• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.4 s.109
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• pp.406-410
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• 2004

The alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) of two dam reservoirs and inflowing streams were measured monthly in 2000. During summer months in 2001, the vertical profiles of APA and related parameters were also examined in one of the reservoirs. The APA was relatively high during the summer season in the epilimnion while it was almost invariable in the hypolimnion. A small increase in APA was observed at just above the bottom. The APA fluctuation was independent of the concentration of soluble reactive phosphorus. It was assumed that APA is not indicative of the phosphorus availability status. An examination of size-fractionated samples suggested that APA in reservoirs was attached to particles larger than $0.4{\mu}m$, whereas in streams it existed in a dissolved form. There was a positive significant correlation between chlorophyll a concentration and APA in the photic zone. In the aphotic zone, APA correlated positively with the colony count of heterotrophic bacteria, but not with microscopic total bacterial counts.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.1353-1358
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• 2005

A rapid and quantitative real-time PCR was developed to target the invasion A (invA) gene of Salmonella spp. We developed quantitative standard curves based on plasmids containing the invA gene. Based on these curves, we detected Salmonella spp. in artificially contaminated buffered peptone water (BPW) and milk samples. We were able to determine the invA gene copy number per ml of food samples, with the minimum detection limit of $4.1{\times}10^{3}$ copies/ml of BPW and $3.3{\times}10^{3}$ copies/ml of milk. When applied directly to detect and quantify Salmonella spp. in BPW and milk, the present real-time PCR assay was as sensitive as the plate count method; however, copy numbers were one to two logs higher than the colony-forming units obtained by the plate count methods. In the present work, the real-time PCR assay was shown to significantly reduce the total time necessary for the detection of Salmonella spp. in foods and to provide an important model for other foodborne pathogens.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.129-138
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• 2002

Objective: This study was to compare the characteristics between parthenogenetic mES (P-mES) cells and in vitro fertilization mES cells. Materials and Methods: Mouse oocytes were recovered from superovulated 4 wks hybrid F1 (C57BL/6xCBA/N) female mice. For parthenogenetic activation, oocytes were treated with 7% ethanol for 5 min and $5{\mu}g$/ml cytochalasin-B for 4 h. For IVF, oocytes were inseminated with epididymal sperm of hybrid F1 male mice ($1{times}10^6/ml$). IVF and parthenogenetic embryos were cultured in M16 medium for 4 days. Cell number count of blastocysts in those two groups was taken by differential labelling using propidium iodide (red) and bisbenzimide (blue). To establish ES cells, b1astocysts in IVF and parthenogenetic groups were treated by immunosurgery and recovered inner cell mass (ICM) cells were cultured in LIF added ES culture medium. To identify ES cells, the surface markers alkaline phosphatase, SSEA-1, 3,4 and Oct4 staining were examined in rep1ated ICM colonies. Chromosome numbers in P-mES and mES were checked. Also, in vitro differentiation potential of P-mES and mES was examined. Results: Although the cleavage rate (${\geq}$2-cell) was not different between IVF (76.3%) and parthenogenetic group (67.0%), in vitro development rate was significantly low in parthenogenetic group (24.0%) than IVF group (68.4%) (p<0.05). Cell number count of ICM and total cell in parthenogenetic b1astocysts ($9.6{\pm}3.1,\;35.1{\pm}5.2$) were signficantly lower than those of IVF blastocysts ($19.5{\pm}4.7,\;63.2{\pm}13.0$) (p<0.05). Through the serial treatment procedure such as immunosurgery, plating of ICM and colony formation, two ICM colonies in IVF group (mES, 10.0%) and three ICM colonies (P-mES, 42.9%) in parthenogenetic group were able to culture for extended duration (25 and 20 passages, respectively). Using surface markers, alkaline phosphatase, SSEA-l and Oct4 in P-mES and mES colony were positively stained. The number of chromosome was normal in ES colony from two groups. Also, in vitro neural and cardiac cell differentiation derived from mES or P-mES cells was confirmed. Conclusion: This study suggested that P-mES cells can be successfully established and that those cell lines have similar characteristics to mES cells.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.520-528
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• 2012

