Kazakh Populations Research Articles

Prevalence and risk factors for astigmatism in 7 to 19-year-old students in Xinjiang, China: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundTo investigate the prevalence and risk factors for astigmatism in 7-19-year-old students in Xinjiang, China.MethodsA school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted on students who underwent refraction examination in Xinjiang, China, between May and December 2019. The prevalence of astigmatism was determined. Astigmatism was defined as cylinder power (C) ≤-0.75 D, undefined astigmatism as ≤-1.50 D, and high astigmatism as C ≤-3.00 D. Astigmatism types were: against-the-rule astigmatism (maximum refraction of the main meridian in 180° ± 30°), with-the-rule astigmatism (maximum refraction of the main meridian at 90°±30°), and oblique astigmatism (all other cases).ResultsOf the 71,838 students examined (51.0% boys, 7 − 19 years old), 25,945 (36.1%, 95%CI: 35.52−36.68%) had astigmatism and 1267 (1.8%, 95%CI: 1.07−2.53%) had high astigmatism. The prevalence of astigmatism was greater in Han individuals (39.6%) compared with the Hui (34.0%), Kazakh (34.0%), Kyrgyz (32.1%), and Uyghur (26.4%) populations. Among the 25,945 students with astigmatism, 19,947 had with-the-rule astigmatism (76.9%), 3405 had against-the-rule astigmatism (13.1%), and 2593 had oblique astigmatism (10.0%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that ethnicity (Han individuals more susceptible), male gender, age, and refractive errors (myopia and hyperopia) were independently associated with astigmatism, high astigmatism, and with-the-rule astigmatism (all P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe prevalence of astigmatism among children and adolescents in Xinjiang was 36.1%, including 1.8% of high astigmatism. In this population, astigmatism was mainly of the with-the-rule astigmatism type (76.9%). Han ethnicity, male gender, and myopia or hyperopia were independently associated with a high risk of astigmatism.

An Investigation into the Characteristics and Distribution Patterns of Diseases Detected via Gastroscopy in Northern Xinjiang, China.

The aim of this study is to examine the distribution and features of gastroscopy in northern Xinjiang, a province in China. We included a group of 895 patients diagnosed with digestive diseases at Urumqi Friendship Hospital and analyzed their gastroscopic results and baseline data. Among patients aged 12 to 86 years in the specified region, females exhibited a heightened susceptibility to esophageal-gastrointestinal and intestinal disorders compared to males. The mean age for chronic gastritis onset was determined to be 54.79 years. In the context of esophageal-gastric-intestinal disorders, the distribution across various ethnic groups manifested as follows: the Han, Uygur, Hui, and Kazakh populations comprised 53.97%, 23.91%, 7.15%, and 3.46%, respectively. Through principal component-based dimension reduction analysis, we identified chronic non-atrophic gastritis with erosive gastritis, duodenal bulb inflammation, and chronic non-atrophic gastritis (predominantly in the gastric antrum) as pivotal factors contributing to differences in hiatal hernia. Multiple linear regression models were established for different ethnic groups, duodenal bulb inflammation, and hiatal hernia by age. The results revealed a heightened risk of duodenal bulb inflammation (P < 0.01) in Han, Kazakh, Hui, Mongolian, and Uygur women, while the risk of hiatal hernia exhibited a positive correlation with age (P = 0.001). Among patients undergoing gastrointestinal examinations in northern Xinjiang, the most prevalent pathological condition was identified as chronic gastritis. Notably, within this subgroup, the prevalence of duodenal bulb inflammation was found to be greater in women than in men. The ethnic composition within this context encompassed patients from the Han, Kazakh, Hui, and Mongolian ethnic groups. Furthermore, a positive correlation was identified between the incidence of esophageal hiatal hernia and age.

