• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.60 no.2
• /
• pp.171-179
• /
• 2006

Background : Despite the emerging danger of MDR-TB to human beings, there have only been a limited number of drugs developed to treat MDR-TB since 1970. This study investigated the cross-resistance rate between rifampicin (RFP) and rifabutin (RBU) in order to determine the efficacy of rifabutin in treating MDR-TB. In addition, the results of rifabutin were correlated with the rpoB mutations, which are believed to be markers for MDR-TB and RFP resistance. Methods : The MICs of RBU were tested against 126 clinical isolates of MDR-TB submitted to the clinical laboratory of National Masan TB Hospital in 2004. Five different concentrations ($10-160{\mu}g/ml$) were used for the MICs. The detection of the rpoB mutations was performed using a RFP resistance detection kit with a line probe assay(LiPA), which contains the oligonucleotide probes for 5 wide type and 3 specific mutations (513CCA, 516GTC, and 531TTG) The rpoB mutation was determined by direct sequencing. Results : The rate of cross-resistance between RFP and RBU was 70.5%(74/105) at $20{\mu}g/ml$ RBU(ed note: How much RFP?) Most mutations (86.3%) occurred in the 524~534 codons. The His526Gln, His526Leu, Leu533Pro, Gln513Glu, and Leu511Pro mutations(Ed note: Is this correct?) were associated with the susceptibilty to RBU. Conclusion : Based on the cross-resistance rate between RFP and RBU, RBU may be used effectively in some MDR-TB patients. Therefore, a conventional drug susceptibility test for RBU and a determination of the critical concentration are needed. However, rpoB gene mutation test may be have limited clinical applications in detecting RBU resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.182-187
• /
• 2013

This study was conducted to examine the effect of calcium extracted from salted anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) on the calcium metabolism of rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed low-calcium diets (0.15%) for 2 weeks after the adjustment period. Rats were divided into five groups and were fed experimental diet for four weeks. Experimental diets were low calcium (LC, 0.15% $CaCO_3$), 0.5% $CaCO_3$ (CC), seaweed calcium (SC), calcium lactate (LC), anchovy calcium (AC). The low-calcium diet group (LC) showed the lowest weight gain and had no differences among the groups with adequate calcium intake. Calcium retention was lowest in the LC group and higher in the CL, SC, AC groups than in SC groups. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level was highest in LC group, and significantly low in the CC and AC groups (p<0.05). Parathyroid hormone and osteocalcin levels showed no differences among experimental groups. The urine deoxypyridinoline (DPD) level was lower in AC and CC groups compared to the LC group (p<0.05). The dry weight of the femur showed no significant differences among normal calcium groups. The bone mineral density of the femur in AC and CC group were significantly higher than the LC group (p<0.05). From these results, calcium extracted from salted anchovy can be useful as a calcium supplement comparable with calcium carbonate.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.37-49
• /
• 1998

The specimens used were Ag-25 Pd-15 Cu ternary alloy and Au addition alloy. These alloys were melted and casted by induction electric furnace and centrifugal casting machine in Ar atmosphere. These specimens were solution treated for 2hr at $800^{\circ}C$ and were then quenched into iced water, and aged at $350{\sim}550^{\circ}C$ Age- hardening characteristics of the small Au-containing Ag-Pd-Cu dental alloys were investigated by means of hardness testing. X-ray diffraction and electron microscope observations, electrical resistance, ergy dispersed spectra and electron probe microanalysis. Principal results are as follows : Hardening occured in two stages, i.e., stage I in low temperature and stage II in high temperature regions, during continuous aging. The case of hardening in stage I was due to the formation of the $L1_0$ type face-centered tetragonal PdCu-ordered phase in the grain interior and hardening in stage I was affected by the Cu concentration. In stage II, decomposition of the ${\alpha}$ solid solution to a PdCu ordered phase($L1_0$ type) and an Ag-rich ${\alpha}2$ phase occurred and a discontinuous precipitation occurred at the grain boundary. From the electron microscope study, it was conclued that the cause of age-hardening in this alloy is the precipitation of the PdCu ordered phase, which has AuCu I type face-centered tetragonal structure. Precipetation procedure was ${\alpha}{\to}{\alpha}+{\alpha}_2+PdCu {\to}{\alpha}_1+{\alpha}_2+PdCu$ at Pd/Cu = 1.7 Ag-Pd-Cu alloy is more effective dental alloy as ageing treatment and is suitable to isothermal ageing at $450^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.272-285
• /
• 1987

