Search for flavor-changing neutral currents in top-quark decays t → Zq in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 8 TeV

A search for flavor-changing neutral currents in top-quark decays t → Zq is performed in events produced from the decay chain tt → Zq+Wb, where both vector bosons decay leptonically, producing a final state with three leptons (electrons or muons). A data set collected with the CMS detector at the LHC is used, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb(-1) of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 8 TeV. No excess is seen in the observed number of events relative to the standard model prediction; thus, no evidence for flavor-changing neutral currents in top-quark decays is found. A combination with a previous search at 7 TeV excludes a t → Zq branching fraction greater than 0.05% at the 95% confidence level.

Search for top squark and Higgsino production using diphoton Higgs boson decays

Results are presented of a search for a "natural" supersymmetry scenario with gauge mediated symmetry breaking. It is assumed that only the supersymmetric partners of the top quark (the top squark) and the Higgs boson (Higgsino) are accessible. Events are examined in which there are two photons forming a Higgs boson candidate, and at least two b-quark jets. In 19.7  fb-1 of proton-proton collision data at s=8  TeV, recorded in the CMS experiment, no evidence of a signal is found and lower limits at the 95% confidence level are set, excluding the top squark mass below 360 to 410 GeV, depending on the Higgsino mass.

Search for dinucleon decay into kaons in Super-Kamiokande

A search for the dinucleon decay pp → K+ K+ has been performed using 91.6  kton·yr data from Super-Kamiokande-I. This decay provides a sensitive probe of the R-parity-violating parameter λ112''. A boosted decision tree analysis found no signal candidates in the data. The expected background was 0.28±0.19 atmospheric neutrino induced events and the estimated signal detection efficiency was 12.6%±3.2%. A lower limit of 1.7×10(32)  years has been placed on the partial lifetime of the decay O16 → C14K+ K+ at 90% C.L. A corresponding upper limit of 7.8×10(-9) has been placed on the parameter λ112''.

First indication of terrestrial matter effects on solar neutrino oscillation

We report an indication that the elastic scattering rate of solar B8 neutrinos with electrons in the Super-Kamiokande detector is larger when the neutrinos pass through Earth during nighttime. We determine the day-night asymmetry, defined as the difference of the average day rate and average night rate divided by the average of those two rates, to be [-3.2 ± 1.1(stat) ± 0.5(syst)]%, which deviates from zero by 2.7 σ. Since the elastic scattering process is mostly sensitive to electron-flavored solar neutrinos, a nonzero day-night asymmetry implies that the flavor oscillations of solar neutrinos are affected by the presence of matter within the neutrinos' flight path. Super-Kamiokande's day-night asymmetry is consistent with neutrino oscillations for 4 × 10(-5)  eV(2) ≤ Δm 2(21) ≤ 7 × 10(-5) eV(2) and large mixing values of θ12, at the 68% C.L.

Vestibular effects of lidocaine intratympanic injection in rats

When lidocaine is locally delivered into the inner ear, it rapidly paralyzes the peripheral vestibular afferent neurons and induces unilateral vestibular loss. The goals of this study were to explore the possibility of developing intratympanic injection (IT) of lidocaine as a modality for treating acute vertigo. To evaluate the minimum concentration required, latent time, action duration, and possibility of lidocaine IT readministration to the vestibular system, we compared the development of horizontal nystagmus after IT of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10% lidocaine solutions in rats. To identify the induction of vestibular compensation, c-Fos-like protein expression was observed in the vestibular nucleus. Results of our investigation showed that lidocaine IT concentrations greater than 4% induced vestibular hyporeflexia in the injected ear. In order to induce hyporeflexia 4 and 6% lidocaine solutions could also be repeatedly injected. Regardless of concentration, effects of the lidocaine IT dissipated gradually over time. Our findings could be used to develop novel methods for symptom control in vestibular disorder patients.

