NPPB and metabolic syndrome: Patients with focal myocardial 18F-FDG uptake had significantly higher N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT proBNP) plasma levels than other groups (Table 1); otherwise, no significant differences were observed between groups in the prevalence of active malignancies and baseline characteristics (age, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, positive family history, known CAD, previous myocardial infarction (MI), previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)/coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), clinical symptoms, and medical treatment) (Table 1).