The relationship of age, body mass index and waist circumference with blood pressure in Bengalee Hindu male jute mill workers of Belur, West Bengal, India

A cross-sectional study of 150 adult Bengalee Hindu male jute mill workers of Belur, a suburb of Kolkata, West Bengal, India, was undertaken to study the relationship of age, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) with systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean arterial (MAP) blood pressure. The mean age and the BMI of the subjects were 40.7 years (S.D. = 15.2) and 23.2 kg/m2 (S.D. = 3.2), respectively. The mean SBP, DBP and MAP were 124.7 mmHg (S.D. = 7.8), 81.5 mmHg (S.D. = 5.7) and 95.9 mmHg (S.D. = 6.1), respectively. Age had similar significant (p < 0.001) correlations with BMI and WC. Age and WC were significantly correlated (p < 0.001) with all the three blood pressure variables. In general, the correlations of BMI with SBP (r = 0.24, p < 0.01), DBP (r = 0.15, n.s.) and MAP (r = 0.19, p < 0.05) were weaker. Age controlled multiple regression analyses demonstrated that BMI did not have a significant effect of any blood pressure variable. However, WC had a significant impact (p < 0.0001) on SBP (t = 7.068), DBP (t = 5.190) and MAP (t = 6.387), even after adjusting for the effect of age. Moreover, even after age adjustment, percent variations in SBP (20.7%), DBP (12.5%) and MAP (17.2%) explained by WC were high. This significant impact (p < 0.0001) of WC on SBP (t = 9.426), DBP (t = 8.349) and MAP (t = 9.642) remained even after controlling for the combined effects of age and BMI.     

Blood pressure and waist circumference: an empirical study of the effects of waist circumference on blood pressure among Bengalee male jute mill workers of Belur,West Bengal,India

An investigation of 150 adult Bengalee Hindu male jute mill workers in Belur, a suburb of Kolkata, West Bengal, India, was conducted to study the relationship between central obesity and blood pressure. In accordance with their waist circumference measurement, the subjects were divided into two categories: centrally non-obese (CNO) and centrally obese (CO). The participants were classified as the CO group if they had a WC of 80 cm or more. Results showed that none of the CNO subjects was mild hypertensive (SBP>/=140 mmHg and/or DBP>/=90 mmHg) while 85 of the CO subjects (82.5%) were mild hypertensives, the difference being statistically significant (chi-square=9.33; p<0.0025). Moreover, the data also revealed that the CO subjects had much (p<0.001) greater mean weight, body mass index (BMI), systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean arterial (MAP) blood pressure than the CNO group members. The significant difference in blood pressure was found even after correcting the confounding effects of age and BMI variables. The results of this study showed that, the Bengalee male jute mill workers in the CO group had significantly higher blood pressure irrespective of age and overall adiposity (BMI). Therefore, the presence of central obesity is deemed a risk factor, for hypertension regardless of age and BMI. Thus, a WC cut-off point of 80 cm could be employed for health promotion among Bengalee men so as to prevent and manage hypertension effectively.     

The relationship of family income,family size,age and circumferences with blood pressure in the female students of the Bahauddin Zakariya University,Multan, Pakistan

In a randomly selected sample of 600 female students of the Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan, belonging to different socioeconomic groups, age, family income and family size were recorded and measurements were made of arm, waist, neck and total circumferences, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). The correlation coefficients between different independent (age, family income, family size, arm, waist, neck and total circumference) and dependent variables (SBP, DBP and MAP) showed that age had a strong association (p < 0.001) with all types of blood pressure, whereas the correlation coefficient of family income and family size was significant with SBP (p < 0.05) and non-significant with DBP and MAP. Moreover, all the circumferences had strong relationship (p 0.05 at least) with blood pressure. The regression coefficients of age were highly significant for SBP, DBP and MAP, whereas these were non-significant (p > 0.05) for family income and family size. The regression coefficients for arm and waist were significant (p < 0.05), whereas these were highly significant (p < 0.01 at least) for neck and total circumferences. The neck had a 0.46 mm Hg/cm with SBP, 0.41 mm Hg/cm for DBP and 0.44 Hg/cm for MAP, and these were highest among the circumferences.     

