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EGb 761 is widely used in the management of mild cognitive impairment in the elderly population. Elucidation of the effects of EGb 761 on primary haemostasis via PFA-100 could represent an important step for better understanding of the haemostatic safety of EGb 761. The purpose of this prospective study is to assess the effects of Ginkgo biloba special extract, EGb 761, on PFA-100 in vitro bleeding time in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment. A total of 40 elderly patients aged 65-79 years who were referred for geriatric assessment and who were diagnosed as having mild cognitive impairment were included. Patients were started on 80 mg EGb-761 three times daily. The complete set of PFA-100 in vitro bleeding time and coagulation parameters including prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and International Normalized Ratio were assessed before and on the seventh day of treatment with EGb 761. There was no statistically significant prolongation in PFA-100 in vitro bleeding time or coagulation parameters in patients receiving EGb 761 after 7 days. The data about the safety of EGb 761 from the point of primary haemostasis in our elderly patient population with mild cognitive impairment casts hope for the future management of this 'difficult-to-treat' population with the promising Ginkgo extracts.

Aim: To analyze hepatic, mesenteric and mucosal microcirculation and leukocyte-endothelium interaction (LEI) in a rat model with liver cirrhosis., Methods: Hepatic cirrhosis was induced in Wistar rats by gavage with carbon tetrachloride, and intravital videomicroscopy was performed in liver, mesentery and small intestine mucosa. Special emphasis is given on microcirculatory and morphometric changes during cirrhotic portal hypertension., Results: LEI was influenced significantly in the cirrhotic liver but not in the gut. Blood flow measurement showed significant differences among liver, main mesenteric vessels and the mucosa. The results of our study indicate that liver cirrhosis leads to alterations in hepatic and mesenteric blood flow but not in mucosal blood flow., Conclusion: The enhanced inflammatory response in hepatic microvessels may be caused by a decrease of antithrombin III levels and could be responsible for disturbances of organ pathology.

Aberrant right subclavian artery is a rare vascular anomaly. Dysphagia caused by this anomaly usually develops in older patients due to increased rigidity of the oesophagus itself or vessel wall and elongation of the aorta. In this paper, a 10-year-old boy patient suffering from difficulty in swallowing since his infancy is presented. Barium contrast examination of the oesophagus showed indentation on the oesophagus and MRI angiography revealed an aberrant right subclavian artery. Surgical correction totally relieved the symptom of the dysphagia. It was concluded that this kind of vascular anomalies should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of dysphagia in childhood.