Early intervention in thyroidectomy scars: demographics, symptoms, and prevention

OBJECTIVE

Although hypertrophic scars are cosmetically problematic for patients following thyroidectomy, the associated risk factors are not well defined. Our objective was to determine the factors associated with hypertrophic scar development following thyroidectomy.

METHOD

A retrospective chart review was performed collecting data on sex, age, body mass index (BMI), operation site, skin characteristics (pigmentation, erythema, elasticity, and hydration), and clinical scar characteristics (itching, tightening, induration, adhesion, and oedema). It was also noted if the patient had early scar intervention with intralesional steroid injection or non-ablative fractional laser irradiation, and preventive topical treatment agents. The effects of these factors were analysed using univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Data from 1141 patients showed the incidence of hypertrophic scars was 13.9%. Significant variables in univariate analysis were combined for multivariate analysis. Young age, high BMI, itching, tightening, induration, and adhesion were associated with hypertrophic scar formation. Early scar intervention, as well as the use of preventive topical agents, were associated with decreased hypertrophic scar formation.

CONCLUSION

Based on our results, we suggest that dermatologists consider using non-ablative fractional laser, intralesional steroid injection, and topical preventive agents to lower the incidence of hypertrophic scars, especially in young patients or those with high BMI and/or clinical symptoms such as itching, tightening, induration, and adhesion.

Interleukin-1β increases Angptl4 (FIAF) expression via the JNK signaling pathway in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells

Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (Angptl4), also known as fasting-induced adiopogenic factor (FIAF), has recently been reported to influence bone metabolism. However, there have been few studies on regulatory factors other than hypoxia for Angptl4 in bone, and particularly in osteoblasts. Expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), a proinflammatory cytokine, is increased in serum or bone microenvironments in inflammatory bone diseases or estrogen deficient-conditions. The present study was conducted to determine whether Angptl4 expression in osteoblasts is affected by IL-1β and investigate its involvement in MAP kinase signaling pathways. Angptl4 RNA levels were increased by IL-1β treatment in murine MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining showed a corresponding increase in Angptl4 protein. IL-1β treatment of osteoblasts induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including extracellular regulated kinases (ERKs), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Furthermore, SP600125, an inhibitor of JNK, significantly blocked the upregulation of Angptl4 by IL-1β. In contrast, treatment with an inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase (SB203580) or an ERK inhibitor (PD98059) produced responses similar to those seen with the DMSO control. Taken together, these results suggest that IL-1β increases Angptl4 expression through a mechanism dependent on the JNK-MAPK signaling pathway in MC3T3-E1 cells.

Attenuated SAG expression exacerbates 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-induced apoptosis and hypertrophy of H9c2 cardiomyocytes

Oxidative stress, associated with the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), results in numerous and detrimental effects on the myocardium such as the induction of apoptotic cell death, hypertrophy, fibrosis, dysfunction, and dilatation. The product of sensitive to apoptosis gene (SAG) is a RING finger protein that has been shown to have a protective effect against apoptosis induced by oxidative stress in various cell types. The major reactive aldehydic product of lipid peroxidation, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), is believed to be largely responsible for cytopathological effects observed during oxidative stress. In the present study, we showed that the transfection of H9c2 clonal myoblastic cells with small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for SAG markedly attenuated SAG expression and exacerbates HNE-induced apoptosis and hypertrophy. The knockdown of SAG expression resulted in the modulation of cellular redox status, mitochondrial function, and cellular oxidative damage. Taken together, our results showed that the suppression of SAG expression by siRNA enhanced HNE-induced apoptosis and hypertrophy of cultured cardiomyocytes via the disruption of the cellular redox balance. Given the importance of the SAG protein in the regulation of the redox status of cardiomyocytes, we conclude that this protein may be a potential new target in the development of therapeutic agents for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Effect of dietary marine microalgae (schizochytrium) powder on egg production, blood lipid profiles, egg quality, and Fatty Acid composition of egg yolk in layers

