• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.291-298
• /
• 2009

This study was carried out to evaluate the consumer recognition with regard to the safety management for imported foods. In order to evaluate the effect of the prgram on consumer education, the program was practiced for 89 female college students in Seoul, Korea. The participants were given an instruction with materials on imported food safety, including the safety management of imported foods and their distribution. The results showed that the participants achieved a greater understanding of imported foods. In particular, they had firmly grasped the importance of expiration date in selecting imported foods. Before the instruction, 50.6% of total participants blamed the Korean government for the problems arising from imported foods; only 18.0% placed the blame on individuals or businesses importing from foreign countries. After the instruction, 39.3% had blamed the individuals or businesses importing from foreign countries. Furthermore, 36.0% had disapproved of the foods that are imported from China before the instruction, while 32.6% found objectionable the views on the illegally distributed foods; 29.2% criticized the junk foods that target children (after the instruction). In addition, the level of participant satisfaction via-a-vis imported foods safety supervision had improved from $2.76{\pm}1.59$(before the instruction) to $3.37{\pm}1.58$(after the instruction). The results indicate that consumers are concerned with the imported foods that contain adulterated or forbidden substances and the illegally distributed foods from foreign countries. Thus, consistent and informative educational programs on imported food safety could help consumers in choosing safer products, resulting in an improvement in the consumer confidence with respect to imported foods.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.115-121
• /
• 2002

To develop a new method of conjugation and to determine the distribution of R plasimds, we isolated multi-drug resistant strains from fish pathogenic bacteria in the farms of south and east seacoasts of Korea. Out of the 134 isolates examined, 10 showed resistance to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, streptomycin, ampicillin, colistin, nalidixic acid, oxolinic acid and kanamycin. One out of 10 multi-drug resistance bacteria, Vibfio damsela JE1 (V. damsela JE1), contained transferable R plasmid of chlorarnphenicol- tetracycline resistance genes and other nucleic acids encoding ampicillin and kanamycin resistance. The presence of the R plasmid was confirmed by conjugation using the chromocult medium (CC) as a selective and differential medium for transconiugants with identification based on the growth or colors of the colonies. The frequency of R plasmid transfer with filter mating method was come out much higher than that of broth mating method and appeared to be dependent upon the mating time and temperature. The optimum conditions for filter mating method were found to be 30$^{\circ}C$ and 24hrs as mating temperature and period, respectively, Moreover, donor cells with R plasmid, both isolate and standard bacteria, were shown to have an ability to transfer the plasmid against Escherichia coli K-12 HB101 (E. coli HB101) and Edwardsiella tarda (E. tarda) RE14 at fairly high frequencies, finally, we isolated 3 isolates of Sphingomonas sp., carrying R plasmid from 12 multi-drug resistant bacteria in normal microflora of the flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) group used for the isolation of V emsela JE1 four months before. The same size and gene transfer chayateristics of R plasimds with those of V damsela JE1 confirmed that normal microflora have the reservoir activity for R plasmid in natural aquatic environment.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 2018

Background: The use of different methods for the processing of ginseng can result in alterations in its medicinal properties and efficacy. White ginseng (WG), frozen ginseng (FG), and red ginseng (RG) are produced using different methods. WG, FG, and RG possess different pharmacological properties. Methods: WG, FG, and RG extracts and pure ginsenosides were administered to rats to study the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution characteristics of the following ginsenosides-DRg1, Re, Rb1, and Rd. The concentrations of the ginsenosides in the plasma and tissues were determined using UPLC-MS/MS. Results: The rate and extent of absorption of Rg1, Re, Rb1, and Rd appeared to be affected by the different methods used in processing the ginseng samples. The areas under the plasma drug concentration-time curves (AUCs) of Rg1, Re, Rb1, and Rd were significantly higher than those of the pure ginsenosides. In addition, the AUCs of Rg1, Re, Rb1, and Rd were different for WG, FG, and RG. The amounts of Rg1, Re, Rd, and Rb1 were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the tissues than those of the pure ginsenosides. The amounts of Re, Rb1, and Rd from the RG extract were significantly higher than those from the WG and FG extracts in the heart, lungs, and kidneys of the rats. Conclusion: Our results show that the use of different methods to process ginseng might affect the pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability of ginseng as well as the tissue concentrations of Rg1, Re, Rd, and Rb1.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.48 no.1
• /
• pp.22-28
• /
• 2012

