A Novel CD3G Mutation in a Taiwanese Patient With Normal T Regulatory Function Presenting With the CVID Phenotype Free of Autoimmunity-Analysis of all Genotypes and Phenotypes

The T-cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex is crucial for T-cell development and regulation. In humans, CD3D, CD3E, and CD3Z gene defects cause severe combined T- and B-cell immunodeficiency. However, CD3G mutations alone lead to a less severe condition, which is mainly characterized by autoimmunity. In the present study, we report the case of a 36-year-old male who presented with recurrent sinopulmonary infections without opportunistic infections; this was compatible with hypogammaglobulinemia, but normal PHA-lymphocyte proliferation. This patient had the common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) phenotype and received regular immunoglobulin infusions over 20-years; he gradually developed nodular regenerative hyperplasia over a 5-year period. Distinct from the previously reported CD3G mutations, which mainly present as autoimmunity, the novel CD3G deletion (c.del213A) in our patient caused an obvious decrease in switched memory B cells and diminished CD40L expression. However, sufficient Treg suppression function was maintained so that he remained free of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and autoimmune pancytopenia. A PubMed search for this rare disease entity revealed seven Turkish and two Spanish patients (five unrelated families). Among a total of 20 alleles, there were 14 splicing mutations (80(-1)G>C), two missense mutations (c.1G>A), two nonsense mutations (c.250A>T), and two deletions (c.del213A). Three patients presented with isolated AIT without significant infections. Three patients died, one from a severe infection at 31 months, one from post-transplant respiratory failure due to viral pneumonia at 17 months, and one from graft-vs.-host disease at 47 months. Those experiencing opportunistic infections, severe life-threatening infections in need of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and IBD-like diarrhea had a significantly higher mortality rate compared with those without these features (p = 0.0124, p = 0.01, and p = 0.0124, respectively). The patients with AIT had a significantly better prognosis (p = 0.0124) to those without AIT. Our patient with the novel CD3G mutation presented with predominant B-cell deficiency overlapping with the CVID phenotype but without recognizable autoimmunity, which was consistent with his normal Treg suppression function.

First Report of a Novel Begomovirus Associated with Yellow Vein Disease of Browne's Blechum (Blechum pyramidatum)

Browne's Blechum (Blechum pyramidatum) is a common weed found in fields and waste grounds in the Philippines. A disease was observed causing begomovirus-like yellow/chlorotic leaf veins and shortened internodes of Browne's Blechum plants on the island of Luzon, Philippines; disease incidence ranged from 10 to 50% in fields in 2012. Samples were collected from two plants with symptoms from each of Laguna and Quezon provinces and one plant without symptoms from Laguna Province. All four samples from plants with symptoms tested positive for begomovirus by PCR using primer pair PAL1v1978B/PAR1c715H (2), but the symptomless plant sample did not. However, no virus DNA-B component was detected in any of the samples using either general detection primer pair DNABLC1/DNABLV2 or DNABLC2/DNABLV2 (1). Using abutting primers AFPH12W1-R2F (TCTGGATCCATTGTTGAACGAGT) and AFPH12W1-R2R (CCGGGATCCCACATTGTTAAACA), a complete DNA-A component sequence was obtained for a Laguna isolate (GenBank Accession No. KF446659) and for a Quezon isolate (KF446660). The Laguna and Quezon isolate sequences were 2,764 and 2,756 nucleotides, respectively, and shared 90.6% nucleotide sequence identity. Both had six open reading frames (ORFs)-two in the virus sense (V1 and V2) and four in the complementary sense (C1 to C4)-and the geminivirus conserved sequence (TAATATTAC). Based on BLASTn searching of GenBank and sequence analysis using MEGALIGN (DNASTAR), both isolates should be considered as a new begomovirus (tentatively named Blechum yellow vein virus, BlYVV) since their DNA-A sequences share less than 89% nucleotide identity with any other begomovirus. Both DNA sequences had the highest nucleotide identity (84.8 to 87.6%) with Papaya leaf curl Guangdong virus isolates (AJ558122, AY650283, FJ495184, FJ869907, and JN703795). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a previously unidentified begomovirus associated with yellow vein disease of this species. References: (1) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (2) W. S. Tsai et al. Plant Pathol. 60:787, 2011.

First Report of Bhendi yellow vein mosaic virus Associated with Yellow Vein Mosaic of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) in Thailand

A disease of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) causing yellowing veins and mosaic on leaves and fruit has emerged in Thailand. Incidences of 50 to 100% diseased plants were observed in fields in Kanchanaburi and Nakhon Pathom provinces in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Leaf samples were collected from three and four diseased plants in Kanchanaburi and Nakhon Pathom, respectively. All seven samples tested positive for begomovirus by PCR using universal primer pair PAL1v1978B/PAR1c715H (3). One sample from Kanchanaburi also tested positive by ELISA using Okra mosaic virus (Genus Tymovirus) antiserum (DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany). When the nucleotide sequences of the 1.5 kb begomovirus PCR products were compared they were found to share 99.1 to 99.5% identity with each other, and 97.5 to 97.7% identity to Bhendi yellow vein mosaic virus Okra isolate from India (GenBank Accession No. GU112057; BYVMV-[IN: Kai:OY: 06]). The complete DNA-A sequence for a Kanchanaburi isolate (JX678967) was obtained using abutting primers WTHOK6FL-V/-C (WTHOK6FL-V: 5'-GCGAAGCTTAGATAACGCTCCTT-3'; WTHOK6FL-C: 5'-TCCAAGCTTTGAGTCTGCAACGT-3'), while that of a Nakhon Pathom isolate (JX678966) was obtained with primers WTHOK6FLV/WTHOK2FL-C (WTHOK2FL-C: 5'-TCCAAGCTTTGAGTCTGCATCGT-3'). The DNA-A sequences of both isolates are 2,740 nucleotides in length and share 99.6% identity. Each has the geminivirus conserved sequence (TAATATTAC), two open reading frames (ORFs) in the virus sense (V1 and V2) and four in the complementary sense (C1 to C4). Based on BLASTn searching GenBank and sequence analysis using MegAlign (DNASTAR), both DNA-A sequences have greatest nucleotide identity (96.2 to 96.4%) with BYVMV-[IN: Kai:OY: 06] from India. Also, BYVMV-associated betasatellite DNA (1.4 kb) was detected in all begomovirus-positive samples, except one sample from Nakhon Pathom (1). However, no virus DNA-B was detected in any of the samples using either general detection primer pair DNABLC1/DNABLV2 or DNABLC2/DNABLV2 (2). Okra infected with BYVMV has been reported in South Asia in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of BYVMV associated with Okra Yellow Vein Mosaic Disease in Southeast Asia. Since fruits with symptoms are regarded as low quality and have little market value, even low incidence of the disease is likely to cause significant reductions in marketable yield. Strategies for managing BYVMV in okra in South and Southeast Asia should be sought, including the breeding and selecting of resistant varieties. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Mol. Biotechnol. 20:315, 2002. (2) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (3) W. S. Tsai et al. Plant Pathol. 60:787, 2011.

First Report of Squash leaf curl Philippines virus Infecting Chayote (Sechium edule) in Taiwan

Young shoots and leaves of chayote (Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw.) are commonly consumed as a vegetable in Taiwan. In Hualien County, the major chayote-production area of Taiwan, as much as 15% of chayote plants were not marketable between September and October 2010 because of mosaic symptoms on the leaves. Three symptomatic leaves were collected from each of three fields in Hualien. All nine samples tested positive for a begomovirus by PCR using general primer pair PAL1v1978B/PAR1c715H (3) and negative for Zucchini yellow mosaic virus, Cucumber mosaic virus, Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus, Melon yellow spot virus, Papaya ringspot virus - type W, Watermelon mosaic virus, and Watermelon silver mottle virus by ELISA (2). On the basis of the high nucleotide sequence identity (97.7 to 99.6%) of the 1.5-kb begomoviral DNA-A fragments, all nine samples were considered infected by the same begomovirus species. The 1.5-kb sequences had greatest nucleotide sequence identity (96.6 to 97.8%) with Squash leaf curl Philippines virus (SLCPHV) pumpkin isolate from Taiwan (1) (GenBank Accession No. DQ866135; SLCPHV-TW[TW:Pum:05]). One sample was selected to complete viral genomic DNA analysis. Abutting primer pairs PKA-V/C (PKA-V: 5'-AACGGATCCACTTATGCACGATTTCCCT-3'; PKA-C: 5'-TAAGGATCCCACATGTTGTGGAGCA-3') and PKB-V/C (PKB-V: 5'-TGTCCATGGATTGATGCGTTATCGGA-3'; PKB-C: 5'-TGACCATGGCATTTCCGAGATCTCCCA-3'') were used to amplify the complete DNA-A and DNA-B, respectively. The sequences of DNA-A (GenBank Accession No. JF146795) and DNA-B (GenBank Accession No. JF146796) contain 2,734 and 2,715 nucleotides, respectively. The geminivirus conserved sequence TAATATTAC was found in both DNA-A and -B. The DNA-A has two open reading frames (ORFs) in the virus sense (V1 and V2) and four in the complementary sense (C1 to C4). The DNA-B also had one ORF each in the virus sense (BV1) and the complementary sense (BC1). When compared by BLASTn in GenBank and analyzed by MEGALIGN software (DNASTAR, Madison, WI), they were found to have greatest nucleotide identity (98.0 to 99.0% of DNA-A and 96.7% of DNA-B) with SLCPHV isolates from Taiwan. In addition, SLCPHV caused similar symptoms on leaves when transmitted to healthy chayote by viruliferous whitefly. In Taiwan, SLCPHV has been detected and sequenced from naturally infected melon (GenBank Accession No. EU479710), pumpkin (GenBank Accession No. DQ866135), and wax gourd (GenBank Accession No. EU310406). To our knowledge, this is the first report of SLCPHV infecting chayote plants in Taiwan. The prevalence of SLCPHV infection on different cucurbit crops should be taken into consideration for managing viral diseases in Taiwan. References: (1) W. S. Tsai et al. Plant Dis. 91:907, 2007. (2) W. S. Tsai et al. Plant Dis. 94:923, 2010. (3) W. S. Tsai et al. Online publication. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3059.2011.02424.x. Plant Pathol., 2011.

