[Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL-6 gene with longevity in Uyghurs in Xinjiang].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the variations of genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines is associated with longevity in Uyghurs in Xinjiang. METHODS: A total of 240 individuals aged ≥90 years from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region were enrolled between 1999 and 2012 as the longevity group, 92 unrelated individuals from the same area who died naturally at the age of 59-73 in the same period were selected as the control group. Seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 4 genes (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α(rs1800629), IL-6(rs1800796, rs10499563), C-reactive protein (CRP) (rs2808630, rs1205) and IL-1ß(rs1143623, rs16944)) were genotyped. Logistic regression was applied to assess the association between each individual SNP and longevity in case-control analyses. RESULTS: The distribution of C allele of rs1800796 in the longevity group (0.298) was lower than that in the control group (0.435) with statistical significance (P=0.001). The distributions of the other 6 genetic variations between the longevity group and the control group showed no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). CT genotype of rs1800796 was positively associated with longevity (Padd=0.002, OR=1.983, 95%CI: 1.296-3.023), while no significant association was noted between other genotypes and longevity. CONCLUSIONS: SNP of rs1800796 of IL-6 gene may be significantly associated with longevity in Uyghurs in Xinjiang. CT genotype of rs1800796 is significantly associated with longevity. C allele of rs1800796 may be a negative factor for longevity.

Effect of age at menopause on blood pressure in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: A major mechanism of hypertension in many postmenopausal women is deficiency of female gonadal steroids. A long postmenopausal period may thus represent one factor that influences the prevalence of hypertension because of long periods of estrogen loss. METHODS: When we conducted a medical survey in northwestern China, we also asked 150 postmenopausal female subjects to provide age at menopause in a questionnaire. Age at menopause ranged from 37 to 57 years for all subjects. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in all subjects were obtained from 24-h ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring. RESULTS: An inverse correlation was identified between age at menopause and SBP and DBP, and a positive correlation was found between postmenopausal period and either SBP or DBP. Blood pressure, age at menopause, and postmenopausal period were not significantly related to body mass index, plasma renin activity, glomerular filtration rate, or urinary excretion values of sodium and potassium. CONCLUSIONS: Our results clearly demonstrated that higher blood-pressure levels in postmenopausal women depend on age at menopause and postmenopausal period, but not subjects' age, suggesting that a longer absence of female gonadal steroids represents a major factor contributing to increased blood pressure in elderly women.

Common single nucleotide polymorphisms in Japanese patients with essential hypertension: aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 gene as a risk factor independent of alcohol consumption.

Essential hypertension (EH) is a multifactorial disorder determined by the interaction of environmental and genetic factors. EH patients' responses to these factors may vary, depending on differences in their genes that determine the physiological systems that mediate the response. The purpose of this investigation was to clarify the contributions of genetic background and lifestyle to EH through an association study using some common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that should have functional effects on EH phenotypes. We studied the associations between common SNPs of some causal genes related to EH and lifestyle in a Japanese population. The variants of the causal genes were selected based on their functions, including: obesity (adrenergic, beta-3-, receptor: ADRB3), alcohol consumption (aldehyde dehydrogenase 2: ALDH2), water-electrolyte metabolism (guanine nucleotide binding protein [G protein], beta polypeptide 3: GNB3), glycometabolism (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma: PPARG), lipometabolism (cholesteryl ester transfer protein, plasma: CETP), atherosclerosis (5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase [NADPH]: MTHFR), and cellular behavior (gap junction protein, alpha 4, 37 kD: GJA4). Case-control association analysis showed a significant association between EH and both the ALDH2 (Lys487Glu) and GNB3 (C825T) variants. Logistic regression analysis indicated that body mass index (BMI) is an important risk factor for EH, and that the GG (Glu/Glu) genotype of ALDH2 was an independent risk factor for EH overall and especially for EH in males. There was no interaction between the ALDH2 genotype and alcohol consumption overall or in male subjects. Our results suggest that the ALDH2 genotype is associated with EH independently of alcohol consumption.

Correlation between haplotype of apolipoprotein B gene and natural longevity persons in Uygur nationality.

