• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2021

This study was attempted to investigate natural materials with antimicrobial activity and to apply as natural preservatives in cosmetics. The disc diffusion method was used to search for nine species of natural antibacterial material for three species of skin pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Candida albicans. As a result of measuring the size of inhibition zone, Rhus Semialata gall (Gallnut) extract, Oak vinegar, and ε-polylysine were showed strongest antibacterial activities (> 10 mm). The Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of gallnut and oak vinegar ranged from 10 to 20 mg/mL and from 20 to 40 mg/mL against five human skin pathogens. The MBC of ε-polylysine ranged from 0.5 to 2 mg/mL in fungus. The synergic effect of gallnut extract/oak vinegar mixture and gallnut extract/ε-polylysine mixture were evaluated by checkerboard test. Compared to when used alone, the MBC of gallnut extract/oak vinegar mixture were at 4 times lower concentration against E. coli, C. albicans, and A. brasiliensis. Also Furthermore, the MBC of gallnut extract/ε-polylysine mixture were at 4 times lower concentration against C. albicans and A. brasiliensis. It was confirmed that the combination of gallnut extract with oak vinegar or ε-polylysine resulted in synergistic antibacterial effect against three human skin pathogens. Thus, it is expected that gallnut extract and natural product mixture can not only demonstrate antibacterial synergies, but also be applied in cosmetics as a natural preservative system with a wide antibacterial spectrum.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1379-1386
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• 2020

Acne is a chronic skin disease that typically occurs in the teens and twenties, and its symptoms vary according to age, sex, diet, and lifestyle. The condition is characterized by hyperproliferation of keratinocytes in the epidermis, sebum overproduction, excessive growth of Propionibacterium acnes, and P. acnes-induced skin inflammation. Interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-6 are predominant in the inflammatory lesions of acne vulgaris. These cytokines induce an inflammatory reaction in the skin in the presence of pathogens or stresses. Moreover, IL-1α accelerates the production of keratin 16, which is typically expressed in wounded or aberrant skin, leading to abnormalities in architecture and hyperkeratinization. Orobol (3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyisoflavone) is a metabolite of genistein that inhibited the P. acnes-induced increases in IL-6 and IL-1α levels in human keratinocytes (HaCaTs) more effectively compared with salicylic acid. In addition, orobol decreased the IL-1α and IL-6 mRNA levels and inhibited the phosphorylation of inhibitor of kappa-B kinase, nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha, and mitogen-activated protein kinase induced by P. acnes. Finally, the expression of Ki67 was decreased by orobol. Thus, orobol ameliorated the inflammation and hyperkeratinization induced by heat-killed P. acnes and thus has potential for use in functional foods and cosmetics.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.136-141
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• 2008

Fecal contaminations on poultry carcasses, not easily discemable by human eyes, are potential harbor sites of pathogenic Escherichia Coli (E. coli O157:H7). Development of sensitive detection methods for fecal contamination is essential to ensure safe production of poultry products. Fluorescence has been shown to be very sensitive in detecting fecal and other biological substances that can harbor pathogens. In this study, fluorescence excitation-emission spectra of poultry fecal matter were compared with spectra for poultry skin and meat. Results indicated that the combinations of fluorescence intensities at the wavelength of 520 nm, 579 nm, 625 nm, and 635 nm with 411 nm excitation showed above 97% accuracy for differentiation of the contaminants from poultry tissues. Excitation and emission bands determined could be used for constructing a real-time fluorescence imaging device for detection of harmful residues on poultry carcasses.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.880-888
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• 2015

Foeniculum vulgare (FV) has long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In addition, it is usually known as an important medicinal and aromatic plant widely used as a carminative, digestive, lactogogue, and diuretic, and for treating respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. The skin barrier protects against the invasion of pathogens, fends off chemical and physical assaults, and protects against extensive water loss. In this study, the effects of solvent-fractionated FV fruits on strengthening the skin barrier and maintaining moisture, as well as their antifungal activity, were investigated in human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. The expression of involucrin, loricrin, filaggrin, hyaluronic acid synthase, human β defensin, and cathelicidin genes and proteins was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting. The production of hyaluronic acid was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The butanol fraction increased the expression of involucrin and filaggrin. Both the ethyl acetate and the butanol fractions increased hyaluronic acid production by promoting the expression of hyaluronic acid synthase-1. Although the antimicrobial peptides were increased by FV crude extract and its fractions, the samples did not show a significant effect compared to the normal group. These results suggest that the butanol fraction of FV could be very useful in cosmetics for the treatment of dermatological diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.74 no.5
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• pp.215-221
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• 2013

