Cross-sectional study of sociodemographic patterning of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in three isolated-based subgroups of the Uyghur population in Xinjiang, China.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the sociodemographic patterning of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in three isolated-based subgroups of the Uyghur population in Xinjiang, China. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. Between 2005 and 2008, a non-probability sampling design method was used to select three specific groups of the Uyghur rural populations based on their potential socioeconomic status (ie, isolated, semi-isolated and open-environment status). SETTING: Three communities (named Desert, Turpan and Yuli Rob) in Southern Xinjiang autonomous region, China. PARTICIPANTS: 1656 people were included in this study. The inclusion criteria were that all participants were 18 years or older, they were descendants of at least three generations living in the same region, and there was no history of intermarriage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The prevalence of CVD risk factors (ie, tobacco use, alcohol use, obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, etc) was assessed. RESULTS: Compared with the Desert and Turpan communities, Yuli Rob had the highest levels of obesity, dyslipidemia and hypertension, and the Desert had the lowest levels of CVD risk factors. Age standardisation slightly altered the estimates, though the patterns remained unchanged. Some unique characteristics were also found. For example, the Desert group displayed significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) level compared with Yuli Rob and Turpan groups. The mean values were 0.63, 1.06 and 1.45 mmol/l for men and 0.64, 1.22 and 1.51 mmol/l for women (p<0.0001). The HDLC levels in the Desert group increased with increase in body mass index and fasting glucose levels, which was inconsistent with previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying the unique CVD risk factors of the ethnic-specific populations is very important in development of tailored strategies for the prevention of CVD.

[Investigation on physiological characteristics in "offspring of Lop Nor people"].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the physiological characteristics in "offspring of Lop Nor people", a special population from the Lop Nor dried up in Xinjiang. METHODS: A total of 594 subjects were selected by convenience sampling method from Yuli County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. All data were obtained from each person by the questionnaire and standard physical examinations. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension for "offspring of Lop Nor people" was 47.1% for males and 45.4% for females, respectively. The prevalence of high body mass index (BMI≥28 kg/m(2)) was higher in females than that in males, with 41.2% vs. 32.7%. The prevalence of abnormal TG in males was higher than that in females, 36.6% vs. 25.5% (P=0.003 7). And prevalence of abnormal HDL in males was higher than that in females, 9.7% vs. 3.9% (P=0.003 8). The results of multivariate analysis revealed that BMI and TG were the risk factors for hypertension in "offspring of Lop Nor people" . CONCLUSION: The preliminary results show that the main physiological characteristics are high blood lipid, high prevalence of hypertension and obesity in "offspring of Lop Nor people". High blood lipid and obesity might be the main risk factors for hypertension in this population.

Can bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) administration prevent steroid-induced femoral head osteonecrosis in the early stage?

Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is associated with increase of intraosseous pressure caused by elevating of adipogenesis and fat cell hypertrophy in the bone marrow, which subsequently decreases the blood flow in the femoral head and finally resulting in bone ischemia. The early femoral head-preserving method has mainly focused on the conventional core decompression procedure. However, it only achieves a slight decrease in intra-medullary pressure with limited clinical outcome. The crucial point in prevention is to achieve a thorough decompression of intra-medullary pressure and improvement of microcirculation of the femoral head. Bisphenol-A-diglycidyl ether (BADGE), an antagonism of PPAR-γ(Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma), has been shown to successfully reverse bone marrow adipogenesis and fat cell hypertrophy, enhances proliferation of osteoblasts, inhibit osteoclastogenesis. Therefore, we hypothesized that BADGE administration may be an appropriate novel method for the prevention of early stage steroid-induced ONFH.

The relationship between left ventricular hypervoltage and CYP11B2 (344T/C) polymorphism in Keriyans.

INTRODUCTION: The 'desert people' or Keriyans are able to maintain normal body functions whilst living in the hot, arid areas of Taklimakan Desert. However, little is known about the adaptive mechanisms in this extreme environment. We explored the relationship between polymorphism of C-344T in the promoter region of the aldosterone synthase gene (CYP11B2) and resting electrocardiogram (ECG) hypervoltage in this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study recruited 503 Keriyans who were living in the Taklimakan Desert and 237 age/gendermatched controls from the Uighurs living in neighbouring villages. Parameters of physical fitness, ECGs, and biochemistry were compared between the two groups. The C-344T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region of CYP11B2 was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing. RESULTS: The incidence of ECG left ventricular hypervoltage in the Keriyans was significantly higher than that in the controls (p < 0.001). The frequency of allele 344T was higher in this population than that in the controls (OR = 1.48; 95% CI:1.082-2.023). A higher OR for allele 344T was also seen in Keriyans with ECG left ventricular hypervoltage against those without this finding (OR = 1.557; 95% CI:1.032-2.349). CONCLUSION: The polymorphism of C-344T in the promoter region of the CYP11B2 gene was associated with ECG left ventricular hypervoltage in the Keriyan population.