Two hundred and sixteen Institut de Sélection Animale (ISA) brown layers (40 wks of age) were studied for 6 wks to examine the effect of microalgae powder (MAP) on egg production, egg quality, blood lipid profile, and fatty acid concentration of egg yolk. Dietary treatments were as follows: i) CON (basal diet), ii) 0.5% MAP (CON+0.5% Schizochytrium powder), and iii) 1.0% MAP (CON+1.0% Schizochytrium powder). From 44 to 46 wks, egg production was higher in 1.0% MAP treatment than in control treatment (linear, p = 0.034); however, there was no difference on the egg production from 40 to 43 wks (p>0.05). Serum triglyceride and total cholesterol were significantly reduced in the groups fed with MAP, compared to those in groups fed with control diets (Quadratic, p = 0.034 and p = 0.039, respectively). Inclusion of 0.5% MAP in the diet of layers improved egg yolk color, compared with hens fed with basal diet at 46 wks (quadratic, p = 0.044). Eggshell thickness was linearly increased in MAP-fed treatments at 46th wk (p<0.05). Concentration of yolk docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6n-3) was increased in treatment groups fed with MAP (linear, p<0.05). The n-6 fatty acids, n-6/n-3 fatty acid, and unsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid were decreased in treatment groups fed with MAP (linear, p<0.05). These results suggest that MAP improved the egg production and egg quality, and may affect serum lipid metabolites in the layers. In addition, MAP increases yolk DHA levels, and deceases n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio.

Macrophage activation syndrome in a newborn infant born to a mother with autoimmune disease

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a complication of rheumatic disorders characterized by cytopenia, multiple organ dysfunction and coagulopathy associated with an inappropriate activation of macrophage. In neonatal lupus erythematosus, MAS is rare but fatal, requiring early diagnosis and treatment for optimal outcome. We report a case of MAS in a neonate born to a mother with autoimmune disease, improved by treatment with steroid, intravenous immunoglobulin and cyclosporine.

Intraocular pharmacokinetics of intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor-Trap in a rabbit model

PURPOSE

To determine intraocular pharmacokinetic properties of intravitreally injected vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-Trap in a rabbit model.

METHODS

VEGF-Trap was intravitreally injected in 18 rabbit eyes. Eyes were enucleated 1 h and 1, 2, 5, 14, and 30 days after injections and immediately frozen at -80 °C. Concentration of VEGF-Trap in vitreous, aqueous humor, and retina/choroid was determined using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and analyzed to obtain pharmacokinetic properties.

RESULTS

Maximum concentration of VEGF-Trap was achieved at 1 h in all three tissues. A one-compartment model of distribution was selected as the final model for all tissues studied. Estimated half-life of VEGF-Trap in vitreous, aqueous humor, and retinal/choroid was 87.1, 36.8, and 35.0 h, respectively, and estimated mean residence time was 125.7, 53.1, and 50.5 h, respectively. Area under the curve from time 0 to the end point was 10009.8, 3945.1, and 1189.3, respectively. Total exposure of the aqueous humor and retina/choroid to VEGF-Trap was 39.4% and 11.9% of vitreous exposure, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The vitreous half-life of VEGF-Trap is 3.63 days. This is shorter than that of bevacizumab (6.99 days) and longer than that of ranibizumab (2.51 days), as shown in studies using the same experimental settings. The concentration of VEGF-Trap peaked at 1 h after injections in all eye tissues studied.

Antioxidant Enzyme Activity and Meat Quality of Meat Type Ducks Fed with Dried Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) Powder

One-day-old Cherry valley meat-strain ducks were used to investigate the effect of supplemental dried oregano powder (DOP) in feed on the productivity, antioxidant enzyme activity, and breast meat quality. One hundred sixty five ducks were assigned to 5 dietary treatments for 42 days. The dietary treatment groups were control group (CON; no antibiotic, no DOP), antibiotic group (ANT; CON+0.1% Patrol), 0.1% DOP (CON+0.1% DOP), 0.5% DOP (CON+0.5% DOP), and 1.0% DOP (CON+1.0% DOP). Upon feeding, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of oregano extracts was higher than that of tocopherol, although it was less than that of ascorbic acid. As a result of in vivo study, DOP in the diet showed no effects on final body weight, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio. However, dietary 0.5% and 1% DOP supplementation caused a significant increase in the serum enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) compared with CON and ANT, while glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in tissue was increased as compared to ANT (p<0.05). Cooking loss from ducks fed with DOP decreased compared with the control ducks. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values of duck breast meat at 5 d post slaughter was found to be significantly reduced in ducks whose diets were supplemented with 0.5% and 1% DOP (p<0.05). These results suggest that diets containing 0.5% and 1% DOP may beneficially affect antioxidant enzyme activity of GPx and SOD, improve meat cooking loss, and reduce TBARS values in breast meat at 5 d of storage in ducks.

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Erysiphe heraclei on Peucedanum japonicum in Korea

Peucedanum japonicum Thunb., belonging to the family Apiaceae, is distributed in many Asian countries, including Korea. This plant was recently developed as an edible green and is cultivated under organic farming in Korea. In June 2013, plants showing typical symptoms of powdery mildew were found with approximately 50% disease incidence in polyethylene-film-covered greenhouses in Iksan City, Korea. Symptoms first appeared as circular white colonies, which subsequently showed abundant mycelial growth on the leaves, often covering the whole surface. Infected plants were unmarketable mainly due to signs of white fungal growths and reddish discoloration on the leaves. The same symptoms were found on P. japonicum in poly-tunnels in Iksan City and Jinan County of Korea in 2014. Voucher specimens (n = 3) were deposited in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). Appressoria were lobed, and solitary or in opposite pairs. Conidiophores were cylindrical, 80 to 145 × 8 to 10 μm, and composed of three to four cells. Foot-cells of conidiophores were straight to substraight, cylindrical, and 25 to 63 μm long. Singly produced conidia were oblong-elliptical to oblong, occasionally ovate, 35 to 50 × 13 to 16 μm with a length/width ratio of 2.3:3.1, with angular/rectangular wrinkling of outer walls, and lacked distinct fibrosin bodies. Germ tubes were produced on the perihilar position of conidia. Primary conidia were apically conical, basally truncate, and generally smaller than the secondary conidia. No chasmothecia were found. These structures are typical of the powdery mildew Pseudoidium anamorph of the genus Erysiphe. The specific measurements and morphological characteristics were consistent with those of E. heraclei DC. (2). To confirm the identification, the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA from KUS-F27872 was amplified with primers ITS1/ITS4 and sequenced. The resulting 560-bp sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KM491178). The obtained ITS sequence shared >99% similarity with those of E. heraclei from apiaceous hosts, e.g., Daucus carota (KC480605), Pimpinella affinis (AB104513), and Petroselinum crispum (KF931139). Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation by gently dusting conidia onto leaves of five healthy potted plants. Five non-inoculated plants served as controls. Inoculated plants developed symptoms after 6 days, whereas the control plants remained symptomless. The fungus present on the inoculated plants was identical in morphology to those observed in the field. Powdery mildew of P. japonicum caused by E. heraclei has been reported in Japan (4), and numerous reports of E. heraclei on various species of Peucedanum plants have been made in most part of Europe and East Asia (Japan and far eastern Russia) (1,3). However, this is the first report of powdery mildew caused by E. heraclei on P. japonicum in Korea. Occurrence of powdery mildews is a threat to the quality and marketability of this plant, especially in organic farming. References: (1) K. Amano. Host Range and Geographical Distribution of the Powdery Mildew Fungi. Japan Scientific Societies Press, Tokyo, 1986. (2) U. Braun and R. T. A. Cook. Taxonomic Manual of the Erysiphales (Powdery Mildews), CBS Biodiversity Series No.11. CBS, Utrecht, 2012. (3) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases, Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., online publication. ARS, USDA. Retrieved August 18, 2014. (4) S. Tanda and C. Nakashima. J. Agric. Sci., Tokyo Univ. Agric. 47:54, 2002.

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.

C4d immunoreactivity of intraoperative zero-hour biopsy in renal allograft

C4d deposition in the peritubular capillaries is known to be correlated with antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in renal allografts. An intraoperative zero-hour biopsy during transplantation is considered an indicator to indirectly determine the status of the donor kidney. In this study, we investigated the relationship between C4d immunoreactivity of intraoperative zero-hour biopsy in renal allograft, thought to be due to donor condition, and acute rejection episodes during follow-up. We collected 147 renal transplantation cases examining intraoperative zero-hour biopsy with C4d immunohistochemical staining. All cases were from the Seoul National University Hospital between 2010 and 2011. Of the 147 cases, 24 (16.3%) showed strong C4d staining in the glomeruli, 38 (25.9%) showed weak staining, and the remainder (57.8%) showed negative staining. Nine cases (6.1%) showed positive C4d staining in the arterioles, and the remainder (93.9%) were negative. There were no significant differences between acute T-cell-mediated rejection and acute AMR episodes in the renal allograft specimens during follow-up according to the glomerular or arteriolar C4d immunoreactivity of the intraoperative zero-hour biopsy specimens.

