• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.185-194
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to identify the bacteria isolated from endodontic lesions by cell culture and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of them against 8 antibiotics. The necrotic pulpal tissues were collected from 27 infected root canals, which were diagnosed as endodontic infection. Samples were collected aseptically from the infected pulpal tissue of the infected root canals using a barbed broach and a paper point. The cut barbed broaches and paper points were transferred to an eppendorf tube containing $500{\mu}l\;of\;1{\times}PBS$. The sample solution was briefly mixed and plated onto a BHI-agar plate containing 5% sheep blood. The agar plates were incubated in a $37^{\circ}C$ anaerobic chamber for 2 to 5 days. The bacteria grown on the agar plates were identified by comparison of 16S rRNA gene (rDNA) sequencing method at the species level. To test the sensitivity of the bacteria isolated from the infected root canals against 8 antibiotics, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined using broth dilution assay. The data showed that 101 bacterial strains were isolated and were identified. Streptococcus spp. (29.7%) and Actinomyces spp. (21.8%) were predominantly isolated. The 9 strains were excluded in antimicrobial susceptibility test because they were lost during the experiment or were not grown in broth culture. The percentage of bacteria susceptible for each antibiotic in this study was clindamycin, 87.0% (80 of 92); tetracycline, 75.0% (69 of 92); cefuroxime axetil, 75.0% (69 of 92); amoxicillin + clavulanic acid (5:1), 71.7% (66 of 92); penicillin G, 66.3% (61 of 92); erythromycin, 66.3% (61 of 92); amoxicillin, 44.6% (41 of 92); and ciprofloxacin, 31.5% (29 of 92). The susceptibility pattern of 8 antibiotics was dependent on the host of the bacteria strains rather than the kinds of bacterial species. These results indicate that antibiotic susceptibility test should be performed when antibiotics are needed for the treatment of infected root canals.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.154-163
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• 2015

Purpose: Osteoarticular infections in children and adolescents are important because it can cause functional compromise if appropriate treatment is delayed. Therefore, this study was designed to describe the clinical presentations and causative organisms of osteoarticular infections in children and adolescents in order to propose early diagnosis method and an appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy. Methods: Forty-two medical records were reviewed retrospectively, which were confirmed as osteomyelitis (OM) or septic arthritis (SA) at Department of Pediatrics or Orthopedic Surgery in patients under 18 years old of Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital from March 2008 to March 2015. Results: We identified 21 cases of OM, 13 cases of SA and 8 cases of OM with SA. There were 31 males and 11 females and mean age was 7.1 years old. The most common symptoms were pain and tenderness of involved site. Major involved bones were femur (10 cases, 34.5%), tibia (7 cases, 24.1%) and major involved joints were hip (9 cases, 42.9%), and knee (5 cases, 23.8%). Increased serum C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were observed in 37 cases (88.1%) respectively. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 40 cases among 42 cases and was used to demonstrate osteoarticular infections and other adjacent infections. Nine cases (23.7%) among 38 cases and 20 cases (50.0%) among 40 cases were positive in blood culture and infected site culture respectively. The most common causative organism was Staphylococcus aureus, which was represented in 22 cases (75.9%), of which nine cases (40.9%) were resistant to methicillin. Conclusions: S. aureus was the most common causative organism of osteoarticular infections in children and adolescents and the proportion of MRSA was high in this study. Therefore, we recommend vancomycin as the first empiric antimicrobial therapy and suggest that further study is necessary to elucidate an appropriate guideline for treatment which takes into account MRSA proportion.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.310-316
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• 2021

