• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2005.11a
• /
• pp.139-139
• /
• 2005

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.136-139
• /
• 2023

Although cardiac myxoma is one of the most common types of benign cardiac tumors, infected cardiac myxoma is very infrequent. The diagnosis of infected cardiac myxoma may be challenging because the presenting symptoms are non-specific and established management guidelines are lacking. This report describes a 39-year-old woman with a 5-month history of uncontrolled fever, chills, and myalgia who was diagnosed with myxoma and underwent mass excision. Although blood and urine cultures were negative for growing bacteria, a pathologic examination showed that the excised mass was a left atrial myxoma, with pan-bacterial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the surgical specimen revealing Haemophilus parainfluenzae at 99.87%, resulting in a diagnosis of infected cardiac myxoma. Laboratory tests, such as PCR, may supplement culture results in the diagnosis of infected cardiac myxoma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.50 no.5
• /
• pp.599-606
• /
• 2001

Background : Since the advent of AIDS, tuberculosis has become a major public health problem in the western society. Therefore, it is essential that pulmonary tuberculosis be rapidly diagnosed. Light microscopic detection of acid-fast organisms in sputum has traditionally been used for rapidly diagnosing tuberculosis. However positive smears are only observed in about one-half to three-quarters of cases. Studies using PCR for diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis disclosed several shortcomings suggesting an inability to distinguish between active and treated or inactive tuberculosis. In this study, the clinical significance of a PCR-based rapid technique for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in peripheral blood was investigated. Materials and Methods : From July 1, 1998 through to August 30, 1999, 59 patients with presumed tuberculosis, who had no previous history of anti-tuberculosis medication use within one year prior to this study were recruited and followed up for more than 3 months. AFB stain and culture in the sputum and/or pleural fluids and biopsies when needed were performed. Blood samples from each of the 59 patients were obtained in order to identify Mycobacterium Tuberculosis DNA by a PCR test. Results : 1) Forty five out of 59 patients had a final diagnosis of tuberculosis ; Twenty eight were confirmed as having active pulmonary tuberculosis by culture or biopsy. Four were clinically diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. The other 13 patients were diagnosed as having tuberculous pleurisy (9) and extrapulmonary tuberculosis (4). 2) Fourteen patients showed a positive blood PCR test. The PCR assay correctly identified active tuberculosis in 13 out of 14 patients. The overall sensitivity and specificity of this blood peR assay for diagnosing tuberculosis were 29% and 93%, respectively. The positive predictive value was 93%, the negative predictive value was 29% and the diagnostic accuracy was 44%.3) Six out of 14(43%) patients with blood PCR positive tuberculosis were immunologically compromised hosts. 4) A simple chest radiograph in blood PCR positive tuberculosis patients showed variable and inconsistent findings. Conclusion : A peripheral blood PCR assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis is not recommended as a screening method for diagnosing active tuberculosis. However, it was suggested that the blood PCR assay could contribute to an early diagnostic rate due to its high positive predictive value.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.73-80
• /
• 2006

This study compared cell expansion and colony forming ability in human cord blood stem cells cultured ex vivo with two kinds of cytokine combinations, two kinds of media, presence or absence of fetal bovine serum (FBS) and two or three dimensional (2D or 3D) culture environments. Purified $CD34^+$ cells were cultured in the IMDM (Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium) and SFM (Serum Free Medium) containing a cytokine cocktail-I (coc-I) (EPO, GMCSF, SCF, and IL-3) or a cytokine cocktail-II (coc-II) (TPO, G-CSF, SCF, IL-6, and Flt3/Flk-2 ligand) with or without FBS. Generally, higher cellular and clonogenic expansion were observed in the coc-I cytokine condition, compared to coc-II cytokine condition. 3D (Methocult) and 2D (IMDM + coc-I + FBS) conditions gave the greatest cell ($2,258{\pm}456$ fold) and CFU (BFU-E: $652{\pm}19$, CFU-GM: $520{\pm}58$, CFU-GEMM: $339{\pm}100$ fold) expansions, respectively. In aspect of medium, IMDM was better than SFM, except for coc-II condition without FBS. In conclusion, 'IMDM + coc-I + FBS' and 'IMDM + coc-I' were the best CFU expansions on the occasion of all culture conditions. FBS and 2D conditions had affirmative effect on CFU expansion, generally. These data might provide a variety of notions about ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.115-124
• /
• 2024

The emergence and spread of Staphylococcus aureus, which is resistant to quinolone antibacterial agents, has made it difficult to treat infectious diseases. Accordingly, this study examined the molecular epidemiological characteristics of quinolone-resistant S. aureus (QRSA) to obtain helpful data for treatment. Mutations in mecA and SCCmec typing, gyrA, and gyrB genes were investigated for QRSA strains isolated from the blood culture specimens at a general hospital in Daejeon Metropolitan City. The ciprofloxacin-resistant strains in SCCmec typing were II (44 strains, 73%), IVa (five strains, 8%), III, and V (one strain, 2%); the non-typeable strains (11 strains, 18%), and levofloxacin (LVX) and moxifloxacin (MXF) strains were II (44 strains, 73%), IVa (five strains, 8%), III, and V (one strain, 2%); the non-typeable strains were 10 (17%). In both gyrA and gyrB regions, there were 58 mutations, or 96.7%. In LVX, there were 56 mutations or 93.3%, and in MXF, there were 57 mutations or 95%. Twelve mutations, six mutations each in gyrA and gyrB, were identified for the QRSA strain. The resistance rate for the quinolone antibiotics of QRSA studied was approximately 98%, and 12 mutations, six each in gyrA and gyrB, were identified in the QRSA strain. Therefore, the rational use of antibiotics needs to be improved.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.512-526
• /
• 2020