First Report of Postharvest Rot of Chestnuts Caused by Mucor racemosus f. sphaerosporus in Korea

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) is the second largest chestnut producer in the world. Major cultivars planted in Korea, including cv. Daebo, Hyogo57, and Okkwang, are hybrids of Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata) and Chinese chestnut (C. mollissima). Because of high perishability, most chestnuts harvested in September and October are preserved in cold rooms (0°C) for marketing. During a survey of postharvest diseases in April to August 2013, chestnut rots were continuously observed in cold rooms located in Buyeo County, Korea. Preliminary studies revealed that the most common agent of rot appeared to be a species of Mucor. When cut open, infected chestnuts showed partial interior discoloration varying from chalky white to dark brown. About 3 to 10% of chestnuts showed symptoms. Hyogo57 seemed to be the most susceptible variety with higher infection rates, up to 30% in some piles. Isolation was done by placing infected tissues on potato dextrose agar. A representative isolate was deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (Accession No. KACC47727). Sporangiophores were mostly erect, branched sympodially, and hyaline. Sporangia were globose, pale yellow at first, then grayish brown at maturity. Columellae were obovoid to globose, subhyaline to pale brown, and usually with truncate base and collars. Sporangiospores were globose to irregular, and 4 to 10 μm in diameter. Chlamydospores were cylindrical to globose with oil drops. The fungus was identified as Mucor racemosus f. sphaerosporus (Hagem) Schipper based on the morphological characteristics and growth at low temperature (3). To conduct molecular analyses, genomic DNA was extracted with DNeasy Plant Mini Kits (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 (4). The resulting 595-bp ITS sequences and 678 bp D1/D2 sequences were deposited in GenBank (Accession Nos. KJ769665 and KF769666). BLAST searches revealed that both the ITS sequences and D1/D2 sequences showed more than 99% similarity with those of M. racemosus f. sphaerosporus, respectively (JN939201 and AJ878775). To perform a pathogenicity test, a suspension of sporangiospores (1 × 10⁵ spores/ml) was sprayed over 10 chestnuts cv. Hyogo57 wounded with a sewing needle and kept in plastic containers (0°C, 100% RH). Another 10 chestnuts wounded with a sewing needle and treated with sterile water served as controls. After 5 days, typical rots appeared on the inoculated chestnuts, whereas no symptoms were observed on controls. Koch's postulates were fulfilled with the re-isolation of M. racemosus from inoculated chestnuts. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice with similar results. M. hiemalis and M. mucedo have been recorded on chestnuts as postharvest pathogens in Switzerland (2) and Chile (1). To our knowledge, this is first report of postharvest rot of chestnut caused by M. racemosus f. sphaerosporus worldwide as well as in Korea. Further studies are necessary for control measures during cold storage of fresh chestnuts. References: (1) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., online publication, ARS, USDA, Retrieved May 23, 2014. (2) M. Jermini et al. J. Sci. Food Agric. 86:877, 2006. (3) M. A. A. Schipper. Stud. Mycol. 12:1, 1976. (4) G. Walther et al. Persoonia 30:11, 2013.

First Report of Leaf Spot Caused by Phoma dictamnicola on Dictamnus dasycarpus in Korea

Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz, known as densefruit pittany, is a perennial herbal plant belonging to the Rutaceae. In Oriental medicine, this plant is used for treatment of various ailments (4). Since the white and purple striped flowers and glossy leaves are of aesthetic value, the plant is popular in gardens throughout Korea. In July 2012, a leaf spot was observed on hundreds of D. dasycarpus with nearly 100% incidence in a garden in Gapyeong County, Korea. Lesions on leaves reaching up to 20 mm in diameter were circular to irregular, brown to dark brown, then becoming zonate with age, and finally fading to grayish brown in the center with a reddish brown margin. The disease caused premature defoliation and reduced plant vigor as well as aesthetic value. In June 2014, the same symptoms were found on D. dasycarpus in a nursery in Jinju City, Korea. Representative samples were deposited in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). Pycnidia on lesions were epiphyllous, immersed or semi-immersed in host tissue, light brown to olive brown, and 90 to 210 μm in diameter. Ostioles were 15 to 30 μm wide and surrounded by a ring of darker cells. Conidia were hyaline, smooth, ellipsoidal to nearly reniform, straight to mildly curved, aseptate or rarely medianly 1-septate with age, 5.5 to 9.6 × 1.8 to 3.6 μm, and contained small oil drops. These characteristics were consistent with the previous descriptions of Phoma dictamnicola Boerema, Gruyter & Noordel. (1,2). A monoconidial isolate was cultured on potato dextrose agar plates and deposited in the Korea Agricultural Culture Collection (Accession No. KACC46948). Morphological identification of the fungus was confirmed by molecular data. Genomic DNA was extracted using a DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified using the ITS1/ITS4 primers and sequenced. The resulting sequence of 505 bp was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KM047023). A BLAST search showed that the ITS sequence shared >99% similarity with that of P. dictamnicola (GU237877). For the pathogenicity tests, inoculum was prepared by harvesting conidia from 30-day-old cultures of KACC46948 and a conidial suspension (2 × 10⁶ conidia/ml) was sprayed onto leaves of five healthy seedlings. Five seedlings were sprayed with sterile distilled water, serving as controls. The plants were covered with transparent plastic bags for 48 h in a 25°C glasshouse with a 12-h photoperiod. After 10 days, typical leaf spot symptoms started to develop on the leaves of the inoculated plants. The fungus, P. dictamnicola, was re-isolated from those lesions, confirming Koch's postulates. No symptoms were observed on control plants. Previously, Phoma leaf spot on Dictamnus spp. has been reported in the Netherlands and North America (3) and recently in China (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot on D. dasycarpus caused by P. dictamnicola in Korea. Our observations suggest that low humidity with good ventilation as well as removal of infected leaves and plant debris might be main strategies for preventing this disease. References: (1) Q. Bai et al. Plant Dis. 95:771, 2011. (2) G. H. Boerema et al. Phoma Identification Manual: Differentiation of Specific and Infra-Specific Taxa in Culture. CABI Publishing. Wallingford, UK, 2004. (3) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication, USDA ARS, Retrieved June 19, 2014. (4) J. L. Yang et al. Planta Med. 77:271, 2011.

