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Figure 1 Results of the measurement of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -2, and -9 using the Western blotting analysis. The active form of MMP-9 (88 kDa) significantly increased in the atrial fibrillation (AF) group in comparison to that in the regular sinus rhythm (RSR) group (p < 0.05), but there was no difference in the protein level of the latent form of MMP-9 (92 kDa) (top panel). No difference existed in the protein level of the active and latent forms of the MMP-1 (middle panel) and MMP-2 (bottom panel) between the two groups. Closed bars = AF group; open bars = RSR group. *p < 0.05, AF vs. RSR.