Genetic polymorphism of Y-chromosome in Kazakh populations from Southern Kazakhstan

BackgroundThe Kazakhs are one of the biggest Turkic-speaking ethnic groups, controlling vast swaths of land from the Altai to the Caspian Sea. In terms of area, Kazakhstan is ranked ninth in the world. Northern, Eastern, and Western Kazakhstan have already been studied in relation to genetic polymorphism 27 Y-STR. However, current information on the genetic polymorphism of the Y-chromosome of Southern Kazakhstan is limited only by 17 Y-STR and no geographical study of other regions has been studied at this variation.ResultsThe Kazakhstan Y-chromosome Haplotype Reference Database was expanded with 468 Kazakh males from the Zhambyl and Turkestan regions of South Kazakhstan by having their 27 Y-STR loci and 23 Y-SNP markers analyzed. Discrimination capacity (DC = 91.23%), haplotype match probability (HPM = 0.0029) and haplotype diversity (HD = 0.9992) are defined. Most of this Y-chromosome variability is attributed to haplogroups C2a1a1b1-F1756 (2.1%), C2a1a2-M48 (7.3%), C2a1a3-F1918 (33.3%) and C2b1a1a1a-M407 (6%). Median-joining network analysis was applied to understand the relationship between the haplotypes of the three regions. In three genetic layer can be described the position of the populations of the Southern region of Kazakhstan—the geographic Kazakh populations of Kazakhstan, the Kazakh tribal groups, and the people of bordering Asia.ConclusionThe Kazakhstan Y-chromosome Haplotype Reference Database was formed for 27 Y-STR loci with a total sample of 1796 samples of Kazakhs from 16 regions of Kazakhstan. The variability of the Y-chromosome of the Kazakhs in a geographical context can be divided into four main clusters—south, north, east, west. At the same time, in the genetic space of tribal groups, the population of southern Kazakhs clusters with tribes from the same region, and genetic proximity is determined with the populations of the Hazaras of Afghanistan and the Mongols of China.

Genetic polymorphism of 27 Y-STR loci in Kazakh populations from Eastern Kazakhstan

Background The establishment of a national haplotype database is important for forensic and genetic applications and requires studying genetic polymorphisms at Y-STR sites. However, the genetic structure of the Eastern Kazakhstan population is poorly characterised. Aim To investigate the genetic polymorphisms of 27 Y-STR loci in the Kazakh population from Eastern Kazakhstan and analyse the population genetic relationships of the Eastern Kazakhs with other populations. Subjects and methods The Yfiler Plus kit was utilised to genotype 246 healthy, unrelated males from Eastern Kazakhstan. Based on the raw data, haplotype and allele frequencies along with forensic parameters were calculated, and an MDS plot was constructed. Results A total of 207 haplotypes were detected, of which 186 were unique. The haplotype diversity and discrimination capacity were 0.997 and 0.841, respectively. Population comparisons showed that Eastern Kazakhs have close genetic relationships with Kazakhs from Xinjiang, China. At the same time, a difference was found between the studied population and the previous one in the same part of Kazakhstan. Conclusions The obtained haplotypes will help to expand the Kazakhstan Y-chromosome reference database and will be useful for future genetic research and forensic applications.

Ancient Components and Recent Expansion in the Eurasian Heartland: Insights into the Revised Phylogeny of Y-Chromosomes from Central Asia.

In the past two decades, studies of Y chromosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (Y-SNPs) and short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) have shed light on the demographic history of Central Asia, the heartland of Eurasia. However, complex patterns of migration and admixture have complicated population genetic studies in Central Asia. Here, we sequenced and analyzed the Y-chromosomes of 187 male individuals from Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Karakalpak, Hazara, Karluk, Tajik, Uyghur, Dungan, and Turkmen populations. High diversity and admixture from peripheral areas of Eurasia were observed among the paternal gene pool of these populations. This general pattern can be largely attributed to the activities of ancient people in four periods, including the Neolithic farmers, Indo-Europeans, Turks, and Mongols. Most importantly, we detected the consistent expansion of many minor lineages over the past thousand years, which may correspond directly to the formation of modern populations in these regions. The newly discovered sub-lineages and variants provide a basis for further studies of the contributions of minor lineages to the formation of modern populations in Central Asia.

Seroprevalence of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and risk factors in Jiuquan area, China.