Increased depression-like behaviors with dysfunctions in the stress axis and the reward center by free access to highly palatable food

This study was conducted to examine the behavioral consequences of unlimited consumption of highly palatable food (HPF) and investigate its underlying neural mechanisms. Male Sprague-Dawley rats had free access to chocolate cookie rich in fat (HPF) in addition to ad libitum chow and the control group received chow only. Rats were subjected to behavioral tests during the 2nd week of food condition; i.e. ambulatory activity test on the 8th, elevated plus maze test (EPM) on the 10th and forced swim test (FST) on the 14th day of food condition. After 8 days of food condition, another group of rats were placed in a restraint box and tail bloods were collected at 0, 20, 60, and 120 time points during 2h of restraint period, used for the plasma corticosterone assay. At the end of restraint session, rats were sacrificed and the tissue sections of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) were processed for c-Fos immunohistochemistry. Ambulatory activities and the scores of EPM were not significantly affected by unlimited cookie consumption. However, immobility duration during FST was increased, and swim decreased, in the rats received free cookie access compared with control rats. Stress-induced corticosterone increase was exaggerated in cookie-fed rats, while the stress-induced c-Fos expression in the NAc was blunted, compared to control rats. Results suggest that free access to HPF may lead to the development of depression-like behaviors in rats, likely in relation with dysfunctions in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the reward center.

Relationship between socioeconomic status and anemia prevalence in adolescent girls based on the fourth and fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

We studied the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES), represented by household income, and the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among adolescent girls in Korea.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

The samples were based on the data from a four-year (2008-2011) collection for the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1312 girls, age 10-18 years). The survey included demographic, anthropometric, biochemical and nutritional parameters. A multiple regression analysis after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), red blood cell count, white blood cell count and red meat intake was performed. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin level lower than 11.5 g/dl for ages 10-11 years and 12.0 g/dl for ages 12-14 years. Iron deficiency was defined as serum ferritin level below 15 μg/l.

RESULTS

The prevalences of anemia and IDA in Korean girls were 5.3 and 4.2%, respectively. Girls with anemia were older, taller, weighed more, had higher BMI, had higher portion of menarche experience and consumed less red meat than girls without anemia. Girls with higher income had lower anemia prevalence and consumed more iron and vitamins. Logistic regression analysis showed a decreasing trend in anemia prevalence as household income increased. Correlation analysis demonstrated that there is a relationship between household income and serum hemoglobin and ferritin levels (P=0.003 and P=0.026, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher SES leads to lower prevalence of anemia and IDA in Korean adolescent girls. This may be due to the fact that higher SES individuals consume more iron and vitamin C.

Search for top squarks in R-parity-violating supersymmetry using three or more leptons and b-tagged jets

A search for anomalous production of events with three or more isolated leptons and bottom-quark jets produced in pp collisions at √s=8 TeV is presented. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.5 fb(-1) collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2012. No excess above the standard model expectations is observed. The results are interpreted in the context of supersymmetric models with signatures that have low missing transverse energy arising from light top-squark pair production with R-parity-violating decays of the lightest supersymmetric particle. In two models with different R-parity-violating couplings, top squarks are excluded below masses of 1020 GeV and 820 GeV when the lightest supersymmetric particle has a mass of 200 GeV.

Searches for new physics using the tt¯ invariant mass distribution in pp collisions at √s=8 TeV

Searches for anomalous top quark-antiquark production are presented, based on pp collisions at √s=8 TeV. The data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb(-1), were collected with the CMS detector at the LHC. The observed tt¯ invariant mass spectrum is found to be compatible with the standard model prediction. Limits on the production cross section times branching fraction probe, for the first time, a region of parameter space for certain models of new physics not yet constrained by precision measurements.

