• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.191-200
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• 1999

In recent years continuously increasing number of tuberculosis (TB) cases due to the emergence of strains with multidrug resistance and AIDS is a significant global health problem. Therefore, more rapid and reliable diagnosis of TB may be one of the most urgent needs in efforts to eradicate the disease. The present study was designed to compare and assess the diagnostic values and efficiencies between the conventional methods (X-ray, AFB stain and culture) and PCR for pulmonary TB on 171 cases. Chest X-ray finding and clinical features revealed that 39 (22.8%) of 171 sputum specimens were pulmonary TB cases. The statistical data were taken on the basis of the definitive diagnosis: In X-ray, overall sensitivity, specificity, efficiency and false positive and false negative incidence was respectively 69.2%, 87.1％, 83.0%, 12.9%, and 30.8％； 79.5%, 95.5%, 91.8%,4.6％ and 20.5％ in AFB-stain; 56.4%, 99.2%,89.5%, 0.8% and 43.6% in culture; 82.1%, 96.2%, 93.0%, 3.8% and 17.9% in PCR. PCR got a highest sensitivity and efficiency as well as a lowest false negative incidence. Culture had a highest specificity with a lowest false positive incidence. These results imply that PCR assay is fast, sensitive and efficient method for diagnosis of pulmonary TB. However, combined use of the conventional methods with thorough quality control may offer more opportunities for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis and diagnosting TB although they have some limits.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.308-313
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• 1992

Volatile aromatic compounds collected from raw and roasted mugwort (Artemisia asictica nakai) leaves by the Tenax trap and some major volatile compounds were separated and identified by GC-MS. The identified compounds were tested for the antimutagenic and mutagenic activities against aflatoxin B$_1$(AFB$_1$) using their authentic compounds. Six compounds (myrcene, cineole, camphor, caryophyllen, coumarin, and farnesol) showed antimutagenic activities, but 2-pyrrolidine and thujone showed mutagenic activities. 1-Acetylpiperidine formed during roasting mugwort leaves exhibited mutagenic activities. When the mutagens and antimutagens were mixed, the mixture reduced the mutagenicity of AFB$_1$. These results suggested that the extract of mugwort leaves is not mutagenic and so the mugwort leaves might be used as a food and as medicinal sources without mutagenicity.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.16-19
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• 2012

The desmutagenic activity of the water extract of Areca catechu L. on the mutagenicity induced by aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$), N-methyl-N-nitro-N'-nitrosoguani-dine (MNNG), mitomycin C (MMC) and 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) was studied by using the SOS Chromotest with Escherichia coli PQ37. The inhibition rates of water extract of Areca catechu L. at concentration of $100{\mu}g/assay$ were 41.0%, 47%, 46%, and 32% against $AFB_1$, MNNG, MMC and 4-NQO, respectively. The water extract of Areca catechu L. was separated into methanol soluble and methanol insoluble parts. The methanol insoluble part exhibited higher inhibition effect than the methanol soluble part against the mutagenic activities of MNNG. Step-wise fractionation of methanol insoluble part was done to obtain methanol, ethyl acetate and water fractions. Among these fractions, water fraction had the strongest inhibitory effect of 45.0% against mutagenicities of MNNG. The inhibition rates of aqueous fraction of methanol-insoluble from water extracted Areca catechu L. at concentrations of 1.61, 16.13, 161.29 and $322.58{\mu}g/mL$ were 12.0%, 24.0%, 47.5% and 62.0%, respectively. The water fraction showed the inhibitory effects with dose response against the mutagenic activity induced by MNNG.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.295-301
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• 1995

