• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.122-125
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• 2010

The essential oil fraction was extracted from the aerial parts of the plant by steam distillation method and its composition was analyzed by GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) which led to the identification of 43 compounds. Dehydroelsholtzia ketone (56.81%) and elsholtzia ketone (30.05%) were identified as the predominant components of this oil. The antibacterial activities of the essential oil fraction were assessed by micro-dilution tests against antibioticsusceptible and -resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis, and S. typhimurium. The oil inhibited most of the tested strains significantly resulting MICs (minimum inhibiting concentrations) between 2 mg/ml and >16 mg/ml. In most cases of this study Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus showed higher sensitivity to this oil than Salmonella strains.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.1235-1240
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• 2007

For this study, plant material for development of phytobiotics (feed additives made with plant extract) was screened. Among hot-water extracts of 9 medicinal plants, Fallopia japonin showed the highest antioxidative activity; the electron donating ability (EDA) and nitrite scavenging ability were 86.9% and 92.7%, respectively. Also, F. japonica had the antimicrobial activity for Pseudomonas aeruginora, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphyzococcus aureus. Specially, antimicrobial activity of F. japonica against K. pneumoniae, and S. aureus was vet strong. $IC_{50}$ of F. japonica against K. pneumoniae, and S. aureus was 6.24 mg/mL and 1.8 mg/mL respectively. These results suggested that F. japonica was a candidate for a phytobiotic material.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2012

Background: As Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia has increased in Korea, its relevance to infants, toddlers, and adolescents has magnified as well as. However, it is difficult to perform the serological test and PCR test routinely for diagnosis in actual clinical practice. Thus, the authors conducted this study to help clinicians do presumptive diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia using clinical, radiological, and hematological findings. Methods: The study population consisted of 224 children between 1 month and 14 years old, hospitalized for radiographically confirmed pneumonia. Patients were divided into two groups of 100 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, as diagnosed using the ELISA method. Groups with negative result in Mycoplasma IgM antibody test were classified into the viral group (98 patients with respiratory virus) and the bacterial group (46 patients with the bacteria detected in the blood sputum culture or antibiotic treatment except macrolide improved the patient's condition). These groups were compared and analyzed using clinical, hematological, and radiographic differences and scoring system. Results: Clinical, hematological, and radiographic characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia have shown the intermediate level results between bacterial pneumonia and viral pneumonia. In terms of scoring system, the mean score of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia was 4.23, which was the intermediate level between bacterial pneumonia (mean score=6.67) and viral pneumonia (mean score=1.48). Conclusion: Results suggest that the combination of the scoring system information can increase the accuracy in the diagnosis even if they may have difficulties on diagnosis, because clinical manifestations, hematological, and radiographic findings are nonspecific.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.193-197
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• 2023

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an uncommon cause of septic arthritis in adults. However, late detection can cause serious complications, including joint destruction and immobility. The purpose of this study was to report a case of successfully treated septic arthritis of the hip joint (SAHJ) caused by K. pneumoniae. A 49-year-old female patient presented to our hospital with fever and progressive severe pain in the right hip area. Although there was no abnormality on plain radiographs, ultrasonography revealed diffuse swelling of the right hip joint. Under ultrasonography guidance, the hip joint fluid was aspirated, and Gram staining and culturing were performed. The patient's pain was significantly reduced after the joint aspiration. The Gram staining and culturing revealed gram-negative bacilli, which were subsequently identified as K. pneumoniae. According to the results, systemic intravenous antibiotic (ceftriaxone) was administered without complications, and the patient was discharged on oral antibiotic (ciprofloxacin). Clinical cases of septic arthritis of the knee or sacroiliac joint have been occasionally reported in adults, but cases of SAHJ are rare. Moreover, K. pneumonia-induced SAHJ has not been reported to date. Therefore, we report this very rare case and its successful treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.977-982
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• 2006

Purpose : There has been an increasing amount of literature concerning the association between Mycoplasma pneumoniae and asthma pathogenesis. Interleukin(IL)-6 stimulates the differentiation of monocytes, and can promote Th2 differentiation and simultaneously inhibit Th1 polarization. IL-8 is a potent chemoattractant and, it has been suggested, has a role in asthma pathogenesis. Nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by airway epithelium may be important in the regulation of airway inflammation and reactivity. Vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) has been reported to be a mediator of airway remodeling in asthma. We investigated the effects of M. pneumoniae on IL-6, IL-8, NO and VEGF production in human respiratory epithelial cells. Methods : A549 cells were cultured and inoculated with M. pneumoniae at a dose of 20 cfu/cell. After infection, the presence of M. pneumoniae in epithelial cell cultures was monitored by immunofluorescence and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) detection. IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. NO was measured using the standard Griess reaction. Results : In A549 cells, M. pneumoniaeinduced IL-6, IL-8, NO and VEGF release in time-dependent manners. It also induced mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-8 and VEGF in similar manners. Conclusion : These observations suggest that M. pneumoniae might have a role in the pathogenesis of the allergic inflammation of bronchial asthma.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1039-1045
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• 2005

