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The early results of the 2020 Census of the People’s Republic of China shed light on the highly politicised issue of Han Chinese population shares in the Tibetan areas of western China. Two opposite patterns are evident. The Han share increased in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) in the 2010s and the increase accelerated in comparison to the 2000s, but from a small base, reaching 12 percent in 2020. It also appears to be mostly concentrated in the capital city of Lhasa and to a lesser extent in a few other strategic locations in the province. In contrast, the Han share fell in the other half of Tibetan areas. The fall also accelerated in Qinghai and Gansu. If trends continue, minorities will become the majority of Qinghai within a few years. These insights confirm earlier analyses that the dominant structural trend facing these relatively poor peripheral areas is net outmigration, not net in-migration. Because outmigration is stronger among the Han than among minorities, combined with higher fertility and natural population increase rates among minorities (Tibetans in particular), there is a tendency for rising minority shares. This tendency is only counteracted by extremely high levels of subsidisation, such as in the TAR. These population dynamics need to be carefully differentiated, both inside Tibet but also from other regions in China such as Xinjiang. The development implications also run counter to the logic underlying recent allegations of forced or coerced labour in Tibet.

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a multifocal angioproliferativetumor of endothelial origin. Despite nearly identicalclinical and histopathologic presentations, KS isclassified into four distinct varieties: classic/sporadic,AIDS-associated, African/endemic, and iatrogenic. Allsubtypes are invariably linked to human herpesvirus-8(HHV-8) and show a male predilection. Classic Kaposisarcoma is exceedingly rare in the Asian populationand its incidence varies by region and ethnic grouppredominance. A study in the Xinjiang region of Chinafound that only 1% of classic KS cases occurred inpatients belonging to the Han Chinese ethnic group,which formulates 84% of the Taiwanese population.Therefore, classic KS is extremely rare in Taiwan, withvery few reports describing the manifestations ofdisease in this population. We report a case of animmunocompetent 68-year-old HIV-negative HanChinese man born and raised in Taiwan with classicKaposi sarcoma on his trunk and extremities.

Objectives Cigarette smoking has been shown in European populations to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility. This study aims to examine the association of smoking with RA in the Han Chinese population. Methods 718 Han Chinese RA patients and 404 healthy controls were studied. The associations of cigarette smoking (current, former or ever vs. never smokers, and pack-years of exposure) with RA, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) positive RA, IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) positive RA, and baseline radiographic erosions (modified van der Heijde–Sharp scores) were assessed. The interaction between smoking and the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE) in RA was also examined. Results In this study, 11 (1.53%) cases and 6 (1.49%) controls were former smokers (p = 0.95), while 95 (13.23%) cases and 48 (11.88%) controls were current smokers (p = 0.52). Trends toward associations between smoking status (ever vs. never) with RA-overall (p = 0.15, OR = 1.44), ACPA-positive RA (p = 0.24, OR = 1.37), RF-positive RA (p = 0.14, OR = 1.46), or the presence of radiographic erosions (p = 0.66, OR = 1.28) were observed although individually here were not statistically significant. There was no evidence of statistical interaction between smoking status (ever vs. never) and SE for all RA, ACPA-positive RA, ACPA-negative RA, RF-positive RA, RF-negative RA (p = 0.37, 0.50, 0.24, 0.26, and 0.81 respectively), and the 95% CI for the attributable proportion for all interactions included 0. Conclusion This is the first study to examine the association of cigarette smoking with RA in the Han Chinese population. This study shows a trend toward an interaction between smoking and SE carriage influencing the risk of RA, though findings were not statistically significant. It is possible that in the presence of universal exposure to heavy air pollution the effect of smoking on RA risk may be obscured.

