• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.97-105
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• 2015

Purpose: Serotyping pneumococcal isolates is important to monitor efficacy of pneumococcal vaccines. Because of difficulties of typing pnueumocci, a multiplex bead-based (multibead) serotyping assay was recently introduced. The aim of this study is to establish a new multibead serotyping assay and to apply this method to analyze clinical isolates of pneumococci in Korea. Methods: To establish the multibead serotyping assay, six key reagents were transferred from University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to Ewha Center for Vaccine Evaluation and Study (ECVES): bead set coated with polysaccharide and monoclonal antibody pool were used in one multiplex inhibition-type immunoassay and 2 bead sets coated DNA probe and 2 primer pools were used in two multiplex PCR-based assays. After multibead serotyping assay was set up, 75 test samples of pneumococci were analyzed whether ECVES is able to identify serotype correctly. After confirming the performance, serotyping assay was applied to identify serotypes of 528 clinical isolates of pneumococci collected from 3 different hospitals. Results: After establishment of the multibead pneumococcal serotyping assay system at ECVES, 75 test samples were analyzed. There was no discrepancy of serotypes of 75 test samples between the results assigned at UAB and those at ECVES. The serotypes of 528 pneumococci isolated from patients or healthy subjects were determined in 94.3% of isolates (498/528). Conclusions: The multibead pneumococcal serotyping assay can be successfully established in Korea. With this method, surveillance of serotypes of pneumococci isolated from patients as well as healthy subjects could be studied.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1085-1091
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• 2009

A phytase with high activity at low temperatures has great potential for feed applications, especially in aquaculture. Therefore, this study used a degenerate PCR and TAIL PCR to clone a phytase gene from Erwinia carotovora var. carotovota, the cause of soft rot of vegetables in the ground or during cold storage. The full-length 2.5-kb fragment included an open reading frame of 1,302 bp and encoded a putative phytase of 45.3 kDa with a 50% amino acid identity to the Klebsiella pneumoniae phytase. The phytase contained the active site RHGXRXP and HD sequence motifs that are typical of histidine acid phosphatases. The enzyme was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and displayed the following characteristics: a high catalytic activity at low temperatures (retaining over 24% activity at $5^{\circ}C$) and remarkably thermal lability (losing >96% activity after incubation at $60^{\circ}C$ for 2 min). The optimal phytase activity occurred at pH 5.5 and ${\sim}49^{\circ}C$, and the enzyme activity rapidly decreased above $40^{\circ}C$. When compared with mesophilic counterparts, the phytase not only exhibited a high activity at a low temperature, but also had a low $K_m$ and high $k_{cat}$. These temperature characteristics and kinetic parameters are consistent with low-temperature-active enzymes. To our knowledge, this would appear to be the first report of a low-temperature-active phytase and its heterogeneous expression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1723-1735
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• 2016

Pyrosequencing analysis of intestinal microflora from healthy Thai vegetarians and non-vegetarians exhibited 893 OTUs covering 189 species. The strong species indicators of vegetarians and non-vegetarians were Prevotella copri and Bacteroides vulgatus as well as bacteria close to Escherichia hermanii with % relative abundance of 16.9 and 4.5-4.7, respectively. Core gut microbiota of the vegetarian and non-vegetarian groups consisted of 11 and 20 different bacterial species, respectively, belonging to Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria commonly found in both groups. Two species, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and Gemmiger formicilis, had a prevalence of 100% in both groups. Three species, Clostridium nexile, Eubacterium eligens, and P. copri, showed up in most vegetarians, whereas more diversity of Collinsella aerofaciens, Ruminococcus torques, various species of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Escherichia, and different species of Clostridium and Eubacterium were found in most non-vegetarians. Considering the correlation of personal characters, consumption behavior, and microbial groups, the age of non-vegetarians showed a strong positive correlation coefficient of 0.54 (p = 0.001) to Bacteroides uniformis but exhibited a moderate one to Alistipes finegoldii and B. vulgatus. Only a positive moderate correlation of body mass index and Parabacteroides distasonis appeared. Based on the significant abundance of potential pathogens, the microbiota of the non-vegetarian group showed an abundance of potential pathogen varieties of Bilophila wadsworthia, Escherichia coli, and E. hermannii, whereas that of the vegetarian group served for only Klebsiella pneumoniae. These results implied that the microbiota of vegetarians with high abundance of P. copri and low potential pathogen variety would be a way to maintain good health in Thais.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.133-144
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• 2011