Background: The serious problems in retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis are a significant proportion of drug resistance. Preferably retreatment should contain the drugs which has never used before, so drug retreatment is limited in selection. A new antibacterial substance, ofloxacin(OFX) is the activity against mycobacterium tuberculosis and it has been used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. The present report concerns the result of retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis patients containing OFX treated at National Kongju Tuberculosis Hospital. Method: A retrospective study was made through the regular follow up of 92 smear positive cases, who were treated by four drugs regimen between Mar 1991 and June 1994 at National Kongju Tuberculosis Hospital. Four drugs were, namely prothionamide, cycloserine, ofloxacin and streptomycin(kanamycin or tuberactinomycin). The duration of follow up was over one year. Results: 1) Out of 92 cases with positive sputum AFB smear, 67(73%) achieved the negative conversion. 2) Considering the negative sputum conversion in all the groups, the vast majority(85%) of sputum conversion occurred within the first 4 months. 3) The roentgenological improvement occurred in 49 percent on the whole and when the extent of disease was minimal, moderately, far advanced pulmonary tuberculosis, sputum AFB smear negative response to retreatment was 100%, 93%, 68%, respectively. 4) When the duration of patient's illness was less than 1 year, 1 to 3 years, 3 to 5 years and more than 5 years, sputum AFB smear negative response to retreatment was 87%, 76%, 65% and 55%, respectively. 5) Adverse reaction to prothionamide, with complaints of gastrointestinal troubles was common and hepatic dysfunction without jaundice was observed in 7 percent, convulsion in 1 percent, that to cycloserine occurred renal dysfunction & psycosis & convulsion, 2%, 1%, 1%, respectively. Tinnitus with KM occurred in 1% and dirrhea with OFX in 4%. Conclusion: The duration of patient's illness was shorter, sputum AFB smear negative response rate was better. Radiologic responses were not remarkable, but extent of disease by national tuberculosis association was smaller, the result of retreatment was better. Adverse reaction of the secondary antituberculosis agent was mainly observed gastrointestinal troubles, as regard to tolerance to the secondary drugs the role of the physician is of very important value and toxic effects can be overcome by the strong confidence.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.154-160
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and contamination levels of aflatoxin in Medicinal Herbs for Food and Medicine at Yakyeang market in seoul. 191 Samples 11 items medicinal herbs for food and medicine were evaluated for the aflatoxin contamination. in result 41 samples 10 items (21.5%) were detected in the alfatoxin, a high incidence of aflatoxins items are cassiae semen (50.0%), testudinis plastrum (43.8%) and Batryticatus Bombyx (40.0%), Polygalae Radix (31.2%), Zizyphi Semen (23.5%), Dolichoris Semen, Myristicae Semen (20.0%), Nelumbinis Semen (15.8%), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (7.4%), Hoveniae Semen Cum Fructus (4.3%). AFB1 were detected 27 cases (14.1%), AFB2, AFG1 and AFG2 were detected 18cases (9.4%), 16cases (8.4%) and 5cases (2.6%). The excess cancer risk estimated using the cancer potency of aflatoxin B1 (7(mg/kg/day)-1 for HBsAg-and 230(mg/kg/day)-1 HBsAg+) was N.D ~ $3.79{\times}10^{-6}$ for hepatits B surface antigen negative (HBsAg-) and N.D ~ $9.68{\times}10^{-5}$ hepatits B surface antigen positive (HBsAg+) respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.880-886
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• 1995

Antimutagenic effects of boiled water extract and tannin from persimmon leaves were studied by using Ames test, spore rec assay and SOS chromotest. Strong antimutagenic activities toward aflatoxin B1(AFB1), dimethyl-aminobiphenyl(DMAB), N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG) and 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide(4-NQO) were observed when boiled water extract and tannin from the persimmon leaves were added in the Salmonella typhimurium TA 100. In spore rec assay using Bacillus subtilis H17($rec^{+}$) and M45($rec^{-}$), boiled water extract and tannin from the persimmon leaves considerably inhibited the mutagenesis induce by MNNG. In SOS chromotest using Escherichia coli PQ37, these samples also exhibited strong antimutagenic activity toward 4-NQO. The tannin was more effective than boiled water extract of persimmon leaves in the antimutagenicity tests.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.202-210
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• 2022

Aflatoxin contamination in rice has been documented in a number of studies, and has a high incidence in Asian countries, and as such, there has been a growing interest in alternative biocontrol strategies to address this issue. In this study, 147 strains of yeasts and yeast-like fungi were screened for their potential to produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) active against Aspergillus flavus strains that produce aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). Five strains within four different genera showed greater than 50% growth inhibition of some strains of A. flavus. These were Anthracocystis sp. DMKU-PAL124, Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL120, Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL144, Rhodotorula sp. DMKU-PAL99, and Solicococcus keelungensis DMKU-PAL84. VOCs produced by these microorganisms ranged from 4 to 14 compounds and included alcohols, alkenes, aromatics, esters and furans. The major VOCs produced by the closely related Aureobasidium strains were found to bedistinct. Moreover, 2-phenylethanol was the most abundant compound generated by Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL120, while methyl benzeneacetate was the major compound emitted from Aureobasidium sp. DMKU-PAL144. On the other hand, 2-methyl-1-butanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol were significant compounds produced by the other three genera. These antagonists apparently inhibited A. flavus sporulation and mycelial development. Additionally, the reduction of the AFB1 in the fungal-contaminated rice grains was observed after co-incubation with these VOC-producing strains and ranged from 37.7 ± 8.3% to 60.3 ± 3.4%. Our findings suggest that these same microorganisms are promising biological control agents for use against aflatoxin-producing fungi in rice and other agricultural products.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.5
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• pp.452-458
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• 2005