First Report of Anthracnose Caused by Colletotrichum sansevieriae on Sansevieria in Korea

Sansevieria, Sansevieria trifasciata Prain, is cultivated in greenhouses and is used as a potted interior foliage plant in Korea. In April 2012, several plants (cv. Moonshine) exhibiting typical anthracnose symptoms from a local nursery were sent to the plant clinic of Gyeonggi-Do Agricultural Research and Extension Services for diagnosis. The leaf lesions began as round, partly water-soaked, pale greenish to grayish spots, which enlarged and ultimately coalesced, resulting in severe leaf blight. Concentric rings of blackish acervuli were formed in the expanding lesions of mostly 2 to 4 cm in diameter. Acervuli were mostly epiphyllous, circular to ellipsoid. Setae were aseptate to 3-septate, dark brown at the base, paler upwards, acicular, and up to 180 μm long. Conidia (n = 30) were oblong-elliptical to obovate, sometimes fusiform-elliptical, guttulate, hyaline, and 14 to 24 × 5 to 7.5 μm (mean 18.6 × 6.4 μm). Hyphopodial appressoria were dark brown to blackish, globose to clavate in outline, and 5 to 12 × 4 to 8 μm. Colonies on potato dextrose agar (PDA) were grayish-white, felted with cottony-white aerial mycelium on a gray to olivaceous gray background in culture. Gelatinous salmon- to orange-colored conidial masses were produced abundantly after one week's incubation. The morphological and cultural characteristics of the fungus were consistent with the description of Colletotrichum sansevieriae M. Nakamura & M. Ohzono (2,3). A voucher specimen was deposited in the Korea University herbarium (KUS-F26637). An isolate was deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (Accession No. KACC46835). 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 569-bp sequences were deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KC847065). A BLAST search in GenBank exhibited 100% nucleotide identity with sequence of C. sansevieriae (JF911349) from the United States and >99% similarity with that of HQ433226 from Australia. To confirm pathogenicity, inoculum was prepared by harvesting conidia from 3-week-old cultures on PDA. A conidial suspension (2 × 10⁶ conidia/ml) was sprayed over the five leaves of sansevieria 'Moonshine' wounded with a fine needle. Five leaves sprayed with sterile water served as controls. Plants were covered with plastic bags to maintain 100% relative humidity for 48 h and then kept in a greenhouse (22 to 28°C and 70 to 80% RH). Within 12 days, symptoms identical to those observed in originally infected leaf developed on all inoculated leaves. No symptoms were observed on control plants. C. sansevieriae was reisolated from the lesions of inoculated plants, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Sansevieria anthracnose associated with C. sansevieriae has been reported in Japan (2), Australia (1), and the United States (3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of sansevieria anthracnose in Korea. Our observations in sansevieria nurseries suggest that preventing wound infection as well as maintaining good plant hygiene in greenhouses might be main strategies for this disease. References: (1) R. Aldaoud et al. Australas. Plant Dis. Notes 6:60, 2011. (2) M. Nakamura et al. J. Gen. Plant Pathol. 72:253, 2006. (3) A. J. Palmateer et al. Plant Dis. 96:293, 2012.

Polyethylene glycol bowel preparation does not eliminate the risk of acute renal failure: a population-based case-crossover study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) bowel preparations are regarded as effective and safe for colonoscopy; however, recent reports have indicated a risk of acute renal failure (ARF). This population-based case-crossover study evaluated the association between PEG and ARF in screening colonoscopy patients aged ≥ 50 years.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) claims data from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2009 were used in the study. The study population consisted of patients aged ≥ 50 years who were first hospitalized for ARF following colonoscopy involving PEG bowel preparation. For each patient, PEG use in a 1-, 2-, or 4-week period prior to the first hospital admission date for ARF (hazard period) was compared with PEG use in four earlier 1-, 2-, or 4-week control periods. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for concomitant medications that could induce ARF.

