Statement of the problem The primary objective of this thesis was to determine the best study design to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an intermediate dose of low molecular weight heparin for secondary prevention of pregnancy associated VTE (PAVTE). An RCT was deemed unfeasible,so the use of a single arm study with prior evaluation of feasibility with a pilot study is proposed. // Methods - A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of current strategies used for secondary prevention of PAVTE.A survey was used to elicit the non-inferiority margin. // Results - The pooled proportion of recurrent VTE in patients treated with full dose LMWH was 0.012(95% CI 0.006 to 0.02) and the rate of major bleeding was 0.025(95% CI=0.01 to 0.041). The non-inferiority margin was elicited at 2.5%. // Conclusions - Although a randomized controlled trial should be conducted whenever possible, in certain scenarios they are unfeasible. Therefore, an alternative study design should perhaps be used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of therapeutic strategies.

Statement of the problem The primary objective of this thesis was to determine the best study design to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an intermediate dose of low molecular weight heparin for secondary prevention of pregnancy associated VTE (PAVTE). An RCT was deemed unfeasible,so the use of a single arm study with prior evaluation of feasibility with a pilot study is proposed. // Methods - A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of current strategies used for secondary prevention of PAVTE.A survey was used to elicit the non-inferiority margin. // Results - The pooled proportion of recurrent VTE in patients treated with full dose LMWH was 0.012(95% CI 0.006 to 0.02) and the rate of major bleeding was 0.025(95% CI=0.01 to 0.041). The non-inferiority margin was elicited at 2.5%. // Conclusions - Although a randomized controlled trial should be conducted whenever possible, in certain scenarios they are unfeasible. Therefore, an alternative study design should perhaps be used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of therapeutic strategies.

Statement of the problem The primary objective of this thesis was to determine the best study design to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an intermediate dose of low molecular weight heparin for secondary prevention of pregnancy associated VTE (PAVTE). An RCT was deemed unfeasible,so the use of a single arm study with prior evaluation of feasibility with a pilot study is proposed. // Methods - A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of current strategies used for secondary prevention of PAVTE.A survey was used to elicit the non-inferiority margin. // Results - The pooled proportion of recurrent VTE in patients treated with full dose LMWH was 0.012(95% CI 0.006 to 0.02) and the rate of major bleeding was 0.025(95% CI=0.01 to 0.041). The non-inferiority margin was elicited at 2.5%. // Conclusions - Although a randomized controlled trial should be conducted whenever possible, in certain scenarios they are unfeasible. Therefore, an alternative study design should perhaps be used to evaluate the safety and efficacy of therapeutic strategies.

Heparin is a complex mixture of sulfated polysaccharides derived from animals and one of the oldest drugs in use. While an efficacious anticoagulant, heparin is beset by side effects and pharmacokinetic difficulties. Low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) are made by depolymerizing unfractionated heparin (UFH) and present improvements in these areas. However, they still retain a phenomenally high level of complexity due to their polydispersity and the introduction of non-native structural features. This makes the structural characterization LMWHs a daunting task. This work details the development of a novel capillary electrophoretic (CE) method for fingerprinting LMWHs. Since their complexity normally results in a nearly featureless electropherogram, polyalkylamines were used as a resolving agents to yield highly resolved and reproducible fingerprints characteristic of the LMWH being investigated. Linear polyamines of resolved LMWH in a manner dependent on chain length and charge density, while cyclic polyamines were incapable of resolution. Longer length glycosaminoglycans such as UFH and chondroitin sulfate were not successfully fingerprinted as they lacked run to run consistency. Further investigation into the mode of polyamine binding showed that they bound to LMWH via a two site binding model, indicating the presence of specific sites on LMWH that tightly bind polyamines. Upon the saturation of these sites, the polyamines continue to interact via general electrostatic binding. Pentaethylenehexamine was also able to separate the known contaminant oversulfated chondroitin sulfate from UFH. In July of 2010, the US food and drug administration approved a generic for the widely used LMWH enoxaparin, a questionable move due to the difficulties of proving the equivalence of such a complex mixture. A comparison of the brand and generic batches of enoxaparin using the fingerprinting method revealed striking similarities, bolstering the generic’s claim of equivalency and providing a protocol for the evaluation of other biosimilar LMWHs. This is the first work utilizing CE in developing high resolution fingerprints of LMWH. It presents a noteworthy method for quality assessment of LMWH and provides the basis for designing other small molecule probes for the analysis of complex glycosaminoglycans.

