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Figure 2 Expression level of the MMP-9 protein and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 protein by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. (A) The expression level of the MMP-9 protein was also higher in the AF group (closed bar) than in the RSR group (open bar) (p < 0.05), and the TIMP-1 protein showed a tendency to rise in the AF patients as compared to that in the RSR patients (p < 0.1). (B) Comparison of the expression of the MMP-9 protein among the three groups. The expression level of MMP-9 was higher not only in the CAF group, but also in the paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (Paf) group, than that in the RSR group. Closed bars = AF group; open bars = RSR group. *p < 0.05, AF vs. RSR. Abbreviations as in Figure 1.