• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.379-383
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• 1988

To evaluate the treatability of activated sludge induced by benzene with microorganisms, isolation and characterization of benzene-degrading microorganisms were carried out. Six bacterial isolates from the activated sludge were identified ; Pseudomonas fluorescens, Enterobacter agglomerans, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Citrobacter freundii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. P. fluorescens degraded 55% of benzene contained in the medium as a sole carbon source, E. cloacae 24%, E. agglomerans 41%, and K. oxytoca 32%. Optimal temperature, pH and benzene concentration for growth of P. fluorescens appeared to be 31$^{\circ}C$, pH 7.0, and 300mg benzene per liter. When the P. fluorescens was dominant in the activated sludge induced by benzene, the indicator protozoa was Aspidisca sp. When concentration of benzene was about 387mg per liter, the growths of Aspidisca sp. and Litonotus sp. were high. Protozoa, Litonotus sp. and Vorticella sp. did not grow over 1600mg of benzene per liter.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2002

The study was carried out to characterize the pharmacokinetics after intravenous (iv, 20 mg/kg) and oral (p.o. 100 mg/kg) administration as oxytetracycline (OTC) and tiamulin (TIA) mixture in swine and to determine interaction between OTC and TIA against various pig pathogenic bacteria. The antibacterial effects of OTC in combination with TIA in vitro showed synergistic effect against Salmonella typhimurium 1925, Pasteurella multocida Type A, P. multocida Type D, Krebsiella Pneumoniae 2001, K. Pneumoniae 1560, K. Pneumoniae 2208, Haemophillus pleuropneumonia S 2, and H. pleuropneumonia S 5, but against additive effect E. coli K88ab and S. choleraesuis on the basis of fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index. On the while, after i.v. and p.o. administration of OTC and TIA mixture, each OTC and TIA concentrations in plasma were fitted to an open two-compartment model. After i.v. administration of OTC-TIA mixture, the mean distribution half-life ($T_{1/2{\alpha}}$) of OTC and TIA in plasma showed 0.29 h and 0.17 h, and the mean elimination half-life ($T_{1/2{\beta}}$) of those was 4.36 h and 6.64 h, respectively. The mean volume of distribution at steady state ($Vd_{ss}$) of OTC and TIA was $0.85{\ell}/kg$ and $2.44{\ell}/kg$, respectively. After oral administration of OTC and TIA mixture, the mean maximal absorption concentrations ($C_{max}$) of OTC and TIA were $0.60{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ at 1.07 h ($T_{max}$) and $1.68{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ at 1.85 h ($T_{max}$), respectively. The mean elimination half-life ($T_{1/2{\beta}}$) of those showed 6.84 h and 6.36 h. In conclusion, we could suggest in this study that the combination of OTC and TIA may be recommended for the antibacterial therapy against polymicrobial infections, and both OTC and TIA showed large distribution to tissues and high $C_{max}$ after p.o. administration.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2011

Purpose : Pneumococcus is one of the most important causes of invasive infection through the childhood period. In January 2008, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) published revised penicillin breakpoints for Streptococcus pneumoniae and penicillin susceptibility rates of S. pneumoniae increased in Korea. This study was performed to determine the probability of oral amoxicillin for the empirical treatment achieving bactericidal exposure against pneumococcus using pharmacodynamics model. Methods : Twenty-three isolates of pneumococci were subjected to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for ${\beta}$-lactams and macrolide. For the ${\beta}$-lactams, exposure of fT >MIC (time that free drug concentrations remain above the MIC) for 50% of the administration interval have determined the probability of target attainment (PTA), and regimens that had a PTA >90% were considered optimal. An analysis was performed by applying MIC of 23 isolates to a 5000-patient Monte Carlo simulation model. Results : Among 23 isolates from healthy children, 7 (30.4%) isolates were MIC ${\leq}$1.0 ${\mu}g$/mL and 19 (82.6%) were MIC ${\leq}$2 ${\mu}g$/mL for amoxicillin. Amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day achieved PTA >90% at MIC ${\leq}$1.0 ${\mu}g$/mL but PTA decreased to 52% at MIC 2 ${\mu}g$/mL, whereas amoxicillin 90 mg/kg/day can predict 97% of PTA at MIC 2 ${\mu}g$/mL. Overall, oral amoxicillin 90 mg/ kg/day for the empirical treatment against pneumococcus can expect more successful response in Korean children. Conclusion : Considering the resistantce pattern of pneumococci in Korean children, we estimate that oral amoxicillin 90 mg/kg/day will provide a pharmacodynamic advantage for the empirical treatment against pneumococcus. And low dose amoxicillin or macrolide are expected to have higher chance of treatment failure than high dose oral amoxicillin.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.1193-1200
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• 2005