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are considered opportunistic pathogens, and several species of NTM are associated with human diseases that typically involve the pulmonary, skin/soft tissue, or lymphatic systems; such infection may also cause disseminated diseases. Recent studies have reported increasing rates of NTM-induced disease worldwide. Methods: Respiratory samples are being analyzed for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) culture and NTM identification at Dankook University Hospital in Cheonan, Korea, from September 2005 to September 2011. Identification is performed by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis targeting a novel region of the rpoB gene. Results: A total of 25,133 specimens were received for AFB culture, of which 1,014 (4.0%) were NTM-positive. A total of 267 samples from 186 patients were tested for NTM identifications, and 232 samples from 157 patients were positive for NTM species. Among the patients who tested positive for NTM, 65.6% were men and the average age was 63.3 years. Mycobacterium avium complex, the most commonly detected NTM pathogen, was found in 65.9% of the 232 samples. The annual average percentage of NTM isolates from AFB culture-positive specimens was 31.3%: the highest rate was seen in 2011 (44.3%), followed by 2009 (37.4%) and 2010 (37.2%). An upward trend in NTM incidence was found during the study period. Conclusion: The prevalence of pulmonary NTM isolates continues to increase in Cheonan, suggesting that pulmonary NTM disease is becoming increasingly common.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.132-137
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• 2007

Patients with febrile illness and skin rashes need full and immediate attention. In general, these diseases show mild manifestations and good prognosis. However, causalities of some diseases with fever and rash may be life threatening or trivial. So, the differential diagnosis for those patients is extensive. A through history, a careful physical examination and close observation of clinical progress are very helpful and essential to confirming the diagnosis. Histories of recent travel, drug or specific food ingestion, exposure to human or an animal source of infection may be useful to discover the cause. Although laboratory tests can be useful in making the diagnosis, laboratory results usually are not available immediately. Knowledge and experiences of such diseases may be helpful to reduce the differential diagnosis to a few major possibilities. Rashes can be categorized as petechial, maculopapular, vesicular, urticarial and erythematous. Potential causes include infectious pathogens such as virus, bacteria, rickettsiae, spirohetes, connective tissue diseases, allergic diseases and heamto-oncologic diseases. Because the severity of these diseases can vary mild to life threatening, physicians must perform prompt management decisions regarding empirical therapies. In this article, the differential etiological diagnosis of each type rash is reviewed and discussed, and with emphasis on intensive care of life threatening febrile diseases with rashes that are seen in our country.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 1975

Anaerobic bacteria are the major residents of human skin and mucous membrane. The importance, as opportunistic pathogens, of anaerobic bacteria are well recognized because of more population. with decreased defense against bacterial invasion due to chemotherapy, rediation therapy, extensive surgical operation etc. are dealt at hospitals. An analysis of the anaerobe isolation results at Yonsei University Medical Center during the January 1974-May 1975 period was made and the following results were obtained. 1) From 118 patients 146 strains of anaerobes were isolated. Among these 81.3% were nonsporforming anaerobes. Most frequently isolated anaerobes were Pc. asaccharolyticus, Ps. anaerobius, Ps. intermedius, B. fragilis and Cl. perfringens. 2) Anaerobes were frequently isolated from wound, female genital, intraabdominal, and pleuropulmonary specimens. Fewer anaerobes were isolated from blood, spinal fluid and liver specimens. 3) The ratio of anaerobe isolation to total bacteria isolation were; liver 66.7%, intraabdominal 33.3%, pleuropulmonary 28.9%, spinal fluid 5.0% and blood 4.2%. 4) Among the 118 anaerobe isolated patients, 48.3% yielded anaerobes only and rest of them yielded anaerobes together with aerobes. 5) Most of the gram-positive anaerobes were susceptible to the antibiotics tested. Exception was to tetracycline to which appreciable number showed resistance. It was noteworthy that only 48% of B. fragilis was susceptible to tetracycline.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2017