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Phyllactinia actinidiae on Hardy Kiwi in Korea

Actinidia arguta (Siebold & Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq., known as hardy kiwi, is a perennial vine native to Japan, Korea, northern China, and Russian Siberia. It produces a small fruit resembling the kiwifruit. The fruits, referred to as hardy kiwifruit, are edible and often sweeter than kiwifruit. Picking of wild hardy kiwifruits in autumn is a popular ecotourism activity in Korea. In 2000, a powdery mildew disease on the abaxial surface of hardy kiwi leaves was found in Korea. Additional findings of the powdery mildew between 2000 and 2013 showed that the disease of hardy kiwi commonly occurs in Korea. The infected leaves were frequently distorted when young, then becoming prematurely chlorotic and defoliated. Chasmothecia were abundantly formed by September. Voucher specimens (n = 21) were deposited in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). Mycelia were hypophyllous, thinly effuse, initially forming patches, finally covering the whole abaxial leaf surface. Hyphal appressoria were hook-shaped or often branched, and single or opposite in pairs. Conidiophores were erect, cylindrical, 160 to 300 × 5 to 7.5 μm with straight foot-cells (65 to 115 μm long), basal septum elevated up to 15 μm, and produced conidia singly. Conidia were obpyriform to clavate, papillate at the apex, 55 to 75 × 20 to 32 μm, and devoid of fibrosin bodies. Germ tubes were produced at the terminal and lateral positions of conidia. Chasmothecia were blackish brown, depressed globose, and 190 to 250 μm in diameter. Appendages arising around the equatorial zone of chasmothecia were 9 to 15 in number, acicular with a bulbose base, 1 to 1.3 times as long as the chasmothecial diameter, hyaline throughout, and aseptate. Penicillate cells crowded on the upper part of the chasmothecia were ampulliform, numerous, 50 to 87.8 μm long, and 12.5 to 17.5 μm wide. Asci were 13 to 20 in a chasmothecium, olivaceous brown, 60 to 90 × 22.5 to 40 μm, and short stalked. Ascospores were 2 in an ascus, ellipsoid-ovoid, pale olivaceous, and 32.5 to 40 × 16.5 to 20 μm. On the basis of the morphological characteristics, this fungus was identified as Phyllactinia actinidiae (Jacz.) Bunkina (1). To confirm the identification, the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA of three specimens (KUS-F23673, F26240, and F26308) were amplified using primers ITS5/P3 and sequenced (4). The resulting sequences were deposited in GenBank (Accession Nos. KJ703014, KJ703015, and KJ703016). GenBank BLAST search with the three isolates showed >99% similarity with the results for P. actinidiae on hardy kiwi from Japan (AB080489, AB080500, and AB080508). Actinidia-Phyllactinia associations were recorded in China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Russia, and Turkey (2,3). However, P. actinidiae on A. arguta was known only from Japan (3). To our knowledge, this is the first record of P. actinidiae on hardy kiwi in Korea. There has been no finding of powdery mildews on commercial varieties of golden kiwi (A. chinensis) and fuzzy kiwi (A. deliciosa) in Korea. Common occurrence of Phyllactinia powdery mildew on hardy kiwi in Korea can be a potential threat to the commercial kiwi industry. 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) I. Erper et al. Scand. J. Forest Res. 27:432, 2012. (3) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication. ARS, USDA, March 10, 2014. (4) S. Takamatsu et al. Mycol. Res. 113:117, 2009.

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.