This paper investigated the correlation between polymorphisms and haplotypes in the apolipoprotein B (apoB) gene (SP-I/D, Xbal-RFLP, VNTR) and natural longevity persons among the Uygur people in Xinjiang. For this purpose, 191 healthy Uygur individuals aged above 90 from Hetian area of Xinjiang were recruited, and another 53 persons aged 65-70 from the same nationality, the same region and with the same gender ratio, served as the control group. Genotyping was performed by PCR-SSP, PCR-RFLP and PCR-sequencing methods. Logistic regression analyses revealed that the frequencies of X+ X+ genotype, M and L alleles and the genotypes composed of M and L were significantly higher in the longevity group than in the control group. In haplotype analyses, we found that, in the long-lived people, the frequency of haplotypes composed of the X+ and M alleles was significantly higher whereas the frequency of haplotypes composed of the X-and S alleles was significantly lower (both P<0.05) I than those of their controls. These results indicated that the S allele, SS genotype and X+-S, D-S, D-X+-S haplotypes were the possible adverse factors, whereas the M, L alleles, X+X+, MM, ML, LL genotypes and I-X+-M, X+-M haplotypes were the possible protective factors for the naturally long-lived Uygur people in China.

[Alterations in gene expression of calcium handling proteins in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the role of calcium-overloading in initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: The right atrial appendages were obtained from 14 patients with AF and 12 patients with sinus rhythm. The mRNA expression of proteins influencing the calcium homeostasis was measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and normalized to the mRNA level of glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate dehydrogenase. The left atrial diameter (LAD), mitral valvular area (MVOA), and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure were obtained by echocardiography before surgery. RESULTS: Compared to sinus rhythm group, the mRNA levels of L-type calcium channel alc, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), calcium adenosine triphosphatase (Ca2+ -ATPase), and ryanodine receptor type-2 (R(Y) R2) were significantly decreased (P < 0.01); the mRNA level of inositol triphosphate receptor type-1 (IP3R1) was significantly increased (P < 0.05). No changes in the mRNA expression of phospholamban and calsequestrin were observed between two groups (P > 0.05). Correlations were found between MVOA and mRNA levels of LVDC-Calc, SR Ca2+ -ATPase (r = 0.719, P = 0.004; r = 0.625, P = 0.017). The mRNA level of SR Ca2+ -ATPase was negatively correlated with LAD (r = -0.573, P = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: Calcium loading may be responsible for the occurrence and maintenance of AF, and abnormal regulation in the mRNA expression may be the molecular mechanism of intracellular Ca2+ overload. The progressive nature of AF involves structural change.

[Comparative study of APOB gene 3'VNTR polymorphisms between natural longevity and controls in Uighur nationality].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein B gene (APOB) 3'variable number of tandem repeat with natural longevity in the Xinjiang Uighur nationality people. METHODS: Totally 191 healthy individuals over 90 years and 53 individuals aged 65-70 years were recruited among Xinjiang Uighur population, the nationality, gender and living area were matched. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer(PCR-SSP) and PCR-sequencing. RESULTS: Fourteen alleles were found in the Xinjiang Uighur nationality population. The frequency of HVE36 and HVE42 in the natural longevity group were significantly higher than that in the control group (both P<0.05) and HVE44, HVE46, HVE48 and HVE58 were only found in the natural longevity group. However, the frequency of HVE26, HVE30 and HVE34 were markedly lower in the natural longevity group compared to the control group. Logistic regression analyses revealed that allele L and the genotypes LL were positively associated with age, whereas the allele S and genotype SS were negatively associated with age (both P<0.05). Each allele consists of 15 bp tandem repeats with rich-AT by PCR-sequencing. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the S allele, and SS genotype are frail factors in China Uighur natural longevity people, whereas allele L and genotypes LL are protective factors.

