bnp weber

BACKGROUND: SGLT2i reduce cardiac hypertrophy, but underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here we explore a role for serine/threonine kinases (STK) and sodium hydrogen exchanger 1(NHE1) activities in SGLT2i effects on cardiac hypertrophy. METHODS: Isolated hearts from db/db mice were perfused with 1 µM EMPA, and STK phosphorylation sites were examined using unbiased multiplex analysis to detect the most affected STKs by EMPA. Subsequently, hypertrophy was induced in H9c2 cells with 50 µM phenylephrine (PE), and the role of the most affected STK (p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK)) and NHE1 activity in hypertrophy and the protection by EMPA was evaluated...

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to develop and evaluate a method for the measurement of muscle mass during the 12-channel electrocardiogram (ECG), to determine the incidence of sarcopenia in patients with overhydration and to correct it for congestion. METHODS: A 12-channel ECG that simultaneously provided multifrequency segmental impedance data was used to measure total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW), ECW/TBW ratio and appendicular muscle mass (AppMM), validated by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry...

BACKGROUND: Longer pulmonary transit time (PTT) is closely associated with hemodynamic abnormalities. However, the implications on heart failure (HF) risk have not been investigated broadly in patients with diverse cardiac conditions. In this study we examined the long-term risk of HF hospitalization associated with longer PTT in a large prospective cohort with a broad spectrum of cardiac conditions. METHODS: All subjects were prospectively recruited to undergo cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)...

INTRODUCTION: In 2018 the US Food and Drug Administration reported a potential link between grain-free, legume-containing dog foods and the development of canine dilated cardiomyopathy in atypical breeds. One hypothesis was that high oligosaccharide content in legumes reduced bioavailability of taurine, an amino acid with some previous links to canine dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS: To address this hypothesis, in the present study, 8 Beagle dogs consumed four diets: a husbandry commercial dental diet, and three test diets formulated with either 30% rice (control), 30% pea (grain-free) or 30% rice with the addition of 1% raffinose (the predominant oligosaccharide found in peas)...

PURPOSE: In adults and fetuses, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a marker of cardiac failure and myocardial remodelling. We examined the effect of anemia and intrauterine transfusion (IUT) on NT-proBNP concentrations in fetuses with anemia and established gestational age-dependent reference values of a control group. METHODS: We analyzed NT-proBNP levels in anemic fetuses that underwent serial intrauterine transfusions (IUT), focusing on different causes and severity of anemia and comparing the results to a non-anemic control group...

AIM: Percutaneous mitral valve repair (PMVR) via MitraClip implantation is a therapeutic option for severe mitral regurgitation (MR) in advanced stages of heart failure (HF). However, progressive left ventricular dilation in these patients may lead to recurrent MR after PMVR and consequent re-do MitraClip implantation. Here, we describe the characteristics and outcomes of this clinical scenario. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with systolic HF and functional MR undergoing a re-do MitraClip procedure were retrospectively analysed...

AIMS: The cardiac natriuretic peptides (atrial natriuretic peptide [ANP] and B-type natriuretic peptide [BNP]) are important regulators of cardiovascular physiology, with reduced natriuretic peptide (NP) activity linked to multiple human cardiovascular diseases. We hypothesized that deficiency of either ANP or BNP would lead to similar changes in left ventricular structure and function given their shared receptor affinities. METHODS AND RESULTS: We directly compared murine models deficient of ANP or BNP in the same genetic backgrounds (C57BL6/J) and environments...

OBJECTIVES: Pathologic ejection fraction (EF), shortening fraction (FS), and standard heart failure biomarkers (high sensitive troponin T and N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide) during follow-up after childhood cancer have been associated with irreversible cardiac damage. We aimed to evaluate strain imaging values by echocardiography and new biomarkers for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) as potential more sensitive parameters for cardiac deterioration in childhood cancer survivors (CCS)...

Background: Myocardial toxicity is a common side effect of chemotherapy and is associated with adverse outcomes in cancer patients. Sufficient prediction of chemotherapy-induced myocardiotoxicity (CIMC) is desirable. Therefore, we sought to develop a feasible scoring system to predict CIMC in cancer patients undergoing non-anthracycline chemotherapy. Methods: We determined a scoring system, the "Cardiotoxicitiy Score" (the CardTox-Score), by multivariable regression of the parameters considered relevant to the development of CIMC, based on previously published data and current guidelines...

BACKGROUND: Low heart rate variability (HRV) reflects cardiac autonomic neuropathy, which is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Measuring HRV is challenged by environmental noise, mental stress and physical activity during daytime. Night-time HRV during sleep may be a more valid tool to measure cardiac autonomic neuropathy and therefore may improve prediction of cardiovascular (CV) events in low-risk people with T2DM. METHODS: Copenhagen Holter Study included 678 community-dwelling participants aged 55-75 years who were free of previous CV disease...

