• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.799-808
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• 2021

This study was performed to investigate the extent of microbial contamination, the presence of enterotoxin genes, and the antibiotic susceptibility of Bacillus cereus in 58 red pepper plants and 43 environmental samples (soil, irrigation water, and gloves) associated with the plant cultivation. The detected counts of total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus were lower in these samples, as compared to the regulations of standards for foods; moreover, pathogens, such as E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp., were not detected. Genes encoding hemolysin BL enterotoxins (hblA, hblC, and hblD) as well as non-hemolytic enterotoxins (nheA, nheB, and nheC) were detected in 23 B. cereus specimens that were isolated from the test samples and had β-hemolytic activity. Interestingly, B. cereus is resistant to β-lactam and susceptible to non-β-lactam antibiotics. However, in this case, the isolated B. cereus specimens exhibited a shift from resistant to intermediate in response to cefotaxime and from susceptible to intermediate in case of rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, vancomycin, clindamycin, and erythromycin. Therefore, the levels of B. cereus should be monitored to detect changes in antibiotic susceptibility and guarantee their safety.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.599-604
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• 2012

In this study, the prevalence of microbiological hazard on water purifiers at lunchroom in child care center was investigated. A total of 49 water purifiers and their purified cold water were sampled to test about the total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. Total aerobic bacteria was detected over 2.0 log CFU/mL in 6 out of 49 purified cold water (12.2%), ranged from 2.0 to 2.4 log CFU/mL, and the average number of total aerobic bacteria was showed to be 3.3 log CFU/drain spout. The drain spout turned out to be a major contaminant in water purifier and needs to be improved. Coliform bacteria were also detected in 7 out of 49 cold faucets (14.3%) and 7 out of 49 drain spouts (14.3%), but not detected in purified cold water. All samples were not contaminated with the pathogens tested in this study, except for B. cereus, which was contaminated on 2 out of 49 cold faucets (4.1%) and 4 out of 49 drain spouts (8.2%). All of B. cereus isolates produced enterotoxin, such as heamolysin BL enterotoxin (HBL) or non-heamolytic enterotoxin (NHE). The HBL was detected in 5 out of 6 B. cereus isolates (83.3%), including B. cereus PCF-11 and B. cereus PDS-30 isolate only produced NHE (16.7%). These results showed that the sanitary conditions of cold faucets and drain spouts should be improved promptly.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.761-765
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• 2008

Bacillus cereus causes two different types of food poisoning syndromes: diarrhea and emesis. The diarrheal syndrome is attributed to various enterotoxins, including nonhemolytic enterotoxin, hemolytic enterotoxin, and enterotoxin-T, whereas the emetic syndrome is caused by the dodecadepsipeptide toxin cereulide. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed to rapidly detect and identify B. cereus strains. Three primer pairs specific to regions within genes encoding nonhemolytic enterotoxin (nheA), molecular chaperonin (groEL), and cereulide synthetase (ces) were used to identify and differentiate between the enterotoxin-producing and emetic toxin-producing B. cereus strains. The cereulide-producing emetic B. cereus showed 3 PCR products of 325, 405, and 685 bp for the groEL, ces, and nheA genes, respectively, whereas the enterotoxin-producing B. cereus showed 2 PCR products without a ces gene specific DNA fragment. Specific amplifications and differentiations by multiplex PCR assay were obtained using 62 B. cereus strains and 13 strains' of other bacterial species. The detection limit of this assay for enterotoxin-producing strain and emetic toxin-producing strain from pure cultures were $2.4{\times}10^1$ and $6.0{\times}10^2\;CFU/tube$, respectively. These results suggest that our multiplex PCR method may be useful for the rapid detection and differentiation of B. cereus strains in foods.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2003

