• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 2008

Fecal contaminations on poultry carcasses, not easily discemable by human eyes, are potential harbor sites of pathogenic Escherichia Coli (E. coli O157:H7). Development of sensitive detection methods for fecal contamination is essential to ensure safe production of poultry products. Fluorescence has been shown to be very sensitive in detecting fecal and other biological substances that can harbor pathogens. In this study, fluorescence excitation-emission spectra of poultry fecal matter were compared with spectra for poultry skin and meat. Results indicated that the combinations of fluorescence intensities at the wavelength of 520 nm, 579 nm, 625 nm, and 635 nm with 411 nm excitation showed above 97% accuracy for differentiation of the contaminants from poultry tissues. Excitation and emission bands determined could be used for constructing a real-time fluorescence imaging device for detection of harmful residues on poultry carcasses.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.880-888
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• 2015

Foeniculum vulgare (FV) has long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In addition, it is usually known as an important medicinal and aromatic plant widely used as a carminative, digestive, lactogogue, and diuretic, and for treating respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. The skin barrier protects against the invasion of pathogens, fends off chemical and physical assaults, and protects against extensive water loss. In this study, the effects of solvent-fractionated FV fruits on strengthening the skin barrier and maintaining moisture, as well as their antifungal activity, were investigated in human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. The expression of involucrin, loricrin, filaggrin, hyaluronic acid synthase, human β defensin, and cathelicidin genes and proteins was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting. The production of hyaluronic acid was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The butanol fraction increased the expression of involucrin and filaggrin. Both the ethyl acetate and the butanol fractions increased hyaluronic acid production by promoting the expression of hyaluronic acid synthase-1. Although the antimicrobial peptides were increased by FV crude extract and its fractions, the samples did not show a significant effect compared to the normal group. These results suggest that the butanol fraction of FV could be very useful in cosmetics for the treatment of dermatological diseases.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.97-104
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• 1998

Fugi are eukaryotic, nonphotosynthetic, filamentous or unicellular organisms, most of which grow on nonliving materials as saphrophytes. The majority are therefore opportunistic pathogens and predisposing factors often contribute to the establishment of fungal infection. These include an alteration in the normal flora of the host by prolonged administration of antibiotics, immunosup-pression, concurrent infections, damage to the skin or mucous membranes, constantly moist areas of skin or the exposure to a large infective dose, and as with fungal spores. Fungi may cause a variety of diseases which may be due directly to fungal invasion of tissue or more often to the ingestion of toxins produces by fungi in growing, standing or stored grains and other animals feeds. In this experiment, contaminated fugi were isolated and identified from animal feedstuffs such as Korean cattle, milking cows, pigs and chickens. Twelve genues were isolated from animal feeds, they are 9 from Korean cattle and milking cows feeds, 6 from pigs feeds, and 10 from chickens feeds. Among them, most frequently encountered species was Yeast(56 strains), followed by Fusarium sp(41 strains), Aspergillus sp(20 strains), each of Micorsporum sp and Trichophyton sp(17 strains), Penicilium sp(12 strains), in order. And also minority was isolated as Candide sp(4 strains), Trichoderma sp(3 strains), each of Epidermophytom sp and Absida sp(2 strains), and each of Sporothrix sp and Maduromyces sp(1 strain). Among the Aspergillus sp 20 isolates, A flavus(5 strains), A nidulans(4 strains), A fumigatus(3 strains), A glucans(3 strains), A niger(3 strains) and A terreus(2 strains) were identified.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.213-223
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• 2011

Among wild marbled sole, Pleuronectes yokohamae caught in west coastal area, Chungnam, tumor-bearing fish were found. Parasites and pathogenic bacteria were not detected and CPE was not observed. Using the light microscope, the epidermal layer of wild P. yokohamae was significantly thickened compared to the normal skin. The lesion was formed papillary folds. Hypertropical epithelial cells revealed karyolysis, marked nucleolus and cloud swelled cytoplasm. In the epidermal layer of the lesion, X-cell that is characterized by oval and small pale nucleus and prominent nucleolus was observed. Dermal layer had newly formed vessels. The size of mucous cell in the papilloma lesion was significantly increased compared to the normal. In this study, no pathogens were found, so future works for finding cause of the papilloma in the P. yokohamae are needed.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.759-767
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• 2014

Background Infection caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been increasing. Awareness of this infection is crucial yet problematic. Delayed management may lead to destructive results. We empirically treated a series of patients with clinical suspicion of NTM infection prior to the identification of the pathogen. Methods A total of 12 patients who developed surgical site infections between January 2011 and February 2014 were reviewed. Patients with a skin and subcutaneous infection resistant to standard management over two weeks, and previous history of aesthetic procedures within three months were regarded as highly suspected of having an NTM infection. A variety of diagnostic modalities were examined simultaneously, along with starting empirical treatment including a combination of clarithromycin and moxifloxacin, and surgical debridement. Results All wounds healed completely within 4 weeks. The mean follow-up duration was 7.2 months, and none of the patients developed relapse. Specific NTM pathogens were identified in six patients. Eight patients showed caseating granuloma implying an NTM infection. One patient showed an uncommon Stenotrophomonas infection, which was successfully treated. Three patients had no evidence of a pathogen despite repeated microbial tests. Complications such as scarring, pigmentation, and disfigurement were common in all the patients. Conclusions NTM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an unusual skin and soft-tissue infection. We propose an empirical regimen of clarithromycin and moxifloxacin as an efficient treatment option for an NTM infection.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.247-257
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• 2008

