• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제9권5호
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• pp.203-207
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• 2009

Background: The FimA of Porphyromonas gingivalis is a crucial pathogenic component of the bacteria and has been implicated as a target for vaccine development against the periodontal diseases. Methods: In this study, the purified fimbriae (FimA subunit polymers) protein was used for immunization in their native form and B hybridoma clones producing antibodies specific to FimA were established. Results: The monoclonal antibodies prepared from selected two clones, designated #123 (IgG2b/ kappa) and #265 (IgG1/kappa), displayed different patterns of binding activity against the cognate antigen. Both antibodies reacted with conformational epitopes expressed by partially dissociated oligomers, but not with monomer as elucidated by Western blot analysis. Ascites fluid containing the monoclonal antibodies showed the inhibitory activity against P. gingivalis to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite beads, an in vitro model for the pellicle-coated tooth surface. Conclusion: These results suggest that the monoclonal antibodies could be used as vaccine material against the periodontal diseases through passive immunization.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.117-122
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Curcumin, a major component of the Curcuma species, contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Although it was found to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, the functional role of curcumin as well as its molecular mechanism in anti-inflammatory response, particularly in intestinal cells, has been less investigated. The intestine epithelial barrier is the first barrier and the most important location for the substrate coming from the lumen of the gut. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We administered curcumin treatment in the human intestinal epithelial cell lines, T84 and Caco-2. We examined endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response by thapsigargin, qPCR of XBP1 and BiP, electrophysiology by wild-type cholera toxin in the cells. RESULTS: In this study, we showed that curcumin treatment reduces ER stress and thereby decreases inflammatory response in human intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, curcumin confers protection without damaging the membrane tight junction or actin skeleton change in intestine epithelial cells. Therefore, curcumin treatment protects the gut from bacterial invasion via reduction of ER stress and anti-inflammatory response in intestinal epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data demonstrate the important role of curcumin in protecting the intestine by modulating ER stress and inflammatory response post intoxication.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.26-34
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• 2020

Background: We examined changes in red ginseng components after different doses of irradiation were applied. We also evaluated what housewives and teachers know about irradiated food, as well as their perceptions of and attitudes toward it. Materials and Methods: General nutrients and unique components of irradiated ginseng were then analyzed. Education on irradiated foods and red ginseng was provided to teachers and housewives on two occasions, and changes in their behaviors were evaluated via a qualitative survey. Results and Discussion: The ideal radiation dose to reduce the number of bacteria without changing the unique components of red ginseng is 7.5 kGy. Notably, after educational seminars on this topic, consumers' knowledge, attitudes toward, and perceptions of irradiated ginseng compared to non-irradiated red ginseng changed significantly. Conclusion: It is necessary to provide consumers with information on irradiated foods to promote the growth of the domestic food industry, and to improve public knowledge of the safety and effects associated with the irradiation of food.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제39권2호
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• pp.105-116
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• 2013

Background: In Korea, there is low awareness of the respiratory health problems caused by the use of humidifiers, leading to a lack of governmental measures. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to review cases of varying degrees of humidifier lung and fever in connection with the use of humidifiers and to summarize the probable environmental agents causing these cases. Methods: We searched all articles reporting on humidifier lung, humidifier fever, and humidifier diseases caused by the use of a humidifier both at home and in the workplace. Results: We summarized a number of cases of varying degrees of respiratory diseases resulting from inhalation of water mist of humidifiers containing various species of bacteria and fungi and their toxins. Type of respiratory disease connected with humidifier lung includes interstitial pneumonitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, fever and several respiratory symptoms. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), Actinomycetes, endotoxins and contaminated humidifier water were the most commonly suspected probable environmental agents causing humidifier lung. In Korea, the use of humidifier biocide is suspected as a likely cause of fatal lung injury including death and lung transplantation. Conclusion: Governmental policy should be devised and measures including a national surveillance system should be taken to prevent humidifier lung caused by the use of humidifiers.

• 한국환경농학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.118-124
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: Development of water recycle technologies is important for human health and sustainable agriculture. However, few studies have been conducted to examine the purification methods or the water quality of reclaimed wastewater in Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, the different wastewaters including reclaimed wastewater and waste nutrient solution (NS) were evaluated. The changes of water quality in reclaimed wastewater and NS were determined using ultraviolet (UV) treatment and sand filtration with charcoal. Our results showed that one of the most critical limitations of reusing wastewater was the presence of harmful pathogens that possibly cause human health risks. CONCLUSION(s): This study suggests that the application of UV treatment or combined with sand filtration on reclaimed wastewater and waste NS effectively removes the total coliform bacteria below the harmful or acceptable level. For future studies, a long-term field monitoring after applying reclaimed wastewater or NS is needed.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.421-426
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• 2019

Background: Wolbachia are among the most prevalent endosymbiotic bacteria and induce reproductive anomalies in various invertebrate taxa. The bacterium has huge impacts on host reproductive biology, immunity, evolution, and molecular machinery. However, broad-scale surveys of Wolbachia infections at the order scale, including the order Coleoptera, are limited. In this study, we investigated the Wolbachia infection frequency in 201 Coleopteran insects collected in Korea. Results: A total of 26 species (12.8%) belonging to 11 families harbored Wolbachia. The phylogenetic trees of based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequences and partial Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) gene sequences were largely incongruent to that of their hosts. This result confirms that Wolbachia evolved independently from their hosts, Conclusion: Phylogenetic trees suggest that complex horizontal gene transfer and recombination events occurred within and between divergent Wolbachia subgroups.

