Search

Abstract Introduction Metabolomic signatures of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Tibetan Chinese population, a group with high diabetes burden, remain largely unclear. Identifying the serum metabolite profile of Tibetan T2DM (T-T2DM) individuals may provide novel insights into early T2DM diagnosis and intervention. Methods Hence, we conducted untargeted metabolomics analysis of plasma samples from a retrospective cohort study with 100 healthy controls and 100 T-T2DM patients by using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Results The T-T2DM group had significant metabolic alterations that are distinct from known diabetes risk indicators, such as body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. The optimal metabolite panels for predicting T-T2DM were selected using a tenfold cross-validation random forest classification model. Compared with the clinical features, the metabolite prediction model provided a better predictive value. We also analyzed the correlation of metabolites with clinical indices and found 10 metabolites that were independently predictive of T-T2DM. Conclusion By using the metabolites identified in this study, we may provide stable and accurate biomarkers for early T-T2DM warning and diagnosis. Our study also provides a rich and open-access data resource for optimizing T-T2DM management.

The hippocampus is highly plastic and vulnerable to hypoxia. However, it is unknown whether and how it adapts to chronic hypobaric hypoxia in humans. With a unique sample of Tibetans and acclimatized Han Chinese individuals residing on the Tibetan plateau, we aimed to build a neuroanatomic profile of the altitude-adapted hippocampus by measuring the volumetric differences in the whole hippocampus and its subfields. High-resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was performed in healthy Tibetans (TH, n = 72) and healthy Han Chinese individuals living at an altitude of more than 3,500 m (HH, n = 27). In addition, healthy Han Chinese individuals living on a plain (HP, n = 72) were recruited as a sea-level reference group. Whereas the total hippocampal volume did not show a significant difference across groups when corrected for age, sex, and total intracranial volume, subfield-level differences within the hippocampus were found. Post hoc analyses revealed that Tibetans had larger core hippocampal subfields (bilateral CA3, right CA4, right dentate gyrus); a larger right hippocampus–amygdala transition area; and smaller bilateral presubiculum, right subiculum, and bilateral fimbria, than Han Chinese subjects (HH and/or HP). The hippocampus and all its subfields were found to be slightly and non-significantly smaller in HH subjects than in HP subjects. As a primary explorational study, our data suggested that while the overall hippocampal volume did not change, the core hippocampus of Tibetans may have an effect of adaptation to chronic hypobaric hypoxia. However, this adaptation may have required generations rather than mere decades to accumulate in the population.

AimMultifocal desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma/astrocytoma (DIA/DIG) has rarely been reported. Here, two cases have been presented, reviewing the literature and proposed treatment algorithms for this rare tumor.Patients and MethodsWe report two patients diagnosed with multifocal DIA/DIGs in West China Hospital. In addition, a literature review was performed, in October 2019, on case reports of DIA/DIGs with multifocal lesions. The clinical and radiological features, treatment, and outcome of this rare disease were discussed.ResultsDIA/DIGs with multifocal locations were rare, and only thirteen cases (including ours) had been reported. This series included 8 males and 5 females with a mean age of 31.4 ± 45.7 months (range, 3-144 months). The supratentorial hemisphere, suprasellar region, posterior cranial fossa, and spinal cord were frequently involved. Ten patients (76.9%) received surgical resection for the symptomatic lesions and three patients (23.1%) underwent biopsy. Seven patients received chemotherapy postoperatively. Six individuals had tumor recurrences during the follow-up period, while three patients had tumors that spontaneously regressed. Finally, two patients died of tumor progression and one patient died of respiratory insufficiency and hypothalamic dysfunction.ConclusionsMultifocal DIA/DIGs have more aggressive clinical behavior and poor outcome despite benign histology. DIA/DIGs should be included in the differential diagnosis of multifocal brain tumors in children. The mainstay of treatment is surgical resection; adjuvant treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs is unknown and requires additional research.

Abstract Gliomas are complex and heterogeneous brain tumors with poor prognosis. Glioma cells can communicate with their surroundings to create a tumor-permissive microenvironment. Exosomes represent a new means of intercellular communication by delivering various bioactive molecules, including proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, and participate in tumor initiation and progression. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) including microRNA, long-noncoding RNA, and circular RNA, account for a large portion of human transcriptome and play important roles in various pathophysiological processes, especially in cancers. In addition, ncRNAs can be selectively packaged, secreted and transferred between cells in exosomes and modulate numerous hallmarks of glioma, such as proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, immune-escape, and treatment resistance. Hence, the strategies of specifically targeting exosomal ncRNAs could be attractive therapeutic options. Exosomes are able to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB), and are readily accessible in nearly all types of human biofluids, which make them the promising biomarkers for gliomas. Additionally, given the biocompatibility of exosomes, they can be engineered to deliver therapeutic factors, such as RNA, proteins and drugs, to target cells for therapeutic applications. Here, we reviewed current research on the roles of exosomal ncRNAs in glioma progression. We also discussed their potential clinical applications as novel biomarkers and therapeutics.

It is well-known that the noise jamming impedes the mission effectiveness of radar systems. It raises the level of the background and swamps out target returns. Techniques to suppress jamming and improve the performance of radar systems are continuously being developed. Here, a jammer being close to a target or even equivalent to it in direction, colloquially referred to as mainlobe jamming is considered. A mainlobe jamming cancellation technique based on multi-static radar systems (MSRSs) is developed. In a MSRS, a jammer will produce different time delays and relative speeds to the diverse radar receivers located at separated positions. Here, the method to simultaneously estimate the shifts of time delay and Doppler frequency in the range-Doppler plane (RDP) is proposed. Furthermore, the jamming cancellation is adaptively performed in the range-Doppler domain. The simulation results show the validity of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]