• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.167-173
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• 2016

The broth microdilution technique used to measure the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of natural compounds against bacteria is problematic: it is difficult to visualize bacterial growth due to the color of the natural compound. Therefore, the use of a colorimetric method with a redox indicator by broth microdilution can simplify it and increase its objectivity. This study evaluated the usefulness of the colorimetric method in measuring the MIC of Phellinus baumii against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The inhibition in disc diffusion method was observed from $8,192{\mu}g/mL$ P. baumii in all 10 MRSA isolates examined; however, the MIC ranges of the 10 MRSA isolates was $512{\sim}2,048{\mu}g/mL$ by broth microdilution using a colorimetric method; with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) indicator. In addition, the MIC of P. baumii by broth microdilution using MTT as indicator yielded excellent results. However, the 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) results could not be determined due to the color of the TTC indicator. The MICs of four antibiotics against MRSA using MTT or TTC were equal to those determined by visual interpretation. In conclusion, to evaluate the antibacterial effects of a natural compound, the broth microdilution technique is considered to be better than the disc diffusion method. Moreover, to resolve the problems caused by the colors of natural compounds, a colorimetric method such as that using MTT may be very valuable.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.35 no.5_6
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• pp.356-356
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• 2000

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2019

We developed the multiplex LAMP assay using 16S rRNA, femA and mecA genes for direct detection of the methicillin resistance in Staphylococci from positive blood culture. To simultaneously recognize Staphylococci genus, S. aureus and methicillin resistance, three sets of six primers for 16S rRNA, femA and mecA were designed, respectively. The performance of LAMP assay was affirmed using VITEK system for the phenotypic methods of identification and for oxacillin and cefoxitin antimicrobial susceptibility. The optimal condition for LAMP assay was obtained under $64^{\circ}C$ for 50 min. The detection limit was determined to be of 20 copies and CFU/reaction ($10^4CFU/mL$). For clinical application of comparison with phenotypic methods, the sensitivity and specificity of the LAMP with femA gene for detecting S. aureus was 95.31% and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the LAMP with mecA gene for detecting methicillin resistance was 98.46% and 100%, respectively. The multiplex LAMP assay with femA and mecA gene successfully detected all of MRSA (38 isolates) isolates from 103 Staphylococci in blood cultures. The LAMP assay developed in this study is sensitive, specific, and of excellent agreement with the phenotypic methods.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.307-310
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• 2008

Limited therapeutic options are available for vancomycin intermediate-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (VISE) infections and no optimum therapy has been established. We report a case of VISE skull osteomyelitis that was successfully treated with linezolid. The patient was a 53-year-old man who presented with headache, nausea and dysphasia. Brain computerized tomography (CT) demonstrated a subdural hematoma in the left hemisphere. Craniotomy and hematoma evacuation was performed and he showed good recovery despite a scalp wound infection caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The organism isolated from the scalp wound was sensitive to vancomycin. The patient was treated with intravenous vancomycin for 44 days. However, he showed a high fever, persistent positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) blood cultures, and a deteriorating clinical status. He underwent infected skull bone flap removal and linezolid treatment for 35 days. During one year of follow up, he has not had any further episodes of osteomyelitis or fever. Linezolid has shown to be effective agent to eradiate osteomyelitis caused by VISE.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2008

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most common organism associated with nosocomial infections. MRSA infections are becoming increasing important because they have emerged no only as healthcare-associated (HA) infections but also as community-associated (CA) ones. This study examined the moleculo-epidemiology of MRSA, which was isolated from nasal swabs in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Konyang University Hospital. MRSA are classified into HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA. Methods: From June to September 2006, 353 patients who were admitted to the ICU in Konyang University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Single nasal swabs were obtained for culture in the ICU on the 1st day. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and the antimicrobial resistant patterns were analyzed between HA- and CA-MRSA. An antimicrobial sensitivity test was also performed. Results: Forty two strains of MRSA were isolated from 353 patients (11.9%). Among the 42 isolates, HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA were found in 33 (78.6%), and 9 (21.4%), respectively. Eleven different PFGE types (type A to K) were identified. Types A (n=9) and B (n=7) were the most common for HA-MRSA, and types A (n=2) and B (n=2) were identified in CA-MRSA. The proportion of types A and B in CA-MRSA (44.4%) was similar to that in HA-MRSA (48.5%). The rates of resistance rates to erythromycin and ciprofloxacin were higher in HA-MRSA than in CA-MRSA. Conclusion: The rate of isolation of MRSA in an ICU setting was 11.9%. HA-MRSA was isolated more frequently than CA-MRSA. The rate of resistance of HA-MRSA to erythromycin and ciprofloxacin was higher than that of CA-MRSA. Despite the small number of subjects, the main isolates (type A and B) of CA-MRSA were similar to those of HA-MRSA.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.359-367
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was a within subject repeated pretest-posttest design done to compare the effect of disinfection and the degree of MRSA(Methicillin- resistant staphylococcus aureus) isolation from hand disinfectant in ICU nurses. Method: Out of the total internal medicine/surgery ICU nurses at a university hospital in Seoul, 29 female nurses who were participating in direct patient care were participants in this study. After collection of samples, Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA were isolated from the palms, nails and nasal cavities of the nurses according to disinfectants (soap and beta-scrub). Results: The effect of disinfection was greater in the beta-scrub group than in the soap group, and the effect of disinfection on palms was higher in the beta-scrub group than in the soap group. As for the degree of MRSA isolation, there was more isolation in palms in the soap group than in the beta-scrub group but there was no difference in the degree of MRSA isolation from the hand disinfectant in nails and nasal cavities. Conclusion: Beta-scrub showed a superior prolonged effect against transient bacteria compared with soap. Further, to reduce MRSA infection, we recommend interventions focused on these aspects.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.93-98
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• 2016

