Project description:The diversity and basic functional attributes of the gut microbiome of healthy Indians is not well understood. This study investigated the gut microbiome of three Indian communities: individuals residing in rural and urban (n?=?49) sea level Ballabhgarh areas and in rural high altitude areas of Leh, Ladakh in North India (n?=?35). Our study revealed that the gut microbiome of Indian communities is dominated by Firmicutes followed by Bacteroidetes, Actinobateria and Proteobacteria. Although, 54 core bacterial genera were detected across the three distinct communities, the gut bacterial composition displayed specific signatures and was observed to be influenced by the topographical location and dietary intake of the individuals. The gut microbiome of individuals living in Leh was observed to be significantly similar with a high representation of Bacteroidetes and low abundance of Proteobacteria. In contrast, the gut microbiome of individuals living in Ballabhgarh areas harbored higher number of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and is enriched with microbial xenobiotic degradation pathways. The rural community residing in sea level Ballabhgarh areas has unique microbiome characterized not only by a higher diversity, but also a higher degree of interindividual homogeneity.
Project description:We used in silico analyses to identify the distinct transcriptome signatures of two populations living at high altitudes and identified potential mechanisms that underlie high-altitude adaptation. Data generated in this study indicate that placentas from Tibetan women are genetically distinct from European women at high altitudes, and appear to be protected from hypoxia and stress.
Project description:We used in silico analyses to identify the distinct transcriptome signatures of two populations living at high altitudes and identified potential mechanisms that underlie high-altitude adaptation. Data generated in this study indicate that placentas from Tibetan women are genetically distinct from European women at high altitudes, and appear to be protected from hypoxia and stress.
Project description:Prior studies of Bangladeshi migrants in the UK revealed that reproductive function is adaptive, responding to different environments during childhood by adjusting the timing of puberty, reproductive lifespan and overall reproductive function. Here we aimed to understand the basis of this plasticity. Our goals were to establish whether epigenetic mechanisms play a role in the plasticity of this adaptive reproductive phenotype. We hypothesized that women growing up in Bangladesh would have distinct DNA methylation signatures compared to those who moved to the UK at a young age or were born to Bangladeshi parents in the UK. Some of these environmentally induced epigenetic differences would be detected in buccal cell DNA and reflect the divergent gene expression responsible for the altered reproductive function. The women of the study who grew up in Bangladesh were relatively affluent, well-nourished and rarely performed manual work, but a significant confounding factor in their early life was the level of disease load presenting a chronic immune challenge
Project description:The transcriptome signature of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of Ladakhi cattle adapted to high altitude vis a vis Sahiwal cattle adapted to the arid/semi-arid region at mean sea level was established using bovine expression microarray chips. The transcriptome analysis of PBMCs from these cattle types living at two distinct altitudes, resulted in identification of several hundred differentially expressed genes, biological processes, molecular functions and pathways.
Project description:Aim of Study: Four hundred million people live at high altitude worldwide. Prevalence and risk factors for COPD in these populations are poorly documented. We examined the prevalence and risk factors for COPD in residents living at an altitude of 2,100-4,700 m. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey in Xinjiang and Tibet autonomous region. A multistage stratified sampling procedure was used to select a representative population aged 15 years or older from eight high altitude regions. All participants underwent pre- and post-bronchodilator measurement of forced expiratory volumes. COPD was diagnosed according to 2019 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria. Results: Between June, 2015 and August 2016, 4,967 subjects were included. Median age was 38.0 years (range: 15-91 years; inter-quartile range: 28-49 years); 51.4% participants were female. Overall prevalence of spirometry-defined COPD was 8.2% (95% CI 7.4-8.9%): 9.3% in male (95% CI 8.2-10.4%), and 7.1% in female (95% CI 6.1-8.2%). By multivariable logistic regression analysis, COPD was significantly associated with being aged ?40 years (odds ratio: 2.25 [95% CI 1.72-2.95], P < 0.0001), exposure to household air pollution (OR: 1.34 [95% CI 1.01-1.79], P = 0.043), and a history of tuberculosis (OR: 1.79 [95% CI 1.23-2.61], P = 0.030), while living at a higher altitude (OR: 0.45 [95% CI 0.33-0.61], P < 0.0001) and having a higher educational level (OR: 0.64 [95% CI 0.43-0.95], P = 0.025) were associated with a lower prevalence of COPD. Conclusions: Our results show that the spirometry-defined COPD is a considerable health problem for residents living at high altitudes and COPD prevalence was inversely correlated with altitude. Preventing exposure to household air pollution and reducing the incidence of tuberculosis should be public health priorities for high altitude residents.
Project description:Quantitative proteomic analysis was performed to demonstrate the changes of bioactive components in breastmilk of puerperant women with COVID-19.
Project description:PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the impact of exercise-induced hypoxaemia (EIH) developed at sea-level on exercise responses at moderate acute altitude.MethodsTwenty three subjects divided in three groups of individuals: highly trained with EIH (n = 7); highly trained without EIH (n = 8) and untrained participants (n = 8) performed two maximal incremental tests at sea-level and at 2,150 m. Haemoglobin O2 saturation (SpO2), heart rate, oxygen uptake (VO2) and several ventilatory parameters were measured continuously during the tests.ResultsEIH athletes had a drop in SpO2 from 99 ± 0.8% to 91 ± 1.2% from rest to maximal exercise at sea-level, while the other groups did not exhibit a similar decrease. EIH athletes had a greater decrease in VO2max at altitude compared to non-EIH and untrained groups (-22 ± 7.9%, -16 ± 5.3% and -13 ± 9.4%, respectively). At altitude, non-EIH athletes had a similar drop in SpO2 as EIH athletes (13 ± 0.8%) but greater than untrained participants (6 ± 1.0%). EIH athletes showed greater decrease in maximal heart rate than non-EIH athletes at altitude (8 ± 3.3 bpm and 5 ± 2.9 bpm, respectively).ConclusionEIH athletes demonstrated specific cardiorespiratory response to exercise at moderate altitude compared to non-EIH athletes with a higher decrease in VO2max certainly due to the lower ventilator and HRmax responses. Thus EIH phenomenon developed at sea-level negatively impact performance and cardiorespiratory responses at acute moderate altitude despite no potentiated O2 desaturation.
Project description:Lean polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women have a greater proportion of android (abdominal) fat, increased numbers of small subcutaneous (SC) abdominal adipocytes and preferential intra-abdominal fat accumulation. This study examines whether abnormal gene expression of SC abdominal adipose stem cells (ASCs) from lean PCOS women underlies this altered abdominal adipose structure-function. In this dataset, we include the expression data obtained from PCOS and NL subcutaneous adipose tissue. Differential expression of at least 1.5-fold change (P<0.05) were obtained in 120 genes (48 upregulated, 72 downregulated) of SC abdominal ASCs from PCOS versus NL women