血液透析血压及其变异性与患者预后的相关性分析

目的:探讨血液透析前后和血液透析过程中血压及其变异性与患者预后的相关性。方法:选取沈阳军区总医院血液透析中心2010年1月1日至2013年12月31日收治的维持性血液透析患者,收集并对比随访期内生存及死亡患者的自然信息及临床资料,评估血液透析过程中患者血压及其变异程度与患者预后的关系。结果:共有269例患者纳入研究,经过4年随访共死亡83(30.86%)例。死亡组年龄显著大于存活组(64.92±13.24岁比49.89±12.86岁,P=0.000),而透析年限显著短于存活组(2.60±2.56年比7.25±4.14年,P=0.000)。死亡组透析前SBP(P=0.001)、DBP(P=0.000)、MAP(P=0.000)均显著高于存活组。两组间透析后SBP、DBP、MAP比较均无显著差异。死亡组△SBP(P=0.026)、△DBP(P=0.001)、△MAP(P=0.001)幅度显著大于存活组。死亡组透析前SBP变异率显著高于存活组(P=0.001);死亡组透析后SBP变异率(P=0.000)、DBP变异率(P=0.014)、MAP变异率(P=0.005)均高于存活组。死亡组每次透析前各时间点间SBP变异率(0.12±0.04 mm Hg比0.09±0.03 mm Hg,P=0.000)与MAP变异率(0.10±0.03mm Hg比0.09±0.03 mm Hg,P=0.001)显著高于非死亡组。结论:维持性血液透析患者透析前血压、透析前后血压改变幅度、透析前后血压变异率、每次透析各时间点间血压变异率等与全因死亡相关。     

Blood pressure levels of the Suruí and Zoró Indians of the Brazilian Amazon: group- and sex-specific effects resulting from body composition, health status, and age

Two related Tupí-Mondê-speaking tribes of the Aripuan? Indian Park of western Brazil are compared in terms of their recent contact with Western culture, subsistence patterns, general health, and blood pressure levels. Age, weight, height, sex, and tribal affiliation for Suruí and Zoró adults over age 18 are included in an analysis of covariance to test regression models of both diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Because of significant interaction effects between sex and other covariates, sex-specific models were developed. The relationship between body mass and blood pressure level in males conforms with Western data, but the direction and magnitude of effects for the age and body mass covariates in both sexes conflict with data from other modernizing societies. With age, weight/height ratio, and sex differences controlled for, Suruí males show a lower mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) level and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) level than Zoró males. Intertribal differences were smaller among females: Suruí females SBP and DBP differences were similar but did not reach significance. Other sex-specific differences include a greater inverse relationship between age and SBP level among the 104 male subjects than among the 98 female subjects (with similar trends in DBP) and a small but significant effect of the weight/height ratio on both SBP and DBP in males but not in females. Health status data for these groups suggest that hypothesized increases in mean blood pressure levels following the Suruí's acceptance of a Western diet and social stratification may be modified by their health status, particularly prevalent infectious disease.     

Seven Dietary Minerals (Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn) and Their Relationship with Blood Pressure and Blood Lipids in Healthy Adults with Self-Selected Diet

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the dietary intakes of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) and investigate their correlation with blood pressure and blood lipids. Targeting 258 healthy men and women, blood pressure was measured, and blood samples were collected to analyze serum lipids, and then the intakes of seven minerals were assessed through a food intake survey for 3 days using a 24-h recall method. The average age of the men and women was 49.55 and 49.19, respectively. The daily energy intake of the men was 1,830.57 kcal, which was significantly higher than that of women, 1,476.23 kcal (p?<?0.001). The mineral intake of the subjects was as follows: 450.95 mg/day for Ca, 915.24 mg/day for P, 279.23 mg/day for Mg, 12.60 mg/day for Fe, 8.25 mg/day for Zn, 1.23 mg/day for Cu, and 4.22 mg/day for Mn. These accounted for 63.83, 130.76, 90.74, 129.75, 97.50, 154.49, and 113.50 % of adequate intake or the recommended intake of each mineral, respectively. Subjects who did not satisfy the estimated average requirement were 74.00 % for Ca, 63.18 % for Mg, and 41.86 % for Zn. After adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and energy intake, Mg intake had a negative correlation with systolic blood pressure (SBP), and Cu intake had a significant negative correlation with SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Also, Mn intake was negatively correlated with DBP, serum total cholesterol, and triglycerides. Thus, it is concluded that the dietary intakes of Mg, Cu, and Mn may play an important role in controlling blood pressure and lipids in Korean adults.     

