• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.334-345
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• 2018

Spore-forming Bacillus species are commercially available probiotic formulations for application in humans. They have health benefits and help prevent disease in hosts by combating entero-pathogens and ameliorating antibiotic-associated diarrhea. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of these benefits remain unclear. Here, we report the draft genome of a potential probiotic strain of Bacillus clausii B106. We mapped and compared the probiotic profile of B106 with other reference genomes. The draft genome analysis of B106 revealed the presence of ADI pathway genes, indicating its ability to tolerate acidic pH and bile salts. Genes encoding fibronectin binding proteins, enolase, as well as a gene cluster involved in the biosynthesis of exopolysaccharides underscored the potential of B106 to adhere to the intestinal epithelium and colonize the human gut. Genes encoding bacteriocins were also detected, indicating the antimicrobial ability of this isolate. The presence of genes encoding vitamins, including Riboflavin, Folate, and Biotin, also indicated the health-promoting ability of B106. Resistance of B106 to multiple antibiotics was evident from the presence of genes encoding resistance to chloramphenicol, ${\beta}$-lactams, Vancomycin, Tetracycline, fluoroquinolones, and aminoglycosides. The findings indicate the significance of B. clausii B106 administration during antibiotic treatment and its potential value as a probiotic strain to replenish the health-promoting and disease-preventing gut flora following antibiotic treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.329-334
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• 2008

Kwashiorkor is a syndrome of severe protein malnutrition, which manifests itself in hypoalbuminemia, diarrhea, dermatitis, and edema. It can be life-threatening due to associated immune deficiency and an increased susceptibility to infections. Kwashiorkor should be treated early with nutritional support and the control of infection. Dilated cardiomyopathy may develop during the treatment and in such cases a poor prognosis is expected. Kwashiorkor has been known as a common disease of poor countries. To date, in fact, there has been no report of kwashiorkor leading to death in technically advanced countries. We here report a fatal case of a baby girl admitted with kwashiorkor. She had been fed only with cereal grain mixed with juice, without any protein supplement, for 2 months. This diet was deficient not because of poverty, but due to the illiteracy of her parents. The patient suffered from diarrhea, whole body edema, hypothermia, and dermatitis. Laboratory findings revealed an immune-deficient state featuring leukopenia and decreased immunoglobulin. Blood and urine cultures revealed Alcaligenes Xylosoxidans growth. The patient was fed frequent small amounts of protein-containing formula and intravenous albumin and micronutrients were administered for nutritional support. She was also treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and antibiotics in order to control infection. Nevertheless, she developed dilated cardiomyopathy and multi-organ failure and died. We review this case in light of the literature.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2019

Purpose: Campylobacter species are common causes of bacterial enteritis. There is limited knowledge on its prevalence and clinical features because of its fastidious culture conditions. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical features of Campylobacter enteritis in children. Methods: We obtained stool specimens from patients diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis in the Department of Pediatrics, Nowon Eulji Medical Center (NEMC) and identified the pathogens by performing cultures or polymerase chain reactions (PCR). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with Campylobacter enteritis at NEMC between January 2012 and December 2017. Results: Overall, 123 patients were diagnosed with Campylobacter enteritis (60 by culture and PCR in EnterNet and 110 by multiplex PCR). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of patients was 12 years (IQR, 8 to 16 years). The disease occurred all year round, but 69.9% from June to September. Symptoms included diarrhea (97.6%), fever (96.7%), abdominal pain (94.3%), vomiting (37.4%), and headache (34.1%). Compared with other treatments, treatment with azithromycin was associated with a shorter hospitalization period (P<0.05). Conclusions: Campylobacter enteritis is common during summer and mostly infects adolescent patients. It causes severe abdominal pain and fever preceding the onset of diarrhea. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate use of antibiotics reduces the duration of the disease.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.141-145
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• 2014

There is a burgeoning number of products on the market that contain probiotics, but do they do you any good? What exactly are probiotics? They have been defined as living organisms that, when ingested in sufficient quantities, provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. They are often referred to as "friendly bacteria" or "good bacteria." Probiotics have been claimed, amongst other things, to (i) reduce the incidence of colon cancer and other diseases of the colon, such as IBS, (ii) stimulate the immune system, (iii) have anti-hypertensive and anti-cholesterolemic properties, (iv) mitigate against the effect of antibiotics on the intestinal microbiota, and (v) protect against gastrointestinal infections. However, the scientific basis for many of these claims is not well-established. Indeed, the European Food Safety Authority has denied the use of several health claims associated with probiotics, particularly those related to mitigation of diarrhea following consumption of antibiotics. Thus, there is a need for research on the mechanisms of action of probiotics. We have been mainly interested in the use of probiotics to control enteric infections. There are several possible modes of action to explain how probiotics may protect the host from enteric pathogens, including competitive exclusion and immunomodulation. We have shown that probiotics produce bioactive molecules that interfere with bacterial cell-cell communication (also called quorum sensing), and this results in a down-regulation of virulence genes that are responsible for attachment of the pathogen to the gastrointestinal epithelium. These bioactive molecules act on a variety of bacteria, including enterohemorrhagic and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens, and there is evidence that they can inhibit the formation of biofilms by Listeria monocytogenes. These bioactive molecules, which are peptidic in nature, can exert their effects not only in vitro but also in vivo, and we have shown that they mitigate against E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in mice and Salmonella and E. coli K88 infections in pigs. They can be delivered in foods such as yoghurt and maintain their activity.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.146-153
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• 2010

