• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.138-143
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• 1998

Chronic diarrhea in children is a common problem with numerous causes. Although most of these causes are benign, critical illness may present as chronic diarrhea. In a patient of chronic diarrhea, gastrointestinal infections are the most common causes in children of all ages and antibiotics may cause chronic diarrhea by altering intestinal microflora, which can result in the emergence of bacterial overgrowth. Overgrowth of Clostridium difficile may cause pseudomembranous colitis. We experienced 25-month-old boy who suffered from chronic diarrhea and partially treated with antibiotics irregularly. Colonoscopic findings of this child showed multiple plaques with white to yellowish exudate which adhere to the mucosal surface of a variable length of rectum. Histollogically, each plaque comprised a pseudomembrane of mucous debris, inflammatory cells, and exudate overlying groups of partially disrupted glands. A latex agglutination test on patient's stool was positive to toxin A of Clostridium difficile. He was recovered after stopping the antibiotics he has been prescribed, and being given vancomycin for 2 weeks. We report this case with brief review of literature.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.685-688
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• 2005

Antibacterial and antiplatelet activities of Acorus gramineus rhizome-derived asaronaldehyde and asaron were analyzed using platelet aggregometer and six human intestinal bacteria. Active constituent of A. gramineus rhizome was isolated and characterized as asaronaldehyde by spectral analyses. At 2 and 1 mg/disk, asaronaldehyde exhibited strong inhibition of Clostridium perfringens and C. difficile without adverse effects on growth of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and L. casei. Asaron also revealed moderate growth inhibition against C. perfringens and C. difficile at 2 mg/disk, no growth-inhibiting activity was observed on B. bifidum, L. acidophilus, L. casei, and E. coli. At 50% inhibitory concentration ($IC_{50}$) value, asaronaldehyde was effective in inhibiting platelet aggregation induced by collagen ($IC_{50}$, $27.6\;{\mu}M$) and arachidonic acid ($IC_{50}$, $53.7\;{\mu}M$). These results suggest asaronaldehyde may be useful as lead compound for inhibiting platelet aggregation induced by collagen and arachidonic acid.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.755-760
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• 2009

The growth-inhibiting activities of persimmon roots-derived materials against intestinal bacteria were evaluated and compared with that of 1,4-naphthoquinone as a positive control. The active constituent isolated from persimmon roots was characterized as 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone using various spectroscopic analyses. Treatment with 1,4-naphthoquinone at a dose of 1.0 mg/disc strongly inhibited the growth of 6 intestinal bacteria. Furthermore, when the structure-activity relationships of 1,4-naphthoquinone's derivatives were evaluated, 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone and 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone were found to strongly inhibit the growth of Clostridium difficile, Clostridium perfringens, and Escherichia coli without adversely affecting the growth of Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium longum, and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Additionally, 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and 5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone strongly inhibited the growth of C. difficile and C. perfringens, but did not inhibit the growth of E. coli. Taken together, these results indicate that persimmon roots-derived materials and some of 1,4-naphthoquinone's derivatives could be useful preventive agents against diseases caused by harmful intestinal bacteria.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.30-36
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• 2019

Numerous studies have reported that enteric neurons involved in controlling neurotransmitter secretion and motility in the gut critically contribute to the progression of gut inflammation. Clostridium difficile toxins, which cause severe colonic inflammation, are also known to affect enteric neurons. Our previous study showed that C. difficile toxin A directly induces neural cell toxicities, such as viability loss and apoptosis. In the current study, we attempted to identify a potent inhibitor of toxin A-induced neural cell toxicity that may aid in managing toxin A-induced gut inflammation. In our recent study, we found that the Korea dung beetle-derived antimicrobial peptide CopA3 completely blocked neural cell apoptosis caused by okadaic acid or 6-OHDA. Here, we examined whether the antimicrobial peptide CopA3 inhibited toxin A-induced neural cell damage. In neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, CopA3 treatment protected against both apoptosis and viability loss caused by toxin A. CopA3 also completely inhibited activation of the pro-apoptotic factor, caspase-3. Additionally, CopA3 rescued toxin A-induced downregulation of neural cell proliferation. However, CopA3 had no effect on signaling through ROS/p38 $MAPK/p27^{kip1}$, suggesting that CopA3 inhibits toxin A-induced neural cell toxicity independent of this well-characterized toxin A pathway. Our data further suggest that ability of CopA3 to rescue toxin A-induced neural cell damage may also ameliorate the gut inflammation caused by toxin A.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.11
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• pp.1587-1594
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• 2010

