• Annals of Clinical Microbiology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.75-79
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• 2018

Background: Urine culture is one of the most frequently requested tests in microbiology. Automated urine analyzers yield much infection-related information. The Sysmex UF-5000 analyzer (Sysmex, Japan) is a new flow cytometry urine analyzer capable of quantifying urinary particles, including bacteria, WBCs, and yeast-like cells (YLCs) and can provide a Gram stainability flag. In this work, we evaluated how many unnecessary urine cultures could be screened out using the UF-5000. Methods: We compared the culture results of 126 urine samples among 453 requested urine cultures (from sources other than the Urology and Nephrology departments) with urinalysis results. Urine cultures were considered positive if bacterial or YLC growth was ${\geq}10^4CFUs/mL$. Results: We used urinalysis cut-off values of $50/{\mu}L$ and $100/{\mu}L$ for bacteria and YLC, respectively. Forty eight of the 126 (38.1%, or 10.6% of 453 requested) cultures were below these cut-off values and did not contain any culture-positive samples. Conclusion: Bacteria and YLC counts generated using the UF-5000 analyzer could be used to screen out negative cultures and reduce urine culture volume by ~10% without sacrificing detection of positive cultures.

• Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.396-403
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• 2018

Background: In the current American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system of breast cancer, only tumor size determines T-category regardless of whether the tumor is single or multiple. This study evaluated if tumor multiplicity has prognostic value and can be used to subclassify breast cancer. Methods: We included 5,758 patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent surgery at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, from 1995 to 2012. Results: Patients were divided into two groups according to multiplicity (single, n=4,744; multiple, n=1,014). Statistically significant differences in lymph node involvement and lymphatic invasion were found between the two groups (p<.001). Patients with multiple masses tended to have luminal A molecular subtype (p<.001). On Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, patients with multiple masses had significantly poorer disease-free survival (DFS) (p=.016). The prognostic significance of multiplicity was seen in patients with anatomic staging group I and prognostic staging group IA (p=.019 and p=.032, respectively). When targeting patients with T1-2 N0 M0, hormone receptor-positive, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative cancer, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis also revealed significantly reduced DFS with multiple cancer (p=.031). The multivariate analysis indicated that multiplicity was independently correlated with worse DFS (hazard ratio, 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 1.47; p=.025). The results of this study indicate that tumor multiplicity is frequently found in luminal A subtype, is associated with frequent lymph node metastasis, and is correlated with worse DFS. Conclusions: Tumor multiplicity has prognostic value and could be used to subclassify invasive breast cancer at early stages. Adjuvant chemotherapy would be necessary for multiple masses of T1-2 N0 M0, hormone-receptor-positive, and HER2-negative cancer.

• Gut and Liver
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.664-673
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• 2018

Background/Aims: Regulatory dendritic cells (rDCs), which can be induced by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), play an important role in inducing and maintaining homeostasis of regulatory T cells and exhibit anti-inflammatory functions. In this study, we investigated whether MSCs could differentiate DCs into rDCs and compared the therapeutic effects of rDCs and MSCs on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced chronic colitis mice. Methods: Immature DCs (imDCs) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mature DCs (mDCs) were co-cultured with MSCs for 48 hours, and then the profiles of surface markers and cytokines and regulatory roles of these DCs for primary splenocytes were analyzed. In addition, the therapeutic effects of MSCs and DCs co-cultured with MSCs were compared in chronic colitis mice. Results: After co-culture of imDCs (MSC-DCs) or LPS-treated mDCs (LPS+MSC-DCs) with MSCs, the expression of CD11c, CD80, CD86, interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), and interferon-${\gamma}$ (IFN-${\gamma}$), was decreased, but that of CD11b, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-${\beta}$ (TGF-${\beta}$) was increased. Furthermore, MSC-DCs and LPS+MSC-DCs induced the expression of CD4, CD25, and Foxp3 in primary splenocytes isolated from mice. In DSS-induced colitis mice, MSCs and MSC-DCs increased colon length, body weight, and survival rate and induced histological improvement. Moreover, in the colon tissues, the expression of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IFN-${\gamma}$ decreased, but that of IL-10, TGF-${\beta}$, and Foxp3 increased in the MSC- and MSC-DC-injected groups. Conclusions: Our data suggest that MSCs differentiate DCs into rDCs, which ameliorate chronic colitis. Thus, rDCs stimulated by MSCs may be therapeutically useful for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.315-321
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• 2019

Background: There have been no studies to date on rhizome development and optimal harvest timing for Rehmannia glutinosa. We therefore, undertook this investigation. Methods and Results: R. glutinosa 'Jihwang 1' was sown in early May and harvested in early November. Growth investigations were carried out at intervals of 10 days between 90 and 180 days after sowing (DAS). Leaf length, leaf width, and number of leaves increased until 150 DAS but decreased after 160 DAS. Rhizome length increased until 120 DAS subsequently, rhizome diameter increased rapidly between 130 and 150 DAS. Thus, the key period for rhizome enlargement in R. glutinosa is thought to be 130 to 150 DAS. Fresh root yield increased sharply from 916 kg/10a to 1,914 kg/10a between 4 and 5 months after sowing (MAS). Dry matter ratio increased gradually from 19.2% at 4 MAS to 24.4% at 6 MAS. Finally, the level of catalpol, a key active ingredient, increased sharply from 0.41% to 4.21% between 5 and 6 MAS. Given the dry matter ratio, catalpol content and yield measured, we suggest that optimal R. glutinosa harvest time is 6 MAS. Conclusions: Based on our results, the key period for rhizome enlargement is 130 to 150 DAS and optimal harvest timing is 6 MAS. We anticipate that these and other results of this study can be used to inform cultivation of R. glutinosa.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.322-329
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• 2021

