Stromelysin-2 is upregulated during normal wound repair and is induced by cytokines.

Stromelysin-2 is a matrix metalloproteinase that degrades in vitro several protein components relevant to wound repair such as collagens III and IV, gelatin, nidogen, laminin-1, proteoglycans, and elastin. Furthermore, it can activate other matrix metalloproteinases, such as collagenase-1 (matrix metalloproteinase-1) and collagenase-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-8), as well as 92 kDa gelatinase. The aim of this study was to determine in a large variety of wounds (normally healing dermal and mucosal wounds, suction blisters, ex vivo cultures, diabetic, decubitus, rheumatic, and venous ulcers) and keratinocyte cultures, which factors contribute to stromelysin-2 expression and how it is induced in relation to other matrix metalloproteinases.

Left ventricular calcification following resuscitation.

In this paper we report a case of 34-year-old man with a severe septic shock. Because of profound hypotension he was given massive amounts of catecholamines for 10 days. After a short recovery the function of his heart started to deteriorate again and clear calcification around the left ventricle was disclosed by computer tomography.

Accumulation of matrilysin (MMP-7) and macrophage metalloelastase (MMP-12) in actinic damage.

Photodamage is characterized by degradation of collagen and accumulation of abnormal elastin in the superficial dermis and several matrix metalloproteinases have previously been implicated in this process. Using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, we have studied the localization of two elastolytic matrix metalloproteinases, matrilysin (matrix metalloproteinase-7) and human macrophage metalloelastase (matrix metalloproteinase-12) in solar damage. Human macrophage metalloelastase protein was detected in the superficial dermis in areas of elastotic material.

Differential expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1, -2, -3, and -4) in normal and aberrant wound healing.

Wound healing is characterized by hemostasis, re-epithelialization, granulation tissue formation, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Matrix metalloproteinases and their specific inhibitors, TIMPs, contribute to these events. We investigated a total of 47 samples of normally healing wounds, chronic venous ulcers, ulcerative vasculitis, and suction blisters using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, to clarify the role of TIMPs in normal and aberrant wound repair.

Expression of collagenases-1 and -3 and their inhibitors TIMP-1 and -3 correlates with the level of invasion in malignant melanomas.

Since proteolysis of the dermal collagenous matrix and basement membranes is required for local invasive growth and early metastasis formation of cutaneous melanomas, we have analysed the activities/expression levels of certain metalloproteinases in melanomas and cultured melanoma cells by in situ hybridization and Northern analysis. In addition to collagenases-1 and -3 that have been implicated in invasive growth behaviour of various malignant tumours, we analysed the levels of 72-kDa gelatinase and its activators MT1-MMP and TIMP-2 in cultured melanoma cells. The lesions examined included three cases of lentigo maligna and 28 cases of Clark grade I-V melanomas.

Enhanced expression of human metalloelastase (MMP-12) in cutaneous granulomas and macrophage migration.

Accumulation of inflammatory cells such as macrophages may lead to degeneration of connective tissue matrix in various skin diseases. Macrophage metalloelastase, is a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-12) capable of degrading elastin as well as various basement membrane components. To investigate the role of human macrophage metalloelastase in skin, we assessed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry 66 specimens representing skin diseases characterized either by changes in elastic fibers or by pronounced infiltrations of extravasating and migrating macrophages.

Collagenase-3 (MMP-13) is expressed by tumor cells in invasive vulvar squamous cell carcinomas.

Collagenase-3 (MMP-13) is a human matrix metalloproteinase specifically expressed by invading tumor cells in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the head and neck. Here, we have further elucidated the role of MMP-13 in tumor invasion by examining its expression in invasive malignant tumors of the female genital tract. Using in situ hybridization, expression of MMP-13 mRNA was detected in 9 of 12 vulvar SCCs, primarily in tumor cells, but not in intact vulvar epithelium, in cervical SCCs (n = 12), or in endometrial (n = 11) or ovarian adenocarcinomas (n = 8).

Collagenase-3 (matrix metalloproteinase-13) expression is induced in oral mucosal epithelium during chronic inflammation.

Increased proliferation of mucosal epithelium during inflammation is associated with degradation of subepithelial connective tissue matrix and local invasion of the epithelial cells. Here we have studied, whether collagenase-3 (MMP-13), a collagenolytic matrix metalloproteinase with an exceptionally wide substrate specificity, is expressed in the epithelium of chronically inflamed mucosa. Examination of human gingival tissue sections from subjects with chronic adult periodontitis with in situ hybridization revealed marked expression of MMP-13 in basal cells of some epithelial rete ridges expanding into connective tissue.

Distinct expression profiles of stromelysin-2 (MMP-10), collagenase-3 (MMP-13), macrophage metalloelastase (MMP-12), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3) in intestinal ulcerations.

