Superconductivity below 20 K in heavily electron-doped surface layer of FeSe bulk crystal

A superconducting transition temperature (T_c) as high as 100 K was recently discovered in one monolayer FeSe grown on SrTiO₃. The discovery ignited efforts to identify the mechanism for the markedly enhanced T_c from its bulk value of 8 K. There are two main views about the origin of the T_c enhancement: interfacial effects and/or excess electrons with strong electron correlation. Here, we report the observation of superconductivity below 20 K in surface electron-doped bulk FeSe. The doped surface layer possesses all the key spectroscopic aspects of the monolayer FeSe on SrTiO₃. Without interfacial effects, the surface layer state has a moderate T_c of 20 K with a smaller gap opening of 4.2 meV. Our results show that excess electrons with strong correlation cannot induce the maximum T_c, which in turn reveals the need for interfacial effects to achieve the highest T_c in one monolayer FeSe on SrTiO₃.

Thin FeSe film on SrTiO₃ substrate becomes a superconductor with a transition temperature over 100 K, yet the origin remains controversial. Here, Seo et al. show superconductivity below 20 K on the electron-doped surface of an FeSe crystal, suggesting a decisive role of interfacial effects in the enhancement of superconductivity.

Antifungal activity of rimocidin and a new rimocidin derivative BU16 produced by Streptomyces mauvecolor BU16 and their effects on pepper anthracnose

AIMS

The objective of this study was to explore antifungal metabolites targeting fungal cell envelope and to evaluate the control efficacy against anthracnose development in pepper plants.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A natural product library comprising 3000 microbial culture extracts was screened via an adenylate kinase (AK)-based cell lysis assay to detect antifungal metabolites targeting the cell envelope of plant-pathogenic fungi. The culture extract of Streptomyces mauvecolor strain BU16 displayed potent AK-releasing activity. Rimocidin and a new rimocidin derivative, BU16, were identified from the extract as active constituents. BU16 is a tetraene macrolide containing a six-membered hemiketal ring with an ethyl group side chain instead of the propyl group in rimocidin. Rimocidin and BU16 showed broad-spectrum antifungal activity against various plant-pathogenic fungi and demonstrated potent control efficacy against anthracnose development in pepper plants.

CONCLUSIONS

Antifungal metabolites produced by S. mauvecolor strain BU16 were identified to be rimocidin and BU16. The compounds displayed potent control efficacy against pepper anthracnose.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Rimocidin and BU16 would be active ingredients of disease control agents disrupting cell envelope of plant-pathogenic fungi. The structure and antifungal activity of rimocidin derivative BU16 is first described in this study.

Development of a high-resolution melting marker for selecting Fusarium crown and root rot resistance in tomato

Fusarium crown and root rot is a severe fungal disease of tomato caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL). In this study, the genomic location of the FORL-resistance locus was determined using a set of molecular markers on chromosome 9 and an F2 population derived from FORL-resistant inbred ‘AV107-4’ (Solanum lycopersicum) × susceptible ‘L3708’ (Solanum pimpinellifolium). Bioassay performed using Korean FORL strain KACC 40031 showed single dominant inheritance of FORL resistance in the F2 population. In all, 13 polymerase chain reaction-based markers encompassing approximately 3.6–72.0 Mb of chromosome 9 were developed based on the Tomato-EXPEN 2000 map and SolCAP Tomato single nucleotide polymorphism array analysis. These markers were genotyped on 345 F2 plants, and the FORL-resistance locus was found to be present on a pericentromeric region of suppressed chromosomal recombination in chromosome 9. The location of the FORL-resistance locus was further confirmed by testing these markers against diverse commercial tomato and stock cultivars resistant to FORL. A restriction fragment length polymorphism marker, PNU-D4, located at approximately 6.1 Mb of chromosome 9 showed the highest match with the resistance locus and was used for conducting high-resolution melting analysis for marker-assisted selection of FORL resistance.

Discrepancies of the Values on the Withholding Futile Interventions between Physician and Family Members of Terminal Cancer Patients

PURPOSE

To analyze the controversies surrounding therapeutic decision-making and the withholding of life- sustaining treatments, values held concerning therapeutic interventions of terminal cancer patients are compared between physicians and family members.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

42 advanced or terminal stage cancer patients were enrolled for the study. The questionnaires were administered to the duty doctor and the family of the patients. Questions included whether to use new agents with a 15% partial efficacy and whether to use opioid analgesics, intravenous nutrition, a feeding tube, antibiotics, and hemodialysis. Additionally, we asked about the administration of CPR, ventilator application, and euthanasia. If the family permitted, the same questionnaires were given to the patients.

RESULTS

Of the 42 cases, 5 families refused to answer the questionnaire. Of the available 37 families, only 5 families permitted access to the patients. Of the 5 patients, 2 patients refused the questionnaire. Only 67.6% and 8.1% of families and the patients clearly understood the stage of cancer. The use of a new agent was accepted by 45.2% of the physicians and 45.9% of the families. The rankings of the acceptance of treatment in the physicians and in the families were similar. The concordance rate between the physicians and the families was lowest on ventilator application and CPR. 31% of the physicians and 43.2% of the families agreed on the issue of euthanasia.

