Correlation between serum matrix metalloproteinase and myocardial fibrosis in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction: A retrospective analysis.

Objective: A strong correlation exists between myocardial fibrosis and heart failure (HF). Myocardial fibrosis can be detected by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), which is a crucial noninvasive imaging method with high specificity and sensitivity. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are primary proteases responsible for the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, and they play a vital role in maintaining the balance between anabolism and catabolism of ECM.

Is the clinical presentation different between men and women admitting to the sleep laboratory?

Objectives: Sleep and sleep disorders are different in several important ways between men and women. We aimed to investigate gender differences in initial symptoms and associating medical diseases of patients admitting to our sleep clinic.

Methods: Ninety-one patients, 20 women (22%) and 71 men (78%), admitting consecutively to the sleep clinic were studied.