• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.210-216
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate GDH & Toxin (GDT) tests for the identification of the presence of Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) as well as to detect whether any toxin was present in the feces of patients suspected of diarrhea associated with C. difficile. Data related to the results of toxin and culture (TC) tests and GDT tests conducted on patients with diarrhea and suspected CDI between January 2017 and august 2018, positive test rates, patient ages and sexes, whether the patients were hospitalized, and turnaround time (TAT) were analyzed retrospectively. Of the 7,554 total tests conducted for CDI diagnosis, 1,010 TC tests (14.9%) were positive, while 92 GDT tests (12.0%) were positive. Of these positive cases, 815 (80.7%) identified through TC test and 80 (87%) identified through GDT test were inpatients. also, among the patients with positive test results, 497 (49.2%) diagnosed through TC test and 45 (48.9%) diagnosed through GDT test were aged 61 years or older. The total time required to complete a TC test was 83.6 hours, while the time required for a GDT test was 11.2 hours, equating to an approximately three-day difference between the two tests. The detection of toxin-producing C. difficile is important in CDI diagnosis, but the commonly used Enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) toxin tests with low sensitivity result in delayed CDI diagnosis time. Therefore, primary screening tests for CDI diagnosis using the GDT method and secondary tests using additional methods are considered most effective.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.2052-2059
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• 2017

The emergence and dissemination of Salmonella genomic island 1 (SGI1) are strongly associated with the occurrence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) enterobacteria in humans and animals. Diverse SGI1s have been reported among Salmonella enterica and Proteus mirabilis in several countries. We aimed to characterize SGI1 in P. mirabilis isolates from humans and chickens in Chungcheong Province, Korea. A total of 44 P. mirabilis isolates were recovered from humans (n = 20) and chickens (n = 24). Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion assay. To detect and characterize SGI1s, PCR amplification and PCR mapping experiments were performed. Repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR (REP-PCR) was performed to assess the clonality of the isolates. The four P. mirabilis strains (16.7%) from chicken harbored a SGI1, whereas none of the isolates from clinical specimens contained SGI1. The SGI1s detected in our study were all confirmed as SGI1-PmABB harboring aminoglycoside-resistant genes (aacCA5 and aadA7). In P. mirabilis isolates, the presence of SGI1-PmABB was significantly correlated with high resistance rates of the isolates to antimicrobial agents, such as gentamicin, streptomycin, and spectinomycin. Moreover, the four SGI1-bearing isolates showed the same REP-PCR patterns and that suggested both horizontal and clonal spread of the isolates. This study is the first attempt to determine SGI1s in P. mirabilis isolates in Korea. We confirmed that P. mirabilis isolates carrying SGI1-PmABB were distributed at poultry farms in Korea. The present study emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring of SGI1s to prevent spreading of the MDR genomic islands among P. mirabilis isolates from humans and animals.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.171-180
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial resistance pattern and distribution of resistance gene in 44 Enterobacteriaceae and 21 Pseudomonas (P) aeruginosa isolated from hospitalized dogs and cats in animal hospital from 2010 to 2011 in Daegu. Among Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia (E) coli was highly resistant to ampicillin (56.7%), followed by tetracycline (53.3%), cephalothin, streptomycine, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, gentamicin and norfloxacin (40.0~43.3%). The remaining isolates of Enterobacteriaceae had high resistance to ampicillin (64.3%) and streptomycin (42.9%). Whereas, P. aeruginosa was low resistant to all antimicrobials tested (less than 15%). int I 1 gene was detected in 20 (57.1%) of 35 antimicrobial resistant Enterobacteriaceae and 2 (9.5%) of 21 P. aeruginosa., but int I 2 gene was not detected in all isolates. The eight resistance genes were found either alone or combination with other gene (s): $bla_{TEM}$, aadA, strA-strB, clmA, tetA, tetB, sul I and sul II. About 78% of integron-positive isolates were resistance to more than four antimicrobial agents. The findings suggest that class I integrons are widely distributed in E. coli among Enterobacteriaceae from dogs and cats and multi-drug resistance related to the presence of class I integrons. The prudent use of antimicrobials and continuous monitoring for companion animals are required.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2017