The effects of the supplementation of Bacillus subtilis RX7 and B2A strains on the performance, blood profiles, intestinal Salmonella concentration, noxious gas emission, organ weight and breast meat quality of broiler challenged with Salmonella typhimurium

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of B. subtilis RX7 and B. subtilis B2A on growth performance, blood profiles, intestinal Salmonella population, noxious gas emission, organ weight and breast meat quality of broilers under S. typhimurium challenge. A total of 120, one-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were assigned to four dietary treatments, composed of six replications, with five birds per replication, for 10 day. The dietary treatment groups were negative control (NC; no antibiotic, no B. subtilis), positive control (PC; NC + 0.1% virginiamycin), B. subtilis RX7 (NC + 0.1% B. subtilis RX7 1.0 × 10(9) cfu/g) and B. subtilis B2A (NC + 0.1% B. subtilis 1.0 × 10(9) cfu/g). All birds were orally challenged with 2 ml suspension, containing 10(4) cfu/ml of S. typhimurium KCCM 40253. Results indicated that the body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion did not differ, among all comparative treatments. Serum haptoglobin concentration was lower in Bacillus treatments (RX7 + B2A) than the NC treatment (p < 0.05). Intestinal and excreta Salmonella number, and excreta ammonia gas emission in the PC treatment or Bacillus treatments, was lower than the NC treatment (p < 0.05). Breast pH, colour and water-holding capacity were not affected by supplementation of B. subtilis RX7 and B2A. However, drip loss at 1 day post-slaughter from birds fed with B. subtilis RX7 and B2A decreased, compared with the positive control birds (p < 0.05). Relative gizzard weights of birds fed B. subtilis RX7 and B2A were significantly higher than the NC birds under S. typhimurium challenge. It is concluded from the results that B. subtilis RX7 and B2A increased the gizzard weight and decreased the intestinal and excreta Salmonella population and excreta ammonia gas, and drip loss of breast meat after being stored for 1 day, under stress caused by the S. typhimurium challenge.

First Report of Choanephora Blight Caused by Choanephora infundibulifera on Hibiscus rosa-sinensis in Korea

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., commonly known as Chinese hibiscus, is an evergreen flowering shrub belonging to the Malvaceae and is widely cultivated throughout Asia including Korea. In August 2013, blight was observed on Chinese hibiscus in a commercial flower nursery in Seoul, Korea. Initial symptoms began as reddish purple spots at the tip of flowers and expanded to encompass entire flowers. Infected lesions appeared water-soaked, reddish brown, and were followed by rapid rotting of infected tissues. Approximately 50% of the plants surveyed were affected. Monosporous sporangiola formed on infected tissue were transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA). Fungal colonies were obtained that were at first white with abundant aerial mycelium, and then became yellowish with the appearance of sporangiola. Sporangiophores bearing sporangiola were erect to slightly curved, unbranched, and hyaline. Funnel-shaped secondary vesicles formed on the primary vesicles. Sporangiola were indehiscent, ovoid to subglobose, smooth, non-striated, brown to dark brown, 10 to 27.5 × 8.5 to 17 μm, and sometimes germinated in culture. The fungus was identified as Choanephora infundibulifera (Curr.) D.D. Cunn. based on the morphological and cultural characteristics (2). Voucher specimens were housed in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). An isolate obtained from KUS-F27535 was deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (Accession No. KACC47643) and used for a pathogenicity test and molecular analyses. To confirm identity of the fungus, genomic DNA was extracted with DNeasy Plant Mini Kits (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA and the D1/D2 region of the large subunit (LSU) were amplified with the primers ITS1/ITS4 and NL1/LR3, respectively (3), and sequenced. The resulting 635-bp ITS and 680-bp D1/D2 sequences were deposited in GenBank (Accession Nos. KF486539 and KF486538). A GenBank BLAST search revealed that the ITS sequences showed 100% similarity with that of C. infundibulifera (JN943009) and D1/D2 sequences also showed 100% identity with that of C. infundibulifera (JN939193). A sporangiola suspension (2 × 10⁴ cells/ml) was sprayed over three pots of the shrub, kept in a humid chamber for 2 days, and placed in greenhouse (28°C and 80 to 100% RH). Another three potted plants of the same age were sprayed with sterile water and served as controls. After 4 days, typical blossom blight symptoms, identical to the ones observed in the nursery, developed on the inoculated flowers. No symptoms were observed on controls. C. infundibulifera was re-isolated from inoculated plants. Pathogenicity test was conducted twice with the same results, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Choanephora blight caused by C. infundibulifera on H. rosa-sinenesis has been reported in Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, Guinea, and the United States (1). In Korea, there was one record of this fungus on H. syriacus (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. infundibulifera on H. rosa-sinensis in Korea. This pathogen could be a potential threat to the production of this ornamental shrub over a prolonged period of hot and humid weather. References: (1) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication, ARS, USDA, Retrieved February 28, 2014. (2) P. M. Kirk. Mycol. Pap. 152:1, 1984. (3) G. Walther et al. Persoonia 30:11, 2013.