First Report of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus Associated with Leaf Crinkle and Yellow Mosaic Diseases of Cucurbit Plants in Mali

The aphid-transmitted Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV; genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae) has been reported to cause severe epidemics and yield losses in cucurbit crops worldwide (1). In Africa, ZYMV has been detected in Algeria, Egypt, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mayotte, Morocco, Nigeria, Reunion, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, and Tunisia (1). In April 2009, leaf yellowing, mosaic, crinkling, and curling were common on cucurbit plants in fields in Mali. Symptomatic leaf samples were collected from five cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants in Kati, two watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) plants in Samanko, and one weedy melon (Cucumis sp.) plant in Baguineda. All samples tested positive for ZYMV and were negative for Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), Papaya ringspot virus type W (PRSV-W), Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV), and Watermelon silver mottle virus (WSMoV) by double-antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA. They also tested negative for Melon yellow spot virus (MYSV) by indirect ELISA. Antibodies against ZYMV and WMV were obtained from DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany, and those against CGMMV, MYSV, PRSV-W, and WSMoV were provided by Shyi-Dong Yeh, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan. Six ZYMV ELISA-positive samples (three cucumber, two watermelon, and the weedy melon sample) were also tested by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR using the potyvirus universal primer pair Sprimer1/Oligo(dT) (2). The expected 1.6-kb viral cDNA was amplified from all six samples and each was sequenced. All sequences obtained from cucumber (GenBank Accession Nos. HM005307, HM005308, and HM005309), watermelon (GenBank Accession Nos. HM005311 and HM005312), and weedy melon (GenBank Accession No. HM005310) isolates were 1,684 nucleotides (nt) long excluding the 3' poly-A tails. They comprised the 3'-terminal of the NIb region (1 to 633 nt), the coat protein region (634 to 1473 nt), and the 3'-untranslated region (1,474 to 1,684 nt). Because the sequences shared high nucleotide identity (98.3 to 99.7%), these isolates were considered to be the same virus species. When the sequences were compared by BLASTn searching in GenBank and analyzed by DNAMAN Sequence Analysis Software (Lynnon Corporation, St-Louis, Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Canada), they were found to have the greatest nucleotide identity (97.4 to 98.0%) with the Connecticut strain of ZYMV (ZYMV-Connecticut; GenBank Accession No. D00692), within a clade of isolates from China, Italy, Japan, and the United States. When assessed separately, their coat protein (97.7 to 98.3% nucleotide and 98.9 to 99.6% amino acid identity) and 3'-untranslated regions (96.7 to 97.2% identity) also had greatest homology with ZYMV-Connecticut. To our knowledge, this is the first report of ZYMV infecting cucurbit plants in Mali. ZYMV should be taken into consideration when breeding cucurbit crops for this region, and managing viral diseases. References: (1) C. Desbiez et al. Plant Pathol. 46:809, 1997. (2) W. S. Tsai et al. Plant Dis. 94:378, 2010.

First Report of Tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus Associated with Pepper Leaf Curl Disease in Taiwan

Whitefly-transmitted begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae, genus Begomovirus) cause severe epidemic and high yield losses on pepper (Capsicum annuum) crops in many areas of the world. In Taiwan, pepper plants showing leaf curling, blistering, distortion, mild vein yellowing, and stunting were observed in fields in Tainan County in 2007, but with disease incidence less than 10%. However, disease incidence of more than 70% was observed in some fields in Pingtung, Kaohsiung, Chiayi, and Yunlin counties in 2009. Two symptomatic samples in 2007 and three for each county in 2009 were collected for begomovirus detection. Viral DNA was extracted and tested for the presence of begomoviral DNA-A, DNA-B, and associated satellite DNA by PCR using primer pairs PAL1v1978/PAR1c715 (4), DNABLC1/DNABLV2 (2), and Beta01/Beta02 (1), respectively. The expected 1.5-kb PCR product for DNA-A and 2.6-kb for DNA-B were obtained from all samples. However, DNA-beta was not detectable in any of the samples. One positive sample from each, Pingtung (LG6-2), Kaoshiung (LJ3-5), Tainan (P2-4), Chiayi (SG4-3), and Yunlin (HW2-2), were selected for further molecular characterization of DNA-A and DNA-B. On the basis of the sequences of the 1.5-kb DNA-A and 2.6-kb DNA-B PCR product, specific PCR primers were designed to obtain the complete DNA-A and DNA-B sequences for pepper-infecting begomovirus isolate LG6-2 (GenBank Accession Nos. GU208515 and GU208519), LJ3-5 (GenBank Nos. GU208516 and GU208520), P2-4 (GenBank Nos. EU249457 and EU249458), SG4-3 (GenBank Nos. GU208517 and GU208521), and HW2-2 (GenBank Nos. GU208518 and GU208522). The five isolates each contained the begomoviral conserved nonanucleotide sequence-TAATATTAC in DNA-As and DNA-Bs, six open reading frames (ORFs AV1, AV2, AC1, AC2, AC3, and AC4) in DNA-As, and two open reading frames (ORFs BV1 and BC1) in DNA-Bs. Sequence comparison by MegAlign software (DNASTAR, Inc. Madison, WI) showed that the five pepper-infecting begomovirus isolates had 99% nucleotide sequence identity in DNA-As and DNA-Bs and so they are considered isolates of the same species. BLASTn analysis with begomovirus sequences available in the GenBank database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (Bethesda, MD) indicated that the DNA-As and DNA-Bs of the five isolates had the highest nucleotide sequence identity of 99% each with the respective DNA-A and DNA-B of Tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus (TYLCTHV; GenBank Nos. EF577266 and EF577267), a recently emerging bipartite begomovirus infecting tomato in Taiwan (3). On the basis of the DNA-A sequence comparison and the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses demarcation of species at 89% sequence identity, these virus isolates belong to the species TYLCTHV. The isolate P2-4 was found transmissible to C. annuum 'Early Calwonder' by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci biotype B) and induced the same leaf curling, blistering, and mild vein yellowing symptoms as those observed in pepper fields. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a begomovirus infecting pepper in Taiwan. The presence of TYLCTHV in the major pepper-production areas should be taken into consideration for pepper disease management and in developing begomovirus resistant pepper cultivars for Taiwan. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Mol. Biotechnol. 20:315, 2002. (2) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (3) F.-J. Jan et al. Plant Dis. 91:1363, 2007 (4) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.

First Report of Pepper veinal mottle virus Associated with Mosaic and Mottle Diseases of Tomato and Pepper in Mali

The aphid-transmitted Pepper veinal mottle virus (PVMV; genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae) has been reported as causing an epidemic in solanaceous crops, including eggplant, pepper, and tomato in Africa (4). In West Africa, PVMV has been detected in Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria (2). In April 2009, leaf yellowing, mosaic, mottle, and curling symptoms indicative of viral infection were common on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants in home gardens and fields in Mali. Symptomatic leaf samples were collected from two sweet pepper and two tomato plants from Baguineda, four tomato plants and one chili pepper plant in Kati, and three chili pepper plants from Samanko. All samples except two chili pepper from Samanko and two sweet pepper and two tomato from Baguineda tested positive for begomovirus by PCR with primers PAL1v1978/PAR1c715 (3). PVMV was detected by double-antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA using PVMV antibody (DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany) in both Baguineda sweet pepper, one Baguineda tomato, and one Samanko chili pepper sample. Three PVMV ELISA-positive samples, one each of sweet pepper, chili pepper, and tomato, were also confirmed by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and sequencing. The expected 1.8-kb viral cDNA was amplified from all three samples using the potyvirus general primer Sprimer1 (5'-GGNAAYAAYAGHGGNCARCC-3'), which was modified from the Sprimer (1) as upstream primer, and Oligo(dT) (5'-GCGGGATCCCTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT-3') as downstream primer. The sequences obtained from chili pepper (GenBank Accession No. GQ918274), sweet pepper (GenBank Accession No. GQ918275), and tomato (GenBank Accession No. GQ918276) isolates, excluding the 3' poly-A tails, were each 1,831 nucleotides (nt) long, comprising the 3'-terminal of the NIb region (1 to 642 nt), the coat protein region (643 to 1,455 nt), and the 3'-untranslated region (1,456 to 1,831 nt). The sequences shared between 99.3 and 99.5% nucleotide identity with each other. A comparison of these sequences with corresponding sequences of potyviruses in GenBank revealed they had greatest nucleotide identity (96.5 to 96.6%) with a tomato isolate of PVMV from Taiwan (PVMV-TW; GenBank Accession No. EU719647), between 81.4 and 95.9% identity with other PVMV isolates, and only as much as 67.2% identity with other potyvirus isolates. Analysis of coat protein regions alone also revealed high nucleotide (96.6 to 96.8%) and amino acid (99.3 to 99.6%) identity with PVMV-TW. The PVMV Baguineda tomato isolate caused mosaic and mottle symptoms on tomato (line CLN1558A) and pepper (cv. Early Calwonder) plants following mechanical inoculation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of PVMV infecting plants in Mali and reinforces the need to take this virus into consideration when breeding tomato and pepper for this region. References: (1) J. Chen et al. Arch. Virol. 146:757, 2001. (2) C. Huguenot et al. J. Phytopathol. 144:29, 1996. (3) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993. (4) G. Thottappilly, J. Phytopathol. 134:265, 1992.

