• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2023

Background Trunk defects can occur because of surgical site infections after spinal surgery, resection of malignant tumors, or trauma. Herein, we present our experience of using intercostal artery perforator (ICAP) flaps to reconstruct trunk defects without noteworthy complications. Fourteen patients underwent reconstruction with ICAP flaps between March 2015 and March 2019. Methods Patients' data, including age, sex, the cause of the defect, defect size, perforator location, flap size, complications, and follow-up period, were retrospectively reviewed. The mean age of the patients was 56.5 years (range, 19-80 years). All operations were performed after the results of bacterial culture from the wound showed no microbial growth. We found reliable perforators around the defect using Doppler ultrasonography. The perforator flaps were elevated with a pulsatile perforator and rotated in a propeller fashion to the defects. We performed five dorsal and two lateral ICAP flaps. The mean flap dimensions were 12 × 5.5 cm² (range, 6 × 5 to 18 × 8 cm²). Results Primary closure of the donor site was performed. Marginal congestion was observed as a complication in one case, but it healed with no need for revision. The mean follow-up period was 8 months. All patients were satisfied with the surgical outcomes. Conclusion ICAP flaps can be easily mobilized, thereby reducing donor site morbidity without sacrificing the underlying muscles for trunk reconstruction. Therefore, these flaps are useful options for the reconstruction of trunk defects.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.310-312
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• 2012

Cytochrome $b_5$ is involved in the reduction of methemoglobin back to hemoglobin, thereby maintaining normal function of the blood to carry oxygen around. Congenital abnormal condition of this enzyme causes a rare disease called methemoglobinemia. At least 4 different retropseudogenes are reported so far for cytochrome $b_5$. However, type III pseudogene has attracted most attention because it contains open reading frame in its structure. Although there is no evidence yet if this pseudogene is actually expressed in the cell or the blood the possibility of its expression needs to be elucidated. We have isolated type III pseudogene by polymerase chain reaction and cloned into pGEX-4T-1 expression vector followed by SDS-PAGE. Protein was expressed and the size of the expressed protein was 28 kDa as expected in its genetic code. This result also shows that the protein is not harmful for the viability of the microorganism. This study may contribute to the genetic diagnosis of cardiac diseases, possibly caused by cytochrome $b_5$.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.151-156
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• 2009

As part of an investigation to identify microorganisms that are biotechnologically interesting for industrial application, we isolated a bacterial strain from Chungkookjang that produces extracellular neutral lipase. In addition, the crude enzyme was characterized. This isolated strain, designated as JKA-3 was identified as Bacillus subtilis JKA-3 based on morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics, as well as phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequence. The cells were rod-shaped and $0.6-0.8{\times}2.0-2.3\;{\mu}m$ in size. Optimal growth conditions were $35-40^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.0-8.0. The isolate was able to grow in up to 0-10.0% (w/v) NaCl. Optimal activity conditions of the crude lipase fraction of B. subtilis JKA-3 were pH of 7.0 at $35^{\circ}C$. This enzyme was stable in the pH ranging 6.0-8.0.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.126-126
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• 2003

Incidence of crown gall on lower stem of chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat., was first observed at Hwasung, Gyeonggi, Korea in 2001, Tumors on the stem were 1.5-2 cm in size and semi-round with rough surface texture of dark brown color. Four strains of bacteria isolated from the tumor tissues were characterized. Their colonies were convex, glistening, circular with an entire edge, and white to tannish-cream in color on PDA plus CaCO$_3$. They were gram negative, oxidase positive, and growing on DIM agar. The bacterial isolates inducing gall formation in chrysanthemum were identified as Agrobacterium tumefaciens based on biochemical and physiological characteristics, fatty acid profile using Sherlock Microbial Identification System, and substrate utilization patterns using Biolog Identification System. Young chrysanthemum plants inoculated with the bacteria developed typical galls within two to three weeks. Seedlings of tomato and slices of carrot roots also produced typical galls two to three weeks after inoculation. This is the first report on crown gall of chrysanthemum in Korea.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.367-371
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• 2005

About 3,000 bacterial colonies with esterase activities were isolated from soil samples by enrichment culture and halo-size on Luria broth-tributyrin (LT) plates. The colonies were assayed for esterase activity in microtiter plates using enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-2-phenylbutyric acid resorufin ester (2PB-O-res) as substrates. Two enantioselective strains (JH2 and JH13) were selected by the ratio of initial rate of hydrolysis of enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-2-PB-O-res. When cell pellets were used, both strains showed high apparent enantioselectivity ($E_{app}>100$) for (R)-2PB-O-res and were identified as Exiguobacterium acetylicum. The JH13 strain showed high esterase activity on p-nitrophenyl acetate (pNPA), but showed low lipase activity on p-nitrophenyl palmitate (pNPP). The esterase was located in the soluble fraction of the cell extract. The crude intracellular enzyme preparation was stable at a pH range from 6.0 to 11.0.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.464-467
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• 2006