Programmed expression of matrix metalloproteinases is involved in wound healing in various organs. We have previously demonstrated enhanced expression of collagenase-1, stromelysin-1, matrilysin, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1) in gastrointestinal ulcerations. To further define the role of matrix-degrading enzymes and their inhibitors in intestinal inflammation and ulcerations, the expression of stromelysin-2 (MMP-10), collagenase-3 (MMP-13), macrophage metalloelastase (HME, MMP-12), and TIMP-3 mRNAs was studied using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in 38 samples representing ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, ischemic colitis, and normal intestine.

Does propofol reduce vomiting after strabismus surgery in children?

Background: Previous studies have indicated that propofol anaesthesia may reduce the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting after strabismus surgery in children. This study was designed to investigate the incidence of vomiting after strabismus surgery at two different levels of propofol anaesthesia compared to thiopental/isoflurane anaesthesia.

Methods: Ninety ASA class I or II children, aged 5-14 yrs were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Group T/I (n = 30) induction with 5 mg kg-1 of thiopental and maintenance with isoflurane, group P5 (n = 31) induction with propofol 2 mg kg-1, maintenance with propofol infusion 5 mg kg-1 h-1 or group P10 (n = 29) induction with propofol 2 mg kg-1, maintenance with propofol 10 mg kg-1 h-1.

Distinct populations of stromal cells express collagenase-3 (MMP-13) and collagenase-1 (MMP-1) in chronic ulcers but not in normally healing wounds.

Proteolysis is an intrinsic component of cutaneous wound repair and several matrix metalloproteinases have been shown to participate in various stages of this process. Therefore, we investigated the expression of a novel metalloproteinase, collagenase-3 (MMP-13), in normally healing cutaneous wounds and chronic venous ulcers. MMP-13 was expressed abundantly by fibroblasts deep in the chronic ulcer bed but was not detected in epidermis and all the acute wounds.

Patterns of matrix metalloproteinase and TIMP-1 expression in chronic and normally healing human cutaneous wounds.

The present study was carried out to characterize the patterns of expression of matrix metalloproteinases or their tissue inhibitor (TIMP-1) in normally healing, acute vs. chronic, skin wounds. In situ hybridization was performed to localize collagenase, stromelysin-1, stromelysin-2, matrilysin, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and TIMP-1 mRNAs in 14 chronic venous ulcers and 10 normally healing wounds, representing different time points after wounding.

Enhanced expression of matrilysin, collagenase, and stromelysin-1 in gastrointestinal ulcers.

Programmed expression of several matrix metalloproteinases is an important feature of cutaneous wound healing. To study whether this also applies to gastrointestinal ulcer healing, we used in situ hybridization with 35S-labeled probes to localize sites of collagenase, stromelysin-1, and matrilysin expression in 26 samples representing peptic ulcers, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. In contrast to skin wounds, collagenase mRNA was not detected in the surface epithelium bordering gastrointestinal ulcer areas.

Enhanced expression of interstitial collagenase, stromelysin-1, and urokinase plasminogen activator in lesions of dermatitis herpetiformis.

Because dermatitis herpetiformis is characterized by neutrophilic inflammation and destructive changes in the basement membrane zone, we studied the in situ expression of interstitial collagenase and stromelysin-1 in 11 lesions. A prominent signal for collagenase mRNA was consistently detected in the basal keratinocytes of rete ridges surrounding the neutrophilic abscesses in 10 of 11 lesions, and the expression was independent of the age of the lesion and the migratory state of the basal keratinocytes. Expression of stromelysin-1 was detected in seven of 11 lesions and co-localized with collagenase.

Interstitial collagenase is expressed by keratinocytes that are actively involved in reepithelialization in blistering skin disease.

Migrating keratinocytes actively involved in reepithelialization in dermal wounds acquire a collagenolytic phenotype upon contact with the dermal matrix. To determine whether this phenotype is associated with repair in other forms of wounds, we assessed collagenase expression in 50 specimens representing a variety of blistering skin diseases, including subtypes of epidermolysis bullosa, porphyria cutanea tarda, bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus, transient acantholytic dermatosis, and suction blisters. Distinct from that seen in chronic ulcers or in normal healing by second intention, reepithelialization in these blistering conditions was not necessarily associated with a complete loss of basement membrane, as determined by immunostaining for type IV collagen.

Painless needle insertion in regional anesthesia of the eye.

We examined a new technique of applying topical anesthetic with cotton tip sticks to the conjunctiva before needle insertion in regional anesthesia of the eye. Oxybuprocaine 0.4% and lidocaine 4% were compared with balanced salt solution (BSS) as topical anesthetics of the conjunctiva in Study 1.