Prognostic Value of Mild Asymptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis in Patients With Hypertension.

Background: Mild asymptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (aICAS) is common in Chinese patients with hypertension. However, there are no data on its prognostic value in this population. The aim of the present study was to clarify the prevalence and associated cardiovascular risk factors of mild aICAS and determine its prognostic value for overall and cardiovascular mortality in patients with hypertension.

Association of Homocysteine with Aysmptomatic Intracranial and Extracranial Arterial Stenosis in Hypertension Patients.

Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is suggested as an independent risk factor for stroke. We aimed to investigate the association of Hcy concentration with intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) and extracranial AS (ECAS) in hypertensive patients without stroke in Chinese population and to explore modified effect of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T on their relationship. The stenosis of intracranial and extracranial arteries were evaluated in a total of 929 subjects through computerized tomographic angiography (CTA) from aortic arch to the skull base.

Association of Inter-arm Blood Pressure Difference with Asymptomatic Intracranial and Extracranial Arterial Stenosis in Hypertension Patients.

Inter-arm blood pressure (BP) difference has been associated with ischemic stroke. Local atherosclerosis of stroke differ among vulnerable individuals, whereas intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) is more frequently affected Asians, and extracranial arterial stenosis (ECAS) is more prevalent among whites. We hereby sought to explore the association of inter-arm BP difference with ICAS and ECAS in stroke-free hypertensive patients in Chinese population.

Disparities in HIV Care Along the Path From Infection to Viral Suppression: A Cross-sectional Study of HIV/AIDS Patient Records in 2013, Shandong Province, China.

Background: The 90-90-90 targets recommended by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS require strengthening human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care, which includes diagnosis, linkage to and retention in care, assessment for treatment suitability, and optimization of HIV treatment. We sought to quantify patient engagement along the continuum, 10 years after introduction of Chinese HIV care policies.

Methods: We included patients from Shandong, China, who were diagnosed with HIV from 1992 to 2013.

Association of Lp-PLA2 Mass and Aysmptomatic Intracranial and Extracranial Arterial Stenosis in Hypertension Patients.

Background And Purpose: Intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS) is a common cause of ischemic stroke in Asians, whereas whites tend to have more extracranial lesions. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) has been associated with ischemic stroke by a large amount of work. However, there are few studies focusing on the relationship of Lp-PLA2 and asymptomatic ICAS or extracranial arterial stenosis (ECAS).

The RGS2 (-391, C>G) genetic variation correlates to antihypertensive drug responses in Chinese patients with essential hypertension.

Objective: Regulators of G-protein signaling protein 2 (RGS2) play an irreplaceable role in the control of normal blood pressure (BP). One RGS2 (-391, C>G) genetic variation markedly changes its mRNA expression levels. This study explored the relationship between this genetic variation and the responses to antihypertensive drugs in Chinese patients with essential hypertension.

HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and behaviors among rural married migrant women in Shandong Province, China: a comparison study.

Migrant women in China are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. This study described HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and behaviors among married migrant women in Shandong province in comparison to non-migrant local women and identified factors associated with HIV testing history and extramarital sex among married migrant women. A probability-based sample of 1,076 migrant and 1,195 local women were included in the analyses.

[A retrospective cohort study on survival time of AIDS death cases receiving Antiretroviral Therapy and related factors].

Objective: To analyze survival time of AIDS death cases receiving Antiretroviral Therapy and related factors.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out to collect the data on death cases receiving Antiretroviral Therapy by the National HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Response Information Management System. Kaplan-Meier was used to calculate the median survival time, and compare survival time among different groups of age, sex, marriage status, infectious routes, WHO clinical stage, baseline CD4(+)T cell counts, and interval time from the start of ART to HIV confirmation.

Introducing rapid oral-fluid HIV testing among high risk populations in Shandong, China: feasibility and challenges.

Background: This study was conducted to ascertain the feasibility of using rapid oral fluid testing as an alternative HIV testing method in China.

