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Hypertension. 2007;50:116-122
Published online before print May 7, 2007, doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.107.088310
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(Hypertension. 2007;50:116.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.


Original Articles

Heritability of Blood Pressure Responses to Dietary Sodium and Potassium Intake in a Chinese Population

Dongfeng Gu; Treva Rice; Shiping Wang; Wenjie Yang; Chi Gu; Chung-Shiuan Chen; James E. Hixson; Cashell E. Jaquish; Zhi-Jian Yao; De-Pei Liu; Dabeeru C. Rao; Jiang He

From the Cardiovascular Institute and Fu Wai Hospital (D.G.), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; the School of Medicine (T.R., S.W., C.G., D.C.R.), Washington University in St Louis, Mo; the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (W.Y., C.-S.C., J.H.), Tulane University, New Orleans, La; the School of Public Health (J.E.H.), University of Texas, Houston; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (C.E.J.), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md; Chinese National Human Genome Center at Beijing (Z.-J.Y.), Beijing, China; and the National Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology (D.-P.L.), Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Correspondence to Dongfeng Gu, Division of Population Genetics and Prevention, Cardiovascular Institute and Fu Wai Hospital, 167 Beilishi Rd, Beijing 100037, China. E-mail gudongfeng{at}vip.sina.com or Jiang He, Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St, Suite 2000, New Orleans, LA 70112. E-mail jhe@tulane.edu


*    Abstract
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*Abstract
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The heritability of blood pressure responses to dietary intervention has not been well studied. We examined the heritability of blood pressure responses to dietary sodium and potassium intake in a family feeding study among 1906 study participants living in rural North China. The dietary intervention included a 7-day low-sodium feeding (51.3 mmol per day), a 7-day high-sodium feeding (307.8 mmol per day), and a 7-day high-sodium plus potassium supplementation (60 mmol per day). Blood pressure was measured 9 times during the 3-day baseline period preceding the intervention and also during the last 3 days of each intervention phase using a random-zero sphygmomanometer. Heritability was computed using maximum likelihood methods under a variance components model as implemented in the computer program SOLAR. The heritabilities of baseline blood pressure were 0.31 for systolic, 0.32 for diastolic, and 0.34 for mean arterial pressure. The heritabilities increased significantly under dietary intervention and were 0.49, 0.49, and 0.51 during low sodium; 0.47, 0.49, and 0.51 during high sodium; and 0.51, 0.52, and 0.53 during potassium supplementation for systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure, respectively. The heritabilities for percentage of blood pressure responses to low sodium were 0.20, 0.21, and 0.23; to high-sodium were 0.22, 0.33, and 0.33; and to potassium supplementation were 0.24, 0.21, and 0.25 for systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure, respectively. Our study indicated that the heritabilities of blood pressure under controlled dietary sodium and potassium intake were significantly higher than those under a usual diet. In addition, the heritabilities of blood pressure responses to dietary sodium and potassium intake were moderate in this study population.


Key Words: blood pressure • dietary sodium • heritability • potassium supplementation • salt sensitivity


*    Introduction
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up arrowAbstract
*Introduction
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Observational epidemiological studies conducted in different regions of the world have shown that dietary sodium intake was positively and potassium intake was inversely associated with blood pressure (BP).1–3 Randomized, controlled trials have documented that a moderate sodium reduction or potassium supplementation was significantly associated with a reduced systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP).4–6 However, despite these results, there is also substantial scientific evidence suggesting that BP responses to dietary sodium and potassium intake vary considerably among individual subjects.6–9 For example, the reduction in BP associated with a low dietary sodium intake was significantly greater among subjects with hypertension, blacks, and those who were older.9,10 Genetic factors, however, might also play an important role in determining the BP responses of an individual subject to dietary sodium intake.11 It is well established that BP levels and hypertension are heritable, with the proportion of variance explained by genetic factors ranging from 20% to 50%.12 However, the heritability of BP responses to dietary sodium and potassium intake has not been studied.13

The Genetic Epidemiology Network of Salt Sensitivity (GenSalt) Study was designed to examine the genetic influence on BP responses to dietary sodium and potassium intake in rural Chinese families who were ascertained through a proband with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension.14 BP was measured in the study participants at baseline on their usual diet and during 3 dietary sodium and potassium intervention periods consisting of 1 week each of a low-sodium, a high-sodium, and a high-sodium plus potassium supplement diet. Here we present data on heritability of BP levels at the baseline observation and during dietary sodium and potassium intervention, as well as BP changes during the dietary intervention.


