Adiponectin Gene Polymorphism Is Selectively Associated with the Concomitant Presence of Metabolic Syndrome and Essential Hypertension

OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular risk increases with the presence of both metabolic syndrome (MetS) and hypertension (HTN). Although the adiponectin (ADIPOQ) gene has been reported to be involved in MetS, its association with HTN remained undetermined. This study aimed to investigate the association of ADIPOQ gene with the phenotypes of HTN and MetS. METHODS: A total of 962 participants from 302 families from the Taiwan young-onset hypertension genetic study were enrolled. Plasma adiponectin were measured, and association analysis was conducted by using GEE regression-based method. Another study, of 1448 unrelated participants, was conducted to replicate the association between ADIPOQ gene and variable phenotypes of MetS with or without HTN. RESULTS: Among 962 subjects from family samples, the lowest plasma adiponectin value was observed in MetS with HTN component (9.3±0.47 µg/ml) compared with hypertensives (13.4±0.74 µg /ml) or MetS without HTN (11.9±0.60 µg/ml, P<0.05). The SNP rs1501299 (G276T) in ADIPOQ gene was found associated with the presence of HTN in MetS (odds ratio for GG+GT vs. TT = 2.46; 95% CI: 1.14-5.3, p = 0.02), but not rs2241766 (T45G). No association of ADIPOQ gene with HTN alone or MetS without HTN was observed. The significant association of the SNP rs1501299 (G276T) with the phenotype of presence of HTN in MetS was confirmed (odds ratio for GG+GT vs. TT = 2.15; 95% CI: 1.1-4.3) in the replication study. CONCLUSIONS: ADIPOQ genetic variants were selectively and specifically associated with the concomitant presence of MetS and HTN, suggesting potential genetic linkage between MetS and HTN

The application of infrared thermography in evaluation of patients at high risk for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease

ObjectiveWe investigated the usefulness of infrared thermography in evaluating patients at high risk for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD), including severity, functional capacity, and quality of life.MethodsA total of 51 patients (23 males; age 70 ± 9.8 years) were recruited. They completed three PAD-associated questionnaires, including walking impairment, vascular quality of life, and 7-day physical activity recall questionnaires before a 6-minute walking test (6MWT). Ankle-brachial index (ABI) and segmental pressure were analyzed for PAD diagnosis and stenotic level assessment. The cutaneous temperature at shin and sole were recorded by infrared thermography before and after the walk test. Detailed demographic information and medication list were obtained.ResultsTwenty-eight subjects had abnormal ABI (ABI <1), while PAD was diagnosed in 20. No subjects had non-compressible artery (ABI >1.3). Demographic profiles and clinical parameters in PAD and non-PAD patients were similar, except for age, smoking history, and hyperlipidemia. PAD patients walked shorter distances (356 ± 102 m vs 218 ± 92 m; P < .001). Claudication occurred in 14 patients, while seven failed in completing the 6MWT. The rest temperatures were similar in PAD and non-PAD patients. However, the post-exercise temperature dropped in the lower extremities with arterial stenosis, but was maintained or elevated slightly in the extremities with patent arteries (temperature changes at sole in PAD vs non-PAD patients: −1.25 vs −0.15°C; P < .001). The exercise-induced temperature changes at the sole were not only positively correlated with the 6MWD (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.31, P = .03), but was also correlated with ABI (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.48, P < .001) and 7-day physical activity recall scores (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.30, P = .033).ConclusionBy detecting cutaneous temperature changes in the lower extremities, infrared thermography offers another non-invasive, contrast-free option in PAD evaluation and functional assessment

Associations between MetS trait and ADIPOQ genetic variants.

<p>Data are mean ± SEM or β(P). HDL-C indicates high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; WC, waist circumference; BP, blood pressure.</p><p>All estimates were analyzed using liner regression model, and adjustments were made for age, sex, body mass index, glucose, blood pressure, waist circumference, triglycerides, and HDL-choleserol.</p>a<p>Model 1: additive model; ^bModel 2: dominant model; ^cModel 3: recessive model.</p

Baseline characteristics of case-control designed replication study.

<p>Data are mean ± SEM or number (%); HTN indicates hypertension; MetS, metabolic syndrome; BMI, indicates body mass index; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low density lipoprotein cholesterol.</p><p>*<i>P</i>< 0.001 vs. MetS(−) HTN(−);</p><p>†<i>P</i>< 0.001 vs. MetS(+) HTN(−);</p><p>‡<i>P</i>< 0.001 vs. MetS(−) HTN(+);</p><p>§<i>P</i>< 0.001 vs. MetS(+) HTN(+).</p

Baseline characteristics of all family subjects.

<p>Data are mean ± SEM or number (%); HTN indicates hypertension; MetS, metabolic syndrome; BMI, indicates body mass index; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.</p><p>*P< 0.001 vs.MetS(-)HTN(−);</p><p>†P< 0.001 vs. MetS(+)HTN(−);</p><p>‡P< 0.001 vs. MetS(−)HTN(+);</p><p>§P< 0.001 vs. MetS(+)HTN(+).</p

CARDIO VASCULAR DIABETOLOGY ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION Open Access

Association between serum adipocyte fatty-acid binding protein concentrations, left ventricular function and myocardial perfusion abnormalities in patients with coronary artery diseas

Fine-mapping angiotensin-converting enzyme gene: separate QTLs identified for hypertension and for ACE activity.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) has been implicated in multiple biological system, particularly cardiovascular diseases. However, findings associating ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism with hypertension or other related traits are inconsistent. Therefore, in a two-stage approach, we aimed to fine-map ACE in order to narrow-down the function-specific locations. We genotyped 31 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ACE from 1168 individuals from 305 young-onset (age ≤40) hypertension pedigrees, and found four linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks. A tag-SNP, rs1800764 on LD block 2, upstream of and near the ACE promoter, was significantly associated with young-onset hypertension (p = 0.04). Tag-SNPs on all LD blocks were significantly associated with ACE activity (p-value: 10(-16) to <10(-33)). The two regions most associated with ACE activity were found between exon13 and intron18 and between intron 20 and 3'UTR, as revealed by measured haplotype analysis. These two major QTLs of ACE activity and the moderate effect variant upstream of ACE promoter for young-onset hypertension were replicated by another independent association study with 842 subjects