Serum MMP-7 is increased in diabetic renal disease and diabetic diastolic dysfunction.

Circulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels may correlate with diabetic complications. Whether they are changed in early diabetic cardiomyopathy is not known and was examined in this study. TIMP-1 and collagen degradation products were also measured. Results from subjects with and without diastolic dysfunction were compared with those obtained for patients with varying stages of diabetic renal disease. Patients with type 2 diabetes with or without diastolic dysfunction with varying degrees of renal disease were recruited for this study. Age-matched non-diabetic subjects served as controls. MMPs (-1, -3 and -7) and TIMP-1 were measured by ELISA, MMP-2 and -9 by zymography and collagen degradation products by radioimmunoassay. Differences in the pattern of MMPs/TIMPs and collagen degradation products were observed. The most consistent change was in totalMMP-7, which was increased in those with diastolic dysfunction and those with macroalbuminuria. MMP-7 correlated with cardiac function (p<0.05 vs control, in those with diastolic dysfunction), and renal filtration function (p<0.05 vs control). In summary, we have identified novel relationships between serum MMP-7 and diabetic complications specifically in renal disease and in diastolic dysfunction. How increased circulating MMP-7 is associated with these diabetic microvascular complications and the significance of these findings will require prospective studies.

The diabetic, hypertensive heart: epidemiology and mechanisms of a very high-risk situation.

The prevalence of diabetes is escalating, and is leading to increased rates of heart failure, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death. Due to several inter-related biological processes, hypertension is often associated with diabetes, and accelerates these morbid conditions. These points are outlined below.

Diastolic dysfunction and abnormalities of the microcirculation in type 2 diabetes.

AIM: Diabetic cardiomyopathy is an increasingly recognized entity. The pathogenic factors that may contribute to its development, especially the earliest changes of diastolic dysfunction (DD), have not been clearly defined. Microvessel dysfunction and upregulation of profibrotic growth factors have been described as possible causes. The aim of this study was therefore to determine whether microvascular dysfunction and/or upregulation of the profibrotic connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) are associated with subclinical DD in subjects with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Forty subjects with type 2 diabetes and 20 age-matched non-diabetic controls, all of whom had no clinical evidence of ischaemic heart disease, cardiac failure or echo evidence of systolic ventricular dysfunction, were recruited. Microvascular function was measured by laser Doppler velocimetry, with examination of endothelium-dependent increase in blood flow following iontophoresis of acetylcholine (ACh) and endothelium-independent increase in blood flow in response to the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP). CTGF levels were determined by Western immunoblotting. RESULTS: DD determined on the basis of traditional echocardiographic criteria was similar in diabetic subjects compared with controls (28 vs. 20%, p = 0.5). Using left ventricular myocardial tissue Doppler-based indices for DD, the E/E' and the E'/A' ratios (where E is the flow related to early ventricular filling and E' and A' are early and late diastolic velocities, respectively) in diabetic subjects revealed evidence of more DD than controls (p = 0.046 and p = 0.007 respectively) . Comparing controls with no DD by conventional echocardiographic criteria (Group I), diabetes and no DD (Group II) and diabetes with DD (Group III), there was a significant trend in reduction of both endothelium-dependent (ACh fold change; p = 0.04) and endothelium-independent (SNP fold change; p = 0.0004) blood flow across the groups. The ACh and SNP responses, however, were not correlated significantly with quartiles of the E/E' ratio or the E'/A' ratio. CTGF plasma levels did not differ across the groups and CTGF did not correlate with parameters of microvascular function. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that while there is a significant association between DD and measures of microvascular function, the relationship between endothelial dysfunction, CTGF and subtle measures of DD is not strong. Other factors are therefore likely to play an important role in the early pathogenesis of subclinical cardiac DD in type 2 diabetes.

Factors affecting recurrence after incisional hernia repair.

Incisional hernias occur primarily as a result of high tension and inadequate healing of a previous incision, the latter of which is frequently related to infection at the surgical site. Despite recent advances in operative techniques, the recurrence rate remains unacceptably high. To evaluate the impact of different predisposing factors for the recurrence of incisional hernia, we reviewed retrospectively the medical records of 297 patients who had undergone incisional herniorrhaphy (188 tissue repairs, 109 mesh repairs) in our hospital. Demographic data (age and gender), type of repair, body mass index, hernia size, presence of chronic illnesses and wound complications were evaluated in a univariate and multivariate manner analysis. The overall recurrence rate was 30.3%, with the recurrence rate in patients who underwent tissue repair being 39.4% and that in patients following prosthetic repair 14.6%. The recurrence rate was significantly influenced by type of repair, obesity, hernia size, wound healing disorders and some chronic comorbidities. We conclude that it is necessary to become familiar with the risk factors for recurrence of incisional hernia in order to eliminate or decrease their effect on the positive outcome of incisional herniorrhaphy.

Early results of recently introduced laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedure for morbid obesity in Croatia.

INTRODUCTION: Morbid obesity is a growing medical problem that has become of epidemic proportions. Various dietary and pharmaceutical approaches do not obtain acceptable long-term results. Surgery, however, especially gastric restriction, represents a viable therapeutic solution. Individuals with a body mass index (BMI) >40 kg/m2 or >35 kg/m2 with at least one severe comorbidity are considered morbidly obese and generally qualify for weightloss surgery. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is currently the most commonly performed procedure, because it is minimally invasive, does not cause metabolic complications, is completely reversible, and is adjustable. In Croatia, the first LAGB was performed in May 2004 at Clinical Hospital "Sestre Milosrdnice." The aim of this report is to illustrate a newly performed surgical treatment and its results for morbid obesity in Croatia. METHODS: Within a 12-month period, the adjustable gastric band was implanted in 15 morbidly obese patients (female, 8; male, 7; mean age, 46.67 years; range, 26-59 years). The so-called "pars flaccida" technique was used. RESULTS: One operation required conversion to laparotomy due to a gastric lesion, and 1 laparoscopy operation was terminated due to massive postoperative adhesions. The average duration of surgery was 90+/-30 minutes. Mean length of stay was 4.9 days (range, 3-9). An average BMI at the time of surgery was 52.21 kg/m2 (range, 45.29 to 61.59; mean body weight was 155.58 kg (range, 127 to 204). Throughout 1-, 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-ups, an average of 18.71%, 25.06%, 34.37%, 41.23%, and 47.32% of excessive weight loss (EWL) was observed. Good tolerance and a low complication rate were noted. CONCLUSION: LAGB resulted in good early results and a low complication rate. LAGB appears to be a quality surgical procedure for the management of morbid obesity.