Han Chinese Research Articles

Long-read sequencing reveals novel genetic polymorphisms in the major histocompatibility complex region and their impacts on the Han Chinese population.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region are crucial for immunity and are associated with numerous diseases and phenotypes. The MHC region's complexity and high genetic diversity make it challenging to analyze using short-read sequencing (SRS) technology. We sequence the MHC region of 100 Han Chinese individuals using both long-read sequencing (LRS) and SRS platforms at approximately 30X coverage to study genetic alterations and their potential functional impacts. LRS provides significantly greater coverage of the MHC region and eight classical HLA genes, particularly at the HLA-DRB1 locus, compared with SRS. We detect 78,249 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using LRS, with 26.0% undetectable by SRS. Based on SNP and inferred HLA allele types, we construct an LRS-based MHC reference panel for the Han Chinese, containing approximately 2.6 times more genetic variants than the SRS-based Han-MHC reference panel. A phenome-wide association study assessing 26,024 phenotypes across 15 categories identifies significant associations for 7,879 independent variants (including 809 LRS-specific SNPs) with 409 phenotypes in nine categories. This analysis reveals 24 unreported HLA allele associations in the bioelectric and cellular categories. The conditional analysis identifies 530 independent signals across the 409 phenotypes, including 28 previously unreported signals of eight classical HLA genes associated with 33 phenotypes. Of the top-associated SNPs, 191 are detected by LRS only. Fine-mapping identifies 126 independent candidate causal SNPs for three immune-related cellular phenotypes, with 17 detected exclusively by LRS. Our study reveals previously unreported variants and their functional impacts in the MHC region, enhancing our understanding of genetic diversity and its potential biological implications in the Han Chinese population.

Exploring Differences Between Daily Activity Spaces and Access to Urban Resources in Suburban Affordable Housing Based on the Different Income Groups: A Case of Nanjing, China

Most of the affordable housing communities are built in disadvantaged locations (e.g., the suburbs of Chinese cities) and are generally considered to be the main space for middle- and low-income groups to live in. After decades of development, with the relocation of residents, housing sales and the implementation of mixed housing policies in some countries, there is a common phenomenon of mixed living among different groups in many affordable housing communities. Existing studies have explored the differences and social inequities between affordable housing communities and other types of neighborhoods, but little attention has been paid to the differentiation of residents’ daily activities and the unfair access to resources within affordable housing communities. Understanding this difference is crucial to sustainable community development and the delicate management of cities. From a personal-based perspective, this study examines the sociospatial differentiation of different income groups in the community from two aspects: the multidimensional characteristics of the individual activity space and the availability of different types of urban space. The results highlight significant differences in the activity spaces of different income groups across four dimensions: extensity, intensity, diversity, and exclusivity. Low-income suburban residents have fewer opportunities to access inner-city and inner-suburban areas compared to their non-low-income counterparts. They are more constrained to the outer suburbs. Regression models show that income is a key factor influencing how outer-suburb residents use urban spaces. Other factors, such as one’s employment status, family structure, education level, and the built environment, also play an important role in shaping access to different urban resources. This study highlights the impact of income on social isolation within Chinese urban affordable housing communities. It provides nuanced insights that can inform future policy recommendations in a broader urban context.

Low clinical activity score, ‘progressive’ thyroid eye disease: presentations of 1439 patients from a tertiary centre in Hong Kong

BackgroundTo report the presenting clinical, serological and treatment profiles of 1439 patients with thyroid eye disease (TED) from a tertiary centre in Hong Kong.Study populationsConsecutive patients with TED presented to...

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography combined with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for the removal of large gallbladder stones: a pilot study

