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The dinoflagellates Karenia mikimotoi and Prorocentrum donghaiense are both important causative species of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the East China Sea. The ichthyotoxic K. mikimotoi, which occasionally leads to large-scale HABs in the East China Sea, is difficult to be discriminated from other morphologically similar species in the family Kareniaceae by light microscope observation. To improve the accuracy and efficiency in detection of K. mikimotoi, a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay was developed in this study. The qPCR assay has high specificity and sensitivity, which allows the detection of K. mikimotoi at the lower detection limit of one cell. The qPCR assay target K. mikimotoi, together with another qPCR assay previously developed for P. donghaiense, was applied to study a bloom of dinoflagellates in the coastal waters of Fujian province from April 25 to June 11 in 2019. Cells of K. mikimotoi were detected in about half of the samples, and the maximum abundance was lower than 30 cells L−1. Abundance of P. donghaiense cells (maximum abundance above 106 cells L−1) were determined using both qPCR assay and light microscope cell counting, and the results of the two methods were consistent with each other. The qPCR assays of the blooming dinoflagellates offer reliable and accurate approaches for the detection of HABs species.

Women younger than 40 years may face early menopause because of premature ovarian failure (POF). The cause of POF can be idiopathic or iatrogenic, especially the cancer-induced oophorectomy and chemo- or radiation therapy. The current treatments, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and cryopreservation techniques, have increased risk of ovarian cancer and may reintroduce malignant cells after autografting. Decellularization technique has been regarded as a novel regenerative medicine strategy for organ replacement, wherein the living cells of an organ are removed, leaving the extracellular matrix (ECM) for cellular seeding. This study aimed to produce a xenogeneic decellularized ovary (D-ovary) scaffold as a platform for ovary regeneration and transplantation. We have developed a novel decellularization protocol for porcine ovary by treatment with physical, chemical, and enzymatic methods. Using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, DAPI staining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and quantitative analysis, this approach proved effective in removing cellular components and preserving ECM. Furthermore, the results of biological safety evaluation demonstrated that the D-ovary tissues were noncytotoxic for rat ovarian cells in vitro and caused only a minimal immunogenic response in vivo . In addition, the D-ovary tissues successfully supported rat granulosa cell penetration ex vivo and showed an improvement in estradiol (E2) hormone secretion.

Objective： It is revealed that circulating fibrocytes are elevated in patients/animals with cardiac fibrosis, and this review aims to provide an introduction to circulating fibrocytes and their role in cardiac fibrosis.Data Sources： This review is based on the data from 1994 to present obtained from PubMed.The search terms were ＆quot;circulating fibrocytes＆quot; and ＆quot;cardiac fibrosis＆quot;.Study Selection： Articles and critical reviews, which are related to circulating fibrocytes and cardiac fibrosis, were selected.Results： Circulating fibrocytes, which are derived from hematopoietic stem cells, represent a subset of peripheral blood mononuclear cells exhibiting mixed morphological and molecular characteristics ofhematopoietic and mesenchymal cells （CD34＋/CD45＋/collagen I＋）.They can produce extracellular matrix and many cytokines.It is shown that circulating fibrocytes participate in many fibrotic diseases, including cardiac fibrosis.Evidence accumulated in recent years shows that aging individuals and patients with hypertension, heart failure, coronary heart disease, and atrial fibrillation have more circulating fibrocytes in peripheral blood and/or heart tissue, and this elevation of circulating fibrocytes is correlated with the degree of fibrosis in the hearts.Conclusions： Circulating fibrocytes are effector cells in cardiac fibrosis.

Representative pioneer tree root systems in the subtropical area of South China were examined with regard to their structure, underground stratification and biomass distribution. Excavation of skeleton roots and observation of fine roots of seven species including the Euphorbiaceae, Theaceae, Melastomataceae, Lauraceae and Fagaceae families was carried out. The results showed that： （1） Pioneer tree roots in the first stage of natural succession were of two types, one characterized by taproot system with bulky plagiotropic branches; the other characterized by flat root system with several tabular roots. The late mesophilous tree roots were characterized by one obvious taproot and tactic braches roots up and down. Shrub species roots were characterized by heart fibrous root type featured both by horizontally and transversally growing branches. Root shapes varied in different dominant species at different stages of succession. （2） Roots of the different species varied in the external features-color, periderm and structure of freshly cut slash. （3） In a set of successional stages the biomass of tree roots increased linearly with the age of growth. During monsoon, the total root biomass amounted to 115.70 t/ha in the evergreen broadqeaved forest; 50.61 t/ha in needle and broad-leaved mixed forest dominated by coniferous forest; and 64.20 t/ha in broad-and needle-leaved mixed forest dominated by broad-leaved heliophytes, and are comparable to the underground biomass observed in similar tropical forests. This is the first report about roots characteristics of forest in the lower sub-tropical area of Dinghushan, Guangdong, China.