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is one of the major agents responsible for food poisoning during summer in Korea, which is transmitted via seawater or seafoods. Recently, distribution of the bacteria in the marine environment has been increased due to global warming. Great concern also has been raised regarding public hygiene as well as marine culture by the emergence of pathogens with antibiotic resistance. Therefore, distribution of V. parahaemolyticus and antibiotic resistance of the isolates were monitored in 7 coastal areas of Kyonggi Province and Incheon by sampling seawater, fishes and clams monthly. V. parahaemolyticus was detected from 47.7% of 966 samples (seawater 61.9%, seafoods 41.8%) analyzed using $CHROMagar^{TM}$ and TCBS agar plates as well as multiplex PCR. Among 13 antibiotics tested, resistance to vancomycin and ampicillin was observed in 97.3% and 87.3% of the isolates, respectively, and the ratios of them resistant to cephalothin (48.8%) and rifampin (46.1%) were also high. The isolates were most highly sensitive to chloramphenicol (91.7%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (91.8%). The ratio of sensitivity for other antibiotics was also high in the descending order of gentamycin (82.3%), tobramycin (74.8%), nalidixic acid (71.6%), tetracyclin (69.4%), cefotaxime (63.0%). About 69% of the isolates showed multiple drug resistance toward 3 antibiotics including vancomycin and ampicillin. Two of them exhibited resistance for 11 antibiotics used in this study. Plasmid profile analysis of the isolates with antibiotic resistance revealed that 55.1% of them retained plasmids of 24 different types. However, no clear inter-relationship between the resistance and the plasmid profile has been observed.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.73-95
• /
• 1986

A total of 5,462 isolates suspicious of Salmonella, Shigella and E. coli which were isolated during 1983 to 1985 by 12 City Hygine Laboratories and General Hospital Laboratories were received and identified at the National Salmonella Center, Seoul, Korea. The result of identification of these strains were summarized as follows: 1. It was confirmed that the total organisms broke down into 2,014 strains of Salmonella 1,294 of which were S. typhi, 887 strains of Shigella and 2,561 strains of E. coli. 2. For seasonal distribution of enteric pathogens, July was the month with the highest out breaks of salmonellosis, May was the month of Shigellosis, and April was of the highest month it in the case of E. coli. 3. Salmonella typhi with the highest incidence of isolation was shown to belong to various phage types, especially with the strains detected in Seoul. M1 type was widely distributed all over the country, but the majority was E1 type in 1983. 4. For age distribution of patients, the 20-29 age group had the highest incidence of salmonellosis whileas the 1 to 9 age group had the highest incidence of Shigellosis. 5. For sexuly distribution of Salmonella and Shigella infections seemed to be relatively higher in the female than in the male. However, E. coli. had no relationship to both sex. 6. The antibiotic sensitivity patterns of S. typhi cultures showed a tendancy to be resistant to colistin, gentamycin, neomycin, tetracycline and streptomycin. 7. The isolates of S. paratyphi-A, S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis seemed to have a tendency of multiple drug resistance. 8. 93.9 percent of 1,568 E. coli strains showed negative reactions to the antisera of enteropathogenic E. coli and 15.6 percent of them produced a heat-labile enterotoxin, but positive reaction to the antisera was 6.1 percent and 11.6 percent of them producled the enterotoxin.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.5-24
• /
• 2008

