First report of soybean root rot caused by Fusarium falciforme in the Republic of Korea.

Phytopathogenic Fusarium species causing root and stem rot diseases in susceptible soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) are a major threat to soybean production worldwide. Several Fusarium species have been reported to infect soybean plants in the Republic of Korea, including F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. fujikuroi, and F. graminearum (Cho et al., 2004; Choi et al., 2019; Kang et al., 2020). During the nationwide survey of soybean diseases in 2015, soybean plants showing symptoms of leaf chlorosis, wilting, and shoot death were found in soybean fields in Seosan, Chungnam. Fusarium isolates were obtained from the margins of sterilized necrotic symptomatic and asymptomatic regions of the stem tissues of diseased samples by culturing on potato dextrose agar (PDA). To examine the morphological characteristics, isolates were cultured on PDA at 25°C in the darkness for 10 days. Colonies produced white aerial mycelia with apricot pigments in the medium. Macroconidia were hyaline, slightly curved in shape with 3 or 4 septa, and their average length and width were 34.6± 0.56 µm (31.4 to 37.8 µm) and 4.7±0.16 µm (4.1 to 5.8 µm), respectively (n = 20). Microconidia were elongated, oval with 0 or 1 septum, and their average length and width were 11.4±0.87 and 5.2±0.32 µm, respectively (n = 20). The colonies and conidia exhibited morphological similarities to those of F. falciforme (Xu et al., 2022). Using the primers described by O'Donnell et al. (2008), identity of a representative strain '15-110' was further confirmed by sequencing portions of two genes, the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α) and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2). The two sequences (GenBank accession No. OQ992718 and OR060664) of 15-110 were 99% similar to those of two F. falciforme strains, 21BeanYC6-14 (GenBank accession nos. ON375419 and ON331931), and 21BeanYC6-16 (GenBank accession nos. ON697187 and ON331933). To test the pathogenicity, a single-spore isolate was cultured on carnation leaf agar (CLA) at 25℃ for 10 days. Pathogenicity test was performed by root-cutting assays using 14-day-old soybean seedlings of 'Daewon' and 'Taekwang'. Ten-day-old mycelia of 15-110 were collected from the CLA plates by scraping with distilled water, and the spore suspension was filtered and diluted to 1 × 106 conidia/mL. The roots of the soybean seedlings were partially cut and inoculated by soaking in the diluted spore suspension for two hours. The seedlings were then transplanted into 12 cm plastic pots (11 cm in height) and grown in a growth chamber at 25°C, 14h light/10h dark for 2 weeks. The infected plants exhibited wilting, observed brown discoloration on the root, and eventually died within 2 weeks, whereas the control plants inoculated with sterile water remained healthy. F. falciforme 15-110 was reisolated from infected plants, but not from the uninoculated controls. The morphology of the re-isolated fungus on PDA and its target gene sequences were identical to those of the original colony. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of root rot in soybean caused by F. falciforme in the Republic of Korea. Fusarium spp. induce a range of diseases in soybean plants, including root rot, damping-off, and wilt. Given the variable aggressiveness and susceptibility to fungicides among different Fusarium species, it is imperative to identify the Fusarium species posing a threat to soybean production. This understanding is crucial for developing a targeted and tailored disease management strategy to control Fusarium diseases.

First report of soybean root rot caused by Fusarium proliferatum in the Republic of Korea.

Fusarium species are widespread soilborne pathogens that can cause damping-off, root rot, and wilting in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill], subsequently leading to significant yield suppression. Several Fusarium spp. have already been documented for their pathogenicity on soybean plants in the Republic of Korea. The nationwide monitoring of soybean diseases continues to identify new pathogenic Fusarium spp. In 2016, five plant samples at R3-R4 growth stages, showing symptoms of wilting in the upper parts and root rot, were collected in Suwon, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea. Fungal colonies were obtained from the diseased root samples, with the surface sterilized in 1% sodium hypochlorite for 2 min, rinsed thrice with sterile distilled water, and placed on water agar at 25°C. Five isolates were collected and purified by single-spore isolation. The fungal mycelium was subsequently cultivated on potato dextrose agar for ten days. The isolates produced abundant, aerial, and white mycelium and became purple in old cultures. Macroconidia were slender, falcate to almost straight, usually 3 to 5 septated, and thin-walled. Microconidia were formed in chains from polyphalides, clavate or oval, usually single-celled with a flattened base. These characteristics of isolates were consistent with the description of F. proliferatum (Leslie and Summerrell 2006), and the representative isolate 16-19 was selected for molecular identification to confirm its identity as F. proliferatum. Two evolutionarily conserved genes, the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α) and the second-largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) genes, were partially amplified using the primers described by O'Donnell et al. (2008), resulting in nucleotide sequences of 680 and 382 base pairs, respectively. These two sequences (GenBank accession numbers: OQ992720 and OR060666) showed 100 and 99.5% identity to the EF-1α and RPB2 of F. proliferatum A40 (GenBank accession numbers: KP964907 and KP964842). For the Petri-dish pathogenicity assay (Broders et al. 2007), five surface-sterilized seeds were placed on water agar media with either sterile water or actively growing '16-19' culture. After 7 days of incubation in a growth chamber (25°C; 12-hour photoperiod), brown lesions were observed on the roots of the inoculated plants, while no symptoms were observed in the sterile water-treated controls. The experiment was conducted three times. For root-cut pathogenicity assay, conidial suspension (1×106 conidia/ml) of the isolate '16-19' was prepared with harvested mycelia cultured on PDA for 10 days with sterile water. The roots of 10-day-old soybean seedlings were partially cut and soaked in either the suspension or sterile water for 2 hours. The seedlings were transplanted into 12 cm plastic pots (11 cm in height) and grew in a greenhouse (26 ± 3°C, 13-h photoperiod). The experiment followed a completely randomized design with three replicates (i.e. three plants in a pot), and it was repeated twice. The inoculated plants began to wilt 7 days after inoculation, while the sterile water-treated controls remained healthy. Ten days after inoculation, all plants were collected, washed under running tap water, and evaluated for the presence and severity of root rot using a 0-4 scale (Chang et al. 2015). The inoculated plants exhibited reduced vigor and developed dark brown lesions on their roots. F. proliferatum was reisolated from symptomatic root tissues of the infected plants, while not from those of the controls. Its colony and spores were morphologically identical to those of the original isolate. F. proliferatum was previously reported as a causative agent of soybean root rot in the United States (Díaz Arias et al. 2011) and Canada (Chang et al. 2015). This is the first report of soybean root rot caused by F. proliferatum in the Republic of Korea. This finding implies that F. proliferatum may potentially threaten soybean production in the Republic of Korea and suggests that effective disease management strategies should be established for soybean protection against the disease, along with continuous surveillance.

First report of Pythium myriotylum causing root rot on soybean in the Republic of Korea.

