• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.162-166
• /
• 2009

Purpose : Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infectious disease in childhood. Renal scarring is an important complication of UTIs. Known risk factors for renal scarring are younger age, anatomic defects, delayed treatment, and causative pathogens other than Escherichia coli. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of clinical and laboratory features of UTI with E. coli to those with non-E. coli in infants. Methods : We reviewed the medical records of 1,120 infants under 12 months of age who had been admitted for UTIs between January 1998 and December 2007. All patients who were diagnosed with UTIs were divided into two groups (E. coli and non-E. coli UTIs). Results : Three hundred twenty-four of 1,120 cases met the inclusion criteria. The number of E. coli and non-E. coli UTIs was 273 (84.3%) and 51 (15.7%), respectively. As compared to the non-E. coli UTI group, the E. coli UTI group was younger (3.59 vs. 4.47 months, P =0.008), a longer duration of pyuria (3.96 vs. 3.06 days, P =0.01), higher peripheral white blood cell counts (13.89 vs. $12.13{\times}10^3/mm^3$, P =0.043), and lower rates of high degree (III-V) vesico-ureteral reflux (P =0.005). Conclusion : UTIs with E. coli might have more severe clinical features and a lower prevalence of high grade vesicoureteral reflux than UTIs with non-E. coli. However, no difference was noted in the clinical response to antibiotic therapy between the two groups.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.139-143
• /
• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the reproductive characteristics of the cloned Hanwoo bulls produced by SCNT. The semen ejaculated from the cloned bulls (C-38 and C-39) and normal Hanwoo bull was properly measured the volume, the number of sperm, and the viability of frozen-thawed sperm. The sperm activity was analyzed using computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA). To analyze fertilizing ability of the cloned bulls, in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination were performed using the frozen-thawed semen. There were no differences in semen volume, sperm concentration, and the viability of frozen-thawed sperm between cloned bulls and normal bull. The difference was statistically significant in total motility, curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), and average-path velocity (VAP) of both cloned bulls compared to those of normal Hanwoo bull, respectively (p<0.05). The cleavage and blastocyst development rate were not different between the groups. five cloned cows were artificially inseminated using the frozen-thawed semen of C-38, two of them became pregnant. Two second generation calves (one male and one female) were produced. Based on these results, the cloned Hanwoo bulls showed normal reproductive abilities of semen parameters and sperm activity to their comparators and produced cloned calves, although there are some individual differences on the parameters.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.23 no.3 s.59
• /
• pp.293-303
• /
• 2005

Japanese medaka, Oryzias latipes is widely distributed in the North East Asia including Korea, Japan and east China, and commonly used for freshwater toxicity tests and cytotoxicological studies worldwide. In this study, a series of experiments were conducted to identify the potential of the fish as a standard test species for saltwater toxicity evaluation such as marine receiving waters, ocean-dumped materials and sediment pore waters etc. Hatching, growth and mortality rates of the fish were estimated with the wide ranges of salinity from freshwater to seawater (35 psu). Direct exposure of the fertilized eggs in freshwater to the wide ranges of salinity (from 0 to 35 psu) without pre- acclimation to the saltwater revealed no significant differences in hatching rates by salinities (p =0.24). On the other hand, medaka larvae hatched in freshwater and exposed to saltwater directly showed high mortality at > 25 psu treatment groups (p < 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference in mortality of medaka larvae hatched in 13.8 and 14.2 psu at the wide ranges of salinities ($0\~35$ psu). Growth rates of medaka larvae hatched in the above two salinities showed no differences in body length either from 0 to 35 psu treatment groups (p =0.64 for 13.8 psu group and p=0.32 for 14.2 psu group). The number of gill chloride cell in medaka larvae sharply increased when the larvae were exposed to high salinity. Reference tests with zinc chloride revealed 96h $LC_{50}=8.84(7.19\~10.87)mg\;L^{-1}$ using 7~10 day old medaka larvae. These were comparable or better sensitivity in comparison with the other standard test species such as North American sheepshead minnow Cyprinodon variegatus. Based on the results of these experiments, hatching rates and larvalmortality of medaka must be good toxicity parameters for seawater bioassay and the species seems to be a good standard species for both the freshwater and seawater toxicity test.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.41 no.spc
• /
• pp.99-106
• /
• 2008

We examined the effects of crude and eight pure material (${\beta}$-sitosterol, ${\beta}$-sitosterol-${\beta}$-D-glucoside, 1-tetratriacontanol, hentriacontane, orizaterpenoid, stigmas-5-en-$3{\alpha}$ 26-diacetate, stearic acid, myristic acid), extracted from rice hull, on growth inhibition of toxic cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa NIER 10010. Strains of M. aeruginosa and Daphnia magna, obtained from the NIER (Korea) and BBE (Germany), were cultured in the CB medium with hard water. For all four treatment concentrations 0, 10, 100 and $1,000{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$) of the crude extract, the cell number of M. aeruginosa was reduced by $59{\sim}73%$ during the 7-day test period. Among eight kinds of pure extracts, ${\beta}$-sitosterol-${\beta}$-D-glucoside, hentriacontane and orizaterpenoid $(1,000{\mu}g\;L^{-1})$ exhibited relatively higher growth inhibition compared with other pure extracts. The mixture of three pure extracts (${\beta}$-sitosterol-${\beta}$-D-glucoside, hentriacontane and orizaterpenoid) showed the highest growth inhibition at $1,000{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$. Therefore, the synergistic effect was significantly highlighted by a mixture of the three pure extracts (p<0.05). Under the condition of $1,000{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ in the crude extracts, D. magna exhibited survival rate by >85% for 96 hours. In conclusion, the growth inhibition of M. aeruginosa was probably attributed to the synergistic effect of various compounds extracted from the rice hull.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.39-45
• /
• 2001

Black rockfish Sebastes schlegeli is one of scopaenid fish giving birth to yolk-sac larvae and distributed around the coast of Korea and Japan, and is one of main species which is cultured in Korea. The difffrentiation of thyroid gland and the changes of thyroid hormones (THs) concentrations in the whole body during early development of this species were examined and the relationship between thyroid gland and their growth will be presented. Total length (TL) and body weight (BW) of the larva at the parturition were 6.3${\pm}$0.1 mm and 3.6${\pm}$0.1 mg, respectively. The larvae transformed to juvenile after 30th day after parturition. According to Hoshiai(1977), they had gown into stage Fl (TL 13.2${\pm}$0.9 mm, BW 46.5${\pm}$1.5 mg) at 50th day. The thyroid gland of black rockfish was first observed histologically in hatching larvae in mother fish. The larvae just after parturition have 1${\sim}$3 of the thyroid follicles diffrentiated between basibranchial bone and ventral aorta, at the base of the first gill arch. In this time, thyroid follic1e number (TFN),thyroid follicle diameter (TFD) and thyroid cell height (TCH) were 1.6${\pm}$0.8 pieces/inds., 18.1${\pm}$0.6 ${\mu}$m and 4.1${\pm}$0.2 ${\mu}$m, respectively. TFN and TFD at 50th day were increased to 32.5${\pm}$6.9 pieces/inds. and 41.5${\pm}$1.7 ${\mu}$m, respectively. These results indicate that they are related to the growth of black rockfish during early development. However, TCH indicates that the activity of thyroid gland appearedat special day, eg. 5, 20 and 50th day, suggesting that TCH may have some role in the physiological activity. L-thyroxine (T$_4$)concentration decreased sharply to 10 days after parturition, and at 25th day (metamorphosis stage) increased markedly to 3.44${\pm}$0.93ng/g fish. After this time, T$_4$ concentration decreased at 35th day, but then increasedagain to the highest concentration, 5.63${\pm}$0.70ng/g fish. 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T$_3$) concentration declined sharply from just after pafurition (4.96${\pm}$1.90 ng/g fish) to 5th day (0.30${\pm}$0.07 ng/g fish). However T$_3$ concentration increased markedly to 0.95${\pm}$0.11 ng/g fish at 30th day and then did not significantly change until 45th day, increased also sharply to 1.67${\pm}$0.23 ng/g fish at 50th day.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.202-210
• /
• 2017