This study was designed to investigate the effect of Artemisia capillaris extracts on the intestinal microflora. In agar diffusion method, the solvent fractions of Artemisia capillaris showed growth inhibition against the intestinal microflora. In particular, the chloroform fraction of Artemisia capillaris had strong antibacterial activity against Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile, Eubacterium limosum, and Bacteroides fragilis, but did not show antibacterial activity against Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Most chloroform fraction of Artemisia capillaris inhibitory activities were not reduced by heat treatment or pH variation against C. perfringens, C. difficile, E. limosum, and B. fragilis. MICs of the chloroform fraction were 1.25 mg/mL against C. perfringens, E. limosum and B. fragilis and 2.5 mg/mL against C. difficile. MBCs of chloroform fraction were 5 mg/mL against C. perfringens, E. limosum and 2.5 mg/mL against C. difficile, B. fragilis. The ethyl acetate fraction of Artemisia capillaris showed $3.08{\pm}0.03$ mg/10 mg total polyphenol and $1.91{\pm}0.03$ mg/10 mg total flavonoid contents. In vivo tests were performed to investigate the influence of Artemisia capillaris extract on the intestinal microflora in rats. The results showed the possibilities of utilizing Artemisia capillaris extracts as a functional food component to control intestinal microflora.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.1026-1034
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• 2016

To develop a natural antimicrobial agent, we investigated the antimicrobial activities of 13 species of edible herbal plant extracts against major Gram-positive foodborne bacteria. Among the 13 screened edible herbal plants, Caesalpinia sappan L. showed the highest antimicrobial activity. In the paper disc agar diffusion assay, Caesalpinia sappan L. extracts had strong antibacterial activities against most Gram-positive bacteria but did not have antibacterial activities against most Gram-negative bacteria. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of the ethanol extract were 0.06 mg/mL against Clostridium difficile and Listeria monocytogenes and 0.03 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus. Their inhibitory activities were not reduced by heat treatment or pH adjustment against C. difficile, L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus. Antimicrobial activities were higher in ethanol extract than in distilled water extract. These results support the potential use of Caesalpinia sappan L. ethanol extract as an antimicrobial agent or functional food components against Gram-positive bacteria.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1629-1635
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• 2012

Previously, we demonstrated that the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) is present on fibroblasts, where it regulates focal contact. Here, we assessed whether this action of EpoR is involved in the reduced cell adhesion observed in colonocytes exposed to Clostridium difficile toxin A. EpoR was present and functionally active in cells of the human colonic epithelial cell line HT29 and epithelial cells of human colon tissues. Toxin A significantly decreased activating phosphorylations of EpoR and its downstream signaling molecules JAK-2 (Janus kinase 2) and STAT5 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 5). In vitro kinase assays confirmed that toxin A inhibited JAK 2 kinase activity. Pharmacological inhibition of JAK2 (with AG490) abrogated activating phosphorylations of EpoR and also decreased focal contacts in association with inactivation of paxillin, an essential focal adhesion molecule. In addition, AG490 treatment significantly decreased expression of occludin (a tight junction molecule) and tight junction levels. Taken together, these data suggest that inhibition of JAK2 by toxin A in colonocytes causes inactivation of EpoR, thereby enhancing the inhibition of focal contact formation and loss of tight junctions known to be associated with the enzymatic activity of toxin A.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2022

