Body mass index at diagnosis of a childhood brain tumor; a reflection of hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction or lifestyle?

PURPOSE: Childhood brain tumor survivors (CBTS) are at risk of becoming overweight, which has been shown to be associated with hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) dysfunction during follow-up. Body mass index (BMI) at diagnosis is related to BMI at follow-up. It is uncertain, however, whether aberrant BMI at brain tumor diagnosis reflects early hypothalamic dysfunction or rather reflects genetic and sociodemographic characteristics. We aimed to examine whether BMI at childhood brain tumor diagnosis is associated with HP dysfunction at diagnosis or its development during follow-up. METHODS: The association of BMI at diagnosis of a childhood brain tumor to HP dysfunction at diagnosis or during follow-up was examined in a Dutch cohort of 685 CBTS, excluding children with craniopharyngioma or a pituitary tumor. Individual patient data were retrospectively extracted from patient charts. RESULTS: Of 685 CTBS, 4.7% were underweight, 14.2% were overweight, and 3.8% were obese at diagnosis. Being overweight or obese at diagnosis was not associated with anterior pituitary deficiency or diabetes insipidus at diagnosis or during follow-up. In children with suprasellar tumors, being obese at diagnosis was associated with central precocious puberty. CONCLUSION: Overweight or obesity at diagnosis of a childhood brain tumor seems not to be associated with pituitary deficiencies. These results suggest that genetics and lifestyle may be more important etiologic factors for higher BMI at diagnosis in these children than hypothalamic dysfunction. To improve the long-term outcome of CBTS with regards to overweight and obesity, more attention should be given to lifestyle already at the time of brain tumor treatment.

Management and consequences of postoperative fluctuations in plasma sodium concentration after pediatric brain tumor surgery in the sellar region: a national cohort analysis.

PURPOSE: Severe fluctuations in plasma sodium concentration and plasma osmolarity, including central diabetes insipidus (CDI), may have significant influence on postoperative morbidity and mortality after pediatric brain tumor surgery.The aim of this study was to describe the frequency, severity and neurological consequences of these fluctuations in pediatric brain tumor survivors. METHODS: A retrospective, multi-institutional chart review was conducted among all children who underwent brain tumor surgery in the sellar or suprasellar region in seven university hospitals in the Netherlands between January 2004 and December 2013. RESULTS: Postoperative CDI was observed in 67.5% of 120 included children. Fluctuations of plasma sodium concentration ≥ 10 mmol/L/24 h during the first ten postoperative days were seen in 75.3% of patients with CDI, with a maximum delta of 46 mmol/L/24 h. When compared to patients without CDI, altered mental status occurred more frequently in patients with postoperative CDI (5.1 vs. 23.5% respectively, p = 0.009). Low plasma sodium concentration was related to altered mental status and the occurrence of seizures. Frequency and severity of fluctuations in plasma sodium concentration during the first ten postoperative days were significantly higher in patients with permanent CDI at last follow-up than in patients with transient CDI or without CDI (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Postoperative CDI is a common complication after pediatric brain tumor surgery in the sellar or suprasellar region. Extreme plasma sodium concentrations and large intra-day fluctuations still occur and seem to influence the postoperative neurological course. These results illustrate the need for intensive monitoring in a highly experienced center.

Rectal tube drainage reduces major anastomotic leakage after minimally invasive rectal cancer surgery.

AIM: Anastomotic leakage is the most serious complication following low anterior resection for rectal cancer and is a major cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality. The object of the present study was to investigate whether rectal tube drainage can reduce anastomotic leakage after minimally invasive rectal cancer surgery. METHOD: Three hundred and seventy-four patients who underwent laparoscopic or robotic LAR for tumours located ≤ 15 cm above the anal verge between 1 April 2012 and 31 October 2014 were assessed retrospectively. Of these, 107 with intermediate risk of anastomotic leakage received transanal rectal tube drainage. The rectal tube group was matched by propensity score analysis with patients not having rectal tube drainage, giving 204 patients in the study. Covariates for propensity score analysis included age, sex, body mass index, tumour height from the anal verge and preoperative chemoradiation. RESULTS: Patient demographics, tumour location, preoperative chemoradiation and operative results were similar between the two groups. The overall leakage rate was 10.8% (22/204), with no significant difference between the rectal tube group (9.8%) and the nonrectal tube group (11.8%, P = 0.652). Of the patients with anastomotic leakage, major leakage requiring reoperation developed in 11.8% of those without and 3.9% of those with a rectal tube. On multivariate analysis, age over 65 years and nonuse of a rectal tube were found to be independent risk factors for major anastomotic leakage. CONCLUSION: Rectal tube placement may be a safe and effective method of reducing the rate of major anastomotic leakage, alleviating the clinical course of leakage following minimally invasive rectal cancer surgery.