*    Methods
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
*Methods
down arrowResults
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowAppendix
down arrowReferences
 
Study Participants
The GenSalt Study was designed to investigate the genetic factors that determine the BP responses of an individual subject to dietary sodium and potassium intervention in families at high risk for developing hypertension. The study families were recruited from 6 sites in rural North China (Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi, and Jiangsu provinces). The selection of these study sites was based on homogeneity of the study population regarding their ethnicity and environmental exposures, including lifestyle and nutritional factors and habitual dietary intake of high salt and low potassium. The residents in these regions are of Han nationality, the ethnic majority in China. Probands with a mean SBP ≥130 mm Hg and/or DBP ≥85 mm Hg were identified by community-based BP screening. Both 2-generation (probands, their parents and siblings) and 3-generation (additionally including the probands’ spouse and offspring) families were recruited for the study. All of the siblings, parents, spouses, and offspring of the probands were eligible to participate in the baseline examination. However, only probands, siblings, offspring, and spouses of probands from 3-generation families participated in the dietary intervention. We excluded the parents from intervention, because decreased renal function in the elderly makes high-salt intervention unsafe. The inclusion/exclusion criteria are outlined in detail elsewhere.14 In general, individuals who had stage 2 or more severe hypertension, use of antihypertensive medications, history of clinical cardiovascular disease or diabetes, pregnancy, heavy alcohol use, or who were currently on a low-sodium diet were excluded from the dietary intervention. Also, family structure requirements included the participation of 1 or more siblings (at baseline and during intervention) and ≥1 parent of the proband (at baseline only). Among the 1906 eligible individuals, 1858 (97.5%) completed the entire dietary sodium and potassium interventions.

Dietary Intervention
The dietary intervention included low-sodium, high-sodium, and high-potassium feeding among probands and their siblings and offspring (Figure). In the first 3 days at the baseline observation, the study participants consumed their usual diet. The dietary feeding study started on day 4. The intervention participants received a low-sodium diet (3 g of salt or 51.3 mmol of sodium per day) for 7 days (days 4 to 10). Then, they received a high-sodium diet (18 g of salt or 307.8 mmol of sodium per day) for 7 days (days 11 to 17). During the first 2 intervention phases, potassium intake remained unchanged. In the final week (days 18 to 24), the participants maintained a high-sodium diet and took a 60-mmol potassium supplement. All of the foods and beverages were prepared by study dieticians and provided by the study staff. The study participants came to the study kitchen for their breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the entire intervention period. The intervention participants were instructed to avoid consuming any foods that were not provided by the study. The results from 24-hour urinary excretion of sodium and potassium at the baseline examination and during each of the 3 dietary intervention phases showed excellent compliance. For example, the mean (SD) of 24-hour urinary excretions of sodium and potassium were 241.8 mmol (68.2 mmol) and 36.8 mmol (10.0 mmol) at baseline, 46.7 mmol (15.7 mmol) and 31.0 mmol (8.0 mmol) during low-sodium intervention, 244.5 mmol (40.4 mmol) and 36.2 mmol (8.1 mmol) during high-sodium intervention, and 251.9 mmol (36.9 mmol) and 77.3 mmol (12.6 mmol) during high-sodium plus potassium supplementation intervention.


Figure 1
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The dietary low-sodium, high-sodium, and high-sodium plus potassium supplementation interventions in the GenSalt Study.

Data Collection
Three BP measurements were obtained at each clinical visit by trained and certified observers according to a common protocol adapted from procedures recommended by the American Heart Association.15 BP was measured with the participant in the sitting position after 5 minutes of rest. In addition, participants were advised to avoid alcohol, cigarette smoking, coffee/tea, and exercise for ≥30 minutes before their BP measurement. A random-zero sphygmomanometer was used, and 1 of 4 cuff sizes (pediatric, regular adult, large, or thigh) was chosen on the basis of the circumference of the participant’s arm.15 BP was measured each morning of the 3-day baseline observation and on days 2, 5, 6, and 7 of each intervention period by the same BP technician using the same sphygmomanometer to avoid observation variation. Overnight fasting blood samples were drawn once by venipuncture at baseline examination and at each of the intervention periods. One 24-hour and 2 timed overnight urinary specimens were collected at the baseline examination and on the last 3 days of each intervention period to measure sodium and potassium.