The present study was conducted to investigate gene expression profile of mouse ovaries during the primordial-primary follicle transition. We isolated total RNA from mouse ovaries at day1(contains only primordial follicles) and day5(contains both primordial and primary follicles) and synthesized cDNA using annealing control primers(ACP, Seegene, Inc., Seoul, Korea). Using 80 different ACPs for PCR, we cloned, sequenced, and analyzed identities of 41 differentially expressed genes(DEGs). According to BLAST analysis, sequences of 33 clones significantly matched database entries, 4 clones were novel, and 4 clones were ESTs. We selected 8 DEGs with interesting functions, Anx11 and Pepp2-Pending highly expressed in day1 ovary, while Apg3/Autlp-like, BPOZ, Ches1, Kcmf1, NHE3, Nid2, Ninj1, SENP3, Suil-rsl, and TIAP/m-survivin highly expressed in days ovary, and confirmed their different expression between day1 ovaries and days ovaries using semi-quantitative RT-PCR. There was no false positive result. Using in situ hybridization, we found that almost all of genes studied were expressed in the oocyte from primordial follicle stage but expression decreased from primary follicle stage. Meanwhile their expression was increased in cuboidal granulosa cells. Different expression of BPOZ and TIAP/m-survivin between primordial and primary follicles was confirmed by using laser capture microdissection followed by real-time PCR BPOZ and TIAP/m-survivin expressed 4.5 and 3.4 fold higher in primary than primordial follicles, respectively. List of genes obtained from the present study will provide insights for the study of mechanism regulating primordial-primary follicle transition.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.857-863
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• 2017

The FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (FosB) gene is located at chromosome 19, and encodes 43 Kda protein. Functionally, the FosB gene is important for differentiation, development, and pathogenesis. Furthermore, the FosB gene is suggested as possible biomarker for tracing disease prognosis. In this study, we constructed plasmid containing a FosB promoter region and evaluate its promoter activity. We analyzed the putative promoter region in FosB genomic DNA using bioinformatics program, and we found important regulatory elements in 1 Kb upstream from transcription start site (TSS). Therefore, we performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification on region from-1,555 upstream to +73 of the FosB genomic DNA, and PCR product was inserted into TA vector to create the $TA-1^{st}FosBp$ plasmid. We then prepared the primer sets, which contain a restriction enzyme site for Kpn1 and Nhe1, in order to reinsert into the TA vector to prepare $TA-2^{nd}FosBp$ plasmid. It was finally subcloned into pGL3-luc vector after enzyme cutting. To evaluate whether the cloned plasmid is useful in cell based experiment, we performed luciferase assay with pGL3-FosBp-luctransfection. FosB promoter activity was increased compared to empty vector, and this activity was significantly increased by treatment of doxorubicin and taxol. We obtained consistent data on regulation of FosB gene expression after anticancer drug treatment using Western blot analysis. The results suggest that promoter cloning of the human FosB gene is very useful for studying gene expression and analyzing biomarkers.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.120-131
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• 2010

Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a metabolic acidosis due to impaired excretion of hydrogen ion, or reabsorption of bicarbonate, or both by the kidney. These renal tubular abnormalities can occur as an inherited disease or can result from other disorders or toxins that affect the renal tubules. Disorders of bicarbonate reclamation by the proximal tubule are classified as proximal RTA, whereas disorders resulting from a primary defect in distal tubular net hydrogen secretion or from a reduced buffer trapping in the tubular lumen are called distal RTA. Hyperkalemic RTA may occur as a result of aldosterone deficiency or tubular insensitivity to its effects. The clinical classification of renal tubular acidosis has been correlated with our current physiological model of how the nephron excretes acid, and this has facilitated genetic studies that have identified mutations in several genes encoding acid and base ion transporters. Growth retardation is a consistent feature of RTA in infants. Identification and correction of acidosis are important in preventing symptoms and guide approved genetic counseling and testing.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2005