BackgroundEndoscopic gallbladder-preserving cholecystolithotomy (EGPC) has become an alternative option for treating cholecystolithiasis. However, developing a new method of EGPC in which the gallbladder wall is not damaged remains a challenge. This study introduced a new EGPC method called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) combined with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), which preserves the integrity of the gallbladder wall in the treatment of cholecystolithiasis complicated with choledocholithiasis.MethodsIn total, six patients (aged 23–72 years, 3 males and 3 females, Han ethnicity) who had large gallbladder stones (diameter ≥ 1 cm) complicated with common bile duct (CBD) stones and who underwent ERCP combined with ESWL at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from July 2022 to December 2022 were enrolled. The patients’ clinical characteristics, endoscopic treatment and follow-up data were analyzed. A paired t test was performed to compare the differences in the main serological indicators before and after EGPC.ResultsOf the six patients, five completed EGPC, and one failed due to intolerable abdominal pain during ESWL and was subsequently transferred to surgery. With respect to post-EGPC adverse events, one patient developed mild post-ERCP pancreatitis, and no other adverse events occurred. Both the technical success rate and clinical success rate of ERCP combined with ESWL were 83.3% and the incidence of adverse events was 16.7%. The six patients were followed up for an average of 24 months, during which only one patient experienced a recurrence of gallbladder stones at the 3-month follow-up, but no gallbladder stones were found at the 6-month follow-up after oral administration of ursodeoxycholic acid.ConclusionsERCP combined with ESWL is a potentially safe and effective treatment for large gallbladder stones.Trial registrationThis study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry site. [Registration number: ChiCTR2200060927 (http://www.chictr.org.cn/); registration date: June 14, 2022].

Population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of HFB30132A, a monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2, in healthy Chinese and US subjects.

Development of neutralizing monoclonal antibody (nAb) is a strategy for treatment of infections caused by SARS-CoV-2. This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of HFB30132A, a fully human nAb targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain, in healthy subjects. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase I trial was performed in healthy Chinese and US subjects, respectively. The subjects (n=44) received a single ascending dose (400, 1000, 2000 mg) or placebo. Safety and PK data were analysed. PD was evaluated by pseudovirus neutralization test in vitro using serum samples of Chinese subjects. Population PK/PD model was developed using non-linear mixed effects modeling. Effect of covariates was evaluated via covariate screening, Monte Carlo simulation, and randomisation test. The PK profile was consistent with three-compartment model. The clearance (CL) and V1 were 0.38 mL/h and 2.9 L, respectively. Ethnicity and body weight (BW) were factors affecting PK. Compared to the subjects who are not Hispanic or Latino, AUC0-∞ increased by 64% in the healthy subjects of Han nationality. The PD was consistent with effect-compartment model when ND50 titre (reciprocal of 50% neutralization dilution) was used as PD index. Emax reduced along with time, consistent with exponential model. The EC50 was 4590 mg/L. Half-life for reduction of Emax was 133 days. Albumin, lymphocytes, neutrophils or monocytes were covariates on PD. There was ethnic difference in PK, and tolerance in PD of HFB30132A. Population PK/PD model characterized dose-exposure-response relationship of HFB30132A in healthy subjects. These findings are useful for drug development in the future. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov NCT04590430, NCT05275660.

Determining the diagnostic cut-off on the Chinese version of severity of dependence scale for cannabis.

Cannabis use and misuse are surging among the Chinese community in East and Southeast Asia. A quick screening instrument that can effectively identify users with dependence for early intervention is in utmost need. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Severity of Dependence Scale for cannabis (C-SDS-C) in screening for the DSM-5 defined Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD). A retrospective chart review was conducted on Chinese-speaking individuals reporting cannabis use from three different substance use studies. Their demographic data, frequency of cannabis use within the past 30 days, scorings for the C-SDS-C and the severity of CUD at baseline were analyzed. The C-SDS-C exhibited high reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.778). It had a strong correlation with the severity of CUD (r = 0.456, p <.001) and a moderate correlation with the frequency of cannabis use within the past 30 days (r = 0.335, p = .001). All items loaded into a single factor which accounted for 56.64% of the variance. Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that a C-SDS-C cut-off score of ≥ 3 provided optimal discrimination for moderate to severe CUD among Chinese-speaking individuals using cannabis. The C-SDS-C is a valid and reliable screening instrument to identify cannabis users with moderate-to-severe CUD in the Chinese-speaking population.

The Association Between Internet Addiction and the Risk of Suicide Attempts in Chinese Adolescents Aged 11-17 Years: Prospective Cohort Study.

