Associations of homocysteine status and homocysteine metabolism enzyme polymorphisms with hypertension and dyslipidemia in a Chinese hypertensive population.

Background: Hypertension (HTN), dyslipidemia and hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) are risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD).Methods: Hypertensive Chinese subjects (n = 228) were enrolled. MTHFR C667T, MTHFR A1298C, MTR A2756G, and MTRR A66G genotypes were determined. Unconditional logistic regression was performed to determine the associations of serum Hcy status and genotypes with HTN and dyslipidemia.Results: The mean age of hypertensive adults was 65.53 ± 9.94 years, including 88 (38.6%) men and 140 (61.4%) women. Patients with MTHFR 667TT and MTRR GG carriers showed higher serum Hcy levels (P = 0.019 and 0.018, respectively), which is associated with higher serum triacylglycerols (TAG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels (P = 0.014 and 0.044, respectively) and a higher risk for hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 1.889, 95% CI: 1.105-3.229, P = 0.020). Compared with low Hcy and MTRR 66AA, those with high Hcy and 66AA or 66AG+GG showed higher odd\s of hypertriglyceridemia (MTRR 66AA+ high Hcy: OR: 2.692, 95% CI: 1.189-6.096, Pcombined = 0.018; MTRR 66AG/GG+ high Hcy: OR: 3.433, 95% CI: 1.517-7.772, Pcombined = 0.003, respectively). Patients with high Hcy and MTHFR 667CC, as well as those with low Hcy and 667CT+TT, showed lower odds of uncontrolled SBP (MTHFR 667CC+ high Hcy: OR: 0.338, 95% CI: 0.115-0.996, Pcombined = 0.049; MTHFR 667CT/TT+ low Hcy: OR: 0.421, 95% CI: 0.193-0.921, Pcombined = 0.030) compared to patients with low Hcy and MTHFR 667CC.Conclusions: Serum Hcy status and Hcy metabolism gene polymorphisms (MTHFR C667T and MTRR A66G) may have synergistic effects on the prevalence of HTN and dyslipidemia.

[Epidemic characteristics of central obesity among adults in Gansu Province in 2013-2014].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze waist circumference level and the prevalence of central obesity among adults aged 18 years and above in Gansu Province. METHODS: The data from Chinese adult chronic diseases and their risk factors monitoring in 2013 was obtained by multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method. The waist circumference level and epidemiologic characteristics of central obesity of 7607 adults aged 18 years and above in Gansu Province were analyzed. RESULTS: The waist circumference was(84.7±10.3)cm and(81.3±9.5)cm for adult men and women in Gansu Province, respectively. With the increase of age, waist circumference level of women showed a gradual increase trend from 78.6 cm in the group of 18-44 years to 83.5 cm in the group above 60 years; with improvement of education level, the average waist circumference of men gradually increased from 82.7 cm in illiterate/semi-literate group to 87.6 cm in group of junior college and above(P<0.001), but the value of women gradually reduced from 81.9 cm in illiterate/semi-literate group to 77.6 cm in group of junior college and above group(P<0.001); the higher the average annual income of family, the higher the waist circumference of the men from 83.0 cm in the group below 5000 yuan to 85.9 cm in the group above 18 000 yuan; among the occupational group, the highest waist circumference(88.9 cm) was the men engaged in enterprises and institutions and in contrast the women were the lowest in this occupation(79.0 cm). The prevalence of central obesity was 32.6%(standardized rate 28.8%) and men(33.9%)(standardized rate 28.8%) was higher than women(30.9%)(standardize rate 28.8%). The pre-obesity rate was 18.1%(standardized rate 17.6%), and that of women and men was 19.5%(standardized rate 18.5%) and 16.2%(standardized rate 16.0%), respectively. With the age increase, the central obesity rate of women showed a gradually increasing trend from 22.6% in the group of 18-44 years to 45.3% in the group above 60 years. With the increase of education level, the prevalence of central obesity showed increasing trend from 23.0% in illiterate/semi-literate group to 42.5% in group of college and above in men(P<0.001), but the prevalence of women gradually reduced from 36.1% in illiterate/semi-literate group to 20.1% in group of college and above group(P<0.001); with the increase in per capita annual income of the family, the prevalence of male central obesity increased from 23.8% in the group below 5000 yuan to 35.5% in the group above 18 000 yuan; among the professional groups, men predisposed central obesity(48.5%, P<0.001) and women had lowest prevalence(25.8%, P<0.001) in enterprises and institutions. Among the groups of overweight and obesity, the waist circumference was(88.3±7.4) cm and(98.8±8.3) cm in men, respectively, while the waist was(84.4±6.7)cm and(94.5±8.1)cm in women, respectively; the prevalence of central obesity was 43.3% and 87.7% in men and 47.3% and 93.9% in women between overweight and obese groups. However, the rate of central obesity in the groups without overweight/obesity(BMI<24.0) was only 6.0% in men and 9.8% in women. CONCLUSION: The central obesity is widely prevalence in adults of Gansu Province, and the averaged waist circumference level in men and women is close to or more than the cut-off point predicating pre-central obesity and the prevalence for this type of obesity is higher than that of the national level which indicates that using cut-off point of waist circumference. The subjects with obesity are more likely susceptible to central obesity.