CONCLUSION

Values held on issues like therapeutic decision-making and the withholding of life-sustaining treatments in terminal cancer patients are discordant between physicians and family members. In order to resolve controversies on the role of physicians in end-of-life decisions, the values of physicians as well as patients and their family members should be considered in the final decision-making process.

Retinoic Acid as a Radiosensitizer on the Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines

PURPOSE

Retinoic acid is a substance that has previously been reported to increase radiosensitivity, but at concentrations likely to inhibit cell growth or to induce celluar differentiation. We choose head and neck cancer cell lines to investigate the role of retinoic acid as a radiosensitizer and to elucidate the mechanism through the changes in the expression of retinoid receptors and squamous cell differentiation marker.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three cell lines (PCI-50, SqCC/ Y1 and UMSCC-11B) were used. 7-AAD staining for apoptosis and Western blot analysis for RAR-alpha, beta, gamma, RXR-alpha, beta, gamma and involucrin were performed after various treatments (control, beta-all-trans-retinoic acid (t-RA) only (10 6 M), radiation only (3 Gy), radiation with t-RA).

RESULTS

The synergistic radiosensitivity effect of t-RA was seen only radioresistant UMSCC-11B cell line. Expression of RAR-beta was induced by t-RA in maily UMSCC- 11B cell line. RAR-alpha,gamma, and RXR-alpha, beta, gamma expression were not changed in all cell lines tested. Expression of involucrin was inhibited by t-RA in PCI-50 cell line but other two cell lines were not changed by t-RA treatment.

CONCLUSION

We found that only radioresistant cell line (UMSCC-11B) showed synergistic radiosensitivity effect by t-RA and this mechanism may be through RAR-beta expression induction.

Efficacy of Pre- and Postoperative Chemotherapy in Patients with Osteosarcoma of the Extremities

PURPOSE

We evaluated the treatment efficacy including survival and recurrence, and factors associated with recurrence in osteosarcoma patients treated with preoperative chemotherapy, surgery, and adjuvant chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty nine patients with osteosarcoma were treated with preoperative chemotherapy with intra-arterial cisplatin and adriamycin infusion for 3 cycles, followed by surgery. According to the pathologic response, if tumor was necrotized more than 90%, the same adjuvant chemotherapy was reintroduced for 3 cycles, and if the response was not enough, then the salvage regimen was introduced. Plain chest film and chest CT scan were taken monthly and every 3 months, respectively. When tumor recurred, the metastasectomy was performed whenever possible.

RESULTS

Forty three patients were evaluable with amedian follow up of 53 months. Five-year disease-free and overallsurvival rate was 47.0% and 66.9%, respectively. The recurrence was observed in 22 patients (51.2%) with median time of 12.5 months. Baseline alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was the only significant factor for recurrence (p=0.03) and the patients with the possibility of metastasectomy recurrence showed higher post-relapse survival compared to other treatment modalities (26 momths vs 5~12 months).

CONCLUSION

These results indicates that pre- and postoperative chemotherapy with intra-arterial cisplatin and adriamycin infusion showed comparable treatment efficacy and acceptable toxicities.

Efficacy of Low-dose Paclitaxel and Cisplatin in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of combination chemotherapy with low-dose paclitaxel and cisplatin in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Chemotherapy-naive patients with unresectable, pathologically proven non-small cell lung cancer were eligible for inclusion in the study. Patients received paclitaxel (145 mg/m2 iv 3 hour D1) and cisplatin (60 mg/m2 iv D1) every 3 weeks.

RESULTS

Forty-two patients were enrolled between February 2000 and February 2001. The median age was 53.5 years. Patients with adenocarcinoma numbered 29, squamous cell carcinoma 7, large cell carcinoma 3, and undifferentiated carcinoma 3. Seventeen patients had stage IIIB, 19 had stage IV disease and the remaining 6 displayed recurred disease after previous surgical resection. Four patients terminated treatment early because of hypersensitivity (1) and severe emesis (3). Of the 38 evaluable patients, 14 had PR and the response rate was 36.8%. Among partial responders, 6 patients received additional chest radiation. The median duration of response was 47.9 weeks and the median overall survival was 54.0 weeks. Of the total 176 courses, 14 were delayed, 22 required dose reduction, and grade 3~4 neutropenia occurred in 5.6% of courses. Only one episode of neutropenic fever developed and there were no treatment- related mortalities. Other toxicities were generally mild.