Prehypertension Tsunami: A Decade Follow-Up of an Iranian Adult Population

ObjectivePrehypertension is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is no study to examine the incidence and risk factors of prehypertension in a sex stratified setting. The aim of this study was to examine the effect modification of sex for different risk factors which predicts the progression from normotension to prehypertension in a Middle East population-based cohort, during a median follow-up of 9.2 years.MethodsA multivariate Cox analysis was performed among 1466 and 2131 Iranian men and women, respectively, who were free of prehypertension, hypertension, CVD and diabetes at baseline and free of incident hypertension without preceding prehypertension at follow-up. Incident prehypertension at follow-up was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 120–139 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 80–89 mmHg.ResultsOverall, 1440 new cases of prehypertension were identified resulting in an incidence rate of 593/10000 person-years; the corresponding values for women and men were 489/10000 and 764/10000person-years, respectively. There were significant interactions between gender with age, DBP, waist-to-hip-ratio (WHpR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (all P-values <0.05) in multivariate analysis. Strong associations were found between age, body mass index (BMI) and SBP with incident prehypertension in both genders. However, the effect of DBP and WHpR was significant among women and 2-hour post challenge plasma glucose (2h-PCPG)was an independent risk factor for men. In the sex-adjusted analysis, glomerular hyperfiltration [Hazard ratio (HR) and 95%CI: 1.01 (1.00–1.01), P-value = 0.02], age, BMI, WHpR, SBP and DBP had higher risks while being female [HR (95%CI): 0.81(0.69–0.94), P-value = 0.01] had a lower risk for incident prehypertension.ConclusionAccording to this study results, among Iranian population with high incidence of prehypertension, general adiposity and glomerular hyperfiltration in total, 2h-PCPG in men and central adiposity in women should be emphasized as risk factors for prehypertension.     

Non-invasive blood pressure measurement in Yucatan miniature swine using tail cuff sphygmomanometry

A relatively new non-invasive method using a photo-electric flow sensor in non-heated animals, was evaluated for its accuracy in measuring systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in 40-90 Kg normotensive and hypertensive Yucatan miniature swine. Directly measured SBP, DBP and electronically averaged MAP were recorded from chronic arterial catheters simultaneously with indirect pressures, cuff pressure and tail blood flow under various conditions. In all of the tests tail cuff SBP estimation averaged within 5% of directly measured SBP. The correlation of the two methods was significant (r = .95, P less than 0.01). Over a 60 to 202 mmHg range of blood pressure induced pharmacologically or due to DOCA hypertension, the tail cuff SBP was within 4-10% of directly measured SBP. The tail cuff method was also used to determine DBP and MAP. DBP determined from the tail cuff record was found consistently to underestimate the direct measured DBP by approximately 17%. The two methods were correlated (r = .87 P less than 0.01). The measured tail cuff MAP generally underestimated the direct MAP by approximately 5%. The correlation of directly measured MAP and tail cuff methods was significant (r = .72, P less than 0.01). These results indicated that this system may be used to accurately assess blood pressure in miniature swine.     

