Inflammatory Factors And Metabolic Factors And Vascular Function Study Of The Relationship

1. Association Between TNF-αand Arterial Compliance inEssential HypertensionObjective To investigate the association between Tumor necrosisfactor-α(TNF-α) and and arterial compliance in Essential hypertension.Methods According to the definition of hypertension, i. e. systolic bloodpressure(SBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP)≥140/90mmHg 366subjects were divided into a control group and a hypertension group.Large arterial compliance (C1) and small arterial compliance (C2) weremeasured with the CVProfilor DO-2020 CardioVascular Profiling System,the serum TNF-αand insulin were measured using radioimmunity kits.Insulin resistance was evaluated by insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR).Results (1) Compare with control group C1 (10.55±3.11), C2(3.62±1.51) were decreased while TNF-α(0.31±0.0.05) increased inhypertension group. (2) TNF-αwas positively correlated with HOMA-IRand BMI in control group (r=0.171, r=0.229, P＜0.05 respectively). Inhypertension group TNF-αwas positively correlated with HOMA-IR,BMI, DBP, PP but negatively correlated with C1 and C2 (r=0.427, r=0.154, r=0.144, r=0.182, P＜0.05 respectively). (3) Multivariateregression analysis in hypertension group showed that SBP and age wererisk factors of arterial compliance. When age was excluded fromindependent variables, TNF-αand HOMA-IR became risk factors ofarterial compliance.Conclusion TNF-αwas increased in hypertension. But from our studythe association between TNF-αand arterial compliance was dependent onage.2. Microalbuminuria Associated with Systolic BloodPressure and Arterial Compliance in Chinese MetabolicSyndrome PopulationsObjective There is significant evidence showing that bothmicroalbuminuria and arterial compliance are sensitive markers for earlycardiovascular disease. However, whether microalbuminuria is associatedwith reduced arterial compliance in Chinese metabolic syndromepopulations remains unknown. Methods According to the definition of MS proposed by ATPⅢin2001, USA, 362 subjects were divided into three groups according to thenumber of risk factors: (a) a control group, (b) a medium group whichwith less than three risk factors, and (c) an MS group with more thanthree risk factors. Both large artery compliance (C1) and small arterycompliance (C2) were measured with the CVProfilor DO-2020Cardiovascular Profiling System, and microalbuminuria was evaluatedwith the ratio of albumin to urine creatinine.Results (1) As C1 and C2 levels decreased, ACR and the prevalence ofmicroalbuminuria increased within those groups with MS risk factors. C1and C2 were negatively correlated with the ranking of MS risk factors,ACR was positively correlated with the ranking of MS risk factors(P＜0.05 respectively). (2) Subjects were also categorized into amicroalbuminuria group and a normal group, C1 and C2 in themicroalbuminuria group were lower than those in the normal group. (3)Multivariate regression analysis showed that increased systolic bloodpressure (SBP) and reduced arterial compliance were main risk factors formicroalbuminuria in the MS group.Conclusions The risk of developing microalbuminuria was higher inthe subjects with multiple metabolic abnormalities. Increased SBP and reduced arterial compliance may be the main predictors of micro-albuminuria in MS.3. Association of Serum Testosterone and ArterialCompliance in Chinese Hypertensive PopulationObjective High androgen levels are presumed by many to explain thehigher incidence of cardiovascular disease in men than in women. Arterialcompliance is considered to be sensitive markers of cardiovasculardisease. Therefore, the relationship between serum free testosterone,blood pressure and arterial compliance in the Chinese hypertensivepopulation in the different sexes needs to be investsgeted.Methods According to the definition of hypertension of systolic bloodpressure and/or diastolic blood pressure≥140/90mmHg, 277 subjectswere divided into four groups; (ⅰ) a male control group, (ⅱ) a malehypertensive group, (ⅲ) a female control group, and, (ⅳ) a femalehypertensive group. Arterial compliance indexes were measured with theCVProfilor DO-2020 CardioVascular Profiling System, and serum testosterone was measured using the enzyme chemiluminescenceandmethod.Results (1) The levels of large and small arterial compliance in bothhypertension groups were lower than those in the control groups.Although testosterone in the male hypertensive group was lower than inmale control group, but there was no difference in testosterone betweenthe female groups. (2) Testosterone was significantly positively correlatedwith arterial compliance, negatively correlated in males with bloodpressure and body mass index and negatively correlated with body massindex in females. (3) Multivariate regression analysis showed that age,heart rate and testosterone were risk factors of systolic blood pressure inthe male hypertensive group, while age, small arterial compliance andBMI were risk factors of systolic blood pressure in the femalehypertensive group.Conclusions Arterial compliance was decreased in hypertension. Thereduced serum testosterone may contribute to hypertension and thedecreased arterial compliance in middle-aged males.4. Association of Serum Leptin and Arterial Compliance in Essential HypertensionObjective High leptin levels are often observed in obesity and areimplicated in obesity-related hypertension. Increased adiposity isassociated with higher aortic stiffness. It is possible that the high levels ofleptin observed in obesity could contribute adversely on cardiovascularhealth. Therefore, the effect of leptin on cardiovascular function andblood pressure in the Chinese population needs to be investigated.Methods According to the definition of hypertension, i. e. systolic bloodpressure(SBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP)≥140/90mmHg, andthe definition of obesity via body mass index (BMI)≥25 kg/m~2 211subjects were divided into four groups; (ⅰ) a normal control group (NC),(ⅱ) an obesity group (OB), (ⅲ) an essential hypertension group (EH), and,(ⅳ) an obesity hypertension group (OH). Arterial compliance indiceswere measured with the CVProfilor DO-2020 Cardio Vascular ProfilingSystem. Serum leptin (LEP) and insulin (FINS) levels were measuredusing a radioimmunity kit.Results (1) The levels of C1-Large Artery Elasticity and C2-SmallArtery Elasticity in EH and OH groups were lower than NC group whileLEP and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were higher than those inthe NC group. (2) Adjusted for age and sex, LEP was significantlyinversely correlated with C1 and C2 in each of the four groups, and positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP), pulse pressureand HOMA-IR in the EH and OH groups. (3) Multivariate regressionanalysis showed that age, C2 and heart rate were risk factors of SBP inEH group, while age, C1, C2 and leptin were risk factors of SBP in OHgroup.Conclusions Increased serum leptin was independently associated withdecreased arterial compliance in essential hypertension. Hyperleptinemiamight contribute to obesity-related hypertension in the Chinesepopulation.