[Physiological characteristics and cardiac electrophysiology manifested in Minnesota coding of the "desert people" in Taklimakan Desert: study of 224 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the physiological characteristics and cardiac electrophysiology of the "desert people" in Taklimakan Desert, an isolated population of Uygurs. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-four out of the 1030 "desert people", 133 males aged 37.8 +/- 17.5 (15-99) and 91 females aged 34.1 +/- 12.1 (27-85), underwent measurement of height, body weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure. Twelve-lead resting electrocardiogram was obtained and Minnesota coding was conducted. 150 Kariya Uygurs, 76 males aged 50.7 +/- 15.6 (27-85) and 75 females aged 46.6 +/- 11.7 (24-69) were used as controls. RESULTS: The abnormal Minnesota coding rate in the "desert people" as a whole was 46.0%, significantly higher than that of the controls (35.1%, P < 0.05). In the "desert people", the abnormal Minnesota coding rate was 54.9% in the males, significantly higher than that in the females (33.0%, P < 0.05). In the control group, the abnormal coding rate was 28.0% in the females and 42.1% in the males. The ECG high left R amplitude rate (code 3-1, 3-3) of the "desert people" as a whole was 32.6%, significantly higher than that of the controls (12.6%, P < 0.001). Within the "desert people" group, the ECG high left R amplitude rate of the females was 19.8%, significantly lower than that of the males (41.2%, P < 0.005). Within the control group, the ECG high left R amplitude rate of the females was 10.7%, not significantly different from that of the males (14.5%, P > 0.5). The hypertension rate of the "desert people" was 7.6%, significantly lower than that of the controls (36.4%, P < 0.005). The hypertension rate of the "desert people" coded as with left high R amplitude was 12.2%, significantly lower than that of the controls coded as with left high R amplitude (41.6%, P < 0.005). The overweight and obesity rate of the "desert people" was 9.6%, significantly lower than that of the controls (23%, P < 0.005). The arrhythmia (8-1 - 8-8) rate of the "desert people" was 8.92%, not significantly different from that of the controls (6.62%, P > 0.05). The incidence of conduction block (7-1 - 7-8) of the "desert people" was 3.12%, not significantly different from that of the controls (2.64%, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The higher incidence of ECG high left R amplitudes and low prevalence of hypertension in the "desert people" suggest that the high left R amplitude in "Desert people" may be related to their thin chest wall, low BMI, and physiological left ventricular hypertrophy. The "desert people" have more physical work, and less stress and pollution. They have low incidence of congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease and hypertension. All these may be associated with a low incidence of arrhythmia.

Study on Physiological Characteristics and the Association with Low Prevalence of Hypertension in "Desert People Population" in Taklimakan Desert / 医学研究杂志

Objective To investigate the physiological characteristics and the association with low prevalence of hypertension in "desert people" ,as an isolated population,in Taklimakan Desert.Methods All data were obtained from each person by questionnaire and standardized physical examinations. Total 469 subjects received examinations,including 359 subjects of "desert people" (M/F=205/154),aged from 15~99 years; 101 subjects of Uyghur from Yutian county (M/F=51/50),aged from 20~85 years,as controls. Some parameters :TC,TG,LDL-C,HDL-C,Apo-A,Apo-B,Lp-a,BUN,UA and CRE were determined. The statistical analysis was performed with SAS9.1.3 Version (Inititute Inc. Cary,NC. USA). Continuos values were expressed as mean?SD.Differences between groups were examined by student's t test,and statistical difference was considered when the P value was less than 0.05.Results 1)The height in "desert people" was significantly taller than that in controls.P value was 0.0317 for male and P60 years,P value was 0.0127 and 0.0443,respectively.(3)The prevalence of hypertension in "desert people" was 7%(24/359),that was significantly lower than that in controls(30.7%,31/101),P

Polymorphism of apolipoprotein E gene and natural longevity in the Xinjiang Uighur people: an association study / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the distribution of polymorphisms of apolipoprotein E(apoE) gene and its relation to natural longevity in the Xinjiang Uighur people.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP), the authors obtained data from centenarians(n=42), 90-year-old people (n=102), 65-70-year-old people (n=70) and controls(n=53).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequencies of apoE genotypes epsilon 3/4, epsilon 3/3 and epsilon 2/3 were 2.4%, 69.0% and 23.8% respectively in the centenarian group, and the frequencies of their epsilon 4, epsilon 3 and epsilon 2 alleles were 1.2%, 82.1% and 16.7%. The frequencies of genotype epsilon 3/4 and epsilon 4, epsilon 3 allele in the centenarian group were significantly lower than those in controls(P< 0.01), whereas the frequencies of genotype epsilon 2/3 and epsilon 2 allele in the centenarian group were significantly higher than those in controls(P< 0.01). Longevity was noted to be positively correlated with epsilon 2 and negatively correlated with epsilon 4.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This relationship reflects a genetic influence on differential survival and may point to pleiotropic age-dependent effects on longevity.</p>

[Polymorphism of angiotensin converting enzyme gene and natural longevity in the Xinjiang Uygur people: an association study].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the distribution of I/D polymorphisms of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene and its relation to natural longevity in the Xinjiang Uygur people. METHODS: Polymerize chain reaction, single strand conformation polymorphism, and direct sequencing technique were used to test the I/D polymorphisms of ACE gene in 42 centenarians, 102 people aged 90-99, 70 people aged 65-70, 53 cases of natural death aged 65-70 were used as controls. RESULTS: The frequencies of ACE genotypes DD, DI, and II were 28.6%, 30.9%, and 40.5% respectively in the centenarian group, the frequency rates of D and I alleles were 0.44 and 0.56. The frequency rate of D/D genotype of the centenarian group was significantly higher than that of the group aged 65-70 (28.6% vs. 12.9%, chi2 = 4.25, P < 0.05), however, not significantly different from that of the group aged 90 (P > 0.05). The frequency rate of D allele of the group of centenarian was significantly higher than that of the group aged 65-70 (44.0% vs. 36.4%, chi2 = 4.47, P < 0.05). The frequency rates of genotype D/D and D alleles were significantly higher in the centenarian group than in the controls (both P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: ACE gene polymorphism is closely correlated with life span of individuals. Longevity is the result of pleiotropic age-dependent influence of multiple factors.