A pathophysiological approach to metabolic syndrome using factor analysis in an adult Romanian population

The aim of the study was to examine the role of insulin resistance in etiopathogenesis of metabolic syndrome in an adult Romanian population using exploratory factor analysis. We analyzed 228 non-diabetic subjects randomized in respect to the age and sex distribution of the general population. For each patient, age, sex, body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), HDL-cholesterol (HDL), plasma triglycerides (TG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting insulin were obtained. Factor analysis was performed using principal component analysis, with Varimax rotation of the major determinants of metabolic syndrome. Mean age was 48.9 +/- 12.7 years; 107 (46.9%) were men and 121 (53.1%) women. We found three major factors, which are correlated with metabolic syndrome and may explain its variance. Factor 1 comprises SBP and DBP in men and SBP, DBP and BMI in women. Factor 2 comprises BMI, HDL, TG and FPG in men and BMI, TG and FPG in women. Factor 3 comprises fasting insulin in men and fasting insulin, TG and HDL in women. The finding of more than one factor suggests that insulin resistance is not the only pathophysiological mechanism involved. These factors appear to work independently of each other in men, but they intersect in women, suggesting that the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome may be different in women compared with men.     

Which Measure of Abdominal Adiposity Best Relates with Body Mass Index Among Older Bengalee Hindus of Kolkata, India? A Comparison of Three Measures

A cross-sectional study of 410 (210 men and 200 women) older (≥55 years) Bengalee Hindus of Kolkata, India, was undertaken to determine which measure of abdominal adiposity best relates with body mass index (BMI), an indicator of overall adiposity. Three measures of abdominal adiposity were studied: waist circumference (WC), waist–hip ratio (WHR), and conicity index (CI). Results revealed that, in both sexes, WC had the strongest partial (age controlled) correlations with BMI (men = 0.56, women = 0.80). Linear regression analyses demonstrated that BMI had the strongest significant impact on WC in both sexes. BMI alone accounted for 28.2 and 61.8% variation in WC in men and women, respectively. This strongest significant impact remained even after controlling for age. In conclusion, this study provides strong evidence that WC can be preferred over WHR and CI in studies dealing with BMI among older Bengalee Hindus. In particular, BMI and WC can be useful in studies dealing with aging and anthropometric characteristics among older Bengalees.     

Circadian pattern of blood pressure,heart rate,and double product in liver glycogen storage disease

The objective of this study was to determine systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure (SBP, DBP, and MAP), heart rate (HR), double-product (DP: SBP x HR), and activity levels and their 24h pattern in liver glycogen storage disease (LGSD) patients. A case series of 12 (11 pediatric and one adult) diurnally active LGSD (seven type I, three type III, and two type IX) subjects were simultaneously assessed by 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and wrist actigraphy. Nine subjects were judged to be hypertensive based on the criterion of an elevated 24h mean SBP and/or DBP being elevated beyond reference standards or the SBP and/or DBP load (percentage of time BP exceeds normal values) being greater than 25%. Two of the three other subjects, not viewed as hypertensive based on their 24h average SBP or DBP, exhibited daytime or nighttime SBP and/or DBP load hypertension. Each study variables displayed statistically significant (p < 0.001) group circadian rhythmicity. The SBP, DBP, and MAP displayed comparable 24h patterns of appreciable amplitude (total peak-trough variation equal to 17.7, 23.6, and 19.6%, respectively, of the 24h mean) with highest values (orthophase) occurring approximately 11 h after the commencement of daytime activity. The sleep-time trough (bathyphase) occurred approximately 4.5 h before morning awakening. The statistically significant (p < 0.006) circadian rhythms of HR (amplitude equal to 33.2% of the 24h mean) and DP (amplitude equal to 49.4% of the 24h mean) peaked earlier, approximately 7.4 h into the daytime activity span. The sleep-time trough occurred approximately 3 h before morning awakening. The 24h pattern in the cardiovascular variables was correlated with the 24h pattern of activity, with r ranging from 0.50 for DBP to 0.39 for HR.     

