Blood Thinners: From Heparin to Plavix

Author(s):  
Jie Jack Li

Three types of blood cells exist in the human body: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, in addition to plasma, which takes up 55 percent of the blood’s volume. Red blood cells take up approximately 45 percent of the blood’s volume. They transport oxygen from the lungs to other body parts. White cells defend us against bacterial and viral invasions. Platelets (less than 1 percent of the blood), the third type of blood cells, are sticky little cell fragments that are involved in helping the blood clot, a process known as coagulation. Without platelets (even though they constitute less than 1 percent of blood), our blood would not be able to clot, and we would have uncontrolled bleeding. However, formation of blood clots is a double-edged sword. Clots are beneficial because they heal cuts and wounds; blood clots in the bloodstream are harmful because they block coronary arteries, constrict vital oxygen supplies, and cause heart attacks and strokes, more and more frequent modern maladies as the baby boomers get older. Whenever the body is cut or injured and blood comes into contact with cells outside the bloodstream, a tissue factor on these cells encounters a particular protein within the blood, which triggers the clotting process. In the same vein, a series of other blood factors then come into action and amplify one another to quickly form a jelly-like blood clot. Blood clots form when an enzyme called thrombin marshals fibrin (a blood protein) and platelets (tiny cells that circulate in the blood) to coagulate at the site of an injury. Individuals with no ability to clot have a genetic condition called hemophilia; such people are also known as “bleeders.” Queen Victoria was hemophilic, and she passed on her genes to her many heirs who ruled Europe for over a century. This is why hemophilia is sometimes known as the royal disease. Symptoms of hemophilia manifest only in male offspring. People with hemophilia must periodically administer a clotting factor to their blood to prevent constant bleeding.

Top Drugs ◽  
2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Jack Li

Three types of blood cells exist in the human body: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Red blood cells, 45% of the blood, transport oxygen from the lungs to other body parts. White cells, less than 1% of the blood, defend us against bacterial and viral invasions. Platelets, also less than 1% of the blood (55% of the remaining blood is plasma), are small cell fragments that are involved in helping the blood clot, a process known as blood coagulation. Coagulation takes place when the enzyme thrombin elicits platelets and fibrin, a blood protein. Without platelets, coagulation at the site of an injury does not occur and uncontrolled bleeding ensues. Individuals with no ability to clot have a genetic condition called hemophilia. These individuals must periodically administer a clotting factor to their blood to prevent constant bleeding. Conversely, thrombosis, the formation of blood clots inside blood vessels, can block coronary arteries and constrict vital oxygen supplies, resulting in a heart attack or stroke. Coronary thrombosis is a life-threatening blood clot in the artery. Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) is commonly associated with long-distance air travel, when passengers are confined to cramped spaces for many hours. In contrast with thrombosis, in which the clot is stationary, embolus is when an object such as a clot migrates from one part of the body through blood circulation and causes blockage. A pulmonary embolism occurs when emboli travel to the lungs. Approximately 90% of heart attacks and 80% of strokes are caused by blood clots, which kill some 200,000 hospital patients in the US each year. Anticoagulants (blood thinners) are the drugs of choice to prevent and treat both thrombosis and embolism. To date, heparin, warfarin, and aspirin have all been widely used as blood thinners to prevent blood clots from forming. Heparin is one of the oldest medicines still in widespread clinical use. Heparin was extracted in 1916 by Jay McLean from dog’s liver in the laboratories of William Howell at the Johns Hopkins University.


1990 ◽  
Vol 63 (01) ◽  
pp. 112-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
David N Bell ◽  
Samira Spain ◽  
Harry L Goldsmith

SummaryThe effect of red blood cells, rbc, and shear rate on the ADPinduced aggregation of platelets in whole blood, WB, flowing through polyethylene tubing was studied using a previously described technique (1). Effluent WB was collected into 0.5% glutaraldehyde and the red blood cells removed by centrifugation through Percoll. At 23°C the rate of single platelet aggregtion was upt to 9× greater in WB than previously found in platelet-rich plasma (2) at mean tube shear rates Ḡ = 41.9,335, and 1,920 s−1, and at both 0.2 and 1.0 µM ADP. At 0.2 pM ADP, the rate of aggregation was greatest at Ḡ = 41.9 s−1 over the first 1.7 s mean transit time through the flow tube, t, but decreased steadily with time. At Ḡ ≥335 s−1 the rate of aggregation increased between t = 1.7 and 8.6 s; however, aggregate size decreased with increasing shear rate. At 1.0 µM ADP, the initial rate of single platelet aggregation was still highest at Ḡ = 41.9 s1 where large aggregates up to several millimeters in diameter containing rbc formed by t = 43 s. At this ADP concentration, aggregate size was still limited at Ḡ ≥335 s−1 but the rate of single platelet aggregation was markedly greater than at 0.2 pM ADP. By t = 43 s, no single platelets remained and rbc were not incorporated into aggregates. Although aggregate size increased slowly, large aggregates eventually formed. White blood cells were not significantly incorporated into aggregates at any shear rate or ADP concentration. Since the present technique did not induce platelet thromboxane A2 formation or cause cell lysis, these experiments provide evidence for a purely mechanical effect of rbc in augmenting platelet aggregation in WB.


