• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.521-532
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• 2005

Objectives & Methods : In order to evaluate the in vitro synergic effects or Eunkyo-san which is a traditional poly-herbal formula that has been used in the treatment of respiratory diseases in oriental medicine, and quinolone antibiotics, rufloxacin (RUFX) and iprofloxacin(CPFX), experimentation was designed to determine minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC), $MIC_{50}\;and\;MIC_{90}$ of single use of quinolones and concomitant treatment with Eunkyo-san against 5 strains of aerobic gram negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella peumoniae, Hemophilus influenzae, Citrobacter freundii and Pseudomonas aeruginosae. Result : In the case of aerobic gram negative bacteria, the MIC, $MIC_{50}\;and\;MIC_{90}$ against Klebsiella peumoniae and Citrobacter freundii significantly decreased in concomitant-treated groups with Eunkyo-san compared to those of single-treated groups of RUFX and CPFX, respectively. However, no significant changes were demonstrated against Echerichia coli, Hemophilus influenzae and Pseudomonas aeruginosae. Conclusion : According to these results, concomitant use of Eunkyo-san against some strains of aerobic gram-negative bacteria dramatically increases in vitro antibacterial activity of RUFX and CPFX, and the increase and selectivity of antibacterial activities against these strains is attributable to Eunkyo-san, and not RUFX or CPFX activity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.856-867
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• 2020

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a major gastroenteritis-causing pathogen in many Asian countries. Antimicrobial resistance in V. parahaemolyticus has been recognized as a critical threat to food safety. In this study, we determined the prevalence and incidence of antimicrobial resistance in V. parahaemolyticus in the southern Fujian coast, China. A total of 62 isolates were confirmed in retail aquatic products from June to October of 2018. The serotype O3:K6 strains, the virulence genes tdh and trh, antibiotic susceptibility and molecular typing were investigated. Then plasmid profiling analysis and curing experiment were performed for multidrug-resistant strains. The results showed that the total occurrence of V. parahaemolyticus was 31% out of 200 samples. Five strains (8.1%) out of 62 isolates were identified as the V. parahaemolyticus O3:K6 pandemic clone. A large majority of isolates exhibited higher resistance to penicillin (77.4%), oxacillin (71%), ampicillin (66.1%) and vancomycin (59.7%). Seventy-one percent (44/62) of the isolates exhibited multiple antimicrobial resistance. All 62 isolates were grouped into 7 clusters by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA, and most of the isolates (80.6%) were distributed within cluster A. Plasmids were detected in approximately 75% of the isolates, and seven different profiles were observed. Seventy-six percent (25/33) of the isolates carrying the plasmids were eliminated by 0.006% SDS incubated at 42℃, a sublethal condition. The occurrence of multidrug-resistant strains could be an indication of the excessive use of antibiotics in aquaculture farming. The rational use of antimicrobial agents and the surveillance of antibiotic administration may reduce the acquisition of resistance by microorganisms in aquatic ecosystems.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.338-342
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• 2008

This study was performed to screen and select Lactobacillus strains from chicken feces for probiotic use in animals. Of these strains, strain AU had the highest immunostimulatory effect. Therefore, strain A12 was characterized as a potential probiotic. Strain A12 was tentatively identified as Lactobacillus acidophilus A12, using the API 50 CHL kit based on a 99.9% homology. L. acidophilus A12 was highly resistant to artificial gastric juice (pH 2.5) and bile acid (oxgall). Based on results from the API ZYM kit, leucine arylamidase, crystine arylamidase, acid phosphatase, naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase, ${\alpha}$-galactosidase, ${\beta}$-galactosidase, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase, ${\beta}$-glucosidase, and N-acetyl-${\beta}$-glucosamidase were produced by strain A12. L. acidophilus A12 showed resistance to several antibiotics (nisin, gentamicin, and erythromycin). The amount of interleukin $(IL)-1{\alpha}$ in $20{\times}$ concentrated supernatant from L. acidophilus A12 was approximately 156pg/ml. With regard to antioxidant activity, L. acidophilus A12 supernatant showed 60.6% DPPH radical scavenging activity. These results demonstrate the potential use of L. acidophilus A12 as health-promoting probiotics.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.265-275
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• 2017