Statistical Analyses
BP levels at baseline and during intervention were calculated as the mean of 9 measurements from 3 clinical visits during the 3-day baseline observation or on days 5, 6, and 7 of each intervention period. Mean arterial pressure (MAP)=DBP+(SBP–DBP)/3. BP response to low sodium=BP at low-sodium–BP at baseline; BP response to high sodium=BP at high sodium–BP at low sodium; and BP response to potassium supplement=BP at high-sodium and potassium supplementation–BP at high sodium. Area under the curve was computed using trapezoidal method and BP from days 0, 2, 5, 6, and 7 of each intervention period. BP from the last day of the immediately previous period was used as the value on day 0 of the subsequent intervention period. Area under the curve used all of the BP information during each intervention and should have less measurement error compared with BP response.

The BP data were adjusted for the effects of age and BP examination room temperature separately within sex-generation-field center groups. In summary, each measure was regressed on the covariates in a stepwise manner, and only significant terms (0.05 level) were retained. The residual variance was also examined (ie, heteroscedasticity) by regressing the squared residual from the first regression on the same covariates (stepwise) and retaining significant terms. The final adjusted phenotype was computed as the residual from the first regression, divided by the square root of the predicted score from the second regression. A final standardization step was taken to ensure a mean of 0 and an SD of 1. These adjusted and standardized scores were used as the analysis variables.

Heritability of the adjusted and standardized scores was computed using maximum likelihood methods under a variance components model as implemented in the computer program SOLAR 2.1.4.16 In this model, the residual phenotypic variance is partitioned into 2 components, 1 representing the so-called polygenic (additive) heritability and the other representing all of the remaining nonadditive (nonfamilial) effects. In summary, observed covariances between pairs of subjects within a pedigree are compared with the expected values based on the product of their coefficients of relationship. A log likelihood (–2) is computed for each family and then summed across all of the families for an overall fit of the model to the data. To correct for ascertainment for high BP, the likelihood of each family is conditioned on the proband’s value. Heritability is defined as the percentage of variance because of familial factors (computed as the variance because of the additive genetic effect divided by the total variance) and is tested for significance using a likelihood ratio test. The likelihood ratio test is –2 log likelihood under the null hypothesis of no genetic effect compared with –2 log likelihood for the alternative (where the null hypothesis is estimated). The difference is asymptotically distributed as a {chi}2 with a single degree of freedom.

The institutional review boards at all of the participating institutes approved the GenSalt Study. In addition, the National Human Genomic Resource Administration of China approved the study. Written informed consents for the baseline observation and for the intervention were obtained from each participant before data collection or intervention, respectively.


*    Results
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up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
*Results
down arrowDiscussion
down arrowAppendix
down arrowReferences
 
The family structures ranged from 2 to 3 generations, with reported family relationships being verified using genome-wide microsatellite data. Table 1 shows the resulting number of individuals and relative pairs. There were a total of 3149 individuals in 658 families having baseline BP data and 1871 individuals having dietary intervention data at least for the low-sodium intervention phase.


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TABLE 1. Sample Sizes and Family Structures

Table 2 shows the baseline characteristics in terms of age, sex, body mass index, and BP measurements, as well as BP levels during dietary sodium and potassium intervention and BP responses to the dietary intervention. As expected, the probands had higher mean baseline levels of body mass index, SBP, and DBP than their siblings, spouses, and offsprings whereas the parents had the highest baseline BP levels among all of the groups. BP during dietary low-sodium, high-sodium, and potassium-supplementation intervention also followed the same pattern, higher in probands than their siblings, spouses, and offspring. Overall, mean BP decreased from baseline to low-sodium intervention and from high-sodium to high-sodium and potassium supplementation but increased from low-sodium to high-sodium intervention. The BP responses in every group were significantly different from 0, and the responses were greater in probands compared with their siblings, spouses, and offspring.


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TABLE 2. BP Levels at Baseline and Intervention and Responses to Dietary Intervention

Table 3 provides the heritabilities of BP at baseline, BP during the dietary intervention, and BP responses to the dietary intervention. All of the heritability estimates are significantly different from 0. The heritabilities of baseline BP ranged from 0.31 for SBP and 0.32 for DBP to 0.34 for MAP. During dietary intervention, the heritabilities of BP increased significantly. For example, the heritabilities of SBP, DBP, and MAP were 0.49, 0.49, and 0.51 during low-sodium intervention; 0.47, 0.49, and 0.51 during high-sodium intervention; and 0.51, 0.52, and 0.53 during potassium supplementation, respectively. The variances of BP levels at baseline and dietary intervention because of additive (polygenic) and residual components are shown in Table 4. The residual variances of BP under a controlled diet were smaller than those at baseline.