CONCLUSION

The combination chemotherapy with low-dose paclitaxel and cisplatin was effective and tolerable in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Artefacts at a glance: differentiating features of artefactual stenosis from true stenosis at the genu of the petrous internal carotid artery on TOF MRA

AIM

To investigate the distinguishing features of artefactual stenosis from true stenosis at the genu of the petrous internal carotid artery (ICA) on time of flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Both TOF MRA and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were performed in 65 patients with 74 vessels who demonstrated artefactual stenosis in 43 patients with 50 vessels and true stenosis in 22 patients with 24 vessels. The following findings of the signal loss were compared between the two groups: (1) margin, (2) darkness, (3) the presence of bilaterality, (4) the presence of tandem arterial stenosis, (5) the location of the epicentre, and (6) length.

RESULTS

In five out of the six evaluated items, statistically significant differences were present between the two groups (p<0.00 in all five items). Artefactual stenosis more frequently showed signal loss with ill-defined margins (47/50), less darkness compared to the background darkness (46/50), the absence of tandem arterial stenosis (35/50), epicentre at the genu (34/50), and shorter length (2.57 ± 0.68 mm). No significant difference was noted in the presence of bilaterality of signal loss between the two groups (p=0.706).

CONCLUSION

Several MRA features can be useful for suggesting artefactual stenosis rather than true stenosis at the genu of the petrous ICA on TOF MRA.

Spatiotemporal Evolution of the Primary Glioblastoma Genome

Tumor recurrence following treatment is the major cause of mortality for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients. Thus, insights on the evolutionary process at recurrence are critical for improved patient care. Here, we describe our genomic analyses of the initial and recurrent tumor specimens from each of 38 GBM patients. A substantial divergence in the landscape of driver alterations was associated with distant appearance of a recurrent tumor from the initial tumor, suggesting that the genomic profile of the initial tumor can mislead targeted therapies for the distally recurred tumor. In addition, in contrast to IDH1-mutated gliomas, IDH1-wild-type primary GBMs rarely developed hypermutation following temozolomide (TMZ) treatment, indicating low risk for TMZ-induced hypermutation for these tumors under the standard regimen.

Circadian control of β-cell function and stress responses

Circadian disruption is the bane of modern existence and its deleterious effects on health; in particular, diabetes and metabolic syndrome have been well recognized in shift workers. Recent human studies strongly implicate a 'dose-dependent' relationship between circadian disruption and diabetes. Genetic and environmental disruption of the circadian clock in rodents leads to diabetes secondary to β-cell failure. Deletion of Bmal1, a non-redundant core clock gene, leads to defects in β-cell stimulus-secretion coupling, decreased glucose-stimulated ATP production, uncoupling of OXPHOS and impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Both genetic and environmental circadian disruptions are sufficient to induce oxidative stress and this is mediated by a disruption of the direct transcriptional control of the core molecular clock and Bmal1 on Nrf2, the master antioxidant transcription factor in the β-cell. In addition, circadian disruption also leads to a dysregulation of the unfolded protein response and leads to endoplasmic reticulum stress in β-cells. Both the oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress contribute to an impairment of mitochondrial function and β-cell failure. Understanding the basis of the circadian control of these adaptive stress responses offers hope to target them for pharmacological modulation to prevent and mitigate the deleterious metabolic consequences of circadian disruption.

Correlation of Asymmetry Indices Measured by Arterial Spin-Labeling MR Imaging and SPECT in Patients with Crossed Cerebellar Diaschisis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Crossed cerebellar diaschisis, not only a secondary result of supratentorial infarction but also an indicator of clinical outcomes, has frequently been reported on PET and SPECT but has been rarely described with arterial spin-labeling MR imaging. The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of arterial spin-labeling MR imaging to evaluate crossed cerebellar diaschisis compared with that of SPECT. To our knowledge, this is the first study to validate arterial spin-labeling in crossed cerebellar diaschisis by using SPECT as a reference standard.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included 16 patients in whom crossed cerebellar diaschisis was shown on SPECT and 10 control subjects in whom crossed cerebellar diaschisis was not shown on SPECT. During the qualitative analysis, asymmetric cerebellar perfusion on arterial spin-labeling was divided into 1 of the following 3 grades by 2 blinded observers: the affected cerebellum was isointense compared with the unaffected cerebellum (grade I), it was slightly hypointense (grade II), or it was markedly hypointense (grade III). In the quantitative analysis, asymmetry indices were calculated by using SPECT and arterial spin-labeling images. For statistical analysis, κ statistics, the interobserver correlation coefficient, the independent t test, Pearson correlation, and linear regression analysis were used.

RESULTS

Almost all the diagnoses of crossed cerebellar diaschisis on SPECT were noted on arterial spin-labeling in both qualitative and quantitative analyses with good interobserver agreement (κ = 0.961; interobserver correlation coefficient, 0.806). The mean asymmetry index of arterial spin-labeling (26.06 ± 9.00) was significantly larger than that for SPECT (15.28 ± 5.34; P < .001). There was a significant positive correlation between the asymmetry indices obtained for SPECT and those for arterial spin-labeling (r = 0.77 [95% CI, 0.443-0.916]; P < .001). The relationship of asymmetry indices between SPECT and arterial spin-labeling (x, y) was calculated as y = 6.2131 + 1.2986x (R(2) = 0.592; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Arterial spin-labeling can be a noninvasive alternative to SPECT for evaluating crossed cerebellar diaschisis.