Identification of a New Begomovirus Associated with Yellow Leaf Curl Diseases of Tomato and Pepper in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Whitefly-transmitted geminiviruses (family Geminiviridae, genus Begomovirus) cause severe disease epidemics of tomato and pepper in Indonesia. Four tomato-infecting begomoviruses have been reported from Java Island; Ageratum yellow vein virus (AYVV), Tomato leaf curl Java virus (ToLCJV), Tomato yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (TYLCIDV), and Pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (PepYLCIDV) (4). The latter was also found to infect peppers. In 2006, symptoms typical of those caused by begomoviruses, leaf curling, blistering, yellowing, and stunting, were observed in tomato and pepper fields in North Sulawesi with incidence as high as 100%. Three symptomatic tomato leaf samples from each of two fields in the Langowan area and one from each of two fields in the Tompaso area, as well as one pepper sample from each of two fields in the Langowan area and two from a field in the Tompaso area were collected. Using the primer pair PAL1v1978/PAR1c715 (3), a begomovirus DNA-A was detected by PCR in all the tomato samples, in the two pepper samples from Langowan, and in one of the Tompaso pepper samples. A begomovirus DNA-B component or virus-associated satellite DNA were not found in any of the samples by PCR using the DNA-B general primer pairs DNABLC1/DNABLV2 and DNABLC2/DNABLV2 (2) and the satellite detection primer pair Beta01/Beta02 (1). The PCR-amplified 1.5-kb fragment from one positive sample each from the four tomato and three pepper fields were sequenced and found to have high nucleotide (nt) sequence identity (>95.0%). An abutting primer pair (IndV: 5'CCCGGATCCTCTAATTCATCCCT3'; IndC: 5'GACGGATCCCACATGTTTGCCA3') was designed to amplify the full-length genomes of the four tomato (GenBank Accession Nos. FJ237614, FJ237615, FJ237616, and FJ237617) and three pepper (GenBank Accession Nos. FJ237618, FJ237619, and FJ237620) begomoviruses. The sequences of all seven begomovirus isolates were 2,750 or 2,751 bp long and contained the conserved nonanucleotide sequence-(TAATATTAC), two open reading frames (ORFs) in the virion-sense and four ORFs in the complementary sense. Sequence comparisons using MegAlign software (DNASTAR, Madison, WI) showed the four tomato and three pepper isolates to have high nt identity (>95.1%). BLASTn analysis and comparison of the sequences with others available in the GenBank database ( www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ) show that the isolates of this study have the highest nt sequence identity (66.5%) with PepYLCIDV (Accession No. DQ083765) and less than 66.5% nt identity with other begomoviruses including those reported from Indonesia. On the basis of the currently accepted begomovirus species demarcation threshold of 89% nt identity, the tomato and pepper begomovirus isolates from North Sulawesi constitute a distinct species in the genus Begomovirus for which the name Tomato leaf curl Sulawesi virus (ToLCSuV) is proposed. Phylogenetic analysis shows the ToLCSuV isolates form a cluster distinct from other Indonesian begomoviruses as well as begomoviruses from the neighboring Philippines. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Virology 312:106, 2003. (2) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (3) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993. (4) W. S. Tsai et al. Plant Dis. 90:831, 2006.

First Report of Tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus in Taiwan

During the 2006 winter and 2007 spring seasons, tomato lines carrying the Ty2 gene, which confers resistance to the Tomato leaf curl Taiwan virus (GenBank Accession No. U88692), showed severe yellowing, leaf curl, and stunting symptoms in several locations in Tainan County, Taiwan. Whiteflies were found to be associated with symptomatic plants, and disease incidences of almost 100% were observed. The presence of a new resistance breaking begomovirus was suspected. Six symptomatic leaf samples of three different tomato plants from each infected field were collected in Liouying (LY3, 7, and 8) and Sigang (SG9, 13, and 18) townships in Tainan County. Viral DNAs were extracted (2), and PCR with previously described primers was used to detect the presence of begomoviral DNA-A (4), DNA-B (3), and associated satellite DNA (1). Begomoviral DNA-A was detected in all tested samples. The PCR-amplified 1.5-kb viral DNA-A from one positive sample from each location (LY3 and SG18) was cloned and sequenced. On the basis of the 1.5 kb DNA-A sequences, specific primers were designed for cloning and sequencing the complete viral DNA-A, which was 2,744 bp for both the Liouying (GenBank Accession No. EF577266) and Sigang (GenBank Accession No. EF577264) isolates. Sequence analyses were conducted with DNAMAN sequence analysis software (Lynnon Corporation, Vaudreuil, Quebec, Canada). The DNA-A of both isolates contained the conserved nanonucleotides-TAATATTAC and six open reading frames, including two in the virus sense (AV1 and AV2) and four in the complementary sense (AC1 to AC4). On the basis of their 99.5% nucleotide identity, they are considered isolates of the same species. BLASTn analysis and sequence comparison with those available in the GenBank database ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ) indicated that the two isolates had the highest nucleotide identity (more than 98.4%) with the DNA-A of the Tomato yellow leaf curl Thailand virus (TYLCTHV; GenBank Accession No. AY514631). Virus-associated satellite DNA was not found in any of the samples. However, DNA-B was detected in all six samples, providing further evidence that the two isolates were the same as the bipartite TYLCTHV. All samples, except the LY3, were also found to be infected with Tomato leaf curl Taiwan virus (ToLCTWV), as indicated by a positive PCR reaction using the ToLCTWV-specific primer pair KD-PAV1 (5'ATCGTGTTGGGAAGAGGTTT3') and KD-PAC1 (5'GGAGAAAGCTCCCAAAGATT3'). A pure TYLCTHV isolate of LY3 was obtained in Lycopersicum esculentum TK70 by transmission with Bemisia tabaci Biotype B. The isolated TYLCTHV was found to infect L. esculentum H24 (resistant to ToLCTWV) and induce typical yellow leaf curl symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the presence of TYLCTHV in Taiwan. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Virology 312:106, 2003. (2) R. L. Gilbertson et al. J. Gen. Virol. 72:2843, 1991. (3) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (4) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.

Occurrence and Molecular Characterization of Squash leaf curl Phillipines virus in Taiwan

Whitefly-transmitted, cucurbit-infecting begomoviruses (genus Begomovirus, family Geminiviridae) have been detected on cucurbit crops in Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam. Pumpkin plants showing leaf curling, blistering, and yellowing symptoms were observed in the AVRDC fields (Tainan, Taiwan) during 2001 and in nearby farmers' fields during 2005. Two samples from symptomatic plants were collected in 2001 and six collected in 2005. Viral DNAs were extracted (2), and the PCR, with previously described primers, was used to detect the presence of begomoviral DNA-A (4), DNA-B (3), and associated satellite DNA (1). Begomoviral DNA-A was detected in one of the 2001 samples and in all 2005 samples. The PCR-amplified 1.5 kb viral DNA-A from one positive sample each from the 2001 and 2005 collections was cloned and sequenced. On the basis of the 1.5-kb DNA-A sequences, specific primers were designed to completely sequence the DNA-A component. The overlap between fragments obtained using primer walking ranged from 43 to 119 bp with 100% nt identities. The complete DNA-A sequences were determined for the two isolates as 2,734 bp (2001) (GenBank Accession No. DQ866135) and 2,733 bp (2005) (GenBank Accession No. EF199774). Sequence comparisons and analyses were performed using the DNAMAN Sequence Analysis Software (Lynnon Corporation, Vaudreuil, Quebec, Canada). The DNA-A of the begomovirus isolates each contained the conserved nanosequence-TAATATTAC and six open reading frames, including two in the virus sense and four in the complementary sense. On the basis of a 99% shared nucleotide sequence identity, they are considered isolates of the same species. BLASTn analysis and a comparison of the sequence with others available in the GenBank database ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ) indicated that the Taiwan virus shared its highest nt identity (more than 95%) with the Squash leaf curl Philippines virus (GenBank Accession No. AB085793). Virus-associated satellite DNA was not found in any of the samples. DNA-B was found in both samples, providing further evidence that the virus was the same as the bipartite Squash leaf curl Philippines virus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Squash leaf curl Philippines virus in Taiwan. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Virology 312:106, 2003. (2) R. L. Gilbertson et al. J. Gen. Virol. 72:2843, 1991. (3) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (4) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.

Molecular Characterization of a Distinct Begomovirus Associated with Tomato Leaf Curl Disease in Arusha of Tanzania

Mild leaf curling and yellowing symptoms were observed in approximately 5% of 1-month-old tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) in a farmer's field in Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania in January 2006. DNA was extracted from four symptomatic and five asymptomatic plants and tested for the presence of begomovirus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primer pair PAL1v1978/PAR1c715 (4). All asymptomatic samples were negative. Two of four symptomatic samples yielded the expected 1.4-kb DNA-A fragment for begomovirus. DNA-B was not detected in these two samples by PCR using the DNA-B degenerate primer pairs DNABLC1/DNABLV2 and DNABLC2/DNABLV2 (2), and PBL1v2040/PCRc1 and PBL1v2040/PCRc154 (4). DNA-beta was also not detectable using DNA-beta specific primers (1). The 1.4-kb PCR product from one sample was cloned and sequenced. On the basis of the sequence of the 1.4-kb DNA product, specific primers were designed to complete the DNA-A sequence. The DNA-A consisted of 2,766 nucleotides (Genbank Accession No. DQ519575) and was found to contain the geminiviral conserved nanosequence-TAATATTAC in the intergenic region and the six predicted open reading frames (V1, V2, C1, C2, C3, and C4). BLAST analysis was conducted with geminivirus sequences available in GenBank, and MegAlign software (DNASTAR, Inc, Madison, WI) was used for further comparisons. Highest sequence identity (84%) was with the partially sequenced Tomato leaf curl Tanzania virus found in Makutupora, Tanzania in 1994 (1,523 nucleotides, Genbank Accession No. U73498) in the 1,919 nt to 679 nt region. Low sequence identity (78%) was noted with Tomato yellow leaf curl Sardinia virus (Genbank Accession No. X61153) that is reportedly prevalent in Arusha, Morogoro, Dodoma, Iringa, Kilimanjaro, and Dar es Salaam of Tanzania (3). Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of this new virus with those of full-length begomoviral DNA-A available in GenBank indicated highest sequence identity (81%) with Tomato leaf curl Mayotte virus (EMBL Accession No. AJ865341). On the basis of the DNA-A sequence comparisons and the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses proposed species demarcation of 89% sequence identity, the tomato leaf curl virus from Arusha, Tanzania constitutes a distinct begomovirus and the name Tomato leaf curl Arusha virus is proposed. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Mol. Biotechnol. 20:315, 2002. (2) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (3) B. D. Kashina et al. Arch. Phytopathol. Plant Prot. 35:255, 2002 (4) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.

