Species Belonging to Genus Protodaedalea in Korea

One rare and interesting species collected from Seorak-san, Inje-gun; Yeonyeop-san, Hongcheon-gun; Daeam-san, Yanggu-gun, Gangwon-do; Pocheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do; Songni-san, Boeun-gun; Joryeong-san, Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do and Sobaeksan, Yeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do is described and illustrated in detail. The species "Protodaedalea hispida Imazeki" and genus "Protodaedalea Iamzeki" has not been previously recorded in Korean fungal flora. The specimens have been deposited in the Herbarium Conservation Center of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Tectella patellaris from Korea

One rare and interesting species collected from Gyeryong-san, Chungnam Province is described and illustrated in detail. The species "Tectella patellaris (Fr.) Murr." and genus "Tectella Earle" is a first record for Korean fungal flora. Specimens cited here have been deposited in the Herbarium Conservation Center of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Notes on Some New Species of Psathyrella

This study contains descriptions and illustrations of three new and noteworthy taxa of the genus Psathyrella from Korea. Among them, Psathyrella pervelatoid, P. koreana, and P. utriformcystis are new to science. All collections cited here are deposited in the Herbarium Conservation Center of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

New Species of Agaricales

Clitocybe alboinfundibulliforme sp. nov. is widely distributed in Korea. Volvariella koreana sp. nov. is rarely distributed in Korea. These taxa were occasionally found together at the same place. Both of these species seem to be associated with each other. These two species are fully described and illustrated in this paper.

Taxonomic Study on Some Unrecorded Species of Korean Hydropus

Specimens belonging to the genera Mycena and Collybia which have been preserved in the herbarium of National Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Suwon, Korea were investigated. Among them, four species were confirmed to be Hydropus species viz Hydropus marginellus, H. nitrata, H. erinensis, and H. floccipes. Authors registered them to the Korean mycoflora with full descriptions, illustrations and Korean names.

Taxonomic Studies on the Genus Crepidotus in Korea

For investigation of the species diversity of the Genus Crepidotus in Korea and constructing a key to Korean Crepidotus species, a total of 65 specimens, collected from 18 locations from 1982 to 2002, were observed for morphological characters of carpophores and other features. All the specimens have been preserved in the herbarium of the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, R.D.A., Suwon, Korea. The specimens were identified according to the classification systems given by Hesler and Smith(1965), Nordstein(1990), Orton(1960), Pilat(1948), Senn-Irlet(1991, 1992, 1993) and Singer(1951, 1973, 1986). In this study, a total of 10 Crepidotus species were confirmed. Among them, Korean common names were designated to six unrecorded species as follows: C. uber; C. hygrophanus; C. latifolius; C. obscurus; C. subverrucisporus; and C. circinatus. A key to 10 Crepidotus species has been constructed.

A Case of Amnesia Complicated by Poisoning of the Amanita Pantherina

Amanita pantherina and Amanita muscaria have been called hallucinogenic fungi. They contain ibotenic acid and muscimol. Patients may appear to be intoxicated or have apparent 'patherina-muscaria' syndrome, which is atropine-like, but fatality is rare. Confusion, dizziness, tiredness, visual and auditory hypersensitivity, space distortion, unawareness of time, dryness of the mouth, mydriasis and hallucination may occur. Also, in exceptionally rare severe poisoning cases, convulsion, coma and death may occur. A 50-year-old well-nourished and developed man was admitted to this hospital with a 30-minute history of semicoma and involuntary contraction of the extremities which had developed following mushroom ingestion 2 hours earlier. Ingested mushrooms were revealed to be A. pantherina by a mycologist. The patient recovered 7 hours later after only supportive management, but the next day he couldn't recalled any of his hospital duration from admission to 20 hours later. Only a few reports have precise descriptions of the subspecies of the genus and there was no reports on poisoning by A. pantherina in Korea. In addition, there are no reports of amnesia following poisoning by A. pantherina. For these reasons, we report this case, together with a review of the literature.

Taxonomic Study on Volvariella in Korea

Diversities of Korean species belonging to the genus Volvariella have been studied through forty five dried specimens collected throughout the Korean peninsula for 28 years, from 1972 to 2000, and preserved in NIAST's herbarium. We have found one unrecorded species of the genus Volvariella in Korea: V. villosavolva (Lloyd) Sing, Stirp Taylori Korean common names were designated. Ten species of the genus Volvariella including the recorded Korean species of Volvariella have been identified and the keys to the species were constructed.

Taxonomic Study on Inocybe in Korea

Dried specimens of the genus Inocybe collected from mountain areas throughout the Korean country from 1982 to 1998 and preserved in NIAST were investigated. Out of them, Inocybe hystrix were confirmed as an unrecorded species in Korea. In 1991 Lee et al., previously recorded Inocybe kasukayamensis only with its scientific name and korean common name. In this study we report it with full descriptions of morphological characteristics and diagnosis of micro-structures of this species.

Amanita virosa induced toxic hepatitis: report of three cases

We report here three cases of Amanita virosa induced toxic hepatitis. Two of the three cases recovered but the other died 10 days after mushroom ingestion. Since the mortality of Amanita mushroom induced toxic hepatitis is very high, prompt diagnosis and aggressive therapeutic measures should be initiated as soon as possible. Our cases showed that the initial serum aminotransferase levels might not predict the clinical outcome of the patient, but that the prothrombin time (PT) seemed to be a more useful prognostic marker. Close monitoring of aminotransferase levels and PT as well as appropriate therapy are recommended. All three cases showed signs of proteinuria and we were able to characterize mixed tubular and glomerular type proteinuria at 3 or 4 days after ingestion in two cases. Among the previously reported Korean cases of suspected Amanita induced toxic hepatitis, most species could not be identified except for four cases of Amanita virosa. No cases of Amanita phalloides induced toxic hepatitis have been identified in Korea so far.

Amatoxins Poisonings in Korea / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: From the review of Korean literature most fatal mushroom poisonings have been due to amatoxins with high mortality. So far there have never been investigations on the amatoxins poisonings such as annual incidence, mortality, common causal species, and endemic areas. This study was carried out to develop some basic statistics as part of studies for an effective management of amatoxins intoxications. METHOD: For the year 1999 authors collected cases of mushroom poisonings which had been mainly gathered from hospitals nation-wide. All of the cases with suggestive amatoxins poisonings were screened by symptomatology and laboratory findings. The causal species of mushrooms were identified grossly and microscopically. RESULTS: A total of 54 victims with mushroom poisonings were evaluated. The causal mushroom toxins were diagnosed or strongly suggested as amatoxins in 43 of 54 victims. Eleven of 54 victims did not conform to the category of amatoxins intoxication due to absent or minimal elevation of aminotransferase. Mean age of the victims was 44.3 23.3 (range: 7-78) with male predominance (1.2 : 1). The causal species were confirmed, or strongly suggested, as Amanita virosa in 25 victims, Amanita subjunquillea in 14, and unknown species in 4. Thirty-five out of a total of 43 were regarded as moderate to severe intoxication (AST or ALT >1,000 IU/L) with 20% mortality. Most fatal victims showed marked thrombocytopenia (40,000 19,000/mm3) compared to non-fatal victims (109,066 42,245/mm3). A total of 88.4% of victims was developed in the Kangwon and Kyungpuk provinces. Both are west of the Taebaek Mountains (38/43). CONCLUSIONS: Although the common causal species for amatoxins poisonings in Korea are different from European countries and North America, the mortality is similar to that of those areas. In order to further reduce the mortality, bedside diagnostic methods using biological fluids and more effective therapy for liver failure should be established.

A Case of Cogan-Reese Syndrome

Cogan-Reese syndrome is a disease characterized by glaucoma in an eye with peripheral anterior synechia, multiple pigmented iris nodules, and ectopic Descemet's membranes. Cogan-Reese syndrome is a variant of iridocorneal endothelial syndrome and shares common properties whcih are corneal endothelial degeneration, iris atrophy and secondary glaucoma, with progressive iris atrophy and Chandler's syndrome. We have experienced a 43-year-old female patient complaining of visual dimness in the left eye. On examination, we found characteristics of Cogan-Reese syndrome which were corneal endothelial pleomorphism and cell loss, corneal edema, iris atrophy and multiple pigmented nodules on the surface of the iris, peripheral anterior synechia, and increased intraocular pressure in the left eye. We report a case of Cogan-Reese syndrome which has not been reported in Korea.