As an effort to find a potential biopreservative, we isolated bacterial strains producing bacteriocin from fermented foods. A strain was finally selected and characteristics of the bacteriocin were investigated. The selected strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis E9-1 based on the 16S rRNA gene analysis. The culture supernatant of B. subtilis E9-1 showed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Subtilisin A, ${\alpha}$-chymotrypsin, trypsin and proteinase K inactivated the antimicrobial activity, which means its proteinaceous nature, a bacteriocin. The bacteriocin activity was fully retained at the pH range from 2.0 to 8.0 and stable at up to $100^{\circ}C$ for 60 min. Solvents such as ethanol, isopropanol and methanol had no effect on the antimicrobial activity at the concentration of 100% but acetone and acetonitrile reduced the activity at up to 100% concentration. Cell growth of four indicator strains was dramatically decreased in dose-dependent manner. Listeria monocytogenes was the most sensitive, but Enterococcus faecium was the most resistant. Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus showed the medium sensitivity. The bacteriocin showed its antimicrobial activity against B. cereus and L. monocytogenes via bactericidal action. The number of viable cells of L. monocytogenes started to reduce after addition of bacteriocin to the minced beef. The bacteriocin was purified through acetone concentration, gel filtration chromatography and RP-HPLC. The whole purification step led to a 6.82 fold increase in the specific activity and 6% yield of bacteriocin activity. The molecular weight of the purified bacteriocin was determined to be 3.3 kDa by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.455-461
• /
• 2002

limiting nutrients for phytoplankton were determined by dissored inorganic nitrogen/phosphorous (DIN/DIP) in situ and algal bioassay experiment in the Seomjin River estuary during a study period from March 1999 to October 2001. DIN/DIP ranged from 14.7 to 681.1 during the study period. DIN/DIP was over 16 at the upper and middle estuarine region where salinity was lower than 25 psu and chlorophyll a concentration was high, probably indicating P-limitation in this region while the ratio was less than 16 at the high saline (> 25 psu) region, reflecting the supply of DIP from Gwangyang Bay and thereby indicating N-limitation at the lower estuarine region. These results suggested that the spatial distribution of DIN/DIP in the study region was controlled by the high supply of phosphate from Gwangyang Bay, the low input from Seomjin River and the active uptake by phytoplankton within the estuarine system. The bioassay experiments using Skeletonema costatum, Thalaasiosira rotula and in situ phytoplankton assemblage displayed relatively higher growth of phytoplankton in the P-added culture media, indicating P-limitation. This result was well consistent with the spatial distribution of inorganic nutrients. S. costatum showed a rapid adaptation to the low salinity compared to other phytoplankton species. This phenomenon seemed to account for the strong (> $90\%$ in total cell number) S. costatum bloom in autumn in this estuary. Moreover, although phytoplankton growth rate was higher in the P-added culture media at the end of culture experiment of in situ phytoplankton, the fast growth in the trace metal-added media at the beginning of the experiment suggested a possibility of limitation by other micro-nutrients such as trace metal and vitamin etc.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.202-211
• /
• 2004

Xylitol is a 5-carbons carbohydrate, which can be replaced with sucrose for preventing dental caries. To study the effect of xylitol on the fermentation of lactose in bacteria, the important oral bacteria such as Streptococcus(S.) mutans, S. oralis and S. salivarius were studied. The optical density using spectophotometer and the cell concentration were assessed to evaluate the combined effect of lactose and xylitol against the bacteria. Thin layer chromatography and lactose-PTS activity test were performed to evaluate the effect of xylitol on the fermentation of lactose in S. mutans and by ${\beta}-galactosidase$ with the following results. 1. The optical density of Streptococcus mutans culture was not increased for 8 hours-incubation in the media added with lactose and xylitol, but was increased at 24 hours-incubation. The number of viable cells at 8 hours-incubation was smaller in the media containing lactose and xylitol in comparison with lactose only. 2. The optical densities of Streptococcus oralis culture and Streptococcus salivarius culture were not increased for 8 hours-incubation in the media added with lactose and xylitol but were increased at 24 hours-incubation. 3. When Streptococcus mutars was incubated for 8 hours in the media added with lactose and xylitol, the amount of remained lactose was larger compared with the media added with lactose only But all lactose was fermented in both media after 24 hours-incubation. 4. When Streptococcus mutans was incubated in the media added with lactose and xylitol, the activity of lactose-PTS was higher compared with the media added with lactose only. 5. When ${\beta}-galactosidase$ was incubated in the media added with lactose and xylitol, the amount of remained lactose was larger compared with the media added with lactose only. These results indicated that xylitol inhibited the fermentation of lactose by Streptococcus.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.452-458
• /
• 1989

