R), clot progression time (K), maximum clot strength (MA), and clot lysis (LY%) are derived. Our results indicate that increased tPA (0-0.5μM/ml) activation causes dose-dependent increase in LY% measured with OTEG: For instance, the addition of 0.5μM/ml of tPA increased LY% from 14.0 % to 81.5%. OTEG measurements also show a strong correlation with standard-reference mechanical Thromboelastography (TEG) measurements (N = 15, R=0.87, p<0.05). These results demonstrate that OTEG can accurately evaluate fibrinolysis and may provide the capability for identifying hyperfibrinolytic patients at an increased risk of life-threatening hemorrhage.

  16. Comparison between the clot-protecting activity of a mutant plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 with a very long half-life and 6-aminocaproic acid.

    PubMed

    Kindell, Daniel Glenn; Keck, Rick Wayne; Jankun, Jerzy

    2015-06-01

    Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 is a serpin glycoprotein that can stabilize blood clots by inhibiting fibrinolysis. However, wild-type PAI-1 has the disadvantage of a short half-life of ∼2 h. A very long half-life (VLHL) PAI-1 mutant was developed previously with an active-form half-life of >700 h, making it a possible candidate for use in hemorrhagic therapy. Current treatments for mitigating hemorrhage, other than inducers of blood clotting, are limited to lysine analog antifibrinolytics, including 6-aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid. VLHL PAI-1 has been previously demonstrated to limit bleeding; however, the efficacy of this protein compared with lysine analog antifibrinolytics has not been investigated. The aim of the current study was to compare the clot stabilizing properties of the novel antifibrinolytic VLHL PAI-1 with those of 6-aminocaproic acid in reference plasma. Using thromboelastographic analysis, VLHL PAI-1 exhibited an IC 50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) of 8.8×10 -8 mol/l, while 6-aminocaproic acid showed an IC 50 of 1.6×10 -4 mol/l. However, at doses of >9.0×10 -7 mol/l, VLHL PAI-1 exhibited a delay in the onset of clot formation, which may be attributed to thrombin inhibition by excess PAI-1. The inhibition of tissue plasminogen activator by VLHL PAI-1 demonstrated improved efficacy over 6-aminocaproic acid in mitigating hemorrhage. In addition, patients with a PAI-1 deficiency, which causes blood clots to lyse rapidly resulting in profuse bleeding, may benefit from the application of VLHL PAI-1 as an antihemorrhagic therapy.

  17. Comparison between the clot-protecting activity of a mutant plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 with a very long half-life and 6-aminocaproic acid

    PubMed Central

    KINDELL, DANIEL GLENN; KECK, RICK WAYNE; JANKUN, JERZY

    2015-01-01

    Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 is a serpin glycoprotein that can stabilize blood clots by inhibiting fibrinolysis. However, wild-type PAI-1 has the disadvantage of a short half-life of ∼2 h. A very long half-life (VLHL) PAI-1 mutant was developed previously with an active-form half-life of >700 h, making it a possible candidate for use in hemorrhagic therapy. Current treatments for mitigating hemorrhage, other than inducers of blood clotting, are limited to lysine analog antifibrinolytics, including 6-aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid. VLHL PAI-1 has been previously demonstrated to limit bleeding; however, the efficacy of this protein compared with lysine analog antifibrinolytics has not been investigated. The aim of the current study was to compare the clot stabilizing properties of the novel antifibrinolytic VLHL PAI-1 with those of 6-aminocaproic acid in reference plasma. Using thromboelastographic analysis, VLHL PAI-1 exhibited an IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) of 8.8×10−8 mol/l, while 6-aminocaproic acid showed an IC50 of 1.6×10−4 mol/l. However, at doses of >9.0×10−7 mol/l, VLHL PAI-1 exhibited a delay in the onset of clot formation, which may be attributed to thrombin inhibition by excess PAI-1. The inhibition of tissue plasminogen activator by VLHL PAI-1 demonstrated improved efficacy over 6-aminocaproic acid in mitigating hemorrhage. In addition, patients with a PAI-1 deficiency, which causes blood clots to lyse rapidly resulting in profuse bleeding, may benefit from the application of VLHL PAI-1 as an antihemorrhagic therapy. PMID:26136983

  18. In vitro and in vivo assessment of oral autologous artificial connective tissue characteristics that influence its performance as a graft.

