Role of thoracic ultrasound in the assessment of pleural and pulmonary diseases.

Although numerous studies have been conducted on the use of ultrasonography (US) for the examination of thoracic structures, this procedure is not as widely accepted as abdominal US. The newer portable scanners can be used at the bedside to detect pleural malignancies and effusions, as well as peripheral lung nodules of the lung, even in seriously ill patients. Focal thickening of the pleura can be easily detected with US and further investigated with a US-guided biopsy. US guidance can also be used during percutaneous drainage of pleural effusion or transthoracic biopsy of peripheral lung lesions, thus reducing the incidence of procedure-related pneumothorax to almost zero. We review the current literature on thoracic US and present our clinical experience with the technique in large groups of patients with pleural and peripheral lung diseases.

Platelet activation in patients with colorectal cancer.

Aspirin may reduce the risk of colorectal neoplasia at doses similar to those recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Thus, we aimed to address whether enhanced platelet activation, as assessed by the measurement of the urinary excretion of 11-dehydro-TXB(2) (a major enzymatic metabolite of TXB(2)), occurs in patients with colorectal cancer. In 10 patients with colorectal cancer, the urinary excretion of 11-dehydro-TXB(2) was significantly higher than in 10 controls, matched for sex, age and cardiovascular risk factors [1001(205-5571) versus 409(113-984) pg/mg creatinine, respectively, median (range), P<0.05]. The administration of aspirin 50 mg daily for 5 consecutive days to colorectal cancer patients caused a cumulative inhibition of platelet cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 activity either ex vivo, as assessed by the measurement of serum TXB(2) levels, or in vivo, as assessed by urinary 11-dehydro-TXB(2) excretion. In conclusion, enhanced platelet activation occurs in colorectal cancer patients. Permanent inactivation of platelet COX-1 by low-dose aspirin might restore anti-tumor reactivity.

Effects of sulindac on renal and extrarenal eicosanoid synthesis.

We measured the renal and extrarenal synthesis of prostacyclin and thromboxane A2, as reflected by the urinary excretion of the stable hydration products 6-keto-prostaglandin F 1 alpha and thromboxane B2 and the corresponding 2,3-dinor-derivatives, during chronic administration of sulindac (200, 400, 600, and 800 mg/day, each dose given for 7 days in successive weeks) in seven healthy subjects. Urinary eicosanoids were measured by negative ion, chemical ionization-GC/MS-validated RIA techniques. Both 2,3-dinor-thromboxane B2 and 2,3-dinor-6-keto-prostaglandin F 1 alpha showed a dose-dependent reduction, ranging between 45% and 85%. In contrast, the urinary excretion of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and thromboxane B2 did not change significantly throughout the study. These results extend previous observations of a selective sparing of renal cyclooxygenase activity by sulindac in humans and demonstrate that this selectivity is not related to an overall weaker enzyme inhibition.

Clinical pharmacology of platelet cyclooxygenase inhibition.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and sulfinpyrazone compete dose-dependently with arachidonate for binding to platelet cyclooxygenase. Such a process closely follows systemic plasma drug concentrations and is reversible as a function of drug elimination. Peak inhibition and extent of its reversibility at 24 hr varies consistently with individual pharmacokinetic profile. Inhibition of platelet cyclooxygenase activity by these agents is associated with variable effects on prostaglandin (PG) synthesis in the gastric mucosa and the kidney. Aspirin acetylates platelet cyclooxygenase and permanently inhibits thromboxane (TX) A2 production in a dose-dependent fashion when single doses of 0.1 to 2.0 mg/kg are given. Acetylation of the enzyme by low-dose aspirin is cumulative on repeated dosing. The fractional dose of aspirin necessary to achieve a given level of acetylation by virtue of cumulative effects approximately equals the fractional daily platelet turnover. Serum TXB2 measurements obtained during long-term dosing with 0.11, 0.22, and 0.44 mg/kg aspirin in four healthy subjects could be fitted by a theoretical model assuming identical acetylation of platelet (irreversible) and megakaryocyte (reversible) cyclooxygenase. For a given dose within this range, both the rate at which cumulative acetylation occurs and its maximal extent largely depend upon the rate of platelet turnover. Continuous administration of low-dose aspirin (20 to 40 mg/day) has no statistically significant effect on urinary excretion of either 6-keto-PGF1 alpha or 2,3-dinor-6-keto-PGF1 alpha, i.e., indexes of renal and extrarenal PGI2 biosynthesis in vivo. Whether a selective sparing of extraplatelet cyclooxygenase activity by low-dose aspirin will result in increased antithrombotic efficacy, fewer toxic reactions, or both remains to be established in prospective clinical trials.

