• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.40-50
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• 2008

Spread of pathogenic micro-organisms through contaminated hands is a well recognized way of transmitting disease such as food poisoning. We investigated the prevalence of aerobic plate counts, coliform bacteria, and food-poisoning bacteria on hands in various age groups. The average number of aerobic plate counts was 3.3 log CFU/hand in kindergarteners, 3.4 log CFU/hand in elementary students, 3.2 log CFU/hand in middle school students, 3.4 log CFU/hand in high school students, and 3.3 log CFU/hand in adults. Two kindergarteners, 6 elementary students, and 2 adults were positive for the coliform bacteria. Among the food poisoning bacteria we tested, S. aureus was isolated from 47 individuals. Eight isolates of B cereus were all from kindergarteners. C. perfringens was isolated from 7 individuals. Among 47 isolates of S. aureus, 25 isolates produced toxins. Seven of eight isolates of B. cereus produced toxins. None of seven C. peifringens isolates produced toxins. All 47 isolates of S. aureus were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, clindamyccin, imipenem, rifampin and vancomycin. Four isolates (8.5%) were resistant to cefepime, chloramphenicol, cefotetan, and gentamycin. Five isolates (10.6%) were resistant to oxacillin and 6 isolates were resistant to tetracycline. This study shows that it is needs to be established policy of school lunch and personal sanitation management.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.439-445
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• 2006

Purpose : ${\alpha}$-Galactosylceramide (${\alpha}$-GalCer)-stimulated human $V{\alpha}24$ natural killer T (NKT) cells exert antitumor activity against some leukemia in a CD1d dependent and TCR-mediated manner, but could not kill CD1d - negative neuroblastoma (NB) cells. There are few reports about the direct antitumor effect of highly secreted cytokines by these cells on activation. In this study, using a cell-free supernatant (SPN) collected from plate bound hCD1d/${\alpha}$ GalCer tetramers-stimulated NKT cells, we examined whether they could be helpful in the immunotherapeutic treatment of NB. Methods : Cells were cultured in IMDM. The cytokines produced by NKT cells were measured with Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) analysis. Cell viability was evaluated by calcein-AM fluorescence with digital image microscopy scanning (DIMSCAN). The percentage of specific apoptosis was calculated by flow cytometric detection of apoptosis using annexin V and 7-AAD. Results : The activated NKT cells secreted high levels of IL-2, INF-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$. The SPN was significantly cytotoxic against four out of eight tested NB cell lines, through mainly apoptosis as evidenced by annexin-V staining and inhibition with the pretreatment of pancaspase blocker. This apoptosis was significantly inhibited when anti-TNF-${\alpha}$ and anti-IFN-${\gamma}$ neutralizing mAbs were used separately and it was completely abolished when the two mAbs were combined. Conclusion : IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$ produced by NKT cells could exert synergistically direct antitumor activity through apoptosis on some NB cell lines.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.1237-1242
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• 2009

This study was conducted to isolate strain for the preparation of fermented antler (Cervus cornu parvum) and evaluate its physiological activities. The growth degrees of twenty-one samples from Bacillus sp., Lactobacillius sp. and mushroom strain on antler extract agar were evaluated in this study, and Bacillus subtilis KH-15, SCB-3, Cordyceps militaris, Phellinus linteus, Inonotus obliquus 26136, and Inonotus obliquus 26147 were selected. The fermented antler extract by C. militaris had relatively higher contents of total sugar (1619.3 ${\mu}g$/mL), uronic acid (302.0 ${\mu}g$/mL), sulfated-glycosaminoglycan (S-GAGs) (119.9 ${\mu}g$/mL) and sialic acid (21.6 ${\mu}g$/mL) than any other extracts. The anti-complementary activities of all fermented antler extracts were higher than non-fermented antler extract, and among these samples, fermented antler extract by C. militaris showed the highest anti-complementary activity (inhibition of 50% total complement hemolysis, $ITCH_{50}$; 50.1% at 1,000 ${\mu}g$/mL). The ability of fermented antler extract by B. subtilis KH-15 to scavenge 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical ($IC_{50}$; 4.97 mg/mL) was significantly the highest (p<0.05), whereas the extract from I. obliquus exerted significantly (p<0.05) high 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity ($IC_{50}$; 16.98 mg/mL) among all samples. The results of this study suggest that physiological effects including immuno-modulating and antioxidant activities of the antler may be increased through fermentation process.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.8
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• pp.875-881
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• 2006