O objetivo da presente tese foi avaliar os efeitos da heparina de baixo peso molecular (HBPM) na perda óssea alveolar em ratos Wistar. Para a melhor compreensão e entendimento dos efeitos da HBPM se elaborou um único artigo com 40 ratos machos da linhagem Wistar de 60 dias de nascidos, os quais foram dívidos em 4 grupos experimentais previamente randomizados: Grupo Controle (C), Grupos Doença Periodontal (DP), Grupo Heparina (Hp) e Grupo Heparina+Doença Periodontal (Hp+DP) com um período experimental de 60 dias. Um animal foi perdido no período de aclimação, dois animais foram perdidos na primeira de três coletas sanguíneas pré-programadas e um rato foi perdido na colocação da ligadura. Os resultados observados foram analisados são perda óssea alveolar induzida onde houve diferença significava entre os grupos (C) e (DP), entre o grupo (C) e (Hp+DP), entre o grupo (DP) e (Hp) e o grupo (Hp) e (Hp+DP). Foi avaliado perda óssea alveolar não induzida onde não existiu diferença entre os grupos. Foi avaliado o peso do início ao final do período experimental. Foram avaliados o consumo de ração e agua onde não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos. Foram avaliados o número de megacariócitos nos fémures, onde também não existiram diferenças estatísticas. Foram avaliados números de adipócitos no timo, não havendo diferença significativa entre os grupos. Foram avaliados as plaquetas e desvio padrão onde não existiu diferença significativa entre os grupos. Foram avaliados os leucócitos e desvio padrão onde não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos. Posteriormente foi avaliado a porcentagem de linfócitos onde se achou diferença estatisticamente significativa na segunda coleta sanguínea entre o grupo (C) e grupo (Hp+DP) e grupo (Hp) e grupo (Hp+DP). Foi assim que as conclusões deste trabalho foram que o presente estudo mostrou que a HBPM não foi capaz de produzir perda óssea alveolar nos ratos Wistar, mas foi capaz de aumentar a quantidade de leucócitos e linfócitos, indicando a presença de um processo inflamatório. / In order to better understand and understand the effects of (LMWH), a single article was elaborated with 40 male rats of the 60 day old Wistar line, which were divided into four previously randomized experimental groups: Control Group (C), Groups Periodontal Disease (PD), Heparin Group (Hp) and Heparin Group + Periodontal Disease (Hp + PD) with an experimental period of 60 days. One animal was lost in the acclimation period, two animals were lost in the first of three preprogrammed blood collections and one mouse was lost in the ligation placement. The observed results were analyzed for induced alveolar bone loss where there was significant difference between groups (C) and (PD), between group (C) and (Hp + PD), between (PD) and (Hp) group and Group (Hp) and (Hp + PD). Uninduced alveolar bone loss was assessed where there was no difference between the groups. The weight of the onset at the end of the experimental period was evaluated. The ration and water consumption were evaluated where there was no significant difference between the groups. The number of megakaryocytes in the femurs was evaluated, in which there were also no statistical differences. Adipocyte numbers were evaluated in the thymus, with no significant difference between the groups. Platelets and standard deviation were evaluated where there was no significant difference between the groups. Leukocytes and standard deviation were evaluated where there was no significant difference between the groups. Later, the percentage of lymphocytes where a statistically significant difference was found in the second blood collection between group (C) and group (Hp + PD) and group (Hp) and group (Hp + PD) was evaluated. Thus the conclusions of this study were that the present study showed that LMWH was not able to produce alveolar bone loss in Wistar rats, but was able to increase the amount of leukocytes and lymphocytes, indicating the presence of a process inflammatory.