To understand the activity of non-specific defence factors in cultured Sebastes, the antibacterial effect of the serum, skin mucus and homogenate of various organs from cultured oblong rockfish (Sebastes oblongus) and rockfish(Sebastes schlegeli) against pathogenic bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila, Edwardsiella tarda, Vibrio anguillarum, and Streptococcus sp. was compared with that of flounder(Paralichthys olivaceus) and seabass(Leteolabrax japonicus). And the activities of proteolytic enzyme, chitinolytic enzyme and haemolycin as non-specific defence factor were investigated on the oblong rockfish and rockfish. Samples from oblong rockfish showed the highest antibacterial activity by lysoplate assay on agar plate mixed with pathogens, followed in descending order by rockfish, seabass, and flounder. Turbidimetric assay was carried to evaluate the lysozyme activity of fish samples against lyophilized cells of Micrococcus lysodeiktikus. The serum, kidney, liver, stomach, intestine and eyeball of oblong rockfish and the mucus and gill of rockfish appeared to have the highest lysozyme activity among the fish strains investigated. All samples except skin mucus, liver, and eyeball of oblong rockfish and rockfish showed proteolytic enzyme activity. Chitinolytic enzyme activity was showed in random sampling and haemolytic activity was remarkable in oblong rockfish. Therefore, Sebastes strain was proved to have effective defense mechanisms based on the antibacterial activities, and lysozyme, proteolytic enzyme, chitinolytic enzyme, and haemolycin were considered to act as the non-specific defence factor of Sebastes.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2006

Puerarin and daidzin have been isolated from Puerariae thunbergiana Benth. Structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. Compounds showed weak antimicrobial activity against S. mutans, S. epidermidis, S. aureus, and C. albicans (MIC, $800{\mu}g/ml$). However, these compounds were not antioxidative. Puerariae thunbergiana Benth. extracts against microorganisms were evaluated in terms of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC). In general, C. albicans was stronger antimicrobial activity than the other microorganisms. The antioxidative activity of was observed in the etyl acetate extract ($IC_{50},\;119.87{\pm}0.16\;{\mu}g/ml$). The DPPH radical scavenging effect ($IC_{50},\;1,673.3{\pm}0.54\;{\mu}M$) of the puerarin was comparable with that of synthetic antioxidant, BHA $(IC_{50},\;88.39{\pm}1.1){\times}10^{3}{\mu}M$. These results suggest that puerarin and daidzin have a potential antimicrobial activity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1482-1484
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• 2008

Spherical silver nanoparticles (nano-Ag) were synthesized and their antifungal effects on fungal pathogens of the skin were investigated. Nano-Ag showed potent activity against clinical isolates and ATCC strains of Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Candida species ($IC_{80}$, 1-7${\mu}g/ml$). The activity of nano-Ag was comparable to that of amphotericin B, but superior to that of fluconazole (amphotericin B $IC_{80}$, 1-5${\mu}g/ml$; fluconazole $IC_{80}$, 10-30${\mu}g/ml$). Additionally, we investigated their effects on the dimorphism of Candida albicans. The results showed nano-Ag exerted activity on the mycelia. Thus, the present study indicates nano-Ag may have considerable antifungal activity, deserving further investigation for clinical applications.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.74 no.5
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• pp.215-221
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• 2013

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are considered opportunistic pathogens, and several species of NTM are associated with human diseases that typically involve the pulmonary, skin/soft tissue, or lymphatic systems; such infection may also cause disseminated diseases. Recent studies have reported increasing rates of NTM-induced disease worldwide. Methods: Respiratory samples are being analyzed for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) culture and NTM identification at Dankook University Hospital in Cheonan, Korea, from September 2005 to September 2011. Identification is performed by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis targeting a novel region of the rpoB gene. Results: A total of 25,133 specimens were received for AFB culture, of which 1,014 (4.0%) were NTM-positive. A total of 267 samples from 186 patients were tested for NTM identifications, and 232 samples from 157 patients were positive for NTM species. Among the patients who tested positive for NTM, 65.6% were men and the average age was 63.3 years. Mycobacterium avium complex, the most commonly detected NTM pathogen, was found in 65.9% of the 232 samples. The annual average percentage of NTM isolates from AFB culture-positive specimens was 31.3%: the highest rate was seen in 2011 (44.3%), followed by 2009 (37.4%) and 2010 (37.2%). An upward trend in NTM incidence was found during the study period. Conclusion: The prevalence of pulmonary NTM isolates continues to increase in Cheonan, suggesting that pulmonary NTM disease is becoming increasingly common.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.9
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• pp.363-367
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• 2011

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are regularly used in intensive care units, and catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) remains a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections, particularly in preterm infants. Increased survival rate of extremely-low-birth-weight infants can be partly attributed to routine practice of CVC placement. The most common types of CVCs used in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) include umbilical venous catheters, peripherally inserted central catheters, and tunneled catheters. CRBSI is defined as a laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection (BSI) with either a positive catheter tip culture or a positive blood culture drawn from the CVC. BSIs most frequently result from pathogens such as gram-positive cocci, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and sometimes gram-negative organisms. CRBSIs are usually associated with several risk factors, including prolonged catheter placement, femoral access, low birth weight, and young gestational age. Most NICUs have a strategy for catheter insertion and maintenance designed to decrease CRBSIs. Specific interventions slightly differ between NICUs, particularly with regard to the types of disinfectants used for hand hygiene and appropriate skin care for the infant. In conclusion, infection rates can be reduced by the application of strict protocols for the placement and maintenance of CVCs and the education of NICU physicians and nurses.