• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.21-35
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• 2018

Objectives The objective of this study is to determine the antimicrobial effect of Daehwanggyeonu-san(Dahwangqianniu-san,DGE) and synergistic effects with antibiotics oxacillin, ampicillin, and gentamicin against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA). Methods The antibacterial activity of DGE extract was evaluated againest MRSA strains by using the Disc diffusion method, broth microdilution method(minimal inhibitory concentration; MIC), checkerboard dilution test. The checkerboard dilution test was used to examined synergetic effect of oxacillin, ampicillin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin with DGE extract. Results DGE showed antimicrobial activity against MRSA with an MIC value of $125{\sim}250{\mu}g/mL$. In the checkerboard test, the interation of DGE with all tested antibiotics produced almost synergy or partial synergy against MRSA. Conclusions This study shows that DGE reduced the MICs of several antibiotics tested, and a remarkable antibacterial effect of DGE, with membrane permeability enhancers and ATP synthase inhibitors. This study can be a valuable source for the development of a new drug with low MRSA resistance.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.82-87
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• 2010

Biotransformation is often used to improve chemical activity. We evaluated the antimicrobial activity of rhapontigeuin, converted from rhapontin after treatment with Pectinex. Rhapontigenin showed 4-16 times higher antimicrobial activity than rhapontin. The activity was higher against Gram-positive strains than Gram-negative strains. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of rhapontigenin, retinol, and five antibiotics were determined by the microbroth dilution method for antibiotic-sensitive and -resistant Propionibacterium acnes. We also investigated the in vitro antibacterial activity of rhapontigenin in combination with antibiotic against antibiotic-resistant P. acnes. The antibiotic combination effect against resistant P. acnes was studied by the checkerboard method. The combination formulations (rhapontigenin and clindamycin, retinol and clindamycin) showed synergistic effects on the inhibition of the growth of clindamycin-resistant P. acnes. It is predictable that the combination of antibiotics with rhapontigenin is helpful to treat acne caused by antibiotic-resistant P. acnes. The antibacterial activity of rhapontigenin was enhanced by biotransformation.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.742-748
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• 1994

As part of our search for less toxic antimicrobial agents from natural resources, the carpophores of Elfvingia applanata$(P_{ers}.)K_{ARST}.$ was extracted with hot water. EA, the aqueous extract from the carpophores of E. applanata, was lyophilized and a dark brownish powder was obtained. Antimicrobial activity of EA was tested in vitro against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria by serial broth dilution method, and the antimicrobial activity was expressed by minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC). Among fourteen species of bacteria tested, the antimicrobial activity of EA was the most potent against Proteus vulgaris showing MIC of 1.250 mg/ml. To investigate the effect of antimicrobial combinations of EA with four kinds of antibiotics(ampicillin, cefazolin, oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol), the fractional inhibitory concentration index(FICI) was determined by checkerboard assay for each strain. The antimicrobial combinations of EA with four kinds of antibiotics resulted in synergism in four instances, but no antagonism was observed. Four instances of synergism were observed when EA was combined with ampicillin against Micrococcus luteus, with cefazolin against Bacillus subtilis, with cefazolin against Micrococcus luteus and with oxytetracycline against Staphylococcus aureus.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.719-724
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• 2018

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium responsible for a number of infections in humans that are difficult to treat, and as a result, is a substantial contributor to morbidity and mortality. In the present study, in search of natural products capable of inhibiting this multidrug-resistant bacterium, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root. The antibacterial activities of EtOH extract of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root and its n-hexane, EtOAc, n-BuOH and water fractions were evaluated against 15 strains of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 1 standard methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strain by using the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) assay, colorimetric assay using MTT test, checkerboard dilution test. Antimicrobial activity of n-hexane fraction of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root was remarkable. Against the 16 strains, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were in the range of $31.25-62.5{\mu}g/ml$ and FICI values for n-hexane fraction of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root+AM and n-hexane fraction of Lysimachia clethroides Duby root+OX were checkerboard method performed using the MRSA, MSSA and one clinical isolate strains via MICI 0.12-1 and 0.25-0.75, showing the increase of synergistic effect. When combined together, these antibiotic effects were dramatically increased. These effective combinations could be new promising agents in the management of MRSA.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 1999

The FVM(Finite Volume Method) have been used mainly for the flow analyses in the piston-cylinder. The objective of the present study is to analyze numerically the piston-driven intake flows using the FEM(Finite Element Method). The FEM algorithm used in this study is 4-step time-splitting method which requires much less execution time and computer storage than the velocity-pressure integrated method and the penalty method. And the explicit Lax-Wendroff scheme is applied to nonlinear convective term in the momentum equations to prevent checkerboard pressure oscillations. Also, the ALE(arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian) method is adopted for the moving grids. The calculated results show good agreement in comparison with those by the FVM and the experimental results by the LDA.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2015

