• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.94-100
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• 2009

This study was carried out to examine the antimicrobial effects of grapefruit seed extract (GSE) and processed sulfur solution (PSS) against human skin pathogens: Malassezia furfur, M. restricta, Propionibacterium arnes, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. rubrum. The antimicrobial effects of GSE and PSS were tested by agar diffusion method and micro broth dilution method. As the results, the MIC values of GSE against M. furfur, M. restricta, P. acnes, T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum were 3.91, 3.91, 0.004, 0.024, and $0.012{\mu}l/ml$, respectively. The MIC values of PSS were 0.03, 0.03, 0.156, 0.003, and $0.012{\mu}l/ml$, respectively. Antimicrobial activity of skin care emulsion products containing 0.5% GSE and 0.5% PSS against human skin pathogens were 5.2, 4.3, 8.0, 9.5 and 12.8 mm, respectively. Refractive index, pH, viscosity and color value of skin care emulsions containing GSE and PSS were measured. According to these results, it was concluded that the GSE and PSS were the promising sources of antibacterial agent which could be useful for skin and hair care products as well as for the alternative medicine development in treatment of certain types of skin ailments.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2009

Uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) is a mitochondrial protein that is expressed predominantly in skeletal muscle. It may play a role in altering metabolic function. However, its major physiological roles are not fully understood. Recently de novo expression of UCP3 in rat liver by fenofibrate was reported. We also reported previously that fenofibrate-induced de novo expression of UCP3 contributes to reduction of adipose tissue in obese rats. In the present study, we investigated that ienofibrate-induced expression of UCP3 in rat liver is related with metabolic function such as body weight and hepatic lipid content by time-dependent manner in high-fat diet rats. Eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups; the high fat diet group (HF, n=16) and fenofibrate-treated high fat diet group (HFF, n=16). The mRNA expression of hepatic UCP3 was detected as early as 1 week of fenofibrate treatment by quantitative real-time PCR and the amount of mRNA was increased time-dependently. The mean body weight of the HFF group was significantly less com. pared with the HF group after 6 weeks of fenofibrate treatment, even though there was no difference of food intake between the two groups. Rectal temperature was increased during 4 to 6 weeks of fenofibrate treatment and body weight was decreased after 6 weeks of treatment. These results were corresponded with the increased amount of the expression of UCP3 mRNA and protein. We suggest that de novo expression of hepatic UCP3 is increased time-dependently with fenofibrate treatment and that the amount of expression is correlated with metabolic function.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.2 s.90
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• pp.109-118
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• 2000

The dynamics of inorganic nutrients and phytoplankton population were examined at eight stations of Shihwa Reservoir, which situated near the cities newly constructed and the industrial complex of West-sea in Korea, from January to December 1999. Among environmental factors, average concentration of $NH_4$, SRP and SRSi were $522.7\;{\mu}g\;N/l$, $9.8\;{\mu}g\;N/l$ and $0.26\;{\mu}g\;Si/l$, respectively. Water quality was extremely deteriorated by a great amount of pollutants load into inner reservoir after the event of rainfall. Nutrients concentration was suddenly decreased toward the lower part. While $NO_3$ concentration did not much varied among stations, but it was relatively high in winter season. Chlorophyll-a concentration was high at the upper part of the reservoir, with average of $37.2\;{\mu}/l$, and closely related to the fluctuation of $NH_4$, SRP and SRSi concentrations. The phytoplankton development in the water column was dominated by diatom (autumn), prasinoid (winter) and dinoflagellate (summer). Dominant phytoplankton were composed to Skeletonema costatum of diatom, Prorocentrum minimum of dinoflagellate, Chroomonas spp. of cryptomonad, Eutreptiella gymnastica of euglenoid and Pyramimonas spp. of prasinoid. The large bloom of phytoplankton at the upper zone of the Shihwa Reservoir after inflow of a seawater were consistently observed. In consequence, water quality management of the inlet stream was assessed to be very important and urgent.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.322-327
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• 2006

Food constituents analysis of Acer tegmentosum. Maxim.(Acer TM) stem was carried out according to AOAC method, and the antiradical activity on DPPH and cytotoxicity on human cell lines (AGS, HepG2, A549, MCF-7 and Chang) for the 80% ethylalcohol(EtOH) extracts of Acer TM stem were studied. The antiradical activity on DPPH radical of the ethylacetate(EtOAc) fraction of the bark showed a higher activity than that of $\alpha$-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and BHT. The inhibition activity of the 80% EtOH extracts from Acer TM stem on human cancer cell lines by SRB assay indicated a dose-dependent growth inhibition on most human carcinoma cells. The growth inhibition rate of each human cancer cell line showed 91.3% to AGS, 75.0% to A549, 74.1% to HepG2, and 70.2% to MCF-7 cells, respectively, when the 80% EtOH extract(1 mg/ml) of Acer TM stem was added.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.43-50
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• 1970

