Low-molecular-weight heparins and cancer: focus on antitumoral effect.

AbstractA close relationship between cancer and thrombosis does exist, documented by the fact that an overall 7-fold increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been reported in patients with malignancy compared to non-malignancy. The potential impact of antithrombotic agents in cancer-associated VTE has long been recognized, and, in particular, several clinical trials in the last 20 years have reported the safety and efficacy of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) for treatment and prophylaxis of VTE in patients with various types of cancer. More recently, a number of preclinical and clinical studies have suggested that LMWHs may improve survival in cancer patients with mechanisms that are different from its antithrombotic effect but are linked to the ability of influencing directly the tumor biology. This paper reviews the evidence around the potential survival benefits of LMWHs by analyzing the suggested mechanisms and the available clinical data

Direct oral anticoagulants and venous thromboembolism

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), consisting of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a major clinical concern associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The cornerstone of management of VTE is anticoagulation, and traditional anticoagulants include parenteral heparins and oral vitamin K antagonists. Recently, new oral anticoagulant drugs have been developed and licensed, including direct factor Xa inhibitors (e.g. rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban) and thrombin inhibitors (e.g. dabigatran etexilate). This narrative review focusses on the characteristics of these direct anticoagulants and the main results of published clinical studies on their use in the prevention and treatment of VTE

Hemophilia therapy: the future has begun

The success story of hemophilia care first began in the 1970s, when the availability of plasma-derived concentrates of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and factor IX (FIX) provided efficacious treatment of bleeding in patients with hemophilia A and B. This positive scenario was consolidated in terms of greater safety and availability in the 1990s, when the first recombinant coagulation factors were produced. This meant that, instead of only treating episodic bleeding events, prophylaxis regimens could be implemented as a preventive measure. Following the demonstration of its superiority in the frame of two randomized clinical trials, prophylaxis became evidence-based standard of care. In high-income countries, these achievements have led to a patients’ life expectancy being extended to close to that of the general male population. Alongside this, the last decade has witnessed further spectacular therapeutic progress, such as the availability of coagulation factors with a longer plasma half-life that allow for wider intervals between treatment. Moreover, new therapeutic products based on new mechanisms other than the replacement of the deficient factor, have become available (emicizumab) or are at an advanced stage of development. This review celebrates the success story of hemophilia care, while also discussing current limitations, issues and as yet unmet needs. The prospects of cure by means of gene therapy are also outlined

Il fine della ricerca indipendente: Non registrativa o registrativa?

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Gene transfer in hemophilia A: not cogent yet

The phase 3 clinical study of gene transfer in hemophilia A using the BioMarin vector AAV5-hFVIII-SQ (also identified as valoctocogene roxaparvovec) recently reported the results obtained in as many as 134 adult men with severe hemophilia A, so that it is at the moment the largest gene transfer study ever conducted in a rare monogenic disorder [...]

An ecological alliance against air pollution and cardiovascular disease

This narrative review article summarizes the strong available evidence that casually links indoor and outdoor air pollution to cardiovascular disease. It also discusses as a possible approach to mitigate this ubiquitous risk factor the use in the household of ornamental potted plants, and their variable degree of effectiveness for the removal of different indoor pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, xylene). Thus, the choice of the plants should be tailored to the types and concentrations of the pollutants present in each household. Outdoor air is less polluted than indoor air in terms of concentrations of the gaseous (NO2) and particulate components (PM10, PM2.5, PM0.1), but it does hamper to a higher extent health because a large fraction of the population is inevitably exposed at the time of breezing. Being cognizant of the difficulties currently encountered in the attempts to mitigate the major sources of ambient air pollution (vehicle traffic and domestic heating) a strategy based upon a massive increase of green spaces in urban areas has been shown not only to positively mitigate air pollution but also improve life expectancy, general health and resilience

The management of hemophilia in elderly patients

After the increasing rate of deaths observed during the 1980s due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the health-related quality of life and life expectancy of persons with hemophilia have improved, mainly due to the progresses of replacement therapy and antiviral drugs and to the improvement of the global comprehensive care provided by specialized centers. As a consequence, an increasing number of hemophiliacs have reached an older age and nowadays physicians in hemophilia centers find that they must handle age-related clinical problems never previously observed in this population. The management of elderly persons with congenital hemophilia is discussed in the first part of this review. The second part describes the general aspects of acquired hemophilia due to anti-factor VIII autoantibodies, focusing on the clinical management of elderly patients, one of the groups most frequently affected by this acquired bleeding disorder