[Physiological characteristics and cardiac electrophysiology manifested in Minnesota coding of the "desert people" in Taklimakan Desert: study of 224 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the physiological characteristics and cardiac electrophysiology of the "desert people" in Taklimakan Desert, an isolated population of Uygurs. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-four out of the 1030 "desert people", 133 males aged 37.8 +/- 17.5 (15-99) and 91 females aged 34.1 +/- 12.1 (27-85), underwent measurement of height, body weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Twelve-lead resting electrocardiogram was obtained and Minnesota coding was conducted. 150 Kariya Uygurs, 76 males aged 50.7 +/- 15.6 (27-85) and 75 females aged 46.6 +/- 11.7 (24-69) were used as controls. RESULTS: The abnormal Minnesota coding rate in the "desert people" as a whole was 46.0%, significantly higher than that of the controls (35.1%, P < 0.05). In the "desert people", the abnormal Minnesota coding rate was 54.9% in the males, significantly higher than that in the females (33.0%, P < 0.05). In the control group, the abnormal coding rate was 28.0% in the females and 42.1% in the males. The ECG high left R amplitude rate (code 3-1, 3-3) of the "desert people" as a whole was 32.6%, significantly higher than that of the controls (12.6%, P < 0.001). Within the "desert people" group, the ECG high left R amplitude rate of the females was 19.8%, significantly lower than that of the males (41.2%, P < 0.005). Within the control group, the ECG high left R amplitude rate of the females was 10.7%, not significantly different from that of the males (14.5%, P > 0.5). The hypertension rate of the "desert people" was 7.6%, significantly lower than that of the controls (36.4%, P < 0.005). The hypertension rate of the "desert people" coded as with left high R amplitude was 12.2%, significantly lower than that of the controls coded as with left high R amplitude (41.6%, P < 0.005). The overweight and obesity rate of the "desert people" was 9.6%, significantly lower than that of the controls (23%, P < 0.005). The arrhythmia (8-1 - 8-8) rate of the "desert people" was 8.92%, not significantly different from that of the controls (6.62%, P > 0.05). The incidence of conduction block (7-1 - 7-8) of the "desert people" was 3.12%, not significantly different from that of the controls (2.64%, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The higher incidence of ECG high left R amplitudes and low prevalence of hypertension in the "desert people" suggest that the high left R amplitude in "Desert people" may be related to their thin chest wall, low BMI, and physiological left ventricular hypertrophy. The "desert people" have more physical work, and less stress and pollution. They have low incidence of congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease and hypertension. All these may be associated with a low incidence of arrhythmia.

White coat hypertension in centenarians.

BACKGROUND: To study white coat (WC) hypertension in centenarians, a cross-sectional surveillance was carried out on Uygurs, a long-lived population in China. METHODS: Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) was performed in 33 centenarians (age range, 100 to 113 years) and compared with 100 elderly subjects (age range, 65 to 70 years). All subjects were clinically healthy and capable of self-care. Subjects had no history, signs, or symptoms of cardiovascular disease and were receiving no medical treatments. Office BP, 24-h mean, daytime and night-time BP, pulse pressure, heart rate, standard deviation (SD), and coefficient of variation (CV) of the same variables were extracted from ABPM. The WC effect was defined as the difference between mean office and daytime BP. RESULTS: Centenarians demonstrated higher prevalence of WC hypertension, compared to elderly group (15% vs. 5%). The WC effect was also greater in centenarians than in elderly subjects, and was more marked for systolic BP than for diastolic BP and heart rate. The WC effect for systolic BP was positively correlated with both SD (r = 0.45, P < .01) and CV (r = 0.55, P < .01) for 24-h systolic BP in centenarians, but not in elderly subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of WC hypertension was greater in centenarians than in elderly subjects. The WC effect and BP variation may be increased in centenarians. Previously observed higher BPs seen in very elderly individuals might be explained by the greater impact of WC hypertension.

[Polymorphism of apolipoprotein E gene and natural longevity in the Xinjiang Uighur people: an association study].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the distribution of polymorphisms of apolipoprotein E(apoE) gene and its relation to natural longevity in the Xinjiang Uighur people. METHODS: Using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP), the authors obtained data from centenarians(n=42), 90-year-old people (n=102), 65-70-year-old people (n=70) and controls(n=53). RESULTS: The frequencies of apoE genotypes epsilon 3/4, epsilon 3/3 and epsilon 2/3 were 2.4%, 69.0% and 23.8% respectively in the centenarian group, and the frequencies of their epsilon 4, epsilon 3 and epsilon 2 alleles were 1.2%, 82.1% and 16.7%. The frequencies of genotype epsilon 3/4 and epsilon 4, epsilon 3 allele in the centenarian group were significantly lower than those in controls(P< 0.01), whereas the frequencies of genotype epsilon 2/3 and epsilon 2 allele in the centenarian group were significantly higher than those in controls(P< 0.01). Longevity was noted to be positively correlated with epsilon 2 and negatively correlated with epsilon 4. CONCLUSION: This relationship reflects a genetic influence on differential survival and may point to pleiotropic age-dependent effects on longevity.

