Objective To investigate the relation between brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) rs198388 polymorphism and the susceptibility of essential hypertension in Han population of Hunan. Methods A total of 567 patients with hypertension (the hypertension group) and 555 healthy volunteers (the control group) were enrolled. Gender, age, smoking and drinking history of the 2 groups were not significantly different. Blood pressure was measured in the 2 groups. After fasting for 12 h or more, blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured. DNA polymorphism analysis was done by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method, and genotype was determined by agarose gel electrophoresis. Results The GG, GA, and AA genotypeswere detected.The frequencies of GA and AA genotypes and A allele were significantly lower in the hypertension group (GA and AA:12.3%;A:6.9%) than those in the control group (GA and AA:18.4%; A:9.7%; P=0.009, and P=0.014, respectively). Conclusion BNP rs198388 polymorphism may be associated with essential hypertension in Han people in Hunan. Carrying rs198388 GA and AA genotypes and A allele may be the reason for low risk of hypertension.

Objective To determine the effect of losartan on vascular remodeling and the underlying mechanism in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR). Methods SHR of 12 weeks old were given losartan orally [0,15,30 mg/(kg·d),n=12]. The tail arterial pressure was measured every week.Eight weeks later, the pathological changes and p22phox expression in the thoracic aorta, the activity of catalase (CAT), the contents of H2O2 and AngⅡ in the plasma were evaluated. Results Blood pressure was increased in the SHR accompanied by the thickened wall and increased p22phox expression in the thoracic aorta. The plasma levels of H2O2 and AngⅡwere elevated while the CAT level was decreased in the SHR. Administration of losartan reversed the thickened wall and increased the CAT activity concomitantly with the decreased plasma levels of H2O2 and p22phox expression in the SHR. The plasma level of AngⅡincreased after the losartan treatment. Conclusion Oxidative stress induces the vascular remodeling of the aorta in the SHR. Losartan can reverse the vascular remodeling through down-regulating p22phox expression and inhibiting the oxidative stress.

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of reiniosidc C (RC) on asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)-induced soluble interacellular adhesion molecule-1 (slCAM-1) expression and its mechanisms. Methods Human umbical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC 12) were cultured.The level of slCAM-1 in the conditioned medium was determined by ELISA. Changes in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were determined by measuring the oxidative conversion of cell permeable 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) to fluorescent dichlorofluorescein (DCF) in fluorospectro- photometer, and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) DNA-binding activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA). Results sICAM 1 expressions [(138.02±16.40), (194.52±11.14), (274.28±13.11)ng/L]and the generation of ROS[(75.64±5.22),(100.18±11.15),(107.23±13.45)units] in HUVEC-12 were time dependently increased by ADMA (30 μmol/L). Furthermore, thc generation of ROS [(85.33±8.68), (70.69±7.65),(59.12±4.15)units], activation of NF-κB activity and expression of sICAM-1 [(336.58±23.32),(203.27±25.18) ,(174.13±14.53)ng/L] induced by ADMA were inhibited by reinioside C (1,3,10μmol/L) in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was found to be the same by L-arginine (0.5 mmol/L) as NOS substrate and by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) (10 μmol/L)as inhibitor of NF-κB.Conclusions Reinioside C attenuates the increase of sICAM-1 induced by exogenous ADMA