The production of enzymes that help digestion, assimilation of essential nutrients, and prevent pathogenic bacteria are important for probiotics used in aquaculture. The objective of this study was to investigate enzyme activities for macromolecular organic matters and antimicrobial properties of the selected potential probiotics isolated from gut of surf clam (Tresus keenae) against well-known shellfish-pathogenic bacteria. Among 65 isolates from guts of 60 surf clams, seven Bacillus strains with outstanding degradation capability of macromolecule organic matter were selected as potential probiotics as follows: TKI01 (B. vietnamensis), TKI02, TKI26 (B. thuringiensis), TKI14, TKI32, TKI42 (B. amyloliquefaciens), and TKI18 (B. stratosphericus). After in vitro antimicrobial activity test was performed against five shellfish-pathogenic bacteria including Listonella anguillarum, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. splendidus, V. harveyi, V. tubiashii, PCR assay was performed to detect bacteriocin-producing strain. PCR results revealed that the five Bacillus strains possessed diverse bacteriocin genes including ericinA, coagulin, surfactin, iturin, bacyllomicin, fengycin, bacylisin, subtilin, and lantibiotics. In the present study, the selected seven Bacillus strains showed different enzyme activities according to types of macromolecule organic matters. And their antimicrobial activities varied based on the species of pathogenic bacteria. In addition, at least five Bacillus strains had genetic potential to produce several natural lipopeptide antibiotics that may help biological control of surf clam aquaculture. Therefore, mixed use of probiotics might show co-operative effect and increase the efficiency of probiotics rather than separate use. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first report on antimicrobial properties of Bacillus species isolated from surf clam.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.3
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• pp.191-198
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• 2011

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent nosocomial infection in the intensive care unit (ICU), with an incidence ranging from 8% to 38%. Patients who acquire VAP have higher mortality rates and longer ICU and hospital stays. Because there are other potential causes of fever, leukocytosis, and pulmonary infiltrates, clinical diagnosis of VAP is overly sensitive. The only alternative approach to the clinical diagnosis of VAP is the Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (CPIS). Employing quantitative cultures of respiratory secretions in the diagnosis of VAP leads to less antibiotic use and probably to lower mortality. With respect to microbiologic diagnosis, however, it is not clear that the use of invasive sampling using bronchoscopy is associated with better outcomes. Delayed administration of antibiotic therapy is associated with an increased mortality, and inadequate antibiotic therapy is also associated with higher mortality. Therefore, prompt initiation of adequate antibiotic therapy is a cornerstone of the treatment of VAP. The initial antibiotic therapy should be based on the most common organisms in each hospital and the most likely pathogens for that specific patient. When final cultures and susceptibilities are available, de-escalation to less broad spectrum antibiotics should be done. Since clinical improvement usually takes 2 to 3 days, clinical responses to the initial empirical therapy should be evaluated by day 3. A short course of antibiotic therapy appears to be equivalent to a traditional course of more than 14 days, except when treating non-fermenting gram-negative organisms. If patients receive initially adequate antibiotic therapy, efforts should be made to shorten the duration of therapy to as short as 7 days, provided that the etiologic pathogen is not a non-fermenting gram-negative organism.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.234-238
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• 2012

Background: Valproic acid is widely used in the treatment of generalized tonic-clonic and partial seizures. The carbapenem class is the most potent and widest spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Concomitant administration of carbapenems and valproic acid has been reported to decrease the serum concentration of valproic acid, which is sometimes associated with seizures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the changes in valproic acid concentration and half life and the frequency of seizure during concomitant administration of valproic acid and carbapenems. Method: This study was performed retrospectively on total 40 cases with identified valproic acid concentration during concomitant administration of valproic acid and carbapenems at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital from February 1st, 2006 to October 31st, 2011. Patients were classified into 3 groups: ertapenem group (n=14), imipenem group (n=12), meropenem group (n=14). Results: The mean serum concentrations in each group during combined treatment were $9.50{\pm}8.84$, $21.88{\pm}8.17$ and $10.62{\pm}8.67$ mg/L, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean half-lives in each group during concurrent use of valproic acid and carbapenems were $3.18{\pm}0.81$, $4.63{\pm}1.97$ and $2.67{\pm}1.69$ hr, respectively (p < 0.001). The valproic acid serum concentration decreased by 75.5%, 54.1% and 84.1% and the half-life of valporoic acid decreased by 65.6%, 35.7% and 73.5%, respectively. Total cases with seizure were 12(30%) with 5(35.7%) in the ertapenem group, 3 (25.0%) in the imipenem group and 4(28.6%) in the meropenem group (p=0.911). There were no specific factors to influence on seizure development during combined treatment. Conclusion: Concurrent use of carbapenems and valproic acid should be avoided. If concomitant administration is essential, very close serum concentration monitoring and clinical observation are necessary.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.881-887
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• 2007

