A yeast strain, designated as JAF-11 T , was isolated from flower ofPrunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. in Gwangyang, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain JAF-11 T was closely related to Neodothiora populina CPC 39399 T with 2.07 % sequence divergence (12 nucleotide substitutions and three gaps in 581 nucleotides) in the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene, and Rhizosphaera macrospora CBS 208.79 T with 4.66 % sequence divergence (25 nucleotide substitutions and five gaps in 535 nucleotides) in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Further analysis based on the concatenated sequen ces of the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene and the ITS region confirmed that strain JAF-11 T was well-separated from Neodothiora populina CPC 39399 T . In addition to the phylo genetic differences, strain JAF-11 T was distinguished from its closest species, Neodothiora populina CPC 39399 T and Rhizosphaera macrospora CBS 208.79 T belonging to the family Dothioraceae by its phenotypic characteristics, such as assimilation of carbon sources. Hence, the name Neodothiora pruni sp. nov. is proposed with type strain JAF-11 T (KACC 48808 T ; MB 850034).

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of hypertension reaches 29% in adults over 30 years of age in the Korean population; however, the control rate is merely 44%. The aim of this study was to investigate the associated factors for target blood pressure achievement after triple combination therapy in hypertensive patients. METHODS: From February 2016 to May 2018, 10 family physicians recruited 348 patients, who newly started a triple combination antihypertensive medication. Target blood pressure was defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) <140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) <90 mmHg after 6 months of triple combination therapy. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the associated factors for target blood pressure achievement. RESULTS: Among the 348 study participants, 317 completed 6 months of treatment. The target achievement rate was 76.3% (242/317). The mean absolute difference and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the SBP and DBP were 10.8 mmHg (8.8 to 12.7) and 6.4 mmHg (5.1 to 7.8), respectively (P<0.05). The odds ratio (OR) for the target blood pressure achievement increased in those with college education or higher (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.22–5.92), those with dyslipidemia (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.01–2.99), and those who were satisfied with the medication (OR, 29.91; 95% CI, 3.70–241.92). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of dyslipidemia and patient's satisfaction with the medication were associated with target blood pressure achievement in our analyses. Our findings suggest the importance of patient's factor in the control of blood pressure.
Adult ; Blood Pressure ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Dyslipidemias ; Education ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Physicians, Family ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of hypertension reaches 29% in adults over 30 years of age in the Korean population; however, the control rate is merely 44%. The aim of this study was to investigate the associated factors for target blood pressure achievement after triple combination therapy in hypertensive patients. METHODS: From February 2016 to May 2018, 10 family physicians recruited 348 patients, who newly started a triple combination antihypertensive medication. Target blood pressure was defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) <140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) <90 mmHg after 6 months of triple combination therapy. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the associated factors for target blood pressure achievement. RESULTS: Among the 348 study participants, 317 completed 6 months of treatment. The target achievement rate was 76.3% (242/317). The mean absolute difference and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the SBP and DBP were 10.8 mmHg (8.8 to 12.7) and 6.4 mmHg (5.1 to 7.8), respectively (P<0.05). The odds ratio (OR) for the target blood pressure achievement increased in those with college education or higher (OR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.22–5.92), those with dyslipidemia (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.01–2.99), and those who were satisfied with the medication (OR, 29.91; 95% CI, 3.70–241.92). CONCLUSIONS The presence of dyslipidemia and patient's satisfaction with the medication were associated with target blood pressure achievement in our analyses. Our findings suggest the importance of patient's factor in the control of blood pressure.