The seroprevalence of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is high in Xinjiang, China. But the seroprevalence of KSHV and risk factors are still unknown in Gansu which is adjacent to Xinjiang.Six hundred and seventy-eightserum samples of the general population and 87 serum samples of syphilis patients from Jiuquan, Gansu were tested for antibodies against KSHV, including one latent protein (ORF73) and two lytic proteins (ORF65 and K8.1) using the ELISA. The total KSHV-seropositive rate was 15.9% in 678 serum samples in the Jiuquan area, and the KSHV-seropositive rate of males was higher than females (18.0% vs. 14.6%, p > 0.05). The Uygur, Kazakh, Hui, Manchu, and Mongolian populations had a higher seroprevalence of KSHV than the Han population (43.8%, 40.0%, 34.5%, 30.3%, 35.0% vs. 11.0%, respectively) among the ethnic groups in Jiuquan. Compared to the Han, Uygur, Kazak, Hui, Manchu, and Mongolian people had an increase in the risk of KSHV of 528.9%, 439.1%, 325.6%, 251.6%, and 335.4% (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.002, p = 0.003, respectively). The serum prevalence of KSHV in subjects aged < 20 years, 20-50 years, and >50 years was 13.8%, 14.7%, and 20.1%, respectively. Compared to the subjects aged < 20 years, 20-50 years and >50 years had an increase in the risk of KSHV of 7.4% and 56.9% (p = 0.829 and p = 0.204, respectively). Compared to the positive rate of KSHV in the general population of Anhui, the positive rate of KSHV was significantly higher in the general population of the Jiuquan area (15.9% vs. 9%, p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the positive rate of KSHV between the Han population of Jiuquan and the Han population of Anhui (p > 0.05). In the population of syphilis patients in the Jiuquan area, the positive rate of KSHV was 30.7%, which was higher than that of the general population in the Gansu area (p < 0.05). This study indicates that Gansu has a high seroprevalence of KSHV. Ethnicity and syphilis are risk factors for KSHV infection.

Witnessing and Bearing Witness. On offering systemic consultations and practices of solidarity at the Uyghur Tribunal.

The experience of offering therapeutic support to the Uyghur Tribunal held in London in June and September 2021 powerfully brought home the critical variations in the meanings of witnessing and bearing witness and what they entail. In this paper, we explore the role of witnessing through offering systemic consultation to those who have experienced human rights violations and those who have witnessed these accounts and discuss our observations about the healing power of acts of resistance/activism. We are four systemic psychotherapists, with a particular interest in narrative practices, and approaches that foreground social justice. With a concern not to become “failed witnesses” which Jessica Benjamin (2014) describes as “a failure of those not involved in the acts of injury to serve the function of acknowledging and actively countering or repairing the suffering and injury that they encounter as observers in the social world”, we attempt here to communicate our experience of witnessing and joining with, through practices of solidarity, those bearing witness at the People's Tribunal held to hear evidence about China's alleged genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghur, Kazakh and other Turkic Muslim populations.

Epidemiological, clinical, and histological presentation of celiac disease in Northwest China.

BACKGROUNDResearch on celiac disease (CD) in northwest China is still in its infancy. At present, large-sample data on the epidemiological, clinical, and pathological characteristics of CD are limited.AIMTo investigate the epidemiological, clinical, and pathological characteristics of CD in northwest China.METHODSThe clinical data of 2884 patients with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms were retrospectively analyzed. Total immunoglobulin A (IgA) and anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) IgA levels were examined in all patients. Gastroscopy and colonoscopy were performed in patients with positive anti-tTG IgA and deficient total IgA levels. Atrophy of the duodenal and ileal villi was examined and histopathological examinations were performed. The modified Marsh–Oberhuber classification system was used to grade villous atrophy in the duodenum or distal ileum. The patients’ Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection status was compared in terms of clinical presentation and Marsh grade. Statistical analyses were performed using the t-test or chi-square test.RESULTSAmong the 2884 patients, 73 were positive for serum anti-tTG IgA, and 50 were diagnosed with CD. The CD detection rate was significantly higher in Kazakhs (4.39%) than in Uyghurs (2.19%), Huis (0.71%), and Hans (0.55%). The main symptoms of CD were chronic diarrhea, anorexia, anemia, fatigue, weight loss, sleep disorders, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. The body mass index of patients with CD was significantly lower than that of patients without CD. A total of 69 patients with positive serum anti-tTG IgA and two patients with deficient total IgA levels underwent GI endoscopy. Endoscopy revealed crypt hyperplasia and/or duodenal villous atrophy, mainly manifested as nodular mucosal atrophy, grooves, and fissures. The difference in H. pylori infection rates was not statistically significant between CD and non-CD patients but was significantly different among CD patients with different Marsh grades.CONCLUSIONAmong the patients with GI symptoms in northwestern China, the prevalence of CD was more in the Uyghur and Kazakh populations. H. pylori infection may be associated with CD severity.

Genetic polymorphism of 27 Y-STR loci in Kazakh populations from Northern Kazakhstan

Background Previous studies of the genetic polymorphism of the Y-chromosome of Kazakhs were focussed on the Eastern, Central, Southern, and Western regions of Kazakhstan. In addition, many of these studies were limited to 17 Y-STR loci from the Yfiler. Aim To enrich the existing Kazakhstan Y-chromosome Haplotype Reference Database from the Northern Kazakh population data by a wide set of 27 Y-STR and investigate the population genetic relationships with previously published data. Subjects and methods Twenty-seven Y-STR loci from the Yfiler Plus PCR Amplification Kit were analysed in 382 healthy unrelated Kazakh males from Northern Kazakhstan. Genetic polymorphism was analysed using Arlequin software. Results A total of 326 distinct haplotypes of the 27 Y-STR loci were observed in 382 individuals. The discrimination capacity (0.9982) and haplotype diversity (0.8534) were computed. A total of 168 alleles at single-copy loci were observed and their frequencies ranged from 0.003–0.843. The pairwise genetic distance (RST) showed that the Northern Kazakh population is genetically distinct from the Chinese Kazakh population. Conclusions Genetic polymorphism shows that the potential value of 27 Y-STR loci for forensic casework in the Northern Kazakh population and the current findings might be beneficial for paternal lineages in the study of population genetics.

Breast Cancer in Patients with Gene Polymorphisms Associated with Metabolic Syndrome

Each tumor is a combination of several dozen to several hundred potentially highly functional somatic mutation variants, along with a much larger number of potentially highly functional germ mutation variants. The combined action of all gene variations leads to the development and clinical diversity of malignancies. Their changes can lead to violations of gene expression and regulation and the appearance of proteins with altered functional properties. Polymorphism at the phenotype level is explained by the simultaneous existence of both a wild-type allele and a series of mutant alleles in the same population. Mutations change the gene product, and as a result, the functions of the gene product are changed. This can lead to changes in the phenotype. Materials and methods: Markers are studied (single-nucleotide polymorphisms) in people with malignant neoplasms breast, associated with a metabolic syndrome, and also in representatives of test groups (malignant neoplasm without metabolic syndrome's), allowing predict association development of disease. The results are received thanks to examining of 250 patients. Results: The association of polymorphism's rs11868035 (p = 0.01481525) based on 5 inheritance models’ polymorphisms with a risk of development breast cancer glands in patients with a metabolic syndrome in Ka-zakh populations was identified.

Distribution of HLA-DQA1, -DQB1 and -DRB1 genes and haplotypes in Han, Uyghur, Kazakh and Hui populations inhabiting Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China.

Genetic polymorphisms of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 among four main ethnic groups including Han (n=70), Uyghur (n=71), Kazakh (n=52) and Hui (n=40) subjects from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region were investigated using a polymerase chain reaction-sequence-based typing (PCR-SBT). In total, 32 HLA-DRB1 alleles, eight HLA-DQA1 alleles and 14 HLA-DQB1 alleles were identified. The most predominant HLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 alleles were DRB1*15:01 (12.50%), DQA1*01:02 (21.43%) and DQB1*03:01 (19.29%) in Han; DRB1*07:01 (18.48%), DQA1*05:01/03/05 (24.65%) and DQB1*02:01/02 (31.69%) in Uyghur; and DRB1*13:01 (13.64%), DQA1*05:01/03/05 (28.85%) and DQB1*02:01/02 (27.88%) in Kazakh, respectively. In Hui, DRB1*07:01, DRB1*11:01 and DRB1*14:01 were the most dominant alleles with the same frequency of 11.8%, while the predominant DQA1 and DQB1 alleles were DQA1*03:01/02/03 (23.75%) and DQB1*02:01/02 (16.25%), respectively. In addition, the most common two-locus haplotypes were DQA1*05:01/03/5-DQB1*03:01 (10.0%) in Han; DQA1*02:01-DQB1*02:01/02 (18.31%) in Uyghur; DQA1*05:01/03/05-DQB1*02:01/02 (15.38%) in Kazakh; and DQA1*03:01/02/03-DQB1*03:03 (11.25%) in Hui. The phylogenetic dendrograms constructed based on the allele frequencies of HLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 in 13 populations (e.g. Asian, Central Asian and European) revealed that the Han and Hui populations were clustered together and closest to Han population from China, while the Kazakh and Uyghur populations were closest to each other and two ethnic groups were clustered together with Central Asian and European populations.

Editorial Expression of Concern regarding: “Analysis of 16 autosomal STR loci in Uyghur and Kazakh populations from Xinjiang”, China, Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series, 6 (2017) e537–e538 by H. Simayijiang, V. Pereira, C. Børsting, N. Morling

Editorial Expression of Concern regarding: “Analysis of 16 autosomal STR loci in Uyghur and Kazakh populations from Xinjiang”, China, Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series, 6 (2017) e537–e538 by H. Simayijiang, V. Pereira, C. Børsting, N. Morling

Editorial expression of concern regarding “Analysis of 16 autosomal STR loci in Uyghur and Kazakh populations from Xinjiang, China” volume 40, May 2019, e262-e263 by H.Simayijiang V.Pereira C. Børsting, N.Morling

Editorial expression of concern regarding “Analysis of 16 autosomal STR loci in Uyghur and Kazakh populations from Xinjiang, China” volume 40, May 2019, e262-e263 by H.Simayijiang V.Pereira C. Børsting, N.Morling

Editorial Expression of Concern regarding “Analysis of Uyghur and Kazakh populations using the Precision ID Ancestry Panel” Volume 43, November 2019, 102144 by H. Simayijiang, C. Børstinga, T. Tvedebrink, N. Morling

Editorial Expression of Concern regarding “Analysis of Uyghur and Kazakh populations using the Precision ID Ancestry Panel” Volume 43, November 2019, 102144 by H. Simayijiang, C. Børstinga, T. Tvedebrink, N. Morling

338 - Risk factors for moderate cognitive impairment and dementia in the Kazakh and Kyrgyz populations (preliminary results)

The current demographic situation in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan is associated with pronounced processes of population aging. Today, about two million elderly people live in Kazakhstan, which makes up more than 10% of the population, which crosses a seven percent threshold for determining the “aging” country in the world.For Kyrgyzstan, an increase in the proportion of the elderly is a new phenomenon. At the beginning of 2016, there were 965,385 people over 50 in Kyrgyzstan, which is 16% of the total population, of whom 60 and over are 7.06%. According to the average version of the forecast, the relative number of people 60 years and older will almost triple by 2050. (M. B. Denisenko, 2011, Report of a statistical study, 2017) The aging of the population is the most significant social problem of the XXI st century and is associated with the development of cognitive impairment and dementia. Moderate cognitive impairment, according to several authors are an intermediate stage between normal aging and dementia (Brodaty H., 2013, Peterson, 2009).The cause of cognitive disorders in old age can be a number of diseases, including neurodegenerative. According to projections, it is expected that neurodegenerative diseases will surpass cancer as the leading cause of death by 2040 (Walter U., 2013). The Global prevalence pattern of dementia depends on several factors, from life expectancy to the health status, last but not least from the particular environment.Purpose of the study. To study the prevalence of cognitive impairment and the main risk factors for their occurrence among people over 60 in the Kazakh and Kyrgyz populations.Materials and methods.The screening was attended by 300 respondents (150 Kazakhs and 150 Kyrgyz) aged 60 to 90 years (average age 65.6). The material was collected using the Questionnaire for the Champ Clinic and the MOCA test (cut-off point &lt;26) based on the city polyclinics of Almaty and Bishkek.Results:moderate cognitive impairment was detected - 39.9%, mild cognitive impairment - 33.4%, normal cognitive function - 26.7% in Kazakhs. In the Kyrgyz population, a moderate cognitive impairment was identified - 48.3%; pronounced cognitive impairment - 15.4%, dementia - 8.2%. Expected risk factors for cognitive impairment: 1) in Kazakhs, arterial hypertension - 86.89%, cardiac ischemia, angina pectoris - 70.21%, pathology of the thyroid gland and pancreas (diabetes, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism) - 29.50%, atherosclerotic vascular diseases - 29.9%, brain injury - 18.22%, education level - 4.24%, depression - 0.6%, respectively. 2) in Kyrgyz: arterial hypertension - 49%, cardiac ischemia, angina pectoris - 13%, pathology of the thyroid gland and pancreas (diabetes, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism) - 21%, low level of education - 11%, Bad habits of smoking and alcohol - 25 %, 20%, respectively.Conclusions:The transformation of the demographic burden can have important implications for the social security system.We have an urgent need to continue screening the population to identify the main risk factors for moderate cognitive impairment in individuals in the Kazakh and Kyrgyz populations.

External validation of three atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk equations in rural areas of Xinjiang, China

BackgroundTo externally validate the Prediction for ASCVD Risk in China (PAR) risk equation for predicting the 5-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in the Uyghur and Kazakh populations from rural areas in northwestern China and compare its performance with those of the pooled cohort equations (PCE) and Framingham risk score (FRS).MethodsThe final analysis included 3347 subjects aged 40–74 years without CVD at baseline. The 5-year ASCVD risk was calculated using the PAR, PCE, and FRS. Discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of the three equations in predicting the 5-year ASCVD risk were assessed before and after recalibration.ResultsOf 3347 included subjects, 1839 were female. We observed 286 ASCVD events in within 5-year follow-up. All three risk equations had moderate discrimination in both men and women. C-indices of PAR, PCE, and FRS were 0.727 (95% CI, 0.725–0.729), 0.727 (95% CI, 0.725–0.729), and 0.740 (95% CI, 0.738–0.742), respectively, in men; the corresponding C-indices were 0.738 (95% CI, 0.737–0.739), 0.731 (95% CI, 0.730–0.732), and 0.761 (95% CI, 0.760–0.762), respectively, in women. PCE, PAR and FRS substantially underestimated the 5-year ASCVD risk in women by 70, 23 and 51%, respectively. However, PAR and FRS fairly predicted the risk in men and PAR was well calibrated. The calibrations of the three risk equations could be changed by recalibration. The decision curve analyses demonstrated that at the threshold risk of 5%, PCE was the most clinically useful in both men and women after recalibration.ConclusionsAll three risk equations underestimated the 5-year ASCVD risk in women, while PAR and FRS fairly predicted that in men. However, the results of predictive performances for three risk equations are inconsistent, more accurate risk equations are required in the primary prevention of ASCVD aiming to this Uyghur and Kazakh populations.

Genetic polymorphism of 24 Y-STR loci in Altay Hui and Kazakh populations from northwest China.

24 Y-STR loci were analyzed in 223 Altay Hui individuals and 209 Altay Kazakh individuals. Haplotype diversity (HD) and discrimination capacity (DC) values were calculated. Population pairwise genetic distances (Rst) were evaluated in AMOVA analysis and compared between two studied populations and other populations. The relationships between populations were visualized through multidimensional scaling (MDS) and neighbor-joining (NJ) tree. The results indicated higher discrimination power in the Altay Kazakh and Hui populations. The Altay Kazakh was the most distantly related to Xishuangbanna Dai, while Altay Kazakh was the most closely related to Gansu Kazakh. The results may provide useful information for paternal lineages and increase our understanding of genetic relationships between two studied populations and other populations.

Y-chromosome evidence confirmed the Kerei-Abakh origin of Aksay Kazakhs.

Aksay Kazakhs are the easternmost branch of Kazakhs, residing in Jiuquan city, the forefront of the ancient Silk Road. However, the genetic diversity of Aksay Kazakhs and its relationships with other Kazakhs still lack attention. To clarify this issue, we analyzed the non-recombining portion of the Y-chromosome from 93 Aksay Kazakhs samples, using a high-resolution analysis of 106 biallelic markers and 17 STRs. The lowest haplogroup diversity (0.38) was observed in Aksay Kazakhs among all studied Kazakh populations. The social and cultural traditions of the Kazakhs shaped their current pattern of genetic variation. Aksay Kazakhs tended to migrate with clans and had limited paternal admixture with neighboring populations. Aksay Kazakhs had the highest frequency (80%) of haplogroup C2b1a3a1-F3796 (previous C3*-Star Cluster) among the investigated Eurasian steppe populations, which was now seen as the genetic marker of Kerei clan. Furthermore, NETWORK analysis indicated that Aksay Kazakhs originated from sub-clan Kerei-Abakh in Kazakhstan with DYS448 = 23. TMRCA estimates of three recent descent clusters detected in C2*-M217 (xM48) network, one of which incorporate nearly all of the C2b1a3a1-F3796 Aksay Kazakhs samples, gave the age range of 976-1405 YA for DC1, 1059-1314 YA for DC2, and 1139-1317 YA for DC3, respectively; this is coherent with the 7th to the 11th centuries Altaic-speaking pastoral nomadic population expansion.

Uric acid and its correlation with hypertension in postmenopausal women: A multi-ethnic study (Observational study)

ABSTRACT We investigate the association of uric acid with hypertension among Han, Uygur, and Kazakh populations in the Xinjiang Province of Western China. Our study aims to evaluate the relationships of serum uric acid (SUA) with hypertension in the Chinese population according to the menopausal status. Medical data of 1684 Han, 1895 Uygur, and 294 Kazakh people was examined. The prevalence of hypertension was calculated by the quartiles of SUA. Correlation between hypertension-related risk factors calculated and compared between men and women. SUA was higher in men than in women. The level was significantly higher in postmenopausal than premenopausal women (4.40 ± 1.75 v.s 4.06 ± 1.63 mg/dl, P < .01). Logistic regression analysis showed Body mass index (BMI) [OR = 1.08, P < .01]; and eGFR<60 vs.≥60 [OR = 1.22, P = .04] were independent risk factors for hypertension in women. Age and diabetes were independent risk factors for the participants with hypertension [OR = 1.04, P < .01] and [OR = 2.24, P < .01]. High quartile SUA group has increased the risk for hypertension in postmenopausal women [OR = 1.34, P = .048]. We found that postmenopausal women have high SUA compared to premenopausal women. The high SUA quartiles uric acid may be an independent risk for hypertension in postmenopausal women.

PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHUYA KAZAKHS AND SOUTHERN ALTAIANS

The aim is to identify gender phenotypic signs of adaptation of the Kazakh and Altai populations to the conditions of Southeast Altai. Tasks: to characterize the morphological indicators of adolescents (13-15 years old) and adults (20-29 years old), depending on nationality and gender; to evaluate the macronutrient analysis of the daily food allowance and the biochemical parameters of blood plasma of adult Kazakhs and Altaians of both sexes. Methods. The study was conducted in the Kosh-Agach district of the Altai Republic. Length and body weight were assessed in Kazakh and Altai teenagers, and beside that the macronutrient analysis of the daily food allowance, as well as the level of cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, glucose, high and low density lipoproteins in the blood plasma were estimated in adults. Results. The adult Kazakh population of Gorny Altai was found to be similar to the native Altai population according to morphological characteristics, type of nutrition, and plasma lipid indices. Compared to Altaians, they have more pronounced manifestations of sexual dimorphism in terms of length and body weight. In the puberty, Kazakh boys are significantly shorter not only their herd mates of a homogeneous population, but also peers from Northern Kazakhstan. Conclusion. The climatic and geographical conditions of the Altai highlands determine the manifestation of the following phenotypic signs in the Kazakh population: hyperstenoid body type, high fat intake, metabolic processes that ensure the stability of blood plasma lipids, more pronounced signs of sexual dimorphism at different stages of ontogenesis.