Multisession Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Orbital Apex Tumors

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed to analyze the outcome of multisession gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS) in benign tumors located at the orbital apex.

METHODS

Medical records of 23 patients who underwent multisession GKS for benign orbital apex tumors were reviewed retrospectively. Three patients were diagnosed by histology, and the other 20 patients were given the diagnoses on the basis of clinical and radiological findings. Diagnoses included cavernous hemangioma (8 cases), meningioma (8 cases), and schwannoma (7 cases). All patients were treated with 4 sessions of GKS with 12 hours of interval. Median marginal dose in each session was 5 Gy (range, 4.5-5.5 Gy) at the 50% isodose line (range, 50%-55%).

RESULTS

Mean clinical and imaging follow-up duration after treatment were 52.1 and 34.2 months, respectively. Tumor control was achieved in 22 patients (95.7%). Significant tumor shrinkage was observed in 17 patients (73.9%), and mean tumor volume reduction rate was 53.9%. Visual function was improved in 16 patients (69.6%) and stable in 4 patients (17.4%). Deterioration of visual acuity was reported by 3 patients (13.0%). Clinical and radiological response to multisession GKS was most excellent in cavernous hemangiomas with tumor control in all patients, and the mean tumor volume reduction rate was 68.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

Multisession GKS proved to be an effective and safe management strategy for benign orbital apex tumors. Response to treatment was different according to the pathology, and multisession GKS may be considered as the initial treatment of choice for specific pathology such as cavernous hemangioma.

Clinical significance of multidetector coronary computed tomography angiography to evaluate the prevalence and severity of coronary artery disease in asymptomatic kidney transplantation recipients

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of mortality in kidney transplantation (KT) recipients. Noninvasive coronary angiography with the use of multidetector computerized tomography (MDCT) is feasible with high sensitivity and negative predictive value to evaluate CAD. However, few studies have been conducted to elucidate the applicability of MDCT in KT. This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence and severity of CAD with the use of MDCT angiography in asymptomatic KT recipients.

METHODS

From September 2011 to November 2013, MDCT angiography was performed on 90 renal transplant recipients who had no pre-transplantation CAD history and stabilized post-transplantation renal function for 6-18 months. According to the MDCT results, we divided our study population into 2 groups: The no-CAD group (n = 36; 40.0%) and the CAD group (n = 54; 60.0%). Severity of CAD was categorized as follows: mild CAD, 1 vessel obstructive, 2 vessels obstructive (or in the proximal left anterior descending), and 3 vessels obstructive (or left main).

RESULTS

Among the risk factors, pre-transplantation diabetes mellitus and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein, higher parathyroid hormone levels, higher coronary artery calcification scores, and rejection episodes were independent factors for CAD. Thirty-two (59.3%) of the CAD group had mild obstructive lesions and 22 (40.7%) had obstructive lesions in >1 vessel according to MDCT angiography.

CONCLUSIONS

MDCT angiography is a useful and noninvasive method for detecting CAD even in asymptomatic KT recipients.

First Report of Choanephora Rot Caused by Choanephora cucurbitarum on Hosta plantaginea in Korea

