Oral health status of 916 children in Tibetan settlement (Bylakuppe, India): A cross-sectional descriptive study

BACKGROUND

Dietary and oral hygiene habits among integrated migrant cultural minorities can vary and could impact susceptibility to caries.

AIM

This study aimed to assess and compare the oral health status of Tibetan schoolchildren living in the Tibetan settlement of Bylakuppe, India, stratified by type of residence.

DESIGN

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among Tibetan schoolchildren attending nine schools in the Bylakuppe region.

RESULTS

The study population consisted of 916 children aged 5-17: 702 (76.6%) living in secular houses (LSH) and 214 (23.4%) living in monasteries (LM). The prevalence of dental caries was 70.9%, and the mean value of decayed, missing, filled teeth for mixed and primary dentition (DMFT*; dmft) of LSH children (1.56 ± 2.34/1.74 ± 2.66) was higher than of LM ones (1.14 ± 2.34/0.83 ± 2.80; p < .001). DMFT for LM children (1.46 ± 2.04) was slightly higher than for LSH children (1.38 ± 1.96; p > .05). Among the sample, 99.1% had a good simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) and LM children showed higher rates of good values (99.5% vs. 98.2% in LSH children). Most children needed preventive/routine dental treatment, whereas 16.6% needed urgent dental treatment. In 4.5% of children, oral mucosal lesions were present.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms the high need for dental treatment in the children of the Tibetan settlement investigated.

Structure and Metabolic Characteristics of Intestinal Microbiota in Tibetan and Han Populations of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Associated Influencing Factors

Residents of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau might experience shifts in their gut microbiota composition as a result of the plateau environment. For example, high altitudes can increase the abundance of obligate anaerobic bacteria, decrease the number of aerobic bacteria and facultative anaerobic bacteria, increase probiotics, and decrease pathogenic bacteria. This study aimed to determine the structure and metabolic differences in intestinal microbial communities among the Tibetan and Han populations on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and shed light on the factors that influence the abundance of the microbial communities in the gut. The structural characteristics of intestinal microorganisms were detected from blood and fecal samples using 16S rRNA sequencing. Metabolic characteristics were detected using gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS). The influencing factors were analyzed using Spearman's correlation analysis. Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium were dominant in the intestinal tract of the Han population, while Bacteroides and Prevotella were dominant in that of the Tibetan population, with marked differences in Pseudomonas, Prevotella, and other genera. Ferulic acid and 4-methylcatechol were the main differential metabolites between the Tibetan and Han ethnic groups. This may be the reason for the different adaptability of Tibetan and Han nationalities to the plateau. Alanine aminotransferase and uric acid also have a high correlation with different bacteria and metabolites, which may play a role. These results reveal notable disparities in the compositions and metabolic characteristics of gut microbial communities in the Tibetan and Han people residing on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and may provide insights regarding the mechanism of plateau adaptability.

Maternal genetic history of ancient Tibetans over the past 4000 years

The settlement of the Tibetan Plateau epitomizes human adaptation to a high-altitude environment that poses great challenges to human activity. Here, we reconstruct a 4000-year maternal genetic history of Tibetans using 128 ancient mitochondrial genome data from 37 sites in Tibet. The phylogeny of haplotypes M9a1a, M9a1b, D4g2, G2a'c, and D4i show that ancient Tibetans share the most recent common ancestor with ancient Middle and Upper Yellow River populations around the Early and Middle Holocene. In addition, the connections between Tibetans and Northeastern Asians vary over the past 4000 years, with a stronger matrilineal connection between the two during 4000 BP-3000 BP, and a weakened connection after 3000 BP, that are coincident with climate change, followed by a reinforced connection after the Tubo period (1400 BP-1100 BP). Besides, an over 4000-year matrilineal continuity is observed in some of the maternal lineages. We also find the maternal genetic structure of ancient Tibetans is correlated to the geography and interactions between ancient Tibetans and ancient Nepal and Pakistan populations. Overall, the maternal genetic history of Tibetans can be characterized as a long-term matrilineal continuity with frequent internal and external population interactions that are dynamically shaped by geography, climate changes, as well as historical events.

Association between Dietary Patterns and Metabolic Syndrome and Modification Effect of Altitude: A Cohort Study of Tibetan Adults in China

Little is known about the longitudinal association between dietary patterns (DPs) and metabolic disorders in people living at high altitude areas, such as Tibetans. We constructed the first open cohort, with 1832 Tibetans, and collected data in 2018 and in 2022. The metabolic syndrome (MetS) prevalence was 30.1% (32.3% in men and 28.3% in women). Three different DPs were identified: modern DP (pulses, poultry, offal, and processed meat), urban DP (vegetables, refined grain, beef/mutton, and eggs), and pastoral DP (Tibetan cheese, tsamba, butter/milk tea, and desserts). Participants within the third tertile of the urban DP had a 3.42-fold (95% CI 1.65-7.10) higher risk of MetS than those with the first tertile. Modern DP was positively associated with elevated blood pressure (BP) and elevated triglycerides (TAG), while it was inversely associated with low HDL-C. The urban DP was associated with a higher risk of low HDL-C, but a lower risk of impaired fasting blood glucose (FBG). The pastoral DP was a risk factor for impaired FBG, but protective for central obesity and elevated BP. Associations of modern DP with elevated BP, and pastoral DP with low HDL-C, were modified by altitude. In conclusion, among Tibetan adults, DPs were associated with MetS and its components, and the associations were modified by altitude among Tibetans.

Transcriptome analysis reveals molecular pathways in the iron-overloaded Tibetan population

Iron overload can lead to chronic complications, serious organ dysfunction or death in the body. Under hypoxic conditions, the body needs more iron to produce red blood cells to adapt to the hypoxic environment. The prevalence of iron overload in the Tibetan population is higher than that in the Han population. To explore the molecular mechanism of iron-overload in the Tibetan population, this study investigated the transcriptome of the Tibetan iron overload population to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the iron-overloaded population and the normal iron population. Functional enrichment analysis identified key related pathways, gene modules and coexpression networks under iron-overload conditions, and the 4 genes screened out have the potential to become target genes for studying the development of iron overload. A total of 28 pathways were screened to be closely related to the occurrence and development of iron overload, showing that iron overload is extremely related to erythrocyte homeostasis, cell cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, immunity, and transcriptional repression.

