"Diabetic patients commonly present an increased risk for cardiovascular events, for which aspirin is the most frequently used medication for primary prevention.  Urinary 11-dehydro thromboxane (11-dhTXB₂) concentrations assess the effect of aspirin on platelets and identify patients who are at risk of cardiovascular events.  The present study investigated whether or not type 2 diabetic patients who took a daily dose of 100 mg of aspirin had a signficant reduction in urinary 11-dhTXB₂ concentrations and whether these results were associated with clinical and laboratory variables."

“Most patients enrolled in the present study also presented a reduced or minimal response to low-dose aspirin therapy, thereby indicating a clear variability related to aspirin effectiveness."

"Metabolic syndrome represents a clustering of risk factors related to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.  Occurrence of both metabolic syndrome and diabetes and their vascular complications share several pathogenetic features including subclinical, low-grade inflammation, alterred oxidative/antioxidant status, and persistent platelet activation."

"We examined the effects of short-term vitamin E supplementation (600 mg daily for 2 week) on the urinary excretion of 8-iso-PGF2alpha and 11-dehydro-TXB_2. Vitamin E supplementation was associated with detectable changes in plasma vitamin E levels and caused virtually complete normalization of 8-iso-PGF2alpha excretion. Moreover, changes in F2-isoprostane formation were accompanied by similar reductions in thromboxane metabolite excretion."

"It is well admitted that the link between chronic inflammation and cancer ionvolves cytokines and mediators of inflammatory pathways, which act during the different steps of tumorigenesis.  The cyclooxygenases (COXs) are a family of enzymes, which catalyze the rate-limiting step of prostaglandin biosynthesis.  This family contains three members:  ubiquitously expressed COX-1, which is involved in homeostasis; the inducible COX-2 isoform, which is upregulated during both inflammation and cancer; and COX-3, expressed in brain and spinal cord, whose functions remain to be elucidated."

"Atherosclerosis and its clinical manifestations (i.e. myocardial infarction, stroke) are major causes of mortality and morbidity in Western countries.  Atherogenesis is a pathological process characterised by the deposition of lipids and other blood-borne materials in the arterial wall.  Endothelial dysfunction is considered the first step in the cascade leading up to coronary events."

“Dysfunctional endothelium, characterized by increased COX-activity, releases prostanoids that promote endothelial exposure to adhesion molecules and induce smooth muscle cell contraction.”

"Several clinical and In Vitro studies showed that polyphenols are able to inhibit platelet activation, preventing cerebro- and cardiovascular disease.  The Mediterranean diet includes fruit and vegetables rich in polyphenols known as effective protective agents.  Fruits and vegetables contain polyphenols such as tannins found in red wine and phenolic acid, flavonones, anthoscyanin, flavonols, stilbenes, and lignans found in pomegranates as protective agents from the hot Meditarranean sunshine."

“We have shown that pomegranate juice reduces every step of platelet activation, such as platelet aggregation, calcium mobilization, hydrogen peroxide formation, and TxA₂ production induced by collagen and arachidonic acid.”

“Epidemiological studies indicate that the consumption of red wine reduces the mortality and morbidity from CAD. Muscadine grapes contain high levels of antioxidants, including resveratrol, a polyphenol with multiple cardioprotective effects.” 

"These antioxidants are thought to be the effective agents behind the so-called "French Paradox," the low mortality rate from CAD amongs the French population desipite their high-fat diet and smoking."

"Resveratrol has been shown to inhibit lipid peroxidation of LDL, prevent the cytoxicity of oxidized LDL, protect cells against lipid peroxidation, reduce platelet aggregation, and inhibit vascular SMC proliferation".

"Incomplete inhibition of platelet thromboxane generation, as measured by elevated urinary 11-dehydrothromboxane B₂ concentrations, has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.  We aimed to determine the external validity of this association in aspirin-treated patients enrolled in the Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischemic Stabilization, Management and Avoidance (CHARISMA) trial and to determine whether thare are any modifiable factors or interventions that lower urinary 11-dehydro thromboxane B₂ concentrations that could thereby reduce cardiovascular risk."

"In aspirin-treated patients, urinary concentrations of 11-dehydrothromboxane B₂ are an externally valid and potentially modifiable determinant of stroke, myocardial infarction, or cardiovascular death in patients at risk for atherothrombotic events."

"Incomplete inhibition of platelet thromboxane generation, as measured by elevated urinary 11-dehydrothromboxane B₂ concentrations, has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.  We aimed to determine the external validity of this association in aspirin-treated patients enrolled in the Clopidogrel for High Atherothrombotic Risk and Ischemic Stabilization, Management and Avoidance (CHARISMA) trial and to determine whether there are any modifiable factors or interventions that lower urinary 11-dehydro thromboxane B₂ concentrations that could thereby reduce cardiovascular risk."

"In aspirin-treated patients, urinary concentrations of 11-dehydrothromboxane B₂ are an externally valid and potentially modifiable determinant of stroke, myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death in patients at risk for atherothrombotic events."

"Chronic obsructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death worldwide. (Calverley and Walker 2003) In addition to the healthcare costs, COPD imposes a significant burden in terms of disability and impaired quality of life.  Unlike many other leading causes of death and disability, COPD prevalence will raise in the majority of countries as smoking frequency increses and the population ages. (Halbert et al 2006). The World Health Organization predicts that by 2020 COPD will be the 5th most prevalent disease worldwide and the 3rd most common cause of death. "

“CPR upregulates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and tissue factor by monocytes, increases the uptake of low-density lipoproteins (LDL by macrophages with foam cells formation and directly induces expression of adhesion molecules by human endothelial cells.”

"The antiplatelet effect of aspirin is attributed to platelet cyclooxygenase-1 inhibition.  Controversy exists on the prevalence of platelet resistance to aspirin in patients with coronary artery disease and effects of aspirin dose on inhibition.  Our primary aim was to determine the degree of platelet aspirin responsiveness in patients, as measured by commonly used methods, and to study the relation of aspirin dose to platelet inhibition."

"Meta-analyses of clinical trials have indicated that aspirin treatment of patients with vascular disease is associated with a 25% to 44% reduction in adverse cardiovascular events.  The antithrombotic effect of aspirin has been primarily attributed to the irreversible blockade of the cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) enzyme in platelets that leads to attenuation in the production of an important platelet agonist, thromboxane A_2.  In recent years, an increasing number of reports about aspirin resistance has led to a growing concern among clinicians and patients about the efficacy of aspirin treatment.  Various studies have evaluated the antiplatelet effect of aspirin therapy and have reported the prevalence of aspirin resistance to be between 9.4% to 35%."