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 Powdery Mildew Caused by Golovinomyces biocellatus on Agastache rugosa in Korea

Agastache rugosa (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Kuntze, known as Korean mint, is an aromatic plant in the Lamiaceae. It is widely distributed in East Asian countries and is used as a Chinese traditional medicine. In Korea, fresh leaves are commonly added to fish soups and stews (3). In November 2008, several dozen Korean mints plants growing outdoors in Gimhae City, Korea, were found to be severely infected with a powdery mildew. The same symptoms had been observed in Korean mint plots in Busan and Miryang cities from 2008 to 2013. Symptoms first appeared as thin white colonies, which subsequently developed into abundant hyphal growth on stems and both sides of the leaves. Severe disease pressure caused withering and senescence of the leaves. Voucher specimens (n = 5) were deposited in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). Appressoria on the mycelium were nipple-shaped or nearly absent. Conidiophores were 105 to 188 × 10 to 13 μm and produced 2 to 4 immature conidia in chains with a sinuate outline, followed by 2 to 3 cells. Foot-cells of the conidiophores were straight, cylindrical, slightly constricted at the base, and 37 to 58 μm long. Conidia were hyaline, ellipsoid to barrel-shaped, measured 25 to 40 × 15 to 23 μm (length/width ratio = 1.4 to 2.1), lacked distinct fibrosin bodies, and showed reticulate wrinkling of the outer walls. Primary conidia were obconically rounded at the apex and subtruncate at the base. Germ tubes were produced at the perihilar position of conidia. No chasmothecia were observed. The structures described above were typical of the Oidium subgenus Reticuloidium anamorph of the genus Golovinomyces. The measurements and morphological characteristics were compatible with those of G. biocellatus (Ehrenb.) V.P. Heluta (1). To confirm the identification, molecular analysis of the sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of isolate KUS-F27200 was conducted. The complete ITS rDNA sequence was amplified using primers ITS5 and P3 (4). The resulting 514-bp sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KJ585415). A GenBank BLAST search of the Korean isolate sequence showed >99% similarity with the ITS sequence of many G. biocellatus isolates on plants in the Lamiaceae (e.g., Accession Nos. AB307669, AB769437, and JQ340358). Pathogenicity was confirmed by gently pressing diseased leaf onto leaves of five healthy, potted Korean mint plants. Five non-inoculated plants served as a control treatment. Inoculated plants developed symptoms after 7 days, whereas the control plants remained symptomless. The fungus present on inoculated plants was identical morphologically to that observed on the original diseased plants. The pathogenicity test was repeated with identical results. A powdery mildew on A. rugosa caused by G. biocellatus was reported from Romania (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew caused by G. biocellatus on A. rugosa in Korea. The plant is mostly grown using organic farming methods with limited chemical control options. Therefore, alternative control measures should be considered. 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, USDA ARS, retrieved 17 February 2014. (3) T. H. Kim et al. J. Sci. Food Agric. 81:569, 2001. (4) S. Takamatsu et al. Mycol. Res. 113:117, 2009.

Unique features of non-obstructive emphysema and pure airway obstruction

SETTING

Emphysema without airway obstruction or airway obstruction without emphysema are often detected clinically, although they are commonly co-existent. We therefore tested the hypothesis that non-obstructive emphysema and pure airway obstruction have unique features.

METHODS

A case-control observation study was undertaken retrospectively in a patient cohort at a single centre. Among 2662 subjects who underwent chest computed tomography and pulmonary function tests, we enrolled 90 patients with non-obstructive emphysema, 119 with pure airway obstruction, 81 with obstructive emphysema and 2031 subjects as normal controls. The features of the four groups were analysed and compared.

RESULTS

Higher serum homocysteine (13.4 ± 7.4 vs. 11.6 ± 4.6 mol/l), higher rate of osteoporosis (15.8% vs. 4.5%), higher leukocyte count, higher male ratio, lower serum albumin and lower body mass index were observed in subjects with non-obstructive emphysema than in controls (P < 0.05). In multiple logistic regression analysis of groups without airway obstruction, osteoporosis, hyperhomocysteinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia and higher leukocyte count were independent factors associated with non-obstructive emphysema (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Hyperhomocysteinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, osteoporosis and higher leukocyte count were independent predictors of non-obstructive emphysema.

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.

