Atrial Natriuretic Peptide and Acute Changes in Central Blood Volume by Hyperthermia in Healthy Humans.

Background: Hyperthermia induces vasodilatation that reduces central blood volume (CBV), central venous pressure (CVP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). Inhibition of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) could be a relevant homeostatic defense mechanism during hyperthermia with a decrease in CBV. The present study evaluated how changes in plasma ANP reflect the changes in CBV during hyperthermia.

Independent effects of both right and left ventricular function on plasma brain natriuretic peptide.

Background: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is increased in heart failure; however, the relative contribution of the right and left ventricles is largely unknown.

Aim: To investigate if right ventricular function has an independent influence on plasma BNP concentration.

Methods: Right (RVEF), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) were determined in 105 consecutive patients by first-pass radionuclide ventriculography (FP-RNV) and multiple ECG-gated equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography (ERNV), respectively.

BNP cannot replace gated equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography in monitoring of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxity.

Background: Cardiotoxity is a side-effect of cancer treatment with anthracycline that is currently monitored by measuring the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by gated equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography (RNV). We hypothesized that BNP measurements could replace, at least in part, the RNV examinations. Therefore, we studied whether BNP could be used, alone or in combination with RNV, in the monitoring of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxity.

Increased susceptibility to diet-induced obesity in histamine-deficient mice.

Background And Aim: The neurotransmitter histamine is involved in the regulation of appetite and in the development of age-related obesity in mice. Furthermore, histamine is a mediator of the anorexigenic action of leptin. The aim of the present study was to investigate a possible role of histamine in the development of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity.