• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.240-247
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• 2011

Purpose: The rationale for skin surface cultures is that bacterial colonization precedes infection and, as a result, that identification of a potential pathogen is predictive of later systemic infection in preterm infants. We aimed to analyze results of surveillance surface cultures in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants and seek for effective ways of performing surveillance surface cultures. Methods: We analyzed the surveillance surface cultures of 113 ELBW infants over a 4-year period. Surveillance cultures were obtained routinely from five sites: axilla, external ear canal, nasopharynx, throat (or tracheal aspirate if intubated) and anus. Each surface culture obtained during the 13 days, prior to the date of the blood culture, was compared with the blood culture obtained when sepsis was suspected. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) of the surveillance cultures were calculated among 1894 blood-surface culture pairs by surface sites, recovered organisms and interval between surveillance samples and blood cultures. Results: The overall sensitivity, specificity and PPV of surface cultures were 45.9, 22.4 and 6.8%, respectively. The PPV was highest for the throat/tracheal cultures (11.0%) and lowest for the anal cultures (2.3%). As the time of culturing progressed toward the day of blood culturing, the sensitivity and specificity of the surface cultures significantly increased. Only axillary and throat/tracheal cultures were useful in predicting the microorganisms causing sepsis. Conclusion: Surface cultures could help to predict sepsis pathogens and infection surveillance in preterm infants could be continued with a reduced number of cultured sites focusing on the axilla and throat/trachea.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.83-87
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• 2021

Antimicrobial activity of an aqueous extract from Caesalpinia sappan L. was investigated against skin flora such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Cutibacterium acnes, and Malassezia furfur. The yield and polyphenol content of the aqueous extract were 14.01±0.81% and 487.5±19.69 ㎍/mg-extract, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the aqueous extract against E. coli, S. aureus, C. acnes, and M. furfur was 0.875, 1.750, 1.750, and 1.750 mg/mL, respectively. In disc diffusion test, the aqueous extract of C. sappan L. increased the clear zone in a dose-dependent manner. The aqueous extract inhibited the microbial growth in a concentration-dependent manner.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.334-343
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• 2021

Various vegetables, including cucumbers, have a high probability of foodborne illness because they are usually eaten raw. In this study, we analyzed the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) microbiota. The diversity indices of cucumber cultivated in May were higher than in cucumber cultivated in November. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were predominant. The classes generally comprised Gammaproteobacteria, Bacilli, Alphaproteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. At the genus level, the proportions of Aureimonas, Escherichia, and Microbacterium in samples from May were relatively high, whereas Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, and Rhizobium accounted for a higher proportion in samples from November. Moreover, it is noteworthy that potential pathogenic genera such as Acinetobacter, Aerococcus, Aureimonas, Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Escherichia, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus were detected. Although further studies on the characteristics of potential pathogens are required, our results can be used to improve the food safety of vegetables.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.410-418
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• 2010

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the major pathogens that can cause staphylococcal infection and food poisoning. In this study, we compared conventional culture methods and real-time PCR for detection of S. aureus in artificially inoculated milk, sausage, raw pork, and vegetable salad. The performance of a coagulase test for confirming S. aureus was also compared with a colony PCR test. Bulk food samples (500 g each) were artificially inoculated with S. aureus and divided into 20 samples (25 g or mL each). All samples were added to tryptic soy broth (225 mL/sample) with 10% NaCl and incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. After the enrichment, broth cultures were streaked onto Baird-Parker (BP) agar with egg yolk tellulite, and incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. In addition, 1 mL of broth cultures was collected to perform real-time PCR. Two suspicious colonies from the BP agar were picked up and plated on nutrient agar and incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 h followed, by a coagulase confirmation test and a colony PCR analysis. There were no statistical differences between culture methods and realtime PCR in food samples with low background microflora, such as milk and sausage. However, a significant statistical difference was found between the culture methods and real-time PCR for raw pork and vegetable salad. Furthermore, the colony PCR test of the presumptive colonies on BP agar for confirming S. aureus is more accurate and efficient than the coagulase test for unprocessed foods.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.56-65
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• 2020

This study attempted to review the possibility of Psidium guajava leaf extract as a cosmetics ingredient by measuring antioxidant activity through ABTS radical scavenging activity, cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 macrophages, ROS generation-inhibiting effects through DCF-DA assay and antimicrobial activity, and the results found the followings: The Psidium guajava leaf extract revealed excellent ABTS radical scavenging activity. In RAW 264.7 macrophages, no cytotoxicity was found. The ROS generation in the cells was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. The antimicrobial activities were observed in the following strains: S. aureus, E. coli, C. albicans and P. acnes. In terms of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) on each strain, which ranged from 0.25 to 1 mg/mL, C. albican was the lowest, followed by E. coli, S. aureus and P. acnes. The above results confirmed the effects of Psidium guajava leaf extract: antioxidant activity, inhibition of ROS generation in the cells, antimicrobial effects on skin flora which causes inflammation. Therefore, it appears that the extract would be available as a cosmetics ingredient which is free of toxins and side effects.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.8
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• pp.225-233
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• 2018

