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Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess the arterial stiffness and serum levels of selected metalloproteinases (MMPs) in hypertensive patients and their changes following antihypertensive therapy.Material and Methods: The study group consisted of 95 patients with essential arterial hypertension (HT) stage 1 or 2 (mean age: 53.1 ±13.0 years). The control group consisted of 31 normotensives of the same age range. Hypertension patients were randomized to one of the following monotherapies for 6 months: quinapril, losartan, amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide or bisoprolol. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured using a Complior device. Serum concentrations of MMPs (proMMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9) and plasma concentration of tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMP-1) were measured using ELISA.Results: Pulse wave velocity and serum concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were higher in HT patients than in the control group. In HT patients PWV was significantly associated (R2 = 0.41) with age (B = 0.408, p = 0.00027), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (B = 0.441, p = 0.0011), and MMP-3 (B = 0.204, p = 0.0459). After 6 months of treatment, regardless of the agent used, we observed a significant decrease of PWV, SBP, MMP-2 and MMP-3 and an increase of TIMP-1 plasma concentration. The decrease of PWV was significantly associated with a decrease of SBP (R2 = 0.07, B = 0.260, p = 0.015) only.Conclusions: In patients with arterial hypertension, beside age and systolic blood pressure, the determinants of arterial stiffness include serum MMP-3 concentration. For drugs compared in the study with the same hypotensive effect obtained, the arterial stiffness reduction effect is not dependent on the drug used. Systolic blood pressure is one of the independent factors responsible for the reduction of arterial stiffness in the course of antihypertensive treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The hormonal brain-gut axis is a crucial element in appetite control and the response to surgical treatment for super obesity. However, mechanisms underlying the metabolic response to surgical treatment for morbid obesity are still not clearly specified. Aim: To evaluate and compare the effects of surgical treatment for super obesity by laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and by laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) on selected incretins and appetite-controlling hormones. Material and methods: Thirty-five patients were enrolled in a prospective study. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was performed in 45.8% of patients, and LRYGB in the remaining 54.2% of patients. Before the procedure fasting blood serum was collected from patients and preserved, to determine levels of selected incretins and brain-gut hormones: glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), leptin, and ghrelin. Results: Twenty-eight patients came to a follow-up visit 12 months after the surgery. In these patients selected parameters were determined again. The percentage weight loss was 58.8%. The ghrelin levels had decreased, and no statistically significant difference was observed between the two procedures. After both surgical procedures a statistically significant reduction in the leptin level was also observed. Peptide YY levels statistically significantly increased in the whole studied group. The GLP-1 level increased after the surgical procedure. However, the observed change was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Both treatment methods result in modification of secretion patterns for selected gastrointestinal hormones, and this was considered to be a beneficial effect of bariatric treatment. The laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, being a procedure resulting in a metabolic response, seems to be an equally effective method for treatment of super obesity and comorbidities as the laparoscopic gastric bypass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]