OBJECTIVES Midregional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) was assessed for the importance of influencing factors, the ability to detect left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and the prognostic power compared with B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in chronic heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND MR-proANP is a biologically stable n...

The possibility that natriuretic peptides' effects are important in hypoxia responses of vertebrates is reviewed. Both the transcription and release of natriuretic peptides are affected by oxygen tension. Furthermore, many of the effects observed in hypoxia, such as diuresis and a reduction of plasma volume, are also caused by treatment of the animal with natriuretic peptides. Also, several cli...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to examine the patient-specific characteristics of the interleukin-1 receptor family member ST2 in patients with acute heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND ST2 signaling is involved in the process of cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy. METHODS In all, 346 patients with acute HF had ST2 measured. Associations between ST2 and demographics, severity/type of HF,...

Snake venoms contain a complex mixture of proteins and biologically active peptides [1, 2]. Some of these bioactive peptides are derived from precursor proteins that through proteo‐ lytic processing generate mature active polypeptides [3]. As an example, the protein precur‐ sor of natriuretic peptide type-C (CNP) from the Brazilian pit viper Bothrops jararaca venom and brain originates CNP, a h...

Extracts of mammalian atria, but not ventricles, induce marked diuresis, natriuresis, and reduction in blood pressure when infused systemically in rats and dogs. These extracts also inhibit aldosterone biosynthesis and renal renin release. Natriuretic peptides, 21 amino acids and longer, have been isolated from atria of rodents and man, and share a nearly homologous amino acid sequence at the c...

INTRODUCTION Monitoring treatment efficacy and assessing outcome by serial measurements of natriuretic peptides in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients may help to improve outcome. METHODS This was a prospective multi-center study of 171 consecutive patients (mean age 80 73-85 years) presenting to the emergency department with ADHF. Measurement of BNP and NT-proBNP was performed ...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) can be a useful marker not only to identify the patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) who are at a higher risk of developing coronary artery lesions (CAL), and predict resistance to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). STUDY DESIGN We enrolled 80 patients with the acute phase of KD at a single center. Th...

BACKGROUND The Zwolle Risk Score (ZRS) identifies ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) eligible for early discharge. We aimed to investigate whether baseline N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is also able to identify these patients and could improve future risk strategies. METHODS AND RESULTS PPCI...