Suicide is a critical public health issue in adolescents worldwide. Internet addiction may play a role in the increased rate of suicide attempts in this population. However, few studies have explored the relationship between pathological internet use and suicide attempts among adolescents. This study aimed to conduct a prospective cohort study to examine whether higher severity of pathological internet use was associated with an increased risk of suicide attempts among Chinese adolescents. A total of 782 adolescents were recruited from a middle school from November 2020 to December 2020 and followed up for 6 months. An online self-reported questionnaire was used to collect the participants' demographic data and assess their mental health. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items (DASS-21) was used to evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress. The Chen Internet Addiction Scale-Revised (CIAS-R) was used to assess the symptoms and severity of pathological internet use. χ2 test and ANOVA were used for intergroup comparison, and logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between the severity of pathological internet use and suicide attempts. We also used a restricted cubic splines model to investigate the pattern of the association. The participants had an average age of 12.59 (SD 0.64) years, with the majority being of Han ethnicity (743/782, 95.01%) and more than half being male (426/782, 54.48%). Most participants had no previous history of depression (541/782, 69.18%), anxiety (415/782, 53.07%), or stress (618/782, 79.03%). The rate of newly reported suicide attempts was 4.6% (36/782). A significant positive association was observed between internet addiction and suicide attempts (odds ratio 3.88, 95% CI 1.70-8.82), which remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, anxiety, depression, and stress (odds ratio 2.65, 95% CI 1.07-6.55). In addition, this association exhibited a linear pattern in the restricted cubic spline regression model. This study suggested that internet addiction, rather than internet overuse, was associated with a higher likelihood of suicide attempts, which highlighted the importance of addressing internet addiction symptoms among Chinese adolescents for suicide prevention.

Chinese Overseas Foreign Direct Investment and Income Inequality in the Developing World

Chinese Overseas Foreign Direct Investment and Income Inequality in the Developing World

From Chinatown to Every Town: How Chinese Immigrants Have Expanded the Restaurant Business in the United States

From Chinatown to Every Town: How Chinese Immigrants Have Expanded the Restaurant Business in the United States

Comparison of mortality in people with type 2 diabetes between different ethnic groups: Systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is more common in certain ethnic groups. This systematic review compares mortality risk between people with T2D from different ethnic groups and includes recent larger studies. We searched nine databases using PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO CRD42022372542). We included community-based prospective studies among adults with T2D from at least two different ethnicities. Two independent reviewers undertook screening, data extraction and quality assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The primary outcome compared all-cause mortality rates between ethnic groups (hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals). From 30,825 searched records, we included 13 studies (7 meta-analysed), incorporating 573,173 T2D participants; 12 were good quality. Mortality risk was lower amongst people with T2D from South Asian [HR 0.68 (0.65-0.72)], Black [HR 0.82 (0.77-0.87)] and Chinese [HR 0.57 (0.46-0.70)] ethnicity compared to people of White ethnicity. Narrative synthesis corroborated these findings but demonstrated that people of indigenous Māori ethnicity had greater mortality risk compared to European ethnicity. People with T2D of South Asian, Black and Chinese ethnicity have lower all-cause mortality risk than White ethnicity, with Māori ethnicity having higher mortality risk. Factors explaining mortality differences require further study, including understanding complication risk by ethnicity, to improve diabetes outcomes.

Utilizing diffusive gradients in thin films technique for enhanced surveillance of drug abuse in two Chinese urban communities

Utilizing diffusive gradients in thin films technique for enhanced surveillance of drug abuse in two Chinese urban communities

Do we really need to drill through the intact ocean crust?

We must persevere to drill through the intact ocean crust to fully address fundamental questions towards completion of the plate tectonics theory. The primary questions include: what is the ocean crust made up of, how thick is it and what is the petrological nature of the crust-mantle boundary (i.e., Mohorovičić discontinuity or Moho)? These questions may sound naive because they are widely believed to be well-understood facts, but they are not. Correctly, our current knowledge remains incomplete, and some popular misperceptions come from interpretations based on convenient assumptions. One assumption is that the ocean crust inferred from seismic data is of magmatic origin. Testing this assumption is a principal motivation of Project Mohole (1957–1966), attempting to drill intact ocean crust across the Moho into the mantle. Project Mohole failed because of its high cost, engineering challenges and insufficient tries, but the technologies developed made subsequent ocean drilling successful. However, answers to the original questions remain unsatisfactory. For example, seismic crust interpreted to be of magmatic origin is shown to have globally uniform thickness of 6.0 ± 1.0 km, but crust with such thickness at many slow-spreading ridge segments is dominated by serpentinized mantle peridotites exposed on seafloors. Therefore, the popular view on ocean ridge magmatism must be re-examined, which needs intact ocean crust drilling into the mantle. Drilling at geologically simple sites in the fast-spreading Pacific seafloor is most promising.The US-led D/V JOIDES Resolution that has well served the scientific ocean drilling since 1985 is to retire by the end of 2024, but timely the Chinese geoscience community wishes to continue this international endeavor using the purpose-built D/V Meng Xiang to be in service in 2025. The international community is to gather in November 24–27, 2024, Guangzhou, China, to discuss strategies on where and how to successfully drill intact ocean crust across the Moho in coming years

