Search

Glucokinase (GCK) regulates insulin secretion and hepatic glucose metabolism, and its inactivating variants could cause diabetes. We aimed to evaluate the association of a low-frequency variant of GCK (rs13306393) with type 2 diabetes (T2D), prediabetes, or both (impaired glucose regulation [IGR]) in a Chinese population. An association study was first conducted in a random cluster sampling population (sample 1: 537 T2D, 768 prediabetes, and 1,912 control), and then another independent population (sample 2: 3,896 T2D, 2,301 prediabetes, and 868 control) was used to confirm the findings in sample 1. The A allele of rs13306393 was associated with T2D (odds ratio 3.08 [95% CI 1.77-5.36], P = 0.00007) in sample 1; rs13306393 was also associated with prediabetes (1.67 [1.05-2.65], P = 0.03) in sample 2. In a pooled analysis of the two samples, the A allele increased the risk of T2D (1.57 [1.15-2.15], P = 0.005), prediabetes (1.83 [1.33-2.54], P = 0.0003) or IGR (1.68 [1.26-2.25], P = 0.0004), insulin resistance estimated by HOMA (β = 0.043, P = 0.001), HbA1c (β = 0.029, P = 0.029), and urinary albumin excretion (β = 0.033, P = 0.025), irrespective of age, sex, and BMI. Thus, the Chinese-specific low-frequency variant increased the risk of T2D through reducing insulin sensitivity rather than islet β-cell function, which should be considered in the clinical use of GCK activators in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is evidence of a bidirectional association between dental caries and anthropometric measures among children. This dual relationship has not been examined in the same population. The objectives of this study are (1) to examine the relationship between baseline caries and changes in weight and height; and (2) to assess whether baseline weight and height are associated with changes in dental caries in a sample of preschool Chinese children. Children were recruited from 15 kindergarten in Liaoning Province at baseline (8 in rural area and 7 in urban area), a total of 1,111 of children were included at baseline. The mean age of children at baseline was 50.82 months. Data were collected through clinical oral examination, assessment of anthropometric measures and structured questionnaire. Dental caries was assessed according World Health Organization (WHO) methods by one dentist. Sociodemographic and behaviour data were also collected. At follow-up, 772 children were included (attrition rate: 30%), dental caries and anthropometric measures were assessed again. Z-score for weight-for-age and height-for-age were calculated using the 2006 and 2007 WHO Child Growth Standards. The sum of decayed, missing and filled primary teeth (dmft) were used in the analysis. Multilevel analysis for longitudinal data was conducted to explore the relationship between z-score for weight-for-age and height-for-age, and dental caries among children. The median follow-up time was 10.12 months. There was a significant negative association between dmft at baseline and change in height-for-age. On the other hand, weight-for-age at baseline was negatively associated with change in dmft at follow-up. The findings suggest that dental caries impedes children’s growth indicated by height for age. Low weight children appear to be more susceptible to dental caries in the same population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cross-sectional studies suggest that coffee drinking is associated with better renal function. However, to our knowledge, no prospective study has examined its relation with the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD).Objective: We examined the relations between coffee, tea, soda, and total caffeine consumption and the risk of ESRD among middle-aged and older Chinese in Singapore.Methods: We used data from the Singapore Chinese Health Study, a prospective cohort of 63,257 men and women aged 45-74 y at recruitment from 1993 to 1998. Baseline information on the consumption of caffeinated coffee and other caffeinated beverages (tea and sodas), habitual diet, medical history, and lifestyle factors was obtained via in-person interviews. The standard serving size of 1 cup was assigned as 237 mL in the questionnaire. Incident ESRD cases were identified via linkage with the nationwide registry. We used multivariable Cox regression models to estimate HRs and 95% CIs of ESRD risk associated with the consumption of caffeinated beverages, with adjustment for potential confounders.Results: After a mean follow-up of 16.8 y, 1143 cohort subjects developed ESRD. Compared with those who drank coffee less than daily, the HR (95% CI) was 0.91 (0.79, 1.05) for those who drank 1 cup of coffee/d and 0.82 (0.71, 0.96) for those who drank ≥2 cups/d (P-trend = 0.012). When stratified by sex, this association was observed in men but not in women. Compared with those who drank less than daily, the HR (95% CI) for drinking ≥2 cups/d was 0.71 (0.57, 0.87) among men and 0.97 (0.78, 1.19) among women (P-interaction = 0.03). Conversely, intakes of tea, soda, or total caffeine were not associated with the risk of ESRD in multivariable models.Conclusion: The consumption of ≥2 cups of coffee/d may reduce the risk of ESRD in the general population, especially among men. This study was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03356340. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of gastric cardia cancer (GCC) is high in China. However, the clinicopathological characteristics and the carcinogenesis of GCC are unclear. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is an important innate immunity receptor and has a role in non-GCC (NGCC). We compared the clinicopathological characteristics of GCC patients from a high-risk area in China to esophageal cancer (EC) patients. Immunohistochemistry for TLR4 was performed in 201 histological samples of normal gastric cardia mucosa (n = 11), gastric cardia inflammation (n = 87), and GCC (n = 103). We included 84 patients with EC and 99 with GCC. GCC tissue was more poorly differentiated than EC tissue and more invasive, with more histomorphologic variation. Lymph node metastasis was more frequent in GCC than in EC. The Helicobacter pylori infection rate was higher but not significantly with GCC than EC. Survival was shorter with lymph node metastasis. We found a statistically significant trend for progressive increase of TLR4 expression from normal mucosa to inflammation in GCC. GCC in this high-risk area displays clinicopathologic characteristics different from those of EC and different from those of gastroesophageal junction carcinomas in other countries, although this was not analyzed statistically. Increased TLR4 expression in gastric cardia lesions may be associated with GCC tumorigenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the relationship between baseline renal function and changes in telomere length in Han Chinese.Methods: The telomere restriction fragment (TRF) length of leukocytes in the peripheral blood was measured in healthy volunteers recruited in 2014. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated based on serum creatinine (Scr) and serum cystatin C (CysC)-eGFRcys and eGFRScr-cys through the Cockcroft-Gault formula (eGFRC-G) or the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI / eGFRCKD-EPI) equation. The correlation between telomere length changes over time and renal function was analyzed.Results: Leukocyte TRF lengths were negatively correlated to age (r = -0.393, p < 0.001) and serum CysC (r = -0.180, p < 0.01), while positively associated with eGFRCKD-EPI, eGFRC-G, eGFRcys, and eGFRScr-cys (r = 0.182, 0.122, 0.290, and 0.254 respectively, p < 0.01). The 3-year change of telomere length was 46 bp/years. When adjusted for age, the associations between telomere length changes and baseline, subsequent TRF lengths, and serum CysC were no longer present. No association was observed between TRF length changes and renal function.Conclusion: The rate of telomere length changes was affected by age and baseline telomere length. The telomere length changes might be important markers for aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The prevalence of and risk factors for IAD among different ethnicity groups was unknown. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of and risk factors for IAD among Han, Uygur and Kazakh ethnicities in Xinjiang. China. Methods: In total, 14,618 adult participants (7,799 males and 6,819 females) were recruited from the Cardiovascular Risk Survey. A 4-stage stratified cluster random sampling method was used. The participants’ personal information and medical history were assessed by questionnaire. IAD was diagnosed by a noninvasive arteriosclerosis analyzer. Results: The prevalence of abnormal IAD among the general population was 14.3%, with 12.5% in the Han, 14.9% in the Uygur, and 16.4% in the Kazakh populations. The prevalence of abnormal IAD among the hypertensive population was 19.4%, with 17.0% in the Han, 18.1% in the Uygur, and 22.7% in the Kazakh populations. The prevalence of abnormal IAD increased with age (all P < 0.01) but was not significantly different between the genders (all P> 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age more than 45 years, obesity and hypertriglyceridemia were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of IAD. There were different risk factors for abnormal IAD in different ethnicities. Middle or old age, obesity, ABI and diabetes mellitus were risk factors for the Han population, smoking was a risk factor in the Uygur population, and obesity and PAD were risk factors in the Kazakh population. Conclusion: The prevalence of abnormal IAD in the Kazakh participants was higher than that in the Han and Uygur populations among