• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.183-184
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• 2003

Sophoricoside was isolated as the inhibitor of IL-5 bioactivity from Sophora japonica (Leguminosae). It has been reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect on rat paw edema model. To develop as an anti-allergic drug, genotoxicity of sophoricoside was investigated in bacterial and mammalian cell system such as Ames bacterial test, chromosomal aberration assay, Comet assay and MOLY assay. In Ames test, sophoricoside of 5000 ∼ 313 $\mu\textrm{g}$/plate concentrations was not shown significant mutagenic effect in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535 and TA1537 strains. The cytotoxicity (IC$\_$50/ and IC$\_$20/) of sophoricoside was determined above the concentration of 5000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml in Chinese hamster lung (CHL) fibroblast cell and L5178Y mouse lymphoma cell line. At concentrations of 5000, 2500 and 1250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, this compound was not induced chromosomal aberration in CHL fibroblast cell in the absence and presence of S-9 metabolic activation system. Also in comet assay, DNA damage was not observed in L5178Y cell line. Also in MOLY assay, sophoricoside of 5000 ∼ 313 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml concentrations was not shown significant mutagenic effect in absence of S-9 metabolic activation system. However, the higher concentration of 5000 and 2500 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of sophoricoside induced the increased mutation frequency (MF) in the presence of S-9 metabolic activation system. From these results, no genotoxic effects of sophoricoside observed in bacterial systems whereas, genotoxic effects observed in mammalian cell systems in the presence of metabolic activation system. These results suggested that the metabolite(s) of sophoricoside can cause some genotoxic effects in mammalian cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.314-322
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• 2009

Four different bacterial colonies were isolated from an old stock of an entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema monticolum. They all showed entomopathogenicity to final instar larvae of beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, by hemocoelic injection. However, they varied in colony form, susceptibility to antibiotics, and postmortem change of the infected host insects. Biolog microbial identification and 16S rDNA sequence analyses indicate that these are four different species classified into different bacterial genera. Owing to high entomopathogenicity and a cadaver color of infected insect host, Serratia sp. was selected as a main symbiotic bacterial species and analyzed for its pathogenicity. Although no virulence of Serratia sp. was detected at oral administration, the bacteria gave significant synergistic pathogenicity to fifth instar S. exigua when it was treated along with a spore-forming entomopathogenic bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis. The synergistic effect was explained by an immunosuppressive effect of Serratia sp. by its high cytotoxic effect on hemocytes of S. exigua, because Serratia sp. caused septicemia of S. exigua when the bacterial cells were injected into S. exigua hemocoel. The cytotoxic factor(s) was present in the culture medium because the sterilized culture broth possessed high potency in the cytotoxicity, which was specific to granular cells and plasmatocytes, two main immune-associated hemocytes in insects.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.210-215
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• 2018

Objectives: The main objectives of this study were to verify the antibacterial activity of two essential oils, lavender and peppermint, against dental caries and to review their synergistic effect when used in combination. Our results provide basic data for the evaluation of the use of these two substances towards the prevention and cure of dental caries. Methods: The sample solutions of lavender and peppermint oils were prepared in three different concentrations (30%, 50%, and 70% (v/v)) by diluting them with third-distilled water and Tween 20. Streptococcus mutans was selected as the bacterial species for testing. The disk diffusion method was used to measure the antibacterial activity of the sample solutions. For generating growth curves and measuring the number of clusters of the bacterial, the liquid medium-dilution method was used; the absorbance of the medium was measured at 600 nm after 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours. Results: When the antibacterial activity of the oils was tested via the disk diffusion method, the activity improved with increasing concentrations of all the sample solutions of peppermint, lavender, and the blend, but there was no significant difference between them with respect to the type of oil. In the growth curves of S. mutans, growth inhibition was observed after 12 hours. The inhibitory effect of 30% lavender oil on growth was 64.9% and 80.1% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively whereas that of peppermint oil was 71.3% and 80.1% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively. The inhibitory effect of the blended oil was 71.9% and 81.0% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively. Conclusions: Further research is still required in order to determine the efficacy of lavender and peppermint oils, as well as other essential oils, for wider use in preventing dental caries.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.95-101
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• 2022