    PubMed

    Fontanilla, Marta Raquel; Espinosa, Lady Giovanna

    2012-09-01

    Several studies have evaluated proteins secreted by fibroblasts comprising skin substitutes, finding that they are secreted in combinations and concentrations that promote wound healing. However, assessment of proteins secreted by oral fibroblasts forming a part of oral substitutes is scarce. In our previous work, collagen type-I scaffolds (CSs) and autologous artificial connective tissue (AACT) were produced and implanted in rabbit oral lesions, evidencing that AACT outperforms CS. The present work determined the secreted factor profile of AACT in the time of grafting as well as that of the AACT embedded in the clot. It also evaluated the proliferation and viability of AACT fibroblasts to establish the dwell time of these cells in the grafted area. Finally, it assessed whether CS, AACT, and clot-embedded AACT increase fibroblast recruitment induced by a fibrin clot, because the cell migratory response has been associated with the wound-healing outcome. We found that some of the factors secreted by AACT fibroblasts are significantly different from those secreted by clot-embedded AACT fibroblasts. Also, that the profile of proteins secreted by AACT fibroblasts and clot-embedded AACT fibroblasts is different from already reported protein secretion profiles of other engineered tissues used in treating oral mucosa wounds. It was also found that AACT fibroblasts are viable when grafted and remain in the treated area for almost 2 weeks, and that the migratory response of fibroblasts to tissue-substitute stimulus is significantly less than the migratory response induced by the clot alone. Overall, data suggest that AACT secretion of proteins is modulated by three-dimensionality and environment factors. This bioactivity and the fact that AACT does not increase fibroblast migration can be held accountable for AACT's good performance as a graft.

  19. Towards a multi-physics modelling framework for thrombolysis under the influence of blood flow.

    PubMed

    Piebalgs, Andris; Xu, X Yun

    2015-12-06

    Thrombolytic therapy is an effective means of treating thromboembolic diseases but can also give rise to life-threatening side effects. The infusion of a high drug concentration can provoke internal bleeding while an insufficient dose can lead to artery reocclusion. It is hoped that mathematical modelling of the process of clot lysis can lead to a better understanding and improvement of thrombolytic therapy. To this end, a multi-physics continuum model has been developed to simulate the dissolution of clot over time upon the addition of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). The transport of tPA and other lytic proteins is modelled by a set of reaction-diffusion-convection equations, while blood flow is described by volume-averaged continuity and momentum equations. The clot is modelled as a fibrous porous medium with its properties being determined as a function of the fibrin fibre radius and voidage of the clot. A unique feature of the model is that it is capable of simulating the entire lytic process from the initial phase of lysis of an occlusive thrombus (diffusion-limited transport), the process of recanalization, to post-canalization thrombolysis under the influence of convective blood flow. The model has been used to examine the dissolution of a fully occluding clot in a simplified artery at different pressure drops. Our predicted lytic front velocities during the initial stage of lysis agree well with experimental and computational results reported by others. Following canalization, clot lysis patterns are strongly influenced by local flow patterns, which are symmetric at low pressure drops, but asymmetric at higher pressure drops, which give rise to larger recirculation regions and extended areas of intense drug accumulation. © 2015 The Authors.

  20. Vascular thrombus imaging in vivo via near-infrared fluorescent nanodiamond particles bioengineered with the disintegrin bitistatin (Part II)

