In order to investigate pathogenic genes and genetic relationships of Y. pseudotuberculosis strains, We isolated 9 strains of Y. pseudotuberculosis from 380 spring water sites in Seoul from 2000 to 2003. All isolates were distributed to the northeast area in Seoul. The isloates were analyzed for chromosomal virulence gene (inv) and plasmid-borne genes (yadA and lcrF) using PCR to assume pathogenicity. As a result, all isolates were positive for the inv gene, but only five isolates (55.6%) were positive for the yadA and lcrF genes. RAPD and PCR-ribotyping were tested and all isolates were grouped with 90% similarity. RAPD revealed 4 clusters and PCR-ribotyping revealed 2 clusters. The result of this experiments confirmed the view that RAPD had better powerful discrimination than PCR-ribotyping and RAPD typing was effective to distinguish between various strains of Y. pseudotuberculosis from spring water.
Discrimination (Psychology) ; Molecular Typing* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seoul* ; Virulence ; Yersinia pseudotuberculosis* ; Yersinia*

PURPOSE: Low-affinity penicillin-binding protein PBP 2a encoded by mecA is closely related to methicillin resistance in staphylococci, and the expression of PBP 2a is controlled by regulator elements encoded by mecR1 and mecI. Deletion or mutation which occurred in mecI is considered to be associated with constitutive production of PBP 2a. We investigated the distribution of mec regulator genes and the presence of the mutations in mecI among mecA gene-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant coagulase negative Staphylococcus (MRCNS) strains. METHODS: A total of 28 MRSA and 26 MRCNS clinical strains were isolated at Chung-Ang University Hospital. The distribution of mec regulator genes and the presence of mutations in mecI were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. RESULTS: In 28 MRSA and 26 MRCNS, only mecR1A-positive pattern (type lll) was detected in 53.6% of MRSA and 46.4% of MRCNS. The mecR1 (mecR1A and mecR1B) and mecI-positive pattern (type l) were detected in 42.3% of MRSA and 38.5% of MRCNS. In 19.2% of MRCNS was type lV in which no mec regulator genes were detected. Our results showed that a greater genomic variation existed in MRCNS than a MRSA. Results in direct sequencing of mecI revealed that mecI gene tested in our study did not harbour mutations and deletions. There was no correlation between the level of resistance and the presence or absence of mec regulator genes. CONCLUSION: The induction of methicillin resistance and the variability of phenotypic expression of methicillin resistance suggested that additional factors on the chromosome are involved.
Coagulase ; Genes, Regulator* ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Penicillin-Binding Proteins ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus*

Pleurotus eryngii, known as king oyster mushroom has been widely used for nutritional and medicinal purposes. This study was initiated to screen the suitable conditions for mycelial growth and to determine the phylogenetic relationship of the selected strains. Optimal mycelial growth was observed at 30degrees C and minimum mycelial growth observed at 10degrees C. This mushroom tolerates a broad pH range for mycelial growth, with most favorable growth observed at pH 6. Results also indicated that glucose peptone, yeast malt extract and mushroom complete media were favorable growth media, while Hennerberg and Hoppkins media were unfavorable. Dextrin was the best and xylose the least effective carbon sources. Results revealed that inorganic nitrogen sources were less effective than organic sources for the mycelial growth of P. eryngii. Investigation of genetic diversity is necessary to identify the strains. The ITS region of rDNA were amplified using PCR. The size of the ITS1 and ITS2 regions of rDNA from the different strains varied from 214 to 222 bp and 145 to 236 bp, respectively. The sequence of ITS2 was more variable than that of ITS1, and the 5.8S sequences were identical. A phylogenetic tree based on the ITS region sequences indicated that selected strains could be classified into six clusters. Fourteen IUM and ATCC-90212 strains were also analyzed by RAPD with 20 arbitrary primers. Fourteen of these primers were efficiently amplified the genomic DNA. The number of amplified bands varied with the primers and strains, with polymorphic fragments in the range from 0.2 to 2.3 kb.
Agaricales ; Carbon ; DNA ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Genetic Variation ; Glucose ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitrogen ; Peptones ; Pleurotus ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Xylose ; Yeasts