both the general population and the hypertensive population in Xinjiang, China. The main risk factors of IAD were age, obesity, and triglyceride levels. Different ethnicities had different kinds of risk factors for IAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the gut microbiota differences of obese children compared with the control healthy cohort to result in further understanding of the mechanism of obesity development. Methods. We evaluated the 16S rRNA gene, the enterotypes, and quantity of the gut microbiota among obese children and the control cohort and learned the differences of the gut microbiota during the process of weight reduction in obese children. Results. In the present study, we learned that the gut microbiota composition was significantly different between obese children and the healthy cohort. Next we found that functional changes, including the phosphotransferase system, ATP-binding cassette transporters, flagellar assembly, and bacterial chemotaxis were overrepresented, while glycan biosynthesis and metabolism were underrepresented in case samples. Moreover, we learned that the amount of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus increased among the obese children during the process of weight reduction. Conclusion. Our results might enrich the research between gut microbiota and obesity and further provide a clinical basis for therapy for obesity. We recommend that Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus might be used as indicators of healthy conditions among obese children, as well as a kind of prebiotic and probiotic supplement in the diet to be an auxiliary treatment for obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some reports have shown that nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is associated with the body mass index (BMI) and energy metabolism. Here we explored the association between NNMT gene polymorphisms and obesity. The subjects were recruited from male Chinese Han college student. 289 of them (19 ≤ body fat percentage (BF%)) were selected as the high body fat group (HBFG), 494 of them (3 ≤ BF% < 13.5) were selected as the low body fat group (LBFG), and then a case-control study (fat versus thin) was carried out to explore the association between the NNMT gene polymorphism and the body composition using tagSNPs method. A tagSNP (rs10891644) in NNMT gene was found significantly associated with the body composition (P<0.0026). At this locus, the BF% for the genotype GT, TT, and GG were 14.56±8.35, 13.47±8.11, and 12.42±7.50, respectively, and the differences between the GT and the GG + TT were highly significant (P<0.01); the ORadjusted value of the GT versus (GG + TT) was 1.716 (Padjusted=0.002, 95% CI = 1.240–2.235). Therefore, the variation of the tagSNP, rs10891644, is significantly associated with obesity and the GT carriers are the susceptible population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is essential for renal function evaluation and classification of chronic kidney disease (CKD), while the reference method in children are cumbersome. In the Chinese children, there was no data about GFR measured through plasma or renal clearance of the exogenous markers, and therefore no validated GFR-estimating tools in this population. Methods: We measured GFR with double-sample plasma clearance of 99mTc-DTPA (mGFR) in 87 hospitalized children with renal injury. Using mGFR as the golden standard, we evaluate the efficiency of four different GFR estimation equations (the original and update Schwartz equation, the Filler equation, the CKiD equation) by statistical parameters of correlation, precision and accuracy. Results: In our population, mGFR was 97.0± 31.9 mL/min/1.73m2. The updated Schwartz equation, the Filler equation and the CKiD equation, produced eGFR with strong correlation with mGFR, strong explanation capacity of variance in mGFR, small bias, satisfactory performance in Bland-Altman analysis, high intra-class correlation coefficients, high ratio of eGFR within mGFR±10% and eGFR within mGFR±30%, good agreement in CKD staging between eGFR and mGFR. The original Schwartz equation produced eGFR with large bias, poor precision and accuracy. Conclusion: The validated equations to estimate GFR in our patients are the updated Schwartz equation, which is simple for bedside use, the Filler equation and the CKiD equation, which provide more accurate eGFR. The original Schwartz equation should not be applied to estimate GFR in Chinese children with kidney injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the study conducted to determine the biological variation (BV) during daytime in Chinese population based on factors of hematology. It examined the hematological variations obtained through the Coulter LH780 and Cochran test in the parameters including lymphocytes, white blood corpuscles (WBC), and monocytes.