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a multifocal angioproliferativetumor of endothelial origin. Despite nearly identicalclinical and histopathologic presentations, KS isclassified into four distinct varieties: classic/sporadic,AIDS-associated, African/endemic, and iatrogenic. Allsubtypes are invariably linked to human herpesvirus-8(HHV-8) and show a male predilection. Classic Kaposisarcoma is exceedingly rare in the Asian populationand its incidence varies by region and ethnic grouppredominance. A study in the Xinjiang region of Chinafound that only 1% of classic KS cases occurred inpatients belonging to the Han Chinese ethnic group,which formulates 84% of the Taiwanese population.Therefore, classic KS is extremely rare in Taiwan, withvery few reports describing the manifestations ofdisease in this population. We report a case of animmunocompetent 68-year-old HIV-negative HanChinese man born and raised in Taiwan with classicKaposi sarcoma on his trunk and extremities.

Background: More than 60 genetic susceptibility loci associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been established in populations of Asian and European ancestry. Given ethnic differences and environmental factors, validation of the effects of genetic risk variants with reported associations identified by Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWASs) is essential. The study aims at evaluating the associations of T2DM with 29 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 19 candidate genes derived from GWASs in a northern Han Chinese population. Method: In this case-control study, 461 T2DM-diagnosed patients and 434 controls were recruited at the Jidong oil field hospital (Hebei, China) from January 2009 to October 2013. A cumulative genetic risk score (cGRS) was calculated by summation of the number of risk alleles, and a weight GRS (wGRS) was calculated as the sum of risk alleles at each locus multiplied by their effect sizes for T2DM, using the independent variants selected. Result: The allelic frequency of the “A” allele at rs17106184 (Fas-associated factor 1, FAF1) was significantly higher in the T2DM patients than that of the healthy controls (11.7% vs. 6.4%, p < 0.001). Individuals in the highestquartile of wGRS had an over three-fold increased risk for developing T2DM compared with those in the lowest quartile (odds ratio = 3.06, 95% CI = 1.92-4.88, p < 0.001) adjusted for age, sex, BMI, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The results were similar when analyzed with the cGRS. Conclusions: We confirmed the association between rs17106184 (FAF1) and T2DM in a northern Han Chinese population. The GRS calculated based on T2DM susceptibility variants may be a useful tool for predicting the T2DM susceptibility.

Background: More than 60 genetic susceptibility loci associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have been established in populations of Asian and European ancestry. Given ethnic differences and environmental factors, validation of the effects of genetic risk variants with reported associations identified by Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWASs) is essential. The study aims at evaluating the associations of T2DM with 29 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 19 candidate genes derived from GWASs in a northern Han Chinese population. Method: In this case-control study, 461 T2DM-diagnosed patients and 434 controls were recruited at the Jidong oil field hospital (Hebei, China) from January 2009 to October 2013. A cumulative genetic risk score (cGRS) was calculated by summation of the number of risk alleles, and a weight GRS (wGRS) was calculated as the sum of risk alleles at each locus multiplied by their effect sizes for T2DM, using the independent variants selected. Result: The allelic frequency of the “A” allele at rs17106184 (Fas-associated factor 1, FAF1) was significantly higher in the T2DM patients than that of the healthy controls (11.7% vs. 6.4%, p < 0.001). Individuals in the highestquartile of wGRS had an over three-fold increased risk for developing T2DM compared with those in the lowest quartile (odds ratio = 3.06, 95% CI = 1.92-4.88, p < 0.001) adjusted for age, sex, BMI, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The results were similar when analyzed with the cGRS. Conclusions: We confirmed the association between rs17106184 (FAF1) and T2DM in a northern Han Chinese population. The GRS calculated based on T2DM susceptibility variants may be a useful tool for predicting the T2DM susceptibility.

