• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.48-51
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• 2020

Background: The etiopathogenesis of late preterm (LPT) birth is undetermined. Placental histopathology, which reflects an adverse intrauterine environment and is reportedly associated with preterm labor and neonatal morbidities, has not been studied in LPT infants. Purpose: We investigated placental pathological lesion as markers of an adverse intrauterine environment during LPT labor. Methods: This retrospective case-control study compared placental histopathological and clinical variables between LPT and term neonates. Placental variables included chorioamnionitis, funisitis, hemorrhage, abruption, infarction, calcification, and syncytial knots. Maternal variables included age, substance abuse, pregnancyassociated diabetes mellitus and hypertension, duration of rupture of membrane, antibiotic use, and magnesium sulfate, whereas, those of neonates included gestational age, birth weight, race, sex, and Apgar scores. Standard statistical proedures were applied to analyze the data. Results: Chorioamnionitis (50% vs. 17.8%, P<0.001) and funisitis (20% vs. 4.4%, P=0.002) were more common in term infants. Placental infarction rate was insignificantly higher in LPT infants (25.6% vs. 14.3%, P=0.08). The mothers in the LPT group were older (30.4 years vs. 28.1 years, P=0.05; odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.998-1.12, P=0.056) and more often suffered from hypertension (28.9 vs. 12.9 %, P=0.02), and received magnesium sulfate (48.9 vs. 20%, P< 0.001; OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.12-7.29, P<0.05). Duration of rupture of membrane was higher in term infants (13.6 hours vs. 9.1 hours, P<0.001). Chorioamnionitis (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.13-0.79; P<0.05) was associated with a lower risk of LPT delivery. Conclusion: Placental infection is not a risk factor for LPT births. There is a nonsignificant predominance of vascular anomalies in LPT placentas. Higher maternal age, magnesium sulfate therapy, and maternal hypertension are clinical risk factors for LPT labor.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.217-223
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• 2015

The obesity epidemic is a worldwide problem. Factors predisposing to obesity include genetics, race, socioeconomic conditions, birth by cesarean section, and perinatal antibiotic use. High protein (HP) content in infant formulas has been identified as a potential culprit predisposing to rapid weight gain in the first few months of life and leading to later obesity. In a large multicountry study the effects of lower protein (LP) formula (1.77 and 2.2 g protein/100 kcal, before and after the 5th month, respectively) were compared to those of higher protein (2.9 and 4.4 g protein/100 kcal, respectively). Results indicated that at 24 months, the weight-for-length z score of infants in the LP formula group was 0.20 (0.06, 0.34) lower than that of the HP group and was similar to that of the breastfed reference group. The authors concluded that a HP content of infant formula is associated with higher weight in the first 2 years of life but has no effect on length. LP intake in infancy might diminish the later risk of overweight and obesity. At 6 years of age HP children had a significantly higher body mass index (by 0.51; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13-0.90; p=0.009) and a 2.43 (95% CI, 1.12-5.27; p=0.024) fold greater risk of becoming obese than those who received the LP. In conclusion, several factors may influence development of metabolic syndrome and obesity. Breastfeeding should always be encouraged. An overall reduction of protein intake in formula non breastfed infants seems to be an additional way to prevent obesity.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2017

Purpose: Clinical symptoms associated with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) can vary widely. Carrier state without apparent symptoms is relatively common during infancy. The objective of this study was to determine the association of C. difficile colonization with bowel habit change and the effect of C. difficile colonization treatment on restoration of normal bowel habit. Methods: Between 2006 and 2014, infants at 1 to 12 months of age with diarrhea for more than 2 weeks who did not improve with conservative care were recruited from Gachon University Gil Medical Center. Infants who were followed up for at least 7 days were included. The presence or absence of C. difficile colonization, effect of metronidazole, and other medical records were reviewed. To determine the association between CDI and bowel habit change, logistic regression analysis was used. Results: Of a total of 126 infants, 74 (58.7%) were male patients. Of the 126 patients, 27 (21.4%) had C. difficile colonization. Significant (p<0.05) risk factors for C. difficile colonization included artificial milk feeding (odds ratio [OR], 4.310; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.564-11.878), prior rotavirus vaccination (OR, 4.322; 95% CI, 1.018-18.349), and antibiotic use (OR, 4.798; 95% CI, 1.430-16.101). There was improvement in bowel habit after metronidazole therapy (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15-0.79; p<0.05), regardless of the presence or absence of C. difficile colonization, Conclusion: There was no significant correlation between bowel habit change and C. difficile colonization during infancy. However, metronidazole can be used as an optional method to manage functional gastrointestinal disorders.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.215-223
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• 1993

