Effects of hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) on platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers

Hawthorn extract inhibits human isolated neutrophil functions.

Hawthorn extract is a popular herbal medicine given as adjunctive treatment for chronic heart failure. In contrast to the cardiac properties of hawthorn extract, its anti-inflammatory effect has been scarcely investigated. This study examines the effects of a dry extract of leaves and flowers of Crataegus laevigata on various functional outputs of human neutrophils in vitro. Incubation of human neutrophils obtained from peripheral blood of healthy donors with C. laevigata extract (0.75-250 microg/ml) inhibited N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP)-induced superoxide anion generation, elastase release and chemotactic migration with potency values of 43.6, 21.9, and 31.6 microg/ml, respectively. By con…

Anticoagulation prescription in atrial fibrillation.

We seek to assess the factors associated with the anticoagulation prescription in a cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) collected from out-patient clinics.A total of 1524 patients with a history of AF were collected from out-patients clinics. CHADS(2), CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were calculated in every patient. Variables associated with anticoagulant treatment prescription were analyzed in univariant and multivariant models.Most patients received either anticoagulant (62%) or antiplatelet treatment (37%). Anticoagulation rates increased among higher CHADS(2) and CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score values. A logistic regression model was performed to assess the variables associate…

Variants translating reduced expression of the beta estrogen receptor gene were associated with increased carotid intima media thickness : a cross-sectional study in late postmenopausal women

Abstract Background There is debate on the role of estrogens in modulating the risk for atherosclerosis in women. Our purpose was to investigate whether the size of the estrogenic impact was independently associated with variation of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in healthy late postmenopausal women. The levels of circulating estrogens have been used in previous studies but the influence of SNPs of the estrogen receptors (ER) α and β has not been investigated.Methods We performed a crossed-sectional study of 91 women in a university hospital. We used a double approach in which, in addition to the measurement of estradiol levels by ultrasensitive methods, genetic variants (SNPs) assoc…

Crataegus laevigata decreases neutrophil elastase and has hypolipidemic effect: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Crataegus laevigata is a medicinal plant most commonly used for the treatment of heart failure and psychosomatic disorders. Based on previous experimental findings, this double-blind placebo-controlled study was aimed at finding beneficial effects of C. laevigata on biomarkers of coronary heart disease (CHD). The study included 49 diabetic subjects with chronic CHD who were randomly assigned to the treatment for 6 months with either a micronized flower and leaf preparation of C. laevigata (400 mg three times a day) or a matching placebo. Blood cell count, lipid profile, C-reactive protein, neutrophil elastase (NE) and malondialdehyde were analyzed in plasma at baseline, at one month and six…