• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.20-25
• /
• 2005

The present study was performed to evaluate antiarrhythmic effects of KR-32570, a novel inhibitor of sodium hydrogen exchanger subtype-1 (NHE-1), in rat arrhythmia induced by focal ischemia and reperfusion. During ischemia, KR-32570 significantly decreased the number of premature ventricular contraction (PVC) from 152.0 times to 75.5, 52.4 and 20.0 times for 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg, respectively (p<0.05) and the duration of ventricular tachycardia (VT) from 88.1 s to 35.8, 7.7 and 1.3 s, respectively(p<0.05) in anesthetized rats subjected to 10-min coronary occlusion of coronary artery. Similarlt to ischemia-induced arrhythmia, KR-32570 significantly decreased reperfusion-induced arrhythmia including PVC (41.3, 21.5, 11.3 and 6.6 times at vehicle, 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg, respectively, p<0.05) and VT (100.5, 64.2, 25.8 and 25.2 s, respectively, p<0.05), and VF (86.9, 27.5, 6.9 and 0 s, respectively, p<0.05). Moreover, KR-32570 dose-dependently decreased the incidence of mortality occurring after reperfusion (41, 27, 18 and 0% at vehicle, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 mg/kg, respectively). These results suggest that KR-32570 has a potent antiarrhythmic effect in rat arrhythmia induced by ischemia and reperfusion.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.203-208
• /
• 2018

The objective of this study was to investigate the pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance of foodborne pathogens isolated from farmstead cheeses. Twenty-seven isolates, including 18 Bacillus cereus, two Escherichia coli, and seven Staphylococcus aureus, were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect virulence genes and toxin genes, and the antibiotic resistances of the isolates were determined. All E. coli isolates were determined by PCR to be non-pathogenic. Among the 18 B. cereus isolates, 17 isolates (94.4%) were diarrheal type, as indicated by the presence of nheA, entFM, hbIC, cytK and bceT genes, and one isolate (5.6%) was emetic type, based on the presence of the CER gene. Among the seven S. aureus isolates, three (42.9%) had the mecA gene, which is related to methicillin-resistance. Most B. cereus isolates (94.7%) showed antibiotic resistance to oxacillin and penicillin G, and some strains also showed resistance to ampicillin (26.3%), erythromycin (5.3%), tetracycline (10.5%), and vancomycin (5.3%). These results indicate that microbial food safety measures for farmstead cheese must be implemented in Korea because antibiotic resistant foodborne pathogens, with resistance even to vancomycin, harboring virulence genes were found to be present in the final products of farmstead cheese.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.75-75
• /
• 2003

Transition of the resting primordial follicle to the growing primary follicle is a critical process for female reproduction, but its mechanism is poorly understood. The present study was conducted to investigate gene expression profile at the primordial-primary follicle transition process. We isolated total RNA of female mouse ovary at day1 (contains only primordial follicles) and day5 (contains primordial and primary follicles) and synthesized cDNA using annealing control primers (ACP; Seegene, Inc., Seoul, Korea). ACP provides annealing specificity and sensitivity to the template and allows to identify only authentic differentially expressed genes (DEGs). We used total 80 ACPs for PCR, observed PCR products on 2% agarose gel, cloned 42 DEGs using TOPO TA cloning vector, sequenced, and analyzed by BLAST search. Sequences of 34 clones significantly matched database entries while 4 clones were novel and 4 clones were EST. Two of 34 genes were specifically expressed only in day 5 ovaries (Sui1-rs1, Apg3p/Aut1p-like), and rest of 32 genes were expressed in both stages but were differential in amount. Differential expression was confirmed using semiquantitative RT-PCR, and there was no false positive. Anx11 and Pepp2-pending were highly expressed genes in day1-, while BPOZ, Ches1, Kcmf1, NHE3, Nid2, Ninj1, SENP3 and Survivin were highly expressed genes in day5-ovary. List of genes would provide insight for further study of mechanism regulating primordial-primary follicle transition.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.11 no.5
• /
• pp.388-395
• /
• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although Korean fermented foods contain large amounts of salt, which is known to exacerbate health problems, these foods still have beneficial effects such as anti-hypertension, anti-cancer, and anti-colitis properties. We hypothesized that ganjang may have different effects on blood pressure compared to same concentrations of salt. MATERIALS/METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control (CT), NaCl (NC), and ganjang (GJ) groups and orally administered with 8% NaCl concentration for 9 weeks. The systolic blood pressure (SBP), serum chemistry, $Na^+$ and $K^+$ concentrations and renal gene expressions were measured. RESULTS: The SBP was significantly increased in the NC group compared to the GJ and CT groups. In addition, the $Na^+$ concentration in urine was higher in the GJ and NC groups than the CT group, but the urine volume was increased in the GJ group compared to the other groups. The serum renin levels were decreased in the GJ group compared to the CT group, while the serum aldosterone level was decreased in the GJ group relative to the NC group. The mRNA expression of the renin, angiotensin II type I receptor, and mineralocorticoid receptor were significantly lower in the GJ group compared to other groups. Furthermore, GJ group showed the lowest levels of genes for $Na^+$ transporter in kidney cortex such as $Na^+/K^+$ $ATPase{\alpha}1$ ($NKA{\alpha}1$), $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger 3 (NHE3), $Na^+/HCO_3{^-}$ co-exchanger (NBC), and carbonic anhydrases II (CAII). CONCLUSIONS: The decreased SBP in the GJ could be due to decreased renin and aldosterone levels in serum and increased urinary volume and excretion of $Na^+$ with its transporter gene alteration. Therefore, ganjang may have antihypertensive effect despite its high contents of salt.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.217-227
• /
• 2023