    PubMed Central

    Marcinkiewicz, Cezary; Li, Jie; Shiloh, Aaron O; Sternberg, Mark

    2017-01-01

    The aim of this feasibility study was to test the ability of fluorescent nanodiamond particles (F-NDP) covalently conjugated with bitistatin (F-NDP-Bit) to detect vascular blood clots in vivo using extracorporeal near-infrared (NIR) imaging. Specifically, we compared NIR fluorescence properties of F-NDP with N-V (F-NDPNV) and N-V-N color centers and sizes (100–10,000 nm). Optimal NIR fluorescence and tissue penetration across biological tissues (rat skin, porcine axillary veins, and skin) was obtained for F-NDPNV with a mean diameter of 700 nm. Intravital imaging (using in vivo imaging system [IVIS]) in vitro revealed that F-NDPNV-loaded glass capillaries could be detected across 6 mm of rat red-muscle barrier and 12 mm of porcine skin, which equals the average vertical distance of a human carotid artery bifurcation from the surface of the adjacent skin (14 mm). In vivo, feasibility was demonstrated in a rat model of occlusive blood clots generated using FeCl3 in the carotid artery bifurcation. Following systemic infusions of F-NDPNV-Bit (3 or 15 mg/kg) via the external carotid artery or femoral vein (N=3), presence of the particles in the thrombi was confirmed both in situ via IVIS, and ex vivo via confocal imaging. The presence of F-NDPNV in the vascular clots was further confirmed by direct counting of fluorescent particles extracted from clots following tissue solubilization. Our data suggest that F-NDPNV-Bit associate with vascular blood clots, presumably by binding of F-NDPNV-Bit to activated platelets within the blood clot. We posit that F-NDPNV-Bit could serve as a noninvasive platform for identification of vascular thrombi using NIR energy monitored by an extracorporeal device. PMID:29200855

  1. Fiber-based optic sensor for detecting human blood clot: present and future revival

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Elshikeri, Nada; Bakhtiar, Hazri

    2018-05-01

    Sustaining human’s life-frame away from being impeded by the clot - ghost term, we attempt to approach a mobile fiber-based optical sensor (f-s) for detecting blood clot in a blood vessel (intra-arteries/veins). Blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transport blood throughout the human body, thus their significance of being protected arise to the monograph focus. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), X-rays and other medical instruments are diagnostic immobility techniques with a slackest interval. The corer causation of fiber-based optical sensor is to detect a clump of blood in the bloodstream by providing a prompt mobile diagnostic intervals preserving last-minutes-breath of human’s life. The detector (f-s) has been etched by diluting sulphuric acid ~10% at certain zone to sensate its function. The in-vitro monograph peaks its maximal monitoring when the sensor is attached to Raman Spectroscopy (RS) setup. RS quantifies the relative intensities of fibrinogen bond, which is the first type of blood coagulation elements of blood plasma. Blood coagulation parameters are the major concern of the monograph investigation, such as total haemoglobin (tHb), clotting reaction time (t), clot progression time (t2), maximum clot amplitude (ma) and mean refractive index (r). A blood sample will be drawn from the patient and after centrifugation to separate blood plasma from its constituents, then an immediate sloshing of blood plasma in the (f-s) packet which has its plug-in to RS. Estimating the quantitative analysis of blood sample concentration, RS will determine the presence of coagulation in terms of intensity and medical procedures will dominate the treatment process. Thus, the suggestive monograph provides a definite instrument for investigating blood coagulation intra-arteries/veins promptly.

  2. Effect of solvent/detergent-treated pooled plasma on fibrinolysis in reconstituted whole blood.

    PubMed

    Saadah, Nicholas H; van der Meer, Pieter F; Brinkman, Herm Jan M; de Korte, Dirk; Bontekoe, Ido J; Korsten, Herbert H; Middelburg, Rutger A; van der Bom, Johanna G; Schipperus, Martin R

    2017-10-01

    Hyperfibrinolysis has been observed in patients heavily transfused with solvent/detergent-treated pooled plasma (S/D plasma). We compared coagulation and fibrinolytic variables in blood containing S/D plasma with blood containing fresh-frozen plasma (FFP), with and without α2-antiplasmin or tranexamic acid (TXA) supplementation. Whole blood samples were reconstituted from red blood cells, platelet (PLT) concentrates, and varying mixtures of FFP and S/D plasma. Hematocrit and PLT count of reconstituted whole blood samples were varied. For a subset of runs, α2-antiplasmin or TXA was added to S/D plasma whole blood samples. Thromboelastography (TEG) analysis was performed to assess 50% clot lysis time (CLT 50% ), maximum amplitude (MA), and initial clotting time (R-time). The change in CLT 50% of whole blood as the plasma compartment transitions from FFP to S/D plasma was -52% (95% confidence interval [CI], -60% to -45%; p < 0.001). PLT count strengthened the effect, leading to an additional change in CLT 50% of -8% (95% CI, -14% to -2%; p = 0.012) as PLT count increased from 10 × 10 9 to 150 × 10 9 /L. MA and R-time were not associated with fraction of S/D plasma in whole blood. α2-Antiplasmin and TXA restored clot lysis time in S/D plasma whole blood. Whole blood with S/D plasma has shorter clot lysis times in vitro compared to whole blood with FFP. α2-Antiplasmin and TXA restore clot lysis time of S/D plasma whole blood to that of FFP whole blood. Clinicians should be aware of the decreased clot lysis time associated with S/D plasma transfusion. © 2017 AABB.