First Report of a Begomovirus Associated with Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Disease in Ethiopia

During December 2003, severe leaf yellowing, leaf curling, and stunting symptoms were observed in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plantings in Melkassa (1,550 m above sea level), Ethiopia. Eleven symptomatic samples were collected and tested for the presence of a begomovirus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the begomovirus-specific degenerate primer pair PAL1v1978/PAR1c715 (3). Samples were also tested for Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Potato virus Y (PVY), Tobacco etch virus (TEV), Pepper veinal mottle virus (PVMV), and Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All samples were negative for CMV, PVY, TEV, PVMV, and ToMV. However, the expected 1.4-kb PCR product for begomoviruses was obtained from all samples. DNA-B and DNA-beta were not detectable using PCR with the DNA-B specific primer pairs DNABLC1/DNABLV2 and DNABLC2/ DNABLV2 (2) and the DNA-beta primer pair Beta01/Beta02 (1), respectively. The 1.4-kb PCR product of one sample was cloned and sequenced. On the basis of the sequence of the 1.4-kb DNA product, specific primers were designed to complete the DNA-A sequence. The DNA-A consisted of 2,785 nucleotides (GenBank Accession No. DQ358913) and was found to contain the six predicted open reading frames (ORFs V1, V2, C1, C2, C3, and C4). A BLAST analysis was conducted with geminivirus sequences available in the GenBank database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (Bethesda, MD), and DNAMAN software (Lynnon Corporation, Quebec, Canada) was used for further comparisons. The DNA-A sequence of the virus associated with yellow leaf curl disease of tomato from Ethiopia showed highest sequence identity (92%) with Tomato yellow leaf curl Mali virus (TYLCMLV; GenBank Accession No. AY502934). On the basis of the DNA-A sequence comparison and the ICTV demarcation of species at 89% sequence identity, the Ethiopian virus is a provisional strain of TYLCMLV described from Mali. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a begomovirus associated with tomato yellow leaf curl disease in Ethiopia. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Mol. Biotechnol. 20:315, 2002. (2) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (3) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.

Molecular Characterization of a Distinct Tomato-Infecting Begomovirus Associated with Yellow Leaf Curl Diseased Tomato in Lembang, Java Island of Indonesia

Three distinct tomato-infecting begomoviruses have been identified from Indonesia (GenBank Accessions Nos. AB100304, AB100305, and DQ083765). Severe yellow leaf curl epidemics have been observed on tomato on Java Island since the late 1990s. Viral DNA was extracted (2) from one such sample collected in Lembang, West Java in 1998. Polymerase chain reaction with previously described primers was used to detect the presence of geminiviral DNA-A (4), DNA-B (3), and associated satellite DNA (1). The predicted 1.4-kb DNA-A fragment was amplified with the general primer pair PAL1v1978/PAR1c715 and then cloned and sequenced. DNA-B and satellite DNA were not detected in the sample. On the basis of the partial DNA-A sequences, specific primers were designed to amplify and sequence the complete DNA-A component (2,762 nucleotides, GenBank Accession No. AF189018). The DNA-A sequence contained the geminivirus-conserved nanosequence TAATATTAC in the loop of the hairpin structure of the intergenic region and six open reading frames including two in the virus sense and four in the complementary sense. Pairwise comparison of the full-length DNA-A sequence with those of other begomoviruses available in the GenBank database was done by the MegAlign software (DNASTAR, Inc, Madison, WI). Highest nucleotide sequence identity (74.1%) was with Tomato leaf curl Mayotte virus-[Kahani] (GenBank Accession No. AJ865340). Comparison of the full-length DNA-A sequence with the three above mentioned tomato-infecting begomoviruses from Indonesia also showed less than 71% nucleotide sequence identities. Because the DNA-A sequence had less than 89% identity with other begomoviruses, it should be classified as a distinct virus according to the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. The name Tomato yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus-[Lembang] (TYLCIDV-[Lem]) is proposed. The presence of at least four distinct tomato-infecting begeminiviruses on Java Island needs to be considered when developing tomato cultivars with stable resistance to tomato (yellow) leaf curl disease. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Virology 312:106, 2003. (2) R. L. Gilbertson et al. J. Gen. Virol. 72:2843, 1991. (3) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (4) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.

Molecular Characterization of Pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus in Leaf Curl and Yellowing Diseased Tomato and Pepper in Indonesia

Yellowing and leaf curl symptoms were observed in tomato and pepper fields near Bogor, Java, Indonesia in 2000. Samples were collected from one diseased tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) and three diseased chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants. Viral DNA was extracted (2) and tested for the presence of geminiviral DNA-A, DNA-B, and associated satellite DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with previously described primers (1,3,4). The begomovirus DNA-A general primer pair PAL1v1978/PAR1c715 amplified the predicted 1.4-kb DNA fragment from the tomato and two of the chili samples. DNA-B and satellite DNA were not detected using PCR with DNA-B general primer pairs (DNABLC1/DNABLV2 and DNABLC2/DNABLV2) and satellite detection primer pair (Beta01/Beta02). The amplicons from the tomato and from one of the chili samples were cloned and sequenced. On the basis of the 1.4-kb DNA sequences, specific primers were designed to complete the DNA-A sequences. Following sequence assembly, the full-length DNA-A nucleotide sequences were determined as 2,744 nt (GenBank Accession No. DQ083765) for the tomato- and 2,743 nt (GenBank Accession No. DQ083764) for the chili-infecting begomoviruses. Sequence comparisons and analyses were conducted using the DNAMAN sequence analysis software (Lynnon Corporation, Quebec, Canada). The DNA-A of both begomoviruses contained six open reading frames, including two in the virus sense and four in the complementary sense, and the geminivirus conserved nanosequence-TAATATTAC in the loop of the hairpin structure of the intergenic region. Because of their high nucleotide sequence identities of 99%, the tomato- and chili-infecting begomovirus are considered the same virus. When compared by using BLAST with available gem-iniviral sequences in the GenBank database, the DNA-A sequences of the tomato and the chili isolates showed highest nucleotide sequence identity (95%) with the partially sequenced Pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus (GenBank Accession No. AB189849) in the 1,842 nt to 660 nt region and in the 1,841 nt to 659 nt region, respectively. Comparisons with full-length DNA-A sequences of begomoviruses available in the GenBank database indicated high sequence identities of 76 and 77% for the tomato and chili isolates, respectively, with an eggplant isolate of Tomato yellow leaf curl Kanchanaburi virus (GenBank Accession No. AF511530) from Thailand. According to our knowledge, this is the first report of full-length DNA-A sequence of the Pepper yellow leaf curl Indonesia virus and its natural occurrence in tomato and pepper in the Bogor area of Indonesia. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Virology 312:106, 2003. (2) R. L. Gilbertson et al. J. Gen. Virol. 72:2843, 1991. (3) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (4) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.

Molecular Characterization of a Begomovirus Associated with Tomato Leaf Curl Disease in Uganda

During the summer of 2003, leaf curl symptoms were observed in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plantings in the Iganga District of Uganda. Begomoviral infection was suspected. Twelve symptomatic samples were collected. Begomoviral DNA was extracted and amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the begomovirus-specific degenerate primer pair PAL1v1978/PAR1c715 (4). The expected 1.4-kb PCR products were obtained from 11 of 12 samples. The 1.4-kb PCR product of one of the samples was cloned and sequenced. Based on the sequence of the 1.4-kb DNA product, specific primers were designed to complete the DNA-A sequence. The DNA-A consisted of 2,747 nucleotides (GenBank Accession No. DQ127170) and was found to contain seven predicted open reading frames (ORFs V1, V2, C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5). A BLAST analysis was conducted with geminivirus sequences available in the GenBank database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (Bethesda, MD), and MegAlign (DNASTAR, Inc, Madison, WI) software was used for further comparisons. The DNA-A sequence of the virus associated with leaf curl of tomato from Uganda showed less than 79% sequence identity with cassava mosaic viruses from Uganda (GenBank/EMBL Accession Nos. AF126800, AF126802, AF126804, AF126806, and Z83257), the only begomoviruses from the country so far in the public domain. Highest sequence identity (83%) was with Tomato leaf curl Mayotte virus from Dembeni, Mayotte, Comoros Islands (ToLCYTV-[Dem], EMBL Accession No. AJ865341). Pairwise comparison with ToLCYTV-[Dem] showed 60, 88, 91, 82, 84, 86, and 80% sequence identities in the intergenic region, V2, V1, C1, C2, C3, and C4 ORFs, respectively. Only low sequence identities (ranging from 71 to 82%) were obtained with other tomato bego-moviruses reported from Africa (GenBank/EMBL Accession Nos. AF261885, AJ865337-AJ865340, AY044137-AY044139, AY502934, AY502936, AY594174, AY736854, and U73498). There was no evidence for the presence of DNA-B or DNA-beta using PCR with the DNA-B specific primer pairs DNABLC1/DNABLV2 and DNABLC2/DNABLV2 (2) and the DNA-beta primer pair Beta01/Beta02 (1), respectively. Detection of possible recombination was by RDP2 software (3) using DNA-A sequences of begomoviruses from Uganda and tomato begomoviruses from Africa. The DNA-A was found to contain a small recombinant fragment from ToLCYTV-[Dem] in the 411 to 969 nucleotide position with 92% sequence identity. Based on DNA-A sequence comparisons, the tomato leaf curl virus from Uganda most likely constitutes a distinct new begomovirus. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Mol. Biotechnol. 20:315, 2002. (2) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (3) D. P. Martin et al. Bioinformatics 21:260, 2005. (4) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis.77:340, 1993.

