Metalloproteinases MMP-9, MMP-2 and their tissue inhibitors TIMP-1, TIMP-2 in peripheral transbronchial lung biopsies of patients with sarcoidosis.

INTRODUCTION: The imbalance between metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors TIMPs) may be involved in the pathogenesis of lung sarcoidosis, a granulomatous inflammatory disease which may lead to lung fibrosis. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to verify whether the expression of MMP-9, MMP-2, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in peripheral lung biopsies of patients with sarcoidosis correlate with lung function tests, radiological pattern, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells. We compared the expression of MMPs and TIMPs between patients with sarcoid-positive vs. - negative biopsy and fibrosing vs. non-fibrosing high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT)pattern. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined patients with histologically proven stage II and III sarcoidosis (n = 17). Immunohistochemistry with antibodies against the studied molecules was performed in the lung and bronchial tissue specimens obtained from transbronchial lung biopsies. The radiological pattern was evaluated based on HRCT. The total cell number and percentage of cells were calculated in the BAL samples. RESULTS: MMPs and TIMPs were present in the cells of sarcoid granuloma, and were more prevalent in the parenchyma than in the bronchi. We found no correlation between MMP-9, MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and HRCT pattern or BAL cells. There were inverse associations between MMP-9 and FEV1 (% predicted), and also between MMP-2 and maximal expiratory flow 25-75% (L and % predicted) in patients with sarcoidosis diagnosed by transbronchial lung biopsy. There were no differences in the measured parameters between patients with and without fibrotic changes and between those with negative vs. positive lung biopsy results. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides an indirect evidence for a potential involvement of MMPs/TIMPs in the sarcoid inflammation of the distal airways.

[Estimation of brain tissue in schizophrenic patients using magnetization transfer imaging--preliminary report]. / Ocena tkanki mózgowej u chorych na schizofrenie za pomoca obrazowania rezonansu magnetycznego z uzyciem transferu magnetyzacji--doniesienie wstepne.

INTRODUCTION: Volumetric loss of some cerebral structures is noticed during morphometrical investigations, and it is one of the most frequent abnormalities in schizophrenic patients' brains. The new methods of MRI investigations show subtle changes in cerebral white matter, which are undetectable by standard MRI. The magnetic transfer imaging (MTI) may be used to estimate the structural integrity of white matter and allows for visualisation of minimal changes in cerebral tissue. AIM: The aim of this work was to estimate the cerebral tissue using magnetic transfer imaging and the analysis of magnetic transfer ratio (MTR) maps in schizophrenic patients. METHOD: We examined 15 patients with schizophrenia and 15 healthy volunteers. We used sequences of: SE, FLAIR and GE with- and without saturation pulse, acquiring standard T1- and T2-weighted anatomical images and images with magnetic transfer effect and without it. For quantitative estimation of magnetic transfer, the MTR-maps were calculated from a standard formula: MTR=Mo-Ms/Mo'l00%, and the obtained MTR-values, from regions of interest in schizophrenics were compared with MTR-values in healthy persons. RESULTS: Both, in the schizophrenic group and in the controls, MTR-values (from the analysed regions of white matter) were between 30-50%. We observed a statistically significant reduction of MTR of schizophrenic patients in the white matter of the left temporal and left frontal lobes. CONCLUSIONS: With the help of the technique and methods of statistical analysis, the identification of altered MTR-areas in patients with schizophrenia is possible. The results confirm the presence of areas of minimal injuries in schizophrenic persons' brain tissue, which are detectable using magnetic transfer imaging.

[Magnetization transfer imaging--the new method of brain tissue investigation in schizophrenia]. / Obrazowanie z zastosowaniem transferu magnetyzacji--nowa metoda oceny tkanki mózgowej w schizofrenii.

The structural abnormalities in brains of persons suffering from schizophrenia were noticed in neuropathological studies, pneumoencephalography, tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for a long time. The reduction of grey matter volume was present mainly in frontal and temporal lobes and also a decrease of total brain volume with an increase of ventricle volume was observed. The volumetric reduction of white matter was not observed. However, structural changes may not be present in each case and conventional MRI, even with high resolution images is not able to detect subtle changes which may have a functional significance. The new MRI techniques, e.g. magnetic transfer imaging (MTI), indicate the presence of changes in the white matter of schizophrenic's brains, which are not detectable by conventional MRI. MTI is based on decreasing of the signal intensity by the transfer of magnetization between saturated protons of water, bound to macromolecules of myelin and phospholipids in cell membranes and free water protons. This process may be used to estimate structural integrity of white and grey matter, to reveal the presence of subtle changes in brain tissue.

[Comparison of the fluid attenuated inversion recovery and diffusion-weighted imaging in the early brain stroke]. / Porównawcza ocena sekwencji tlumienia sygnalu wolnego plynu i dyfuzyjnego rezonansu magnetycznego w obrazowaniu wczesnego udaru niedokrwiennego mózgu.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study is to evaluate the reliability of the diffusion-weighted vs. FLAIR MR imaging in the cases of hyper acute brain stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS: CT and MR standard and diffusion images observed in 29 patients affected with early brain stroke and reference CT in all the patients. Reference CT was performed 3-5 days later in all patients. RESULTS: The pre- and post-contrast CT in 23 patients did not reveal any brain lesions. In contrary to CT areas of pathologic high signal were visualized well in diffusion MR in 20 of these patients, which supported early diagnosis. Discrete hiperintense lesions of the same locations were seen also in the FLAIR MR imaging in 19 of them. In the 6 patients CT revealed only discrete hipodense areas, which were seen more pronounced in the FLAIR and diffusion MR imaging. In the 3 cases even the second CT did not reveal stroke. CONCLUSIONS: The diffusion MR imaging in patients suspected of acute brain stroke reveals ischemic lesions earlier and more clearly than FLAIR imaging, which discrete presented the same pathological areas.