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Therapeutic interventions in prediabetes are important in the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its chronic complications. However, little is known about the pharmacogenetic effect of traditional herbs on prediabetes treatment. A total of 194 impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) subjects were treated with traditional hypoglycemic herbs (Tianqi Jiangtang) for 12 months in this study. DNA samples were genotyped for 184 mutations in 34 genes involved in drug metabolism or transportation. Multinomial logistic regression analysis indicated that rs1142345 (A>G) in the thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) gene was significantly associated with the hypoglycemic effect of the drug (P=0.001, FDRP=0.043). The “G” allele frequencies of rs1142345 in the healthy (subjects reverted from IGT to normal glucose tolerance), maintenance (subjects still had IGT), and deterioration (subjects progressed from IGT to T2D) groups were 0.094, 0.214, and 0.542, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that rs1142345 was also significantly associated with the hypoglycemic effect of the drug between the healthy and maintenance groups (P=0.027,OR=4.828) and between the healthy and deterioration groups (P=0.001,OR=7.811). Therefore, rs1142345 was associated with the clinical effect of traditional hypoglycemic herbs. Results also suggested that TPMT was probably involved in the pharmacological mechanisms of T2D.

To explore the epidemiological status and risk factors of hyperuricemia in rural area of the Three Gorges.A cross-sectional survey was carried out in rural area of Yiling District, Yichang City, which was located north-west bank of Xiling Gorge in 2007. A standard structure questionnaire was used to collect demographic data, social-economic status and life-style features. Fasting venous blood was collected and serum uric acid (SUA) was determined. Hyperuricemia was defined as SUA levels ≥ 417 µ mol/L (70 mg/L) in men and ≥ 357 µmol/L (60 mg/L) in women. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analysed the risk factors of hyperuricemia.A total of 9354 participants aged 35 and above were included, 19.9% (1866/9354) participants were the Three Gorges migrants. Serum uric acid level in men was significantly higher than that in women [(285.1 ± 80.2) µmol/L vs. (210.3 ± 65.0) µmol/L,P0.01].Serum uric acid level increased significantly in both genders in proportion to increase of age, and was higher in men than in women in all age groups (all P0.01). The age-adjusted prevalence was significantly higher in men than in women (5.6% vs. 3.3%, P0.01), and was also higher in men aged 35-44 and aged 45-54 than in women (both P0.01). There was no significance in prevalence of hyperuricemia in both men and women aged 55-64 and aged ≥ 65. After adjusting age, gender, educational level, migration and occupation, the multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the prevalence of hyperuricemia was higher in alcohol drinking participants than that of non-alcohol drinking participants (OR = 2.06, 95%CI:1.59-2.67, P0.01), and in participants used to consume less green vegetables and fruits than in participants consuming more green vegetables and fruits (OR = 1.77, 95% CI:1.27-2.47, P0.01).The prevalence of hyperuricemia is relatively low in rural area of the Three Gorges.Alcohol drinking and low intake of green vegetables and fruits are the risk factors of hyperuricemia in this population.

To explore type 2 diabetes prevalence and its risk factors among migrants and nonmigrants aged 35 years and older in Three Gorge Dam area in Yichang City of Hubei province, China.A sample of 9865 rural residents (including 1949 Three Gorge Dam migrants and 7916 nonmigrants) aged 35 years old and over was selected from September to December in 2007 by the method of multi-stage cluster random sampling in Yiling district, Yichang City of Hubei province. The study subjects were assessed by interview, examination, and blood samples. Information on demographics, migrant information, lifestyle, history of diabetes and hypertension was obtained by a questionnaire interview. An overnight fasting blood specimen was collected to measure serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). Height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference and blood pressure were measured. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was carried out for those whose fasting glucose was equal to or exceeded 6.1 mmol/L. The standardized prevalence of type 2 diabetes was calculated based on national census in the year of 2000. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to explore the potential risk factors of type 2 diabetes.The crude prevalence of type 2 diabetes among nonmigrants was 3.93% (310/7885) (male: 3.90% (129/3304), female: 3.95% (181/4581)), and that of migrants was 6.55% (127/1939) (male: 6.85% (52/759), female: 6.36% (75/1180)). The crude prevalence of type 2 diabetes among migrants was higher than that of nonmigrants (χ² = 25.10, P0.01 (male: χ² = 12.59, P0.01; female: χ² = 12.78, P0.01)). The prevalence of type 2 diabetes among nonmigrants was 3.87% in males and 4.15% in females. The standardized prevalence of type 2 diabetes among migrants was 6.92% in males and 6.33% in females. Logistic regression analysis showed that age (taking 35 - 44 years old as reference, 45 - 54 years old: OR = 1.45, 95%CI: 1.07 - 1.95; 55 - 64 years old: OR = 2.08, 95%CI: 1.53 - 2.84; 65 years old and over: OR = 1.85, 95%CI: 1.25 - 2.75), family history of diabetes (OR = 2.83, 95%CI: 1.70 - 4.72), overweight or obesity (overweight: OR = 1.36, 95%CI: 1.05 - 1.78; obesity: OR = 2.11, 95%CI: 1.47 - 3.01), central obesity (OR = 1.84, 95%CI: 1.39 - 2.44), abnormal triglyceride (OR = 1.54, 95%CI: 1.21 - 1.97), abnormal total cholesterol (OR = 1.40, 95%CI: 1.11 - 1.77) and abnormal LDL-C (OR = 1.82, 95%CI: 1.19 - 2.79) increased the risk of type 2 diabetes, and regular physical activity (OR = 0.57, 95%CI: 0.45 - 0.72) was the protective factor of type 2 diabetes.The prevalence of type 2 diabetes among Three Gorge Dam migrants was higher than that of nonmigrants. Increasing age, regular physical activity, family history of diabetes, overweight or obesity, central obesity, abnormal triglyceride, abnormal total cholesterol and abnormal LDL-C were related to type 2 diabetes.

To evaluate the epidemiological features and control status of hypertension in rural area of The Three Gorges.A cross-sectional survey was carried out in rural area of Yiling District, Yichang City, which was located north-west bank of Xiling Gorges in 2007. A standard structure questionnaire was used to collect data on the hypertension history and treatment, social-economic status and life-styles, and so on. Blood pressure was measured by trained observers using standardized mercury sphygmomanometer. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) and/or diastolic ≥ 90 mm Hg, or current treatment with antihypertensive medications. Hypertension control was defined as blood pressure levels of less than 140/90 mm Hg.A total of 9618 residents aged 35 years and above were included (response rate: 81.3%), and 19.7% residents were the Three Gorges migrants. The age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was 37.3% for all, and 21.3%, 39.8%, 58.0% for aged 35 - 44, 45 - 59, ≥ 60 years, respectively. The age-adjusted rate was higher in men for all (39.1%) and aged 35 - 44 years (27.0%) than in women (36.3% for all and 17.8% for aged 35 - 44 years, P0.01). The age-adjusted rate of awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension were lower in men (18.5%, 9.0%, 0.9%, respectively) than in women (23.5%, 13.6%, 2.0%, respectively, all P0.01). Among the participants with treated hypertension, the control rate of hypertension was only 17.0%. Prevalence and rate of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension were similar between migrants and non-migrants.The prevalence of hypertension is high, but the awareness, treatment, control rates were low in rural area of Yiling District. Efforts should be made to reduce the prevalence rate and to improve the control rate of hypertension in this area.