C-reactive protein and fracture risk: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies through the use of both frequentist and Bayesian approaches.

This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on all eligible cohort studies to evaluate the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and osteoporotic fracture risk. Both frequentist and Bayesian approaches were employed for the meta-analysis. We found that high tertiles of hs-CRP were significantly associated with increased fracture risk. INTRODUCTION: The association between the inflammatory marker CRP and osteoporotic fracture has remained uncertain. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association of serum hs-CRP and fracture risk. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search of relevant databases, including PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE publications from January 1950 through April 2020. Three reviewers independently performed the study selection, quality assessment, and data abstraction. Frequentist and Bayesian hierarchical random-effects models were used separately for the analysis. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using Higgin's I2 and Cochran's Q statistic, and publication bias was examined using funnel plots and rank correlation tests. RESULTS: Fourteen cohort studies that reported t fracture outcomes were eligible for the systematic review. Only ten studies (n = 29,741) qualified for meta-analysis. In the frequentist approach, the RR for fracture in a comparison of the top tertile group to the bottom tertile group of hs-CRP was 1.54 (1.18, 2.01). The estimated risk of fracture remained significant in all sensitivity and subgroup analyses. Higgin's I2 (30.52%) and Cochran's Q statistic (p < 0.01) suggested there was moderate heterogeneity for the meta-analysis. In the Bayesian approach, the pooled RR was 1.60 (95% CI (1.07-2.49)), and the probabilities that the high level of hs-CRP increased fracture risk by more than 0%, 10%, and 20% were 99%, 98%, and 93%, respectively. CONCLUSION: A high level of hs-CRP is associated with a significantly increased risk of osteoporotic fracture.

The cardiovascular phenotype of childhood hypertension: a cardiac magnetic resonance study.

BACKGROUND: The cardiovascular phenotype is poorly characterized in treated pediatric hypertension. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to better characterize both cardiac and vascular phenotype in children with hypertension. OBJECTIVE: To use MRI to determine the cardiac and vascular phenotypes of different forms of treated hypertension and compare the results with those of healthy children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty children (15 with chronic renal disease with hypertension, 15 with renovascular hypertension, 15 with essential hypertension and 15 healthy subjects) underwent MRI with noninvasive blood pressure measurements. Cardiovascular parameters measured include systemic vascular resistance, total arterial compliance, left ventricular mass and volumetric data, ejection fraction and myocardial velocity. Between-group comparisons were used to investigate differences in the hypertension types. RESULTS: Renal hypertension was associated with elevated vascular resistance (P≤0.007) and normal arterial compliance. Conversely, children with essential hypertension had normal resistance but increased compliance (P=0.001). Renovascular hypertension was associated with both increased resistance and compliance (P≤0.03). There was no difference in ventricular volumes, mass or cardiac output between groups. Children with renal hypertension also had lower systolic and diastolic myocardial velocities. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular MRI may identify distinct vascular and cardiac phenotypes in different forms of treated childhood hypertension. Future studies are needed to investigate how this may inform further optimisation of blood pressure treatment in different types of hypertension.

Effects of supplementation with green tea by-products on growth performance, meat quality, blood metabolites and immune cell proliferation in goats.

Forty-eight castrated male goats were used to determine the effects of feeding green tea by-products (GTB) on growth performance, meat quality, blood metabolites and immune cell proliferation. Experimental treatments consisted of basal diets supplemented with four levels of GTB (0%, 0.5%, 1.0% or 2.0%). Four replicate pens were assigned to each treatment with three goats per replicate. Increasing dietary GTB tended to linearly increase the overall average weight gain and feed intake (p = 0.09). Water holding capacity, pH and sensory attributes of meat were not affected by GTB supplementation, while cooking loss was reduced both linearly and quadratically (p < 0.01). The redness (linear; p = 0.02, quadratic; p < 0.01) and yellowness (quadratic; p < 0.01) values of goat meat were improved by GTB supplementation. Increasing dietary GTB quadratically increased protein and decreased crude fat (p < 0.05), while linearly decreased cholesterol (p = 0.03) content of goat meat. The proportions of monounsaturated fatty acid, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and n-6 PUFA increased linearly (p < 0.01) and n-3 PUFA increased quadratically (p < 0.05) as GTB increased in diets. Increasing dietary GTB linearly increased the PUFA/SFA (saturated fatty acid) and tended to linearly and quadratically increase (p ≤ 0.10) the n-6/n-3 ratio. The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances values of meat were lower in the 2.0% GTB-supplemented group in all storage periods (p < 0.05). Dietary GTB linearly decreased plasma glucose and cholesterol (p < 0.01) and quadratically decreased urea nitrogen concentrations (p = 0.001). The growth of spleen cells incubated in concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharides medium increased significantly (p < 0.05) in response to GTB supplementation. Our results suggest that GTB may positively affect the growth performance, meat quality, blood metabolites and immune cell proliferation when supplemented as a feed additive in goat diet.

Effects of fermented corni fructus and fermented kelp on growth performance, meat quality, and emission of ammonia and hydrogen sulphide from broiler chicken droppings.

1. Corni fructus is the fruit of Cornus officinalis, a dogwood species. This study was conducted to prepare fermented corni fructus preparation (FCFP) and fermented kelp (FK) from corni fructus and by-products of Laminaria japonica fermented with Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus oryzae. 2. The effects of dietary FCFP and FK as replacer of oxytetracycline (OTC) on growth performance, meat composition, meat oxidative stability, and emissions of ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) from broiler chicken droppings were investigated. 3. A total of 140 d-old broiler chicks were randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments including control, OTC (0.05 g/kg), FCFP (5 g/kg), and FK (5 g/kg). 4. Overall, inclusion of FCFP resulted in lower weight gain and feed intake during the overall experimental period. Broilers fed FCFP diets tended to have lower crude fat and higher crude ash content in the carcasses. 5. In the fresh state, the malondialdehyde (MDA) value of broiler meat was lower in the FK supplemented group. At one week, meat from broilers fed antibiotic and FK diets had lower MDA values, whereas at 2 weeks broiler meat from all dietary treatment groups had lower MDA values than the control. 6. Dietary supplementation with FK significantly reduced faecal NH3 emissions throughout the experimental period, whereas dietary OTC and FCFP supplementation increased NH3 emissions at 2 and 4 weeks. There were no significant effects of dietary treatments on H2S emissions throughout the experimental period, except during week one, when FCFP supplementation reduced the emission. 7. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 5 g/kg FK improved the oxidative stability of broiler meat and reduce faecal NH3 emissions without affecting growth performance.

Effects of Citrus junos by-products fermented with multistrain probiotics on growth performance, immunity, caecal microbiology and meat oxidative stability in broilers.

1. The present study was conducted to develop Citrus junos probiotics (CJP), using by-products of Citrus junos fermented with multispecies probiotic bacteria including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bacillus subtilis. The effects of dietary CJP on the growth performance, immune status, caecal microbiology and meat oxidative stability of broiler were investigated. 2. A total of 240 one-day-old Ross broiler chicks were used in a 35-d experiment in which the chicks were randomly allotted to one of the 4 dietary treatments (0, 5, 10 and 20 g CJP/kg diet) in a completely randomised design. 3. Dietary supplementation of 5 g/kg CJP significantly increased body weight, average daily gain and average daily feed intake of broiler during the overall experimental period. 4. Serum immunoglobulin (Ig)M concentration was significantly increased by 10 and 20 g/kg CJP, whereas the IgG and IgA concentration remained unaffected. In addition, 20 g/kg CJP significantly inhibited proliferation of Escherichia coli without affecting the concentration of Lactobacillus or Bacillus spp. 5. A significant reduction in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values of breast and thigh meat was observed in response to increasing concentration of dietary CJP. 6. Thus, the results suggest that CJP up to a concentration of 20 g/kg can be used in the diet of broilers to improve immunity and to reduce caecal E. coli and TBARS values of breast and thigh meat without any adverse effects on growth performance.

Comparison of single and blend acidifiers as alternative to antibiotics on growth performance, fecal microflora, and humoral immunity in weaned piglets.

The banning of the use of antibiotics as feed additive has accelerated investigations of alternative feed additives in animal production. This experiment investigated the effect of pure citric acid or acidifier blend supplementation as substitute for antibiotic growth promoters on growth performance, fecal microbial count, and humoral immunity in weaned piglets challenged with Salmonella enterica serover Typhimurium and Escherichia coli KCTC 2571. A total of 60 newly weaned piglets (crossbred, 28-d-old; average 8 kg initial weight) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments included NC (negative control; basal diet), PC (positive control; basal diet+0.002% apramycin), T1 (basal diet+0.5% pure citric acid), and T2 (basal diet+0.4% acidifier blend). All piglets were orally challenged with 5 mL of culture fluid containing 2.3×10(8) cfu/mL of E. coli KCTC 2571 and 5.9×10(8) cfu/mL of S. typhimurium at the beginning of the experiment. The PC group showed the highest ADG and ADFI, whereas gain:feed was improved in the PC and T1 group (p<0.05). All dietary treatments showed significant reduction in fecal counts of Salmonella and E. coli, compared to NC (p<0.05), with PC being better than T1 and T2. Significant elevation in fecal Lactobacillus spp. counts was shown by treatments with T1, T2, and PC, whereas Bacillus spp. counts were increased by treatment with T1 and T2 compared to NC and PC diet (p<0.05). Serum IgG concentration was increased by T1 diet (p<0.05), whereas IgM and IgA were not significantly affected by any of the dietary treatments (p>0.05). From these above results, it can be concluded that, as alternatives to antibiotics dietary acidification with pure citric acid or acidifiers blend did not fully ameliorate the negative effects of microbial challenges in respect of growth performance and microbial environment, however improved immunity suggested further research with different dose levels.

Effect of Sea Tangle (Laminaria japonica) and Charcoal Supplementation as Alternatives to Antibiotics on Growth Performance and Meat Quality of Ducks.

A total of 150 growing ducks were assigned to five dietary treatments to study the effect of sea tangle and charcoal (STC) supplementation on growth performance and meat characteristics in a completely randomized design. There were six replicates and five ducklings in each replication. The five dietary treatments were control, antibiotic, and 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% STC supplemented diets. No significant differences were found on ADG, ADFI, and gain:feed among treatments in different weeks. The overall (0 to 3 weeks) ADFI decreased in antibiotic treatment (p<0.05) whereas the gain:feed increased significantly upon 1.0% STC supplementation compared to control (p<0.05). No significant variation was found in meat chemical composition except crude fat content which was high in 1.0% STC dietary group (p<0.05). Meat cholesterol was reduced in 0.1% STC group (p<0.05) compared to other dose levels while serum cholesterol was unaffected. High density lipoprotein (HDL) content was high in 1.0% STC (p<0.05) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) was low in 0.1% and 1.0% STC dietary groups (p = 0.06). No significant effect was found on the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) of fresh meat, whereas the TBARS value of meat preserved for 1 week was reduced significantly in STC dietary groups (p<0.05). The 0.1% STC dietary group showed an increased myristic acid (p = 0.07) content whereas, the content of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids increased in STC supplementation than antibiotic group (p<0.05). An increased concentration of omega-3 fatty acids and a reduced ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was found upon 1.0% STC supplementation compared to antibiotic dietary group (p<0.05). Therefore, 1.0% STC dietary supplementation can be used as alternatives to antibiotics in duck production.

Seamustard (Undaria pinnatifida) Improves Growth, Immunity, Fatty Acid Profile and Reduces Cholesterol in Hanwoo Steers.

The study was designed to evaluate the effect of 2% seamustard (Undaria pinnatifida) by-product (SW) on growth performance, immunity, carcass characteristics, cholesterol content and fatty acid profile in Hanwoo steers. A total of 20 Hanwoo steers (ave. 22 months old; 619 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to control (basal diet) and 2% SW supplemented diet. Dietary SW supplementation significantly (p<0.05) improved average daily gain and gain:feed ratio as well as serum immunoglobulin G concentration. Chemical composition and quality grade of meat and carcass yield grades evaluated at the end of the trial were found to be unaffected by SW supplementation. Dietary SW significantly reduced meat cholesterol concentration (p<0.05). Dietary SW supplementation significantly reduced the myristic acid (C14:0) and palmitoleic acid (C16:ln-7) concentration, while SW increased the concentration of stearic acid (C18:0) and linolenic acid (C18:3n-3) compared to control (p<0.05). Dietary SW supplementation had no effect on saturated fatty acids (SFA), unsaturated fatty acids, poly unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) or mono unsaturated fatty acid content in muscles. A reduced ratio of PUFA/SFA and n-6/n-3 were found in SW supplemented group (p<0.05). In conclusion, 2% SW supplementation was found to improve growth, immunity and fatty acid profile with significantly reduced cholesterol of beef.

Screening-detected calcified and non-calcified ductal carcinoma in situ: differences in the imaging and histopathological features.

AIM: To compare the imaging and histopathological features of screening-detected calcified and non-calcified ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 217 DCIS cases in 212 asymptomatic patients admitted between May 2007 and December 2010. All lesions were divided into calcified and non-calcified DCIS according to the presence of calcifications on mammography. Two radiologists reviewed the findings from mammography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in consensus according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System. The histopathological features of the lesions were obtained from medical records. Statistical comparisons were performed using the chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analyses. RESULTS: On mammography, most non-calcified DCIS presented as either a false-negative finding (49%) or mass lesion (30%), whereas most calcified DCIS (68.5%) presented as calcification alone (p < 0.001). At ultrasound, all of the non-calcified DCIS appeared as a mass, whereas 62% of the calcified DCIS appeared as a mass (p < 0.001). At histopathology, high nuclear grade (p = 0.017), necrosis (p < 0.001), positive progesterone receptor (p = 0.027), and presence of the HER-2/neu oncogene (p < 0.001) were more common in the calcified DCIS than in the non-calcified DCIS. There were no significant differences in the MRI features between the two groups. The ICC values of the non-calcified and calcified DCIS between predicted tumour size and pathologic size were 0.625 versus 0.705 for mammography, 0.801 versus 0.552 for ultrasound, and 0.760 versus 0.767 for MRI. CONCLUSIONS: Screening-detected calcified and non-calcified DCIS have different mammographic and sonographic features. Ultrasound could be helpful to predict the pathological size of the non-calcified DCIS.