Due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19, the demand for face masks is soaring and has often caused a shortage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ultraviolet (UV) and drying treatments on microbial contaminants in facial masks. To conduct this study, standard procedures were designed to develop samples contaminated by the control bacteria Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The contamination level of the standard samples was approximately 6.30 × 10⁶ CFU/ml, and the UV light treatment was performed 1, 3, 5, and 7 times. To evaluate the effect of the UV and drying treatments, the masks were first treated with UV 1, 2, and 3 times, followed by the drying process. As a result, the mask contaminated with E. coli and P. aeruginosa showed a bacterial rate of approximately 99.9% after 1 UV irradiation, and in the case of the S. aureus-contaminated mask, it exhibited a bactericidal rate of approximately 99.9% after 7 UV irradiations. However, when the drying process was included after UV irradiation, all the samples contaminated with E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa showed a bactericidal rate of 99.9% or more. The results of this study suggest that UV and drying treatments can effectively reduce the bacterial contaminants in facial masks. In addition, these results provide fundamental data and appropriate sterilization methods for reusing masks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.34-48
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• 1993

This experiment were conducted to investigate heterosis and combining ability for several mutant characters by analyzing dialled crosses of flue-cured tobacco. In a dialled cross of 3 flue-cured varieties and the mutant line 83H -5, the heterosis was somewhat higher in Fl than in F2. For growth character, the heterosis was 0.28-6.03% in plant height, leaf number, leaf shape index and yield, and was 43.2% for bacterial wilt disease index. The mutant line 83H-5 showed significantly negative GCA effect for plant height, leaf width and bacterial wilt disease index in Fl and F2, leaf length in F2, and positive GCA effect for total alkaloids, total nitrogen in Fl and days to flower in F2, respectively. Specific combining ability(SCA) in 83H-5 x Hicks was significant in negative effect for leaf length(F2), number of leaves(F2), leaf shape(F1, F2), bacterial wilt(F2) and alkaloids(F1), and in 83H-5 x NC 2326 in positive effect for leaf length(F1, F2) and leaf width(F2), and for 83H-5 x NC 82 in positive effect for plant height(F1, F2) and leaf width(F2), and for 83H-5 x NC 82 in Positive effect for Plant height(F1, F2), leaf length(F2) and yield(F1, F2).

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.319-326
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• 2010

Bacteroiospermia is a frequently finding in fresh raw and extended porcine semen and can results in detrimental effects on semen quality and longevity. This study aims to evaluate the type of bacterial contaminants in raw and extended porcine semen and the reducing effect of antibiotic test. To investigate bacterial contaminants, out of 387 sample (raw semen 201, extended semen 186) were collected from 6 artifical insemination centers in Gyeongsangnam-do, were inoculated onto blood agar and MacKonkey agar, respectively. Bacterial colonies were selected after culturing for 48 hours, at $37^{\circ}C$, followed by Gram staining, KOH test, oxidase test, catalase test and eventually identified using VITEK System. Total 15 genus and 24 species of bacteria were isolated from these semen samlpes. In raw semen, the most prevalent contaminants were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus auricularis, Delftia acidovorans, Acinetobacter lowffii, S. aureus and others. And in extended porcine semen, A. lowffii, S. aureus, S. auricularis and other bacteria were identified. Most of them was G(-), which is nonpathogenic bacteria. It seems that bacterial contaminants in fresh raw and extended porcine semen originated from multiple sources at the farms/stud, and were from animal origin and non-animal origins. Whereas, the 7 virus which is known to be detected in porcine semen in 75 cases was not detected. This results showed that removal of bacterial contamination in raw and extended porcine semen is essential and farms were kept for biosecurity and individual hygienes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.764-769
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• 2006