The relationship between three X-linked genes and the risk for hypertension among northeastern Han Chinese.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Incidences of hypertension are increasing and this condition is more common in men than in women. We selected six well-characterized polymorphisms from three X-linked genes (ACE2, AGTR2, apelin) aiming to investigate their interactive association with hypertension among northeastern Han Chinese. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a case-control study involving 1009 hypertensive patients and 756 normotensive controls. All polymorphisms except rs3761581 in the apelin gene satisfied the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in females. The genotype and allele distributions of rs1403543 in the AGTR2 gene and rs56204867 in the apelin gene differed significantly between patients and controls for both genders, even after the Bonferroni correction (P<0.05/6). The risk prediction was significant for rs1403543 and rs56204867 under both additive and dominant models for both genders. In haplotype analysis, significance was seen for haplotype G-T-G-G-A (alleles in order of rs1978124, rs2106809, rs1403543, rs5194 and rs56204867), which was overrepresented in patients (5.15% versus 1.10% in controls, PSim=0.004). Interaction analysis indicated that all derived multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) models were non-significant for both genders. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that genetic defects in AGTR2 and apelin genes by themselves may play an independent leading role in determining susceptibility to hypertension in both genders.

[Relationship of I/D polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme gene with hypertension in Xinjiang Kazakh isolated group].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the insertion/deletion(I/D) polymorphism in the angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) gene is associated with essential hypertension in Xinjiang Kazakh isolated population. METHODS: The study covered 201 hypertensives and 151 normotensive controls in Xinjiang Barlikun Kazakh population. The I/D polymorphism of ACE gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The frequencies of D and I in the hypertensive group (0.44 and 0.56, respectively) were not significantly different from the controls(0.39 and 0.61, respectively, P=0.16). The frequencies of ACE genotypes of DD, ID, and II were 0.18, 0.52, 0.30 in hypertensives respectively and 0.17, 0.43, 0.40 in control group respectively. There was no significant difference in genotypes between hypertensive group and normotensive group (P=0.14). CONCLUSION: The results suggested that the I/D polymorphism of ACE gene might not be associated with hypertension in the Kazakh population of Xinjiang Barlikun area.

[Polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme gene and natural longevity in the Xinjiang Uygur people: an association study].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the distribution of I/D polymorphisms of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and its relation to natural longevity in the Xinjiang Uygur people. METHODS: Polymerize chain reaction, single strand conformation polymorphism, and direct sequencing technique were used to test the I/D polymorphisms of ACE gene in 42 centenarians, 102 people aged 90-99, 70 people aged 65-70, 53 cases of natural death aged 65-70 were used as controls. RESULTS: The frequencies of ACE genotypes DD, DI, and II were 28.6%, 30.9%, and 40.5% respectively in the centenarian group, the frequency rates of D and I alleles were 0.44 and 0.56. The frequency rate of D/D genotype of the centenarian group was significantly higher than that of the group aged 65-70 (28.6% vs. 12.9%, chi2 = 4.25, P < 0.05), however, not significantly different from that of the group aged 90 (P > 0.05). The frequency rate of D allele of the group of centenarian was significantly higher than that of the group aged 65-70 (44.0% vs. 36.4%, chi2 = 4.47, P < 0.05). The frequency rates of genotype D/D and D alleles were significantly higher in the centenarian group than in the controls (both P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: ACE gene polymorphism is closely correlated with life span of individuals. Longevity is the result of pleiotropic age-dependent influence of multiple factors.

Area epidemiological research on hypertension risk factors of Keriyans in the Taklimakan Desert.

