Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a relatively rare genetic disease associated with high serum cholesterol levels but also with abnormalities in blood coagulation. Novel pharmacotherapeutic approaches in FH including proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 antibodies (PCSK9Ab) are very efficient in decreasing cholesterol levels but their impact on coagulation in FH is not yet established. Therefore, we hypothesized that these novel antidyslipidemic drugs can positively impact blood coagulation due to their more potent effect on cholesterol. A total of 15 healthy volunteers and all 15 available patients with severe FH treated at the University Hospital Hradec Králové were enrolled, coagulation was assessed by mechanic coagulometer, and the impact of four clinically used direct anticoagulants was analyzed ex vivo. FH patients were treated effectively as their total cholesterol was 4.11 ± 1.57 mM and LDL cholesterol was 2.44 ± 1.46 mM, which were even lower values than detected in our generally healthy controls. Twelve from the 15 FH patients were finally analyzed as 3 were treated with anticoagulants. Coagulation in FH patients was prolonged more extensively by dabigatran and rivaroxaban, when compared to healthy controls. Treatment with PCSK9Ab or lipid apheresis did not seem to have a significant effect on coagulation. The latter procedure however significantly decreased serum levels of one vitamin K form, MK4. Shorter coagulation time was associated with higher levels of LDL, non-HDL, and total cholesterol. Current treatment of FH seems to improve the effects of direct anticoagulants beyond known effects on LDL cholesterol levels.

• Klíčová slova
• Direct anticoagulants, Familial hypercholesterolemia, Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, Vitamin K,
• MeSH
• anticholesteremika terapeutické užití   MeSH
• antikoagulancia * terapeutické užití   farmakologie   MeSH
• cholesterol krev   MeSH
• dabigatran terapeutické užití   farmakologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hemokoagulace * účinky léků   MeSH
• hyperlipoproteinemie typ II * krev   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• hypolipidemika * terapeutické užití   farmakologie   MeSH
• LDL-cholesterol krev   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• PCSK9 inhibitory MeSH
• proproteinkonvertasa subtilisin/kexin typu 9 MeSH
• rivaroxaban terapeutické užití   farmakologie   MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• anticholesteremika MeSH
• antikoagulancia * MeSH
• cholesterol MeSH
• dabigatran MeSH
• hypolipidemika * MeSH
• LDL-cholesterol MeSH
• PCSK9 inhibitory MeSH
• PCSK9 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• proproteinkonvertasa subtilisin/kexin typu 9 MeSH
• rivaroxaban MeSH

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It is well known that elevated cholesterol is associated with enhanced platelet aggregation and patients suffering from familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) have a high risk of thrombotic cardiovascular events. Although decreasing cholesterol level is associated with attenuation of platelet hyperactivity, there are currently no data on the effect of convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 monoclonal antibodies (PCSK9ab) on platelet reactivity in FH. The aim of the study was to analyse the impact of different therapies including PCSK9ab on platelet aggregation in FH. METHODS: This study enrolled all 15 patients treated in the University Hospital Hradec Králové for FH. PCSK9ab have been administered in 12 of 15 patients while 8 patients were also undergoing lipid apheresis. Blood samples from all patients including pre- and post-apheresis period were tested for platelet aggregation triggered by 7 inducers, and the effect of 3 clinically used drugs (acetylsalicylic acid, ticagrelor and vorapaxar) was compared as well. RESULTS: Although apheresis decreased the reactivity of platelets in general, platelet responses were not different between non-apheresis patients treated with PCSK9ab and apheresis patients (post-apheresis values) with the exception of ristocetin. However, when compared to age-matched healthy population, FH patients had significantly lower platelet aggregation responses to 4 out of 7 used inducers and higher profit from 2 out of 3 used antiplatelet drugs even after exclusion of FH patients regularly receiving conventional antiplatelet treatment. CONCLUSION: This study showed for the first time the suitability of PCSK9ab treatment for reduction of platelet reactivity in FH patients.

• Klíčová slova
• ADP receptor, Acetylsalicylic acid, Antiplatelet, Dyslipidemia, Ticagrelor, Vorapaxar,
• MeSH
• agregace trombocytů * účinky léků   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hyperlipoproteinemie typ II * krev   terapie   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• inhibitory agregace trombocytů * terapeutické užití   farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monoklonální protilátky terapeutické užití   farmakologie   MeSH
• PCSK9 inhibitory * MeSH
• proproteinkonvertasa subtilisin/kexin typu 9 * imunologie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• separace krevních složek * MeSH
• trombocyty účinky léků   metabolismus   imunologie   MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• inhibitory agregace trombocytů * MeSH
• monoklonální protilátky MeSH
• PCSK9 inhibitory * MeSH
• PCSK9 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• proproteinkonvertasa subtilisin/kexin typu 9 * MeSH