In the electrokinetic(EK) process, oxygen production by electrolysis was proportional to current density. The dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration in anode tank and bioreactor increased with the circulation rate of electrolyte. The bacterial population in bioreactor rapidly increased by the supplement of current, but the DO concentration deceased by the increased bacterial oxygen consumption. From the results of EK bioremediation for pentadecane-contaminated soil, the bacterial population and removal efficiency at 1.88 $mA/cm^2$ were lower than those at 0.63 $mA/cm^2$. This is because the high oxygen production rate largely increased the production rate of organic acids, which reduced the electrolyte pH and bacterial activity. At 0.63 $mA/cm^2$, the highest bacterial population and removal efficiency could be obtained due to the appropriate oxygen production and small decrease in pH.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.104-109
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• 2004

Activated carbon has been used in water treatment, because they strongly adsorb organic material including contaminant. Water purifier usually use activated carbon, and bacterial regrowth on that could induce many problems. Model columns, packed with coal- and plant-based granular activated carbon (GAC), were operated with rechlorinated tap water to compare the degree of bacterial regrowth on different GACs. GAC columns decreased the concentration of total organic carbon and chlorine, while they are not good for the decrease of ions. Breakthrough of bacteria were occurred after eight days of operation, and reached 1.1 ${\times}$ 10$^3$ CFU/mL on coal based GAC and 6.2 ${\times}$ 10$^2$ CFU/mL on coconut based one. Bacterial activities on GAC were between 15.35 ∼ 29.06 $\mu\textrm{g}$ INT-formazan/g-GAC/h. Bacterial concentration and activities were higher in coal based GAC than coconut based one. Bacterial regrowth on GAC was clarified and regrowth effect of coal-based GAC was higher than that of coconut-based one.

• CELLMED
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• v.13 no.14
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• pp.18.1-18.13
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• 2023

Background and objectives: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is recognized as the most prevalent type of vaginal infection, impacting approximately 19-24% of women in their reproductive years. The recurrence rate of BV is significant, negatively impacting the well-being of affected women. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of a polyherbal Unani formulation and metronidazole in treating bacterial vaginosis. Methodology: In this prospective patient blinded standard controlled trial, a total of 40 individuals with a clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis were randomly assigned to receive either an active control treatment (n = 20) or a test drug (n = 20). In the test drug combination of Acacia catechu, Azadirachta indica and Quercus infectoria in tablet (1g) form in the dose of 2 tablets orally twice daily with water was administered for 3 weeks. In the active control standard drug, metronidazole 400 mg tablet, orally twice daily was given for one week. The primary outcome measure was clinical cure; H. negative Amsel's criteria and a reduction in subjective symptoms, while the secondary outcome measure was an improvement in SF-36 quality of life (QOL). Results and conclusion: Both the experimental treatment and the metronidazole demonstrated a significant clinical cure for bacterial vaginosis as well as an increase in health-related quality of life. Based on these findings, it appears that the test medication is a potent Unani formulation for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. A well conducted trial with a bigger sample size is required to corroborate these findings.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2010

Purpose: We tested the inhibitory effect of six purchasable alcohol hand rubs against Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: Five alcohol hand rubs were collected with random manner on the market and 1 alcohol hand rubs which is currently used in a hospital was included. we designed the experimental scheme on the basis of M7-A6 method of NCCLS. Each hand rubs were diluted to 1:1, 1:10, 1:100, 1:1,000 with tryptic soy broth. S. aureus was cultured. Turbidity and the colony counting was measured. Results: With dilution rate of 1:1, all products showed more than 95% of the inhibitory effect on bacterial growth. At 1:10 dilution, product $N^{\circ}1$, 2, 3, 4, and 5 displayed the inhibitory effect of 97.77%, 92.38%, 78.19%, 97.42%, and 96.6%, respectively. But, the inhibitory effect of product $N^{\circ}6$ has been disappeared at that dilution. Over 1:100 dilution, all products lost their inhibitory effect except product $N^{\circ}5$. Product $N^{\circ}5$ displayed more than 96% of inhibitory effect at all dilution rate, even at 1:100 and 1:1,000. Conclusion: We identified that inhibitory effect on bacterial growth of alcohol hand rubs was variable. We suggest that concentration of alcohol should be checked before choosing alcohol hand rubs. Further evaluation of in vivo study is needed.