• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.6
• /
• pp.478-485
• /
• 2009

This study was performed to assess airborne fungi concentrations during fall in eight subway stations in Seoul, Korea. The purpose of this study was to investigate appropriate culture media and evaluate factors affecting airborne fungi concentrations. Results indicated that airborne fungi concentrations showed log-normal distribution. Thus, geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) were calculated. The GM of airborne fungi concentrations cultured on malt extract agar (MEA) media was 466 $cfu/m^3$ (GSD 3.12; Range 113~4,172 $cfu/m^3$) and the GM of concentrations cultured on DG18 media was 242 $cfu/m^3$ (GSD 4.75; Range 49~6,093 $cfu/m^3$). Both of GM values exceeded 150 $cfu/m^3$, the guideline of World Health Organization (WHO). There was no significant difference between two fungi concentrations cultured on MEA and DG18 media, respectively. Two factors, such as relative humidity and depths of subway stations were significantly related to airborne fungi concentrations. It is recommended that special consideration should be given to deeper subway stations for improvement of indoor air quality.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.5
• /
• pp.355-361
• /
• 2009

This study evaluated the bacterial concentrations and affecting factors at the laboratories of a university in Seoul, Korea. Thirty-three samples of total airborne bacteria (TAB) and eighteen samples of gram negative bacteria (GNB) were collected from both microbiology laboratories (7) and chemistry laboratories (6). GM (GSD) of TAB and GNB concentrations were 194 (2.52) $cfu/m^3$, 24 (4.1) $cfu/m^3$, respectively. TAB concentrations in the chemical laboratories (GM (GSD): 193 (2.0) $cfu/m^3$) were not significantly different from those in microbial laboratories (GM (GSD): 202 (2.7) $cfu/m^3$, (p>0.05)). GM (GSD) of TAB concentrationsat the top of sink, the center of laboratory, and the front of ventilation ventilation device within laboratories, 182 (3.2) $cfu/m^3$, 217 (2.2) $cfu/m^3$, 176 (2.4) $cfu/m^3$, respectively, were not significantly different (p=0.48). Related factors were measured such as temperature, relative humidity, floor of laboratory, number of persons and laboratory area. TAB concentrations were significantly related to temperature (r=0.36, p<0.05), and the floor of laboratory and temperature were also significantly related (r=0.49, p<0.001). However, other factors such as relative humidity, number of persons and laboratory area did not show any significant relationship with TAB concentrations (p>0.05). TAB concentrations were affected significantly by cleaning frequency (p<0.001) and floor of laboratory (p<0.05). There was also a significant difference (p<0.01) between TAB indoor concentrations and TAB outdoor concentrations. However, other factors such as general ventilation did not affect TAB concentrations (p>0.05) in this study.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.63-67
• /
• 2001

We previously reported that acidic polysaccharide from Panax ginseng induced the proliferation lymphocytes and the generation of activated killer cells. Here we found that polysaccharide (PG-75) precipitated with 75% EtOH from water extract of Panax ginseng also has both in vitron and in vivo hematopoietic activities. In vitro studied with bone marrow cells from BALB/c mouse revealed that PG-75 had direct effect on hematopoietic colony-forming cell(CFC) growth, increased granulocyte macrophage-colony forming cell numbers by 1.59 fold over than non-treated. the ability of PG-75 to modulate hematopoiesis in vivo was evaluated the bone marrow and spleen celluarity, granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells. BALB/c female mice were administered G-75 intraperitoneally, PG-75 was found to significantly increase the number of BM cells, spleen cells, GM-CFU on 3 hours after injection. PG-75 was also able to induce significant augmentation of GM-CSF and IFN-${\gamma}$, production in sera. These studies illustrate than PG-75 has hematopoietic activities and that this agent may be useful in the prevention and/or treatment of radio- or chemotherapy-associated myelosuppression.

