Inhaled heparin inhibits the early response to allergen and exercise-induced asthma, probably by inhibiting mast cell mediator release. Recent animal studies suggest that heparin might also inhibit cholinergic neurotransmission in asthma by restoring inhibitory M2 receptor function. We have tested the hypothesis that heparin inhibits neurally-mediated bronchoconstriction in asthma by examining ...

BACKGROUND For endoscopic interventions, heparin bridging therapy is recommended in patients who are at high risk from interruption of antithrombotic therapy. Although heparin bridging has been reported to be effective in preventing thrombosis, several reports have raised concerns about increased risk of bleeding. The aim of this study was to clarify complications of hepari bridging therapy in ...

Native rat mast cell macromolecular heparin proteoglycan and commercial hog heparin glycosaminoglycan chains inhibit generation of the amplification convertase, C3b, Bb. The inhibitory action of heparin is not due to chelation of magnesium. Heparin is most active in inhibiting convertase formation on cellular intermediates formed with the lowest C3b input and developed with the highest B concen...

We demonstrate impedance chips modified with starPEG–heparin hydrogels as hemocompatible portable biosensors in format.

Heparin reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury to myocardium. This effect has been attributed to complement inhibition, but heparin also has other activities that might diminish ischemia-reperfusion. To further probe these mechanisms, we compared heparin or an o-desulfated nonanticoagulant heparin with greatly reduced anticomplement activity. When given at the time of coronary artery reperfusion i...

We investigated the mechanism by which heparin enhances the binding of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin. In contrast to other systems, where heparin acts as a protein scaffold, we found that heparin functions catalytically to modulate VEGF binding site availability on fibronectin. By measuring the binding of VEGF and heparin to surface-im...

The heparin-releasable proteins are a group of proteins that are targeted to the endothelial surface by attachment to glycosaminoglycans and may have functions specific to the endothelium-blood interface. In this study, heparin-affinity chromatography of human postheparin plasma was used as a method to identify and study novel heparin-releasable proteins. Six proteins seen on sodium dodecyl sul...

Heparin induced thrombocytopenia is a rare complication of heparin therapy that usually occurs within initial 5 to 10 days of heparin exposure. We present a rare case of delayed onset heparin induced thrombocytopenia that occurred one week after cessation.