• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.591-597
• /
• 2009

B-type natriuretic peptide is a neurohormone secreted in the cardiac ventricles. BNP levels are elevated in patients with ventricular dysfunction. Therefore, the concentration of BNP is important factor to reflect diagnosis and prognosis for cardiovascular disease. In this respect, anti-BNP scFv is an urgent requirement for early diagnosis in the field of biosensor. Herein, the genetic codes of anti-BNP scFv were chemically synthesized and cloned into both pET22b (+) and pColdⅣ vector, respectively. The recombinant scFv was successfully expressed as a functional form in cytoplasm of E. coli and detected through Western blot and ELISA. The highest level of functional expression of anti-BNP scFv was achieved using pET22b (+) vector at $15^{\circ}C$ by addition of 0.1 mM IPTG. Additionally, being exposed to both BNP and ANP, anti-BNP scFv specifically captured only BNP. Therefore, anti-BNP scFv expressed in this study will be applied to measure the concentration of BNP as a diagnostic recognition molecule.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.539-544
• /
• 2006

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine whether N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) may be used to differentiate acute Kawasaki disease(KD) from other clinically similar diseases. Methods : Using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, NT-proBNP concentrations were measured in the acute phase within 10 days after the onset of KD(n=58) and in the convalescent phase, 60 to 81 days after the onset(n=51), and also in patients with acute febrile disease as a control(n=34). Echocardiography was performed to detect pericardial effusion(PE) and coronary artery lesions(CAL), and to measure the left ventricular dimension at diastole(LVIDd) and ejection fraction(LVEF). The cutoff value of NT-proBNP for separating KD from other diseases was determined. Results : NT-proBNP concentration in the acute phases of KD was significantly higher than that in the control group($1,501.6{\pm}2,132.6$ vs. $139.0{\pm}88.8pg/mL$, P<0.0001). In KD patients, NT-proBNP was elevated in the acute phase and was lowered in the convalescent phase($1,466.0{\pm}2,173.2$ vs. $117.5{\pm}95.5pg/mL$, P<0.0001). The cutoff value of 260 pg/mL discriminated KD patients from other patients, with a sensitivity of 93 percent and a specificity of 88 percent. The NT-proBNP was higher in patients with PE(n=17) compared with those without PE(n=41)($1,784.2{\pm}1,903.1$ vs. $1,384.4{\pm}2,232.6pg/mL$, P=0.52). Comparison of NT-proBNP could not be done between patients with CAL and those without, owing to a small number of patients with CAL(n=3). There was no correlation between NT-proBNP and LVEF index(r=0.104, P=0.46) or LVIDd index(r=0.171, P=0.22). Conclusion : NT-proBNP increases in the acute phase of KD and decreases to within normal range in the convalescent phase. NT-proBNP >260 pg/mL may be highly suggestive of acute KD. NT-proBNP may be used as a diagnostic tool for KD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.40 no.8
• /
• pp.552-557
• /
• 2007

Background: B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac hormone that is primarily synthesized by the ventricular cardiac myocytes. Increased plasma BNP levels have been observed in patients suffering with congestive heart failure, ventricular hypertrophy and myocaridits and also during heart transplantation rejection. We investigated the serum BNP level as a predictive marker for rejection after heart transplantation. Material and Method: To test the usefulness of measuring the BNP level in cardiac transplant patients, consecutive blood samplings for BNP, right ventricular endomyocardial biopsies, hemodynamic measurements and transthoracic echocardiogram were all done in 10 such patients between January 2004 and August 2005 at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Asan Medical Center. Two groups were identified with using the median value: the low BNP group (n=28, BNP: ${\le}290$ pg/mL) and the high BNP group (n=29, BNP: >290 pg/mL). We retrospectively analyzed rejection, the ejection fraction, tricuspid regurgitation, left ventricular hypertrophy, the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and the right atrial pressure between the 2 groups. Result: There were no differences in age, gender, rejection, the ejection fraction, tricuspid regurgitation, left ventricular hypertrophy and the right atrial pressure between the 2 groups (p>0.05). However, a higher pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and a higher mean pulmonary atrial pressure were observed in the high BNP group (p<0.05). Further, BNP has linear correlation with the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (r=0.590, p<0.001). Using the cut-off value of 620 pg/mL, the BNP predicted a high PCWP (>12 mmHg) with a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 91.1% (AUC: $0.900{\pm}0.045$, p<0.001). Conclusion: The BNP level after heart transplantation does not show any significant correlation with rejection, yet it might be a predictive marker of ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.151-158
• /
• 2013