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between myeloperoxidase (MPO) gene polymorphism and coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Several databases were used to retrieve relevant literature up to March 2013 by keywords. A Meta-analysis was performed by Stata12.0 software to estimate the pooled odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity among studies was tested and sensitivity analysis was applied. Publication bias was examined using Begg's funnel plot and Egger's linear regression test. RESULTS: A total of 17 studies were included in this Meta-analysis. For MPO -463 G/A polymorphism, the pooled OR of A allele vs G allele was 0.58 [95% CI (0.47-0.72)] and the pooled OR of genotypes AA+AG vs GG was 0.58 [95% CI (0.46-0.72)]. In subgroup analysis of study population, AA and AG genotypes were significantly associated with CAD in Asians but not in Europeans. The MPO -463 G/A polymorphism in the stable angina pectoris subgroup was evaluated in 3 studies and the pooled OR of A allele vs G allele and genotypes AA+AG vs GG for proven CAD was 0.45 [95% CI (0.15-1.37)] and 0.57 [95% CI (0.19- 1.65)]. For MPO -129 A/G gene polymorphism, the pooled OR of genotype GG vs AA+AG was 0.91 [95% CI (0.74-1.10)]. CONCLUSION A allele of MPO -463 G/A gene is associated with decreased risk of CAD except in the Europeans. There is no association between MPO -129 A/G gene polymorphisms and CAD risk.
Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Coronary Artery Disease ; genetics ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Peroxidase ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT) G-390A genetic polymorphism with risk of essential hypertension (EH) in Changsha Han people. METHODS: A case-control association study was performed in 400 patients with essential hypertension (EH) and 388 normotensive subjects. PNMT G-390A was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-FRLP). RESULTS: The genotype frequencies for the -390 GG, GA, and AA were 39.3%,50.0%, and 10.8%, respectively in EH patients, and were 43.6%,45.6%, and 10.8%, in normal subjects. No significant difference in either genotypic frequency (P=0.433) or allele frequency (P=0.378) of PNMT G-390A between EH patients and normals was observed. When by gender, there was significant difference in genotypic frequency (P<0.05) and allele frequency (P=0.046) of G-390A polymorphism between EH patients and normals in the male, but not in the female (P>0.05). CONCLUSION PNMT G-390A polymorphism is possibly associated with EH risk in male Chinese Han population in Changsha.
Adult ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypertension ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) C-824T polymorphism with essential hypertension (EH) susceptibility in Hunan Han population by a case-control study. METHODS: A case-control study was performed on 368 EH patients and 353 healthy controls of Han nationality recruited in Hunan province. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)was used to genotype the C-824T polymorphism. RESULTS: (1) Genotype frequencies for TH-824CC and -824CT+-824TT genotypes were 89.9% and 10.1%, respectively for EH patients and 88.7% and 11.3%, respectively for the controls. No significant difference in the genotype distribution of C-824T polymorphism between the patients and controls was observed (P=0.579). Allele frequencies of TH C-824T also showed no significant difference between the patients and controls (P=0.515). (2) When adjusted by EH risk factors, results of unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that there was no association between TH C-824T polymorphism and EH susceptibility (P=0.264). (3) When stratified by gender, no significant difference in the genotype distribution of TH C-824T polymorphism was observed between the patients and controls in either male or female subjects (P=0.841 and P=0.288). (4) Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in individuals with -824 CT+TT genotype was significantly higher than that in individuals with -824 CC genotype in the controls (P=0.015). (5) When stratified by gender, significant difference in DBP between TH C-824T CT+TT genotype and CC genotype was observed in the male (P= 0.018) but not in the female (P=0.083) controls. CONCLUSION There is no association between TH gene C-824T polymorphism and EH susceptibility in Hunan Han population. The TH gene C-824T polymorphism is possibly associated with increased DBP in the males in Hunan Han population.
Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sex Factors ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; genetics

The advent of catheter ablation technology has changed the treatment strategy for atrial fibrillation, and the efficacy of catheter ablation is accurate with small surgical trauma. Catheter ablation treatment of atrial fibrillation is significantly better than pharmacologic therapy of anti-arrhythmia and rate control. However, the clinic data of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation show that the recurrence rate is high. The risk factors for recurrence after catheter ablation include age, sex, body mass index, related primary disease, left atrial volume, pulmonary vein volume, gene, atrial fibrillation types, surgery and so on. Regulation of the above factors is crucial in improving the clinical efficacy and prognosis of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.
Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Catheter Ablation ; Humans ; Pulmonary Veins ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is a major enzyme responsible for nitric oxide (NO) production. Both eNOS and NO play an important role in regulating vessel structure and function through participating in the physiological and pathological process. Generally, the phosphorylation of eNOS has been recognized as a common mechanism for regulation of eNOS function. However, recent studies have demonstrated several other new mechanisms, such as acetylation, S-glutathionylation, and protein-protein interaction. This review highlights the basic structure and functions of eNOS as well as the relationship between regulation of eNOS activity and cardiovascular diseases.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) is a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cardiovascular system. The family of NOX includes seven isoforms, and expressed in different cardiovascular cell types and cell compartments, modulating multiple functions, such as cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, apoptosis, senescence, and inflammatory responses. The NOX-derived ROS are involved in many processes associated with cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetic vascular disease, ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction, and so on.
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Humans ; Hypertension ; NADPH Oxidases ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species