A Novel 5'-Uncoding Region -1248 A>G Variation of Mitofusin-2 Gene Is Associated with Hypertension in Chinese

PURPOSE: Mitofusin2 gene (Mfn2, also named Hyperplasia suppressive gene, HSG) is very important in the origin and development of hypertension. However, the mechanism of Mfn2/HSG expression regulation was not uncovered. This study was designed to explore the association of a novel 5'-uncoding region (UCR) -1248 A>G variation of HSG/Mfn2 gene and hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 472 healthy, normotensive subjects [normotension (NT) group], 454 prehypertensive subjects [prehypertension (PH) group] and 978 hypertensive patients [essential hypertension (EH) group] were screened for an association study between 5'-UCR -1248 A>G of Mfn2/HSG and hypertension by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing after venous blood was drawn and DNA was extracted. RESULTS: When comparing the A and G frequency in EH, PH and NT groups, in total, NT group significantly had higher A frequency than in PH group [odds ratio (OR)=1.605, confidence interval (CI) 95%=1.063-2.242, p=0.025] and EH group (OR=5.395, CI 95%=3.783-7.695, pG variation was significantly related with blood pressure level (B=-1.271, Wald=40.914, CI 95%=-1.660 - -0.881, pG variation of Mfn2/HSG gene was a novel variation and may be associated with hypertension in Chinese.

A comparison of three diagnostic criterions for metabolic syndrome applied in a Chinese population aged 35-64 in 11 provinces / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the differences of three diagnostic criterions for metabolic syndrome( MS), issued by the National Cholesterol Education Program(NECP), International Diabetes Federation(IDF) and CDS,in a Chinese population aged 35-64 years in 11 provinces.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 29 564 Chinese resedents aged 35-64 years were recruited from 11 provinces and a survey on cardiovascular risk factors was conducted in 1992. Additionally,3129 participants were added into the study from 1996 to 1999. MS prevalence was calculated according to three definitions and results of MS components distributions and risk factor aggregation were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1)The age-adjusted prevalence of MS in Chinese population were 18.7% for ATP III criterion, 14.6% for IDF criterion and 9.0% for CDS criterion,respectively. (2)Seventy-seven point eight percent of the subjects with MS diagnosed by ATP II criterion presented central obesity. Four point six percent of subjects without MS diagnosed by IDF criterion and 11.2% of subjects without MS diagnosed by CDS criterion presented at least 3 risk factors, respectively. (3)Kappa index showed 0.795 for ATPIII criterion and 0.899 for IDF criterion when applied in Chinese population. (4)The shortest distance in ROC curve for forecasting risk factor aggregation of MS was 0.40 in male and 0.34 in female when waist circumferences were 85 cm in males and 80 cm in females respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ATPIII definition could be used to detect the highest prevalence of MS and the percent of risk factor aggregation among three definitions. The appropriate cut-off points of waist circumference for Chinese were 85 cm for male and 80 cm for female respectively.</p>

The epidemiologic study of hypertension in a Beijing urban population aged 60-74 years / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To study the prevalence of hypertension in a Beijing urban population aged 6074 years and to analyze the characteristics of hypertension distribution. Methods A(cross-sectional) study was carried out in the population consisting of 1175 people,and data of blood pressure,glucose,lipid and obesity were analyzed. Results (1) The age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was 60.5% in the Beijing elderly population.About two thirds of the hypertensive cases were taking prescribed medication(60.9%).Only one quarter of hypertension was controlled successfully(23.4%).(2)Compared with 60-64 age group,the prevalences of hypertension of 70-74 age group was increased by 30.3% in man and by 32.1% in women.(3) The prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly was 25.0%,accounting for 42.3% of hypertension in the elderly population.(4) Eighty-six percent of all elder hypertensive patients had one and more cardiovascular risk factor and more in addition to hypertension itself. Conclusions High blood pressure is a popular disease of cardiovascular disorders in Beijing elderly population.Isolated systolic hypertension is the main hypertension subtype in the elderly.Most of the elderly hypertension patients combine other cardiovascular disease risk factors.

The distribution of serum homocysteine and its associated factors in a population of 1 168 subjects in Beijing area / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To describe serum homocysteine distribution and its associated factors in population of urban and rural areas in Beijing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The study population was represented by a randomly selected sample with 1 168 subjects, including both males and females aged 35 - 64. The levels of serum homocycteine were compared and the correlation with other risk factors were analyzed statistically.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Geometric mean of serum homocycteine was 15.4 micromol/L in males and 12.2 micromol/L in females (P < 0.001). (2) There was a significant difference in homocysteine levels between urban population and rural population. Men from rural area had 1.5 times higher homocyteine than from urban (18.0 micromol/L vs 12.0 micromol/L, P < 0.001), while the rural women had 1.3 times higher homocysteine level than urban women did. (3) The prevalence rate of hyperhomocysteinemia was 15.3% in population aged 35 - 64 in Beijing area. (4) Gender, residential location (urban or rural), smoking and education had independent effects on level of serum homocysteine by multivariate analysis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Population in Beijing had higher serum level and prevalence rate of homocysteine than some western countries. Gender, geographic distribution, smoking and education had some influence on homocysteine level.</p>

Study on temporal patterns of stroke onset from community-based cohort in Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To Study the temporal patterns of stroke onset, and to provide insights into the triggers which might cause the acute onset of stroke and to develop preventive strategies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using a 10-year period of the SINO-MONICA-Beijing study cohort a total number of 700 000 people, aged 25 to 74 years was recruited. The diagnostic criteria exactly followed the WHO MONICA project. Date of the week, season and month occurrence of stroke were ascertained. Percentage of stroke onset on date in the week, season and month were calculated. chi(2) test was used to identify the deviation from expected frequencies. Multiple stepwise regression was carried out for multivariate analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Most stroke occurred and recurred (chi(2) = 7.02, P = 0.008 in male and chi(2) = 12.32, P = 0.000 4 in female) in winter. The most frequent occurrence on the dates of stroke events were Monday in the urbans and Saturday in the rurals. The finding were confirmed (the stroke occurrence and recurrence positively correlated with season, correlation coefficient 0.032, P = 0.01) by correlation and multiple stepwise regression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It was important to find out the circadian variation and the external triggering factors together with unhealthy behaviour of life that would contribute to the prevention and reduction of stroke onset.</p>

Trend analyses in the incidence of acute intracerebral hemorrhage events and acute cerebral infarction events in urban areas in Beijing / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the trends of incidence on acute intracerebral hemorrhage events and acute cerebral infarction events in the population aged 25 - 74 in urban areas of Beijing from 1984 to 1999.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In monitoring the trends and determinants in the cardiovascular disease (MONICA) project and subsequent study, acute intracerebral hemorrhage events and acute cerebral infarction events were registered in a standardized way in men and women aged 25 to 74 years from 1984 - 1999.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both intracerebral hemorrhage attack rates decreased but cerebral infarction attack rates increased significantly; The proportion of intracerebral hemorrhage events in stroke events decreased from 42.0% to 16.0% while the proportion of cerebral infarction events in stroke events increased from 55.8% to 81.6%, the changes in incidences of acute intracerebral hemorrhage events and acute cerebral infarction events in various age groups were different.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Cerebral infarction was the most important risk causing stroke, so prevention of cerebral infarction should be strengthened in the area.</p>