• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.385-391
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• 2005

Background : The incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) infections in Korea is increasing. This retrospective study was performed to examine the recovery rate of NTM from respiratory specimens as well as the isolated NTM colony characteristics, and to assess the clinical significance of a NTM isolation. Methods : The results of the respiratory specimens requested for an acid-fast bacilli (AFB) examination during 2002 at Asan Medical Center, along with the patients clinical characteristics were analyzed. Results : A total 26,820 respiratory specimens were requested for the acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear and culture during the study period. The proportion of M. tuberculosis and NTM isolation was 5.7% and 2.2%, respectively. Among the AFB smear and culture positive specimens, 12.2% were found to be NTM. The scotochromogen showing a low colony count < 20, which appeared to be contaminants, were isolated in 31.8% of the 584 NTM isolates. Excluding the low-colony scotochromogens, the M. avium-intracellulare complex was the most common NTM isolates (42.1%), and was also the most common causative organism for NTM pulmonary diseases. 8.4% (23/275) and 17.8% (49/275) of patients with NTM isolates met the American and British Thoracic Society diagnostic criteria for NTM pulmonary disease, respectively. Conclusion : In case of a positive AFB-smear or culture result, the possibility of NTM being a causative organism should always be considered, even in Korea, which has an intermediate incidence of tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.775-785
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• 1999

Background : Though surgery plays an important role in the management of patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, there is little information regarding the timing of resection. We tried to find out the ideal timing of operation. Method: A retrospective review was performed in 69 patients underwent pulmonary resection for pulmonary tuberculosis between January 1993 and December 1997. They were categorized into various groups according to the length of preoperative specific drug therapy. The rates of treatment failure, realpse and complication in each group were compared statistically by $x^2$-test. Results: Eighty one point two percent were men and 18.8 % women with a median age of 33 years(range, 16 to 63 years). The mean number of resistant drugs was 3.l(range, 0 to 9). Patients were treated preoperatively with multidrug regimens, which mean number of preoperative specific drugs was 4.6, in an effort to reduce the mycobacterial burden with the mean length of preoperative drug therapy, 5.0 months. Postoperative treatment was conducted for a mean period of 13.0 months with a mean number of postoperative specific drugs, 4.4. Postoperative treatment failures were confirmed in 8 among 69 patients(11.6%). 2 of these 8 patients were showed up in the preoperative 3 to 4 months medication group and each of the rest was occurred in the preoperative 2 to 3, 5 to 6, 6 to 7, 12 to 13, 17 to 18 months, less than one month medication group, respectively. 59 of 69 patients were available for evaluation of the relapse rate with the mean duration of the postoperative follow-up, 19.8 months. In 4 patients bacterial relapse was confirmed(6.8%). Each of these 4 was in the preoperative 1 to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, 5 to 6 months medication group. Categorized into various groups according to the length of preoperative specific therapy, there were no statistical significances of the treatment failure rate, relapse rate and complication rate in the groups. There were seven treatment failures of 28 who were AFB culture positive until the time of operation(25%, p<0.01). Categorized the preoperative AFB culture positive group into various groups according to the length of preoperative drug therapy, there were no statistical significances, either. Conclusion: We believe that operation plays an important ancillary role in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Our results indicate that the timing of resection according to the length of preoperative drug therapy may not cause trouble.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.64-70
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• 2012

Bacilli with fibrinolytic activities were isolated from traditionally-prepared Meju and some of these strains showed strong antifungal activities. One isolate, MJ1-4, showed the strongest antifungal activity. MJ1-4 and other isolates were identified as B. amyloliquefaciens strains by recA gene sequencing and RAPD-PCR results. B. amyloliqufaciens MJ1-4 efficiently inhibited an Aspergillus spp.-producing aflatoxin B1 ($AFB_1$) and a Penicillium spp.-producing ochratoxin (OTA) in addition to other fungi. Antifungal activity of B. amyloliquefaciens MJ1-4 culture reached its maximum (40 AU/mg protein) in LB or TSB medium around 48 hr at $37^{\circ}C$. Antifungal activity of the concentrated culture supernatant was not decreased significantly by protease treatments, implying that the antifungal substance might not be a simple peptide or protein. Considering its antifungal and fibrinolytic activities together, B. amyloliquefaciens MJ1-4 can serve as a starter for fermented soyfoods such as Cheonggukjang and Doenjang.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.588-592
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• 1996

The flavonoids isolated from Oenanthe javanica were investigated on the antimutagenic effect againt aflatoxin $B_1(AEB_1).$ The 0.5 and 1.0mg/plate of isorhamnetin reduced the mutagenicity of $AFB_1about$ 33 and 59%, respectively. Persicarin showed the 40 and 47% inhibition rate at Previous concentration, respectively.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.260-267
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• 2023

We aimed to investigate the proportions of MTB- and NTM-positive tests and the distribution patterns of species isolated by contracted testing agencies in South Korea. Respiratory specimens submitted to contracted testing agencies in South Korea for AFB culture from January 2014 to December 2021 were included (533,713 specimens in total). Trends based on MTB and NTM detection, patient sex and age, culture medium type, and testing year were analyzed. MTB and NTM positive detection increased in the patients. The average ages of MTB- and NTM-positive patients increased in those aged ≥61 years. For solid culture, the MTB detection rate decreased from 5.9% in 2014 to 3.3% in 2018 and increased to 4.7% in 2021; the NTM detection rate increased from 2.1% in 2014 to 3.4% in 2018 and 3.7% in 2021. For liquid culture, the MTB detection rate decreased from 8.3% in 2014 to 5.5% in 2018 and increased to 6.0% in 2021; the NTM detection rate increased from 3.5% in 2014 to 5.5% in 2018 and decreased to 5.3% in 2021. An isolation ratio reversal between MTB and NTM was observed in 2018. In this study, we provide information on mycobacterial isolation rates and species distributions using AFB culture test results from Korea's referral laboratories. Increased MTB- and NTM-isolation rates were observed in individuals aged ≥60 years, indicating the need for regular testing and focused management for them. Expanding liquid culture applications, which show higher positivity rates than solid culture methods, is necessary.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.137-140
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• 2016

The correct and quick diagnosis can be minimized damage from honeybee diseases. This study was carried out to detect infectious pathogens in honeybee in Jeonbuk province. 183 samples were collected from 8 area of Jeonbuk beekeeping farms in 2015 and 10 of infectious pathogens were examined through PCR and RT-PCR. Among 183 samples, positive rates of each disease were as follows; BQCV 43.7%, SBV 24.6%, DWV 16.4%, SB 15.8%, CB 10.4%, Nosemosis 7.1%, AFB 6.6%, EFB 1.1%, CBPV 1.1%, ABPV 0.0%. Among 28 beekeeping farms, 19 farms (67.9%) were infected with a complex of two or more diseases. The highest frequency of complex infections was BQCV.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.219-224
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• 1995

The antimutagenic effects of 46 kinds of medicinal plants that have been used as traditional folk antitumor agents in Korea were studied by using Ames mutagenicity test. Most of the methanolic extracts from the plants which were used in this experiment showed strong antimutagenic activity toward aflatoxin B1(AFB1) in Salmonella typhimrium TA100 and TA98. However, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG) induced mutagenicity was not blocked by adding the methanolic extracts of the plants except persimmon leaves (Diospyros kaki Thunberg)and Elaeagnus umbellata.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2015

The nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been found in different environmental sources. They tend to colonize different body surfaces and secretions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the presence of NTM in the theater environment. Fifty of Theater environment sample were examined using acid-fast stain, Lowenstein-Jensen medium culture, PCR and DNA-Sequencing. 4 of 50 samples were detected as NFB in AFB stain, L-J medium culture, PCR. and then, All of 4 NTM stains identified as Mycobacterium fortitum type in DNA-sequencing result.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 1977

There are many procedures which treat pulmonary tuberculosis. Pneumoperitoneum of those which was begun by Banyai in 1934 is considered effective collapse therapy economically and socially in Korea. The author had studied 30 patients receiving pneumoperitoneum and/or chemotherapy who were moderatedly advanced pulmonary tuberculosis with positive sputum to AFB stain between Apt. 1, 1976 and Oct. 1, 1976. An attempt is to clarify the effects of pneumoperitoneum with chemotherapy [A group: 20 patients] in contrast with chemotherapy alone [B group: 10 patients] for 6 months. The results obtained were as follows: 1] All both groups showed the diminished pulmonary cavity size, but the effect of A group is prominent as 74% rather than 39% of B group. 2] Sputum conversion ratio is 55% in A group, and 20% in B group. 3] In Korea, the moderate amount of air is 1500cc in men, 1000cc in women. 4] Although pneumoperitoneum is in old hands, it is a relatively safe procedure, well tolerated, free from serious complications. 5] The advantages of pneumoperitoneum are evident in the treatment of bilateral lesion, with or without cavity, not too far advanced.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

Antimutagenic and in vitro anticancer effects of doenjangs added with green tea extract and/or using bamboo salt were studied by Ames test using Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (Salmonella Typhimurium) TA100 and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol) -2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on PC-3 and DU145 human prostate cancer cells, respectively. At the 1.25 mg/plate concentration, 1% green tea extract (GTE) added doenjang exhibited 85% antimutagenicity against aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$), while the control doenjang revealed 63% antimutagenicity, showing increased antimutagenic effect by the addition of green tea extract during doenjang fermentation. GTE added doenjang also increased antimutagenic effect against MNNG. The inhibition rate of the control doenjang showed 34% at 0.625 mg/plate, while 1% and 2% GTE added doenjangs inhibited by 56% and 73% at the 0.625 and 1.25 mg/plate, respectively (p<0.05). In MTT assay, GTE added doenjangs caused 70% $\sim$ 77% inhibition on the proliferation of PC-3 human prostate cancer cells at 0.5 mg/mL while the control doenjang exhibited 46% inhibition. However, 2% GTE added doenjang showed 91% inhibition at 1.0 mg/mL. The trend of the inhibition rate was similar in DU14S human prostate adenocarcinoma cells. When bamboo salt was used instead of natural sea salt, the antimutagenicity against MNNG and in vitro anticancer effect on the prostate cancer cells greatly increased. From these results, it can be concluded that green tea extract addition to doenjang and the use of bamboo salt during doengjang preparation increased the antimutagenic and in vitro anticancer activities of the doenjang and showed a synergistic effect.