Topoisomerase I is an evolutionarily conserved key regulator for satellite DNA transcription.

RNA Polymerase (RNAP) II transcription on non-coding repetitive satellite DNAs plays an important role in chromosome segregation, but a little is known about the regulation of satellite transcription. We here show that Topoisomerase I (TopI), not TopII, promotes the transcription of α-satellite DNAs, the main type of satellite DNAs on human centromeres. Mechanistically, TopI localizes to centromeres, binds RNAP II and facilitates RNAP II elongation.

CDK11 facilitates centromeric transcription to maintain centromeric cohesion during mitosis.

Actively-transcribing RNA polymerase (RNAP)II is remained on centromeres to maintain centromeric cohesion during mitosis, although it is largely released from chromosome arms. This pool of RNAPII plays an important role in centromere functions. However, the mechanism of RNAPII retention on mitotic centromeres is poorly understood.

Changes of Serum D-Dimer, NT-proBNP, and Troponin I Levels in Patients with Acute Aortic Dissection and the Clinical Significance.

Objective: To investigate the changes in blood D-dimer (D-D), high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-cTnI), and N-terminal B-type brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in patients with acute aortic dissection (AAD) and its clinical significance.

Methods: Forty patients with AAD diagnosed in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 were selected as the observation group, and 40 patients with chest pain and non-AAD treated in our hospital during the same period were included in the control group. The patients were subdivided into a death group and a survival group as per the prognosis.

High-Entropy Pyrochlore ABO with Both Heavy and Light Rare-Earth Elements at the A Site.

A novel class of high-entropy pyrochlore ceramics (HEPCs) with multiple heavy and light rare-earth elements at the A site were successfully synthesized via solid-state reaction. Both the XRD patterns and Raman spectroscopy demonstrated the single pyrochlore structure feature of seven kinds of HEPCs. Electron microscopic images revealed the typical morphology and the homogeneous distribution of all rare-earth elements.

Correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and coronary heart disease.

Objective: To test the relationship between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D], interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the severity of coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: A total of 150 patients with suspected myocardial ischemia presenting to our hospital from January 2018 to January 2020 were recruited. All patients underwent percutaneous coronary angiography (CAG).

Centromeric transcription maintains centromeric cohesion in human cells.

Centromeric transcription has been shown to play an important role in centromere functions. However, lack of approaches to specifically manipulate centromeric transcription calls into question that the proposed functions are a direct consequence of centromeric transcription. By monitoring nascent RNAs, we found that several transcriptional inhibitors exhibited distinct, even opposing, efficacies on the suppression of ongoing gene and centromeric transcription in human cells, whereas under the same conditions, total centromeric RNAs were changed to a lesser extent.

Adsorption and desorption behaviors of antibiotics by tire wear particles and polyethylene microplastics with or without aging processes.

Tire wear particles (TWP), as the significant proportion of microplastics (MPs), has adsorbed much attention due to its widespread presence in aquatic ecosystem. However, compared with traditional MPs, few studies have investigated the interaction between TWP and coexisting contaminants. The adsorption-desorption behavior of chlortetracycline (CTC) and amoxicillin (AMX) by original and aged TWP was studied, and polyethylene (PE) was studied for comparison.

Carbon Nanofibers Propped Hierarchical Porous SiOC Ceramics Toward Efficient Microwave Absorption.

The hierarchical porous SiOC ceramics (HPSCs) have been prepared by the pyrolysis of precursors (the mixture of dimethicone and KH-570) and polyacrylonitrile nanofibers (porous template). The HPSCs possess hierarchical porous structure with a BET surface area of 51.4 m/g and have a good anti-oxidation property (only 5.

Dual-functional SiOC ceramics coating modified carbon fibers with enhanced microwave absorption performance.

Multi-functional carbon fiber (CF) based composites have great potential as new-type microwave absorption materials (MAMs). However, it was still a huge challenge to integrate antioxidation and MA properties into CF based composites. Herein, the SiOC ceramics coating modified carbon fibers (SiOC/CFs) were prepared by a polymer precursor pyrolysis method.

SP1 governs primordial folliculogenesis by regulating pregranulosa cell development in mice.

Establishment of the primordial follicle (PF) pool is pivotal for the female reproductive lifespan; however, the mechanism of primordial folliculogenesis is poorly understood. Here, the transcription factor SP1 was shown to be essential for PF formation in mice. Our results showed that SP1 is present in both oocytes and somatic cells during PF formation in the ovary.

CDC42 controls the activation of primordial follicles by regulating PI3K signaling in mouse oocytes.

Background: In mammalian females, progressive activation of dormant primordial follicles in adulthood is crucial for the maintenance of the reproductive lifespan. Misregulated activation of primordial follicles leads to various ovarian diseases, such as premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Although recent studies have revealed that several functional genes and pathways, such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling, play roles in controlling the activation of primordial follicles, our understanding of the molecular networks regulating the activation progress is still incomplete.

Bacterial magnetic particles improve testes-mediated transgene efficiency in mice.

Nano-scaled materials have been proved to be ideal DNA carriers for transgene. Bacterial magnetic particles (BMPs) help to reduce the toxicity of polyethylenimine (PEI), an efficient gene-transferring agent, and assist tissue transgene ex vivo. Here, the effectiveness of the BMP-PEI complex-conjugated foreign DNAs (BPDs) in promoting testes-mediated gene transfer (TMGT) in mouse was compared with that of liposome-conjugated foreign DNAs.

