title: Digit ratio (2D:4D) in a Chinese population with schizophrenia.
abstract: Prenatal gonadal hormones may play a major role in pathogenesis of schizophrenia. It has been reported that second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) was influenced by the levels of exposure to prenatal testosterone and estrogen. So, 2D:4D may help to predict the disease susceptibility to schizophrenia.
  
  
  
  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the digit ratio (2D:4D) and schizophrenia in Chinese population.
  
  
  
  We recruited 178 schizophrenics (males: 76; females: 102) and 365 controls (males: 218; females: 147) in this study. Photocopies of both hands were collected and left hand, right hand, mean hand and left minus right hand (DL-R) 2D:4D were analyzed.
  
  
  
  The right and mean hand 2D:4D ratios were significantly higher in schizophrenics compared to that of controls in both males and females. The left hand 2D:4D ratio in female schizophrenics was also significantly higher than in controls. Compared to controls, the DL-R 2D:4D in male schizophrenics was obviously higher. There was a weakly (but not significantly) negative correlation between the mean hand 2D:4D ratio and the age of onset.
  
  
  
  The 2D:4D ratio may correlate with the schizophrenia in Chinese population, and it may be an indicator of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education/ Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics/ Department of Medical Genetic and Cell Biology, Yinchuan 750004, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenli
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education/ Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics/ Department of Medical Genetic and Cell Biology, Yinchuan 750004, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhenghao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.affiliation: Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education/ Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics/ Department of Medical Genetic and Cell Biology, Yinchuan 750004, PR China. Electronic address: chuan773@126.com.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education/ Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics/ Department of Medical Genetic and Cell Biology, Yinchuan 750004, PR China.
authors.forename: Youjing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education/ Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics/ Department of Medical Genetic and Cell Biology, Yinchuan 750004, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.affiliation: Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education/ Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics/ Department of Medical Genetic and Cell Biology, Yinchuan 750004, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhanbing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: 2D:4D; Digit ratio; Gonadal hormone; Schizophrenia