Author(s):  
A. Abilov ◽  
A. Azhmyakov ◽  
I. Novgorodova ◽  
N. Bogolyubova

Purpose: to study hematological parameters of blood in bulls-producers of dairy breeds on the day of semen collection in the Udmurt Republic after a long winter period of operation, depending on the breeds, age and place of selection.Materials and methods. The work was performed at the Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member L. K. Ernst on the basis of AO "Udmurtplem" of the Udmurt Republic in the period from 2020 to 2021 on dairy bulls (n=20) aged 15-69 months, including a purebred Holstein breed of domestic selection (n=6), a Holstein black-and-white breed of European selection (the Netherlands, n=6), a black-and-white breed with blood transfusion on Holsteins on at the level of 94-98% (n=8). The content of white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit, depending on age and breed, was studied on the ABC VET hematological analyzer on the day of taking the seed.Results. It was found that on average, in 20 bulls aged 15-69 months, the level of white blood cells was at the level of reference values of 8.8±0.25 x 109/l, red blood cells 10.3 x 1012/l, which is 50% more than the reference values. The concentration of hemoglobin is 128.0±2.92 g/l, hematocrit is on average 54.3%, with a norm of 24-46%. Breeding bulls at a reliable level, differing in age, showed that some animals had high indicators for red blood cells of 10.3±0.26 x 102, for hematocrit of 54.3% against 24-46% of reference values. Also, according to hematological indicators, there was a tendency to increase the concentration of hemoglobin and hematocrit in European-bred bulls.Conclusion. The study of the variability in hematological parameters depending on the selection showed that there is no significant difference in leukocytes and all indicators are at the level of reference values, and in erythrocytes more than 50% than the highest indicators. The highest hemoglobin values were at the level of 141-156 g/l instead of 128 g/l according to the highest reference values. Hematocrit also showed high max values in all groups in comparison with the reference values of 59-66% versus 46% in the norm. It is necessary when analyzing hematological blood parameters in addition to the average statistical indicators (M+m) also, monitor the variability (min-max) in order to obtain more objective information.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junbei Bai

Objective To observe the national elite male rowers blood, red blood cell activity and serum copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron content of the five elements, and compared with the ordinary people. Aimed to investigate the between athletes, athletes and ordinary differences between the two sets of indicators and to explore the impact of element contents in red blood cell activity and five factors. Trying to bring two sets of indicators and specific combining ability, used in training on the monitoring function, and for the future to provide some references for further study. Methods It was included 22 athletes and 22 ordinary men, as the research object, in the collection of blood, measuring red blood cell activity in the blood content of the five elements, simultaneous measurement of physical indicators , will be doing all the data at the differences between the two groups compared to the group to do correlation analysis. The recent record of 2000m, 6000m rowing Dynamometer test results, and red blood cell activity associated with the five elements of content analysis. Results 1. Athletes indicators related to aerobic exercise were significantly higher than ordinary people. The white blood cells of athletes group were average.It shows that athletes have high aerobic capacity, while white blood cells are more stable than normal people. The members of the national rowing men's iron, magnesium content was significantly higher than ordinary group, the iron content is higher than the normal reference value; blood calcium levels were significantly lower than ordinary people, and lower than the normal reference value. The total number of red blood cells and the number of living cells was very significant positive correlation in two groups subjects; Red blood cell activity and red blood cell diameter is proportional, and red blood cell roundness in inverse proportion to the relationship; from this experiment a special ability to see red blood cell activity and there is no correlation. In both groups, hemoglobin was positively correlated with iron content, while iron was positively correlated with copper content. Conclusions 1. Increasing the number and volume of red blood cells can effectively increase the activity of red blood cells; red blood cell activity has no correlation with specific ability, and can not be used as an indicator to determine specific ability. The content of iron and magnesium in rowers is higher than that in ordinary people, which indicates that the adjustment of aerobic capacity and nerve control is very effective. The lower calcium content indicates that the injury caused by calcium loss should be prevented and the urgency of calcium supplementation should be emphasized. In training, we should pay attention to increasing hemoglobin content and aerobic capacity by supplementing iron. We can further consider the effect of supplementing copper to promote iron supplementation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 535-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marko Prokic ◽  
Milica Paunovic ◽  
Milos Matic ◽  
Natasa Djordjevic ◽  
Branka Ognjanovic ◽  
...  

