Fatty acid compositions of cholesteryl esters in 113 male adults of 4 nationalities in 5 districts in China were analyzed. Fatty acid patterns of cholesteryl esters in different population groups were similar, though some variations were observed which seemed to be caused by the difference in diet. The correlations of serum cholesteryl ester fatty acids with the quality and quantity of dietary fat and with the serum lipid levels were discussed.

Objective To study the characteristics of lipid level classification and phenotyping of Beijing professional populations. Method 4 033 cases (M/F=2 835/1 198, aged 40～91) were enrolled in the study. Lipid levels were classified according to the "Recommended guidelines for prevention and treatment of dyslipidemia" of China (1997) and NCEP ATPⅢ(2001) of US. Results High prevalence of lipid abnormality was found in Beijing populations, only 1/3 cases had desirable cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) level in the groups with age above 50, and more than half of the subjects had high TC levels at this age, the occurrence of high TG was much less than high TC. Hyperlipoproteinemia typeⅡa was 2～3 times more than type Ⅳ.Decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was found in 20% male subjects, but only 5% in females. The prevalence of high level HDL-C was found in 25%～39% of female groups, and 10%～14% in male groups. High HDL-C was usually associated in cases with high TC, but low HDL-C was usually seen in high TG cases.Conclusion The results showed that the prevalence of lipid abnormality was as high as 2/3 of the studied subjects above age 50, it means that the cardiovascular disease risk is high in this population, Lipid modification may be beneficial to primary prevention of coronary artery disease.

AIM: To investigate whether the circadian mRNA expression of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components (ATNG、AT_1R、AT_2R) in myocardium is correlated with left ventricular hypertrophy in both spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and renal hypertensive rats (RHR). METHODS: The model of RHR was established using 2K1C (two-kidney one clip). SHR, RHR, and normotensive control rats (CON) were housed in a separate environment-controlled room for two weeks, in which a strict 12-hour light/12-hour dark cycle regimen was enforced (lights on at 900, zeitgeber time [ZT0]). Rats were killed every 4 hours from 900 am (ZT0) to 500 pm (ZT20) on three separate days. We examined the circadian mRNA expression of ATNG、AT_1R、AT_2R in the hearts of SHR, RHR and CON rats by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Heart weight to body weight ratios and left ventricle weight to heart weight ratios indicated a significant increase in SHR and RHR compared with normotensive rats. The cardiac mRNA expression of the RAS components showed circadian oscillations in SHR, RHR and CON rats. The amplitudes of these circadian fluctuations were greater in the SHR and RHR than in the CON rats. The mRNA levels of the RAS components were increased in the SHR and RHR compared with the CON rats at many time points. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that overexpression and enhanced amplitudes of circadian fluctuations of RAS components in SHR and RHR may play a role in the development of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Objective To investigate long-term biological variability of serum lipids in Chinese. Methods Serum lipids in a Chinese population with relatively stable life styles were monitored with standardized measurements for 1 year (specimens were taken bimonthly) (23 subjects) or 10～15 years (yearly) (100 subjects). Results The total intra-individual variability (analytical and biological variations combined) of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol averaged 10%, 28%, 16% and 18%, respectively. Conclusion Biological intra-individual variability is a major source of inaccuracy of cardiovascular risk assessments based on lipid measurements. Measures need to be taken to minimize biological variation when medical decisions are to be made in the treatment of lipid disorders.