[Analysis of iodine nutrition and thyroid function of adults in urban areas of Wuwei city Gansu province].

OBJECTIVE: To find out the iodine nutrition and thyroid function of adults in urban areas of Wuwei city Gansu province and to provide a basis for scientific iodine supplementation. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed in 104 adults in Wuwei city form the April 2009 to January 2010. The morning blood samples and one urine samples selected randomly of different people were collected and three free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroid hormone (FT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroglobulin antibodies (TGAb), thyroid microsomal antibodies (TMAb) in blood samples and iodine in urine samples were detected. RESULTS: The medians of urinary iodine were respectively 139.3 microg/L and 212.6 microg/L for male and female, female was significantly higher than male, there were statisticant differences (P < 0.05). TT3, TT4, FT4, FT3 and TSH's mean values were in the normal range, the abnormal ratio of TT3, TT4, FT3, FT4, TSH were respectively 1.9%, 1.0%, 3.8%, 1.9%, 16.3%. The positive rate of TGAb and TMAb in female were all higher than male, there were statisticant differences (P < 0.05). Subclinical hypothyroidism in all thyroid function disorders was most and accounted for 14.4% and female were all higher than male (P < 0.05). The survey were divided into iodine deficiency group, adequate iodine group, over adequate iodine group and iodine excess group for urinary iodine level. The abnormal ratio of TT3, TT4, FT3, FT4, TSH in four groups had no statistically differences, but the positive rate of TGAb and TMAb raised with increased urinary iodine level. Thyroid function disorders occurred in the other three groups except iodine deficiency group, and there were statisticant differences. CONCLUSION: Iodine nutrition level is appropriate for adults in urban areas, but the female was higher than male. Subclinical hypothyroidism in all thyroid function disorders was most, the positive rate of TGAb and TMAb raised with increased urinary iodine level, the risk of female suffered from thyroid disease was higher than male.

Highly selective monoclonal antibody-based lateral flow immunoassay for visual and sensitive determination of conazole fungicides propiconazole in vegetables.

The conazole fungicide propiconazole is frequently found in vegetables although usage is not allowed. To overcome the high-cost and time-consuming labour requirements of instrumental methods, we developed a simple and visual lateral flow immunoassay for the sensitive determination of propiconazole. A hapten was carefully designed to raise a monoclonal antibody against propiconazole. Bal b/c mice were immunised with the hapten-carrier protein conjugate and a specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) was produced. Based on this mAb, a sensitive immunochromatographic strip assay (ICA) was established for rapid screening of propiconazole in vegetable samples. After optimisation of analytical parameters, the ICA strip showed a detection limit of 0.13 ng g-1 and a linear range from 0.5 to 80 ng g-1 using a strip reader. The assay also can be read by the naked eye with a visual limit of detection of 80 ng g-1. The recoveries for spiked vegetable samples by ICA ranged from 85.2% to 114.9%, with a coefficient of variation less than 11.7%. The assay time is within 45 min for a single sample including the sample pre-treatment. For spiked and blind samples, the detection capability of ICA was equivalent to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A population-based study examining hepatitis B virus infection and immunization rates in Northwest China.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Current baseline data regarding the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections and the immune status in hyperendemic areas is necessary in evaluating the effectiveness of ongoing HBV prevention and control programs in northwest China. This study aims to determine the prevalence of chronic HBV infections, past exposure rates, and immune response profiles in Wuwei City, northwest China in 2010. METHODS: Cross-sectional household survey representative of the Wuwei City population. 28,579 participants were interviewed in the seroepidemiological survey ≥1 year of age. House to house screening was conducted using a standard questionnaire. All serum samples were screened by enzyme-linked immunoassays for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen, antibodies against HBV surface antigen, and antibodies to the hepatitis B core antigen. RESULTS: Among individuals ≥1 year of age, 7.2% (95%CI: 6.3-8.1%) had chronic HBV infections, 43.9% (CI: 40.4-47.4%) had been exposed to HBV, and 23.49% (CI: 21.6-25.3%) had vaccine-induced immunity. Multi-factor weighted logistic regression analysis showed that having household contact with HBV carriers (OR = 2.6, 95%CI: 2.3-3.0) and beauty treatments in public places (OR = 1.2, 95%CI: 1.1-1.3) were the risk factors of HBV infection in whole population. Having household contact with HBV carriers (OR = 3.8, 95% CI: 2.2-6.5) and lack of hepatitis vaccination (OR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.4-3.3) were the risk factors for HBV infection in children aged 1-14 years. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis B infection remains a serious public health problem in northwest China. Having household contact with HBV carriers and beauty treatments in public places represented HBV infection risk factors. Hepatitis B vaccine immunization strategies need further improvement, particularly by targeting the immunization of rural migrant workers.

