BACKGROUND/AIM The intraluminal thrombus (ILT) is considered to participate in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) evolution. To assess whether this role proceeds via ILT influence on biological activity of the AAA wall, we studied the relationships between the levels of some relevant proteases and microparticles (MP) released by ILT versus wall in rat experimental AAAs. METHODS AND RESULTS Two w...

Both asthmatic and COPD patients were found to have increased amounts of granulocytes and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in their sputum. The present study was conducted to investigate whether the elevated amounts of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 found in such patients' airways may be linked to an enhanced secretion by granulocytes. Blood granulocytes from asthmatics (n = 10), COPD patients (n = 11), an...

OBJECTIVE Although we recently showed that the administration of catechins reduced the neointimal formation in a rat balloon-injury model, the precise molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. In the present study, we tried to determine these mechanisms using an in vitro SMC invasion system. METHODS AND RESULTS Boyden chamber assay was used to examine the effect of catechins on the invasive b...

BACKGROUND TBM (Tuberculous meningitis) is severe form of tuberculosis causing death of one third of the affected individuals or leaving two-third of the survivors disabled. MMP-9 (Matrix metalloproteinase-9) is produced by the central nervous system in a variety of inflammatory conditions and has a role in the breakdown of extracellular matrix and blood-brain barrier. METHODS In this study, ...

Repeated or continuous inflammation of the heart is one of the initiation factors for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In previous studies, we established a DCM animal model by immunizing rats with cardiac C protein. In the present study, we analyze the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in experimental autoimmune carditis (EAC) and subsequent DCM to elucidate the pathomechanisms of this dis...

In order to investigate the involvement of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in cell growth and invasion of oral cancer, a human epidermoid carcinoma cell line KB minimally expressing COX-2 protein was transfected with COX-2 cDNA and these activities were compared with mock-transfected KB in vitro and in vivo. KB/COX-2 clones showed a similar growth rate in vitro compared to KB/neo clones, but demonstrate...

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 are gelatinases that take part in several reproductive processes. The aim of this study was to measure levels MMP-2 fractionated stallion ejaculates, evaluate the association between these components semen quality, sperm longevity during cooled storage. Semen quality were assessed separately for sperm-rich fractions (HIGH), sperm-poor (LOW), whole ejac...

The xylanolytic enzyme complex hydrolyzes xylan, and these enzymes have various industrial applications. goal of this work was to characterize the endoxylanases produced by thermophilic fungus Rasamsonia emersonii in solid-state cultivation. Tests were carried out evaluate effects pH, temperature, glycerol phenolic compounds on activity. Thermal denaturation one isolated evaluated. crude extrac...

Background: Many studies have been conducted on the sika deer, an extinct species in Korea, to analyze physiological characteristics of restoration and reproductive characteristics. The mechanisms water deer especially function, morphological changes, ovarian characteristics, are unknown. Objective: We aimed study differences physiology determine difference function through analysis cell remode...

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) increases patient mortality and medical expenditure, and a real-time and reliable method for the rapid diagnosis of VAP may help reduce fatal complications. Matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) is considered significant in the pathogenesis of lung inflammation and infection. Therefore, we examined its relationship with the clinical course of VAP. This retros...