How Placenta Promotes the Successful Reproduction in High-Altitude Populations: A Transcriptome Comparison between Adaptation and Acclimatization.

As the best adapted high altitude population, Tibetans feature a relatively high offspring survival rate. Genome-wide studies have identified hundreds of candidate SNPs related to high altitude adaptation of Tibetans, although most of them have unknown functional relevance. To explore the mechanisms behind successful reproduction at high altitudes, we compared the placental transcriptomes of Tibetans, sea level Hans (SLHan), and Han immigrants (ImHan). Among the three populations, placentas from ImHan showed a hyperactive gene expression pattern. Their increased activation demonstrates a hypoxic stress response similar to sea level individuals experiencing hypoxic conditions. Unlike ImHan, Tibetan placentas were characterized by the significant up-regulation of placenta-specific genes, and the activation of autophagy and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Certain conserved hypoxia response functions, including the antioxidant system and angiogenesis, were activated in both ImHan and Tibetans, but mediated by different genes. The coherence of specific transcriptome features linked to possible genetic contribution was observed in Tibetans. Furthermore, we identified a novel Tibetan-specific EPAS1 isoform with a partial deletion at exon six, which may be involved in the adaption to hypoxia through the EPAS1-centred gene network in the placenta. Overall, our results show that the placenta grants successful pregnancies in Tibetans by strengthening the natural functions of the placenta itself. On the other hand, the placenta of ImHan was in an inhabiting time-dependent acclimatization process representing a common hypoxic stress response pattern.

Four Circulating Long Non-Coding RNAs Act as Biomarkers for Predicting Cervical Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Circulation long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged recently as major players in tumor biology and might be applied for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, or potential therapeutic targets. In this study, we aimed to explore whether the circulation lncRNA could predict the tumorigenesis of surgical squamous cervical cancer (CC). METHODS: In this study, we applied the lncRNA microarray to screen the potential biomarker for CC. Real-time quantitate polymerase chain reaction was conducted for further validation in a larger sample size. The multi-stage validation and risk score formula analysis were used to examine the sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: We discovered 4 lncRNAs including HOTAIR, PVT1, XLOC_000303, and AL592284.1, which were upregulated in CC comparing with the cancer-free controls. Further, the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis by risk score formula revealed the combined 4 factors with a high diagnostic ability with the area under ROC curve value of 0.875 and 0.958 in training set and validation set respectively. We finally confirmed the stable detection of the 4 lncRNAs by 5 cycles of freezing and thawing. CONCLUSION: HOTAIR, PVT1, XLOC_000303, and AL592284.1 might be the potential biomarkers for predicting the tumorigenesis of CC in the future.

Risk factors for iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women from plateau region and their impact on pregnancy outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the risk factors for iron deficiency (ID) and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) in pregnant women from plateau region and their impact on pregnancy outcome. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 1,206 pregnant women admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Qinghai Red Cross Hospital from January 2016 to October 2021. Among them, 721 women were diagnosed with ID and 104 women with IDA. We analyzed the potential risk factors for ID and IDA and also observed the impact of ID and IDA on the pregnancy outcome. RESULTS: Multivariate regression analyses showed that the risk factors for ID were age over 35 years old, number of pregnancies ≥2, number of childbirths >1, number of abortions ≥3 and drinking of strong tea or coffee, while the protective factors against ID were regular prenatal cares, iron supplementation and nutrition guidance during pregnancy. The risk factors for IDA were age ≥35 years old, number of abortions ≥3 and drinking of strong tea or coffee, while the protective factors against IDA were regular prenatal cares and iron supplementation during pregnancy. The incidences of gestational hypertension, fetal distress, preterm birth, cesarean section, postpartum hemorrhage and neonatal asphyxia in the IDA group were higher than those in the non-ID group (all P<0.05). Also, the incidences of gestational hypertension, cesarean section and postpartum hemorrhage were higher in the IDA group than those in the ID group (all P<0.05). Moreover, the incidences of gestational hypertension, cesarean section and postpartum hemorrhage in the ID group were higher than those in the non-ID group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Pregnant women from the plateau region show a high incidence of ID and IDA, especially elderly parturient women or those with multiple pregnancies, child births or abortions. To reduce the incidence of ID and IDA as well as to improve the pregnancy outcome, our findings suggest pregnant woman to have regular prenatal care and a proper diet by avoiding strong tea or coffee, supplementing iron and receiving nutritional guidance.