<p>This study evaluated the use of multi-lead ST-monitoring in the early assessment of patients with suspected or confirmed unstable coronary artery disease (UCAD).</p><p>At continuous 12-lead ECG (c12ECG), the definition of an ischemic episode as a transient ST-deviation ¡Ý0 for at least 1 minute resulted in a good observer agreement (kappa=0.72) and an acceptable incidence of postural ST-changes.</p><p>When c12ECG was performed from admission and for 12 hours in 630 patients with suspected UCAD, 16% had ischemic episodes. At 30 days, patients with episodes had a higher risk of cardiac death or myocardial infarction (MI) (10% vs. 1.5%). In a multivariate analysis, troponin T¡Ý0.10¦Ìg/l and presence of ischemic episodes were independent predictors of cardiac death or MI. When ST-monitoring and troponin T status were combined, patients could be divided into a low-, intermediate-, and high-risk group with 1%, 4% and 12% risk for cardiac death or MI at 30 days of follow up.</p><p>As a part of a multicenter trial, including patients with UCAD, 1016 patients underwent ST-monitoring with c12ECG or continuous vectorcardiography (cVCG). Ischemia was detected in 32% and 35%, respectively. When the groups with ischemia were compared, the groups were similar with respect to several clinical variables. Thus, these methods identify the same high-risk population.</p><p>Of the 629 patients treated non-invasively with extended treatment of low-molecular- weight heparin (LMWH) or placebo, 34% had ischemic episodes. In this group at 3 months, patients administered LMWH had a significantly lower risk of death, MI, or revascularization than patients treated with placebo (35.2% vs. 53.4%). In patients without transient ischemic episodes, the outcome in the LMWH and placebo group was similar.</p><p>Thus, multi-lead monitoring provides important prognostic information early after admission in this population, and seems to identify patients who benefit most from extended antithrombotic treatment.</p>

This study evaluated the use of multi-lead ST-monitoring in the early assessment of patients with suspected or confirmed unstable coronary artery disease (UCAD). At continuous 12-lead ECG (c12ECG), the definition of an ischemic episode as a transient ST-deviation ¡Ý0 for at least 1 minute resulted in a good observer agreement (kappa=0.72) and an acceptable incidence of postural ST-changes. When c12ECG was performed from admission and for 12 hours in 630 patients with suspected UCAD, 16% had ischemic episodes. At 30 days, patients with episodes had a higher risk of cardiac death or myocardial infarction (MI) (10% vs. 1.5%). In a multivariate analysis, troponin T¡Ý0.10¦Ìg/l and presence of ischemic episodes were independent predictors of cardiac death or MI. When ST-monitoring and troponin T status were combined, patients could be divided into a low-, intermediate-, and high-risk group with 1%, 4% and 12% risk for cardiac death or MI at 30 days of follow up. As a part of a multicenter trial, including patients with UCAD, 1016 patients underwent ST-monitoring with c12ECG or continuous vectorcardiography (cVCG). Ischemia was detected in 32% and 35%, respectively. When the groups with ischemia were compared, the groups were similar with respect to several clinical variables. Thus, these methods identify the same high-risk population. Of the 629 patients treated non-invasively with extended treatment of low-molecular- weight heparin (LMWH) or placebo, 34% had ischemic episodes. In this group at 3 months, patients administered LMWH had a significantly lower risk of death, MI, or revascularization than patients treated with placebo (35.2% vs. 53.4%). In patients without transient ischemic episodes, the outcome in the LMWH and placebo group was similar. Thus, multi-lead monitoring provides important prognostic information early after admission in this population, and seems to identify patients who benefit most from extended antithrombotic treatment.