Life-threatening hypokalemia in an asthmatic patient treated with high-dose hydrocortisone

Although modest hypokalemia is frequently observed in asthmatic patients being treated with bronchodilators, profound hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis are rarely reported in patients receiving high-dose hydrocortisone (HC). We describe a 66-year-old man who complained of generalized muscle weakness, shallow respiration, and palpitations after receiving high-dose intravenous HC (total dose, 2400 mg over 4 days) to treat a severe asthma attack. During this therapy, there was a weight gain of 1.0 kg. An electrocardiogram revealed ventricular arrhythmia with frequent premature ventricular contractions. Hypokalemia was profound, with plasma potassium (K+) concentration of 1.7 mEq/L, and associated with renal potassium wasting, as evidenced by a transtubular potassium concentration gradient of 12; metabolic alkalosis (plasma HCO3-, 37 mEq/L) was also present. When treated with spironolactone, KCl supplementation, and substitution of HC with prednisolone, his plasma K+ concentration rapidly normalized, metabolic alkalosis was corrected, and arrhythmia disappeared within 3 days. Because of unwanted mineralocorticoid side-effects, high-dose HC may cause life-threatening hypokalemia in asthmatic patients. Because of these potential risks, plasma acid-base and electrolyte concentrations should be monitored frequently in any patient treated with high-dose HC.

First Report of the Occurrence of Tomato chlorosis virus and Tomato infectious chlorosis virus in Taiwan

Pronounced yellowing symptoms on the lower leaves of tomato plants, similar to those caused by nitrogen deficiency, were observed in the spring of 1998 in The Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center and in farmers' fields in southern Taiwan. However, the brittleness of the discolored leaves, occasional upward leaf rolling, and abundance of whiteflies on these plants suggested the involvement of Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) and Tomato infectious chlorosis virus (TICV) that belong to the group of whitefly-transmitted, phloem-limited criniviruses (family Closteroviridae). Leaves of symptomatic and healthy plants were collected, and total nucleic acids were extracted from 0.2 g of leaf tissue (1). The total nucleic acids were precipitated by ethanol and dissolved in 160 μl of sterile water. Eight microliters of total nucleic acids were observed on positively charged nylon membranes (Roche Diagnostic GmbH, Roch Applied Science, Germany). Two digoxigenin-labeled riboprobes, transcribed from pTIC8-44 (complementary to the 3'-end region of TICV RNA 1) and pToC 78 (corresponding to the coat protein region of ToCV RNA 2), were used in hybridization tests to detect TICV and ToCV, respectively (2). Six of seventeen symptomatic tomato plant samples were positive with the ToCV probe, whereas none of the 13 samples reacted with the TICV probe. Similar symptoms as described above for tomato were observed on zinnia plants in the same locations. Five of eight zinnia samples gave a positive reaction with the ToCV probe. One of the ToCV positive samples also gave a positive reaction with the TICV probe. Electron microscopic examination from leaf-dip preparations of ToCV-positive leaf tissues, stained in 1% uranyl acetate, showed the presence of flexuous filamentous particles approximately 800 to 850 nm long. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of the presence of ToCV and TICV in zinnia and ToCV in tomato in Taiwan. References: (1) A. Hadidi et al. J. Virol. Methods 30:261, 1990. (2) G. C. Wisler et al. Phytopathology 88:402, 1998.

Correlation of Neutrophil Phagocytosis and Lymphocyte Adhesion Molecules in Exertional Heat Stroke

BACKGROUND

Increased susceptibility to infections has been shown in patients with classic heat stroke. Although immunologic and inflammatory responses may be important factors, the direct role of circulating neutrophil phagocytosis and lymphocyte adhesion molecule expression has yet to be investigated in exertional heat stroke (ExHS).

DESIGN

Circulating neutrophil phagocytosis and lymphocyte adhesion molecule CD11a and CD11b expression were examined in 17 patients with ExHS and 17 exertional control subjects (ExC).

RESULTS

Patients with ExHS showed significantly increased total leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts, attenuated neutrophil phagocytosis ability, and higher expression of CD11a and CD11b in the acute phase of ExHS, compared with the recovery phase of ExHS and ExC. Although there were no correlations between body temperature and phagocyte function or adhesion molecules, a negative correlation between phagocytosis and CD11a/CD11b was present.

CONCLUSION

Increased leukocyte count with decreased circulating neutrophil phagocytic capacity and increased expression of lymphocyte adhesion molecules may in part explain the susceptibility to infections in ExHS.

Molecular Characterization of a New Tomato Begomovirus from India

The Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center's (AVRDC) tomato breeding lines derived from Lycopersicon hirsutum f. glabratum B 6013 × L. esculentum H-24 and carrying the Ty-2 resistance gene located on chromosome 11 are tolerant to tomato leaf curl disease in Karnataka State, southern India (3), where several isolates of Tomato leaf curl Virus-Bangalore (GenBank Accession Nos. L11746, Z48182, and AF165098) and Tomato leaf curl virus-Karnataka (GenBank Accession No. U38239) are reported to infect tomatoes. The only area in south and southeast Asia where these AVRDC tomato breeding lines were found susceptible to begomovirus infection is Thailand, where several bipartite Tomato yellow leaf curl virus isolates (GenBank Accession Nos. X63015, X63016; AF141922, AF141897; and AF511529, AF511528) are reported to be prevalent. However, in field trials conducted in the fall of 1999 in Bodeli, Gujarat State, western India, the AVRDC breeding lines showed typical symptoms of begomovirus infection, such as leaf curling and vein clearing. The presence of a different tomato begomovirus was suspected. Viral DNA from a symptomatic plant from Bodeli was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the begomovirus-specific degenerate primer pair PAL1v1978/PAR1c715 (4) and the expected 1.4-kb PCR product was obtained. Based on the sequence of the 1.4-kb DNA product, specific primers were designed to complete the DNA-A sequence. The DNA-A of the virus associated with tomato leaf curl from Bodeli consists of 2,759 nucleotides (GenBank Accession No. AF413671) and contains six open reading frames (ORFs V1, V2, C1, C2, C3, and C4). The DNA-A sequence of the Bodeli isolate had highest sequence identities of 98 and 98.3%, respectively, with viruses causing tomato leaf curl from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh State, northern India (GenBank Accession No. AF449999) collected in the fall of 1999 and Panchkhal, Nepal (GenBank Accession No. AY234383) collected in early 2000. There was no evidence for the presence of DNA-B in the Bodeli, Panchkhal, or Varanasi virus isolates using DNA-B specific primer pairs DNABLC1/DNABLV2 and DNABLC2/DNABLV2 (2). However, a 1.3-kb DNA-beta was detected in the Panchkhal and Varanasi isolates using the primer pair Beta01/Beta02 (1). Sequence comparisons with begomovirus sequences available in the GenBank database showed that these three virus isolates and GenBank Accession No. AY190290 collected in 2001 from Varanasi shared more than 97% sequence identity with each other and should be considered closely related strains of the same virus. These four virus isolates belong to a new distinct tomato geminivirus species because their sequences share less than 88% sequence identities with the next most closely related virus, Tomato leaf curl virus-Karnataka (GenBank Accession No. U38239). This new tomato leaf curl virus is prevalent in western India, northern India, and Nepal. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Mol. Biotechnol. 20:315, 2002. (2) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (3) V. Muniyappa et al. HortScience 37:603, 2002. (4) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.

Molecular Characterization of a New Begomovirus Associated with Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl and Eggplant Yellow Mosaic Diseases in Thailand

Leaf curl and yellowing symptoms on tomato, and yellow mosaic symptoms on eggplant, are frequently observed in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. DNA was extracted from leaves of 13 symptomatic tomato and six symptomatic eggplant samples by the method of Gilbertson et al (1). Viral DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the begomovirus-specific degenerate primer pair PAL1v1978/PAR1c715 (3), which amplified a 1.4-kb fragment of DNA-A. All samples, except one eggplant sample, yielded the expected product. The 1.4-kb PCR products of one tomato and one eggplant sample were cloned and sequenced. Both begomoviruses from tomato and eggplant contained a DNA-B component, amplified using two degenerate primer pairs, DNABLC1/DNABLV2 and DNABLC2/DNABLV2 (2). Based on sequences of the DNA products amplified by the degenerate primer pairs, specific primers were designed to complete the DNA-A and DNA-B sequences. Computer-assisted sequence comparisons were performed with geminivirus sequences available in the laboratory at the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center, Taiwan and in the GenBank sequence database. Both tomato (GenBank Accession Nos. AF511529 and AF511528) and eggplant (GenBank Accession Nos. AF511530 and AF511527) virus isolates contain the conserved geminivirus sequence-TAATATTAC on the DNA-A and B. Based on the high sequence identities of 99% DNA-A and 98% DNA-B, these two virus isolates are considered to be the same species. Although the genome organization of these two isolates was the same as Tomato yellow leaf curl virus Thailand (TYLCTHV; GenBank Accession Nos. X63015 and X63016), including six open reading frames (ORFs) on the DNA-A (AV1, AV2, AC1, AC2, AC3, and AC4) and two ORFs on the DNA-B (BV1 and BC1), sequence comparisons showed highest DNA-A sequence identity (73%) with Ageratum yellow vein virus from Singapore (GenBank Accession No. X74516) and highest DNA-B identity (77%) with the TYLCTHV (X63016). To our knowledge, these tomato- and eggplant-infecting viruses from Thailand constitute a distinctly novel bipartite Begomovirus species. References: (1) R. L. Gilbertson et al. J. Gen. Virol. 72:2843, 1991. (2) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (3) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.