Aspartame (ASP) is one of the most widely used nonnutritive sweeteners. This study investigates the chronic effects of ASP on hematological and biochemical parameters, and its effects on the oxidative/antioxidative status in the red blood cells of Wistar albino rats. Rats were provided with ASP (40 mg/kg/daily for six weeks) in drinking water. Increased food and fluid intake was observed in the ASP-treated rats. Total body mass was significantly decreased in the ASP-treated rats. Treatment with ASP caused an increase in the concentrations of glucose, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and in the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), as well as a decrease in the levels of HDL-cholesterol in the serum. A significant decline in the number of white blood cells (WBC) was observed after ASP uptake. Based on the results we conclude that ASP induces oxidative stress, observed as an alteration of the glutathione redox status, which leads to increased concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and lipid peroxides (LPO) in the red blood cells. Changes in biochemical parameters, lipid metabolism, as well as changes in the levels of oxidative stress markers and the appearance of signs of liver damage indicate that chronic use of ASP can lead to the development of hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and associated diseases.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Elly Tugiyanti ◽  
Emmy Susanti

The purpose of this research was to know the effect of breadfruit leaves flour in feed to blood profile and correlation between cholesterol, HDL and LDL of blood with meat cholesterol of maleTegal duck of 10 weeks old. The material used was Day Old Duck of male Tegal duck  as much as 120 heads with experimental research methods and Completely Randomized Design (CRD). There were 6 treatments: feed without breadfruit leaf powder, feed + breadfruit flour 3% / kg feed, feed + breadfruit flour 6% / kg feed, feed + breadfruit flour 9% / kg feed, feed + flour breadfruit 12% / kg feed, and feed + breadfruit flour 15% / kg feed. Each treatment was repeated 5 times and each replication consisted of 4 ducks. The variables observed were the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, HDL, LDL, blood triglycerides, correlation between cholesterol, HDL and LDL blood with meat cholesterol of male Tegal duck of 10 weeks old.  The result of the analysis showed that the supplementation of breadfruit leaves has significant effect (P <0,05) on the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, HDL, and blood triglyceride. There is a positive correlation between blood cholesterol with duck meat cholesterol which given breadfruit leaf powder. This research can be concluded that the supplementation of breadfruit leaf powder (Artocarpus altilis) can increase the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, blood HDL level but lowers blood cholesterol and triglyceride blood of male Tegal duck of 10 weeks old. Cholesterol meat is affected by blood cholesterol with regression coefficient of 0.780941, influenced by LDL (r = 0.407849), but negatively affected by HDL (r = -0.47022).


1926 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-106
Author(s):  
Hobart A. Reimann ◽  
Louis A. Julianelle

A study has been made of the variation in number of the blood platelets, and the red and white blood cells of white mice injected with pneumococcus extract. The blood platelets were greatly diminished after the injection, the greatest decrease usually occurring after 24 hours. Purpuric lesions usually developed when the number of blood platelets became less than 500,000 per c.mm. Regeneration of the platelets was accomplished by the 4th to the 9th day but there was an overregeneration and the return to normal did not take place until 2 weeks had elapsed. The red cells were also greatly reduced in number, but the rate of their destruction and regeneration was somewhat slower than that of the platelets. The leucocytes were slightly if at all influenced by the pneumococcus extract. Pneumococcus extracts were shown to be thrombolytic and hemolytic. Heat destroyed the activity of both the lysins in vitro. Heated extract produced purpura in mice but did not cause a severe anemia. Extracts adsorbed with either blood platelets or red blood cells showed a marked diminution in their thrombolytic and hemolytic activity in vitro. Such extracts, however, produced purpura as well as severe anemia and thrombopenia in mice.


1935 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-285
Author(s):  
Arnold H. Kennedy ◽  
Ronald G. Law

Definite and characteristic changes occurred in the proportions of basophiles, neutrophiles and lymphocyte cells in the blood of foxes which had received Ascaris eggs. The numbers of red blood cells and the amounts of haemoglobin remained within normal limits but the proportion of basophiles rose as high as 69.5% of the total leucocyte count. This increase is apparently associated with the number of eggs given; the largest dose producing the highest proportions. The proportions of neutrophiles and leucocytes tended to fluctuate in opposite directions. An increase in the total numbers of white blood cells appears to be influenced by an increase in the proportion of basophiles.


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