Background: Tigecycline (TIG), a new broad-spectrum glycylcycline with anti-multidrug-resistant-(MDR)-pathogen activity, was launched in March 2009 in South Korea, but there are insufficient clinical studies on its use in the country. As such, this study was performed to analyze cases of severe MDR-pathogen-caused infections treated with TIG. Methods: Patients treated with TIG within the period from May 2009 to June 2010 were enrolled in this study. Their clinical and microbiologic data were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Twenty-one patients were treated with TIG for complicated skin and soft-tissue infections (cSSTIs) (42.9%), complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs) (38.1%), or pneumonia (19.1%) caused by MDR pathogens like carbapenem-resistant $Acinetobacter$ $baumannii$ (76.2%), methicillin-resistant $Staphylococcus$ $aureus$ (61.9%), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing $Escherichia$ $coli$ and $Klebsiella$ $pneumoniae$ (38.1%), and penicillin-resistant $Enterococcus$ species (33.3%). Thirteen patients (61.9%) had successful clinical outcomes while five (23.8%) died within 30 days. The rate of clinical success was highest in cSSTI (77.8%), followed by cIAI (50%) and pneumonia (50%), and the mortality rate was highest in pneumonia (50%), followed by cIAI (25%) and cSSTI (11.1%), Conclusion: Tigecycline therapy can be an option for the treatment of severe MDR-pathogen-caused infections in South Korea, Due to its high risk of failure and mortality, however, prudence is required in its clinical use for the treatment of severe infections like nosocomial pneumonia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.3
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• pp.196-202
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• 2015

Background: Viridans streptococci (VS) are a large group of streptococcal bacteria that are causative agents of community-acquired respiratory tract infection. However, data regarding their clinical characteristics are limited. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the clinical and radiologic features of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with or without parapneumonic effusion caused by VS. Methods: Of 455 consecutive CAP patients with or without parapneumonic effusion, VS were isolated from the blood or pleural fluid in 27 (VS group, 5.9%) patients. Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified as a single etiologic agent in 70 (control group) patients. We compared various clinical parameters between the VS group and the control group. Results: In univariate analysis, the VS group was characterized by more frequent complicated parapneumonic effusion or empyema and bed-ridden status, lower incidences of productive cough, elevated procalcitonin (>0.5 ng/mL), lower age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index score, and more frequent ground glass opacity (GGO) or consolidation on computed tomography (CT) scans. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that complicated parapneumonic effusion or empyema, productive cough, bed-ridden status, and GGO or consolidation on CT scans were independent predictors of community-acquired respiratory tract infection caused by VS. Conclusion: CAP caused by VS commonly presents as complicated parapneumonic effusion or empyema. It is characterized by less frequent productive cough, more frequent bed-ridden status, and less common CT pulmonary parenchymal lesions. However, its treatment outcome and clinical course are similar to those of pneumococcal pneumonia.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2010

Background: Data comparing the clinical characteristics and outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP-COPD) and acute exacerbation (AECOPD) are very limited. Methods: Eighty episodes of hospitalization in 65 CAP-COPD patients, and 111 episodes of hospitalization in 82 AE-COPD patients were included in this study. The baseline characteristics, clinical presentations, potential bacterial pathogens and clinical outcomes in these patients were retrospectively reviewed and compared. Results: No significant differences were found between the two groups in parameters related to COPD and co-morbidities, except a higher rate of male among CAP-COPD patients. Clinical presentations by symptoms and laboratory findings on admission were significantly more severe in CAP-COPD patients, who showed higher rates of fever and crepitation, but less wheezing than AE-COPD patients. S. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosae were the most common bacterial pathogens in both groups. With no difference in the overall hospital mortality between both groups, the mean length of hospital stay was significantly longer in the CAP-COPD patients than in AE-COPD patients (15.3 vs. 9.8 days, respectively, p<0.01). Additional analysis on CAP-COPD patients showed that systemic steroid use did not influence the length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference in bacterial pathogens and overall hospital mortality between the two groups, CAP-COPD patients had more severe clinical symptoms and laboratory findings at presentation, and longer hospital stay than AE-COPD patients.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.42-50
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• 2006

역들의 공간적 분포가 불균질하고 역의 크기가 큰 역암의 경우 암석 전체를 대표하는 물성치($E_m,\;c,\;\Phi$ 등) 구하기 위해서는 매우 큰 시험기기가 필요하다. 따라서 커다란 역을 포함하는 역암의 경우 직접 암석실내시험을 통한 물성치 산정은 현실적으로 거의 불가능하다. 이러한 문제를 극복하기 위하여 이 연구에서는 개별요소법을 이용하여 역암의 물성치를 산출하는 방법을 제안한다. 그 방법은다음과 같다. (1) 역암내의 역의 물성과 기질부의 물성을 각각 실내실험을 통하여 파악한 후 이들 (2) 두 물질의 거동양상을 구현할 수 있는 개별요소집합체의 개별요소간의 물성을 결정한다. (3) 역의 함량, 크기 모양 공간적 분포양상등의 역암 조직과 유사한 개별요소 수치해석시료를 만든 후, (4) 이를 수치 해석실험 (이축압축실험)에 사용한다. 이러한 수치해석실험을 통해 현재까지 만들어진 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 역의 강도가 기질의 강도보다 높은 역암의 경우, 역의 양이 증가할수록 일축압축강도, 내부 마찰각, 점착력이 증가하지만 증가 양상은 선형이 아니다. 탄성계수의 경우 역의 양과 상관 없이 변화하지 않는다. 둘째, 역과 기질 사이 표면의 점착력이 약할 경우 이러한 표면에서 최초 미세 균열이 형성되기 시작하므로 이 점착력은 물성치를 산출하는 중요한 인자이다. 따라서, 향후 이에 대한 자세한 연구가 필요하다고 판단된다. 결론적으로,설계 또는 시공시 직접시험에 의한 물성치의 파악이 어려운 역암 또는 직접시험을 위해 대량의 시료를 필요로 하는 함력 미고결지층, 핵석층, 풍화암과 같은 시료의 물성치는 별도로 측정된 물성들 (예, 역과 기질)을 이용한 개별요소법을 통해 구할 수 있다.로 나타났다.TEX>, DIN/DIP비 표층수 $23.91\pm3.42$, 저층수 $23.43\pm3.38$이었으며, 전반적으로 해역별 수질기준 I등급 내지는 II등급을 유지하고 있었고, 공간적으로는 외해측으로 갈수록 외해수와 혼합 확산되어 양호한 수질을 나타내었다. 장기적인 변동특성은 세그룹으로 구분되어진다.기 실험결과 용출용매로 증류수와 해수를 이용했을 때, 제강 슬래그에서 용출되는 납, 구리, 카드뮴, 수은의 용출 경향의 차이를 확인할 수 있었고 이에 따라서, 납, 구리, 카드뮴의 용출 유해성은 낮기 때문에 해양구조물로의 제강슬래그 유효이용은 적합할 것으로 판단되었다.im80%$로 계산되었다. 열형광선량계로 측정된 방사선량은 각각 1.8, 1.2, 0.8, 1.2, 0.8 (70 cm 거리) cGy로 측정되었으며, 환자의 복부 표면에서의 서베이메터를 이용한 측정량은 10.9 mR/h였다. 차폐구조물의 사용 시 전체 치료 동안에 태아선량은 약 1 cGy 정도로 평가되었다. 결론 : AAPM Report No.50의 자료에 따르면, 임산부의 방사선 치료 시 태아의 방사선 피폭선량은 5 cGy 이하일 경우에 방사선 피폭에 따른 태아의 위험이 거의 없는 것으로 제시되고 있다. 본원에서 차폐 구조물을 설치하였을 경우에 측정된 태아선량은 약 1 cGy로 측정되었고, 고안된 차폐구조물은 태아에 도달하는 방사선량을 감소시키기에 적합한 설계임이 입증되었다. 아니라 일반종합병원에서도 CTX-M형 ESBL 생성 E. coli와 K. pneumoniae가 존재하며 확산 중임을 시사한다. 앞으로 CTX-M형 ESBL의 만연과 변종 CTX-M형 ESBL의 출연을 감시하기 위한

