• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.196-203
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• 2011

Staphylococcus spp. is one of the most common bacteria isolated from the lesions of atopic dermatitis (AD) in humans, and their colonization is known to be a possible trigger factor of clinical signs. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus spp. in canine AD (CAD), the types of exotoxins present, and their relation with the clinical severity of CAD. From 79 dogs with AD, 72 samples of Staphylococcus spp. were isolated (91.1%), and 65 (90.3%) were confirmed as Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. Concerning the profile of the exotoxin gene, 50 isolates (69.4%) contained at least one exotoxin gene, and 28 isolates (56%) were found to contain more than 2 different exotoxins. There was a significant difference in clinical severity with the presence of staphylococcal exotoxins (P=0.028), whereas no correlation was found with the presence of Staphylococcus spp. (P=0.598). The clinical severity of CAD increased only in relation to staphylococcal enterotoxin D (SED) and exfoliative toxins (P<0.05). Some clinical evaluation criteria (erythema, papule/pustule) were correlated with the presence of the exotoxin gene (P<0.05). This study showed that the high prevalence of Staphylococcus spp. and staphylococcal exotoxins in lesions from dogs with AD may be regarded as an important trigger factor for exacerbation of the clinical signs of CAD.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.101-112
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• 2015

A type of cell junction that is formed between different parts within the same cell is called autotypic cell junction. Autotypic junction proteins form tight junctions found between membrane lamellae of a cell, especially in myelinating glial cells. Some of them have postsynaptic density-95/disks large/zonula occludens-1 (PDZ) domains, which interact with the carboxyl (C)-terminal PDZ-binding motif of other proteins. PDZ domains are protein-protein interaction modules that play a role in protein complex assembly. The PDZ domain, which is widespread in bacteria, plants, yeast, metazoans, and Drosophila, allows the assembly of large multi-protein complexes. The multi-protein complexes act in intracellular signal transduction, protein targeting, and membrane polarization. The identified PDZ domain-containing proteins located at autotypic junctions include zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), ZO-2, pals-1-associated tight junction protein (PATJ), multi-PDZ domain proteins (MUPPs), membrane-associated guanylate kinase inverted 2 (MAGI2), and protease-activated receptor (PAR)-3. PAR-3 interacts with atypical protein kinase C and PAR-6, forming a ternary complex, which plays an important role in the regulation of cell polarity. MAGI2 interacts with ${\alpha}$-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) receptor at excitatory synapses. PATJ is detected in paranodal loops associated with claudin-1. On the other hand, MUPP1 is found in mesaxons and Schmidt-Lanterman incisures with claudin-5. ZO-1, ZO-2, and PAR-3 are found at all three sites. Different distributions of PDZ domain-containing proteins affect the development of autotypic junctions. In this review, we will describe PDZ domain-containing proteins at autotypic tight junctions in myelinating Schwann cells and their roles.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.162-166
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• 2009

Purpose : Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infectious disease in childhood. Renal scarring is an important complication of UTIs. Known risk factors for renal scarring are younger age, anatomic defects, delayed treatment, and causative pathogens other than Escherichia coli. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of clinical and laboratory features of UTI with E. coli to those with non-E. coli in infants. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 1,120 infants under 12 months of age who had been admitted for UTIs between January 1998 and December 2007. All patients who were diagnosed with UTIs were divided into two groups (E. coli and non-E. coli UTIs). Results : Three hundred twenty-four of 1,120 cases met the inclusion criteria. The number of E. coli and non-E. coli UTIs was 273 (84.3%) and 51 (15.7%), respectively. As compared to the non-E. coli UTI group, the E. coli UTI group was younger (3.59 vs. 4.47 months, P =0.008), a longer duration of pyuria (3.96 vs. 3.06 days, P =0.01), higher peripheral white blood cell counts (13.89 vs. $12.13{\times}10^3/mm^3$, P =0.043), and lower rates of high degree (III-V) vesico-ureteral reflux (P =0.005). Conclusion : UTIs with E. coli might have more severe clinical features and a lower prevalence of high grade vesicoureteral reflux than UTIs with non-E. coli. However, no difference was noted in the clinical response to antibiotic therapy between the two groups.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.161-167
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• 2007

In this study, we constructed and tested retrovirus vectors designed to express the human thrombopoietin gene under the control of the tetracycline-inducible promoters. To increase the hTPO gene expression at him-on state, WPRE sequence was also introduced into retrovirus vector at downstream region of either the hTPO gene or the sequence encoding reverse tetracycline-controlled transactivator (rtTA). Primary culture cells (PFF, porcine fetal fibroblast; CEF, chicken embryonic fibroblast) infected with the recombinant retrovirus were cultured in the medium supplemented with or without doxycycline for 48hr, and induction efficiency was measured by comparing the hTPO gene expression level using RT-PCR, western blot and ELISA. Higher hPTO expression and tighter expression control were observed from the vector in which the WPRE sequence was placed at downstream of the hTPO (in CEF) or rtTA(in PFF) gene. This resulting tetracycline inducible vector system may be helpful in solving serious physiological disturbance problems which have been a major obstacle in successful production of transgenic animals.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.3 s.70
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• pp.439-446
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• 2005

Ferritin is known to be the principle iron-storage protein in a wide variety of rganisms. The electro­phoretic mobility and immunological cross-reactivity of dog splenic ferritin were compared with those of horse, bovine, and pig splenic ferritin after isolation using heat treatment, salting out, column chromatography, and ultrafiltration. These isolation methods allowed the recovery of $\~84{\mu}g$ of the ferritin per g of spleen. The iron content in the dog ferritin was $22.7\%$, which appeared to be higher than those in the other mammalian ferritins tested. The electrophoretic mobility of the dog ferritin under nondenaturing conditions was similar to its bovine counterpart, whereas it was more identical to pig and horse ferritins on an SDS-polyacrylamide gel. The molecular weight of the dog ferritin subunit was 19.5 kDa on an SDS-polyacrylarnide gel, and the subunit was unable to bind with iron. The polyclonal anti-dog ferritin raised in rats was able to cross-react with the pig, bovine, and horse ferritins, upon Ouchterlony double immunodiffusiion. A Western blot analysis also revealed that the anti-dog ferritin, which specifically bound with the dog ferritin subunit, could also recognize the horse, bovine, and pig ferritin subunits and the maximum cross-reactivity was exhibited with the pig ferritin subunit, indicating that the dog ferritin is immunochemically more similar to the pig ferritin than its other mammalian counterparts. Accordingly, these results elucidate the biochemical and immunochemical characteristics of dog ferritin that might have a potential to be applied as an oral iron supplement to treat iron deficiency anemia.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.413-418
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• 2011

This survey was conducted to monitor the safety of red ginseng products in Gwangju, in 2010. Among 100 samples, 37 were beverages, 5 were functional health foods on the market, and 58 were beverages from a tailor-made shop. All samples were negative for coliform bacteria. Aerobic plate counts were detected from 13 samples in the 58 tailor-made products but not detected in the other types of products. Benzoic acid was detected in 5 samples (range, 19.2-543.0 mg/kg). Among heavy metals, lead was detected, ranging from 28.8-62.3 ${\mu}g/kg$, cadmium, from 1.15-4.18 ${\mu}g/kg$, and mercury from 0.10-0.18 ${\mu}g/kg$. Benzopyrene was not detected in any samples. Ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 were detected in 0.1-23.4 mg/90 mL of beverages and 12.1-66.8 mg/90 mL of functional health foods. These results indicate that red ginseng products are safe in terms of microbial contaminants and hazardous chemical compounds such as heavy metals and benzopyrene.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.127-137
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• 2007

To confirm whether or not the Electrochemical Disinfection System (EDS) meet with the D-2 regulation established by IMO (International Maritime Organization), the biological treatment efficacy of the EDS was assessed using three groups of natural marine plankton (bacteria, $10-50\;{\mu}m$ and $>50\;{\mu}m$ sized organisms). Influent water was passed through the EDS under the flow velocity ($23.8\;m^3/hr$) and test design was consisted of control (no treatment) and experimental (10 ppm and 30 ppm) condition for total residual chlorine (TRC). And the biological condition of the influent water followed the standards established by the guidelines for the approval of ballast water management systems. The disinfection efficacy of the $10-50\;{\mu}m$ sized organisms (phytoplankton) was assessed by three kinds of measurements using photomicroscope, epifluorescence microscope and fluorometer (fumer Designs 10-AU). After being passed through the EDS, all motile phytoplankton lost their motility under photomicroscope, the colour of chlorophyll fluorescence fumed from red into green under epifluorescence, and the high chlorophyll fluorescence (Expt. 1: 6.95, Expt. 2: 7.11) detected by fluorometer decreased into value not detected. These results indicated phytoplankton community was totally killed after electrochemical disinfection treatment. Survivorship of the larger organisms than $50\;{\mu}m$ was determined based on the appendage's movement under a stereomicroscope. Natural assemblage collected from ambient seawater was killed shortly after being passed through the EDS, whereas some Artemia remained alive. However, no live Artemia was found after 24 hour further exposure to each TRC concentration (10 and 30 ppm) under darkness. After electrochemical treatment, the target bacteria such as aerobes, coliform and Escherichia coli were completely killed on the basis of CFU (colony forming unit) on Petrifilm plate ($3\;M^{TM}$) after 48 hr incubation. Moreover, no regrowth was found in the three groups of plankton during five days under additional exposure to the treated water. These results indicated that the disinfection efficiency of the EDS on the three groups of plankton satisfy D-2 regulation.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1168-1175
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• 2017

