High levels of LDL are considered a major risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease ?the UK's biggest killer. The study, published today (10 January, 2008) in the American Journal of Human Genetics, reveals the biological mechanism for the previous association of this region with coronary heart disease, and could pave the way towards developing new therapies for the disease which each year claims the lives of one in four men, and one in six women.

Led by Professor Patricia Munroe, Dr Chris Wallace and Professor Mark Caulfield, of the William Harvey Research Institute at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, researchers worked on the hypothesis that genetic variation may influence the inheritance of biochemical traits, which in turn may serve as risk factors for common cardiovascular diseases or associated complications. They analysed 25 commonly assessed biochemical variables from concurrent serum and urine samples taken from hypertensive individuals involved in the MRC British Genetics of Hypertension (BRIGHT) study. For lipid traits, a meta-analysis was performed with data from the Diabetes Genetics Initiative at the BROAD Institute.

The study indicates that common genetic variation influences biochemical parameters which are measured in everyday clinical care.

Professor Patricia Munroe said: Our study found new genes for serum LDL, the cholesterol which furs arteries, and serum urate, which can cause gout. We believe our findings are of significant clinical importance as they are strongly associated with cardiovascular disease; they also represent excellent targets for new medicines.

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baseline activity' (<30 consultations per 100,000 people in the population), normal seasonal activity' (30 - 200 consultations per 100,000) epidemic activity' (>200 consultations per 100,000 people).

4.  Advice on flu is available from NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or www.nhsdirect.nhs or local GP surgery. For further information on flu go to: hpa/infections/topics_az/influenza/flu.htm.

5. Seasonal influenza occurs most often in winter and usually peaks between December and March in the northern hemisphere. The influenza virus is unstable and new strains and variants are constantly emerging. The predominant flu strain circulating this year is Influenza A with the subtype H1. The current flu vaccine offers good protect against this strain.

The current flu vaccine for this season includes:

an A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like virus an A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like virus* a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus

*A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2) and A/Hiroshima/52/2005 

6. Seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for those aged 65 or over and those with the following conditions, regardless of age:

chronic respiratory disease heart disease renal disease and chronic liver disease diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs immunosuppression. Multiple sclerosis, or conditions of the nervous system, or if you have had a stroke

Vaccination is also recommended for those living in long-stay residential care homes or other long stay care facilities where rapid spread is likely to follow introduction of infection and cause high morbidity and mortality (this does not include prisons, young offenders' institutions, or university halls of residence).

Vaccination is also recommended for carers defined as those who are in receipt of a carer's allowance, or those who are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill. This should be given on an individual basis at the GP's discretion in the context of other clinical risk groups in their practice.

In addition, it is recommended that immunisation be offered to all health care workers involved in the delivery of care and/or support to patients. Social service employers have also been asked to consider offering immunisation to all staff involved in the delivery of care and/or support to clients.

The Department of Health vaccine programme takes place between October - December but high risk individuals may still be able to obtain vaccine from their GP if relevant.

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