Elevated plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 level in hepatocellular carcinoma: is it induced by hepatocyte growth factor?

Hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is one of the most common cancers worldwide affecting one million cases per year. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic role of plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9] in patients with HCC and its relation to hepatocyte growth factor [HGF]. This study was conducted on 30 patients classified into: Group II included 10 patients with chronic active hepatitis. Group III included 10 patients with liver cirrhosis and Group IV included 10 patients with HCC. Ten healthy subjects were also included in the study as a control group [group I]. Alt studied groups were subjected to clinical, laboratory, ultrasonographic examination and estimation of serum alpha-fetoprotein [APP], HGF and plasma MMP-9. There were significant elevations in serum levels of AFP. HGF and plasma levels of MMP-9 in patients with HCC compared to other studied groups. Also serum AFP and HGF levels in group II and III were higher than those of the controls. However, MMP-9 levels in group II and III were not significantly different from those of the controls. Also MMP-9 and HGF levels were significantly higher in HCC patients with lung metastasis. portal invasion and tumour size

cardiac arrhythmias during management of acute severe asthma in the intensive care unit

This study was carried out to evaluate the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias during therapy with I.V. aminophylline infusion and nebulized salbutamol of 50 consecutive patients with acute severe asthma. Vital signs, arterial blood gases, PEFR, serum potassium and total magnesium were measured on admission in emergency department, on admission in ICU and one hour thereafter. Continuous ECG monitoring and recordings were performed to capture the occurrence of cardiac rhythm disturbance. The results showed that initially in emergency department there was increase in pH, decrease in PaO2, PaCO2 and PEFR together with mild decrease in levels of serum potassium and magnesium. On admission in ICU, the patients showed more decline in PaO2 and PEFR, with increase in PaCO2 and mild decrease in pH together with more decrease in serum potassium and magnesium. After one hour of initiation of treatment in ICU, there was improvement in pH, PaO2, PaCO2, PEFR und serum potassium and magnesium. Premature ventricular contractions [PVCs] occurred in 24 patients; 15 patients had occasional unifocal PVCs and only 9 patients developed severe ventricular arrhythmias: frequent PVCs more than 10/h [n = 5] multifocal PVCs [n = 2] and a short run of ventricular tachycardia [n = 2]. Serious supraventricular arrhythmias occurred in only 5 cases who developed runs of atrial tachycardia in 3 patients and atrial fibrillation in 2 patients. These arrhythmias were clinically well tolerated and spontaneously resolved without any antiarrhythmic treatment. It is concluded that cardiac dsyrhythmias, observed during the combined therapy with aminophylline and salbutamol, were self limited and possibly related to treatment as well as hypoxia and particularly in presence of hypokalemia and hypomagnesmia during episodes of acute severe asthma