Wenwang Rao

Prevalence and Correlates of Prehypertension and Hypertension among Adults in Northeastern China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Prehypertension is a category between normotension and hypertension that is becoming increasingly common in China. However, limited data are available on the prevalence and correlates of prehypertension in northeastern China. Methods: A cross-sectional study using stratified, clustered multistage, and random sampling methods was performed on 17,584 participants. Results: The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension was 36.0% and 30.8% in northeastern China, respectively. As age increased, the prevalence of prehypertension in males declined (p-trend < 0.001), in parallel to an increase in the prevalence of hypertension (p-trend < 0.001). The prevalence of hypertension for females increased as age increased (p-trend < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, gender, location, drinking, Body Mass Index (BMI), abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia correlated with prehypertension and hypertension (p-trend < 0.05). Conclusions: This study revealed a high prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension in an adult population of northeastern China and some correlates of prehypertension and hypertension.

Cross-Sectional Associations between Body Mass Index and Hyperlipidemia among Adults in Northeastern China

Background: There is evidence that body mass index (BMI) is closely related to hyperlipidemia. This study aimed to estimate the cross-sectional relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and hyperlipidemia. Methods: We recruited 21,435 subjects (aged 18–79 years and residing in Jilin province, China) using the multistage stratified cluster random sampling method. Subjects were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire and physically examined. We analyzed the cross-sectional relationship between BMI and hyperlipidemia. Results: The prevalence of hyperlipidemia was 51.09% (52.04% in male and 50.21% in female). The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 31.89% and 6.23%, respectively. Our study showed that underweight (OR = 0.499, 95% CI: 0.426–0.585), overweight (OR = 2.587, 95% CI: 2.428–2.756), and obesity (OR = 3.614, 95% CI: 3.183–4.104) were significantly associated with hyperlipidemia (p < 0.001) in the age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression. After further adjusting for age, gender, region, district, ethnicity, education, marital status, main occupation, monthly family income per capita, smoking, drinking, exercise, central obesity, waist and hip, underweight (OR = 0.729, 95% CI: 0.616–0.864), overweight (OR = 1.651, 95% CI: 1.520–1.793), and obesity (OR = 1.714, 95% CI: 1.457–2.017) were independently associated with hyperlipidemia (p < 0.001). The restricted cubic spline model illustrated a nonlinear dose-response relationship between levels of BMI and the prevalence of hyperlipidemia (Pnonlinearity < 0.001). Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the continuous variance of BMI was significantly associated with the prevalence of hyperlipidemia.

Association Between Body Mass Index and Diabetes in Northeastern China: Based on Dose-Response Analyses Using Restricted Cubic Spline Functions.

A high body mass index (BMI) is a major risk factor for diabetes, although little is known about the characterization of a dose-response association adjusted for potential confounders. This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2012 to August 2012; a total of 21 435 inhabitants in Jilin Province aged between 18 and 79 years were selected randomly based on multistage, stratified cluster sampling. The estimated prevalence of diabetes was 9.1% overall, 9.4% in males and 8.9% in females. After adjusting for potential confounders, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios for the BMI-diabetes association were 1.337 (95% confidence interval = 1.185-1.508) and 1.696 (95% confidence interval = 1.429-2.042), respectively, for overweight and obesity. Through multivariable restricted cubic spline regression, continuous variation in BMI was found to be related to diabetes in a nonlinear manner (P < .001) after adjustment for confounders in both different gender and different age groups, suggesting that there is an adjusted dose-response association between continuous BMI and diabetes, with substantial population-level effects.

Association between single nucleotide variants of vascular endothelial growth factor A and the risk of thyroid carcinoma and nodular goiter in a Han Chinese population

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether genetic variants in the vascular endothelial growth factor A gene (VEGFA) were risk factors for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) or nodular goiter (NG) in Han Chinese. A total of 2,319 subjects (861 PTC patients, 562 NG patients, and 896 healthy controls) were included. Five tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs: rs3024997, rs3025040, rs833070, rs25648, and rs10434) in VEGFA were genotyped. SNP rs3025040 T allele was associated with a decreased risk of NG (P<0.05). SNP rs3024997 was associated with an increased risk of PTC (P<0.05) and NG (P<0.001) when an over-dominant model (AA+GG vs. AG) was considered. PTC patients carry the less frequent TT genotype (compared to the CC genotype) (P <0.05) of SNP rs3025040. Likewise, NG patients have the less frequent TC genotype compared to the CC (P <0.05). No significant association of SNPs rs833070, rs25648, and rs10434 with PTC or NG was observed. Haplotypes AT (rs3024997 and rs3025040) and GTA (rs10434, rs3025040, and rs3024997) showed a lower risk for NG (P <0.01 and P <0.05, respectively), while haplotypes GTT (rs833070, rs3025040, and rs3024997) and GGGT (rs833070, rs10434, rs3024997, and rs3025040) predicted the risk of progression to NG (both P <0.05). Haplotype AGAC (rs833070, rs10434, rs3024997, and rs3025040) conferred protection for PTC (P <0.05). In summary, this study indicated for the first time that SNPs rs3024997 and rs3025040 in VEGFA were significantly associated with PTC and/or NG. Haplotypes of the VEGFA may influence the risk of PTC and NG.

