• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.163-169
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to estimate the antimicrobial activity of Maesil (Japanese apricot, Prunus mume) extract against Vibrio vulnificus. The strains tested in the study were 28 V. vulnificus isolates originated from fish, seawater, mud flat and seawater in fish restaurant. The vvhA gene was detected using real-time PCR and biochemical identification expressed above good identification in 28 isolates of V. vulnificus. All of V. vulnificus used in this study was susceptible to tetracycline and chloramphenicol antibiotics. These two antibiotics were considered to be useful for the treatment of patients. Maesil extracts 2.5% and 5% showed antimicrobial activity against V. cholerae NCCP 13589 and V. parahemolyticus NCCP 11143. V. vulnificus isolate and V. vulnificus NCCP 11135 showed growth inhibition at 1.25%, 2.5% and 5% of Maesil extract, respectively. Compared with V. cholerae and V. parahemolyticus, the antibacterial activity of Maesil extract against V. vulnificus was high. The minimum bactericidal concentration of Maesil extract for V. vulnificus was 1.6%. These results revealed that Maesil extract was found to be very useful for inhibiting the growth of V. vulnificus and can be expected to prevent food poisoning caused by V. vulnificus.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.618-629
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• 2021

The Fukushima nuclear power plant (NPP) accident caused by the East Japan Earthquake in 2011 and the recent increase in the frequency of earthquakes in Korea have caused safety concerns regarding radionuclide exposure. In addition, the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) in Japan recently decided to release radionuclide-contaminated water from Fukushima's NPP into the Pacific Ocean, raising public concerns that the possibility of radionuclide contamination through both domestic- and foreign fishery products is increasing. Although many studies have been conducted on the input of artificial radionuclides into the Pacific after the Fukushima NPP accident, studies on the distribution and accumulation of artificial radionuclides in marine products from East Asia are lacking. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to explore recent research on the distribution of artificial radionuclides (e.g., ¹³⁷Cs, ^239+240Pu, ⁹⁰Sr, and etc.) in marine products from Korean seas after the Fukushima NPP accident. In addition, we also discuss future research directions as it is necessary to prepare for likely radiation accidents in the future around Korea associated with the new nuclear facilities planned by 2030 in China and owing to the discharge of radionuclide-contaminated water from the Fukushima NPP.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.601-607
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• 2018

We examined the physicochemical characteristics of radish kimchi supplemented with either 10% boneless or boned sliced gizzard shad (BLGS and BGS, respectively) and compared them to those of untreated kimchi during an eight-week fermentation period. BLGS- and BGS-containing kimchi showed higher acidity, amino nitrogen, and Lactobacillus levels than control kimchi. Furthermore, BGS-containing kimchi showed higher acidity, amino nitrogen, and Lactobacillus levels, and lower reducing sugar contents than BLGS at the optimum- and over-ripened stage. Higher amino nitrogen serves as a good medium for microorganism growth, which produce organic acids, consequently decreasing the reducing sugar, pH levels and increasing the acidity. The preference test showed that the control kimchi was the most preferred at the unripened stage, while the BLGS- and BGS-supplemented kimchi samples in the ripened and over-ripened stages showed similar preferences. In conclusion, our results indicate that gizzard shad-supplemented kimchi shows positive health characteristics, such as low salinity, high amino nitrogen and Lactobacillus levels.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.63-68
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to investigate the distribution of toxin genes and antimicrobial resistance of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from seafood in Gwangju. A total of 335 seafood, including 163 shellfish, 97 fish, and 36 mollusk, were tested in this study. As a result, V. parahaemolyticus was detected in 123 (36.7%) of 335 seafood. The tdh gene was not detected in all strains, while the trh gene was detected in 3 strains (2.4%). According to antimicrobial susceptibility test, 116 strains (94.3%) represent resistance to ampicillin, and 1 strain (0.8%) represents resistance to trimethoprim/sulfametoxazole. However, all strains were sensitive to 9 antimicrobial agents, including amikacin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and more. Therefore, the risk of V. parahaemolyticus isolated from seafood in Gwangju is considered low, but continuous monitoring of V. parahaemolyticus in seafood is required.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.246-254
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• 2023

V. parahaemolyticus causes waterborne and foodborne disease such as acute diarrhea. In this study, V. parahaemolyticus isolates from seawater, fish tanks, and distributed fishery products in Jeju were investigated for potential toxin or species-specific genes (tdh, trh, tlh, and toxR) using RT-PCR and their genetic characteristics were analyzed using Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Overall, V. parahaemolyticus of 90 strains (36.7%), including 33 strains from seawater, 8 strains from fish tanks, and 50 strains from fishery products, were isolated from 245 samples. All V. parahaemolyticus strains did not detect the tdh gene, whereas all strains detected tlh or toxR genes. In addition, trh genes were detected in 3 strains from seawater and 1 strain from fishery products. Monthly quantitative testing of seawater revealed that V. parahaemolyticus was positively correlated with water temperature. The 90 strains of V. parahemolyticus obtained in this study showed by gene homology between types, ranging from 64.0-97.3%. Among these, thirteen types showed 100% homology between genes. These results indicate that continuous monitoring is needed to facilitate food poisoning epidemiological investigations because some isolated V. parahaemolyticus strains harbored toxin genes and V. parahaemolyticus strains isolated from seawater, fish tanks, and distributed fishery products showed genetic similarity.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.297-304
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• 2023

Domoic acid (DA), a neurotoxin produced naturally by diatoms, is responsible for incidents of amnesic shellfish poisoning. In this study, a modified analytical method was established to determine domoic acid in seafood using solid phase extraction cleanup and optimizing the amount of sample and extraction solvent to reduce interference effects. The modified method using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection was validated using three seafood matrices (mussel, red snow crab, and anchovy) at three concentrations (1, 2, and 4 mg/kg) and compared to the Food Code method. Compared to the Food Code method, the modified method showed better performance in terms of linearity (R²>0.999), detection limit (0.02-0.03 mg/kg), quantification limit (0.05-0.09 mg/kg), intra-/inter-day accuracy (86.2-100.4%), and intra-/inter-day precision (0.2-4.0%). Furthermore, the method was successfully applied for the analysis of 87 seafood samples marketed in Korea, and DA was detected at a low concentration of 140 ㎍/kg in one anchovy sample. These results suggest that the modified method can be used for routine determination of DA in seafood.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.168-175
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• 2018

The use of microwave-assisted extraction and an acid-base clean-up process to determine the amount of methylmercury (MeHg) in marine products was suggested in order to improve the complicated sample preparation process. The optimal conditions for microwave-assisted extraction was developed by using a 10% NaCl solution as an extraction solution, setting the extraction temperature at $50^{\circ}C$, and holding for 15 minutes to extract the MeHg in marine products. A NaOH solution was selected as a clean-up substitute instead of L-cysteine solution. Overall, 670 samples of marine products were analyzed for total mercury (Hg). Detection levels were in the range of $0.0006{\sim}0.3801{\mu}g/kg$. MeHg was analyzed and compared using the current food code and the proposed method for 49 samples which contained above 0.1 mg/kg of Hg. Detection ranges of methylmercury followed by the Korea Food Code and the proposed method were $75.25(ND{\sim}516.93){\mu}g/kg$ and $142.07(100.14{\sim}244.55){\mu}g/kg$, respectively. The total analytical time of proposed method was reduced by more than 25% compared with the current food code method.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.650-663
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to identify the sanitation management items of school foodservice suppliers that require improvement, by assessing their sanitation practices with food commodities. Our field assessment was performed using a total of 20 vendors supplying agricultural products, meat products, seafoods and processed products; all were located in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas. The assessment tool for sanitation management was composed of 93 checklist items and was used to evaluate seven different categories; the facility and environment, management of the facility and equipment, food materials management, process control, water management, personal hygiene management, and laboratory instrument management. A score of two was given for "satisfactory", one for "fair", and zero for "unsatisfactory". The overall average supplier score was 1.7/2.0 (85.8%). The score of the seafood vendors was highest at 1.9 (95.4%), while the lowest score of 1.3 (65.7%) occurred with the processed product suppliers. Among the sanitation management categories, water management was scored at 2.0, while inspection management was lowest at 1.4. The subcategories indicating needed improvements for the processed product suppliers were raw materials, storage, transport and recall. For the agricultural product suppliers it was preparation management. furthermore, one item within the laboratory instrument management category was unsatisfactory for both the agricultural and processed product suppliers. In conclusion, these results can be used to develop sanitation management procedures for suppliers, as well as by administration agencies to evaluate and guide those suppliers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.702-713
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• 2023

Purpose: Depression is a prevalent mental health concern globally including South Korea. Given the growing interest in the relationship between diet and mental health, this study aimed to investigate the association between seafood consumption and depression among Korean adults. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2014-2020). The study included 18,149 participants (7,541 men and 10,608 women) aged 19 years and older who completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Seafood intake levels were assessed using a oneday 24-hour dietary recall, and participants were categorized into three tertiles by gender. Depression status was determined using the PHQ-9 scores and the self-report of the doctor's diagnosis and treatment. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between seafood consumption and depression in both genders. Results: Participants with a higher seafood intake had a significantly lower nutritional density of total fat, while the nutritional density of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was significantly higher. The prevalence of depression was significantly lower in the highest tertile of seafood consumption compared to the lowest tertile in both men (p < 0.001) and women (p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, the highest tertile of seafood consumption demonstrated a decreased risk of depression compared to the lowest tertile in men (odds ratio [OR], 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51-0.99; p-trend = 0.020) and women (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.59-0.91; p-trend = 0.004). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that consuming seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids may potentially reduce the risk of depression in the adult population.

• Proceedings of the Fisheries Business Administration Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.65-86
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• 2003