D at 10, 25, and 40 degrees C ambient temperature, and (ii) that

D. at 10, 25, and 40 degrees C ambient temperature, and (ii) that the temperature predictions based on the Double Sensor temperature should differ by less than 1 PSI score from the calculations based on recordings of the rectal temperature. Twenty male subjects participated in the study. Rectal, nasopharyngeal, and skin temperatures, heat flux, and cardiovascular data were collected continuously during different experimental setups at ambient temperatures of 10, 25, and 40 degrees C. Depending on the protocols, the exercise intensities varied from 25% to 55% of the individual VO2max. A comparison of the recordings obtained

from the device under test with those of the rectal temperature revealed that (i) the recordings of the Double Sensor differed by -0.16 to 0.1 degrees AZD7762 C from the mean rectal temperature, (ii) the concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) during all work and rest periods rose with rising ambient temperatures (all work periods: 10 degrees C: 0.49; 25 degrees C: 0.69; 10 degrees C: 0.75: all rest periods: 10 degrees C: 0.39; 25 degrees C: 0.81; 40 degrees C: 0.74), and that (iii) the Double Sensor in the helmet showed that during all rest periods and in all ambient conditions, the temperature dropped much more quickly than what was recorded when taking the rectal temperature (p < 0.01). When we compared the PSI values based on the rectal temperature recordings

this website to those determined by the Double Sensor, it was found that (i) the PSI

based on the Double Sensor recordings differed by -0.27 to 0.17 from the mean PSI established by rectal temperature recordings. Furthermore, the CCC for the PSI rose during all work periods (10 degrees C: 0.81, 25 degrees C: 0.93, 40 degrees C: 0.87) and rest periods (10 degrees C: 0.68: 25 degrees C: 0.93; 40 degrees C: 0.79). In conclusion, under warm/hot environmental conditions the device under test provided a reliable method of assessing the PSI in operational environments to improve physiological situational awareness and safety in action. However, there are some limitations that reduce the device’s performance in cold environments; these need either to be investigated further. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Vgf, is a neuro-endocrine specific gene encoding for a large protein precursor of different peptides. A role for VGF in pain modulation has been suggested from immunohistochemical studies showing VGF mRNA widely expressed in primary sensory neurons. In this study, the presence of VGF on the primary sensory afferents in mice was confirmed by showing its immunostaining in cultured neurons of dorsal root ganglia in secretory granule varicosities colocalized with Substance R Moreover,the functional role of a C-terminal internal VGF-derived peptide, i.e. TLQP-21, was assessed by investigating its peripheral (1, 2, 4, 8 mM) and central (1, 2, 4 mM) effects on inflammatory pain in the formalin test.

In both extremities, lymphatic collateralization involved not onl

In both extremities, lymphatic collateralization involved not only the epifascial but also the subfiascial lymphatic system. In one patient, who sustained a trauma of the left lower leg with tibial fracture, a small aneurysmatic widening of 7 min could be detected at the middle level of the calf.

Conclusion: MR lymphangiography is a safe and accurate minimal-invasive imaging modality for

the evaluation of the lymphatic circulation in patients with posttraumatic edema of the lower extremities. If the extent of lymphatic damage is unclear at the initial clinical examination or requires a better definition for optimal therapeutic planning, MR lymphangiography is able to identify the anatomic and physiological derangements and to establish an objective baseline. (J Vasc Surg 2009;49:417-23.)”
“Riluzole is the only drug approved for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) but its precise mode of action is not properly understood. Liproxstatin-1 chemical structure Damage to axonal Elacridar nmr transport of neurofilaments is believed to be part of the pathogenic mechanism in ALS and this has been linked to defective glutamate handling and increased phosphorylation of neurofilament side-arm domains. Here, we show that riluzole protects against glutamate-induced slowing of neurofilament transport. Protection is associated with decreased neurofilament side-arm phosphorylation and

inhibition of the activities of two neurofilament kinases, ERK and p38 that are activated in ALS. Thus, the anti-glutamatergic properties

of riluzole include protection against glutamate-induced changes to neurofilament phosphorylation and transport. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: All surgical methods published to date for the ML323 manufacturer reduction of excessive high-flow in native elbow fistulas for dialysis have limitations. We report a new surgical approach to flow reduction by transposition of the radial artery to the elbow level.

Methods. From 1992 to 2008, 47 consecutive patients (22 women) with brachial artery to elbow vein autogenous fistula underwent flow reduction via replacement of brachial artery by transposed distal radial artery inflow. Fistulas were side-to-end either brachial-cephalic (19) or brachial-basilic (28). The indications were hand ischemia (4), cardiac failure (13), concerns about future cardiac dysfunction (23), and chronic venous hyertension resulting in aneurysmal. p degeneration of the vein (7). Mean patient age was 44 years, 11% were diabetic, 17% were smokers, and mean BMI was 22. Mean fistula age before flow reduction was 2.5 years.

Results. Technical success was 91% (43 of 47). The mean flow rate dropped by 66% +/- 14%. Clinical success in symptomatic patients was 75% (18 of 24). The fistula eventually had to be ligated in three cases of cardiac failure because of insufficient clinical improvement. All four patients with hand ischemia were cured, with no recurrence during follow-up.

NeuroReport 21:79-83 (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical

NeuroReport 21:79-83 (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical this website bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.”
“Purpose: We describe prolonged rectal manometry used to characterize rectal motor activity patterns and possible rectum-bladder interaction during defecation and micturition in children with nonneuropathic overactive bladder.

Materials

and Methods: We evaluated 10 children with a mean +/- SD age of 9.7 +/- 1.3 years with overactive bladder who underwent urodynamics and 24-hour rectal manometric recording. All records were analyzed visually. Rectal contractions were defined as pressure runs exceeding 5 cm H(2)O and lasting longer than 5 seconds.

Results: Three rectal motility patterns were noted in all children, including 1) slow tonic pressure waves with a frequency of 3 to 12 per hour, b) rectal motor complexes with a frequency of 3 to 10 per minute and c) single contractions 10 to 30 seconds in duration. The median nocturnal duration of rectal motor complexes was longer than

that during the day (16.3 minutes, range 10.8 to 18.8 vs 11.0, range 8.9 to 12.6, p <0.05). As a percent of time, median total contraction time was greater at night than during the day (51.9%, range 42.6% to 56.9% vs 30.6%, range 19.4% to 49.3%, p <0.05). Characteristic rectal activity was seen during defecation GSK J4 molecular weight and voiding but no bladder-rectum interaction was detected.

Conclusions: We identified 3 rectal motility patterns in all children with overactive bladder. Like the upper gastrointestinal tract, the rectum shows some periodic motor activity, which is more frequent at night. No association was observed between bladder and rectal activity during micturition and defecation.”
“Accurate time perception is crucial in peripheral vision especially for the spatial perception during actions. To investigate the dynamics of time perception in peripheral vision, parvocellular-biased

and magnocellular-biased flashes were presented at different eccentricities (0-48 degrees) in an interflash interval discrimination task. Results showed an increase in time compression with eccentricity for both stimuli (magnocellular-biased and find more parvocellular-biased flashes). Nevertheless, when stimulus visibility was equalized across the visual field, the increase in time compression was only found for magnocellular-biased stimuli. Thus, we suggest that the magnocellular pathway accounts for time underestimation. Moreover, its increase with eccentricity could be an inherent property of the magnocellular system more than a result of a decrease in stimulus visibility. NeuroReport 21:84-89 (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.”
“Purpose: We report intra-individual variability, related factors and the normal reference value of post-void residual urine in children.

When the role that individuals play in each interaction is chosen

When the role that individuals play in each interaction is chosen at random, our analysis shows that each individual receives a fraction corresponding to

at least 1/2-c of the resource at evolutionary equilibrium, where c represents the cost of postponing the interaction. A quasi-fair division thus evolves as long as c is low. We show that fairness, in this model, is a consequence of the existence of an outside option for dominated individuals: namely the possibility of playing on terms more favorable to them PS-341 purchase in the future if they reject the current interaction. We discuss the interpretation and empirical implications of this result for the case of human behavior. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Recently we described identification and characterization of GDSL esterase EstA from psychrotrophic bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp. 643A. Attempts to obtain heterologous overexpression of this enzyme in Escherichia coli system were not satisfactory. The EstA protein was expressed as inclusion bodies, most of that were inactive after purification step, and the recovery of esterolytic activity was very low after refolding. Based on the sequence analysis we found that the esterase EstA gene is clustered EGFR inhibitor with three genes encoding components of ABC transport system. These genes, designated abc1, abc2, and abc3 encode an ATP-binding protein (ABC1) and

two permease proteins (ABC2 and ABC3). In present study, to obtain larger amounts of the active cold-adapted EstA esterase from JNJ-64619178 purchase Pseudoalteromonas

sp. 643A, we designed a two-plasmid E. coli expression system where the gene encoding EstA enzyme was cloned into pET30b(+) expression vector and three genes encoding components of ABC transport system were cloned into pACYC-pBAD vector. It was shown that the created expression system was useful for extracellular production of active EstA enzyme which was purified from the culture medium. In the presence of all the three transporter proteins the secretion of EstA was at the highest level. When one or two of these components were missing, EstA secretion was also possible, but not so effective. It indicates that ABC2 and ABO proteins of Pseudoalteromonas sp. 643A could be replaced with their homologous proteins of E. coli. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“The perceptual processing of faces was studied using event-related potentials (ERPs) in 12 elderly patients with cognitive impairment, 15 elderly adults and 16 young adults in order to explore the sensitivity of N170/VPP to the cognitive decline associated to Alzheimer’s disease. Famous and unknown faces were presented in a familiarity categorization task. Eight patients and 11 elderly adults repeated this task to obtain longitudinal data. Topographical effects were analyzed using PCA.

We conclude that TH stimulates the maturation

of photorec

We conclude that TH stimulates the maturation

of photoreceptors in the avian retina. We propose that TH inhibits the expression of Islet2 and Lim3, which thereby permits photoreceptor maturation and the onset of photopigment-expression. (c) 2011 IBRO. Published by Elsevier this website Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: Controversy exists in ureterocele management and the literature lacks clear management guidelines. We surveyed pediatric urologists to understand practice patterns and perceptions of managing duplicated system intravesical ureterocele.

Materials and Methods: The survey consisted of 3 case scenarios, including upper pole obstruction without reflux, ureterocele without hydronephrosis and reflux after incision. The survey evaluated management at patient age 3 months and used a Likert scale to evaluate management strategies later in life.

Results:

We analyzed 233 responses. There was agreement in prophylactic antibiotic use and diagnostic evaluation. When managing a duplicated system intravesical ureterocele with poor upper pole function, 50.6% of respondents advocated puncture at age 3 months. However, when followed conservatively for 18 months, the preference changed to surgical management with partial nephrectomy preferred by 61.8% of respondents. When managing the condition without hydronephrosis, watchful waiting was preferred by 47.2% of respondents while 35.6% chose puncture and another 16.3% chose partial nephrectomy. MEK inhibitor Most respondents advocated ureteral reimplantation to manage reflux to the upper pole after puncture while some preferred endoscopic Deflux (R) injection. Continued nonoperative management while off

prophylaxis was not preferred. Most respondents viewed the risks of surgery and anesthesia as important factors when weighing options in children younger than Selleck Rabusertib 3 months. Preventing symptoms and preserving function of the renal units were significant factors guiding surgical intervention.

Conclusions: We found significant variation in management of duplicated system intravesical ureterocele. Most pediatric urologists see fewer than 10 cases per year, stressing the need for multi-institutional, randomized, controlled studies to evaluate management and long-term outcomes.”
“Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), a condition associated with mutations in the PHOX2B gene, is characterized by loss of breathing drive during sleep, insensitivity to CO(2) and O(2), and multiple somatomotor, autonomic, neuropsychological, and ophthalmologic deficits, including impaired intrinsic and extrinsic eye muscle control. Brain structural studies show injury in pericallosal regions and the corpus callosum (CC), which has the potential to affect functions disturbed in the syndrome; however, the extent of CC injury in CCHS is unclear. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based fiber tractography procedures display fiber directional information and allow quantification of fiber integrity.

Mutations clustering to either the N- or C-terminal (N- and C-ter

Mutations clustering to either the N- or C-terminal (N- and C-ter) portions of the protein have different consequences on the Oligomycin A protein function. In familial cases, the N-ter form is inherited with patients exhibiting long latency period before the onset of overt disease, typically with the acquisition of a C-ter mutation. Despite the essential insights murine models provide the functional consequences of wild-type C/EBP alpha in human hematopoiesis and how different mutations are involved in AML development have received less attention. Our data underline the critical role of C/EBP alpha in human hematopoiesis and demonstrate that C/EBP alpha mutations (alone

or in combination) are insufficient to convert normal human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells into leukemic-initiating cells, although individually each altered normal hematopoiesis. It provides the first insight into the effects of N- and C-ter mutations acting alone and to the combined effects of N/C double mutants. Our results mimicked closely what happens in CEBPA mutated patients.”
“To

demonstrate the utility of phage display in generating highly specific antibodies, affinity selections were conducted on 20 related Src Homology 2 (SH2) domains (ABL1, ABL2, BTK, BCAR3, CRK, FYN, GRB2, GRAP2, LYN, LCK, NCK1, PTPN11 C, PIK3R1 C, PLC gamma 1 C, RASA1 C, SHC1, SH2D1A, SYK Verteporfin in vivo N, VAV1 and the tandem domains of ZAP70). The domains were expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and used in affinity selection experiments. In total, 1292/3800 of the resultant antibodies were shown to bind the target antigen. Of the 695 further evaluated in specificity ELISAs against all 20 SH2 domains, 379 antibodies were identified with unique specificity (i.e. monospecific). Sequence analysis revealed that there were at least 150 different clones with 1-19 different antibodies/antigen. This includes antibodies that distinguish between ABL1 and

ABL2, despite their 89% sequence identity. Specificity was confirmed Dichloromethane dehalogenase for many on protein arrays fabricated with 432 different proteins. Thus, even though the SH2 domains share a common three-dimensional structure and 20-89% identity at the primary structure level, we were able to isolate antibodies with exquisite specificity within this family of structurally related domains.”
“Introduction: Dysregulation of adenosine 2A (A(2A)) receptor function in brain has been implicated in multiple psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, including schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease, making the development of an imaging agent to study A(2A) receptors in both healthy brain and disease states desirable. In this study, [I-123]MNI-420 was evaluated as a potential single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) radiotracer for imaging A(2A) receptors in brain.

The aim of this study was to investigate three main aspects of ex

The aim of this study was to investigate three main aspects of executive functions (EFs), i.e. shifting, updating and inhibition, in adolescents engaging in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) as compared with healthy controls.

Method. EFs were assessed using the lntra/Extradimensional Set Shift, the Spatial Working Memory (SWM) Test and the Stop Signal Test (SST) from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), in a high-severity NSSI group (n=33), a low-severity NSSI group (n=29) and a healthy control group (n=35).

Diagnostic characteristics were examined using the Kiddie-Sads-Present and Lifetime Version.

Results. There this website were group differences on the SWM Test. A trend towards an interaction effect of sex revealed that males in the high-severity NSSI group made significantly more errors than males and females in the control group. Both males and females in the high-severity NSSI group made GANT61 cost poor use of an efficient strategy in completing the test. The low-severity NSSI group performed poorly on the SST, making more errors than the control group and showing an impaired ability to inhibit initiated responses, as compared with the high-severity NSSI group.

There were group differences in frequencies of current and previous major depressive disorder. However, no effects of these diagnoses were found on any of the EF tests.

Conclusions. This study demonstrates that NSSI subgroups have distinct deficits in EFs. The high-severity NSSI group has working memory deficits, while the low-severity NSSI group has impaired inhibitory control. This supports the emotion regulation hypothesis.”
“Introduction: Myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death in western countries, and positron emission tomography (PET) plays an increasing role in the diagnosis and treatment planning for this disease. However, the absence of an F-18-labeled PET myocardial perfusion tracer hampers the widespread use of PET in myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). We recently reported Ralimetinib in vivo a potential MPI agent based

on F-18-labeled rhodamine B. The goal of this study was to more completely define the biological properties of F-18-labeled rhodamine B with respect to uptake and localization in an animal model of myocardial infarction and to evaluate the uptake F-18-labeled rhodamine B by cardiomyocytes.