Long-term outcomes of locally or radically resected T1 colorectal cancer.

AIM: Little is known about the long-term outcome of T1 colorectal cancer (CRC) following curative resection. The present study addressed the long-term outcome of locally or radically resected T1 CRCs. METHOD: A total of 430 patients with T1 CRC who underwent local or radical resection were considered. Unfavourable histological factors were defined as positive resection margin, deep submucosal invasion, vascular invasion, Grade 3 and budding. The patients were classified as low-risk (unfavourable histological factor negative, n = 65) or high-risk (unfavourable histological factor positive, n = 365). RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 78.4 months, disease recurred in 16 (3.7%) patients in the high-risk group, and no recurrence in the low-risk group. Resection type and vascular invasion were significantly associated with recurrence. In the vascular invasion (+) high-risk group, both 5-year disease-free survival rate and 5-year overall survival rate were significantly associated with resection type (radical 94.6%, local 43.8%, P < 0.001, and radical 99.1%, local 66.7%, P < 0.001). In the vascular invasion (-) high-risk group, 5-year disease-free survival rate was also significantly associated with resection type (radical 98.9%, local 84.7%, P = 0.001). However, 5-year overall survival rate was not associated with resection type (radical 98.9%, local 95.2%, P = 0.816). CONCLUSION: Local resection may be effective and oncologically safe in low-risk T1 CRC. Although additional surgery should be recommended for the locally resected high-risk T1 CRC cases, intensive surveillance without additional surgery and timely salvage operation may offer another treatment option, if vascular invasion is negative.

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

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

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Erysiphe heraclei on Chervil in Korea.

Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium (L.) Hoffm.), belonging to the family Apiaceae, is an aromatic annual herb that is native to the Caucasus. It is widely used as a flavoring agent for culinary purposes. This herb was recently introduced in Korea. In April 2013, plants showing typical symptoms of powdery mildew disease were observed in a polyethylene film-covered greenhouse in Seoul, Korea. White mycelium bearing conidia formed irregular patches on leaves and stems. Mycelial growth was amphigenous. Severe infections caused leaf withering and premature senescence. Voucher specimens were deposited in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). Hyphae were septate, branched, with moderately lobed appressoria. Conidiophores presented 3 to 4 cells and measured 85 to 148 × 7 to 9 µm. Foot-cells of conidiophores were 37 to 50 µm long. Conidia were produced singly, oblong-elliptical to oblong, measured 30 to 50 × 13 to 18 µm with a length/width ratio of 2.0 to 3.3, lacked conspicuous fibrosin bodies, and with angular/rectangular wrinkling of the outer walls. Germ tubes were produced in the subterminal position of conidia. Chasmothecia were not found. These structures are typical of the powdery mildew Pseudoidium anamorph of the genus Erysiphe. The specific measurements and morphological characteristics were consistent with those of E. heraclei DC. (1). To confirm identity of the causal fungus, the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA of KUS-F27279 was amplified with primers ITS5 and P3 (4) and sequenced directly. The resulting 561-bp sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KF111807). A GenBank BLAST search of this sequence showed >99% similarity with those of many E. heraclei isolates, e.g., Pimpinella affinis (AB104513), Anethum graveolens (JN603995), and Daucus carota (EU371725). Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation by gently pressing a diseased leaf onto leaves of five healthy potted chervil plants. Five non-inoculated plants served as a control treatment. Plants were maintained in a greenhouse at 22 ± 2°C. Inoculated plants developed signs and symptoms after 6 days, whereas the control plants remained healthy. The fungus present on the inoculated plants was identical morphologically to that originally observed on diseased plants. Chervil powdery mildews caused by E. heraclei have been reported in Europe (Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Switzerland, and the former Soviet Union) and the United States (2,3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew caused by E. heraclei on chervil in Asia as well as in Korea. The plant is cultivated in commercial farms for its edible leaves in Korea. Occurrence of powdery mildew is a threat to quality and marketability of this herb, especially those grown in organic farming where chemical control options are limited. References: (1) U. Braun and R. T. A. Cook. Taxonomic Manual of the Erysiphales (Powdery Mildews), CBS Biodiversity Series No. 11, CBS, Utrecht, 2012. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases, Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication. ARS, USDA. Retrieved July 29, 2013. (3) S. T. Koike and G. S. Saenz. Plant Dis. 88:1163, 2004. (4) S. Takamatsu et al. Mycol. Res. 113:117, 2009.

First Report of White Blister Rust Caused by Albugo candida on Wasabi in Korea.

