• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.258-265
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• 2010

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronically relapsing pruritic inflammatory skin disease. To find new anti-inflammatory products for skin inflammatory disease such as AD and contact dermatitis, we produced the effective microorganism fermentation substance (EM-S) by fermentation of medicinal plants with effective microorganisms including photosynthetic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and yeast, screened the effects of EM-S on NC/Nga model mice. Murine AD-like skin lesions were made by painting Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) extract. Topically applied EM-S significantly reduced clinical severity score, ear thickness and histological grade in AD-like NC/Nga mouse model by Df antigen sensitization. In addition, the serum IgE and Th2 chemokine levels (TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22 and CTACK/CCL27) were significantly reduced by EM-S. Futhermore, skin tissue expressions of Th2 chemokines were significantly reduced by EM-S. These results demonstrate that topical application of EM-S may be improve the AD-like skin lesion by suppressing IgE and Th2 chemokines.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.226-231
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• 2006

Artemisia vulgaris, one of the most religious plants in Nepal, is used in the treatment of various ailments. In this study, antioxidative activity of essential oil from A. vulgaris was evaluated, using different in vitro methods and antimicrobial activity by disc diffusion method against skin disease microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida albicans and Propionibacterium acnes. The essential oil exhibited a concentration-dependent antioxidant activity. It showed strong metal chelating activity with low reducing and antioxidant power. However, gradual increase in radical scavenging activity was obtained with increasing concentration and reaction time. It also possessed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and notable susceptibility was observed against S. pyogenes and P. acnes.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1357-1360
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• 2008

Propionibacterium acnes is the predominant organism in sebaceous regions of the skin and is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflamed lesions. Antibacterial compounds against P. acnes were isolated from the ethanol extract of Kaempferia pandurata Roxb. and identified as panduratin A and isopanduratin A. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of panduratin A for P. acnes were 2 and $4{\mu}g/mL$, respectively, while those of isopanduratin A were 4 and $8{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The time-dependent killing effect showed that panduratin A and isopanduratin A completely inhibited the growth of P. acnes at 4 and $8{\mu}g/mL$ in 48 hr, respectively. Panduratin A and isopanduratin A demonstrated high antibacterial activities not only against P. acnes but also other skin microorganisms. The results suggest that panduratin A and isopanduratin A could be employed as natural antibacterial agents to inhibit the growth of acne and skin disease causing microorganisms.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of hot spring water against the survival of food-borne and pathogenic microorganisms. Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli, which are food-borne microorganisms, Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, which are skin disease pathogens, and Helicobacter pylori, gastritis inducing microorganism, were tested. The content of fluoride in tested hot spring water is 14.1 mg/L, which is higher than the standard of safe for drinking water 1.5 mg/L, but the results on 48 other items were up to the standard. Hot spring water didn't show the bactericidal effects against food-borne microorganisms, C. albicans, and H. pylori tested. However, the viable cell populations of B. cereus and T. mentagrophytes were decreased, which were depends on the temperature of hot spring water. From these results, we confirmed that hot spring water didn't show the bactericidal effects against food-borne microorganisms, skin disease pathogens, and gastritis inducing microorganism, but the growth of some microorganisms were inhibited by high temperature ($41^{\circ}C$).

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2010

Objectives : Sophorae Radix (SR), the dried root of Sophorae Flavescens Aiton, has been used to treat atherosclerosis, arrhythma and skin diseases including scabies and eczema. The present study was examined to evaluate antimicrobial activities of SR extracts against oral microorganism. Methods : Antimicrobial properties of SR extracts were determined by agar diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus and Actinomyces viscosus. Analysis of kurarinone from SR extracts was conducted using UPLC (Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography). Results : The ethanolic extracts of SR showed stronger antimicrobial effect than methanolic extracts, while the aqueous extracts of SR had no activity. In addition, the higher content of kurarinone was found in ethanolic extracts than methanolic extracts. The purified kurarinone from ethanolic extracts showed potent antimicrobial activity with the MIC value of $3.9{\sim}7.8{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Conclusion : An ethanolic extract of SR showed antimicrobial properties against several oral microorganisms, and kuranrinone contributed to antimicrobial action of SR. Thus, ethanolic extracts of SR or purified kurarinone should be beneficial for the preparation of the useful agent for treating oral disease including anticaries.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1698-1705
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• 2020