Methods: A total of 12 female Sprague Dawley rats with a permanent ligation of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) were studied with small-animal PET. The animals were injected with 100-150 mu Ci of F-18-labeled rhodamine B diethylene glycol ester ([F-18]RhoBDEGF) and imaged two days before ligation. The animals were imaged again two to ten days post-ligation. After the post-surgery scans, the animals were euthanized and the hearts were sectioned into 1 mm slices and myocardial infarct size was determined by phosphorimaging and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining (TTC).


“Homodimeric archaeal histones and heterodimeric eukaryoti


“Homodimeric archaeal histones and heterodimeric eukaryotic histones share a conserved structure but fold through different kinetic mechanisms, with a correlation between faster folding/association rates and the population of kinetic intermediates. Wild-type hMfB (from Methanothermus fervidus) has no intrinsic fluorophores; Met35, which is Tyr in hyperthermophilic archaeal histones

such as hPyA1 (from Pyrococcus strain GB-3A), was mutated to Tyr and Trp. Two Tyr-to-Trp mutants of hPyA1 were also characterized. All fluorophores AZD2281 cell line were introduced into the long, central alpha-helix of the histone fold. Far-UV circular dichroism (CD) indicated that the fluorophores did not significantly alter the helical content of the check details histones. The equilibrium unfolding transitions of the histone variants were two-state, reversible processes, with Delta G degrees (H2O) values within 1 kcal/mol of the wild-type dimers. The hPyA1 Trp variants fold by two-state kinetic mechanisms like

wild-type hPyA1, but with increased folding and unfolding rates, suggesting that the mutated residues (Tyr-32 and Tyr-36) contribute to transition state structure. Like wild-type hMfB, M35Y and M35W hMfB fold by a three-state mechanism, with a stopped-flow CD burst-phase monomeric intermediate. The M35 mutants populate monomeric intermediates with increased secondary structure and stability but exhibit decreased folding rates; this suggests that nonnative interactions occur from burial of the hydrophobic Tyr and Trp residues in this kinetic intermediate. These results implicate the long central helix as a key component of the structure in the kinetic monomeric intermediates of hMfB as well as the dimerization transition state in the folding of hPyA1.”
“The selleck chemicals anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is a ubiquitously active brain region, doubtless reflecting a multiplicity of functions. Improved knowledge of such functions should progress understanding of disorders with established ACC involvement, including depression, apathy, and addiction. This theoretical paper proposes a hypothesis concerning

an original and important ACC function, namely that the ACC operates as part of distributed networks to which it contributes the representation of requirements. Such requirements are further suggested to proactively coordinate and organize processing in effector regions to achieve consummation, thereby implementing an optimal strategy. The ACC (predominantly Brodmann’s areas 24 and 32) is activated during states characterized by active requirements such as homeostatic perturbations, pain, desire, addiction, and cognition, and this is evidenced by systematic reviews of neuroimaging studies, and by neuropsychological findings. Further, ACC activity commences early in processing, and proactively influences processing in effector regions, further supporting the hypothesis.

e misclassification bias-recall bias, interviewer bias, observer

e. misclassification bias-recall bias, interviewer bias, observer bias, and regression dilution bias-and lead-time bias).”
“Single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied to the hand area of the left Tubastatin A in vitro primary motor cortex or, as a control, to the vertex (STIMULATION: TMS(M1) vs. TMS(vertex)) while right-handed volunteers silently read verbs related to hand actions. We examined three different tasks and time points for stimulation within the same experiment: subjects indicated with their left foot when they (i) had finished reading, (ii) had judged whether the corresponding movement involved a hand rotation

after simulating the hand movement, and (iii) had judged whether they would frequently encounter the action verb in a newspaper (TASK: silent reading, motor imagery, and frequency judgment). Response times were compared between TMS(M1) and TMS(vertex) both applied at different time points after stimulus onset (DELAY: 150, 300, 450, 600, and 750 ms).

TMS(M1) differentially https://www.selleckchem.com/products/jph203.html modulated task performance: there was a significant facilitatory effect of TMS(M1) for the imagery task only (about 88 ms), with subjects responding about 10% faster (compared to TMS(vertex)). In contrast, response times for silent reading and frequency judgments

were unaffected by TMS(M1). No differential effect of the time point of TMS(M1) was observed.

The differential effect of TMS(M1) GKT137831 ic50 when subjects performed a motor imagery task (relative to performing silent reading or frequency judgments with the same set of verbs) suggests that the primary motor cortex is critically involved in processing action verbs only when subjects are simulating the corresponding movement. This task-dependent effect of hand motor cortex TMS on the processing of hand-related action verbs is discussed with respect to the notion of embodied cognition and the associationist theory. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Mycophenolate mofetil is an immunosuppressive agent that blocks purine biosynthesis, inhibits T and B-lymphocyte and mesangial proliferation. Mycophenolate mofetil is not nephrotoxic

like calcineurin inhibitors and is widely used in solid-organ transplantation. Recently, mycophenolate mofetil has been introduced in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and primary glomerulopathies. This review analyzes the literature currently available on the treatment of primary glomerulopathies with mycophenolate mofetil. Encouraging results have been obtained in minimal change nephropathy where it may help to reduce the use of steroids in these patients who are often very young. The results obtained in medium and high risk patients with focal segmental glomerulonephritis and idiopathic membranous nephropathy were less encouraging. Conflicting results have been reported on IgA nephropathy in controlled trials.

This suggests testable hypotheses regarding a biological pathway

This suggests testable hypotheses regarding a biological pathway between genetic

variants and dysfunctional human maternal parenting. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Effect buy PLX4032 of cannabinoid CB1 receptor deletion on cocaine’s actions is controversial. This is partly based on findings in CB1-receptor-knockout (CB1(-/-)) mice with CD1 genetic background.

In the present study, we used CB1(-/-) mice with a C57BL/6J genetic background to further investigate the role of CB1 receptors in cocaine’s action.

Locomotor activity was assessed using AccuScan locomotor chambers. Brain extracellular dopamine (DA) levels were measured by in vivo microdialysis and by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry in the nucleus accumbens (NAc).

CB1(-/-) mice displayed a significant reduction in basal levels of locomotion and extracellular DA, as well as in cocaine-enhanced IWP-2 locomotion and extracellular DA, as compared to their wild-type (CB1(+/+)) littermates. The reduction in basal and cocaine-enhanced DA appears to be related to a reduction in basal DA release, not to an increase in DA clearance, as indicated by fast-scan cyclic voltammetry in brain slices. Pharmacological blockade of CB1 receptors by SR141716 inhibited locomotion and NAc DA release in CB1(+/+) mice.

The

present findings suggest an important role for CB1 receptors in mediating cocaine’s behavioral and neurochemical effects.”
“Background: Plasma concentrations of natriuretic peptides are often elevated in chronic hemodialysis patients and difficult to interpret due to accumulation, high incidence of cardiac disease and changes in volume status. Mid-regional pro-ANP is a newly developed assay whereas BNP and its fragment NT-pro-BNP are available for a longer time. In this cross-sectional study, we compared the plasma concentration of MR-pro-ANP, BNP and NT-pro-BNP in stable selleck chemical ambulatory hemodialysis patients (n = 239) and investigated their associations with clinical factors such as residual

diuresis, cardiac status and interdialytic weight gain and with mortality. Methods and Results: In all patients enrolled, the plasma concentration of all natriuretic peptides were largely elevated with a median concentration of 337 pg/ml (interquartile range 146-684) for BNP, 4435 pg/ml (1687-16228) for NT-proBNP and 907 pmol/L (650-1298) for MR-pro-ANP. Plasma concentration of all natriuretic peptides correlated independently with age, degree of systolic dysfunction and negatively with residual diuresis. Dependency on residual renal clearance was strongest for the fragments MR-pro-ANP and NT-pro-BNP. The plasma concentration of all natriuretic peptides was associated with mortality within 2 years of follow-up. Receiver-operated curves revealed a low sensitivity (32-45%), but high specificity for all natriuretic peptides (85-93%) resulting in a high negative predictive (82-87%).