First Report of Potato Stem-End Rot Caused by Fusarium oxysporum in Korea

In this study, we identified the causative agent of stem-end rot in potatoes that were grown in Gangwon alpine areas of Korea in 2013. The disease symptoms included appearance of slightly sunken circular lesion with corky rot on the potato surface at the stem-end portion. The fungal species isolated from the infected potatoes were grown on potato dextrose agar and produced white aerial mycelia with dark violet pigments. The conidiophores were branched and monophialidic. The microconidia had ellipsoidal to cylindrical shapes and ranged from 2.6~11.4 x 1.9~3.5 microm in size. The macroconidia ranged from 12.7~24.7 x 2.7~3.6 microm in size and had slightly curved or fusiform shape with 2 to 5 septate. Chlamydospores ranged from 6.1~8.1 x 5.7~8.3 microm in size and were present singly or in pairs. The causal agent of potato stem-end rot was identified as Fusarium oxysporum by morphological characterization and by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS4) regions of rRNA. Artificial inoculation of the pathogen resulted in development of disease symptoms and the re-isolated pathogen showed characteristics of F. oxysporum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report that potato stem-end rot is caused by F. oxysporum in Korea.

The First Report of Postharvest Stem Rot of Kohlrabi Caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Korea

In March 2014, a kohlrabi stem rot sample was collected from the cold storage room of Daegwallyong Horticultural Cooperative, Korea. White and fuzzy mycelial growth was observed on the stem, symptomatic of stem rot disease. The pathogen was isolated from the infected stem and cultured on potato dextrose agar for further fungal morphological observation and to confirm its pathogenicity, according to Koch's postulates. Morphological data, pathogenicity test results, and rDNA sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS 1 and 4) showed that the postharvest stem rot of kohlrabi was caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This is the first report of postharvest stem rot of kohlrabi in Korea.

The Effects of Anthropometric Factors and Serologic Factors of the Metabolic Syndrome on Prostate-Specific Antigen Levels in Korean Men

PURPOSE: We evaluated the effects of anthropometric and serological parameters on serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in Korean men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 92,891 healthy Korean men who visited our health promotion center for a general health checkup. The mean age of the participants was 42.6 years (range, 20-77 years). Exclusion criteria were a serum PSA level over 4.0 ng/dl or pyuria on urinalysis (>5 white blood cells/high power field). All participants were evaluated for several anthropometric factors (height, weight, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index [BMI], body surface area [BSA], fat mass, body fat percentage, and lean body mass) and for serologic parameters including components of the metabolic syndrome (fasting blood sugar, triglyceride [TG], and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) biochemically. We analyzed the relationship between serum PSA levels and the various anthropometric and serologic parameters. RESULTS: In the univariate analysis, serum PSA levels were significantly positively correlated with age and with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol after adjustment for age. On the other hand, serum PSA levels were negatively correlated with height, weight, BMI, BSA, fat mass, body fat percentage, lean body mass, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and TG. In the multivariate analysis, age and LDL-cholesterol had positive correlations with serum PSA levels, but BMI, BSA, fat mass, lean body mass, and TG were negatively correlated with PSA levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the serum PSA level is significantly influenced by age, the components of metabolic syndrome (BMI, TG), and serologic parameters such as LDL-cholesterol. The normal range of serum PSA should be considered in association with metabolic syndrome and anthropometric factors as well as age.

Lymphoepithelioma-like Carcinoma of the Renal Pelvis / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Lymphoepithelioma was originally described as a neoplasm in the nasopharynx. Tumors with histologic features similar to those of nasopharyngeal lymphoepithelioma have been identified in anatomic sites other than the nasopharynx, such as the salivary gland, lung, thymus and stomach; these tumors have been termed lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma(LELC). The etiology and pathogenesis of this neoplasm in the renal pelvis is not clear. We have experienced a case of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the renal pelvis and we report here on this along with a brief review of the relevant literature.

Lymphoepithelioma-like Carcinoma of the Renal Pelvis / 대한비뇨기과학회지

Lymphoepithelioma was originally described as a neoplasm in the nasopharynx. Tumors with histologic features similar to those of nasopharyngeal lymphoepithelioma have been identified in anatomic sites other than the nasopharynx, such as the salivary gland, lung, thymus and stomach; these tumors have been termed lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma(LELC). The etiology and pathogenesis of this neoplasm in the renal pelvis is not clear. We have experienced a case of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the renal pelvis and we report here on this along with a brief review of the relevant literature.

Spontaneous Renal Artery Dissection Complicated by Renal Infarction / 대한비뇨기과학회지

A previously healthy 44-year-old woman, with no notable medical history developed left flank pain. To rule out left renal infarction, enhanced abdominal computed tomography(CT) was done and a wedge shaped hypointense lesion was identified in the left posteromedial aspect of the interpolar region. Renal angiography revealed an isolated renal artery dissection that was causing renal infarction due to narrowing of the main stem of the left renal artery. The patient experienced pain with severe uncontrolled hypertension. The patient was successfully treated by percutaneous angioplasty and renal artery stenting.