This study aimed to evaluate the plasma concentration of NT-proBNP in dogs with different stages of heart failure by chronic mitral valve insufficiency (CMVI). Fifty small-breed dogs with CMVI and 7 healthy control dogs without cardiac disease and critical systemic diseases were included in the study population. As a preliminary study, we compared the plasma concentrations of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and the echocardiographic parameters between dogs of the International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council (ISACHC) classes. Then, we evaluated the associations between NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters. Plasma NT-proBNP levels showed a significant difference among the ISACHC groups. In the comparison between echocardiographic parameters and NT-proBNP, NT-proBNP were found to be associated with left atrium/aorta (LA/AO), early diastolic transmitral flow (E) velocity, late diastolic transmitral flow (A) velocity, end diastolic volume index (EDVI). Our study found plasma NT-proBNP might be useful to predict the disease progression in dogs with CMVI.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.271-276
• /
• 2012

In humans, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was shown to be inversely related to obesity; in addition, its association with contributing factors for obesity such as insulin, lipids, and glucose profiles has been demonstrated in the literature. However, this association between NT-proBNP and the severity of obesity has not been investigated in veterinary medicine. Our study hypothesis is that plasma levels of NT-proBNP may be related to body condition score (BCS) and contributing factors to obesity in dogs with heart diseases. To achieve our study goal, we collected blood samples from 73 client-owned dogs of small breeds at different stages of heart failure due to chronic mitral valvular insufficiency (CMVI). Fasting glucose concentrations, lipid profiles (i.e., total triglycerides [TG], total cholesterol [TC], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C]), fructosamine, insulin and NT-proBNP concentrations were measured. The insulin/glucose ratio was also determined. NT-proBNP showed not only a significant correlation with the severity of CMVI related heart failure but also an inverse relationship to body condition scores (BCS), insulin plasma levels and fructosamine concentrations. We found the presence of an inverse relationship between plasma levels of NT-proBNP and the severity of obesity. In addition, NT-proBNP was associated with lower levels of contributing factors to obesity such as fructosamine and insulin, creating a possible link between the obesity and NT-proBNP in dogs with heart disease. This is also the first report demonstrating an inverse association between obesity and NT-proBNP in dogs with heart failure.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2024

Brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac hormone that exerts cardiovascular and renal effects and regulates metabolic processes. In the current study, to determine the hepatic effects of BNP, we investigated whether it improves high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic IR and characterized its possible mechanism. No significant differences in body weight, fat mass, or lean mass were observed between the saline- and BNP-treated groups of normal diet-and HFD-fed mice. During the clamp test, the BNP infusion into HFD-fed mice led to lower blood glucose levels and increased glucose infusion rates versus that into saline-treated HFD-fed mice. The BNP infusion also inhibited hepatic glucose production and decreased hepatic triglyceride levels concomitant with decreased expression of gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis-related genes, resulting in reduced levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. BNP increased the phosphorylation of Akt and AMP-acti- vated protein kinase (AMPK) in the livers of HFD-fed mice compared to saline-fed HFD mice. The incubation of AML12 murine hepatocytes with BNP increased the basal levels of phosphorylated Akt and AMPK and recovered the phosphorylated Akt and phosphorylated AMPK levels reduced by palmitate treatment. Furthermore, BNP incubation prevented palmitate-induced increases in lipo- genesis gene expressions. Taken together, the current study's findings indicated that BNP ameliorates hepatic IR, resulting in reduced hepatic glucose production and hepatic steatosis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.172-180
• /
• 2020

This study investigated retrospectively the correlation between the results of the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and a routine blood test using a hospital information system. The NT-proBNP is involved in the pathophysiology of heart failure. The results show that the relationship between age and NT-proBNP was significant (P<0.01) with a positive correlation (r=0.163). The peptide concentration showed a negative correlation between the total protein (r=-0.250) and albumin (r=-0.270), and a negative correlation between the erythrocyte count and hemoglobin and hematocrit (P<0.01). NT-proBNP had a positive correlation with neutrophils (r=0.227) and a negative correlation with lymphocytes (r=-0.236), showing significant results (P<0.01). NT-proBNP and creatinine showed a positive correlation (r=0.594, P<0.01), and it was the most influential factor according to multiple regression analysis (B=0.53, t=7.65). P<0.01). The concentrations of NT-proBNP and uric acid showed a positive correlation (r=0.180, P<0.05). Lactate dehydrogenase was observed as a factor affecting the NT-proBNP (B=0.20, t=3.28, P<0.01). This explanatory power had an influence of 43%. Therefore, the accurate test and related factors of the NT-proBNP have significant clinical value.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.12
• /
• pp.1362-1369
• /
• 2005