Hosta plantaginea (Lam.) Asch. is an herbaceous perennial plant with ornamental value. In August 2013, water-soaked spots and wet rot were found on flowers of H. plantaginea in a garden bedded out for landscaping in Hongcheon County, Korea. Symptoms initially appeared as water-soaked spots at the tips of flowers. Dark gray spots on flower petals often coalesced and led to rotting of flowers, with abundant sporulation. However, no symptoms were found on the leaves. Approximately 30% of the flowers were affected in the landscape bed. A fungal isolate was obtained by plating surface-disinfested diseased flower tissue on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Fungal colonies covering the plate (diam. 90 mm) in 48 h were white at first, with abundant aerial mycelia, but later turned pale yellow with abundant sporangiola. Sporangiophores bearing sporangiola were aseptate, hyaline, and usually arose from infected tissue. Sporangiola were ellipsoid to ovoid, indehiscent, brown to dark brown, pediculate, 7 to 12 μm wide and 9 to 20 μm high, and showed longitudinal striations at high magnification. Sporangia were few-spored to multispored, pale brown to brown, and 50 to 150 μm. Sporangiospores from sporangia were broadly ellipsoid, brown to pale brown, with hyaline polar appendages, 8 to 10 μm wide and 15 to 22 μm high. Zygospores were not observed. The morphological and cultural characteristics, especially based on shape and striation of sporangiola, were identical with those of Choanephora cucurbitarum (Berk. & Ravenel) Thaxt. (2,3). A representative specimen was deposited in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS-F27540). Genomic DNA was extracted using a DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA). The primers ITS1/ITS4 and NL1/LR3 were used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA and the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU), respectively (4). The PCR products were purified and directly sequenced. The resulting 594-bp ITS and 680-bp D1/D2 sequences were submitted to GenBank (Accession Nos. KM200034 and KM200035). A GenBank BLAST search of the fungal database showed that the sequences of ITS and D1/D2 regions matched those of C. cucurbitrarum (JN943006 and JN939195) with 100% similarity. A pathogenicity test was conducted by spraying three healthy potted plants (2 months old) with a sporangiola suspension (2 × 10⁴ conidia/ml). Another three potted plants of the same age were treated with sterile water and served as controls. The plants were kept in humid chambers for 2 days and placed in a greenhouse (28°C and 60 to 80% RH). After 4 to 5 days, water-soaked spots were evident on the flowers of inoculated plants. No symptoms were observed on control plants. A pathogenicity test was conducted twice with the same results, fulfilling Koch's postulates. C. cucurbitarum has a wide host range but has not been previously reported to cause disease on H. plantaginea (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. cucurbitarum on H. plantaginea globally as well as in Korea. Choanephora rot of flowers is an issue under high-moisture conditions, so allowing for adequate airflow and a dry plant canopy should aid in disease suppression. References: (1) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab. Online publication, ARS, USDA, retrieved July 11, 2014. (2) P. M. Kirk. Mycol. Pap. 152:1, 1984. (3) A. Saroj et al. Plant Dis. 96:293, 2012. (4) G. Walther et al. Persoonia 30:11, 2013.

Characterization of novel microsatellite markers derived from Korean rose bitterling (Rhodeus uyekii) genomic library

Korean rose bitterling (Rhodeus uyekii) is a freshwater fish endemic to Korea. Natural populations of this species have experienced severe declines as a result of habitat fragmentation and water pollution. To conserve and restore R. uyekii, the genetic diversity of this species needs to be assessed at the population level. Eighteen novel polymorphic microsatellite loci for R. uyekii were developed using an enriched partial genomic library. Polymorphisms at these loci were studied in 150 individuals collected from three populations. The number of alleles at each locus ranged from 3 to 47 (mean = 17.1). Within the populations, the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.032 to 1.000, expected heterozygosity from 0.082 to 0.967, and polymorphism information content from 0.078 to 0.950. Six loci showed significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium after Bonferroni's correction, and no significant linkage disequilibrium was detected between most locus pairs, except in three cases. These highly informative microsatellite markers should be useful for genetic population structure analyses of R. uyekii.

Relative adrenal insufficiency in chronic liver disease: its prevalence and effects on long-term mortality

BACKGROUND

The relationship between relative adrenal insufficiency (RAI) and chronic liver disease is unclear.

AIM

To determine the frequency with which RAI is observed in noncritically ill patients at various stages of chronic liver disease, and the correlation between RAI and disease severity and long-term mortality.

METHODS

In total, 71 non-critically ill patients with liver cirrhosis (n = 54) and chronic hepatitis (n = 17) were evaluated prospectively. A short stimulation test (SST) with 250 μg of corticotrophin was performed to detect RAI. RAI was defined as an increase in serum cortisol of <9 μg/dL in patients with a basal total cortisol of <35 μg/dL.

RESULTS

RAI was observed in only 13 (24.1%) of 54 patients with cirrhosis. Compared to those without RAI, cirrhotic patients with RAI had significantly higher Child-Turcotte-Pugh score (10.3 ± 1.7 vs. 7.1 ± 1.8, mean ± s.d., P < 0.001) and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score (14.5 ± 6.6 vs. 9.4 ± 3.7, P = 0.017). The cortisol response to corticotropin was negatively correlated with the severity of cirrhosis (P < 0.05). In addition, the mortality rate was higher in cirrhotic patients with RAI (69.2%) than in those without RAI (4.9%; P < 0.001) during the follow-up period of 20.1 ± 13.5 months (range, 5.8-51.1 months). The cumulative 1-year survival rates in cirrhotic patients with and without RAI were 69.2% and 95.0%, respectively (P = 0.05), while the corresponding cumulative 3-year survival rates were 0% and 95.0% (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Relative adrenal insufficiency is more commonly observed in those with severe cirrhosis, and is clearly associated with more advanced liver disease and a shortened long-term survival. This suggests that relative adrenal insufficiency is an independent prognostic factor in non-critically ill patients with cirrhosis.