Pharmaceutists are interested in drugstores which are selling, the sundries, cosmetics, medical devices, with drugs. Because drug stores without prescription issued by doctor have faced on finacial difficulties since speciality between doctors and pharmaceutists set us law. There are two types of drugstore which is a type of common drugstore, other is a type of traditional drugstore based on pharmaceuties in steady of big size of store based on studies, cosmetics and so on. Expansion of business for drugstore show us that most of customer are who are very sensitive in circumstance. Since 2,000 it has been expanded to large scale, so market analysts expect that volume of market will be increased to 10 times within 5 years. Drugstores have several kinds of merchandises which customers can take a choice for their demands, so most of customers the young generations. However, market customers will be changed to medium, and old generations as drugstores set freely. Furthermore everybody will enjoy in at drugstores effectively this reports that include of counter based on proposals and validities. This study show examples that have been executed successfully by the advanced countries, moreover big companies in domestic market have been expanding their market share for drugstore business. Through out change of circumstance surrounding drugstores, this report indicate how to induce the large drugstore with validities and trends. Since speciality of pharmaceutists and doctors executed, direction and a forecast of developing drugstores under change of distribution of them and may be suggested. I hope that this research will be helpful of interesting in drugstores, and also lot of distributors focuses on drugstores to develop the drugstores in future.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.175-183
• /
• 2005

Dose distribution of Korean radiation workers classified by occupational categories was analyzed. Statistics of the occupational radiation exposure(ORE) in 2002 of the radiation workers in diagnostic and dental radiology were obtained from the Korea Food and Drug Agency(KFDA) who maintains the database for individual radiation dose records. Corresponding statistics for the rest of radiation workers were obtained by processing the individual annual doses provided by the Korea Radioisotope Association(KRIA) after deletion of individual information. The ORE distribution was classified in term of 28 occupational categories, annual individual dose levels, age groups and gender of 52733 radiation workers as of the year of 2002. The total collective dose was 66.4 man-Sv and resulting average individual ORE was 1.26 mSv. Around 80% of the workers were exposed to minimal doses less than 1.2 mSv. However, it appeared that the recorded doses exceeded 20 mSv for 43 workers in the industrial radiography and for 147 workers in the field of radiology. Particularly, recorded doses of 23 workers in radiology exceeded the annual dose limits of 50 mSv, which is extraordinary when the working environment is considered. It is uncertain whether those doses are real or caused by careless placing of dosimeters in the imaging rooms while the X-ray units are in operation. No one in the workforce of 16 operating nuclear power plant units was exposed over 20 mSv in 2002. Number of workers was the largest in their 30's of age and the mean individual dose was the highest in their 20's. Women were around 20% of the radiation workers and their average dose was around one half of that of man workers.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.79-89
• /
• 2009

The objective of this study was to find out the stable formulation of nano-emulsion containing high concentration of quercetin and to investigate the effect of an ethanol on the nano-emulsion prepared by POE (30) hydrogenated castor oil (HCO-30)/oil/quercetin/ethanol/water system. Nano-emulsion was prepared using emulsion inversion point (EIP) method as low-energy method plus homogenizer as high-energy method. To evaluate effect of ethanol and other components on the nano-emulsion, physical properties such as droplet size, morphology, and size distribution were determined. The optimal quercetin concentration was 0.2 % on the nano-emulsion. The droplet diameter was below 300 nm at the HCO-30 concentration below 2.00 %. Nano-emmulsion containing 4.75 % HCO-30 was the most stable and its mean droplet size was 172.40 nm. Finally, the size of nano-emulsion containing 4.00 % ethanol was 128.15 nm and size distribution was also narrow. The results showed that the breakdown process of this nano-emulsion could be attributed to Ostwald ripening. This study about effect of ethanol on the nano-emulsion showed that loading capacity of drug could be increased by using a small amount of ethanol. As prepared stable nano-emulsion, this study showed that these results could be applied to pharmaceutics, cosmetic including skin-care products, perfume and etc.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.239-246
• /
• 2013

Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance and multidrug resistance patterns have been studied with a total of 189 samples of Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium isolated from diarrhea patients in Incheon from 2008 to 2012. Methods: Antimicrobial resistance tests were determined by Disc Diffusion method. Results: The serological distribution of Salmonella spp. showed 108 strains (30.1%) of S. Enteritidis, 81 strains (22.6%) of S. Typhimirium, eight strains (8.0%) of S. Typhi, 11 strains ( 3.1% ) of S. Paratyphi, and the 151 other strains (42.1%). The separation rate of Salmonella spp. by year showed 14.5% (52 strains) in 2008, 13.6% (49 strains) in 2009, 22.8% (82 strains) in 2010, 25.3% (91 strains) in 2011, and 23.7% (85 strains) in 2012. Additionally, the separation rate of S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimirium in 2010 was the highest. The Salmonella spp. isolated from diarrhea patients showed significant differences according to age (p<0.05), gender (p<0.01) and medical institution (p<0.05). The highest resistance was found to the following antimicrobial agents: imipenem 77 strains, ampicillin 47 strains, ciprofloxacin 34 strains, nalidixic acid 29 strains for S. Enteritidis, and ampicillin 45 strains, nalidixic acid 45 strains for S. Typhimurium. Separated S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium resistance to the antibiotics by the year showed significant differences (p<0.05). The patterns of multidrug resistance rates were 43.1% (47 strains) for one drug, 8.3% (9 strains) for two drugs, 11.0% (12 strains) for three drugs, 15.62% (17 strains) for four drugs, and 13.7% (15 strains) for five or more drugs for S. Enteritidis. For S. Tyhpimurium, the rates were 15.0% (12 strains) for one drug, 10.0% (8 strains) for two drugs, 6.3% (five strains) for three drugs, 18.7% (15 strains) for four drugs, and 23.8% (19 strains) for five or more drugs. Conclusion: The antibiotic resistance issue is directly related to people's lives. Thus, the usage of antibiotics should be reduced in order to manage antibiotic resistance.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.49-76
• /
• 2006

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of a computerized review program which was introduced in August 1, 2003, using claims data for acute respiratory infection related diseases. National Health Insurance (NHI) claims data on respiratory infection related diseases before and after the introduction, with six month intervals respectively, were used for the analysis. Clinic was the unit of observation, and clinics with only one physician whose specialty was internal medicine, pediatrics, otorhinolaryngology and family medicine and clinics with a general practitioner were selected. The final sample had 7,637 clinics in total. Indices used to measure practice pattern was prescription rates of antibiotics, prescription rates of injection drug per visit, treatment costs per claim, and total costs per claim. Changes in the number of claims for major disease categories and upcoding index for disease categories were used to measure claiming behavior. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis, t-test for indices changes before and after the introduction, analysis of variance (ANOVA) for practice pattern change for major disease categories, and multiple regression analysis to identify whether new system influenced on provider' practice patterns or not. Prescription of antibiotics, prescription rates of injection drug, treatment costs per claim, and total costs per claim decreased significantly. Results from multiple regression analysis showed that a computerized review system had effects on all the indices measuring behavior. Introduction of the new system had the spillover effects on the provider's behavior in the related disease categories in addition to the effects in the target diseases, but the magnitude of the effects were bigger among the target diseases. Rates of claims for computerized review over total claims for respiratory diseases significantly decreased after the introduction of a computerized review system and rates of claims for non target diseases increased, which was also statistically significant. Distribution of the number of claims by disease categories after the introduction of a computerized review system changed so as to increase the costs per claims. Analysis of upcoding index showed index for 'other acute lower respiratory infection (J20-22)', which was included in the review target, decreased and 'otitis media (H65, H66)', which was not included in the review target, increase. Factors affecting provider's practice patterns should be taken into consideration when policies on claims review method and behavior changes. It is critical to include strategies to decrease the variations among providers.