Impaired endothelial function caused by decreased NO production plays a pathophysiologic role in essential hypertension. Although cross-sectional data are available on the association between endothelial NO synthase gene polymorphisms and hypertension, whether the gene variants and their haplotypes affect the long-term cumulative burden and trend of blood pressure since childhood is not known. ...

BACKGROUND Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a systemic disorder with a wide spectrum of renal involvement. Differences in the age at onset of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are partially explained by the genetic heterogeneity of the disease but intrafamilial variability remains to be explained. Modifier genes may play a role in disease severity. METHODS A total of 355 P...

BACKGROUND Polymorphisms in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene may influence the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), but data from published studies with individually low statistical power are conflicting. To evaluate the role of polymorphisms in the eNOS gene in IHD, we considered all available studies in a meta-analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS Case-control studies evaluating t...

Background— Polymorphisms in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene may influence the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), but data from published studies with individually low statistical power are conflicting. To evaluate the role of polymorphisms in the eNOS gene in IHD, we considered all available studies in a meta-analysis. Methods and Results— Case-control studies evaluating t...