Purpose: Septic arthritis of the knee is an orthopedic emergency that requires early diagnosis and surgical treatment. This study examined the effectiveness of drain insertion and irrigation in the treatment of septic arthritis of the knee under local anesthesia. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on nine cases (eight patients) diagnosed with septic arthritis of the knee from September 2017 to February 2020 and treated with drain insertion and irrigation under local anesthesia. After penetrating through the superolateral portal to the superomedial portal and inserting the drain, daily irrigation of approximately 3 L of normal saline was done. The following were investigated: age, sex, underlying disease, cause, degree of osteoarthritis, time from diagnosis to surgery, duration of hospitalization, duration of normalization of C-reactive protein, and smear and culture. Results: The initial white blood cell count of joint fluid was 71,472±51,667/mm³ (32,400-203,904/mm³), and polymorphic leukocytes were 91.1%±2.6% (86%-95%). The average time from diagnosis to surgery was 8.3±1.3 hours (6-10 hours), and the irrigation period was 8.2±3.2 days (4-15 days). The average length of hospitalization was 20.8±8.7 days (9-37 days). There was no reoperation or recurrence. Smear and culture tests were not identified. Conclusion: In the treatment of septic arthritis of the knee, the insertion of a drain tube and irrigation under local anesthesia is a relatively fast and simple method to reduce pain by repetitive draining of purulent joint fluid and can be used as an alternative treatment for patients with a risk of general or spinal anesthesia.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.331-337
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• 2009

The principal objective of the present study was to survey the demands of an education program for evaluations of the efficacy of health functional foods. A questionnaire was developed and sent to 2,225 members of the Biofood Network Center. A total of 101 (4.6%) individuals responded, 54.5% of the respondents were male and 45.5% were female; the respondents' occupations (in order of prevalence) were as follows: company worker (48.5%)>researcher (27.7%)>student (13.9%)>professor (5.0%)>pharmacist (2%), and dietitian (2%). The businesses in which the respondents worked were (again in order of prevalence) as follows: research & development (64.4%)>marketing (11.9%)>consultation and education (5.9%)>manufacturing and others (17.9%). 41.6% of the respondents reported experience in businesses relevant to KFDA approval for functional ingredients and health functional foods. The results showed that 63.4% of the respondents had previously been educated about functional foods; the types of education program reported were (in order of prevalence): 'overview and acts of health functional food' (n=49)>'standards and specification for health functional food' (n=41)>'efficacy evaluation-human study' (n=24)>'safety evaluation' (n=21)>'efficacy evaluation-in vivo study' (n=13)>and 'others' (n=10). Respondents preferred off-line education programs (62.4%) to on-line programs (22.8%). The preferred duration of an educational program was '$2{\sim}3$ days: total $14{\sim}24$ hours' (30.7%); thus, short-term programs were favored. The primary requirements of a program, from the perspective of the learner, were as follows (scored on a 7-point scale); 'efficacy evaluation and case study-human study' (5.80 points)>'standards and specification for health functional food' (5.72 points)>safety evaluation' (5.7 points)>'overview and acts of health functional food' (5.67 points) and 'efficacy evaluation methods of health functional food by efficacy (intensive)' (5.67 points). Preference for functionality was as follows; 'body weight & body fat' (21.8%), 'immune function' (18.8%) > 'blood glucose' (10.9%). In summary, the educational demand for 'efficacy evaluation and case study' was highest among the curriculum options provided, and with regard to functionality, 'body weight & body fat', 'immune function' and 'skin care' were considered most important by respondents. These results differed among respondents with different jobs and duties, and this suggests that customized education programs for health functional food should be developed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 2008

This study was performed to reveal nutritional excellency of popular Korean dishes, which were intended to distribute as a take-out type food suited for Americans. Four Korean dishes were selected due to their high preference from American sensory panels: Jeyuk-bokkeum (B), Kimchi-bokkeum (C), Dubu-jorim (D) and Namul (E). Nine weeks of the experimental periods were composed of two parts. In phase 1(5 weeks of the first half), high fat diets were fed to all treatments including the control group (A). In phase 2 (4 weeks of the last half), freeze-dried four Korean dishes were fed to the treatments except for the control. There was no significant difference in the final body weights among the groups as well as daily body weight gains and FER. Organ weights of the control group tended to be smaller than those of the treatment groups. For visceral fats, perirenal fat pad (RFP) and epidydimal fat pad (EFP) of the groups C and D were decreased by 20% compared with those of the group A. Total cholesterol level of the group C (94.13 mg/dL) was significantly lower than any other groups (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in triglyceride(TG) level. HDL-cholesterol level of group B(20.38 mg/dL) was significantly higher than that of group D (17.25 mg/dL), but no significant differences were seen in groups C and E (p<0.05). In LDL-cholesterol level, the highest level was seen in group D, the lowest level in group E (p<0.05). From the findings, Kimchi-bokkeum, Dubu-jorim and Namul were superior to those of the control and jeyukbokkeum in terms of the blood lipid profiles. It might be a good Korean style take-out items suited for the Americans’ taste along with a good nutritional quality in the near future.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.62-74
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• 2023

