Isolation of Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) from Korea

A survey for entomopathogenic nematodes was conducted throughout the nine provinces and within three city limits in the Republic of Korea during the summers of 1990 and 1991. Six of the nine provinces and one of the three cities were positive for entomopathogenic nematodes. Out of the total 499 soil samples, 23 (4.6%) were positive for entomopathogenic nematodes with 19 (3.8%) containing Steinernema and 4 (0.8%) containing Heterorhabditis. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and three distinct groups of Steinernema species were identified. One of the three steinernematid groups was identified as S. carpocapsae based on cross breeding studies. Positive sample sites in each habitat included 15 of the 415 (3.6%) from forests including regrowth areas with shrubs, 1 of the 27 (3.7%) from turfgrass including golf courses and parks, 3 of the 24 (12.5%) from agricultural fields, 2 of the 16 (12.5%) along riparian areas, and 2 of the 17 (11.8%) near the seashore. We advocate that more surveys be conducted for entomopathogenic nematodes before commercial sources of nematodes are widely applied which may obscure the naturally-occurring nematodes.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Isolation of Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) from Korea

A survey for entomopathogenic nematodes was conducted throughout the nine provinces and within three city limits in the Republic of Korea during the summers of 1990 and 1991. Six of the nine provinces and one of the three cities were positive for entomopathogenic nematodes. Out of the total 499 soil samples, 23 (4.6%) were positive for entomopathogenic nematodes with 19 (3.8%) containing Steinernema and 4 (0.8%) containing Heterorhabditis. Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and three distinct groups of Steinernema species were identified. One of the three steinernematid groups was identified as S. carpocapsae based on cross breeding studies. Positive sample sites in each habitat included 15 of the 415 (3.6%) from forests including regrowth areas with shrubs, 1 of the 27 (3.7%) from turfgrass including golf courses and parks, 3 of the 24 (12.5%) from agricultural fields, 2 of the 16 (12.5%) along riparian areas, and 2 of the 17 (11.8%) near the seashore. We advocate that more surveys be conducted for entomopathogenic nematodes before commercial sources of nematodes are widely applied which may obscure the naturally-occurring nematodes.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Control Effect of Sudan Grass on Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, in Cucumber and Lettuce Greenhouses

The effect of biological control of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, on cucumber and lettuce was evaluated with green manure crop species in greenhouse. Nematicidal effect of sudan grass cultivation in cucumber greenhouse was comparable to that of chemical treatment with fosthiazate GR, showing the high activity of 88.6%. Sudan grass cultivation in lettuce greenhouse significantly reduced the number of M. incognita in soil, showing 93.5% of nematiidal activity. In addition, since growth of sudan grass was superior to other green manure crop species, it is considered that cultivation of sudan grass is proper to control M. incognita in greenhouse

Dual Function of a Bee Venom Serine Protease: Prophenoloxidase-Activating Factor in Arthropods and Fibrin(ogen)olytic Enzyme in Mammals

Bee venom contains a variety of peptides and enzymes, including serine proteases. While the presence of serine proteases in bee venom has been demonstrated, the role of these proteins in bee venom has not been elucidated. Furthermore, there is currently no information available regarding the melanization response or the fibrin(ogen)olytic activity of bee venom serine protease, and the molecular mechanism of its action remains unknown. Here we show that bee venom serine protease (Bi-VSP) is a multifunctional enzyme. In insects, Bi-VSP acts as an arthropod prophenoloxidase (proPO)-activating factor (PPAF), thereby triggering the phenoloxidase (PO) cascade. Bi-VSP injected through the stinger induces a lethal melanization response in target insects by modulating the innate immune response. In mammals, Bi-VSP acts similarly to snake venom serine protease, which exhibits fibrin(ogen)olytic activity. Bi-VSP activates prothrombin and directly degrades fibrinogen into fibrin degradation products, defining roles for Bi-VSP as a prothrombin activator, a thrombin-like protease, and a plasmin-like protease. These findings provide a novel view of the mechanism of bee venom in which the bee veno

Development and validation of a symptom assessment tool for postmicturition dribble: A prospective, multicenter, observational study in Korea.

ObjectivesPostmicturition dribble (PMD) is a very common symptom in males with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) worldwide, but there is no adequate questionnaire to assess it. Therefore, we developed a questionnaire named the Hallym Post Micturition Dribble Questionnaire (HPMDQ) to assess PMD, and the aim of this study is to validate it.MethodsA series of consecutive male patients newly diagnosed with LUTS and over 40 years of age who visited any of 5 medical institutions were included. LUTS were assessed in all patients using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and PMD was assessed using the HPMDQ.ResultsIn total, 2134 male patients aged 40 to 91 years were included in this study. Of these patients, 1088 (51.0%) reported PMD. In the PMD group, the mean values for HPMDQ-Q1, HPMDQ-Q2, HPMDQ-Q3 and HPMDQ total score were 1.39, 1.10, 1.76 and 4.25, respectively. In the non-PMD group, the mean values of these scores were 0, 0.18, 1.52 and 1.58, respectively. The difference in HPMDQ scores between the 2 groups was statistically significant. PMD was significantly associated with the voiding symptoms of LUTS, prostate size and postvoid residual but not with storage symptoms.ConclusionsThe HPMDQ, which consists of 5 questions (frequency, severity, bother, quality of life and response to treatment for PMD), was developed, and its use for assessing PMD is validated in this study. It may be a useful tool for further research and in clinical practice for PMD