Brain Structural and Functional Alterations in Native Tibetans Living at High Altitude

Tibetans have adapted to high altitude environments. However, the genetic effects in their brains have not been identified. Twenty-five native Tibetans living in Lhasa (3650 m) were recruited for comparison with 20 Han immigrants who originated from lowlands and had been living in Lhasa for two years. The physiological characteristics, brain structure and neuronal spontaneous activity were investigated. Compared with Han immigrants, Tibetans showed higher peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and lower heart rate, red blood cell counts, hematocrit, and hemoglobin. Tibetans showed increased gray matter volume in the visual cortex, hippocampus, and rectus; increased the amplitudes of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) values in the left putamen and left fusiform gyrus; and decreased voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) values in the precentral gyrus. Moreover, Tibetans have decreased functional connectivity (FC) between the left precentral gyrus and the frontal gyrusand right precuneus. In Tibetans and Han immigrants, hemoglobin and hematocrit were negatively correlated with total gray matter volume in males, SpO₂ was also positively correlated with ALFF in the left fusiform gyrus, while hemoglobin, and hematocrit were positively correlated with VMHC in the precentral gyrus and FC in the precentral gyrus with other brain regions, SpO₂ was also found to be negatively correlated with VMHC in the precentral gyrus, and hemoglobin and hematocrit were negatively correlated with ALFF in the left putamen and left fusiform gyrus. In summary, genetic mutations may result in modulation of some brain regions, which was further confirmed by the identification of correlations with hemoglobin and hematocrit in these regions.

Consistent differences in brain structure and functional connectivity in high-altitude native Tibetans and immigrants

It has been well-established that high-altitude (HA) environments affect the human brain; however, the differences in brain structural and functional networks between HA natives and acclimatized immigrants have not been well clarified. In this study, native HA Tibetans were recruited for comparison with Han immigrants (average of 2.3 ± 0.3 years at HA), with lowland residents recruited as controls. Cortical gray matter volume, thickness, and functional connectivity were investigated using magnetic resonance imaging data. In addition, reaction time and correct score in the visual movement task, hematology, and SpO₂ were measured. In both Tibetans and HA immigrants vs. lowlanders, decreased SpO₂, increased hematocrit and hemoglobin, and increased reaction time and correct score in the visual movement task were detected. In both Tibetans and HA immigrants vs. lowlanders, gray matter volumes and cortical thickness were increased in the left somatosensory and motor cortex, and functional connectivity was decreased in the visual, default mode, subcortical, somatosensory-motor, ventral attention, and subcortical networks. Furthermore, SpO₂ increased, hematocrit and hemoglobin decreased, and gray matter volumes and cortical thickness increased in the visual cortex, left motor cortex, and right auditory cortex in native Tibetans compared to immigrants. Movement time and correct score in task were positively correlated with the thickness of the visual cortex. In conclusion, brain structural and functional network difference in both Tibetan natives and HA immigrants were largely consistent, with native Tibetans only showing more intense brain modulation. Different populations acclimatized to HA develop similar brain mechanisms to cope with hostile HA environmental factors.

Association between sedentary time and metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional study among Chinese Garze Tibetans

Background

Chinese Tibetans have long hours of sitting without much physical activity given their religious behavior, raising potential harmful health hazards. However, the relationship between sedentary time and metabolic syndrome (MetS) has not been investigated in Chinese Tibetans.

Methods

From Jan 2021 to Jun 2022, residents in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Southwest China's Sichuan province were recruited using a multi-stage, stratified, random-cluster sampling strategy. MetS were ascertained using definition proposed by the International Diabetes Federation. Associations between sedentary time and the prevalence of MetS in the total sample and by age and sex were estimated using logistic regression models.

Results

Among 971 Chinese Tibetan participants (mean age 41.1 years and 73.8% female), 319 (32.9%) were diagnosed as having MetS. We found positive associations of sedentary time over 11 h per day with the prevalence of MetS in crude (OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.12-1.36, p < 0.001), age and sex adjusted (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.08-1.29, p < 0.001), and fully adjusted (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.08-1.29, p < 0.001) models, compared to those who had <8 h of sedentary time per day. Sensitivity analyses suggest consistent positive association between sedentary time and each metric of MetS.

Conclusions

Sedentary time longer than 11 h per day is significantly associated with increased risk of MetS, suggesting that polices to advocate health education may alleviate the health burden of MetS among Tibetans in China.

Association Study Between Polymorphic Loci in Cholesterol Metabolism Pathway and Gallstone in the Tibetan Population

Background: The incidence of gallstones in the Tibetan population is increasing rapidly. Previous studies indicated that genetic variation located in the cholesterol metabolism pathway may be associated with the incidence of gallstones.

Methods: By recruiting 132 Tibetan gallstone patients and 52 normal Tibetan controls, we performed next-generation sequencing for 508 genes in the cholesterol metabolism pathway. Additionally, by integrating the sequence data of 41 normal Tibetan subjects in the public database, we finally obtained 93 normal Tibetan controls. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) calling were performed by using the GATK pipeline. The quality control criteria for SNPs were: missing rate <0.05; minor allele frequency (MAF) > 0.01; and p value >0.001 in the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) test. To eliminate the influence of population heterogeneity, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was carried out by using the smartpca software. Association analyses were performed by Plink software. Multiple tests were adjusted by the false discovery rate (FDR) method.

Results: A total of 2,401 SNPs were obtained by analyzing 508 genes, and 2,011 SNPs left after quality control. After adjusting the eigen vectors, we found that 10 SNPs (SNV05997, rs80145081, rs80005560, rs79074685, rs748546375, rs201880593, rs142559357, rs750769471, rs869789 and rs4072341) were significantly associated with gallstone. Subsequently, by comparing the case group with our control group and the public database control group separately, we further found that the SNP rs869789 was consistently significantly associated with gallstone (p = 9.04 × 10^–3 in cases vs. our controls and 5.73 × 10^–3 in cases vs. public controls, respectively).

Conclusion: By systematically analyzed SNPs in the cholesterol metabolism pathway, we identified one polymorphic locus rs869789 significantly associated with the pathogenesis of gallstone in the Tibetan population. This study will provide clue for further mechanism study of gallstone in the Tibetan population.

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.

DNA methylation plays an important role in iron-overloaded Tibetans

The prevalence of iron overload in Tibetans in Tibet is higher than that in Han. DNA methylation (DNAm) is closely related to iron metabolism and iron level. Nevertheless, the epigenetic status of Tibetans with iron overload is unknown, and we therefore aimed to explore whether the phenomenon observed in the Tibetan population is regulated by epigenetics. The results showed that 2.26% of cytosine was methylated in the whole genome, and that the rate of CG cytosine methylation was higher in individuals in the iron overload (TH) group than in those in the iron normal (TL) group. We analyzed differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in whole-genome bisulfite sequencing data from the TH and TL groups of high-altitude Tibetans. Protein-protein interaction and pathway analyses of candidate DMGs related to iron uptake and transport showed that epigenetic changes in 10 candidate genes (ACO1, CYBRD1, FLVCR1, HFE, HMOX2, IREB2, NEDD8, SLC11A2, SLC40A1 and TFRC) are likely to relate to iron overload. This work reveals, for the first time, changes of DNAm in Tibetan people with iron overload, which suggest that DNAm is a mechanism underlying differences in iron content between individuals in the high-altitude Tibetan population. Our findings should contribute to the study of iron metabolism and the overall health status of Tibetans.

Seasonality and Sex-Biased Fluctuation of Birth Weight in Tibetan Populations

Birth weight (BW) is a key determinant of infant mortality. Previous studies have reported seasonal fluctuation of BW. However, the responsible environmental factors remain disputable. High-altitude environment provides a great opportunity to test the current hypotheses due to its distinctive climate conditions. We collected BW data of  ~ 9000 Tibetan singletons born at Lhasa (elevation: 3660 m) from 2014 to 2018. Using regression models, we analyzed BW seasonality of highland Tibetans. Multivariate models with meteorological factors as independent variables were employed to examine responsible environmental factors accounting for seasonal variation. We compared BW, low-BW prevalence and sex ratio between highland and lowland populations, and we observed a significant seasonal pattern of BW in Tibetans, with a peak in winter and a trough in summer. Notably, there is a marked sex-biased pattern of BW seasonality (more striking in males than in females). Sunlight exposure in the 3rd trimester and barometric pressure exposure in the 2nd trimester are significantly correlated with BW, and the latter can be explained by seasonal change of oxygen partial pressure. In particular, due to the male-biased BW seasonality, we found a more serious BW reduction and higher prevalence of low-BW in males, and a skewed sex ratio in highlanders. The infant BW of highland Tibetans has a clear pattern of seasonality. The winter BW is larger than the summer BW, due to the longer sunlight exposure during the late-trimester. Male infants are more sensitive to hypoxia than female infants during the 2nd trimester, leading to more BW reduction and higher mortality.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43657-021-00038-7.

Association of Daytime Napping with chronic diseases among Tibetan people in China: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, as three of the most prevalent chronic diseases, remain a daunting health challenge. However, to our knowledge, no study has made a thorough examination of the association between the three chronic diseases and daytime napping, a widely accepted behavior in many countries. This is especially necessary among Tibetan populations, whose lifestyles and health outcomes may be unique, yet patterns of chronic diseases and napping are under-examined. Thus, we sought to explore the aforementioned association in the Tibetan population of China.

METHODS

A total of 2902 participants aged 45-79 in 2019 were included. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted in 2020. The sex disparity was examined through interaction and stratified analyses.

RESULTS

Hypertension (40.7%) was more prevalent than obesity (20.2%) and diabetes (21.6%). Comparing to non-nappers, those who napped were more likely to have any conditions (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.04-1.62 for 1-59 min/day group and OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.10-1.80 for ≥60 min/day group). Participants who had 1-59 min/day of napping were more likely to develop obesity (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.07-1.75), and ≥ 60 min/day of napping was associated with diabetes (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.01-1.74). The interactions between napping and sex were not statistically significant in the models.

CONCLUSIONS

The study revealed napping was unfavorably associated with obesity, diabetes, and any conditions in Tibetan people living on the Tibetan Plateau. Future interventions regarding the three chronic diseases may pay more attention to napping.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Not applicable.

Heterogeneity in Hematological Parameters of High and Low Altitude Tibetan Populations

Introduction

High altitude hypoxia is believed to be experienced at elevations of more than 2500 meters above sea level. Several studies have shed light on the biochemical aspects of high altitude acclimatization, where participants were sojourners to the high altitude from low altitude areas. However, information regarding the difference between the high altitude adapted Tibetans living at high altitude and their counterparts who reside at low altitude are lacking. To understand this, we have measured various hematological parameters in the Tibetan populations, who are residing in both high and low altitudes in India.

Methods

A total of 168 individuals (79 from high altitude (≥4500 meters) and 89 from low altitude (~850 meters) were recruited for this study. Hematological parameters such as red blood cells (RBC) count, hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were measured from the individuals from high and low altitudes. Serum erythropoietin (EPO) was measured by ELISA. Statistical analyses were performed to compare data from both of the altitudes. Gender-wise comparison of data was reported. Correlation analysis was performed within relevant parameters.

Results

Highly significant differences (p <0.0001) between high and low altitude Tibetans were detected in RBC count, HCT, Hb, MCHC in both males and females and in MCV in females. In the case of MCHC, however, age and BMI were potential confounders. Nominally significant differences (p <0.05) were detected in MCV and MCH within males. No significant difference in serum EPO level was found between altitude groups, in any gender. No significant correlation was found between serum EPO with Hb as well as serum EPO with HCT.

Discussion

Our study explores significantly lower RBC count, HCT, Hb, MCH, MCHC and higher MCV in long-term Tibetan residents living at low altitude compared to their high altitude counterparts, which is likely due to the outcome of hematological adaptation to a relatively hyperoxic environment in low altitude areas.

Differential Brain and Muscle Tissue Oxygenation Responses to Exercise in Tibetans Compared to Han Chinese

The Tibetans’ better aerobic exercise capacity at altitude remains ill-understood. We tested the hypothesis that Tibetans display better muscle and brain tissue oxygenation during exercise in hypoxia. Using near-infrared spectrometry (NIRS) to provide indices of tissue oxygenation, we measured oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin ([O₂Hb] and [HHb], respectively) responses of the vastus lateralis muscle and the right prefrontal cortex in ten Han Chinese and ten Tibetans during incremental cycling to exhaustion in a pressure-regulated chamber at simulated sea-level (air at 1 atm: normobaric normoxia) and 5,000 m (air at 0.5 atm: hypobaric hypoxia). Hypoxia reduced aerobic capacity by ∼22% in both groups (d = 0.8, p < 0.001 vs. normoxia), while Tibetans consistently outperformed their Han Chinese counterpart by ∼32% in normoxia and hypoxia (d = 1.0, p = 0.008). We found cerebral [O₂Hb] was higher in Tibetans at normoxic maximal effort compared Han (p = 0.001), while muscle [O₂Hb] was not different (p = 0.240). Hypoxic exercise lowered muscle [O₂Hb] in Tibetans by a greater extent than in Han (interaction effect: p < 0.001 vs. normoxic exercise). Muscle [O₂Hb] was lower in Tibetans when compared to Han during hypoxic exercise (d = 0.9, p = 0.003), but not during normoxic exercise (d = 0.4, p = 0.240). Muscle [HHb] was not different between the two groups during normoxic and hypoxic exercise (p = 0.778). Compared to Han, our findings revealed a higher brain tissue oxygenation in Tibetans during maximal exercise in normoxia, but lower muscle tissue oxygenation during exercise in hypoxia. This would suggest that the Tibetans privileged oxygenation of the brain at the expense of that of the muscle.