Association Study between Ghrelin Gene Polymorphism and Metabolic Syndrome in a Han Chinese Population

BACKGROUND Ghrelin, in humans, is a hormone secreted from the stomach with an orexigenic effect, which is good for digestion and absorption, as well as regulating physical growth, metabolism, and energy balance. It is also involved in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study assessed the association between single nucleotide variants of the GHRL gene and the risk of metabolic syndrome in a Han Chinese population. METHODS A case-control study was performed on 3780 Han Chinese comprising 1813 MetS cases and 1967 controls. Three missense polymorphisms in GHRL (rs26802, rs10490816, and rs696217) were selected, and the association between these polymorphisms and the risk of MetS was investigated. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). RESULTS Using Pearsons 2 test, we found that there were no significant differences in genotype distributions and allele frequencies between cases and controls (all p > 0.05). There were also no significant differences in haplotype distributions between MetS cases and healthy controls. Furthermore, we confirmed that rs26802 of the GHRL gene is associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and fasting glucose; rs10490816 is associated with triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC); while rs696217 is associated with hip circumference and fasting glucose. CONCLUSIONS We concluded that mutations in the GHRL gene did not confer risk for MetS in our study population. Therefore, functional analysis and replication studies in other populations are needed to further investigate the exact role of the GHRL gene in MetS.

Association between PLA2G12A Polymorphisms and Schizophrenia in a Han Chinese Population from Northeast China.

Objective The purpose of this study was to explore the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the phospholipase A2 (PLA2), group XIIA gene (PLA2G12A) and schizophrenia. Methods This study included 1,063 schizophrenia patients and 1,103 healthy controls from a Han Chinese Population in Northeast China. Four tagSNPs (rs11728699 in intron 1, synonymous rs2285714 in exon 3, rs3087494 in the 3’ UTR, and rs7694620 in the downstream region) in PLA2G12A were selected, and they were genotyped by the MALDI-TOF-MS technology. The Chi-square (χ2) test and haplotype analysis were performed to analyze the association of PLA2G12A SNPs and schizophrenia using the software packages SPSS 16.0 and Haploview 4.2. Results Among the four tagSNPs, only SNP rs3087494 in the 3’ UTR of PLA2G12A showed significant differences in both allele frequencies (χ2 = 20.136, P<0.001) compared to healthy controls. The minor allele G of SNP rs3087494 is potentially a predictive factor for schizophrenia (OR = 0.753, 95% CI: 0.665–0.882). The frequency distribution of haplotypes consisting of specific alleles of two SNPs (rs7694620-rs3087494 or rs3087494-rs2285714), three SNPs (rs7694620-rs3087494-rs2285714 or rs3087494-rs2285714-rs11728699), or all four SNPs (rs7694620-rs3087494-rs2285714-rs11728699) was significantly different between schizophrenia patients and control subjects (P<0.001). Conclusions Our study demonstrated that PLA2G12A SNPs or haplotypes might influence the susceptibility to schizophrenia in the Han Chinese population from Northeast China.

Association Between Polymorphisms of the Complement 3 Gene and Schizophrenia in a Han Chinese Population

Background/Aims: Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder, and complement 3 (C3) is closely related to schizophrenia. We investigated the association between C3 polymorphisms and schizophrenia in a Northeast Han Chinese population. Methods: A total of 2240 Chinese people, consisting of 1086 patients with schizophrenia and 1154 healthy controls, were recruited for this study. Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs11569562, rs344555, rs2241393, rs2241392, rs11569514, rs445750, rs451760, rs11672613, rs2230205, and rs2250656) in C3 were selected and genotyped. Results: Genotype distribution analysis indicated that rs11569514 was significantly associated with schizophrenia. In the dominant model (AA vs. GG+GA genotypes), we found a significant protective effect for rs344555 against schizophrenia (odds ratio [OR]: 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.53–0.99, P = 0.04). In the codominant model (TT vs. AA), we found a significant risk effect for rs11569514 on schizophrenia (OR: 4.39, 95% CI: 2.06–9.37, P < 0.001). Haplotypes, including TG (rs11569562 and rs344555), TGG (rs11569562-rs344555-rs2241393), AG (rs344555-rs2241393), CGGGT (rs11569562-rs344555-rs2241393-rs2241392-rs11569514), and ACGTG (rs11569514-rs445750-rs451760-rs11672613-rs2230205), showed either a risk or protective role for schizophrenia. Conclusions: SNP rs11569514 in C3 and haplotypes of C3 variants were associated with schizophrenia in a Han Chinese population.