Purpose : The aims of this study were to analyze the clinical characteristics of children with Kikuchi's disease(KD) at a medical center and to investigate the etiologic role of human herpesvirus 8(HHV 8) or Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) in children with KD. Methods : Twenty six children who were diagnosed as KD between Jan. 1998 and Dec. 2005 were included. Medical records were reviewed on the clinical characteristics of children with KD. Follow up data were collected by chart review and telephone contact. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was performed in order to detect HHV 8 DNA, and in situ hybridization(ISH) was perfomed in order to detect EBV RNA from 20 lymph node tissues. Results : There were 15 girls and 11 boys with a mean age of 13 years. Posterior cervical lymph nodes were involved in 72 percent(18/25) of the patients. Extracervical lymphadenopathy was associated in one patient. Fever was an associated symptom in 31 percent(8/26) of the patients. Leukopenia was observed in six (46 percent) patients. The cervical lymphadenopathy usually resolved spontaneously within 6 months. Only one patient had a recurrence of lymphadenopathy with fever during follow-up. No children with KD in our series developed systemic lupus erythematosus. HHV 8 DNA was not amplified by nested PCR in any of the cases, and all cases were negative for EBV RNA by ISH. Conclusion : KD should be differentiated as a cause of cervical lymphadenopathy in children. HHV 8 and EBV may not play major causative roles in KD in children.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2007

To develop rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars to be planted on salt-affected sites, cell lines with enhanced proline content and resistance to growth inhibition by Azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (AZCA), a proline analogue, were screened out among calli irradiated with gamma ray of 50, 70, 90, and 120 Gy. The calli had been derived from embryo culture of the cultivar Donganbyeo. Selected AZCA resistant lines that had high proline accumulation were used as sources for selection of NaCl resistant lines. To determine an optimum concentration for selection of NaCl resistant lines, Donganbyeo seeds were initially cultured on the media containing various NaCl concentrations (0 to 2.5%) for 40 days, and 1.5% NaCl concentration was determined as the optimum concentration. One hundred sixteen salt-tolerant (ST) lines were selected from bulked 20,000 seeds of the AZCA resistant $M_{3}$ seeds in the medium containing 1.5% NaCl. The putative 33 lines ($M_{4}$ generation) considered with salt-tolerance were further analyzed for salt tolerance, amino acid and ion contents, and expression patterns of the salt tolerance-related genes. Out of the 33 lines, 7 lines were confirmed to have superior salt tolerance. Based on growth comparison of the entries, the selected mutant lines exhibited greater shoot length with average 1.5 times, root length with 1.3 times, root numbers with 1.1 times, and fresh weight with 1.5 times than control. Proline contents were increased maximum 20%, 100% and 20% in the leaf, seed and callus, respectively, of the selected lines. Compared to control, amino acid contents of the mutants were 24 to 29%, 49 to 143%, 32 to 60% higher in the leaf, seed and callus, respectively. The ratio of $Na^{+}/K^{+}$ for most of the ST-lines were lower than that of control, ranging from 1.0 to 3.8 for the leaf and 11.5 to 28.5 for the root, while the control had 3.5 and 32.9 in the leaf and root, respectively. The transcription patterns for the P5CS and NHXI genes observed by RT-PCR analysis indicated that these genes were actively expressed under salt stress. The selected mutants will be useful for the development of rice cultivar resistant to salt stress.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.299-304
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• 2009

Interleukin 27 (IL-27) was discovered as a heterodimeric cytokine of the IL-12 family, and is composed of two subunits - Epstein-Barr virus induced gene 3 (EBI3) and p28. It acts as a versatile cytokine in the early regulation of Th1 initiation and in the negative regulation of the Th2 factor GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3). This cytokine is mediated by the IL-27 receptor (WSX-1), which is highly expressed on $CD4^+$ T lymphocytes and NK cells. We previously identified four polymorphisms in the human IL-27p28 gene and suggested that the polymorphism of IL-27p28 is associated with susceptibility to asthma. To determine whether these IL-27p28 SNPs are associated with susceptibility to allergic rhinitis, the genotype and allele frequencies of IL-27p28 SNPs were analyzed between allergic rhinitis patients and healthy controls. Although the genotype and allele frequencies of IL-27p28 SNPs in allergic rhinitis patients were not significantly different from those of the control group, there was a suggestive difference (P=0.037) between these groups in total serum IgE levels in the g.2905T>G SNP of the IL-27p28 gene. Our result implies that the g.2905T>G SNP of the IL-27p28 gene might have an affect on IgE production in allergic rhinitis patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.117-131
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• 2000