Wasabi (Wasabia japonica (Miq.) Matsum.), a member of the Brassicaceae family, is a commercially important crop in East Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. In Korea, wasabi is under commercial development since it has become popular as a condiment due to its strong pungent constituents. In May 2013, wasabi plants showing typical symptoms of white blister rust disease were first observed in plastic greenhouses in Taebaek City, Korea. Leaves of infected plants had whitish sori on the lower surfaces and chlorotic blotches on the corresponding upper leaf surfaces. Later, sori changed to creamy to light tan with necrosis of leaf lesion. New infections might occur anytime during the growing season. A representative sample was deposited in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS-F27596). Microscopic examination of fresh materials was performed under a light microscope. The grouped sporangiophores were hyaline, clavate or cylindric, and measured 20 to 35 × 10 to 14 µm. The sporangia were arranged in basipetal chains, hyaline, globose to subglobose, with uniform wall thickness and measured 16 to 21 × 13 to 18 µm. The primary sporangia were morphologically similar to the secondary sporangia, although the former exhibited a slightly thicker wall than the latter. No resting organs were observed. Previously, the white blister rust pathogen on wasabi has been considered either Albugo candida or A. wasabiae, although the latter name is often considered a synonym of A. candida. Based on the morphological characteristics and the specific host plant, the causal agent of this disease was identified as A. candida (2). To confirm this morphological identification, genomic DNA was extracted from infected plant tissue, and the amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA of the Korean specimen were performed using procedures outlined by Choi et al. (1), with oomycete-specific primer set, DC6 and LR0. The resulting 835-bp sequence of the region was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KF887494). Since this was the first ITS sequence submitted for A. candida on wasabi, comparable data were not available. A comparison with the ITS sequences available in the GenBank database revealed that it is identical to A. candida found on Capsella bursa-pastoris (AF271231), and shows a high similarity of 99% with many A. candida sequences originating from other brassicaceous plants. Therefore, the pathogen found in Korea was confirmed to be A. candida. In Korea, it has been reported that A. candida attacks Brassica juncea, B. campestris subsp. penikensis, and B. napus (3), but to our knowledge this is the first record of A. candida on wasabi (4). The white blister rust caused by A. candida is one of the most devastating diseases of wasabi in Japan and Taiwan where the crop is widely cultivated. On the other hand, in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, where wasabi is a new crop on a commercial scale, there is no record of this disease. These facts taken together suggest that wasabi white blister rust be not only currently spreading in East Asia, but it also poses a new and serious threat to production of this crop in countries in which it is currently absent. References: (1) Y. J. Choi et al. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 40:400, 2006. (2) Y. J. Choi et al. Fungal Divers. 27:11, 2007. (3) Y. J. Choi et al. Plant Pathol. J. 27: 192, 2011. (4) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication, ARS, USDA, Retrieved November 15, 2013.

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

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

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

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

Recovery of intact IgG in the gastrointestinal tract of the growing rat following ingestion of an ovine serum immunoglobulin.

The aim of this study was to determine whether orally ingested ovine serum IgG partly resists digestion in the growing rat. Fifteen Sprague-Dawley male rats were allocated to one of three diets for a 3-week study: a control diet (CON) and two test diets containing either freeze-dried ovine serum immunoglobulin (FDOI) or inactivated ovine serum immunoglobulin (IOI). Samples of stomach chyme and intestinal digesta from the ad libitum-fed rats were subjected to ELISA and Western blot analysis. Amounts of intact ovine IgG for the FDOI diet were found to be 13.9, 20.0, 34.1, 13.0 and 36.9 µg in the total wet digesta from the stomach chyme, duodenal, jejunal, ileal and colonic digesta respectively. Qualitative detection by Western blot revealed the presence of intact ovine serum IgG with a ~150 kDa MW. This was detected in all of the gut segments (stomach chyme, duodenal, jejunal, ileal and colonic digesta) for growing rats fed the FDOI diet. No ovine IgG was detected in the chyme or digesta from rats fed the CON or the IOI diets. Ovine serum IgG partly resisted digestion in the growing rat fed the FDOI diet and was found throughout the digestive tract. These results provide a basis to explain the reported biological effects of orally administered immunoglobulin.

Clinicopathological characteristics of T1 colorectal cancer without background adenoma.

AIM: Background adenoma (BGA) is defined as benign adenomatous tissue contiguous to resected carcinomas, and the absence of BGA in a tumour is considered a histological criterion of de novo cancers. The present study aimed to identify the clinicopathological characteristics of T1 colorectal cancer (CRC) without BGA. METHOD: A retrospective review was carried out of prospectively collected data from two centres: the National Cancer Center, Korea; and Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Korea. A total of 590 patients with T1 CRC, treated by endoscopic or surgical resection between January 2001 and August 2011, were enrolled. Details regarding gender, age, tumour location, endoscopic gross type, tumour size, depth of submucosal (SM) invasion, angiolymphatic invasion, tumour grade, budding and lymph node (LN) metastasis were evaluated with regard to the presence or absence of BGA. RESULTS: BGA was absent in 197 (33.4%) patients. Tumour size <20 mm, flat or depressed type, deep SM depth and tumour budding were associated with the absence of BGA in univariate and multivariate analyses (P < 0.05). In surgically resected patients, LN metastases were significantly associated with the absence of BGA (P = 0.022). CONCLUSION: T1 CRC without BGA presented several characteristics of small size (<20 mm), flat or depressed type, deep SM depth (SM 2/3), LN metastasis and tumour budding. These results indicate that de novo cancers may have a more invasive potential.