Background and Aim: Studies in stroke patients suggest that lacunar stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage might be more common in Chinese than Whites. We hypothesized that other manifestations of subclinical cerebral small vessel disease, namely white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes, and microbleeds, are also more common in Chinese than Whites. We compared the community prevalence of these lesions between Han Chinese and White Australians. Method(s): Magnetic resonance imaging (1.5-Tesla) was performed on participants of the Shanghai Aging Study (n=321, mean age 69+/-6 years) and Tasmanian Study of Cognition and Gait (n=397, mean age 72+/-7 years). A single-rater recorded measures of WMH, lacunes, and microbleeds. We compared lesion prevalence between age- and gender-matched subgroups from the two cohorts. Among all subjects (n=718), we performed multivariable logistic regression to examine if race-ethnicity was independently associated with these lesions. Result(s): Among age- and gender-matched subjects, confluent WMH were significantly more prevalent in Chinese (38.5%) than Whites (28.4%; P=0.01). There was no difference in the prevalence of lacunes (Chinese 29.1% vs. Whites 29.5%, P=0.93) and microbleeds (Chinese 10.1% vs. 9.0%, P=0.67) between Chinese and Whites. In multivariable logistic regression, Chinese ethnicity was associated with confluent WMH (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.6, P=0.01), but no differences were seen for lacunes and microbleeds. The association between Chinese ethnicity with confluent WMH became insignificant when subjects with history of stroke were excluded. Conclusion(s): In this population-based cross-national comparison, Han Chinese had a higher prevalence of confluent WMH than White Australians, but had a similar prevalence of lacunes and microbleeds.Copyright © 2014 World Stroke Organization.

Background and Aim: Studies in stroke patients suggest that lacunar stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage might be more common in Chinese than Whites. We hypothesized that other manifestations of subclinical cerebral small vessel disease, namely white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes, and microbleeds, are also more common in Chinese than Whites. We compared the community prevalence of these lesions between Han Chinese and White Australians. Method(s): Magnetic resonance imaging (1.5-Tesla) was performed on participants of the Shanghai Aging Study (n=321, mean age 69+/-6 years) and Tasmanian Study of Cognition and Gait (n=397, mean age 72+/-7 years). A single-rater recorded measures of WMH, lacunes, and microbleeds. We compared lesion prevalence between age- and gender-matched subgroups from the two cohorts. Among all subjects (n=718), we performed multivariable logistic regression to examine if race-ethnicity was independently associated with these lesions. Result(s): Among age- and gender-matched subjects, confluent WMH were significantly more prevalent in Chinese (38.5%) than Whites (28.4%; P=0.01). There was no difference in the prevalence of lacunes (Chinese 29.1% vs. Whites 29.5%, P=0.93) and microbleeds (Chinese 10.1% vs. 9.0%, P=0.67) between Chinese and Whites. In multivariable logistic regression, Chinese ethnicity was associated with confluent WMH (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.6, P=0.01), but no differences were seen for lacunes and microbleeds. The association between Chinese ethnicity with confluent WMH became insignificant when subjects with history of stroke were excluded. Conclusion(s): In this population-based cross-national comparison, Han Chinese had a higher prevalence of confluent WMH than White Australians, but had a similar prevalence of lacunes and microbleeds.Copyright © 2014 World Stroke Organization.

Aim: Ethnic differences have been reported between Asians and Whites in the prevalence of stroke subtypes. However, it is unknown if population differences exist for manifestations of cerebral small vessel disease. We compared the prevalence and risk of white matter hypertensities (WMH), lacunes, and microbleeds between Han Chinese and White Australian individuals randomly selected from their respective populations. Method(s): Magnetic resonance imaging (1.5-Tesla) was performed on participants of the Shanghai Aging Study (n = 321, mean age 69 +/- 6 years) and Tasmanian Study of Cognition and Gait (n = 397, mean age 72 +/- 7 years). A single expert rater recorded measures of WMH, lacunes, and microbleeds. We also compared lesion prevalence between age- and gender-matched subgroups from the two cohorts. Among all subjects (n = 718), we performed multiple logistic regression, adjusted for putative risk factors, to examine if ethnicity was independently associated with these lesions. Result(s): The prevalence rates of confluent WMH, lacunes, and microbleeds among Chinese and Whites were 37% vs. 34% (p = 0.09), 29% vs. 34% (p = 0.24) and 9% vs. 11% (p = 0.59), respectively. Subgroup analysis among age- and gender-matched subjects showed that confluent WMH was significantly more common among Chinese (38.5%) than Whites (28.4%, p = 0.01). In multiple logistic regression, Chinese ethnicity was associated with a higher risk of confluent WMH (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.6, p = 0.01). No differences were seen for lacunes and microbleeds. Conclusion(s): In this population-based cross-national comparison, Han Chinese had a greater risk of confluent WMH than White Australians, but a similar risk of lacunes and microbleeds.

