BackgroundChinese Uygur, Kazakh, Mongolian and Han populations represent >90% of the total population of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and their genetic backgrounds, customs, culture, and food consumption are different. The effect of ethnic differences on cardiovascular disease risk factors (CRFs; hypertension, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking) can be striking but is rarely studied. We report here the findings of the relationship among these ethnic groups and their CRFs across the four largest ethnic groups of Xinjiang.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of representative samples was conducted 2002–2008 in Chinese Uygur, Kazakh, Mongolian and Han populations (age >30 years; 4,421 Kazakh, 3884 Han, 3,218 Uygur, and 892 Mongolian individuals) in Xinjiang.ResultsA total of 90.4% of Kazakh, 91.9% of Uygur, 90.4% of Mongolian, 85.1% of Han individuals had at least one CRF. Clustering of ≥2 or ≥3 of these risk factors was noted in 65.2% or 32.1% of Kazakh, 64.8% or 33.0% of Uygur, 66.9% or 36.5% of Mongolian as well as 62.0% or 28.3% of Han subjects, respectively. Compared with the Han population, the adjusted odds ratios of ≥1, ≥2, and ≥3 CRFs for Kazakh, Uygur and Mongolian populations were higher (all P<0.001). The age-standardized prevalence of the clustering of ≥1, ≥2, and ≥3 CRFs in Kazakh, Uygur, Mongolian, and Han populations was lower than their counterparts in the NHANES Ш study (USA) but higher than in the InterASIA Study (China).ConclusionsEthnic groups living in Xinjiang had striking differences in CRFs. Ethnic-specific strategies should be developed to prevent cardiovascular disease in different ethnic groups.

BackgroundThe prevalence of population-wide hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia has not been well studied in the pasture area of Xinjiang. The present epidemiological study was performed to determine the prevalence of hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia in minority populations from the pasture area of Xinjiang and to discuss the potential risk factors for hypertension.MethodsA population-based, cross-sectional study in the Xinjiang pasture area was performed which included 2251 participants aged over 30 years (90.33% participation rate) of whom 71.26% were Kazaks. Several risk factors were considered: hypertension (defined as systolic or diastolic blood pressure or both of at least 140/90 mmHg measured on one occasion or treatment for hypertension) overweight/obesity (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) alcohol intake, smoking/tobacco use and dyslipidemia. Outcomes were prevalence of hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia and the associated risk factors of hypertension detected by multivariate logistic regression analysis taking into account various metabolic and lifestyle characteristics.ResultsThe prevalence of hypertension, overweight/obesity and dyslipidemia in all participants from the pasture area of Xinjiang was 51.9%, 47.9% and 49.2% respectively. Independently, the prevalence and awareness of hypertension was 52.6% and 15.3% among Kazaks (n = 1604), 54.6% and 14.1% among Uygurs (n = 418), 39.5% and 16.1% among Mongolians (n = 81) and 43.9% and 18.2% among non-Xinjiang-born Han immigrants (n = 148). The prevalence of overweight/obesity in Kazaks, Uygurs, Mongolians and Han immigrants was 46.7%, 48.9%, 62.5% and 50.3%, respectively. The prevalence of dyslipidemia in the four ethnic groups mentioned was 53.5%, 34.8%, 49.3% and 47.3%, respectively. The mean blood pressure in all participants was 136/86 mmHg (pre-hypertensive), the mean BMI was 24.7 kg/m2. Based on multiple logistic regression analysis, the significant risk factors for hypertension were age [1.07(1.06-1.09), P < 0.0001], overweight/obesity [overweight: 1.61(1.22-2.13), p = 0.0007; obesity: 1.95 (1.33-2.87), p = 0.0007], hypercholesterolemia [1.30(1.15-1.47), p < 0.0001] and an alcohol intake of over 30 g/day [2.22(1.43-3.45), p = 0.0004].ConclusionsThe considerably high prevalence of hypertension, overweight/obesity and dyslipidemia among the minority population aged over 30 from the pasture area of Xinjiang calls for effective preventive measures. Age, increased body mass index, hypercholesterolemia and ≥30 g/d alcohol intake can be counted as risk factors for hypertension, but further genetic or environmental clarification would be desirable to explain the unusually high prevalence of the conditions mentioned above.