Method: This is a mixed-method study among men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW) and VCT clients, conducted in 4 cities in Shandong Province. A pre-tested questionnaire was administered to 1137 participants through face-to-face interview to assess demographic characteristics, HIV testing histories and willingness to accept rapid oral fluid testing.

Alcohol use, stigmatizing/discriminatory attitudes, and HIV high-risk sexual behaviors among men who have sex with men in China.

Objective: This research was conducted to assess the correlates of alcohol consumption and HIV/AIDS-related stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Shandong province, China.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey provided demographics, sexual behaviors, illicit drug use, alcohol consumptions, and service utilization.

Results: Of 1,230 participants, 82.

Syndemics of syphilis, HCV infection, and methamphetamine use along the east coast of China.

Background: An upsurge in club drug use has been observed in recent years in some cities of China, especially methamphetamine, which is quickly replacing heroin to become the most widespread drug across the nation. This study investigated the type of drugs used, syphilis and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the correlates for syphilis, HCV and unprotected commercial sex behavior among drug users in two cities along the east coast of China.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey conducted in 2010 provided demographics, sexual and drug use behaviors, HIV knowledge and the utilization of intervention services among drug users.

Factors associated with willingness to accept oral fluid HIV rapid testing among most-at-risk populations in China.

Background: The availability of oral fluid HIV rapid testing provides an approach that may have the potential to expand HIV testing in China, especially among most-a-risk populations. There are few investigations about the acceptability of oral fluid HIV testing among most-at-risk populations in China.

Method: A cross-sectional study with men who have sex with men (MSM), female sex workers (FSW) and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clients was conducted in three cities of Shandong province, China from 2011 to 2012.

The KCNH2 genetic polymorphism (1956, C>T) is a novel biomarker that is associated with CCB and α,β-ADR blocker response in EH patients in China.

Background: KCNH2 (hERG) potassium channels have an integral role in regulating the excitability of smooth muscle cells. Some pathways driven by angiotensin II, nitric oxide and adrenergic receptors blocker are involved in modulating the properties of KCNH2 potassium channels. And these pathways are closely related to blood pressure regulation.

Dual epidemics of syphilis and methamphetamine use among drug users in Shandong Province of China.

We assessed the types of drugs, the prevalence of HIV, syphilis, and its correlates among Shandong's drug users in China. Two consecutive cross-sectional surveys in 2009 and 2010 provided demographics, types of drugs, sexual and drug-use behaviors, and HIV-related services. Of the 1320 unique, eligible participants, 81.

[Mutation of drug resistant gene in HIV/AIDS patients with antiretroviral therapy in Shandong province in 2011].

Objective: To investigate drug resistance status in patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Shandong province.

Methods: A total of 758 patients were separated from the anticoagulatory whole blood during May and October in 2011. The entire protease gene and part of the reverse transcriptase gene were amplified by RT-PCR and nest-PCR in the samples with viral load larger than 1000 copies/ml, then sequenced the gene fragments.

C-reactive protein (CRP) gene polymorphisms, CRP levels and risk of incident essential hypertension: findings from an observational cohort of Han Chinese.

C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute phase reactant and marker of inflammation, has been shown to be associated with CRP genetic variants and incident hypertension, but it is unclear whether this link is causal. We therefore conducted a prospective, nested case-control study to examine the relationship between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the CRP gene, circulating CRP levels and the development of hypertension. Plasma CRP levels and the genotypes of eight SNPs were determined in 2000 unrelated Shanghai residents, including 908 hypertensive individuals and 1092 normotensive individuals.

Consistently low prevalence of syphilis among female sex workers in Jinan, China: findings from two consecutive respondent driven sampling surveys.

Background: Routine surveillance using convenient sampling found low prevalence of HIV and syphilis among female sex workers in China. Two consecutive surveys using respondent driven sampling were conducted in 2008 and 2009 to examine the prevalence of HIV and syphilis among female sex workers in Jinan, China.

Methods: A face-to-face interview was conducted to collect demographic, behavioral and service utilization information using a structured questionnaire.