Chloramphenicol (CAP) is a very effective broad-spectrum antibiotic which had been widely used in animal production. However, the drug is not approved in many countries for use in food-producing animals because of its potential toxicity and the possibility of residues in food products. In this study, a modified microbiological assay was developed for the sensitive detection of CAP residues in meat and milk. The method was characterized by the extraction of CAP with ethyl acetate, addition of $0.15\;\mu\textrm{g}$ oxytetracycline/ml in the phosphate buffer diluent (pH 6.0), a luteus ATCC 9341. The lowest levels of CAP detected in muscle tissues and milk were $0.025\;\mu\textrm{g}/ml\;and\;0.05\;\mu\textrm{g}/g$, respectively. Recovery rates free CAP from milk were 68.5%, from bovine muscle 65.1%, from swine muscle 63.8%, and from chicken muscle 59.4%, respectively, and the coefficients of variation were 1.8~15.1%. The results showed that the detection limits of CAP residues in animal products could significantly be improved by the modified microbiological assay than the conventional ones.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to assess the efficacy of 1st generation cephalosporin as use as a single-dose preoperative prophylactic antibiotic for surgical wound infections resulting from intra-oral bone grafting procedures. Materials and Methods: A total of 23 patients who were to undergo intra-oral bone graft procedures participated in this study. After randomization, 2 grams of 1st generation cephalosporin was orally administered to both the experimental and placebo groups one hour prior to surgery in a double-blind fashion. Post-operatively, the experimental group (12 patients) was orally administered placebo three times a day for three days. The control group (11 patients) was orally administered 1st generation cephalosporin three times a day for three days. The postoperative course was observed for one month including the clinical parameters associated with infection. Results: Postoperative infections were noted in 1 out of 11 patients in the experimental group. No infections occurred in the control group. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative infections between the two groups. Two grams of 1st generation cephalosporin administered orally one hour before surgery served as an effective prophylactic antibiotics therapy for intra-oral bone graft surgery.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.31-45
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• 2020

Objectives In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of a 70% ethanol extract of Maneung-hwan (MEH), which is prescribed by practitioners of oriental medicine for use against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Methods The antibacterial activity of MEH against MRSA strains was evaluated using the disc diffusion method, broth microdilution method (minimal inhibitory concentration, MIC), checkerboard dilution test, and time-kill test. The mechanism of action of MEH was investigated by bacteriolysis using detergents or ATPase inhibitors Additionally, mRNA and protein expression were investigated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot assay, respectively. Results The MIC of MEH was 25~1,600 ㎍/mL against all the tested bacterial strains. We showed that MEH extract exerts strong antibacterial activity. In the checkerboard dilution test, the fractional inhibitory concentration index of MEH in combination with antibiotics indicated synergism or partial synergism against S. aureus. The time-kill study indicated that the growth of the tested bacteria was considerably inhibited after a 24-h treatment with MEH and selected antibiotics. To measure the cell membrane permeability, MEH (3.9 ㎍/mL) was combined with Triton X-100 (TX) at various concentrations N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodimide (DCCD) was also tested as an ATPase inhibitor. TX and DCCD cooperation against S. aureus exhibited synergistic action. Accordingly, the antimicrobial activity of MEH in the context of cell membrane rupture and ATPase inhibition was assessed. Additionally, the expression of genes and proteins associated with resistance was reduced after exposing MRSA to MEH. Conclusions These results suggest that MEH possesses antibacterial activity and acts as a potential natural antibiotic against MRSA.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 1980

Ampliciline was synthesized from 6-amino-pencillanic acid (6-APA) and D-.alpha. phenylglycine methyl ester by using amplicilin synthesizing enzyme from Peudomonas melanogenum (IAM 1655). The whole cell enzyme was immobilized by entrapping it in the polyacrylamide gel lattices. The polymer used in the enzyme entrapment was made from 150 mg per ml of acrylamide monomer and 8 mg per ml of N, N'-methylenebisacrylamide. About 200 mg/whole cell enzyme was mixed in the polymer for entrapment. The maximal activity retention after immobilization was 56%. The optimal pH values for the whole cell enzyme and the immobilized whole cell enzyme were 6.0 and 5.9, respectively. The optimal temperature for the enzyme activity were the same for both type of preparations. The enzyme stabilities against pH and heat increased for immobilized whole cell enzyme. Immobilized cell was more stable especially in the acidic condition while both type were found to be very suceptible to thermal inactivation at a temperature above 4.deg.C. The kinetic constants obtained from Lineweaver-Burk plot based on two substate reaction mechanism showed somewhat higher value for immobilized whole cell enzyme as compared to the whole cell enzyme : the Km value for 6-APA were 7.0 mM and 12.5 mM while Km values for phenylglycine methyl ester were 4.5 mM and 8.2 mM, respectively. Using the immobilized whole cell enzyme packed in a column reactor, the productivity of ampiciline was studied by varying the flow rate of substrate solution. At the space velocity, SV, 0.14 hr$^{-1}$ the conversion was 45%. Operational stability found in terms of half life was 30 hr at SV = 0.2 hr.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 2008

