• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.594-600
• /
• 2016

This study aimed to examine the microbial contamination levels in livestock products at retail stores. Beef, pork, and chicken samples from raw materials and final products were obtained between January and December 2015. All homogenized meat samples (25 g) were tested for the aerobic plate count (APC), coliform count (CC), and Escherichia coli count (E. coli). The highest APCs in meat samples, by month, at retail shops were obtained in September, followed by July, May, and October (p<0.001). However, APC was the highest in summer and the lowest in winter (p<0.001). Average APCs for beef, pork, and chicken samples were 2.90, 3.19, and 3.79 Log CFU/g, respectively (p<0.05). A comparison between different months revealed that, CC levels in meat samples ranged from 0 to 1.13 CFU/g, and the highest CC was obtained in August (p<0.001). By season, the highest CC was found in the summer, followed by autumn, and spring (p<0.001). All meat samples were negative for E. coli. The average log₁₀APC and CC for all samples was 3.10 and 0.37 Log CFU/g, respectively. Furthermore, there was a direct correlation between the season and coliform presence (p<0.001). There was also a positive correlation between the APC and CC (r = 0.517, p<0.001). The microbiological APCs for livestock products were in most cases below 10⁶ CFU/g.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.61-73
• /
• 2024

This report was prepared to introduce the developed Internet of Things (IoT)-based Smart Food Safety Management System (iMEAL) for children's foodservices registered in the Center for Children's Foodservice Management and report the results of hygiene monitoring through microbial analysis of two foods simulated and distributed based on this system. The program consisted of three menu screens: a foodservice management and meal inspection function, a refrigerator/freezer monitoring function, and a sanitary/safety inspection log function. Data such as cooking temperature, refrigerator and freezer temperature, salinity, and chlorine concentration were collected using IoT sensors or terminals, and hygiene safety inspection diary results (recorded by cooks) were transmitted to the Internet and stored. The APCs (3.78±0.07 log CFU/g) and E. coli (not detected) in stir-fried pork teriyaki sauce and the heating process met cooking standards. Similarly, the APCs (4.05±0.05 log CFU/g) and E. coli (not detected) in cucumber/chomuchim, which was not heated, also met cooking standards. APCs increased over time when cooked food was left for 1 hour, 1.5 hours, or 2 hours but remained acceptedable. Based on hygiene monitoring results of these two foods, using the i-MEAL system resulted in the safe production and distribution of children's food.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.415-420
• /
• 1997

Although $CD4^+$ T cell responses to protein-derived antigen have well been understood, the epitopes recognized by hapten-specific $CD4^+$ T cells have not been fully defined. In this study, we characterized the response of a T cell hybridoma (5Di0.1B8) which is specific for a hapten. N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-4-azidobenzoate (HSAB) restricted by MHC class II $I-A^d$. Using three different antigen presenting cells (APCs) expressing $I-A^d$, the role of class II MHC proteins in haptenic antigen presentation and subsequent activation of 5D10.1B8 has been examined. Activation of 5D10.1B8 T cells by HSAB analogs was also performed. Our results show that each APC activated T cells differentially and that interleukin-2 (IL-2) augmented antigen-presenting ability of all the APCs, suggesting that increased expression of class II MHC protein by IL-2 played an important role in HSAB presentation and T cell activation. Finally, early T cell receptor-dependent signals induced by HSAB or its analogs were examined by phosphotyrosine immunoblot analysis, and showed that tyrosine phosphorylation level of a 18-20 kD protein increased upon stimulation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.119-125
• /
• 2011

Implantation of an embryo occurs during the mid-secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, known as the "implantation window." During this implantation period, there are significant morphologic and functional changes in the endometrium, which is followed by decidualization. Many immune cells, such as dendritic and natural killer (NK) cells, increase in number in this period and early pregnancy. Recent works have revealed that antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and NK cells are involved in vascular remodeling of spiral arteries in the decidua and lack of APCs leads to failure of pregnancy. Paternal and fetal antigens may play a role in the induction of immune tolerance during pregnancy. A balance between effectors (i.e., innate immunity and helper T [Th] 1 and Th17 immunity) and regulators (Th2 cells, regulatory T cells, etc.) is essential for establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. The highly complicated endocrine-immune network works in decidualization of the endometrium and at the fetomaternal interface. We will discuss the role of immune cells in the implantation period and during early pregnancy.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.313-333
• /
• 2022

In Muju County, one of Korea's major apple producers, the regional agricultural cooperatives united together and invested to establish a cooperative joint business corporation in charge of the sales business. The corporation carried out the sales business transferred from the participating regional agricultural cooperatives. While the two participating cooperatives showed a marked difference in the degree of participation at the beginning of the business, the introduction of the agricultural product processing centers (APCs) and the participation of co-selection and shipment organizations and general farms helped settle this gap. In addition, commercialization through the APCs enhanced the market competitiveness of apples, which led to the stable securing of sales outlets. The corporation integrated the sales business in the county and this resulted in increased sales volume and sales revenue. Playing a leading role in introducing and cultivating new crops on a trial basis, the corporation demonstrated its potential as the main body of the joint sales business.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.376-382
• /
• 2004

