Local enrichment of HP1alpha at telomeres alters their structure and regulation of telomere protection.

Enhanced telomere maintenance is evident in malignant cancers. While telomeres are thought to be inherently heterochromatic, detailed mechanisms of how epigenetic modifications impact telomere protection and structures are largely unknown in human cancers. Here we develop a molecular tethering approach to experimentally enrich heterochromatin protein HP1α specifically at telomeres. This results in increased deposition of H3K9me3 at cancer cell telomeres. Telomere extension by telomerase is attenuated, and damage-induced foci at telomeres are reduced, indicating augmentation of telomere stability. Super-resolution STORM imaging shows an unexpected increase in irregularity of telomeric structure. Telomere-tethered chromo shadow domain (CSD) mutant I165A of HP1α abrogates both the inhibition of telomere extension and the irregularity of telomeric structure, suggesting the involvement of at least one HP1α-ligand in mediating these effects. This work presents an approach to specifically manipulate the epigenetic status locally at telomeres to uncover insights into molecular mechanisms underlying telomere structural dynamics

Understanding electronic and optical properties of La and Mn co-doped anatase TiO2

AbstractThe electronic structures, dipole moment, and optical properties of La-doped, Mn-doped, and La-Mn-doped anatase TiO2 have been investigated by means of GGA + U first-principles method, showing that the absorption coefficients of the La-Mn-doped TiO2 under visible light to be sensitive to the doping positions of La and Mn atoms. La-Mn-TiO2(1) exhibits the largest absorption coefficient in visible light because of the smallest band gap. Additionally, for the La and Mn co-doped TiO2, the large dipole moment of TiO6 octahedron is in prejudice of enhancing the optical responses under the visible light. We successfully probe the interesting optical response mechanism in this work

Therapeutic effect of a combination of montelukast and vitamins A and D drops in children with bronchial asthma, and its influence on quality of life

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of a combination of montelukast and vitamins A and D drops in bronchial asthma children, and its effect on quality of life.Methods: Sixty bronchial asthma children from June 2018 to June 2020 were collected and randomized into study group and control group (30 cases in each group). Control group received montelukast sodium (chewable tablets), while the study group received vitamins A and D drops (capsules) plus. Clinical efficacy, lung function, serum inflammatory factors, and quality of life were evaluated and compared.Results: Compared with control group, total treatment effectiveness was higher and the symptom remission period was shorter in the study group (p < 0.05). Post-treatment, the parameters of FEV1 and FVC increased in both groups, but higher in the study group (p < 0.05). Serum levels of CRP and IL-4 in both groups decreased after treatment, while serum IL-10 levels were significantly up-regulated. Compared with control group, the levels of these indicators were improved in the study group (p < 0.05). Post-treatment Chinese Version of Pediatric Quality of Life Asthma Specific Scale (PedSQL) score was higher than before treatment, with higher values (for all indicators) in the study group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The combination therapy of montelukast and vitamins A and D drops produces good clinical efficacy in children with bronchial asthma. It significantly shortens the time taken for relief of clinical symptoms, improves lung function, reduces inflammatory response, controls asthma, and improves the quality of life of the patients

Simulation and application of loose tooling forging for heavy grinding roller shaft forgings

The grinding roller shaft is a key part of the grinding roller. It has a step-shaped shaft with different round cross-sections and 1850 mm × 1110 mm rectangular cross-section. If the general method of free forging is used, the upsetting diameter of ingot will reach 2900 mm, and 8400 t hydraulic press current will not be produced so that the loose tooling forging process is to be used. The loose tooling forging process of rectangular flange has been researched by using DEFORM-3D simulation software and establishing a reasonable forging process. The production results reveal that the heavy forgings used as grinding roller shafts can be successfully produced with the present 8400 t capacity hydraulic presses. The eligible forgings have proved the rationality of the technical process

Increased Posterior Cingulate, Medial Frontal and Decreased Temporal Regional Homogeneity in Depressed Mothers. A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Study

AbstractObjectiveTo explore the neural pathophysiology of postpartum depression through analyzing fMRI regional homogeneity in postpartum depressed mothers during resting state.Methods10 depressed mothers and 11 healthy mothers were recruited and underwent functional MRI scanning during resting state.ResultsCompared with healthy mothers, the depressed mothers showed significantly increased posterior cingulate, medial frontal and decreased temporal gyrus regional homogeneityConclusionsThe results suggest that abnormal neural activities existed in depressed mothers and which may play an important role in psychopathology of postpartum depression