Molecular Characterization of Tomato and Chili Leaf Curl Begomoviruses from Pakistan

Leaf curl or yellowing symptoms, typical of those caused by begomovirus infection, are commonly observed in chili (Capsicum annuum) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plantings in Pakistan. One chili sample with leaf curl symptoms was collected in 1998 in Multan (Punjab Province), and two tomato samples with leaf curl and yellowing symptoms were collected from Islamabad and Dargai (North West Frontier Province) in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Virus DNA was first amplified by polymerase chain reaction using the degenerate primer pair PAL1v1978/PAR1c715 (3). The expected 1.4-kb PCR products were obtained from the three samples. Based on the sequences of the 1.4-kb DNA products, specific primers were designed to complete each of the DNA-A sequences. Two primer pairs, DNABLC1/DNABLV2 and DNABLC2/DNABLV2, were used for the detection of DNA-B (2). The genome of the tomato leaf curl isolate from Islamabad contained a DNA-A of 2,739 nucleotides (GenBank Accession No. AF448059), a DNA-B of 2,728 nucleotides (GenBank Accession No. AY150304), and had 94% nucleotide identity in the common region. The genome of the tomato leaf curl isolate from Dargai contained a DNA-A of 2,740 nucleotides (GenBank Accession No. AF448058), a DNA-B of 2,686 nucleotides (GenBank Accession No. AY150305), and had 96% nucleotide identity in the common region. Each of the tomato isolates contained eight predicted open-reading frames (ORFs) (AV1, AV2, AV3, AC1, AC2, AC3, AC4, and AC5) in the DNA-A and two predicted ORFs (BV1 and BC1) in the DNA-B. The DNA-A nucleotide sequence identity of the Islamabad isolate and Dargai tomato isolate is 96% and that of DNA-B is 88%. Sequence comparisons with begomovirus sequences available in the GenBank sequence database showed that these two tomato virus isolates had the highest sequence identity with Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus-Severe (GenBank Accession No. U15015) from northern India (more than 95% for DNA-A and less than 90% for DNA-B). The DNA-A of the virus associated with chili leaf curl from Pakistan (GenBank Accession No. AF336806) consists of 2,754 nucleotides, containing six predicted ORFs (AV1, AV2, AC1, AC2, AC3, and AC4). The chili virus was unrelated to the two tomato begomovirus isolates from Pakistan, with which it shares less than 75% nucleotide identity. Sequence comparisons show highest sequence identity (87%) with Tomato leaf curl Bangladesh virus (GenBank Accession No. AF188481). DNA-beta of 1.3 kb was detected in the chili begomovirus isolate using Beta01/Beta02 primers (1). There was no evidence for the presence of a DNA-B in the chili begomovirus isolate when tested by the two DNA-B specific primer pairs. Based on DNA sequence comparisons, the chili leaf curl virus from Pakistan, to our knowledge, constitutes a distinct, new monopartite begomovirus. References: (1) R. W. Briddon et al. Mol. Biotechnol. 20:315, 2002. (2) S. K. Green et al. Plant Dis. 85:1286, 2001. (3) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.

Thyrotropin-secreting pituitary adenoma presenting as hypokalemic periodic paralysis

Thyrotropin (TSH)-secreting pituitary adenoma presenting with hypokalemic periodic paralysis is extraordinarily rare and may be misdiagnosed. We describe a 44-year-old man who suffered from acute muscle weakness and inability to ambulate upon awakening in the morning. Physical examination showed hypertension, tachycardia, and symmetrical flaccid paralysis of all extremities. The major biochemical abnormality was hypokalemia (K+, 2.0 mmol/L) with low urine K+ excretion. A thyroid function study revealed elevated thyroid hormone levels and inappropriately high TSH concentrations (2.10 microU/mL). Brain magnetic resonance imaging delineated a pituitary tumor with suprasellar extension. After trans-sphenoidal removal of tumor, he became clinically and biochemically euthyroid without any further attack of paralysis. Pathological findings confirmed a TSH-secreting adenoma with exclusive TSH immunostaining. TSH-secreting pituitary adenoma must be kept in the differential diagnosis in any thyrotoxic periodic paralysis patients with detectable TSH levels to avoid delaying diagnosis and management.

Molecular Characterization of Begomoviruses Associated with Leafcurl Diseases of Tomato in Bangladesh, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam

Production of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) in Bangladesh, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos has been severely affected by yellow leaf curl disease. Tomato leaf samples were collected from symptomatic tomato plants from farmers' fields in the five countries from 1997 to 1999. DNA was extracted from all samples, four from Vietnam, two each from Malaysia, Laos, and Myanmar, and seven from Bangladesh. Virus DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the begomovirus-specific degenerate primer pair PAL1v 1978/PAR1c 715(1), which amplifies the top part of DNA A. All samples gave the expected 1.4-kb PCR product. The PCR product of one sample per country was cloned and sequenced. Based on the sequences of the 1.4-kb DNA products amplified by the first primer pair, specific primers were designed to complete each of the DNA A sequences. Computer-assisted sequence comparisons were performed with begomovirus sequences available in the laboratory at the Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center, Shanhua, Tainan, and in the GenBank sequence database. The five DNA species resembled DNA A of begomoviruses. For the detection of DNA B two degenerate primer pairs were used, DNABLC1/DNABLV2 and DNABLC2/DNABLV2 (DNABLC1: 5'-GTVAATGGRGTDCACTTCTG-3', DNABLC2: 5'-RGTDCACTT CTGYARGATGC-3', DNABLV2: 5'-GAGTAGTAGTGBAKGTTGCA-3'), which were specifically designed to amplify DNA B of Asian tomato geminiviruses. Only the virus associated with yellow leaf curl of tomato in Bangladesh was found to contain a DNA B component, which was detected with the DNABLC1/DNABLV2 primer pair. The DNA A sequence derived from the virus associated with tomato yellow leaf curl from Myanmar (GenBank Accession No. AF206674) showed highest sequence identity (94%) with tomato yellow leaf curl virus from Thailand (GenBank Accession No. X63015), suggesting that it is a closely related strain of this virus. The other four viruses were distinct begomoviruses, because their sequences shared less than 90% identity with known begomoviruses of tomato or other crops. The sequence derived from the virus associated with tomato yellow leaf curl from Vietnam (GenBank Accession No. AF264063) showed highest sequence identity (82%) with the virus associated with chili leaf curl from Malaysia (GenBank Accession No. AF414287), whereas the virus associated with yellow leaf curl symptoms in tomato in Bangladesh (GenBank Accession No. AF188481) had the highest sequence identity (88%) with a tobacco geminivirus from Yunnan, China (GenBank Accession No. AF240675). The sequence derived from the virus associated with tomato yellow leaf curl from Laos (GenBank Accession No. AF195782) had the highest sequence identity (88%) with the tomato begomovirus from Malaysia (GenBank Accession No. AF327436). This report provides further evidence of the great genetic diversity of tomato-infecting begomoviruses in Asia. Reference: M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.

Prospective study comparing wounds closed with tape with sutured wounds in colorectal surgery

HYPOTHESIS

To test the efficacy of adhesive paper tape in the closure of clean-contaminated wounds following elective colorectal resection.

DESIGN

A prospective, nonrandomized controlled study.

SETTING

A medical center that offers a mixture of primary, secondary, and tertiary care services.

PATIENTS

The group undergoing skin closure with paper tape (PT group) consisted of 150 patients. The group undergoing skin closure with interrupted suture (IS group) also comprised 150 patients. All 300 patients underwent elective colorectal resection in 1997.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The duration of skin closure, wound complication rate, and cosmetic appearance of the scar at 6 months after operation were compared using the chi(2)test or t test.

RESULTS

The mean +/- SD average duration of skin closure was 116 +/- 23 seconds for the PT group and 457 +/- 64 seconds for the IS group (P<.01). The wound complication rate was 3.3% (3 cases with wound infection; 2 with wound separation) for the PT group and 3.3% (5 cases with wound infection) for the IS group (P = 1.0). No significant differences were found between the narrowest width (mean +/- SD, 2.2 +/- 0.9 mm vs 2.3 +/- 1.0 mm) and widest width (mean +/- SD, 4.7 +/- 2.0 mm vs 4.3 +/- 1.8 mm) of scar formation between the 2 groups at 6 months after the operation. Ninety-eight percent of patients in the PT group reported satisfaction with their scar, compared with 92% in the IS group (P =.03).

CONCLUSION

Compared with the traditional suture method, paper tape closure in the treatment of clean-contaminated wounds was less time consuming and produced greater patient satisfaction with no increased rate of wound complications.

Cortisol suppresses prolactin release through a non-genomic mechanism involving interactions with the plasma membrane

In the classical theory of steroid hormone action, steroids diffuse through the membrane and alter transcription of specific genes resulting in synthesis of proteins important for modulating cell function. Most often, steroids work solely through the genome to exert their physiological actions in a process that normally takes hours or days to occur. In tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), cortisol inhibits prolactin (PRL) release within 10-20 min in vitro. This action is accompanied by similarly rapid reductions in cellular Ca(2+) and cAMP levels, second messengers known to transduce the membrane effects of peptide hormones. We further examined whether cortisol might inhibit PRL release through a non-genomic, membrane-associated mechanism using the protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, and a membrane impermeant form of cortisol, cortisol-21 hemisuccinate BSA (HEF/BSA). Cycloheximide (2 and 10 microg/ml) was ineffective in overcoming PRL release induced by hyposmotic medium or that inhibited by cortisol over 4 h static incubations. These dosages reduced protein synthesis as measured by amino acid incorporation in pituitaries by 75 and 99%, respectively. During 4-h incubation, HEF/BSA and HEF significantly reduced PRL release in a dose-dependent fashion. These studies suggest that cortisol inhibits PRL release through a plasma membrane-associated, protein-synthesis independent (non-genomic) pathway.

Role of thermography in the diagnosis of undescended testes

OBJECTIVES

The location of an undescended testis is important for the choice of therapy. Ultrasonography cannot serve as a stand-alone screening method in the management of the undescended testis because of its limited sensitivity and accuracy. The aim of this study was to clarify the diagnostic value of thermography in the patients with undescended testes.

METHODS

We evaluated prospectively 28 patients with 36 undescended testes from January 1995 to December 1996. The patients' ages ranged from 16 to 39 months with a mean age of 26.3 +/- 8.2 months. In addition to physical palpation by a pediatric surgeon, ultrasonography and thermography were performed for screening the locations of retained testes.