Assessment of extent of breast cancer: comparison between digital breast tomosynthesis and full-field digital mammography.

AIM: To compare the accuracy of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) and full-field digital mammography (FFDM) in preoperative assessment of local extent of breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lesion sizes of breast cancers on DBT and FFDM images were independently evaluated by breast radiologists. Each lesion was flagged as either mis-sized or not depending on whether the assessment of size at imaging was within 1 cm of the lesion size at surgery. Additional analyses were made by mammographic parenchymal density and by lesion size, using 2 cm as the boundary to separate the two subgroups. Statistical comparisons were performed using a repeated measures linear model on the percent mis-sized. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The dataset included 173 malignant breast lesions (mean size 23.8 mm, 43% of lesions were ≤2 cm in size) in 169 patients, two-thirds of which had heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts. Overall, the percentage of lesions mis-sized at DBT was significantly lower than at FFDM (19% versus 29%, p = 0.003). There was significantly less mis-sizing at DBT in both heterogeneously dense breasts (11.1% difference between DBT and FFDM, p = 0.016) and extremely dense breasts (15.8% difference, p = 0.024). DBT also had significantly less mis-sizing than FFDM in the subgroup of lesions that were ≤2 cm in size (14.7% difference, p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: DBT was significantly superior to FFDM for the evaluation of lesion size overall, and specifically for small lesions and for lesions in dense breasts. The superiority of DBT versus FFDM increased with parenchymal density.

First Report of Powdery Mildew on Spanish Needles (Bidens bipinnata) Caused by Podosphaera xanthii in Korea.

Spanish needles (Bidens bipinnata L.) is an annual herb that belongs to a genus of flowering plants in family Asteraceae native to United States, and tropical regions around world. The plant produces important flavonoid compounds quercitin and hyperoside that function as anti-allergens, anti-inflammatories, anti-microbials, and anti-cancer agents. Between July and October 2011 and 2012, white superficial mycelia were observed initially on leaf and stem portions, but later progressed to the flower head. Surveys showed that the disease was widespread in Gwangju and most areas of South Korea. Abundant, necrotic, dark brown spots showing chasmothecia were frequently observed in October and were abundant on the adaxial surface of leaves. Chasmothecia were blackish brown to yellow without typical appendages. They ranged from 51.2 to 71.1 (mean 66.8) µm in diameter. Conidia were formed singly and the primary conidia were ellipsoid, rounded at the apex, truncated base, and ranged from 25.4 to 33.2 (mean 27.3) µm long × 10.2 to 12.2 (mean 11.3) µm wide. Conidiophores were erect, 60.1 to 101.3 (mean 98.3) µm long × 6.2 to 9.2 (mean 7.3) µm wide. From extracted genomic DNA, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region inclusive of 5.8S and 28S rDNA was amplified with ITS1F (5'-TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG-3') and LR5F (5'-GCTATCCTGAGGGAAAC-3'), and LROR (5'-ACCCGCTGAACTTAAGC-3') and LR5F primer sets, respectively. rDNA ITS (GenBank Accession No. JX512555) and 28S (JX512556) homologies of the fungus (EML-BBPW1) represented 99.6% (532/534) and 100% (661/661) identity values with Podosphaera xanthii (syn. P. fusca) AB040349 and P. xanthii (syn. P. fusca) AB462798, respectively. The rDNA sequence analysis revealed that the causal fungus matched P. xanthii (syn. P. fusca), forming a xanthii/fusca group (3,4). A pathogenicity test was performed on three plants in a greenhouse. The treated leaves were sealed in vinyl pack in humid condition for 2 days. Seven days after inoculation, similar symptoms were observed on the inoculated Spanish needles plant leaves. No symptoms were observed on control plants treated with distilled water. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by re-observing the fungal pathogen on the inoculated leaves. Podosphaera (syn. Sphaerotheca) xanthii (or fusca) has been known as an ubiquitous species with a broad host range. So far, five records regarding P. xanthii (=P. fusca) have been found in plants of genus Bidens. P. xanthii has been reported to occur on B. cernua in Belarus and Switzerland. In addition, the powdery mildew species was reported to occur on B. frondosa and B. tripartita in Korea, Russia, and Switzerland (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew caused by P. xanthii on Spanish needles (B. bipinnata) in Korea. References: (1) U. Braun et al. Schlechtendalia 10:91, 2003. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases, Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ , 2012. (3) H. B. Lee. J. Microbiol. 51:1075, 2012. (4) S. Takamatsu, et al. Persoonia 24:38, 2010.

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Erysiphe platani on Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) in South Korea.

Platanus occidentalis L. (sycamore) is an important shade tree distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere and in South Korea. It has been widely used as an ornamental tree, especially in urban regions and by roadsides. The average rate of roadside planting throughout South Korea covers about 5.7% (up to 38% in Seoul), equivalent to 0.36 million trees. In early July 2012, after a rainy spell in summer, an outbreak of powdery mildew on sycamore was first observed on roadside trees in Gwangju, a southern province of South Korea. A more extensive nationwide survey revealed no powdery mildew in northern or central regions of South Korea. The disease has spread rapidly within Gwangju, even though fungicide applications were carried out after the rainy spell. Major symptoms included white, superficial mycelia, grey to brown lesions on the surface of the leaves due to the presence of a hyperparasite (tentatively identified as Ampelomyces sp.), a slight chlorosis, and severe leaf distortion followed by defoliation. Conidiophores were produced singly, straight, and unbranched, with lengths of 35.2 to 315.2 µm (average 170.4 µm). Conidia were ellipsoid or doliiform, ranging in size from 34.9 to 47.4 µm (average 38.2 µm) long × 16.5 to 26.8 µm (average 23.9 µm) wide. Primary conidia had a truncate base and rounded apex; secondary conidia had both a truncate base and apex. The conidial outer surface had a reticulated wrinkling. Cleistothecia (i.e., sexual spore structures) were not found during the survey, which extended from July to October. These characteristics and the host species match those of Microsphaera platani (syn. Erysiphe platani), which was described on P. occidentalis in Washington State (2). Fungal rDNA was amplified using primers ITS1 and LR5F (4) for one sample (EML-PLA1, GenBank JX485651). BLASTn searches of GenBank revealed high sequence identity to E. platani (99.5% to JQ365943 and 99.3% to JQ365940). Recently, Liang et al. (3) reported the first occurrence of powdery mildew by E. platani on P. orientalis in China based only on its morphology. Thus, in this study, author could only use ITS sequence data from the United States and Europe to characterize the isolate. To date, nine records of powdery mildews of Platanus spp. have been reported worldwide: on P. hispanica from Brazil, Japan, Hungary, and Slovakia; P. orientalis from Israel; P. racemosa from the United States; P. × acerifolia from the United Kingdom and Germany; and Platanus sp. from Argentina and Australia (1). Interestingly, the hyperparasite, Ampelomyces sp., was found with E. platani, suggesting that there may be some level of biocontrol in nature. Pathogenicity was confirmed by gently pressing diseased leaves onto six leaves of healthy sycamore plants in the field in September. The treated leaves were sealed in sterilized vinyl pack to maintain humid condition for 2 days. Similar symptoms were observed on the inoculated leaves 10 days after inoculation. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by re-observing the fungal pathogen. To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew caused by E. platani on sycamore in South Korea. References: (1) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases, Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ , 2012. (2) D. A. Glawe. Plant Health Progress, doi:10.1094/PHP-2003-0818-01-HN, 2003. (3) C. Liang et al. Plant Pathol. 57:375, 2008. (4) T. J White et al., pp. 315-322 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. M. A. Innis et al., ed. Academic Press, New York, 1990.

First Report of Erysiphe quercicola Causing Powdery Mildew on Ubame Oak in Korea.

