Is a novel promoter variant of the natriuretic peptide clearance receptor gene associated with lower atrial natriuretic peptide and higher blood pressure in obese hypertensives?
A common 'ancestral' C(-55) variant of the NPRC P1 promoter is associated with lower ANP levels and higher SBP and MBP in obese hypertensives. The C(-55) variant, in the presence of increased adiposity, might reduce plasma ANP through increased NPRC-mediated ANP clearance, contributing to higher blood pressure.
All donor cells age during circulation in the fetus. However, after the transfusion interval, the donor RBC population remaining is apparently younger than the RBC population before transfusion. This results from a preferential disappearance of older donor RBCs and not from a linear loss of cells with time. The removal of older RBCs before the transfusion may increase the time between transfusions and thereby reduce the total number of transfusions required.