RESULTS

The total number of study patients was 1064 (59 % were male). A greater proportion of patients used PEG during the hazard period than during the control periods (for 4-week time window: 8.8 % vs. 3.2 %). The adjusted ORs for ARF incidence when applying the 1-, 2-, and 4-week periods were 3.1 (95 %CI 2.06 - 4.73), 2.5 (95 %CI 1.76 - 3.53), and 2.1 (95 %CI 1.61 - 4.85), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of PEG was associated with the risk of ARF. Adequate hydration and renal function monitoring should be assured before and after colonoscopy, regardless of the bowel preparation regimen used.

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Erysiphe cruciferarum on Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea) in Korea

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.) belongs in the Brassicaceae and is widely cultivated in Korea for the edible leaves. In May 2011, Indian mustard plants of cv. Cheong-Kyeoja, growing in polyethylene-film-covered greenhouses in Hwaseong, Korea, were observed to be affected by a powdery mildew. Symptoms appeared as circular to irregular white colonies, which subsequently showed abundant hyphal growth on both leaf surfaces. Severely infected plants were unmarketable due to leaf discoloration, and most were not harvested. Voucher specimens have been deposited in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). Appressoria on the mycelium were well developed, lobed, solitary, or in opposite pairs. Conidiophores were cylindrical, 70 to 115 × 8 to 10 μm, and composed of 3 to 4 cells. Foot-cells of conidiophores were straight to substraight, cylindrical, and relatively short (20 to 30 μm long). Singly-produced conidia were oblong to cylindrical or oval, 27.5 to 50 × 14 to 17.5 μm with a length/width ratio of 1.8 to 3.6, with angular/rectangular wrinkling of outer walls, and lacked distinct fibrosin bodies. Germ tubes were produced in the perihilar position of conidia. No chasmothecia were found. These structures are typical of the powdery mildew Pseudoidium anamorph of the genus Erysiphe. The specific measurements and characteristics were consistent with previous records of Erysiphe cruciferarum Opiz ex L. Junell (1). To confirm the identification, the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA of KUS-F24819 was amplified with primers ITS5 and P3 (4), and sequenced directly. The resulting 462-bp sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KC862331). A GenBank BLAST search of the ITS sequence showed 100% identity (462/462 bp) with those of isolates of E. cruciferarum from B. oleracea var. acephala, B. rapa, and Arabidopsis thaliana (GU721075, EU140958, and FJ548627, respectively). Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation by gently dusting conidia onto leaves of five healthy, potted Indian mustard plants of the cv. Cheong-Kyeoja. Five non-inoculated plants served as a control treatment. Inoculated plants were isolated from non-inoculated plants in separate rooms in a greenhouse at 18 to 24°C. Inoculated plants developed symptoms after 7 days, whereas the control plants remained symptomless. The fungus present on the inoculated plants was identical morphologically to that originally observed on the diseased plants, fulfilling Koch's postulates. There are records of E. cruciferarum infecting B. juncea in Europe (Finland, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland), the former Soviet Union, Australia, South Africa, and Asia (India, Japan, and China) (2,3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew caused by E. cruciferarum on B. juncea in Korea. Occurrence of powdery mildew is a threat to quality and marketability of this crop, especially those grown in organic farming where chemical control options are limited. 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 20 March 2013. (3) P. Kaur et al. Plant Dis. 92:650, 2008. (4) S. Takamatsu et al. Mycol. Res. 113:117, 2009.

Measurement of the Bs(0)→μ+ μ- branching fraction and search for B(0)→μ+ μ- with the CMS experiment

Results are presented from a search for the rare decays Bs(0)→μ+ μ- and B(0)→μ+ μ- in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=7 and 8 TeV, with data samples corresponding to integrated luminosities of 5 and 20  fb(-1), respectively, collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC. An unbinned maximum-likelihood fit to the dimuon invariant mass distribution gives a branching fraction B(Bs(0)→μ+ μ-)=(3.0(-0.9)(+1.0))×10(-9), where the uncertainty includes both statistical and systematic contributions. An excess of Bs(0)→μ+ μ- events with respect to background is observed with a significance of 4.3 standard deviations. For the decay B(0)→μ+ μ- an upper limit of B(B(0)→μ+ μ-)<1.1×10(-9) at the 95% confidence level is determined. Both results are in agreement with the expectations from the standard model.