• 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.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.38 no.3
• /
• pp.213-222
• /
• 2012

Objectives: This study was undertaken in order to evaluate by work space zoning and structure the concentrations of biological contaminants in the indoor air of domestic office buildings. Methods: Air samples were collected in the office spaces of 15 office buildings in Seoul from June 28 to July 28, 2011. Prior to the sampling, each office was classified into 'open-plan office', 'cellular office' and 'mixed office' according to the work space zoning. To evaluate the biological contamination of indoor air, total suspended bacteria (TSB), Gram positive bacteria (GPB), Staphylococcus aureus (S.A), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Gram negative bacteria (GNB) and fungi were investigated. During the sampling, temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) were measured. Results: The TSB concentrations ($GM{\pm}GSD$) were $452({\pm}1.3)cfu/m^3$ in open-plan offices, $366({\pm}1.3)cfu/m^3$ in cellular offices and $287({\pm}1.5)cfu/m^3$ in mixed offices, and there were significant differences between the three groups (p<0.05). The highest concentrations ($GM{\pm}GSD$) of fungi were found in the indoor air of cellular offices $128({\pm}1.0)cfu/m^3$, which was at least three times higher than the concentrations in mixed offices $43({\pm}1.0)cfu/m^3$ (p<0.05). Conclusions: Microbiological contamination in the indoor air of office buildings by work space structure was the highest with the open-plan office layout which includes no high walls or doors separating the occupants.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.151-156
• /
• 2002

Five kinds of red wine from three different grape varieties, Gerbong (G), Campbell (C), Moru (M), Gerbong+Moru (70:30, GM) and Gerbong+Campbell (70:30, GC), were prepared. Their chemical and microbiological changes were monitored during alcohol fermentation and aging. The changes of pH, brix and total acidity were $3.2{\sim}3.6,\;17.9{\sim}6.0$ and $2.4{\sim}4.6\;g/L$, respectively. The viable cell numbers of initial, stationary and death phases were $6.0{\times}10^6,\;1.0{\times}10^8$ and $7.0{\times}10^5\;cfu/mL$ during alcohol fermentation. The sugar fermentability, glucose and fructose contents were greatly decreased less than 0.2 g/L, and the final contents of ethanol and sulfur dioxide were $11.4{\sim}12.3%$ and $40{\sim}62\;mg/L$, respectively. The conversion ratios of malic acid to lactic acid were 23% (G), 67% (M), 28% (C), 33% (GM) and 39% (GC). The chemical characteristics of five red wine were significantly different in pH, total acidity, sulfur dioxide and lactic acid contents (p<0.05).

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.438-446
• /
• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed in order to determine airborne fungi levels in homes and find related factors that may affect airborne fungi concentration. Methods: Fifty homes were study subjects for measuring airborne fungi. For sampling airborne fungi, the impaction method on agar plates was used and samples were counted as colony forming units per cubic meter of air ($CFU/m^3$). In addition, information regarding housing characteristics and atopic disease in each home were collected via questionnaire. Results: The geometric means (GM) of airborne fungi concentrations in fifty living rooms and bedrooms were 68.03 and 62.93 $CFU/m^3$, respectively. The GM of airborne fungi concentration in atopy homes was 78.42 $CFU/m^3$. This was higher than non-atopy homes' 54.34 $CFU/m^3$ (p-value=0.051). In the results of the multiple regression analysis, outdoor airborne fungal concentration proved a strong effective factor on indoor airborne fungal concentration. Also, construction year, floor area of house, indoor smoking and frequency of ventilation were factors that showed a significant association with indoor airborne fungi concentration. Conclusions: The results of this study show that some housing and living characteristics may affect the development and increase of airborne fungi. In addition, exposure to airborne fungi may be a risk factor for the prevalence of childhood atopic diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.8
• /
• pp.894-900
• /
• 2005

