Bimodal distribution of fasting plasma glucose in the Uyghur and Han populations of Xinjiang, China.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Bimodality in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) distribution has been detected in several populations. However, information regarding this phenomenon among Chinese ethnic groups is minimal. This study aimed to describe and update the distribution of FPG in the Uyghur and Han populations of Xinjiang, China, as well as to estimate the cut points of FPG on the basis of bimodal distribution. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed among the Uyghur and Han populations of Xinjiang, China in 2013. Questionnaire survey and FPG tests were conducted among 5,923 participants aged 20-80 years. We fitted the unimodal and bimodal distributions into the FPG data by ethnicity, age, gender, and location to test whether the FPG values were consistent with a bimodal distribution. RESULTS: The FPG distribution could be described as bimodal, except for the age group of 50 years old and below among the Uyghur and Han populations and the age group of 70-80 years old among the Uyghur population (p<0.01). However, most of the cut points estimated using this method did not fall between the corresponding means of the first and second modes. CONCLUSIONS: Although a bimodal distribution of FPG was observed in the Uyghur and Han populations of Xinjiang, China, the cut points estimated using this method were not biologically meaningful, and thus, a bimodal distribution of FPG was not useful for defining cut points to diagnose diabetes in Xinjiang.

Prevalence of Diabetes and Associated Factors in the Uyghur and Han Population in Xinjiang, China.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of diabetes and identify risk factors in the Uyghur and Han population in Xinjiang, China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study in urban and rural areas in Xinjiang, including 2863 members of the Uyghur population and 3060 of the Han population aged 20 to 80 years, was conducted from June 2013 to August 2013. Data on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and personal history of diabetes were used to estimate the prevalence of diabetes. Data on demographic characteristics, lifestyle risk factors, and lipid profiles were collected to identify risks factors using the multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: In urban areas, the age- and gender-standardized prevalence of diabetes was 8.21%, and the age- and gender-standardized prevalence of diabetes was higher in the Uyghur population (10.47%) than in the Han population (7.36%). In rural areas, the age- and gender-standardized prevalence of diabetes was 6.08%, and it did not differ significantly between the Uyghur population (5.71%) and the Han population (6.59%). The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that older age, obesity, high triglycerides (TG), and hypertension were all associated with an increased risk of diabetes in the Uyghur and Han population. Urban residence and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were associated with an increased risk of diabetes in the Uyghur population. Being an ex-drinker was associated with an increased risk of diabetes and heavy physical activity was associated with a decreased risk of diabetes in the Han population. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that diabetes is more prevalent in the Uyghur population compared with the Han population in urban areas. Strategies aimed at the prevention of diabetes require ethnic targeting.

[Study on nonsyndromic hereditary hearing impairment mutations of GJB2 gene in Uyghur patients in Xinjiang].

OBJECTIVE: To study mutations in the GJB2 gene in Uyghur patients with nonsyndromic hearing impairment from Xinjiang. METHOD: Forty-three cases with nonsyndromic hearing impairment and 46 adults with normal hearing were performed mutational analysis of the GJB2 coding region by PCR-direct sequencing. RESULT: Six kinds of mutation have been found in the encoding region of hearing impairment group: 380G>A, 109G>A, 235 delC, 233 delC, 7G0>A, 35 delG, of which one 235 delC case is heterozygotes mutation, two 233 delC are homozygotes mutation and two 35 delG are heterozygotes mutation. Six kinds of mutations have been found in the normal hearing group, of which 5 kinds are confirmed common polymorphic mutation. CONCLUSION: The GJB2 gene mutation detection rate in the Uyghur deaf population of Xinjiang Province is lower than other province, which has ethnic and regional characteristics.