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TABLE 3. Heritabilities of BP Levels at Baseline and Intervention and BP Responses to Dietary Intervention


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TABLE 4. Variances of BP Levels at Baseline and Intervention Because of Additive (Polygenic) and Residual Components

The heritabilities of BP responses to dietary intervention, expressed as absolute BP change, percentage change, and area under the curve are presented in Table 3. These heritabilities were moderate and lower than BP under intervention but similar to BP at baseline. The heritabilities ranged from 0.16 to 0.33 for absolute BP changes, 0.20 to 0.33 for percentage BP changes, and 0.24 to 0.42 for the area under the curve of BP changes.


*    Discussion
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up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
*Discussion
down arrowAppendix
down arrowReferences
 
The current study indicates that the heritability of baseline BP in these rural Chinese families is comparable to previous studies in other populations.12,17–19 More interestingly, the heritability of BP increases significantly when these study families are under a controlled diet (low-sodium, high-sodium, or potassium supplementation). Furthermore, the current study suggests that BP responses to dietary sodium and potassium intervention are familial, although the heritability is somewhat lower than that of BP under a controlled diet. This pattern of results for a smaller heritability for the BP responses than for the BP under a controlled diet is not unexpected given that each BP measure includes some degree of error, which is compounded by indexing 2 measures simultaneously as in the response.

Previous family studies conducted in various populations reported that the heritability of usual BP ranged from 20% to 50%.12,17–19 Rotimi et al18 reported that heritability was 45% for SBP and 43% for DBP in a population-based sample of 510 nuclear families from Nigeria. In the Framingham Heart Study, heritability was 33% for MAP among 204 families.19 In this large Chinese study with 658 families, the heritability of BP was 31% for SBP, 32% for DBP, and 34% for MAP. It is worth mentioning that the heritability of BP increased significantly during the dietary interventions, and the heritabilities during intervention were not significantly different from each other (47% to 51% for SBP, 49% to 52% for DBP, and 51% to 53% for MAP). This increase in heritabilities was primarily (although not exclusively) because of a decrease in residual variances because of nonshared environmental effects. This was expected, because the controlled diet among all of the study participants should minimize effects because of variability in dietary environments. With regard to the genetic versus familial environmental source of the heritable component, it is known that family studies in general are unable to distinguish between the 2 sources, because (nuclear) family members typically share both genes and environments. However, an indication that the shared effect may be primarily genetic is that the family structures in our study include not only first-degree relatives but also more distant relatives so that the shared component is more strictly modeled according to genetic expectations. BP is a complex and multifactorial trait that is influenced by environmental and genetic determinants, as well as interactions among multiple genetic and environmental factors. The challenge this poses to genetic epidemiological studies is the need to dissect these complex interactions, thereby identifying the underlying genes. Our findings suggest that control of environmental exposure (ie, dietary sodium and potassium intake) should help the effort to identify genes for BP regulation.

Few studies have investigated the magnitude of heritable effects on salt sensitivity of BP.20,21 Svetkey et al20 examined 20 black families selected through a hypertensive proband in whom salt sensitivity was determined with an IV sodium-loading and furosemide volume-depletion protocol. The heritability estimates based on familial correlations were 26% to 84% for MAP, 26% to 74% for SBP, and 0.4% to 24% for DBP responses to the salt-sensitivity maneuver, respectively.20 In another study, 44 monozygotic twins and their families participated in a dietary sodium restriction (<75 mEq per day) intervention for a 12-week period.21 The familial correlations for the BP responses to low-sodium intake as compared with baseline sodium intake were significant, and heritability of BP responses was 54% for SBP and 34% for DBP using the age-weight-adjusted residual variance. These estimates are somewhat larger than the current findings, which might be because of the differences in samples (twin versus pedigree data), statistical methods (familial correlation versus variance components model), and the study protocols. For example, Svetkey et al20 used an acute protocol with intravenous sodium loading and furosemide volume depletion to measure salt sensitivity in their study participants. In the investigation by Miller et al,21 a twin study design was used. Both studies used a familial correction method to calculate heritability. In addition, the heritability of BP response to sodium intervention might not be very stable because of small sample size in the previous studies.20,21 The current investigation is the first large family feeding study to estimate the heritability of BP responses to low-sodium, high-sodium, and potassium intake. Our study provides support for a heritable component of BP responses to dietary sodium and potassium intake. The limitations of our study include the fact that the dietary sodium and potassium intervention periods are relatively short. In addition, we did not test the reliability of BP responses to dietary sodium and potassium intervention in this study.