  3. Bioinspired self-healing materials: lessons from nature

    PubMed Central

    Cremaldi, Joseph C

    2018-01-01

    Healing is an intrinsic ability in the incredibly biodiverse populations of the plant and animal kingdoms created through evolution. Plants and animals approach healing in similar ways but with unique pathways, such as damage containment in plants or clotting in animals. After analyzing the examples of healing and defense mechanisms found in living nature, eight prevalent mechanisms were identified: reversible muscle control, clotting, cellular response, layering, protective surfaces, vascular networks or capsules, exposure, and replenishable functional coatings. Then the relationship between these mechanisms, nature’s best (evolutionary) methods of mitigating and healing damage, and existing technology in self-healing materials are described. The goals of this top-level overview are to provide a framework for relating the behavior seen in living nature to bioinspired materials, act as a resource to addressing the limitations/problems with existing materials, and open up new avenues of insight and research into self-healing materials. PMID:29600152

  4. Recent developments in separation of low molecular weight heparin anticoagulants.

    PubMed

    Sadowski, Radosław; Gadzała-Kopciuch, Renata; Buszewski, Bogusław

    2017-10-05

    The general function of anticoagulants is to prevent blood clotting and growing of the existing clots in blood vessels. In recent years, there has been a significant improvement in developing methods of prevention as well as pharmacologic and surgical treatment of thrombosis. For over the last two decades, low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) have found their application in the antithrombotic diseases treatment. These types of drugs are widely used in clinical therapy. Despite the biological and medical importance of LMWHs, they have not been completely characterized in terms of their chemical structure. Due to both, the structural complexity of these anticoagulants and the presence of impurities, their structural characterization requires the employment of advanced analytical techniques. Since separation techniques play the key role in these endeavors, this review will focus on the presentation of recent developments in the separation of LMWH anticoagulants. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

  5. In Vivo Gene Therapy of Hemophilia B: Sustained Partial Correction in Factor IX-Deficient Dogs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kay, Mark A.; Rothenberg, Steven; Landen, Charles N.; Bellinger, Dwight A.; Leland, Frances; Toman, Carol; Finegold, Milton; Thompson, Arthur R.; Read, M. S.; Brinkhous, Kenneth M.; Woo, Savio L. C.

    1993-10-01

    The liver represents a model organ for gene therapy. A method has been developed for hepatic gene transfer in vivo by the direct infusion of recombinant retroviral vectors into the portal vasculature, which results in the persistent expression of exogenous genes. To determine if these technologies are applicable for the treatment of hemophilia B patients, preclinical efficacy studies were done in a hemophilia B dog model. When the canine factor IX complementary DNA was transduced directly into the hepatocytes of affected dogs in vivo, the animals constitutively expressed low levels of canine factor IX for more than 5 months. Persistent expression of the clotting. factor resulted in reductions of whole blood clotting and partial thromboplastin times of the treated animals. Thus, long-term treatment of hemophilia B patients may be feasible by direct hepatic gene therapy in vivo.

  6. 76 FR 10375 - Government-Owned Inventions; Availability for Licensing

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-02-24

    ..., activation, and lipid metabolites have been implicated in type 1 and type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease... platelet-mediated clot formation caused by diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease and significantly... developments (blood clots; Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative diseases...

  7. Modeling of an initial stage of bone fracture healing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lu, Yanfei; Lekszycki, Tomasz

    2015-09-01

    In case of the secondary bone fracture healing, four characteristic steps are often distinguished. The first stage, hematoma and clot formation, which is an object of our study, is important because it prepares the environment for the following stages. In this work, a new mathematical model describing basic effects present short after the injury is proposed. The main idea is based on the assumption that blood leaking from the ruptured blood vessels propagates into a poroelastic saturated tissue close to the fracture and mixes with the interstitial liquid present in pores. After certain time period from the first contact with surrounding tissue, the solidification of blood in the fluid mixture starts. This results in clot formation. By assuming the time necessary to initiate solidification and critical saturation of blood in the mixture, the shape and the structure of blood clot could be determined. In numerical example, proposed mathematical formulas were used to study the size of the gap between fractured parts and its effect in blood clot formation.