The relationship of waist circumference and BMI to visceral, subcutaneous, and total body fat: sex and race differences

The purpose of this study was to examine sex and race differences in the relationship between anthropometric measurements and adiposity in white and African-American (AA) adults. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) areas were measured with computed tomography (CT). Fat mass (FM) was measured with dual-energy-X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship of waist circumference (WC) and BMI to VAT, SAT, and FM within sex-by-race groups. General linear models were used to compare relationships between WC or BMI, and adiposity across sex and race, within age groups (18-39 and 40-64 years). The sample included 1,667 adults (men: 489 white; 120 AA; women: 666 white, 392 AA). WC and BMI correlations were highest for FM and SAT compared to VAT. Women had higher FM levels than men regardless of WC, but the sex difference in FM was attenuated in younger AA adults with a high BMI. For a given level of WC or BMI, women had higher levels of SAT than men; however, significant interactions indicated that the relationship was not consistent across all levels of BMI and WC. Sex and race differences in VAT varied significantly with WC and BMI. In general, white adults had higher levels of VAT than AA adults at higher levels of BMI and WC. Sex differences, and in some instances race differences, in the relationships between anthropometry and fat-specific depots demonstrate that these characteristics need to be considered when predicting adiposity from WC or BMI.     

Cigarette smoking, blood pressure and serum lipids and lipoproteins in middle-aged women

The relationship of cigarette smoking with blood pressure and serum lipids and lipoproteins was studied in the 3934 middle-aged women aged 40 to 59 years. After adjusting age, body mass index (BMI), alcohol intake and physical activity scores, the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DEP, respectively) did not indicate dose-dependent relationships. The largest significant mean differences in SBP (4.6 mmHg), DBP (3.9 mmHg), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (9.6 mg/dL), ratio of total cholesterol to HDL-C (TC/HDL-C) (0.8), triglycerides (TG) (22.9 mg/dL) and the logarithmic transformation of TG (Log TG) (0.26) were found between the non-smokers and smokers. When age, BMI, alcohol intake and physical activity scores were included in the forward stepwise multiple regression analyses, there were negative relationships found for cigarette smoking and SBP, DBP and HDL-C and positive relationships for cigarette smoking and TC/HDL-C, TG, Log TG and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Although the results are somewhat variable, the present study shows cigarette smoking is negatively associated with SBP and DBP and unfavorably associated with serum lipids and lipoproteins in middle-aged women.     

Ultradian rhythmic models of blood pressure variation in normal human daily life

To examine levels and variance structure of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR), we measured those 3 variables every 7.5 min for 24 h (approximately 192 samples each subject) by ambulatory monitoring in 2 nominated groups of normal volunteers: younger (Y; 8 men, 5 women, 24-44 years) and older (O; 13 men, 12 women, 50-95 years). Y and O did not differ in either sleep or wake means for HR and DBP. Mean SBP in O was 17 mm Hg higher than in Y during wakefulness. Thirty-four subjects had significant low frequency variations (presumably the circadian rhythm) in SBP, DBP and HR, regardless of age. A periodic model fitting the time series required a 9 h feature (rhythm) for Y and O in DBP for best reduction of mean square error. In addition, O regularly showed 3 h features in both SBP and DBP, a 6 h feature in DBP and a 9 h feature in SBP, which were absent in Y. Our results suggest that low-power ultradian rhythms may appear in both SBP and DBP after age 50, and possibly serve as dynamic markers of normal cardiovascular aging.     

Hemodynamics and brain blood flow during posture change in younger women and postmenopausal women compared with age-matched men

Increased incidence of orthostatic hypotension and presyncopal symptoms in young women could be related to hormonal factors that might be isolated by comparing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular responses to postural change in young and older men and women. Seven young women, 11 young men, 10 older women (>1 yr postmenopausal, no hormone therapy), and 9 older men participated in a supine-to-sit-to-stand test while measuring systemic hemodynamics, end-tidal Pco(2), and blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Women had a greater reduction in stroke volume index compared with age-matched men (change from supine to standing: young women: -22.9 ± 1.6 ml/m(2); young men: -14.4 ± 2.4 ml/m(2); older women: -17.4 ± 3.3 ml/m(2); older men: -13.8 ± 2.2 ml/m(2)). This was accompanied by offsetting changes in heart rate, particularly in young women, resulting in no age or sex differences in cardiac output index. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was higher in older subjects and increased with movement to upright postures. Younger men and women had higher forearm vascular resistance that increased progressively in the upright posture compared with older men and women. There was no difference between sexes or ages in total peripheral resistance index. Women had higher MCA velocity, but both sexes had reduced MCA velocity while upright, which was a function of reduced blood pressure at the MCA and a significant reduction in end-tidal Pco(2). The reductions in stroke volume index suggested impaired venous return in women, but augmented responses of heart rate and forearm vascular resistance protected MAP in younger women. Overall, these results showed significant sex and age-related differences, but compensatory mechanisms preserved MAP and MCA velocity in young women.     

