• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.27-33
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• 2021

The gut is a complex organ that has played an important role in digestion, absorption, endocrine functions, and immunity. The gut mucosal barriers consist of the immunologic barrier and nonimmunologic barrier. During critical illnesses, the gut is susceptible to injury due to the induction of intestinal hyperpermeability. Gut hyperpermeability and barrier dysfunction may lead to systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Additionally, gut microbiota are altered during critical illnesses. The etiology of such microbiome alterations in critical illnesses is multifactorial. The interaction or systemic host defense modulation between distant organs and the gut microbiome is increasingly studied in disease research. No treatment modality exists to significantly enhance the gut epithelial integrity, permeability, or mucus layer in critically ill patients. However, multiple helpful approaches including clinical and preclinical strategies exist. Enteral nutrition is associated with an increased mucosal barrier in animal and human studies. The trophic effects of enteral nutrition might help to maintain the intestinal physiology, prevent atrophy of gut villi, reduce intestinal permeability, and protect against ischemia-reperfusion injury. The microbiome approach such as the use of probiotics, fecal microbial transplantation, and selective decontamination of the digestive tract has been suggested. However, its evidence does not have a high quality. To promote rapid hypertrophy of the small bowel, various factors have been reported, including the epidermal growth factor, membrane permeant inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase, mucus surrogate, pharmacologic vagus nerve agonist, immune-enhancing diet, and glucagon-like peptide-2 as preclinical strategies. However, the evidence remains unclear.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.287-296
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• 2023

Mushroom consumption is gradually growing annually worldwide for many centuries. Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus), button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus), and enokitake (Flammulina filiformis) are mainly consumed in Korea. However, mushrooms can be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms, such as Listeria monocytogenes, because antibacterial treatment during mushroom cultivation and processing is insufficient. Therefore, many cases of mushroom contamination-related foodborne illnesses and food recalls have been reported. Three representative treatments are used to prevent microbial contamination in mushrooms: chemical, physical, and combination treatments. Among the chemical treatments, chlorine compounds, peroxyacetic acid, and quaternary ammonium compounds are commercially used and ozone and electrolyzed water has recently been used. Additionally, physical treatments, including ultrasound, irradiation, and cold plasma, are being developed. Combination techniques include ultraviolet/chlorine compounds, ozone/organic acid, and ultrasound/organic acid. This review describes the domestically consumed mushroom types and their characteristics, and investigates the mushroom contamination levels. Additionally, effective antibacterial technologies for reducing microbial contamination in mushrooms are also discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.402-407
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• 2012

The effects of a combined treatment of aqueous chlorine dioxide ($ClO_2$) and ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation on microbial growth in celery and cherries were investigated. Celery and cherry samples were treated with 50 ppm $ClO_2$, UV-C at dose of 10 kJ/$m^2$, and a combination of $ClO_2$ and UV-C. The changes in the counts of Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated in the celery and cherries as well as those of total aerobic bacteria, yeast and molds in the celery and cherries were investigated after each treatment. After the combined treatment of aqueous $ClO_2$ and UV-C irradiation, the populations of E. coli O157:H7 in the inoculated celery and cherries were reduced by 2.8 and 3.0 log CFU/g, respectively, compared to those of the control. For the un-inoculated celery and cherries, the populations of total aerobic bacteria were reduced by 2.9 and 1.8 log CFU/g, respectively, compared to the control. In addition, the populations of yeast and molds were decreased by 1.8 and 1.2 log CFU/g, respectively. These results suggest that the combined treatment of 50 ppm $ClO_2$ and UV-C at a dose of 10 kJ/$m^2$ would be an effective technology for decontamination and improving the microbiological safety in celery and cherries during chilled storage.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.263-267
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• 1997

Red seabream strips were decontaminated by dipping with solutions of 0.25~1.0% acetic, lactic, or citric acids for 5min. Control strips were dipped with tap water only for 5min. All strips were individually placed in plastic bags and stored at 4$^{\circ}C$. Acetic acid(AA) treatments were completely inhibited aerobic spoilage bacteria(areobic plate count : APC) compared to the initial controls for 6 days. Treatments of either lactic acid(LA) or citric acid(CA) completely inhibited APC compared to the initial controls for 3 days. Red seabream strips treated with AA extended microbiological shelf-life for 12 days.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.4
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• pp.65-69
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• 1986

