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Background: Phosphatidylserine (PS) is essential for inflammation-associated thrombogenesis, but the exact effect of PS on the prothrombotic state in periodontitis is uncertain. This study aimed to determine the PS-related procoagulant state in patients with periodontitis.Methods: A total of 138 patients with periodontitis were examined compared with 42 healthy controls. PS-exposing cells and microvesicles in blood samples were detected by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. The clotting time assay and prothrombinase complex formation assay were used to measure the procoagulant activity of microvesicles, blood cells and endothelial cells. Periodontal clinical parameters and laboratory characteristics of patients with severe periodontitis were recorded and analyzed at baseline and 6 months after non-surgical periodontal therapy.Results: Total PS-positive (PS+ ) microvesicles and the percentage of PS+ blood cells increased in patients with severe periodontitis compared with patients with moderate/mild periodontitis or healthy controls. Endothelial cells cultured in serum from patients with severe periodontitis expressed more PS compared with those cultured in serum from healthy controls. Specifically, PS exposure on blood cells and endothelial cells significantly decreased after inhibiting the effect of inflammatory cytokines. The elevated levels of PS+ cells and microvesicles in severe periodontitis shortened clotting time and led to increased prothrombinase complex formation. Non-surgical periodontal therapy significantly attenuated the release of microvesicles and the PS exposure of blood cells in severe periodontitis.Conclusions: The prothrombotic state of patients with periodontitis is mediated by PS+ cells and microvesicles stimulated by elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Patients with obstructive jaundice (OJ) are considered to be prothrombotic with increased risk of thromboembolism complications. The role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in procoagulant activity (PCA) and thrombosis risk in patients with OJ is unclear. In this study, we investigated NETs formation in OJ patients and the role of elevated unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) in inducing NETs, resulting in enhanced PCA and endothelial injury. Methods: NETs of OJ patients and healthy controls were measured. NETs PCA was assessed via coagulation time (CT), fibrin formation and purified coagulation complex production assays. Visualization of NETs and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (MitoROS) were performed with a fluorescence microscope. We further used confocal microscopy to quantify the exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS), fibrin strands and FVa/Xa on Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Results: Assessment of NETs components levels revealed greater NETs production in OJ patients than in healthy controls. Importantly, OJ‐NETs were responsible for enhanced PCA. UCB induced NETs formation via MitoROS accumulation and mitochondrial mobilization. HUVECs cocultured with OJ NETs lost their cell–cell junctions and consequently converted to a procoagulant phenotype. The PCA was attenuated by using DNase I alone or in combination with lactadherin. Conclusions: Our results suggest that UCB‐induced NETs play a prominent role in promoting the hypercoagulable and prothrombotic state in OJ patients. The increased MitoROS accumulation in neutrophils initiated NETosis. NETs are promising targets for indicating or improving coagulation disorders in OJ patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitiligo is a common depigmenting acquired disorder affecting about 1-2% of the world population, regardless of race, ethnic background, or gender. It is characterized by the appearance of milky white maculae because of a loss of melanocytes. The disfiguring nature of vitiligo causes high psychosocial morbidity. This is especially pronounced in populations with darker skin tone, likely because of the marked contrast. A variety of nonsurgical treatment regimens are currently employed in vitiligo. We reviewed the latest studies carried out on different nonsurgical treatment modalities used in vitiligo. All nonsurgical treatment aid to repigment or depigmentation the skin, however, many of them require a prolonged treatment course and may yield minimal results as well as carry unwanted side effects. There is a need for further research into the causes of vitiligo and into discovering better treatments., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)