Rac1 modulates the formation of primordial follicles by facilitating STAT3-directed Jagged1, GDF9 and BMP15 transcription in mice.

The size of the primordial follicle pool determines the reproductive potential of mammalian females, and establishment of the pool is highly dependent on specific genes expression. However, the molecular mechanisms by which the essential genes are regulated coordinately to ensure primordial follicle assembly remain a mystery. Here, we show that the small GTPase Rac1 plays an indispensable role in controlling the formation of primordial follicles in mouse ovary.

Gap junctions are essential for murine primordial follicle assembly immediately before birth.

The reserve of primordial follicles determines the reproductive ability of the female mammal over its reproductive life. The primordial follicle is composed of two types of cells: oocytes and surrounding pre-granulosa cells. However, the underlying mechanism regulating primordial follicle assembly is largely undefined.

Follistatin288 Regulates Germ Cell Cyst Breakdown and Primordial Follicle Assembly in the Mouse Ovary.

In mammals, the primordial follicle pool represents the entire reproductive potential of a female. The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family member activin (ACT) contributes to folliculogenesis, although the exact mechanism is not known. The role of FST288, the strongest ACT-neutralizing isoform of follistatin (FST), during cyst breakdown and primordial follicle formation in the fetal mice ovary was assessed using an in vitro culture system.

S100A8, An Oocyte-Specific Chemokine, Directs the Migration of Ovarian Somatic Cells During Mouse Primordial Follicle Assembly.

In the mammalian ovaries, the primordial follicle pool determines the reproductive capability over the lifetime of a female. The primordial follicle is composed of two cell members, namely the oocyte and the pre-granulosa cells that encircle the oocyte. However, it is unclear what factors are involved in the reorganization of the two distinct cells into one functional unit.

Cyclic AMP in oocytes controls meiotic prophase I and primordial folliculogenesis in the perinatal mouse ovary.

In mammalian ovaries, a fixed population of primordial follicles forms during the perinatal stage and the oocytes contained within are arrested at the dictyate stage of meiotic prophase I. In the current study, we provide evidence that the level of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in oocytes regulates oocyte meiotic prophase I and primordial folliculogenesis in the perinatal mouse ovary. Our results show that the early meiotic development of oocytes is closely correlated with increased levels of intra-oocyte cAMP.

[Quality of life and its influencing factors of advanced schistosomiasis patients in Qingpu District, Shanghai].

Objective: To assess the quality of life (QOL) of advanced schistosomiasis patients, and understand its influencing factors.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was carried out by using WHOQOL-BREF, and the information of demography, family, illness, health status, and health service was collected.

Results: Among the 217 advanced patients, the average age was (75.

Transforming growth factor-β signaling participates in the maintenance of the primordial follicle pool in the mouse ovary.

Physiologically, only a few primordial follicles are activated to enter the growing follicle pool each wave. Recent studies in knock-out mice show that early follicular activation depends on signaling from the tuberous sclerosis complex, the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways. However, the manner in which these pathways are normally regulated, and whether or not TGF-β acts on them are poorly understood.

Heterologous expression and characterization of a novel laccase isoenzyme with dyes decolorization potential from Coprinus comatus.

Two new laccase genes, named lac1 and lac2, were cloned from the edible basidiomycete Coprinus comatus. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences revealed two laccases showed 66.12 % identity and clustered with lac2 and lac3 from Coprinopsis cinerea in same phylogenetic group.

Retinoic acid derived from the fetal ovary initiates meiosis in mouse germ cells.

Meiotic initiation of germ cells at 13.5 dpc (days post-coitus) indicates female sex determination in mice. Recent studies reveal that mesonephroi-derived retinoic acid (RA) is the key signal for induction of meiosis.

Acute fasting decreases the expression of GLUT1 and glucose utilisation involved in mouse oocyte maturation and cumulus cell expansion.

Acute fasting impairs meiotic resumption and glucose consumption in mouse cumulus cell and oocyte complexes (COCs). This study examines the effects of acute fasting on the regulation of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) expression and glucose consumption in oocyte maturation. Our results indicate that the restriction of glucose utilisation by 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) mimicked the inhibitory effects of acute fasting on oocyte meiotic resumption and cumulus cell expansion, effects that were rescued by high glucose concentrations in the culture medium.

P4 down-regulates Jagged2 and Notch1 expression during primordial folliculogenesis.

Nest breakdown and primordial folliculogenesis of the mouse ovary can be inhibited by progesterone (P4) and Notch signaling inhibitors. However, the relationship between these two signals during this process remains unknown. In the present study, transcript levels of Jagged2, Notch1, and their target, Hey2, increased markedly in ovaries during the beginning stage of folliculogenesis (17.

Stage-specific mice ovarian somatic cell is involved in primordial folliculogenesis.

Although recent studies have shown that female germ cells can be produced from stem-cell lines in mice, whether these germ cells can interact with ovarian somatic cells (OSCs) to form primordial follicles (PFs) is still unclear. Here, we found after the PF pool is established, Irx3 and FoxL2 which were extensively expressed in the OSCs of the perinatal mouse decreased. Additionally, during primordial folliculogenesis, down-regulation of FoxL2 prevents OSCs invading germ cell cysts.