Much attention has been focused on the Baekpoman area due to the archaeological achievements of the past, but studies on prehistoric times when villages began to form is insufficient, and the Bronze Age village landscape was examined in order to supplement this. In the area of Baekpo Bay, the natural geographical limit connected to the inland was culturally confirmed by the distribution density of dolmens, and the generality of the Bronze Age settlement was confirmed with the Hwangsan-ri settlement. Bunto Village in Hwangsan-ri represents a farming-based village in the Baekpo Bay area, and the residential group and the tomb group are located on the same hill, and it is composed of three individual residential groups, and the village landscape had attached buildings used as warehouses and storage facilities. In the area of Baekpo Bay, it spread in the Tamjin River basin and the Yeongsan River basin where Songgukri culture and dolmen culture were integrated, and the density distribution of the villages was considered to correspond to the distribution density of dolmens. In order to examine the landscape of village distribution, the classification of Sochon-Jungchon-Daechon was applied, and it was classified as Sochon, a sub-unit constituting the village, in that the number of settlements constituting the village in the Bronze Age was mostly less than five. There are numerical differences between Jungchon and Daechon, and the distribution pattern does not necessarily coincide with the hierarchy. The three individual residential groups of Bunto Village in Hwangsan-ri are Jungchon composed of complex communities of blood relatives with each family community, and a stabilized village landscape was created in the Gusancheon area. In the area of Baekpo Bay, Bronze Age villages formed a landscape in which small villages were scattered around the rivers and formed a single-layered relationship. Dolmens (tombs) were formed between the villages and villages, and seem to have coexisted. Sochondeul is a family community based on agriculture, and it is believed that self-sufficient stabilized rural villages that live by acquiring various wild resources in rivers, mountains, and the sea formed a landscape.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.163-174
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• 2002

Background : To delineate the changes in the causative agents of neonatal sepsis and their antimicrobial susceptibilities in the neonatal intensive care unit and nursery of Hanyang University Hospital during the past 10 years. Methods : Hospital records of 15,144 patients hospitalized at the NICU and nursery of Hanyang University Hospital from 1989 to 1998 were reviewed and neonates diagnosed of neonatal sepsis were sorted and included in the study. The study period was divided into Period A(the first 5 years) and Period B(the second 5 years) to analyse causative agents and their antimicrobial susceptibilities. Results : Neonatal sepsis was diagnosed in 170 patients(1.1%{Period A 1.2%, Period B 1.0%}) among the total of 15,144 inpatients. Two hundred isolates(Period A 109 isolates, Period B 91 isolates) were identified in 186 blood cultures(Period A 99 cultures, Period B 87 cultures) from 170 patients(Period A 91 patients, Period B 79 patients). The average age at the onset of the disease, when the initial blood culture was drawn, was 12.3 days old(Period A 8.8 days, Period B 16.3 days), and the proportion of the early onset disease was 34.7% in Period A and 23.0% in Period B, indicating that neonatal sepsis developed earlier during Period A. Among the isolated organisms including Gram positive bacteria[132(66.0%)], Gram negative bacteria [60(30.0%)], and fungi[8(4.0%)], coagulase negative Staphylococcus(CNS) was the most common organism(69/34.5%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus(36/18.0%), Klebsiella pneumoniae(17/8.5%), Enterococcus(12/6.0%), Enterobacter cloacae(8/4.0%), Escherichia coli(6/3.0%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosae(5/2.5%). The isolated fungi were Candida parapsilosis, Candida albicans, and Trichosporon pullulans. CNS, S. aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii were isolated more frequently in Period A compared to Period B. Antimicrobial susceptibilities of CNS and S. aureus to methicillin and the first generation cephalo sporins were decreased in Period B compare to Period A, those to aminoglycosides were increased in Period B, and vancomycin resistant strains were not identified. K. pneumoniae, Enterococcus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa were isolated less frequently in Period B, compared to Period A. For K. pneumoniae, antimicrobial susceptibilities to the first generation cephalosporins were low in both Periods A and B, those to tobramycin and gentamicin were increased in Period B, and those to amikacin, ceftriaxone, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were high in both Periods A and B. Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Enterococcous to ampicillin, penicillin, and the first generation cephalosporins were decreased in Period B, but vancomycin resistant strains were not identified. Conclusion : The occurrence rate of neonatal sepsis during the past 10 years in the NICU and nursery of the Hanyang University hospital was 1.1%, and the most common causitive agents were CNS and S. aureus, to which the antimicrobial susceptibilities to the first line drugs decreased in the later half of the study period with no vancomycin resistant isolates identified. Group B Streptococcus known to be the most common agent causing neonatal sepsis was not identified, and K. pneumoniae was isolated more commonly during the later half of the study period without decreased antimicrobial susceptibilities.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.437-449
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• 2001