This study evaluated the optimal vegetative growth conditions and molecular phylogenetic relationships of eleven strains of Agrocybe cylindracea collected from different ecological regions of Korea, China and Taiwan. The optimal temperature and pH for mycelial growth were observed at 25degrees C and 6. Potato dextrose agar and Hennerberg were the favorable media for vegetative growth, whereas glucose tryptone was unfavorable. Dextrin, maltose, and fructose were the most effective carbon sources. The most suitable nitrogen sources were arginine and glycine, whereas methionine, alanine, histidine, and urea were least effective for the mycelial propagation of A. cylindracea. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA were amplified using PCR. The sequence of ITS2 was more variable than that of ITS1, while the 5.8S sequences were identical. The reciprocal homologies of the ITS sequences ranged from 98 to 100%. The strains were also analyzed by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using 20 arbitrary primers. Fifteen primers efficiently amplified the genomic DNA. The average number of polymorphic bands observed per primer was 3.8. The numbers of amplified bands varied based on the primers and strains, with polymorphic fragments ranging from 0.1 to 2.9 kb. The results of RAPD analysis were similar to the ITS region sequences. The results revealed that RAPD and ITS techniques were well suited for detecting the genetic diversity of all A. cylindracea strains tested.
Agar ; Agrocybe ; Alanine ; Arginine ; Carbon ; China ; DNA ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fructose ; Genetic Variation ; Glucose ; Glycine ; Histidine ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Korea ; Maltose ; Methionine ; Nitrogen ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Solanum tuberosum ; Taiwan ; Urea

The common split-gilled mushroom, Schizophyllum commune is found throughout the world on woody plants. This study was initiated to evaluate conditions for favorable vegetative growth and to determine molecular phylogenetic relationship in twelve different strains of S. commune. A suitable temperature for mycelial growth was obtained at 30degrees C. This mushroom grew well in acidic conditions and pH 5 was the most favorable. Hamada, glucose peptone, Hennerberg, potato dextrose agar and yeast malt extract were favorable media for growing mycelia, while Lilly and glucose tryptone were unfavorable. Dextrin was the best and lactose was the less effective carbon source. The most suitable nitrogen sources were calcium nitrate, glycine, and potassium nitrate, whereas ammonium phosphate and histidine were the least effective for the mycelial growth of S. commune. The genetic diversity of each strain was investigated in order to identify them. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA were amplified using PCR. The size of the ITS1 and ITS2 regions of rDNA from the different strains varied from 129 to 143 bp and 241 to 243 bp, respectively. The sequence of ITS1 was more variable than that of ITS2, while the 5.8S sequences were identical. A phylogenetic tree of the ITS region sequences indicated that the selected strains were classified into three clusters. The reciprocal homologies of the ITS region sequences ranged from 99 to 100%. The strains were also analyzed by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) with 20 arbitrary primers. Twelve primers efficiently amplified the genomic DNA. The number of amplified bands varied depending on the primers used or the strains tested. The average number of polymorphic bands observed per primer was 4.5. The size of polymorphic fragments was obtained in the range of 0.2 to 2.3 kb. These results indicate that the RAPD technique is well suited for detecting the genetic diversity in the S. commune strains tested.
Agar ; Agaricales ; Calcium ; Calcium Compounds ; Carbon ; DNA ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Genetic Variation ; Glucose ; Glycine ; Histidine ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lactose ; Nitrates ; Nitrogen ; Peptones ; Phosphates ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Potassium ; Potassium Compounds ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Schizophyllum ; Solanum tuberosum ; Sprains and Strains ; Yeasts

Mushroom cultivation has been started recently in Bangladesh. Awareness of the nutritional and medicinal importance of mushrooms is not extensive. In this study, the nutritional values of dietary mushrooms- Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus sajorcaju, Pleurotus florida and Calocybe indica that are very popular among the cultivated mushrooms in Bangladesh have been determined. These mushrooms were rich in proteins (20~25%) and fibers (13~24% in dry samples) and contained a lower amount of lipid (4 to 5%). The carbohydrate contents ranged from 37 to 48% (on the basis of dry weight). These were also rich in mineral contents (total ash content is 8~13%). The pileus and gills were protein and lipid rich and stripe was carbohydrate and fiber-rich. The moisture content of mushrooms ranged from 86 to 87.5%. Data of this study suggest that mushrooms are rich in nutritional value.
Agaricales ; Animals ; Bangladesh ; Florida ; Gills ; Minerals ; Nutritive Value ; Pleurotus ; Proteins

