BACKGROUND: There are several risk factors in the development of arteriosclerosis, including lipid parameters, inflammatory markers, and hemostatic factors. Efforts should be undertaken to identify the relationship among risk factors and underlying mechanisms of arteriosclerosis to improve long-term survival in dialysis patients. This study was performed to evaluate correlations among these risk factors and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). METHODS: Seventy-seven CAPD pateints (M: 50, F: 27; mean age 52.8+/-12.4 years) were enrolled in this study. We measured blood level of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA-1), apolipoprotein B (apoB), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, d-dimer, von Willebrand factor (vWF), and cTnT monthly for three times. Thallium SPECT was performed in 32 of 77 patients. RESULTS: Significant positive correlation was found between CRP and fibrinogen (r=0.71, p<0.001). CRP was also positively correlated with vWF (r=0.29, p=0.01). Significant inverse correlation was observed between prealbumin and CRP (r=-0.33, p=0.004). HDL-C and apoA-1 were also inversely correlated with CRP (r=-0.26, p=0.04; r=-0,27, p=0.02) and apoB was positively correlated with CRP (r=0.24, p=0.02). Multivariate analysis revealed that fibrinogen, prealbumin, HDL-C, and apoA-1 correlated independently with CRP. In patients with diabetes (n=35), cTnT levels were sigificantly higher than those in patients without diabetes (p<0.001), whereas albumin and prealbumin levels were significantly lower in patients with diabetes than those in patients without diabetes (p<0.001, p=0.002). Serum apoB, triglyceride, and total cholesterol were higher among patients with positive results in thallium SPECT than those with negative results. CONCLUSION: It seems that inflammation is associated with an enhanced cardiovascular risk profile such as hemostatic factors and apolipoproteins. cTnT may be a useful predictive marker for mortality in dialysis patients.
Apolipoprotein A-I ; Apolipoproteins B ; Apolipoproteins* ; Arteriosclerosis ; C-Reactive Protein* ; Cholesterol ; Dialysis ; Fibrinogen ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Prealbumin ; Risk Factors ; Thallium ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Triglycerides ; Troponin T* ; Troponin* ; von Willebrand Factor

Paraoxonase (PON) has anti-atherogenic activity. Considering the important role of polymorphism in the genetic susceptibility to cardiovascular disease and the variability of its allele frequencies in different ethnic groups, the distribution of genotypes and allele frequencies of PON1M55L, PON1Q192R, PON2A148G, and PON2S311C polymorphisms was analyzed in a total 988 South-western Koreans and determined their effects on lipid parameters. The genotype distribution of PON1 at position 55 was LL=0.886, LM=0.114; and at position 192 was QQ=0.406, QR=0.594. The frequencies of the PON1 55L allele and the PON1 192R allele were similar to those seen in Chinese populations and Western populations, respectively. The genetic distribution of PON2 at position 148 was AA=0.619, AG=0.345, GG=0.035; and at position 311 was CC=0.035, SC=0.345, SS=0.619. The frequencies of the PON2 148G and 311S alleles were similar to those seen in Chinese populations. The concentrations of LDL and ApoB were significantly different between the PON2A148G (P<0.05) and PON2 S311C polymorphisms (P<0.01). PON polymorphisms and allele frequencies were described in Koreans living south-western part of Korea. These ethnic variations are considered important in the interpretation of diseases associated with PON polymorphisms.
Aged ; Apolipoproteins B/analysis ; Aryldialkylphosphatase/*genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics ; Cardiovascular Diseases/genetics ; Cholesterol, LDL/analysis ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Polymorphism, Genetic

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To study the relationship between the polymorphism of the variable number of tandem repeats region 3' of the apolipoprotein B gene (3'APOB-VNTR) and serum lipid levels in the Guangxi Heiyi Zhuang population.

<b>METHODSb>A total of 548 people of Heiyi Zhuang nationatity were surveyed by a cluster sampling. Epidemiological data were collected and serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels were measured. The genotypes and alleles of the 3' APOB-VNTR were determined by polymerase chain reaction combined with gel electrophoresis, and then analyzed by direct sequencing in the most common alleles. The results were compared with those in 496 people of Han nationality also live in that district.