CIRCADIAN PATTERN OF BLOOD PRESSURE,HEART RATE,AND DOUBLE PRODUCT IN LIVER GLYCOGEN STORAGE DISEASE

The objective of this study was to determine systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure (SBP, DBP, and MAP), heart rate (HR), double-product (DP: SBP×HR), and activity levels and their 24h pattern in liver glycogen storage disease (LGSD) patients. A case series of 12 (11 pediatric and one adult) diurnally active LGSD (seven type I, three type III, and two type IX) subjects were simultaneously assessed by 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and wrist actigraphy. Nine subjects were judged to be hypertensive based on the criterion of an elevated 24h mean SBP and/or DBP being elevated beyond reference standards or the SBP and/or DBP load (percentage of time BP exceeds normal values) being greater than 25%. Two of the three other subjects, not viewed as hypertensive based on their 24h average SBP or DBP, exhibited daytime or nighttime SBP and/or DBP load hypertension. Each study variables displayed statistically significant (p<0.001) group circadian rhythmicity. The SBP, DBP, and MAP displayed comparable 24h patterns of appreciable amplitude (total peak–trough variation equal to 17.7, 23.6, and 19.6%, respectively, of the 24h mean) with highest values (orthophase) occurring ～11 h after the commencement of daytime activity. The sleep-time trough (bathyphase) occurred ～4.5 h before morning awakening. The statistically significant (p<0.006) circadian rhythms of HR (amplitude equal to 33.2% of the 24h mean) and DP (amplitude equal to 49.4% of the 24h mean) peaked earlier, ～7.4 h into the daytime activity span. The sleep-time trough occurred ～3 h before morning awakening. The 24h pattern in the cardiovascular variables was correlated with the 24h pattern of activity, with r ranging from 0.50 for DBP to 0.39 for HR.     

Does Waist Circumference Add to the Predictive Power of the Body Mass Index for Coronary Risk?

Objectives: To examine the power of the combined measurements of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) for the prediction of abnormality in coronary heart disease risk factors and to determine whether the additional measurement of WC is predictive in older men and women. Research Methods and Procedures: 1190 men and 751 women of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging were dichotomized into younger (<65 years) and older (65+ years) age groups. Coronary risk factors in the realms of glucose/insulin metabolism, blood pressure, and plasma lipids were assessed. The relationship of BMI and WC, singly and combined, to 10 risk factors for coronary heart disease was examined. Results: In younger and older men and women, BMI and WC are highly correlated (0.84 to 0.88). BMI and WC are also significantly correlated to all 10 coronary risk factors in younger men and women and to 8 of the 10 in the older men and women. Both partial correlation and logistic regression analyses revealed a modest but significant improvement in the prediction of coronary risk in younger men and women by WC after controlling for the level of BMI. There was no improvement in the older subjects. Discussion: WC adds only modestly to the prediction of coronary risk in younger subjects once BMI is known, and adds nothing to the production of risk in older subjects.     

Relationships between blood pressure, polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), body composition and biochemical characteristics in elderly Slovaks

