BACKGROUNDThe mechanisms responsible for the pathogeneses of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia are unclear. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a pro-inflammatory Th(1)-type cytokine. TNFA gene is located in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class III region of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6. The high TNF-alpha mRNA expression may be associated with the TNF2 (A) allele, which is the polymorphism of TNF-alpha at position -308 in promoter region. This study assessed whether the TNF2 (A) allele at position -308 plays a role in the alteration of blood pressure (BP) and urinary protein excretion during pregnancy.

METHODSThe original prospective cohort study comprised 1623 pregnant women from January 2000 to October 2001. The G/A polymorphism was done by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with Nco I enzyme.

RESULTSThe distributions of the G/A polymorphism of TNF-alpha in the promoter region at position -308 were wild-type 72.4% and variant 27.6%, respectively. The frequency of TNF2 (A) allele was approximately 0.15 for Caucasian pregnant women in the study. It was not significantly different in the distributions of genotypes and G/A allele frequencies among the three groups of pregnant women with gestational hypertension, preexisting hypertension and normal blood pressure (P > 0.05). The maternal blood pressure in the third trimester was significantly higher in the group of women possessing the TNF2 (A) allele compared to homozygous for the TNF1 (G) allele (systolic BP, P < 0.01 and diastolic BP, P < 0.05). The elevated blood pressure in the TNF2 (A) group was accompanied by higher urinary protein excretion in the third trimester (P < 0.05). The blood pressure and urinary protein excretion did not change apparently between the two groups in the first and second trimesters (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMaternal TNF2 (A) allele of TNF-alpha promoter region at position -308 could play a role in the alteration of blood pressures and/or enhancement of urinary protein excretion during pregnancy, and might play an important role in the development of both gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Prospective Studies ; Proteinuria ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the morbidity of hypertension and prehypertension and analyze the association between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure in Chinese college students.

METHODSThis epidemiological study involved 490 Chinese college students (aged 15-25 years, mean 18.9∓1.2 years), and their body height, body weight, blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. The BMI was divided into four groups according to Chinese population standard classification.

RESULTSMost students were southern Han Chinese. The incidences of overweight plus obesity and obesity were 12.9% and 4.1%, respectively. The morbidity of hypertension was 0.8% in this student population. The incidences of hypertension and pre-hypertension were higher in high BMI groups than those in low BMI groups. The systolic blood pressures were significantly higher in over-weight and obese groups than in the normal BMI and lean groups. BMI was positively correlated to systolic and diastolic blood pressures in this population.

CONCLUSIONHigh BMI is a predictor of elevated blood pressure in adolescent students.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Risk Factors ; Students ; Universities ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between HSD11B2 polymorphisms and fetal growth during normal pregnancy.

METHODSThe HSD11B2 promoter/G-209A, G-194C, G-151A and G-126A genotypes were examined in 33 samples from Chinese Han subjects by gene sequencing. HSD11B2 (CA)n microsatellite polymorphism in the first intron was detected in blood samples from 187 maternal and newborn pairs by PCR-capillary electrophoresis.

RESULTSAll the HSD11B2 promoter/G-209A, G-194C, G-151A and G-126A genotypes were wild-type GG. The offspring birth weight and any ultrasound parameters describing late gestational fetal body shape were not significantly different between maternal or fetal SS, SL and LL groups or combined SS+SL and LL groups. When considering the relevant confounding factors (gestational age at delivery, newborn's gender, maternal body mass index before pregnancy, maternal weight at delivery and maternal age), the offspring birth weight and late pregnancy ultrasound parameters were still not associated with the maternal or fetal HSD11B2 (CA) n microsatellite polymorphisms.

CONCLUSIONSFetal and maternal HSD11B2 polymorphism is not related to fetal growth during normal pregnancy.

11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 ; genetics ; Birth Weight ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Fetal Development ; genetics ; Genotype ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of maternal hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier status on the occurrence of preterm birth.

METHODSWe analyzed pregnancy-related complications, outcomes and fetal growth index in 188 HBsAg positive singleton pregnant women during the period of May 2009 to July 2011, with 265 HBsAg-negative women with singleton pregnancies in the same period serving as controls.

RESULTSThe HBsAg-positive pregnant women showed a significantly higher incidence of placenta praevia than the control group (2.66% vs 0%, P=0.03), and the incidence of preterm delivery (<37 weeks) was also significantly higher in HBsAg-positive group (12.23% vs 6.04%, P=0.02). The incidences of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, abnormal glucose tolerance, premature rupture of membranes, cesarean delivery, and postpartum hemorrhage showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05), nor did the fetal birth weight, height, head circumference or Apgar scores at 1, 5, and 10 min (P>0.05). Logistic regression identified HBsAg positivity, abnormal ALT, placenta praevia, and severe preeclampsia as the risk factors for preterm delivery.

CONCLUSIONHBsAg carrier status can increase the risk of preterm delivery in pregnancy, but it does not seem to affect the fetal growth.

Adult ; Carrier State ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; Premature Birth ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult