Search

The factors associated with hypertension awareness, treatment and control were studied in 45 925 rural Chinese aged ⩾35 years. Of all hypertensives (n=17 355), 29.5% were aware of their condition, 20.2% were receiving treatment and only 0.9% had their blood pressure (BP) adequately controlled, and most hypertensives in rural China did not comprehend the fatalness of high BP. Results indicate that more attention is needed in improving the cognitional level of hypertensive fatalness and more effort is also needed in promoting hypertension awareness, treatment and control among all hypertensives in rural China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Epidemiological data evaluating sleep problems in clinical nurses in mainland China are scarce and an association between sleep problems and occupational stress has not been investigated. Aims To assess the prevalence of sleep problems and associated factors and determine their association with occupational stress among clinical nurses in general hospitals. Methods Nurses were selected through random cluster sampling. They answered a self-administered questionnaire, which included sociodemographic and occupational variables, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scoring system and the Job Content Questionnaire for evaluating occupational stress. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with sleep problems. Results There were 5012 participants. Mean PSQI score of 4951 subjects included in the final analysis was 7.32 ± 3.24, with 2713 subjects having PSQI ≥8, accounting for 55% of participants. Female subjects in the intensive care unit and emergency departments were at higher risk of sleep problems. The following factors also presented a risk for sleep problems: multiple years of service, high monthly night shift frequency, primary and intermediate professional status, temporary employment status and high occupational stressors (including high psychological job demands, low job control and low workplace's social support). Conclusions The overall prevalence rate of sleep problems among clinical nurses in general hospitals in mainland China was high. Many factors could affect the sleep quality of nurses, although occupational stress facilitates development of sleep problems. Various risk factors associated with sleep problems among nurses should be studied extensively and measures for relieving occupational stress should be undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:To evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and incident hypertension in a cohort of rural women in the Chinese population.Subjects/Methods:A population-based sample of 11 468 rural Chinese women aged 35 years and free from hypertension at baseline were followed-up from 2004–2006 to 2008. We calculated BMI from measured weight and height. Incident hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) 140 mm Hg, diastolic BP90 mm Hg or current use of antihypertensive medications.Results:During a median follow-up of 28 months, 2666 participants developed hypertension. Higher baseline BMI, even within the ‘normal’ range, was consistently associated with an increased risk of hypertension. Compared with participants in the lowest BMI quintile (18.5–21.1 kg/m2), the multivariable-adjusted relative risks (95% confidence interval) of developing hypertension for women with a BMI of 21.2 to 22.4, 22.5 to 23.7, 23.8 to 25.4 and 25.4 kg/m2 were 1.200 (1.058–1.361), 1.250 (1.100–1.419), 1.466 (1.291–1.666) and 1.785 (1.584–2.012), respectively (P for trend, <0.001). Further adjustment for baseline BP did not substantially alter these results. We found similar associations using other BMI categories and after excluding women with smoking history at baseline. The pattern of association also existed among old women (age 55 years).Conclusions:In this large cohort, we found a strong gradient association between higher BMI and increased risk of hypertension, even among older women within the normal BMI range. Clinicians should emphasize the importance of weight management for the primary prevention of hypertension in rural women in the Chinese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was carried out on degraded hilly land in South China to reveal the interspecific relationships between the shrub Rhodomyrtus tomentosa and four target tree species over time. The 3-year experiment showed that the shrub selectively improved or inhibited seedling growth. The photosynthetic performances of target tree species were altered by the nursing effect of the shrub in terms of photosynthesis--light response curves and showed maximum photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance. Shrub interactions with all the target tree species were commensal (+0, for target and shrub) in year 1 but maintained or changed to amensal (-0) or antagonism (+-) along with the ontogenesis of different target tree species. The poor growth of Pinus elliottii and Michelia macclurei seedlings in the presence of the shrub indicated that they had lower potential to become forest restoration target tree species. In contrast, Schima superba was facilitated by the shrub in years 1-3 and inhibited the shrub in year 3, indicating that it had substantial potential to replace shrubs and trigger reforestation. sSelection and silvicultural techniques of target tree species were both important in forest restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to assess the associations of dyslipidaemia, combined oral contraceptive (COC) use and their interaction on the risk of hypertension in Chinese women. In a case-control study, we evaluated 665 hypertensive women and 665 normotensive women matched on region and age in China. Hypertensive women had a higher prevalence of dyslipidaemia and higher levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and lipoprotein a than normotensive ones (P<0.05). The risk of hypertension gradually increased with the increasing cumulative time of COC use in women (P=0.0043), especially significantly increased among those with cumulative time of COC use15-20 and 20 years (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-2.15; OR=1.49, 95% CI: 1.06-2.11), but gradually decreased from stopping use of COC (P<0.0001). The multiplicative interaction between dyslipidaemia and accumulative time of COC use 15 years, dyslipidaemia and family history of hypertension, or family history of hypertension and accumulative time of COC use 15 years was confirmed and the interaction analyses showed that they can significantly increased the risk of hypertension (adjusted OR=2.82, 95% CI: 1.59-3.27; OR=4.33, 95% CI: 3.10-6.06; OR=4.56, 95% CI: 3.07-6.77). It is concluded that dyslipidaemia, accumulative time of COC use 15 years and their interaction increased the risk of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify HLA-B*15 subtypes distribution in Han population in Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 826 unrelated healthy individuals were typed using the polymerase chain reaction-sequence-based typing method. Within the 246 HLA-B*15 positive individuals, 29 HLA-B*15 alleles were identified, the most predominant of which is B*1501 (40.07%), followed by B*1502 (12.87%), B*1511 (12.87%), B*1518 (9.19%) and B*1532 (3.31%). The distribution of HLA-B*15 subtype frequencies was compared between the Beijing Han, eight other Chinese ethnic minorities and six Chinese populations covering the mainland of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. A neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree was constructed and revealed that the Beijing Han population clustered into the northern populations group and had a closer relationship with northern Han and Hui than with southern Han or other ethnic minorities. These results thus provide useful information that can be used in anthropology, selection for bone marrow transplantation as well as in disease-association study, such as in carbamazepine (CBZ)-induced Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]