Epidemiological Features of Glycemic Levels and Relative Determinants at Different Altitudes Among Tibetans in China: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study

Risk factors associated with diabetes mellitus have been widely researched worldwide, but the determinants of glycemic levels among Tibetans in China are currently unclear. We thus aimed to determine the relationship between altitude and glycemic levels and to identify factors associated with glycemic levels among Tibetans in China. In 2011, a total of 1,659 Tibetans (aged ≥18 years) from Changdu, China, were enrolled to this cross-sectional research. Potential factors associated with postprandial glucose (PPG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and insulin (INS) levels were assessed. FPG and PPG levels increased with age and total cholesterol (TC) level. In addition, FPG levels were higher among patients with rural residence and hypertension, while PPG levels increased with increasing BMI. INS levels increased with residence, lower education, higher BMI, and higher TG levels and decreased with higher altitude and TC levels. Moreover, risk factors for FPG, PPG, and INS differed in those residing at a higher altitude. These findings identify several important risk factors that affect glycemic levels and may be used to develop effective strategies for metabolic disease prevention among populations in high-altitude areas. Furthermore, these findings suggest that it is necessary to formulate a standard for PPG, FPG, and INS in high-altitude areas.

The Prevalence and Risk Factors of High-Altitude Pulmonary Hypertension Among Native Tibetans in Sichuan Province, China

Gou, Qiling, Rufeng Shi, Xin Zhang, Qingtao Meng, Xinran Li, Xi Rong, Zhabu Gawa, Nage Zhuoma, and Xiaoping Chen. The prevalence and risk factors of high-altitude pulmonary hypertension among native Tibetans in Sichuan Province, China. High Alt Med Biol. 21:327-335, 2020. Background: Studies evaluating the prevalence and risk factors of high-altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH) are lacking. Objective: To determine the prevalence of HAPH and its correlated factors among highlanders living 3200 m above sea level in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. Methods: This was a single-center, cross-sectional study involving 1129 subjects (mean age 46.6 ± 14 years, 39% men). In native Tibetans, HAPH was defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure >30 mmHg as measured by transthoracic echocardiography. Results: HAPH had a crude prevalence of 6.2% and was more prevalent in men than in women (8.6% vs. 4.6%, p = 0.005). Elderly adults were more likely to develop HAPH than young adults (odds ratio [OR] = 5.308, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.562-10.993). Highlanders with HAPH had more severe metabolic abnormalities (including elevated blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipids, BMI, etc., p < 0.05) and significantly increased hemoglobin and hematocrit levels (p < 0.01). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, independent risk factors for HAPH were metabolic syndrome (OR = 3.128, 95% CI = 1.110-8.818), age (>60 years vs. <40 years) (OR = 2.924, 95% CI = 1.282-6.669), and decreased SpO₂ (OR = 1.072 per 1-unit decrease; 95% CI = 1.010-1.136). Conclusion: It could be concluded that HAPH was prevalent among 6.2% of native Tibetans in Sichuan Province, China. Increasing age, metabolic syndrome, and decreased SpO₂ were independent predisposing factors for HAPH.

Neural network correlates of high-altitude adaptive genetic variants in Tibetans: A pilot, exploratory study

Although substantial progress has been made in the identification of genetic substrates underlying physiology, neuropsychology, and brain organization, the genotype–phenotype associations remain largely unknown in the context of high‐altitude (HA) adaptation. Here, we related HA adaptive genetic variants in three gene loci (EGLN1, EPAS1, and PPARA) to interindividual variance in a set of physiological characteristics, neuropsychological tests, and topological attributes of large‐scale structural and functional brain networks in 135 indigenous Tibetan highlanders. Analyses of individual HA adaptive single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) revealed that specific SNPs selectively modulated physiological characteristics (erythrocyte level, ratio between forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced vital capacity, arterial oxygen saturation, and heart rate) and structural network centrality (the left anterior orbital gyrus) with no effects on neuropsychology or functional brain networks. Further analyses of genetic adaptive scores, which summarized the overall degree of genetic adaptation to HA, revealed significant correlations only with structural brain networks with respect to local interconnectivity of the whole networks, intermodule communication between the right frontal and parietal module and the left occipital module, nodal centrality in several frontal regions, and connectivity strength of a subnetwork predominantly involving in intramodule edges in the right temporal and occipital module. Moreover, the associations were dependent on gene loci, weight types, or topological scales. Together, these findings shed new light on genotype–phenotype interactions under HA hypoxia and have important implications for developing new strategies to optimize organism and tissue responses to chronic hypoxia induced by extreme environments or diseases.

The overlooked significance of plasma volume for successful adaptation to high altitude in Sherpa and Andean natives

In contrast to Andean natives, high-altitude Tibetans present with a lower hemoglobin concentration that correlates with reproductive success and exercise capacity. Decades of physiological and genomic research have assumed that the lower hemoglobin concentration in Himalayan natives results from a blunted erythropoietic response to hypoxia (i.e., no increase in total hemoglobin mass). In contrast, herein we test the hypothesis that the lower hemoglobin concentration is the result of greater plasma volume, rather than an absence of increased hemoglobin production. We assessed hemoglobin mass, plasma volume and blood volume in lowlanders at sea level, lowlanders acclimatized to high altitude, Himalayan Sherpa, and Andean Quechua, and explored the functional relevance of volumetric hematological measures to exercise capacity. Hemoglobin mass was highest in Andeans, but also was elevated in Sherpa compared with lowlanders. Sherpa demonstrated a larger plasma volume than Andeans, resulting in a comparable total blood volume at a lower hemoglobin concentration. Hemoglobin mass was positively related to exercise capacity in lowlanders at sea level and in Sherpa at high altitude, but not in Andean natives. Collectively, our findings demonstrate a unique adaptation in Sherpa that reorientates attention away from hemoglobin concentration and toward a paradigm where hemoglobin mass and plasma volume may represent phenotypes with adaptive significance at high altitude.

Cerebral Blood Flow, Oxygen Delivery, and Pulsatility Responses to Oxygen Inhalation at High Altitude: Highlanders vs. Lowlanders

Objective: To determine whether the acute cerebral hemodynamic responses to oxygen inhalation are impacted by race or acclimation to high altitude.