An imbalance in coagulation is associated with cardiovascular events. For prevention and treatment, anticoagulants, currently mainly xabans and gatrans, are used. The purpose of the present study was to provide a head-to-head comparison since there are no studies directly evaluating these novel anticoagulants. An additional aim was to find whether selected anthropological and biochemical factors can affect their anticoagulant properties as they are used in fixed doses. In this cross-sectional study, blood from 50 generally healthy donors was collected, and coagulation responses to dabigatran, argatroban, rivaroxaban, and apixaban, at a concentration of 1 μM, were analyzed. Heparin was used as a positive control. Prothrombin time (PT) expressed as international normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were measured and compared. Rivaroxaban was the most active according to PT/INR while argatroban according to aPTT. The ex vivo anticoagulant effect measured by INR correlated inversely with body mass index (BMI) in all four anticoagulants tested. Shortening of aPTT was associated with higher cholesterol and triglyceride levels. No sex-related differences were observed in response to the anticoagulant treatments. As this was an ex vivo study and pharmacokinetic factors were not included, the influence of BMI is of high therapeutic importance.

• Klíčová slova
• Activated partial thromboplastin time, Anticoagulants, Body mass index, Lipid, Prothrombin time,
• MeSH
• antikoagulancia * farmakologie   MeSH
• arginin * analogy a deriváty   MeSH
• dabigatran farmakologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hemokoagulace * účinky léků   MeSH
• index tělesné hmotnosti MeSH
• INR MeSH
• kyseliny pipekolové * farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• parciální tromboplastinový čas MeSH
• protrombinový čas MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• pyrazoly farmakologie   MeSH
• pyridony farmakologie   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• rivaroxaban * farmakologie   MeSH
• sulfonamidy farmakologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• apixaban MeSH Prohlížeč
• argatroban MeSH Prohlížeč

Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels lead to atherosclerosis and platelet hyperaggregability, both of which are known culprits of arterial thrombosis. Normalization of LDL cholesterol in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is not an easy task and frequently requires specific treatment, such as regularly performed lipid apheresis and/or novel drugs such as proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 monoclonal antibodies (PCSK9Ab). Moreover, a high resistance rate to the first-line antiplatelet drug acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) stimulated research of novel antiplatelet drugs. 4-methylcatechol (4-MC), a known metabolite of several dietary flavonoids, may be a suitable candidate. The aim of this study was to analyse the antiplatelet effect of 4-MC in FH patients and to compare its impact on two FH treatment modalities via whole-blood impedance aggregometry. When compared to age-matched, generally healthy controls, the antiplatelet effect of 4-MC against collagen-induced aggregation was higher in FH patients. Apheresis itself improved the effect of 4-MC on platelet aggregation and blood from patients treated with this procedure and pretreated with 4-MC had lower platelet aggregability when compared to those solely treated with PCKS9Ab. Although this study had some inherent limitations, e.g., a low number of patients and possible impact of administered drugs, it confirmed the suitability of 4-MC as a promising antiplatelet agent and also demonstrated the effect of 4-MC in patients with a genetic metabolic disease for the first time.

• Klíčová slova
• 4-methylcathechol, familial hypercholesterolemia, lipid apheresis, platelet,
• MeSH
• hyperlipoproteinemie typ II * farmakoterapie   MeSH
• LDL-cholesterol MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monoklonální protilátky farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• proproteinkonvertasa subtilisin/kexin typu 9 MeSH
• proproteinkonvertasy terapeutické užití   MeSH
• separace krevních složek * metody   MeSH
• subtilisin MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 4-methylcatechol MeSH Prohlížeč
• LDL-cholesterol MeSH
• monoklonální protilátky MeSH
• proproteinkonvertasa subtilisin/kexin typu 9 MeSH
• proproteinkonvertasy MeSH
• subtilisin MeSH

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to the destruction of the tooth-supporting tissues with complex immune response. Neopterin (Np), secreted via activated macrophages, is considered a biomarker of cellular immunity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of periodontitis and nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Np gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), oral fluid, serum and urine levels were compared in subjects with periodontitis before periodontal treatment, three months after and in a healthy control. Np GCF concentrations in the study group after treatment were significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.038). The GCF total amount (amount of substance) was significantly higher in the study group before periodontal treatment than in the control group (p = 0.001) and higher than the levels taken after treatment collection (p = 0.024). The oral fluid Np concentrations in the study group after treatment were significantly increased compared to the before treatment concentrations (p = 0.020). The same trend was observed in the urine samples. Significant correlation was found between the serum and oral fluid Np concentrations (p = 0.001, ρ = 0.40). Our results confirm the impact of cellular immunity and macrophages on periodontitis and on the resolution of periodontal inflammation. The presence of neopterin in oral fluid most likely originates in the serum.

