Heart Defects, Congenital ; metabolism ; Humans ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with diabetes.

METHODSHRV and NT-proBNP levels were assessed in 58 patients with diabetes.The time domain and frequency domain indices and the level of NT-proBNP were compared between patients with normal and abnormal HRV, and the correlation of HRV index and NT-proBNP was analyzed.

RESULTSThe NT-proBNP level was significantly higher in patients with abnormal HRV than in those with normal HRV (320.2±88.3 vs 80.4±25.2 pg/ml, P<0.01).The level of NT-proBNP was negatively correlated with SDNN (r=-0.55, P<0.05), triangle index (r=-0.52, P<0.05), LF (r=-0.62, P<0.01), and VLF (r=-0.56, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONNT-proBNP level is correlated with HRV, and an increased NT-proBNP indicates cardiac autonomic neuropathy in diabetic patients.

Diabetes Mellitus ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; metabolism ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo identify and characterize the polypeptides specifically binding to human B type natriuretic peptide (BNP) screened from 12TM phage display peptide library.

METHODSThe BNP-binding peptides were screened from 12TM phage display peptide library and identified by ELISA.

RESULTSAfter 4 rounds of screening, 10 of the 16 phage clones were identified as the positive clones which could bind to BNP. Five amino acid sequences were obtained in the 10 positive clones. Dose-dependent ELISA results demonstrated that the screened polypeptides could specifically bind to BNP.

CONCLUSIONThese screened polypeptides can bind specifically to BNP, which provides a basis for further research on expression and purification of anti-BNP polypeptides and the development of the detection kit of BNP.

Humans ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; metabolism ; Peptide Library ; Peptides ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Protein Binding

Biomarkers ; Heart Diseases ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Humans ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; metabolism ; physiology ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; physiology

China ; Female ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; analysis ; Peptide Fragments ; analysis

Myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of death in the developed world. Biomarkers have an essential role in diagnosis, risk stratification, guiding management and clinical decision making in the setting of patients presenting with signs and symptoms of MI. Cardiac troponin (cTn) rose to prominence during the 1990s and has evolved to be the cornerstone for diagnosis of MI. The current criteria for MI diagnosis include a rise and/or fall in cTn with at least one value above the 99th percentile of the upper reference limit. Along with cTn, the natriuretic peptides B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and amino-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) have an important role in determining prognosis and guiding management. As assays for cTn have been evolved that are capable of reliably detecting smaller and smaller quantities in the blood, a dilemma has emerged as to how to use this new information. Several studies have attempted to answer this question and have shown that these lower concentrations of cTn have important prognostic significance and, more importantly, that intervention in these patients leads to improved clinical outcomes. New algorithms incorporating BNP, NT-proBNP, and more sensitive cTn assays hold promise for more rapid diagnosis or rule-out of MI, allowing for appropriate management steps to be initiated and more efficient and effective utilization of healthcare resources.
Biological Markers/*blood ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction/*diagnosis/metabolism ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/blood ; Peptide Fragments/blood ; Prognosis ; Troponin/blood

Natriuretic peptides comprise a family of three structurally related peptides; atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP). The present study was performed to investigate the effect of ANP on the proliferation and activity of ROS17/2.8 and HOS cells which are well-characterized osteoblastic cell lines. ANP dose-dependently decreased the number of ROS17/2.8 and HOS cells after 48-hour treatment. ANP generally increased the alkaline phosphatase activity of ROS17/2.8 and HOS cells after 48 hr treatment, regardless of the fact that basal activity of alkaline phosphatase was much lower in HOS cells compared to that of ROS17/1.8 cells. ANP increased the NBT reduction by ROS17/2.8 and HOS cells. ANP showed the variable but no significant effect on the nitric oxide production by ROS17/2.8 and HOS cells. ROS17/2.8 and HOS cells produced and secreted gelatinase into culture medium, and this enzyme was thought to be the gelatinase A type with the molecular weight determination. The gelatinase activity produced by ROS17/2.8 cells was increased by the treatment of ANP. However, the enzyme activity was not affected by ANP treatment in the HOS cell culture. In summary, ANP decreased the proliferation and increased the alkaline phosphatase activity and NBT reduction of osteoblasts. These results indicate that ANP is one of the important regulators of bone metabolism.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line ; Gelatinases ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Metabolism ; Molecular Weight ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type ; Natriuretic Peptides ; Nitric Oxide ; Osteoblasts* ; Peptides

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR-A) in the cord dorsal horn ganglion (DRG) of rat models of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP) and the relation of BNP and NPR-A with CNP-induced chronic pain.

