The Cytokine response of rat macrophages to lipopolysaccharide is modulated by adrenomedullin

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Adrenomedullin suppresses migration inhibitory factor production and cytokine response of rat macrophages to lipopolysaccharide

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Urotensin II in hypertension

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Haplotypes in the urotensin II gene and urotensin II receptor gene are associated with insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance

We studied single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes in the urotensin-II (UTS2) and urotensin-II receptor gene (UTS2R) in Hong Kong Chinese (224 hypertensive and 306 normotensive unrelated subjects) and their relation to hypertension and the metabolic syndrome. For UTS2, the GGT haplotype (-605G, 143G and 3836T) was associated with higher plasma level of U-II and insulin, and higher homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index and β-cell function. For UTS2R, the AC haplotype (-11640A and -8515C) was associated with higher 2 h plasma glucose after a 75 g oral glucose load. Therefore, U-II and its receptor may play a role in insulin resistance. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.postprin

Sino-U.S. economic relations: problems and perspectives

U.S.-China economic relations are currently strained as a direct result of the Chinese crackdown of demonstrators in Tiananmen square on June 4, 1989. However, the brutal suppression of the demonstrators is only one aspect of the overall Sino-U.S. economic relationship. This thesis examines the economic relationship beginning in 1978, when China embarked on its modernization effort. Though China has made many improvements in these efforts their modernization effort does not necessarily coincide with United States' desires. Instead, China is concerned with maintaining its socialist character for the foreseeable future. This thesis examines divergent Sino-U.S. economic relations, and offers some various recommendations for American policy-makers depending on the course that China's leadership decides to take. Financial aid, Four modernizations, Most favored nation, New reforms, Reform, Socialism, Technology transfers, Trade relations, U.S. Policyhttp://archive.org/details/sinouseconomicre00kingLieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Association of hypertension with single nucleotide polymorphisms in the quantitative trait locus for abdominal obesity-metabolic syndrome on chromosome 17

Genome scan in Chinese revealed an association of blood pressure with the microsatellite marker D17S1303, which lies in a quantitative trait locus for the abdominal obesity-metabolic syndrome (AOMS2) at 17p12 on chromosome 17. We previously reported that D17S1303 was associated with hypertension and obesity. Therefore, we studied 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) within 3 kb of D17S1303. One hundred and eighty hypertensive subjects (91 men, 89 women, age 53 ± 12 years) and 180 normotensive matched controls (91 men, 89 women, age 52 ± 11) were genotyped using the Sequenom genotyping platform. Allelic frequencies in these Chinese subjects differed from those reported for Caucasians. Three SNPs (rs11656507, rs1357926, rs852319) were homozygous in our subjects. The genotype frequencies of rs852320, rs852321 and rs852322 did not differ between hypertensive and normotensive subjects. However, there were significant differences for rs1525402 (P = 0.048), rs2692343 (P = 0.022), rs2692344 (P = 0.017) and rs2321313 (P = 0.028). A four-locus haplotype comprising G at rs1525402, C at rs2692343, C at rs2692344 and G at rs2321313 was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (P = 0.023) and normotension (P = 0.048). Our results provide further evidence that there is a gene, as yet unidentified, influencing blood pressure in the vicinity of D17S1303 in a quantitative trait locus for abdominal obesity-metabolic syndrome at 17p12. © 2006 Nature Publishing Group. All rights reserved.postprin

The role of urotensin II in the metabolic syndrome

Urotensin II is a potent vasoconstrictive peptide that mediates both endothelium-independent vasoconstriction and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. Its plasma level correlates positively with body weight and is raised in diabetes, renal failure, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases including congestive heart failure and carotid atherosclerosis. It can inhibit glucose-induced insulin secretion, and genetic variants in urotensin II gene are associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Urotensin II also affects lipid metabolism in fish and food intake in mice. Recent studies have also demonstrated a role of urotensin II in inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. These findings suggest a close relationship between urotensin II and at least some components of the metabolic syndrome, including hypertension, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and inflammation. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and peripheral arterial disease in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004

Background: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is elevated in peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We therefore examined the relationship of PAD with ALP and other liver enzymes in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004. Methods: The analysis included 5995 men and non-pregnant women aged ≥ 40 years with no missing data in variables of interest. PAD was defined as ankle-brachial blood pressure index (ABI) 90 ml/min/1.73 m2), the odds ratio increased to 4.22 (95% CI 1.45-12.35) (p = 0.010). Conclusion: Elevated serum ALP is correlated with PAD, independent of other traditional cardiovascular risk factors. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Adrenomedullin: Its role in the cardiovascular system

Adrenomedullin is a 52-amino acid peptide that was first isolated from human pheochromocytoma. Subsequently, it was found to be distributed widely in the body, including throughout the cardiovascular system. It belongs to a family of peptides that include calcitonin gene-related peptide and amylin. Adrenomedullin causes vasorelaxation and influences vascular proliferation and interacts closely with nitric oxide, and it may have a role in the pathophysiology of hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and cardiac and renal failure. Nonpeptide agonists or antagonists of adrenomedullin may have potential therapeutic application. The role of adrenomedullin in septicemic shock also merits further investigation.link_to_subscribed_fulltex