BACKGROUND: The fungicide of benomyl, a benzimidazole group, has been commonly used for pesticides against fungal diseases in the world. However, benomyl is rapidly hydrolyzed in the environment after using to control plant diseases and has adverse effects by generating carbendazim, which is toxic to plants, humans, and the environment. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, the decomposition effect of carbendazim, a degradation product of benomyl was conducted in pot and field after making a prototype of benomyl-degrading microbial agent (BDMA). We found that the carbendazim-degrading microbial agent (CDMA) (10⁵, 10⁶, and 10⁷ cfu/g soil) decomposed carbendazim by 50% or more in all the treatments, compared to the untreated control in the pot tests after four weeks. The effect of 100% decomposition of carbendazim was observed at 7 days after treatment, when the prototype of BDMA was apllied at 10-folds dilution in the field. The decomposition effect at more than 60% and plant growth promoting effect were observed after 7 days of the treatment, compared with the untreated group in the second field experiment,treated with commercially available concentrations of 500-folds and 1,000-folds. CONCLUSION(S): These results might represent that the BDMA would decompose carbendazim effectively, a decomposition product of the fungicide benomyl, remaining in agricultural area, and it could be utilized practically by using a low dilution rate.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to examine the crops capable of growing and adapting to the external environment and various stresses of reclaimed agriculture land for the development of high value-added agricultural utilization technology based on reclaimed land through standardization and empirical study of cultivation environment for cultivating crops. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two crops namely turnips and beets were selected for the salt tolerance test of soil environmental conditions on reclaimed land. Turnip and beet seedlings were planted on the soil collected at the 'Seokmun' reclaimed land. There are five treatments such as non-treatment, 1.0, 2.0 (control), 4.0 and $8.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ of EC. The contents of betacyanin in beet roots was highest in control and decreased with increasing salt concentration. The GSL contents in the turnip roots waswere highest at EC 2.0 and decreased with increasing salt concentration, whereas those in turnip leaves waswere high both in the non-treated control and atthe EC 1.0-treatment. But, tThere was, however, no statistical differences among the treatments. CONCLUSION: The degree of salt tolerance of crops was examined, and the limit EC iswas expected to be $3.0{\sim}4.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ as reported to date. If the soil improvement is performed and irrigation systems are used in the actual reclaimed land, the EC of supplied irrigation will be low, and desalination effecttreatment by the lower EC of the supplied irrigation on the soil will lead to more favorable soil condition of the rhizosphere and cultivation environment offor the crops than those in the port experiment. Therefore, monitoring the salinity, water content and ground water level will enable prediction of the rhizosphere environment, and setting up irrigation management and supplying irrigation will lead to crop cultivation results that are close to normal.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.207-212
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Recently, the need for a method to cultivate 'Haryejosaeng' Satsuma mandarin has been increasing. However, there is limited information available as this is a new Satsuma mandarin cultivar, which was bred by the RDA in 2004. Many farmers who cultivate this cultivar follow the cultivation method similar to that used for 'Miyagawa' Satsuma mandarin, and suffer low production of optimum-sized fruits. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was conducted to find out the optimum ratio of leaf-to-fruit for the stable production of high quality 'Haryejosaeng' Satsuma mandarin fruits in a non-heated plastic film house. Seven-year-old 'Haryejosaeng' Satsuma mandarin trees were used in the study. Before the treatment, the leaf-to-fruit ratio ranged from 5.7 to 17.9. The treatments included 10, 20, 30, and 40 leaves per fruit. The fruits were removed if over fruiting was observed at day 60 after full bloom. We investigated the fruit size and quality on the day of harvest. Flowering and fruiting patterns in each treatment were recorded for the following year. In the experiments, the flower-to-leaf ratio was 1.12 to 1.74. As the leaf-to-fruit ratio decreased, the fruit size and weight also decreased. Contrarily, the higher the ratio of leaf-to-fruit, the higher fruit size and weight were. It was noted that the ratio of 20:1 was ideal to produce the M grade optimum-sized Satsuma mandarin fruits on the day of harvest. However, higher ratio might result in fruits weighting above 100 g. There was no difference among the treatments in terms of fruit quality, such as total soluble solid contents, titratable acid, and color. In the subsequent years, flowering and fruiting in the treatments were lowered when the leaf number per fruit was 10, but they were improved when the leaf number per fruit was above 20. CONCLUSION: Based on the above results, the optimum ratio of leaf-to-fruit was found to be 20:1 for flowering and fruiting of 'Haryejosaeng' Satsuma mandarin. It is important that optimum ratio of leaf-to-fruit is set as a standard to produce good grade and quality of 'Haryejosaeng' Satsuma mandarin fruits.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.3
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• pp.418-428
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to analyze and clarify the forest information shown in the Korean Peninsula Forest Distribution Map (KPFDM) printed in 1910. First, the background, process, results, and reliability of the Forest Survey Project (1910), which is the basis of the KPFDM, were evaluated. Next, the information of the KPFDM, preserved as a paper map, was digitized to show forest status and forest type. The results of the analysis can be summarized as follows: Analyzing the Korean peninsula of the 1910 period in terms of the present South and North Korean regions, stocked forests were found to be more widely distributed (73%) in the northern region. The southern region largely consisted of deforested areas, with young-growth trees and unstocked forests making up 80% of all forests there. The northern region had abundant natural forests, with 80% of the forests in Yanggang-do, which currently includes Mt. Baekdu and the Hyesan area, composed of stocked forests. Pinus densiflora was found about 2.7 times more often in the southern region than in the northern region. Large numbers of coniferous trees excluding Pinus densiflora were found in the northern region. In particular, 53% of the forests and 72% of the stocking land in the southern region were composed of Pinus densiflora.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.508-516
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• 2019

