Qiaowei Li

Plasma apelin levels, blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors in a coastal Chinese population.

Abstract Objectives. To describe the relationship of plasma apelin levels with blood pressure in a coastal Chinese population. Methods. This cross-sectional study included a total of 1031 subjects from the coastal areas of China. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear trend test, Pearsons correlation analysis, as well as multivariate linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the association between plasma apelin levels and blood pressure. Results. Plasma apelin levels dropped with increasing quartiles of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) (all P < 0.001). SBP, DBP, and MABP values decreased as the apelin levels increased within the quartiles. After adjusting for age and gender, the significant differences in SBP, DBP, and MABP between the groups within the apelin quartiles remained (all P < 0.05). A significant negative correlation between SBP, DBP, as well as MABP and apelin levels was observed (all P < 0.01); even after adjusting for cardiovascular confounding factors, this negative correlation remained (all P < 0.001). Conclusion. A negative correlation between plasma apelin levels and blood pressure was found in this 1000-population-based epidemiological study. Apelin may become a potential therapeutic target of anti-hypertensive treatment.

Aortic stiffness is associated with the central retinal arteriolar equivalent and retinal vascular fractal dimension in a population along the southeastern coast of China

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of the central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and the retinal vascular fractal dimension, two quantitative parameters that reflect microcirculation, with aortic stiffness. In this cross-sectional study, we identified the cardiovascular risk factors in 2169 subjects using a health questionnaire, physical examinations and laboratory examinations. We evaluated the aortic stiffness using noninvasive brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and assessed the microcirculatory alterations with CRAE and retinal vascular fractal dimension, which were measured using fundus photography and semiautomatic quantitative software, respectively. The increase in baPWV (Q1–Q4) correlated with an increased likelihood of the central retinal artery narrowing and a reduction in the retinal vascular fractal dimension. Further adjustment of the cardiovascular risk factors diminished the association between baPWV and CRAE, but increased the association between baPWV and retinal vascular fractal dimension. Elevated baPWV correlates with reduced CRAE and retinal vascular fractal dimension. Such a finding supports macrocirculation- and microcirculation-associated hypotheses.

The relationship of retinal vessel diameters and fractal dimensions with blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors.

Background This study aimed to investigate the correlation between quantitative retinal vascular parameters such as central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and retinal vascular fractal dimension (D(f)), and cardiovascular risk factors in the Chinese Han population residing in the in islands of southeast China. Methodology/Principle Findings In this cross-sectional study, fundus photographs were collected and semi-automated analysis software was used to analyze retinal vessel diameters and fractal dimensions. Cardiovascular risk factors such as relevant medical history, blood pressure (BP), lipids, and blood glucose data were collected. Subjects had a mean age of 51.9±12.0 years and included 812 (37.4%) males and 1,357 (62.6%) females. Of the subjects, 726 (33.5%) were overweight, 226 (10.4%) were obese, 272 (12.5%) had diabetes, 738 (34.0%) had hypertension, and 1,156 (53.3%) had metabolic syndrome. After controlling for the effects of potential confounders, multivariate analyses found that age (β = 0.06, P = 0.008), sex (β = 1.33, P = 0.015), mean arterial blood pressure (β = −0.12, P<0.001), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (β = −0.22, P = 0.008), and CRVE (β = 0.23, P<0.001) were significantly associated with CRAE. Age (β = −0.0012, P<0.001), BP classification (prehypertension: β = −0.0075, P = 0.014; hypertension: β = −0.0131, P = 0.002), and hypertension history (β = −0.0007, P = 0.009) were significantly associated with D(f). Conclusions/Significance D(f) exhibits a stronger association with BP than CRAE. Thus, D(f) may become a useful indicator of cardiovascular risk.

