• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.11
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• pp.4951-4958
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was availability for the classical test method. The test were called CLSI(Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute) that was disk diffusion method, the newly designed E-test(made use disk diffusion method) can estimate the MIC and modified broth microdilution method that was standardized. Those tests were observed by MicroScan MicroSTREP plus panel. Target strains were 53 strains of S.pneumoniae and 51 strains of ${\alpha}$-hemolytic streptococci which were separated from the inpatient in university hospital for 6 months from February to August, 2009. The 9 antimicrobial agent of target evaluation were cefotaxime, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, erythromycin, levofloxacin, penicillin, tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and vancomycin. researched comparative analysis both S.pneumoniae and ${\alpha}$-hemolytic streptococci. The result of the high concordance rates in ${\alpha}$-hemolytic streptococci was recognized formally in clinical microbiology laboratory.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.92-101
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• 2021

Objectives : Otomycosis is superficial fungal infection of external auditory canal accompanied with itching, pain, discharge, hearing loss, tinnitus and ear fullness. And chronic inflammation like chronic suppurative otitis media exacerbates otomycosis. The purpose of this study is to report one case of Korean medical treatment for otomycosis with chronic suppurative otitis media. Methods : This study was conducted with one case of otomycosis with chronic suppurative otitis media patient hospitalized in Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology & Dermatology Clinic of Korean medical Hospital. This patient was treated with Korean medical treatment including herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture and venesection. After the treatment, we took picture of external auditory canal by otoscope and evaluated subjective symptoms. Results : After the treatment, this patient had improved condition of external auditory canal and subjective symptoms. Conclusions : This study suggests that Korean medical treatment may be effective for otomycosis with chronic suppurative otitis media.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.43-50
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• 2020

The aim of this study is toxicity assessment using two types of sea urchins (H. pulcherrimus, M. nudus) that can representative primary consumers in potential coastal environments pollutants, Zinc undecylenate (ZU), which is used for various purposes, such as pharmaceutical agents and anti-bacterial and anti-fungi. The Fertilization rate and normal embryogenesis rate of H. pulcherrimus and M. nudus were concentration-dependent decreased. Besides, EC₅₀ of fertilization rate with H. pulcherrimus and M. nudus were 11.27 mgl^-1 and 1.48 mgl^-1, and EC₅₀ of normal embryogenesis were 0.94 mgl^-1 and 3.78 mgl^-1. NOEC of normal embryogenesis were 0.20 and 0.78 mgl^-1, respectively. In addition, to find the safety criteria of the ZU on the marine environment. PNEC value was 0.0094 mgl^-1, calculated using the toxicity values of two species of sea urchin derived from this study and the acute toxicity results of the coastal area through literature research. The above results will be used as basic data for establishing environmental protection strategies for marine environmental pollutants.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.370-380
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• 2019

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the distribution of individual exposure characteristics according to an exposure assessment classification for humidifier disinfectant and to identify the factors that influence assessment classification. Methods: We examined the exposure characteristics of 4,482 subjects who applied for the 4-1 and 4-2 assessments of environmental exposure to humidifier disinfectant conducted by the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI). Environmental exposure assessment classification was assessed using the following seven criteria: 1) Distance from humidifier to face; 2) Spray direction; 3) Time used, daytime 4) Time used, during sleep; 5) Time used, cumulative; 6) Exposure intensity; and 7) Cumulative exposure level. Each criteria was then classified as 'high' or low'. When participants answered for more than four criteria, exposure assessment was determined as 'definite,' 'probable,' or 'possible' depending on the ratio of 'high' responses. If participants' responses were inconsistent, exposure assessment was listed as 'unlikely.' If participants answered for less than four criteria, exposure assessment was considered 'indeterminate.' Results: For the exposure assessment classes, definite was assigned to 38.5% (1,725 subjects), probable assigned to 32.9% (1,474 subjects), 25.0% (1,122 subjects) were assigned to as possible, unlikely assigned to 0.1% (3 subjects), and indeterminate assigned to 3.5% (158 subjects). Overall, participants who used 'Oxy Ssakssak New Gaseupgi Dangbun,' 'Aekyung Gaseupgi Mate,' 'Homeplus Gaseupgi Chungjungje,' and 'E-Mart Gaseupgi Salgyunje' totaled 2,996, 557, 176, and 162 subjects, respectively. There was a statistical difference in the type of humidifier disinfectant products between high-exposed and low-exposed participants. Based on the assessment criteria of humidifier disinfectant exposure, subjects were likely to be in the highly exposed classes (definite and probable) when the subjects were exposed 1) for more than ten hours per day and 2) for more than four hours at night 3) when the total cumulative exposure time was higher than the average, 4) when the direction of humidifier spray was toward the face, 5) when the respiratory position was less than 1 meter of distance from the humidifier, 6) when the concentration of indoor contaminants (ug/m3) was higher than the average exposure intensity, and 7) when overall exposure level ($ug/m3^*hr$) was higher than the average exposure level. Conclusion: This study suggests that each exposure assessment criteria was able to appropriately estimate cumulative exposure levels.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.465-472
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• 2019