• Klíčová slova
• macrophages, neopterin, periodontitis,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

A polyphenol-rich diet has beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. However, dietary polyphenols generally have low bioavailability and reach low plasma concentrations. Small phenolic metabolites of these compounds formed by human microbiota are much more easily absorbable and could be responsible for this effect. One of these metabolites, 4-methylcatechol (4-MC), was suggested to be a potent anti-platelet compound. The effect of 4-MC was tested ex vivo in a group of 53 generally healthy donors using impedance blood aggregometry. The mechanism of action of this compound was also investigated by employing various aggregation inducers/inhibitors and a combination of aggregometry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. 4-MC was confirmed to be more potent than acetylsalicylic acid on both arachidonic acid and collagen-triggered platelet aggregation. Its clinically relevant effect was found even at a concentration of 10 μM. Mechanistic studies showed that 4-MC is able to block platelet aggregation caused by the stimulation of different pathways (receptors for the von Willebrand factor and platelet-activating factor, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, protein kinase C, intracellular calcium elevation). The major mechanism was defined as interference with cyclooxygenase-thromboxane synthase coupling. This study confirmed the strong antiplatelet potential of 4-MC in a group of healthy donors and defined its mechanism of action.

• Klíčová slova
• aggregation, blood, flavonoid, human, metabolite, platelet,
• MeSH
• fenoly MeSH
• imunologické testy * MeSH
• katecholy * farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• polyfenoly MeSH
• vyšetření funkce trombocytů MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 4-methylcatechol MeSH Prohlížeč
• fenoly MeSH
• katecholy * MeSH
• polyfenoly MeSH

INTRODUCTION: At present, there are no strong predictors, nor a useful scoring system, that clearly identifies patients at risk for anastomotic leakage. AIM: This study aimed to investigate a new method that assesses this risk by monitoring levels of neopterin, tryptophan, and kynurenine, in bodily fluids. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included patients who underwent elective rectal resection for carcinoma. The basic condition for inclusion was rectal anastomosis using the double-stapling technique. Preoperative levels of neopterin, tryptophan, kynurenine, and their ratios, were assessed with blood and urine samples. These levels were then monitored for 6 postoperative days in venous blood, urine, and abdominal drainage fluid. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients were enrolled in the study. Thirty-six patients underwent a laparoscopic resection and 6 patients had an open procedure. No differences were found among neopterin, tryptophan, and kynurenine serum levels. However, the groups were observed to have significant differences in the urinary neopterin/creatinine ratio: the preoperative neopterin/creatinine ratio was 139.5 μmol/mol in the group with leakage, vs 114.8 μmol/mol in the group without complications, p = 0.037. The same results were observed during the postoperative period, p = 0.012. Additionally, the group with complications had a higher mean value of neopterin in drainage fluid, p = 0.048. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that high preoperative levels of urinary neopterin could be interpreted as a risk for anastomotic leakage. Moreover, pathological levels of neopterin in urine and abdominal drainage fluid could be useful for early identification of anastomotic leakage during the postoperative period prior to its clinical development.

• Klíčová slova
• anastomotic leak, kynurenine, neopterin, rectal carcinoma, tryptophan,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), IDO2 and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) represent some of the key immune regulators. Their increased activity has been demonstrated in a number of human malignancies but not yet in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In the present study, the activity of these enzymes was tested in 29 CML patients and 28 healthy subjects by monitoring the kynurenine (KYN)/tryptophan ratio. Serum samples taken prior to the therapy displayed a highly significant difference in KYN levels between the patient and control groups. However, increased KYN levels were detected in only 13 (44.8%) of these CML patients. The KYN levels in pretreatment sera of the patients correlated with the tumor burden. There was also a strong correlation between KYN levels and uric acid levels (UA). This suggests but does not prove the possible involvement of UA in activating IDO family of enzymes. Whenever tested, the increased KYN levels normalized in the course of the therapy. Patients with normal KYN levels in their pretreatment sera and subsequently treated with interferon-α, showed a transitory increase in their KYN levels. The present data indicate that CML should be added to the malignancies with an increased activity of the IDO family of enzymes and suggest that IDO inhibitors may be used in the treatment of CML patients.

• Klíčová slova
• 3-dioxygenase, CML, chronic myeloid leukemia, IDO, indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase, INFα, interferon- α, INFγ, interferon-γ, KTI, kynurenine/tryptophan index, KYN, kynurenine, NK, natural killer, PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, Ph+, Philadelphia chromosome positive, T regs, regulatory T cells, TDO, tryptophan 2, 3-dioxygenase, TKI, tyrosine-kinase inhibitors, TRY, tryptophan, UA, uric acid., chronic myeloid leukemia, indoleamine 2, kynurenine, tryptophan metabolism, uric acid,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH