[NT-proBNP in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients]. / NT-proBNP en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica.

BACKGROUND: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is produced and released mainly from ventricles. It has several physiological actions. BNP has been shown to be useful for diagnosis and prognosis in heart failure. The aim of this study is to analyse NT-proBNP levels in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and to distinguish factors which could modify these levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive and prospective study was made. COPD patients admitted due to acute exacerbation of this disease at the Hospital Universitario Lozano Blesa (Zaragoza, Spain) were included from November 1st 2004 to May 1st 2007. We included 99 patients; they had not suffered heart failure and they did not present any exclusion criteria. Blood samples were taken to determine NT-proBNP concentrations. RESULTS: Mean age was 74 years and 79% of patients were men. Medium value of NT-proBNP was 1289 pg/ml. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.19. There were significant differences between NT-proBNP in patients with or without atrial fibrillation and depending on their age, but there were no differences between men and women nor between patients with or without renal insufficiency. CONCLUSION: COPD patients present high serum levels of NT-proBNP during acute exacerbations and these are modified with age and atrial fibrillation. NT-proBNP could be a prognostic factor identifying COPD patients at special risk, or with a worsening clinical evolution.

NT-proBNP en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / NT-proBNP in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

Introducción. El péptido natriurético cerebral (BNP) esun péptido de producción fundamentalmente ventricular,con múltiples acciones fisiológicas, cuyo principaluso clínico es el diagnóstico y estratificación pronósticade la insuficiencia cardiaca. El presente trabajo tienepor objeto analizar las concentraciones de NT-proBNPen una población con enfermedad pulmonar obstructivacrónica (EPOC) y su correlación con algunos parámetrosque las modifican en condiciones normales.Material y métodos. Estudio descriptivo, prospectivo, enel que se incluyeron de forma consecutiva pacientes conEPOC ingresados en el servicio de Medicina Interna delH.C.U. “Lozano Blesa” de Zaragoza, del 1 de noviembre de2004 al 1 de mayo de 2007, por una reagudización de su enfermedad,sin insuficiencia cardiaca y sin criterios de exclusión.Se incluyeron 99 pacientes, a los que se les extrajosangre en las primeras 72 horas para analizar NT-proBNP.Resultados. La edad media fue de 74 años, el 79% fueronhombres. El valor medio del NT-proBNP fue de 1.289 pg/ml. El índice de masa corporal (IMC) medio fue de 27,19.Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativasen las concentraciones de NT-proBNP en relacióncon la presencia o ausencia de fibrilación auricular yla edad, pero no hubo modificaciones con relación alsexo, IMC o la presencia de insuficiencia renal.Conclusiones. Los pacientes con EPOC presentan concentracioneselevadas de NT-proBNP durante las reagudizaciones,que se modifican en función de la edad y de lacoexistencia o no de fibrilación auricular. Ello podría tenerun valor pronóstico, constituyendo una herramienta deselección de los pacientes de riesgo o con peor evolución(AU)

Background. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is producedand released mainly from ventricles. It has severalphysiological actions. BNP has been shown to be usefulfor diagnosis and prognosis in heart failure. The aimof this study is to analyse NT-proBNP levels in chronicobstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and todistinguish factors which could modify these levels.Patients and methods. A descriptive and prospectivestudy was made. COPD patients admitted due to acuteexacerbation of this disease at the Hospital UniversitarioLozano Blesa (Zaragoza, Spain) were included fromNovember 1st 2004 to May 1st 2007. We included 99 patients;they had not suffered heart failure and they didnot present any exclusion criteria. Blood samples weretaken to determine NT-proBNP concentrations.Results. Mean age was 74 years and 79% of patientswere men. Medium value of NT-proBNP was 1289 pg/ml. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.19. There weresignificant differences between NT-proBNP in patientswith or without atrial fibrillation and depending ontheir age, but there were no differences between menand women nor between patients with or without renalinsufficiency.Conclusion. COPD patients present high serum levelsof NT-proBNP during acute exacerbations and theseare modified with age and atrial fibrillation. NT-proBNPcould be a prognostic factor identifying COPD patientsat special risk, or with a worsening clinical evolution(AU)

[The intake of proteins and essential amino acids in top-competing women athletes]. / Ingesta de proteínas y aminoácidos esenciales en mujeres deportistas de alta competición.

In a group of 84 sportswomen (19 karatekas, 20 handball and 20 basketball players and 25 middle- and long-distance runners) the intake of protein and essential amino acids was assessed, as well as the urinary excretion of urea and creatinine. Simultaneously, we have studied 82 women who did not underwent physical activity (control group). After a 7-days long recall, by means of the food weighing method, was assessed by a computerized program the daily average intake of: total energy, macronutrients, proteins of animal origin and essential amino acids. The determination of urinary urea and creatinine was made in a 24-hours sample. The protein intake was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in basketball and handball players and in the runners than in the control group. The protein intake related with the body weight (g/kg) was significantly higher in basketball players (p < 0.05) and in the runners (p < 0.01), taking both the sportswomen and the sedentary women quantities higher than 0.8 g/kg/day established as minimum allowances. The amino acids intake related with the body weight (mg/kg), exceeded widely in all the studied groups the minimum recommended for each of them, outstanding the values significantly high (p < 0,01) found for all the amino acids in the runners. Both for the urinary excretion of the urea and the creatinine, the highest values correspond to the runners. All the sportswomen have superior protein and essential amino acids intake in relation with women without physical activity. The higher body losses of nitrogen in the form of urea and creatinine found in the runners are due to their higher protein/kg of body weight intake.

[Lipids, lipoproteins, apoproteins and physical exercise in young female athletes]. / Lípidos, lipoproteínas, apoproteínas y ejercicio físico en jóvenes deportistas del sexo femenino.

Body composition, lipid, lipoprotein and apoprotein profiles were evaluated in 38 female adolescents, with ages from 11.5 to 15.0 years, and arranged in three groups: controls, swimmers and rhythmic gymnasts. Body composition showed evident differences when comparing gymnasts with controls and swimmers. Lowest levels for NEFA corresponded to gymnasts. HDL-C was higher in sports girls with respect to controls, mainly in gymnasts. Gymnasts appeared to have significantly higher Apo A1 differences when comparing them with controls and swimmers. HDL-C/CT, HDL-C/LDL-C, HDL-C/Apo A1/Apo B ratios demonstrated higher levels in sports girls, and mostly in gymnasts. Most significative correlations were found between body composition and Apo A1 and Apo A1/Apo B in control and swimming groups. Thus, physical activity at early ages has a beneficial effect on HDL-C and Apo A1 concentrations. Differences between sports girls and controls are more significantly revealed by lipid, lipoprotein and apoprotein relating ratios. Rhythmic gymnasts do seem to have a different lipidic pattern when compared to controls and swimmers.