NPPB and cardiac hypertrophy: Cardiac hypertrophy is accompanied by alterations within cardiomyocytes including calcium handling, metabolism and gene expression (atrial natriuretic peptide—ANP, brain natriuretic peptide—BNP), as well as cell death (e.g., apoptosis), and changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) (fibrosis) and angiogenesis [16].