  8. A Model Incorporating Some of the Mechanical and Biochemical Factors Underlying Clot Formation and Dissolution in Flowing Blood

    DOE PAGES

    Anand, M.; Rajagopal, K.; Rajagopal, K. R.

    2003-01-01

    Multiple interacting mechanisms control the formation and dissolution of clots to maintain blood in a state of delicate balance. In addition to a myriad of biochemical reactions, rheological factors also play a crucial role in modulating the response of blood to external stimuli. To date, a comprehensive model for clot formation and dissolution, that takes into account the biochemical, medical and rheological factors, has not been put into place, the existing models emphasizing either one or the other of the factors. In this paper, after discussing the various biochemical, physiologic and rheological factors at some length, we develop a modelmore » for clot formation and dissolution that incorporates many of the relevant crucial factors that have a bearing on the problem. The model, though just a first step towards understanding a complex phenomenon, goes further than previous models in integrating the biochemical, physiologic and rheological factors that come into play.« less

  9. Hemophilia A Pseudoaneurysm in a Patient with High Responding Inhibitors Complicating Total Knee Arthroplasty: Embolization: A Cost-Reducing Alternative to Medical Therapy

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kickuth, Ralph, E-mail: ralph.kickuth@insel.ch; Anderson, Suzanne; Peter-Salonen, Kristiina

    2006-12-15

    Joint hemorrhages are very common in patients with severe hemophilia. Inhibitors in patients with hemophilia are allo-antibodies that neutralize the activity of the clotting factor. After total knee replacement, rare intra-articular bleeding complications might occur that do not respond to clotting factor replacement. We report a 40-year-old male with severe hemophilia A and high responding inhibitors presenting with recurrent knee joint hemorrhage after bilateral knee prosthetic surgery despite adequate clotting factor treatment. There were two episodes of marked postoperative hemarthrosis requiring extensive use of subsititution therapy. Eleven days postoperatively, there was further hemorrhage into the right knee. Digital subtraction angiographymore » diagnosed a complicating pseudoaneurysm of the inferior lateral geniculate artery and embolization was successfully performed. Because clotting factor replacement therapy has proved to be excessively expensive and prolonged, especially in patients with inhibitors, we recommend the use of cost-effective early angiographic embolization.« less

  10. Investigations on blood coagulation in the green iguana (Iguana iguana).

    PubMed

    Kubalek, S; Mischke, R; Fehr, M

    2002-05-01

    The prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time, kaolin clotting time (KCT), dilute Russell's viper venom time (DRVVT) and reptilase time, as well as five different plasma fibrinogen assays [gravimetry, Jacobsson method (extinction at 280 nm), Millar method (heat precipitation), kinetic turbidometry, Clauss method] and resonance thrombography were performed in 26 clinically healthy green iguanas. All assays were carried out in comparison with pooled normal canine plasma. In iguana plasma, the PT [median (x0.50) = 453-831 s, dependent on the reagent], APTT (x0.50 = 170-242 s, dependent on the reagent), thrombin time (x0.50 = 118 - > 1000 s, dependent on thrombin activity), KCT (x0.50 = 274 s), DRVVT (x0.50 = 349 s) and reptilase time (all samples > 1000 s) were widely scattered at the limit of measurability. Only fibrinogen concentrations measured using the Jacobsson method (x0.50 = 4.40 g/l) correlated well (r = 0.91) with gravimetry (x0.50 = 4.22 g/l). The results of this study indicate a limited suitability and a confined diagnostic significance of the selected methods in the green iguana. This may be caused by the species specificity of certain components of the reagents used, as well as a less optimal test system, i.e. relationship of test reagent to clotting factor concentrations in iguana plasma.

  11. Effects of calcium binding and of EDTA and CaEDTA on the clotting of bovine fibrinogen by thrombin.

    PubMed

    Perizzolo, K E; Sullivan, S; Waugh, D F

    1985-03-01

    Studies were carried out at pH 7.0 and gamma/2 0.15 before addition of CaCl2 or EDTA. Clotting time, tau, at 3.03 microM fibrinogen and 0.91 u/ml thrombin was determined for equilibrium systems. With added Ca2+, tau decreases, from tau 0 at 0 added Ca2+ (mean, 29.7 +/- 3 s), by approximately 3 s at 5 mM added Ca2+. With added EDTA, tau increases sigmoidally from tau 0 at 0 EDTA to a maximum (mean tau m = 142 +/- 23 s) at approximately 200 microM EDTA. tau then decreases slightly to a minimum at approximately 1.3 mM and finally increases to infinity at approximately 10 mM EDTA. Between 0 and 1.3 mM EDTA, effects on clotting time are completely reversed by adding Ca2+ and, after equilibration at 400 microM EDTA, tau is independent of EDTA concentration. Thus, up to 400 microM EDTA, effects on clotting time are attributed to decreasing fibrinogen bound Ca2+. Between 5 mM Ca2+ and 200 microM EDTA it is assumed that an equilibrium distribution of fibrinogen species having 3, 2, 1, or 0 bound calcium ions is established and that a clotting time is determined by the sum of products of species fractional abundance and pure species clotting time. Analysis indicates that pure species clotting times increase proportionately with decreasing Ca2+ binding, binding sites are nearly independent, and the microscopic association constant for the first bound Ca2+ is approximately 4.9 X 10(6) M-1. Effects of adding Ca2+ at times t1 after thrombin addition to systems initially equilibrated at 200 microM EDTA were determined. Analysis of the relation between tau and t1 indicates that as Ca2+ binding decreases, rate constants for release of B peptides decrease less than those for release of A peptides. As EDTA concentration is increased above 1.3 mM, inhibitory effects of EDTA and CaEDTA progressively increase.

  12. Effects of dipyrone, meloxicam, or the combination on hemostasis in conscious dogs.

    PubMed

    Zanuzzo, Felipe S; Teixeira-Neto, Francisco J; Thomazini, Camila M; Takahira, Regina K; Conner, Bobbi; Diniz, Miriely S

    2015-01-01

    To compare the effects of dipyrone, meloxicam, and of the combination of these drugs on hemostasis in dogs. Prospective, blinded, randomized crossover study. Research laboratory at a veterinary teaching hospital. Six adult dogs. Animals received 4 intravenous treatments with 15-day washout intervals: control (physiological saline, 0.1 mL/kg), meloxicam (0.2 mg/kg), dipyrone (25 mg/kg), and dipyrone-meloxicam (25 and 0.2 mg/kg, respectively). A jugular catheter was placed for drug injection and for collecting samples for whole blood platelet aggregation (WBPA) and thromboelastometry assays at baseline, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8 hours after treatment administration. The percent change from baseline of lag time and of the area under the curve (AUC) of impedance changes in response to collagen-induced platelet activation were recorded during WBPA. Thromboelastometry-derived parameters included clotting time, clot formation time, alpha-angle, and maximum clot firmness. The buccal mucosal bleeding time was evaluated by a blinded observer at baseline, 1, 3, and 5 hours after treatment injection. No significant changes in WBPA and thromboelastometry were recorded in the control treatment. Dipyrone significantly (P < 0.05) increased the lag time for 2 hours and decreased the AUC for 3 hours after injection. Meloxicam did not alter WBPA. Dipyrone-meloxicam significantly increased lag time for 2 hours and decreased the AUC for 5 hours after treatment injection. Experimental treatments did not differ from the control treatment for thromboelastometry and buccal mucosal bleeding time. While meloxicam does not alter hemostasis by the methods evaluated, dipyrone inhibits platelet aggregation for up to 3 hours. Meloxicam-dipyrone combination causes more prolonged inhibition of platelet function than dipyrone alone. Decreased platelet aggregation induced by dipyrone and dipyrone-meloxicam does not appear to impact the viscoelastic properties of the blood clot nor increase the risk of bleeding in dogs without preexisting hemostatic disorders. © Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2015.

  13. Coagulation monitoring based on blood elastic measurement using optical coherence tomography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xu, Xiangqun; Zhu, Jiang; Chen, Zhongping

    2017-02-01

    Blood coagulation monitoring is important to diagnose hematological diseases and cardiovascular diseases and to predict the risk of bleeding and excessive clotting. In this study, we developed a system to dynamically monitor blood coagulation and quantitatively determine the coagulation function by blood elastic measurement. When blood forms a clot from a liquid, ultrasonic force induces a shear wave, which is detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT). The coagulation of porcine whole blood recalcified by calcium chloride is assessed using the metrics of reaction time, clot formation kinetics and maximum shear modulus. The OCE system can noninvasively monitor the blood coagulation and quantitatively determine the coagulation function.