O objetivo da presente tese foi avaliar os efeitos da heparina de baixo peso molecular (HBPM) na perda óssea alveolar em ratos Wistar. Para a melhor compreensão e entendimento dos efeitos da HBPM se elaborou um único artigo com 40 ratos machos da linhagem Wistar de 60 dias de nascidos, os quais foram dívidos em 4 grupos experimentais previamente randomizados: Grupo Controle (C), Grupos Doença Periodontal (DP), Grupo Heparina (Hp) e Grupo Heparina+Doença Periodontal (Hp+DP) com um período experimental de 60 dias. Um animal foi perdido no período de aclimação, dois animais foram perdidos na primeira de três coletas sanguíneas pré-programadas e um rato foi perdido na colocação da ligadura. Os resultados observados foram analisados são perda óssea alveolar induzida onde houve diferença significava entre os grupos (C) e (DP), entre o grupo (C) e (Hp+DP), entre o grupo (DP) e (Hp) e o grupo (Hp) e (Hp+DP). Foi avaliado perda óssea alveolar não induzida onde não existiu diferença entre os grupos. Foi avaliado o peso do início ao final do período experimental. Foram avaliados o consumo de ração e agua onde não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos. Foram avaliados o número de megacariócitos nos fémures, onde também não existiram diferenças estatísticas. Foram avaliados números de adipócitos no timo, não havendo diferença significativa entre os grupos. Foram avaliados as plaquetas e desvio padrão onde não existiu diferença significativa entre os grupos. Foram avaliados os leucócitos e desvio padrão onde não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos. Posteriormente foi avaliado a porcentagem de linfócitos onde se achou diferença estatisticamente significativa na segunda coleta sanguínea entre o grupo (C) e grupo (Hp+DP) e grupo (Hp) e grupo (Hp+DP). Foi assim que as conclusões deste trabalho foram que o presente estudo mostrou que a HBPM não foi capaz de produzir perda óssea alveolar nos ratos Wistar, mas foi capaz de aumentar a quantidade de leucócitos e linfócitos, indicando a presença de um processo inflamatório. / In order to better understand and understand the effects of (LMWH), a single article was elaborated with 40 male rats of the 60 day old Wistar line, which were divided into four previously randomized experimental groups: Control Group (C), Groups Periodontal Disease (PD), Heparin Group (Hp) and Heparin Group + Periodontal Disease (Hp + PD) with an experimental period of 60 days. One animal was lost in the acclimation period, two animals were lost in the first of three preprogrammed blood collections and one mouse was lost in the ligation placement. The observed results were analyzed for induced alveolar bone loss where there was significant difference between groups (C) and (PD), between group (C) and (Hp + PD), between (PD) and (Hp) group and Group (Hp) and (Hp + PD). Uninduced alveolar bone loss was assessed where there was no difference between the groups. The weight of the onset at the end of the experimental period was evaluated. The ration and water consumption were evaluated where there was no significant difference between the groups. The number of megakaryocytes in the femurs was evaluated, in which there were also no statistical differences. Adipocyte numbers were evaluated in the thymus, with no significant difference between the groups. Platelets and standard deviation were evaluated where there was no significant difference between the groups. Leukocytes and standard deviation were evaluated where there was no significant difference between the groups. Later, the percentage of lymphocytes where a statistically significant difference was found in the second blood collection between group (C) and group (Hp + PD) and group (Hp) and group (Hp + PD) was evaluated. Thus the conclusions of this study were that the present study showed that LMWH was not able to produce alveolar bone loss in Wistar rats, but was able to increase the amount of leukocytes and lymphocytes, indicating the presence of a process inflammatory.

