• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2014

Community-acquired antimicrobial resistant bacteria are an emerging problem world-wide. In Korea, resistant bacteria are more prevalent than in other industrialized countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the isolation frequency of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS), Pseudomonas, and Enterobacteriaceae from surrounding environment (home, colleges, public transportation system and possessions) in Seoul, and to examine the level of drug resistance to 13 antimicrobial agents, which are in wide spread clinical use in Korea, as well as new agent, tigecycline in Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Of total 239 samples, 18 (7.5%) MRS, 10 (4.2%) Pseudomonas, and 30 (12.6%) Entarobacteriaceae were isolated. A total of 5 (2.1%) methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were detected in home (2 samples), colleges (1 sample), and et cetera (2 sample). A total of 5 (2.1%) Escherichia coli were detected in in home (1 samples), public transportations (3 sample), and et cetera (1 sample). Resistance to cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, carbapenems, ${\beta}$-lactams, tetracyclines, and aminoglycosides was found in 71.9%, 71.9%, 68.8%, 68.8%, 50.0%, and 25.0% of 32 Enterobacteriaceae isolates, respectively. Also, resistance rate to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole of the isolates was a 43.8%. Moreover, 59.4% of the isolates were resistant to new agent, tigecycline and resistance to all agents tested was observed in 3 isolates. Five E. coli isolates were resistant to most of the agents tested, but some of them were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. This study can serve as a data point for future comparisons of possible changes in antibiotic resistance levels in surrounding environment. And multilateral strategies for preventing the incidence and spread of antibiotic resistance are needed.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2006

Purpose: Human astrovirus (HAstV) is known to be an important etiologic agent of acute gastroenteritis in infants worldwide. However, the prevalence of HAstV infection varies according to geographic region and patient age. The purpose of our study was to investigate the incidence of HAstV infection among hospitalized children at a tertiary hospital in Seoul. Methods: Fecal samples were collected from hospitalized children up to five years of age with acute gastroenteritis. A total of 812 fecal samples were collected from hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis between February 2004 and January 2005. Fecal specimens were screened for rotavirus, enteric adenovirus and norovirus by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). HAstV positive samples were characterized by RT-PCR. Results: Rotavirus was detected in 16.9% (138/812), norovirus in 11.6% (94/812), and adenovirus in 4.0% (33/812) of the study population. HAstV was detected in 4.0% (33/812) samples by RT-PCR. The age distribution of HAstV positive patients was as follows: <12 month old, 82.0% (27/33); 1~2 years old, 6.0% (2/33); 2~5 years old, 12.0% (4/33). The seasonal distribution of HAstV positive samples was as follows; April (3), May (5), June (4), August (12), September (4), October (2), November (2), and December (1). The peak rate of HAstV infection was observed during the summer season, 2004. A mixed infection of viral agents was confirmed in 2.7% (22 /812) of the study population, most commonly with rotavirus and norovirus, and with rotavirus and HAstV. Genotype 1 was the predominant type (91%, 20/22) and genotype 8 was detected in two cases. Conclusion: The prevalence of HAstV infection was 4.0% in hospitalized children with acute gastroenteritis, and was especially high in infants. HAstV can be considered as an important etiologic agent of gastroenteritis in children.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.911-920
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• 2016

Norovirus is the most common causative agent of acute gastroenteritis. This study was carried out to investigate molecular epidemiology of norovirus infections from outbreaks in Busan from 2012 to 2015. Total of 581 stool specimens were collected from diarrhea patients in outbreaks in Busan, 71 samples were resulted in positive to norovirus. The data were analyzed according to seasonality, patient, age and gender. Noroviruses were detected most frequently during the winter season from November (25.4%) to February (28.2%). The age group from teens was the most susceptible to norovirus infections. To obtain the molecular genetic information of norovirus, we performed sequencing analyses of the strains detected. Norovirus genotypes have been reported to show high genetic diversity. Four kinds of GI genotypes (GI-1, GI-2, GI-3, GI-5) and five kinds of GII genotypes (GII-1, GII-4, GII-5, GII-6, GII-17) were indentified in outbreaks in Busan. Other previous studies have shown that GII-4 is the most predominant circulating in Korea and worldwide. The most prevalent norovirus genotypes of each year were GII-6 in 2012, GII-6 in 2013, GII-4 in 2014 and GII-6 in 2015. Except for 2014, GII-6 genotype was the most prevalent and predominant in Busan. We described the epidemiological analysis of the noroviruses in outbreaks in Busan. The result of this study will contribute to update the epidemiological data and improve hygiene and public health via sustainable surveillance.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.393-401
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• 1998

