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  • articleOpen Access

    STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES IN CARDIAC ULTRASOUND BETWEEN H-TYPE AND NON-H-TYPE HYPERTENSION

    H-type hypertension (HHT) is closely associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications, as well as peripheral vascular sclerosis. However, the mechanism underlying the relationship between HHT and cardiac remodeling is not completely clear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the structural differences in a cardiac ultrasound between patients with HHT and those with non-H-type hypertension (NHHT). This study was performed on 300 elderly patients (60 years) with essential hypertension and stratified into two groups based on their homocysteine (Hcy) levels: 150 with HHT and 150 with NHHT. The cardiac structure was assessed using color Doppler echocardiography. The key parameters were measured, including interventricular septal thickness (IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and others. The chi-square test was employed to examine the differences in cardiac ultrasound outcomes between HHT and NHHT groups. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was observed in 118 patients (78.7%) in the HHT group and 75 patients (50.0%) in the NHHT group. The HHT group demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of LVH (χ2=5.183, p<0.0001). Patients with HHT had significantly higher systolic blood pressure, Hcy levels, LVPWT, IVST, and LVMI compared with those with NHHT: systolic blood pressure (165.2±13.15 mm Hg versus 148.6±11.06 mm Hg), Hcy (15.36±3.15μmol/L versus 8.15±3.12  μmol/L), LVPWT (12.5±1.16 mm versus 10.2±1.22 mm), IVST (13.6±1.25 mm versus 11.2±1.15 mm), and LVMI (121.3±22.15 g/m2 versus 110.5±23.36 g/m2). The correlation analysis showed a notable positive relationship between Hcy levels and LVMI (r=0.386, p<0.001), and between systolic blood pressure and LVMI (r=0.536, p<0.001). The occurrence of LVH was notably greater in patients with HHT than in those with NHHT. Furthermore, Hcy and systolic blood pressure levels were positively correlated with LVMI.

  • articleOpen Access

    HBPGEO: AN APPLICATION SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING AND VISUALIZING GENE EXPRESSION DATA OF HYPERTENSION

    The analysis of gene expression data using existing methods and tools has become a fundamental approach for researchers to explore the mechanisms of hypertension. However, many researchers lack programming skills or statistical knowledge. Although gene expression data is widely available, they originate from various experiments with different standards and quality levels, causing inconvenience to researchers. While tools and databases with interactive interfaces exist for data analysis, they may have limited applicability. This study aimed to construct High Blood Pressure Gene Expression Omnibus (HBPGEO), a program based on the R Shiny platform. It integrated the discovery of differentially expressed genes, hub gene identification, gene function analysis, and more. It allowed users to select suitable methods and set different parameters during analysis, visualize results interactively, and download the analyzed results. The study successfully utilized HBPGEO to identify hypertension-related biomarkers.

  • articleOpen Access

    ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF SMALL-ARTERY STRUCTURE

    The assessment of vascular structure gives important information on pathological processes, particularly for the investigation of diseased vessels. In this study the Mulvany wire myogarph is adapted for spectroscopic examination of small arterial blood vessels obtained from hypertensive and normal rat specimens. An experimental study of 20 vessels obtained from adult Wistar rats and Goldblatt (one kidney one clip) hypertensive rats was carried out. Segments of small resistance arteries mounted under isometric conditions on a wire myograph and set to normalised conditions of passive force directly obtained from its circumferential length-tension relationship were morphologically examined and transmission spectra obtained. Features of the observed transmission spectra were extracted by means of an empirical non-linear model using the quasi-Newton method. These features were correlated for the first time with standard descriptors of vessel morplzology, media:lumen ratio and with arterial blood pressure. The extent and significance of such correlations are sufficient to distinguish the presence of hypertension in isolated arterial segments from hypertensive animals. This technique may provide an alternative to light microscopy as well as a potential new tool for the analysis of small blood vessels in the study of vascular disease.

  • chapterOpen Access

    Uterine fibroids show evidence of shared genetic architecture with blood pressure traits

    Uterine leiomyomata (fibroids, UFs) are common, benign tumors in females, having an estimated prevalence of up to 80%. They are fibrous masses growing within the myometrium leading to chronic symptoms like dysmenorrhea, abnormal uterine bleeding, anemia, severe pelvic pain, and infertility. Hypertension (HTN) is a common risk factor for UFs, though less prevalent in premenopausal individuals. While observational studies have indicated strong associations between UFs and HTN, the biological mechanisms linking the two conditions remain unclear. Understanding the relationship between HTN and UFs is crucial because UFs and HTN lead to substantial comorbidities adversely impacting female health. Identifying the common underlying biological mechanisms can improve treatment strategies for both conditions. To clarify the genetic and causal relationships between UFs and BP, we conducted a bidirectional, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and evaluated the genetic correlations across BP traits and UFs. We used data from a multi-ancestry genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of UFs (44,205 cases and 356,552 controls), and data from a cross-ancestry GWAS meta-analysis of BP phenotypes (diastolic BP [DBP], systolic BP [SBP], and pulse pressure [PP], N=447,758). We evaluated genetic correlation of BP phenotypes and UFs with linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC). LDSC results indicated a positive genetic correlation between DBP and UFs (Rg=0.132, p<5.0x10-5), and SBP and UFs (Rg=0.063, p<2.5x10-2). MR using UFs as the exposure and BP traits as outcomes indicated a relationship where UFs increases DBP (odds ratio [OR]=1.20, p<2.7x10-3). Having BP traits as exposures and UFs as the outcome showed that DBP and SBP increase risk for UFs (OR =1.04, p<2.2x10-3; OR=1.00, p<4.0x10-2; respectively). Our results provide evidence of shared genetic architecture and pleiotropy between HTN and UFs, suggesting common biological pathways driving their etiologies. Based on these findings, DBP appears to be a stronger risk factor for UFs compared to SBP and PP.