Height and body weight were measured as described previously [26] (link), Sitting blood pressure was measured thrice over 10 min and the median value used in the statistical analysis. The status of smoking and drinking was self-reported using a questionnaire as described previously [27] , [28] (link). Two tubes (one containing ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) and the other not containing an anticoagulant agent) were used for collecting blood samples after the patient had fasted. The collected samples were separated into plasma, serum and blood cells (including leukocytes) and stored at −80°C for the analysis of routine blood chemistry and DNA extraction. Samples were transported on dry ice at prearranged intervals to laboratories. We measured the serum concentration of total cholesterol, triglyceride, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), LDL, HDL, uric acid and fasting glucose using equipment for chemical analysis (Dimension AR/AVL Clinical Chemistry System, Newark, NJ, USA) employed by the Clinical Laboratory Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University.
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