Methods: Three groups of young healthy males, who were Tibetans (highlanders, n = 15) with lifelong exposure to high altitude, and Han Chinese (lowlanders) with five-year (Han-5 yr, n = 15) and three-day (Han-3 d, n = 16) exposures, participated in the study at an altitude of 3658 m. Cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) was recorded for three minutes prior to and during pure oxygen inhalation (2 L/min), respectively, using a transcranial color-coded duplex (TCCD) sonography at the middle cerebral artery (MCA). The blood draw and simultaneous monitoring of blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and finger arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂) were also performed.

Results: Values are Mean ± SEM. The three groups had similar demographic characteristics and HR responses, with the group differences (P < 0.05) found in hemoglobin concentration (16.9 ± 0.9, 18.4 ± 1.3, and 15.5 ± 1.0 gm/dL), baseline BPs and HR as expected. Both the Tibetans and Han-5yr groups presented blunted BP responses to O₂-inhalation when compared to the Han-3d group; more interestingly, the Tibetans showed significantly reduced responses compared with Han-5yr and Han-3d in CBFV, cerebral oxygen delivery (COD), and pulsatility index (PI) as assessed by Δ%CBFV/ΔSaO₂ (-1.50 ± 0.25 vs. -2.24 ± 0.25 and -2.23 ± 0.27, P = 0.049 and 0.048), Δ%COD/ΔSaO₂ (-0.52 ± 0.27 vs. -1.33 ± 0.26 and -1.38 ± 0.28, P = 0.044 and 0.031), and Δ%PI (7 ± 2 vs. 16 ± 3 and 16 ± 3 %, P = 0.036 and 0.023), respectively.

Conclusion: These findings provide evidence on the Tibetans trait of a distinct cerebral hemodynamic regulatory pattern to keep more stable cerebral blood flow (CBF), oxygen delivery, and pulsatility in response to oxygen inhalation as compared with Han Chinese, which is likely due to a genetic adaptation to altitude.

UBC-Nepal Expedition: Cerebrovascular Responses to Exercise in Sherpa Children Residing at High Altitude

Understanding the process of successful adaptation to high altitude provides valuable insight into the pathogenesis of conditions associated with impaired oxygen uptake and utilization. Prepubertal children residing at low altitude show a reduced cerebrovascular response to exercise in comparison to adults, and a transient uncoupling of cerebral blood flow to changes in the partial pressure of end-tidal CO₂ (P_ETCO₂); however, little is known about the cerebrovascular response to exercise in high-altitude native children. We sought to compare the cerebral hemodynamic response to acute exercise between prepubertal children residing at high and low altitude. Prepubertal children (n = 32; 17 female) of Sherpa descent (Sherpa children [SC]) at high altitude (3800 m, Nepal) and maturational-matched (n = 32; 20 female) children (lowland children [LLC]) residing at low altitude (342 m, Canada). Ventilation, peripheral oxygen saturation (S_pO₂), P_ETCO_2, and blood velocity in the middle and posterior cerebral arteries (MCA_v and PCA_v) were continuously measured during a graded cycling exercise test to exhaustion. At baseline (BL), P_ETCO₂ (-19 ± 4 mmHg, p < 0.001), S_pO₂ (-6.0% ± 2.1%, p < 0.001), MCA_v (-12% ± 5%, p = 0.02), and PCA_v (-12% ± 6%, p = 0.04) were lower in SC when compared with LLC. Despite this, the relative change in MCA_v and PCA_v during exercise was similar between the two groups (p = 0.99). Linear regression analysis demonstrated a positive relationship between changes in P_ETCO₂ with MCA_v in SC (R² = 0.13, p > 0.001), but not in LLC (R² = 0.03, p = 0.10). Our findings demonstrate a similar increase in intra-cranial perfusion during exercise in prepubertal SC, despite differential BL values and changes in P_ETCO₂ and S_pO₂.

Mutations in EPAS1 in congenital heart disease in Tibetans

EPAS1 encodes HIF2 and is closely related to high altitude chronic hypoxia. Mutations in the EPAS1 coding sequence are associated with several kinds of human diseases, including syndromic congenital heart disease (CHD). However, whether there are rare EPAS1 coding variants related to Tibetan non-syndromic CHD have not been fully investigated. A group of 286 Tibetan patients with non-syndromic CHD and 250 unrelated Tibetan healthy controls were recruited from Qinghai, China. Sanger sequencing was performed to identify variations in the EPAS1 coding sequence. The novelty of identified variants was confirmed by the examination of 1000G and ExAC databases. Control samples were screened to establish that the rare candidate variants were specific to the Tibetan patients with non-syndromic CHD. Bioinformatics software was used to assess the conservation of the mutations and to predict their effects. The effect of EPAS1 mutations on the transcription of its target gene, VEGF, was assessed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The mammalian two-hybrid assay was used to study the protein interactions between HIF2 and PHD2 or pVHL. We identified two novel EPAS1 mutations (NM_001430: c.607A>C, p.N203H; c.2170G>T, p.G724W) in two patients. The N203H mutation significantly affected the transcription activity of the VEGF promoter, especially in conditions of hypoxia. The N203H mutation also showed enhanced protein–protein interactions between HIF2 and PHD2, and HIF2 and pVHL, especially in conditions of hypoxia. However, the G724W mutation did not demonstrate the same effects. Our results indicate that EPAS1 mutations might have a potential causative effect on the development of Tibetan non-syndromic CHD.

Differentiation analysis for estimating individual ancestry from the Tibetan Plateau by an archaic altitude adaptation EPAS1 haplotype among East Asian populations

Tibetans have adapted to the extreme environment of high altitude for hundreds of generations. A highly differentiated 5-SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) haplotype motif (AGGAA) on a hypoxic pathway gene, EPAS1, is observed in Tibetans and lowlanders. To evaluate the potential usage of the 5-SNP haplotype in ancestry inference for Tibetan or Tibetan-related populations, we analyzed this haplotype in 1053 individuals of 12 Chinese populations residing on the Tibetan Plateau, peripheral regions of Tibet, and plain regions. These data were integrated with the genotypes from the 1000 Genome populations and populations in a previously reported paper for population structure analyses. We found that populations representing highland and lowland groups have different dominant ancestry components. The core Denisovan haplotype (AGGAA) was observed at a frequency of 72.32% in the Tibetan Plateau, with a frequency range from 9.48 to 21.05% in the peripheral regions and < 2.5% in the plains area. From the individual perspective, 87.57% of the individuals from the Tibetan Plateau carried the archaic haplotype, while < 5% of the Chinese Han people carried the haplotype. Our findings indicate that the 5-SNP haplotype has a special distribution pattern in populations of Tibet and peripheral regions and could be integrated into AISNP (Ancestry Informative Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) panels to enhance ancestry resolution.

