The Role of B-Type and Other Natriuretic Peptides in Health and Disease.
By Ashok Krishnaswami, MD, FACC

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are specifically useful in differentiating the etiology of shortness of breath between left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, acute congestive heart failure (CHF), and pulmonary dysfunction without CHF. The primary responsibility of natriuretic peptides (NP) is the maintenance of sodium and water homeostasis and vasomotor tone. Both atrial NP and BNP decrease plasma volume and blood pressure in response to an increased tension of the atrium or ventricle, respectively, but reflect LV function, mass, and load more than volume status.
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Prognostic Factors for Long-Term Survival after Glioblastoma.
By Mohammad Sami Walid, MD, PhD

Long-term survivors of glioblastoma are rare. Several variables besides tumor size and location determine a patient’s survival chances: age at diagnosis, where younger patients often receive more aggressive multimodal treatment; functional status, which has a significant negative correlation with age; and histologic and genetic markers.
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