Pythium species are one of the most important groups of seedling pathogens affecting soybean yield. In July 2023, eight soybean plants (cv. Daewon, V3 to V4 stage) that were wilted with browning at their lower stems were discovered in a field located in Suwon, Korea. The disease incidence was 0.1% in an area of 0.1 ha, and severity was 100%. The eight plants exhibited brown root rot when removed from the soil. Their main roots were almost completely rotten, with only a few rootlets remaining. Symptomatic stem tissues (approximately 0.5 × 1 to 1.5 cm2) were sampled from the crown of each plant, disinfected with 75% ethanol for 30 sec and 1% NaOCl for 1 min, rinsed with sterile distilled water, and incubated on sterile filter paper for 3 days at 25°C. White hyphae emerging from the tissues were isolated and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates, resulting in eight isolates. To further investigate their morphological features, the isolates were subcultured on PDA media at 25°C in the dark for 7 days. The colonies formed dense, white, fluffy aerial mycelia. The oogonia were globose with a smooth surface, typically appearing terminal, and had an average diameter of 31 µm (28 to 36 µm). The oospores were aplerotic, with an average diameter of 29 µm (26 to 31 µm). These morphological characteristics closely matched those of Pythium myriotylum as described in Van der Plaats-Niterink (1981) and Tomioka et al. (2013). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1) were amplified using the primer pairs ITS1/ITS4 and OomCoxI-Levlo/OomCoxI-Levup (Robideau et al. 2011; White et al. 1990). Sequences from the eight isolates (SW2-4, SW-DF2, SW-DF3, SW-DF7, SW-DF9, SW-DF13, SW-DF14, and SW-DF16) were deposited in GenBank under following accession numbers: ITS (PP145893; PP913926 to PP913932) and COX1 (PP853484; PP977183 to PP977189). These sequences showed 100% homology with those of P. myriotylum strain CBS25470 (GenBank accession no. HQ643701, HQ708745). One isolate SW2-4 was selected to assess its pathogenicity using soil infestation method. The isolate SW2-4 was cultured on 20 ml of V8 juice agar medium per petri dish (9 cm in diameter) in the dark at 26°C for 10 days. Cultures collected from 4 petri dishes were homogenized with 40 ml of sterile distilled water, and then mixed with 1.1 liter of commercial potting soil that had been pre-soaked in 1 liter of sterile distilled water. Next, 450 ml of this Pythium-infested soil mixture was placed into pots (12 cm in diameter). Ten seeds of soybean (cv. Daewon) were then sown on top of the infested soil and covered with 2 cm of uninfested soil. Another ten seeds (cv. Daewon) were sown in the uninfested soil as controls. The pots were placed in a growth chamber (26°C, light: dark cycle of 12:12h). The experiments were repeated six times. The inoculated plants grew slowly, and dark-brown lesions appeared at the stem base 5 days after inoculation. Affected plants began to wilt 10 days after inoculation, whereas the control plants showed no symptoms and remained healthy throughout the experiments. An oomycete pathogen was re-isolated from the symptomatic stem tissue to fulfill Koch's postulates, while none was isolated from the control plants. The pathogen's morphological characteristics and DNA sequences (ITS and COX1) were confirmed to be identical to those of the inoculated isolate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of P. myriotylum causing root rot and wilting in soybean in the Republic of Korea.

A novel treatment for Riehl's melanosis targeting both dermal melanin and vessels.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Riehl's melanosis is a difficult-to-treat condition characterized by persisting dermal hyperpigmentation. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a histology-specific targeted therapy for Riehl's melanosis. METHODS: Skin biopsy samples of Riehl's melanosis were assessed to identify histology-specific targets for treatment. Subsequently, the efficacy of a combination involving a fractional picosecond laser and a pulsed dye laser (PDL) targeting the dermal melanin and vessels, respectively, was evaluated. Clinical improvement was assessed using the dermal pigmentation area and severity index (DPASI). The treatment outcomes were compared to those of a control, in this case a single laser treatment solely targeting pigmentation. RESULTS: Histological and immunohistochemical analyses identified dermal melanin pigment and dilated vessels as treatment targets for Riehl's melanosis. The combined treatment of the fractional picosecond laser and PDL showed a significant reduction of the DPASI scores, which was significantly better than the control group. Patients who underwent the combined laser treatment indicated high levels of satisfaction with no adverse events except of transient erythema and oedema. CONCLUSION: The combined treatment of a fractional picosecond laser and a PDL was more effective for Riehl's melanosis compared to single laser treatment. The treatment targets both dermal pigmentation and dilated vessels, offering promising results for those working to manage Riehl's melanosis.

Photobiomodulation therapy with an 830-nm light-emitting diode for the prevention of thyroidectomy scars: a randomized, double-blind, sham device-controlled clinical trial.