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.423-427
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• 2006

1) 바실러스는 불리한 환경조건에서 포자를 형성하며 포자는 균체가 죽어도 살아 남고, 외부 환경이 좋아지면 다시 발아하여 영양형 균체를 형성하게 된다. 본 연구에서 바실러스를 우점화와 포자의 활성화를 위해 열처리(80$^{\circ}C$, 10min)를 한다 울산분뇨처리장 슬러지 Cake를 배양하여 포자화 전 후 상태의 미생물의 EPS 추출결과 RCF법을 적용하였을 때 Carbohydrate물질이 다른 추출법에 비해 가장 많이 추출되었고, Steaming extraction법을 적용하였을 때 Protein이 가장 많이 추출되는 것으로 나타났으며, 포자화 전 보다 포자화 후의 EPS 양이 더 많이 추출될 것이라는 가설을 가지고 실험한 결과 포자화 전보다 포자화 후의 EPS 양이 더 많이 추출되었다. 울산분뇨처리장의 슬러지 Cake를 배양하여 포자화 전 후의 Cu의 제거정도를 비교한 결과 포자화 후의 EPS물질이 포자화 전의 EPS물질보다 Cu를 더 많이 제거하는 것으로 나타났으며 EPS 물질이 중금속 제거능력이 탁월하다고 할 수 있겠다. 2) 용인분뇨처리장과 천안하수처리장의 MLSS의 중금속 제거능력을 알아보기 위해 미생물량을 고려했을 경우와 미생물량을 고려하지 않은 경우로 나누어서 실험을 하였는데 울산분뇨처리장의 슬러지 Cake를 가지고 실험한 결과와 마찬가지로 Bacillus의 EPS물질이 중금속 제거에 탁월하다는 것을 알 수 있다. 3) Baillus를 사용하는 김천 식품폐수 처리장과 활성슬러지를 사용하는 천안하수처리장과의 EPS 함량을 비교한 결과 김천 식품폐수 처리장의 EPS 물질중 Protein과 Carbohydrate가 천안하수처리장의 활성슬러지보다 더 많은 것으로 나타났다.TEX>, DIN/DIP비 표층수 $23.91\pm3.42$, 저층수 $23.43\pm3.38$이었으며, 전반적으로 해역별 수질기준 I등급 내지는 II등급을 유지하고 있었고, 공간적으로는 외해측으로 갈수록 외해수와 혼합 확산되어 양호한 수질을 나타내었다. 장기적인 변동특성은 세그룹으로 구분되어진다.기 실험결과 용출용매로 증류수와 해수를 이용했을 때, 제강 슬래그에서 용출되는 납, 구리, 카드뮴, 수은의 용출 경향의 차이를 확인할 수 있었고 이에 따라서, 납, 구리, 카드뮴의 용출 유해성은 낮기 때문에 해양구조물로의 제강슬래그 유효이용은 적합할 것으로 판단되었다.im80%$로 계산되었다. 열형광선량계로 측정된 방사선량은 각각 1.8, 1.2, 0.8, 1.2, 0.8 (70 cm 거리) cGy로 측정되었으며, 환자의 복부 표면에서의 서베이메터를 이용한 측정량은 10.9 mR/h였다. 차폐구조물의 사용 시 전체 치료 동안에 태아선량은 약 1 cGy 정도로 평가되었다. 결론 : AAPM Report No.50의 자료에 따르면, 임산부의 방사선 치료 시 태아의 방사선 피폭선량은 5 cGy 이하일 경우에 방사선 피폭에 따른 태아의 위험이 거의 없는 것으로 제시되고 있다. 본원에서 차폐 구조물을 설치하였을 경우에 측정된 태아선량은 약 1 cGy로 측정되었고, 고안된 차폐구조물은 태아에 도달하는 방사선량을 감소시키기에 적합한 설계임이 입증되었다. 아니라 일반종합병원에서도 CTX-M형 ESBL 생성 E. coli와 K. pneumoniae가 존재하며 확산 중임을 시사한다. 앞으로 CTX-M형 ESBL의 만연과 변종 CTX-M형 ESBL의 출연을 감시하기 위한 정기적인 연구와 조사가 필