To study the productivity of single cell protein from the petroleum hydrocarbon utilizing yeasts, 242 soil samples, such as oil soaked soil of gas stations and garage, coal, farm soil, and sewage, from 135 places in Korea were collected. From these samples 468 yeast strains which utilize petroleum hydrocarbon as a sole organic carbon source were isolated and identified by observing the growth rates. For the identified strains optimum culture conditions were determined and analysis of cell components were performed. 1. 90.8% of petroleum hydrocarbon utilizing yeast strains were found from oil soaked soil and about 10% from coal, farm soil and sewage etc. 2. The yeast strain of the highest cell productivity was isolated from oil soaked soil and was identified as Candida curvata HY-69-19. 3. The optimum culture conditions for the selected yeast strain were found to be pH 5.0, $28^{\circ}C$ and affluent aerated state. 4. Candida curvata HY-69-19 was found to utilize favorably the heavy gas oil fractionated at above $268.9^{\circ}C$ as carbon source and urea as inorganic nitrogen source. 5. The growth curve of this strain on heavy gas oil medium showed that the yeast has a lag phase up to 18 hours and logarithmic growth phase between 24 to 42 hours. Generation time was found to be between 3.8 and 4.5 hours during the logarithmic growth phase. 6. About 300 mg dried cells per heavy gas oil was harvested under the culture conditions of adjusted pH to 5.0 at time intervals of 6 hours for 54 hours and heavy gas oil urea for shaking culture medium. 7. Chemical composition of the yeast cell was found to be 40.25%, 14.81%, 24.32% and 10.63% for crude protein, crude lipid, carbohydrate and ashes, respectively.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.14-22
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• 1989

Chemical composition of the oyster mushroom(Pleurotus spp.) at different cropping stage were analyzed. The contents of crude protein, soluble protein, reducing sugar, total sugar and crude fat in Pleurotus ostreatus 201 were a little higher than those of Pleurotus sajorcaju. The Component contents were not different from the first to the second flush, while the contents were slightly decreased from the third flush. A11 component contents were highest in $3{\sim}5cm$ pileus size, the contents were slightly decreased as pileus size increase to over $3{\sim}5cm$, except for reducing sugar. Crude fiber content in Pleurotus sajor-caju were a little more than Pleurotus ostreatus 201, and in course of increasing cropping time, ash contens of two strains were simmilar, and were decreased after the second flush. These component contents mere increased by the growth of the pileus. The sugars were identified as xylose, glucose, mannitol and trehalose in Pleurotus sajor-caju, and xylose, fructose, glucose, mannitol and trehalose in Pleurotus ostreatus 201, respectively. Mannitol and trehalose contents in Pleurotus sajor-caju were a little more than that in Pleurotus ostreatus 201. Glucose content of Pleurotus sajor-caju and Pleurotus ostreatus 201 was highest in $1{\sim}3cm$ pileus size, while other sugars in $3{\sim}5cm$ pileus size, and the sugar contents were decreased at over the above size of the pileus.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2001

Purpose: We measured anti-H. pylori IgG in Korean elementary school children living in Shinchon area of Seoul, Korea to evaluate the influence of environmental living standards on H. pylori infection. Methods: IgG antibodies to H. pylori were measured in plasma using a commercial ELISA kit (GAP IgG Helicobacter pylori, Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc., Hercules, CA, USA). Information on environmental status such as place of birth, parental income, type of housing, number of persons in the household, parents' occupation, family history of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer was obtained. Statistical analysis was done by Chi-square and logistic regression test using SPSS $7.0^{TM}$ for Windows. Results: Study subjects consisted of 571 children, and the age distribution ranged from 6.0 to 13.6 years with a mean of $9.6{\pm}1.8$ years. Male-to-female ratio was 1.1:1. The seropositive rates of H. pylori infection ranged from 10.4% in children aged 6 years to 30.9% in 12 year-old group, overall 16.8%. The prevalence of H. pylori infection progressively increased with age, but there was no significant difference in seropositive rates among children in different age groups (p=0.06). Seropositive rates of anti-H. pylori IgG on the basis of gender, place of birth, parental income, type of housing, parents' occupation, family history of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer showed no statistically significant difference. Interestingly, however, seropositive rate of anti-H. pylori IgG showed statistical significance in relation to number of persons in the household (p=0.003; Odds ratio 1.50 by logistic regression test). Conclusion: These results suggest that number of persons in the household is the most important factor among environmental living standards, and that risk of H. pylori infection increases by increment of 1.5 times as the number of persons in the household increases by one.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2006