Purpose : Because of the unavailability of marrow transplantation, umbilical cord blood (CB) is increasingly being used. We evaluated the potential of ex vivo expansion and clonality in CD34+ cells separated from cord blood source and mobilized peripheral blood (PB) in a serum-free media. Methods : The CD34+ cells, selected from CB and mobilized PB, were expanded with hematopoietic growth factors. They were then cultured for burst-forming units of erythrocytes (BFU-E), colony-forming units of granulocytes and monocytes (CFU-GM) and colony-forming units of megakaryocytes (CFU-Mk) at culture days 0, day 4, day 7, and day 14 with various growth factors. Results : The CB-selected CD34+ cells showed significantly higher total cell expansion than those from the PB at day 7 (2 fold increase than PB). The CB-selected CD34+ cells produced more BFU-E colonies than did the PB on culture at days 7 and at day 14. Also, the CB-selected CD34+ cells produced more CFU-Mk colonies than did the PB on culture at day 4 and at day 7. Conclusion : The ex vivo expansion of the CB cells may be promising in producing total cellular expansion, CFU-Mk and BFU-E compared with PB for 7 to 14 days. The growth factors combination including megakaryocyte growth and development, flt3-ligand and interleukin-3 showed more expansion in the view of total cells and clonal maintenance compared with less combination.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 2008

The sanitary quality of a shellfish-growing area in Kamak Bay, Korea, was assessed through a bacteriological examination of seawater and oysters from January 2004 to December 2006. From seawater samples collected at 28 stations, the range of geometric mean (GM) and the estimated 90th percentile for most-probable-number (MPN) values of fecal coliforms were <1.8-2.4 MPN/100 mL and 1.8-6.0 MPN/100 mL, respectively. The observed fecal coliform GM and the estimated 90th percentile did not exceed the fecal coliform water quality standards of 14 MPN/100 mL and 43 MPN/100 mL. Therefore, the bacteriological quality of seawater at this shellfish-growing area met the Korean Shellfish Sanitation Program (KSSP) criteria for a growing area used for export. The range of the fecal coliform GM and the estimated 90th percentile MPN values of oyster samples were 19.2-160 MPN/100 g and 20.2-166.9 MPN/100 g, respectively, and the range of the viable cell count was 30-1900 CFU/g. Thus, the fecal coliform value for the oysters and the viable cell count were less than the current shellfish quality standards of 230 MPN/100 g and 50,000 CFU/g, respectively. The bacteriological quality of the oysters complied with the criteria for domestic use and export of shellfish.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.156-168
• /
• 2001

Objectives : To evaluate the diverse actions of stimulation on the hematopoietic system, 4 formulas (KH I, KH 2, KH 3, KH 4) were studied. Method and Result : RT-PCR was performed to measure the gene expression of hematopoietic cytokines (TPO, GM-CSF, SCF, IL-3). When bone marrow cells were treated with KH 1, 2, 3, 4, the gene expressions of TPO, SCF, IL-3, and GM-CSF were increased. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to measure the expression of CD34+ cell activity. After 72 hrs culture supplemented with KH 1, 2, 3, 4, the percent of CD34+ cell of KH 2, 3, 4 were increased. To measure the expression of colony forming units - granulocyte erythrocytes, macrophages, megakaryocytes (CFU-GEMM) and burst forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E), semisolid clonogenic assay was performed. After 14 days of culture the number of CFU-GEMM and BFU-E of KH I, 2, 3, 4 were significantly increased compared to those of EPO groups (KH 1 P<0.0l, KH 2 P<0.05, KH 3 P<0.001, KH 4 P<0.0l). To determine the intracelluar TPO expression by KH 3, KH 4 in bone marrow cells, intracelluar staining and flow cytometric analysis were performed. After 24 hrs cultures, the TPO expression of the KH 3 and KH 4 treated groups were increased over those of the controlled groups (control : 50%, KH 3 : 87%, KH 4 : 78%). Conclusion : These results suggest that KH I, KH 2, KH 3, KH 4 have hematopoietic effects through increasing the production of hematopoietic cytokines and stimulating the activity of $CD34^{+}$ cells. This study also shows that KH 3 has a more effective hematopoietic effect than KH 1, 2, 4. These results suggest that the formulas (KH I, 2, 3, 4) can be applied to the patients with inappropriate hematopoietic system, and that KH 3 can be the most effective formula among these 4 in treating bone marrow disease in clinics.