Objectives. Prehypertension is an early stage of hypertension that is characterized by inflammatory factors. Inflammation also plays an essential role in the development of coronary atherosclerosis (CAS). The present study evaluated the NALP3-inflammasome and its related genes, NLRP3, NOD2, and CARD8, using SNP linkage and gene haplotypes in prehypertensive patients. Methods. A total of 576 patients with prehypertension and suspected coronary heart disease (CHD) were enrolled. According to coronary angiography, patients were divided into two groups: arterial stenosis <50% of the diameter (control) and arterial stenosis >50% of the diameter (case). Fifteen polymorphisms in the NOD2, NLRP3, and CARD8 genes were analyzed, and serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Results. When comparing allele frequencies, none of these 15 SNPs in NOD2, CARD8, and NLPR3 genes showed a significant difference using multiple logistic regression. However, the CTACATAA (p = 0.0064) and CCACATAG (p = 0.0126) haplotypes of the NOD2 gene SNPs were significantly different between cases and controls. Conclusions. Although our study excludes a significant association of selected SNPs in these genes with CHD in prehypertension patients, this work suggests that the CTACATAA and CCACATAG haplotypes were associated with CHD in the NOD2 locus. This work suggests that the CTACATAA and CCACATAG haplotypes were associated with CHD in prehypertension patients in the NOD2 locus.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of urinary sodium and sodium to potassium ratio on inflammatory cytokines, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease in patients with prehypertension. The authors observed 627 patients with prehypertension in the General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region. Rank correlation analysis revealed that interleukin 6 expression exhibited significant positive correlations with urinary sodium (R = .13) and sodium to potassium ratio (R = .13). The multivariate‐adjusted hazard ratio of 24‐hour urinary sodium was 1.01 (95% confidence interval, 1.00 – 1.01) for hypertension and 1.01 (95% confidence interval, 1.00 – 1.02) for cardiovascular disease, whereas the hazard ratio for 24‐hour urinary sodium to potassium ratio was 1.13 (95% confidence interval, 1.08 – 1.19) for hypertension and 1.10 (95% confidence interval, 1.04 – 1.17) for cardiovascular disease. The study suggests that a high‐salt diet may lead to increased interleukin 6 levels and may contribute to hypertension. In addition, a high sodium to potassium ratio and high sodium levels are associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease and hypertension in patients with prehypertension.

Background: None of study mentioned about contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in people who have received contrast agents twice within in a short period of time. This study is trying to identify the predictors. Methods: We enrolled 607 patients between Oct. 2010 and Jul. 2015 who received contrast agents twice within 30 days in the Department of Cardiology of the General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region. The primary outcome was CI-AKI within 72 h after contrast agent exposure. Patients were divided into groups A (n = 559) and group B (n = 48) according to whether CI-AKI occurred after the second agent. Results: Patients in group B (CI-AKI occurred after the second agent) had a more rapid heart rate and more usage of diuretics and digitalis. In group B, CI-AKI occurred more frequently after the first agent. Multivariate logistic regression showed that diuretic (P = 0.006) and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) usage (P = 0.012) were independent predictors of CI-AKI after the first agent. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/Angiotensin II receptor antagonist (ACEI/ARB) usage (P = 0.039), IABP usage (P = 0.040) and CI-AKI occurring after administration of the first agent (P = 0.015) were independent predictors of CI-AKI after the second. Furthermore, dividing the patients into tertiles of the time interval between the two agents showed that CI-AKI occurred more frequently when the second agent was administered within 1-3 days after the first exposure than within 4-6 days (12.4% vs. 5.0%, P = 0.008) or ≥ 7 days (12.4% vs. 6.4%, P = 0.039). Conclusions: Diuretic and IABP usage are independent predictors of CI-AKI following exposure to a first contrast agent. The major predictors of CI-AKI after exposure to a second agent are time since the first contrast exposure, ACEI/ARB usage, and IABP usage. More importantly, a three-day interval between the two agents is associated with a higher incidence of CI-AKI following the second administration.