[Yang Shoushan Medical Cases in the Wumen Medical School].

The unique manuscript, Yang Shoushan Medical Cases, is now held by the library of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine.It is the medical cases collection of Yang Shoushan, a well-known doctor of Suzhou in the late Qing Dynasty.It was found that the number of medical cases and the details of each case recorded in this book were much more than that in his other existing medical writings. It greatly enriches the historical materials for the study of Yang's clinical characteristics and academic thought.Its compiler was Huang Shounan, a physician and calligrapher in Suzhou in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China.This book was not recorded as a book compiled by Huang Shounan before now. This book was believed to be completed in 1890.

[Miao Zunyi - his life, writings and students].

Miao Zunyi was an influential physician in the mid-Qing Dynasty. He was self-taught as he read a great amount of prescription books of traditional Chinese medicine. He was proficient in medical theories but flexible in treatment. It was recorded in Draft of Qing History that Miao Zunyi, Ye Tianshi and Xue Shengbai were named as "the three schools of Wuzhong". He began to write books in his later years. He wrote prefaces to Pulse Causes, Syndrome and Treatment (Mai Yin Zheng Zhi) and Wu Yi Hui Jiang. His existing works include Treatise on Febrile Disease (Shang Han Ji Zhu), Wen Re Lang Zhao, Song Xin Notes and Song Xin Medical Cases. Miao's Medical Cases and Song Xin Tang Yi An Jing Yan Chao. He had many remarkable students, such like Huang Tang, Guan Ding, Miao Song, and Shen Nianzu.

A Multi-Scale Approach to Model K+ Permeation Through the KcsA Channel.

K+ channels allow a very efficient passage of K+ ions through the membrane while excluding Na+ ions, and these properties are essential for life. The 3D structure of the KcsA K+ channel, solved more than 20 years ago, allows to address many relevant aspects of K+ permeation and selectivity mechanisms at the molecular level. Recent crystallographic data and molecular dynamics (MD) studies suggest that no water is normally present inside the selectivity filter (SF), which can instead accommodate four adjacent K+ ions. Using a multi-scale approach, whereby information taken from a low-level simulation approach is used to feed a high-level model, we studied the mechanism of K+ permeation through KcsA channels. More specifically, we used MD to find stable ion configurations under physiological conditions. They were characterized by two adjacent K+ ions occupying the more central positions of the SF (sites S2 and S3), while the other two K+ ions could be found at the external and internal entrances to the SF. Sites S1 and S4 were instead not occupied by K+. A continuum Bikerman-Poisson-Boltzmann model that takes into account the volume of the ions and their dehydration when entering the SF fully confirmed the MD results, showing peaks of K+ occupancy at S2, S3, and the external and internal entrances, with S1 and S4 sites being virtually never occupied by K+. Inspired by the newly found ion configuration in the SF at equilibrium, we developed a simple kinetic permeation model which, fed with kinetic rate constants assessed from molecular meta-dynamics, reproduced the main permeation properties of the KcsA channel found experimentally, including sublinear current-voltage and saturating conductance-concentration relationships. This good agreement with the experimental data also implies that the ion configuration in the SF we identified at equilibrium would also be a key configuration during permeation.

[The Ding medical family in Jiangpu in the Ming and the Qing Dynasties].

The Jiangpu Ding family was a Gentry Family with many scholars in Nanjing, running through the Ming and the Qing Dynasties. Successful in both medicine and the imperial examination, talents in various fields emerged in large numbers over more than ten generations. Their practice of medicine began with Ding Zhongbao from the original generation, and the second generation of Ding Yi was promoted from a doctor to a local medical officer. From the fifth generation, Ding Feng, became a famous doctor.However, only Ding Yi and Ding Feng were professional doctors in the whole family lineage. The Ding's were still a Gentry Family in essence. The feature of the family was that the Ding's kept their medical background and interests although there existed no professional doctors after Ding Feng in the middle of the Ming Dynasty. This is because the Ding family expected their heirs to acquire medical skills. The Ding's had a number of medical books handed down, such as The Collection of Prescriptions, The Collection of Jade Letters of Pox Department and The Eight Things of Practicing Medicine.

The crosstalk between IGF-1R and ER-α in the proliferation and anti-inflammation of nucleus pulposus cells.

OBJECTIVE: Insulin-like growth factors-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and estrogen receptor (ER) are reported to co-express and engage in crosstalk involving in the synergistic effect of various aspects. It is unknown whether this crosstalk exists in the nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. We aimed to investigate the interaction between IGF-1R and ER-α in regulating NP cell proliferation and inflammation response under IGF-1 stimulation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the IGF-1, IGF-1R, and ER-α in different degenerated degree human NP tissues. NP cells were cultured with IGF-1 protein with or without the inhibitor of IGF-1R or ER-α to investigate their effects on the proliferation and inflammation response. In addition, we also upregulated the IFG-1R and ER-α expression by plasmid transfection to investigate the impact on each other. The content of IGF-1, IFG-1R, and ER-α was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The proliferative cell rate was determined by flow cytometry. Additionally, intracellular collagen-II, p16, PCNA, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and MMP-13 expression were also detected. RESULTS: We found IGF-1, IFG-1R, and ER-α content were decreased in higher degenerated NP tissues. IGF-1 protein treatment upregulated the IFG-1R and ER-α expression and promoted NP cell proliferation, collagen-II, and PCNA expression. However, the suppression of IGF-1R (or ER-α) weakened the IGF-1 induced collagen-II expression, proliferation, and anti-inflammation effects on NP cells, decreased ER-α (or IGF-1R) expression, and partly reversed the protective effect of NP cells caused by IGF-1 Similarly, the upregulation of one of IGF-1R and ER-α may increase the other as well. CONCLUSIONS: There is an interaction between IGF-1R and ER-α acts synergistically to promote the proliferation and suppress inflammation in NP cells.

LncRNA Bmncr alleviates the progression of osteoporosis by inhibiting RANML-induced osteoclast differentiation.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate whether long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Bmncr could inhibit RANML-induced osteoclast differentiation, thus alleviating the progression of osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Expression level of lncRNA Bmncr at different stages of osteoclast differentiation was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). After Bmncr overexpression or knockdown in RAW 264.7 cells, expression levels of osteoclast-related genes were detected. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMs) isolated from rats undergoing ovariectomy (OVX) were induced with RANKL (50 ng/mL) and M-CSF (50 ng/mL) for 120 h. TRAP staining was conducted to count the number of TRAP-positive osteoclasts containing more than three nuclei. Bone resorption area of bone fragments was quantitatively analyzed. Osteoporosis model in mice was established. Mice were subjected to MicroCT analyses for recording BMD and BV/TV. The expression level of lncRNA Bmncr in the marrow and spleen of osteoporosis mice was examined. RESULTS: LncRNA Bmncr was lowly expressed in the marrow and spleen of osteoporosis mice. Besides, Bmncr expression gradually downregulated during RANKL-induced in vitro osteoclast differentiation, reaching the lowest level at 72 h. The overexpression of Bmncr reduced the amount of osteoclasts, inhibited bone resorption capacity, and downregulated expression levels of Atp6v0d2, Acp5, Ctr, and Mmp9. Conversely, Bmncr knockdown obtained the opposite trends. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA Bmncr inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation, thus alleviating the progression of osteoporosis.

Correlation between dynamic recrystallization and formation of rare earth texture in a Mg-Zn-Gd magnesium alloy during extrusion.

The trace addition of rare earth (RE) elements in Mg alloys can modify the extrusion texture, leading to the formation of RE texture and thus improved formability. The interrupted extrusion experiment as well as electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) characterization was conducted in Mg-1.5Zn-0.5Gd (wt.%) alloy to unveil the dominant dynamic recrystallization (DRX) mechanism and its correlation with the formation of RE texture during extrusion. The results indicate that continuous DRX (CDRX) dominated the microstructural development. Fresh DRXed grains with 30° [0001] grain boundaries preferentially nucleated in unDRXed grains with [10[Formula: see text]0] basal fiber orientation via CDRX, showing preferred selection of [2[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]0] basal fiber orientation rather than RE texture orientation. Consequently, CDRX contributed to the weakening of [10[Formula: see text]0] basal fiber texture and had a more significant effect on the formation of [2[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]0] basal fiber component than that of RE texture component. Besides, the preferred growth of recrystallized grains with RE texture orientation was confirmed to occur during static annealing after extrusion, which is inferred as the key reason for the formation of RE texture in dilute Mg-RE alloys.

Two-dimensional electronic transport and surface electron accumulation in MoS2.

Because the surface-to-volume ratio of quasi-two-dimensional materials is extremely high, understanding their surface characteristics is crucial for practically controlling their intrinsic properties and fabricating p-type and n-type layered semiconductors. Van der Waals crystals are expected to have an inert surface because of the absence of dangling bonds. However, here we show that the surface of high-quality synthesized molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a major n-doping source. The surface electron concentration of MoS2 is nearly four orders of magnitude higher than that of its inner bulk. Substantial thickness-dependent conductivity in MoS2 nanoflakes was observed. The transfer length method suggested the current transport in MoS2 following a two-dimensional behavior rather than the conventional three-dimensional mode. Scanning tunneling microscopy and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements confirmed the presence of surface electron accumulation in this layered material. Notably, the in situ-cleaved surface exhibited a nearly intrinsic state without electron accumulation.

[Efficacy and safety of oseltamivir in children with suspected influenza: a multicenter randomized open-label trial].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir in the treatment of suspected influenza in children. Method: A multicenter, randomized and open-label trial was conducted among 229 individuals with suspected influenza which were collected from the clinic of 5 hospitals in Guangdong province (Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Shenzhen Baoan District Maternity and Child Care Service Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Dongguan Maternity and Child Care Service Centre, Yuexiu District Children's Hospital of Guangzhou) from April to July 2015. They were randomized either to oseltamivir group (oseltamivir 30-75 mg, twice daily for 5 days) or control group who were given symptom relief medicines for 5 days. Result: No significant difference was found between two groups in influenza symptoms of the patients before the treatment(P>0.05). Altogether 229 individuals (114 in oseltamivir group, 115 in control group) were analyzed for efficacy, in which 73 individuals (42 oseltamivir, 31 control), 31.9%, were identified as influenza-infected through laboratory test. No significant difference was found between the two groups in the duration of fever although shortened. In the 229 individuals , the cumulative alleviation proportion between oseltamivir and control group was not significantly different (P>0.05): the median duration of illness was 69.9 hours (95% CI 65.3-91.5) in oseltamivir group and 75.4 hours (95%CI 63.9-91. 7) in control group; the median duration of fever was 40.4 hours (95%CI 31.5-53.4) in oseltamivir group and 44.0 hours (95%CI 33.2-50.0) in control group. In the 73 individuals, the cumulative alleviation proportion between oseltamivir and control group was significantly different (P<0.05). The median duration of illness was 61.2 hours (95%CI 48.0-121. 0) in oseltamivir group, being significantly shorter than that of 116.0 hours (95%CI 91.5-175.0) in control group. But it was not significantly different that the median duration of fever was 32.8 hours (95%CI 24.0-47.0 ) in oseltamivir group and 55.8 hours (95%CI 43.6-78.3 ) in control group (P>0.05). And the median duration of fever in 60 individuals (38 oseltamivir, 22 control) was significantly different between two groups(P<0.05), who had finished a course of taking oseltamivir in the 73 individuals, 34.8 hours (95%CI 24.0-48.5 ) in oseltamivir group being significantly shorter than that of 53.3 hours (95%CI 43.6-104.0 ) in control group. There was certain difference in side effects rate between the two groups (oseltamivir 10%, control 2%, P<0.05). The main side-effects were gastrointestinal symptoms (stomachache, diarrhea, poor appetite, vomiting). Conclusion: The duration of illness and fever in suspected influenza patients treated with oseltamivir was shorter than those in the patients treated with no oseltamivir, the difference was not statistically significant, when 31.9% was confirmed with positive result of virus test in suspected influenza in children. But in these patients with positive result of virus test, the duration of illness was significantly shortened with treatment with oseltamivir as compared with no treatment with oseltamivir, and it would be better if full oseltamivir course was completed for reducing the duration of fever. Oseltamivir treatment was safe with mild side effects.

Clinical evaluation of sublingual administration of dust mite drops in the treatment of allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis of children.

OBJECTIVE: This study focuses on evaluating the clinical effects of sublingual dust mite drops for the treatment of allergic asthma in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 156 pediatric patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma were randomly divided into control and observation groups (78 cases each). For the control group the standard global initiative for asthma (GINA) asthma control scheme was adopted; meanwhile, the observation group patients received the standard GINA combined with sublingual administration of dust mite drops, once per day, gradually increasing the dose to reach a high maintenance level. After six months the sublingual drops were stopped and then the effects of the treatments on both groups of patients were compared. RESULTS: The symptoms of asthma and rhinitis in the daytime and nighttime for both groups decreased gradually with time. However, the observation group's outcome at the 6th, 12th and 24th month were significantly better than those of the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the FVC, FEV1 and PEF values of the two groups increased gradually, but those of the observation group improved more obviously (p < 0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group at the 6th and 24th months was significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The contrast of complete and good control at 6 months had no statistical significance (p > 0.05). But at the 24th month, the observation group had significantly higher rates of complete and good control (p < 0.05). During the median time of sublingual administration of 20.3 months (ranging from 6 to 36 months), there were no evident adverse reactions. Finally, after the intervention, there were no significant differences between the IgE levels of the two groups (p > 0.05); however, the levels of IL-2 increased gradually and improved more in the observation group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study support the notion that sublingual administration of dust mite drops to treat allergic rhinitis and asthma can improve clinical symptoms, increase the efficiency rate and increase the serum IL-2 level, and does not cause an increase in adverse reactions or IgE levels in treated children.

Mitochondrial DNA variants as genetic risk factors for Parkinson disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Investigation of the relationship between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants and Parkinson disease (PD) remains an issue awaiting more supportive evidence. Moreover, an affirming cellular model study is also lacking. METHODS: The index mtDNA variants and their defining mitochondrial haplogroup were determined in 725 PD patients and 744 non-PD controls. Full-length mtDNA sequences were also conducted in 110 cases harboring various haplogroups. Cybrid cellular models, composed by fusion of mitochondria-depleted rho-zero cells and donor mitochondria, were used for a rotenone-induced PD simulation study. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that subjects harboring the mitochondrial haplogroup B5 have resistance against PD (odds ratio 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.32-0.78; P = 0.002). Furthermore, a composite mtDNA variant group consisting of A10398G and G8584A at the coding region was found to have resistance against PD (odds ratio 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.33-0.78; P = 0.001). In cellular studies, B4 and B5 cybrids were selected according to their higher resistance to rotenone, in comparison with cybrids harboring other haplogroups. The B5 cybrid, containing G8584A/A10398G variants, showed more resistance to rotenone than the B4 cybrid not harboring these variants. This is supported by findings of low reactive oxygen species generation and a low apoptosis rate in the B5 cybrid, whereas a higher expression of autophagy was observed in the B4 cybrid particularly under medium dosage and longer treatment time with rotenone. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies, offering positive results from clinical investigations and cybrid experiments, provide data supporting the role of variant mtDNA in the risk of PD.

Electronic transport in NbSe2 two-dimensional nanostructures: semiconducting characteristics and photoconductivity.

The electronic transport properties of two-dimensional (2D) niobium diselenide (NbSe2) layer materials with two-hexagonal single-crystalline structures grown by chemical vapor transport were investigated. Those NbSe2 nanostructures isolated simply using mechanical exfoliation were found to exhibit lower conductivity and semiconducting properties, compared with their bulk metallic counterparts. Benefiting from lower dark conductivity, NbSe2 nanoflakes exhibit a remarkable photoresponse under different wavelengths and intensity excitations. The photocurrent responsivity and photoconductive gain can reach 3.8 A W(-1) and 300, respectively; these values are higher than those of graphene and MoS2 monolayers and are comparable with those of GaS and GaSe nanosheets. The presence of electron trap states at the surface was proposed as an explanation for the reduced dark conductivity and enhanced photoconductivity in the 2D NbSe2 nanostructures. This work identifies another possibility for the application of a metallic layer material as an optoelectronic component in addition to an ultrathin transparent conducting material.

Phytosterols elevation in bamboo shoot residue through laboratorial scale solid-state fermentation using isolated Aspergillus niger CTBU.

Aspergillus niger CTBU isolated from local decayed bamboo shoot residue was employed to solid-state fermentation (SSF) of bamboo shoot residue to elevate the content of phytosterols. Strain acclimatization was carried out under the fermentation condition using bamboo shoot as substrate for fermentation performance improvement. The optimal fermentation temperature and nitrogen level were investigated using acclimatized strain, and SSF was carried out in a 500-ml Erlenmeyer flask feeding 300-mg bamboo shoot residue chips under the optimal condition (33 °C and feeding 4 % urea), and 1,186 mg (100 g)(-1) of total phytosterol was attained after 5-day fermentation, in comparison, only 523 mg (100 g)(-1) of phytosterol was assayed in fresh shoots residue. HPLC analysis of the main composition of total phytosterols displays that the types of phytosterols and composition ratio of main sterols keep steady. This laboratorial scale SSF unit could be scaled up for raw phytosterols production from discarded bamboo shoot residue and could reduce its cost.

Anomalous quantum efficiency for photoconduction and its power dependence in metal oxide semiconductor nanowires.

The quantum efficiency and carrier lifetime that decide the photoconduction (PC) efficiencies in the metal oxide semiconductor nanowires (NWs) have been investigated. The experimental result surprisingly shows that the SnO2, TiO2, WO3, and ZnO NWs reveal extraordinary quantum efficiencies in common, which are over one to three orders of magnitude lower than the theoretical expectation. The surface depletion region (SDR)-controlled photoconductivity is proposed to explain the anomalous quantum efficiency and its power dependence. The inherent difference between the metal oxide nanostructures such as carrier lifetime, carrier concentration, and dielectric constant leading to the distinct PC performance and behavior are also discussed.

Clinical characteristics of essential tremor in Taiwan: an exploratory-comparative study.

BACKGROUND: There are few large-scale clinical analyses of essential tremor (ET) in Asia. We studied the detailed clinical profile with emphasizing the age of onset, tremor location, specific tremor patterns, and rate of progression (ROP) to delineate the characteristics of Taiwanese ET patients and found the difference between the Taiwanese and the Caucasians ET patients. METHODS: All ET patients fulfilled the Movement Disorders Society diagnosis criteria were investigated with a standardized assessment protocol, which including clinical evaluation, uniform severity scoring, self-reported questionnaires, accelerometry, surface electromyography, and videotaped tremor examination. RESULTS: Of 219 patients recruited from July 2008 to October 2009, 153 completed the study protocol. Their mean age was 58.9 years and 47% were women, and 33.3% had family history (FH). There was bimodal distribution in age of tremor onset in patients without but not in those with FH. Head tremor (HT) was present in 48 of 153 (31%) patients. Patients with HT showed slower tremor frequency and less ROP than those without HT. Sixty-seven (44%) patients presented with intention tremor (IT). Male gender and voice tremor were predictive factors of IT occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Comparing with the Caucasians, Taiwanese ET patients have different patterns of onset-age distribution and lack of female predominance in ET with HT. However, patients with IT and without HT also progressed more rapid as found in the Caucasian.

Photoconduction mechanism of oxygen sensitization in InN nanowires.

The photoconduction (PC) mechanism in indium nitride (InN) nanowires (NWs) has been investigated via environment-, temperature-, and power-dependent measurements. The adsorbed oxygen-induced modulation of the surface state is proposed to be the leading factor in the long lifetime or high gain transport and in sensitizing photocurrent generation in the InN NWs. The electron trapping effect by adsorbed oxygen can be verified by the increased activation energy from 33 ± 4 (in vacuum) to 58 ± 2 meV (in oxygen). The observed supralinear power dependence of photocurrent also suggests the presence of acceptor states that influence the carrier recombination behavior and compensate the thermal carriers in the InN NWs. The potential influence of native oxide on the molecule-sensitive PC in this nitride nanomaterial is also inferred.

Effects of saxagliptin on ß-cell stimulation and insulin secretion in patients with type 2 diabetes.

AIM: To study the effect of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibition with saxagliptin on ß-cell function as reflected by the stimulated insulin secretion rate after an enteral glucose load in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: Patients in this randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled study were drug-naïve, aged 43-69 years, with baseline haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 5.9-8.1%. Twenty patients received saxagliptin 5 mg once daily; 16 received placebo. Patients were assessed at baseline and week 12 by intravenous hyperglycaemic clamp (0-180 min, fasting state), and intravenous-oral hyperglycaemic clamp (180-480 min, postprandial state) following oral ingestion of 75 g glucose. Primary and secondary endpoints were percent changes from baseline in insulin secretion during postprandial and fasting states, respectively. Insulin secretion was calculated by C-peptide deconvolution. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, saxagliptin significantly increased insulin secretion percent change from baseline during the postprandial state by an 18.5% adjusted difference versus placebo (p = 0.04), an improvement associated with increased peak plasma concentrations of intact glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide. In the fasting state, saxagliptin significantly increased insulin secretion by a 27.9% adjusted difference versus placebo (p = 0.02). Saxagliptin also improved glucagon area under the curve in the postprandial state (adjusted difference -21.8% vs. placebo, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: DPP-4 inhibition with saxagliptin improves pancreatic ß-cell function in postprandial and fasting states, and decreases postprandial glucagon concentration. Given the magnitude of enhancement of the insulin response in the fasting state, further study into the effect of DPP-4 inhibition on the ß-cell is warranted.

Contribution of glucocerebrosidase mutation in a large cohort of sporadic Parkinson's disease in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The association between glucocerebrosidase (GBA) mutations and Parkinson's disease (PD) is attracting increased attention worldwide. In patients of Chinese ethnicity, other than the common L444P mutation, a few mutations have been reported. However, the contribution of GBA to PD can be answered only by a thorough investigation of its mutations in a unique large population. METHODS: We enrolled 1747 participants: 967 PD patients and 780 healthy individuals. We screened entire GBA coding regions and exon-intron boundaries in 30 randomly chosen PD patients, followed by testing five variants (L444P, D409H, R120W, L174P, and Q497R) in all participants. The G2385R and R1628P in LRRK2 had been previously studied in almost all participants. RESULTS: In total, 36 patients (3.72%) carried a heterozygous mutant GBA allele (27 L444P, 7 RecNciI, and 2 D409H). Only two controls (0.26%) carried heterozygous GBA mutation (1 L444P and 1 RecNciI). In PD group, the mean age at onset in carriers was younger than in non-carriers. The difference in percentage of mutation frequencies between patients and controls was highly significant for the L444P mutation (P < 0.0001). One L444P carrier was also associated with LRRK2 G2385R variant, but no atypical Parkinsonism was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The present study ascertains that L444P mutation in GBA gene may contribute to an earlier onset of development of PD in Han/Chinese population. Following LRRK2 variants, GBA is the second most frequent mutations indicated for sporadic PD development in the Han/Chinese population. These GBA carriers are associated with an earlier onset of Parkinsonism.

