BACKGROUND: Epidemiological evidence has shown that serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentrations, a diagnostic biomarker for heart failure, are positively associated with cardiovascular risk. Since NT-proBNP in serum is excreted in urine, it is hypothesized that urinary NT-proBNP concentrations are correlated with serum concentrations and linked with cardiovascular risk in the general population. METHODS: A total of 3060 community-dwelling residents aged ≥ 40 years without history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) were followed up for a median of 8.3 years (2007-2015). Serum and urinary concentrations of NT-proBNP at baseline were compared. The hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between NT-proBNP concentrations and the risk of developing CVD were computed using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The median values (interquartile ranges) of serum and urinary NT-proBNP concentrations at baseline were 56 (32-104) pg/mL and 20 (18-25) pg/mL, respectively. There was a strong quadratic correlation between the serum and urinary concentrations of NT-proBNP (coefficient of determination [R CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrated that urinary NT-proBNP concentrations were well-correlated with serum concentrations and were positively associated with cardiovascular risk. Given that urine sampling is noninvasive and does not require specially trained personnel, urinary NT-proBNP concentrations have the potential to be an easy and useful biomarker for detecting people at higher cardiovascular risk.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers/urine* ; Cardiovascular Diseases/urine* ; Female ; Heart Failure/diagnosis* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/urine* ; Peptide Fragments/urine* ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Assessment

AIMTo study the effects of rhBNP and milrinone on the cardiac hemodynamics and renal function in anesthetized dogs.

METHODSThe actions of rhBNP given cumulatively i.v. 10, 30 and 100 ng.kg-1 for 30 min and milrinone of single dose (100 micrograms.kg-1, i.v.) on cardiac hemodynamics and renal function were studied in anesthetized open-chest dogs.

RESULTSIn anesthetized dogs (n = 7) intravenous infusion of rhBNP at 10-100 ng.kg-1, caused decreases in mean arterial pressure (MAP), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), LVdp/dtmax, pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), total peripheral resistance (TPR) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) dose-dependently, without significant changes in cardiac output (CO), LV(dp/dt)/P, renal blood flow (RBF) and heart rate (HR), increases in urinary volume and sodium excretion. In anesthetized dogs (n = 6), there were remarkable decreases in MAP, LVEDP, PAP, TPR, RBF, RVR and urinary volume following the MIL (100 micrograms.kg-1, i.v.), with significant increases of LVSP, +/- LVdp/dtmax, HR and CO, but no marked changes in urinary volume and sodium excretion.

CONCLUSIONrhBNP reduces the pre-load and after-load in the anaesthetized dogs but showed no distinct effect on the contractility of the heart. Positive inotropic and chronotropic actions have been demonstrated after intravenous injection of milrinone 100 micrograms.kg-1 in anesthetized dogs.

Anesthesia ; Animals ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; Dogs ; Drug Interactions ; Female ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiology ; Hemodynamics ; Kidney ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Milrinone ; pharmacology ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Sodium ; blood ; urine ; Urine

AIMTo study the effects of rhBNP on the cardiac hemodynamics and renal function in dogs with heart failure.

METHODSCongestive heart failure in dogs was induced by either rapid ventricular pacing (RVP), 250 beats.min-1 for 7-14 days or by thoracic inferior vena cava constriction (TIVCC) to 1/2 its original diameter. When remarkable hemodynamic changes appeared rhBNP was infused intravenously at the dosage of 10, 30 and 100 ng.kg-1.min-1, each dose lasting 30 min.

RESULTSIn dogs (n = 7) with RVP heart failure, intravenous infusion of rhBNP at 10-100 ng.kg-1.min-1, caused decreases in mean arterial pressure (MAP), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), LVdP/dtmax, pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), total peripheral vascular resistance (TPR) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) dose-dependently, without significant changes in cardiac output (CO), LVdp/dt/P, left ventricular work (LVW), renal blood flow (RBF) and heart rate (HR). This suggested that rhBNP reduced the pre-load and after-load of the dogs with congestive heart failure but showed no distinct effect on the contractility of the heart. In dogs (n = 7) with TIVCC heart failure, there were remarkable decreases in MAP and LVEDP following the rhBNP infusion, without further reduction of CO, but no marked change in HR, LVSP, LVdP/dtmax, RAP and TPR. In both animal models of heart failure, there were significant increases in urine volume and sodium excretion which were more significant in TIVCC dogs than in RVP dogs.

CONCLUSIONrhBNP reduced the pre-load and after-load in dogs with heart failure and showed remarkable diuretic effect, but did not affect the contractility of the heart.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Diuretics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Dogs ; Female ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; urine ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Kidney ; blood supply ; drug effects ; Kidney Function Tests ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Sodium ; urine ; Vascular Resistance ; drug effects ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology