First Report of Nigrospora oryzae Causing Leaf Spot of Cotton in China.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is widely cultivated for the important economic value of the fiber. In the summer of 2011, a leaf spot of cotton plants cv. Wanza40 was observed in 11 fields (total of about 4 ha) in Qianshan County in southwest Anhui Province, China. Approximately 30% of the plants in each field were symptomatic. Affected plants exhibited brown to reddish, irregular foliar lesions, each with a brown border near the vein of the leaves. A sign of fungal infection was a dark leaf mold observed on lesions on the abaxial surface of leaves. Sections of symptomatic leaf tissues were surface-sterilized (in 75% ethanol for 30 s, then 1% NaOCl for 1 min), rinsed three times in sterile distilled water, and plated onto potato dextrose agar (PDA). A fungus consistently recovered from symptomatic leaf samples produced colonies that were initially white and then became grayish brown with the onset of sporulation. Black, spherical to subspherical, single-celled conidia (10 to 12 × 14 to 16 µm) were borne on a hyaline vesicle at the tip of each conidiophore. Morphological characteristics of the fungus were similar to that of Nigrospora oryzae (2). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) from a representative strain of the fungus, AHC-1, was amplified using the primers ITS1/ITS4 (4) and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. JQ864579). The ITS sequence had 99% identity with >553 bp of the ITS sequence of an N. oryzae isolate (GenBank Accession No. EU918714.1). On the basis of morphological data and ITS rDNA sequence, the isolate was determined to be N. oryzae. A pathogenicity test was performed on detached, young leaves of 4-month-old healthy cotton plants of cv. Wanza40. Six leaves were inoculated by placing a colonized agar piece (5 mm in diameter) from 7-day-old cultures of the fungus on pushpin-wounded leaves. Another six leaves treated with sterile PDA plugs served as a negative control treatment. Leaves were incubated in petri dishes and maintained at 25°C in a growth chamber programmed for 12 hours of fluorescent white light/day. After 5 days, brown to black lesions were observed on all inoculated leaves, whereas no symptoms developed on control leaves. N. oryzae was consistently reisolated from symptomatic leaves but not from the control leaves. N. oryzae is a weak pathogen on a wide range of plants, and has been described as the causal agent of lint rot on cotton (1,3), but to our knowledge this is the first report of N. oryzae causing a leaf spot of cotton in China. References: (1) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases, Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Retrieved from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ , April 8, 2012. (2) H. J. Hudson. Trans. Br. Mycol. Soc. 46:355, 1963. (3) A. J. Palmatter et al. Plant Dis. 87:873, 2003. (4) T. J. White et al. In: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990.

Calcitonin promotes outgrowth of trophoblast cells on endometrial epithelial cells: involvement of calcium mobilization and protein kinase C activation.

Embryo implantation is a complex process that requires coordinated trophoblast-endometrial interactions. During implantation, trophoblast cells of the attached blastocyst penetrate the luminal epithelium of the endometrium before invasion into the endometrial stroma. Previous studies demonstrated that calcitonin was actively secreted by rat and human endometrial epithelial cells (EEC) during the implantation window and targeted disruption of endometrial calcitonin expression dramatically decreased embryo implantation rates; however, the role and signal transduction of calcitonin in trophoblast-endometrial interactions remained unclear and are therefore examined in this study. BeWo trophoblast and RL95-2 EEC lines were used because they preserve many properties of their respective normal tissues. We co-cultured BeWo trophoblast spheroids with RL95-2 EEC monolayers to mimic the blastocyst-endometrial interaction, and found that most spheroids quickly attached to EEC monolayers and then progressively expanded, with marked displacement of EEC adjacent to the outgrowing trophoblast cells. Interestingly, pretreatment of EEC monolayers with calcitonin before the addition of spheroids significantly enhanced trophoblast expansion on EEC monolayers. Cytosolic calcium (Ca(2+)) levels in EEC increased rapidly upon exposure to calcitonin, and blockade of Ca(2+) release by BAPTA-AM effectively prevented the promoting effect of calcitonin on trophoblast expansion on EEC. The Ca(2+)-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) was also activated in EEC after calcitonin treatment, and the PKC inhibitors staurosporine and calphostin C could completely abolish calcitonin-induced augmentation of trophoblast expansion on EEC. Our results suggest that calcitonin promotes trophoblastic displacement of EEC through calcium mobilization and PKC activation, thereby facilitating embryo implantation.