Ubame oak (Quercus phillyraeoides A. Gray) is native to eastern Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan. In 2009 and 2010, a powdery mildew on Q. phillyraeoides growing in clusters and singly was observed in three locations on the campus of Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea. White superficial conidia of the powdery mildew fungus occurred on adaxial and abaxial surfaces. However, the white powdery growth was more abundant on the adaxial surface. Leaf symptoms commonly appeared white from May to October. Along with the typical white powdery mildew, spot and/or necrotic symptoms with irregular violet-to-wine red surfaces were also frequently observed on overwintered leaves. A voucher specimen has been deposited in EML (Environmental Microbiology Laboratory) herbarium collection, Chonnam National University (EML-QUP1). Conidia were commonly formed singly but also occurred in chains. Primary conidia were obovoid to ellipsoid, with a rounded apex and subtruncate base. Secondary conidia were generally obovoid to ellipsoid or sometimes cylindrical but dolioform when mature. The size was 30.1 to 43.2 (average 37.7) × 14.1 to 21.1 (average 18.1) µm with length/width ratio of 1.8 to 2.4 (average 2.1). Conidiophores were erect and up to 102.2 µm long. No chasmothecia were found. From extracted genomic DNA, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region inclusive of 5.8S rDNA was amplified with ITS1F (5'-CTTGGT CATTTAGAGGAAGT-3') and LR5F (5'-GCTATCCTGAGGGAAAC-3') primers (4). Sequence analysis by BLASTN search indicated that EML-QUP1 (GenBank Accession No. HQ328834) was closest to E. quercicola (GenBank Accession No. AB292691) with >99% identity (478 of 480), forming a monophyletic quercicola clade in the resulting phylogenetic analysis. The causal fungus was determined to be Erysiphe quercicola on the basis of morphology and sequence data analysis. Major genera including Cystotheca, Erysiphe, Microsphaera, and Phyllactinia have been reported to cause powdery mildews on Quercus plants. Until now, 22 Erysiphe species including E. abbreviata, E. alphitoides, E. calocladophora, E. gracilis, E. polygoni, and E. quercicola have been reported to cause powdery mildews on Quercus spp. (1). Of these, four Erysiphe species including E. alphitoides, E. gracilis, E. quercicola, and an unidentified Erysiphe sp. have been found on Q. phillyraeoides from Japan (1-3). E. quercicola was reported to occur on five Quercus species: Q. crispula, Q. phillyraeoides, and Q. serrata in Japan, Q. robur in Australia, and Quercus sp. in Australia, Iran, and Thailand (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf powdery mildew caused by E. quercicola on Q. phillyraeoides in Korea. References: (1) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases, Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved October 7, 2010, from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ , 2010. (2) S. Limkaisang et al. Mycoscience 47:327, 2006. (3) S. Takamatsu et al. Mycol. Res. 111:809, 2007. (4) T. J. White et al. PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990.

First Report of Crown Rot on Gypsophila (Gypsophila paniculata) Caused by Fusarium proliferatum in Korea.

Gypsophilas commonly cultivated are Gypsophila elegans B. and G. paniculata L. In September of 2009 and 2010, a severe wilt symptom due to crown rot was observed on G. paniculata (cv. Bristol Fairy) in greenhouses in Yeosu, South Korea. The area of cultivation (~8 ha) in Yeosu covers 90% of production in the Jeonnam Province. Disease outbreak was 20 to 30% in affected greenhouses. Early symptoms included brown discoloration surrounding basal stems and slight wilting. Late symptoms included a sunken stem rot next to the roots, root rot, severe wilting, and dying plants. The causal fungus appeared to invade plants through the basal stem, causing a crown rot that prevented the plant from taking up water and nutrients. Crown rot occurred on young and mature plants. Ten fungal isolates were recovered from basal stems and roots of wilted plants. Microconidia were abundantly produced on potato dextrose agar (PDA), V8 juice agar (VA), carnation leaf agar (CLA), and oatmeal agar (OA). Microconidia were single celled, variable, oval-ellipsoid cylindrical, straight to curved, club-to-kidney shaped or spindle shaped on OA, more slender on VA. Macroconidia were not found on any media used. Microconidia on PDA were 5.9 to 15.1 (9.9) × 2.7 to 4.3 (3.5) µm. Germinated conidia (or false conidia) were often formed on CLA. Conidiophores as phialides were singly formed but often branched. Length of conidiophores was up to 31.1 µm on CLA. Small-sized chlamydospores were rarely found. Fusarium isolates (EML-GYP1, 2, and 3) were selected and identified. From extracted genomic DNA, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region including 5.8S rDNA was amplified using ITS1F (5'-CTTGGTCATTTAGAGGAAGT-3') and LR5F (5'-GCTATCCTGAGGGAAAC-3') primers. Sequence analyses by BLAST indicated that the isolates (GenBank HM560019, HM560020, and HM560021) were most similar to F. proliferatum (EF4534150) with sequence identity values of 99.3, 99.4, and 99.1%, respectively. The causal fungus was determined to be F. proliferatum based on morphological data and ITS rDNA sequences. Pathogenicity tests with the three isolates were performed on 10 plants of G. paniculata using the dipping method. Healthy roots and basal stems were soaked in a conidial suspension adjusted to ~1.2 × 106 conidia/ml (distilled water) for 15 min. Plants were potted in sterile soil, kept in a humid chamber for 72 h, and moved to a greenhouse. The experiment was carried out in duplicate and repeated two times. Similar symptoms to those observed in the greenhouses were seen 7 days after inoculation. The causal fungus was reisolated from the artificially inoculated basal stems, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Control plants whose basal stems and roots were dipped in sterile water showed no crown rot and wilt symptoms. EML-GYP2 was determined to be the most pathogenic. Ten records of disease caused by three Fusarium species (Fusarium sp., F. oxysporum, and F. udum) have been found on gypsophilas (1), but only F. oxysporum has been reported to cause wilt on G. elgans in Korea (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of crown rot on gypsophila caused by F. proliferatum in Korea as well as the world. 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/ , October 27, 2010, (2) W.-G. Kim and H.-M. Koo. Page 381 in: List of Plant Diseases in Korea. The Korean Society of Plant Pathology, 2009.

