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The article presents a study on the common variations in the BCL9 gene that confer the risk of schizophrenia. The researchers observed stable inpatients or outpatients from a mental health center in Shanghai, China, all of whom were interviewed by two independent psychiatrists. They found that the BCL9 gene is a good candidate for psychiatric diseases because it can be found within a region affected by variations that represent a risk of schizophrenia. They also discussed the psychotic features of schizophrenia including altered cognitive functioning.

Background: Type 2 diabetes is becoming an epidemic in China. To evaluate the prevalence, clustering of metabolic risk factors and their impact on type 2 diabetes, we conducted a population-based study in Shanghai, China's largest metropolitan area. Methods: From 2006 to 2007, 2,113 type 2 diabetes cases and 2,458 comparable controls of adults aged 40 to 79 years were enrolled. Demographic, lifestyle, and dietary factors were assessed via standardized questionnaires. Plasma, red and white blood cells were collected and stored for future studies. Anthropometric indices and biochemical intermediates (including blood pressure, fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and blood lipids) were measured. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome were also compared following two criteria recommended by the Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS, 2004) and the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III, 2002). Results: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (62% vs. 15% using CDS criteria) and its individual components, including obesity (51% vs. 42%), hypertension (54% vs. 41%), hypertriglyceridemia (42% vs. 32%), and low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL) levels (36% vs. 25%) were higher in diabetes cases than controls. Regardless of criteria used, those with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) had similarly high prevalence of metabolic syndrome as did diabetes cases. In a multiple logistic regression model adjusted for demographics and lifestyle risk factors, the odds ratios of diabetes (95% CI) were 1.23 (1.04-1.45) for overweight (28 >= BMI >= 24), 1.81 (1.45-2.25) for obesity (BMI > 28), 1.53 (1.30-1.80) for central obesity (waist circumference > 80 cm for woman or waist circumference > 85 cm for man), 1.36 (1.17-1.59) for hypertension (sbp/dbp >= 140/90 mmHg), 1.55 (1.32-1.82) for high triglycerides (triglycerides > 1.70 mmol/l) and 1.52 (1.23-1.79) for low HDL-C (HDL-C < 1.04 mmol/L). Conclusions: These data indicate that multiple metabolic risk factors-individually or jointly-were more prevalent in diabetes patients than in controls. Further research will examine hypotheses concerning the high prevalence of IFG, family history, and central obesity, aiding development of multifaceted preventive strategies specific to this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estrogen was considered to be an important protective factor for cardiovascular diseases in women. Genetic association studies suggested that variations of ESR1and ESR2 genes might have a potential role in lipid profile. Our study aimed to investigate the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ESR1 and ESR2 with hyperlipidemia in Chinese Han postmenopausal women. A total of 443 postmenopausal women aged between 55 and 71 years were recruited from Shanghai, China for a case–control study (154 women with hyperlipidemia and 289 controls). We measured plasma estradiol concentration, glucose and lipid profile levels, evaluated their lifestyle and sequenced four SNPs, namely PvuII (rs2234693) and XbaI (rs9340799) of ESR1 and 1082A>G (rs1256049) and 1730A>G (rs4986938) of ESR2. PvuII (rs2234693) and XbaI (rs9340799) showed significantly different distributions between cases and controls (P=0.002 and P=0.023, respectively). In addition, haplotypes constructed from PvuII–XbaI were also associated with hyperlipidemia (global P=0.012). Haplotypes T–A (P=0.005, odds ratio (OR) 1.52, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.13–2.05) and C–G (P=0.010, OR 0.62, 95% CI: 0.43–0.89) had susceptible and protective effects, respectively. 1082A>G (rs1256049) and 1730A>G (rs4986938) showed no statistical association with hyperlipidemia. In conclusion, our results suggested that ESR1 might have a potential role in hyperlipidemia risk, independent of age, estradiol level, body mass index and lifestyle in Chinese Han postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]