• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.1276-1286
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• 2024

The environment has been identified as an origin, reservoir, and transmission route of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Among diverse environments, freshwater environments have been recognized as pivotal in the transmission of ARGs between opportunistic pathogens and autochthonous bacteria such as Aeromonas spp. In this study, five environmental strains of Aeromonas spp. exhibiting multidrug resistance (MDR) were selected for whole-genome sequencing to ascertain their taxonomic assignment at the species-level and to delineate their ARG repertoires. Analyses of their genomes revealed the presence of one protein almost identical to AhQnr (A. hydrophila Qnr protein) and four novel proteins similar to AhQnr. To scrutinize the classification and taxonomic distribution of these proteins, all Aeromonas genomes deposited in the NCBI RefSeq genome database (1,222 genomes) were investigated. This revealed that these Aeromonas Qnr (AQnr) proteins are conserved intrinsic resistance determinants of the genus, exhibiting species-specific diversity. Additionally, structure prediction and analysis of contribution to quinolone resistance by AQnr proteins of the isolates, confirmed their functionality as quinolone resistance determinants. Given the origin of mobile qnr genes from aquatic bacteria and the crucial role of Aeromonas spp. in ARG dissemination in aquatic environments, a thorough understanding and strict surveillance of AQnr families prior to the clinical emergence are imperative. In this study, using comparative genome analyses and functional characterization of AQnr proteins in the genus Aeromonas, novel Aeromonas ARGs requiring surveillance has suggested.

• Journal of Radiopharmaceuticals and Molecular Probes
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2024

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which had been identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. COVID-19 is a serious threat to human health and spread worldwide. World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important that vaccines and therapeutics are developed to control COVID-19. Among these, vaccines using COVID-19 mRNA platforms have various advantages, including a short development cycle, an easy industrialization, a simple production process, flexibility for new variants, and the capacity to induce better immune responses. This review summarizes the structure and characteristics of coronaviruses and introduces the use of non-clinical pharmacokinetic evaluation with C-14 in mRNA vaccine development. The in vitro stability of C-14 labeled mRNA carrier ([¹⁴C]mRNA carrier) was evaluated and found to be stable for up to 144 hours in rat serum. The [¹⁴C]mRNA carrier was distributed mostly to the administration site in rats, but slowly distributed to other organs after 48 hours. Most of the [¹⁴C]mRNA carrier remained in the administered muscle and was slowly excreted from the body through urine after 72 hours. There was no statistical difference in the distribution and excretion after intramuscular administration of the [¹⁴C]mRNA carrier to male and female rats. Through this paper, it is expected to contribute to the development of drug carriers through various studies using C-14.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.588-593
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• 2024

An extensive analysis of 3,490 metabolic pathways in 471 archaebacterial species was conducted using the MetaCyc database. The number of metabolic pathways in these species varied significantly, ranging from 13 to 184 per species. Notably, no single metabolic pathway was found to be common in all archaebacteria. However, the "UTP and CTP de novo biosynthesis" and "tRNA charging" pathways were present in the 470 species. Among the top 12 most prevalent metabolic pathways in archaebacteria, five were associated with nucleic acids and five with proteins. The remaining pathways included the "synthetic pathway of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)," a critical cofactor in various bioreactions, and "phosphopantothenate biosynthesis III (archaea)," which is required for essential post-translational modifications. These findings underscore the importance of nucleic acids and protein metabolism in archaeal biology. When the average and standard deviation of the distance values obtained from the phylogenetic tree of metabolic pathways, each class of archaebacteria was divided into main two groups and the others, showing that the distribution of metabolic pathways was diverse. This study's insights hold potential applications in both foundational science and drug development.

