• Journal of Menopausal Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 2017

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and complicated vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) are frequently occurring vaginal infections in postmenopausal women, caused by an imbalance in vaginal microflora. Postmenopausal women suffer from decreased ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone. A normal, healthy vaginal microflora mainly comprises Lactobacillus species (spp.), which act beneficially as a bacterial barrier in the vagina, interfering with uropathogens. During premenopausal period, estrogen promotes vaginal colonization by lactobacilli that metabolizing glycogen and producing lactic acid, and maintains intravaginal health by lowering the intravaginal pH level. A lower vaginal pH inhibits uropathogen growth, preventing vaginal infections. Decreased estrogen secretion in postmenopausal women depletes lactobacilli and increases intravaginal pH, resulting in increased vaginal colonization by harmful microorganisms (e.g., Enterobacter, Escherichia coli, Candida, and Gardnerella). Probiotics positively effects on vaginal microflora composition by promoting the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms, alters the intravaginal microbiota composition, prevents vaginal infections in postmenopausal. Probiotics also reduce the symptoms of vaginal infections (e.g., vaginal discharge, odor, etc.), and are thus helpful for the treatment and prevention of BV and VVC. In this review article, we provide information on the intravaginal mechanism of postmenopausal vaginal infections, and describes the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment and prevention of BV and VVC.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.142-153
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• 2021

Candida albicans is a dermal fungus of the human body that is known to cause oral candidiasis, vaginal candidiasis, and bloodstream infections in immunocompromised people or in certain environmental conditions. As cases of strains resistant to antifungal agents in C. albicans have been reported, studies using plant materials as safe antifungal agents are being actively conducted. In this study, a total of 17 edible plant extracts showed antifungal activity against C. albicans as a result of evaluating a 280-plant extract library using paper disk diffusion method. Among them, the four extracts with the strongest antifungal activity (Cinnamomi Cortex, Cinnamomi Ramulus, Magnoliae Cortex, and Syzygii Flos) were selected and evaluated for synergistic antifungal activity against C. albicans. The combination of Magnoliae Cortex and Syzygii Flos showed a synergistic activity. The antifungal activity was evaluated based on the concentrations of magnolol and eugenol, the respective components of Magnoliae Cortex and Syzygii Flos. Magnolol and eugenol showed synergistic antifungal activities at the concentration ratio of 1:25 - 1:61. The antifungal activity of these two compounds contributes 28 to 48% to the synergistic antifungal activity of the combination of Magnoliae Cortex and Syzygii Flos extract. In this study, we propose that a combination of Magnoliae Cortex and Syzygii Flos can effectively inhibit the growth of C. albicans and that magnolol and eugenol are the responsible inhibitory compounds.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.123-126
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• 2023

The prevalence of candidiasis, a contagious disease with high morbidity and mortality, has sharply increased globally over the last two decades. Candida albicans can cause serious infections in patients with weak immunity and in recipients of prolonged antibiotic treatment. Consequently, rapid and accurate identification of species can play an important role in the treatment of candidiasis. Here, we investigated the positive rate and infection trend of C. albicans according to age, specimen type, and sex using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction-based testing of samples collected for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases in Korea between 2018 and 2020. When the type of specimen collected was a swab, the positive rate of C. albicans was higher among younger women, and tended to decrease with age. Analysis of swab samples revealed higher positive rates than urinalysis. The reduction trend in positive rates by age was comparable between the overall samples and urine specimens. Among male patients, the positive rate did not differ substantially across the various types of specimens collected. Previous studies have shown a higher prevalence of non-albicans Candida species than C. albicans in clinical specimens, and exclusion of the former from our analysis may be a limitation of this study. However, our findings contribute significantly to the literature because globally, there is a paucity of epidemiological studies using molecular techniques to detect C. albicans in sexually transmitted disease test samples.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.241-246
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• 2016