O objetivo da presente tese foi avaliar os efeitos da heparina de baixo peso molecular (HBPM) na perda óssea alveolar em ratos Wistar. Para a melhor compreensão e entendimento dos efeitos da HBPM se elaborou um único artigo com 40 ratos machos da linhagem Wistar de 60 dias de nascidos, os quais foram dívidos em 4 grupos experimentais previamente randomizados: Grupo Controle (C), Grupos Doença Periodontal (DP), Grupo Heparina (Hp) e Grupo Heparina+Doença Periodontal (Hp+DP) com um período experimental de 60 dias. Um animal foi perdido no período de aclimação, dois animais foram perdidos na primeira de três coletas sanguíneas pré-programadas e um rato foi perdido na colocação da ligadura. Os resultados observados foram analisados são perda óssea alveolar induzida onde houve diferença significava entre os grupos (C) e (DP), entre o grupo (C) e (Hp+DP), entre o grupo (DP) e (Hp) e o grupo (Hp) e (Hp+DP). Foi avaliado perda óssea alveolar não induzida onde não existiu diferença entre os grupos. Foi avaliado o peso do início ao final do período experimental. Foram avaliados o consumo de ração e agua onde não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos. Foram avaliados o número de megacariócitos nos fémures, onde também não existiram diferenças estatísticas. Foram avaliados números de adipócitos no timo, não havendo diferença significativa entre os grupos. Foram avaliados as plaquetas e desvio padrão onde não existiu diferença significativa entre os grupos. Foram avaliados os leucócitos e desvio padrão onde não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos. Posteriormente foi avaliado a porcentagem de linfócitos onde se achou diferença estatisticamente significativa na segunda coleta sanguínea entre o grupo (C) e grupo (Hp+DP) e grupo (Hp) e grupo (Hp+DP). Foi assim que as conclusões deste trabalho foram que o presente estudo mostrou que a HBPM não foi capaz de produzir perda óssea alveolar nos ratos Wistar, mas foi capaz de aumentar a quantidade de leucócitos e linfócitos, indicando a presença de um processo inflamatório. / In order to better understand and understand the effects of (LMWH), a single article was elaborated with 40 male rats of the 60 day old Wistar line, which were divided into four previously randomized experimental groups: Control Group (C), Groups Periodontal Disease (PD), Heparin Group (Hp) and Heparin Group + Periodontal Disease (Hp + PD) with an experimental period of 60 days. One animal was lost in the acclimation period, two animals were lost in the first of three preprogrammed blood collections and one mouse was lost in the ligation placement. The observed results were analyzed for induced alveolar bone loss where there was significant difference between groups (C) and (PD), between group (C) and (Hp + PD), between (PD) and (Hp) group and Group (Hp) and (Hp + PD). Uninduced alveolar bone loss was assessed where there was no difference between the groups. The weight of the onset at the end of the experimental period was evaluated. The ration and water consumption were evaluated where there was no significant difference between the groups. The number of megakaryocytes in the femurs was evaluated, in which there were also no statistical differences. Adipocyte numbers were evaluated in the thymus, with no significant difference between the groups. Platelets and standard deviation were evaluated where there was no significant difference between the groups. Leukocytes and standard deviation were evaluated where there was no significant difference between the groups. Later, the percentage of lymphocytes where a statistically significant difference was found in the second blood collection between group (C) and group (Hp + PD) and group (Hp) and group (Hp + PD) was evaluated. Thus the conclusions of this study were that the present study showed that LMWH was not able to produce alveolar bone loss in Wistar rats, but was able to increase the amount of leukocytes and lymphocytes, indicating the presence of a process inflammatory.

Introduction: Thrombotic events are among the most serious complications of sepsis and also the most frequent causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with sepsis. Currently, the administration of low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) is recommended in patients with severe sepsis for prophylaxis of these complications. However, this prophylaxis often fails. Objectives of the study: One of the objectives of our study was to examine changes in haemostasis in relation to the inflammatory response during 15 days of severe sepsis. The next objective was to determine whether a prophylactic inhibition of F Xa in the range from 0.2 to 0.4 IU/mL is achieved in these patients, if they receive the recommended prophylaxis with LMWH. We also recorded the dynamics of changes in the F Xa inhibition during the entire study period. Moreover, we tried to identify the factors that may affect the antithrombotic efficacy of the subcutaneously administered enoxaparin. Patient population and methods: A total of 35 ICU patients meeting the criteria of severe sepsis were enrolled in the study. Only 16 of these patients could be followed throughout the entire 15-day period. Patients were treated according to the current guidelines, including LMWH prophylaxis; enoxaparin (40 mg sc per day) was used in this study....