Sensitivity of human ovarian carcinoma cells to interferon and other antitumor agents as assessed by an in vitro semi-solid agar technique.

To determine the sensitivity in vitro of human ovarian carcinoma cells to the antiproliferative effects of human leukocyte interferon, 18 samples of ascitic fluid from 15 affected patients were cultured in semi-solid agar by the technique of Hamburger and Salmon. Cultures were examined at weekly intervals after initiation and the number and size of each tumor colony recorded. Growth as defined by increase in total tumor colony number with time was obtained in 45% of the samples, or 53% of the patients, or 67% of the ascitic fluid samples with tumor cells demonstrated by Pap smear. No growth occurred in samples from recently treated patients or in samples devoid of tumor cells as assessed by Pap smear. Response to interferon directly incorporated into the agar culture system or preincubated with cells prior to their inclusion in culture was defined as reduction in total colony number by greater than or equal to 50% and partial response by greater than or equal to 25% reduction. The response rate for samples, The nontreated controls of which showed evidence of growth, was 71%, and that of samples that contained tumor colonies with no increase in growth during the culture period was 75%. Sensitivity to interferon was not related to the histology or grade of the tumor or to the stage of the disease. In general the responsiveness of the tumor cells to interferon ran parallel to the overall responsiveness to a variety of other chemotherapeutic agents. As this culture system has been proven by other investigators to be predictive of in vivo resistance to antitumor drugs with considerable accuracy and also to be predictive of in vivo response to a lesser degree, it will be important to determine whether similar relationships between in vitro and in vivo sensitivity obtain for interferon.

Efficacy of cotton-tipped applicators for obtaining cells from the uterine cervix for Papanicolaou smears.

A study was made of the efficacy of two techniques for the preparation of Papanicolaou smears. In one technique ("swab-spatula technique"), a scraping of the endocervix with a saline-moistened cotton-tipped applicator was combined with a scraping of the ectocervix with a plastic spatula. In the second technique ("swab technique"), the endocervix and ectocervix were scraped with only a saline-moistened cotton-tipped applicator. The swab technique produced more inadequate smears with a scanty cellular yield (24/408 = 6%) than did the swab-spatula technique (9/361 = 3%). The swab technique also produced higher false-negative rates (60% for CIN I, 42% for CIN II, 16% for CIN III, 20% for invasive cancer, and 32% overall) as compared with those of the swab-spatula technique (27% for CIN I, 29% for CIN II, 14% for CIN III, 0% for invasive cancer and 18% overall). Because of the higher rates of inadequate samples and false negativity in smears prepared by cotton-tipped applicators alone, it is recommended that the spatula not be omitted in taking cervical samples for the preparation of Papanicolaou smears for the detection of dysplasia or cancer. This study also reflects a poor performance of a cervical cancer detection system in the setting of a major medical school and suggests the need for instruction and periodic evaluation of the performance of the staff taking the smears. This study also substantiates doubt on the value of a second recent smear as a follow-up procedure for cervical dysplasia.

Treatment of venous ulcers using a bilayered living skin construct.

Venous ulcers are a common cause of pain and suffering in the elderly US population. Up to 1 million individuals suffer from this disease, and the true costs in terms of medical care and quality of life are only beginning to be appreciated. Bioengineered skin constructs are being used increasingly to treat venous ulcers with some success and can be used if traditional first-line treatment methods fail.

Adolescent sexual counseling.