[The prevalence and evolution of HIV drug-resistant strains in people who live with HIV/AIDS during HIV antiretroviral therapy in Shandong province].

Objective: To understand the prevalence and evolution of HIV drug-resistant strains in people who live with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) during HIV antiretroviral therapy in Shandong province.

Methods: Viral load testing was performed by using fluorescence real-time quantitative PCR (NucliSens EasyQ system) on 324 patients who were under HIV antiretroviral therapy (ART) over 1 year in Shandong province. HIV resistance testing was conducted on the samples with more than 1000 copies/ml by using genotypic resistance testing method established in our lab.

[Correlation study on serum adiponectin abnormity with adiponectin gene polymorphisms in hypertensive patients of phlegm-dampness constitution].

Objective: To explore the difference of serum adiponectin (APN) level in hypertensive patients of phlegm-dampness constitution (PDC) and in those of non-PDC, as well as its association with APN gene polymorphisms.

Methods: Serum APN levels in 250 hypertensive patients (137 of PDC and 113 of non-PDC) were determined, and a correlation study was performed on 8 selected single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of APN gene.

Results: Significant differences of serum APN levels were observed between PDC and non-PDC patients (5.

The relationship between apolipoprotein E epsilon2/epsilon3/epsilon4 polymorphisms and hypertension: a meta-analysis of six studies comprising 1812 cases and 1762 controls.

We performed a meta-analysis in an effort to systematically explore the association between apolipoprotein E (ApoE) epsilon2/epsilon3/epsilon4 polymorphisms and hypertension. We searched for case-control studies in English-language publications performed with human subjects using MEDLINE and included appropriate studies that had been published as of 6 May 2009. Fixed-effects models were used to pool data when between-study heterogeneity was absent, and random-effects models were used otherwise.

Study on insulin resistance and genetic polymorphisms in essential hypertension patients of two different kinds of TCM constitution.

Objective: To investigate the relationship of insulin resistance and the polymorphisms of insulin receptor-related genes in essential hypertension patients of two different kinds of TCM constitution.

Methods: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin release test (InRT) were conducted in 217 essential hypertensive patients of either sluggish meticulous (SM) constitution (139 cases) or prosperous impetuous (PI) constitution (78 cases), and the polymorphism of three genes, including insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and 2 (IRS-2) genes were detected.

Results: (1) OGTT, InRT and insulin resistance index (Homa-IR) were higher and insulin sensitive index (ISI) was lower in the patients of SM constitution than those in patients of PI constitution.

[Relationship between the polymorphism of alpha-adducin gene and the two phenotypes of constitutions in patients with essential hypertension classified by TCM].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the polymorphism of alpha-adducin (ADD1) gene and the two phenotypes of constitution in patients with essential hypertension, the Yang-hyperactive (YH) type and phlegm-dampness (PD) type, classified by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approach.

Methods: Two hundred and seven patients differentiated by TCM approach as YH type (113 cases) or PD type (94 cases) were observed, with the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum creatinine (Cr), uric acid (UA), total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) as the criteria of observation. Gly460Trp polymorphism of the ADD1 gene was detected by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Interaction between body mass index and alcohol intake in relation to blood pressure in HAN and SHE Chinese.

Background: Blood pressure (BP) increases with body mass index (BMI) and excessive alcohol intake. Few epidemiologic studies explored the interaction between BMI and alcohol intake in relation to BP.

Methods: We randomly selected 10 villages with a mixed population of HAN and SHE Chinese in the JingNing County in Southeast China.

[The epidemiological study on human immunodeficiency virus infection among paid blood donors living in Shandong provincial China Comprehensive Response Project Areas].

Objective: To understand the current epidemic situation and high risk factors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among paid blood donors living in Shandong provincial China Comprehensive Response (CARES) Project Areas.

Methods: All residents between 20 to 60 years old were selected from one or several counties in August 2003.

Results: There were 19 HIV(+) infections among 661 subjects interviewed.