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in highly endemic HBV areas in China.

BACKGROUND: Wuwei City has the highest prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in China. From 2007 to 2011, the average reported incidence rate of hepatitis B was 634.56/100,000 people. However, studies assessing the epidemic features and risk factors of HCV in the general population of Wuwei City are limited. METHODS: A total of 7189 people were interviewed and screened for HCV antibodies. HCV RNA and HCV genotypes were analyzed by PCR. Relevant information was obtained from the general population using a standardized questionnaire, and association and logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The anti-HCV prevalence was 1.64% (118/7189), and HCV-RNA was detected in 37.29% (44/118) of the anti-HCV positive samples. The current HCV infection rate was 0.61% (44/7189) in the Wuwei general population. Hepatitis C infection rate was generally higher in the plains regions (χ(2) = 27.54,P<0.05), and the most predominant HCV genotypes were 2a (59.1%) and 1b (34.1%). The concurrent HCV and HBV infection rate was 1.37%, and a history of blood transfusion (OR = 17.9, 95% CI: 6.1 to 52.6, p<0.001) was an independent risk factor for HCV positivity. CONCLUSIONS: Although Wuwei is a highly endemic area for HBV, the anti-HCV positive rate in the general population is low. More than one-third of HCV-infected people were unaware of their infection; this may become an important risk factor for hepatitis C prevalence in the general population. Maintaining blood safety is important in order to help reduce the burden of HCV infection in developing regions of China.

The risk factors of transmission after the implementation of the routine immunization among children exposed to HBV infected mothers in a developing area in northwest China.

We aimed to evaluate the present situation and possible risk factors of HBV transmission after the implementation of the routine immunization among children exposed to HBV infected mothers in a developing area in northwest China. Two hundred and twenty one HBsAg carrier mothers and 247 children born to them were finally recruited in Wuwei city, Gangsu province, China in 2010. Serum samples were taken from those HBsAg carrier mothers and their children. Children who had detectable HBsAg or HBV DNA were considered to be HBV infection. Conditional logistic regression model was used to identify potential risk factors of HBV mother-to-child transmission. Of the 247 children born to HBsAg carrier mothers, 8 (3.24%) were HBsAg positive, 15 (6.07%) were HBV DNA positive. The rate of HBV mother-to-child transmission was 7.29% (18/247). The univariate analysis and multivariate analysis showed that maternal HBV DNA positive (OR=4.83, 95% CI: 1.38-16.98, p=0.0140), the delayed injection of the first dose of HBV vaccine after premature birth (OR=9.73, 95% CI: 1.78-53.21, p=0.0087) and the missing use of HBV vaccine (OR=8.29, 95% CI: 1.42-48.23, p=0.0186) were significantly associated with an increased risk for HBV mother-to-child transmission. The rate of HBV infection of the children received HBV vaccine and HBIG together after birth (2.56%, 4/156) was lower than those children received HBV vaccine alone (11.39%, 9/79) (χ(2)=7.83, p=0.0052). In conclusion, the rate of mother-to-child transmission of HBV was still high in the northwest of China. Besides the positivity of maternal HBV DNA and the missing of HBV vaccination after birth, the delayed injection of the first dose of HBV vaccine after premature birth was also a possible independent risk factor for HBV mother-to-child transmission. The HBV prevention and treatment guidelines should make it clear that all of the new born infants need to receive HBV vaccine injection after birth in 24 h, including the premature infants.