RESULTS

The diagnostic rates were 63.9% (23/36) by palpation, 65.7% (23/35) by ultrasonography and 54.5% (18/33) by thermography. The results of the three diagnostic methods showed no significant difference by Fisher's exact test. Of the 17 higher located testes (inguinal canal and above external ring) 7 were palpable, 8 were identified by ultrasonography, 10 were detected by thermography. Of the 7 nonpalpable testes and testes not detected by ultrasonography, 5, including 2 intra-abdominal testes, were identified by thermography.

CONCLUSION

It is suggested that thermography can play a role in locating high undescended testes which are nonpalpable and not detected by ultrasonography.

Renal malformations in children with Turner's syndrome

Between 1988 and 1999, renal sonography and intravenous urography were performed to detect renal malformations in 54 patients with Turner's syndrome (TS). The mean age of these patients at diagnosis of TS was 9.2 +/- 4.6 years. Renal malformations were detected in 21 patients by intravenous urography and there was no significant difference in the frequency of renal malformations among different karyotype groups. Horseshoe kidney was the most common renal malformation, followed by duplex kidney. Fifteen of 21 renal malformations were not detected by renal sonography. We conclude that these TS patients had a high frequency of renal malformations, and that the detection rate of horseshoe kidney and duplex kidney by renal sonography was not satisfactory. Although renal sonography alone can be used to detect more severe renal malformations that may need further management, it may underestimate the frequency of renal malformation in children with TS.

Nephrocalcinosis in childhood

Charts of 16 children with nephrocalcinosis between 1990 and 1997 were reviewed. The cause of nephrocalcinosis was believed to be iatrogenic in 7 patients (43.8%) and non-iatrogenic in 9 (56.2%). Vitamin D therapy was responsible for 5 patients of iatrogenic nephrocalcinosis, and furosemide therapy for the remaining iatrogenic patients. Non-iatrogenic cases consisted of 3 patients with renal tubular acidosis, 3 patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria, and the 3 other patients with rare underlying conditions. Abdominal X-ray detected nephrocalcinosis in only 2 (12.5%) of the total 16 patients. None showed resolution of nephrocalcinosis during these years of follow-up.

Urinary bladder outlet obstruction in children

Bladder outlet obstruction, either functionally or structurally, could lead to bladder trabeculation, vesicoureteric reflux, hydronephrosis and, eventually, to renal parenchymal damage. If no treatment is given, end-stage renal failure will ensue. The cases of 17 patients of bladder outlet obstruction at National Taiwan University Hospital from 1984 to 1997 were reviewed. Initial presentation, etiology and treatment were discussed. Nine patients were victims of neurogenic bladder and two patients were victims of nonneurogenic neurogenic bladder. Four patients suffered from posterior urethral valve. Ureterocele and urethral rhabdomyosarcoma were noted in one case each. The most common clinical manifestation was urinary tract infection. Ultrasonography, urodynamic study and voiding cystourethrogram were used to delineate the cause and help to decide the appropriate treatment. In conclusion, early detection and prevention of deteriorated renal function are important for children with urinary bladder outlet obstruction.

Symptomatic hypomagnesemia in children

Between January 1996 and June 1998, 24 children with symptomatic hypomagnesemia were enrolled for analysis of their symptomatology, causes, and treatment outcome. Hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia suggesting impaired parathyroid function were the most common electrolyte disorders. Hypokalemia was also frequently noted. The related symptoms including seizure, tetany, and weakness were common. Drug-induced renal magnesium wasting was the most common cause of symptomatic hypomagnesemia, and tended to occur in older children using aminoglycoside, furosemide, and amphotericin-B. The associated gastrointestinal causes might add a minor contribution to the development of hypomagnesemia. Analyses of PTH levels in 13 children suggested that inhibition of PTH synthesis or secretion was responsible for hypomagnesemic hypocalcemia in most patients. However, peripheral PTH resistance might also account for the mechanism in a few patients. In most patients, symptomatic hypomagnesemia was transient, and improved after magnesium provision. Only one child with congenital renal magnesium wasting and two with primary hypomagnesemia needed long-term magnesium treatment.

Urinary endothelin-1 in children with acute renal failure of tubular origin

To understand the changes of urinary endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations in acute renal failure (ARF) and to investigate the origin of human urinary ET-1, we studied urinary ET-1 excretion in 70 normal children and 12 children with ARF caused by tubular dysfunction. Urinary ET-1 excretion was expressed as a ratio of urinary ET-1 to urinary creatinine (ET-1/Cr). Among healthy children, the highest urinary ET-1/Cr values were found during infancy. In patients with ARF, there was a positive correlation between urinary ET-1/Cr values and daily total urinary ET-1 (r = 0.42, n = 26, p < 0.05). Plasma ET-1 concentrations were elevated in children with ARF during the period of peak serum creatinine concentration. During the course of ARF, the lowest urinary ET-1/Cr value occurred during the period of peak serum creatinine, whereas the plasma ET-1 concentration declined after the peak. These results provide insight into the developmental changes of urinary ET-1 values in normal children, and illustrate the pattern of changes in plasma and urinary ET-1 concentrations during the course of ARF in children. The results suggest that renal production, rather than clearance from the circulation by glomerular filtration, may be the source of urinary ET-1.

Diagnosis and management of stenotic aorto-arteriopathy in childhood

Stenotic aorto-arteriopathy is an uncommon vascular lesion characterized by segmental arterial stenoses. We reviewed the experience with several management algorithms to define the most effective management course. The clinical records of 14 pediatric patients with acquired SAA who presented over a 16-year period were reviewed. Most patients presented with a mid-thoracoabdominal coarctation and were diagnosed with Takayasu arteritis. Differentiating between Takayasu arteritis and fibromuscular dysplasia was difficult on clinical grounds or by angiography. Medical management of the end-organ disease and renovascular hypertension was only palliative. Selective percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty of the stenotic renal arteries had only transient benefits; renal autotransplantation had slightly better success. Dilation of stenosed aortic segments with balloon-expandable endovascular stents and subsequent renal autotransplantation proved useful. Distinguishing SAA resulting from fibromuscular dysplasia caused by Takayasu arteritis in the chronic vaso-occlusive phase may be unnecessary for effective treatment. Therapy should focus on interventions to minimize the end-organ damage caused by the vaso-occlusive manifestations of the disorders.

Inhibitory effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on sigmoid colon cancer transformants

Various types of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been suggested to exert different effects on the colon in terms of promotion or inhibition of tumor development. Results of in vitro and in vivo studies are, however, inconsistent and it remains unclear whether or not the cellular effects of PUFAs change along with the malignant transformation of colonic cells. In this study, we used the NIH3T3 cell line and its SIC (sigmoid colon cancer) oncogene transformants to compare the effects of PUFAs on the proliferation of non-malignant and malignant cells. We also determined the cellular utilization of fatty acids in media by a high-performance liquid chromatography method. The addition of exogenous arachidonic acid (ARA, an n-6 fatty acid), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, n-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, n-3) exerted different effects on NIH3T3 cells, and on SIC transformants, in which selective inhibitory effects were observed at media concentrations ranging from 10 to 20 microg/ml. In cells cultured in media supplemented with EPA or DHA at a concentration of 2 microg/ml, which had no effect on cell proliferation, the cellular utilization of linoleic acid (n-6), a precursor of n-3 fatty acids, was inhibited. This inhibition was stronger in SIC transformants than in NIH3T3 cells (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the utilization of fatty acids between the two cell lines cultured in media supplemented with ARA. We conclude that the cellular response to exogenous long-chain PUFAs is modified during the course of malignant transformation, and that EPA and DHA (n-3 PUFAs) appear to have specific inhibitory effects on cancer cells and may thus enhance the host defense against colon cancer.

Congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type: report of one case

Congenital nephrotic syndrome of Finnish type is a rare disease in Taiwan characterized by intrauterine onset of massive urinary loss of protein. We describe a typical baby of congenital nephrotic syndrome with generalized edema occurring at 3 months of age. Renal biopsy at 4 months of age showed a tubular microcystic change in histology. He had a partial response to corticosteroid. We tried persantin, indomethacin, and captopril since 10 months of age without significant improvement. The baby suffered from recurrent infections and respiratory difficulties due to having upper airway edema since 3 months of age. The baby passed away at 1 year and 2 months of age with severe psychomotor retardation. The first try of the combination of persantin, indomethacin, and captopril for congenital nephrotic syndrome is described.

Tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome type II associated with epiglottic aplasia and congenital nephrotic syndrome

A male neonate with tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome type II (Langer-Giedion syndrome) and interstitial deletion of chromosome 8 with karyotype 46, XY, del (8) (q24.11-->q24.13) is reported. In addition to hypotrichosis of the scalp hair, abnormally bulbous nose and redundant skin, which are usually found in this syndrome, aplasia of the epiglottis and non-Finnish type congenital nephrotic syndrome were also present. He died of renal failure and respiratory failure at 11 days of age. Electron microscopy of renal necropsy showed foot process loss, focal thickening and splitting of the glomerular basement membrane and mesangial expansion. These have never been reported and could be new associations in this disease that may serve to support the concept of contiguous gene syndrome in patients with tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome.