Background: Ginsenosides are not only the principal bioactive components but also the important indexes to the quality assessment of Panax ginseng Meyer. Their contents in cultivated ginseng vary with the growth environment and age. The present study aimed at evaluating the significant difference between 36 cultivated ginseng of different cultivation areas and ages based on the simultaneously determined contents of 14 ginsenosides. Methods: A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS) method was developed and used in the multiple reaction-monitoring (MRM) mode (HPLC-MRM/MS) for the quantitative analysis of ginsenosides. Multivariate statistical analysis, such as principal component analysis and partial least squares-discriminant analysis, was applied to discriminate ginseng samples of various cultivation areas and ages and to discover the differentially accumulated ginsenoside markers. Results: The developed HPLC-MRM/MS method was validated to be precise, accurate, stable, sensitive, and repeatable for the simultaneous determination of 14 ginsenosides. It was found that the 3- and 5-yr-old ginseng samples were differentiated distinctly by all means of multivariate statistical analysis, whereas the 4-yr-old samples exhibited similarity to either 3- or 5-yr-old samples in the contents of ginsenosides. Among the 14 detected ginsenosides, Rg1, Rb1, Rb2, Rc, 20(S)-Rf, 20(S)-Rh1, and Rb3 were identified as potential markers for the differentiation of cultivation ages. In addition, the 5-yr-old samples were able to be classified in cultivation area based on the contents of ginsenosides, whereas the 3- and 4-yr-old samples showed little differences in cultivation area. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the HPLC-MRM/MS method combined with multivariate statistical analysis provides deep insight into the accumulation characteristics of ginsenosides and could be used to differentiate ginseng that are cultivated in different areas and ages.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.360-367
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• 2020

BACKGROUND: The productivity and quality of blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) greatly depend on the number of fruits in a plant. Especially, fruit set more than appropriate number negatively affects productivity and marketability due to the increased number of small fruits and delayed harvest time. This study was conducted to investigate proper timing and concentration for applying chemical blossom thinners such as ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) and UREA. METHODS AND RESULTS: ATS at 1.25% and 1.50%, and UREA at 6% and 8% were applied in four developmental stages, bud swell, pink bud, full bloom and petal fall. Fruit thinning rate was calculated based on the number of fruits harvested divided by that of flowers before applying blossom thinners. Ratios of leaf to flower and leaf to fruit were calculated based on the number of fully developed leaves in 25 days after full blossom divided by that of flowers or fruits, respectively. Chemical injury of leaves was investigated by calculating the number of leaves with chemical injury divided by the total number of leaves. Fruit thinning rates were 48% and 66% for UREA treatments at 6% and 8%, respectively, and 49% and 62% for ATS treatments at 1.25% and 1.50%, respectively, in the full bloom stage. In the petal fall stage, fruit thinning rates were 18% and 24% for UREA treatments at 6% and 8%, respectively, and 49% and 35% for ATS treatments at 1.25% and 1.50%, respectively. Leaf to fruit ratio (L/FR) increased by 109% and 188% compared to leaf to flower ratio in ATS treatments at 1.25% and 1.50%, respectively, and L/FR increased 93 and 196% in UREA treatments at 6% and 8%, respectively, in the full bloom stage. In the petal fall stage, leaf to fruit ratio increased by 60% to 100% in ATS treatments, but did not significantly differ from the control in UREA treatments. Fruit harvest was delayed in all treatments of all developmental stages except for 1.5% ATS and 6% UREA treatments at the petal fall stage, whose fruit harvest was two or three days faster than the control. CONCLUSION: The application of ATS and UREA for blossom thinning should be in the petal fall and full bloom stages for early and late harvest, respectively. Considering chemical injury, integrated harvesting and fruit size, however, it is appropriate to apply ATS at 1.5% in the petal fall stage to increase fruit productivity and quality in blueberry.