Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Diplogasteroides sp., a Cryptic Population of the Haslacheri Group (Diplogastridae), and Parasitorhabditis terebranus (Rhabditidae) from Korea.

Diplogasteroides sp., a cryptic population of D. haslacheri, and Parasitorhabditis terebranus were reported from the frass of Monochamus alternatus galleries in dead Pinus thunbergii for the first time in Korea. Females and males are morphologically characterized and their linked DNA barcodes (18S-rRNA, 28S-rRNA, ITS-rRNA and COI) supplied. Females and males of the two species from Korea conform to the original species descriptions from Europe and the USA, with variations in a few details in morphometrics. Specifically, Diplogasteroides sp. is morphologically very similar to D. haslacheri. However, it cannot be designated as D. haslacheri due to the existence of cryptic species complex within the haslacheri group (D. haslacheri, D. asiaticus, D. nix, D. andrassyi, and D. carinthiacus), a condition requiring hybridization studies to test species identity within the group. Based on analysis of COI sequences, differences among these cryptic species are evident. Thus, in addition to hybridization tests, the COI might be a powerful DNA barcoding marker for the precise identification of these cryptic species within the genus. Additionally, this is the first molecular characterization of P. terebranus, and the species is herein recorded for the first time outside its type locality.

Diel Rhythmicity of Field Responses to Synthetic Pheromone Lures in the Pine Sawyer Monochamus saltuarius.

The pine wood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, causes lethal pine wilt disease (PWD) in Asia and Europe and has become a serious threat to global pine forest ecosystems. In Korea, Monochamus saltuarius transmits PWN not only to Pinus densiflora, but also to Pinus koraiensis, which is widely distributed across eastern Asia. The diel rhythmicity of M. saltuarius in response to its aggregation pheromone was studied with the aim of providing reliable data for the prevention of PWD and control of Monochamus spp. Using a spray dispenser controlled with an electronic timer, M. saltuarius pheromone and attractants (PA) were sprayed to determine the diel rhythm of the response to PA. The spraying period was divided into four time periods: 05:00-11:00 (time period A), 11:00-17:00 (time period B), 17:00-23:00 (time period C), and 23:00-05:00 (time period D). The largest number of M. saltuarius was caught in time period B, followed by A, C, and D. It could be concluded that the flight activity of M. saltuarius in response to PA was diurnal. The results of this study improve the understanding of the behavioral biology of M. saltuarius, allowing for the development of pest management strategies to prevent the spread of PWN and control its vector.

Prognostic Value of Elevated Homocysteine Levels in Korean Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether an elevated homocysteine (Hcy) level is associated with a worse prognosis in Korean patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 5839 patients (60.4% male, mean age 61.3±11.2 years) with CAD were enrolled from 2000 to 2010 at Gangnam Severance Hospital. CAD was diagnosed by invasive coronary angiography. Laboratory values including Hcy level were obtained on the day of coronary angiography and analyses were performed shortly after sampling. Patients were divided into two groups according to their Hcy levels. Baseline risk factors, coronary angiographic findings, length of follow-up, and composite endpoints including cardiac death (CD) and non-fatal myocardial infarction (NFMI) were recorded. 1:1 propensity score matched analysis was also performed. RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up period of 4.4±2.5 years, there were 132 composite endpoints (75 CD and 57 NFMI) with an event rate of 2.3%. Mean Hcy level was 9.9±4.3 µmol/L (normal Hcy 7.9±1.5 µmol/L and elevated Hcy 13.9±5.1 µmol/L). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed an association of elevated Hcy level with worse prognosis (p<0.0001). In addition, a multivariate Cox regression analysis showed an association of elevated Hcy level with worse prognosis for both the entire cohort (hazard ratio [HR] 2.077, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.467-2.941, p<0.0001) and the propensity score matched cohort (HR 1.982, 95% CI 1.305-3.009, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Elevated Hcy level is associated with worse outcomes in Korean patients with CAD.