Recently, the nucleotide sequences of entire genomes became available. This information combined with older sequencing data discloses the exact chromosomal location of millions of nucleotide markers stored in the databases at NCBI, EMBO or DDBJ. Despite having resolved the intron/exon structures of all described genes within these genomes with a stroke of a pen, the sequencing data opens up other interesting possibilities. For example, the genomic mapping of the end sequences of the human, murine and rat BAC libraries generated at The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR), reveals now the entire encompassed sequence of the inserts for more than a million of these clones. Since these clones are individually stored, they are now an invaluable source for experiments which depend on genomic DNA. Isolation of smaller fragments from such clones with standard methods is a time consuming process. We describe here a reliable one-step cloning technique to obtain a DNA fragment with a defined size and sequence from larger genomic clones in less than 48 hours using a standard vector with a multiple cloning site, and common restriction enzymes and equipment. The only prerequisites are the sequences of ends of the insert and of the underlying genome.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.255-258
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• 2005

The nasopalatine duct cyst, known as the incisive canal cyst, is the most common nonodontogenic cyst in the maxillofacial area. It is believed to arise from epithelial remnants of the embryonic nasopalatine duct. Nasopalatine duct cysts are most often detected in patients between forties and sixties. The trauma, bacterial infection, or mucous retention has been suggested as etiological factors. The cysts often present as asymptomatic swelling of the palate but can present with painful swelling or drainage. Radiologic findings include a well demarcated cystic structure in a round, ovoid or heart shape presenting with a well-defined bone defect in the anterior midline of the palate between and posterior to the central incisors. Most of them are less than 2cm in size. On MRI, the cyst is identified as a high-intensity, well-marginated lesion, which indicates that it contains proteinaceous material. We experienced a case of a 61-year-old female patient who had a $2.3{\times}2.6{\times}1.7cm$ sized nasopalatine duct cyst. The bony defect after a surgical extirpation was restored with hydroxyapatite. So we report a good results with some reviews of the literatures.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.330-337
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• 2018

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including naphthalene, are widely distributed in nature. Naphthalene has been regarded as a model PAH compound for investigating the mechanisms of bacterial PAH biodegradation. Pseudomonas sp. AS1 isolated from an arseniccontaminated site is capable of growing on various aromatic compounds such as naphthalene, salicylate, and catechol, but not on gentisate. The genome of strain AS1 consists of a 6,126,864 bp circular chromosome and the 81,841 bp circular plasmid pAS1. Pseudomonas sp. AS1 has multiple dioxygenases and related enzymes involved in the degradation of aromatic compounds, which might contribute to the metabolic versatility of this isolate. The pAS1 plasmid exhibits extremely high similarity in size and sequences to the well-known naphthalene-degrading plasmid pDTG1 in Pseudomonas putida strain NCIB 9816-4. Two gene clusters involved in the naphthalene degradation pathway were identified on pAS1. The expression of several nah genes on the plasmid was upregulated by more than 2-fold when naphthalene was used as a sole carbon source. Strains have been isolated at different times and places with different characteristics, but similar genes involved in the degradation of aromatic compounds have been identified on their plasmids, which suggests that the transmissibility of the plasmids might play an important role in the adaptation of the microorganisms to mineralize the compounds.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.363-368
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• 2004

In order to investigate the effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA), as a pore former, on the controlled release of an antibiotic from a biodegradable polymeric device, polycaprolactone (PCL)-cefadroxil matrices were prepared by the solvent casting method. The amount of cefadroxil released from various formulations at $37^{\circ}C$ was measured by HPLC. The duration of antimicrobial activity of matrices against S. aureus was evaluated by measuring the diameters of the inhibition zone. The morphology of the matrices was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The release rate and extent of cefadroxil from PCL matrix increased as the loading dose and particle size of BSA/cefadroxil mixture powder increased. Cefadroxil released from the matrix exhibited antibacterial activity for up to 4 days. SEM of the cross-section of matrix showed the typical channel formation after 3 days of release study. Thus, a biodegradable polymeric matrix loaded with antibiotic/BSA mixture can effectively prevent bacterial infection on its surface, thereby bringing about an enhancement of biocompatibility of biomaterials.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.550-555
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• 1995

A strain of Pseudomonas sp. isolated from soil was shown to produce a high level of extracellular endo-inulinase. In this work, the endo-inulinase gene (inu1) of the bacterial strain was cloned into the plasmid pBR322 by using EcoRI restriction endonuclease and E. coli HB101 as a host strain. One out of 7, 000 transformants obtained from the above cloning experiment formed a clear zone around its colony on the selective medium supplemented with 2.0% inulin after a prolonged incubation at 37$\circ$C and subsequent cold shock treatment. The functional clone was found to carry a recombinant plasmid (pKMG50) with a 3.7 kb genomic insert containing the genetic information for the inulinase activity. The inulinase from E. coli HB101/pKMG50 was proved to be an endo-acting enzyme and produced constitutively in the recombinant E. coli cells. Zymogram of the enzyme from the recombinant cells with inulin substrate indicated that the molecular mass of the active protein was 190 Kd, while that of the endo-inulinase from the Pseudomonas strain was 170 Kd. This size discrepancy suggested that the inulinase from the recombinant E. coli HB101 cells might be the initial product of translation, not the mature form produced in the strain of Pseudomonas sp..