Introduction: Essential hypertension is a multifactorial disease. Many experimental studies have elucidated the role of oxidative stress and atherosclerosis in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. Apolipoprotein E is a plasma protein that is found to have antioxidant properties, and it also protects against atherosclerosis. Interestingly, the biological function of apolipoprotein E is strongly affected by polymorphisms in its gene. Based on this evidence, our aim was to investigate the association of apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms with essential hypertension. Methods: This study was conducted on 70 hypertensive patients and 73 control participants recruited from the Balok governmental health clinic in Kuantan, Pahang. The polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism assay (PCR-RFLP) was used for determination of the apolipoprotein E genotype. Our results were also verified later by direct sequencing of the amplicons. Results: There was no significant association of apolipoprotein E allele or genotype frequencies with hypertensive disease or blood pressure levels, although the E4 allele was slightly more frequent in the hypertensive patients than in the control group (OR=1.055; 0.471-2.359, CI 95%). To improve the precision of the study and to settle the controversies among similar studies meta-analysis was performed; however it revealed a net nonsignificant association between the apolipoprotein E4 allele with essential hypertension in the combined population. Conclusion: Our data and the meta-analysis findings provide evidence that apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism has no direct significant association with hypertension.

Introduction. Male-to-female transgender individuals are known as mak nyahs in Malaysia. Akin to many other countries, mak nyahs face discriminations in securing proper employment, thus many end up in sex trade, exposing them to HIV-related high risk behaviours. This paper aims to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and risk behaviours in HIV/AIDS among mak nyahs in Malaysia. Method. Validated questionnaires in local language were used. Knowledge, attitude, and HIV-related risk behaviours were measured. With respondent-driven sampling method, 54 subjects participated in the survey. IBM SPSS was used for data analysis. Results. Majority of the subjects reported to have HIV-related sexual risk, although only a quarter were sex workers. Misconceptions still remained among the subjects. Inconsistent condom use was common. Adequate knowledge did result in better attitude towards HIV/AIDS. However, multiple regression analysis showed that subjects with higher knowledge in HIV/AIDS tend to have higher sexual risks (? = 0.320, p = 0.030). Conclusion. Educating the transgender community about HIV/AIDS does not seem to adequately reduce the HIV-related sexual risks. Other approaches, i.e. socio-cultural values and religious practices may be effective to instil higher levels of awareness and self-responsibility in this community to eliminate HIVrelated high risk behaviours. � 2018 Default.

Polymorphisms within the β2 -adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene have been repeatedly linked to hypertension. Among the ADRB2 polymorphisms detected, Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu codons are considered the two most important variations. The amino acid substitution at these codons may lead to abnormal regulation of ADRB2 activity. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between ADRB2 polymorphisms and hypertension. This case-control study consisted of 100 unrelated subjects (50 hypertensive and 50 matched normal controls). Arg16Gly and the Gln27Glu polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism assay. There were no significant evidence of association in allelic and genotypes distribution of Arg16Gly and Glu27Gln with blood pressure and hypertension. These findings suggest that the variation within codon 16 and 27 of ADRB2 gene were unlikely to confer genetic susceptibility for hypertension in our population samples.