Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate whether PRDM16 gene polymorphisms were associated with dyslipidemia. Methods The polymorphisms of rs2651899, rs2236518, rs870171, and rs2282198 in PRDM16 gene in 528 participants were genotyped by the method of snapshot or ligase detection reaction. The genotype differences and the allele differences between the case group and the control group were analyzed. Linkage disequilibrium analysis was performed with SHE-sis online software. The interaction between rs2651899, rs2236518, rs870171, rs2282198 and gender, age, BMI were analyzed by MDR software. Results The frequency of allele A in rs2651899 locus was significantly higher in low HDL-C group compared with that in control group[OR(95%CI)=1.32(1.02-1.71), P=0.033]. The frequency of A/C genotype in rs870171 was significantly different between LDL-C abnormal group and control group[OR(95% CI)=1.97(1.01-3.86), P=0.037]. There may be interaction between rs2236518 and sex, which is a risk factor for low HDL-C[Model Ⅱ: OR(95% CI)=1.958(1.366-2.809), P<0.01]. There may be interactions among rs2651899, rs2236518, rs870171, and rs2282198, which seemed to be risk factors for lower HDL-C[Model Ⅳ: OR(95% CI)=3.991(2.707-5.884), P<0.01]. rs870171, rs2282198 may have interaction with age, which is a risk factor for high LDL-C [Model Ⅶ: OR(95%CI)=3.991(2.707-5.884), P<0.01]. Conclusion Allele A of rs2651899 may be a risk factor to low HDL-C. Under the codominant inheritance patterns, genotype A/C of rs870171 may be a risk factor to high LDL-C. In addition, there may be interaction between SNPs with gender and age.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate Norovirus infection status among patients with virus diarrhea in Xiamen city and provide evidence for exploring the prevalence characteristics and constituting appropriate control strategy.From April 2007 to July 2008,323 fecal samples of virus diarrhea cases collected from 3 surveillance hospitals in Xiamen were detected for antigen and RNA by ELISA and Real-Time RT-PCR respectively.The RdPd genes from some samples were furtherly amplified and sequenced for genogroup identification when the Real-Time RT-PCR detection results were positive.In the 323 fecal specimens,68 (21.05%) were positive for Norovirus antigen by ELISA and 107 (31.13%) were positive for Norovirus RNA by Real-Time RT-PCR.The overall positive prevalence rate of Norovirus in Xiamen was 38.08%.107 positive specimens were detected by Real-Time RT-PCR and results showed that 80 strains were Norovirus GGⅡ(74.77%),2 strains were GGⅠ(1.87%) and 25 strains (23.36%)were unidentified.It's indicated that Norovirus infection in Xiamen district was mainly caused by Norovirus GGⅡ,and Norovirus was also the main cause for virus diarrhea.

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and safety of 5 mg perindopril arginine salt and 4 mg perindopril tert-butylamine salt for patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

METHODSThe study was designed as multicenter, randomized, double-blind, active controlled trial with two parallel groups enrolling 524 participants with mild to moderate essential hypertension. After 2-week run-in period, 186 patients were enrolled and randomly treated with 5 mg perindopril arginine salt and 183 patients were enrolled and randomly treated with 4 mg perindopril tert-butylamine salt. The random sequence was generated by the I.R.I.S., and a balance was made in each center. After double-blind treatment for 8 weeks, the dose could be doubled for patients with uncontrolled BP ((SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg) and patients were treated for another 4 weeks.

RESULTSThe sitting SBP was similarly decreased by (19.9 ± 17.2) mmHg in perindopril arginine group and (18.5 ± 14.7) mmHg (P = 0.000 5) in perindopril tert-butylamine group post 8 weeks treatment. Dose was doubled in 109 patients (59.9%) in perindopril arginine group and 116 patients (63.7%) in perindopril tert-butylamine group. At 12 weeks post therapy, the sitting SBP decreased by (19.8 ± 16.2) and (19.6 ± 16.3) mmHg respectively in the 2 groups. The decrease of sitting DBP was also similar in both groups (-12.0 ± 10.0) mmHg and (-11.0 ± 8.9) mmHg (P < 0.000 1), respectively. The control rate or response rate was also similar between the two groups (control rate over 8 weeks was 38.5% vs. 31.3%, 95% CI (-2.6-16.9), control rate over 12 weeks was 36.3% vs. 35.7%, 95% CI (-9.3-10.4), response rate over 8 weeks was 64.3% vs. 63.2%, 95% CI (-8.8-11.0), response rate over 12 weeks was 65.9% vs. 64.8%, 95% CI (-8.7-10.9)). Incidence of adverse events was low and similar in both therapy groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe results show that perindopril arginine salt 5 mg is as efficient as perindopril tert-butylamine 4 mg on lowering BP for patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Both drugs have good safety profile and are well tolerated by patients in this cohort.

Antihypertensive Agents ; Arginine ; Blood Pressure ; Butylamines ; Double-Blind Method ; Essential Hypertension ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Perindopril ; Sodium Chloride

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of occult HBV infection in the normal population in Xiamen.

METHODS4 437 registered permanent residents, aged 1-59 years old, were selected in Xiamen using stratified random sampling method from September to October in 2006. Serum samples were obtained, the basic characteristics, inoculation of HBV vaccine, and liver disease were surveyed. The serum samples were tested five HBV seroimmunological markers. The HBsAg-negative specimens were subjected to HBV-DNA detection by nested PCR targeting for multiple gene segments. The amplified products were sequenced and the sequence was used for determination of HBV genotype and mutation analysis of amino acids located in HBsAg "a" epitope. Subjects with serum detectable HBV-DNA and negative result of HBsAg were considered as occult HBV infection.

RESULTSAmong the 4 437 subjects, 482 individuals were observed HBsAg positive and 3 944 were observed negative. Of the 3 955 HBsAg- negative specimens, 27 occult HBV infections were determined with the positive rate of 0.68% (27/3 955). There were 16 samples with genotype B and 11 with genotype C. 3 types of amino acid (AA) mutation (M133T, T140I, G145R) that influence "a" epitope conformation were observed in 9 subjects with occult HBV infection. S region was successfully sequenced in 312 of the 482 HBsAg positive samples. In subjects with occult HBV infection, the infection rate of genotype C HBV (40.74%, 11/27), inoculation rate of HBV vaccine (62.96%, 17/27), positive rate of HBsAb (51.85%, 14/27), and mutation rate of critical amino acid of "a" epitope (33.33%, 9/27) were higher than HBsAg positive individuals (22.76% (71/312), 13.78% (43/312),0.32% (1/312),0.99% (31/312), respectively), and all the difference were significant (χ(2) = 4.29, 41.26, 156.00, 13.07, respectively, and P value = 0.038, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, respectively). While the average age in subjects with occult HBV infection (18.3 ± 16.2) were lower than that in HBsAg positive infection (34.4 ± 11.6), and the difference was significant (t = 6.67, P < 0.001). The reactive rate of HBeAb (11.11%, 3/27) and HBcAb (62.96%, 17/27) in subjects with occult HBV infection were lower than that in HBsAg positive infection (74.36% (232/312), 98.40% (307/312)), and the difference were significant (χ(2) = 46.74, 73.78, respectively, and P value <0.001, <0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONIn normal population in Xiamen, the infection rate of genotype C, the positive rate of HBsAb, the HBV vaccination rate, and the key AA mutation rate in "a" epitope are significantly higher in occult HBV infection than in HBsAg positive infection, and the age, the positive rate of HBeAb and HBcAb are significantly lower.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; diagnosis ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Infant ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Prevalence ; Vaccination