Objective: This study was performed to assess bacterial distribution concerned in sanitation management of public lavatory in Seoul. Methods: In this research, bacteriological investigation on public lavatory was accomplished for bidet water, bidet nozzle, washbowl and lavatory stool in the 50 public facilities such as public institutions, subway stations, cinema, department stores, large-scale buildings and hospitals amount to 374 specimens. Results: The geometric mean of colony forming unit(CFU) in total aerobic colony count were analyzed as follows; $5.2{\times}10^2/100cm^2$ on lavatory stool, $7.2{\times}10^3/ea$ on bidet nozzle, $7.8{\times}10^3/ea$ on center ring of washbowl, $1.4{\times}10/mL$ in bidet water (ml) and 7.0/ea on doorknob. Opportunistically pathogenic germs such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated in 3.7%, 5.9%, 3.2% and 1.9% of total specimens, respectively. Conclusion: The result of this study shows that there were some facilities where the pathogenic germs were detected to may cause urological infection. And the CFU of general bacteria as the representative indicator of disinfection and lavatory cleaning were high enough to imply the improvement of sanitation management of public lavatories should be contrived.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.179-184
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• 2013

The biological effects of radiation are dependent on the dose rate and dose of radiation. In this study, effects of dose and dose rate using whole body radiation on plasma cytokines and blood count from male BALB/c mice were evaluated. We examined the blood and cytokine changes in mice exposed to a low (3.49m Gy $h^{-1}$) and high (2.6 Gy $min^{-1}$) dose rate of radiation at a total dose of 0.5 and 2 Gy, respectively. Blood from mice exposed to radiation were evaluated using cytokine assays and complete blood count. Peripheral lymphocytes and neutrophils decreased in a dose dependent manner following high dose rate radiation. The peripheral lymphocytes population remained unchanged following low dose rate radiation; however, the neutrophils population increased after radiation. The sera from these mice exhibited elevated levels of flt3 ligand and granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), after high/low dose rate radiation. These results suggest that low-dose-rate radiation does not induce blood damage, which was unlike high-dose-rate radiation treatment; low-dose-rate radiation exposure activated the hematopoiesis through the increase of flt3 ligand and G-CSF.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.728-733
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• 2007

Presence and distribution of bacteria and fungi in inner compartment of PCs(Personal Computers) were investigated. Samples for the analysis were collected from inside of PCs which had been used in various facilities including public computer facilities, laboratories and computer training rooms of a university. Total number of PC examined in this study was 51 each. When the total CFU(colony forming unit) of the inner compartment of the PCs was measured, the bacterial count was found to be dependent on the operation time(total running time) of PCs. When the distribution of bacteria in the inner compartment of PCs was estimated, CPU(Central Processing Unit) cooling fan area showed the highest bacterial concentration(average 605 $CFU/cm^2$). In the case of the fungi, various opportunistic pathogens including Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. were isolated and identified in the inner compartment of PCs. And the average of bacterial number in the dust collected from the PCs was 212 CFU/mg. These results indicated that handling of PC might have a risk of infection by the microorganism.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.321-328
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• 2009

A total of fourteen, 1-wk-old male Holstein calves were allotted into two groups consisted of control (CON) and IGY which was orally administrated with immunoglobulin yolk (IgY) for 1wk. Calves in both groups were provided with milk replacer according to feeding program and had ad libitum access to timothy hay for the entire experimental period (7wks). At 0, 7 and 49 day of experiment, blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of calves to investigate blood biochemical profiles and the differential count (%) of white blood cell (WBC). We also monitored growth performance and colony forming unit (CFU) of fecal microbial population in calves. The adminstration of IgY in calves did not affect body weight and weight gain during 49 days feeding trial compared with control group. The CFU of E. coli and Lactobacilli in the feces of calves were not significantly affected by IgY treatment, whereas the score of the calf scours during day 43 to 49 in IgY group showed a significant (P<0.05) solid type. There were no differences in plasma biochemical components including total protein, albumin, immunoglobulin and the other indicators. As for WBC differential count (%), there was no statistical difference in the percentages of neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil and basophil at 0, 7 and 49 days after the oral supplementation of IgY. In conclusion, the oral supplementation of IgY as an immunostimulant did not affect growth performance, fecal microbial population, blood biochemical profile and WBC differential count in Holstein calves.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.47-55
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• 2012