Inclusive search for supersymmetry using razor variables in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

An inclusive search is presented for new heavy particle pairs produced in √s=7 TeV proton-proton collisions at the LHC using 4.7±0.1 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity. The selected events are analyzed in the 2D razor space of M(R), an event-by-event indicator of the heavy particle mass scale, and R, a dimensionless variable related to the missing transverse energy. The third-generation sector is probed using the event heavy-flavor content. The search is sensitive to generic supersymmetry models with minimal assumptions about the superpartner decay chains. No excess is observed in the number of events beyond that predicted by the standard model. Exclusion limits are derived in the CMSSM framework as well as for simplified models. Within the CMSSM parameter space considered, gluino masses up to 800 GeV and squark masses up to 1.35 TeV are excluded at 95% confidence level depending on the model parameters. The direct production of pairs of top or bottom squarks is excluded for masses as high as 400 GeV.

The emerging role of salvage esophagectomy

The role of surgery and other treatment options for esophageal cancer continue to evolve. As more patients receive definitive chemoradiotherapy, salvage esophagectomy has emerged as an important treatment for local and regional failure. Although initial reports found high morbidity and mortality, more recent studies have found improvements in both perioperative complications and long term survival following salvage resection. We review the emerging role of salvage esophagectomy.

Utilisation of combined 18F-FDG PET/CT scan for differential diagnosis between benign and malignant adrenal enlargement

OBJECTIVE

To assess the properties of adrenal lesions with and without known primary cancer and investigate predictors for differential diagnosis between benign and malignant adrenal enlargement.

METHODS

This retrospective study used fluorine-18 fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)/CT in 325 patients with adrenal lesions (229 with known primary cancer and 96 without primary cancer). Age, sex, the presence of right and left masses, nodules or hyperplasia, unenhanced attenuation, maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) ratio, and the presence of metastasis in other body parts and locations of the primary cancer were assessed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess variables associated with risk of adrenal metastasis.

RESULTS

Patients with adrenal metastasis vs those without had a higher frequency of primary lung cancer (52.3% vs 30.7%) but a lower frequency of gastrointestinal cancer (7.9% vs 16.6%). The frequency of other abnormalities, including adenoma and hyperplasia, was similar between patients with and without known primary cancer. A higher proportion of patients with adrenal metastasis regardless of primary cancer site were younger, had a nodule or a mass, had an unenhanced attenuation of >10 HU, had an SUVmax ratio of >2.5, and had metastasis in other body parts. Analysis found independent associations of age, unenhanced attenuation of >10 HU, SUVmax ratio of >2.5 and the presence of metastasis in other body parts with adrenal metastasis. The combination of the four variables was strongly associated with adrenal metastasis.

CONCLUSION

PET/CT was useful in characterising adrenal lesions as benign or malignant and helpful in identifying adrenal metastasis and cancer severity.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

PET/CT can help in the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant adrenal enlargement.

[Recovery from parkinsonism with N-acetylcysteine-differentiated neurons]

The upregulation of dopaminergic neuronal differentiation is necessary for stem cell therapy in Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, neuronal differentiation efficiency increased by more than 2 times in P19 embryonic stem cells (ESCs) induced by N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and retinoic acid (RA) as compared to RA alone, with suppressed glial differentiation. The majority of NAC-treated stem cells grafted into brains of PD mice differentiated into dopaminergic neurons and persisted well for 6 weeks. Parkinsonism was also greatly improved after grafting NAC-treated cells in comparison to cells treated with only RA. Our results strongly suggest that NAC treatment may be an effective strategy for generating stem cells fated to become dopaminergic neurons for PD clinical therapy.

