ALDH2 Gene rs671 Polymorphism May Decrease the Risk of Essential Hypertension.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) rs671 G>A polymorphism can influence the activity of ALDH2 and may be associated with the risk of essential hypertension (EH). Although many previous studies have explored such a relationship, the conclusion is still controversial.The PubMed, Embase, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched on the ALDH2 gene and EH. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to evaluate the quality of the study. Then we calculated the strength of relationship between ALDH2 rs671 mutation and EH by utilizing odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Besides, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were performed and the publication bias was assessed.There were 12 studies containing 8153 cases and 10,162 controls. Our meta-analysis showed significant association between ALDH2 rs671 polymorphism and EH in four genetic models (the allele model, the homozygote model, the heterozygote model, and the dominant model), whereas it did not indicate this connection in the recessive model. However, a trend of decreased risk still could be seen. Furthermore, we also found an obvious association between rs671 mutation and the risk of EH in the male group than in the female group in all five genetic models.We concluded that ALDH2 rs671 G>A polymorphism may decrease the risk of EH. Furthermore, susceptibility to EH reduced in males but not in females. As a variant in ALDH2, rs671 G>A could be an attractive candidate for genetic therapy of EH. In addition, more case-control studies should be conducted to strengthen our conclusion and evaluate the gene-gene and gene-environment interactions between the ALDH2 gene and EH.

Association Between MTHFR C677T Polymorphism and Congenital Heart Disease.

Many published studies have evaluated the association between the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T (rs1801133) polymorphism and the risk of congenital heart disease (CHD); however, the specific conclusion is still controversial.To get a more accurate conclusion, we used a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between the MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism and the risk of CHD.Based on the design-based search strategy, a comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, OVID, Cochrane Library, Embase, Wanfang, CNKI, and Web of Science. We selected the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) to assess the quality of the included studies. We performed a heterogeneity test on the results of the study and calculated the combined odds ratios (ORs) and its corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) under a random- or fixed-effect model. Subgroup analyses were conducted by ethnicity, source of controls, sample size, and genotyping method. Sensitivity analysis was used to insure authenticity of this meta-analysis result. Egger's test and Begg's funnel plot were performed to detect publication bias.Eventually, our meta-analysis included 15 eligible studies. We observed a significant correlation between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and the development of CHD in the recessive model (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.06-1.71, P = 0.006) for the overall population. In subgroups stratified by ethnicity and source of controls, subgroup analyses indicated similar associations in Asians and hospital-based groups, but not for Caucasians and population-based groups. Egger's test and Begg's funnel plot demonstrated no significant publication bias in our study.Our analysis identified that MTHFR C677T allele is a risk genetic for CHD development, especially in Asians compared with Caucasians.