INTRODUCTION: The Keriyans live in the hot, arid areas of Taklimakan Desert and maintain a primitive way of life. They have a low incidence of hypertension. However, little is known about the adaptive compensation in the organism. In the present study, we explored the the traditional risk factors of hypertension in the Keriyans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed an epidemiological survey of Keriyans in a randomly selected natural population including 508 individuals aged 16 years or more, using the WHO MONICA scheme and 151 randomly selected age/gender-matched controls, Uighurs, from the nearest villagers to the Keriyans. RESULTS: The incidence of hypertension in the Keriyans was significantly lower than that in the controls(p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age, hyperglycemia and salt consumption as well as sodium intake in diet were associated with traditional hypertension risk factors. Correlation between water quality and hypertension showed that calcium was positively associated with the detection rate of hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Age, hyperglycemia and salt consumption as well as sodium intake in diet were correlated with hypertension risk factors, which leads to the speculation that the water of the desert draught area which is characterized by low calcium and high magnesium levels might account for the low incidence of hypertension in Keriyans.

GNB3, eNOS, and mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms correlate to natural longevity in a Xinjiang Uygur population.

BACKGROUND: In centenarian populations, application of the positive biology approach (examination of positive phenotypes in aging) has revealed that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation accumulation may be linked to human longevity; however, the role of guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) abnormalities modulated by G-protein beta-3 (GNB3) and nitrate (NO2) production associated with endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), commonly appearing in age-related diseases, remains undetermined. OBJECTIVE: The association between the mtDNA 5178A/C, mtDNA 10398A/G, GNB3 C825T, and eNOS polymorphisms and longevity in a Uygur population (Xinjiang region, China) were investigated. METHODS: A total of 275 experimental subjects aged ≥ 100 or with 4 generations currently living were screened for inclusion in the centenarian (>100 years) and nonagenarian groups (90-100 years), and 112 65-70 year old control subjects were selected. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to examine mtDNA 5178A/C, mtDNA 10398A/G, GNB3 C825T, and eNOS. Associations between polymorphic loci, genotypes, and longevity were analyzed. RESULTS: 165 included subjects (M∶F = 107∶58; mean age = 97 ± 3 years; mean age 100-113 years) were assigned to the centenarian (M∶F = 46/19; n = 65) and nonagenarian groups (M∶F = 61/39; n = 100). Associations between mtDNA C5178A and A10398G polymorphisms with longevity in the centenarian group with mtDNA genotype frequencies 5178A and 10398G were 66.79% and 36.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Applying the overwhelming longevity observed in Uygur populations, these findings demonstrate that mtDNA 5178A/C and 10398A/G, GNB3 C825T, and eNOS polymorphisms are useful as a genetic basis for longevity.

Cross-sectional study of sociodemographic patterning of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in three isolated-based subgroups of the Uyghur population in Xinjiang, China.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the sociodemographic patterning of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in three isolated-based subgroups of the Uyghur population in Xinjiang, China. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. Between 2005 and 2008, a non-probability sampling design method was used to select three specific groups of the Uyghur rural populations based on their potential socioeconomic status (ie, isolated, semi-isolated and open-environment status). SETTING: Three communities (named Desert, Turpan and Yuli Rob) in Southern Xinjiang autonomous region, China. PARTICIPANTS: 1656 people were included in this study. The inclusion criteria were that all participants were 18 years or older, they were descendants of at least three generations living in the same region, and there was no history of intermarriage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence of CVD risk factors (ie, tobacco use, alcohol use, obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, etc) was assessed. RESULTS: Compared with the Desert and Turpan communities, Yuli Rob had the highest levels of obesity, dyslipidemia and hypertension, and the Desert had the lowest levels of CVD risk factors. Age standardisation slightly altered the estimates, though the patterns remained unchanged. Some unique characteristics were also found. For example, the Desert group displayed significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) level compared with Yuli Rob and Turpan groups. The mean values were 0.63, 1.06 and 1.45 mmol/l for men and 0.64, 1.22 and 1.51 mmol/l for women (p<0.0001). The HDLC levels in the Desert group increased with increase in body mass index and fasting glucose levels, which was inconsistent with previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying the unique CVD risk factors of the ethnic-specific populations is very important in development of tailored strategies for the prevention of CVD.

Interacting contribution of the five polymorphisms in three genes of Hsp70 family to essential hypertension in Uygur ethnicity.