First Report of Sclerotinia Stem Rot of Anemone Caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Korea

In Korea, anemones (Anemone coronaria L.) are mostly grown during winter, in polyethylene tunnels that may have high humidity and poor ventilation, to meet the high demand of cut flowers in February and March for school ceremonies. During the winter of 2011 to 2012, symptoms typical of Sclerotinia stem rot were observed in commercial crops of anemone (cv. Rosso Mistral Plus) in Hwaseong City, Korea. About 40% of anemones withered or died before harvest due to the disease, causing considerable economic losses. In one farmer's polyethylene tunnel with a good ventilation system in Icheon City, Korea, less than 1% of the anemones showed Sclerotinia stem rot during the same season. Symptoms included stem necrosis and withering of leaves, followed by crown rot and wilt a few days afterward. White cottony growth of the fungus was observed on dead plants and the nearby soil surface, especially under high relative humidity. Black sclerotia 2 to 7 mm in diameter developed in the mycelium. Isolations from surface-disinfested stem pieces onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) consistently yielded white, fluffy colonies. Two-week-old colonies produced plentiful numbers of sclerotia on PDA. The isolated fungus was morphologically identified as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary (1,3). Voucher specimens (n = 4) were deposited in the Korea University herbarium (KUS). Two isolates were deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection with accession numbers KACC46708 (ex KUS-F26433) and KACC46834 (ex KUS-F26437), respectively. Fungal DNA was extracted with a DNeasy Plant Mini DNA Extraction Kit (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA). The complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified with the primers ITS1/ITS4 (4) and sequenced using an ABI Prism 337 automatic DNA sequencer (Applied Biosystems, Foster, CA). The resulting sequences of 501 bp were deposited in GenBank (Accession Nos. KC412065 and KC412066). A BLAST search revealed that sequences of the two Korean isolates showed 100% identity with those of S. sclerotiorum (e.g., GenBank Accession No. JN012606). A pathogenicity test was achieved by placing agar segments (9 mm²) from a 7-day-old culture grown on PDA on the stems of healthy anemones (cv. Rosso Mistral Plus) near the soil line. Three plants inoculated with agar blocks served as controls. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 16 to 20°C and relative humidity >90%. After 2 days, all inoculated stems became discolored, soft, watery, and covered with white mycelia, whereas control plants remained symptomless. S. sclerotiorum was consistently reisolated from the symptomatic tissue, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Sclerotinia stem rot of anemones caused by S. sclerotiorum has previously been recorded from the United States and New Zealand (2), and to our knowledge, this is the first report of S. sclerotiorum on anemone in Korea. According to our observations in damaged plots, low temperature, high humidity, poor ventilation, and continuous cultivation would accelerate the incidence of Sclerotinia stem rot in polyethylene tunnel cultivation systems in Korea. References: (1) M. D. Bolton et al. Mol. Plant Pathol. 7:1, 2006. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication, ARS, USDA. Retrieved December 3, 2012. (3) S. Umemoto et al. J. Gen. Plant Pathol. 73:290, 2007. (4) T. J. White et al. PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990.

First Report of Sclerotinia Stem Rot of Anemone Caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Korea

