During a disease survey in October 2019, leaf spot symptoms with a yellow halo were observed on Korean angelica (Anglica gigas) plants grown in fields in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, Korea. Incidence of diseased leaves of the plants in the investigated fields ranged from 10% to 60%. Morphological and cultural characteristics of two single-spore isolates from the leaf lesions indicated that they belonged to the genus Didymella. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using combined sequences of LSU, ITS, TUB2, and RPB2 regions showed distinct clustering of the isolates from other Didymella species. In addition, the morphological and cultural characteristics of the isolates were somewhat different from those of closely related Didymella spp. Therefore, the novelty of the isolates was proved based on the investigations. Pathogenicity of the novel Didymella species isolates was confirmed on leaves of Korean angelica plants via artificial inoculation. This study reveals that Didymella gigantis sp. nov.causes leaf spot in Korean angelica.

During disease surveys of Angelica acutiloba plants in Korea, leaf spot symptoms were observed in a field in Andong in July 2019, and stem rot symptoms in vinyl greenhouses in Yangpyeong in April 2020. Incidence of leaf spot and stem rot of the plants ranged from 10 to 20% and 5 to 30%, respectively. Morphological and cultural characteristics of fungal iso lates from the leaf spot and stem rot symptoms fitted into those of the genus Phoma.Molecular phylogenetic analyses of two single-spore isolates from the symptoms using con catenated sequences of LSU, ITS, TUB2, and RPB2 genes authenticated an independent clus ter from other Didymella (anamorph: Phoma) species. Moreover, the isolates showed different morphological and cultural characteristics in comparison to closely related Didymella species. These discoveries confirmed the novelty of the isolates. Pathogenicity of the novel Didymella species isolates was substantiated on leaves and stems of A. acutiloba through artificial inocu lation. Thus, this study reveals that Didymella acutilobae sp. nov. causes leaf spot and stem rot in Angelica acutiloba.

A retrospective study of 100 cervical spinal cord injury patients admitted consequtively to the Department of Neurosurgery, Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University between March, 1985 and June, 1989 was conducted. The average age was 42 and 84(84%) were male. The majority sustained their spinal cord injury in a motor vehicle accident(50%) or in a diving accident(36%). Thirty-three percent(33/100) of these patients had surgical intervention by anterior approach(14/33), posterior approach(17/33) and total laminectomy(2/33). The others were only immobilized by traction or neck brace. Not only neurological recovery in operated and nonoperated patients but also complete and incomplete injury was compared. The degree of the neurological injury was classified by the Frankel classification. 12 cases turned out to be more aggravated than the condition at admission, among them 9 cases were middle and low cervical incomplete injuries. At final follow-up no appreciable differences in achievement in activities of daily living and mobility were noted between patients treated with surgical stabilization of the cervical spinal column and those treated nonsurgically.
Activities of Daily Living ; Braces ; Classification ; Diving ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Male ; Motor Vehicles ; Neck ; Neurosurgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Spinal Injuries* ; Spine ; Traction

PURPOSE: We aimed to describe the differences in clinical characteristics that affect readmission between late and moderate preterm or full-term infants. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for 881 patients with gestational ages of ≥31⁺⁰ weeks who were born at Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital between1 January 2013 and 20 September 2015. The patients were categorized into three subgroups as follows moderate preterm infants: those born at 31-33 weeks' gestation (n=73), late preterm infants: those born at 34–36 weeks' gestation (n=169),and full-term infants: those born at ≥37 weeks' gestation (n=639). We compared the late and moderate preterm or full-term infants in terms of clinical characteristics that affect readmission. RESULTS: The readmission rate was 18.9% in the late preterm infants, 21.9% in the moderate preterm infants, and 16.7% in the full-term infants. The independent risk factors of readmission were gestational age in the late preterm infants, positive pressure ventilation at birth in the moderate preterm infants, and air-leak syndrome in the full-term infants. In addition, antenatal care at the first trimester of pregnancy was an independent protective factor against readmission in the full-term infants. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that gestational age may affect the readmission rate of late preterm infants.
Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant* ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Medical Records ; Parturition ; Patient Readmission ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Protective Factors ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: The importance of pro-inflammatory cytokines, especially tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β), have been extensively documented in the generation of inflammatory lung disease. Lung epithelial cells are also actively involved in initiating and maintaining inflammation by producing pro-inflammatory mediators. Understanding the mechanism of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in lung epithelial cells is crucial to the development of new therapeutic modalities for inflammatory lung disease. Transcription of most pro-inflammatory cytokines is dependent on the actiation of NF-κB. However, the relationship between pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and NF-κB/IκB pathway in lung epithelial cells is not clear. METHODS: BEAS-2B, A549, NCI-H719 cells were stimulated with IL-1β or TNF-α at various times, and then IL-8 and TNF-αmRNA expressions were assayed by Northern blot analysis. IL-1β or TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation was assessed by the nuclear translocation of p65 NF-κB subunit. The degradation of IκBα and IκBβ by IL-1βor TNF-α stimulation was assayed by Western blot analysis. The phosphorylation of IκBαwas evaluated by Western blot analysis after pre-treating cells with proteasome inhibitor followed by IL-1β or TNF-α stimulation. The basal level of IKKα expression was evaluated by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: IκBαand IκBβ was repidly degraded after 5 minutes of incubation with IL-1β or TNF-α in BEAS-2B, A549, and NCI-H157 cells. The activation of NF-κB and the induction of IL-8 and TNF-α mRNA expressions were observed by IL-1β or TNF-α stimulation in these cells. In contrast, neither the changes in NF-κB/IκB pathway nor IL-8 and TNF-α mRNA expression was induces by IL-1β or TNF-α stimulation in NCI-H719 cell. IL-1β and TNF-α-induced IκB phoshorylation was observed in BEAS-2B, A549, and NCI-H157 cells, but not in NCI-H719 cells. The basal level of IKKα expression was not different between cells. CONCLUSION: NF-κB/IκB pathway plays an important role in the ixpression of pro-inflammatory cytokine in most lung epithelial cells. The absence of the effect on NF-κB/IκB pathway in NCI-H719 cells seems to be due to the defect in the intracellular signal transduction pathway upstream to IKK.
Blotting, Northern ; Blotting, Western ; Cytokines ; Epithelial Cells* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-8 ; Lung Diseases ; Lung* ; Phosphorylation ; Proteasome Inhibitors ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