Background : In the severe community-acquired pneumonia, it has been known that the immune status is occasionally suppressed. This study was performed to identify the immunologic markers related with the prognostic factors in severe community-acquired pneumonia. Methods : 23 patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia were involved in this study, and divided into survivor (16) and nonsurvivor (7) groups. In this study, the medical history, laboratory tests(complete blood counts, routine chemistry profile, immunoglobulins, complements, lymphocyte subsets, cytokines, sputum and blood culture, urine analysis), and chest radiographs were scrutinized. Results : 1) Both groups had lymphopenia(total lymphocyte count $995.6{\pm}505.7/mm^3$ in the survivor and $624.0{\pm}287.6/mm^3$ in the nonsurvivor group). 2) The T-lymphocyte count of the nonsurvivor group($295.9{\pm}203.0/mm^3$) was lower than the survivor group($723.6{\pm}406.5/mm^3$) (p<0.05). 3) The total serum protein(albumin) was $6.0{\pm}1.0(2.7{\pm}0.7)\;g/d{\ell}$ in the survivor and $5.2{\pm}1.5(2.3{\pm}0.8)g/d{\ell}$ in the nonsurvivor group. The BUN of the nonsurvivor group($41.7{\pm}30.0mg/d{\ell}$) was higher than that of the survivor group($18.9{\pm}9.8mg/d{\ell}$)(p<0.05). The creatinine concentration was higher in the nonsurvivor group($1.8{\pm}1.0mg/d{\ell}$) than that in the survivor group($1.0{\pm}0.3mg/d{\ell}$)(p<0.05). 4) The immunoglobulin G level was higher in the survivor group($1433.0{\pm}729.5mg/d{\ell}$) than in the nonsurvivor group($849.1{\pm}373.1mg/d{\ell}$) (p<0.05). 5) The complement $C_3$ level was $108.0{\pm}37.9mg/d{\ell}$ in the survivor group and $88.0{\pm}32.1mg/d{\ell}$ in the nonsurvivor group. 6) A cytokine study showed an insignificant difference in both groups. 7) Chronic liver disease, DM, and COPD were major underlying diseases in both groups. Conclusion : These results suggest that decreased a T-lymphocyte count and immunoglobulin G level, and an increased BUN and creatinine level may be associated with the poor prognosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.147-158
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• 1996