The physician provides a much-needed service to teenagers by counseling them regarding sexuality. A series of conferences during adolescence and use of questionnaires can facilitate discussion and point up potential problems. When the patient is confronted with a problem such as a need for contraception or an unwanted pregnancy, the physician should present all the options available and leave the final choice up to the patient. The physician is not obligated to participate in a solution that is counter to his or her moral values.

PIP: Guidelines for adolescent sexual counseling are presented on the basis of this physician's experience in the practice of adolescent medicine. Attention is directed to the following: characteristics of the counselor, counseling of parents, general guidelines for counseling adolescents, and counseling for the specific problem areas of masturbation, sexuality and decision making, homosexuality, premarital coitus and contraception, and abortion. To counsel adolescents about sex, the physician must be knowledgeable about the developmental psychodynamics of adolescent sexuality, with its biologic, psychosocial, and moral implications. The physician must also understand his/her own sexuality and should feel comfortable about discussing sexuality with the patient and parents. The physician should help the patient to analyze the pros and cons of all solutions to the problems relating to sexual activity. The patient should be assured that the discussion is strictly confidential. Many parents require clarification and advice regarding their own sexuality, and they should be instructed in techniques for initiating discussion of sexuality with their children. In regard to counseling teenagers, a series of conferences during adolescence and use of questionnaires can facilitate discussion and identify potential problems. When the patient is faced with a problem such as a need for contraception or an unwanted pregnancy, the physician should present all the options available and leave the final choice to the patient. Decision making concerning sexuality is the same as any other decision making that involves coping and adaptation. To make a decision one has to consciously or unconsciously evaluate on the following levels: autonomic (instinctive) level, biosensory level, intellectual level, philosophic-moral-religious level, and total intuitional awareness level. All these levels of evaluation have their developmental and hierarchical positions in decision making, and they interact with one another and jointly and independently influence the self (ego). Will is the most important part of self in decision making and decision implementation. Contraception for sexually active teenagers can prevent unplanned pregnancy and subsequent abortion. The risks and effectiveness of different methods of contraception should be explained, and the patient's religious beliefs should be considered before a final decision is made. Ongoing counseling of these patients is essential.

Adolescent sexual behavior.

Human sexuality is a lifelong process with biologic, psychosocial, and moral consequences. During adolescence, coping with sexual feelings and controlling sexual drive become urgent tasks that are made more difficult by today's society. Recent studies document a dramatic increase in the frequency of sexual activity among teenagers as well as a decrease in the age at which sexual activity begins. The pregnancy rate has increased dramatically in this age-group because of the general lack of willpower and moral strength of young people; lack of adult role models; sexual exploitation of the young, particularly by mass media and industries; and aversion of teenagers to contraception. Births to teenagers have actually decreased slightly, however, because of the accessibility of abortion.

Sexual abuse of adolescents.

Molestation seldom has a lasting effect on a child unless violence was involved, sexual contact was extensive aand prolonged, or the parents overreact. Reassurance, along with instruction in avoiding repeat episodes, may be all that is necessary. Incest most commonly involves father, stepdaughter, or foster father and daughter. Usually, all members of the family are emotionally sick and need counseling, especially the mother, who holds the key to incestuous behavior. Rape has an immediate, profoundly disruptive effect on the victim's mental state and ability to function. Psychologic support and counseling of the victim and family must be provided throughout the acute and long-term phases, but referral to a special rape treatment team may be advisable for initial care.

Comparison of hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with open surgery for upper urinary tract tumor.

Herein we report on our initial experience in performing nephroureterectomy by hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery, and compare the results with those performed by traditional open methods. From December 2000 to September 2001, 10 patients with upper urinary tract tumors underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy. Except for one patient who required elective conversion to open surgery due to renal vein injury, this cohort of 9 patients was compared to a group of 35 patients who had received traditional open nephroureterectomy over the last 2 years. Demographic, intraoperative and postoperative data were compared retrospectively. These two groups were similar in age, body mass index, operation time and time to postoperative oral intake. However, the hand-assisted laparoscopy group was found to have significantly less blood loss, less need for parenteral narcotic and a shorter length of time needed for postoperative hospitalization than the open group. Thus, in this report we have demonstrated hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy to be a safe and efficacious treatment of malignant urinary collecting tumors. We believe the benefits of this minimally invasive surgery make it a viable alternative technique for management of upper urinary tract tumor.