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the preventive effect of red ginseng (RG) on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced side effects focusing on myelosuppression. Methods: Rats (n = 50) were divided into five groups, nave, control (ip, 5-FU injection of 150 mg/kg), and RG pre-treatment (po, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg for 5 days before 5-FU injection). On the $7^{th}$ day after 5-FU injection, we evaluated the effects using peripheral hematological parameters, colony-forming assay, cytokine levels and histopathological finding. Results: The peripheral white blood cell and the differential count were dramatically suppressed by 5-FU, while RG (50 and 100 mg/kg) treatment significantly improved total white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet counts. Also, RG (100 mg/kg) pre-treatment significantly increased the number of CFU-GM colony compared with the control group. RG pre-treatment also ameliorated the histopathological damage in bone marrow, spleen, stomach and small intestine tissue. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that Korean RG has preventive effects against 5-FU-induced myelotoxicity and gastrointestinal damage.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of increased aminotransferase levels and to identify associated factors in children admitted to hospital with urinary tract infections (UTIs). Methods: The study included children with a diagnosis of UTI who were admitted to the Konyang University Hospital from January 2007 to May 2011. The total number of patients was 249 and the mean age was $15.88{\pm}28.21$ months. UTI was defined as a positive urine culture (> $10^5$/colony forming unit [CFU]) with pyrexia. Patients were treated by intravenous antibiotics, such as ampicillin/sulbactam, aminoglycoside, cephalosporins or vancomycin. Patients with neonatal jaundice or other liver disease were excluded. We investigated the relationship of aminotransferase levels with the type of antibiotic, degree of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and causative organisms. Results: Children with increased aminotransferase levels were younger than those with normal levels (p=0.001), but white blood cell count, platelet count, causative organisms, type of antibiotics and presence of VUR were not associated with aminotransferase levels. Aminotransferase levels became normal within 1 month after discharge without special measures, except in 1 case. Conclusion: We found that many children with UTI have abnormal aminotransferase levels. In most cases, this change is mild and self-limiting. We conclude that increased aminotransferase level increase during UTI do not require unnecessary tests and excessive treatment.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.575-581
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• 2010

This investigation was aimed at developing a ready-to-reconstitute beverage by utilizing probiotics and whey protein hydrolysates carrying bioactive peptides. Cheddar cheese whey was ultrafiltered. The 18% protein retentate was subjected to protein hydrolysis using Neutrase. The hydrolyzed retentate was further condensed to 35% total solids and spray-dried at $75^{\circ}C$ outlet air temperature. Different levels of sugar, citric acid and stabilizer were blended for spray-dried hydrolysates. Spray-dried hydrolysate was further inoculated with different levels of probiotics grown in a whey medium and dried in fluidized-bed drier at $40^{\circ}C$ to obtain a ready-to-reconstitute beverage. Hydrolysis was greatest at an enzyme:substrate ratio of 1:25 for 3 h. Spray-dried hydrolysate reconstituted to 1% protein and blended with 15% sugar, 0.2% citric acid and 0.15% xantham gum resulted in a superior product with no sedimentation. Accordingly, sugar, citric acid and xanthum gum were dry-blended with spray-dried hydrolysates. Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus that was grown separately in a whey medium, blended to produce 2% spray-dried hydrolysate and dried as described above resulted in a readyto-reconstitute beverage mix. The fluidized dried product typically exhibited a probiotic count of $10^8$colony forming units (CFU)/g. However, blending of probiotic to the retentate and direct spray-drying precipitously reduced the probiotic count to $10^4$ CFU/g of powder.