Practical synthesis of maleimides and coumarin-linked probes for protein and antibody labelling via reduction of native disulfides.

The cellular tracking, detection and sensing of protein or antibody movement are important aspects to advance our understanding of biomolecular interactions and activity. Antibodies modified with fluorescent dyes are also valuable tools, especially in immunology research. We describe here a proof-of-principle study of a new water-soluble coumarin probe with a maleimide thiol-reacting unit to fluorescently tag biomolecules. Highlights include: (1) a convenient water-based preparation of N-substituted maleimides, (2) a one-pot preparation of activated maleimido-esters, and (3) a bio-conjugation protocol for the selenol-promoted reduction of native disulfide bonds and the 'site-specific' labelling of antibodies with no significant loss of activity.

First Report of Stem Blight on Perilla (Perilla frutescens) Caused by Corynespora cassiicola in Korea.

Perilla or kkaennip (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton), an annual herb of the mint family, Lamiaceae, is used in salads and kimchi and for wrapping sliced raw fish. In September 2007, a disease occurred on greenhouse-produced perilla (cv. Manchu) in Gwangyang and Jeonnam provinces, Korea. Symptoms included leaf blight and irregularly shaped stem lesions approximately 1 to 3 cm long. Plants eventually died. In some greenhouses, 10 to 30%, and occasionally as much as 70%, of the plants were affected. Isolations on potato dextrose agar yielded a fungus with single conidiophores (439 to 656 [average 524] µm long × 6.2 to 11.6 [average 9.2] µm wide) with three to eight septa. Conidia were fusiform, obclavate to subcylindrical, straight or curved, and 30.4 to 180.1 (average 98.2) µm long × 6.7 to 18.1 (average 10.5) µm wide with 5 to 16 (commonly 13) distosepta. On the basis of morphological data and ITS rDNA sequences, the fungus was identified as Corynespora cassiicola (Berk. & Curt.) Wei. (1,2). Sequences of one isolate, EML-COR1, were more than 99% identical to sequences of C. cassiicola ATCC64204 (GenBank Accession No. AY238606) and C. cassiicola (GenBank Accession No. EF490450). In pathogenicity tests, the stems and leaves of two 2-month-old wounded and nonwounded potted plants (cv. Manchu) were sprayed until runoff with a conidial suspension of 5 × 104 conidia per ml. The plants were maintained for 48 h in a humid chamber and then moved to a greenhouse. Symptoms similar to those observed in the commercial greenhouse developed on wounded stems within 10 days. On nonwounded plants, symptoms developed 3 to 4 weeks after inoculation. C. cassiicola was reisolated from these lesions. Control plants (sprayed with distilled water) remained symptomless. The experiment was repeated with similar results. Although C. cassiicola causes blight of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), and other crops, to our knowledge, this is the first report of C. cassiicola on perilla. References: (1) M. B. Ellis. Page 372 in: Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. 1971. (2) J. L. D. Silva et al. Plant Pathol. 55:580, 2006.

First Report of Powdery Mildew on Trident Maple Caused by Sawadaea nankinensis in Korea.