• 반도체디스플레이기술학회지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.24-29
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• 2016

One of the main applications of digital image processing is the estimation of the number of certain types of objects (cells, seeds, peoples etc.) in an image. Difficulties of these counting problems depends on various factors including shape and size variation, degree of object clustering, contrast between object and background, object texture and its variation, and so on. In this paper, a new automatic colony counting algorithm is proposed. We focused on the two applications: counting the bacteria colonies on the agar plate and estimating the number of seeds from images captured by smartphone camera. To overcome the shape and size variations of the colonies, we adopted the distance transformation and peak detection approach. To estimate the reference size of the colony robustly, we also used k-means clustering algorithm. Experimental results show that our method works well in real world applications.

• 대한치위생과학회지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.99-111
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• 2021

Background: This study aimed to investigate the changes of the amount of P. gingivalis in saliva by professional preventive treatment of periodontal disease by dental hygienists. Methods: A total of 109 subjects participated in this study with informed consent. The control group (38 subjects) performed oral hygiene management individually. The periodontal treatment group (35 subjects) underwent root planning once every 3 weeks for a total of 4 times. The professional periodontal prevention group (36 subjects) underwent interdental cleaning and professional tooth brushing once every 3 weeks for a total of 4 times. Paired T test and analysis of variance were performed to compare the difference among the groups in the amount of P. gingivalis. Results: The copies of P. gingivalis in the professional periodontal prevention group decreased from 773.62±1,198.09 to 241.40±430.40 after treatment significantly. The control group decreased from 525.22±582.54 to 244.29±385.88 after treatment. The periodontal treatment group showed insignificant change of P. gingivalis. Conclusions: This study showed the professional periodontal prevention was more effective than periodontal treatment in decrease of P. gingivalis.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.37-48
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• 2023

Background: Commensal bacteria play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and probiotics have been used as treatment options. We aimed to explore the current use of probiotics and factors associated with their prescription in patients with IBD. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a single hospital-based cohort. Patients were eligible if they were ≥18 years old, visited the IBD clinic as an outpatient more than twice during the study period, and had a confirmed diagnosis of IBD. Patients were divided into two groups based on the prescription of probiotics. Clinical assessments were compared between the two groups. Results: In total, 217 patients were enrolled in this study. In patients with Crohn disease (CD), moderate or severe abdominal pain; prior use of methotrexate (MTX), iron, thiopurines, or biologics; history of IBD-related surgery; and stool frequency were independently associated with the prescription of probiotics. In patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), moderate or severe abdominal pain, hematochezia, stool frequency, and moderate or severe physician global assessment score were independently associated with the prescription of probiotics. Conclusion: Increased disease activity may be associated with fewer prescriptions of probiotics in patients with IBD. However, physicians prescribed probiotics to control symptoms, such as abdominal pain and increased stool frequency in patients with UC and CD, and hematochezia in patients with UC. Additionally, the use of MTX and iron, and a history of IBD-related surgeries were associated with more frequent probiotic prescriptions in patients with CD.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.82-91
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• 2021

목적: 본 연구에서는 소아환자의 혈액에서 분리된 주요 그람음성 균주의 항생제 내성 양상을 파악하고 항생제 사용량과의 관계를 알아보고자 하였다. 방법: 2014년 1월부터 2018년 6월까지 서울아산병원 어린이병원에 입원한 18세 이하의 소아청소년에서 발생한 그람음성 균주 균혈증 중 Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 총 4가지 균주를 대상으로 항생제 내성 양상을 분석하였다. 또 원내에서 소아에게 주로 사용하는 정주용 항생제의 사용량과 항생제 내성률의 변화와의 관련성을 분석하였다. 결과: 본 연구 기간 동안 전체 혈액배양에서, K. pneumoniae (6.4%; 105/1,628), E. coli (5.6%; 91/1,628), P. aeruginosa (3.3%; 54/1,628) 및 A. baumannii (2.5%; 41/1,628)의 순으로 분리되었다. 2014-2018년에 분리된 E. coli와 K. pneumoniae의 광범위 cephalosporin 계열에 대한 내성률은 각각 49.3%와 54.4%였다. 2014년도에는 carbapenem에 내성을 보이는 E. coli 균종이 처음 출현하였고, 5년간의 내성률은 5.3%였다. 연구기간 동안 항생제 사용량과 항생제 내성률 사이의 상관관계를 분석하여, 3세대 cephalosporin 사용량과 A. baumannii의 내성률(r²=0.96, P=0.004) 그리고 carbapenem의 사용량과 K. pneumoniae의 내성률(r²=0.79, P=0.045) 간에 양의 상관관계를 확인하였다. 결론: 국내 소아에서 발생한 그람음성균 균혈증 분석 시 3세대 및 4세대 cephalosporin에 대한 높은 내성률이 확인되며, carbapenem에 대한 내성도 확인되고 있다. 일부 항생제 사용량과 해당 약제에 대한 내성률에 선형 상관관계가 있었으며, 이는 항생제 사용량이 내성률에 영향을 미칠 수 있음을 시사한다. 이에 지속적인 원내 항생제 사용량 및 내성률에 대한 감시가 필요하며, 적절한 항생제의 선택 및 관리는 내성균주 출현 예방 및 치료 성적 향상에 필수적이다.