Based on clinical observations, it is suspected that the bone-tendon origin is the site where piratical failure, leading to pathophysiological changes in the humeral epicondyle after repetitive loading, is initiated Mechanical properties and failure patterns of the common extensor and flexor tendons of the humeral epicondyle under static and repetitive loading have not been well documented. Our goal was to determine mechanical properties of failure strength and strain changes, to correlate strain changes and the number of cyclic repetitions, and to identify the failure pattern of bone-tendon specimens of common extensor and flexor tendons of the humeral epicondyle. Mechnaical properties of human cadaver bone-tendon specimens of the common extensor and flexor tendons of the humeral epicondyle were tested under two different loading rates. No statistically significant difference in ultimate tensile strength was found between male and female specimens or between slow (10 mm/sec) and fast elongation (100 mm/sec) rates. However, a statistically significant difference in ultimate tensile strength between the common extensor (1190.0 N/$cm^2{\pm}$388.8) and flexor 1922.0 N/$cm^2{\pm}$764.4)tendons was found (p<0.05). When loads of 25%, 33%, and 41% of the ultimate tensile strength of their contralateral sides were applied, the number of cycles required to reach 24% strain change for the common extersor and flexor tendons were approximately 8,893, 1,907, and 410, respectively. The relationship between cycles and loads was correlated ($R^2$=0.46) Histological observation showed that complete or partial failure after tensile or cyclic loadings occurred at the transitional zone, which is the uncalcified fibrocartilage zone between tendon and bone of the humeral epicondyle. Sequential histological sections revealed that failure initiated at the upper, medial aspect of the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon origin. Biomechanical and hstological data obtained in this study indicated that the uncalcified fibrocartilage zone at the bone-tendon origin of the common extensor and flexor tendons is the weak anatomical structure of the humeral epicondyle.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.474-482
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to determine and analyze probiotic contents, pH, and acidity of 120 samples of health functional and processed foods containing lactic acid bacteria distributed in 2017. The changes due to the preservation methods were also determined and analyzed in five probiotic products. Two samples of the 85 health functional food products had lactic acid bacteria at lower levels than the marked amount required to meet Korean food standards, whereas the 35 processed products were all suitable for distribution. The averages for probiotic contents, pH, and acidity were $1.2{\times}10^{10}CFU/g$, 5.35, and 1.29%, respectively. The average count of lactic acid bacteria in the 17 samples with marked amount among the 35 processed foods was $5.8{\times}10^8CFU/g$. The effects of preservation temperature ($-20^{\circ}C$, $4^{\circ}C$, $20^{\circ}C$, and $40^{\circ}C$) and storage period (1, 3, and 6 months) on probiotic content, pH, and acidity were determined for 5 probiotic products. After 1 to 6 months, the average reduction in probiotic content was by 59%; the lowest reduction occurred at $4^{\circ}C$ and the highest reduction occurred at $40^{\circ}C$. In addition, 3 of the 5 products showed a rapid decrease in probiotic content by more than 70% at $40^{\circ}C$ after a storage period of 1 to 3 months. Therefore, from this study results, it is recommended that products containing lactic acid bacteria should be refrigerated and consumed shortly after purchase.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 2019

This study investigated the residual characteristics of bifenthrin and chlorothalonil in crown daisy and suggested pre-harvest residue limits (PHRLs) based on their dissipation patterns and biological half-lives. The samples for residue analysis were harvested at 0 (3 hr), 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 22 and 26 days after treatment, and analyzed by $GC/{\mu}-ECD$ and TOF/MS. The limit of quantitation (LOQs) of bifenthrin and chlorothalonil were 0.0046 mg/kg and 0.0007 mg/kg, respectively. Recoveries ranged from $88.67{\pm}7.97%$ and $99.90{\pm}16.03%$, showing that this method is appropriate for the analysis of the pesticide residues in crown daisy. Being well within first order kinetics, the biological half-lives of the pesticide residues in crown daisy were 9.63 days for bifenthrin and 6.54 days for chlorothalonil. The PHRLs of bifenthrin and chlorothalonil were recommended as 11.70 mg/kg and 24.10 mg/kg for 26 days before harvest, respectively.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2021

In this study we analyzed the elution rates of 11 metals from 82 metallic kitchen utensils purchased in the market. The elution frequency of the 11 types of metals was iron > aluminum > chromium, nickel > zinc > copper > lead > arsenic > antimony > stannum > cadmium. For metallic kitchen utensils, the elution rate of heavy metals was 7.3-93.9%, and the average elution concentration was 0.001-13.473 mg/L. The average elution concentration of heavy metals was ranged between none-detected (N. D.) to 30.473 mg/L for non-coated kitchen utensils and 0.000-10.005 mg/L for coated kitchen utensils. The average elution concentration of metals from domestic kitchen utensils ranged from 0.001-25.145 mg/L, and from 0.000-33.518 mg/L for imported kitchen utensils. In particular, aluminum was found to be high in domestic kitchen utensils while iron was high in imported kitchen utensils. The average elution concentration of heavy metals was N.D.-2.670 mg/L for stainless steel, N.D.- 31.575 mg/L for aluminum, and N.D.-307.737 mg/L for iron. The amount of transition to food after cooking was investigated.

• Korean Deer Journal
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• v.9 no.3 s.58
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• pp.58-69
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• 2004

• Korea Petroleum Association Journal
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• no.1 s.203
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• pp.64-65
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• 1998

• Journal of Korea Fair Competition Federation
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• no.145
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• pp.36-47
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• 2009