First Report of Black Stem Caused by Botryosporium longibrachiatum on Statice in Korea

Perennial statice is widely cultivated worldwide. In Korea, hybrid statice (Limonium latifolium × bellidifolium) is grown as a commercial cut flower crop in polyethylene-film-covered greenhouses. In April 2013, hundreds of hybrid statice plants of the cvs. Yellow Cream and Pinky Cream were found symptomatic of a previously unknown disease, with 10 to 15% incidence in 10 greenhouses of 1,600 m² surveyed in Gochang County, Korea. Affected stems turned dark brown and were usually covered with a fungus resembling the hoar-frost fungus, Botryosporium longibrachiatum (3), especially in a cool and humid environment. Symptoms consisted of stem blackening, as is typical for burley tobacco (1) and sweet basil (2). According to the farmer of the hybrid statice, stems blackened in the winter and spring of January to April when the tunnels were mostly closed, thus reaching 100% relative humidity (RH) every night due to poor ventilation. The fungus had an elongate main axis with lateral fertile branches in acropetal succession. Conidiophores were simple, erect, macronematous, 32 to 79 μm in length, with a terminal cluster of three to five ampullae. Conidiogneous cells were polyblastic. Conidia were ellipsoidal, elliptical-fusiform, hyaline, 7.6 to 9.5 × 3.0 to 4.2 μm. Colonies on potato dextrose agar (PDA) were floccose, non-pigmented, and chalk-white in color. Morphological and cultural characteristics of the fungus were consistent with previous reports of B. longibrachiatum (Oudem.) Maire (2,3). A voucher specimen was deposited in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). Isolate KUS-F27305 was submitted to the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (Accession No. KACC47263). Fungal DNA was extracted from isolate KACC47263 with DNeasy Plant Mini Kits. The complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified with the primers ITS1/ITS4 and sequenced. The resulting sequence of 604 bp was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KF372591). A BLAST search in GenBank exhibited ≥99% nucleotide identity with the ITS sequence of B. longibrachiatum (JX666334) from sweet basil in Korea. To confirm pathogenicity, colonized mycelial agar blocks from isolate KACC47263 were transferred individually onto stem apices and leaves of five statice plants of the cv. Yellow Cream. Five control plants were treated similarly with non-colonized agar blocks. The plants were incubated in a humid chamber at 22 ± 2°C with a 12-h photoperiod for 48 h, and then maintained in 100% RH. After 3 to 4 days, necrotic lesions identical to those observed in the original greenhouses, started to develop on the stem and leaves of inoculated plants, leading to blackened stems covered with the hoar-frost fungus after 14 days. B. longibrachiatum was re-isolated from the lesions of inoculated plants, fulfilling Koch's postulates. No symptoms were observed on control plants. The pathogenicity test was repeated with the cv. Pinky Cream with identical results. To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. longibrachiatum infecting perennial statice globally as well as in Korea. We propose the name black stem of statice for this disease, analogous to the disease on basil (2). References: (1) T. R. Anderson and T. W. Welacky. Plant Dis. 67:1158, 1983. (2) J. H. Park et al. Plant Dis. 97:425, 2013. (3) C. V. Subramanian. Hyphomycetes. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India, 1971.

Oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for pT3 upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma

AIM

We present the oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy management of pT3 upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

METHODS

Between October 2003 and January 2011, 50 patients with pT3 upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma which had pathologically confirmed underwent laparoscopic nephroureterectomy at our institution. Demographic data, perioperative results, pathological findings and oncologic outcomes were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

There were 36 patients (72%) of high grade lesion and 14 patients (28%) of low grade lesion. Lymphovascular invasion was observed in 16 patients (32%) and the surgical margin was positive in one patient. N stage was pN0 in 16 (32%), pN1 in 3 (6%), pN2 in 1 (2%) and pN3 in 1 (2%). The 5-year overall survival rate was 52.6% and the 5-year cancer-specific survival rate was 65.3%. Overall recurrence developed in 23 patients. There were 10 patients (20%) of urothelial recurrence which were all occurred in the bladder at the mean period of 13.6 months, and 7 patients of them were invasive bladder cancer. There were 16 patients (32%) of non-urothelial recurrence developed at the mean period of 9.69 months. On multivariate analyses lymphadenopathy and lymph node involvement of cancer (N+) were identified as independent predictive factors for the cancer-specific survival, and concomitant bladder tumor, grade and lymphovascular invasion were identified as independent predictive factors for the overall recurrence free survival.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy in patients with high stage upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma appear comparable to those of open surgery in the regard of oncologic outcomes.

First Report of Leaf Spot Caused by Cercospora fukushiana on New Guinea Impatiens in Korea