First Report of Black Stem Caused by Botryosporium longibrachiatum on Sweet Basil in Korea.

Sweet basil, Ocimum basilicum L., is cultivated mainly for fresh consumption in Korea. In March 2009, in Icheon, Korea, several dozen plants showing symptoms of black stems were found in an organic farm that used polyethylene tunnels for production. The black stems were usually covered with a fungus that gave the appearance of hoar-frost on the stems, especially when plants were grown under a cool and humid environment. According to the farmer, black stems appear during the winter season of November to March when the tunnels were mostly closed. The relative humidity (RH) during that period was around 100% every night due to poor ventilation. Beginning the middle of April when both sides of the tunnels were open, providing good ventilation, no further disease development was observed. The fungus on the stems had an elongate, upright conidiophore, reaching 5 mm in length. At intervals along its length, the main axis of conidiophores produced lateral fertile branches in acropetal succession. Each lateral branch terminated in a cluster of four or five ampullae. Conidia were hyaline, oval, and 5.5 to 9.5 × 3.5 to 6 µm. The fungus was non-pigmented and colonies on potato dextrose agar were chalk white. Morphological and cultural characteristics of the fungus were consistent with the previous reports of Botryosporium longibrachiatum (Oudem.) Maire (3,4). Voucher specimens (n = 4) were housed at Korea University Herbarium (KUS). An isolate from KUS-F24010 was deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (Accession No. KACC44849) and used for molecular analysis and pathogenicity tests. The complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified with the primers ITS1/ITS4 and sequenced. The resulting sequence of 592 bp was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. JX666334). A BLAST search in GenBank showed that there was no comparable sequence of B. longibrachiatum and thus this was the first ITS sequence for the species submitted in GenBank. To confirm the pathogenicity, colonized mycelial plugs (3 mm in diameter) from 10-day-old PDA cultures were placed onto the stem apices (n = 10) of 2-month-old sweet basil pot plants, which were topped as normally harvested. Control plants were inoculated with uncolonized agar plugs. All plants were incubated at 22 ± 2°C in a humidified chamber with a 12-h photoperiod for 48 h, and then maintained in a greenhouse (22 ± 2°C). Three to four days after inoculation, necrotic lesions developed around the points of inoculation on all stems and expanded downwards, leading to black stems covered with the hoar-frost like fungus after 14 days. B. longibrachiatum was successfully reisolated from all inoculated stems, while control plants remained symptomless. The pathogenicity test was conducted twice with the same result. The association of B. longibrachiatum and sweet basil was previously reported (4). Several other plants including burley tobacco are also reported to be infected by this fungus (1,2). To our knowledge, this is the first etiological report of B. longibrachiatum on sweet basil globally as well as in Korea. References: (1) T. R. Anderson. Plant Dis. 67:1158, 1983. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Systematic Mycology & Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ , September 7, 2012. (3) C. V. Subramanian. Hyphomycetes. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India, 1971. (4) H. T. Tribe and R. W. S. Weber. Mycologist 15:158, 2001.

First Confirmed Report of Cercospora Blight of Asparagus Caused by Cercospora asparagi in Korea.

In September 2011, hundreds of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) showing symptoms of blight with nearly 100% incidence (percentage of plants affected) were found in polyethylene tunnels at an organic farm in Gangneung City of Korea. Lesions on needles and branches of the ferns were small, elliptic to subcircular, pale tan to brown with reddish brown borders, and became gray and cottony due to heavy sporulation under continuous high humidity. Infection caused premature defoliation and weakened plant vigor. The damage purportedly due to this disease has reappeared with confirmation of the causal agent made again in 2012. A cercosporoid fungus was consistently associated with disease symptoms. Stromata were well developed, consisting of brown cells, and were 10 to 30 µm wide. Conidiophores were fasciculate (n = 2 to 12), olivaceous brown, paler upwards, straight to mildly curved, not geniculate in shorter ones, or 1 to 2 times geniculate in longer ones, 40 to 260 µm long, 3.5 to 5.5 µm wide, and 1- to 6-septate. Conidia were hyaline, cylindric to acicular, straight in shorter ones, curved in longer ones, truncate to obconically truncate at the base with darkened hila, guttulate, 2- to 12-septate, and 40 to 220 × 3 to 5 µm. Morphological characteristics of the fungus were consistent with the previous reports of Cercospora asparagi Sacc. (1). Voucher specimens were housed at the Korea University herbarium (KUS). An isolate from KUS-F26046 was deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (Accession No. KACC46400). The complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified with the primers ITS1/ITS4 and sequenced. The resulting sequence of 497 bp was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. JX964995). This showed >99% similarity with sequences of many Cercospora species, indicating their close phylogenetic relationship. For pathogenicity tests, conidial suspensions (105 conidia/ml) were prepared by culturing the fungus on V8 juice agar (2) for 3 weeks. Five plants were inoculated with conidial suspensions and five plants were sprayed with sterile distilled water. The plants were covered with plastic bags to maintain 100% RH for 24 h and then transferred to a greenhouse. Typical symptoms of necrotic lesions appeared on the inoculated plants 6 days after treatment, and were identical to the ones observed in the field. C. asparagi was reisolated from symptomatic tissues, confirming Koch's postulates. No symptoms were observed on control plants. The disease has been reported through the regions of the world where asparagus is grown (3). In Korea, the disease was recorded in 1928 by Japanese workers under Cercosporina asparagicola Speg. (regarded as synonymous with Cercospora asparagi) with brief notes (4). Though one sample of asparagus was sent to the author (KSH) for diagnosis in 2009 summer and determined to be infected with C. asparagi (unpublished data), there has been no additional finding of the disease in Korea for the last 82 years. To our knowledge, this is the first confirmed report of Cercospora blight of asparagus caused by C. asparagi in Korea. References: (1) C. Chupp. A Monograph of the Fungus Genus Cercospora. Ithaca, NY, 1953. (2) C. J. Cooperman and S. F. Jenkins. Phytopathology 76:617, 1986. (3) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication, ARS, USDA, Retrieved October 20, 2012. (4) K. Nakata and S. Takimoto. Bull. Agric. Exp. Stat. Korea 15:1, 1928.

First Report of Persian Buttercup Downy Mildew Caused by Peronospora sp. in Korea.

Persian buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus L.) is an ornamental plant cultivated mainly in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, and has recently become popular in Korea. During March and April 2012, Persian buttercups 'Elegance' showing symptoms of downy mildew were found in plastic greenhouses in Hwaseong City of Korea. Infection resulted in chlorotic leaves with a dark greyish and dense fungal-like growth on the lower surfaces, and finally led to necrosis of the lesions. A sample was deposited in the Korea University herbarium (KUS-F26431). Conidiophores emerging from stomata were hyaline, 250 to 550 × 7 to 15 µm, straight, and dichotomously branched in 6 to 8 orders. Ultimate branchlets were mostly in pairs, slightly curved, 5 to 15 µm long, and had obtuse tips. Conidia were brown, broadly ellipsoidal to subglobose or ellipsoidal, often pedicellated, and measured 24 to 33 × 20 to 27 µm with a length/width ratio of 1.15 to 1.30. Fourteen species of Peronospora have previously been described on the genus Ranunculus (2), of which P. ficariae was mostly considered the causal agent of downy mildew on Persian buttercup (1,3). The present Korean accession is morphologically distinct from P. ficariae on R. ficaria (a synonym of Ficaria verna) by somewhat larger conidia with often pedicel-like ends. The nuclear ribosomal LSU and ITS regions were PCR-amplified and sequenced as described in Göker et al. (4), and the resulting sequences deposited in GenBank (Accession Nos. KC111207 and JX465737, respectively). A comparison with the GenBank sequences revealed that the present Korean pathogen differed from P. ficariae on R. ficaria at 10 of 688 characters (about 1.5%) in LSU (AF119600) and 11 of 802 characters (about 1.4%) in ITS sequences (unpublished sequence). In addition, the ITS sequence exhibits a dissimilarity of 1.5 to 2.0% from three species of Peronospora parasitic on Ranunculus; P. alpicola on R. aconitifolius (AY198271), P. illyrica on R. illyricus (AY198268), and P. ranunculi on R. acris (AY198267) and R. recurvatus (AY198269). Based on morphological and molecular distinction between P. ficariae and the Korean pathogen, we provisionally indicate this pathogen as an undetermined species of Peronospora. Pathogenicity was demonstrated by shaking diseased leaves onto the leaves of healthy Persian buttercup 'Elegance', incubating the plants in a dew chamber at 20°C for 24 h, and then maintaining them in a greenhouse (20 to 24°C and relative humidity 60 to 80%). After 3 to 4 days, inoculated plants developed downy mildew symptoms, from which an identical fungus was observed, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. Control plants treated with sterile water did not develop any symptoms of downy mildew. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a downy mildew on Persian buttercup in Asia, although this disease has been found in other continental countries, such as Italy (1), New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States (3). The presence of a downy mildew on Persian buttercup in Asia can be considered as a potentially new and serious threat to commercial production of this ornamental plant. References: (1) E. Buonocore and R. Areddia. Informatore Fitopatologico 49:25, 1999. (2) O. Constantinescu. Thunbergia 15:1, 1991. (3) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases, Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication, ARS, USDA, Retrieved August 4, 2012. (4) M. Göker et al. Mycol. Res. 113:308, 2009.