Bacteria were collected from the thumb surface of the twenty young adults that are 20 to 25 years old and cultured on the Luria-Bertani agar. The 16S rDNA of the cultured bacteria was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and DNA sequence of the PCR products analyzed. Total 14 different bacterial species were identified by comparing their 16S rDNA sequence with the data in genbank. It appears that each individual has 2.5 different bacterial species in average. Staphylococcal species were the most abundant among the identified bacteria and Micrococcus luteus was the second. Staphylococcal species were isolated at similar frequency between male and female donors but Micrococcus luteus was isolated more frequently from female than male donors. The result obtained in this study might be useful in research of dermatic diseases, searching for new drugs for those diseases and development of new cosmetics.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.92-96
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• 2018

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) is characterized by increased susceptibility to chronic and recurrent infections of the skin, mucous membranes, and nails by Candida species. It is a primary immunodeficiency disorder that is difficult to diagnose because of its heterogeneous clinical manifestations and genetic background. A 20-month-old boy who did not grow in height for 3 months was diagnosed as having hypothyroidism and he had hepatitis which was found at 5 years old. He presented with persistent oral thrush and vesicles on the body, the cause of which could not be identified from laboratory findings. No microorganism was detected in the throat culture; however, the oral thrush persisted. Immunological tests showed that immunoglobulin (Ig) subclass IgG and cluster of differentiation (CD)3, CD4, and CD8 levels were within normal limits. We prescribed oral levothyroxine and fluconazole mouth rinse. The patient was examined using diagnostic exome sequencing at the age of 6 years, and a c.1162A>G (p.K388E) STAT1 gene mutation was identified. A diagnosis of CMC based on the STAT1 gene mutation was, thus, made. At the age of 8 years, the boy developed a malar-like rash on his face. We conducted tests for detection of antinuclear antibodies and anti-dsDNA antibodies, which showed positive results; therefore, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was also suspected. Whole exome sequencing is important to diagnose rare diseases in children. A STAT1 gene mutation should be suspected in patients with chronic fungal infections with a thyroid disease and/or SLE.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2024

Background: Despite the rise in the number of domestic indoor climbing gyms, there is a lack of specific hygiene standards and research on the holds installed in them. Holds can act as vectors for microbial transmission through the hands, posing a risk of infectious diseases, especially with damaged skin. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the contamination level and species of microorganisms on holds according to the management methods practiced in indoor climbing gyms and identify effective strategies for reducing microbial contamination. Methods: We investigated factors that may influence microbial contamination of holds, including hold management methods, user information, and hygiene management at three climbing gyms in Seoul. A total of 72 holds were sampled, 18 for each management method of brushing, high-pressure washing, and ethanol disinfection. Samples were cultured on LB and blood agar at 37℃ for 48 hours to calculate CFUs. PCR assay targeting 16S rRNA was carried out to identify microorganisms. Dunn-Bonferroni was employed to see the microbial reduction effect of the management method and the difference in microbial contamination by management method and climbing gym. Results: As a result of microbial identification, microorganisms such as Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Micrococcus, which were derived from various environments such as skin and soil, were discovered on the surface of the climbing hold. Among the discovered microorganisms, some species had potential pathogenic properties that could cause food poisoning, gastrointestinal disease, bacteremia, and sepsis. All hold management methods were effective in reducing microorganisms (p<0.05), with ethanol disinfection being the most effective (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our results indicate that there are potential pathogens on holds that demand thorough management for microbial prevention. Proposed methods include regular brushing and ethanol disinfection in addition to high-pressure washing with long cycles, which are the existing forms of hold management. Further studies on shoe management are advised to curb soil-derived microorganisms.