When plants are grown under saline conditions, photosynthetic activity decreases leading to reduced plant growth, leaf area, chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence. Seeds and seedlings of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) were grown in NaCl solutions under controlled greenhouse conditions. The NaCl concentrations in complete nutrient solutions were 0 (control), 4.7, 9.4 and 14.1 dS m -1. The salinity reduced germination percentage and also delayed the germination rate as the salt level increased. Lengths and fresh weights of root and shoot decreased with the increasing salt concentration. Furthermore, photochemical efficiency of PS2 (F v /F m ), photochemical quenching coefficient (q P ), non photochemical quenching coefficient (q N ), leaf area and chlorophyll content (SPAD value) were also reduced (P ≤ 0.001) by salt stress. In contrast, the Fo/Fm ratio increased with increasing salt concentration while salinity showed no effect on the efficiency of excitation captured by open PS2 (Fv'/Fm'), electron transport rate (ETR), and leaf water content. Linear regression shows that the photochemical efficiency of PS2 (F v /F m ) had a positive relationship with the photochemical quenching coefficient (q P ), leaf area and chlorophyll content but had no relation with Fv'/Fm', Fo/Fm, and q N. Key words: Raphanus sativus L., plant growth, photosynthesis, leaf area CRESCIMENTO REDUZIDO POR SALINIDADE, FOTOQUÍMICA PS2 E CONTEÚDO DE CLOROFILA EM RABANETERESUMO: Quando plantas crescem sob condições de salinidade, sua atividade fotossintética diminui levando a um crescimento reduzido, menor área foliar, conteúdo de clorofila e fluorescência de clorofila. Sementes e plântulas de rabanete (Raphanus sativus L.) foram germinadas e conduzidas em soluções de NaCl sob condições controladas de casa de vegetação. As concentrações de NaCl adicionado a solução nutritiva completa foram 0 (Controle), 4,7; 9,4 e 14,1 dS m -1. A salinidade diminui a percentagem de germinação e também atrasou a taxa de germinação com o aumento do nível de sal. Comprimento e peso fresco da parte aérea e da raiz decresceram com o aumento da concentração salina. Além disso, a eficiência fotoquímica de PS2 (F v /F m ), o coeficiente fotoquímico de 'quenchin" (q p ), o coeficiente não fotoquímico de "quenching" (q n ), a área foliar e o teor de clorofila (valor SPAD) também foram reduzidos (P ≤ 0,001) por estresse de sal. Ao contrário, a relação Fo/Fm aumentou com a concentração salina, ao passo que a salinidade não teve efeito sobre a eficiência de excitação capturada pelo PS2 aberto (Fv'/Fm'), taxa de transporte eletrônico (ETR) e conteúdo de água na folha. Através de regressão linear mostrou-se que a eficiência fotossintética de PS2 (F v /F m ) teve uma relação positiva com o coeficiente fotoquímico de "quenching" (q p ), área foliar e conteúdo de clorofila, mas nenhuma relação com (Fv/Fm), (Fo/Fm), e q n .

We report the first description of a new integron containing bla(VIM-2), a metallo-beta-lactamase gene from Enterobacter cloacae KU680, which was isolated from peritoneal fluid of a liver cirrhosis patient in South Korea. Antibiotic susceptibility testing, and modified Hodge and EDTA-disc synergy tests, were carried out to screen for metallo-beta-lactamase-producing strains. PCR and sequence analysis were used to identify and analyse the bla(VIM-2)-containing integron. The isolate was resistant to most beta-lactams, including imipenem, and demonstrated a positive modified Hodge and EDTA-disc synergy test, which are findings suggesting a metallo-beta-lactamase. Preliminary PCR-based experiments detected the metallo-beta-lactamase gene bla(VIM-2). Sequencing of the 4392 bp cloned PCR amplicon, containing the gene cassette bla(VIM-2), revealed the structure of the class 1 integron. The integron also contained additional insert gene cassettes, aadA, and unknown open reading frames 'orfII' and 'orfIII'. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that this metallo-beta-lactamase gene has been detected in E. cloacae.

Introduction:Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are known to be induced by various factors. In this study, we tried to identify circulating levels of NETs in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and to confirm its suitability as a new circulating marker in their detection. Methods:We prospectively enrolled 95 patients with a diagnosis of ACS (N = 37) or AIS (N = 58) in Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Korea. The control group was selected from healthy adults (N = 25) who visited the hospital for health screening.Circulating levels of NETs were evaluated by measuring plasma concentrations of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and DNA-histone complex. Results:The concentrations of dsDNA were statistically higher in patients with ACS or AIS than those in the control group (both P < .001). In the univariable and multivariable analyses, statistically significant risk factors were troponin I (TnI) level and dsDNA concentration in the ACS group (P = .046 and P = .015, respectively) and only dsDNA concentration in the AIS group (P = .002). In the receiver operating characteristic curve analyses, the area under the curve values for TnI level and dsDNA concentration in the ACS group were 0.878 and 0.968, respectively, and the value for dsDNA concentration in the AIS group was 0.859.

As the incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterial infection has been increasing recently in Korea, the importance of drug susceptibility test for clinical isolates of mycobacteria has become larger. In this study we determined the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of clinical isolates of M. fortuitum and M. abscessus in Korea, and evaluated the efficacy of a modified broth microdilution method using 2,3-diphenyl-5-thienyl-(2)-tetrazolium chloride (STC), in terms of its ability to provide accurate and easy-to-read minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) endpoints for the susceptibility testing of rapidly growing mycobacteria. Most isolates of M. fortuitum and M. abscessus in Korea are susceptible or intermediately susceptible to amikacin, cefoxitin, ciprofloxacin, and clarithromycin. Many isolates of M. fortuitum are susceptible to doxycycline, sulfamethoxazole, and imipenem, while many M. abscessus isolates are resistant to these drugs. In the present study, the modified broth microdilution method using STC was found to be reliable, easy to read, and inexpensive for M. fortuitum and M. abscessus susceptibility testing. The modified colorimetric MIC testing method using STC was proven to be a useful surrogate for RGM antibiotic susceptibility testing.

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