This randomized, double-blind, and sham device-controlled trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of home-based photobiomodulation therapy using an 830-nm light-emitting diode (LED)-based device for the prevention of and pain relief from thyroidectomy scars. Participants were randomized to receive photobiomodulation therapy using an LED device or a sham device without an LED from 1 week postoperatively for 4 weeks. Scars were assessed using satisfaction scores, the numeric rating scale (NRS) score for pain, Global Assessment Scale (GAS), and Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) scores. The scars were also assessed using a three-dimensional (3D) skin imaging device to detect color, height, pigmentation, and vascularity. Assessments were performed at the 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups. Forty-three patients completed this trial with 21 patients in the treatment group and 22 patients in the control group. The treatment group showed significantly higher patient satisfaction and GAS scores and lower NRS and VSS scores than the control group at 6 months. Improvements in color variation, height, pigmentation, and vascularity at 6 months were greater in the treatment group than in the control group, although the differences were not significant. In conclusion, early application of 830-nm LED-based photobiomodulation treatment significantly prevents hypertrophic scar formation and reduces postoperative pain without noticeable adverse effects.

Transnasal Endoscopic Resection of a Pleomorphic Adenoma Originate From Nasal Floor.

A 81-year-old female presented to our hospital frequent epistaxis. Nasal endoscopy showed a mass obstructing nasal cavity completely and occupying middle meatus. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed, an about 4.8 × 4 × 4.2 cm sized heterogeneous T2 high signal intensity and T1 enhancing mass mainly involving right nasal cavity with invasion of right hard palate with bony destruction. Therefore, the authors planned to do endoscopic mass excision, under general anesthesia for diagnosis and treatment. The authors removed the mass from lateral nasal wall, nasal roof, nasal septum, medial maxillary wall by piece-meal. Margins of mass were clear except the nasal floor. So, the authors did frozen biopsy to confirm the clear margin in nasal floor. Endoscopy enables better visualization of tumor margins, facilitating complete removal and avoiding excessive resection and following up using good visualization.

A correlation between tocopherol content and antioxidant activity in seeds and germinating seeds of soybean cultivars.

BACKGROUND: Tocopherols are crucial lipid-soluble antioxidants and essential nutrients. There is increasing interest in the biofortification of crops with vitamin E for reducing micronutrient malnutrition. However, relatively little is known about the development of soybean cultivars with high levels of tocopherol through combined breeding. RESULT: Tocopherol contents of seeds and germinating seeds of 28 Korean soybean cultivars were analyzed and evaluated for health-promoting activities. Total tocopherol concentrations ranged from 203.9 to 503.1 µg g⁻¹ in seeds and from 20.1 to 230.1 µg g⁻¹ in germinating seeds. The traditional landraces of HaNagari (HN, 503.1 µg g⁻¹), Orialtae (OL, 486.6 µg g⁻¹), SuMoktae (SM, 476.5 µg g⁻¹) and SoRitae (SR, 475.5 µg g⁻¹) showed high levels of tocopherol content. The contents of the four isomers of tocopherol in seeds and germinating seeds were correlated with lipid peroxidation. The γ- and δ-tocopherol contents in seeds were related to 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity (0.434; P < 0.01 and 0.373; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Total tocopherol content was higher in soybean landraces as compared with modern cultivars developed by cross-breeding. These results suggest that soybean breeding is necessary to increase tocopherol levels.

Variation block-based genomics method for crop plants.

BACKGROUND: In contrast with wild species, cultivated crop genomes consist of reshuffled recombination blocks, which occurred by crossing and selection processes. Accordingly, recombination block-based genomics analysis can be an effective approach for the screening of target loci for agricultural traits. RESULTS: We propose the variation block method, which is a three-step process for recombination block detection and comparison. The first step is to detect variations by comparing the short-read DNA sequences of the cultivar to the reference genome of the target crop. Next, sequence blocks with variation patterns are examined and defined. The boundaries between the variation-containing sequence blocks are regarded as recombination sites. All the assumed recombination sites in the cultivar set are used to split the genomes, and the resulting sequence regions are termed variation blocks. Finally, the genomes are compared using the variation blocks. The variation block method identified recurring recombination blocks accurately and successfully represented block-level diversities in the publicly available genomes of 31 soybean and 23 rice accessions. The practicality of this approach was demonstrated by the identification of a putative locus determining soybean hilum color. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the variation block method is an efficient genomics method for the recombination block-level comparison of crop genomes. We expect that this method will facilitate the development of crop genomics by bringing genomics technologies to the field of crop breeding.