Low-dose aspirin in patients recovering from myocardial infarction. Evidence for a selective inhibition of thromboxane-related platelet function.

The adequacy, selectivity and long-term persistence of inhibition in cyclooxygenase-dependent platelet function by a daily low-dose (0.45 mg kg-1 day-1) aspirin treatment have been evaluated in 15 patients after a recent (less than 17 days) acute myocardial infarction. Serum thromboxane (TX) B2, an index of platelet TXA2 production, was decreased by 94-98% (P less than 0.001) by aspirin, while urinary excretion of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, as an index of extraplatelet cyclooxygenase activity, remained unchanged. Compared to placebo, aspirin induced a persistent increase in bleeding time (% difference 45.6 +/- 21.4, mean +/- SD) and a decrease in platelet aggregation by ADP, epinephrine, collagen and arachidonic acid. No tendency towards an attenuation of the effects was apparent for the period of aspirin administration (4 weeks). Aspirin 0.45 mg kg-1 day-1 is adequate and selective in the long-term inhibition of TX-related platelet function in patients after acute myocardial infarction. The clinical effectiveness of such a regimen remains to be proven in clinical trials.

Differential effects of dazoxiben, a selective thromboxane-synthase inhibitor, on platelet and renal prostaglandin-endoperoxide metabolism.

Pharmacologic inhibition of thromboxane (TX) synthase can result in redirection of prostaglandin (PG) endoperoxide metabolism, possibly affecting platelet, vascular and renal function. This study explores the in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo effects of dazoxiben, an orally active TX-synthase inhibitor, on platelet and renal TXB2 production and associated changes in PG-endoperoxide metabolism. Dazoxiben inhibits TXB2 production in clotting human whole blood with an IC50 of 0.3 micrograms/ml and causes parallel enhancement of PGE2 greater than PGF2 alpha greater than 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production. Similar redirection of PG-endoperoxide metabolism is observed ex vivo, after the oral administration of 1.5 and 3.0 mg/kg to six healthy volunteers. Plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha ranges between less than 4 and 8 pg/ml during the first 3 h. Urinary TXB2 excretion, a reflection of renal TXA2 production, is significantly reduced by 30% with no evidence of redirection of renal PG-endoperoxide metabolism. In vitro inhibition of TXB2 production in rat kidney glomeruli requires significantly higher dazoxiben concentration (IC50 = 1.60 micrograms/ml) than in rat whole blood (IC50 = 0.32 micrograms/ml) and is not associated with changes in PGE2, PGF2 alpha and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production. These results demonstrate quantitatively and qualitatively diverse effects of dazoxiben in different TXA2-producing cells and suggest the possibility of developing tissue-selective TX-synthase inhibitors.

Selective cumulative inhibition of platelet thromboxane production by low-dose aspirin in healthy subjects.

Acetylation of platelet cyclooxygenase by oral aspirin is dose dependent and cumulative with repeated administration. However, no single dose of aspirin has been found to be completely selective of platelet thromboxane (TX) synthesis inhibition in man. We determined the dose dependence, cumulative nature and selectivity of aspirin effects on platelet TXB(2) and renal prostaglandin (PG) and prostacyclin (PGI(2)) production. We measured, by radioimmunoassay, serum TXB(2) levels after whole blood clotting and urinary excretion of PGE(2), PGF(2alpha), and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha), before and after single or repeated oral aspirin doses given to 46 healthy subjects. Single doses of 6-100 mg aspirin resulted in a linear (r = 0.92, P < 0.01) inhibition of platelet TXB(2) production, ranging from 12 to 95% after 24 h. A daily dose of 0.45 mg/kg given for 7 d produced a cumulative and virtually complete inhibition of platelet TXB(2) production, without significantly reducing the urinary excretion of PGE(2), PGF(2alpha), and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) in both healthy men and women. The platelet inhibitory effect of this regimen was maintained unaltered throughout 1 mo of therapy, with no evidence of cumulative inhibition of renal PG-synthesis. Moreover, furosemide-induced renal PGI(2) synthesis and renin release were unaffected by chronic low-dose aspirin. Following cessation of aspirin therapy, platelet TXB(2) production returned toward control values at a similar rate as after a single higher dose. WE CONCLUDE THAT IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS: (a) aspirin causes a dose-dependent inhibition of platelet TXA(2) production, with no obvious sex-related difference; (b) the inhibitory effect of daily low-dose aspirin is cumulative on platelet TXA(2) but not on renal PG-synthesis; (c) during chronic low-dose aspirin therapy, renal PGI(2)-producing cells are readily activable by furosemide at a time of virtually complete suppression of platelet cyclooxygenase activity.