This study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles and resistance genes in 62 Escherichia coli isolated from dogs and cats hospitalized at animal hospitals in Daegu. E. coli isolates showed high resistance to nalidixic acid (46.8%) and ampicillin (45.2%). Resistance to the other antimicrobial agents was less than 30%, and no resistant isolates were detected for imipenem and amikacin. Of the 28 ampicillin-resistant isolates, TEM and CTX-M genes were detected in 16 (57.1%) and 11 (39.3%), respectively. The aadA gene was found in 4 (26.7%) of 15 gentamicin-resistant isolates, and strA-strB gene was found in 10 (66.7%) isolates. The sul I and sul II genes were detected in 11 (61.1%) and 14 (77.8%) of 18 trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole-resistant isolates, and tetB gene in 9 (81.8%) of 11 minocycline-resistant isolates, and cmlA gene in 2 (22.2%) of 8 chloramphenicol-resistant isolates. The qnrB and qnrS genes were found in 3 (10.3%) and 1 (3.4%) of 28 nalidixic acid-resistant isolates, respectively. Whereas, none of the SHV, CMY-2, tetA, dfr Ia and dfr VII, and qnrA genes were found. Our results show a wide variety of resistance genes in E. coli isolates from dogs and cats. This study also represents the first report of qnrB and qnrS gene producing E. coli isolates from dogs in republic of Korea.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.24
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• pp.97-124
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• 2008

This study aimed to explore how the involvement of environment influenced eight subjects group. Thus, experiment was performed to clarify the role that the attitude of university student consumer plays in the communication process depending on the level of engagement of consumer in the environment and method to raise donation for preservation of environment. Analyzing as per the type of appeal, the mark in altruistic appeal type was higher in all variables than egoistic appeal type. Finally, checking the average mark of each variable as per the condition of donation, the value in unconditional donation was higher than in all variables than conditional donation. It was found 3 groups composed of 2 groups with high level of environmental engagement and 1 group with low level of environmental engagement were suitable to double mediation model among the 8 experimental groups. The group where double mediation model best corresponds than any other group was high level related to environment and the group that contacts altruistic appeal and the message in the form of conditional donation. It was also found that the group that has low level of environmental engagement and contacts egoistic appeal type and conditional donation shows the group that corresponds to double mediation model in the second place among the 8 groups. Finally, it was found that the group that has high level of environmental engagement and is stimulated by altruistic appeal and unconditional donation corresponds to double mediation model. Depending on the condition of message stimulation, unconditional donation is found to better correspond to double mediation model than conditional donation. However, opposite phenomena is observed when the level of environmental engagement is high and appeal type is egoistic. Namely, it was found that conditional donation better corresponds to double mediation model than unconditional donation.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09b
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• pp.245-252
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• 2003

There have been many kinds of hair styling sprays with various setting effects. Consumers have used strong setting effect hair sprays to get a long lasting hold. In recent years, however, more and more consumers have come to prefer a "soft ＆ natural" touch feeling, keeping the same long lasting hold. Nonetheless, the existing approaches to this feature could not respond to the consumers′ needs, since products lose the hold strength if the soft feeling is pursued, and vice versa. We have researched and developed a new products to attain a compatible feature with both long lasting hold and natural feeling. Then, we have developed a new multifunctional hair styling material "Poly Amino Acid Derivative (PAAD)." We have focused on the PAAD′s feature that highly diffuses onto a hair and makes thin and even layer on a hair, and have made trials and errors to improve holding strength. "P AAD" excellently makes hair memorize its curl shape which is as the same effect as existing ordinary acrylic resin. Further more, it leaves a soft and natural touch feeling on the hair. We have accomplished a new Poly Amino Acid Derivative with ambivalent features, "soft ＆ natural finish" and "long lasting hold ", and now we report about it.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.222-228
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• 2018

Benzene is one of the most widely used basic materials in the petrochemical industry. Generally, benzene exists as a mixture with alcohols rather than as a pure substance. Further, the alcohols-added mixtures usually exhibit an azeotropic composition. In this context, knowledge of the phase equilibrium behavior of the mixture is essential for its separation and purification. In this study, the vapor-liquid equilibrium data were measured in favor of a recirculating VLE apparatus under constant pressure for the 1 - propanol / benzene system. The measured vapor - liquid equilibrium data were also correlated by using the UNIQUAC and WILSON models and the thermodynamic consistency test based on the Gibbs/Duhem equation was followed. The results of the phase equilibrium experiment revealed RMSEs (Root Mean Square Error) and AADs (Average Absolute Deviation) of less than 0.05 for both models, indicating a good agreement between the experimental value and the calculated value. The results of the thermodynamic consistency test also confirmed through the residual term within ${\pm}0.2$.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.9
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• pp.813-820
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• 2020

NB4 cell, the human acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cell line, was treated with various concentrations of arsenic trioxide (ATO) to induce apoptosis, measured by staining with 7-amino-actinomycin D (7-AAD) by flow cytometry. 2', 7'-dichlorodihydro-fluorescein-diacetate (DCF-DA) and MitoSOX™ Red mitochondrial superoxide indicator were used to detect intracellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). The steady-state level of SO₂ (Cysteine sulfinic acid, Cys-SO₂H) form for peroxiredoxin 3 (PRX3) was measured by a western blot. To evaluate the effect of sulfiredoxin 1 depletion, NB4 cells were transfected with small interfering RNA and analyzed for their influence on ROS, redox enzymes, and apoptosis. The mitochondrial ROS of NB4 cells significantly increased after ATO treatment. NB4 cell apoptosis after ATO treatment increased in a time-dependent manner. Increased SO₂ form and dimeric PRX3 were observed as a hyperoxidation reaction in NB4 cells post-ATO treatment, in concordance with mitochondrial ROS accumulation. Sulfiredoxin 1 expression is downregulated by small interfering RNA transfection, which potentiated mitochondrial ROS generation and cell growth arrest in ATO-treated NB4 cells. Our results indicate that ATO-induced ROS generation in APL cell mitochondria is attributable to PRX3 hyperoxidation as well as dimerized PRX3 accumulation, subsequently triggering apoptosis. The downregulation of sulfiredoxin 1 could amplify apoptosis in ATO-treated APL cells.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2019

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the combination effects of Cinnamomi cortex Ethanol Extract (CcEE) and hyperthermia in the human AGS gastric cancer cell line. Methods : AGS cells were treated with the indicated concentrations of CcEE (0, 50 or $60{\mu}g/mL$) for 1h prior to hyperthermia. And then incubated for a further 30 min at the indicated temperatures (37, 42 or $43^{\circ}C$) in a humidified incubator containing 5% $CO_2$ or a thermostatically controlled water bath for hyperthermia. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay, Morphology assay and Trypan blue assay. To investigate the possible molecular signaling pathways, the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) proteins (ERK, p38 and JNK) and expression of various anti-apoptotic proteins such as Caspase-3, Caspase-9, p53, Cyclin D1 and MMP-2 were assessed by Western blot analysis. In addition, Annexin V and 7-amino-actinomycin D (7-AAD) staining was performed to examine the apoptotic mechanism. Results : Combination of CcEE with hyperthermia effectively suppressed the cell viability and changed cellmorphology compared with CcEE or hyperthermia treatment alone. Combined treatment also abated the expression of Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Cyclin D1 and MMP-2. Whereas, the expression level of p53 was up-regulated by co-treatment. Moreover, combination treatment enhanced phosphorylation of ERK, p38 and JNK. In addition, this combination increased anti-cancer effect by inducing cell death through the apoptosis. Conclusions : Taken together, all these findings suggest that the combination treatment with CcEE and hyperthermia may have therapeutic potential as a promising approach to patients with stomach cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.287-295
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• 2022

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is known to induce apoptosis of host immune cells and impair phagocytic clearance, thereby being pivotal in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) exert therapeutic effects against inflammatory and immune diseases. In the present study, we investigated whether systemic administration of ASCs restores the phagocytic activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and decolonizes cutaneous S. aureus under AD conditions. AD was induced by injecting capsaicin into neonatal rat pups. ASCs were extracted from the subcutaneous adipose tissues of naïve rats and administered to AD rats once a week for a month. Systemic administration of ASCs ameliorated AD-like symptoms, such as dermatitis scores, serum IgE, IFN-γ⁺/IL-4⁺ cell ratio, and skin colonization by S. aureus in AD rats. Increased FasL mRNA and annexin V⁺/7-AAD⁺ cells in the PBMCs obtained from AD rats were drastically reversed when co-cultured with ASCs. In contrast, both PBMCs and CD163⁺ cells bearing fluorescent zymosan particles significantly increased in AD rats treated with ASCs. Additionally, the administration of ASCs led to an increase in the mRNA levels of antimicrobial peptides, such as cathelicidin and β-defensin, in the skin of AD rats. Our results demonstrate that systemic administration of ASCs led to decolonization of S. aureus by attenuating apoptosis of immune cells in addition to restoring phagocytic activity. This contributes to the improvement of skin conditions in AD rats. Therefore, administration of ASCs may be helpful in the treatment of patients with intractable AD.