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

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

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

Sansevieria, Sansevieria trifasciata Prain, is cultivated in greenhouses and is used as a potted interior foliage plant in Korea. In April 2012, several plants (cv. Moonshine) exhibiting typical anthracnose symptoms from a local nursery were sent to the plant clinic of Gyeonggi-Do Agricultural Research and Extension Services for diagnosis. The leaf lesions began as round, partly water-soaked, pale greenish to grayish spots, which enlarged and ultimately coalesced, resulting in severe leaf blight. Concentric rings of blackish acervuli were formed in the expanding lesions of mostly 2 to 4 cm in diameter. Acervuli were mostly epiphyllous, circular to ellipsoid. Setae were aseptate to 3-septate, dark brown at the base, paler upwards, acicular, and up to 180 µm long. Conidia (n = 30) were oblong-elliptical to obovate, sometimes fusiform-elliptical, guttulate, hyaline, and 14 to 24 × 5 to 7.5 µm (mean 18.6 × 6.4 µm). Hyphopodial appressoria were dark brown to blackish, globose to clavate in outline, and 5 to 12 × 4 to 8 µm. Colonies on potato dextrose agar (PDA) were grayish-white, felted with cottony-white aerial mycelium on a gray to olivaceous gray background in culture. Gelatinous salmon- to orange-colored conidial masses were produced abundantly after one week's incubation. The morphological and cultural characteristics of the fungus were consistent with the description of Colletotrichum sansevieriae M. Nakamura & M. Ohzono (2,3). A voucher specimen was deposited in the Korea University herbarium (KUS-F26637). An isolate was deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (Accession No. KACC46835). Fungal DNA was extracted with DNeasy Plant Mini DNA Extraction Kits (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA). The complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified with the primers ITS1/ITS4 and sequenced. The resulting 569-bp sequences were deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KC847065). A BLAST search in GenBank exhibited 100% nucleotide identity with sequence of C. sansevieriae (JF911349) from the United States and >99% similarity with that of HQ433226 from Australia. To confirm pathogenicity, inoculum was prepared by harvesting conidia from 3-week-old cultures on PDA. A conidial suspension (2 × 106 conidia/ml) was sprayed over the five leaves of sansevieria 'Moonshine' wounded with a fine needle. Five leaves sprayed with sterile water served as controls. Plants were covered with plastic bags to maintain 100% relative humidity for 48 h and then kept in a greenhouse (22 to 28°C and 70 to 80% RH). Within 12 days, symptoms identical to those observed in originally infected leaf developed on all inoculated leaves. No symptoms were observed on control plants. C. sansevieriae was reisolated from the lesions of inoculated plants, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Sansevieria anthracnose associated with C. sansevieriae has been reported in Japan (2), Australia (1), and the United States (3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of sansevieria anthracnose in Korea. Our observations in sansevieria nurseries suggest that preventing wound infection as well as maintaining good plant hygiene in greenhouses might be main strategies for this disease. References: (1) R. Aldaoud et al. Australas. Plant Dis. Notes 6:60, 2011. (2) M. Nakamura et al. J. Gen. Plant Pathol. 72:253, 2006. (3) A. J. Palmateer et al. Plant Dis. 96:293, 2012.

First Report of Leaf Blight Caused by Septoria allii on Garlic Chives in Korea.

Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum Roth., are widely cultivated in Asia and are the fourth most important Allium crop in Korea. In June 2011, a leaf blight of garlic chives associated with a Septoria spp. was observed on an organic farm in Hongcheon County, Korea. Similar symptoms were also found in fields within Samcheok City and Yangku County of Korea during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Disease incidence (percentage of plants affected) was 5 to 10% in organic farms surveyed. Diseased voucher specimens (n = 5) were deposited at the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). The disease first appeared as yellowish specks on leaves, expanding to cause a leaf tip dieback. Half of the leaves may be diseased within a week, especially during wet weather. Pycnidia were directly observed in leaf lesions. Pycnidia were amphigenous, but mostly epigenous, scattered, dark brown to rusty brown, globose, embedded in host tissue or partly erumpent, separate, unilocular, 50 to 150 µm in diameter, with ostioles of 20 to 40 µm in diameter. Conidia were acicular, straight to sub-straight, truncate at the base, obtuse at the apex, hyaline, aguttulate, 22 to 44 × 1.8 to 3 µm, mostly 3-septate, occasionally 1- or 2-septate. These morphological characteristics matched those of Septoria allii Moesz, which is differentiated from S. alliacea on conidial dimensions (50 to 60 µm long) (1,2). A monoconidial isolate was cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Two isolates have been deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (Accession Nos. KACC46119 and 46688). Genomic DNA was extracted using the DNeasy Plant Mini DNA Extraction Kit (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified using the ITS1/ITS4 primers and sequenced. The resulting sequence of 482-bp was deposited in GenBank (JX531648 and JX531649). ITS sequence information was at least 99% similar to those of many Septoria species, however no information was available for S. allii. Pathogenicity was tested by spraying leaves of three potted young plants with a conidial suspension (2 × 105 conidia/ml), which was harvested from a 4-week-old culture on PDA. Control leaves were sprayed with sterile water. The plants were placed in humid chambers (relative humidity 100%) for the first 48 h. After 7 days, typical leaf blight symptoms started to develop on the leaves of inoculated plants. S. allii was reisolated from the lesions of inoculated plants, confirming Koch's postulates. No symptoms were observed on control plants. The host-parasite association of A. tuberosum and S. allii has been known only from China (1). S. alliacea has been recorded on several species of Allium, e.g. A. cepa, A. chinense, A. fistulosum, and A. tuberosum from Japan (4) and A. cepa from Korea (3). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of S. allii on garlic chives. No diseased plants were observed in commercial fields of garlic chives which involved regular application of fungicides. The disease therefore seems to be limited to organic garlic chive production. References: (1) P. K. Chi et al. Fungous Diseases on Cultivated Plants of Jilin Province, Science Press, Beijing, China, 1966. (2) P. A. Saccardo. Sylloge Fungorum Omnium Hucusque Congnitorum. XXV. Berlin, 1931. (3) The Korean Society of Plant Pathology. List of Plant Diseases in Korea, Suwon, Korea, 2009. (4) The Phytopathological Society of Japan. Common Names of Plant Diseases in Japan, Tokyo, Japan, 2000.

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Podosphaera xanthii on Papaya in Korea.

In March 2013, papaya (Carica papaya L. cv. Sunrise) plants growing in polyethylene-film-covered greenhouses in Agricultural Research Center for Climate Change located in Jeju City, Korea, were observed severely affected by a powdery mildew. Symptoms appeared as circular to irregular white patches on both sides of the leaves. As the disease progressed, the plants were covered with dense masses of the spores, eventually causing senescence and withering of leaves. Voucher specimens were deposited in the Korea University Herbarium (KUS). Hyphae were flexuous to straight, branched, septate, and 5 to 8 µm wide. Conidiophores were 110 to 250 × 10 to 12.5 µm and produced 2 to 5 immature conidia in chains with a crenate outline followed by 2 to 3 cells. Foot-cells of conidiophores were straight, cylindric, slightly constricted at the basal septum, and 55 to 110 µm long. Conidia were hyaline, ellipsoid-ovoid, measured 22 to 38 × 18 to 21 µm with a length/width ratio of 1.2 to 1.8, and had distinct fibrosin bodies. Chasmothecia were scattered or partly clustered, dark brown, spherical, 80 to 100 µm in diameter, and each contained a single ascus. Appendages were mycelioid, 1- to 5-septate, brown at the base and becoming paler. Asci were sessile, 72 to 87 × 52 to 68 µm, had a terminal oculus of 17 to 23 µm wide, and contained 8 ascospores, each 17 to 23 × 12.5 to 15 µm. The morphological characteristics and measurements were consistent with those of Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) U. Braun & Shishkoff (1). To confirm the identification, the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA of KUS-F27269 was amplified with the primers ITS5/P3 and sequenced (3). The resulting 443 bp sequence was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KF111806). The Korean isolate showed >99% similarity with those of many P. xanthii isolates including an isolate on papaya from Taiwan (GU358450). Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation tests by gently pressing a diseased leaf onto young leaves of three asymptomatic, potted seedlings (cv. Sunrise). Three non-inoculated seedlings were used as control. Inoculated plants were isolated from non-inoculated plants in separate rooms in a greenhouse at 26 to 30°C. Inoculated leaves developed symptoms after 7 days, whereas the control plants remained symptomless. The fungus present on the inoculated leaves was identical morphologically to that observed on the original diseased leaves, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Powdery mildews of papaya caused by Podosphaera species including P. caricae-papayae have been reported in North America, South America, Hawaii, Africa, Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, India, Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan (2,4). P. caricae-papayae is currently reduced to synonymy with P. xanthii (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew caused by P. xanthii on papaya in Korea. Though papaya is a minor crop in Korea, producing about 300 M/T annually in greenhouses, powdery mildew disease is a threat to safe production of the fruits. References: (1) U. Braun and R. T. A. Cook. Taxonomic Manual of the Erysiphales (Powdery Mildews), CBS Biodiversity Series No. 11, CBS, Utrecht, 2012. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Syst. Mycol. Microbiol. Lab., Online publication, ARS, USDA, retrieved April 9, 2013. (3) S. Takamatsu et al. Mycol. Res. 113:117, 2009. (4) J. G. Tsay et al. Plant Dis. 95:1188, 2011.

First Report of Frosty Mildew Caused by Mycopappus alni on Asian Pear in Korea.

Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai), also known as Japanese or Korean pear, is widely cultivated in East Asia. On September 2011, irregularly shaped necrotic lesions were observed on leaves of cv. Shinheung growing in an orchard in Gangneung City, Korea. At 40× magnification under a microscope, the white to cream colored propagules were epiphyllous, conical, scattered to aggregated, and composed of stroma-like bases, globose to subglobose, 55 to 100 µm wide and 35 to 75 µm high with filamentous and claviform hyphae. The filamentous hyphae were cylindrical, 125 to 425 × 3.5 to 6 µm, 2- to 8-septate, and obtuse to subobtuse at the apex. The claviform hyphae were clavate to cylindrical, 35 to 125 × 5 to 12.5 µm, aseptate to 3-septate, and obtuse at the apex. The fungus was isolated from leaf lesions and cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA). The colonies consisted of thin mycelia colored whitish at first and then pale brown on PDA. Sclerotia were produced on PDA after 2 weeks incubation at 15°C, but conidia were not observed in culture. An isolate from KUS-F26196 was deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (Accession No. 25 KACC46693). These morphological and cultural characteristics were consistent with Mycopappus alni (Dearn. & Barthol.) Redhead & G.P. White (1,3,4). Fungal DNA was extracted with DNeasy Plant Mini DNA Extraction Kits (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA). The complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified with the primers ITS1/ITS4 and sequenced. The resulting sequence product of 520 bp was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. JX458815). A BLAST search in GenBank revealed that the sequence was 99% similar to M. alni (AB254190, AB254177, AB254189). To determine the pathogenicity of the fungus, propagules were detached from lesions on the naturally infected leaves using fine needles. Each propagule was transferred individually onto five places of six detached healthy leaves. Control treatment comprised placing small agar blocks onto five places of six detached healthy leaves. The plants were incubated in a humid chamber at RH 100% and 18°C. Symptoms were observed after 2 days on all inoculated leaves. The pathogen was reisolated from lesions on the inoculated leaves, confirming Koch's postulates. No symptoms were observed on control leaves. The fungus has been associated with frosty mildew on Alnus spp., Betula spp., Crataegus spp., and Pyrus spp. in North America, Turkey, Russia, and Japan (1,2,4). To our knowledge, this is the first report of frosty mildew on P. pyrifolia caused by M. alni globally as well as in Korea. Since the infections may be limited to the mountainous area with low night temperature and high humidity, economic losses seem to be negligible. However, the disease could be a potential threat to the safe production of Korean pears in case of prolonged period of cool and moist weather. References: (1) U. Braun et al. Mikologiya i Fitopatologiya 34(6):1, 2000. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Systematic Mycology & Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ , August 2, 2012. (3) S. A. Redhead and G. P. White. Can. J. Bot. 63:1429, 1985. (4) Y. Takahashi et al. Mycoscience 47:388, 2006.

Predictors for lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: It is critical that the risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM) is evaluated for determining the suitability of endoscopic resection for T1 colorectal cancer (CRC). Reported risk factors for LNM in completely resected T1 CRC are deep submucosal invasion, grade 3, angiolymphatic invasion, and budding. The aim of the present study was to identify the histopathologic factors associated with LNM in T1 CRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 435 patients with T1 CRC treated by endoscopic or surgical resection between January 2001 and April 2010 at the National Cancer Center, Korea. The 435 patients were classified into two groups - those undergoing surgical resection (n = 324) and those undergoing endoscopic resection (n = 111). In the surgically resected group, details regarding depth of submucosal invasion, angiolymphatic invasion, tumor grade, budding, and background adenoma (BGA) were evaluated with respect to presence or absence of LNM. In the endoscopically resected group, the results of follow-ups and additional salvage surgeries were studied. RESULTS: In the surgically resected group, LNM was detected in 42 patients (13.0 %). Grade 3, angiolymphatic invasion, budding, and the absence of BGA were identified as factors associated with LNM in univariate and multivariate analyses (P < 0.05). Among the 50 patients in the endoscopically resected group with high risk, three were diagnosed as being LNM-positive during the follow-up period. There was no LNM in the endoscopically resected group with low risk. CONCLUSIONS: Grade 3, angiolymphatic invasion, budding, and the absence of BGA are the risk factors that predict LNM in patients with T1 CRC. In cases where endoscopically resected T1 CRC has no risk factor, cautious follow-up could be recommended. However, if the tumor has any risk factor, additional surgical resection should be considered.