The object of this study was to develop an alternative way to treat human skin pathogens using marine algae. During this study, we observed that the ethanolic extract of the edible brown algae [Sargassum serratifolium (C. Agardh) C. Agardh] exhibited potential antimicrobial activity against pathogenic commensal bacteria related with acne vulgaris (Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and Candida albicans which causes cutaneous candidiasis. Among the solvent-soluble fractions from the ethanolic extract, a hexane-soluble fraction showed the strongest antimicrobial activity against all tested human skin pathogens with MIC values ranging from 32 to $512{\mu}g/mL$. In addition, the hexane fraction exhibited a synergistic antimicrobial activity with commercial antibiotics used in the treatment of acne vulgaris or cutaneous candidiasis. Thus, this study suggests that S. serratifolium extract could be a potential source of natural antimicrobial agents or a pharmaceutical component against human skin pathogens.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2006

Several physiological skin changes such as vernix caseosa, cutis marmorata, physiologic desquamation, and sebaceous hyperplasia have been described in the neonatal period. There are also clinical characteristics of skin peculiar to neonate and infancy. Skin disorders observed during neonatal and infancy period can be divided into transient skin lesions, birth marks, and other diseases. Transient skin lesions include milia, sebaceous gland hyperplasia, erythema neonatorum, transient neonatal pustular melanosis, and acne neonatorum. Nevocellular nevus, mongolian spot, vascular malformation, hemangioma, epidermal nevus, and sebaceous nevus belong to birth marks. There are several common skin diseases such as miliaria, diaper dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and cutaneous candidiasis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.145-150
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• 2016

In order to perform an epidemiological characterization of opportunistic mycosis infections, we collected health insurance data between the years 2006 and 2010 from the Health Insurance Corporation and analyzed the data to determine the prevalence of opportunistic mycoses and treatment management of opportunistic mycoses. The prevalence within the study increased consecutively by 0.02% to 0.12% every year. The annual prevalence of opportunistic mycoses increased from 2.437% in 2006 to 2.709% in 2010. The average annual prevalence was 2.605%. Candidiasis occurred the most frequently, followed by aspergillosis, zygomycosis, and cryptococcosis. The regions with the highest incidences were the capital areas, Gyeonggi and Seoul. By sex, the prevalence in females (4.851%) was 14 times higher than that in males (0.352%). Interestingly, the adults from the 20- to 49-year-old age group showed higher prevalence than children and the elderly. The average duration of hospitalized treatment was 17.31 days and of outpatient treatment was 2.21 days; 3,577 hundred million won was used in total for medical expenses. This study provides useful data to study trends of opportunistic mycoses.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.149-153
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• 2013

Candidiasis is a fungal infection of the most common causes; generally, opportunistic infections occur often in patients with weakened immune systems. Because of high rates in fungal infection patients and increasing frequency of being isolated from clinical materials, quickly identifying of Candida albicans is critical. By identifying 404 yeast cell strains of referred samples via API 20C kits, NGL and PRO tests and Germ tube (GT) test were conducted and compared. In the 3.0 McFarland yeast cells, 0.1% ${\rho}-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-{\beta}-D-galactosaminide$ (NGL) and 0.04% ${\small{L}}$-proline ${\beta}$-naphtylamide (PRO) were each put in test tubes and incubated at $35^{\circ}C$ for 15, 30, 60 and 90 minutes. Afterwards, 1 drop of 2% NaOH was applied, and if the color turned yellow; it was positive for NGL test. Afterwards, 1% ${\rho}$-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde was applied, and if the upper layer turned pink or red, it was positive for PRO test. NGL and PRO tests were conducted for all C. albicans and identified accurately within 30 minutes. In NGL, PRO test, false-positive, negative were not seen, whereas, GT test showed false-positive in 1 strain and false-negative in 3 strains. Therefore, sensitivity and specificity of NGL, PRO tests were 100% and 99.5%, respectively, and positive and negative predictive rate were 99.5% and 100%, respectively. However, GT test sensitivity and specificity were 98.5% and 99.5%, respectively, and positive and negative predictive rates were 99.5% and 98.5%, respectively. In conclusion, NGL, PRO tests are better than GT tests for sensitivity and specificity, therefore, these reliable tests will be useful in clinical laboratories.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2005

Antimicrobial peptides are evolutionary ancient weapons for animal and plant species to depend themselves against infectious microbes. In the present study, we investigated if an antimicrobial peptide was produced from Coptidis Rhizoma. For the determination, protein substance from the medicinal plant was isolated by various preparations. Among the preparations, the protein portion dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline solution (CRP-DS) that contained the most amount of protein $(90\%)$ resulted in maximal inhibition of Candida albicans which causes local and systemic infections. Analyses by gel-electrophoresis and gel-permeation chromatography showed the CRP-DS formed a single band of approximately 11.8 KDa as molecular size. Antifungal activity of the CRP-DS was almost equivalent to antifungal activity by fluconazole, resulting in MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) of approximately $50{\mu}g/ml$. The antifungal activity was a dose-dependent. The antifungal activity appeared to be inactivated by heat-treatment and ionic strength, respectively. In a murine model, the CRP-DS enhanced resistance of mice against disseminated candidiasis. The HPLC analysis demonstrated maximum $4\%$ of berberine as residual content in the CRP-DS preparation resulted in no influence on the antifungal activity. In addition, protein portion isolated from Phellodendri Cortex producing the alkaloid component like Coptidis Rhizoma had no such anticandidal effect. These results indicate that the protein substance from Coptidis Rhizoma was responsible for the antifungal activity.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.227-233
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• 2011

We previously reported the protein isolated from Coptidis Rhizoma (CRP), which has antifungal activity against a fungal pathogen, Candida albicans. In the current study, we investigated what portion in the CRP is responsible for the antifungal activity. For the investigation, the CRP was fractionated on a Shepadex G-50 column. Data resulting from the fractionation, seven fractions were obtained. Fractions (Fr.) I, II, and III eluted initially from the column showed no inhibitory effect on the growth of C. albicans, whereas Fr. IV, V, and VI eluted later revealed inhibition of the growth, and Fr. IV and VI showed potent antifungal activity by broth susceptibility analysis. However, Fr. VI was contained in the CRP more than Fr. IV, which led us to select the VI for the following experiments. In a murine model of a subcutaneous candidiasis caused by C. albicans, the Fr. VI displayed a therapeutic effect on nude mice pretreated with anti-neutrophil monoclonal antibody (RB68C5) and then infected subcutaneously with live C. albicans. At day 16, these mice were healed almost up to 78% of the infected area when compared to infected area of control nude mice that received diluent (Dulbecco's Phosphate-Buffered Saline; DPBS), instead of the Fr. VI (P<0.01). The Fr. VI blocked hyphal formation from blastoconidial form of C. albicans (P<0.01), which might prevent penetration of hyphae to the deeper site of skin and thus helps the healing. In the ionic strength test, the effect of Fr. was influenced by $Ca^{2+}$ ion just like other known antimicrobial peptides, but the influence was affected at an extremely high concentration such as 500 mM. Thus, such ion-concentration is considered to be meaningless in the clinical situation. Considering all data together, Coptidis Rhizoma is appeared to produce an antimicrobial peptide that has therapeutic effect on subcutaneous infection caused by C. albicans.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.582-585
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• 2016

It is uncommon for a palatal fistula to be detected in individuals who have not undergone surgery, and only sporadic cases have been reported. It is even more difficult to find cases of acquired palatal fistula in patients with submucous or incomplete cleft palate. Herein, we present 2 rare cases of this phenomenon. Case 1 was a patient with submucous cleft palate who acquired a palatal fistula after suffering from oral candidiasis at the age of 5 months. Case 2 was a patient with incomplete cleft palate who spontaneously, without trauma or infection, presented with a palatal fistula at the age of 9 months.