High levels of soluble RAGE are associated with a greater risk of mortality in COVID-19 patients treated with dexamethasone.

Blood levels of the soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE) are acutely elevated during the host inflammatory response to infection and predict mortality in COVID-19. However, the prognostic performance of this biomarker in the context of treatments to reduce inflammation is unclear. In this study we investigated the association between sRAGE and mortality in dexamethasone-treated COVID-19 patients. We studied 89 SARS-CoV-2 positive subjects and 22 controls attending the emergency department of a University Teaching Hospital during the second wave of COVID-19 and measured sRAGE at admission. In positive individuals sRAGE increased with disease severity and correlated with the National Early Warning Score 2 (Pearson's r = 0.56, p < 0.001). Fourteen out of 72 patients treated with dexamethasone died during 28 days of follow-up. Survival rates were significantly lower in patients with high sRAGE (> 3532 pg/mL) than in those with low sRAGE (p = 0.01). Higher sRAGE levels were associated with an increased risk of death after adjustment for relevant covariates. In contrast, IL-6 did not predict mortality in these patients. These results demonstrate that sRAGE remains an independent predictor of mortality among COVID-19 patients treated with dexamethasone. Determination of sRAGE could be useful for the clinical management of this patient population.

A comparative study into the effects of venous and arterial blood on clot microstructure in critically unwell patients. Assessment of the diagnostic potential of a biomarker of haemostasis.

Blood for coagulation analysis can be sampled from the arterial or venous system in intensive care units (ICU). The determination of clot microstructure and strength by fractal analysis (df) gives valuable information in a range of vascular haemostatic disease and sepsis. We aimed to determine if df could be measured equally and comparatively in arterial or venous blood, and 45 critically ill patients in an ICU were recruited. df was found to be readily measured in arterial blood with results comparable to those in venous blood and that add value of df as a potential marker of haemostasis in these patients.

The efficacy of low molecular weight heparin is reduced in COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: A significant degree of mortality and morbidity in COVID-19 is through thromboembolic complications, only partially mitigated by anticoagulant therapy. Reliable markers of infection severity are not fully established. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated whether visco-elastic biomarkers predict disease severity on presentation to the Emergency Department (ED) and how they measure response to anticoagulationMETHODS:Patients testing positive for COVID-19 at a large University Teaching Hospital ED were recruited at presentation. Multiple blood samples were taken throughout hospital admission to monitor disease progression with end outcome recorded. Visco-elastic markers, fractal dimension (df) and Time to Gel Point (TGP) which measure the properties of the incipient clot were compared in patients with and without anticoagulation by Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH). RESULTS: TGP and df did not predict severity of infection with COVID-19. Although LMWH prolonged TGP, there was no change in df indicating LMWH did not change clot microstructure. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic efficacy of LMWH appears blunted in COVID-19 infection. This may be due to the inflammatory state creating a resistance to LMWH activity, which may explain why LMWH appears less effective in COVID-19 compared to other disease states. COVID-19 was not predicted by visco-elastic testing at the time of ED presentation.

The Impact of Patient Characteristics and Antiplatelet Regimes on Clot Microstructure in Patients Treated for ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Clot Microstructure can Evaluate Therapeutic Efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Unfavourable clot microstructure is associated with adverse outcomes in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We investigated the effect of comorbidities and anti-platelet treatment on clot microstructure in STEMI patients using fractal dimension (df), a novel biomarker of clot microstructure derived from the visco-elastic properties of whole blood. METHODS: Patients with STEMI (n = 187) were recruited sequentially receiving aspirin with Clopidogrel (n = 157) then Ticagrelor (n = 30). Patient characteristics and blood for rheological analysis obtained. We quantified df using sequential frequency sweep tests to obtain the phase angle of the Gel Point which is synonymous with the clot microstructure. RESULTS: Higher df was observed in males (1.755 ± 0.068) versus females (1.719 ± 0.061, p = .001), in patients with diabetes (1.786 ± 0.067 vs 1.743 ± 0.046, p < .001), hypertension (1.760 ± 0.065 vs 1.738 ± 0.069, p = .03) and previous MI (1.787 ± 0.073 vs 1.744 ± 0.066, p = .011) compared to without. Patients receiving Ticagrelor had lower df than those receiving Clopidogrel (1.708 ± 0.060 vs 1.755 ± 0.067, p < .001). Significant correlation with df was found with haematocrit (r = 0.331, p < .0001), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (r = 0.155, p = .046) and fibrinogen (r = 0.182, p = .014). Following multiple regression analysis, diabetes, LDL, fibrinogen and haematocrit remained associated with higher df while treatment with Ticagrelor remained associated with lower df. CONCLUSIONS: The biomarker df uniquely evaluates the effect of interactions between treatment and underlying disease on clot microstructure. STEMI patients with diabetes and elevated LDL had higher df, indicating denser clot. Ticagrelor resulted in a lower df than Clopidogrel signifying a less compact clot.