In Korea, anemones (Anemone coronaria L.) are mostly grown during winter, in polyethylene tunnels that may have high humidity and poor ventilation, to meet the high demand of cut flowers in February and March for school ceremonies. During the winter of 2011 to 2012, symptoms typical of Sclerotinia stem rot were observed in commercial crops of anemone (cv. Rosso Mistral Plus) in Hwaseong City, Korea. About 40% of anemones withered or died before harvest due to the disease, causing considerable economic losses. In one farmer's polyethylene tunnel with a good ventilation system in Icheon City, Korea, less than 1% of the anemones showed Sclerotinia stem rot during the same season. Symptoms included stem necrosis and withering of leaves, followed by crown rot and wilt a few days afterward. White cottony growth of the fungus was observed on dead plants and the nearby soil surface, especially under high relative humidity. Black sclerotia 2 to 7 mm in diameter developed in the mycelium. Isolations from surface-disinfested stem pieces onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) consistently yielded white, fluffy colonies. Two-week-old colonies produced plentiful numbers of sclerotia on PDA. The isolated fungus was morphologically identified as Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary (1,3). Voucher specimens (n = 4) were deposited in the Korea University herbarium (KUS). Two isolates were deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection with accession numbers KACC46708 (ex KUS-F26433) and KACC46834 (ex KUS-F26437), respectively. Fungal DNA was extracted with a DNeasy Plant Mini DNA Extraction Kit (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA). The complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified with the primers ITS1/ITS4 (4) and sequenced using an ABI Prism 337 automatic DNA sequencer (Applied Biosystems, Foster, CA). The resulting sequences of 501 bp were deposited in GenBank (Accession Nos. KC412065 and KC412066). A BLAST search revealed that sequences of the two Korean isolates showed 100% identity with those of S. sclerotiorum (e.g., GenBank Accession No. JN012606). A pathogenicity test was achieved by placing agar segments (9 mm²) from a 7-day-old culture grown on PDA on the stems of healthy anemones (cv. Rosso Mistral Plus) near the soil line. Three plants inoculated with agar blocks served as controls. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 16 to 20°C and relative humidity >90%. After 2 days, all inoculated stems became discolored, soft, watery, and covered with white mycelia, whereas control plants remained symptomless. S. sclerotiorum was consistently reisolated from the symptomatic tissue, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Sclerotinia stem rot of anemones caused by S. sclerotiorum has previously been recorded from the United States and New Zealand (2), and to our knowledge, this is the first report of S. sclerotiorum on anemone in Korea. According to our observations in damaged plots, low temperature, high humidity, poor ventilation, and continuous cultivation would accelerate the incidence of Sclerotinia stem rot in polyethylene tunnel cultivation systems in Korea. References: (1) M. D. Bolton et al. Mol. Plant Pathol. 7:1, 2006. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication, ARS, USDA. Retrieved December 3, 2012. (3) S. Umemoto et al. J. Gen. Plant Pathol. 73:290, 2007. (4) T. J. White et al. PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990.

A comparison of inflammatory mediator expression between palmoplantar pustulosis and pompholyx

BACKGROUND

Both palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) and pompholyx are clinically characterized by acute eruptions of vesicles or pustules on the palms or soles.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to compare the expression of certain inflammatory mediator genes and proteins between patients with PPP and pompholyx using skin tissue samples.

METHODS

Skin biopsies obtained from lesional skin from patients with PPP (n = 7) and pompholyx (n = 5) were analysed by quantitative RT-PCR to measure the mRNA levels of nine genes, including IL-4, IL-8, IL-9, IL-17, IL-22, IFN-γ, CCL-20, granzyme and perforin. For immunohistochemical analysis, 34 paraffin-embedded skin specimens (PPP, n = 22; pompholyx, n = 12) were stained with anti-IL-8, IL-17A, IL-22 and granzyme B antibodies.

RESULTS

Of genes analysed, IL-8 and IL-17A mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in the PPP group than the pompholyx group (P = 0.012 in both), whereas the mRNA expression of granzyme B was significantly higher in pompholyx when compared with PPP (P = 0.004). Regarding the IL-17A immunohistochemical staining, tissue from the PPP lesions contained significantly more IL-17A(+) cells in both the epidermis and papillary dermis when compared with pompholyx (P < 0.001 and P = 0.019 respectively). Moreover, the intensity of the IL-8 immunoreactivity was also greater in the PPP skin lesions than the pompholyx tissue (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

IL-8 and IL-17A, both are increased in PPP tissue, may represent important immunologic mediators that help to differentiate this clinical entity from pompholyx. This study may provide useful clues in distinguishing PPP from pompholyx, as well as helping to understand the pathogeneses of these two diseases.