The molecular phylogeny in nine different commercial cultivated strains of Pleurotus nebrodensis was studied based on their internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and RAPD. In the sequence of ITS region of selected strains, it was revealed that the total length ranged from 592 to 614 bp. The size of ITS1 and ITS2 regions varied among the strains from 219 to 228 bp and 211 to 229 bp, respectively. The sequence of ITS2 was more variable than ITS1 and the region of 5.8S sequences were identical. Phylogenetic tree of the ITS region sequences indicated that selected strains were classified into five clusters. The reciprocal homologies of the ITS region sequences ranged from 99 to 100%. The strains were also analyzed by RAPD with 20 arbitrary primers. Twelve primers were efficient to applying amplification of the genomic DNA. The sizes of the polymorphic fragments obtained were in the range of 200 to 2000 bp. RAPD and ITS analysis techniques were able to detect genetic variation among the tested strains. Experimental results suggested that IUM-1381, IUM-3914, IUM-1495 and AY-581431 strains were genetically very similar. Therefore, all IUM and NCBI gene bank strains of P. nebrodensis were genetically same with some variations.
DNA ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Pleurotus

BACKGROUND: Exercise-stress electrocardiography (ECG) is initially recommended for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. But its value has been questioned in women because of suboptimal diagnostic accuracy. Stress echocardiography had been reported to have comparable test accuracy in women. But the data comparing the diagnostic accuracy of exercise-stress ECG and stress echocardiography directly are few. The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of exercise-stress ECG and dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in Korean women. METHODS: 202 consecutive female patients who presented with chest pain in outpatient clinic, and who underwent treadmill exercise test (TET), DSE and coronary angiography were included for the study. The diagnostic accuracy TET and DSE were calculated by the definition of > 50% or > 75% coronary artery stenosis (CAS). RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity were higher with DSE (70.4, 94.6%) than TET (53.7, 73.6%) for detection of > 50% CAS. The higher accuracy of DSE was maintained after exclusion of the patients who could not achieve over 85% age predicted heart rate before ischemia induction. DSE also showed greater diagnostic accuracy than TET by > 75% CAS criteria, and in subsets of patient with intermediate pretest probability. CONCLUSION: In the diagnosis of CAS, DSE showed higher accuracy than TET in female patients who presented with chest pain. As well as the test accuracy, adequate stress was more feasible with DSE than TET. These finding suggests DSE may be used as the first-line diagnostic tool in the detection of CAS in women with chest pain.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Chest Pain ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Stenosis* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography, Stress* ; Electrocardiography* ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Head* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Fetus in fetu is an very rare condition in which a vertebrate fetus is incorporated within its twin. Although a number of cases were reported at 3rd trimester of gestation or postnatally, the authors present a retroperitoneal fetus in fetu with 9 x 7 x 6 cm sized cystic mass that was diagnosed at 2nd trimester using ultrasonography and confirmed on a computed tomography scan after birth. The mass was successfully excised postnatally and consistent with a fetus in fetu by pathological confirmation. Solid mass was surrounded by a fluid-containing sac and showed highly ordered organogenesis around an axial vertebral column.
Diagnosis* ; Fetus* ; Humans ; Organogenesis ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Spine ; Ultrasonography ; Vertebrates

Oudemansiella radicata, one of edible mushrooms belonging to Tricholomataceae of Basidiomycota, has been known to exhibit outstanding therapeutic effects on the hypertension caused by high blood pressure and inhibitory effects on the sarcoma 180 and Erhrlich carcinoma of mice. As one of preliminary experiments for producing fruiting-body of O. radicata, this study was carried out to obtain the basic information for culture conditions of mycelial growth of the fungus. The optimal temperature and pH for the mycelial growth were 25degrees C and pH 6, respectively. The medium for favorable mycelial growth of O. radicata was shown in the Lilly medium, whereas compact mycelial density was found in Hamada medium. The carbon and nitrogen sources promoting for mycelial growth of O. radicata were xylose and alanine, respectively. The optimum C/N ratio was about 20 : 1 in case that 3% glucose was supplimented to the basal medium as a carbon source.
Agaricales ; Alanine ; Animals ; Basidiomycota ; Carbon ; Fungi ; Glucose ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hypertension ; Mice ; Nitrogen ; Sarcoma 180 ; Xylose