Functional implication of ß-carotene hydroxylases in soybean nodulation.

Legume-Rhizobium spp. symbiosis requires signaling between the symbiotic partners and differential expression of plant genes during nodule development. Previously, we cloned a gene encoding a putative ß-carotene hydroxylase (GmBCH1) from soybean (Glycine max) whose expression increased during nodulation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum. In this work, we extended our study to three GmBCHs to examine their possible role(s) in nodule development, as they were additionally identified as nodule specific, along with the completion of the soybean genome. In situ hybridization revealed the expression of three GmBCHs (GmBCH1, GmBCH2, and GmBCH3) in the infected cells of root nodules, and their enzymatic activities were confirmed by functional assays in Escherichia coli. Localization of GmBCHs by transfecting Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) protoplasts with green fluorescent protein fusions and by electron microscopic immunogold detection in soybean nodules indicated that GmBCH2 and GmBCH3 were present in plastids, while GmBCH1 appeared to be cytosolic. RNA interference of the GmBCHs severely impaired nitrogen fixation as well as nodule development. Surprisingly, we failed to detect zeaxanthin, a product of GmBCH, or any other carotenoids in nodules. Therefore, we examined the possibility that most of the carotenoids in nodules are converted or cleaved to other compounds. We detected the expression of some carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (GmCCDs) in wild-type nodules and also a reduced amount of zeaxanthin in GmCCD8-expressing E. coli, suggesting cleavage of the carotenoid. In view of these findings, we propose that carotenoids such as zeaxanthin synthesized in root nodules are cleaved by GmCCDs, and we discuss the possible roles of the carotenoid cleavage products in nodulation.

Very Early Pulsed Dye Laser Intervention for Optimal Cosmetic Outcome in Post-Thyroidectomy Scars.

Purpose: Early intervention of surgical scars with a pulsed dye laser is known to effectively prevent pathologic scars. Despite multiple reports on the effectiveness of the treatment, very few studies have demonstrated its appropriate initiation timing. In this study, our objective was to determine the optimal timing for initiating laser treatment following thyroidectomy. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 91 patients undergoing pulsed dye laser treatment post-thyroidectomy, grouping them by treatment initiation timing. The patients underwent treatment at intervals of 3-4 weeks with at least five sessions. Those with a high pliability score were injected with intralesional corticosteroids. The Antera 3D® skin imaging analyzer was used to assess biophysical parameters. Results: The total Vancouver Scar Scale score significantly reduced after treatment in all groups. The Vancouver Scar Scale score reduction rate was significantly higher after treatment in the group for which the treatment was initiated within 3 weeks of surgery. The pigmentation and erythema score analyzed by Antera 3D® was also lower in this group. Conclusion: Early intervention using a pulsed dye laser within 3 weeks of thyroidectomy can substantially inhibit pathological scar development, providing physicians with a guide for optimal treatment commencement.

Homologous expression of cytosolic dehydroascorbate reductase increases grain yield and biomass under paddy field conditions in transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L. japonica).

Dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR, EC 1.8.5.1) maintains redox pools of ascorbate (AsA) by recycling oxidized AsA to reduced AsA. To investigate whether DHAR affects rice yield under normal environmental conditions, cDNA-encoding DHAR (OsDHAR1) was isolated from rice and used to develop OsDHAR1-overexpressing transgenic rice plants, under the regulation of a maize ubiquitin promoter. Incorporation and expression of the transgene in transgenic rice plants was confirmed by genomic polymerase chain reaction (PCR), semi-quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), western blot, and enzyme activity. The expression levels were at least twofold higher in transgenic (TG) rice plants than in control wild-type (WT) rice plants. In addition, OsDHAR1-overexpression in seven-independent homologous transgenic plants, as compared to WT plants, increased photosynthetic capacity and antioxidant enzyme activities under paddy field conditions, which led to an improved AsA pool and redox homeostasis. Furthermore, OsDHAR1 overexpression significantly improved grain yield and biomass due to the increase of culm and root weights and to enhance panicle and spikelet numbers in the same seven independent TG rice plants during the farming season (2010 and 2011) in South Korea. The OsDHAR protein contained the redox-active site (Cys20), as well as the conserved GSH-binding region, GSH-binding motif, glutathione-S-transferase (GST) N-terminal domain, C-terminal domain interface, and GST C-terminal domain. Therefore, our results indicate that OsDHAR1 overexpression, capable of functioning in AsA recycling, and protein folding increases environmental adaptation to paddy field conditions by the improving AsA pool and redox homeostasis, which enhances rice grain yield and biomass.