Aim: Ethnic differences have been reported between Asians and Whites in the prevalence of stroke subtypes. However, it is unknown if population differences exist for manifestations of cerebral small vessel disease. We compared the prevalence and risk of white matter hypertensities (WMH), lacunes, and microbleeds between Han Chinese and White Australian individuals randomly selected from their respective populations. Method(s): Magnetic resonance imaging (1.5-Tesla) was performed on participants of the Shanghai Aging Study (n = 321, mean age 69 +/- 6 years) and Tasmanian Study of Cognition and Gait (n = 397, mean age 72 +/- 7 years). A single expert rater recorded measures of WMH, lacunes, and microbleeds. We also compared lesion prevalence between age- and gender-matched subgroups from the two cohorts. Among all subjects (n = 718), we performed multiple logistic regression, adjusted for putative risk factors, to examine if ethnicity was independently associated with these lesions. Result(s): The prevalence rates of confluent WMH, lacunes, and microbleeds among Chinese and Whites were 37% vs. 34% (p = 0.09), 29% vs. 34% (p = 0.24) and 9% vs. 11% (p = 0.59), respectively. Subgroup analysis among age- and gender-matched subjects showed that confluent WMH was significantly more common among Chinese (38.5%) than Whites (28.4%, p = 0.01). In multiple logistic regression, Chinese ethnicity was associated with a higher risk of confluent WMH (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.6, p = 0.01). No differences were seen for lacunes and microbleeds. Conclusion(s): In this population-based cross-national comparison, Han Chinese had a greater risk of confluent WMH than White Australians, but a similar risk of lacunes and microbleeds.

Aim: Ethnic differences have been reported between Asians and Whites in the prevalence of stroke subtypes. However, it is unknown if population differences exist for manifestations of cerebral small vessel disease. We compared the prevalence and risk of white matter hypertensities (WMH), lacunes, and microbleeds between Han Chinese and White Australian individuals randomly selected from their respective populations. Method(s): Magnetic resonance imaging (1.5-Tesla) was performed on participants of the Shanghai Aging Study (n = 321, mean age 69 +/- 6 years) and Tasmanian Study of Cognition and Gait (n = 397, mean age 72 +/- 7 years). A single expert rater recorded measures of WMH, lacunes, and microbleeds. We also compared lesion prevalence between age- and gender-matched subgroups from the two cohorts. Among all subjects (n = 718), we performed multiple logistic regression, adjusted for putative risk factors, to examine if ethnicity was independently associated with these lesions. Result(s): The prevalence rates of confluent WMH, lacunes, and microbleeds among Chinese and Whites were 37% vs. 34% (p = 0.09), 29% vs. 34% (p = 0.24) and 9% vs. 11% (p = 0.59), respectively. Subgroup analysis among age- and gender-matched subjects showed that confluent WMH was significantly more common among Chinese (38.5%) than Whites (28.4%, p = 0.01). In multiple logistic regression, Chinese ethnicity was associated with a higher risk of confluent WMH (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.6, p = 0.01). No differences were seen for lacunes and microbleeds. Conclusion(s): In this population-based cross-national comparison, Han Chinese had a greater risk of confluent WMH than White Australians, but a similar risk of lacunes and microbleeds.