Trident maple (Acer buergerianum Miq.) is widely grown in Korea as an ornamental tree as well as for the art of bonsai. During 2008 and 2009, a powdery mildew was observed on trident maple plants at the campus of Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea. Further surveys revealed the disease to be widespread on this species in other areas including Jeonbuk and Chungnam provinces in Korea. White, superficial mycelia were observed on young shoots and leaves early in spring. Both macroconidia and microconidia were produced beginning in May and conidial production continued through the summer into September and October. Production of chasmothecia was observed starting in September and continued into October. Macroconidia were produced in chains that were sinuate in outline. Individual macroconidia were barrel shaped and 23.4 to 30.0 (26.6) × 15.6 to 21.1 (18.1) µm. Foot cells of macroconidial conidiophores were 26.7 to 110.7 (48) × 7.1 to 11.2 (8.8) µm with one to five following cells. Microconidia were broadly ellipsoidal to subglobose and 8.9 to 12.5 (10.5) × 4.3 to 5.8 (5.1) µm. Chasmothecia typically were formed on adaxial leaf surfaces and 193.2 to 238.1 (216.8) µm in diameter. Appendages bore uncinate to circinate apices and were 176.8 to 267.7 (211.5) × 4.3 to 8.0 (6.2) µm. From extracted genomic DNA, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region inclusive of 5.8S rDNA was amplified with ITS1F (5'-CTTGGTCATTTAGAGGAAGT-3') and LR5F (5'-GCTATCCTGAGGGAAAC-3') primers. The causal fungus was determined to be Sawadaea nankinensis (F.L. Tai) S. Takam. & U. Braun (2) on the basis of morphological data and ITS rDNA sequences. A BLAST search of GenBank with an ITS sequence from this fungus determined that the five sequences exhibiting the highest max score values (1,811 to 2,004) were from S. nankinensis; these sequences produced max ident values from 94% to 99%. In contrast, max score and max ident values from sequences of other Sawadaea spp. were lower, including scores of 1,063 and 98% similarity for S. polyfida var. japonica, 915 and 97% for S. tulasnei, and 913 and 97% for S. bicornis. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on field-grown plants in two replicates. These plants were inoculated with a paintbrush to apply conidia (~5 × 106/ml) collected from powdery-mildew-infected leaves. Inoculated plants developed powdery mildew symptoms within 5 days of inoculation and resembled those observed on naturally infected plants. S. nankinensis (synonym Uncinula nankinensis) was first reported on A. buergerianum from China in 1930 (2). Recently, S. nankinensis (F.L. Tai) S. Takam & U. Braun was reported to occur on A. buergerianum in Japan (3). Until now, three Sawadaea spp. (S. bicornis (Wallr.) Homma, S. negundinis Homma, and S. tulasnei (Fuckel) Homma) have been reported to cause powdery mildew on A. ginnala, but only S. bicornis (= U. circinata Cooke & Peck) has been reported to cause powdery mildew on A. ginnala in Korea (1). However, no Sawadaea sp. previously was reported to cause powdery mildew on A. buergerianum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of powdery mildew on trident maple (A. buergerianum) caused by S. nankinensis in Korea. References: (1) H. D. Shin. Erysiphaceae of Korea. National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, 2000. (2) F. L. Tai. Page 1517 in: Sylloge Fungorum Sinicorum. Science Press, Academia Sinica, Peking, 1979. (3) S. Takamatsu et al. Mycoscience 49:161, 2008.

Acute myocardial infarction due to sinus of Valsalva aneurysm in a patient with Behçet's disease.

Cardiovascular manifestations have been reported in 7-38% of patients with Behçet's disease (BD), and mortality occurs in up to 20% of those with marked vascular involvement. Sporadic cases of endocarditis, myocarditis, pericarditis, acute myocardial infarction, aortic aneurysm, ventricular thrombosis, congestive cardiomyopathy, and valvular dysfunction have been reported. Here we report a case of acute myocardial infarction that resulted from the compression of coronary arteries by a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm in a patient with BD.

Magnetic Resonance-Augmented Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing: Comprehensively Assessing Exercise Intolerance in Children With Cardiovascular Disease.

BACKGROUND: Conventional cardiopulmonary exercise testing can objectively measure exercise intolerance but cannot provide comprehensive evaluation of physiology. This requires additional assessment of cardiac output and arteriovenous oxygen content difference. We developed magnetic resonance (MR)-augmented cardiopulmonary exercise testing to achieve this goal and assessed children with right heart disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Healthy controls (n=10) and children with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH; n=10) and repaired tetralogy of Fallot (n=10) underwent MR-augmented cardiopulmonary exercise testing. All exercises were performed on an MR-compatible ergometer, and oxygen uptake was continuously acquired using a modified metabolic cart. Simultaneous cardiac output was measured using a real-time MR flow sequence and combined with oxygen uptake to calculate arteriovenous oxygen content difference. Peak oxygen uptake was significantly lower in the PAH group (12.6±1.31 mL/kg per minute; P=0.01) and trended toward lower in the tetralogy of Fallot group (13.5±1.29 mL/kg per minute; P=0.06) compared with controls (16.7±1.37 mL/kg per minute). Although tetralogy of Fallot patients had the largest increase in cardiac output, they had lower resting (3±1.2 L/min per m2) and peak (5.3±1.2 L/min per m2) values compared with controls (resting 4.3±1.2 L/min per m2 and peak 6.6±1.2 L/min per m2) and PAH patients (resting 4.5±1.1 L/min per m2 and peak 5.9±1.1 L/min per m2). Both the PAH and tetralogy of Fallot patients had blunted exercise-induced increases in arteriovenous oxygen content difference. However, only the PAH patients had significantly reduced peak values (6.9±1.3 mlO2/100 mL) compared with controls (8.4±1.4 mlO2/100 mL; P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: MR-augmented cardiopulmonary exercise testing is feasible in both healthy children and children with cardiac disease. Using this novel technique, we have demonstrated abnormal exercise patterns in oxygen uptake, cardiac output, and arteriovenous oxygen content difference.