Background : Endobronchial tuberculosis(ET) is known to affect frequently young female and serious complication like bronchial stenosis would occur if early diagnosis and treatment for ET is not performed immediately. But ET shows normal chest roentgenogram in about 10% of patients, and is often confused with bronchial asthma because ET presents clinical features like cough, dyspnea, wheezing in history and physical examination. The pulmonary function test(PFT) feature of ET is not well known, but when we consider the fact that ET is pathophysiologically different from bronchial asthma, if there is any feature of PFT in ET, and we know it, PFT will be very helpful for diagnosis and follow up of ET. Methods : We performed both PFT and bronchoscopy in 68 ET patients who visited Boramae hospital, and were confirmed as ET by bronchoscopic biopsy and were followed prospectively from November 1991 to March 1995. After history taking and physical examination, we performed chest roentgenogram, complete blood count, sputum AFB stain and culture, and also performed PFT before anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy. PFT was classified as restrictive, if only PVC was reduced below 80%, and obstructive, if only FEV1 was reduced below 75%. In the case of both FVC and FEV1 were reduced, PFT was classified as restrictive if FEY1/FVC was greater than 75%, and mixed if FEV1/FVC was reduced below 75%. We repeated the PFT and bronchoscopy for 68 ET patients who were proven by biopsy in the first month and sixth month after starting anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, and studied the feature and change of PFT of the ET and the relation between PFT and the bronchoscopic finding, and obtained following results. Results: 1) Number of male patients was 12, and that of female patient was 56, and mean age was $35.4{\pm}17yr$.(17-74yr). Clinical symptom was in the order of cough(86.8%), dyspnea(63.2%), fever(17.6%) and hemoptysis (10.3%), and the wheezing and stridor were audible among the 40 patients(58.4%) in the physical examination. 2) Hemoglobin level was below 12g/dl among 25 patients (36.8%), and WBC level was above $10,000/mm^3$ among 9 patients(13.2%) and ESR was above 20 among 46 patients (67.6%) and AFB stain and culture were positive among 50 patients(73.5%). 3) The dominant roentgenographic finding of ET was fibronodular feature in 35 patients(51.5%), pneumonic feature in 14 patients (20.6%), collapse in 11 patients(16.2%), mass-like lesion in 3 patients(4.4%), cavitary lesion in 2 patients(2.9%), and normal in 3 patients(4.4%). 4) PFT feature at the time of diagnosis of ET was normal in 16 patients(23.5%), restrictive pattern in 32 patients (47%), obstructive in 4 patients(5.8%), and mixed in 14 patients(23.5%). So restrictive pattern was the dominate feature of ET. 5) The PFT feature was little correlated with the gross finding of bronchoscopy, but the change of PFT during treatment of ET showed relatively good correlation with the change of bronchoscopic finding. 6) FVC(2.30L vs. 2.61L) and FEV1(1.74L vs. 2.06L) increased significantly (p < 0.01), but FEV1/FVC(82% vs. 83%) and PEF(3.45L/sec vs. 3.95L/sec) did not change significantly after 1 month of treatment (p > 0.01), and there was no significant change among all parameters during first and sixth month of treatment(p > 0.01). Conclusion : PFT may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment follow up of ET but further study would be needed to confirm it.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.303-310
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• 2008

Bovine blood, cell, tissue, and organ are used as raw materials for manufacturing biologics such as biopharmaceuticals, tissue-engineered products, and cell therapy. Manufacturing processes for the biologics have the risk of viral contamination. Therefore viral validation is essential in ensuring the safety of the products. Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV3) is one of the common bovine pathogens and has widely been known as a contaminant of biologics. In order to establish the validation system for the BPIV3 safety of biologics, a real-time RT-PCR method was developed for quantitative detection of BPIV3 contamination in raw materials, manufacturing processes, and final products. Specific primers for amplification of BPIV3 RNA was selected, and BPIV3 RNA was quantified by use of SYBR Green I. The sensitivity of the assay was calculated to be 2.8 $TCID_{50}/mL$. The real-time RT-PCR method was validated to be reproducible and very specific to BPIV3. The established real-time RT-PCR assay was successfully applied to the validation of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell artificially infected with BPIV3. BPIV3 RNA could be quantified in CHO cell as well as culture supernatant. Also the real-time RT-PCR assay could detect 7.8 $TCID_{50}/mL$ of BPIV3 artificially contaminated in bovine collagen. The overall results indicated that this rapid, specific, sensitive, and robust assay can be reliably used for quantitative detection of BPIV3 contamination during the manufacture of biologics.