New Guinea impatiens, Impatiens hawkeri W. Bull, is widely cultivated as a potted plant and garden plant. In July 2013, hundreds of young plants (cv. Fanfare) showing symptoms of leaf spot with approximately 50% incidence were found in polyethylene tunnels in Yongin City, Korea. Leaf spots were circular to oblong, reaching 6 mm or more in diameter. The spots were initially uniformly brown to reddish brown, turning gray with reddish brown margin. Diseased plants defoliated prematurely and were abandoned without marketing due to signs of discoloration and yellowing on leaves. A cercosporoid fungus was consistently observed in association with disease symptoms. Stromata were brown, small, and composed of a few swollen hyphal cells. Conidiophores were emerging through the cuticle, fasciculate (n = 2 to 20), olivaceous to brown, paler toward the apex, straight to mildly curved, geniculate, 30 to 260 μm long, 3.5 to 5 μm wide, 1- to 6-septate, and with conspicuous conidial scars. Conidia were hyaline and acicular. Smaller conidia were straight and longer conidia were mildly curved. Conidia were subacute to obtuse at the apex, truncate to obconically truncate at the base, 2- to 18-septate, 30 to 320 × 3.5 to 5.5 μm, and with thickened, darkened hila at the base. Morphological characteristics of the fungus were consistent with the previous reports of Cercospora fukushiana (Matsuura) W. Yamam. (1). Voucher specimens were housed in the Korea University herbarium (KUS). An isolate from KUS-F27438 was deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (Accession No. KACC47640). Fungal DNA was extracted with DNeasy Plant Mini Kits (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA). The complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified with the primers ITS1/ITS4 (4) and sequenced. The resulting sequence of 497 bp was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KJ620981). This showed >99% similarity with sequence of C. fukushiana (EF600954) on I. balsamina from Korea. Isolate of KACC47640 was used in the pathogenicity tests. Hyphal suspensions were prepared by grinding 3-week-old colonies grown on PDA with distilled water using a mortar and pestle. Five plants were inoculated with hyphal suspensions and five plants were sprayed with sterile distilled water. The plants were covered with plastic bags to maintain a relative humidity of 100% for 24 h and then transferred to a 25 ± 2°C greenhouse with a 12-h photoperiod. Typical symptoms of necrotic spots appeared on the inoculated leaves 10 days after inoculation, and were identical to the symptoms observed in the field. C. fukushiana was re-isolated from symptomatic leaf tissues, confirming Koch's postulates. No symptoms were observed on water-inoculated control plants. Previously, leaf spots of Impatiens spp. associated with C. apii, C. balsaminae, and C. fukushiana have been reported (1,2,3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. fukushiana on I. hawkeri in Korea. Our observations in the nurseries of I. hawkeri suggest that low humidity with good ventilation as well as plant hygiene in greenhouses might be main strategies for preventing this disease. References: (1) C. Chupp. A Monograph of the Fungus Genus Cercospora. Ithaca, NY, 1953. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., online publication, ARS, USDA, retrieved March 25, 2014. (3) J. M. Soares et al. Plant Dis. 93:1214, 2009. (4) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1990.

First Report of Anthracnose Caused by Colletotrichum lupini on Yellow Lupin in Korea

Yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) is native to the Mediterranean region of southern Europe. In Korea, yellow lupins are cultivated for ornamental purposes. In May 2013, hundreds of yellow lupins that were grown in pots for 7 weeks in polyethylene-film-covered greenhouses were observed severely damaged by a previously unknown disease with about 30% disease incidence in a flower farm in Yongin City, Korea. Voucher specimens were deposited in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). Early symptoms on petioles and stems appeared as small, slightly sunken, water-soaked, and circular spots. Lesions increased in size (4 to 12 μm in diameter), became more depressed, with a darkened central portion. As the disease progressed, affected areas sometimes girdled the stem and killed the shoot. Leaves were partly blighted, but less damaged. The darkened areas contained blackish acervuli from which masses of pale salmon-colored conidia were released in moist weather. Acervuli were circular to ellipsoid, 80 to 400 μm in diameter. Acervular setae were not observed. Conidia (n = 30) were long obclavate to oblong-elliptical, aguttulate, hyaline, and 10 to 18 × 3.6 to 5.2 μm with a length/width ratio of 2.6 to 3.6. Appressoria were single or occasionally in small dense clusters, medium brown, elliptical to round in outline with a smooth to lobate margin, and 8 to 14 × 6 to 9 μm. These characters were consistent with the description of Colletotrichum lupini (Bondar) Damm, P.F. Cannon & Crous (1,3). An isolate was deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (Accession No. KACC47254). Fungal DNA was extracted with DNeasy Plant Mini DNA Extraction Kits (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA). The complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified with the primers ITS1/ITS4 and sequenced. The resulting 545-bp sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KJ447119). The sequence showed 100% identity with sequences of C. lupini (e.g., GenBank AJ301968, JN943480, JQ948162, and KF207599). To confirm pathogenicity, inoculum was prepared by harvesting conidia with sterile distilled water from 3-week-old cultures on potato dextrose agar. A conidial suspension (2 × 10⁵ conidia/ml) was sprayed until runoff onto the aerial parts of five healthy plants. Control plants were sprayed with sterile water. The plants were covered with plastic bags to maintain a relative humidity of 100% for 48 h and then transferred to a greenhouse. Typical symptoms of necrotic spots appeared on the inoculated leaves 6 days after inoculation, and were identical to the ones observed in the field. C. lupini was re-isolated from symptomatic leaf tissues. No symptoms were observed on control plants. The pathogenicity test was repeated twice. Anthracnose associated with C. lupini on lupins has been known from Europe (Germany, Ukraine, Austria, and Netherlands), North America (Canada and the United States), South America (Bolivia and Brazil), and Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) (2,4). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. lupini on yellow lupins in Asia as well as in Korea. The presence of C. lupini on lupins in Asia can be considered as a potentially new and serious threat to this ornamental plant. References: (1) U. Damm et al. Stud. Mycol. 73:37, 2012. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication, ARS, USDA, Retrieved February 17, 2014. (3) H. I. Nirenberg et al. Mycologia 94:307, 2002. (4) E. Rosskopf et al. Plant Dis. 98:161, 2014.