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the plasma level of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(pro-BNP) and several known risk factors influencing outcomes after Fontan operations, and to assess whether pro-BNP levels can be used as predictive risk factors in Fontan operations. Methods : Plasma pro-BNP concentrations were measured in 35 patients with complex cardiac anomalies before catheterization. Cardiac catheterization was performed in all subjects. Mean right atrium pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure(PAP), and ventricular end-diastolic pressure(EDP) were obtained. Cardiac output and pulmonary vascular resistance were calculated by Fick method. Results : Plasma pro-BNP levels exhibited statistically significant positive correlations with mean PAP(r=0.70, P<0.001), pulmonary vascular resistance(r=0.57, P<0.001), RVEDP(r=0.63, P<0.001), LVEDP(r=0.74, P<0.001), and cardiothoracic ratio(r=0.71, P<0.001). The area under the ROC curve using pro-BNP level to differentiate risk groups in Fontan operations was high : 0.868(95 percent CI, 0.712-1.023, P<0.01). The cutoff value of pro-BNP concentrations for the detection of risk groups in Fontan operations was determined to be 332.4 pg/mL(sensitivity 83.3 percent, specificity 82.7 percent). Conclusion : These data suggest that plasma pro-BNP levels may be used as a predictive risk factor in Fontan operations, and as a guide to determine the mode of therapy during follow-up after Fontan operations.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.88-95
• /
• 2005

Even though the echocardiograph has been recognized as the method of choice among various diagnostic tools to detect congestive heart failure (CHF), there were some limitations in relation to the consumption of time, labor and process. We analyzed results of N-terminal probrain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and various parameters of the echocardiographic findings to clarify the diagnostic usefulness of NT-proBNP in detecting patients with CHF. We analyzed the sera from total of 242 cases from in-patients and out-patients, which were requested from the cardiovascular section of department of Internal Medicine at Chungnam National University Hospital from March 2003 to May 2004. The procedures were performed in order as shown below; sampling, NT-proBNP analysis, data acquisition and data analysis. All data including personal information and echocardiographic findings ware acquired by medical record review. When classifying the study population into six groups according to the degree of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), the serum level of NT-proBNP was higher in the group with 51-60% of LVEF (P=0.023). There were low correlation between the serum level of NT-proBNP and various parameters of the echocardiographic findings with LVESD (r=0.1513), LVEDD (r=0.0831), LVEF (r=0.2035), IVST (r=0.03) and LVPWT (r=0.0728), respectively. When comparing NT-proBNP with atrial and/or ventricular enlargement, the patient group with both left atrial and left ventricular enlargement (p=0.186) or only left atrial (p=0.105) or only left ventricular enlargement (p=0.256) showed higher level of NT-proBNP without statistical significance than patient group with no enlargement. Searching the optimal cutoff of the serum level of NT-proBNP, the sensitivity (98.9%) and the specificity (100%) was highest at the cutoff of 300 pg/mL than any other cutoffs. These findings suggested that the analysis of NT-proBNP in serum might detect the patients with CHF earlier than with the echocardiograph, especially in patients with asymptomatic or mild symptomatic CHF. In conclusion, NT-proBNP test was proved to be clinically useful to diagnose CHF patients.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.496-498
• /
• 2013

The aim of this study is to report the observed elevation of plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT proBNP) concentration in a Korean Jindo Dog infected with Dirofilaria immitis. Evaluation of the animal included physical examination, thoracic radiography, ELISA kit ($PetCheck^{(R)}$, IDEXX Laboratories, USA) test and plasma NT-proBNP evaluation. The infected animal's NT-proBNP concentration was compared with those of 5 normal dogs of the same age, sex, and breed; the affected Korean Jindo dog had increased plasma NT-proBNP. To the best our knowledge, this is the first report of NT-proBNP elevation in a Korean Jindo dog with dirofilariasis.