Genetic epidemiology studies have identified many biological candidate genes that were apparently related to salt sensitivity of BP.11 In general, most biological pathways involved in BP regulation (such as renin-angiotensin system, sodium channels, noradrenergic system, signal transduction pathways, and endothelin system) are related to salt sensitivity of BP.22 However, it is generally found that association of any 1 of these genes accounts for very little variance and certainly not as much as the 25% to 50% of the variability noted here for the salt-sensitivity measures. Consequently, single locus models will be inadequate, and oligogenic models and interactions among genes (gene-gene) and gene-environment interactions will likely be relevant. Several problems in searching for the salt-sensitive BP genes are overcome in the current study, as follows. First, the use of antihypertensive medications can mask the heritability and compromise the ability to detect genes. This is because individuals taking medications are usually deleted from the sample, which not only reduces the power because of smaller sample sizes but also removes the very individuals who may exhibit the genetic evidence that we are searching for. In the current rural Chinese population, pharmaceutical intervention is rare, so antihypertensive medications do not constitute a problem in the GenSalt Study. A second problem often encountered in genetic studies of complex traits is that of genetic heterogeneity. That is, a complex trait, such as hypertension, may arise via several different metabolic routes, and genetic variants leading to a disruption of function may have arisen in different paths in different subpopulations. In the GenSalt Study, the population has been relatively stable for many generations and, consequently, is relatively homogeneous. Thus, there are likely to be fewer independent heterogeneous causes for the trait under investigation. Third, heterogeneity in the environment is also a consideration that can affect the heritability and, consequently, our ability to detect genes. Again, this rural Chinese population is under relatively homogeneous environments, including access to processed dietary nutrients (ie, no fast food) and activity levels (primarily farming communities). Together, these factors make the GenSalt Study uniquely situated to address the question of genetic causes underlying complex traits like hypertension and salt sensitivity.

Perspectives
In summary, the current study indicated that the heritability of usual BP was similar in Chinese families compared with other populations. Furthermore, the heritability of BP increased significantly when dietary sodium and potassium were controlled among study family members. The heritability of BP responses to low-sodium, high-sodium, and potassium supplementation was moderate in this study population. These data suggest a heritable component of salt sensitivity and a high previous odds of finding important novel genes for salt sensitivity of BP and hypertension.


*    Appendix
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up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
up arrowDiscussion
*Appendix
down arrowReferences
 
The GenSalt Collaborative Research Group
Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, La
Jiang He (Principal Investigator), Lydia A. Bazzano, Chung-Shiuan Chen, Jing Chen, Lee Hamm, Tanika N. Kelly, Paul Muntner, Kristi Reynolds, Paul K. Whelton, and Wenjie Yang.

Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo
Dabeeru C. Rao (PI Principal Investigator Matthew Brown, Chi Gu, Treva Rice, Karen Schwander, and Shiping Wang.

Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
Dongfeng Gu (Principal Investigator), Jie Cao, Jichun Chen, Xiufang Duan, Jianfeng Huang, Jinghan Huang, Jianxin Li, Depei Liu, Donghua Liu, Enchun Pan, Yang Wei, and Xigui Wu.

Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong, China
Fanghong Lu (Principal Investigator), Shikuan Jin, Qingjie Meng, Fan Wu, and Yingxin Zhao.

Shandong Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Shandong, China
Jixiang Ma (Principal Investigator), Weika Li, and Jiyu Zhang.

Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Dongsheng Hu (Principal Investigator), Yaxin Ding, Hongwei Wen, Meixi Zhang, and Weidong Zhang.

Xinle Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Hebei, China
Xu Ji (Principal Investigator), Rongyan Li, and Haijun Zu.

Nanjing University of Medical Sciences, Jiangsu, China
Cailiang Yao (Principal Investigator), Yongchao Li, Chong Shen, and Jiayi Zhou.

Xi’an Jiaotong University, Shanxi, China
Jianjun Mu (Principal Investigator), Enrang Chen, Qinzhou Huang, and Man Wang.

Chinese National Human Genome Center at Beijing
Zhi-Jian Yao (Principal Investigator), Shufeng Chen, Dongfeng Gu, Hongfan Li, Laiyuan Wang, Penghua Zhang, and Qi Zhao.

University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston
James E. Hixson (Principal Investigator) and Lawrence C. Shimmin.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Cashell E. Jaquish.


*    Acknowledgments
 
We express our sincere appreciation to the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Salt Sensitivity Study participants for their participation and cooperation in this project.

Source of Funding

The Genetic Epidemiology Network of Salt Sensitivity (GenSalt) Study is supported by a cooperative agreement project grant (U01HL072507) from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health.

Disclosures

None.

Received February 2, 2007; first decision February 21, 2007; accepted April 13, 2007.


*    References
up arrowTop
up arrowAbstract
up arrowIntroduction
up arrowMethods
up arrowResults
up arrowDiscussion
up arrowAppendix
*References
 
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