  14. Acute intracranial hemorrhage secondary to thrombocytopenia: CT appearances unaffected by absence of clot retraction

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pierce, J.N.; Taber, K.H.; Hayman, L.A.

    To describe the in vivo CT appearance of acute intracerebral blood clots formed from anemic platelet-depleted blood. Three patients with intracerebral hemorrhage secondary only to thrombocytopenia were examined with CT within 2 1/2 hours after the onset of clinical symptoms. There were no unusual CT features found in the intracerebral hemorrhages of patients with only thrombocytopenia. Specifically, a hyperdense zone(s) surrounded by areas of decreased density was identified. Clot retraction (which cannot occur in patients with severe thrombocytopenia) is not necessary for the CT appearance of acute intracerebral hemorrhage. 22 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.

  15. Formation of obstructing blood clot in the ureter in a patient with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.

    PubMed

    Kilincaslan, Huseyin; Leblebisatan, Goksel; Tepeler, Abdulkadir; Karakus, Suleyman C

    2011-12-01

    Glanzman thrombasthenia is a rare hematologic disorder characterized by qualitative thrombocyte abnormality. Patients present with episodic mucocutaneous bleeding. Thrombosis is a paradox phenomenon observed in patients with Glanzman thrombasthenia and generally considered as a treatment complication. We present a 16-year-old girl referred for severe flank pain beginning after treatment of hematuria due to Glanzman thrombasthenia. The patient underwent endoscopy for further diagnosis and treatment because of the failure of radiologic evaluation. Although the resolution of the large clots was obtained with streptokinase instillation via the ureteral catheter, clot was mobilized with gentle insertion of ureteral catheter in the present case.

  16. U.S. EPA, Pesticide Product Label, KERNEL GUARD, 03/01/1989

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    2011-04-21

    ... ". . • clot.Jai... ..d eII., ... ... P ... _ol oloUai •• _n 4_ing u_ ••• t.... l •• n~'" •• p.,. .. t.el~ .. •. I,.oe hou"'old art.iol.o. Clot..bi....4 protoct.1". "YA~"" ta .. ...

  17. A novel automatic regulatory device for continuous bladder irrigation based on wireless sensor in patients after transurethral resection of the prostate

    PubMed Central

    Ding, Aimin; Cao, Huling; Wang, Lihua; Chen, Jiangang; Wang, Jian; He, Bosheng

    2016-01-01

    Abstract Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common progressive disease in aging men, which leads to a significant impact on daily lives of patients. Continuous bladder irrigation (CBI) is a supplementary option for preventing the adverse events following transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Regulation of the flow rate based on the color of drainage bag is significant to prevent the clot formation and retention, which is controlled manually at present. To achieve a better control of flow rate and reduce inappropriate flow rate–related adverse effects, we designed an automatic flow rate controller for CBI applied with wireless sensor and evaluated its clinical efficacy. Methods: The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in patients receiving the novel automatic bladder irrigation post-TURP in the experimental group compared with controls receiving traditional bladder irrigation in the control group. Results: A total of 146 patients were randomly divided into 2 groups—the experimental group (n = 76) and the control group (n = 70). The mean irrigation volume of the experimental group (24.2 ± 3.8 L) was significantly lower than that of the controls (54.6 ± 5.4 L) (P < 0.05). Patients treated with automatic irrigation device had significantly decreased incidence of clot retention (8/76) and cystospasm (12/76) compared to controls (21/70; 39/70, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with regard to irrigation time (28.6 ± 2.7 vs 29.5 ± 3.4 hours, P = 0.077). Conclusion: The study suggests that the automatic regulating device applied with wireless sensor for CBI is safe and effective for patients after TURP. However, studies with a large population of patients and a long-term follow-up should be conducted to validate our findings. PMID:28033276

  18. Improved neovascularization and wound repair by targeting human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) to fibrin.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Wenxue; Han, Qianqian; Lin, Hang; Gao, Yuan; Sun, Wenjie; Zhao, Yannan; Wang, Bin; Chen, Bing; Xiao, Zhifeng; Dai, Jianwu