Effect of multiple invasive foci on breast cancer outcomes according to the molecular subtypes: a report from the Korean Breast Cancer Society

BACKGROUND

In this study, the prognostic impact of the presence of the multifocal or multicentric tumor (MMT) and its association with molecular subtypes were investigated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We investigated the breast cancer metastasis and survival in patients with multifocal or multicentric invasive foci in the same breast. The study population includes 2882 patients in the Seoul National University Hospital Breast Care Center (SNUHBCC) dataset and 41 179 patients in Korean Breast Cancer Registry (KBCR) dataset.

RESULTS

From SNUHBCC dataset, we observed a significant role of MMT in developing distant metastasis and death when the tumors were triple-negative subtype. This subtype-specific prognostic importance of MMT in overall survival was also seen in KBCR dataset (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.02-1.69). In tumors <2 cm, the hazard ratios (HRs) for node metastasis and death were similar along the tumor size change in triple-negative subtype, while other subtypes showed a stepwise increment, suggesting the biologic importance of small invasive foci in this subtype.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate the prognostic importance of MMT in patients with triple-negative breast cancers. Small additional invasive foci in triple-negative breast cancer patients should be considered as clinically relevant tumor deposits.

Evidence for the appearance of atmospheric tau neutrinos in super-Kamiokande

Super-Kamiokande atmospheric neutrino data were fit with an unbinned maximum likelihood method to search for the appearance of tau leptons resulting from the interactions of oscillation-generated tau neutrinos in the detector. Relative to the expectation of unity, the tau normalization is found to be 1.42 ± 0.35(stat)(-0.12)(+0.14)(syst) excluding the no-tau-appearance hypothesis, for which the normalization would be zero, at the 3.8σ level. We estimate that 180.1 ± 44.3(stat)(-15.2)(+17.8) (syst) tau leptons were produced in the 22.5 kton fiducial volume of the detector by tau neutrinos during the 2806 day running period. In future analyses, this large sample of selected tau events will allow the study of charged current tau neutrino interaction physics with oscillation produced tau neutrinos.

Measurement of associated production of vector bosons and top quark-antiquark pairs in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=7 TeV

The first measurement of vector-boson production associated with a top quark-antiquark pair in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s] = 7  TeV is presented. The results are based on a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.0  fb(-1), recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC in 2011. The measurement is performed in two independent channels through a trilepton analysis of ttZ events and a same-sign dilepton analysis of ttV (V = W or Z) events. In the trilepton channel a direct measurement of the ttZ cross section σ(ttZ) = 0.28(-0.11)(+0.14) (stat)(-0.03)(+0.06) (syst)  pb is obtained. In the dilepton channel a measurement of the ttV cross section yields σ(ttV) = 0.43(-0.15)(+0.17) (stat)(-0.07)(+0.09) (syst)  pb. These measurements have a significance, respectively, of 3.3 and 3.0 standard deviations from the background hypotheses and are compatible, within uncertainties, with the corresponding next-to-leading order predictions of 0.137(-0.016)(+0.012) and 0.306(-0.053)(+0.031)  pb.

Search for pair-produced dijet resonances in four-jet final states in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV

A search for the pair production of a heavy, narrow resonance decaying into two jets has been performed using events collected in sqrt[s] = 7 TeV pp collisions with the CMS detector at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb(-1). Events are selected with at least four jets and two dijet combinations with similar dijet mass. No resonances are found in the dijet mass spectrum. The upper limit at 95% confidence level on the product of the resonance pair production cross section, the branching fractions into dijets, and the acceptance varies from 0.22 to 0.005 pb, for resonance masses between 250 and 1200 GeV. Pair-produced colorons decaying into qq are excluded for coloron masses between 250 and 740 GeV.