The flow of saliva is controlled entirely by nervous stimuli. The present study was aimed to explore the role of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves in the regulation of sodium transporters and water channels in the salivary gland. Rats were denervated of their sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves to the submandibular gland, and the expression of sodium transporters and water channels was determined. The expression of either ${\alpha}-1$ or ${\beta}-1$ subunit of Na, K-ATPase was not significantly affected by the sympathetic denervation. On the contrary, the expression of both subunits was decreased by the parasympathetic denervation. The expression of ${\alpha}-,\;{\beta}-$, and ${\gamma}$-subunits of ENaC was not significantly affected by the sympathetic denervation, but was increased by the parasympathetic denervation. On the contrary, the expression of NHE3 was markedly decreased by both the sympathetic and the parasympathetic denervation. The sympathetic denervation significantly increased the expression of AQP1, while the parasympathetic denervation was without effect. The sympathetic and parasympathetic denervation significantly increased the expression of AQP4. The sympathetic denervation did not affect the expression of AQP5, but the parasympathetic denervation significantly decreased it. These results suggest that sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves have tonic effects on the regulation of sodium transporters and AQP water channels in the salivary gland. The sympathetic and parasympathetic denervation may then result in alterations of secretory rate and electrolyte composition of the saliva.

• Applied Chemistry
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.81-84
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• 2011

Platinum catalyst activity and stability is excellent in terms of fuel cells as a catalyst here. Although it is widely used, to compensate for the high price issue non-precious fuel cell catalysts are being developed. In this study, Co/PANi/CNT composite and non-precious as a catalyst for oxygen reduction was applied. Polyaniline on the interaction between cobalt and the oxygen reduction reaction and the structural characteristics observed in the impact and heat treatment was carried out according to the improved catalytic performance. Potential range is oxygen reduction reaction 0.55 V to 0.78 V(vs. NHE) after pyrolysis. Through this study, Co /PANi/CNT composites as a potential catalyst for fuel cells were non-precious.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2024

This study was performed to establish the epidemiological features of a food poisoning outbreak that occurred in the cafeteria of a company in Chungcheongnam-do Province, Korea, in October 2020, and to recommend measures to prevent similar outbreaks. Twenty-one patients with acute gastroenteritis, three food handlers, seven cooking utensils, and 12 preserved food samples were subjected to viral and bacterial analyses based on procedures described in the "Manual for Detection of Foodborne Pathogens at Outbreaks". Among 135 individuals who had been served the meals, 21 (15.6%) showed symptoms of nausea and vomiting within an hour of consuming the food. Bacillus cereus were isolated from 11 (52.4%) of the 21 patients, one food service employee, one item of cooking ware, and 12 preserved food samples. In addition, we confirmed the toxin genes CER, nheA, and entFM from the isolated B. cereus strains. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis results indicated that all of the isolated B. cereus strains were closely related, with the exception of strains obtained from one patient and one sample of preserved food. These findings provide evidence to indicate that the isolated B. cereus originated from preserved foods and an unhygienic eating environment. This outbreak highlights that the provision of food in non-commercial food systems must be thoroughly managed. In addition, it emphasizes the necessity for the correct and timely identification of causal pathogens for tracing the cause of food poisoning outbreaks, and the need to preserve food under appropriate conditions. To prevent similar cases of food poisoning, it is necessary to investigate cases based on an epidemiological approach and share the findings.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1597-1600
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• 2006

The mononuclear iron complex 1, $Fe^{III}$(Hbida)Cl($H_2O$), was synthesized using a tripodal tetradentate ligand, N-(benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)iminodiacetic acid (H3bida), which has two carboxylate groups, one benzimida- zoyl group, and one tertiary amine where it serves as a tetradentate chelating ligand for the octahedral Fe(III) ion. The four equatorial positions of the octahedral complex are occupied by two monodentate carboxylates, a benzimidazole nitrogen, and an oxygen of a water molecule. One of the axial positions is occupied by an apical nitrogen of the Hbida and the other by a chloride anion. The mononuclear octahedral complex 1 mimics the geometry of the key intermediate structure of the catalytic reaction cycle proposed for the FeSODs, which is a distorted octahedral geometry with three histidyl imidazoles, an aspartyl carboxylate, a superoxide anion, and a water molecule. The redox potential of complex 1, $E_{1/2}$ is -0.11V vs. Ag/AgCl (0.12 V vs. NHE), which is slightly lower than those reported for the most FeSODs. The magnetic susceptibility of complex 1 at room temperature is 5.83 $\mu$B which is close to that of the spin only value, 5.92 $\mu$B of high-spin d5 Fe(III).