Closing the Womb Door: Contraception Use and Fertility Transition Among Culturally Tibetan Women in Highland Nepal

Objectives Whether in metropoles or remote mountain communities, the availability and adoption of contraceptive technologies prompt serious and wide-ranging biological, social, and political-economic questions. The potential shifts in women's capacities to create spaces between pregnancies or to prevent future pregnancies have profound and often positive biological, demographic, and socioeconomic implications. Less acknowledged, however, are the ambivalences that women experience around contraception use-vacillations between moral frameworks, generational difference, and gendered forms of labor that have implications well beyond the boundaries of an individual's reproductive biology. This paper hones in on contraceptive use of culturally Tibetan women in two regions of highland Nepal whose reproductive lives occurred from 1943 to 2012. Methods We describe the experiences of the 296 women (out of a study of more than 1000 women's reproductive histories) who used contraception, and under what circumstances, examining socioeconomic, geographic, and age differences as well as points of access and patterns of use. We also provide a longitudinal perspective on fertility. Results Our results relate contraception usage to fertility decline, as well as to differences in access between the two communities of women. Conclusions We argue that despite seemingly similar social ecologies of these two study sites-including stated reasons for the adoption of contraception and expressed ambivalence around its use, some of which are linked to moral and cosmological understandings that emerge from Buddhism-the dynamics of contraception uptake in these two regions are distinct, as are, therefore, patterns of fertility transition.

The prevalence of and risk factors for diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance among Tibetans in China: a cross-sectional study

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) has increased worldwide, although their prevalence and determinants among Tibetans are currently unknown. We thus aimed to explore the prevalence of and risk factors for DM and IGT among Tibetans in China. In 2011, 1659 Tibetan adults (aged ≥ 18 years) from Changdu, China, were recruited to this cross-sectional study. They completed a questionnaire and underwent physical examinations and laboratory testing to assess risk factors for DM and IGT. The age-standardized prevalence of DM and IGT among Tibetans was 6.2% and 19.7%, respectively. A higher annual family income, alcohol consumption, and higher fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level were risk factors for DM, with odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of 3.48 (1.43-8.48; P = 0.006) for those with family incomes of > 1600 USD/year, 3.06 (1.31-7.17; P = 0.010) for alcohol consumption, and 13.99 (7.76-25.22; P < 0.001) for FPG level. However, altitude was found to be negatively associated with the risk of DM; compared to individuals living at < 3500 meters, the risk of DM decreased by 65% for those living at 3500-3999 meters (P = 0.034) and by 89% for those living at ≥ 4000 meters (P = 0.015). Age, FPG levels, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly associated with IGT among Tibetans aged ≥ 18 years. These findings suggest that the prevalence of DM in Tibetans may continue to increase in future decades following rapid economic development, and it is crucial to address the management of conventional risk factors for reducing the disease burden of DM among Tibetans.

High-Altitude Living Shapes the Skin Microbiome in Humans and Pigs

While the skin microbiome has been shown to play important roles in health and disease in several species, the effects of altitude on the skin microbiome and how high-altitude skin microbiomes may be associated with health and disease states remains largely unknown. Using 16S rRNA marker gene sequencing, we characterized the skin microbiomes of people from two racial groups (the Tibetans and the Hans) and of three local pig breeds (Tibetan pig, Rongchang pig, and Qingyu pig) at high and low altitudes. The skin microbial communities of low-altitude pigs and humans were distinct from those of high-altitude pigs and humans, with five bacterial taxa (Arthrobacter, Paenibacillus, Carnobacterium, and two unclassified genera in families Cellulomonadaceae and Xanthomonadaceae) consistently enriched in both pigs and humans at high altitude. Alpha diversity was also significantly lower in skin samples collected from individuals living at high altitude compared to individuals at low altitude. Several of the taxa unique to high-altitude humans and pigs are known extremophiles adapted to harsh environments such as those found at high altitude. Altogether our data reveal that altitude has a significant effect on the skin microbiome of pigs and humans.

Down-Regulation of EPAS1 Transcription and Genetic Adaptation of Tibetans to High-Altitude Hypoxia

Tibetans are well adapted to the hypoxic environments at high altitude, yet the molecular mechanism of this adaptation remains elusive. We reported comprehensive genetic and functional analyses of EPAS1, a gene encoding hypoxia inducible factor 2α (HIF-2α) with the strongest signal of selection in previous genome-wide scans of Tibetans. We showed that the Tibetan-enriched EPAS1 variants down-regulate expression in human umbilical endothelial cells and placentas. Heterozygous EPAS1 knockout mice display blunted physiological responses to chronic hypoxia, mirroring the situation in Tibetans. Furthermore, we found that the Tibetan version of EPAS1 is not only associated with the relatively low hemoglobin level as a polycythemia protectant, but also is associated with a low pulmonary vasoconstriction response in Tibetans. We propose that the down-regulation of EPAS1 contributes to the molecular basis of Tibetans’ adaption to high-altitude hypoxia.

EP300 contributes to high-altitude adaptation in Tibetans by regulating nitric oxide production

The genetic adaptation of Tibetans to high altitude hypoxia likely involves a group of genes in the hypoxic pathway, as suggested by earlier studies. To test the adaptive role of the previously reported candidate gene EP300 (histone acetyltransferase p300), we conducted resequencing of a 108.9 kb gene region of EP300 in 80 unrelated Tibetans. The allele-frequency and haplotype-based neutrality tests detected signals of positive Darwinian selection on EP300 in Tibetans, with a group of variants showing allelic divergence between Tibetans and lowland reference populations, including Han Chinese, Europeans, and Africans. Functional prediction suggested the involvement of multiple EP300 variants in gene expression regulation. More importantly, genetic association tests in 226 Tibetans indicated significant correlation of the adaptive EP300 variants with blood nitric oxide (NO) concentration. Collectively, we propose that EP300 harbors adaptive variants in Tibetans, which might contribute to high-altitude adaptation through regulating NO production.

Genetic signatures of high-altitude adaptation in Tibetans

Indigenous Tibetan people have lived on the Tibetan Plateau for millennia. There is a long-standing question about the genetic basis of high-altitude adaptation in Tibetans. We conduct a genome-wide study of 7.3 million genotyped and imputed SNPs of 3,008 Tibetans and 7,287 non-Tibetan individuals of Eastern Asian ancestry. Using this large dataset, we detect signals of high-altitude adaptation at nine genomic loci, of which seven are unique. The alleles under natural selection at two of these loci [methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and EPAS1] are strongly associated with blood-related phenotypes, such as hemoglobin, homocysteine, and folate in Tibetans. The folate-increasing allele of rs1801133 at the MTHFR locus has an increased frequency in Tibetans more than expected under a drift model, which is probably a consequence of adaptation to high UV radiation. These findings provide important insights into understanding the genomic consequences of high-altitude adaptation in Tibetans.

