Eurotiales is a relatively large order of Ascomycetes, well-known for their ability to produce secondary metabolites with potential beneficial applications. To understand their diversity and distribution, different environmental sources including soil, freshwater, insect, and indoor air were investigated. Eight strains of Eurotiales were isolated and identified based on their morphological characters and a multi-gene phylogenetic analysis of the ITS, BenA, CaM, and RPB2 regions. We identified eight taxa that were previously not reported from Korea: Aspergillus baeticus, A. griseoaurantiacus, A. spinulosporus, Penicillium anthracinoglaciei, P. labradorum, P.nalgiovense, Talaromyces atroroseus, and T. georgiensis. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic tree for the eight new records species are presented, and information regarding the records is also discussed.

Background/Aims: We evaluated the feasibility and long-term efficacy of the combination of cytarabine, idarubicin, and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for treating patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Methods: We included 87 patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia and a t(15;17) or promyelocytic leukemia/retinoic acid receptor alpha (PML-RARα) mutation. Patients received 12 mg/m2/day idarubicin intravenously for 3 days and 100 mg/m2/day cytarabine for 7 days, plus 45 mg/m2/day ATRA. Clinical outcomes included complete remission (CR), relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and the secondary malignancy incidence during a 20-year follow-up. Results: The CR, 10-year RFS, and 10-year OS rates were 89.7%, 94.1%, and 73.8%, respectively, for all patients. The 10-year OS rate was 100% for patients that achieved CR. Subjects were classified according to the white blood cell (WBC) count in peripheral blood at diagnosis (low-risk, WBC < 10,000/mm3; high-risk, WBC ≥ 10,000/mm3). The low-risk group had significantly higher RFS and OS rates than the high-risk group, but the outcomes were not superior to the current standard treatment (arsenic trioxide plus ATRA). Toxicities were similar to those observed with anthracycline plus ATRA, and higher than those observed with arsenic trioxide plus ATRA. The secondary malignancy incidence after APL treatment was 2.7%, among the 75 patients that achieved CR, and 5.0% among the 40 patients that survived more than 5 years after the APL diagnosis. Conclusions Adding cytarabine to anthracycline plus ATRA was not inferior to anthracycline plus ATRA alone, but it was not comparable to arsenic trioxide plus ATRA. The probability of secondary malignancy was low.

During an investigation of fungi of the order Mucorales from freshwater and sediment samplesin Korea, we isolated six strains, NNIBRFG6649, NNIBRFG6255, NNIBRFG1498, CNUFCYJ13,CNUFC-YR7, and NNIBRFG2739. The morphology and phylogeny of these strains wereanalyzed. Based on the morphological characteristics and molecular data from internal transcribedspacer (ITS) region, the isolates NNIBRFG6649 and NNIBRFG6255 were identified asMucor abundans, and M. aligarensis, respectively. The isolates NNIBRFG1498 and CNUFC-YJ13were identified as M. moelleri, whereas the isolates CNUFC-YR7 and NNIBRFG2739 were identifiedas M. heterogamus. To the best of our knowledge, M. abundans, M. aligarensis, M. moelleri,and M. heterogamus have not yet been reported in Korea.

During an investigation of fungi of the order Mucorales from freshwater and sediment samplesin Korea, we isolated six strains, NNIBRFG6649, NNIBRFG6255, NNIBRFG1498, CNUFCYJ13,CNUFC-YR7, and NNIBRFG2739. The morphology and phylogeny of these strains wereanalyzed. Based on the morphological characteristics and molecular data from internal transcribedspacer (ITS) region, the isolates NNIBRFG6649 and NNIBRFG6255 were identified asMucor abundans, and M. aligarensis, respectively. The isolates NNIBRFG1498 and CNUFC-YJ13were identified as M. moelleri, whereas the isolates CNUFC-YR7 and NNIBRFG2739 were identifiedas M. heterogamus. To the best of our knowledge, M. abundans, M. aligarensis, M. moelleri,and M. heterogamus have not yet been reported in Korea.

Objective: Little is known about factors influencing of hippocampal metabolism (HM) in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Our objective was to determine whether HM in patients with amnestic MCI (aMCI) is decreased than non-amnestic MCI (naMCI). Methods: Overall, 32 MCI patients underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography. They were characterized as aMCI (n=18) or naMCI (n=14) according to comprehensive neuropsychological criteria. Analysis of variances were used to assess differences on HM between aMCI and naMCI after controlling age, sex, education and Korean version of Mini Mental Status Examination. Results: We found that HM was more decreased in aMCI than naMCI. This result was not changed after controlling hippocampal volume. Conclusion Our findings suggest that aMCI is associated with decreased HM in MCI.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Indirect calorimetry is the gold-standard method for the measurement of resting energy expenditure. However, this method is time consuming, expensive, and requires highly trained personnel. To overcome these limitations, various predictive equations have been developed. The objective of this study was to assess the validity of predictive equations for resting energy expenditure (REE) in Korean non-obese adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The present study involved 109 participants (54 men and 55 women) aged between 20 and 64 years. The REE was measured by indirect calorimetry. Nineteen REE equations were evaluated for validity, by comparing predicted and measured REE results. Predictive equation accuracy was assessed by determining percent bias, root mean squared prediction error (RMSE), and percentage of accurate predictions. RESULTS: The measured REE was significantly higher in men than in women (P < 0.001), but the difference was not significant after adjusting for body weight (P > 0.05). The equation developed in this study had an accuracy rate of 71%, a bias of 0%, and an RMSE of 155 kcal/day. Among published equations, the FAO(weight) equation gave the highest accuracy rate (70%), along with a bias of −4.4% and an RMSE of 184 kcal/day. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed equation provided the best accuracy in predicting REE for Korean non-obese adults. Among the previously published equations, the FAO(weight) equation showed the highest overall accuracy. Regardless, at an individual level, the equations could lead to inaccuracies in a considerable number of subjects.
Adult* ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Body Weight ; Calorimetry, Indirect ; Energy Metabolism* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methods

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure energy expenditure (EE) the metabolic equivalents (METs) of 13 common physical activities by using a portable telemetry gas exchange system (K4b2) and to assess the accuracy of the accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+) by gender in Korean adults. METHODS: A total of 109 adults (54 males, 55 females) with normal BMI (body mass index) participated in this study. EE and METs of 13 selected activities were simultaneously measured by the K4b2 portable indirect calorimeter and predicted by the GT3X+ Actigraph accelerometer. The accuracy of the accelerometer was assessed by comparing the predicted with the measured EE and METs. RESULTS: EE (kcal/kg/hr) and METs of treadmill walking (3.2 km/h, 4.8 km/h and 5.6 km/h) and running (6.4 km/h) were significantly higher in female than in male participants (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the accelerometer significantly underestimated the EE and METs for all activities except descending stairs, moderate walking, and fast walking in males as well as descending stairs in females. Low intensity activities had the highest rate of accurate classifications (88.3% in males and 91.3% females), whereas vigorous intensity activities had the lowest rate of accurate classifications (43.6% in males and 27.7% in females). Across all activities, the rate of accurate classification was significantly higher in males than in females (75.2% and 58.3% respectively, p < 0.01). Error between the accelerometer and K4b2 was smaller in males than in females, and EE and METs were more accurately estimated during treadmill activities than other activities in both males and females. CONCLUSION: The accelerometer underestimated EE and METs across various activities in Korean adults. In addition, there appears to be a gender difference in the rate of accurate accelerometer classification of activities according to intensity. Our results indicate the need to develop new accelerometer equations for this population, and gender differences should be considered.
Adult* ; Calorimetry, Indirect ; Classification ; Energy Metabolism* ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Equivalent ; Motor Activity* ; Running ; Telemetry ; Walking

PURPOSE: Use of a home mechanical ventilator can shorten the hospitalization duration of children with chronic respiratory failure requiring long-term use of a mechanical ventilator. In this study, the researchers analyzed patients who had used a home mechanical ventilator. METHODS: From January 2009 to July 2014, we retrospectively investigated 15 patients under 18 years of age, from 2 hospitals, and their use of home mechanical ventilators. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 55 months. Ten children were male, and 5 were female. As for the type of mechanical ventilators, 10 used a pressure type, 3 used a volume type, and 2 used a volume-mask type. Analysis of underlying diseases revealed that 10 children had neuromuscular disease, 3 had pulmonary disease, and 2 suffered from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. The number of patients who were discharged from the hospital with a home mechanical ventilator was 13. One child died of sepsis irrespective of the mechanical ventilator. Six patients had health insurance. But 9 did not. The group with insurance had the possibility of being discharged earlier than the group without. On readmission, the length of hospitalization was also reduced in patients who had used a home mechanical ventilator. CONCLUSION: Use of a mechanical ventilator at home is helpful in patients who need long-term use of a mechanical ventilator due to neuromuscular disease, chronic pulmonary diseases, and accidents because complications are rare and insurance coverage is feasible.
Child ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; Insurance Coverage ; Insurance* ; Insurance, Health ; Lung Diseases ; Male ; Neuromuscular Diseases ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Ventilators, Mechanical*

During a biodiversity survey of undiscovered taxa in Korea, two zygomycetous fungal strains were isolated. The first strain, EML-FSDY6-1 was isolated from a soil sample collected at Dokdo Island in the East Sea of Korea in 2013, and the second strain, EML-DG-NH3-1 was isolated from a rat dung sample collected at Chonnam National University garden, Gwangju, Korea in 2014. Based on the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer, 18S and 28S rDNA, actin and translation elongation factor-1α genes. EML-FSDY6-1 and EML-DG-NH3-1 isolates were confirmed as zygomycete species, Absidia pseudocylindrospora and Absidia glauca, respectively. Neither species has previously been described in Korea.
Absidia ; Actins ; Animals ; Biodiversity ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Gwangju ; Jeollanam-do ; Korea* ; Rats ; Soil

Using dilution plating method, 47 fungal isolates were obtained from a soil sample collected from Dokdo in the East Sea of Korea in 2013. In this study, two fungal isolates, EML-MFS30-1 and EML-DDSF4, were confirmed as undescribed species, Metarhizium guizhouense and Mortierella oligospora in Korea based on current classification system using multi loci including rDNA internal transcribed spacer, large subunit, small subunit, and beta-tubulin (BTUB) genes. Herein, detailed morphological descriptions on characters of the undescribed fungal species as well as their molecular phylogenetic status are provided with comparisons to related species.
Classification* ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Korea* ; Metarhizium ; Mortierella ; Soil ; Tubulin