    2008-10-01

    Targeted therapy is a new generation of therapeutics, where two critical factors are involved. One is the particular molecular target, and the other is the specific target-binding drug. In this work, the fibrin, a main component of plasma clot at wound sites, was used as the target for human bFGF, aiming to improve therapeutic neovascularization and wound repair. To endow bFGF with fibrin-targeting ability, a fibrin-binding peptide Kringle1 (K1), derived from human plasminogen, was fused to human bFGF. The recombinant K1bFGF showed high fibrin and plasma-clot-binding ability. When applied to the wound sites with plasma clots, K1bFGF induced robust neovascularization and improved wound healing. To extend the application of K1bFGF to other cases where no plasma clots exist, we developed a fibrin-scaffold/K1bFGF system. This system could induce localized neovascularization by delivery of K1bFGF in a sustained and site-targeting manner, and provide a microenvironment promoting cell growth and tissue regeneration. In summary, we successfully used the pathologic environment fibrin clot as the target for bFGF, and based on which bFGF was designed into a targeting agent by introduction of a fibrin-binding peptide. This provides a potential approach to improve therapeutic neovascularization and wound repair.

  19. A novel natural mutation AαPhe98Ile in the fibrinogen coiled-coil affects fibrinogen function.

    PubMed

    Riedelová-Reicheltová, Zuzana; Kotlín, Roman; Suttnar, Jiří; Geierová, Véra; Riedel, Tomáš; Májek, Pavel; Dyr, Jan Evangelista

    2014-01-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate the structure and function of fibrinogen obtained from a patient with normal coagulation times and idiopathic thrombophilia. This was done by SDS-PAGE and DNA sequence analyses, scanning electron microscopy, fibrinopeptide release, fibrin polymerisation initiated by thrombin and reptilase, fibrinolysis, and platelet aggregometry. A novel heterozygous point mutation in the fibrinogen Aα chain, Phe98 to Ile, was found and designated as fibrinogen Vizovice. The mutation, which is located in the RGDF sequence (Aα 95-98) of the fibrinogen coiled-coil region, significantly affected fibrin clot morphology. Namely, the clot formed by fibrinogen Vizovice contained thinner and curled fibrin fibers with reduced length. Lysis of the clots prepared from Vizovice plasma and isolated fibrinogen were found to be impaired. The lysis rate of Vizovice clots was almost four times slower than the lysis rate of control clots. In the presence of platelets agonists the mutant fibrinogen caused increased platelet aggregation. The data obtained show that natural mutation of Phe98 to Ile in the fibrinogen Aα chain influences lateral aggregation of fibrin protofibrils, fibrinolysis, and platelet aggregation. They also suggest that delayed fibrinolysis, together with the abnormal fibrin network morphology and increased platelet aggregation, may be the direct cause of thrombotic complications in the patient associated with pregnancy loss.

  20. An optical approach for non-invasive blood clot testing

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kalchenko, Vyacheslav; Brill, Alexander; Fine, Ilya; Harmelin, Alon

    2007-02-01

    Physiological blood coagulation is an essential biological process. Current tests for plasma coagulation (clotting) need to be performed ex vivo and require fresh blood sampling for every test. A recently published work describes a new, noninvasive, in vivo approach to assess blood coagulation status during mechanical occlusion1. For this purpose, we have tested this approach and applied a controlled laser beam to blood micro-vessels of the mouse ear during mechanical occlusion. Standard setup for intravital transillumination videomicroscopy and laser based imaging techniques were used for monitoring the blood clotting process. Temporal mechanical occlusion of blood vessels in the observed area was applied to ensure blood flow cessation. Subsequently, laser irradiation was used to induce vascular micro-injury. Changes in the vessel wall, as well as in the pattern of blood flow, predispose the area to vascular thrombosis, according to the paradigm of Virchow's triad. In our experiments, two elements of Virchow's triad were used to induce the process of clotting in vivo, and to assess it optically. We identified several parameters that can serve as markers of the blood clotting process in vivo. These include changes in light absorption in the area of illumination, as well as changes in the pattern of the red blood cells' micro-movement in the vessels where blood flow is completely arrested. Thus, our results indicate that blood coagulation status can be characterized by non-invasive, in vivo methodologies.

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