Objectives: To explore the expression patterns of Eag1 (ether á go-go 1) and HIF-1α (hypoxia-inducible factor 1α) in a cohort of patients with breast cancer. Setting: Department of general surgery in an upper first-class hospital in Xi'an, China. Participants: A total of 112 female Han Chinese patients with a diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma were included. Patients with main internal diseases, such as cardiovascular, endocrine, gastroenterological, haematological, infectious diseases, etc, were excluded. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Expression profiles of Eag1 and HIF-1α. Results: Eag1 and HIF-1α were overexpressed in the tumour tissues compared with the pair-matched control tissues, p=0.002 and <0.001, respectively. The expression of Eag1 and HIF-1α was negatively correlated with tumour size, p=0.032 and p=0.025, respectively, and lymph node status (p=0.040, p=0.032, respectively). The coexpression of Eag1 and HIF-1α was correlated with tumour size ( p=0.012), lymph node status (p=0.027) and tumour stage (p=0.036). HIF-1α has a strong correlation with hEag1 expression (κ=0.731, p<0.001). Conclusions: HIF-1á expression has a strong correlation with hEag1 expression. We are the first to attempt to explore the correlation at the population level.

Free to read Objective To investigate differences in genetic risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Han Chinese as compared with Europeans. Methods A genome-wide association study was conducted in China with 952 patients and 943 controls, and 32 variants were followed up in 2,132 patients and 2,553 controls. A transpopulation meta-analysis with results from a large European RA study was also performed to compare the genetic architecture across the 2 ethnic remote populations. Results Three non-major histocompatibility complex (non-MHC) loci were identified at the genome-wide significance level, the effect sizes of which were larger in anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positive patients than in ACPA-negative patients. These included 2 novel variants, rs12617656, located in an intron of DPP4 (odds ratio [OR] 1.56, P = 1.6 × 10 -21), and rs12379034, located in the coding region of CDK5RAP2 (OR 1.49, P = 1.1 × 10-16), as well as a variant at the known CCR6 locus, rs1854853 (OR 0.71, P = 6.5 × 10-15). The analysis of ACPA-positive patients versus ACPA-negative patients revealed that rs12617656 at the DPP4 locus showed a strong interaction effect with ACPAs (P = 5.3 × 10-18), and such an interaction was also observed for rs7748270 at the MHC locus (P = 5.9 × 10-8). The transpopulation meta-analysis showed genome-wide overlap and enrichment in association signals across the 2 populations, as confirmed by prediction analysis. Conclusion This study has expanded the list of alleles that confer risk of RA, provided new insight into the pathogenesis of RA, and added empirical evidence to the emerging polygenic nature of complex trait variation driven by common genetic variants. Copyright © 2014 by the American College of Rheumatology.

In 742, a predominantly Turko-Mongolian steppe nomadic tribe known today as the Uyghurs migrated eastward from eastern Turkey towards the oases of modern-day Xinjiang province of China; they have remained there for the last 1,268 years. Throughout this time, this population has endured the hardships of political, economic, cultural, ethnic, and religious persecution ranging from nomadic tribal disputes to unrelenting and brutal aggression from the Chinese government. The purpose of this monograph is to analyze the impact of Chinese persecution on the Uyghur population to determine the potential that Chinese policy provides for Al Qaeda-like terrorist organizations to influence, or establish a foothold within, Xinjiang. By analyzing previous Uyghur uprisings and current Chinese policy using the models of insurgency as prescribed by David Galula and Bard E. O'Neill, the monograph seeks to test the following hypotheses: (1) Chinese persecution of the Uyghur population will create a Uyghur insurgency, and (2) focused persecution is providing the means for establishment of regional ties to external global ideological organizations like Al Qaeda. The monograph concludes that the current U.S. led global war on terrorism has provided China with the requisite freedom to act against the Uyghurs without repercussion and has enabled the emergence of Al Qaeda and its satellite organizations in Central Asia, thereby providing a direct link between this organization and radicalized Uyghur youth., The original document contains color images.

