Localization of the polyol pathway in the human kidney.

Sorbitol plays an important role in the osmotic regulation of the mammalian kidney. Sorbitol synthesis is regulated by the enzyme aldose reductase (AR) and its degradation to fructose is catalyzed by the enzyme sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH). Various data exist on the polyol pathway on the rat kidney, but little is known about the distribution of the polyol pathway enzymes in the human kidney.

Plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide as a marker of right ventricular dysfunction in patients with tetralogy of Fallot after surgical repair.

Objective: Chronic heart failure is associated with neurohormonal activation that is not only related to outcome but is also a therapeutic target. We have attempted to demonstrate whether a similar pattern of neurohormonal activation exists in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) and, if so, whether it relates to disease severity determined by cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Methods And Results: Concentrations of N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), endothelin (ET)-1, renin, aldosterone, adrenalin, and noradrenalin were determined in 50 adults (mean age, 27.

Obstructive sleep apnea: Plasma endothelin-1 precursor but not endothelin-1 levels are elevated and decline with nasal continuous positive airway pressure.

Assessment of plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) reveals conflicting results in cerebral and noncerebral conditions. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome has been used as a definite challenge for the investigation of endothelin measurements. Despite marked sleep-related breathing disturbances in untreated patients peripherally measurable ET-1 concentrations remained within the normal range and did not change after an appropriate therapy with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Differential effects of theophylline on sympathetic excitation, hemodynamics, and breathing in congestive heart failure.

Background: Patients with heart failure have high levels of central sympathetic outflow and also have a high prevalence of sleep-related breathing disorders, predominantly central sleep apnea. The options for treating central sleep apnea in heart failure are limited and include theophylline. Whether theophylline alters sympathetic activity in heart failure patients is not known.