The radurization and radicidation effects on mixed condiment with Co-60 gamma irradiation at 3-9kGy and the physicochemical aspects of irradiated samples stored at $30^{\circ}C$ for three months were investigated. The initial microbial loads of the sample were $7.5{\times}10^5/g$ in total bacterial count and $1.2{\times}10^2/g$ in coliforms, respectively. The irradiation treatment of below 9 kGy could decontaminate the sample and $D_{10}$ value of the bacteria contaminated was shown to be 1.94 kGy. The chemical components associated with the quality of the sample were little affected by the irradiation at 3-6kGy. The sensory evaluation showed that the high sterilizing dose caused appreciably the change in overall flavors of mixed condiment.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.483-490
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• 2013

Gamma-irradiation (0-7 kGy) of ginseng is permitted in Korea for the purpose of microbial decontamination; with strict labeling, traceability and monitoring requirements. An identification study was conducted to determine the photostimulated-luminescence (PSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) properties of gamma-irradiated fresh and white ginsengs cultivated in different areas. Dose- dependent PSL-based screening was possible for white ginseng samples; however, inappropriate results from non-irradiated fresh ginseng samples were obtained, showing intermediate (700 to 5,000) or positive ($T_2$ >5,000, irradiated) PSL counts due to the abundance of minerals on the surfaces of the samples. TL analysis of separated minerals from all non-irradiated samples gave TL glow curves of low intensity with a maximum peak after $300^{\circ}C$. However, well-defined irradiation-specific (high intensity with a maximum peak at about $200^{\circ}C$) glow curves were observed for all the irradiated samples, regardless of their type and origins. TL ratios (first glow curve /second glow curve) were also determined to confirm the irradiated (>0.1) and non-irradiated (<0.1) results. SEM-EDX (scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray) and XRD (X-ray diffraction) spectroscopic analyses showed that feldspar and quartz minerals were the main source for the typical radiation-specific luminescence properties.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.10
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• pp.1528-1534
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• 2010

The antibacterial effects of seed decontamination during presoaking before sprouting as an intervention step for eliminating foodborne pathogens on red radish seeds were evaluated. The effect of seed decontamination on seed germination rate was also evaluated. Red radish seeds were inoculated (at a level of 3 to 4 log CFU/g) with Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19111 and decontaminated with 20,000 ppm calcium hypochlorite, 50 and 100 ppm chlorinated water, acidic electrolyzed water, low-alkaline electrolyzed water, and ozonated water for 6 hours. The control seeds were immersed in distilled water. The germination rate was measured on each treatment for 48 hours. Treatments with 20,000 ppm calcium hypochlorite, acidic and low-alkaline electrolyzed water were more effective than treatments with chlorinated water and ozonated water. Immersion in 20,000 ppm calcium hypochlorite resulted in the largest microbial reduction (more than 3 logs). Treatments with acidic and low-alkaline electrolyzed water reduced APC by 3 logs and L. monocytogenes counts by 2 logs. After sprouting, APC and L. monocytogenes counts on seeds treated with 20,000 ppm calcium hypochlorite, acidic and low-alkaline electrolyzed water were significantly lower than the control. The germination rate ranged from 93.5% to 97.7% except for 20,000 ppm calcium hypochlorite (from 82.3% to 84.8%) after 48 hours. Although the treatments tested in this study will not eliminate L. monocytogenes on inoculated red radish seeds, the results show that rapid growth of surviving cells during sprouting could be prevented if red radish seeds are given a presoak treatment used in combination with a disinfectant treatment of irrigation water.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.111-124
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• 2003