Objectives Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a human pathogen and a major cause of hospital-acquired infections. New antibacterial agents that have not been compromised by bacterial resistance are needed to treat MRSA-related infections. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial activity ofethanol extract of Haedokgeumhwa-san (HGH) which prescription is composed of korean medicine against MRSA. Methods The antibacterial activity of HGH extract was evaluated against MRSA strains by using the Disc diffusion method, broth microdilution method (minimal inhibitory concentration; MIC), checkerboard dilution test, and time-kill test; its mechanism of action was investigated by bacteriolysis, detergent or ATPase inhibitors. The checkerboard dilution test was used to examined synergistic effect of ampicillin, oxacillin, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, gentamicin and norfloxacin in combination with HGH ethanol extract. A time-kill assay was performed a survival curve which was obtained by plotting viable colony counts depending on time on bacterial growth. Results The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ethanol extract (HGH) ranged from 1,000 to $2,000{\mu}g/mL$ against all the tested bacterial strains, respectively. We are able to confirm that HGH extract has potentially strong antibacterial activity. In the checkerboard dilution test, fractional inhibitory concentration index of HGH in combination with antibiotics indicated synergy or partial synergism against S. aureus. A time-kill study showed that the growth of the tested bacteria was considerably inhibited after 8 hr of treatment with the combination of HGH with selected antibiotics. For measurement of cell membrane permeability, HGH $250{\sim}1,000{\mu}g/mL$ along with concentration of Triton X-100 (TX) and Tris-(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (Tris) were used. In the other hand, N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodimide (DCCD) and Sodium azide ($NaN_3$) was used as an inhibitor of ATPase. TX, Tris, DCCD and $NaN_3$ cooperation against S. aureus showed synergistic action. Accordingly, antimicrobial activity of HGH was affected by cell membrane and inhibitor of ATPase. Conclusions These results suggest that Haedokgeumhwa-san extract has antibacterial activity, and that HGH extract offers a potential as a natural antibiotic against MRSA.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.545-561
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• 2003

We use the first-passage-time formulation by Torquato, Kim and Cule ［J. Appl. Phys., Vol. 85, pp. 1560∼1571 (1999) ］, which makes use of the first-passage region in association with the diffusion tracer's Brownian movement, and develop a new efficient Brownian motion simulation method to compute the effective conductivity of digitized composite media. By using the new method, one can remarkably enhance the speed of the Brownian walkers sampling the medium and thus reduce the computation time. In the new method, we specifically choose the first-passage regions such that they coincide with two, four, or eight digitizing units according to the dimensionality of the composite medium and the local configurations around the Brownian walkers. We first obtain explicit solutions for the relevant first-passage-time equations in two-and three-dimensions. We then apply the new method to solve the illustrative benchmark problem of estimating the effective conductivities of the checkerboard-shaped composite media. for both periodic and random configurations. Simulation results show that the new method can reduce the computation time about by an order of magnitude.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.15-21
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• 2015

Objectives : Methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is a human pathogen. New antibacterial agents are needed to treat MRSA-related infections. This study investigated the antibacterial activity of EtOH 70% extracts ofTonghyeonipal-dan(THD) which prescription is composed of oriental medicine against MRSA.Methods : The antibacterial activity of THD was evaluated against MRSA strains by using the Disc diffusion method, broth microdilution method, Checkerboard dilution test, and Time-kill test; its mechanism of action was investigated by bacteriolysis, detergent or ATPase inhibitors were used.Results : The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of THD is 1,000~2,000 μg/mL against MRSA. In the checkerboard dilution test, fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of THD in combination with antibiotics indicated synergy or partial synergism againstS. aureus. Furthermore, a time-kill assay showed that the growth of the tasted bacteria was considerably inhibited after 24 h of treatment with the combination of THD with selected antibiotics. For measurement of cell membrane permeability, THD 500 μg/mL along with concentration of Triton X-100 (TX) and Tris-(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (TRIS) were used. In the other hand, N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodimide (DCCD) and Sodium azide (NaN3) were used as an inhibitor of ATPase. TX, TRIS, DCCD and NaN3 cooperation againstS. aureusshowed synergistic action.Conclusions : Accordingly, antimicrobial activity of THD was affected by cell membrane and inhibitor of ATPase were assessed. These results suggest that THD has antibacterial activity, and that THD extract offers great potential as a natural antibiotic against MRSA.

• 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.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.183-190
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• 2001

Topology optimization. has been evolved into a very efficient conceptual design tool and has been utilized into design engineering processes in many industrial parts. In recent years, topology optimization has become the focus of structural optimization design and has been researched and widely applied both in academy and industry. Traditional topology optimization has been using homogenization method and optimality criteria method. Homogenization method provides relationship equation between structure which includes many holes and stiffness matrix in FEM. Optimality criteria method is used to update design variables while maintaining that volume fraction is uniform. Traditional topology optimization has advantage of good convergence but has disadvantage of too much convergency time and additive checkerboard prevention algorithm is needed. In one way to solve this problem, element remove method is presented. Then, it is applied to many examples. From the results, it is verified that the time of convergence is very improved and optimal designed results is obtained very similar to the results of traditional topology using 8 nodes per element.