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that several specific environmental factors and candidate genes influence the human variation in blood pressure. The aim of this study was to investigate variables associated with blood pressure; with a particular emphasis on the differences in insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the human angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), the body composition and the recognized risk factors for atherosclerosis among elderly males and females. A total of 374 participants (174 males and 200 females) aged from 60 to 90 years were recruited from different parts of Slovakia. The elderly were not bed-ridden, nor mentally impaired, they were able to manage their daily activities by themselves. The ACE I/D polymorphism was determined by PCR amplification of the ACE gene sequence. Body composition variables were obtained by bioelectrical impedance analysis, using the BIA 101 soft tissue-body impedance analyzer (Akern, S.r.l.). The subjects were determined to be hypertensive (blood pressure > or = 140/90 mm Hg) or normotensive (blood pressure < or = 140/90 mm Hg ). These two subgroups of males and females did not differ significantly in their mean ages. As expected, the hypertensive subjects of both sexes showed significantly higher mean values in systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), in body mass index (BMI), and in the mean values of their plasma glucose and extracellular water (ECW). The genotype distribution and allele frequencies in the whole sample (D = 0.5474, I = 0.4526) fell within the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequency of the deleterious D allele in the normotensive (0.5532) and hypertensive (0.5516) subjects was not significantly different. The ACE I/D genotypes did not associate either with the systolic (p = 0.836) or diastolic BP (p = 0.629). From the other variables that may induce differences in blood pressure, a statistical effect was detected for glucose, Na/K, and Apo A1/ApoB ratios and physical activity on SBP, and for ApoA1, physical activity, BMI and total cholesterol on DBP.     

Influence of polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase M1 on systolic blood pressure of normotensive individuals

Studies have indicated that systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure are multi-factorial traits and significantly heritable. The aims of the present study are to assess whether the glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) genotypes are associated with SBP and DBP of normotensive subjects and to ascertain whether the level of SBP and DBP given exposure to cigarette smoking is modified by the specific genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1 and GSTT1. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 140 subjects (49 females and 91 males) (mean age+/-SD: 38.7+/-14.7). The genotypes were determined using a polymerase chain reaction based method. Individuals were stratified according to the mean values of DBP and SBP, lower than or maximally same as the mean value defines as group I and higher than the mean value defines as group II. The logistic regression analyses were used. The best models fitted by logistic regression analysis for variables were associated with SBP and DBP. For analysis the combination of genotypes, sex, and smoking behavior was used as qualitative variables, and age, body mass index (BMI), and heart rate were used as covariates. Combination of "present-GSTT1, null-GSTM1" genotype (OR=0.001, 95% CI=0.00-0.439, P=0.025), heart rate (OR=1.065, 95% CI=1.018-1.114, P=0.006), and interaction between BMI and combination of "present-GSTT1, null-GSTM1" (OR=1.319, 95% CI=1.058-1.644, P=0.014) was associated with SBP. There was no association between either combination genotypes of GSTs or interaction of genotypes and smoking behavior on DBP. The present results suggest that the GSTM1 gene is one of the candidate genes that alter the baseline of SBP in normotensive individuals.     

Age-Related Changes of Intraocular Pressure in Elderly People in Southern China: Lingtou Eye Cohort Study

Purpose

To study age-related changes of intraocular pressure (IOP) and assess the cohort effect in both cross-sectional and longitudinal settings among elderly Chinese adults.

Methods

Participants were enrolled from the Lingtou Eye Cohort Study with Chinese government officials aged 40 years and older at baseline and received physical check-up and ocular examinations from 2010 to 2012. IOP was measured using a non-contact tonometer according to standardized protocols, as well as systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and body mass index (BMI). Participants who had attended IOP measurements in both 2010 and 2012 were included in this study. Cross-sectional association of IOP with age was assessed using multivariate liner regression analyses and based on the data of 2010. Longitudinal changes in IOP were assessed by paired t-test.

Results

A total of 3372 subjects were enrolled in the current analysis (2010 mean [SD] age, 61.9 [7.1] years; 60.2% men). The mean IOP in 2010 was 15.4±2.3 mmHg for women and 15.2±2.3 mmHg for men with an intersex difference (P = 0.029). Cross-sectional analysis showed that IOP was negatively associated with age (P = 0.003, β = -0.033 for women and P<0.001, β = -0.061 for men) adjusted for baseline SBP, DBP and BMI. Paired t-test suggested that IOP was higher in the year 2012 than 2010 in women (P = 0.006) but did not change significantly in men within 2 years (P = 0.345). In addition, the 2-year changes of IOP were not associated with age adjusted for baseline IOP in 2010 (P = 0.249).

Conclusion

Cross-sectional data suggests that IOP is lower in people with older age. Longitudinal data does not support such findings and thus the identified decreasing pattern with age in cross-sectional analysis is likely caused by cohort effects.