Identification and Characterization of Gliocladium viride Isolated from Mushroom Fly Infested Oak Log Beds Used for Shiitake Cultivation

A green mold species that has not previously been reported in Korea was isolated from oak log beds used for shiitake (Lentinula edodes) cultivation that were infested by mushroom flies. In this study, we identify the mold species as Gliocladium viride (an anamorph of Hypocrea lutea) and describe its mycological properties. The fungus was cottony on both potato dextrose agar (PDA) and Czapek yeast extract agar (CYA), but was colored white on PDA and became yellowish green and brown on CYA. Mycelial growth on PDA attained a diameter of 73 mm at 30degrees C after 5 days. The fungus grew faster on malt extract agar (> 80 mm, 5 days at 25degrees C) compared to CYA and PDA (< 68 mm, 5 days at 25degrees C). Penicillate conidiophores of the fungus are hyaline, smooth walled, branching above typically in four stages, and 120~240 microm in length. Club-shaped or slender phialides are formed on the metulae. Conidia of the fungus were ovate and elliptic, yellowish brown and green, and 2.5~3.0 microm x 1.8~2.3 microm in size. Typically, slimy conidia are formed in a mass and colored brown to dark green to almost black. The internal transcribed spacer rDNA and translation elongation factor 1 alpha gene sequences of the fungus isolated here show 99% identity with previously identified G. viride strains.

Cardioprotective Effect of Ischemic Preconditioning: Relationship between Intracellular Glycogen and Protein Kinase C

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that the cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is related to intracellular glycogen content in rat hearts, however, controversies still remain. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts were subjected to 45 min global ischemia followed by 120 min reperfusion with IPC (n=0) or without IPC (ischemic control, n=). IPC was induced by one cycle of 5 min global ischemia and 10 min reperfusion. In the glucose (G)-free preconditioned group (n=0), G depletion-repletion was induced by perfusion with G-free Tyrode solution for 5 min and then G-containing Tyrode solution for 10 min followed by 45 min ischemia and 120 min reperfusion. For glycogen depletion or loading, hearts were treated with sodium acetate (NA, 5 mM, n=) or insulin (Ins, 1 unit/L, n=) for 15 min before 45 min ischemia. Left ventricular function and coronary flow (CF) were continuously recorded during experiments. Myocardial cytosolic and membrane protein kinase C (PKC) activities were measured by 32P-gamma-ATP incorporation into PKC-specific pepetide; glycogen content in the cardiac myocytes was determined by spectrophotometry with amyloglucosidase; expression of PKC isozymes was determined by Western blot with monoclonal antibodies. Infarct size was determined by staining with tetrazolium salt and planimetry. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test. RESULTS: IPC or G-free preconditioning enhanced LV functional recovery; NA did not influence on functional recovery but Ins depressed it. Infarct size was significantly reduced by IPC, G-free preconditioning, and NA treatment (35.3+/-2.1% in the ischemic control, 18.7+/-1.2% in the IPC, 22.1+/-1.2% in the G-free preconditioned, 16.3+/-1.2% in the NA-treated group, and 32.8+/-1.6% in the Ins-treated group, p<0.05). Membrane PKC activities significantly increased by IPC, IPC and 45 min ischemia, G-free preconditioning, and G-free preconditioning and 45 min ischemia; especially, expression of membrane PKC-epsilon increased by IPC and G-free preconditioning. Glycogen content decreased by 45 min ischemia, IPC, G-free preconditioning, and by NA treatment, but increased by Ins treatment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in rabbit heart, intracellular glycogen may not significantly be related with the cardioprotective effect of IPC; G-free preconditioning could not improve post-ischemic contractile dysfunction but it has an infarct size-limiting effect; this cardioprotective effect may be related in part to activation of PKC, especially epsilon isozyme.

Analysis of Effect of Coagulation Management Based on the Changes of Thromboelastographic Variables during Orthotopic Liver Transplantation / 대한마취과학회지

Introduction: Thromboelastography (TEG) provides an overall assessment of the platelet-coagulation protein cascade interaction. The information generated from the TEG is rapidly obtained and made useful to guide replacement therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the TEG as its guided blood replacement therapy and pharmacological therapy during liver transplantation. METHODS: This study was carried out in 13 consecutive patients who were subjected to TEG-guided replacement therapy during liver transplantation. A prepared mixture of blood products used for continuous replacement therapy was a fluid composed of red blood cells(2 units), fresh frozen plasma (2 units), and normal saline(500 ml). The pharmacological therapy was performed by comparing TEG of untreated blood and blood treated with antifibrinolytic and heparin neutralizing agent. Based on the findings of TEG, platelet concentrates were given. The TEG samples were obtained at various intervals. Additional TEG tracing was obtained as needed to see the effect of therapeutic intervention. RESULTS: In all patients the reaction time was kept in an acceptable range in the preanhepatic stage by administration of the mixture of blood products. Heparin-induced anticoagulation was observed in 3 cases in the anhepatic stage and in 11 cases upon reperfusion. Fibrinolysis was seen in all but one patients: 8% in the preanhepatic stage, 41% in the anhepatic stage, 69% at reperfusion, and 2% in the postanhepatic stage. Early and aggressive treatment with epsilon-aminocaproic acid effectively inhibited fibrinolysis without complications. Ten patients needed platelet transfusion in the postanhepatic stage with significant improvement in the TEG. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that TEG monitoring and TEG-guided replacement and pharmacological therapy are clinically effective in maintaining blood coagulability.

Gardner's syndrome: a case with a concomitant rectal cancer

No abstract available.