Candida albicans is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes infections. Candidiasis is often related to antifungal resistance because the pathogen has the ability to form biofilms. In a previous study, we found that the Salvia miltiorriza ethanol extract demonstrated anticandidal activity by altering membrane permeability and inhibiting the cell wall synthesis in C. albicans. Our results here demonstrate that $78{\mu}g/ml$ of the S. miltiorriza extract significantly diminished the early stage biofilms formed by 10 clinical C. albicans isolates by 51.3%; this was analyzed by 2,3-Bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide salt (XTT) reduction assay. The effect of the S. miltiorrhiza extract on the adhesion of C. albicans cells to polystyrene plates and germ tube formation was examined via microscopic investigation. Although the density of the adhered cells was remarkably reduced up on incubation with $39{\mu}g/ml$ S. miltiorrhiza extract, germ tube formation by C. albicans was rarely affected. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that the S. miltiorrhiza extract downregulated the expression of C. albicans hypha-specific genes, EAP1 by 34.7% (p < 0.001), ALS1 by 45.0% (p < 0.001), ALS3 by 48.1% (p < 0.001), and ECE1 by 21.3% (p = 0.006), respectively. Our data suggest that the S. miltiorrhiza ethanol extract significantly inhibited the early stage of biofilm formation by C. albicans by interfering with cell adhesion, by downregulating EAP1, ALS1 and ALS3, and presumably by modifying the cell wall and membrane structure.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.102-108
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• 2019

Melaleuca alternifolia contains terpineol-4, cineol, sesquiterpenes etc., and has a germicidal effect and skin moisturizing effect. It also has the characteristics of relieving acne inflammation, treating dandruff, relieving pain, and relieving depression. In this study, an antimicrobial substance extracted from tea tree using an organic solvent (methanol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate) and hydrothermal extraction method. And confirmed the antimicrobial activity of each extract. In order to verify the antimicrobial activity, nine pathogenic bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio parahaemolyticus) were used. The antimicrobial activity of each extracts were confirmed by the commonly used disc diffusion method. The results showed that the fraction extracts of ethyl acetate and methanol had antimicrobial effects against V. parahaemolyticus and S. aureus. Using these results, we confirmed the antimicrobial activity of each fraction extracts and hot water extracts against V. parahaemolyticus. After the treat of samples, we confirmed at over 99.9 % of antimicrobial activity. In case of antifungal activities, we confirmed of preservation effect during over 45 hours. Based on the results of this research, further studies will be conducted to confirm the possibility of development as a new antimicrobial agent.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2019

Objectives: The lung injuries by exposure to the humidifier disinfectants (HDs) were reported in 2011, Korea. For the HD victims, environmental exposure level and clinical diagnosis were conducted to determine the levels of damage by HDs. Methods: The exposure assessment to the HDs from 1st to 4th questionnaire surveys were carried out for 5,245 victims. And the affecting factors of exposure levels were analyzed by characterizing exposure and demographic information. By using of exposure concentration and cumulative time, exposure levels were classified and compared by percentage of clinical diagnosis classes. The high exposure and low clinical diagnosis rating groups, and low exposure and high clinical diagnosis rating groups were analyzed to overcome the limitation of past exposure assessment such as recall bias. Results: Among the all applicants damaged by the humidifier disinfectants, survivors were 4,028 and the dead were 1,217. And male and female were 2,675, and 2,547, respectively. In case of occurrence age of lung disease, under 10 years was majority age group (1,536) and followed by thirties (917). Pregnant women and fetuses were 339 and 439, respectively. And the damages by exposure to the HDs were concentrated on these susceptible populations in groups with low exposure and high clinical diagnosis rating. On the other hand, the groups classified by high exposure and low clinical diagnosis rating were shown different characterization. Conclusions: The questionnaire survey on past exposure may be uncertain due to recall bias. However, the relationship between classified exposure levels and clinical diagnosis ratings might be shown positive correlation if the exposure assessment errors were analyzed and controlled.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1128-1139
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• 2020