METHODSWe established CNP models in 30 healthy clean SD rats using Freund's complete adjuvant, and included another 10 in a sham-operation group. The prostate tissues were subjected to HE staining, and the expressions of BNP and NPR-A in the L5-S2 DRGs were detected by real-time PCR.

RESULTSHigher degree of inflammation was related to longer modeling time. At 3, 7 and 10 days, the expressions of BNP in the CNP models were 2.16 +/- 0.35, 1.61 +/- 0.21 and 1.32 +/- 0.36, and those of NPR-A were 2.75 +/- 0.06, 2.15 +/- 0.15 and 1.04 +/- 0.13, respectively, significantly higher at 3 and 7 days as compared with the sham-operation group (P<0.05), but with no statistically significant difference at 10 days.

CONCLUSIONBNP and NPR-A are expressed in the L5-S2 DRGs of SD rats and their expressions can be upregulated by CNP. BNP and NPR-A may be involved in the mechanisms of CNP-induced pain.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ganglia, Spinal ; metabolism ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; metabolism ; Prostatitis ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Qili Qiangxin capsules on the amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level and cardiac function in patients with silicosis.

METHODSHospitalized silicosis patients with heart failure were divided into treatment group (41 cases) and control group (30 cases) according to their own will. Both groups received comprehensive symptomatic treatment; in addition, the treatment group received Qili Qiangxin capsules. The treatment lasted 6 months. The observed items included NT-proBNP level, 6-minute walk test, ultrasonic cardiogram, and NYHA classification before and after treatment.

RESULTSAccording to NYHA classification, the response rate was 29.27%in the treatment group and 10.00%in the control group; there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The average walk distance in the treatment group was increased from 150.96±73.12 m before treatment to 169.32±77.04 m after treatment, and the improvement was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The average NT-proBNP level in the treatment group was reduced from 1154.44 ± 480.79 ng/L before treatment to 494.49 ± 342.61 ng/L after treatment, and the reduction was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly improved in the treatment group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQili Qiangxin capsules in addition to comprehensive symptomatic treatment can significantly reduce NT-proBNP level and improve cardiac function in silicosis patients, and thereby improve patients' quality of life.

Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Echocardiography ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Peptide Fragments ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Quality of Life ; Silicosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo discuss the characteristics of Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome factors and distribution of congestive heart failure (CHF), and provide a basis for the diagnosis criteria of essential syndromes.

METHODSBased on databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI, 1980-2012) and Chinese Journal of Chongqing VIP Database (1989-2012), the eligible studies in CHF and extracted factors associated with compound syndromes were analyzed. All the syndromes were classified into deficiency, excess, and deficiency-excess in complexity syndrome were classified. Compound syndromes were separated into syndrome factors including single, double, three or four factors, along with the frequency of occurrence. The relation of CHF syndromes with age, gender, primary disease, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cardiac functional grade was studied in 1,451 CHF cases (between December 2010 and September 2012), and the clinical distribution of common CHF syndromes was summarized.

RESULTSThe literature study involved 6,799 CHF cases in 66 literatures after screening. Of the different factors affecting CHF, qi deficiency was the most important one. In deficiency syndrome, Xin (Heart)-qi-deficiency was the most common single factor, and deficiency of both qi and yin was the most common double factor. The retrospective analysis involved 1,451 CHF cases (431 cases with test results of BNP). The xin blood stasis and obstruction and deficiency of both qi and yin syndrome were mostly seen in female patients, and phlegm-blocking-Xin-vessel and qi-deficiency-blood-stasis syndrome mostly in males. Xin-qi-deficiency and qi-deficiency-blood-stasis syndrome were mostly seen in patients aged 50-60 years. Patients aged over 60 years likely manifest deficiency of both qi and yin and Xin blood stasis and obstruction syndrome. The severity of syndrome is aggravated with increased BNP and cardiac functional grade.

CONCLUSIONSThe essential syndromes of CHF include qi-deficiency-blood-stasis and deficiency of both qi and yin. The clinical distribution is linked to patients' age and gender. BNP and cardiac functional grade is closely related to CHF syndromes, which may indicate the severity of CM syndromes of CHF.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Heart Failure ; therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Syndrome