The aim of this study is to discuss the hypothesis that expression of plasma atherosclerosis-associated microRNAs (miRNAs) in hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhcy) patients could predict the presence of atherosclerosis from different channels. Six plasma miRNAs (miR-145, miR-155, miR-222, miR-133, miR-217, and miR-30) selected for our study have been confirmed as critical gene regulators involved in atherosclerosis and can be steadily determined in plasma. Expression of the above six plasma circulating miRNAs revealed significant upregulation of two miRNAs (miR-133 and miR-217) and downregulation of three miRNAs (miR-145, miR-155, and miR-222). Six candidate miRNAs showed a significant correlation with homocysteine (Hcy) or lipid parameters. The results of this study indicated that miR-217 was further significantly upregulated in Hhcy + ATH groups than in normal control, Hhcy-, and atherosclerosis-alone (ATH) groups and it showed a significant negative correlation with Hcy and triglycerides. More specifically, miR-217 showed the most specific expression patterns in all patients with atherosclerosis (ATH and Hhcy + ATH groups), which may have been a diagnostic value for Hhcy complicated with atherosclerosis, and predicted the progress of atherosclerosis in Hhcy patients effectively.

Metabolites in atrial fibrillation (AF) were characterized to further explore the molecular mechanisms of AF by integrating metabolic, phenomic and genomic data. Gene expression data on AF (E-GEOD-79768) were downloaded from the EMBL-EBI database, followed by identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) which were used to construct gene-gene network. Then, multi-omics composite networks were constructed. Subsequently, random walk with restart was expanded to a multi-omics composite network to identify and prioritize the metabolites according to the AF-related seed genes deposited in the OMIM database, the whole metabolome as candidates and the phenotype of AF. Using the interaction score among metabolites, we extracted the top 50 metabolites, and identified the top 100 co-expressed genes interacted with the top 50 metabolites. Based on the FDR <0.05, 622 DEGs were extracted. In order to demonstrate the intrinsic mode of this method, we sorted the metabolites of the composite network in descending order based on the interaction scores. The top 5 metabolites were respectively weighed potassium, sodium ion, chitin, benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-oxide, and celebrex (TN). Potassium and sodium ion possessed higher degrees in the subnetwork of the entire composite network and the co-expressed network. Metabolites such as potassium and sodium ion may provide valuable clues for early diagnostic and therapeutic targets for AF.

ABSTRACT. Recent data have indicated that inflammation may have an important correlation with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Studies have indicated a relationship between OSA and TNF-α gene polymorphisms. Zinc finger protein 36 (ZFP36) regulates TNF-α mRNAs. However, ZFP36 gene polymorphisms have not been investigated in OSA. Therefore, we conducted the present case-control study to assess whether variances in ZFP36 gene polymorphisms account for differences in TNF-α levels in patients with moderate-tosevere OSA. This case-control study aims to investigate the relationship between genetic variations in the ZFP36 gene and moderate-to-severe OSA. Three common single nucleotide polymorphisms of the ZFP36 gene (rs251864, rs3746083, and rs17879933) were evaluated in a group of patients with moderate-to-severe OSA (N = 408) and in a control Y. Zhang et al. 6734©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 14 (2): 6733-6743 (2015) group (N = 394) by using TaqMan polymerase chain reaction analysis. The moderate-to-severe OSA group and the control group exhibited significant differences in the distributions of rs251864 and rs17879933 genotypes and alleles (P < 0.05). TNF-α levels were significantly different not only among the three rs251864 genotypes but also between the II genotype and the DD + ID genotypes of rs17879933. However, no significant differences in sleep apnea parameters in the three ZFP36 gene polymorphisms were observed. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that TNF-α and the three ZFP36 gene polymorphisms were not independently associated with OSA. ZFP36 might be involved in TNF-α regulation. However, ZFP36 gene variants were not independent risk factors for moderate-to-severe OSA.