Purpose : Invasive bacterial infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Previously, we reported etiology of invasive infections in healthy children in 1985-1995. This study was performed to update etiology of invasive bacterial infections in the previously healthy children. Methods : We reviewed medical records of 98 episodes of invasive bacterial infections in immunocompetent children at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital in 1996-2004. Results : The frequent pathogens identified over all age groups were Streptococcus pneumoniae (33%) and Staphylococcus aureus(33%). The proportion of Salmonella species and Haemophilus influenzae has been declined to 4% each from 23% and 14%, respectively, compared to previous study. S. agalactiae was the most common isolate in the infants ${\leq}3$ months. Among the infants and children aged 3 months to 2 years and children of 2-5 years, S. pneumoniae(57%, 52%, respectively, in each group) was the most common isolates followed by S. aureus(17% and 24%, respectively). S. aureus was the most common isolates(73%) in children >5 years. Primary bacteremia was the most common clinical diagnosis(27%). S. pneumoniae was responsible for 42% of primary bacteremia, 50% of meningitis, and 69% of bacteremic pneumonia and empyema. S. aureus accounted for 80% of bone and joint infections. The case fatality rate was 8.1% for all invasive infections. Conclusion : We reviewed frequency of bacterial agents of invasive infections in children. The data may be useful for pediatricians to select adequate empirical antibiotics in the management of invasive bacterial infections.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1200-1209
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• 2021

Sepsis is an acute inflammatory response that leads to life-threatening complications if not quickly and adequately treated. Cytolysin, hemolysin, and pneumolysin are toxins produced by gram-positive bacteria and are responsible for resistance to antimicrobial drugs, cause virulence and lead to sepsis. This work assessed the effects of aloe-emodin (AE) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) on sepsis-associated gram-positive bacterial toxins. Standard and antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumonia bacterial strains were cultured in the dark with varying AE concentrations and later irradiated with 72 J/cm^-2 light. Colony and biofilm formation was determined. CCK-8, Griess reagent reaction, and ELISA assays were done on bacteria-infected RAW264.7 cells to determine the cell viability, NO, and IL-1β and IL-6 pro-inflammatory cytokines responses, respectively. Hemolysis and western blot assays were done to determine the effect of treatment on hemolysis activity and sepsis-associated toxins expressions. AE-mediated PDT reduced bacterial survival in a dose-dependent manner with 32 ㎍/ml of AE almost eliminating their survival. Cell proliferation, NO, IL-1β, and IL-6 cytokines production were also significantly downregulated. Further, the hemolytic activities and expressions of cytolysin, hemolysin, and pneumolysin were significantly reduced following AE-mediated PDT. In conclusion, combined use of AE and light (435 ± 10 nm) inactivates MRSA, S. aureus (ATCC 29213), S. pneumoniae (ATCC 49619), MDR-S. pneumoniae, E. faecalis (ATCC 29212), and VRE (ATCC 51299) in an AE-dose dependent manner. AE and light are also effective in reducing biofilm formations, suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines, hemolytic activities, and inhibiting the expressions of toxins that cause sepsis.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.35 no.5_6
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• pp.337-339
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• 2000

MRSA, erythromycin-resistant S. pyogenes, penicillin non-susceptible pneumococci, PPNG, ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae, class C ${\beta}$-lactamase-producing E. coli, fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli, aminoglycoside-resistant A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa are all prevalent in Korea, which suggest the presence of high levels of antimicrobial selective pressure and nosocomial spread of resistant bacteria. Rapid increase of VRE and emergence of fluoroquinolone-resistant gonococci and VIM-2 metallo-${\beta}$-lactamase-producing P. aeruginosa are recently observed new threats in Korea.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.98-104
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• 1987