It is a hot clinical issue whether newly approved antimicrobial agents such as daptomycin, linezolid, quinupristin/dalfopristin (synercid) and tigecycline are active enough to be used for infections caused by vancomycin resistant bacteria. We performed susceptibility tests for mupirocin, which is in widespread clinical use in Korea, and four new antimicrobials, daptomycin, linezolid, quinupristin/dalfopristin and tigecycline, against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium isolated from Korean patients in 1998 and 2005 to evaluate and compare the in vitro activity of these antimicrobials. Among these agents, quinupristin/dalfopristin, which is rarely used in hospitals in Korea, showed relatively high resistance to several vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) isolated in 2005. Likewise, daptomycin, linezolid and tigecycline have not yet been in clinical use in Korea. However, our results showed that most of the 2005 VRE isolates were already resistant to linezolid and daptomycin (highest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value >$100{\mu}g$/ml). Compared with the other four antimicrobial agents tested in this study, tigecycline generally showed the greatest activity against VRE. However, four strains of 2005 isolates exhibited resistance against tigecycline (MIC >$12.5{\mu}g$/ml). Almost all VRE were resistant to mupirocin, whereas all E. faecium isolated in 1998 were inhibited at concentrations between $0.8\sim1.6{\mu}g$/ml. In conclusion, resistances to these new antimicrobial agents were exhibited in most of VRE strains even though these new antibiotics have been rarely used in Korean hospitals.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.204-209
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to construct database for a drug safety information website to serve as an access point of up-to-date resources for a wide variety of drug-safety information helping patients and healthcare professionals make well-informed decisions about medication use. All the contents developed were confirmed by the council of advisors who were the experts in drug safety. The detailed contents of database on frequently prescribed drug including 9 NSAIDs, 19 antibiotics, 24 cardiovascular, 21 metabolic, 14 respiratory, 20 digestive, 22 hormonal, 10 genitourinary, 10 anti-allergic, 27 antifungal/antiviral, and 71 neuropsychiatric agents were developed based on the approved drug labeling of the Korean FDA. A separately searchable database of drug-specific safety information for patients and health professionals was constructed for users in need of different depth of knowledge on using medications safely. The safety information on highly prevalent chronic diseases and drug classes was also developed. Finally the most recent global drug safety news was provided. The consumer directed information was developed in layman's terms as means of proving user-friendly information. The creation of this type of website is part of the Korean FDA's ongoing initiative to address and promote the safe use of medications for the public.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2020

Bacteria of the genus Enterococcus are of importance in food fermentations as well as their use as probiotics in humans and livestock. However, they are also important nosocomial pathogens that cause infections. Some strains are resistant to multiple antibiotics and possess virulence factors. The role of Enterococcus species in disease has raised issues on their safety for use in foods or as probiotics. First, this review summarized the positive and negative traits of Enterococcus spp. to illustrate the controversial nature of this bacterial genus and discussed the current genomic approaches can eliminate pathogenic strains. Then, this review examined the current status of starter development for traditional food fermentations and the regulation on the approval of novel food microorganisms in Korea to point out problems in the regulation. Based on the conclusions from the studies on Enterococcus spp., we suggested the direction of safety assessment of novel food microorganisms in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.181-187
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• 2018

Background: Posaconazole is a broad-spectrum triazole antifungal agent and the most recommended prophylactic antifungal agent for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) undergoing induction chemotherapy. In this study, we evaluated the status and effectiveness of posaconazole as a prophylactic antifungal agent in pediatric patients receiving induction chemotherapy for AML. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of 36 pediatric patients with AML (between January 2013 and September 2017) at the Yonsei University Health System. Invasive fungal disease (IFD) was assessed as the primary endpoint of prophylactic antifungal effect. The secondary endpoints were incidence of fever, persistent fever despite the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for 72 h, alteration of antifungal agent, intensive care unit admission, and death within 100 days. Results: Among the 36 patients, 18 patients used posaconazole, 12 were treated with suspension formula, and 6 of them were treated with tablets. Eighteen patients did not use antifungal agents prophylactically. The mean number of days of posaconazole administration was $26.8{\pm}16days$. IFD occurred in 2/18 (11.1%) patients in the no prophylaxis group and in 1/18 (5.6%) patients in the posaconazole group (p=0.49). Conclusion: Posaconazole is expected to be useful for the prevention of IFD in pediatric patients with AML undergoing induction chemotherapy. Prospective studies of the effectiveness of posaconazole prophylaxis should be conducted in more pediatric patients in the future.