Purpose: To evaluate the corneal biomechanical metrics by Corvis ST (CST) in healthy Chinese adults.Methods: This cross-sectional study used CST to measure intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), and corneal biomechanical parameters, including time, velocity, length, deformation amplitude at the first (A1T, A1V, A1L, A1DA) and second applanation (A2T, A2V, A2L, A2DA), time, radius curvature and deformation amplitude at highest concavity (HCT, HCR, HCDA) and peak distance (PD).Results: A total of 158 healthy adults (158 eyes) were included in the final analysis. No significant differences were observed between male and female for any biomechanical parameters (All P>0.05). With increasing age, a significant trend of increase was detected among A1V, A1DA, A2T, A2DA, and HCDA (All P<0.05). The A1T decreased significantly with increasing age (P<0.001). The cluster analysis using Pearson coefficient divided the CST parameters into 5 sub-clusters, where IOP, A1T, A2V had strongest relation. The multivariable linear regression analyses demonstrated that age was independently associated with A1DA, A2DA, and HCDA. The IOP was positively associated with A1T, A2V, and HCR, while negatively with A1V, A2T, HCT, PD, and HCDA. The CCT was positively correlated with A1L, A1DA, A2L, A2V, or HCR.Conclusions: CST provided informative corneal biomechanical measurements in this Chinese population. Most corneal biomechanical parameters were associated with IOP, and several parameters were influenced by age or CCT, suggesting adjustment of these factors was needed before interpretations of CST outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural studies exploring differences in the manifestation of anorexia nervosa (AN) have primarily focus on Western and non-Western cultures. However, no study so far has considered the role that social attitudes (i.e. Collectivist vs. Individualist cultural values) have in the clinical manifestations of eating disorders, including AN patients. With this in mind, the aim of this study is to compare eating and general psychopathology in a large sample of individuals diagnosed with AN from China, Spain, and United Kingdom (UK), in order to study the differences according to belonging to Western or non-Western country, or the country's Individualist Index (IDV). The total sample comprised on 544 adults with a diagnosis of AN recruited from People´s Republic of China (n = 72), UK (n = 117), and Spain (n = 355). Assessment measures included the Eating Disorders Inventory and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. Our results show significant differences in most of the eating and psychopathological indices between the three countries. Patients from Western societies (Spain and UK) share more similarities regarding psychopathological expression of AN than the non-Western country (China). While Western countries show higher levels of body dissatisfaction, somatization and overall psychopathology, Chinese patients tend to deny or minimize depression, anxiety and other psychopathological symptoms. Besides, the IDV shows cultural differences in the interpersonal sensitivity scale, being AN patients from UK (the more individualistic society) who presented with higher levels of interpersonal sensitivity (i.e. discomfort during interpersonal interactions and more negative expectations concerning interpersonal behavior). In conclusion, our findings suggest that psychopathological expression of AN is better explained by Western/Eastern influence than by individualist/collectivist values. Although the diagnosis for the eating disorder may be the same, differences in the psychopathology comorbid to the eating disorders may suggest the need for treatments to be modified according to the culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Genotyping platforms for common red blood cell (RBC) antigens have been successfully applied in Caucasian and black populations but not in Chinese populations. In this study, a genotyping assay based on multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) technology was applied in a Chinese population to validate the MLPA probes. Subsequently, the comprehensive distribution of 17 blood group systems also was obtained.Study Design and Methods: DNA samples from 200 Chinese donors were extracted and genotyped using the blood-MLPA assay. To confirm the MLPA results, a second independent genotyping assay (ID Core+) was conducted in 40 donors, and serological typing of 14 blood-group antigens was performed in 91 donors. In donors who had abnormal copy numbers of an allele (DI and GYPB) determined by MLPA, additional experiments were performed (polymerase chain reaction, sequencing, and flow cytometry analysis).Results: The genotyping results obtained using the blood-MLPA and ID Core+ assays were consistent. Serological data were consistent with the genotyping results except for one donor who had a Lu(a-b-) phenotype. Of the 17 blood group systems, the distribution of the MNS, Duffy, Kidd, Diego, Yt, and Dombrock systems was polymorphic. The Mur and Sta antigens of the MNS system were distributed with a frequency of 9% (18 of 200) and 2% (4 of 200), respectively. One donor with chimerism and one who carried a novel DI*02(A845V) allele, which predicts the depression of Dib antigen expression, were identified.Conclusions: The blood-MLPA assay could easily identify the common blood-group alleles and correctly predicted phenotype in the Chinese population. The Mur and Sta antigens were distributed with high frequency in a Southern Chinese Han population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of alphabetic language have shown that orthographic knowledge influences phonological processing during spoken word recognition. This study utilized the Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) to differentiate two types of phonology-to-orthography (P-to-O) mapping consistencies in Chinese, namely homophone density and orthographic consistency. The ERP data revealed an orthographic consistency effect in the frontal-centrally distributed N400, and a homophone density effect in central-posteriorly distributed late positive component (LPC). Further source analyses using the standardized low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) demonstrated that the orthographic effect was not only localized in the frontal and temporal-parietal regions for phonological processing, but also in the posterior visual cortex for orthographic processing, while the homophone density effect was found in middle temporal gyrus for lexical-semantic selection, and in the temporal-occipital junction for orthographic processing. These results suggest that orthographic information not only shapes the nature of phonological representations, but may also be activated during on-line spoken word recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective FOXE1 plays an important role in craniofacial development. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between genetic variants of FOXE1 and risk of non-syndromic orofacial clefts in a Chinese population. Materials and Methods Three potentially functional SNPs of FOXE1 (rs3758250 and rs907577 in the 5′ upstream and rs7043516 in the 3′- UTR) were selected and their associations with non-syndromic orofacial cleft susceptibility were investigated in a case-control study from a Chinese population (602 cases and 605 controls). Genotyping was performed with double ligation and multiplex fluorescence PCR. Associations between the SNPs and risk of non-syndromic orofacial clefts and its subgroups were estimated from unconditional logistic regression analysis. Luciferase reporter assay was conducted to assess SNP function. Results Overall, we did not find any of the individual SNP or haplotype was associated with NSOC susceptibility. Nevertheless, in stratified analysis, we found rs7043516, locating in the 3′- UTR of FOXE1, was associated with risk of cleft lip only. Further in vitro luciferase assay indicated that this SNP could contribute to differential binding ability with mi RNA. Conclusions Taken together, this study showed that rs7043516 may be considered as a potentially susceptible marker of cleft lip only among Chinese Han populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Study the trends in Western fast food consumption (FFC) among Chinese school-age children and the association between FFC and obesity using nationwide survey data. Design: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted to study the trends in FFC and the associations between FFC and weight status (overweight, obesity and body mass index (BMI) z-score). Setting: Longitudinal data from families were collected in the 2004 and 2009 China Health and Nutrition Survey (covering nine provinces throughout China). Subjects: The analysis included 2656 Chinese children aged 6 to 18 years (1542 and 1114 children in the 2004 and 2009 survey, respectively). Results: FFC (reported having consumed Western fast food in the past three months) has increased between 2004 and 2009, from 18.5% to 23.9% in those aged 6–18, and increased more rapidly among those aged 13–17, from 17.9% to 26.3%. The increase was significant in almost all groups by age, sex, family income, and residence. Our cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses did not detect a significant association between FFC and obesity/overweight or BMI z-score (e.g., for BMI z-score, boys: β = 0.02, 95% CI: -0.71, 0.75; girls: β = -0.14, 95% CI: -1.03, 0.75). Conclusions: FFC has increased in Chinese school-age children, especially in older children, boys, and those from low- and medium-income families, rural areas, and East China, but decreased among those from high-income families during 2004–2009. The data did not show a significant association between FFC and obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Niemann Pick Type C1 Like 1 (NPC1L1) protein plays a key role in intestinal and hepatic cholesterol metabolism in humans. Genetic variation in NPC1L1 has been widely studied in recent years. We analyzed NPC1L1 single nucleotide polymorphisms in Chinese gallstone disease patients to investigate their association with gallstone disease. NPC1L1 mRNA expression was also measured in liver biopsies from patients with cholesterol gallstone disease and compared between genotypes. The G allele of the g1679C>G (rs2072183) polymorphism was significantly more prevalent in patients with gallstones compared with gallstone-free subjects. Moreover, patients carrying the G allele had lower hepatic NPC1L1 mRNA expression and higher biliary cholesterol (molar percentages) and cholesterol saturation index. Our study suggests that the G allele of the NPC1L1 polymorphism g1679C>G may be a positive marker of gallstone formation risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To examine the effects of a 12-week Hatha yoga intervention on cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility in Chinese adults. Methods. 173 adults (aged 52.0 ± 7.5 years) were assigned to either the yoga intervention group (n=87) or the waitlist control group (n=86). 19 dropped out from the study. Primary outcomes were changes in cardiorespiratory endurance (resting heart rate (HR) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max)), muscular strength and endurance (curl-up and push-up tests), and lower back and hamstring flexibility (the modified back-saver sit-and-reach (MBS) test). Results. Compared to controls, the yoga group achieved significant improvements in VO2max (P<0.01), curl-up (P<0.05) and push-up (P<0.001) tests, and the MBS left and right leg tests (both P<0.001) in both genders. Significant change was also found for resting HR between groups in women (P<0.05) but not in men. Further analysis comparing participants between younger and older subgroups yielded similar findings, except that the older participants in the yoga group failed to improve resting HR or the curl-up test versus control. Adherence (89%) and attendance (94%) were high. No serious adverse events occurred. Conclusion. A 12-week Hatha yoga intervention has favorable effects on cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility in Chinese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify susceptibility loci for ankylosing spondylitis, we performed a two-stage genome-wide association study in Han Chinese. In the discovery stage, we analyzed 1,356,350 autosomal SNPs in 1,837 individuals with ankylosing spondylitis and 4,231 controls; in the validation