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.39-48
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• 2006

This study was carried out to make a search for the usefulness of marigold plants (Tagetes erecta) as a natural dye. And we have also examined into the dyeability and antifungal activity of silk and cotton fabrics dyed with 2% powdered colorant and 1% liquid colorant. Almost surface colors of silk and cotton fabrics dyed with 2% powdered colorant and that dyed with 1% liquid colorant except for that treated Cu and Fe with mordants were shown by Y-level. $L^*$ values of silk fabrics dyed with 2% powdered colorant were 66.2 to 86.39, those $a^*$ values were -1.97 to 6.09, and those $b^*$ values were 13.69 to 35.97. And $L^*$ values of cotton fabrics dyed with 2% powdered colorant were 78.97 to 89.62, those a values were -3.39 to 0.38, and those $b^*$ values were 5.63 to 15.61 $L^*$ values of silk fabrics dyed with 1% liquid colorant were 34.37 to 85.57, those a values were -7.79 to 12.33, and those $b^*$ values were 15.13 to 82.91, And $L^*$ values of cotton fabrics dyed with 1% liquid colorant were 44.12 to 87.90, those $a^*$ values were -8.37 to 6.18, and those $b^*$ values were 11.65 to 78.87. Colorfastness of silk fabrics against light treated nothing with mordants and that dyed with 1% liquid colorant decreased for a little by second grade, however, that against washing, rubbing, perspiration and dry cleaning were increased over fourth grade. Colorfastness of cotton fabrics in terms of rubbing, light, and dry cleaning, except for washing and perspiration, were shown by over third grade, when that was treated nothing with mordants. Antifungal activities of silk fabrics treated nothing with mordants and dyed with 1% liquid colorant of marigold extracts were shown by 28.9% against Staphylococcus aureus. However, those of Al, Ca, Cu and tartaric acid mordanting were more than 25.5% against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.235-242
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• 1993

8-Fluorociprofloxacin(8-FCP) is an investigational quinolone derivative that is substituted with fluorine at the C-8 position of ciprofloxacin(CP). It was found that the in vitro activity of 8-FCP against Gram(+) bacteria was more potent that of CP, but the opposite against Gram(-) bacteria was true. However, 8-FCP showed better in vivo efficacy than CP against representative Gram(-) organisms, E. coli and K pneumoniae. In an attempt to seek for factors causing this discrepancy in the antibacterial activities, a comparative pharmacokinetic study of 8-FCP and CP was conducted in mice and rats treated either intravenously or orally at a single dose of 30 mg/kg. The pharmacokinetic parameters in mice were as follows; the mean peak serum concentrations(C$_{max}$) following i.v. and oral doses were 12.4 and 5.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for 8-FCP, and 9.5 and 2.5 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for CP, respectively. The terminal half-life(t$_{1/2\beta}$) was 72.9 min for 8-FCP, and 98.2 min for CP, and the oral bioavailability(F) was 89.9% for 8-FCP, and 50.5% for CP. In rats, the mean ($\pm$SD) $C_{max}$ after i.v. administration were 11.6$\pm$1.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for 8-FCP, and 10.2$\pm$1.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for CP, whereas oral administration produced $C_{max}$ of 5.9$\pm$1.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for 8-FCP and 1.1$\pm$0.9 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml for CP, respectively. The t$_{1/2\beta}$ was 67.9$\pm$8.4 min for 8-FCP, and 76.4$\pm$7.2 min for CP. The F was 88.6$\pm$6.3% for 8-FCP, and 40.7$\pm$6.5% for CP. Marked differences were observed between the two quinolones in the $C_{max}$ and the area under the concentration-time curve obtained after oral administration in mice and rats. The extent of 8-FCP absorption in both mice and rats was approximately 2-fold higher than that of CP, suggesting that the fluorine atom attached to C-8 plays an important role in facilitating oral absorption from the gastrointestinal tract.