A multiscale analysis of coralline algae Lithophylloideae (Corallinophycidae, Rhodophyta) shedding new light on understanding cryptic diversity.

Cryptic diversity abounds in many biological species, posing challenges to our understanding of biological diversity, conservation and management. Taking the common coralline algae, the subfamily Lithophylloideae as an illustration, this study delved into the implications of cryptic diversity through global-level phylogenetic and geographical analysis based upon Lithophylloideae molecular data worldwide, as well as a multi-locus time-calibrated phylogeny to elucidate their possible evolutionary process. The multiscale analysis revealed the polyphyly in current concept of the genus Lithophyllum.

[Clinical efficacy of magnetic resonance electromagnetic therapy combined with Qianlie Beixi Capsules in the treatment of chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome].

Objective: To evaluate the effect and safety of the magnetic resonance electromagnetic therapy (MREM) combined with Qianlie Beixi Capsules (QBC) in the treatment of chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

Methods: Using a prospective, two-center, randomized, open, positive drug-loading, parallel-controlled clinical design, we randomly divided 124 patients with CP/CPPS into a control and an observation group of equal number, the former treated with QBC and the latter with QBC combined with MREM for a course of 14 days. Then, we compared the NIH-CPSI scores before and after treatment, the total effectiveness rate and safety between the two groups of patients.

Fucoxanthin Exerts Cytoprotective Effects against Hydrogen Peroxide-induced Oxidative Damage in L02 Cells.

Several previous studies have demonstrated the excellent antioxidant activity of fucoxanthin against oxidative stress which is closely related to the pathogenesis of liver diseases. The present work was to investigate whether fucoxanthin could protect human hepatic L02 cells against hydrogen peroxide- (HO-) induced oxidative damage. Its effects on HO-induced cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, intracellular reduced glutathione, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents, along with mRNA and protein relative levels of the cytoprotective genes including Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1, were investigated.

Diluted seawater affects phytohormone receptors and maintains the protonema stage in Physcomitrella patens.

Due to its highly efficient homologous recombination ability and unusual evolutionary position, the moss Physcomitrella patens has begun to attract more attention in genetic and evolutionary studies. Protonema, the filament stage of the gametophyte, is of great significance in P. patens protoplast isolation.

Comparison of Intraperitoneal and Intraepididymal Quercetin for the Prevention of Testicular Torsion/Detorsion-induced Injury.

Objective: To compare the effects of intraepididymal quercetin (IE-QE) with those of intraperitoneal quercetin (IP-QE) on testicular torsion/detorsion (TD)-induced ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury of the testes in an experimental rat model.

Methods: Twenty-four rats were divided into 4 groups: sham (S), TD, TD treated with IP-QE, and TD treated with IE-QE. The IP-QE group received 20 mg/kg QE intraperitoneally, whereas the IE-QE group received quercetin (QE) epididymally.

Comparison of quercetin and resveratrol in the prevention of injury due to testicular torsion/detorsion in rats.

Quercetin (QE) and resveratrol (RSV) are powerful antioxidants with the potential to protect the testes against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. We compared their effects in testicular torsion/detorsion (T/D) in adult rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: sham (group A), T/D (group B), T/D treated with QE (group C), and T/D treated with RSV (group D).

Simultaneous measurements of H+ and O2 fluxes in Zostera marina and its physiological implications.

Zostera marina (eelgrass) is an important ecological component of many shallow, temperate lagoons. Evidence suggests that Z. marina has a high bicarbonate utilization capability, which could be promoted by possible proton extrusion and the consequent formation of an 'acid zone' in the apoplastic space (unstirred layer) of its leaves.

[Isolation of a high hydrogen-producing mutant TB34 generated by transposon insertion and analysis of hydrogen production].

To increase the hydrogen-producing capacity of Pantoea agglomerans BH18, isolated from mangrove sludge, we constructed a stable transposon mutagenesis library of this strain. A Tn7-based transposon was randomly inserted into the genomic DNA. Mutants were screened by kanamycin resistance and identified by amplification of the inserted transposon sequences.

Morphological and photosynthetic variations in the process of spermatia formation from vegetative cells in Porphyra yezoensis Ueda (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) and their responses to desiccation.

Porphyra yezoensis has a macroscopic foliage gametophyte phase with only a single cell layer, and is ideally suited for the study of the sexual differentiation process, from the vegetative cell to the spermatia. Firstly, we compared variations in the responses of the vegetative and male sectors to desiccation. Later, cell tracking experiments were carried out during the formation of spermatia from vegetative cells.

Effect of iron on growth and lipid accumulation in Chlorella vulgaris.

The economic feasibility of algal mass culture for biodiesel production is enhanced by the increase in biomass productivity and storage lipids. Effect of iron on growth and lipid accumulation in marine microalgae Chlorella vulgaris were investigated. In experiment I, supplementing the growth media with chelated FeCl3 in the late growth phase increased the final cell density but did not induce lipid accumulation in cells.

Large-scale recovery of C-phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis using expanded bed adsorption chromatography.

C-phycocyanin was purified on a large scale by a combination of expanded bed adsorption, anion-exchange chromatography and hydroxyapatite chromatography from inferior Spirulina platensis that cannot be used for human consumption. First, phycobiliproteins were extracted by a simple, scaleable method and then were recovered by Phenyl-Sepharose chromatography in an expanded bed column. The purity (the A(620)/A(280) ratio) of C-phycocyanin isolated with STREAMLINE column was up to 2.

Method for large-scale isolation and purification of R-phycoerythrin from red alga Polysiphonia urceolata Grev.

R-phycoerythrin was isolated and purified from a red alga, Polysiphonia urceolata Grev, using Streamline column combined with ion-exchange chromatography or hydroxyapatite chromatography. The purity of R-phycoerythrin isolated by Streamline column was up to 1.66 and the yield of R-phycoerythrin could be as high as 0.

Isolation and characterization of photosystem II of Porphyra yezoensis Ueda.

The thylakoid membranes were isolated and purified from gametophyte of Porphyra yezoensis Ueda (P. yezoensis) by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. After P.

The experimental research of R-phycoerythrin subunits on cancer treatment: a new photosensitizer in PDT.

The mouse tumor cell S180 and human liver carcinoma cell SMC 7721 cells were first treated with R-PE and its subunits (alpha, beta, gamma subunits), then irradiated with Argon laser (496 nm, 28.8 J/cm2). Survival rate was measured by MTT method.