The crystal structures of vacuum-dehydrated $Ag^+\;and\;Ca^{2+}$ exchanged zeolite A, Ag_7Ca_{2.5}-A(a = 12.310(1){\AA})$ and $Ag_2Ca_5-A(a = 12.287(2){\AA})$ have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods in the cubic space group Pm3m at $21(1)^{\circ}C$. The crystals of $A_7Ca_{2.5}-A\;and\;Ag_2Ca_5-A$ were prepared by flow method using exchange solutions in which mole ratios of $AgNO_3\;and\;Ca(NO_3)_2$ were 1:50 and 1:1000, respectively, with total concentration of 0.05 M. Full-matrix least-squares refinement converged to the final error indices of R1 = 0.056 and R2 = 0.059 for $Ag7Ca2.5-A$, and R1 = 0.054 and R2 = 0.082 for $Ag2Ca5-A$ using 306 and 348 reflections, respectively, for which I >3 {\sigma}$ (I). 5.5 $Ag^+$ ions and 2.5 Ca^{2+}$ ions for $Ag_7Ca_{2.5}-A\;and\;2\;Ag^+$ ions and 5 $Ca^{2+}$ ions for $Ag_2Ca_5-A$ lie on two crystallographically nonequivalent threefold axes on the 6-rings. Both structures indicate that smaller Ca2+ ions preferentially occupy 6-ring sites and larger $Ag+$ ions occupy 8-ring sites when total number of cations per unit cell is more than 8.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.520-527
• /
• 1988

The crystal structures of $Co^{2+}\;and\;Ag^+\;exchanged\;zeolite\; A,\; Ag_6Co_3$-A(a = 12.131(5)$\AA$) and $Ag_3Co_{4.5}$-A(a = 12.145(1)$\AA$), have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Both structures were solved and refined in the cubic space group Pm3m at 21(1)$^{\circ}C$. Full-matrix leastsquares refinement converged to the final error indices of R1 = 0.045 and R2 = 0.041 for $Ag_3Co_{4.5}-A,\; and\; R1 = 0.066\; and\; R2 = 0.076\; for\; Ag_6Co_3$-A using the 258 and 189 reflections, respectively, for which I > 3$\sigma$(I). Both structures indicate that CO(Ⅱ)ions are coordinated by three framework oxygens; the Co(II) to O(3) distances are 2.118(4)$\AA$ for $Ag_3Co_{4.5}$-A and 2.106(1)$\AA$ for $Ag_6Co_3-A$, respectively. In each structure, the angle substended at Co(II), O(3)-Co(II)-O(3) is ca 120°, close to the idealized trigonalplanar value. $Co^{2+}$ ions prefer to 6-ring sites and $Ag^+$ ions prefer to 8-ring site when total number of cations is more than 8. The crystals of hydrated and dehydrated $Ag_{12-2x}Co_x-A (x > 4.5)$ had no crystalline diffraction pattern, indicating the apparent exchange limit of $Co^{2+}\; into\; Ag_{12}-A\; is\; 4.5 Co^{2+}$ ions per unit cell. $Co^{2+}$ ions hydrolyze $H_2O$ molecules and $H_3O^+$ concentraction is accumulating. These $H_3O^+$ ions destroy the zeolite structures.