The Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Genetic Variant rs5068 Is Associated With a Favorable Cardiometabolic Phenotype in a Mediterranean Population
OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that the minor allele of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) genetic variant rs5068 is associated with a favorable cardiometabolic phenotype in a general Mediterranean population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We genotyped a random sample of the residents of Ventimiglia di Sicilia, Sicily, for rs5068. RESULTS Genotype frequencies of rs5068 are AA, 93.5%; AG, 6.4%; and GG, 0.1%. All subsequent analyses are AA versus AG+GG. After adjusting for age and sex, the minor G allele is associated with lower BMI (estimate [SE]: −1.7 kg/m2 [0.8], P = 0.04). In the AG+GG group, males with HDL cholesterol levels <40 mg/dL are less frequent (P = 0.05) and obesity tends to …
Comparison of right ventricular longitudinal strain imaging, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and cardiac biomarkers for early diagnosis of cardiac involvement and risk stratification in primary systematic (AL) amyloidosis: a 5-year cohort study: reply.
Aims To determine the role of assessing right ventricular (RV) function, using standard echocardiography and Doppler myocardial imaging (DMI), in the early diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis and in the prediction of mortality. Methods and results Patients with primary systemic (AL) amyloidosis seen at our institution from 1 February 2004 through 31 October 2005 (N = 249) were categorized by left ventricular thickness and E′ velocity and compared with 38 age- and sex-matched controls. Standard echocardiographic and DMI examination were used to measure echocardiographic parameters of RV function: systolic tissue velocity, strain rate, and strain were determined for basal and middle RV free wall…
The ANP Genetic Variant RS5068 is Associated With a Favorable Cardiometabolic Phenotype in a Mediterranean Population
Introduction: Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) possesses cardiorenal protective properties including natriuresis, aldosterone suppression and vasodilation. Importantly, ANP also exerts lipolytic effects in vitro and in vivo. Previous studies reported that the ANP genetic variant rs5068 is associated with increased plasma levels of ANP, lower blood pressure values, and reduced risk of hypertension. We recently reported that in a random sample of the general population from Olmsted County, MN the G allele of rs5068 was associated with increased levels of ANP, lower blood pressure and BMI, waist circumference, reduced prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome. To date, these associations ha…
Impact of cardiac rehabilitation exercise program on left ventricular diastolic function in coronary artery disease: a pilot study.
Abstract Diastolic dysfunction is common in coronary artery disease (CAD). Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) improves survival and quality of life but its effect on diastolic function is unclear. We sought to determine the impact of CR on diastolic function. We conducted a prospective study of CAD patients referred for 3-month outpatient CR, with pre-CR and post-CR echocardiograms. Twenty-five outpatients (age [mean ± SD], 66 ± 11 years; 7 [28 %] women; 22 [88 %] with recent acute coronary syndrome) were recruited upon beginning CR; one patient lacking follow-up was excluded from analysis. Before CR, patients' mean ejection fraction was 61 ± 7 %; regional wall motion score index wa…
Human Hypertension Is Characterized by a Lack of Activation of the Antihypertensive Cardiac Hormones ANP and BNP
ObjectivesThis study sought to investigate plasma levels of circulating cardiac natriuretic peptides, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type or brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), in the general community, focusing on their relative differences in worsening human hypertension.BackgroundAlthough ANP and BNP are well-characterized regulators of blood pressure in humans, little is known at the population level about their relationship with hypertension. The authors hypothesized that hypertension is associated with a lack of activation of these hormones or their molecular precursors.MethodsThe study cohort (N = 2,082, age >45 years) was derived from a random sample from Rochester, Minnesota, …
Genetic variants of ANP and cardiometabolic protection: from populations to novel therapeutics
Background The cardiac hormone atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) induces natriuresis, vasodilation and inhibits aldosterone through the activation of the guanylyl cyclase A receptor (GC-A) and the second messenger cGMP. ANP possesses also metabolic properties enhancing lipolysis and release of the adipokine adiponectin. Previous studies in general populations reported that the minor G allele of the ANP genetic variant rs5068 is associated with increased circulating levels of ANP and B-type natriuretic peptide, lower blood pressure (BP), and reduced risk of hypertension. We recently reported that in the general population from Olmsted County, MN, USA the G allele of rs5068 is associated not o…
Cardiac Micro–Computed Tomography Imaging of the Aging Coronary Vasculature
Background— Alterations at the level of the coronary circulation with aging may play an important role in the evolution of age-associated changes in left ventricular (LV) fibrosis and function. However these age-associated changes in the coronary vasculature remain poorly defined primarily due to the lack of high resolution imaging technologies. The current study was designed to utilize cardiac micro–computed tomography (micro-CT) technology as a novel imaging strategy, to define the 3-dimensional coronary circulation in the young and aged heart and its relationship to LV fibrosis and function. Methods and Results— Young (2 months old; n=10) and aged (20 months old; n=10) Fischer rats unde…