Diabetes in Immigrant Tibetan Muslims in Kashmir, North India

Tibetan Muslims have migrated from Lhasa (3000 m altitude) to Srinagar, India (altitude 1500 m) about 55 years back. We set out to study the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes among this immigrant population. All consenting adults aged ≥18 years were questioned about a previous history of diabetes or any other medical history. Anthropometric data were recorded. Fasting blood glucose was measured in duplicate by Accu-check glucometer and HbA1C levels were measured. Of the 281 participants, 26 (9.25%) had diabetes whereas 46 (16.4%) had pre-diabetes; 24 reporting doctor-diagnosed diabetes. Participants with diabetes/pre-diabetes were more likely to be obese, smokers and hypertensive. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed age to be significantly associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes. One in four adults ≥18 years among Tibetan Muslims have diabetes or prediabetes. Migration to lower altitude could have contributed to this high prevalence.

HMOX2 Functions as a Modifier Gene for High-Altitude Adaptation in Tibetans

Tibetans are well adapted to high-altitude environments. Among the adaptive traits in Tibetans, the relatively low hemoglobin level is considered a blunted erythropoietic response to hypoxic challenge. Previously, EPAS1 and EGLN1, the major upstream regulators in the hypoxic pathway, were reportedly involved in the hemoglobin regulation in Tibetans. In this study, we report a downstream gene (HMOX2) involved in heme catabolism, which harbors potentially adaptive variants in Tibetans. We first resequenced the entire genomic region (45.6 kb) of HMOX2 in Tibetans, which confirmed the previously suspected signal of positive selection on HMOX2 in Tibetans. Subsequent association analyses of hemoglobin levels in two independent Tibetan populations (a total of 1,250 individuals) showed a male-specific association between the HMOX2 variants and hemoglobin levels. Tibetan males with the derived C allele at rs4786504:T>C displayed lower hemoglobin level as compared with the T allele carriers. Furthermore, our in vitro experiments indicated that the C allele of rs4786504 could increase the expression of HMOX2, presumably leading to a more efficient breakdown of heme that may help maintain a relatively low hemoglobin level at high altitude. Collectively, we propose that HMOX2 contributes to high-altitude adaptation in Tibetans by functioning as a modifier in the regulation of hemoglobin metabolism.

Archaic inheritance: supporting high-altitude life in Tibet

The Tibetan Plateau, often called the roof of the world, sits at an average altitude exceeding 4,500 m. Because of its extreme altitude, the Plateau is one of the harshest human-inhabited environments in the world. This, however, did not impede human colonization, and the Tibetan people have made the Tibetan Plateau their home for many generations. Many studies have quantified their markedly different physiological response to altitude and proposed that Tibetans were genetically adapted. Recently, advances in sequencing technologies led to the discovery of a set of candidate genes which harbor mutations that are likely beneficial at high altitudes in Tibetans. Since then, other studies have further characterized this impressive adaptation. Here, in this minireview, we discuss the progress made since the discovery of the genes involved in Tibetans' adaptation to high altitude with a particular emphasis on describing the series of studies that led us to conclude that archaic human DNA likely contributed to this impressive adaptation.

Sleep Architecture in Partially Acclimatized Lowlanders and Native Tibetans at 3800 Meter Altitude: What Are the Differences?

It is not well known whether high altitude acclimatization could help lowlanders improve their sleep architecture as well as Native Tibetans. In order to address this, we investigated the structural differences in sleep between Native Tibetans and partially acclimatized lowlanders and examined the association between sleep architecture and subjective sleep quality. Partially acclimatized soldiers from lowlands and Native Tibetan soldiers stationed at Shangri-La (3800 m) were surveyed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). The sleep architecture of those without anxiety (as determined by HAMA>14) and/or depression (HAMD>20) was analyzed using polysomnography and the results were compared between the two groups. One hundred sixty-five male soldiers, including 55 Native Tibetans, were included in the study. After partial acclimatization, lowlanders still exhibited differences in sleep architecture as compared to Native Tibetans, as indicated by a higher PSQI score (8.14±2.37 vs. 3.90±2.85, p<0.001), shorter non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep (458.68±112.63 vs. 501±37.82 min, P=0.03), lower nocturnal arterial oxygen saturation (Spo2; mean 91.39±1.24 vs. 92.71±2.12%, p=0.03), and increased times of Spo2 reduction from 89% to 85% (median 48 vs.17, p=0.04) than Native Tibetans. Sleep onset latency (β=0.08, 95%CI: 0.01 to 0.15), non-REM latency (β=0.011, 95%CI 0.001 to 0.02), mean Spo2 (β=-0.79, 95%CI: -1.35 to -0.23) and time in stage 3+4 sleep (β=-0.014, 95%CI: -0.001 to -0.028) were slightly associated with the PSQI score. Partially acclimatized lowlanders experienced less time in non-REM sleep and had lower arterial oxygen saturation than Native Tibetans at an altitude of 3800 m. The main independent contributors to poor sleep quality are hypoxemia, difficulty in sleep induction, and time in deep sleep.

CYP17A1 and CYP2E1 variants associated with high altitude polycythemia in Tibetans at the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Tibetans adapt to high altitude environments through low blood hemoglobin concentrations. Previous work has identified that CYP17A1 and CYP2E1 genes exhibit evidence of local positive selection for this Tibetan high-altitude adaptation. Nevertheless, despite this apparent genetic advantage, some Tibetans still develop high altitude polycythemia (HAPC) yet the reasons for this remain unknown. We sought to determine if polymorphisms in CYP17A1 and CYP2E1 genes were associated with susceptibility to HAPC in Tibetans at the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in China. We enrolled 63 Tibetan HAPC patients and 131 healthy, age- and gender-matched control Tibetans. All subjects are from the Yushu area of Qinghai where the altitude is over 3500 m. Three SNPs of the CYP17A1 including rs3781287, rs11191548 and rs1004467, and four SNPs of CYP2E1 gene, including rs1536836, rs3813865, rs3813867 and rs743535, were genotyped by the Sequenom MassARRAY SNP assays. We discovered that SNP rs1004467 of the CYP17A1 gene and SNP rs3813865 of the CYP2E1 gene were significantly associated with HAPC risk. Furthermore, we identified a positive correlation between these two SNPs and plasma hemoglobin levels. Thus, taken together, our study is the first to our knowledge to show that polymorphisms in the rs1004467 SNP of CYP17A1 and rs3813865 SNP of CYP2E1 correlate with susceptibility to HAPC.

