BACKGROUND Cdc42 and Rac1, members of the Rho family of small GTPases, play critical roles in actin cytoskeleton regulation. We have shown previously that Rac1 is involved in regulation of platelet secretion and aggregation. However, the role of Cdc42 in platelet activation remains controversial. This study was undertaken to better understand the role of Cdc42 in platelet activation. METHODOL...

BACKGROUND Antiplatelet therapy is the mainstay of the treatment and secondary prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular ischemic events. We assessed the safety, tolerability, and pharmacodynamics of lotrafiban, an oral platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, as a secondary prevention strategy in patients with cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease. METHODS AND RESULTS Overall, 45...

Results M orphine injection delayed clopidogrel absorption (p 1⁄4 0.025) and reduced the area under the curve levels of its active metabolite by 34% (p 1⁄4 0.001). Morphine delayed the maximal inhibition of platelet aggregation on average by 2 h (n 1⁄4 24; p < 0.001). Residual platelet aggregation was higher 1 to 4 h after morphine injection (n 1⁄4 24; p < 0.005). Furthermore, morphine delayed ...

OBJECTIVE Adenosine signaling is known to inhibit platelet aggregation. Extracellular adenosine mainly stems from enzymatic phosphohydrolysis of precursor nucleotides via ecto-5'-nucleotidase. Previous studies suggest that soluble 5'-nucleotidase (5'-NT) derived from Crotalus atrox venom may be clinically beneficial in vascular leakage, myocardial, renal, and intestinal ischemia, or acute lung ...

The evidence indicating that platelets may play a role in the occurrence of certain thromboembolic phenomena has stimulated a search for inhibitors of platelet function. This report presents data to indicate that nitrofurantoin is a potent inhibitor of primary ADP-induced platelet aggregation. The addition of 10 muM nitrofurantoin to citrated platelet-rich plasma obtained from 12 normal subject...

High levels of fluid shear stress at the blood vessel wall directly stimulate von Willebrand factor (vWF)-mediated platelet adhesion and aggregation and thereby contribute to the pathogenesis of arterial thrombosis. We have found that a pathological level of arterial wall shear stress (90 dynes/cm2) induces platelet aggregation that is associated with the phosphorylation of pleckstrin, a M(r) 4...

BACKGROUND Coronary intervention therapy is the main treatment for uremic patients with coronary heart disease. The studies on whether dialysis reduces the efficacy of dual antiplatelet drugs are limited. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of dialysis on antiplatelet drugs in uremic patients with coronary heart disease. METHODS This study included 26 uremic patients who had under...

Pathological studies have revealed that one of the main features encountered in the pulmonary vasculature of patients with pulmonary hypertension is the presence of thrombotic lesions. Open pilot studies have indicated that aerosolized iloprost may have beneficial effects in patients with pulmonary hypertension. The effects of aerosolized iloprost on platelet function and plasma cyclic adenosin...

BACKGROUND Impaired coagulation contributes to the morbidity and mortality associated with septic shock. Whether abnormal platelet contraction adds to the bleeding tendency is unknown. Platelets contract when Ca(2+)-dependent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) phosphorylates Ser19 of myosin light chain (MLC20), promoting actin-myosin cross-bridge cycling. Contraction is opposed when myosin light ...