Experimental evidence suggesting that heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) gene or associated genes are responsible for the pathophysiology of hypertension is accumulating. In this study, we focused on five polymorphisms in three genes (HSPA1A, HSPA1B, and HSPA1L) of Hsp70 family to explore the genetic contribution, alone and in combination, of these polymorphisms to essential hypertension risk in a Uygur population. Genotyping was performed using PCR-RFLP and direct sequencing techniques. Data were analyzed using haplotype and multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) methods. Genotype distributions of all the polymorphisms satisfied the Hardy-Weinberg proportions in cases and controls. Statistical significance was only observed in the genotype (P = 0.0028) and (P = 0.0146) allele distributions of -110A/C polymorphism, with the -110C allele conferring a 1.45- and 2.83-fold of relative risk, assuming the additive and recessive models, respectively, and in 1267A/G genotype distribution (P = 0.0106) with the 1267G allele conferring a 44% reduced risk. The interaction information analysis indicated that polymorphisms -110A/C and 1267A/G had a strong synergistic effect, while polymorphisms 2074G/C and 2437T/C had a moderate synergistic effect. Haplotype analyses further strengthened the interaction information. Using the haplotype H(1) as a reference, haplotype H(4) had a 40% reduced risk, while haplotypes H(5) and H(8) had a significantly 5.00- and 3.75-fold increased risk for essential hypertension, respectively. Taken together, our results supported strong genetic interaction of the studied polymorphisms with the risk of having essential hypertension in Uygur ethnicity. Functional studies are warranted to confirm or refute these findings. This is the first study to evaluate the genetic interaction information of the Hsp70 in Uygur ethnicity, which represents one of the major nationalities in China with high homogeneity and unique lifestyles. Moreover, we employed the haplotype and MDR methods to explore the potential interaction of Hsp70 genetic polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension in Uygur.

Interactive association of heat shock protein 70 genes variants with natural longevity in Xinjiang Hetian Uygur ethnicity.

Mounting evidence suggests that all organisms at the cellular level respond to stress by synthesizing heat shock proteins at the expense of other proteins, and the ability of human cells to respond to heat stress decreases with aging. We thus investigate the association of 3 variants (A1267G in HSPA1B, G190C in HSPA1A, and T2437C in HSPA1L) in the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) family with natural longevity in a Xinjiang Hetian Uygur population. A case-control study was conducted in 191 healthy individuals greater than 90 years of age, and 53 naturally died persons 65-70 years of age. Promoter activity was evaluated by luciferase reporter assays. The data were analyzed using an EH/EH+ program for haplotype prediction and MDR software for gene-gene interaction. All studied variants satisfied the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in each group. In single-locus analysis, no significant differences were found between long-lived people and short-lived people in the genotype/allele distributions of all variants. In contrast, haplotype analysis indicated that haplotypes A-G-C and A-C-T were more prevalent in long-lived people than short-lived people (P=0.026 and 0.017), and the analysis conferred a 3.46- and 4.51-fold increased tendency for longevity, respectively (P=0.025 and 0.016). The haplotype results were strengthened by interaction analysis, which suggests an optimal model in which G190C and T2437C exert an interacting effect on longevity. No functional significance was observed between 190G and 190C alleles in both control and heat-inducible A549 cells (P>0.05). Taken together, our findings suggested that common genetic variants in Hsp70 family might contribute interactively to longevity the Xinjiang Hetian Uygur population.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in Uygur centenarians.

Cross-sectional surveillance was carried out in long-lived Uygur in China to investigate blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR) variation in centenarians. The study group comprised 33 centenarians (age > or = 100 years), 103 longevous subjects (age 90-99 years) and 100 elderly (age 65-70 years) subjects. Office BP was measured, and 24-h noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed. The office BP was higher and hypertension occurred more frequently in the centenarians than in either the longevous or elderly subjects. Mean 24-h systolic and diastolic BP was higher in the centenarians than in the other 2 groups. However, mean 24-h PR did not differ between them. Day-night differences in systolic BP decreased, and the non-dipper-type BP pattern was common in the centenarians (79.1% vs 68% and 63.6% in longevous and elderly subjects, respectively). Circadian BP was characterized by 3 peaks in longevous subjects and multiple peaks in centenarians. Morning rising and nocturnal dipping of BP were observed in both longevous and elderly subjects. In conclusion, BP in longevous and elderly Uygur was characterized by circadian rhythmicity, but the nocturnal fall in BP was not seen in centenarians. Differences in day-night BP and circadian rhythmicity may decrease with advancing age, especially in centenarians.