Shujian Wang

Correlation of peripheral Th17 cells and Th17-associated cytokines to the severity of carotid artery plaque and its clinical implication.

OBJECTIVE Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease regulated by T lymphocyte subsets. Th17 cells reportedly play important roles in the development of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In this study, we investigated the contributions of circulating Th17 cells and plasma Th17-associated cytokines to carotid artery plaques. METHODS Based on carotid artery ultrasonography, 280 atherosclerosis patients were categorized both by: (1) 4 levels for extent and severity of plaques (Level 1=least severe; Level 4=most severe) and (2) 5 groups for ultrasound features of carotid artery plaques (none, flat, soft, hard, ulcerated). Peripheral blood Th17 cell frequencies and plasma concentrations of Th17-associated cytokines (IL-17, IL-6, and TNF-α) were also determined. RESULTS For groups categorized by the extent and severity of carotid artery plaques, Th17 cell frequencies, common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT), and Crouse scores were significantly increased in higher level groups (Levels 3 and 4) than in lower level groups (Levels 1 and 2), and plasma concentrations of IL-17, IL-6, and TNF-α increased with increased levels of plaque severity. The same pattern was found for groups categorized by ultrasound features of carotid artery plaques. The results of Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses showed that both CCA-IMT and Crouse scores for carotid artery plaques were significantly and positively correlated with Th17 cell frequencies and plasma Th17-associated cytokine concentrations. CONCLUSION These results suggest that increased frequencies of circulating Th17 cells and Th17-associated cytokines are correlated to the severity and progression of carotid artery plaques.

Salt loading and potassium supplementation: effects on ambulatory arterial stiffness index and endothelin-1 levels in normotensive and mild hypertensive patients.

The authors investigated effects of excessive salt intake and potassium supplementation on ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) and endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) in salt‐sensitive and non–salt‐sensitive individuals. AASI and symmetric AASI (s‐AASI) were used as indicators of arterial stiffness. Plasma ET‐1 levels were used as an index of endothelial function. Chronic salt‐loading and potassium supplementation were studied in 155 normotensive to mild hypertensive patients from rural northern China. After 3 days of baseline investigation, participants were maintained sequentially for 7 days each on diets of low salt (51.3 mmol/d), high salt (307.7 mmol/d), and high salt+potassium (60 mmol/d). Ambulatory 24‐hour blood pressure (BP) and plasma ET‐1 were measured at baseline and on the last 2 days of each intervention. High‐salt intervention significantly increased BP, AASI, s‐AASI (all P<.001); potassium supplementation reversed increased plasma ET‐1 levels. High‐salt–induced changes in BP, s‐AASI, and plasma ET‐1 were greater in salt‐sensitive individuals. Potassium supplementation decreased systolic BP and ET‐1 to a significantly greater extent in salt‐sensitive vs non–salt‐sensitive individuals (P<.001). Significant correlations were identified between s‐AASI and ET‐1 change ratios in response to both high‐salt intervention and potassium supplementation (P<.001). Reducing dietary salt and increasing daily potassium improves arterial compliance and ameliorates endothelial dysfunction.

Trends in Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control Rates in Shandong Province of China

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2012; 14:637–643.

A 48-week study of amlodipine plus amiloride / hydrochlorothiazide vs. amlodipine plus telmisartan in the treatment of hypertension

Background:  Chinese Hypertension Intervention Efficacy (CHIEF) study is a large‐scale randomised clinical trial across China, which compares the efficacy of two combination regimens in reducing cardiovascular events associated with hypertension.