BackgroundThe Leptin receptor (LEPR) Gln223Arg gene polymorphism has been associated with an increased susceptibility to Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Results from various studies, however, are inconsistent.Objective and methodsTo better elucidate the association of LEPR Gln223Arg gene polymorphism with T2DM in the Chinese population, a meta-analysis of 3,367 subjects from seven independent studies was performed. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were evaluated by the fixed-effects model.ResultsA significant relationship between LEPR Gln223Arg gene polymorphism and T2DM in the Chinese population was found under allele (OR: 1.432, 95% CI: 1.211-1.694, P=2.67×10-5), dominant (OR: 1.466, 95% CI: 1.215-1.769, P=6.33×10-5), recessive (OR: 0.539, 95% CI: 0.303-0.960, P=0.036), heterozygous (OR: 0.700, 95% CI: 0.577-0.849, P=3.06×10-4), and homozygous (OR: 0.472, 95% CI: 0.265-0.839, P=0.011) genetic models.ConclusionsLEPR Gln223Arg gene polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of T2DM in the Chinese population. Therefore, Chinese carriers of the G allele of LEPR Gln223Arg gene polymorphism may be more susceptible to T2DM than the general population.

Several studies indicate the mitochondrial Aldehyde Dehydrogenase‐2 (ALDH2) gene G487A polymorphism may be correlated with coronary artery disease (CAD) susceptibility, but a clear consensus has yet to be reached. To elucidate the relationship between the ALDH2 gene G487A polymorphism and CAD within the Chinese population, a meta‐analysis of 5644 subjects from nine individual studies was performed. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were assessed using random or fixed‐effect models depending the heterogeneity existence or not. Our meta‐analysis found a significant association between ALDH2 gene G487A polymorphism and CAD in the Chinese population under allele (OR: 1.830, 95% CI: 1.560–2.140, P = 1.36 × 10−13), recessive (OR: 1.920, 95% CI: 1.530–2.390, P = 1.20 × 10−8), dominant (OR: 1.593, 95% CI: 1.336–1.900, P = 2.22 × 10−7), homozygous (OR: 2.280, 95% CI: 1.810–2.870, P = 3.17 × 10−12) and heterozygous genetic models (OR: 3.330, 95% CI: 2.070–5.370, P = 7.81 × 10−7). The positive correlation between the ALDH2 gene G487A polymorphism and CAD makes the mutation a strong candidate as a genetic risk marker for CAD. Through further analysis, we also found that A allele carriers of ALDH2 gene G487A polymorphism may be particularly susceptible to CAD.

BackgroundMany studies suggest that the small ubiquitin-like modifier 4 (SUMO4) M55V gene polymorphism (rs237025) may be associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, due to other conflicting results, a clear consensus is lacking in the matter.Objective and methodsA meta-analysis consisting of 6,823 subjects from 10 studies was conducted to elucidate relationship between the SUMO4 M55V gene polymorphism and T2DM. Depending on the heterogeneity of the data, either a fixed or random-effects model would be used to assess the combined odds ratio (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsSUMO4 gene M55V polymorphism was significantly associated with T2DM in the whole population under allelic (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.10–1.28, P = 1.63 × 10−5), recessive (OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.14–2.23, P = 0.006), dominant (OR: 0.815, 95% CI: 0.737–0.901, P = 6.89 × 10−5), homozygous (OR: 1.415, 95% CI: 1.170–1.710, P = 0.0003), heterozygous (OR: 1.191, 95% CI: 1.072–1.323, P = 0.001), and additive genetic models (OR: 1.184, 95% CI: 1.097–1.279, P = 1.63 × 10−5). In our subgroup analysis, a significant association was found again in the Chinese population, but not in Japanese or Iranian population.ConclusionSUMO4 gene M55V polymorphism may correlate with increased T2DM risk. Chinese carriers of the V allele of the SUMO4 gene M55V polymorphism may be predisposed to developing T2DM.