Impaired fibrinolysis in severe Covid-19 infection is detectable in early stages of the disease.

BACKGROUND: A significant degree of mortality and morbidity in Covid-19 is due to thromboembolic disease. Coagulopathy has been well described in critically unwell patients on ICU. There is less clear evidence regarding these changes at the time of presentation to the Emergency Department and the progression of disease over time. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate whether coagulation markers can predict severity and how they change over the disease course. METHODS: Patients presenting to a single University Teaching Hospital were recruited and followed up if PCR was positive. Alongside routine blood testing, Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM) was performed. Outcome data was recorded for all patients, and ROTEM values were compared across outcome groups. RESULTS: Extem and Intem Maximum Lysis were significantly reduced in those who died or required an ICU admission, indicating a reduced ability to break down clot mass in the most critically unwell patients. CONCLUSION: Comparisons between groups demonstrated that one distinguishing feature between those who require ICU admission or die of Covid-19 compared with those who survive a hospital stay to discharge was the extent to which fibrinolysis could occur. Mortality and morbidity in Covid-19 infection appears in part driven by an inability to break down clot mass.

The effects of apixaban on clot characteristics in atrial fibrillation: A novel pharmacodynamic biomarker.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for stroke. We aim to characterize AF patients and the effects of apixaban therapy in terms of clot microstructure using gel point analysis, a novel biomarker. Seventy-eight patients were included in the study, 50 Stroke with AF (AF-S), and 28 AF without stroke (AF). Pre- and post-anticoagulation samples were collected: gel point (GP) analysis was performed to obtain (i) TGP (the time taken to reach the GP or the clot formation time) and (ii) df, the fractal dimension of the clot, a quantification of clot fibrin microstructure at the GP. At baseline, the AF-S group had a df  = 1.70 (±0.05) and TGP = 306 (±73 s). The AF group had a df = 1.70 ± 0.05 and TGP = 346 ± 78 s, showing a significantly shortened TGP in the stroke group (p = .008). For both groups, apixaban significantly prolonged TGP, p = .005, but resulted in no change in df. Apixaban prolonged clotting time while having no significant impact on the blood's ability to form stable clots (no change in df ). This indicates that apixaban provides protection from the formation of thrombi by reducing clotting kinetics.

The effect of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and its treatment on clot microstructure: Are they thrombogenic?

BACKGROUND: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a medical emergency with a high mortality rate and is associated with severe metabolic acidosis and dehydration. DKA patients have an increased risk of arterial and venous thromboembolism, however little is known about this metabolic derangement in the first 24 hours of admission and to assess its effect on coagulation. We therefore utilised a novel functional marker of clot microstructure (fractal dimension - df) to assess these changes within the first 24 hours. METHODS: Prospective single centre observational study to demonstrate whether the tendency of blood clot formation differs in DKA patients. RESULTS: 15 DKA patients and 15 healthy matched controls were recruited. Mean df in the healthy control group was 1.74±0.03. An elevated df of 1.78±0.07 was observed in patients with DKA on admission. The mean pH on admission was 7.14±0.13 and the lactate was 3.6±2.0. df changed significantly in response to standard treatment and was significantly reduced to 1.68±0.09 (2-6& h) and to 1.66±0.08 at 24& h (p < 0.01 One-way ANOVA). df also correlated significantly with lactate and pH (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.479 and -0.675 respectively, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: DKA patients at presentation have a densely organising less permeable thrombogenic clot microstructure as evidenced by high df. These structural changes are due to a combination of dehydration and a profound metabolic acidosis, which was reversed with treatment. These changes were not mirrored in standard clinical markers of thromboge-nicity.

The effect of tyramine infusion and exercise on blood flow, coagulation and clot microstructure in healthy individuals.