Purpose: Recent studies have reported an increase in the incidence of community-acquired Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CA-CDAD) among children. There is an overall lack of information on CA-CDAD in the pediatric population. The aim of our study was to compare the epidemiologic and clinical features between CA-CDAD and hospital-acquired C. difficile-associated disease (HA-CDAD) in children. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients who were diagnosed with C. difficile-associated disease (CDAD) at Gil Hospital between April 2008 and March 2009. The diagnosis of CDAD was made when patients with gastrointestinal symptoms had positive results for C. difficile toxins A and B assay or stool culture. Results: Sixty-one (male, 32 and female, 29) patients were included. The mean age was 3.79${\pm}$4.54 years. Of the 61 patients, 22 (36.1%) were <1 year of age. Twenty-three patients (37.7%) had a history of antibiotic exposure in the previous 3 months. Forty-one patients (67.2%) were diagnosed with CA-CDAD. There were no significant differences in age, gender, symptoms, laboratory findings, recovery period, complications, and recurrence between the CA-CDAD and HA-CDAD groups. On the other hand, exposure to antibiotics was significantly more frequent among patients in the HA-CDAD group (p=0.005). Conclusion: This study suggests that the occurrence of CA-CDAD is increasing in the pediatric population, especially in younger children with no history of exposure to antibiotics and in outpatients. Awareness of the increasing incidence of CA-CDAD and prompt investigation of C. difficile in susceptible patients is needed to avoid misdiagnosis and for appropriate therapy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Veterinary Pathology Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.5-6
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• 2002

In a comprehensive summary use and supplementation of some well defined natural herbal formulations in the European swine breeding and fattening is documented. Along with this data also the quality assurance, hygenic as well as the standards of efficacy of the formulations are presented. Series of experimental and development work over the last several years with universities, research institutes, veterinarians and feed industry proved that the application of such phylo-components (feed supplementation) result in to optimizing swine breeding practices. On the basis of 4 specific formulations tested and used in the European veterinary field most of the common problems of pig breeding and rearing can be successfully handled. Precisely, problems of fertility, respiration, diarrhea and stress; which are directly related to imerse losses in production, with poor quality of piglets associated with immune suppressions. Besides curing common symptoms, one of the most important aspect is of improvement in the self defence mechanism which results ultimately in to increased immunity, vitality and health of the animals; of course, thereby reducing the mortality which is the most economical problem observed in the animal health. Moreover, data presented here reflects on the fact that the use of such high quality alternative formulations successfully replace conventionally used antibiotics or hormonal therapies. They also work synergestically of as complementary in vaccination program or act as growth promoting agents on natural basis.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.84-94
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• 2005

Objective: In order to help clinical approach on OME patient in progress observation and decision on improvement by clinical research results using tympanometry. Methods: Data was collected from 163 ears of 96 patients who were treated in Dept. of Oriental Medical Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology & Dermatology, Kyung-Hee Medical Center from 2001-2-12 to 2005-4-29 for Otitis Media with Effusion(OME). Tympanometry was applied to all patients and the test result was used to evaluate progress and improvement. F/U cases below 3 times were excluded. Results & conclusion: 1. Age and sex distribution was as follows: Mean Age 5.5years old(Standard deviation: 2.1), age distribution 2-61years old, below 10years old 151cases(92.6%) and above 10years old 12cases(7.4%). Male and female ratio was 1.81:1. 2. There were 67people(69.8%) with bilateral affected ear. Unilateral was 29people(30.2%). Affected ear distribution according to sex came out similarly. 3. Affected period distribution was as follows: over 12weeks 71cases(43.6%), under 12weeks 92cases(56.4%). Out of under 12weeks cases, 2-4weeks was 34cases(20.9%), 0-1weeks and 5-8weeks 20cases(12.3%), 9-12weeks 18cases(11.0%). There was evident difference about affected period between male and female. 4. All patients who served previous Tx in medical clinic(118 cases) took antibiotics. Only 6cases took tube insertion. The period of Taking antibiotics was as fellows: over 6weeks 42cases(35.6%), under 5weeks 37cases(31.4%). unknown 25cases(21.2%), jntermittent 14cases(11.9%). 5. In Period of Tx distribution, 5-6weeks showed 40cases(24.5%) which was highest number. In Improved cases(85cases), 3-4weeks and 5-6weeks each 22cases(25.9%) which was highest number. 1-2weeks 3cases(3.5%), 7-8weeks 12cases(14.1%), 9-10weeks 9cases(10.6%), 11-12weeks 10cases(11.8%), over 12weeks 7cases(8.2%). 6. The cases which have gastrointestinal Sx were 71cases(43.6%), the others 92cases(56.4%). Details of gastrointestinal Sx were as follows: Sx associated with appetite 47cases(47.5%), constipation 15cases(15.2%), abdominal pain and diarrhea 14cases(14.1%), frequent vomitting Teases(7.1%), etc 4cases(4.0%). 7. The cases which have accompanying disease were 116case(71.2%), the other 47cases(28.8%). Details a accompanying disease were as follows: sinusitis 57cases(35%), rhinitis 55cases(3.7%), allergic rhinitis 20cases(12.3%), atopic dermatitis 19cases(1.7%), urticaria 4cases(2.5%), asthma 3cases(1.8%), nasal polyp and conjunctivitis 2cases(1.2%) each, laryngitis 1case(0.6%).