Purpose: Community-acquired bacterial enteritis (CABE) is a common problem in developed countries. It is important to understand the epidemiologic changes in bacterial pathogens for prevention and treatment. Therefore, we studied the epidemiologic changes in CABE in Korean children. Methods: A total of 197 hospitalized pediatric patients aged <19 years that presented with dysentery symptoms and showed positive polymerase chain reaction results for bacterial species in stool samples, were enrolled in this study for 10 years (June 2010 to June 2020). We classified patients in phase I (06, 2010-06, 2015) and phase II (07, 2015-06, 2020) and analyzed their epidemiologic and clinical characteristics. Results: The most common pathogens were Campylobacter species (42.6%) and Salmonella species were the second most common pathogens (23.9%). The abundance of pathogens decreased in the following order: Clostridium difficile (9.6%), Shigella (5.6%), and Clostridium perfringens (5.6%). Escherichia coli O157:H7 was found to be the rarest pathogen (2.0%). Campylobacter species showed an increase in the infection rate from 32.1% in phase I to 49.6% in phase II (p=0.0011). Shigella species showed a decline in the infection rate in phase I from 14.1% to 0.0% in phase II (p<0.001). C. difficile and C. perfringens showed an increase in infection rate in phase II compared to phase I, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The infection rate of Campylobacter species in CABE has been rising more recently, reaching almost 50%. This study may help establish policies for prevention and treatment of CABE in Korean children.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.162-168
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• 2006

Purpose: Microbial colonization of the intestine begins just after birth and development of the normal flora is a gradual process. The first bacteria colonizing the intestine in newborns are Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae and Streptococcus. For several days after birth, the number of Bifidobacterium spp. increase. The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of microflora for seven days postnatally in neonatal stool. Methods: Fifteen neonates (breast : formula : mixed feeding 1 : 8 : 6, vaginal delivery : cesarean section 3 : 12) who were born at the Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University were enrolled. First meconium and stools of postnatal 1-, 3-, and 7-day were innoculated. Blood agar plates for total aerobes, trypton bile X-glucuronide agar for E. coli, phenylethyl alcohol agar for gram positive anaerobes, MRS agar for Lactobacillus spp., bifidobacterium selective agar for Bifidobacterium spp. and cefoxitin-cycloserine-fructose agar for Clostridium difficile were used in the general incubator ($CO_2$ free incubator), $CO_2$ incubator or the anaerobic chamber for 48 or 72 hours at $37^{\circ}C$ and then colony forming units were counted. Results: No microflora was identified in the first meconium. Total aerobes, E. coli, and gram positive anaerobes were significantly increased with advancing postnatal days. In only one baby, Lactobacillus acidophilus was detected $2{\times}10^5CFU/g$ in the seven-day stool. Bifidobacterium spp. was detected in two babies. Clostridium difficile was not detected during the seven days. There were no significant differences in the bowel flora depending on the delivery pattern and feeding method. Conclusion: This study shows many changes in the intestinal normal flora in neonatal stool during seven days postnatally. If these findings are confirmed with larger studies, the data may be preliminary findings to support use of probiotics in neonates.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.15.1-15.5
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• 2017

Background: The horse intestinal tract is sensitive and contains a highly complex microbial population. A shift in the microbial population can lead to various issues such as inflammation and colic. The use of nutraceuticals in the equine industry is on the rise and curcumin is thought to possess antimicrobial properties that may help to minimize the proliferation of opportunistic bacteria. Methods: Four cecally-cannulated horses were utilized to determine the optimal dose of liposomal-curcumin (LIPC) on reducing Streptococcus bovis/equinus complex (SBEC), Escherichia coli K-12, Escherichia coli general, Clostridium difficile, and Clostridium perfringens in the equine hindgut without adversely affecting cecal characteristics. In the first study cecal fluid was collected from each horse and composited for an in vitro, 24 h batch culture to examine LIPC at four different dosages (15, 20, 25, and 30 g) in a completely randomized design. A subsequent in vivo $4{\times}4$ Latin square design study was conducted to evaluate no LIPC (control, CON) or LIPC dosed at 15, 25, and 35 g per day (dosages determined from in vitro results) for 9 days on the efficacy of LIPC on selected bacterial strains, pH, and volatile fatty acids. Each period was 14 days with 9 d for acclimation and 5 d withdrawal period. Results: In the in vitro study dosage had no effect ($P{\geq}0.42$) on Clostridium strains, but as the dose increased SBEC concentrations increased (P = 0.001). Concentrations of the E. coli strain varied with dose. In vivo, LIPC's antimicrobial properties, at 15 g, significantly decreased (P = 0.02) SBEC when compared to 25 and 35 g dosages. C. perfringens decreased linearly (P = 0.03) as LIPC dose increased. Butyrate decreased linearly (P = 0.01) as LIPC dose increased. Conclusion: Further studies should be conducted with a longer dosing period to examine the antimicrobial properties of curcumin without adversely affecting cecal characteristics.