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Podosphaera xanthii on Verbena brasiliensis in Korea

Verbena brasiliensis Vell., commonly known as Brazilian verbena, is native to South America and has been introduced into North America, coastal Europe, southern Africa, and Australasia. Though partly cultivated for garden use, it is invasive in riverine areas and also on roadsides, forest margins, pastures, and waste areas (4). In Korea, this plant was first reported in 1998 in Jeju Island and has become widely naturalized by replacing indigenous plants and disrupting native ecosystems in most of southern part of Korea (3). Since 2009, powdery mildew on Brazilian verbena has been consistently found in several locations of Busan City, Korea. Symptoms appeared as circular to irregular white patches, which subsequently showed abundant hyphal growth on both sides of the leaves and on stems. High disease severity caused poor growth of the plants, resulting in premature senescence and reduced flowering. Specimens (n = 5) were deposited in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). Appressoria on the mycelium were nipple-shaped or nearly absent. Conidiophores were 140 to 190 × 11 to 12.5 μm and produced 2 to 7 immature conidia in chains with a crenate outline. Foot-cells in conidiophores were straight, cylindric, relatively short, 50 to 65 μm long, and constricted at the very base of branching point from the hypha. Conidia were hyaline, ellipsoid to ovate, measured 28 to 38 × 18.5 to 22 μm (length/width ratio of 1.2 to 1.8), and contained distinct fibrosin bodies. Germ tubes were produced from the lateral position of conidia. No chasmothecia were observed. These structures are typical of the powdery mildew Euoidium anamorph of the genus Podosphaera. The morphological characteristics and measurements were consistent with those of P. xanthii (Castagne) U. Braun & Shishkoff (1). To confirm the identity, the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA of the isolate KUS-F27220 was amplified with primers ITS1/ITS4, and sequenced. The resulting 477-bp sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KJ472787). A GenBank BLAST search of this sequence revealed 100% identity with Podosphaera sp. on V. bonariensis and V.× hybrida from Japan (AB462804 and AB040347). The Podosphaera sp. isolates listed above are now placed in P. xanthii (1). Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation by gently pressing a diseased leaf onto leaves of three healthy, potted 2-month-old Brazilian verbena plants. Three non-inoculated plants served as controls. Inoculated plants developed signs and symptoms after 6 days, whereas the control plants remained symptomless. The fungus present on the inoculated leaves was identical morphologically to that originally observed on diseased plants. Powdery mildew of Verbena spp. associated with Podosphaera sp. (including Sphaerotheca sp.) has been globally reported, but not on V. brasiliensis (1,2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew disease caused by P. xanthii on V. brasiliensis globally. Our field observations suggest that the powdery mildew could limit expansion of V. brasiliensis in Korea. References: (1) U. Braun and R. T. A. Cook. Taxonomic Manual of the Erysiphales (Powdery Mildews), CBS Biodiversity Series No.11. CBS, Utrecht, 2012. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication, ARS, USDA, Retrieved February 18, 2014. (3) C. G. Song and Y. H. Yang. The Naturalized Plants in Jeju Island. Nam-Jeju County, Jeju, Korea, 2005. (4) P. F. Yao. Kew Bull. 45:101, 1990.

Genetic Polymorphisms of the Bovine NOV Gene Are Significantly Associated with Carcass Traits in Korean Cattle

The objective of this study was to investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the bovine nephroblastoma overexpressed (NOV) gene and to evaluate whether these polymorphisms affect carcass traits in the Korean cattle population. We resequenced to detect SNPs from 24 unrelated individuals and identified 19 SNPs within the full 8.4-kb gene, including the 1.5-kb promoter region. Of these 19 SNPs, four were selected for genotyping based on linkage disequilibrium (LD). We genotyped 429 steers to assess the associations of these four SNPs with carcass traits. Statistical analysis revealed that g.7801T>C and g.8379A>C polymorphisms in the NOV gene were associated with carcass weight (p = 0.012 and 0.008, respectively), and the g.2005A>G polymorphism was associated with the back fat thickness (BF) trait (p = 0.0001). One haplotype of the four SNPs (GGTA) was significantly associated with BF (p = 0.0005). Our findings suggest that polymorphisms in the NOV gene may be among the important genetic factors affecting carcass yield in beef cattle.