EPAS1 Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated With High Altitude Polycythemia in Tibetans at the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that the polymorphisms in the EPAS1 gene are associated with the susceptibility to high altitude polycythemia (HAPC) in Tibetans at the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

METHODS

We enrolled 63 Tibetan HAPC patients and 131 matched healthy Tibetans as a control group, from the Yushu area in Qinghai where the altitude is greater than 3500 m. Eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the EPAS1 gene, including rs12619696, rs13420857, rs2881504, rs4953388, rs13419896, rs4953354, rs10187368, and rs7587138, were genotyped by the Sequenom MassARRAY SNP assay.

RESULTS

The frequencies of the G allele of EPAS1 SNP rs13419896 were significantly higher in the HAPC group than in the control group (P < .05). Moreover, the A alleles of rs12619696 and rs4953354 were prevalent in the HAPC group, and their counterpart homozygotes were prevalent in the normal Tibetan group (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with normal Tibetans, Tibetans with HAPC are maladapted and have a different haplotype in EPAS1 SNPs rs12619696, rs13419896, and rs4953354.

Palatal Rugae Patterns as a Bioindicator for Forensic Identification in Kodava and Tibetan Populations of India

BACKGROUND

Palatal rugae are distinct to each individual and are highly specific to each individual as their fingerprints. Rugae pattern are specific to different racial groups making it convenient for population identification. Palatal rugae retain their shape throughout life and hence can be useful as an identification tool. The present study aimed at analyzing the differences in rugae pattern among Kodavas and Tibetan populations of Coorg, India and to examine if there was a difference in the rugae pattern between males and females within each group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study comprised of 30 participants between 18 and 30 years of age, equally distributed between genders from each group. Examination of maxillary cast after tracing the rugae patterns was carried out. Rugae pattern was classified as "straight," "wavy," "curved," "circular" and "unification." Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 16 software. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney test was used for pairwise comparison of two populations. Mann-Whitney two-tailed test was used to test the difference between males and females.

RESULTS

Results showed that wavy pattern was highest for both the groups. Circular rugae were totally absent in both the groups. There was a significant difference between Kodavas (mean = 1.000) and Tibetans (mean = 0.13) for unification pattern (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Palatal rugae patterns can be used as a bioindicator for human identification.

Association of CD14/-260 polymorphism with gastric cancer risk in Highland Tibetans

AIM: To investigate the relationship between CD14-260 and -651 polymorphisms and the risk of developing gastric cancer.

METHODS: DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples obtained from 225 Tibetans with gastric cancer and 237 healthy Tibetans, and analyzed using the polymerase chain reaction/ligase detection (PCR/LDR) method to determine the genotypes at -260 and -651 loci of the CD14 promoter. The allele frequencies, genotype frequencies, and haplotypes were analyzed for their association with gastric cancer risk using online SHEsis software. The luciferase reporter assay and point mutation analysis were used to construct in vitro plasmids expressing a C/T homozygote at the -260 locus of the CD14 promoter.

RESULTS: The frequencies of CC, CT and TT genotypes in the CD14-260 C/T locus in gastric cancer patients were 19.1%, 38.7% and 42.2%, respectively, whereas they were 33.3%, 32.5% and 34.2%, respectively, in healthy control subjects. CT genotype carriers were more frequently found among gastric cancer patients than healthy controls (OR = 2.076; 95%CI: 1.282-3.360). Also, TT genotype carriers were more frequently found among gastric cancer patients (OR = 2.155; 95%CI: 1.340-3.466). Compared to the C allele of CD14/-260, the T allele was associated with an increased risk for gastric cancer (OR = 1.574; 95%CI: 1.121-2.045). Furthermore, the frequencies of CC, CT and TT in the CD14-651 C/T locus in gastric cancer patients were 64.4%, 29.3% and 6.2%, respectively, while they were 56.5%, 35.0% and 8.4%, respectively, in the healthy control subjects (P > 0.05). Data obtained using the luciferase reporter assay showed that the p260T homozygote was associated with greater CD14 promoter activity (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: CD14/-260 polymorphism is associated with gastric cancer risk in Highland Tibetans and affects CD14 promoter activity, thereby regulating CD14 expression.

Identification of a Tibetan-specific mutation in the hypoxic gene EGLN1 and its contribution to high-altitude adaptation

Tibetans are well adapted to high-altitude hypoxic conditions, and in recent genome-wide scans, many candidate genes have been reported involved in the physiological response to hypoxic conditions. However, the limited sequence variations analyzed in previous studies would not be sufficient to identify causal mutations. Here we conducted resequencing of the entire genomic region (59.4 kb) of the hypoxic gene EGLN1 (one of the top candidates from the genome-wide scans) in Tibetans and identified 185 sequence variations, including 13 novel variations (12 substitutions and 1 insertion or deletion). There is a nonsynonymous mutation (rs186996510, D4E) showing surprisingly deep divergence between Tibetans and lowlander populations (Fst = 0.709 between Tibetans and Han Chinese). It is highly prevalent in Tibetans (70.9% on average) but extremely rare in Han Chinese, Japanese, Europeans, and Africans (0.56-2.27%), suggesting that it might be the causal mutation of EGLN1 contributing to high-altitude hypoxic adaptation. Neutrality test confirmed the signal of Darwinian positive selection on EGLN1 in Tibetans. Haplotype network analysis revealed a Tibetan-specific haplotype, which is absent in other world populations. The estimated selective intensity (0.029 for the C allele of rs186996510) puts EGLN1 among the known genes that have undergone the strongest selection in human populations, and the onset of selection was estimated to have started at the early Neolithic (∼8,400 years ago). Finally, we detected a significant association between rs186996510 and hemoglobin levels in Tibetans, suggesting that EGLN1 contributes to the adaptively low hemoglobin level of Tibetans compared with acclimatized lowlanders at high altitude.

Obesity in Tibetans aged 30-70 living at different altitudes under the north and south faces of Mt. Everest

Risk factors for chronic diseases in Tibetans may be modified due to hypobaric hypoxia. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of obesity at varying altitudes of 1,200, 2,900 and 3,700 meters above sea-level in Tibet and Nepal; to estimate the effect of altitude on body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Three cross-sectional studies with simple random sampling were performed on 617 men and women. BMI, WC and WHtR decreased with increasing altitude. It is likely that the physical conditions such as low temperatures and low oxygen levels have a direct catabolic effect.