Recently an elevation of B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP) and its N-terminal fragment(NT-proBNP) in patients with aortic stenosis(AS) and aortic regurgitation(AR) has been described. The objective of this study was to ...Recently an elevation of B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP) and its N-terminal fragment(NT-proBNP) in patients with aortic stenosis(AS) and aortic regurgitation(AR) has been described. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relation of NT-proBNP values to the progression of aortic valve disease. Methods and results: One hundred and sixty-eight patients were included. NT-proBNP was elevated in patients with AS(n=109) and AR(n=37) linked to disease severity. Values for NT-proBNP, pressure gradient, and left ventricular mass were identical in patients(n=22) after previous valve replacement and in those patients with mild AS. NT-proBNP levels decreased in 86 patients after valve replacement(2292± 353 vs. 785± 101 pg/ml; P< 0.01) but increased in 82 patients who were treated conservatively(616± 120 vs. 1155± 432 pg/mL; P=0.029), related to the progression of disease. Conclusion: NT-proBNP is elevated in patients with aortic valve disease linked to disease severity and decreases after successful surgical therapy but increases in conservatively treated patients. These data underline the consistent relation of NT-proBNP to severity of aortic valve disease. Therefore, NT-proBNP should be considered as a biomarker for the monitoring of disease during follow-up, but further studies are warranted.展开更多
Background: Previously, we reported the efficacy of Lichtena - a phytocosmetic cream product- in atopic dermatitis (AD). Later, fraudulent triamcinolone acetonide (TACA) was detected at low doses (16- 40 μ g/g) in ...Background: Previously, we reported the efficacy of Lichtena - a phytocosmetic cream product- in atopic dermatitis (AD). Later, fraudulent triamcinolone acetonide (TACA) was detected at low doses (16- 40 μ g/g) in Lichtena. This suggested that TACA may be effective at much lower concentrations than used in commercial products (1,000 μ g/g). Objectives: To investigate the efficacy in AD of low- dose TACA in Lichtena compared to plain Lichtena. Methods: Fourteen patients presenting symmetrical lesions of AD were treated for 1 month with Lichtena plus 25 μ g/g TACA(= verum) and plain Lichtena (= placebo). The severity of the lesions was assessed by the Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) on days 0 (= baseline), 7, 14 and 28. Results: Already after 1 week of treatment, significant SCORAD differences to baseline were observed comparing verum- and placebo- treated areas. No improvementwas observed using plain Lichtena. Conclusions: TACA displayed a significant improvement of AD at doses up to 40 times lower than in commercial products.展开更多
文摘Recently an elevation of B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP) and its N-terminal fragment(NT-proBNP) in patients with aortic stenosis(AS) and aortic regurgitation(AR) has been described. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relation of NT-proBNP values to the progression of aortic valve disease. Methods and results: One hundred and sixty-eight patients were included. NT-proBNP was elevated in patients with AS(n=109) and AR(n=37) linked to disease severity. Values for NT-proBNP, pressure gradient, and left ventricular mass were identical in patients(n=22) after previous valve replacement and in those patients with mild AS. NT-proBNP levels decreased in 86 patients after valve replacement(2292± 353 vs. 785± 101 pg/ml; P< 0.01) but increased in 82 patients who were treated conservatively(616± 120 vs. 1155± 432 pg/mL; P=0.029), related to the progression of disease. Conclusion: NT-proBNP is elevated in patients with aortic valve disease linked to disease severity and decreases after successful surgical therapy but increases in conservatively treated patients. These data underline the consistent relation of NT-proBNP to severity of aortic valve disease. Therefore, NT-proBNP should be considered as a biomarker for the monitoring of disease during follow-up, but further studies are warranted.
文摘Background: Previously, we reported the efficacy of Lichtena - a phytocosmetic cream product- in atopic dermatitis (AD). Later, fraudulent triamcinolone acetonide (TACA) was detected at low doses (16- 40 μ g/g) in Lichtena. This suggested that TACA may be effective at much lower concentrations than used in commercial products (1,000 μ g/g). Objectives: To investigate the efficacy in AD of low- dose TACA in Lichtena compared to plain Lichtena. Methods: Fourteen patients presenting symmetrical lesions of AD were treated for 1 month with Lichtena plus 25 μ g/g TACA(= verum) and plain Lichtena (= placebo). The severity of the lesions was assessed by the Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) on days 0 (= baseline), 7, 14 and 28. Results: Already after 1 week of treatment, significant SCORAD differences to baseline were observed comparing verum- and placebo- treated areas. No improvementwas observed using plain Lichtena. Conclusions: TACA displayed a significant improvement of AD at doses up to 40 times lower than in commercial products.