This paper examines the People's Republic of China's provincial policy and its ability to contain instability in the western autonomous regions of Xinjiang and Tibet. While the PRC appears monolithic, the western provinces have a unique context that sets them apart from greater China. First, these provinces do not have a continuous history of peaceful rule by Chinese regimes. Both regions are considered potentially unstable with subversive elements desiring greater autonomy or even independence. Second, the autonomous regions contain majority "minority" ethnic populations that are not Han Chinese. In Xinjiang, ethnic minorities (predominantly Uyghur) account for 59.4% of the population versus 40.6% Han Chinese. Tension between ethnic minorities and Han Chinese are at the root of western provincial instability. Third, the western provinces' trade access, plentiful natural resources, and open lands contrast with greater China. They provide opportunities for immigration and economic development, which are critical to China's strategic domestic policy. Given these unique factors, the PRC regime has shaped a unique approach toward the western provinces. PRC policy in the western provinces emphasizes maintaining control and stability as the primary objective. To do this, the PRC focuses on economic expansion and control of subversive influences. In parallel with these efforts, the PRC has attempted to nurture long-term stability through a conflicted policy of supporting minority diversity while forcing cultural assimilation. Despite a half century of adjustments in the diversity versus assimilation policy, the effect has been enduring minority discontent from the mid-1950s to the present. This paper examines the effectiveness of the PRC policy to suppress regional instability in Xinjiang and Tibet from 1949 to the present. Across case studies, three variables (ethnic discontent, economic expansion, and control measures) have been found to explain the level instability.

A preliminary Chinese DNA database has been constructed by the analysis of samples from 2,211 Han Chinese in Liaoyang City, northeast China. Thirteen autosomal tetranucleotide short tandem repeats (STRs) widely used in forensic identification were selected for the DNA profiling, together with the X-Y homologous gene Amelogenin for sex determination. Only one of the 13 autosomal loci showed significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the individuals genotyped. The cumulative discrimination power and power of exclusion of the 13 loci were greater than 0.999999999 and 0.9999888, respectively, giving an average match probability of 5.5×10-15 for the population. Allelic distributions at the vWA, TH01, D13S317, and D16S539 loci differed from African-Americans and US Caucasians, and more detailed population data at these four loci may be needed to ensure their applicability for forensic purposes in Chinese populations. Previously unreported alleles were detected at several loci (some at relatively high frequencies), suggesting the need for their inclusion in the reference allelic ladder to meet the practical standard of forensic profiling in certain Chinese ethnic sub-populations. The preliminary DNA database provides base-line information applicable to the construction of a National Index System for criminal DNA profiling in PR China.

A preliminary Chinese DNA database has been constructed by the analysis of samples from 2,211 Han Chinese in Liaoyang City, northeast China. Thirteen autosomal tetranucleotide short tandem repeats (STRs) widely used in forensic identification were selected for the DNA profiling, together with the X-Y homologous gene Amelogenin for sex determination. Only one of the 13 autosomal loci showed significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the individuals genotyped. The cumulative discrimination power and power of exclusion of the 13 loci were greater than 0.999999999and 0.9999888, respectively, giving an average match probability of 5.5x10(-15) for the population. Allelic distributions at the vWA, TH01, D13S317, and D16S539 loci differed from African-Americans and US Caucasians, and more detailed population data at these four loci may be needed to ensure their applicability for forensic purposes in Chinese populations. Previously unreported alleles were detected at several loci (some at relatively high frequencies), suggesting the need for their inclusion in the reference allelic ladder to meet the practical standard of forensic profiling in certain Chinese ethnic sub-populations. The preliminary DNA database provides base-line information applicable to the construction of a National Index System for criminal DNA profiling in PR China.