Pemphigus Vulgaris Possibly Associated with COVID-19 Infection.

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) represents damage to epidermal keratinocytes, resulting in acantholysis due to the production of autoantibodies against desmoglein-1 and desmoglein-3. Autoimmune blistering disorders such as pemphigus vulgaris or bullous pemphigoid that develop following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported in several studies. Herein, we report a case of PV onset following COVID-19 infection in a 17-year-old female, demonstrating --the potential pathogenic capacity of SARS-CoV-2 to develop PV.

Clinical Characteristics of Psoriasis for Initiation of Biologic Therapy: A Cluster Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a complex and heterogeneous disease that widely affects a patient's life. Biological therapy is usually prescribed in patients with severe psoriasis that do not respond to conventional treatment. However, data on the specific patient characteristics receiving biologics are still unavailable. OBJECTIVE: To classify patients with psoriasis into subgroups with distinct phenotypes through cluster analysis, and to evaluate the differences between the clusters to predict disease prognosis by examining the response to biological therapy. METHODS: The clinical characteristics of the patients with psoriasis were investigated and categorized using hierarchical cluster analysis. After clustering, the clinical characteristics of the patients were compared and the initiation of treatment with biologics according to the clusters were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 361 patients with psoriasis were classified into two clusters using 16 distinct clinical phenotypes. Group 1 (n=202) consisted of male smokers and alcohol users with higher psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), older age of onset, higher body mass index, and comorbidities including psoriatic arthritis, hypertension, and diabetes when compared to group 2 (n=159). Group 1 had a significantly higher probability of biological treatment initiation than group 2 (p=0.039). The measured risk factors for the initiation of biologics compared were PASI (p<0.001) and nail involvement (p=0.022). CONCLUSION: Cluster analysis classified patients with psoriasis into two subgroups according to their clinical characteristics. Predicting the disease prognosis using a combination of specific clinical parameters may aid in the management of the disease.

Senescent melanocytes driven by glycolytic changes are characterized by melanosome transport dysfunction.

Rationale: Senescent melanocytes accumulate in photoaged skin and are closely related to skin aging. A better understanding of the molecular characteristics of senescent melanocytes may be the key to controlling skin aging. Methods: We have developed an in vitro model of senescence in melanocytes using UV irradiation and investigated the functional characteristics and molecular mechanisms underlying senescence in UV-irradiated melanocytes. Results: We have highlighted that in vitro senescent melanocytes are characterized by melanosome transport dysfunction resulting in melanin accumulation. The defective melanosome transport was confirmed with the ultrastructural characterization of both in vitro UV-induced senescent melanocytes and in vivo melanocytes of hypopigmented aging skin. A single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed that the glycolytic metabolism pathway appeared to be significantly upregulated in most senescent phenotypes. Furthermore, the inhibition of glycolysis by pharmacological compounds mitigates the pro-aging effects of melanocytes senescence, suggesting that alterations in cellular glucose metabolism act as a driving force for senescence in melanocytes. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that senescent melanocytes are characterized by glycolytic metabolism changes and a defective melanosome transport process, which may be related to impaired mitochondrial function, highlighting the importance of metabolic reprogramming in regulating melanocyte senescence.

Development of a Gene-Based Soybean-Origin Discrimination Method Using Allele-Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction.