The Epstein-Barr-transformed B lymphoblastoid cell lines, LCL, which express antigens, are potential antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for the induction of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in vitro. However, transfecting LCL with subsequent selection by antibiotics is notoriously difficult because the plating efficiencies of LCL are reported to be 1% or less. Therefore, this study investigated the optimal conditions for increasing the transduction efficiency of a recombinant adenovirus to LCL for use as a source of APCs. The transduction efficiencies were < 13% (SD $\pm$ 2.13) at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 100, while it was increased to 28% (SD $\pm$ 9.43) at an MOI of 1000. Moreover, its efficiencies to LCL that expressed the coxsackie adenovirus receptor were increased to 60% (SD $\pm$ 6.35) at an MOI of 1000, and were further increased to 70% (SD $\pm$ 4.56) when combined with the centrifugal method. The cationic liposome or anionic polymer had no effect on the transduction efficiency when compared to that of the centrifugal method. These results may be used as a convenient source of target cells for a CTL assay and/or autologous APCs for the induction of the in vitro CTL responses that are specific to viral and tumor antigens.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.235-241
• /
• 2014

Purpose: Regulatory T cells (Tregs), expressing CD4 and CD25 as well as Foxp3, are known to play a pivotal role in immunoregulatory function in autoimmune diseases, cancers, and graft rejection. Dendritic cells (DCs) are considered the major antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for initiating these T-cell immune responses, of which $CD103^+$ DCs are derived from precursor human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the capacity of these PBMC-derived $CD103^+$ DCs to promote the differentiation of antigen-specific Tregs. Methods: Monocyte-derived DCs were induced from $CD14^+$ monocytes from the PBMCs of 10 healthy subjects. Once the $CD103^+$ DCs were purified, the cell population was enriched by adding retinoic acid (RA). Peptide numbers 14 and 19 of Porphyromonas gingivalis heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) were synthesized to pulse $CD103^+$ DCs as a tool for presenting the peptide antigens to stimulate $CD3^+$ T cells that were isolated from human PBMC. Exogenous interleukin 2 was added as a coculture supplement. The antigen-specific T-cell lines established were phenotypically identified for their expression of CD4, CD25, or Foxp3. Results: When PBMCs were used as APCs, they demonstrated only a marginal capacity to stimulate peptide-specific Tregs, whereas $CD103^+$ DCs showed a potent antigen presenting capability to promote the peptide-specific Tregs, especially for peptide 14. RA enhanced the conversion of $CD103^+$ DCs, which paralleled the antigen-specific Treg-stimulating effect, though the differences failed to reach statistical significance. Conclusions: We demonstrated that $CD103^+$ DCs can promote antigen-specific Tregs from naive T cells, when used as APCs for an epitope peptide from P. gingivalis HSP60. RA was an effective reagent that induces mature DCs with the typical phenotypic expression of CD103 that demonstrated the functional capability to promote antigen-specific Tregs.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.78-79
• /
• 2003

T cell activation is initited by the interaction of T cells with antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the context of peptide antigen. Initial conjugates are formed by binding between lymphocyte-associated antigen-l (LFA-l, also known as CD11a-CD18) and intercellular adhesion molecule-l (ICAM-1), or CD2 and LFA-3, or other pairs of interactive proteins. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.171-172
• /
• 2002

Immune responses to infectious microbes and foreign antigens are regulated by a series of interactions among T cells, B cells, and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) such as macrophages (M$\square$) and dendritic cells (DCs). The inverse relationship between antibody production and cell-mediated immune responses such as delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) was experimentally manipulated by varying the dose, route of administration, and form of antigen used to immunize animals. (omitted)

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.2537-2542
• /
• 2015

Background: Nutrition transition is a global health problem, especially in developing countries. It is known as an important factor for development of different types of health conditions including cancers. Objectives: We aimed to assess the pattern of nutrition transition in a high-risk area for upper gastrointestinal cancers in Northern Iran during the last decade. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on households of Golestan province, Iran. Data on household food consumption between 2001 and 2010 were obtained from the Statistical Center of Iran. The proportions of households with medium/high consumption of main foods were calculated for each year. Joint point software was used for assessing trends. Annual percent changes (APCs) and 95%CIs were calculated. Results: In total, 12,060 households were recruited. The APCs (95%CI) of the proportion of households medium/high consumption of cereals, vegetables, legumes, fish, dairy products and meats were -3.1 (-4.1 to -2.2), -2.9 (-3.8 to -2.1), -2.3 (-3.2 to -1.4), -2.8 (-3.3 to -2.4), -1.9 (-3.0 to -0.9) and 2.7 (1.2 to 4.3), respectively. Conclusions: We found significant increase in meat consumption among our population between 2001 and 2010. Our results also suggested significant decreasing trend in consumption of so-called healthy foods including, plant foods, fish, and dairy products. Regarding its correlation with health conditions including cancers, nutrition transition should be considered as a priority in health policy making in our region as well as other high-risk populations. It is recommended to conduct community level interventions to increase consumption of plant foods, fish, and dairy products.