NPPB and heart failure: In subjects with AMI, Cer(d18:1/16:0), Cer(d18:1/18:0), and Cer(d18:1/24:1) levels and their ratios to Cer(d18:1/24:0) were evaluated, demonstrating for the first time a correlation of Cers with multivessel disease (an index of disease severity), ejection fraction—EF (index of left ventricular contractility), wall motion score index—WMSI (an index of wall motion), and brain natriuretic peptide—BNP (index of wall strain and dysfunction) in an AMI cohort, evidencing a close link between Cers and left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure (HF).