Socially Sustainable Entrepreneurship of Chinese Community in Southern Vietnam

Socially Sustainable Entrepreneurship of Chinese Community in Southern Vietnam

Practical Exploration of Anti-Japanese Ethnic Music Empowering Colleges and Universities to Cultivate a Strong Consciousness of the Chinese National Community

Anti-Japanese folk music, as an important art form for the Chinese people to fight against foreign invasion and inherit national culture, contains rich historical value and spiritual connotation. Integrating anti-Japanese folk music into the education of Chinese national community consciousness in higher education can strengthen students' sense of national identity, enhance cultural self-confidence, and promote the intermingling and inheritance of multi-ethnic cultures. Through exploring the historical background, artistic qualities and application of anti-Japanese folk music in college education, this paper proposes a path of implementation based on curriculum design, practical activities and campus culture construction to provide innovative practical experience for forging a strong sense of Chinese national community.

DETERMINANTS OF SLEEP HEALTH IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AMONG OLDER CHINESE IMMIGRANTS IN THE U.S

Abstract Good sleep is crucial for healthy aging. While recent studies have examined psychosocial factors related to sleep health, their impact on older Asian immigrants is not well understood. Notably, few studies have examined how psychosocial factors and immigration factors may intensify the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on sleep among this population. This study investigated how these factors, assessed prior to the pandemic, affected sleep health during COVID-19 among older Chinese immigrants. Data were drawn from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly (PINE), focusing on participants who completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Women’s Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale in wave 6 (2021-2023) and at least one prior wave between wave 4 (2017-2019) and wave 5 (2019-2021). A mixed-effects linear spline model analyzed predictors across five domains: individual characteristics (age, sex, marital status, education, income, health literacy, chronic conditions), psychological distress (depressive symptoms, anxiety, perceived loneliness), immigration factors (years living in the U.S., acculturation), interpersonal factors (social support, social strain, filial piety receipt and expectations), and perceived neighborhood environment (disorder and cohesion), all adjusted in the context of COVID-19. Results were stratified by residential environment (living in Chinatown versus living outside of Chinatown). The findings revealed that the pandemic worsened sleep health, with depressive symptoms being significantly related to a faster decline in sleep quality and faster increase in insomnia, regardless of residential environment. These findings suggest that the pandemic intensified the influence of psychosocial and immigration factors on sleep health among older Chinese immigrants, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

ENGAGING CHINESE AND KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES IN DEMENTIA RESEARCH: A JOURNEY OF INCLUSIVITY AND PARTNERSHIP

Abstract The NYUCI-ES Project, designed to deliver a family-based psychosocial intervention to enhance social support and reduce cardiometabolic disease risk for Chinese and Korean American dementia caregivers, has developed and undertaken a culturally sensitive recruitment strategy. Our navigation through the journey has shed light on the challenges and successes faced when recruiting in these minority and underrepresented communities. Common challenges include reluctance of involving other family members, stigma towards dementia and the concept of family counseling. Encountered challenges prompted us towards multiple efforts to engage the communities, including leveraging online communities, building strategic partnerships with local community organizations, participate in local events and make presentations at local service agencies, and working with community partners to adapt recruitment messages and methods to better align with cultural norms and preferences. For example, we replaced the term “counseling” with “family meetings” and used “memory issues” rather than “dementia” and emphasized the practical benefits and the opportunity for children to practice filial piety. For the Chinese community, our strategies focused on initiating the conversations with practical skills rather than directly discussing emotions. For the Korean community, framing the intervention in terms of discussing caregiving strategies while highlighting the personal and social benefits of participating in the study has helped lower the rejection rate. Our journey highlights the importance of culturally sensitive recruitment strategies in dementia research and demonstrates the potential for greater engagement and participation when communities are approached with respect, sensitivity, and an understanding of their unique cultural dynamics.

Association Between Serum Folate Concentrations and 10-Year Stroke Risk in a Prospective Community Cohort: Mediation and Interaction Analyses.

The relationship between folate concentrations and stroke risk remains unestablished, and the mediation effect of homocysteine (Hcy) and interaction effect of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism has yet to be investigated. This cohort study involved 4903 subjects derived from a Chinese community population. The association between folate and first stroke was examined in Cox proportional hazard regression models. The mediation analyses involving Hcy and the undiscovered modification of the MTHFR C677T genotype were assessed. The mean (SD) age of subjects was 56.7 (8.8) years old, and 37.0% were male. A total of 407 strokes, 375 ischemic strokes and 47 hemorrhagic strokes occurred during the mean (SD) follow-up of 9.3 (1.8) years. The participants in the highest folate quartile (≥8.2 ng/mL) exhibited a lower stroke risk compared to those in the lowest quartile (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50-0.93, p = 0.017; p for trend = 0.009). Hcy significantly mediated 14.51% of the relationship between folate and stroke in the fully adjusted model. Only in individuals with the MTHFR 677CC genotype but not CT/TT genotype was folate adversely correlated with stroke (HR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.79-0.97, p for interaction = 0.026) and ischemic stroke (HR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.80-0.98, p for interaction = 0.035). Insufficient folate concentrations were associated with a heightened 10-year stroke risk, in which Hcy concentrations played a crucial mediating role. MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism could potentially modify the folate-stroke relationship.

DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHING ACTIVITY FRAMEWORK BY USING HAN FOLK MUSIC FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Han folk music, traditional to the Han Chinese, includes instruments like guzheng, erhu, pipa, dizi, and sheng. Teaching this music to primary school students provides a rich cultural exploration. This study develops a teaching framework for using Han folk music in primary schools, employing the Design and Development Research (DDR) approach by Richey and Klein, modified by Saedah Siraj, Abdullah, and Rozkee. It involves three phases: needs analysis, design and development, and usability evaluation. The first phase used a questionnaire with 100 primary school music educators, showing strong support for music in teaching. The second phase employed the Nominal Group Technique with 9 experts, resulting in a structured framework for integrating Han folk music effectively. The third phase used the Fuzzy Delphi Method with 45 elementary school music educators, confirming the framework's usability. The results of the first phase show that there were agreement among respondents regarding the positive impacts of incorporating music into teaching practices. The results of the second phase have developed a teaching activity framework by using Han Folk Music for Primary Schools based on the expert’s opinions. While the results of the third phase show a high agreement in the usability of the framework when all usability constructs get a percentage of over 75%. Overall, this research advances educational methods by offering educators a guide to enhance learning through culturally rooted music experiences.

A Critique of the Chinese Radical Net-Philosophy Community

This article delves into the dynamics of the Chinese net-philosophy community, a unique digital and radical subculture where young enthusiasts engage with philosophical ideas outside of traditional academic frameworks. We examine how radical knowledge was produced, validated, and circulated within these net communities, focusing on the aestheticisation of knowledge and its impact on political engagement. This study reveals how alternative intellectual pursuit in a digitalised pile of debris, where form and style prioritise over substance, synchronising ideas and actions leads to the opposite of its progressive politics. Reviewing the aestheticisation and alienation of knowledge, we examine the recurrence of establishing authority and status and the implication of aesthetic hierarchies and performative politics on the net community’s capacity for meaningful political action. Ultimately, we argue that while the aestheticisation of knowledge acknowledged a broader post-millennial youth spiritual crisis, the net-philosophy community was marked by a depoliticisation of intellectual debates and the failure of political engagement in digital spaces.

Exploring the role of leisure behaviour in finding identity for Chinese diasporic people: looking through the lens of music

ABSTRACT Identity has both personal and social facets, shaped by authentically answering ‘who I am’. Individual authenticity involves living according to one’s principles, values, and beliefs, influenced by self-awareness, independence, social connections, and reason. Philosophers such as Descartes and Aristotle have contributed to this concept, focusing on human awareness and eudaimonia, respectively. Existentialists like Sartre emphasise personal choice and self-definition, underscoring the role of authentic actions and decisions in shaping identity. Beyond individual authenticity, identity is also socially constructed. Social identity complements individual authenticity as individuals integrate their social roles with their personal self. Leisure activities, including music, offer opportunities for self-exploration, empowerment, and expression, allowing individuals to connect with their true selves while engaging with society. This paper explores how leisure shapes the identity of the Chinese diaspora through the first author’s music performance experiences in New Zealand. It explains how leisure activities facilitate cultural communication and identity expression through Chinese traditional music. Using an autoethnographic approach, it highlights how music helps Chinese diasporic individuals express their identity and navigate the complexities of dual or multiple identities within communities. These identities go beyond Chinese and diaspora communities, prompting individuals to balance their true self with multiple identities.