The consumption of ready-to-eat side dishes is rapidly growing in South Korea. These foods are particularly vulnerable to microbiological contamination as they are often cooked without any treatment, such as heating or stored at room temperature after cooking. Hence, in 2022, we analyzed the ready-to-eat side dishes sold in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea for microbiological contamination. We collected 100 samples from supermarkets in 7 cities, and then examined them for presence of food-borne pathogens and sanitary indicator bacteria. In the analysis of the food-borne pathogens, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens were isolated from 51 samples (51.0%) and 3 samples (3.0%), respectively. However, both quantitatively met the Korean Food Standards Codex. Genes of five different enterotoxins and one emetic toxin were analyzed from the 51 isolated B. cereus strains. We detected enterotoxin entFM (100.0%), nheA (94.1%), hblC (58.8%), cytK (56.9%), and bceT (41.2%) in 51 isolates, and emetic toxin gene, CER, in only one (2.0%) isolate. We did not detect C. perfringens toxin gene (cpe) that causes food poisoning in any one of the three C. perfringens isolates. In the case of sanitary indicator bacteria, Kimchi had the highest levels of total aerobic bacteria and coliforms, followed by Saengchae, Jeotgal, Jeolim, Namul, and Jorim, respectively. We counted total aerobic bacteria at two different storage temperatures (4℃ and 20℃) to determine the effect of storage temperature. When stored at 20℃, total aerobic bacteria count increased in most of the ready-to-eat side dishes, except for Jeotgal. This result conclusively shows the need for refrigerating the ready-to-eat side dishes after purchase. Further research is needed to assess the risk and safety of the ready-to-eat side dishes available in the market and determine appropriate safety management practices.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.321-327
• /
• 2014

This paper introduces the physicochemical characteristics of garlic shoots investigated in the 8 areas of Namhae, Gohyeon-myeon (GHM), Nam-myeon (NM), Samdong-myeon (SDM), Namhae-eup (NHE), Seo-myeon (SM), Seolcheon-myeon (SCM), Idong-myeon (IDM) and Changsoen-myeon (CSM). The moisture was $80.15{\pm}0.37{\sim}83.87{\pm}0.15g/100g$. The crude protein and lipid were $1.59{\pm}0.02{\sim}2.25{\pm}0.09g/100g$ and $0.35{\pm}0.01{\sim}0.48{\pm}0.03g/100g$, respectively. Ash was $0.65{\pm}0.03{\sim}0.71{\pm}0.03g/100g$. In addition, the total levels of phenol and flavonoid were searched as $33.02{\pm}1.78{\sim}58.41{\pm}1.08mg/100g$ and $11.60{\pm}3.36{\sim}23.95{\pm}2.04mg/100g$, respectively. The garlic shoots in IDM, where the highest total chlorophyll level detected as $170.58{\pm}1.04{\mu}g/g$ and in CSM, where the lowest total chlorophyll level investigated as $116.65{\pm}0.00{\mu}g/g$, were unveiled. The mineral elements (S, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Mn and Zn) were analyzed by ICP-OES, and K was the most highly contained mineral with $7257.0{\pm}87.9{\sim}10070.0{\pm}9.7mg/kg$. Significant feature of garlic shoots in IDM and NHE was that the total amounts of mineral were relatively higher than other regions as 21,143.5 mg/kg and 20,581.2 mg/kg, respectively. The cultivating regions were revealed as the one of important matters with the level of allicin ($78.03{\pm}6.15{\sim}203.43{\pm}18.47mg/kg$). In particular, the level of allicin of garlic raised in SDM ($203.43{\pm}18.47mg/kg$) was approximately 2.2~2.6 times higher than those in CSM ($92.86{\pm}8.70mg/kg$) and SCM ($78.03{\pm}6.15mg/kg$). The sulfur compounds content of diallyl trisulde was remarkably higher, especially the garlic shoots in IDM with $830.62{\pm}14.69{\sim}1281.10{\pm}27.71mg/kg$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.27 no.8
• /
• pp.1449-1456
• /
• 2017