Objectives: To develop a new immunohistochemical marker system for supplementation of the Noyes histological classification of the endometrium in women of child bearing age with regular menstrual cycles, and to employ this system to evaluate pathologic factors involved in endometriosis, and thus to ascertain if it is useful in diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Endometrial biopsies were sampled from the posterior fundus of 41 (24 proliferative phases, 17 secretory phases) women with regular menstrual cycles (28-32 days), and each sample was immunohistochemically stained according to Noyes et al (1975) for determination of expression for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), integrin ${\alpha}_1$, ${\alpha}_4$, ${\beta}_3$, COX-1 and COX-2. Then, the PR, integrin ${\beta}_3$ and COX-2 which were clearly expressed in the luteal phase was with endometrial samples were obtained from 20 cases of normal patients (group 1) and 25 cases with endometriosis (group 2) after confirming the day of ovulation by sex steroid level measurements 7-8 days after ovulation Results: In the regular menstruation group the expression of ER showed a tendency to be increased in the proliferative phase and decreased in the secretory phase, and was the highest in the proliferative phase. However, PR in the stromal cells showed no change in the entire menstrual cycle while in the epithelial cells, PR reached a peak in the late proliferative phase and was almost absent in the secretory phase. Integrin (${\alpha}_1$, ${\alpha}_4$, and ${\beta}_3$ expression in the epithelial cells was absent in the proliferative phase but ${\alpha}_1$ was strongly expressed starting from the early secretory phase into the entire secretory phase. ${\alpha}_4$ was expressed strongly in the early and mid secretory phases and disappeared in the late proliferative phase, while ${\beta}_3$ appeared after the mid secretory phase and continued to be expressed until the late secretory phase. Expression in the stromal cells was weak overall and did not show any cyclic pattern. COX-1 expression was shown as a cyclic pattern in the stromal and epithelial cells and was particularly strongly expressed in the mid secretory phase of epithelial cells, and in the mid secretory and menstruation phase of stromal cells. In the endometrial epithelial cells there was strong expression during the entire cycle with stronger expression in the secretory phase compared to the prolferative phase. COX-2 was clearly expressed in the late proliferative, early and mid secretory phases in the stromal cells. No expression was observed in the proliferative phase of the epithelial cells, but which began to appear in the early secretory phase reaching a significant pattern from the mid secretory phase onwards. There was almost no expression in the stromal cells. In the cases with endometriosis showing normal endometrial maturation according to the Noyes classification, PR expression was increased while Integrin-${\beta}_3$의 expression was significantly decreased compared to the normal group. Also, COX-2 expression was slightly decreased in the stromal cells of patients with endometriosis while it was significantly increased in the stromal cells. Conclusion: Immunohistochemical markers can supplement the original Noyes classification of histological endometrial dating and therefore ascertain existing pathologic conditions. Particularly for patients with endometriosis with normally mature endometrial cells, changes in COX-2 and integrin expression patterns may assist in elucidating pathophysiologic mechanisms and therefore aid in the diagnosis of abnormal implantation conditions, and consequently determine a treatment modality.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2018

