ObjectiveTo discuss the relationship between microalbuminuria (MAU) and antioxidant activity of plasma hyper density lipoprotein (HDL) in hypertensive patients, and investigate whether MAU could be a predictor of HDL antioxidant activity. MethodFrom December 2007 to March 2009, sixty consecutive primary hypertensive patients from the inpatient and outpatient departments of West China Hospital and Sichuan Electric Power Central Hospital were included in the study, and 30 healthy volunteers served as controls. MAU, plasma HDL and paraoxonase (PON1) activity were tested. ResultsPON1 activity was lower in hypertensive patients than the controls (P<0.05), and this degree of decline was positively related to MAU (P<0.05). ConclusionMAU reflects PON1 activity in hypertensive patients and can be a predictor to judge plasma HDL function in patients with hypertension.
ObjectiveTo investigate on the antihypertensive therapy for hypertension patients in Wuhou District communities in Chengdu city and assess whether they have complied with the hypertension treatment guidelines. MethodsIn a survey of 1 539 community people, we selected 337 hypertensive patients who had detailed high blood pressure medication records. ResultsThe main characteristics of community hypertension treatment included higher proportions of single-drug therapy (70.3%), and traditional compound preparation (13.9%). Calcium channel blockers (CCB) and beta blockers were most commonly used in the dual step-down scheme (39.7%), while CCB, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and beta blockers were mostly used in step-down triple combination. The control rate was 46.7% after antihypertensive drug treatment in the community. ConclusionIt is necessary to carry out hypertension education, strengthen the training of doctors at the basic level with hypertension prevention and control guidelines to improve the rates of treatment and control of hypertension.
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of morning blood pressure surge in the evaluation of atherosclerosis by the observation of the relationship between morning blood pressure surge and ambulatory arterial stiffness index. MethodsFrom May 2011 to March 2013, we followed up 300 hypertensive patients who received ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and they were divide into elevated morning blood pressure surge group and non-elevated morning blood pressure surge group. The AASI value was recorded and compared between the two groups according to the grade of hypertension. ResultsMorning blood pressure surge was more common in patients with hypertension. Compared with patients in the non-elevated morning blood pressure surge group, ambulatory arterial stiffness index was significantly higher in patients in the elevated morning blood pressure surge group. ConclusionThere is a certain correlation between morning blood pressure surge and arterial stiffness, which is an important factor leading to a variety of target organ damage.
ObjectiveTo investigate the significance of using the term "high-normal blood pressure" and its intervention in the early stage. MethodsIn 1992 and 2007, we performed two similar investigations focusing on cardiovascular risk factors in 711 people in Chengdu city. Since 114 individuals were diagnosed with hypertension, 597 people without hypertension were eligible and divided into two groups:the normal-pressure[<120/80 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)] group and the high-normal blood pressure (systolic blood pressure 120-139 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure 80-89 mm Hg) group. Data in the two investigations were compared to explore the relationship among high-normal blood pressure, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension. ResultsThe high-normal blood pressure group had a higher level of CVD risk factors both in 1992 and 2007, and the 15-year cumulative incidence of hypertension in the high-normal blood pressure group was higher than that of normal-pressure group (91.2% vs. 22.2%, P<0.001). After adjusting for serum lipid, body weight and other CVD risk factors, high-normal blood pressure could predict the progression into hypertension[HR=5.354, 95% CI (4.094, 7.002), P=0.001]. There was no statistics difference in CVD prevalence in the two groups in 1992, but in 2007 the prevalence of CVD tended to be higher in the high-normal blood pressure group (6.6% vs. 3.1%, P=0.052). ConclusionHigh-normal blood pressure is a special stage of blood pressure with high level of CVD risk factors and high potential to progress into hypertension. The term should be emphasized and intervention should be done in the early stage for high-normal blood pressure people to prevent from hypertension and CVD.
ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 gene (ALDH2) polymorphism and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). MethodsFrom April 2013 to February 2014, 310 cases of carotid IMT thickening (IMT thickening group) from the physical examination center were included in the study and 280 cases of normal carotid IMT were regarded as controls. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. ALDH2 gene polymorphism was detected by DNA microarray method. ResultsGenotype distributions had no deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both groups. Compared with controls, the frequency of AA/AG genotypes (67.4%, 41.1%; P<0.01) and the frequency of A allele (37.9%, 22.3%; P<0.001) of ALDH2 gene were apparently increased in the subjects of IMT thickening group. There was a significant difference in the frequency distribution of genotype and allele in ALDH2 between the two groups. The logistic analysis showed that the ALDH2 gene polymorphism was associated with the increased carotid IMT [OR=2.381, 95%CI (1.356, 4.213), P=0.004]. ConclusionThe ALDH2 gene polymorphism is correlated with the increased carotid IMT in the Han population of China Sichuan. The ALDH2 gene polymorphism may play an important role in genetic susceptibility of increased carotid IMT.