The rapid spontaneous resolution of an acute epidural hematoma (EDH) has rarely been reported. A possible mechanism of spontaneous resolution is egress of the hematoma into the subgaleal space through a skull fracture. We report a case of rapid redistribution of an acute EDH in a 37-year-old man who had a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the skull and who slipped and fell when going to the bathroom. A huge EDH without a skull fracture developed in the left parieto-occipital area. The acute EDH was completely alleviated and a newly developed intracerebral hematoma was found on a brain computed tomography scan that was acquired the day after the trauma. Given these findings, a fractured skull and increased pressure in the intradural area may have been the mechanisms underlying the redistribution of the hematoma.
Adult ; Brain ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Neurofibromatoses ; Peripheral Nerves ; Skull Fractures ; Skull*

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the relationship between mental health problems and oral health in older adults. Methods: The participants of this study were older adults aged 65 years or older. The study used the data of 16,489 people who responded to the 7th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of depression on the frequency of tooth brushing when confounding factors such as income quintile and smoking were considered. Statistical software, SAS 9.4 ver. (SAS Institute, Cary, NC) was used. Results: Depressed older adult participants were 1.3 times more likely to brush their teeth less than three times a day than non-depressed participants, which was statistically significant. In women with depression, the odds of brushing their teeth less than three times a day were 1.5 times higher than those without depression, which was statistically significant. Conclusions Depression in older adults is correlated with the number of tooth brushes per day. Moreover, depression in women affects their number of tooth brushes.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic leukocytes are prominent cellular participants in the pathogenesis of allergic disease and asthma. Chemotaxis is still a very useful method in evaluating the response of human eosinophil to novel modulators. Degranulated mast cells and activated T lymphocytes are responsible for the pathophysiology of asthma and tryptase is one of most important proteases released after activation of mast cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the actions of trypsin and chymotrypsin on eosinophils in terms of chemotaxis and activation. METHOD: Eosinophils were isolated by negative immunoselection from the peripheral blood of atopic donors. Chemotaxis was studied by using micro-Boyden chambers and ECP release was assayed by fluoroimmunoassay. RESULTS: Eosinophil showed a chemotactic response to trypsin. Maximal chemotactic response was with 1000microg/ml trypsin (56.52 +/- 14.50/HPF) which was comparable to PAF. But chymotrypsin showed no significant chemotactic response to eosinophils. Trypsin at the concentration of 10, 100,1000microg/ml induced secretion of ECP, which at the concentration of 10microg/ml represented about 2.7 times of the spontaneous rate of release. Soybean protease inhibitor reduced trypsin induced ECP release. CONCLUSION: Trypsin can induce chemotactic response to eosinophils and activation of eosinophils that can induce secretion of ECP. On the contrary, chymotrypsin showed no direct effect on eosinophils. We propose a role of trypsin on the chemotaxis and activation of eosinophils.
Asthma ; Chemotaxis* ; Chymotrypsin ; Eosinophils* ; Fluoroimmunoassay ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Mast Cells ; Peptide Hydrolases ; Protease Inhibitors ; Soybeans ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tissue Donors ; Trypsin* ; Tryptases

Arterial bleeding after pancreaticoduodenectomy is a very serious complication with high mortality. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment is essential. In particular, early detection and immediate embolization can be effectively used for the delayed massive bleeding that occurs from a pseudoaneurysmal rupture. However, sometimes intermittent bleeding or a vessel spasm can cause the bleeding focus to remain unidentified in spite of repeated angiography. We experienced a case of successful embolization with superselection by endoscopic hemoclipping in a patient who underwent pylorus preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy, and the patient's bleeding focus was not found after repeated angiography. Endoscopic hemoclip application can be useful for localizing a pseudoaneurysmal rupture in patients with pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Aneurysm, False ; Angiography ; Early Diagnosis ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Pylorus ; Rupture ; Spasm

A 50-year-old male, renal transplant recipient, was admitted with fever and chest discomfort. At admission, chest radiologic finding was negative and echocardiography showed minimal pericardial effusion. After 2 days of admission, chest pain worsened and blood pressure fell to 60/40 mmHg. Emergency echocardiography showed a large amount of pericardial effusion compressing the entire heart. Pericardiocentesis was performed immediately. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated from pericardial fluid. Tuberculosis pericarditis should be considered as the cause of cardiac tamponade in renal transplant recipients, even with the absence of pericardial effusion in the initial study or suggestive history.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Tamponade ; Chest Pain ; Echocardiography ; Emergencies ; Fever ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Pericardial Effusion ; Pericardiocentesis ; Pericarditis ; Thorax ; Transplants ; Tuberculosis