This study was performed to assess the potential use of ozone or UV radiation for the treatment of water contaminated with sulfamethoxazole (SMX), which is frequently used antibiotic in human and veterinary medicines, especially focusing on the kinetic study and effect of pH. In a study using ozone alone, kinetic study was performed to determine second-order rate constant ($k_{O3,SMX}$) for the reactions of SMX with ozone, which was found to be $1.9{\times}10^6M^{-1}s^{-1}$ at pH 7. The removal efficiencies of SMX by ozone were decreased with increase of pH due to rapid decomposition of ozone under the condition of various pH (2.5, 5.3, 7, 8, 10). In a UV irradiation study at 254 nm, a kinetic model for direct photolysis of SMX was developed with determination of quantum yield ($0.08mol\;Einstein^{-1}$) and molar extinction coefficient ($15,872M^{-1}cm^{-1}$) values under the condition of quantum shielding due to the presence of reaction by-products formed during photolysis. For effect of pH on photolysis of SMX, SMX in the anionic state ($S^-$, pH > 5.6), most prevalent form at environmentally relevant pH values, degraded more slowly than in the neutral state (SH, 1.85 < pH < 5.6) by UV radiation at 254 nm.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.173-180
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• 1988

Chromosomal gene transferable hybrid plasmids, RP4::Mu cts and RP4::mini-Mu, were transferred by conjugation from E. coli to Pseudomonas strains. In order to use for recipient cells of RP4::Mu cts and RP4:: mini-Mu, plasmid-free Pseudomonas strains were characterized for their antobiotic resistance, aromatic hydrocarbon utility and degradation patterns of chlorinated herbicide. Transfer frequencies of RP4::mini-Mu exhibited about $10^{-2}$ to $10^{-4}$, while those of RP4::Mu cts exhibited very low value of $10^{-7}$ in recipients tested except Pseudomonas aeruginosa KU557. Existance of hybrid plasmids in Pseudomonas transconjugants were identified by their antibiotic resistance and agarose gel electrophoresis. In case of RP4::Mu cts transconjugants it was also confirmed by demonstrating that they were capable of releasing phage and forming plaques at $43^{\circ}C$. Plaque forming unit of the transconjugants was about $10^{5}$. It was shown by the stability test that RP4::Mu cts and RP4::mini-Mu in Pseudomonas were relatively stable.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.434-440
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• 2008

The purpose of this research was to investigate the microbiological quality and antimicrobial susceptibilities of the ready-to-eat side dishes, which are were collected from the grocery stores, big markets, and department stores in Seoul throughout November, 2007. Of total 124 samples, presence of staphylococci and enteric bacilli was observed in 38 samples (31%) and 53 samples (43%), respectively. And 30 samples (24%) were shown to be of unsatisfactory quality for total bacterial count (>$10^5$). Antimicrobial susceptibilities of the staphylococci isolated from the side dishes were tested for six different antimicrobial agents, which are in widespread clinical use in Korea, as well as four new antimicrobials, daptomycin, linezolid, quinupristin/dalfopristin and tigecycline. As a result, the staphylococcal isolates were found to be resistant to oxacillin (${MIC}_{90}$, >128 ${\mu}g$/ml), teicoplanin (${MIC}_{90}$, >128 ${\mu}g$/ml), mupirocin (${MIC}_{90}$, >128 ${\mu}g$/ml), linezolid (${MIC}_{90}$, 128 ${\mu}g$/ ml) and quinupristin/dalfopristin (${MIC}_{90}$, 32 ${\mu}g$/ml). Especially, some of the staphylococcal isolates exhibited high level and multi-drug resistance. Moreover, these bacteria were also resistant to new antimicrobials, except tigecycline.