Circulating stromelysin concentration is elevated in hypertensive aortic root dilatation.

Accumulating data suggest that activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is increased in aortic dissection, and in thoracic and abdominal aneurysms. In the present study we sought to determine circulating stromelysin (MMP-3) concentration and its relationship with hypertension-induced aortic root dilatation. The study population included 42 patients with essential hypertension.

Assessment of bone metabolism and mineral density in chronic viral hepatitis.

Background/aims: The aim of the study was to assess bone metabolism and impact of disease on bone mineral density in patients with non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B or C.

Methods: 105 patients with chronic hepatitis B or C receiving antiviral agents and 60 healthy controls were included. Subgroups (n=15) were defined on the basis of age (males) or menopausal status (females).

Homocysteine: an activity marker in Behçet's disease?

Background: Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic multisystem inflammatory disorder commonly complicated by vascular thrombosis.

Objective: In this study, we investigated whether hyperhomocysteinaemia, being a well known risk factor for atherothrombogenesis, is also a contributive risk factor for the pathogenesis and the activation of Behçet's disease.

Methods: Sixty-four patients fulfilling the criteria of the International Study Group for Behçet's disease (48 males, 16 females, 33+/-8 years) were enrolled.

Relationship between circulating plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 (gelatinase-B) concentration and aortic root dilatation.

Background: Expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) has been shown in aortic dissection and aneurysms indicating increased proteolysis compared with the normal aorta. However, its role in the development of aortic root dilatation has not been studied. We therefore attempted to determine the relationship between aortic root diameter and MMP-9 concentration in a hypertensive population.

Contribution of plasma matrix metalloproteinases to development of left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive subjects.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the regulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the myocardium and thus the pathogenesis of vascular and cardiac hypertrophy. In this study, we investigated contribution of plasma matrix metalloproteinases to development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive subjects. Hypertensive patients with (n = 27) and without LVH (n = 23) were included.

The changes in circulating levels of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide during exercise and its reproducibility for detection of myocardial ischemia.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) contributes to the regulation of coronary vasomotor tone and circulating levels of VIP have been reported to increase during acute myocardial infarction. However, the changes in VIP concentration during exercise-induced ischemia have not been studied yet. Therefore, we sought to determine whether circulating levels of VIP change during treadmill exercise testing and whether they could be used as a marker of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia.

HCV prevalence in Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases.

Background/aims: In this study we aimed to investigate the relation between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and B cell lymphoproliferative diseases.

Methods: Eighty-four patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 50 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma were included. Control group consisted of another 100 otherwise healthy blood donors who had no previous history of invasive surgery, blood transfusions, and viral hepatitis.

Serum prolidase I activity and some bone metabolic markers in patients with breast cancer: in relation to menopausal status.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic value of some osteoblastic/osteoclastic biochemical markers and serum prolidase I activity in breast cancer (BC).

Design And Methods: Serum bone gla protein (BGP), prolidase I activity, urinary deoxypyridinoline (Dpy) and calcium excretions were measured, in metastatic and nonmetastatic BC patients, and in 52 healthy women.

Results: In patients with metastases, bone turnover markers were found to be significantly higher than those in the control group and in patients without metastases.