The Ulmus davidiana have been used in traditional oriental medicine as remedies for inflammation, ulcers, cancers, bacterial infections and scabies. In this study, the anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activitiesof a supercritical extract of U. davidiana were investigated in vitro. To explore the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics of the supercritical extract, ABTS radical scavenging activity, and the inhibition of nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were examined, respectively. In addition, the anti-fungal activities of the extract were assessed. The results showed a concentration-dependent increase in ABTS radical scavenging activity. Cells stimulated with LPS produced more nitric oxide than normal control cells; however, cells treated with the supercritical fluid extract decreased this production in a concentration-dependent manner. Finally, the supercritical fluid extracts showed significant anti-fungal activity. These results suggest that extracts of the U. davidiana might be used to develop potent anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory agents, and may be useful as ingredients for related new functional cosmetic materials.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.744-756
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and the antimicrobial activity to skin flora of essential oil from rosemary that naturally grown in Jeju. rosemary essential oil was extracted by water distillation essential oil extraction method. In order to confirm the anti-inflammatory activity of rosemary essential oil, it was confirmed that the production of NO and $PGE_2$ induced by LPS in RAW 264.7 cells was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of iNOS and COX-2, which are biosynthetic enzymes, decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, production of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 the pro-inflammatory cytokines were inhibited. Antimicrobial activities of three S. epidermidis and three P. acnes strains including two antibiotic resistant strains were observed in paper disc method and MIC and MBC tests showed inhibition of bacterial growth and death. From the results of the experiment, we confirmed that rosemary essential oil has the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial efficacy and it could be used as a cosmetic and skin care material in the future.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.173-177
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• 2009

The in vitro antibacterial activities of honeybee(Apis mellifera. L) venom collected by a bee venom collector were investigated against several bacteria including antibiotic-susceptible and resistant Propionibacterium acnes. Honeybee venom was prepared with different concentrations and they showed strong antibacterial activites. Honeybee venom inhibited the growth of the tested antibiotic-resistant P. acnes at the concentration of 1 mg/ml. The inhibitory activities of the honeybee venom showed time-dependent manner. Honeybee venom did not influence the viability of human dermal fibroblast at the high concentration of less than 10 mg/ml. From these results, we expect that honeybee venom has strong antibacterial activities and has advantage for treating cure.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.577-587
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• 1989

소의 하부호흡기계 질병을 진단하고자 기침과 비루를 주증상으로 하는 31두의 환우와 임상증상을 나타내지 않는 9두의 소에 5 fr. urinary catheter를 이용한 transtracheal aspiration technique를 적용하고 이 방법의 유용성 및 분리된 병원성 세균과 세포상을 임상증상과 관련하여 조사하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. Transtracheal aspiration technique은 구강내 정상상재균에 오염되지 않은 가검물을 하부호흡기로부터 채취하는데 호흡장애와 합병증을 유발하지 않았다. 총 40두로부터 분리한 세균중 Pasteurella multocida가 48.7%로 가장 많이 분리되었으며 점액 화농성 염증이 40%로 가장 많이 나타났다. 심한 임상증상을 보인 소중 점액화농성 염증이 60%로 가장 많이 나타났으며 Pasteurella multocida가 63.2%로 높게 분리되었다. 경미한 임상증상을 보인 소에서는 염증세포에 따른 세포상이 고루 나타났으며 Pasteurella multocida가 40% 분리되었다. 세포학적 관찰에서는 정상인 경우는 섬모원주상피세포가 다수 관찰되었고 점액성 염증인 경우는 소수의 호중구 및 상피세포가 관찰되었으며 점액화농성 염증인 경우는 다수의 밀집된 호중구, 상피세포 및 점조한 삼출물이 동시에 관찰되었다. 복합세포성 염증에서는 대식구, 호중구, 임파구 및 상피 세포가 혼재하였다. 이상의 결과로부터 transtracheal aspiration technique은 소의 하부호흡기계 질병을 진단하는데 실제 임상에서 응용할 수 있는 쉽고 안전하며 유익한 방법으로 사료된다.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.425-430
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• 2017

This study was conducted to measure the antimicrobial activity and antiseptic effect of Smilax china root extracts against Propionibacterium acnes and to develop natural antimicrobial extracts as an alternative for synthetic preservatives, which have recently been controversial. Extracts were obtained from dried Korean Smilax china root at room temperature using two solvents, distilled water and 95% EeOH, separately. According to the results of this study, the antimicrobial effect of Propionibacterium acnes 3314 and Propionibacterium acnes 3320 against Propionibacterium acnes was outstanding. In particular, the clear zone of the extract using distilled water showed the highest activity with 16.61 mm. As for the result of the collection of contaminated skin sample, the clear zone was 24.48 mm. This indicates that Smilax china root extracts show a high activity against skin flora as well as a high antimicrobial activity against Propionibacterium acnes. In conclusion, it is confirmed that Smilax china root extracts can be used as raw materials for cosmetics that have antimicrobial activity and antiseptic effect, and it is expected that Smilax china root extracts will be used as basic materials for the development of future natural preservatives.