Objectives : Hwangheuk-san is a complex prescription composed of oriental traditional medicine and has been reported for antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer effects in the recent study. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of important causes of fatal infectious diseases such as septicemia, endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome, pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). S. aureus is reported as being for a variety of human diseases and its epidemiological relevance is mainly due to their ability of becoming highly resistant to common antimicrobials such as tetracycline, penicillin, cphalosporin and aminoglycoside. The objective of this study is to determine the antimicrobial effect of Hwangheuk-san ethanol extracts (HHS) and synergistic effects with antibiotics oxacillin against MRSA.Methods : The antimicrobial activity of HHS was measured by the disc diffusion method, broth microdilution method and the checkerboard dilution test, time-kill curve assay was performed to investigate synergistic effects with antibiotics oxacillin against MRSA.Results : HHS showed antimicrobial activity against MRSA with a MIC value of 125 ㎍/㎖. In the checkerboard test, the interaction of HHS with antibiotics oxacillin produced almost synergy or partial synergy against MRSA. This study showed that HHS reduced the MICs of oxacillin tested, and a remarkable antibacterial effect of HHS, with membrane permeability enhancers.Conclusions : These results suggest that HHS has the antimicrobial effect and synergistic effects with antibiotics oxacillin against MRSA. This study thus can be a valuable source for the development of a new drug with low MRSA resistance.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.806-810
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• 1999

A multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to detect staphylococcal enterotoxin production by 12 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical specimens. To evaluate the efficacy and/or sensitivity of this method, the results were compared to those obtained with the reversed passive latex agglutination kit (SET-RPLA, Denka Seiken, Japan). Of 10 strains positive by PCR were positive by RPLA but two strains, representing high sensitivity of the former method. Enterotoxin B was the most prevalent by the two methods. The kappa index between the two methods was 0.826, indicating a higher agreement and fully reliable for use. These results would suggest that sensitive, inexpensive, and relatively rapid multiplex-PCR technique may be an effective means for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin genes as an alternative to traditional methods such as kits or immunological methods, which depend upon the amount of enterotoxin produced.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.287-293
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• 2015

This research verifies stainability, super bacteria antibacterial features and antibiotic resistance of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica Nakai (UD) extract in dye cotton cloth. UD was extracted with hot water, the test cloth dyed, and then processed by mordanting treatment using $FeSO_4$ $7H_2O$, $CuSO_4$ $5H_2O$ and $Al_2(SO_4)_3$. The surface color and color fastness of the three kinds (original cloth, the cloth without mordancy and mordant cloth) were measured and the influence of dying of cotton cloth and the mordant method on the genesistasis of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), antibiotic resistant bacteria. 1. The surface color of the cotton cloth for dyeing (without and with mordancy) displayed a reddish and yellowish color. Stainability was greatest when the mordant of $FeSO_4$ $7H_2O$ was used. 2. When a mordant was not used for dyeing, the color fastness to washing, perspiration and friction of the contaminated cloth was satisfactory at 4 to 5 grade in general. 3. As for the antibiotic effect to super bacteria, the growth of germ was meaningfully suppressed both on the cloth without and with mordancy compared to the comparison cloth; in addition, the dyeing method with the biggest antibacterial impact was found to be the mordancy with the mordant of $CuSO_4$ $5H_2O$ after dyeing. The results of the experiments that involved dyeing with UD extract showed that cotton cloth processed through mordancy with the mordant of $CuSO_4$ $5H_2O$ had the biggest antibiosis to super bacteria and that processed with the mordant of $FeSO_4$ $7H_2O$ had the greatest stainability.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.17-32
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• 2006

Purpose : The aim of this study is to investigate the antibiotic effects of 14 herbs among blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicinals on vaginal microorganisms. Methods : Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Gardnerella vaginalis were used for vaginal pathogenic microorganisms. Lactobacillus gasseri, Streptococcus spp. and Escherichia coli HB101 were used for vaginal normal flora. The blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicinals, Mucunae Caulis, Salviae Radix, Persicae Semen, Myrrha, Zedoariae Rhizoma, Achuranthis Radix, Leonuri Herba, Melandrii Herba, Gleditsiae Spina, Lycopi Herba, Scirpi Rhizoma, Caesalpiniae Lignum, Corydlais Tuber and Polygoni Cuspidati Radix were used in this study. In vitro antibiotic activities were observed by optical density and colony test. Results : The optical density and colony test showed that Gleditsiae Spina, Scirpi Rhizoma, Corydlais Tuber, Polygoni Cuspidati Radix and Melandrii Herba of herbs among blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicinals had antimicrobial effect. Gleditsiae Spina had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in Gardnerella vaginalis and MRSA. Scirpi Rhizoma had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA. Corydlais Tuber had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in MRSA. Polygoni Cuspidati Radix had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in Gardnerella vaginalis, Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA. Melandrii Herba had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in Gardnerella vaginalis. Conclusion : According to the above results, we could suggest that Gleditsiae Spina, Scirpi Rhizoma, Corydlais Tuber, Polygoni Cuspidati Radix and Melandrii Herba of herbs among blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicinals be available to antimicrobial agent of vaginal pathogenic microbial species in vitro.