The compounds synthesized by authors were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeraginosa New compounds[1, 10] possess striking potency against a wide range of microorganisms, especially the Gram negative aerobes and has spectacular activity against Enterobacteriaces, S. aureus and Ps. aeruginosa. Most of new compounds are very active in vitro against most strains of Enter- bacteriaceae and Gram positive aerobes, but moderately active against Ps. aeruginosa.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.106-112
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• 2015

Purpose: The long-term administration of antibiotics interferes with bacterial culture in the middle ear fluids (MEFs) of young children with otitis media with effusion (OME). The purpose of this study is to determine whether molecular diagnostics can be used for rapid and direct detection of the bacterial pathogen in culture-negative MEFs. Methods: The specificity and sensitivity of both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to the lytA gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae were comparatively tested and then applied for pneumococcal detection in the clinical MEFs. Results: The detection limit of the PCR assay was approximately $10^4$ colony forming units (CFU), whereas that of LAMP was less than 10 CFU for the detection of S. pneumoniae. Both PCR and LAMP did not amplify nucleic acid at over $10^6$ CFU of H. influenzae or M. catarrhalis, both of which were irrelevant bacterial species. Of 22 culture-negative MEFs from children with OME, LAMP positivity was found in twelve MEFs (54.5%, 12/22), only three of which were PCR-positive (25%, 3/12). Our results showed that the ability of LAMP to detect pneumococcal DNA is over four times higher than that of PCR (P<0.01). Conclusions: As a high-resolution tool able to detect nucleic acid levels equivalent to <10 CFU of S. pneumoniae in MEFs without any cross-reaction with other pathogens, lytA -specific LAMP may be applied for diagnosing pneumococcus infection in OME as well as evaluating the impact of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against OME.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.43-46
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• 2007

Purpose : Neonatal bacterial meningitis has been known that its mortality and morbidity is high and its neurologic complications are common. This study was performed to review of the etiology of neonatal bacterial meningitis in Busan, Korea. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed 21 medical records of patients who were diagnosed neonatal bacterial meningitis in four university hospitals in Busan from January 1997 to December 2005. We analyzed age at onset of symptoms, symptoms at admission, causative organisms, and complications. Results : There were 11 male patients and 10 female patients. One premature neonate was included. 7 patients had symptoms at 2-3 weeks after birth and 6 patients at 1-2 weeks after birth. 18 cases had fever, 8 cases had seizure and some had poor feeding, lethargy and irritability. The most common organism causing neonatal bacterial meningitis was Group B streptococcus (GBS). 11 cases were due to GBS, 3 cases due to E. coli, 3 cases were due to Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 2 cases due to Streptococcus pneumoniae. one Listeria monocytogenes and one Enterobacter cloacae were included. 18 patients were alive and 3 patients died. Mental retardation, developmental delay and epilepsy occurred in a living patient. Conclusions : Although this was a retrospective study, we found that Group B streptococcus (GBS) was the most common organism causing neonatal bacterial meningitis and this data is nearly same as others in the world.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2007

Purpose : Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major etiologic agent for pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media, and sepsis among young children. Multi-drug resistant strains have raised great concern worldwide, thus the importance of prevention with vaccines has been emphasized. However, vaccines may force the appearance of pneumococcal infections by nonvaccine serotypes. Thus, distribution of pneumococcal serotypes should be monitored to estimate vaccine efficacy. We used a new and efficient multibead assay in determining pnemococcal serotypes. Methods : From January to February 2005, 643 children were recruited from ten day care centers to isolate pneumococci from their oropharynx. Pneumococcal serotyping was performed on 62 pneumococcal isolates from 60 children by multibead assay. This immunoassay required two sets of latex particles coated with pneumococcal polysaccharides and serotype-specific antibodies. Twenty four newly developed monoclonal antibodies specific for common serotypes and a pool of polyclonal rabbit sera for some of the less common serotypes were used. Results : The most prevalent pneumococcal serotypes were serotype 6A, 19A, 19F, 23F, and 11A/D/F which accounted more than 50 precent of all the 62 pneumococcal isolates. We found that multibead assay can be performed very rapidly and objectively. Conclusion : This multibead immunoassay was very useful in serotyping clinical isolates of S. pneumoniae because it was simple, reliable and fast.