In order to evaluate the in vivo synergic effect of Eunkyo-san which was a traditional poly-herbal formula has been used in the treatment of respiratory diseases in Korea, with quinolone antibiotics, ciprofloxacin (CPFX), the viable bacterial number and histopathological changes were monitored after experimental respiratory infection with S. pneumoniae ATCC 6303. The obtained results were as follows: In CPFX groups, the viable bacterial numbers were significantly decreased compared to that of control group and these were more dramatically decreased compared to that of single treatment with CPFX, respectively in concomitant treated groups with Eunkyo-san. In control group, severe infiltration of inflammatory cells, hemorrhage and hypertrophy of alveolar linings were demonstrated at microscopical levels. However, these abnormal histopathological changes were significantly decreased compared to that of control group in CPFX groups, and these were more dramatically decreased compared to that of single treatment with CPFX, respectively in concomitant treated groups with Eunkyo-san. In CPFX groups, the LSA (luminal surface of alveoli $\%$) were significantly increased compared to that of control group and these were more dramatically decreased compared to that of single treatment with CPFX, respectively in concomitant treated groups with Eunkyo-san. According to these results, it is considered as the in vivo antibacterial activity of CPFX was dramatically increased by concomitant use of Eunkyo-san against S. pneumoniae ATCC 6303 infection of respiratory tract.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.1031-1037
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• 2008

Macrolide antimicrobial agents including erythromycin, roxithromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin are commonly used in the treatment of respiratory tract infections in children. Newer macrolides that have structural modifications of older drug erythromycin show improved change in the spectrum of activity, dosing, and administration. However, recent studies reported that increasing use of macrolide antibiotics is the main force driving the development of macrolide resistance in streptococci. In particular, azithromycin use is more likely to select for macrolide resistance with Streptococcus pneumoniae than is clarithromycin use, a possible reflection of its much longer half life. Recently, erythromycin resistance rates of S. pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes are rapidly increasing in Korea. Two main mechanisms of acquired macrolide resistance have been described, altered binding site on the bacterial ribosome encoded by the ermB gene and active macrolide efflux pump encoded by the mef gene. Relationship between the susceptibility of S. pneumoniae and the response to macrolides has been shown in studies of acute otitis media, but less clear in cases of pneumonia. This article reviews the spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetic properties, mechanisms of action and resistance, and clinical implication of resistance on the treatment of respiratory tract infections in children.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2001

Heat shock proteins serve as chaperone by preventing the aggregation of denatured proteins and promote survival of pathogens in harsh environments. In this study, heat shock gene encoding a 84-kDa (p84) protein, which is one of the three major heat shock proteins in S. pneumoniae, was cloned and characterized. PCR with a forward primer derived from N-terminal amino acid sequence of the p84 and a reverse primer derived from the conserved second ATP-binding region of Clp family was used for amplification of the gene encoding the p84 and subsequently the PCR product was used for sequence determination. Sequence analysis of the p84 gene demonstrated that it is a member of ClpL. The deduced amino acid sequence of pneumococcal ClpL shows homology with other members of the Clp family, and particularly, even in variable leader region, with bovine Clp-like protein and L. lactis ClpL. S. pneumoniae clpL is the smallest clop member (701 amono acids) containing the two conserved ATP-binding regions, and hydrophilic N-terminal variable region of pneu-mococcal Clp ATPase is much shorter than any known Clp ATPases. Histidine tagged ClpL was overexpressed and purified from E. coli. Immunoblot analysis employing antisera raised against pneumococcus p84 demonstrated no cross-reactivity with Clp analog in Eschericha coli, Staphylococcus aureus and human HeLa cells. Preimmunization of mice with ClpL extended mice life partially but did not protect them from death.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 2006

The global pattern of growth-dependent gene expression in Streptococcus pneumoniae strains was evaluated using a high-density DNA microarray. Total RNAs obtained from an avirulent S. pneumoniae strain R6 and a virulent strain AMC96-6 were used to compare the expression patterns at seven time points (2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, and 8.0 h). The expression profile of strain R6 changed between log and stationary growth (the Log-Stat switch). There were clear differences between the growth-dependent gene expression profiles of the virulent and avirulent pneumococcal strains in 367 of 1,112 genes. Transcripts of genes associated with bacterial competence and capsular polysaccharide formation, as well as clpP and cbpA, were higher in the virulent strain. Our data suggest that late log or early stationary phase may be the most virulent phase of S. pneumoniae.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.438-441
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• 1996

The therapeutic activity of LB20304a was examined on experimental respiratory tract infection (RTI) caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae DT-S in mice. A single oral dose of LB 20304a (1.2mg/mouse) showed a rapid bacteriocidal activity in lung tissue at 4,7 and 24h after administration of drug. The in vivo activity of LB20304a was comparable to that of ciprofloxacin against K. pneumoniae infection, although in vitro MIC of LB20304a was four-fold higher than that of ciprofloxacin.