The prevalence and toxin characteristics of Bacillus thuringiensis isolated from 39 organic vegetables were investigated. B. thuringiensis was detected in 30 out of the 39 organic vegetables (76.9%) with a mean value of 2.60 log CFU/g. Twenty-five out of the 30 B. thuringiensis isolates (83.3%) showed insecticidal toxicity against Spodoptera exigua. The hblCDA, nheABC, and entFM genes were found to be the major toxin genes, but the ces gene was not detected in any of the tested B. thuringiensis isolates. The hemolysin BL enterotoxin was detected in all 30 B. thuringiensis isolates (100%). The non-hemolytic enterotoxin complex was found in 27 out of 30 B. thuringiensis isolates (90.0%). The B. thuringiensis tested in this study had similar toxin gene characteristics to B. cereus, which possessed more than one toxin gene. B. thuringiensis could have the potential risk of foodborne illness based on the toxin genes and toxin-producing ability.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.207-210
• /
• 2014

Bacillus cereus is food poisoning bacteria frequently occured in starch food. Most of the delivery foods for infant is classified as ready-to-cook food. But unlike food for infant and young children, there are no standards and specifications of Bacillus cereus in ready-to-cook food. The purpose of this study is to examine the presence of Bacillus cereus, aerobic bacteria and coliforms in the food for infant and young children sold through internet. B. cereus was detected in 9 samples (8.3%), total aerobic bacteria was detected over $10^6CFU/g$ in 4 samples and coliforms were not detected in any samples. This will provide basic data for standards and specifications of Bacillus cereus in ready-to-cook food.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.361-367
• /
• 2010

Bacterial contamination of cooked rice was analyzed to evaluate the microbial safety. Thirty raw rice samples were collected in Korea and cooked in an electric rice cooker. Mesophilic aerobe, food-poisoning Bacillus cereus group, and their toxin genes were determined on cooked rice. The percentage of total mesophilic aerobe based on 1-3 log CFU/g was 27% among the samples. Bacillus spp. in MYP selective medium was similar to the number of mesophilic aerobe, whileas Bacillus spp. was detected in most samples after enrichment. Thirty-seven isolates from 30 cooked rices were identified as B. thuringiensis, B. cereus, B. valismortis, B. pumilus, B. coagulans, B. licheniformis, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, and Brevibacillus laterosporus. Twenty isolates (54%), more than half of the isolates, were B. thuringiensis while nine (27%) were identified as B. cereus. All B. thuringiensis isolates possessed non-hemolytic toxin genes and interestingly, seven B. cereus among nine isolates possessed emetic toxin genes. More B. thuringiensis was present on the cooked rice than B. cereus and most B. cereus possessed emetic toxin genes rather than diarrheal toxin genes. Therefore, food-borne outbreak due to B.cereus on the cooked rice kept at room temperature might be examples of emetic food-poisoning.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.44 no.12
• /
• pp.1895-1904
• /
• 2015

Foodborne illness associated with food service establishments is an important food safety issue in Korea. In this study, foodborne pathogens (Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, pathogenic Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus) and hygiene indicator organisms [total viable cell counts (TVC), coliforms] were analyzed for food and environmental samples from foodservice establishments at schools in Gyeonggi province. Virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of detected foodborne pathogens were also characterized. A total of 179 samples, including food (n=66), utensil (n=68), and environmental samples (n=45), were collected from eight food service establishments at schools in Gyeonggi province. Average contamination levels of TVC for foods (including raw materials) and environmental samples were 4.7 and 4.0 log CFU/g, respectively. Average contamination levels of coliforms were 2.7 and 4.0 log CFU/g for foods and environmental swab samples, respectively. B. cereus contamination was detected in food samples with an average of 2.1 log CFU/g. E. coli was detected only in raw materials, and S. aureus was positive in raw materials as well as environmental swab samples. Other foodborne pathogens were not detected in all samples. The entire B. cereus isolates possessed at least one of the diarrheal toxin genes (hblACD, nheABC, entFM, and cytK enterotoxin gene). However, ces gene encoding emetic toxin was not detected in B. cereus isolates. S. aureus isolates (n=16) contained at least one or more of the tested enterotoxin genes, except for tst gene. For E. coli and S. aureus, 92.7% and 37.5% of the isolates were susceptible against 16 and 19 antimicrobials, respectively. The analyzed microbial hazards could provide useful information for quantitative microbial risk assessment and food safety management system to control foodborne illness outbreaks in food service establishments.