A Novel Alternaria Species Isolated from Peucedanum japonicum in Korea

We isolated and examined a new Alternaria sp., which causes leaf spots on Peucedanum japonicum in Korea, by using molecular and morphological methods. Phylogenetic analysis based on a combined internal transcribed spacer region analysis and two protein-coding genes (gpd and Alt a1) demonstrated that the causal fungus was most closely related to A. cinerariae and A. sonchi, and relevant to A. brassicae. However, conidial morphology indicated that it is a novel species within the genus Alternaria, and therefore we have assigned the fungus a new name in this study.

Transverse Testicular Ectopia Diagnosed by US and MR Imaging: A Case Report

Transverse testicular ectopia (TTE) is a rare congenital anomaly in which both testes migrate toward the same hemiscrotum. In most cases, the correct diagnosis is not made preoperatively, but it's made during an inguinal herniotomy or during surgical exploration for an undescended testis because TTE is clinically misdiagnosed as an symptomatic inguinal hernia or as a tumor of the testis on the side to which the ectopic testis has migrated or as an undescended testis on the contralateral side. US and MR imaging can detect the transverse testicular ectopia by its characteristic appearance and so provide useful information about any associated anomalies. We report here on a case of transverse testicular ectopia that was diagnosed by US and MR imaging in a 10-month-old boy, and we review the relevant literature.

Transverse Testicular Ectopia Diagnosed by US and MR Imaging: A Case Report

Transverse testicular ectopia (TTE) is a rare congenital anomaly in which both testes migrate toward the same hemiscrotum. In most cases, the correct diagnosis is not made preoperatively, but it's made during an inguinal herniotomy or during surgical exploration for an undescended testis because TTE is clinically misdiagnosed as an symptomatic inguinal hernia or as a tumor of the testis on the side to which the ectopic testis has migrated or as an undescended testis on the contralateral side. US and MR imaging can detect the transverse testicular ectopia by its characteristic appearance and so provide useful information about any associated anomalies. We report here on a case of transverse testicular ectopia that was diagnosed by US and MR imaging in a 10-month-old boy, and we review the relevant literature.

First Report of Penicillium brasilianum and P. daleae Isolated from Soil in Korea

In this study, a total of 300 isolates of Penicillium and related teleomorphic genera were collected from soils of 17 locations in Korea from April to May, 2004. Ninety four isolates were identified as the species of Penicillium subgenus Furcatum based on cultural and morphological characteristics and beta-tubulin gene sequences. Among the species, Korean isolates of P. brasilianum Bat. and P. daleae K. M. Zalessky were phylogenetically identical to the reference species based on DNA sequence of the beta-tubulin gene. Here we described and illustrated P. brasilianum and P. daleae that are new in Korea.

Peritoneal Lymphomatosis: Case Report

Peritoneal lymphomatosis is a rare manifestation of high grade lymphomas. Although it is difficult to differentiate peritoneal lymphomatosis from other peritoneal diseases such as peritoneal carcinomatosis and leiomyomatosis clinically and radiologically, it should be included in differential diagnosis because the disease is curable with chemotherapy. Consequently, radiologic diagnosis plays a very important role in the detection of this disease. We experienced two cases of peritoneal lymphomatosis with primary gastrointestinal lymphomas in the distal ileum. The two patients were 25 and 50-year-old males. Abdominal CT, ultrasound and barium study were performed on both patients. Both patients had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma confirmed with open or sonographically guided biopsies. Although radiologic appearances overlapped, characteristic findings of long-segmental circumscribed annular mass, aneurysmal luminal dilatation, small to moderate amount of ascites without septation or loculation, diffuse involvement of mesentery, omentum and peritoneum, and enlarged lymph nodes were helpful in narrowing the range of possible diagnoses.

Taxonomic Studies on Alternaria in Korea (1)

The taxonomy of the Alternaria spp. has been a subject, of controversy because of their high variability in conidial morphology and polymorphism displayed even in pure cultures. The published Korean literature on the genus Alternaria is scattered and fragmentary, and pertains to about 25 species with special emphasis on occurrence and pathogenicity, but mycological studies on this group of fungi are insufficient. This is the first series of detailed and consolidated account of Korean species of Alternaria, which includes 11 species; viz., Alternaria brassicae, A. brassicicola, A. cinerariae, A. dauci, A. dianthi, A. dianthicola, A. helianthi, A. helianthinffciens, A. iridicola, A. japonica and A. protenta. Detailed diagnostic descriptions, specific characterizations, taxonomic discussions and illustrations for each species are presented.

Occurrence of Alternaria cassiae in Seeds of Sickle Senna in Korea

Alternaria cassiae Jurair & Khan was recorded on seeds of sickle senna(Cassia tora L.). Seed infection ranged from 25~45% in two samples. Developing roots and shoots turn brown and died in case of severe infection. Detailed descriptions were given on the habit characters of the fungus and on the morphology of conidiophores and condia. This is the first report of A. cassiae on seeds of Cassia.

Erratum: Taxonomic Studies on Alternaria in Korea (1)

Page 31. The size of conidia of Alternatia brassicicola should be 20~80x8~25 microm instead of 20~120x8~30 microm.