• Oncology Letters
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.4858-4864
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• 2019

XAV939, a tankyrase inhibitor, exerts an anticancer effect in 3-dimensional (3D) cultured SW480 cells, however this is not exhibited in 2-dimensional (2D) cultured SW480 cells. In the current study, XAV939 induced a 3.7-fold increase in cellular apoptosis in 3D culture but not in the 2D culture. However, no significant changes were indicated in cell cycle distribution in the 2D or 3D culture. Based on the observation that protein expression, which was associated with the glycolytic pathway, was increased in the 3D culture, the effect of XAV939 on the patterns of glycolytic protein expression was assessed. XAV939 was revealed to decrease lactose dehydrogenase A (LDHA) expression in 3D cultured SW480 cells, but only exerted a small effect in the 2D culture. The coadministration of XAV939 with the LDHA inhibitor FX11 decreased proliferation in 3D cultured SW480 cells compared with the single administration of FX11, while there was no additive effect in the 2D culture. The lactate assay also indicated that XAV939 decreased lactate secretion in the 3D cell culture but not in the 2D culture. These results suggest that XAV939 exerts an anticancer effect through inhibition of LDHA in the 3D culture.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.487-495
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• 1996

The consumer perception on health and food habit, the experience of health food use and the discrimination between health food and drug of Korean consumer were surveyed by using a questionnaire containing 20 items in order to obtain the basic data for the assessment of the benefit and risk of health foods in Korea. A total of 1,000 people over 20 years of age living in Seoul and the vicinities were interviewed and asked to fill out the questionnaire during the period from the October 1995 to the February 1996. Among the 882 answers collected 23 was incomplete data, and 859 answers were used for the statistical analysis by using SAS program. The survey revealed a strong interest of the consumer on health food by showing that more than a half of the subjects (58.8%) had the experience of actual use of health food, and 68.2% believed the effectiveness. What the consumer expect most from health food was to have beneficial effect to maintain overall health condition (59.8%), and the most negative aspect of health food was the overstatement on the effectiveness by the producers (52.1%). The most important source of information for the purchase of health food was the suggestion of friends and relatives (30.6%). Among the health foods registered and regulated by the food law, royal jelly (22.7%), squalene (16.0%), refined fish oil (15.1%), lactic acid bacteria (10.6%) and aloe (8.8%) were relatively well aware. Although 84% of the subjects perceived that health food is different from drug or traditional medicine, the largest percentage of the subject selected ginseng as the most well known type of health food (22.7%) as well as the most well known drug (or traditional medicine) (41.7%). Ginseng was also chosen as the most frequently used health food (17.0%), and vitamin tablets the third (13.0%). The vague definition of health food and unambiguous discrimination of it from medicine by the consumers were problematic for the correct use and reasonable purchasing behavior. The clear definition and proper regulation on the manufacture and distribution of health food, more strict control of labelling and advertisement, and a wide consumer education on health food were recommended.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1143-1153
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• 1998

Background : Recent outbreaks of pulmonary disease due to drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis have resulted in significant morbidity and mortality in patients worldwide. We reviewed our experience to evaluate the effects of pulmonary resection on the management of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Method : A retrospective review was performed of 41 patients undergoing pulmonary resection for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis between January 1993 and December 1997. We divided these into 3 groups according to the radiologic findings : (1) patients who have reasonably localized lesion (Localized Lesion Group ; LLG) (2) patients who have cavitary lesions after pulmonary resection on chest roentgenogram (Remained Cavity Group : RCG) (3) patients who have Remained infiltrative lesions postoperatively (Remained infiltrative group : RIG). We evaluated the negative conversion rate after resection and overall response rate of the groups. Then they were compared with the results of the chemotherapy on the multi drug-resistant tuberculosis which has been outcome by Goble et al. Goble et al reported that negative conversion rate was 65% and overall response rate, 56% over a mean period of 5.1 months. Results : Seventy five point six percent were men and 24.4% women with a median age of 31 years (range, 16 to 60 years). Although the patients were treated preoperatively with multidrug regimens in an effort to reduce the mycobacterial burden, 22 of 41 were still sputum culture positive at the time of surgery. 20 of 22 patients(90.9%, p<0.01) responded which is defined as negative sputum cultures within 2 months postoperative. Of 26 patients with the sufficient follow up data, 19 have Remained sputum culture negative for a mean duration of 25.7 months (73.1%, p<0.05). The bulk of the disease was manifest in one lung, but lesser amounts of contralateral disease were demonstrated in 15, consisted of 8 in RIG and 7 in RCG, of 41. 12 of 12 patients (100%, p<0.01) who were sputum positive at the time of surgery in LLG converted successfully. 14 of 15 patients (93.3%, p<0.05) with the follow up have completed treatment and not relapsed for a mean period of 25. 7 months. The mean length of postoperative drug therapy of LLG was 12.2 months. In RIG, postoperative negative conversion rate was 83.3% which was not significant statistically. There was a statistical significance in overall response rate (100%, p<0.05) of RIG for a mean period of 24.4 months with a mean length of postoperative chemotherapy, 11.8 months. In RCG a statistically lower overall response rate (14.3%, p<0.01) has been revealed for a mean duration of follow up, 24.2 months. A negative conversion rate of RCG was 75% which was not significant statistically. Conclusion : Surgery plays an important role in the management of patients with multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Aggressive pulmonary resection should be performed for resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection to avoid treatment failure or relapse. Especially all cavitary lesions on preoperative chest roentgenogram should be resected completely. If all of them could not be resected perfectly, you should not open the thorax.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.871-881
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• 1996