Low albumin-to-globulin ratio associated with cancer incidence and mortality in generally healthy adults

BACKGROUND

Chronic inflammation is known to be one of the main steps in carcinogenesis. Identification of those with chronic inflammation may help identify subjects at risk of cancer. Previous studies have reported low albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) to be associated with increased cancer mortality in cancer patients, but there has been no study based on healthy populations.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Our retrospective cohort study involved 26 974 generally healthy adults aged 30 or older who visited Seoul National University Hospital Health Promotion Center for self-referred health checkup. National medical service claims data were used to determine cancer incidence, and Korean death registry data was used to determine mortality. Median follow-up time for survival was 5.9 years (interquartile range 4.1 years).

RESULTS

Compared with subjects with AGR ≥ 1.5, subjects with 1.1 > AGR ≥ 1.0 and 1.0 > AGR showed adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.69 (95% confidence interval, CI, 1.54-4.72) and aHR 6.71 (95% CI 3.56-12.66) for all-cause mortality, aHR 2.95 (95% CI 1.42-6.11) and aHR 4.38 (95% CI 1.57-12.25) for cancer mortality, and aHR 2.07 (95% CI 1.28-3.36) and aHR 3.99 (95% CI 2.10-7.58) for cancer incidence, respectively. When cancer incidence events after 2 years from baseline were separately analyzed, subjects with 1.1 > AGR ≥ 1.0 and 1.0 > AGR were associated with aHR 1.88 (95% CI 1.01-3.48) and aHR 2.55 (95% CI 1.03-7.11) for cancer incidence, respectively. Cancer events were increased in all types of cancer, but especially in liver and hematologic malignancies.

CONCLUSIONS

Low AGR is a risk factor for cancer incidence and mortality, both short- and long terms, in a generally healthy screened population. The results of this study need to be replicated in larger studies, along with the determination of the sensitivity and other diagnostic values of low AGR.

In vitro-growth and Gene Expression of Porcine Preantral Follicles Retrieved by Different Protocols

This study was conducted to determine how the isolation method of the porcine preantral follicles influenced the following follicular growth in vitro. Mechanical and enzymatical isolations were used for retrieving the follicles from prepubertal porcine ovaries, and in vitro-growth of the follicles and the expression of folliculogenesis-related genes were subsequently monitored. The enzymatic retrieval with collagenase treatment returned more follicles than the mechanical retrieval, while the percentage of morphologically normal follicles was higher with mechanical retrieval than with enzymatic retrieval. After 4 days of culture, mechanically retrieved, preantral follicles yielded more follicles with normal morphology than enzymatically retrieved follicles, which resulted in improved follicular growth. The mRNA expression of FSHR, LHR Cx43, DNMT1 and FGFR2 genes was significantly higher after culture of the follicles retrieved mechanically. These results suggest that mechanical isolation is a better method of isolating porcine preantral follicles that will develop into competent oocytes in in vitro culture.

Effect of the Addition of Schisandra chinensis Powder on the Physico-chemical Characteristics of Sausage

The individual and interactive effects of Schisandra chinensis powder (SCP) and sodium nitrite additions on color, pH, water holding capacity, residual nitrite, 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), volatile basic nitrogen, texture properties, fatty acids, amino acids and sensory evaluation of cooked pork sausages were investigated after 20 d of storage at 4°C. The powders (0, 0.5 and 1.0%) were added to sausages either alone or in combination with nitrite (0 and 100 ppm). SCP added-sausages showed lower L* (lightness) and W (whiteness) values, and higher b* (yellowness) values than sausage containing no nitrite, and exhibited the highest a^* values at a 0.5% addition (p<0.05). Residual nitrite and TBARS values were found to be significantly reduced as the addition levels of SCP increased (p<0.05). As the addition of SCP increased, the sausage showed gradually decreased brittleness, cohesiveness, springiness, gumminess and chewiness, while adhesiveness increased. Polyunsaturated fatty acid, n-6 and n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio concentrations were significantly higher in sausages containing SCP (p<0.05). The addition of SCP to sausage significantly (p<0.05) increased the ammonia content (by 0.5% SCP) and aromatic amino acid concentrations (by 1.0% SCP) (p<0.05). Inclusion of SCP in sausage meat resulted in a significant deterioration in quality characteristics of flavor, springiness, juiciness and overall acceptability (p<0.05). As expected, the observed changes in a*, W, pH, shear force, texture property, TBARS, fatty acid, amino acid and sensory score of sausages, depended on the rate of addition of nitrite (p<0.05). These results suggest that SCP addition is not an effective way of improving the sensory evaluation of sausages, but may beneficially affect TBARS, nitrite scavenging activity, fatty acid and amino acid content in pork sausages.