Background : In Korea, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for M. tuberculosis has been used for the diagnosis of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear-negative tuberculosis in order to increase diagnostic sensitivity. However, there have been no data dealing with the clinical utility of PCR in AFB smear-positive patients to differentiate between M. tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria. Method : We retrospectively analyzed the PCR test results which have been performed in patients who had AFB smear-positive sputum but had ambiguous clinical manifestations of active tuberculosis. PCR test was done using $AMPLICOR^{\hat{a}}$ M. tuberculosis kit. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the PCR test were calculated based on culture and final clinical diagnosis result. Results : Fifty-six consecutive patients (62 PCR tests) were included in the study. Active tuberculosis was diagnosed in 23 patients (41.0%), while 9 patients had NTM infection (16.0%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive- and negative-predictive value of PCR test were 88.8%, 86.8%, 76.1% and 94.3%, respectively, according to the culture result. In comparison, they were 91.3%, 100%, 100%, 94.3%, respectively, according to the final clinical diagnosis. All 15 patients with NTM isolates, including 6 patients who had other lung diseases but expectorated NTM isolate, were negative for PCR test. Conclusion : Even though tuberculosis is still prevalent in Korea, PCR test is useful to differentiate between M. tuberculosis and NTM in patients with AFB-smear positive sputum but with ambiguous clinical manifestations of active tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.268-279
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• 2004

Background : The tuberculin skin test has been used to diagnose latent tuberculosis infection, but is not widely used to diagnose or exclude pulmonary tuberculosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of the tuberculin test in diagnosing and excluding pulmonary tuberculosis, and differentiating pulmonary tuberculosis from nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary disease, when a sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear was positive. Material and Methods : From October 2002 to August 2003, among all the inpatients of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Samsung Medical Center, 258 patients with clinical suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis were enrolled and underwent a tuberculin test. Results : 156 males and 102 females were included, with a mean age of 57.5 years. The final diagnoses included lung cancer in 89 cases (34.5%), pulmonary tuberculosis in 59 cases (22.9%), bacterial pneumonia in 33 cases (12.8%) and NTM pulmonary disease in 24 cases (9.3%). The positive tuberculin test rate was higher in the tuberculosis than non-tuberculosis group; 81.4 (48/59) vs. 42.4% (81/199). (p<0.001). In 208 patients with a negative sputum AFB smear, the result of the tuberculin test was positive in 69.4% (25/36) of the tuberculosis group and in 44.8% (77/172) of the non-tuberculosis group (p=0.007), so a positive result of the tuberculin test could predict pulmonary tuberculosis with 69.4% sensitivity, 55.2% specificity, a 24.5% positive predictive value and a 89.6% negative predictive value. In 50 patients with a positive sputum AFB smear, the positive rates of the tuberculin test were 83.9% (26/31) in tuberculosis group and 21.1% (4/19) in NTM pulmonary disease group (p<0.001), so a positive result of the tuberculin skin test could predict pulmonary tuberculosis with 83.9% sensitivity, 78.9% specificity, a 86.7% positive predictive value and a 75.0% negative predictive value. Conclusion : The tuberculin test could be useful in excluding pulmonary tuberculosis when the sputum AFB smear is negative, and to differentiate pulmonary tuberculosis from NTM pulmonary disease when the sputum AFB smear is positive.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2005

Background : A pleural effusion is a common medical problem. Despite several diagnostic tests, 15-20% of pleural effusions go undiagnosed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of a lymphocyte dominant exudative pleural effusion with a low adenosine deaminase (ADA), low carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), negative cytology and negative acid fast bacilli (AFB) smear. Method : From Jan 2000 to Aug 2001, 43 patients with lymphocyte dominant exudative pleural effusions whose AFB smear and cytologic exam were negative, their pleural fluid ADA level was < 40 IU/L, and their CEA level was < 10 ng/mL were enrolled in this study. A retrospective analysis of the patients' medical records was carried out. Result : Among 31 of the 43 cases (72%), probable underlying diseases causing the pleural effusion were identified: 21cases of malignant diseases, 4 cases of liver cirrhosis, 2 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, 1 case of end stage renal disease, 1 case of a chylothorax, 1 case of a post-CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) state, 1 case of a pulmonary embolism. No clinically suspected etiology was identified in the remaining 12 cases (28%). Of these 12 pleural effusions, 7 cases spontaneously resolved, 2 effusions resolved with antibiotics, and the other 2 cases were persistent. Conclusion : Lymphocyte dominant exudative pleural effusions with a low ADA, low CEA, negative cytological exam, and negative AFB smear, but without a definite cause might have a benign course and clinicians can observe them with attention.