Purpose : Appropriate use of antimicrobials is an essential factor to treat infectious diseases and prevent acquisition of antimicrobial resistant pathogens. This study was undertaken to search that application of computerized management program for restriction of antimicrobials use in a hospital is helpful to decrease antimicrobial use density. Methods : Antibiotics utilization committee decided to restrict the use of 16 antimicrobials(14 expensive drugs having fear of drug resistance by pathogens and additional two drugs with inappropriate using tendency). Retrospective evaluation of antimicrobial user numbers between May and July of 2004 and 2005(study group) was conducted to compare with previous use density during same period of 2002 and 2003(control group). Results : Inpatients number of control group($823.5{\pm}37.1$ persons) was more than study group($809.2{\pm}39.3$ persons, P<0.001), but, outpatients number and hospitalized duration were equal in two groups. Antimicrobial user number/100 inpatients per day of glycopeptides and antifungal agents was equal in two groups, and study group was significantly higher density than control group in the use of carbapenems, piperacillin-tazobactam and quinolones(P<0.001). But study group was significantly lower density than control group in the use of drugs with inappropriately using tendency and expensive cephalosporins having broad antimicrobial spectrum(P<0.001). Conclusion : Application of computerized management program for restriction of antimicrobials use in a hospital is effective to decrease the use density of antimicrobials with inappropriately using tendency, but it is an insufficient measures for the restricted use of other antimicrobials on the whole.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.150-161
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• 2009

Purpose : Staphylococcus aureus causes a variety of infections, ranging from benign skin infections to fatal invasive infections. Recently, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections have emerged in patients who do not have established risk factors. This study was conducted to characterize S. aureus infections in children with an emphasis on communityassociated MRSA infections at a tertiary care pediatric facility during a 3-year period. Methods : Four hundred twenty-nine cases of S. aureus infections diagnosed at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital between January 2004 and December 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. The cases were classified as hospitalonset (HO) or community-onset (CO), healthcare-associated (HA), or community-associated (CA) infections. Results : Among the 206 cases <1 year of age, 72%, 7%, and 21% were HO-HA, CO-HA, and CA infections, respectively, as compared to 48%, 28%, and 24% among the 223 cases >1 year of age. The proportion of CO-HA infections among HA infections (8.6% vs. 37.1%, P<0.001) and the proportion of HA infections among the CO infections (24.5% vs. 54.3%, P <0.001) were greater in older children than in infants. Overall, 57% of the isolates were methicillin-resistant. Twenty-nine (30%) of 96 CA strains were MRSA, and the most common site of CA-MRSA infection was the skin and soft tissues (26 cases). Conclusion : The methicillin resistance rate of S. aureus from CA infections was high and CA-MRSA was most often associated with skin and soft tissue infections.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.160-167
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• 2017

Purpose: Because children with asplenia have an increased risk of fulminant infection associated with a high fatality, chemoprophylaxis, and vaccinations against encapsulated bacteria are recommended. However, there have been few reports of the burden of severe bacterial infection and the current status of chemoprophylaxis and immunization among children with asplenia in Korea. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study including children with asplenia who were treated at our institute between January 1997 and December 2016. Results: From a total of 213 children with asplenia, 114 (53.5%) had congenital asplenia and 58 (27.2%) had functional asplenia. The remaining 41 (19.3%) had acquired asplenia with the median age at splenectomy being 12.2 years (range, 5.0 to 16.9 years); the most common cause of splenectomy was hereditary spherocytosis (39.0%). The chemoprophylaxis rate was 16.4%. The immunization rates were 44.1% for pneumococcus, 53.0% for Haemophilus influenzae type B, and 10.7% for meningococcus. The incidence of invasive bacterial infection among children with asplenia was 0.28/100 person-year; a total of six episodes (2.8%) were observed in five patients with congenital asplenia and one patient with functional asplenia. The median age for these infections was 15 months (range, 4 to 68 months). Five of the six episodes were bacteremia, and the other was meningitis. The most common pathogen was Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=3), followed by H. influenzae (n=1). Three of the six patients (50.0%) died, all of whom had pneumococcal bacteremia. None of the six had chemoprophylaxis or proper vaccinations. Conclusions: Although there is an increased risk of a severe infection proper vaccinations and chemoprophylaxis are still lacking. Physicians should be encouraged to implement appropriate chemoprophylaxis and immunizations for patients with asplenia.