A Case-Control Study of the Association between Polymorphisms in the Fibrinogen Alpha Chain Gene and Schizophrenia

Our previous studies using the mass spectrum analysis provided evidence that fibrinopeptide A (FPA) could be a potential biomarker for schizophrenia diagnosis. We sought further to demonstrate that variants in the fibrinogen alpha chain gene (FGA) coded FPA might confer vulnerability to schizophrenia. 1,145 patients with schizophrenia and 1,016 healthy volunteers from the Han population in Northeast China were recruited. The association of three tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs2070011 in the 5′UTR, rs2070016 in intron 4, and rs2070022 in the 3′UTR) in FGA and schizophrenia was examined using a case-control study design. Genotypic distributions of these three SNPs were not found to be significantly different between cases and controls (rs2070011: χ2 = 1.28, P = 0.528; rs2070016: χ2 = 4.11, P = 0.128; rs2070022: χ2 = 1.23, P = 0.541). There were also no significant differences in SNP allelic frequencies between cases and controls (all P > 0.05). Additionally, the frequency of haplotypes consisting of alleles of these three SNPs was not significantly different between cases and healthy control subjects (global χ2 = 9.27, P = 0.159). Our study did not show a significant association of FGA SNPs with schizophrenia. Future studies may need to test more FGA SNPs in a larger sample to identify those SNPs with a minor or moderate effect on schizophrenia.

Association between the KRAS Gene Polymorphisms and Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in a Chinese Han Population

Several studies have reported the association between MAPK signaling pathway gene polymorphisms and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). KRAS gene, an oncogene from the mammalian RAS gene family plays an important role in the MAPK pathway. This study aimed to identify the potential association of KRAS gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to PTC in a Han Chinese population. A total of 861 patients with PTC, 562 disease controls with nodular goiter and 897 healthy controls were recruited. Four tagSNP polymorphisms (rs12427141, rs712, rs7315339 and rs7960917) of KRAS gene were genotyped by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Statistical analyses and haplotype estimations were conducted using Haploview and Unphased softwares. Only significant differences were observed in genotypic frequencies of the rs7315339 polymorphism (χ2 =7.234, df=2, p=0.027) between PTC and disease controls. Statistically significant differences in both allelic and genotypic genotypes frequencies for rs712 (Genotype, χ2=8.258, p=0.016) and rs12427141 (Allele, χ2=3.992, p=0.046; Genotype, χ2=8.140, p=0.017) were observed between PTC patients and controls. Haplotype analyses revealed higher frequencies of GA and TA haplotypes (p=0.039 and p=0.003, respectively) from rs712- rs12427141 (two-SNP) or TGA and TTG haplotype containing the alleles from rs7960917, rs712 and rs12427141, as well as the GAT haplotype containing the alleles from rs712, rs12427141 and rs7315339 in PTC patients than in healthy controls (p=0.042, p=0.037, p=0.027, respectively). Inversely, the haplotype TTA from rs7960917, rs712 and rs12427141 or the haplotype TAC from rs712, rs12427141 and rs7315339 was significantly less frequent in the PTC patients than in normal control (p=0.003, p=0.003, respectively). These findings suggest the role of these KRAS gene variants in susceptibility to PTC. Moreover, significant differences of the KRAS gene polymorphisms may occur between nodular goiter and PTC.

Association Analysis of MET Gene Polymorphism with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in a Chinese Population.

To investigate the association of MET SNPs with gender disparity in thyroid tumors, as well as the metastasis and prognosis of patients, 858 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), 556 patients with nodular goiter, and 896 population-based normal controls were recruited. The genotyping of MET SNPs was carried out using the Sequenom MassARRAY system. The distribution of MET SNPs (rs1621 and rs6566) was different among groups. Gender stratification analysis revealed a significant association between the rs1621 genotype and PTC in female patients (P = 0.037), but not in male patients (P > 0.05). For female patients, the rs1621 AG genotype was significantly higher in patients with PTC than in normal controls (P = 0.01) and revealed an increasing risk of PTC (OR: 1.465, 95% CI: 1.118–1.92). However, association analysis of the rs1621 genotype with metastasis and prognosis revealed no significant correlation in both male and female patients. The findings of our study showed that polymorphism of SNP locus rs1621 in MET gene may be associated with gender disparity in PTC. Higher AG genotypes in rs1621 were correlated with PTC in female patients, but not in male patients.