<b>RESULTSb>There were 19 alleles of the 3'APOB-VNTR in both ethnic groups. They were hypervariable elements (HVEs) 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62 and 64, but HVEs 56 and 58 in Heiyi Zhuang nationality and HVEs 48 and 62 in Han nationality were not be detected. The most common allele is HVE32 in Heiyi and Zhuang nationality (25.9%), and HVE34 in Han nationality (27.2%). The frequencies of HVEs 26, 30, 46, heterozygote, and short alleles (< 38 repeats, S) were higher in Heiyi Zhuang nationality than in Han nationality, whereas the frequencies of HVEs 34, 38, 40, homozygote, and long alleles (>or= 38 repeats, L) were lower in Heiyi Zhuang nationality than in Han nationality. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein (apo) B in Heiyi Zhuang nationality were higher in VNTR-LS (carrier of one long and one short alleles) than in VNTR-LL genotypes (the individual carrying two long alleles) genotypes. The levels of TC, triglycerides, HDL-C and apo B in Heiyi Zhuang nationality were also higher in homozygotes than in heterozygotes. There were no significant differences in the detected lipid parameters between the VNTR-SS (carrier of two short alleles) and VNTR-LS or VNTR-LL genotypes in both ethnic groups.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>The 3'APOB-VNTR polymorphism is found to be significant difference between Heiyi Zhuang nationality and Han populations, and is associated with the serum lipid levels in Heiyi Zhuang nalionality but not in Han nationality.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apolipoproteins B ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; DNA ; analysis ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minisatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; Young Adult

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To determine the effectiveness of an instant haw beverage in regulating lipid disturbance, enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity and immune function.

<b>METHODSb>Data was collected from 60 hyperlipidemic subjects. In this crossover design, each subject randomly received either the instant haw beverage (100 ml corresponding to 3 g of haw powder or 30 g of fresh haw fruit plus the carrier-guar gum plus some starch) or placebo (guar gum 1.5 g plus some starch as the carrier of the beverage) twice daily. Each supplementation lasted 31 days with a 28-day washout period between treatments.

<b>RESULTSb>The instant haw beverage significantly reduced total serum cholesterol (9.6%), triglyceride (12.1%), LDLC (18%) while significantly increased SOD activities (7.5%). The placebo was shown to have positive results in some of the lipid profiles, though the effects of the instant haw beverage demonstrated greater significance. Serum triglyceride levels were significantly decreased and SOD activity significantly increased only as subjects were supplemented with the instant haw beverage while no significant changes were seen with placebo.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>Supplementation with the instant haw beverage positively affects blood lipid profile, antioxidant status and immune function in individuals with hyperlipidemia.

Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport ; Adult ; Aged ; Antioxidants ; Apolipoprotein A-I ; blood ; Apolipoproteins B ; blood ; Beverages ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cross-Over Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; drug therapy ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proteins ; analysis ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Triglycerides ; blood

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To investigate the relationship between G1025C (Try316Ser) polymorphism in exon 8 of apolipoprotein H (apoH) gene and stroke and to evaluate the effect of G1025C(Try316Ser) polymorphism on plasma lipid levels in Changsha Hans.

<b>METHODSb>G1025C (Try316Ser) polymorphism in apoH gene was determined by PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing in 100 healthy controls, 260 patients with stroke, and 20 stroke pedigrees. Serum antiphospholipid antibody (APA) levels were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma lipid levels were measured by routine methods.

<b>RESULTSb>No statistically significant differences were found in frequencies of genotypes and alleles of G1025C (Try316Ser) polymorphism between the controls and stroke patients. The serum levels of TG in the GC genotype of cerebral infarction patients and controls were markedly higher than those in GG genotype.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>There was no association betweenG1025C (Try316Ser) polymorphism and stroke in Changsha Hans. G1025C (Try316Ser) polymorphism was associated with plasma lipid metabolism in Changsha Hans.

Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Apolipoprotein A-I ; blood ; Apolipoprotein B-100 ; Apolipoproteins B ; blood ; Base Sequence ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; complications ; Cerebral Infarction ; complications ; China ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Lipoprotein(a) ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation, Missense ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Stroke ; blood ; etiology ; genetics ; Triglycerides ; blood ; beta 2-Glycoprotein I

Quality control for genetic tests has become more important as testing volume and clinical demands have increased dramatically. The diagnostic genetics subcommittee of Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service conducted two trials in 2014 based on cytogenetics and molecular genetics surveys. A total of 44 laboratories participated in the chromosome surveys, 33 laboratories participated in the fl uorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) surveys, and 130 laboratories participated in the molecular genetics surveys as a part of these trials. All laboratories showed acceptable results in the chromosome and FISH surveys. The molecular genetics surveys included various tests: Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection, hepatitis B and C virus detection and quantification, human papilloma virus genotyping, gene rearrangement tests for leukaemia and lymphomas, genetic tests for JAK2, FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3, nucleophosmin, cancer-associated genes (KRAS, EGFR, KIT, and BRAF), hereditary breast and ovarian cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2), Li-Fraumeni syndrome (TP53), Wilson disease (ATP7B), achondroplasia (FGFR3), Huntington disease, spinocerebellar ataxia, spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke like episodes, myoclonic epilepsy ragged red fibre, Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, fragile X syndrome, nonsyndromic hearing loss and deafness (GJB2), multiple endocrine neoplasia 2 (RET), Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (major mutation), apolipoprotein E genotyping, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotyping, ABO genotyping, and DNA sequencing analysis. Molecular genetic surveys showed excellent results for most of the participants. The external quality assessment program for genetic analysis in 2014 proved to be helpful for continuous education and the evaluation of quality improvement.
Achondroplasia ; Acidosis, Lactic ; Apolipoproteins ; Breast ; Cytogenetics ; Deafness ; Education ; Epilepsies, Myoclonic ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 ; Fragile X Syndrome ; Gene Rearrangement ; Genetics* ; Hearing Loss ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; Humans ; Huntington Disease ; In Situ Hybridization ; Korea ; Li-Fraumeni Syndrome ; Lymphoma ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; Molecular Biology ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; Muscular Disorders, Atrophic ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Papilloma ; Quality Assurance, Health Care ; Quality Control ; Quality Improvement ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias ; Stroke

The Diagnostic Genetics Subcommittee of Korean Association of External Quality Assessment Service conducted two trials in 2015 based on cytogenetics and molecular genetics surveys. A total of 43 laboratories participated in the chromosome surveys, 31 laboratories participated in the fluorescence in situ hybridization surveys, and 133 laboratories participated in the molecular genetics surveys. All except one laboratory showed acceptable results in the cytogenetics surveys. The molecular genetics surveys included the following tests: Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection, hepatitis B and C virus detection and quantification, human papilloma virus genotyping, gene rearrangement tests for leukaemias and lymphomas, genetic tests for JAK2, FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3, nucleophosmin, cancer-associated genes (KRAS, EGFR, KIT, and BRAF), hereditary breast and ovarian cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2), Li-Fraumeni syndrome (TP53), Wilson disease (ATP7B), achondroplasia (FGFR3), hearing loss and deafness (GJB2 ), multiple endocrine neoplasia 2 (RET), Huntington disease, spinocerebellar ataxia, spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke like episodes, myoclonic epilepsy ragged red fibre, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, fragile X syndrome (FMR1), apolipoprotein E genotyping, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotyping, ABO genotyping, cytochrome P450 2C9 genotyping, cytochrome P450 2C19 genotyping, and DNA sequencing analysis. The molecular genetics surveys showed excellent results for most of the participants. The external quality assessment program for genetics analysis in 2015 proved to be helpful for continuous education and the evaluation of quality improvement.
Achondroplasia ; Acidosis, Lactic ; Apolipoproteins ; Breast ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Cytogenetics ; Deafness ; Education ; Epilepsies, Myoclonic ; Fluorescence ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 ; Fragile X Syndrome ; Gene Rearrangement ; Genetics* ; Hearing Loss ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; Humans ; Huntington Disease ; In Situ Hybridization ; Korea* ; Li-Fraumeni Syndrome ; Lymphoma ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; Molecular Biology ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; Muscular Disorders, Atrophic ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Papilloma ; Quality Improvement ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias ; Stroke

Quality control for genetic tests has become more important as the test volume and clinical demands increase dramatically. The diagnostic genetics subcommittee of the Korean Association of Quality Assurance for Clinical Laboratories performed two trials for cytogenetics and molecular genetics surveys in 2013. A total of 43 laboratories participated in the cytogenetic surveys, 30 laboratories participated in the fluorescent in situ hybridization surveys, and 122 laboratories participated in the molecular genetics surveys in 2013. Almost all of them showed acceptable results. However, some laboratories had unacceptable results for karyotype nomenclature, detection of complex cytogenetic abnormalities in hematologic neoplasms and constitutional anomalies. The molecular genetics surveys included various tests: Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection, hepatitis B and C virus detection and quantification, human papilloma virus genotyping, gene rearrangement tests for leukaemia and lymphomas, genetic tests for JAK2, fms-related tyrosine kinase 3, Nucleophosmin, cancer-associated genes (KRAS, EGFR and BRAF), hereditary breast and ovarian cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2), Li-Fraumeni syndrome (TP53), Wilson disease (ATP7B), achondroplasia (FGFR3), Huntington disease, spinocerebellar ataxia, spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke like episodes, myoclonic epilepsy associated with ragged-red fibers, Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, Fragile X syndrome, non-syndromic hearing loss and deafness (GJB2), apolipoprotein E genotyping, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotyping, ABO genotyping and DNA sequence analysis. Molecular genetic surveys showed excellent results for most of the participants. The external quality assessment program for genetic analysis in 2013 was proved to be helpful for continuous education and evaluation of quality improvement.
Achondroplasia ; Acidosis, Lactic ; Apolipoproteins ; Breast ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; Deafness ; Education ; Fragile X Syndrome ; Gene Rearrangement ; Genetics* ; Hearing Loss ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; Humans ; Huntington Disease ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotype ; Korea ; Li-Fraumeni Syndrome ; Lymphoma ; MERRF Syndrome ; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) ; Molecular Biology ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; Muscular Disorders, Atrophic ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Papilloma ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Quality Control ; Quality Improvement ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias ; Stroke