The present invention is based upon the observation that inhibition of NPR-C Signaling pathway leads to the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Accordingly, the invention provides a mouse model for PAH, and proposes a method of using synthetic analogs of the NPR-C signaling pathway, specifically synthetic C-type atrial natriuretic factor or intermediates for, or modulators of, the NPR-C signaling pathway as anti-pulmonary vasculopathy agents. Activators of the NPR-C signaling pathway are disclosed to treat or prevent vasculopathy, including but not limited to PAH and other types of pulmonary hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, critical limb ischemia, coronary artery disease, and diabetic vasculopathy.

Provided herein are methods for assessing a disease score of a subject suffering from or suspected to be suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or associated disease mechanisms, wherein the disease score represents COPD activity or a risk of a severe acute COPD event or mortality. The disease score can be used to stratify the subject into a specific risk category and can further inform patient management decisions. The methods can involve determining a biomarker signature including two or more biomarkers associated with COPD or COPD mechanisms. In some cases, the methods include timing of collection of patient samples with respect to acute event or treatment course. Further provided herein are methods for identifying and/or treating subjects having a greater risk of developing COPD exacerbations.

Measurement of circulating ST2 and natriuretic peptide (e.g., NT-proBNP) concentrations is useful for the prognostic evaluation of subjects, in particular for the prediction of adverse clinical outcomes, e.g., mortality, transplantation, and heart failure.

The invention relates to method of diagnosing stage B2 degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) in a dog, a method of determining the probability of a dog having stage B2 DMVD, a method of training a model to predict stage B2 DMVD in a dog, and a related computer program and system.

Provided are an antibody that binds specifically to N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and use thereof. An antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, which binds specifically to an epitope of NT-proBNP including the amino acid sequence of HXLGXXX (SEQ ID NO: 2), may detect NT-proBNP, which is a heart disease biomarker, and heart disease can also be effectively diagnosed by using the same.

The current methods and compositions relate to treatment of atrial fibrillation with bucindolol in patients, including patients with heart failure, after being determined to be homozygous Arg389 in the β.sub.1 adrenergic receptor gene.

The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing atrial fibrillation in a subject, said method comprising the steps of a) determining the amount of total NT-proBNP in sample from the subject, b) determining the amount of unglycosylated NT-proBNP in a sample from the subject, c) calculating a score of the amounts determined in steps a) and b), d) comparing the calculated score with a reference score, and e) diagnosing atrial fibrillation in a subject.

NT-proBNP can be determined in a biological sample using at least one antibody which recognizes an epitope of NT-proBNP in both a glycosylated and non-glycosylated form of NT-proBNP. Said antibody is preferably an isolated polyclonal antibody or a mixture of monoclonal antibodies coated onto a particle, preferably coated onto said particle in a coating ratio of 6-60%, forming a layer or multiple layers of antibodies on said particle. The assay, realized in the form of a nephelometric or turbidimetric assay, can be applied to a wide range of automated clinical analyzers.

The invention relates to a method for determining whether a subject diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease should be prescribed a remote patient management, the method comprising measuring particular biomarkers in a sample from said patient. The invention therefore relates to a method for therapy guidance, stratification and/or monitoring of a remote patient management for a patient diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease, comprising providing at least one sample of a patient, determining a level of at least one biomarker selected from the group consisting of proADM, proBNP and proANP or fragment(s) and comparing said level of the at least one biomarker to one or more reference values, wherein said level is indicative of prescribing or not prescribing a remote patient management for said patient. In some embodiments a low benefit level of the at least one biomarker is indicative of not prescribing a remote patient management, whereas in some embodiments a high benefit level of the at least one biomarker is indicative of prescribing a remote patient management. In some embodiments the cardiovascular disease is heart failure, in particular a chronic heart failure that has led to a hospitalization within the last 12 months.

A specific and sensitive in vitro ELISA assay and diagnostic test kit is disclosed for determining levels of NT-proBNP protein in a variety of bodily fluids, non-limiting examples of which are blood, serum, plasma, urine and the like. The NT-proBNP ELISA assay test employs the sandwich ELISA technique to measure circulating NT-proBNP in human plasma. In order to obtain antibodies with specific binding properties for targeted amino acid sequences within human proBNP, recombinant human proBNP (or rhproBNP) was expressed and purified for use as an immunogen. Polyclonal antibodies (PAb) to specific amino acid sequences were subsequently purified from goat serum by sequential affinity purification. Monoclonal antibodies were raised against specific polypeptides. Recombinant human NT-proBNP (or rhNT-proBNP) was expressed and purified in order to obtain material for use in calibration of a quantitative method for measurement of human NT-proBNP.