stage, we analyzed 30 suggestive SNPs in an additional 2,100 affected individuals and 3,496 controls. We identified two new susceptibility loci between EDIL3 and HAPLN1 at 5q14.3 (rs4552569; P = 8.77 × 10?10) and within ANO6 at 12q12 (rs17095830; P = 1.63 × 10?8). We also confirmed previously reported associations in Europeans within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region (top SNP, rs13202464; P < 5 × 10?324) and at 2p15 (rs10865331; P = 1.98 × 10?8). We show that rs13202464 within the MHC region mainly represents the risk effect of HLA-B*27 variants (including HLA-B*2704, HLA-B*2705 and HLA-B*2715) in Chinese. The two newly discovered loci implicate genes related to bone formation and cartilage development, suggesting their potential involvement in the etiology of ankylosing spondylitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabet. Med. 27, 598–602 (2010) Aims To investigate the two variants (rs1387153 and rs10830963) near/in the melatonin receptor 1B gene ( MTNR1B) and to determine their association with Type 2 diabetes, as well as with the regulation of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in Han Chinese subjects. Methods The two variants were genotyped in 1912 unrelated Type 2 diabetic patients and 2041 healthy individuals. Association with Type 2 diabetes was calculated by logistic regression with adjustments for sex, age and body mass index. The possible connection between the risk alleles and FPG was analysed by multiple linear regression. Results The two polymorphisms were associated with FPG levels in the healthy individuals ( P = 0.003 and P = 0.002, respectively), and the G allele of rs10830963 was also associated with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in our patient sample (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.23; P = 0.024). Moreover, the linkage disequilibrium degree of two single nucleotide polymorphisms was high ( r2 = 0.66), which is similar to that of Europeans. Conclusions The common variant in MTNR1B confers the risk of Type 2 diabetes and modulates FPG in both the Han Chinese and European populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the association of a novel genetic variant in dimenthylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1) to the susceptibility of stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) in the Chinese Han population in China. The study used electrophoretic mobility-shift assay to test the mechanism that affects gene expression. The results showed that the increased risk for both thrombosis stroke and CHD are associated to the DDHA1 loss-of-function polymorphism.

Men and women at Northwest University (n=751), Xi'an, China were asked to judge the attractiveness of photographs of female patients who had undergone micrograft surgery to reduce their waist-to-hip ratios (WHR). Micrograft surgery involves harvesting adipose tissue from the waist and reshaping the buttocks to produce a low WHR and an 'hourglass' female figure. This gynoid distribution of female body fat has been shown to correlate with measures of fertility and health. Significantly larger numbers of subjects, of both sexes, chose post-operative photographs, with lower WHRs, as more attractive than pre-operative photographs of the same women. Some patients had gained, and some had lost weight, post-operatively, with resultant changes in body mass index (BMI). However, these changes in BMI were not related to judgments of attractiveness. These results show that the hourglass female figure is rated as attractive in China, and that WHR, rather than BMI, plays a crucial role in such attractiveness judgments [Current Zoology 56 (2): 175-181, 2010]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Transforming growth factor beta receptors II gene (TGFBR2) mutations associated with Marfan syndrome and Marfan-associated disorders have been investigated. However, such studies are limited in China. To obtain more information about TGFBR2 mutations, we analyzed 6 unrelated Chinese patients with Marfan-associated disorders and without ocular manifestation. Methods: The genomic DNA from blood leukocytes of these 6 patients and their relatives was isolated, and the entire coding region of TGFBR2 was amplified using PCR. We determined the sequence of TGFBR2 with the ABI 3100 Genetic Analyzer. Results: Three mutations were identified in TGFBR2. Two mutations were associated with Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS), which were distributed as following: one missense mutation R528C (caused by a 1582C>T substitution) and one polymorphism T315M (a rare SNP). The third mutation was a novel silent mutation associated with MFS2, which was K291K caused by an 873 C>T substitution. Conclusions: The TGFBR2 gene missense mutations are possibly causative mutations of Loeys-Dietz syndrome. This result suggests an increase in the mutation spectrum of Marfan-related disorders in China and possibly worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wide QRS complex tachycardia (WCT) is a common arrhythmia. How to differentiate between WCTs is a challenge in clinical practice. Recently R-wave peak time (RWPT) at lead II was reported to be a helpful and simple tool for differentiating WCTs. However, it has remained unknown about the reference range of RWPT at lead II. In present study, we aimed to investigate the reference range of RWPT at lead II in Chinese healthy adults.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College in Southern China. Two thousand four hundred healthy adults aged 21-80 years with no history of structural heart diseases were included. RWPT at lead II was determined.Results: Of 2400 healthy adults, 1200 men and 1200 women were included. The differences of age, mean heart rate and mean QRS duration at lead II between male and female were not significant. RWPT ranged from 16 to 42 ms in male while from 16 to 44 ms in female. The 95 % reference range of RWPT in normal male and female are 19.91 ~ 39.55 ms and 21.75 ~ 37.67 ms, respectively. Compared with the female, the male had a significantly longer RWPT at lead II (29.73 ± 5.01 ms vs 29.71 ± 4.06 ms in female, P = 0.000).Conclusion: Our study showed that RWPT at lead II is different between male and female. The male had a significantly longer RWPT at lead II than the female. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a two-part study of perimenstrual symptomatology in Chinese women. We developed and validated the Chinese Questionnaire of Perimenstrual Symptoms (CQ-PERI-MS), which was adapted from the Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire, and used this instrument to assess the prevalence and nature of perimenstrual symptoms among Chinese women in Hong Kong. The initial CQ-PERI-MS was first administered to a sample of 538 menstruating Chinese women in Hong Kong together with measures of anxiety, depression and neuroticism. Psychometric analyses rendered a 32-item CQ-PERI-MS which demonstrated good reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and factorial validity. Four factors were yielded, namely, Dysphoria, Somatic distress, Cognitive problems and Arousal. The CQ-PERI-MS was then administered to a separate sample of 339 menstruating Chinese women in Hong Kong for further examination of validity as well as pattern of perimenstrual symptoms. It was found that perimenstrual symptoms were common, with 18.6% and 34.2% of the participants reporting 10 or more premenstrual and menstrual symptoms, respectively. Both premenstrual and menstrual distress were characterised by a combination of emotional and somatic symptoms. Contrary to previous preconceptions, perimenstrual symptoms are commonly experienced by Chinese women, with both overlapping and distinct features when compared with patterns in the West. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Forearm fractures are a major cause of disability in postmenopausal women. However, no prior report on the relationship of dietary patterns and forearm fracture in mainland China is available and the results from Western studies may not be applicable to the Chinese population. Objective To determine whether food groups are associated with the risk of forearm fracture among postmenopausal women in China. Design Case-control study. Methods Cases were 209 postmenopausal women aged 50-70 years with new forearm fractures, identified in hospitals in Chengdu. Controls were age- and district-matched subjects randomly selected from the community of Chengdu. Dietary habits and food group intake were measured by a structured food frequency questionnaire. Results The dietary pattern in Chinese postmenopausal women was of high intakes of cereals, vegetables, fruits, beans or bean products, but lower intakes of meat and milk. The estimated odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for forearm fracture were 0.53 (0.42-0.67) for each quintile increase in vegetable intake, 0.73 (0.59-0.92) for each quintile increase in cereal intake, and 0.26 (0.14-0.48) in subjects who met World Health Organization (WHO) dietary recommendations for vegetables and fruits. Conclusions This is the first report indicating that the levels of vegetable and cereal intake, and that meeting WHO recommendations for vegetable and fruit intake, are associated with a decrease in the risk of forearm fractures in Chinese postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To determine the appropriate cutoffs for visceral fat area (VFA) measured by magnetic resonance imaging linking to risk of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the corresponding waist circumference in Chinese. Methods and results: Totally 1140 individuals (men 525, women 615) aged from 35 to 75 years were included. The components of the MetS were defined by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS) definition, respectively. Receive operating characteristic curve analyses were used to determine the appropriate cutoffs of VFA and corresponding waist circumference in the prediction of the MetS. The optimal VFA cutoff was near 80cm2 in identifying the MetS with two or more components but not including overweight/obesity by either of the two definitions in all subjects. There was no difference in men by ages while women aged <50 years tended to have lower VFA cutoff than those aged ≥50 years by the two definitions. The appropriate waist circumference cutoffs were 90cm in men and 85cm in women for the MetS. Conclusion: The optimal cutoff of waist circumference for abdominal obesity is 90cm for men and 85cm for women in Chinese. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To characterize the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in Han Chinese from several provinces of China, we have sequenced the two hypervariable segments of the control region and the segment spanning nucleotide positions 10171-10659 of the coding region, and we have identified a number of specific coding-region mutations by direct sequencing or restriction-fragment-length-polymorphism tests. This allows us to define new haplogroups (clades of the mtDNA phylogeny) and to dissect the Han mtDNA pool on a phylogenetic basis, which is a prerequisite for any fine-grained phylogeographic analysis, the interpretation of ancient mtDNA, or future complete mtDNA sequencing efforts. Some of the haplogroups under study differ considerably in frequencies across different provinces. The southernmost provinces show more pronounced contrasts in their regional Han mtDNA pools than the central and northern provinces. These and other features of the geographical distribution of the mtDNA haplogroups observed in the Han Chinese make an initial Paleolithic colonization from south to north plausible but would suggest subsequent migration events in China that mainly proceeded from north to south and east to west. Lumping together all regional Han mtDNA pools into one fictive general mtDNA pool or choosing one or two regional Han populations to represent all Han Chinese is inappropriate for prehistoric considerations as well as for forensic purposes or medical disease studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which investigated the effects of interpersonal relations on suicide ideation in a sample of persons from China. Findings of previous research on suicide ideation; Statistics on suicide ideation rates and rates for planned suicide, making a comparison to rates in the United States; Role of interpersonal conflict in suicide ideation; Discussion on the conclusions of the study.