Chronic inflammation is known to have effects on various diseases such as gout, cancer, dementia, atopic disease, and obesity. In addition, since some signal cascades involved in the development of inflammation are known to affect the damage and aging of the skin tissue, studies are being conducted actively to control the inflammation mechanism. In order to mitigate or prevent inflammatory response, a number of researches have been made to develop anti-inflammatory materials from some plants. In particular, Stevia rebaudiana produces steviol glycosides (SG), a natural sweetener with a distinctive flavor. Studies on some of SG have been shown to have anti-inflammatory activity. Researchers of this study expected that more SG also possess anti-inflammatory activity, besides stevioside, rebaudioside A, and steviol. In order to confirm this possibility, the researchers screened inhibition activity of various steviol glucosides for NO production in RAW 264.7 cell lines. As a result, steviol ${\beta}-glucopyranosyl$ ester (SGE) showed the highest inhibitory activity among steviol derivatives treated at the same molar concentration. In addition, we found that mRNA expression level of $interleukin-1{\alpha}$ ($IL-1{\alpha}$), $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor kappa-light chain-enhancer of activated B cells ($NF-{\kappa}B$) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was also decreased in a dose-dependent manner. These results show that SGE inhibits anti-inflammatory activity and NO production in mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. It was confirmed that SGE has potential to be applied as an anti-inflammatory material.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.246-254
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• 2013

Five isolates of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) collected from various regions of Korea were amplified using PCR and determined the sequences of full-length genome, respectively. The PCR-amplified DNA of each TYLCV isolate was introduced into a binary vector to construct infectious clone containing 1.9 copies of the corresponding viral genome. Various cultivars and breeding lines of tomato were inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens harboring infectious clone of each TYLCV isolate to assess resistance against TYLCV. Susceptible cultivar 'Super-sunread' revealed typical yellowing and narrowing of the upper leaves. In contrast, breeding linesTY12, GC9, GC171, and GC173, which contained the TY-1 and/or TY-3 genes that confer resistance against TYLCV in nature, were completely symptomless, suggesting that the lines were resistant to challenging TYLCV isolates. Symptoms of TYLCV in susceptible tomato cultivars are significantly different from those of TYLCV in the resistant tomato cultivars at 30 days after agroinfiltration. Although genomic DNAs of TYLCV were detected from the breeding lines TY12, GC9, GC171, and GC173 using real-time PCR analysis with specific primers, levels of TYLCV DNA accumulation in the resistant breeding lines were much lower than those of TYLCV DNA accumulation in susceptible tomato cultivars. Similar symptom severity and levels of TYLCV DNA accumulation were observed from TYLCV infections mediated by Bemisia tabaci in the resistant and susceptible tomato cultivars. Concentration of agrobacterium did not affect the response of tomato cultivars against TYLCV inoculation. Taken together, these results suggest that TYLCV inoculation via agroinfiltration is as effective as inoculation through Bemisia tabaci and is useful for breeding programs of TYLCV-resistant tomato.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.46-53
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• 2005

Purpose: Bisphosphonates (BPs) are the analogues of endogenous pyrophosphates: they have been used in the treatment of skeletal diseases such as Paget's disease, osteoporosis, and tumorinducing ostelysis, and are used in treatment of osteolytic metastasis of breast cancer recently. They are also used as one of the therapeutic agents for metastasis of prostatic cancer of which metastasis makes the mixed nature of osteolysis and ostegenesis. Although the action mechanism of BPs are well known for diseases with excessive osteoclastic bone resorption, the direct effect of BPs has not been known yet. This study was intended to see the tumor suppression capability of Zoledronic acid(ZOL) using nude mouse with osteosarcoma. Materials and Methods: MG-63 and HOS osteosarcoma cell lines were used and the transforemed MG-63-GFP and HOS-GFP cells, which were made for detection under fluorescent light, were subcutaneously injected to make osteosarcoma. The five 6-week male mice were used for the experiment at each group. After the injection, mice were cultivated until tumor pieces grow up to $3{\times}3{\times}3$ $mm^3$ and ZOL of 120 ug/kg was subcutaneously injected twice a week. Sizes of tumor were measured twice a week and photographed under fluorescent light. Results: In in vivo test with HOS osteosarcoma cell lines, mean size of tumors was 2,520 $mm^3$ in control group and was 131 $mm^3$ in ZOL group, which showed 94% of reduction comparing with the control ; with MG-63 osteosarcoma cell lines, mean size of tumors was 2,866 $mm^3$ in control group and was 209 $mm^3$ in test group with 72% of reduction (p<0.05). Conclusion: In in vivo tests with nude mice, we suggest that ZOL has direct effect on osteosarcoma cells and it would be used as one of the therapeutic agents for osteosarcoma, especially to ZOL-sensitive osteosarcoma cells.