B-type natriuretic peptide secretion without change in intra-cardiac pressure.

Objective: In clinical cardiology, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is used as a non-invasive surrogate marker for intra-cardiac filling pressures, particularly in patients with heart failure. It is unknown whether and to what extent increase in intravascular volume and/or sympathetic tone while maintaining constant intra-cardiac pressures leads to an increase in levels of BNP in vivo.

Design And Methods: We aimed to test this hypothesis in an experimental in vivo model of patients directly after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting admitted to the intensive care unit.

Normal anatomy, variants and pitfalls on shoulder MRI.

MR imaging of the shoulder is widely used for assessment of impingement and instability-related clinical conditions. The following review article demonstrates the normal anatomy, variations and classical pitfalls. In addition to classical pitfalls (sublabral hole, sublabral recess, Buford complex) the authors focus on a number of normal, bony, cartilaginous, ligamentous and tendinous structures that can simulate disease at the shoulder.