A preliminary Chinese DNA database has been constructed by the analysis of samples from 2,211 Han Chinese in Liaoyang City, northeast China. Thirteen autosomal tetranucleotide short tandem repeats (STRs) widely used in forensic identification were selected for the DNA profiling, together with the X-Y homologous gene Amelogenin for sex determination. Only one of the 13 autosomal loci showed significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the individuals genotyped. The cumulative discrimination power and power of exclusion of the 13 loci were greater than 0.999999999 and 0.9999888, respectively, giving an average match probability of 5.5×10-15 for the population. Allelic distributions at the vWA, TH01, D13S317, and D16S539 loci differed from African-Americans and US Caucasians, and more detailed population data at these four loci may be needed to ensure their applicability for forensic purposes in Chinese populations. Previously unreported alleles were detected at several loci (some at relatively high frequencies), suggesting the need for their inclusion in the reference allelic ladder to meet the practical standard of forensic profiling in certain Chinese ethnic sub-populations. The preliminary DNA database provides base-line information applicable to the construction of a National Index System for criminal DNA profiling in PR China.

A preliminary Chinese DNA database has been constructed by the analysis of samples from 2,211 Han Chinese in Liaoyang City, northeast China. Thirteen autosomal tetranucleotide short tandem repeats (STRs) widely used in forensic identification were selected for the DNA profiling, together with the X-Y homologous gene Amelogenin for sex determination. Only one of the 13 autosomal loci showed significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the individuals genotyped. The cumulative discrimination power and power of exclusion of the 13 loci were greater than 0.999999999and 0.9999888, respectively, giving an average match probability of 5.5x10(-15) for the population. Allelic distributions at the vWA, TH01, D13S317, and D16S539 loci differed from African-Americans and US Caucasians, and more detailed population data at these four loci may be needed to ensure their applicability for forensic purposes in Chinese populations. Previously unreported alleles were detected at several loci (some at relatively high frequencies), suggesting the need for their inclusion in the reference allelic ladder to meet the practical standard of forensic profiling in certain Chinese ethnic sub-populations. The preliminary DNA database provides base-line information applicable to the construction of a National Index System for criminal DNA profiling in PR China.

Humans live at high altitude for longer periods of time on the Tibetan Plateau than elsewhere in the world, thus providing opportunity to investigate the physiologic effects of longer (years to generations) duration of high altitude exposure. This has military importance because persons are stationed at high altitude locations for extended periods and some of the symptoms of failure to adjust to high altitude require months or years for development. We have completed two field projects (Fall 1987 and 1988) which suggest that Tibetans (natives) possess superior O2 transport and/or utilization systems compared to acclimatized newcomers ('Han Chinese'). Studies conducted in the period covered by this report addressed the control of breathing and blood oxygenation during sleep. In 22 healthy young men (11 Tibetans, 11 Hans), measurements of the control of breathing and lung volume during wakefulness were examined together with nightime studies of breathing and brain blood flow during sleep. Similar, additional studies were carried out in 8, principally Han patients with chronic mountain sickness and 8 age-matched, healthy controls. The data analysis from these studies is not yet complete but suggests that the Tibetans' greater lung volume, ventilatory sensitivity to hypoxia and high frequency respiratory pattern may confer protection against sleep-disordered breathing and thus better pressure blood oxygenation during sleep. Keywords: High altitude; O2 Transport; Hypoxia ventilation; Blood flow; Altitude illness.

Jin, Z.-N., Wang, H., Ge, S.-Q., Wang, Y.-X., Zhang, J., & Wang, W. (2016). The Han Chinese population and genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes: Potential role for variants in SUMO4 gene. In Medicine and Biopharmaceutical: Proceedings of the 2015 International Conference (pp. 627-636). Singapore, Singapore: World Scientific. Available here

Gao, X., Wang, Y., Lang, M., Yuan, L., Reece, A. S., & Wang, W. (2017). Contribution of Genetic Polymorphisms and Haplotypes in DRD2, BDNF, and Opioid Receptors to Heroin Dependence and Endophenotypes Among the Han Chinese. OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology, 21(7), 404-412. Available here

Rao, P., Zhou, Y., Ge, S. Q., Wang, A. X., Yu, X. W., Alzain, M. A., ... & Wang, H. (2016). Validation of Type 2 Diabetes Risk Variants Identified by Genome-Wide Association Studies in Northern Han Chinese. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 13(9), 863. Available here.