Cystitis glandularis mimics bladder cancer--three case reports and literature review.

Cystitis glandularis is an uncommon proliferative disorder of the mucus-producing glands within the mucosa and submucosa of urinary bladder epithelium. We report three cases with gross hematuria on first presentation. Both sonography and computer tomography revealing bladder tumor and transurethral resection was performed in all three cases. Cystitis glandularis was confirmed by pathology. Short-term follow-up of sonography and cystoscopy showed good results.

Role of 15-F2t-isoprostane in intestinal injury induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

15-F2t-isoprostane is not only a specific marker of lipid peroxidation but also demonstrated to have potent bioactivities and can exert deleterious effects via activating thromboxane A2 receptor (TxA2r). We already demonstrated that lipid peroxidation represents a mechanism of intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. But no studies have focused on 15-F2t-isoprostane production and its biological actions on postischemic intestine during intestinal I/R. This study was carried to investigate whether the mechanism of endogenous 15-F2t-isoprostane action is involved in the pathogenesis of intestinal I/R and administration of synthetic 15-F2t-isoprostane could exacerbate intestinal insult after intestinal I/R in vivo and in vitro. In comparison with that of the sham control, we reported that endogenous 15-F2t-isoprostane was liberated following intestinal I/R injury in rats, and using the TxA2r antagonist SQ29548 resulted in significant intestinal protection, evidenced by reduced lipid peroxidation, inflammation, and alleviated intestinal mucosal microvascular vasoconstriction. Further research found that in vivo administration of synthetic 15-F2t-isoprostane exacerbated intestinal I/R injury by disturbing microvascular perfusion and accumulating anaerobic metabolism. Meanwhile, 15-F2t-isoprostane did not change Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-induced IEC-6 cell viability but aggravated HUVECs cell death in vitro. Collectively, our results showed that locally produced 15-F2t-isoprostane was in proportion to the severity of oxidative stress-induced intestinal injury and its detrimental effects can be attenuated through TxA2r inactivation. Exogenous 15-F2t-isoprostane exacerbated intestinal I/R injury, which may be contributable to its biological actions on endothelium, rather than intestinal epithelium.

Shift-invariant real-time edge-enhanced VanderLugt correlator using video-rate compatible photorefractive polymer.

We demonstrated a real-time shift-invariant VanderLugt correlator (VLC). The VLC was implemented with a 37 microm thick bis-triarylamine side-chain polymer matrix photorefractive (PR) polymer composite operating at 532 nm wavelength. Correlation selectivity was enhanced by real-time edge enhancement. The advantage of the VLC is that its architecture allows overcoming the PR material response speed. A correlator of this type enables a fast shift-invariant search of a large optical image database. A high degree of shift invariance in our correlator was possible because of the material thickness. The angular bandwidth of this material was measured experimentally in a degenerate four-wave mixing setup, and it was found to be in a very good agreement with the theory.

Coherent photon transport from spontaneous emission in one-dimensional waveguides.

A two-level system coupled to a one-dimensional continuum is investigated. By using a real-space model Hamiltonian, we show that spontaneous emission can coherently interfere with the continuum modes and gives interesting transport properties. The technique is applied to various related problems with different configurations, and analytical solutions are given.

Mechanism for designing metallic metamaterials with a high index of refraction.

We introduce a mechanism for creating artificial high refractive index metamaterials by exploiting the existence of subwavelength propagating modes in metallic systems. As an example, we investigate analytically and numerically metal films with a periodic arrangement of cut-through slits. Because of the presence of TEM modes in the slits, for TM polarization such a system can be rigorously mapped into a high refractive index dielectric slab when the features are smaller than the wavelength of light. The effective refractive index is entirely controlled by the geometry of the metal films, is positive, frequency independent, and can be made arbitrarily large.