Synthetic nitrite is considered an undesirable preservative for meat products; thus, controlling synthetic nitrite concentrations is important from the standpoint of food safety. We investigated 1,000 species of microorganisms from various kimchi preparations for their potential use as a starter culture for the production of nitrites. We used 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis to select a starter culture with excellent nitrite and nitric oxide productivity, which we subsequently identified as Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113. That starter culture was grown in NaCl (up to 9%; w/v) at 10℃-40℃; its optimum growth was observed at 30℃ at pH 4.0-10.0. It exhibited nonproteolytic activity and antibacterial activity against Clostridium perfringens, a bacterium that causes food poisoning symptoms. Analysis of Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113 with an API ZYM system did not reveal the presence of β-glucuronidase, and tests of the starter culture on 5% (v/v) sheep blood agar showed no hemolytic activity. Our results demonstrated the remarkable stability of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113, especially in strain negative for staphylococcal enterotoxins and sensitive to clinically relevant antibiotics. Moreover, Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113 exhibited a 45.5% conversion rate of nitrate to nitrite, with nitrate levels reduced to 25% after 36 h of culturing in the minimal medium supplemented with nitrate (200 ppm). The results clearly demonstrated the safety and utility of Staphylococcus hominis subspecies hominis WiKim0113, and therefore its suitability as a starter culture.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2003

The adventitious root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer is regarded as an efficient alternative to cell culture or hairy root culture for biomass production due to its fast growth and stable metabolite production. To determine optimal culture conditions for the bioreactor culture of ginseng roots, experiments have been conducted on physical and chemical factors such as bioreactor type, dissolved oxygen, gas supply, aeration, medium type, macro- and micro-elements, medium supplement during culture period, sucrose concentration, osmotic agents, medium pH and light. Elicitation is a key step to increase ginsenoside accumulation in the adventitious roots but biomass growth is severely inhibited by elicitor treatment. To obtain high ginsenoside content with avoiding biomass decrease, we applied two-stage bioreactor culture system. Ginseng adventitious roots were cultured for 40 days to maximize biomass increase followed by elicitation for 7 days to enhance ginsenoside accumulation. We also experimented on types and concentrations of jasmonate to determine optimal elicitation methods. In this paper, we discussed several factors affecting the root propagation and ginsenoside accumulation. Based on the results obtained from previous experiments we have established large-scale bioreactor system (1 ton-10 ton) for the efficient production of ginseng adventitious roots and bioactive compounds including ginsenoside. Still, experiments are on going in our laboratory to determine other bioactive compounds having effects on diet, high blood pressure, DPPH elimination and increasing memories.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.259-263
• /
• 1990

To assess the effects of water extracts in fruits of Omija (Schizandra chinensis Baillon) on alcohol metabolism, rats were orally administrated with alcohol (25% alcohol, 0.75g/200g B.W., 40% alcohol, 0.8g/200g B.W.). The level of metabolites and enzyme activities of the serum and liver were unchanged by the 25% ethanol or 40% ethanol treatment with acute orally administration. Blood alcohol level was markdely decreased by the treatment with water extracts in fruits of Omija. The serum level of Urea nitrogen, Free fatty acid, GPT and LDH were tended to decreased, level of GOT was unchanged. Contents of hepatic microsomal protein, glycogen, pyruvate in the liver were increased by water extracts in fruits of Omija. In conclusion, the present study clearly demonstrates that water extract in fruits of Omija promotes the overall metabolism and detoxication of alcohol.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.69-77
• /
• 1999

Safflower is an important medicinal plant that has been used in China, Korea and Japan for thousands of years. The red and yellow pigments obtained from the petals of safflower can invigorate blood, release stagnation and promote menstruation. In addition, these pigments are used safely in processed foods and soft drinks as naturally harmless rotor additives. On the other hand, the seed of safflower contains 30-40% oil with higher level of mono- and poly-unsaturated fatfy acid profiles and elevated levels of $\alpha$-tocopherol. In this paper, we describe advances in the production of pigments and $\alpha$-tocopherol by cell culture in safflower.

• Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.515-520
• /
• 2007

Vaginal lactic acid-producing bacteria of 80 pre-menopausal women were studied by isolation on Blood and DeMan-Rogosa-Sharpe agar, PCR with group-specific primers for Lactobacillus-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and PCR with specific primers for V3 region in 16S rRNA-temporal temperature gel electrophoresis (TTGE). Conventional isolation method on media detected only one lactobacillus (Lactobacillus brevis) while TTGE detected only Lactobacillus sp. DGGE detected seven Lactobacillus species; L. coleohominis, L. crispatus, L. iners, L. reuteri, L. rhamnosus, L. vaginalis, and Leuconostoc lactis. L. acidophilus and L. gasseri, which are prevalent in Western women, were not detected in Korean women. Furthermore, L. rhamnosus, Leuc. lactis, L. coleohominis, and Weissella cibaria, which were not previously reported in the vaginal microbiota of Korean women, were detected. The five most prevalent LABs in vaginal microbiota in Korean women were L. iners, Enterococcus faecalis, L. crispatus, Leuc. lactis, and W. cibaria.