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.
ObjectiveFor better health interventions, blood pressure control and reducing risk of cardiovascular events, we explored the effects of health education by nurses on hypertension patients after discharging. MethodsHypertensive discharging-patients from the department of cardiology of the West China Hospital of Sichuan University were enrolled from January to October in 2011. They were divided into two groups, including a health education group and a control group. The patients in the health education group were given all-side care, health guidance, education lectures and telephone follow-up by nurses. The control group got no intervention. After one year follow-up, the information about situation of blood pressure control, new-onset cardiovascular events and changes of life habits were collected from the two groups. SPSS 19.0 was used to perform statistic analysis. ResultsA total of 300 discharged hypertensive cases were included, with 150 cases in each group. The systolic blood pressure of patients in the health education group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Both blood control rates and the habit of low salt intake in the health education group were also better than those of the control group (both P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in changes of smoking, drinking, physical exercise and new-onset cardiovascular events between the two groups. ConclusionHealth education by nurses could effectively improve the management of blood pressure in patients with hypertension.