Differential effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on chemosensitivity of NIH3T3 cells and its transformants

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been suggested, on the basis of animal-model studies, to be related not only to cancer development but also to chemotherapeutic effects. Controversy persists, however, as to which types of PUFAs are beneficial in terms of chemosensitivity. In this study, we used the NIH3T3 cell line and its SIC(sigmoid colon cancer)-oncogene transformants to investigate the effects of PUFAs on the chemosensitivity of non-malignant and malignant cells in terms of cell proliferation. We also determined the fatty-acid composition of cells by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results revealed that the sensitivity of SIC transformants to mitomycin C (MC) was lower than that of NIH3T3 cells cultured in 10% calf-serum DMEM without PUFA supplementation. When cells were cultured in DMEM supplemented with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) at a concentration (2 micrograms/ml) that does not influence cell proliferation, the sensitivity of SIC transformants to MC increased, whereas that of NIH3T3 cells decreased in comparison with the sensitivity of cells cultured without PUFA supplementation (p < 0.05). There was no difference between the 2 cell lines in the chemosensitivity of cells cultured in medium supplemented with arachidonic acid (ARA). The SIC transformants contained more stearic acid (C:18) and less lauric acid (C:12) than NIH3T3 cells cultured without PUFA. Culturing the cells in medium supplemented with EPA or ARA modified the cellular fatty-acid composition. EPA caused the relative combined percentage of lauric acid and myristic acid (C:14) in SIC transformants to decrease significantly, and the SIC transformants tended to accumulate additional EPA, in contrast to the NIH3T3 cells. We conclude that the alterations in fatty-acid composition in malignant transformants caused by exogenous EPA differ from those in non-malignant cells, and that these changes account for the increased chemosensitivity of malignant transformants. Although preliminary, these findings imply that EPA specifically enhances the chemosensitivity of malignant cells.

Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency

Two infants, one male and one female, with elevated serum ammonia levels, were shown, based on urine organic acid analysis and DNA studies, to have ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency. OTC deficiency is one of the most common urea cycle disorders. Hyperammonemia occurred at 3 days of age in the male infant, and at approximately 7 days of age in the female infant. Administration of sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate lowered the serum ammonia level effectively in both cases. Other modalities, including peritoneal dialysis and protein restriction, were also important in the control of the serum ammonia level. The mother of the male infant was shown to be a carrier of the OTC gene mutation by allopurinol loading test. The mutation site of the OTC gene for the female infant was identified, but her mother did not have the mutation. OTC deficiency, an incompletely dominant X-linked disorder, is a severe disease even for females and prompt treatment and precise genetic counseling are mandatory.

Use of restriction endonuclease analysis of plasmids and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to investigate outbreaks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection

We used restriction endonuclease analysis of plasmids (REAP) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to investigate clusterings of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in our orthopedic unit, neurosurgery unit, intensive care unit, and burn unit. Fourteen different strain types were identified by REAP and 10 different strain types were identified by PFGE among 25 MRSA isolates collected during these incidents of infection. Though neither technique was clearly superior to the other for typing MRSA isolates, REAP is recommended as a relatively simple and reproducible technique for the preliminary investigation of MRSA infection outbreaks in clinical settings.

Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) is a sensitive indicator of renal tubular injury. The aim of the study is to determine the status of urinary NAG excretion in Chinese children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) but without any clinical evidence of nephropathy, and to try to find the possible associated factors of such tubular injury if any. Thirty-one children (8 males and 23 females) with IDDM who have normal serum creatinine, 24-hour urinary creatinine clearance and urinary total protein excretion were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the patients was 11.6 +/- 3.7 years. The random urinary NAG levels of the patients and the normal controls were 10.76 +/- 6.32 and 3.65 +/- 1.84 U/g Cr, respectively (p < 0.001). The diabetic patients were divided into 4 groups according to their duration of disease ( < 3, 3-5, 5-10 and 10-16 years). The random urinary NAG level of each group was significantly higher than that of the control group, but there was no statistically significant difference among any 2 of these 4 groups. No good correlation was noted in our study between urinary NAG and patients' age (r = -0.23, p = 0.21), serum cholesterol (r = 0.04, p = 0.84), insulin dosage (r = 0.13, p = 0.49), 24 hour urinary creatinine clearance (r= -0.41, p - 0.085) or urinary total protein excretion (r = -0.28, p = 0.26). However, the plasma HbAlc level correlated significantly with urinary NAG (r = 0.50, p < 0.01). We concluded that urinary NAG is increased in Chinese IDDM children without any clinical evidence of nephropathy. Such increased excretion is correlated with the plasma HbAlc level. Our results suggests that there is tubular dysfunction in the early stage of IDDM children even before there is any clinical evidence of nephropathy, and urinary NAG may reflect glycemic control in such patients.

Epidemiological typing of Flavimonas oryzihabitans by PCR and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Flavimonas oryzihabitans has emerged as a potential nosocomial pathogen in recent years. The typing method for characterization of this species has never been reported before. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-based PCR were used to generate DNA fingerprints for 14F. oryzihabitans isolates obtained from eight episodes of nosocomial infections during a 2-year period. Both techniques successfully classified these clinical isolates into eight distinct genotypes, thus indicating that all of these episodes of infections were independent. In contrast, repeated isolates from the same patient were assigned to identical genotypes. The reproducibility of both techniques was good. Therefore, we conclude that both PFGE and ERIC-PCR have comparable reproducible and discriminatory powers for the typing of F. oryzihabitans and may be useful for clarifying the epidemiology of this species; however, ERIC-PCR has the advantages of both speed and simplicity.

Comparison of different PCR approaches for characterization of Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia isolates

In this study, we evaluated three PCR methods for epidemiological typing of Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia--PCR-ribotyping, arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence PCR (ERIC-PCR)--and compared them with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The analysis was performed with 31 isolates of B. cepacia, comprising 23 epidemiologically unrelated isolates and 8 isolates collected from the same patient during two episodes of bacteremia. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, ERIC-PCR, and AP-PCR identified 23 distinct types among the 23 unrelated isolates, while PCR-ribotyping only identified 12 strain types, even after AluI digestion of the amplification products. Among the eight isolates collected from the same patient, all typing techniques revealed two clones of strains. The day-to-day reproducibilities of PCR-ribotyping and ERIC-PCR were good, while greater day-to-day variations were noted in the fingerprints obtained by AP-PCR. We conclude that all three PCR techniques are useful for rapid epidemiological typing of B. cepacia, but ERIC-PCR seems to be more reproducible and discriminative.

DNA fingerprinting of Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype O11 by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

We report the use of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to characterize clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype O11 collected from an incident of hospital-acquired infection. Both typing techniques differentiated 20 different strain types among seven epidemiologically related isolates and 22 epidemiologically unrelated isolates. There was complete concordance between these two techniques. Our results indicate that the ERIC-based PCR technique represents a rapid and simple means for typing P. aeruginosa serotype O11 with a level of discrimination equivalent to that of PFGE.

Comparison of susceptibility to extended-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics and ciprofloxacin among gram-negative bacilli isolated from intensive care units

The in vitro activities of extended-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics (including piperacillin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefepime, imipenem, and meropenems) were assessed and compared with the activity of ciprofloxacin against 366 clinical Gram-negative bacilli isolates from the intensive care units of Taichung Veterans General Hospital. The most prevalent species isolated were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. The activities of ceftazidime, cefepime, imipenem, and meropenem against these isolates were comparable to that of ciprofloxacin. Meropenem was found to be the most potent extended-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic tested and the MIC50s and MIC90s for most of these multiresistant strains were lower than those of imipenem, ceftazidime, and cefepime, except for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The extended-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics that were still active against S. maltophilia were piperacillin and ceftazidime. More than 50% of Enterobacter spp. were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins and piperacillin, but they remained susceptible to carbapenems and cefepime.

Analysis of clonal relationships among isolates of Shigella sonnei by different molecular typing methods

Shigella sonnei is a major cause of diarrheal disease in developed as well as in developing countries. Epidemiologic studies of this organism have been limited by the lack of a simple and effective method for comparing strains. In this study, we have compared different molecular typing methods, i.e., plasmid profile analysis, restriction endonuclease analysis of plasmids, rRNA gene restriction analysis (ribotyping), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) sequence-based PCR (ERIC-PCR) for typing 20 clinical isolates of S. sonnei collected from six incidents of infection. PFGE and ERIC-PCR fingerprintings had the highest discriminatory power for discrimination of epidemiologically related isolates from epidemiologically unrelated strains of S. sonnei, and both gave seven distinct strain types among these isolates and the type strain of the species. Plasmid study and ribotyping produced only six and typing techniques demonstrated two distinct patterns, respectively, among these strains. All of these molecular an identical fingerprint for eight temporally related sporadic isolates. It is possible that these temporally related isolates belonged to a single bacterial clone and circulated obscurely through the community. Our results indicate that the ERIC-PCR technique represents a rapid and simple means for typing S. sonnei with a level of discrimination equivalent to that of PFGE but greater than those of plasmid profile analysis, restriction endonuclease analysis of plasmids, and ribotyping.

Use of PCR to study epidemiology of Serratia marcescens isolates in nosocomial infection

A method to characterize strains of Serratia marcescens based on the PCR amplification of enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequences has been developed. The PCR fingerprints were generated from boiled supernatants prepared directly from bacterial colonies without the need for DNA extraction. The technique was applied to isolates obtained during an outbreak of pneumonia from seven mechanically ventilated patients, and its result indicated that the outbreak was due to the spread of two epidemic strains. This technique was validated by comparison with rRNA gene restriction analysis. There was complete concordance between these two techniques in discriminating the outbreak-related strains from epidemiologically unrelated isolates. Typing with both biochemical profile and antibiogram profile, though simple, was found to be less reliable than genotyping. The results show that this enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR provides a rapid and simple means of typing S. marcescens isolates for epidemiologic studies.

Congenital nephrotic syndrome with microcephaly: report of a case

Congenital nephrotic syndrome is an uncommon disease with variable etiology, course and prognosis; its association with microcephaly is even more unusual. A case is reported here of congenital nephrotic syndrome because of focal glomerulosclerosis in a three-month-old female infant with microcephaly since birth. There were no known renal diseases nor hereditary disorders in her family. The serologic tests for syphilis, toxoplasmosis, rubella, and cytomegalovirus infections were negative. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed diffuse atrophic change of the cerebral hemispheres and brain stem with a remarkable increase of extracerebral space. The infant died at the age of four months without any clinical cause other than congenital nephrotic syndrome. These findings, including congenital nephrotic syndrome and microcephaly accompanied by various other clinical symptoms, have been described as a clinical entity with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance.