Novel genetic variants contributing to left ventricular hypertrophy: the HyperGEN study.

Objectives: To identify genes contributing to variation in echocardiographic left ventricular mass and related traits using linkage and linkage disequilibrium analysis in sibships ascertained on hypertension.

Methods: The Hypertension Genetic Epidemiology Network (HyperGEN) Study of left ventricular hypertrophy characterized left ventricular mass, relative wall thickness (RWT), and aortic root diameter (ARD) with echocardiograms collected using a standardized protocol at four HyperGEN field centers. A high-throughput scanning fluorescence detector system genotyped 387 polymorphisms distributed throughout the genome.

Genetic variants near TNFAIP3 on 6q23 are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease influenced by genetic and environmental factors. We carried out a genome-wide association scan and replication study and found an association between SLE and a variant in TNFAIP3 (rs5029939, meta-analysis P = 2.89 x 10(-12), OR = 2.

Prevalence, severity, and predictors of fatigue in subjects with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the relationship of fatigue severity to other clinical features in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and to identify factors contributing to the physical and mental aspects of fatigue.

Methods: We identified 94 subjects who met the American-European Consensus Group criteria for the classification of primary SS. Fatigue was assessed with a visual analog scale, the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and the Profile of Fatigue (ProF).

Genome scan of glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria: the HyperGEN study.

Background: Albuminuria and reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are markers of renal dysfunction associated with hypertension. We performed genome-wide scans to detect loci impacting these parameters in 1251 African American (AAs) and 1129 European American (EAs) hypertensive siblings from the Hypertension Genetic Epidemiology Network study.

Methods: GFR, estimated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation, and albuminuria, measured as albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR), were adjusted for gender, age, centre, mean blood pressure, anti-hypertensive medication class and diabetes status using SOLAR.