Phenotype-specific omic expression patterns in people with frailty could provide invaluable insight into the underlying multi-systemic pathological processes and targets for intervention. Classical approaches to frailty have not considered the potential for different frailty phenotypes. We characterized associations between frailty (with/without disability) and sets of omic factors (genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic) plus markers measured in routine geriatric care. This study was a prevalent case control using stored biospecimens (urine, whole blood, cells, plasma, and serum) from 1522 individuals (identified as robust (R), pre-frail (P), or frail (F)] from the Toledo Study of Healthy Aging (R=178/P=184/F=109), 3 City Bordeaux (111/269/100), Aging Multidisciplinary Investigation (157/79/54) and InCHIANTI (106/98/77) cohorts...

AIMS: In patients with aortic stenosis (AS), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a prognostic marker. However, there is little information on the association between BNP and invasive haemodynamics in AS. The aim of the present study was to assess the hitherto not well-defined relationship between BNP and invasive haemodynamics in patients with severe AS undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a view to understand the link between high BNP and poor prognosis in these patients. In particular, we were interested in the association between BNP and combined pre-capillary and post-capillary pulmonary hypertension (CpcPH)...

Background and Purpose- Diagnosing paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF) can be challenging after acute ischemic stroke. Enhanced and prolonged Holter-ECG monitoring (EPM) improves the detection rate but is not feasible for all patients. We hypothesized that brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) may help to identify patients with stroke at high risk for pAF to select patients for EPM more effectively. Methods- Patients with acute cerebral ischemia ≥60 years presenting in sinus rhythm and without history of AF were included into a prospective, randomized multicenter study to receive either EPM (3× 10-day Holter-ECG) or usual stroke care diagnostic work-up...

AIMS: We sought to investigate the relevance of myocardial fibrosis, assessed by mid-wall fibrosis risk (MFR) score, with respect to left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHODS AND RESULTS: Between January 2010 and March 2015, we enrolled 207 patients in whom baseline MFR, which includes age, sex, high-sensitive cardiac troponin-I, presence of strain pattern on electrocardiograph, and peak-aortic valve velocity, as well one-year follow-up echocardiography were available...

Natriuretic peptides (NP) are involved in the regulation of blood pressure and blood volume, and are elevated in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). They are used as markers for illness severity, but their role in mental health is not well understood. Recently, A-type NP (ANP) has been associated with reduced anxiety in studies on cardiac patients; however, this study is the first to assess this effect for B-type NP (BNP) and for further dimensions of well-being and mental health. Depression, anxiety, and distress are more common in CAD patients than in the general population and are most likely not only influenced by psychological adaptation but also by neurobiological processes...

OBJECTIVES: This study shows the impact of secondary mitral regurgitation (sMR) and transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) with the MitraClip system on sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). BACKGROUND: An increase in SNA is associated with worse outcomes and limited survival in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). METHODS: Twenty CHF-patients without relevant sMR and 30 CHF patients with symptomatic sMR were enrolled prospectively. All patients underwent standardized laboratory testing and microneurography...

AIM: To find parameters from transthorathic echocardiography (TTE) including speckle-tracking (ST) analysis of the right ventricle (RV) to identify precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). METHODS: Forty-four patients with suspected PH undergoing right heart catheterization (RHC) were consecutively included (mean age 63.1 ± 14 years, 61% male gender). All patients underwent standardized TTE including ST analysis of the RV. Based on the subsequent TTE-derived measurements, the presence of PH was assessed: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated by Simpsons rule from 4Ch...

BACKGROUND: COPD and congestive heart failure represent two disease entities of growing global burden that share common etiological features. Therefore, we aimed to identify the degree of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in COPD as a function of COPD severity stages and concurrently placed particular emphasis on the presence of overlapping obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: A total of 85 COPD outpatients (64.1±10.4 years, 54.1% males) and 20 controls, matched for age, sex, and smoking habits, underwent speckle tracking echocardiography for LV longitudinal strain imaging...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Silent atrial fibrillation (AF) and tachycardia (AT) are considered precursors of ischaemic stroke. Therefore, detection of paroxysmal atrial rhythm disorders is highly relevant, but is clinically challenging. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of natriuretic peptide levels in the detection of paroxysmal AT/AF in a pilot study. METHODS: Natriuretic peptide levels were analysed in two independent patient cohorts (162 patients with arterial hypertension or other cardiovascular risk factors and 82 patients with retinal vessel disease)...

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have shown that in addition to angio/lymphangiogenesis, the VEGF family is involved in other cellular actions. We have recently reported that enhanced VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 in the infarcted rat myocardium, suggesting the paracrine/autocrine function of VEGF-C on cardiac remodeling. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that VEGF-C regulates cardiomyocyte growth and survival in the infarcted myocardium. METHODS AND RESULTS: Gene profiling and VEGFR-3 expression of cardiomyocytes were assessed by laser capture microdissection/microarray and immunohistochemistry in the normal and infarcted myocardium...