Abstract. In several studies a race-specific variation in birth weight was suggested between black infants and white infants. The following were compared: (1) the birth weight of Chinese infants born in mainland China, Taiwan, and the United States; and (2) the birth weight of Chinese infants and white infants born in the United States controlled for sociodemographic background. Similar birth weight distributions and incidence of low birth weight were found among Chinese infants born in the three areas with markedly different economic conditions. The women in all three areas appear to have met the basic health and nutritional needs for adequate fetal growth. Similar incidence of low birth weight with different birth weight distribution was found among infants born in the United States to two Chinese parents, to one Chinese parent and one white parent, and to two white parents. The variation in birth weight is greater for white infants than for Chinese infants and, consequently, more white infants had larger birth weight. The possibility of race-specific influences on birth weight distribution is suggested by these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeTo report a novel mutation of ALMS1 in a Chinese family with Alström syndrome.DesignObservational case report and results of DNA analysis.MethodsA family including one patient and four unaffected relatives was examined clinically. One hundred normal Chinese individuals served as control subjects. Genomic DNA was extracted from venous blood of all participants. Exons 8, 10, and 16 of the ALMS1 gene was amplified by the PCR. The PCR products were analysed using direct sequencing.ResultsClinical examination and laboratory investigations indicate Alström syndrome for the proband of this family. Sequencing of part of the ALMS1 gene identified one novel homozygous non-sense mutation, c.8335 C>T, resulting in a premature termination signal at codon 2471 (Q2471X).ConclusionsOur findings expand the spectrum of ALMS1 gene mutations causing Alström syndrome and further confirm the role of ALMS1 gene in the pathogenesis of Alström syndrome.Eye (2009) 23, 1210–1212; doi:10.1038/eye.2008.235; published online 25 July 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 100 Chinese subjects in the eastern region of China (22–89 years) were recruited for oral physiology determination. • Ageing has a major negative influence on the number of missing teeth, maximum 1st molar biting force and tongue pressure. • Males have larger maximum oral volume (MOV) than females. • The chewing efficiency was similar between ten subjects from two clusters that majorly differed in MBF and MOV. With an increasing number of elderly in China, it becomes imperative to establish a comprehensive understanding of their physiological capabilities and investigate fundamental mechanisms underpinning the discrepancies between Chinese individuals and other ethnical groups, which will facilitate government policymaking, design and development of special food products. In this study, 100 healthy Chinese subjects in the eastern region of China (22–89 years old) were recruited with full consent, then divided into young adult, middle-aged and elderly groups. Subjects' maximum biting force (MBF), maximum tongue pressure (MTP), maximum oral volume (MOV), and saliva flow rate were recorded. Unstimulated (US) and stimulated (SS) saliva were collected. Subjects were then objectively clustered into 3 different levels of oral processing capability. A total of 10 young subjects from two different clusters were selected for chewing efficiency (CE) determination. With increased age, there is a decline in subject's dental status, MBF and MTP. Gender affects greatly on MOV; males have larger MOV. No significant effects on SS and US flow rate were found with age and gender. The finding of a similar CE and differences in overall capability in relevant physiological variables (MBF and MOV in young adults) suggest that the degree of CE is not determined by a total capability of various oral physiological variables. In contrast, the findings suggest that CE will be non-impaired as long as each of the relevant physiological variables (i.e. dental status, MBF) operates at a supra-threshold level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]