Apelin and APLN single nucleotide polymorphisms and combined hypertension and central retinal artery stenosis in a Chinese population

Abstract Apelin activity plays a role in regulating blood pressure. This study explored the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Apelin gene (APLN) with hypertension and hypertension with central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE) stenosis in a coastal Chinese population. All subjects answered an epidemiological survey for demographic and disease characteristics. Apelin levels were determined and three APLN SNPs, rs56204867, rs3115757, and rs3761581, were evaluated. CRAE was measured using fundus photography. Apelin levels were significantly lower in subjects with hypertension and hypertension with CRAE stenosis (0.23 ± 0.10 ng/ml and 0.21 ± 0.08 ng/ml, respectively) compared with control subjects (0.25 ± 0.11 ng/ml; p < 0.001). Linear regression analysis showed hypertension and hypertension with CRAE stenosis was associated with age, being male, systolic blood pressure, abnormal blood lipids, and Apelin levels. Genetic analysis indicated that in both males and females SNP rs3761581 was associated with hypertension and that more males carrying rs56204867 and rs3761581 T-A haplotype had hypertension (61.88%) and hypertension with CRAE stenosis (56.82%) than control males (39.33%). In this Chinese population, Apelin and APLN SNP rs3761581 was associated with combined hypertension with CRAE, indicating that the expression of APLN gene products may be involved in vascular injury.

GW28-e1025 The relationship between sodium excretion and blood pressure, urine albumin, central retinal arteriolar equivalent

Many studies showed an association between dietary salt intake, blood pressure and increased CVD risk. The potential reason may be related to vascular structural and functional changes, through alterations in endothelial function. The central retinal arteriolar equivalent and urinary albumin

YIA 01-02 AORTIC STIFFNESS IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CENTRAL RETINAL ARTERIOLAR EQUIVALENT AND RETINAL VASCULAR FRACTAL DIMENSION IN A POPULATION ALONG THE SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF CHINA.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of the central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and the retinal vascular fractal dimension, two quantitative parameters that reflect microcirculation, with aortic stiffness. Design and Method: In this cross-sectional study, we identified the cardiovascular risk factors in 2169 subjects using a health questionnaire, physical examinations and laboratory examinations. We evaluated the aortic stiffness using noninvasive brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and assessed the microcirculatory alterations with CRAE and retinal vascular fractal dimension, which were measured using fundus photography and semiautomatic quantitative software, respectively. Results: The increase in baPWV (Q1–Q4) correlated with an increased likelihood of the central retinal artery narrowing and a reduction in the retinal vascular fractal dimension. Further adjustment of the cardiovascular risk factors diminished the association between baPWV and CRAE, but increased the association between baPWV and retinal vascular fractal dimension. Conclusions: Elevated baPWV correlates with reduced CRAE and retinal vascular fractal dimension. Such a finding supports macrocirculation- and microcirculation-associated hypotheses.

Associations between gene polymorphisms of the apelin–APJ system and the risk of hypertension

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the apelin and APJ (apelin receptor) genes and the risk of hypertension in people living in the south-east coastal area of China. A cross-sectional study involving 1031 participants was performed. Genotypes of the apelin (rs3115757, rs56204867 and rs3761581) and APJ (rs7119375 and rs9943582) genes were determined by the TaqMan® MGB probe method. For male patients, the frequencies of mutant alleles in the three apelin gene SNPs were significantly different between the hypertension and control groups (all p < 0.05), while no significant difference was obtained for frequencies of mutant alleles in the two APJ gene SNPs (p > 0.05). For females, the frequencies of mutant alleles in all five SNPs were not significantly different between the hypertension and control groups (all p > 0.05). After adjusting for several factors, the risk of developing hypertension increased significantly in patients, regardless of gender, carrying rs3115757-C, rs56204867-C or rs3761581-A allele (all p < 0.05). The optimal gene–gene interaction model for both males and females with regard to hypertension was apelin rs3761581–apelin rs3115757–APJ rs7119375. In conclusion, gene polymorphisms of the apelin–APJ system are associated with susceptibility to hypertension.