One of the most advanced and complex multi-criteria decision-making methods is the analytic network process (ANP). This method supports modelling dependencies and feedback between elements in the network. For this reason, the ANP is one of the most appropriate methods for making decisions in fields that are characterised by existing dependencies of higher-level elements on lower level elements....

The effects of eel atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) on drinking were investigated in eels adapted to freshwater (FW) or seawater (SW) or in FW eels whose drinking was stimulated by a 2-ml hemorrhage. An intra-arterial infusion of ANP (0.3-3.0 pmol ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1), which increased plasma ANP level 1.5- to 20-fold, inhibited drinking dose dependently in all groups of eels. The drinking rate recov...

To test the hypothesis that chronic infusion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) instituted before hypoxic exposure attenuates the development of pulmonary hypertension in hypoxia adapted rats, ANP (0.2 and 1.0 microgram/h) or vehicle was administered intravenously via osmotic minipump for 4 wk beginning before exposure to 10% O2 or to room air. Low dose ANP increased plasma ANP levels by only ...

Reduced circulating natriuretic peptide concentrations are independently associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, while increased natriuretic peptide levels appear to be protective. Observations in vitro and in heart failure patients suggest that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) promotes adiponectin release, an adipokine with insulin sensitizing properties. We tested the hypothes...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) protects against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced damage of cultured hepatocytes, thus suggesting a therapeutic potential in the liver. Therefore, the effects of ANP on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury after warm ischemia were studied. METHODS Livers of male Sprague-Dawley rats subjected to 60 minutes of warm ischemia at 37 degrees C were perfu...

The natriuretic peptide system consists of at least three endogenous ligands: atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), and three receptors, ANP-A receptor (guanylate cyclase A), ANP-B receptor (guanylate cyclase B) and clearance receptor (C receptor). ANP, the prototype of natriuretic peptides, is mainly produced in the atrium and s...

The introduction of D-amino acid residues into peptide hormones has been traditionally utilized in structure-activity studies to probe the conformational requirements of ligand-receptor interactions. A study was undertaken to examine the effect of D-amino acid substitutions into the atrial natriuretic peptide molecule on interactions with distinct subpopulations of specific membrane-associated ...

We tested the hypothesis that the anti-inflammatory actions of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) result from the modulation of leukocyte adhesion to inflamed endothelium and not solely ANP ligation of endothelial receptors to stabilize endothelial barrier function. We measured vascular permeability to albumin and accumulation of fluorescent neutrophils in a full-thickness skin wound on the flank...

The main objective of this study was to find out if the reported changes in the aldosterone-suppressant activity of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) during different hormonal states in rats are due to a modulation of ANP receptors. In zona glomerulosa cells, ribonuclease protection assay detected mRNAs for guanylate cyclase (GC)-coupled ANP GC-A and GC-B receptors, and for ANP C receptors, whic...