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Erysiphe diffusa, Oidium neolycopersici, and Podosphaera xanthii on Papaya in Taiwan.

Powdery mildew can be found in most papaya (Carica papaya L.) fields during the winter and spring seasons in Taiwan. It usually causes severe yellowing of the leaf lamina and petiole and serious defoliation. Three types of powdery mildew fungi were isolated from papaya leaves in Chiayi City (23.28°N, 120.28°E) at the beginning of 2008. Conidia of the first one were single, globose, hyaline, and 24 to 36 × 14 to 18 µm (average 30.2 × 15.6 µm) without fibrosin bodies and with straight or occasionally flexuous conidiophores at the base. The second one had short pseudo-chains of two to four conidia which were ellipsoidal to ovoid, hyaline, and 24 to 40 × 12 to 16 µm (average 29.7 × 13.4 µm) without fibrosin bodies. The third type had chains of ellipsoidal conidia that were hyaline, 24 to 28 × 12 to 16 µm (average 26.3 × 14.4 µm) and contained fibrosin bodies. To confirm the identity of the three fungi, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified using the primer pairs G1 (5'-TCC GTA GGT GAA CCT GCG GAA GGA T-3')/Ed2 (5'-CGC GTA GAG CCC ACG TCG GA-3'), G1 (5'-TCC GTA GGT GAA CCT GCG GAA GGA T-3')/On2 (5'-TGT GAT CCA TGT GAC TGG AA-3'), and S1 (5'-GGA TCA TTA CTG AGC GCG AGG CCC CG-3')/S2 (5'-CGC CGC CCT GGC GCG AGA TAC A-3'). The alignment of obtained sequences (GenBank Accession Nos. GU358452, 507 bp; GU358451, 580 bp; and GU358450, 455 bp) showed a sequence identity of 100, 99, and 99% with the ITS sequences of Erysiphe diffusa, Oidium neolycopersici, and Podosphaera xanthii (GenBank Accession Nos. FJ378880, EU909694, and GQ927254), respectively. On the basis of morphological characteristics and ITS sequence similarities, these fungi were identified as E. diffusa (Cooke & Peck) U. Braun & S. Takam., O. neolycopersici L. Kiss, and P. xanthii (Castagne) U. Braun & S. Takam., respectively (1,3). Single colonies on papaya leaves infected with powdery mildew were identified in the laboratory and maintained on papaya leaves as inoculum. Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculations by gently pressing a single colony of each fungus onto leaves of healthy papaya seedlings (cv. Horng-Fe). Five seedlings were inoculated for each fungus and then covered with plastic bags for 2 days. Five noninoculated seedlings served as control. After inoculation, treated plants were maintained separately from the control in different rooms of a greenhouse at 25°C under natural daylight conditions. Seven days after inoculation, typical symptoms of powdery mildew were observed on inoculated plants, but not on noninoculated plants. The same species from diseased lesions following artificial inoculation with each fungus were identified with light microscopy. Papaya was previously described as a host to O. caricae Noack in many tropical and subtropical areas of the world including Taiwan (2). However E. cruciferarum, Golovinomyces cichoracearum, Oidiopsis sicula, O. caricae, O. caricae-papayae, O. caricicola, O. indicum, O. papayae, Ovulariopsis papayae, P. caricae-papayae, P. macularis, P. xanthii, and Streptopodium caricae were reported to infect papaya (4). To our knowledge, this is the first report of papaya powdery mildew caused by E. diffusa and O. neolycopersici in the world and the first report of the three fungi found on papaya in Taiwan. References: (1) U. Braun and S. Takamatsu. Schlechtendalia 4:1, 2000. (2) H. S. Chien and H. L. Wang. J. Agric. Res. China 33:320, 1984. (3) L. Kiss et al. Mycol. Res. 105:684, 2001. (4) J. R. Liberato et al. Mycol. Res. 108:1185, 2004.