PURPOSE: This study sought to determine the 1-year clinical effectiveness and safety of a biodegradable, polymer-containing Biolimus A9™-eluting stent (BES) in Korean patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1000 ACS patients with 1251 lesions who underwent implantation of BESs at 22 centers in Korea were enrolled between May 2011 and July 2013. We assessed major adverse cardiac events (MACE) defined as the composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), and clinical-driven target vessel revascularization at 12 months. RESULTS: Patient mean age was 62.6±11.4 years. 72.8% of the patients were male, 28.5% had diabetes, 32.8% had multi-vessel disease (MVD), and 47.9% presented with acute MI (AMI). The mean global registry of acute coronary events risk score of all patients was 103.0±27.6. The number of stents per patient was 1.3±0.6. The incidences of MACE and definite stent thrombosis at 12 months were 3.9% and 0.2%, respectively. On multivariate Cox-regression analysis, age ≥65 years was identified as an independent predictors of 1-year MACE (hazard ratio=2.474; 95% confidence interval=1.202−5.091). Subgroup analyses revealed no significant differences in the incidence of MACE between patients with and without diabetes (4.3% vs. 3.7%, p=0.667), between those who presented with and without AMI (4.4% vs. 3.4%, p=0.403), and between those with and without MVD (4.6% vs. 3.5%, p=0.387). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated excellent 1-year clinical outcomes of BES implantation in patients at low-risk for ACS.
Acute Coronary Syndrome/drug therapy ; Aged ; Drug-Eluting Stents/adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Republic of Korea ; Sirolimus/adverse effects ; Sirolimus/analogs & derivatives ; Sirolimus/therapeutic use ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: The shortage of human hearts for allotransplantation makes xenotransplantation a possible option for controllable organ providers. To detect acute xenograft rejection, invasive biopsy seems inevitable; however, this occasionally results in poor incision wound healing or infection. To date, no method of noninvasive imaging for early detection of xenograft rejection has been established. We hypothesized that ultrasound speckle tracking would better detect xenograft failure than routine left ventricular ejection fractions (EF). METHODS: From August 2013 to July 2015, a total of six cardiac heterotopic xenotransplants (α 1, 3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout porcine heart) into cynomolgus monkeys were monitored with echocardiography every 3 to 7 days. M-mode and two-dimensional (2D)-EF measurements and myocardial strain analyses were performed. Cardiac xenograft pathology was reviewed from the immediate postoperative biopsy, as well as the necropsy. RESULTS: Myocardial speckle tracking analysis was feasible in all six cases. The longest survival was 43 days. Only one pathology-proven immunologic rejection occurred. Cardiac xenograft failure appeared as two types: a dilated pattern with decreased EF or a myocardial-thickening pattern with preserved EF. Both antibody-mediated rejection (n=1) and sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (n=2) revealed decreased radial or circumferential strains, but normal-range EF. Xenograft functional decline was significant with respect to radial or circumferential strain (P=0.028), but not to conventional M-mode or 2D-EFs (P=0.600, P=0.340, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Radial and circumferential strains were significantly decreased in both types of xenograft failure, regardless of EF. Further studies are warranted to correlate the strain analysis and immunopathological details.
Biopsy ; Echocardiography ; Heart ; Heart Transplantation ; Heterografts ; Humans ; Macaca fascicularis ; Methods ; Pathology ; Stroke Volume ; Transplantation, Heterologous* ; Transplants* ; Ultrasonography ; Wound Healing

Data on the frequency of nosocomial infections during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in adult populations remain scarce. We investigated the risk factors for nosocomial infections in adult patients undergoing venoarterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) support. From January 2011 to December 2015, a total of 259 patients underwent ECMO. Of these, patients aged 17 years or less and patients undergoing ECMO for less than 48 hours were excluded. Of these, 61 patients diagnosed with cardiogenic shock were evaluated. Mean patient age was 60.6 ± 14.3 years and 21 (34.4%) patients were female. The mean preoperative Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was 8.6 ± 2.2. The mean duration of ECMO support was 6.8 ± 7.4 days. The rates of successful ECMO weaning and survival to discharge were 44.3% and 31.1%, respectively. There were 18 nosocomial infections in 14 (23.0%) patients. These included respiratory tract infections in 9 cases and bloodstream infections in a further 9. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of infection during ECMO were the preoperative creatinine level (hazard ratio [HR], 2.176; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.065–4.447; P = 0.033) and the duration of ECMO support (HR, 1.400; 95% CI, 1.081–1.815; P = 0.011). A higher preoperative creatinine level and an extended duration of ECMO support are risk factors for infection. Therefore, to avoid the development of nosocomial infections, strategies to shorten the length of ECMO support should be applied whenever possible.

BACKGROUND: Little is known concerning hair diameter variation within the safe donor area for hair transplantation surgery. Thicker or thinner hair may be needed, depending on the recipient area, hairline design, and the purpose of surgery. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients (7 men and 20 women; mean age, 28 years; range, 20–47 years) were included in this study. The midoccipital point was used as the reference point on the horizontal plane at the upper border of the helical rim. The target area width was 15 cm (7.5 cm to the right and left of the reference point) and the height was 8 cm (2 cm above and 6 cm below the reference point). The study area was divided horizontally into 3 5-cm sections (A, B, C) and vertically into 4 2-cm sections (1–4), creating a total of 12 zones. Ten anagen hairs were randomly obtained from each zone and their diameters were measured. RESULTS: Hair diameter in the 4 vertical sections varied significantly, gradually decreasing from sections 1 (superior) to 4 (inferior) in all 3 horizontal sections (A, B, and C). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that sections 1 and 2 of the occipital safe donor area would be useful for obtaining thicker hair, such as in procedures to treat male- and female-pattern hair loss, whereas hair from zones 3 and 4 could be useful for transplantation surgery requiring thinner hair, such as eyebrows, eyelashes, and female hairline correction. Our results may be clinically valuable for planning hair transplant surgery and choosing the optimal donor region.
Eyebrows ; Eyelashes ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; Hair* ; Humans ; Male ; Tissue Donors* ; Transplant Donor Site ; Transplantation

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify factors that affect in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). METHODS: We reviewed 99 IVF cycles in 52 women with DOR between September 2010 and January 2015. DOR was defined as serum anti-Müllerian hormone level of <1.1 ng/dL or serum follicle-stimulating hormone level of ≥20 mIU/mL. Total 96 cycles in 50 patients were evaluated after excluding fertility preservation cases. RESULTS: The clinical pregnancy rate was 11.5% per cycle, and the total cancellation rate was 34.4%. Clinical pregnancy rate was significantly associated with the antral follicle count and the cause of the DOR. Age, serum anti-Müllerian hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels, antral follicle count, peak estradiol level, and the cause of DOR were significantly associated with cycle cancellation. However, history of previous ovarian surgery remained as a significant factor of clinical pregnancy (model 1: odds ratio [OR] 10.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46 to 70.84, P=0.019; model 2: OR 10.85, 95% CI 1.05 to 111.71, P=0.045). In cancellation models, idiopathic or previous chemotherapy group showed borderline significance (model 1: OR 3.76, 95% CI 0.83 to 17.04, P=0.086; model 2: OR 3.15, 95% CI 0.84 to 11.84, P=0.09). CONCLUSION: DOR caused by previous ovarian surgery may show better pregnancy outcome, whereas that caused by chemotherapy could significantly increase the cycle cancellation rate. Furthermore, patients with DOR who previously received gonadotoxic agents may show reduced efficacy and increased risk of IVF cycle cancellation.
Drug Therapy ; Estradiol ; Female ; Fertility Preservation ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Odds Ratio ; Ovarian Reserve* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate

Ginseng damping-off, caused by the fungal pathogens Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium sp., is a critical disease in ginseng seedling. In a continuing effort to find microorganisms with the potential of acting as a biocontrol agent against Rhizoctonia damping-off, we found that a Streptomyces sp. A501 showed significant antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani. In field experiment to test the efficacy of Streptomyces sp. A501 in controlling ginseng damping-off, the incidence of damping-off disease was meaningfully reduced when ginseng seeds were soaked in the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. A501 before sowing. To perform characterization of the antifungal compound, we isolated it from the culture broth of strain A501 through Diaion HP-20 and silica gel column chromatographies and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. The structure of the antifungal compound was assigned as fungichromin by spectroscopic methods, mainly nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray ionization-mass analysis.
Chromatography ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Panax* ; Pythium ; Rhizoctonia ; Seedlings ; Silica Gel ; Streptomyces*

Adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is critical for metabolic homeostasis and nutrient signaling during development. However, limited information is available on the pivotal modulators of adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. Adaptor protein Lnk (Src homology 2B3 [SH2B3]), which belongs to a family of SH2-containing proteins, modulates the bioactivities of different stem cells, including hematopoietic stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells. In this study, we investigated whether an interaction between insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and Lnk regulated IGF-1-induced adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. We found that wild-type MSCs showed greater adipogenic differentiation potential than Lnk(–/–) MSCs. An ex vivo adipogenic differentiation assay showed that Lnk(–/–) MSCs had decreased adipogenic differentiation potential compared with wild-type MSCs. Interestingly, we found that Lnk formed a complex with IGF-1R and that IGF-1 induced the dissociation of this complex. In addition, we observed that IGF-1-induced increase in the phosphorylation of Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin was triggered by the dissociation of the IGF-1R–Lnk complex. Expression levels of a pivotal transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) and its adipogenic target genes (LPL and FABP4) significantly decreased in Lnk(–/–) MSCs. These results suggested that Lnk adaptor protein regulated the adipogenesis of MSCs through the IGF-1/Akt/PPAR-γ pathway.
Adipogenesis* ; Endothelial Progenitor Cells ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Phosphorylation ; PPAR gamma ; Sirolimus ; Stem Cells ; Transcription Factors