Objective: In the early short-term therapy of pulmonary tuberculosis, PZA is used for the first two months on 6EHRZ therapy but PZA is not effective in the case of long-tenn use PZA for retreatment in the sensitive relapse or acquired drug resistance for PZA. But in the endemic area as Korea, if we can't use PZA in the retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, we can't expect the success for retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, therefore we need new drugs substituting for PZA. In these days, 4 - fluoroquinolone derivatives were investigated and only ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin of derivatives were known to be effective but the effectiveness was also not certain because the result was experimental or combined with other bacteriocidal drugs and datas on effectiveness of pulmonary tuberculosis were so little. Therefore these drugs should be use with other two or three strong-acting drugs in the last period of retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. The ofloxacin or ciprofloxacin is used in some area in Korea but randomly and needed more study. We did this study for proving the effectiveness of these drugs and establishment of retreatment regimen for pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 83 drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis patients at National Masan Tuberculosis Hospital from Jan. 1994 to dec. 1995 was made. All the patients taken medicine for 2nd ami-tuberculosis regimens for the first lime. We separated the patients by two groups.(Group I : OFX+ PTA + CS+PAS + Injection, Group II: PZA + PTA+ CS + PAS + Injection). We compared the difference between two groups and tested the confidence limit about results after treatment by $\chi$2-test and T-test. Results : 1. The age distribution was most frequent in fourth decade(29.2% in Group I, 37.1% in Group II) and the mean age was 43.9 year in Group I, and 39.0 year in Group II, but had no significant difference between two groups. The sex distribution was more frequent in the males(68.8% in Group I, 85.7% in Group II), but had no significant difference. 2. Family history was 29.2% in Group I, 28.6% in Group II, but had no significant difference. 3. In the respect of extent of disease, far-advanced stare was 60.4% in Group I, 74.3% in Group II, but had no significant difference. 4. The side effects for drugs showed in 58.3% in Group I and 65.7% in Group II, and the gastrointestinal trouble showed 25.0% in Group and arthralgia 34.3% in Group II predominantly respectively and had the significant difference(p<0.05). 5. The negative conversion rate on sputum AFB smear was 87.5% in Group I and 80.0% in Group II, but had no significant difference. But the negative conversion rate on sputum AFB culture was 83.3% in Group I and 57.1 % in Group II and had the significant difference(p<0.05). 6. The success rate of treatment was 87.5 % in Group I and 83.3 % in Group II but had no significant difference. Conclusion : In the retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, ofloxacin is useful drug for the patients who are not available to use PZA and can be use effectively substituting for PZA.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.53 no.spc
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• pp.78-83
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• 2008