A low soybean self-sufficiency rate in South Korea has caused a high import dependence and considerable price variation between domestic and foreign soybeans, causing the false labeling of foreign soybeans as domestic. Conventional soybean origin discrimination methods prevent a single-grain analysis and rely on the presence or absence of several compounds or concentration differences. This limits the origin discrimination of mixed samples, demonstrating the need for a method that analyzes individual grains. Therefore, we developed a method for origin discrimination using genetic analysis. The whole-genome sequencing data of the Williams 82 reference cultivar and 15 soybean varieties cultivated in South Korea were analyzed to identify the dense variation blocks (dVBs) with a high single-nucleotide polymorphism density. The PCR primers were prepared and validated for the insertion-deletion (InDel) sequences of the dVBs to discriminate each soybean variety. Our method effectively discriminated domestic and foreign soybean varieties, eliminating their false labeling.

Epidemiology and survival analysis of Merkel cell carcinoma in South Korea: a nationwide, multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive skin cancer, of which most research has been conducted in Caucasians. Therefore, the clinicopathological features and prognosis of Merkel cell carcinoma in Asians are still scarce. The aim of this study is to investigate the epidemiology and survival of MCC in South Korea and provide representative information regarding MCC in Asia. METHODS: This was a retrospective, nationwide, multicenter study conducted in 12 centers across South Korea. Patients with pathologically proven MCC were included in the study. The clinicopathological features and clinical outcomes of the patients were investigated. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and independent prognostic factors were identified using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 161 patients with MCC were evaluated. The mean age was 71 years with a female predominance. OS was significantly different among the stages. Among clinicopathological features, multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that only the stage at diagnosis was associated with poorer overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that the incidence of MCC was higher in females than in males and that there was a higher rate of local disease at the time of diagnosis. Among the variable clinicopathological features, disease stage at diagnosis was the only significant prognostic factor for MCC in South Korea. The findings of this nationwide, multicenter study suggest that MCC has distinct features in South Korea compared with other countries.

IDDI: integrated domain-domain interaction and protein interaction analysis system.

BACKGROUND: Deciphering protein-protein interaction (PPI) in domain level enriches valuable information about binding mechanism and functional role of interacting proteins. The 3D structures of complex proteins are reliable source of domain-domain interaction (DDI) but the number of proven structures is very limited. Several resources for the computationally predicted DDI have been generated but they are scattered in various places and their prediction show erratic performances. A well-organized PPI and DDI analysis system integrating these data with fair scoring system is necessary. METHOD: We integrated three structure-based DDI datasets and twenty computationally predicted DDI datasets and constructed an interaction analysis system, named IDDI, which enables to browse protein and domain interactions with their relationships. To integrate heterogeneous DDI information, a novel scoring scheme is introduced to determine the reliability of DDI by considering the prediction scores of each DDI and the confidence levels of each prediction method in the datasets, and independencies between predicted datasets. In addition, we connected this DDI information to the comprehensive PPI information and developed a unified interface for the interaction analysis exploring interaction networks at both protein and domain level. RESULT: IDDI provides 204,705 DDIs among total 7,351 Pfam domains in the current version. The result presents that total number of DDIs is increased eight times more than that of previous studies. Due to the increment of data, 50.4% of PPIs could be correlated with DDIs which is more than twice of previous resources. Newly designed scoring scheme outperformed the previous system in its accuracy too. User interface of IDDI system provides interactive investigation of proteins and domains in interactions with interconnected way. A specific example is presented to show the efficiency of the systems to acquire the comprehensive information of target protein with PPI and DDI relationships. IDDI is freely available at http://pcode.kaist.ac.kr/iddi/.

Ponatinib-induced eruptive nevi and melanocytic proliferation.

Ponatinib, an oral third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is indicated for the treatment of imatinib-resistant leukemia. We experienced a case of ponatinib-induced eruptive nevi, and the biologic effects of ponatinib on melanocytes were investigated. Treatment with ponatinib significantly increased the proliferation of normal human melanocyte or melanoma cells through the upregulation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and protein kinase B signaling pathways. The downstream molecules of cyclin B1 and D1 were significantly increased in ponatinib-treated melanocytes. These results demonstrate the capacity of ponatinib to induce the proliferation and tumorigenesis of melanocytes.