Probiotics are usually defined as intestinal bacteria that provide healthy benefit to the host and may offer new therapeutic materials for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus are known as typical probiotics. But, these bacteria have mostly a weak viability and thus decreased probiotics-mediated effects in the intestinal tract. Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease, which is characterized by the releases of inflammatory mediators including cytokine and IgE. They are mainly associated with the recruitment, activation and disregulation of specific inflammatory cells, especially mast cells, monocytes, T cells, eosinophils and neutrophils in asthma. We performed these studies as in vitro and in vivo test the human inflammatory cell lines and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model. And then the inhibitory effects of Enterococcus faecalis whole extract on inflammatory responses were examined. For our examinations, the E. faecalis whole extract (Ef extract) was acquired from whole bacteria of E. faecalis using freeze/thawing after ultrasonication method. As results, OVA-mediated THP-1 cell viability was decreased by the treatment of Ef extract. In the asthmatic mouse model, Ef extract inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the inflammatory sites and blood. This whole extract may have anti-asthmatic effects associated with the regulation of IL-5 and IgE expression. It may also be a promising candidate in anti-allergic medicine for the treatment of asthma.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.659-667
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• 2000

Quality attributes of fresh-cut green onion(Allium fistulosum L.) as affected by rinsing and packaging were investigated in terms of flesh weight, color, viable cell counts, sensory properties during storage at $10^{\circ}C$. Fresh green onions were trimmed, cut, and rinsed with cold water(approximately $5^{\circ}C$) as well as chlorine solution(100 mg/L) and then packaged in low density polyethylene film pouches of $63\;{\mu}m$ thickness. Rinsing treatments with cold water or chlorine solution did not significantly influence changes in microbial populations but sensory characteristics, resulting in cut green onions of better visual quality as compared to the control without rinsing. Fresh-cut green onions were also rinsed with cold water and packaged in sealed bags of low density polyethylene films with different thickness(22, 36, $63\;{\mu}m$), and stored at $10^{\circ}C$ for 18 days. Thickness of polyethylene film was a significant factor for microorganisms populations and sensory attributes. Mesophilic aerobic bacterial count after 13 days for the control, packed in punched film bags, was $3.07{\times}10^6}$ CFU/g, while those for samples in hermetically sealed bags ranged only $1.74{\sim}2.02{\times}10^5}$ CFU/g. Gas composition within the sealed packages changed from normal air to about $1.3{\sim}5.4%\;O_2$ and $4.0{\sim}8.0%\;CO_2$ after 13 days of storage. Particularly, the visual sensory quality of cut green onion samples was retained better in polyethylene film bags of $63\;{\mu}m$ thickness(gas transmission rate: 600 $O_2\;mL/day{\cdot}m^2{\cdot}atm;\;2,500\;CO_2\;mL/day{\cdot}m^2{\cdot}atm$) than in the others.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 2009

Ginseng saponins have various pharmacological effects on the immune system. 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol (PPT) are the species of ginseng saponin metabolites that are formed by human intestinal bacteria and detected in circulation. The effects of PPD and PPT on the inflammatory mediator release from the activated mast cells were tested. Histamine release was evaluated in activated guinea pig lung mast cells, and the secretion of interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and the tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) was assessed in an HMC-1 cell after treating it with ginseng saponin metabolites. The results are as follows. PPT, at its maximum concentration of $100\;{\mu}M$, completely abolished the secretion of IL-4 from the PMA-stimulated HMC-1 cell. It also inhibited IL-8 secretion from the same cells by about 40-50% of the PMA-treated DMSO control. PPD, at its maximum concentration of $100\;{\mu}M$, showed a tendency to induce histamine release from the guinea pig lung mast cells. It inhibited the secretion of IL-4 (by 89% of the PMA-treated DMSO control) in the PMA-stimulated HMC-1 cell, but did have a significant effect on the IL-8 release from the same cell. Both PPD and PPT showed no effects, however, on the release of TNF-${\alpha}$ from the PMA-stimulated HMC-1 cell. These results suggest that PPD and PPT are from the ginseng metabolites that are responsible for the immunomodulating activity of ginseng extracts when they are taken orally.