EBC and serum levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were measured with

ELISA kit. Results: Mean EBC MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels were higher LCL161 research buy in patients with stable COPD than in asymptomatic smokers. Exacerbation of COPD increased 2-fold the exhalation of MMP-9 (18.5 +/- 10.1 ng/ml vs. 8.9 +/- 6.2 ng/ml, p = 0.01) and TIMP-1 (to 41.1 +/- 20.4 ng/ml vs. 16.4 +/- 6.8 ng/ml, p < 0.001). Both, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in EBC correlated negatively with FEV1 (% predicted) at baseline (r = -0.78, p < 0.001 and r = -0.73, p < 0.001) and during the exacerbation episode ( r = -0.57, p = 0.02 and r = -0.65, p = 0.005). Similar negative correlations were noted with FVC (% predicted), except for MMP-9 in EBC at exacerbation. Exhaled MMP-9 and TIMP-1 did not correlate with serum concentrations in COPD patients, either at baseline or during exacerbation. Conclusion:

Exhaled MMP-9 and TIMP-1 increased during COPD exacerbation and was negatively correlated with spirometric variables, which suggests the usefulness of their measurement in EBC for the monitoring of airways inflammation. However, to better assess their diagnostic or prognostic value larger studies are necessary. PLX4032 Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“A varying degree of impairment of ventricular performance is observed over the long-term after surgery for a congenital heart defect (CHD). Impaired ventricular performance has been shown to be of prognostic value for increased risk of cardiovascular events in adult CHD patients. This emphasizes the importance of delineating the timing and cause of this postoperative impairment. Impairment of ventricular performance could develop over time as a consequence of residua, sequelae

and complications of the selleck compound CHD or surgical procedure. Yet, impaired ventricular performance has also been observed immediately after surgery and can persist and/or worsen over time. This postoperative impairment of ventricular performance is the focus of this review. This article provides an overview of echocardiographic techniques currently used to assess ventricular performance. Furthermore, we review current literature describing ventricular performance, as assessed using echocardiography, after correction of a CHD. In general, a decrease in ventricular performance is observed directly after surgery for CHD’s. Subsequent follow-up of ventricular performance is characterized by a varying degree of postoperative recovery. A consistent observation is the persistent impairment of right-ventricular performance after repair in several different subgroups of CHD patients ranging from ventricular septal defect repair to surgery for Tetralogy of Fallot.”
“Here we present a case of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) where spontaneous resolution of severe hypoxaemia occurred with the development of pulmonary hypertension over several years after the initial diagnosis of HPS.