Soybean [Glycine max (L.)] is a major source of protein for human and animal feed. Inter- and intra-genotype variation of soybean protein has been investigated by soybean researchers. However, limited sample amount of soybean single seed there is no report that investigated intra-plant variation of soybean protein within soybean plant. Recently a non-destructive NIR (near-infrared reflectance) spectroscopy using single seed grain to analyze seed protein was developed. The objectives of this study were to understand variation of seed protein content within plant and to determine the amount of minimum sample size which can represent protein content for a soybean plant. Frequency distribution of protein content within plant showed normal distribution. There was an intra-cultivar variation for protein content in soybean cultivar Seonnogkong. Difference of protein content among single plants of Seonnokong was recognized at 5% level. Seeds in lower position on plant stem tended to accumulate more protein than in higher position. There was significant difference for protein content between sample size 5 seeds and sample size of more than 5 seeds (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 seeds) at a soybean plant with 57 seeds however no difference was recognized among sample size (5, 10, 20, and 30 seeds) at a soybean plant with 33 seeds. Around 20% seeds of soybean from single plant needed to determine the protein content to represent protein content of single soybean plant. This study is the first one to report evidence of intra-plant variation for proteincontent which detected by non-destructive NIR spectroscopy using single seed grain in soybean.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.39-46
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• 1973

It has been reported previously that 2,2-methylene bis(3,4,6-trichlorophenoxy acetic acid) (MTPA) is effective treating for clonorchiasis and less toxic to the hosts. In this studies the absorption, distribution and excretion of MTPA were observed. For this purpose $^{14}C-MTPA$ was synthesised from bis(2-hydroxy-3,5,6-trichlorophenoxyl) methan $^{14}C$ and administerd to the normal rabbit in a single dose of 10mg/kg IV or 20 mg/kg P.O. or to the Clonorchis infected rabbit in dose of 20 mg/kg/day for 6 days. Radioactivity in blood, tissue, bile, urine, feces and tissue of the fluke was measured after the drug was given. The concentration of MTPA in these samples were calcurated from the radioactivity. The result obtained as followes. 1. The increase in concentration of MTPA in blood and urine after oral administration of MTPA was so slow that the absorption of MTPA from the gastrointestinal tract appears very slow. 2. It is presumed that the excretion of MTPA also is slow because the reduction of MTPA concentration in blood after IV injection was very slow. 3. Large amount of MTPA was excreted from the bile. 4. During repeat dose of 20mg/kg/day for 6 days the concentration of MTPA in blood and tissue gradually increased. 5. The highest concentration of MTPA in the kidney and liver, heart, lung, spleen and muscle in decreasing order and the lowest concentration in the brain was noted. 6. During daily dose of 20 mg/kg of MTPA for 6 days of administration the concentration of MTPA gradually increased in urine and feces and the concentration of MTPA in feces was higher than of in urine. It appeares that MTPA take place enterophepatic circulation. 7. It is assumed that accumulation in large amount of MTPA in the liver and tissue of clonorchis, excretion of large amount from the bile is a favorable property of MTPA as a chemotherapeutic agent for clonorchiasis.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.37-43
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• 2019

Purpose - The self quality inspection which is mandatory in Republic of Korea can play an important role in promoting food safety, but the cost for self quality inspection is also a big burden especially for small businesses. In addition, excessive or duplicated inspection costs resulting from the standard gaps of various ministries and agencies ultimately effect negative social utility. Thus, this paper aims to suggest ways to improve the analysis of self quality inspection for the Ready-to-Eat Foods in terms of dried laver, in order to reduce costs caused by overinclusion. Research design, data, and methodology - The focus of interest is seaweed in Kimbab, which is to be exempted from the Vibrio parahaemolyticus test on the three grounds. First, existing literature provides little support for the necessity of performing a microbiological test. Second, laver products do not require the V.parahaemolyticus test by international standards such as the CODEX. Third, no case was found for seaweed products on the list of information on failed food items over the 2015~16 period. Results - Other types of seaweed such as exportable and seasoning seaweed are not subject to the test. Hence, exclusion of the V.pahaemolyticus test on seaweed is a valid point, bringing about large expected cost savings to many small businesses. Conclusions - Based on a complete survey of 75 food-testing agencies from March 20th to 30th, 2018, this paper finds that the proposed revision of the Kimbab test is likely to save an average of 130,000 won per business per year. Especially, in the case of the testing fee of Salmonella spp.(n,c,m,M), the cost difference by agencies was found to be up to five times. The regional gap in testing fees can be considered an unfair barrier. Accordingly, it is necessary to examine whether the testing fee is set at an appropriate level through the cost-extraction program proposed by the Ministry Food and Drug Safety. Hence, the survey results also point out that harmonization of testing fees charged by different food-testing agencies is appropriate with respect to transparency and efficiency.