Carotid Artery End-Diastolic Velocity and Future Cerebro-Cardiovascular Events in Asymptomatic High Risk Patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Prognostic value of additional carotid Doppler evaluations to carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque has not been completely evaluated. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 1119 patients with risk factors for, but without, overt coronary artery disease (CAD), who underwent both carotid ultrasound and Doppler examination were included in the present study. Parameters of interest included peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities, resistive indices of the carotid arteries, IMT, and plaque measurements. The primary end-point was all-cause cerebro-cardiovascular events (CVEs) including acute myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization therapy, heart failure admission, stroke, and cardiovascular death. Model 1 covariates comprised age and sex; Model 2 also included hypertension, diabetes and smoking; Model 3 also had use of aspirin and statin; and Model 4 also included IMT and plaque. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration was 1386±461 days and the mean age of the study population was 60±12 years. Amongst 1119 participants, 43% were women, 57% had a history of hypertension, and 23% had diabetes. During follow-up, 6.6% of patients experienced CVEs. Among carotid Doppler parameters, average common carotid artery end-diastolic velocity was the independent predictor for future CVEs after adjustments for all models variables (HR 0.95 per cm/s, 95% confident interval 0.91-0.99, p=0.034 in Model 4) and significantly increased the predictive value of Model 4 (global χ(2)=59.0 vs. 62.8, p=0.029). CONCLUSION: Carotid Doppler measurements in addition to IMT and plaque evaluation are independently associated with future CVEs in asymptomatic patients at risk for CAD.

Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Recurrent or Residual Superficial Esophageal Cancer after Chemoradiotherapy: Two Cases.

We report two cases of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for recurrent or residual esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) lesions after chemoradiotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer. Case 1 involved a 64-year-old man who had previously undergone chemoradiotherapy for advanced ESCC and achieved a complete response (CR) for 22 months, until metachronous recurrent superficial ESCC was detected on follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). We performed ESD and found no evidence of recurrence for 24 months. Case 2 involved a 59-year-old man who had previously undergone chemoradiotherapy for advanced ESCC. He responded favorably to treatment, and most of the tumor had disappeared on follow-up EGD 4 months later. However, there were two residual superficial esophageal lugol-voiding lesions. We performed ESD, and he had a CR for 32 months thereafter. ESD can be considered a viable treatment option for recurrent or residual superficial ESCC after chemoradiotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer.

Elevated Lipoprotein(a) has Incremental Prognostic Value in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Symptomatic Coronary Artery Disease.

AIM: In addition to type 2 diabetes, an elevated Lp(a) level is known to be a surrogate biomarker of cardiovascular disease. However, recent studies have demonstrated that the Lp(a) levels are lower in type 2 diabetic patients than in non-diabetic subjects. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the prognostic value of elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] in type 2 diabetic patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: A total of 1494 diabetic patients with CAD (62.3% men, mean age: 63.5 ± 10.3 years) were enrolled. CAD was diagnosed using invasive coronary angiography, and laboratory values for lipid parameters, including Lp(a), were obtained on the day of coronary angiography. The patients were divided into tertile groups according to the individual Lp(a) level. The baseline characteristics, coronary angiographic findings, duration of follow-up and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) were recorded. RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up period of 4.4 ± 2.6 years, there were 59 MACEs (35 cardiac deaths and 24 cases of non-fatal myocardial infarction), for an event rate of 3.9%. A survival probability plot according to the Lp(a) tertile revealed that an elevated Lp(a) level was associated with a worse prognosis (p = 0.008), after adjusting for age, gender, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking and the extent of CAD. Furthermore, the addition of an elevated Lp(a) level to the reference model improved the integrated discrimination improvement (0.0216, p ＜ 0.001), continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI) (0.5721, p = 0.012) and NRI (0.1549, p = 0.004) values. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of the prognosis, elevated Lp(a) is associated with worse outcomes in type 2 diabetic patients with symptomatic CAD. Furthermore, an elevated Lp(a) level has incremental prognostic value in type 2 diabetic patients with symptomatic CAD.

High level of genetic diversity among Steinernema monticolum in Korea revealed by single-enzyme amplified fragment length polymorphism.

Steinernema monticolum was first described from a mountainous forest at sites of Sancheong, Gyeongnam province in Korea. Since S. monticolum is one of the most commonly isolated entomopathogenic nematodes from Korea, it is desirable to investigate the diversity of this species. Single-enzyme amplified fragment length polymorphism (SE-AFLP) analyses were used to differentiate 32 S. monticolum populations. Our results revealed a high level of genetic diversity within S. monticolum at the population level. On the geographic scale, SE-AFLP analysis revealed that there was no correlation between the genetic similarity of populations of this species and their geographical proximity.

Comparative proteomic study between tuberous roots of light orange- and purple-fleshed sweetpotato cultivars.

This study compares the differences in proteomes expressed in tuberous roots of a light orange-fleshed sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. cultivar Yulmi) and a purple-fleshed sweetpotato cultivar (Shinjami). More than 370 protein spots were reproducibly detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, in which 35 spots were up-regulated (Yulmi vs. Shinjami) or uniquely expressed (only Yulmi or Shinjami) in either of the two cultivars. Of these 35 protein spots, 23 were expressed in Yulmi and 12 were expressed in Shinjami. These protein spots were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Fifteen proteins in Yulmi and eight proteins in Shinjami were identified from the up-regulated (Yulmi vs. Shinjami) or uniquely expressed (only Yulmi or Shinjami) proteins, respectively. In Yulmi, α-amylase and isomerase precursor-like protein were uniquely expressed or up-regulated and activities of α-amylase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, and dehydroascorbate reductase were higher than in Shinjami. In Shinjami, peroxidase precursor and aldo-keto reductase were uniquely expressed or up-regulated and peroxidase and aldo-keto reductase activities were higher than in Yulmi. PSG-RGH7 uniquely expressed only in Shinjami and the cultivar was evaluated more resistant than Yulmi against the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofold and White, 1919) Chitwood 1949 on the basis of shoot and root growth. Egg mass formation was 14.9-fold less in Shinjami than in Yulmi. These results provide important clues that can provide a foundation for sweetpotato proteomics and lead to the characterization of the physiological function of differentially expressed proteins.

[Analysis of pouchitis after restorative proctocolectomy].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pouchitis is one of the most common and debilitating complications of a restorative proctocolectomy. We aimed to analyze the features of pouchitis after restorative proctocolecomy and to determine the risk factors related to its development. METHODS: A study was undertaken in 169 patients who underwent total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis between July 1989 and December 2003. Pouchitis was defined as change of bowel habit, change in stool consistency, hematochezia or abdominal pain, febrile sensation and/or low-grade fever improved by metronidazole or ciprofloxacin without evidence of infectious disease and sphincter damage. RESULTS: Among the 169 patients, patients with ulcerative colitis were 64, familial and attenuated adenomatous polyposis 44, Crohn's disease 2, and synchronous or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer were 59 cases. Overall, pouchitis occurred in 15.9% of the patients. The incidence was 37.5% in ulcerative colitis, 1% in non-ulcerative colitis, and 50% in Crohn's disease. In ulcerative colitis group, most of the pouchitis (60.9%) occurred within 6 months after the operation and the remainder experienced the first attack within 1 year after operation. Three patients progressed to chronic pouchitis. There was no association between pouchitis rate and sex, history of smoking, steroid use, temporary ileostomy construction, involvement of appendix or proximal colon, and evidence of indeterminate colitis. Only age was significantly related to the occurrence of pouchitis. CONCLUSIONS: Pouchitis developed exclusively in ulcerative colitis than other disease groups. Pouchitis occurred most frequently within 6 months after the operation, therefore, it is important to investigate carefully during one year after the operation in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Expression of the Low Molecular Weight Cyclin E is Early Event in Colorectal Carcinogenesis.

PURPOSE: Cyclin E is essential for the transition from the G1 to S-phase of the cell cycle, and plays important roles in carcinogenesis in many cancers. Especially, low molecular weight cyclin E is overexpressed in breast cancer and its level of expression correlates well with the progression and prognosis. Although the cyclin E level is amplified, and overexpressed, in many cancers, including colorectal cancer, the role of low molecular weight cyclin E in colorectal cancer remains to be studied. Therefore, the expression of low molecular weight cyclin E in various stages of colorectal tumors was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of low molecular weight cyclin E was analyzed in 45 tumors, and compared with paired normal mucosa from the same patients (6 adenomas, 11 stage A, 14 stage B and 14 stage C colorectal cancers) by Western blot analysis. The expres sion of low molecular weight cyclin E was also analyzed in normal colon mucosa from 12 healthy normal controls. RESULTS: The low molecular weight cyclin E was expressed exclusively in all stages of colon tumors, but not in the normal mucosa from the same patients or in the normal controls. However, there was no correlation between tumor progression and the degree of expression of low molecular weight cyclin E. CONCLUSION: The expression of low molecular weight cyclin E is suggested to be an early event in colorectal carcinogenesis.