BACKGROUND: The long term benefits of exercise on the cardiovascular status of a patient have been proven, however, their benefit/risk relationship with exercise intensity is unclear. Furthermore, many thromboembolic diseases such as myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke are associated with profound catecholamine release. In this study we explore the relationship between catecholamine release and hemodynamic changes and their effect on coagulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve healthy recreationally active males were recruited. Local anesthesia was given and catheters were placed under aseptic conditions, in the femoral artery and vein of the experimental leg. The first experiment involved tyramine infusion into the femoral artery at a dose of 1.0 µmol·min-1·L leg volume-1. The second experiment involved single leg knee-extensor exercise performed at 30 W for 15 min. Venous blood was collected at each time point to assess clot microstructure using the df biomarker. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Tyramine infusion causes a local noradrenaline release in the leg. The increase in noradrenaline was associated with a significant increase in clot microstructure formation (df increased from 1.692 ±â€¯0.029 to 1.722 ±â€¯0.047, p = 0.016). Additionally moderate intensity single leg knee extensor exercise, which minimally alters sympathetic activity, also induced an increases in df (from 1.688 ±â€¯0.025 to 1.723 ±â€¯0.023, p = 0.001). This suggests that exercise can alter clot microstructure formation both via an increase in catecholeamine levels and by factors related to muscle activity per se, such as increased blood flow and consequent shear. These findings have implications for recommendations of exercise in patients at risk of cardiovascular events.

Two decades of orphan product development.

Over the past 20 years, incentives of the Orphan Drug Act (ODA), the largest single source of extramural clinical grants at the US Food and Drug Administration, have had a substantial impact on public health. ODA incentives have contributed to the development of many innovative biotechnology products, and as our understanding of the human genome evolves, it is anticipated that pharmacogenomics will result in the identification of more 'orphan diseases'.

Epidemiology of burns and scalds in children presenting to the emergency department of a regional burns unit: a 7-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Variation in the incidence and mechanism of thermal injury has been reported in different age groups in children. The aim of this study was to report the incidence, mechanisms, and environmental factors of all burns presentations to the emergency department (ED) of a regional burns centre over a 7-year period. METHODS: A retrospective, chart review study of all burns presentations to the ED of a regional burns centre in South Wales was conducted. All children recorded as having sustained a burn or scald, aged less than 16 years were included in the analysis. Subjects' demographics were analysed using descriptive statistics, and comparisons were made between patients aged less than 5 and patients aged 5-16 using chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: A total of 1387 cases were included in the final analysis. Scalds were the most common thermal injury with 569 (41.0 %) reported, followed by contact burns in 563 (40.6 %) patients. The patients requiring hospitalisation were significantly younger (2 vs 3 years; p < 0.001) and had a higher rate of non-accidental injury (10 vs 4; p < 0.001). The most commonly injured site in both age groups was a hand or digit. CONCLUSIONS: Scalds and contact burns were the most commonly reported thermal injury in children aged less than 16. Common mechanisms were hot beverages, hobs and hair straighteners, highlighting further burn prevention strategies are needed and good-quality prospective studies that investigate the effectiveness of such strategies.

Electrochemical monitoring of transport by a vesicular monoamine transporter expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

Xenopus laevis oocytes were injected with synthetic mRNA coding for a rat VMAT2 mutant (rVMAT2-I483A/L484A) shown previously to be retained on the plasma membrane as a result of a presumed reduction of endocytosis. Binding of the specific VMAT inhibitor [3H]dihydrotetrabenazine indicated that expression did occur at a level of approximately 3 fmol per oocyte. To determine if rVMAT2-I483A/L484A expressed in oocytes was capable of substrate transport, oocytes were placed in buffer at pH 6.0, dopamine substrate was injected into the cell, and egress of substrate was monitored by fast scan cyclic voltammetry using a carbon fiber microelectrode. Under these conditions, transport by oocytes injected with RNA coding for rVMAT2-I483A/L484A ranged from approximately 0.5 to more than 2.5 pmol/min. Water-injected and uninjected control oocytes did not exhibit appreciable transport activity. Transport by rVMAT2-I483A/L484A-injected oocytes was reduced to control levels by tetrabenazine, a known inhibitor of VMAT transport activity. Comparison of subtracted voltammograms obtained from transport assays with those for calibration experiments confirmed that the transported species was dopamine. These results suggest that expression of VMATs in oocytes may provide a useful model system for mechanistic and regulatory studies that would not be feasible using traditional methods.