Over recent years, it has become evident that food and agricultural products are easily contaminated by fungi of Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium due to rapid climate change, which is not only a global food quality concern but also a serious health concern. Owing to consumers' interest in health, resistance to preservatives such as propionic acid and sorbic acid (which have been used in the past) is increasing, so it is necessary to develop a substitute from natural materials. In this review, the role of lactic acid bacteria as a biological method for controlling the growth and toxin production of fungi was examined. According to recent studies, lactic acid bacteria effectively inhibit the growth of fungi through various metabolites such as organic acids with low molecular weight, reuterin, proteinaceous compounds, hydroxy fatty acids, and phenol compounds. Lactic acid bacteria effectively reduced mycotoxin production by fungi via adsorption of mycotoxin with lactic acid bacteria cell surface components, degradation of fungal mycotoxin, and inhibition of mycotoxin production. Lactic acid bacteria could be regarded as a potential anti-fungal and anti-mycotoxigenic material in the prevention of fungal contamination of food and agricultural products because lactic acid bacteria produce various kinds of potent metabolic compounds with anti-fungal activities.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 2021

Background: Humidifier disinfectant is a biocidal product used in the water tanks of humidifiers to prevent the growth of microorganisms. Although there are a huge number of cases of reported humidifier disinfectant-related health effects across the entire Korean population, their numbers are distributed differently depending on the region. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the regional distribution of enrollment cases who reported humidifier disinfectant-related health effects. Methods: This study used data on 6,240 subjects who experienced humidifier disinfectant-related health effects and who enrolled their cases which is conducted by the Korea Ministry of Environment. We examined the regional distribution of the enrolled cases based on sixteen administrative divisions and assessed the: 1) crude number; 2) proportional rate; and 3) age-standardized proportional rate of enrollment by region. Results: When we examined the crude number of enrollments by region, the highest number were in Gyeonggi-do Province (n=1,896), followed in order by Seoul (n=1,405), Incheon (n=436) Busan, Daegu, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, Daejeon, Chungcheongnam-do Province, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Jeollabuk-do Province, Gwangju, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, Gangwon-do Province, Jeollanam-do Province, Ulsan, and Jeju-do. When we examined proportional rate of the regional enrollment (cases per 100,000 population), Daejeon (n=16.2) was the region with the highest rate, followed in order by Gyeonggi-do Province (n=16.1), Incheon-do Province (n=15.9), Seoul, Daegu, Gwangju, Jeollabuk-do Province, Chungcheongnam-do Province, Busan, Chungcheongbuk-do Province, Gangwon-do Province, Gyeongsanbuk-do Province, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, Ulsan, Jeju-do, and Jeollanam-do Province, which is inconsistent with the order in terms of crude numbers. However, when we examined the age-standardized proportional rate of regional enrollment (cases per 100,000 population), their ranked distribution is consistent with the crude rate. Conclusions: This study observed that the regional distribution of the enrolled cases who reported humidifier disinfectant-related health effects is inconsistent with the regional distribution of the proportional rate of enrollment cases, which may be caused in part by the volume of the inherent population of each region.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.324-330
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• 2022

Background: Lung injuries due to exposure to humidifier disinfectants (HDs) were reported in 2011 in South Korea. As a result of the government's epidemiological investigation and toxicity test study, it was found that HDs caused health damage such as lung disease. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to classify HD exposure ratings and analyze the affecting factors that could identify the relationship with lung disease. Methods: Exposure assessment for HDs was conducted using a questionnaire during face-to-face interviews with the applicants. Ratings of high exposure (Class 1) and low exposure (Class 2) were cross-tabulated with clinical ratings (acceptable and unacceptable). Logistic regression analysis was carried out by setting the clinical rating of lung disease as a dependent variable and the socio-demographic and exposure characteristics obtained through the questionnaire as independent variables. Results: The concentration in air of polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) was 71.96±107.47 ㎍/m³, and the exposure concentration was 15.21±23.28 ㎍/m³ . The exposure rating was overestimated with 97.1% of affected subjects having high exposure using margin of exposure (MOE), but only 9.9% matching the clinical class. In the overestimated group, it could be explained by the fact that the exposure time was long and the subjects had already recovered from damage symptoms. As a result of logistic regression analysis, ten variables were found to be significant influencing factors. Conclusions: A new exposure rating could be calculated based on the MOE, and factors affecting lung disease could be estimated through comparative evaluation with the clinical rating.