Processes that cause immobilization of contaminants in soil are of great environmental importance because they may lead to a considerable reduction in the bioavailability of contaminants and they may restrict their leaching into groundwater. Previous investigations demonstrated that pollutants can be bound to soil constituents by either chemical or physical interactions. From an environmental point of view, chemical interactions are preferred, because they frequently lead to the formation of strong covalent bonds that are difficult to disrupt by microbial activity or chemical treatments. Humic substances resulting from lignin decomposition appear to be the major binding ligands involved in the incorporation of contaminants into the soil matrix through stable chemical linkages. Chemical bonds may be formed through oxidative coupling reactions catalyzed either biologically by polyphenol oxidases and peroxidases, or abiotically by certain clays and metal oxides. These naturally occurring processes are believed to result in the detoxification of contaminants. While indigenous enzymes are usually not likely to provide satisfactory decontamination of polluted sites, amending soil with enzymes derived from specific microbial cultures or plant materials may enhance incorporation processes. The catalytic effect of enzymes was evaluated by determining the extent of contaminants binding to humic material, and - whenever possible - by structural analyses of the resulting complexes. Previous research on xenobiotic immobilization was mostly based on the application of $^{14}$ C-labeled contaminants and radiocounting. Several recent studies demonstrated, however, that the evaluation of binding can be better achieved by applying $^{13}$ C-, $^{15}$ N- or $^{19}$ F-labeled xenobiotics in combination with $^{13}$ C-, $^{15}$ N- or $^{19}$ F-NMR spectroscopy. The rationale behind the NMR approach was that any binding-related modification in the initial arrangement of the labeled atoms automatically induced changes in the position of the corresponding signals in the NMR spectra. The delocalization of the signals exhibited a high degree of specificity, indicating whether or not covalent binding had occurred and, if so, what type of covalent bond had been formed. The results obtained confirmed the view that binding of contaminants to soil organic matter has important environmental consequences. In particular, now it is more evident than ever that as a result of binding, (a) the amount of contaminants available to interact with the biota is reduced; (b) the complexed products are less toxic than their parent compounds; and (c) groundwater pollution is reduced because of restricted contaminant mobility.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.971-976
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• 2009

The consumption of raw sprouts has increased in popularity worldwide because the food is natural and healthy. However, in Korea, nothing is known on the safety standards of sprout producers or changes in the microbial populations of sprouts during sprouting. We evaluated the microbial safety and quality of sprouts during each step in the sprouting process. Bacteriological analysis showed that seeds had a Total Plate Count (TPC) ranging from 3.04 - 5.21 log CFU/g and coliform counts ranging from 1.80 - 3.86 log CFU/g. TPC and coliform counts increased rapidly during the sprouting process to attain values of 6.99 - 8.26 and 3.70 - 7.15 log CFU/g, respectively, regardless of decontamination of seeds with commercial sanitizer. TPC and coliform counts were on high level after sprouts were washed. Escherichia coli was detected in samples of domestic radish sprouts at all stages from seed to storage, rape sprouts in the stages from soaked seed to storage, and red radish sprouts during sprouting, and no sanitizer was used in any of these processes. Untreated red radish sprouts were also positive for Bacillus cereus at all processing steps and Listeria monocytogenes after germination. However, pathogens were not detected at any sprouting stage of seeds treated with sanitizer. It is necessary to carefully control commercial sprouting, and to develop HACCP guidelines applicable to all sprouting processes, commencing at the first step in raw seed production.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2006

The purposes of this study were firstly to identify the microbial species on gutta-percha (GP) cones exposed at outpatient clinics using polymerase chain reaction, and secondly to evaluate the rapid sterilization effect of two chemical disinfectants at chair side. It also evaluated the alteration of surface texture of GP cones after 5-min soaking into two chemical disinfectants. A total of 100 GP cones from two endodontic departments were randomly selected for microbial detection using PCR assay with universal primer. After inoculation on the sterilized GP cones with the same microorganism identified by PCR assay, they were soaked in two chemical disinfectants: 5% NaOCl and 2% chlorhexidine for 1, 3, 5, and 10 minutes. The sterilization effect was evaluated by turbidity and subculture. The change of surface textures using a scanning electron microscope was also examined after 5 min-soaking in two chemical disinfectants. Results showed that four bacterial species were detected in 17 GP cones, and all the species belonged to the genus Staphylococcus. Two chemical disinfectants were effective in sterilization with just 1 minute soaking. On the SEM picture of NaOCl-soaked GP cone, a cluster of cuboidal crystals was seen on the cone surface. Present data demonstrate that two chemical disinfectants are useful for rapid sterilization of GP cone just before obturation at chair side, while CHX-soaked GP cone has cleaner surface without crystal precipitation than that of NaOCl-treated cone.