title: [Application of brain natriuretic peptide in evaluation of cardiac function in forensic medicine].
abstract: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a major marker for evaluating cardiac function and has been widely used in clinical practice. Recent researches show that BNP is also useful for identification of sudden cardiac death in forensic pathology. This article reviews the molecular structure and biological characteristics of the BNP and its application as a functional indicate in forensic medicine. It shows that the expression of BNP in cardiac muscles, together with the expression of BNP in blood and pericardium liquid can be used to evaluate the pathological physiology changes and dysfunction degrees of the heart during the cardiac sudden death.
authors.affiliation: School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China. shangyigaoweimin@126.com
authors.forename: Wei-Min
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Rui-Ming
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Zhong-Bo
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: Bao-Ll
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001344:Autopsy; D015415:Biomarkers; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010496:Pericardium / Q000378:metabolism; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain