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

• 대한약리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.101.2-101.2
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• 2006

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.283-289
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• 2000

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.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.688-693
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• 2010

An increase in the number of preterm infants and a decrease in the gestational age at birth have resulted in an increase in the number of patients with significant bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and secondary pulmonary hypertension (PH). PH contributes significantly to the high morbidity and mortality in the BPD patients. Therefore, regular monitoring for PH by using echocardiography and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) or N-terminal-proBNP must be conducted in the BPD patients with greater than moderate degree to prevent PH and to ensure early treatment if PH is present. In the BPD patients with significant PH, multi-modality treatment, including treatment for correcting an underlying disease, oxygen supply, use of diverse selective pulmonary vasodilators (inhaled nitric oxide, inhaled prostacyclins, sildenafil, and endothelin-receptor antagonist) and other methods, is mandatory.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.129-132
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• 2009

We describe here our experience with a neonate presenting with cyanosis, grunting, and cardiomegaly, who was diagnosed with isolated left ventricular noncompaction (IVNC) by echocardiography. The patient had high levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT pro-BNP) and symptoms of heart failure including poor feeding and tachypnea. During the period in which NT pro-BNP levels steadily increased, the patient suffered sudden cardiac arrest despite heart failure management. Following cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cardiac arrest was resolved, NT pro-BNP levels decreased, and all symptoms showed improvement. We consider that assessment of NT pro-BNP with cardiac functional analysis using echocardiography could help in the prediction of disease progress in IVNC.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.656-663
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• 2005

Background : The B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a cardiac neurohormone that is specifically secreted from the ventricles in response to volume expansion and a pressure overload. Differentiating congestive heart failure from the pulmonary causes of dyspnea is very important for patients presenting with acute dyspnea. Methods : A retrospective study was carried out on 261 patients who were admitted to the emergency department of Hanyang University Hospital due to acute dyspnea from March to July 2004. The serum BNP levels of the patients were measured using the ELISA method. Results : The BNP levels were 382, 111-1140 pg/ml (median, interquartile range) in the heart failure group (n=119) and 29, 7-81 pg/ml in the non-heart failure group (n=142). The BNP levels according to the subgroups of heart failure were 820, 354-1620 pg/ml, 1650, 239-1990 pg/ml, and 378, 106-1120 pg/ml for the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with combined left heart failure (n=5), cor pulmonale (n=3), and left heart failure groups (n=111), respectively. The BNP levels according to the subgroups of non-heart failure were 39, 21-101 pg/ml, 59, 10-129 pg/ml, and 15, 6-47 pg/ml for the COPD (n=20), other pulmonary diseases (n=56), and other causes groups (n=66), respectively. The BNP levels were significantly different according to the underlying etiology (p<0.001), and were significantly higher in the COPD patients with left heart failure than in those without (p=0.002). When the patients with no cardiovascular risk factor such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking or renal failure were analyzed, the BNP levels were also significantly higher in the patients with heart failure than in those without(p<0.001). When 133 pg/ml was designated as the BNP cut-off level the sensitivity for predicting heart failure was 73 percent and the specificity was 87 percent. Conclusion : BNP measurements are useful for determining the presence of heart failure in the patients presenting with acute dyspnea. The possibility of heart failure must be seriously considered in patients with high BNP levels even when they have a pre-existing pulmonary disease such as COPD or no risk factors for heart failure.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2024

Aortic dissection in pregnant patients results in an inpatient mortality rate of 8.6%. Owing to the pronounced mortality rate and speed at which aortic dissections progress, efficient early detection methods are crucial. Here, we highlight the importance of early chest computed tomography (CT) for differentiating aortic dissection from pulmonary embolism in pregnant patients with dyspnea. We present the unique case of a 38-year-old pregnant woman with elevated D-dimer and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, initially suspected of having a pulmonary embolism. Initial transthoracic echocardiography did not indicate aortic dissection. Surprisingly, after an emergency cesarean section, a chest CT scan revealed a DeBakey type I aortic dissection, indicating a diagnostic error. Our findings emphasize the need for early chest CT in pregnant patients with dyspnea and elevated D-dimer and NT-proBNP levels. This case report highlights the critical importance of considering both aortic dissection and pulmonary embolism in the differential diagnosis of such cases, which will inform future clinical practice.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.12
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• pp.519-522
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• 2013

Timely diagnosis of hyponatremia is important for preventing potential morbidity and mortality as it is often an indicator of underlying disease. The most common cause of eurvolemic hyponatremia is the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) secretion. Recent studies have demonstrated that proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL) $1{\beta}$ and IL-6 are involved in the development of hyponatremia, a condition that is associated with severe inflammation and is related to antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion. Serum sodium levels in hyponatremia are inversely correlated with the percentage of neutrophils, C-reactive protein, and N-terminal-pro brain type natriuretic peptide. Additionally, elevated levels of serum IL-6 and IL-$1{\beta}$ are found in inflammatory diseases, and their levels are higher in patients with hyponatremia. Because it is significantly correlated with the degree of inflammation in children, hyponatremia could be used as a diagnostic marker of pediatric inflammatory diseases. Based on available evidence, we hypothesize that hyponatremia may be associated with inflammatory diseases in general. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for augmented ADH secretion during inflammation, monitoring patient sodium levels, and selecting the appropriate intravenous fluid treatment are important components that may lower the morbidity and mortality of patients in a critical condition.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2008

Background: Circulating levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) provide prognostic information for patients with heart failure. The aim of our study was to investigate whether preoperative and postoperative BNP levels could predict postoperative complications and outcomes in patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Material and Method: Data was collected prospectively on 30 patients (M/F=19/11, age $60.0{\pm}9.6$ years) undergoing conventional CABG during a 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2005. Patients underwent off-pump CABG, and combined surgery was excluded. The BNP assay was performed preoperatively, immediate postoperatively at the intensive care unit (ICU), and 1, 3, 5, and 7days postoperatively. Result: Preoperative BNP levels significantly correlated with preoperative echocardiographic ejection fraction and an ICU stay of 5 days or more (r=-0.4, p=0.028; r=0.39, p=0.031, respectively). A preoperative BNP cut-off value above 263 pg/mL demonstrated high specificity (90.5%) for predicting postoperative complications using the receiver operating characteristics curves. Preoperative and postoperative (7 days) BNP levels were different depending on the abscence (mean BNP=$99{\pm}23\;pg/mL$ vs. $296{\pm}74\;pg/mL$, p<0.05) and presence (mean BNP=$212{\pm}29\;pg/mL$ vs. $408{\pm}23\;pg/mL$, p<0.01). Conclusion: Preoperative BNP levels >263 pg/mL predict postoperative complications in patients receiving CABG.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.256-264
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• 2022

Ischemic stroke is caused by an occlusion by a thrombus or embolus in a cerebral artery, preventing oxygenated blood from reaching the brain and causing the necrosis of nerve cells. This paper summarizes the serum candidate markers associated with cardiovascular disease and atrial fibrillation (AF) disease that enable an early diagnosis of ischemic stroke studied thus far and compares the odds ratio (OR) of each marker. This study examined the effect size of these serum candidate markers using meta-analysis techniques. The academic database search screening for articles containing the keywords "cardiovascular disease," "atrial fibrillation," "ischemic stroke," and "serum marker" was limited to results for patients with ischemic stroke. The most derived markers in this study were N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the rest being investigated individually. In conclusion, NT-pro-BNP appears to be very useful for the early diagnosis of ischemic stroke. Primarily, it is a marker of AF, and more AF markers will be uncovered and studied in the future.