Background: The skin consists of tightly connected keratinocytes, and prevents extensive water loss while simultaneously protecting against the entry of microbial pathogens. Excessive cellular levels of reactive oxygen species can induce cell apoptosis and also damage skin integrity. Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) has antioxidant properties. In this study, we investigated how propofol influences intracellular autophagy and apoptotic cell death induced by oxidative stress in human keratinocytes. Method: The following groups were used for experimentation: control, cells were incubated under normoxia (5% $CO_2$, 21% $O_2$, and 74% $N_2$) without propofol; hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), cells were exposed to $H_2O_2$ ($300{\mu}M$) for 2 h; propofol preconditioning (PPC)/$H_2O_2$, cells pretreated with propofol ($100{\mu}M$) for 2 h were exposed to $H_2O_2$; and 3-methyladenine $(3-MA)/PPC/H_2O_2$, cells pretreated with 3-MA (1 mM) for 1 h and propofol were exposed to $H_2O_2$. Cell viability, apoptosis, and migration capability were evaluated. Relation to autophagy was detected by western blot analysis. Results: Cell viability decreased significantly in the $H_2O_2$ group compared to that in the control group and was improved by propofol preconditioning. Propofol preconditioning effectively decreased $H_2O_2$-induced cell apoptosis and increased cell migration. However, pretreatment with 3-MA inhibited the protective effect of propofol on cell apoptosis. Autophagy was activated in the $PPC/H_2O_2$ group compared to that in the $H_2O_2$ group as demonstrated by western blot analysis and autophagosome staining. Conclusion: The results suggest that propofol preconditioning induces an endogenous cellular protective effect in human keratinocytes against oxidative stress through the activation of signaling pathways related to autophagy.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.516-522
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• 2017

Background Implant-based breast reconstruction is being performed more frequently, and implants are associated with an increased risk of infection. We reviewed the clinical features of cases of implant infection and investigated the risk factors for breast device salvage failure. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 771 patients who underwent implant-based breast reconstruction between January 2010 and December 2016. Age, body mass index, chemotherapy history, radiation exposure, and smoking history were assessed as potential risk factors for postoperative infection. We also evaluated the presence and onset of infection symptoms, wound culture pathogens, and other complications, including seroma, hematoma, and mastectomy skin necrosis. Additionally, we examined the mastectomy type, the use of acellular dermal matrix, the presence of an underlying disease such as hypertension or diabetes, and axillary node dissection. Results The total infection rate was 4.99% (58 of 1,163 cases) and the total salvage rate was 58.6% (34 of 58). The postoperative duration to closed suction drain removal was significantly different between the cellulitis and implant removal groups. Staphylococcus aureus infection was most frequently found, with methicillin resistance in 37.5% of the cases of explantation. Explantation after infection was performed more often in patients who had undergone 2-stage expander/implant reconstruction than in those who had undergone direct-to-implant reconstruction. Conclusions Preventing infection is essential in implant-based breast reconstruction. The high salvage rate argues against early implant removal. However, when infection is due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus and the patient's clinical symptoms do not improve, surgeons should consider implant removal.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.74-84
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• 1990

Herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2(HSV-1, HSV-2) are the ubiquitous human pathogens responsible for a variety of afflictions. HSV-2 is one of the viruses that were suspected of promoting carcinogenesis in the uterine cervix. Certainly, there is a need for the more sensitive and accurate laboratory techniques for HSV detection. We examined total 80 cases of smears including 17 Tzanck smears of skin and 63 cases of Papanicolaou smears from total 77 patients with clinical impression of herpetic infections, from September, 1985 through August, 1989. Immunohistochemical typings for HSV-1 and HSV-2 were performed together with routine cytologic findings and compared. The results are as follows : 1) Patients were 9 males and 33 females, and age distribution was between 5 and 71 years. 2) Subjective symptoms such as ulceration, vesicle, vaginal discharge, pruritus, and pain were complained in 36 patients and 38 cases were genital herpes. Recurrence was noted in 11 cases. 3) Positive results were obtained in 42 among 80 cases. 4) Both routine cytology and immunohistochemical staining were positive in 13 cases and in 24 cases only immunohistochemical staining were positive. 5 cases were positive only in routine cytologic smears. 5) The cases that immunocytochemical stain had been performed were 37 cases, which were all positive in type 2. Among the above 37 cases, type 1 also were positive in 5 cases. The results show that the immunoperoxidase technique is one of the rapid and reliable method to confirm the herpetic infection when suspected and that it is particularly useful when the Papanicolaou smear findings are equivocal.