BACKGROUND N-terminal pro-brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is currently used as a surrogate marker for disease severity in pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, NT-proBNP tends to have a high variability and may insufficiently correlate with hemodynamics and exercise capacity. METHODS To investigate the association of NT-proBNP with hemodynamics and cardio-pulmonary exercise testing...

We evaluated the effects of an intra-aortic balloon pump on hemodynamics, brain natriuretic peptide concentration and cardiac function of patients with acute myocardial infarction, after reperfusion therapy. Sixty-three patients with acute anterior wall ST-elevation myocardial infarction who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention were given an intra-aortic balloon pump (32 cases) ...

garbage collectors are occupationally exposed to a variety of airborne contaminants. the main objective of this study was to evaluate the respiratory health of garbage collectors. this study was carried out in fars province, south of iran. a group of 105 garbage collectors and 93 referent subjects were investigated. a standard questionnaire was administered to both groups. furthermore, subjects...

1. The aim of this study was to elucidate the pathophysiological role of adrenomedullin and the relation between adrenomedullin and other hormones in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. 2. Fourteen patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), 26 patients with hypertrophic non-obstructive cardiomyopathy (HNCM) and 14 normal control subjects participated in this study. Rad...

BACKGROUND Pulmonary artery pressure is elevated in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is increased in pulmonary hypertension and this hormone may both selectively vasodilate pulmonary vessels and inhibit pulmonary vascular remodelling. The hypothesis that ANP has a physiological role in protection of the pulmonary ci...

We read the article titled ‘‘High levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) predict weaning failure from mechanical ventilation in adult patients after cardiac surgery’’ by Thiago Martins Lara et al. with interest (1). The authors aimed to evaluate whether serum levels of Btype natriuretic peptide are a predictor of weaning failure from mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery. They conclu...

AIMS Cardiac peptides have diagnostic and prognostic value in heart failure. Their plasma concentrations, however, are sensitive to rapid changes in haemodynamics. As blood sampling under standard conditions is not feasible in clinical practice, it is important to know which peptides are most resistant to change. Therefore, the present study investigated the differences in response to exercise ...

 Create insight in the epidemiology of obesity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;  Understand the impact of obesity on lung function, symptoms and exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;  Learn about the obesity paradox in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;  Receiving insight in the importance of nutritional counsellin...