In order to obtain the data for the effective separation and purification of lysozyme from egg white, optimal conditions for the homogenization of egg white and lysozyme activities of some fresh hen eggs were examined. The recovery and purity of lysozyme isolated by the direct crystallization method, the adsorption with Bentonite and the batch method with Duolite were also investigated. The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. On the homogenization of egg white, optimal stirring time and stirring rate for the measurement of the lysozyme activities were found to be 10 min. and 2,000 rpm respectively. 2. On the activities of lysozyme in the fresh hen eggs, the activities of W. Leghorn was greater than that of R. Island or Ogol fowl, and the activities of the thick white was a little greater than that of the thin white. 3. The residual lysozyme activities of the hen eggs stored at $4^{\circ}C$ was greater than that of the ones stored at $25^{\circ}C$ or $-20^{\circ}C$ over the storage periods. 4. Hen egg lysozyme recrystallized three times by the method of direct crystallization showed the recovery of 64.3% and the increase of 29 fold in specific activities. 5. By the adsorption method with bentonite, lysozyme in the egg white was adsorbed to 95.7%, and the elution rate of the ones adsorbed was 89.1%, and the increase in specific activities was 13 fold. 6. In the experiment exploying duolite as an adsorbent, Jysozyme in the egg white was obtained with the bound rate of 97%, the recovery rate of 84.8%, and was purified by 30fold.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.130-136
• /
• 2008

Purpose: Lamivudine is known to be effective for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in adults. However, data on lamivudine therapy in pediatrics is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and durability of lamivudine therapy for chronic hepatitis B in Korean children. Methods: A total of 44 children (27 males and 17 females, ages 6 months to 14.8 years, mean age 6.7 years) with chronic hepatitis B who received lamivudine (3 mg/kg/day, max 100 mg) for at least 12 months were enrolled. We evaluated the serum AST, ALT and serological HBV markers (HBsAg and anti-HBs, HBeAg and anti HBe, and HBV DNA) periodically. Predictive three year cumulative seroconversion rates were obtained using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Twenty one (48%) of 44 children achieved seroconversion of HBeAg by three years, while 23 (42%) children did not. HBV DNA was cleared in 34 (77%) children and the serum ALT levels were normalized in 41 children (93%). The three year cumulative seroconversion rates were 60% for HBeAg, and the clearance rates were 76% for HBV DNA. Eighteen children who discontinued lamivudine after HBeAg seroconversion maintained the therapeutic response for three years (treatment duration 13~58 months mean 24 months). Viral breakthrough developed in 12 children (27%) during the therapy and the YMDD mutation was documented in 11 children (25%). The mean duration for the development of a mutation was 22.7 months. Loss of HBsAg occurred in 6 children (14%). The pretreatment ALT levels were higher in responders; however, the differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that lamivudine treatment had a favorable effect and durable therapeutic response in children with chronic hepatitis B. Long term follow-up and alternative therapy are warranted for those patients who do not respond to this treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.11
• /
• pp.812-816
• /
• 2002

Pericardial effusions result from various conditions such as inflammation, malignancies, open heart surgery and uremia. Recently, video assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has been used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in the management of pericardial effusion and intrathoracic lesions due to its ability to provide outstanding visibility of intrathoracic structures with less pain, superior cosmetic effects, and shorter hospital stay Material and Method: From April 1995 to October 2001, 51 patients received pericardial window operation via either thoracoscopic(Group A, n＝37, m:f＝18:19, mean age＝56.4 yrs)or thoracotomy approach(Group B, n＝14, m:f＝8:6, mean age=58.4 yrs). Result: In group A, the operation time, duration of chest tube insertion, recurrence rate of pericardial effusion, and postoperative hospital stay were 61.2 minutes, 9.3 days, 2.7%, 16.2 days, respectively while in group B these values were 58.4 minutes, 12.2 days, 7.1, and 17.3 days. The number of injections for pain control in group A were 4.2 times, whereas in group B it was 6.3 times. Although there was a tendency for the mean hospital stay and duration of chest tube insertion to be shorter in group A than in group B, these differences did not reach statistical significance. There was also no significant difference in the operation time and recurrence rate between the two groups. Conclusion: The safety and effectiveness of VATS in the management of pericardial effusion is comparable to the open thoracotomy method. It allows for a shorter hospital stay, duration of chest tube insertion, lesser postoperative pain and a smaller skin incision.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.505-512
• /
• 2012

This study evaluated the quality characteristics of rice-doenjang prepared with Aspergillus oryzae MD05 and Bacillus subtilis HJ18-4. The physicochemical characteristics of rice-doenjang prepared with three types of meju, such as grain type(Rice 1), disc shape(Rice 2), and brick shape(Rice 3), were compared. We determined amino and ammonia nitrogen contents, protease and amylase activities, reducing sugar content, and total aerobic counts and lactic acid bacteria counts. The amino nitrogen and reducing sugar contents in all meju types gradually increased during fermentation. The amino nitrogen contents reached 151.5~200.0 mg%. Rice 3 were had the highest levels among the 4 types of rice-doenjang. After 42 days of fermentation, amylase and protease activity of Rice 3 were 366.57 and 94.26 unit/g, respectively, which were the highest levels among the 4 types of rice-doenjang. The total aerobic bacteria counts were not changed during 42-day fermentation. This results suggest that high quality characteristics of brick-shaped meju(Rice 3) were better than those of the other meju preparations.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
• /
• 1998.10a
• /
• pp.2-4
• /
• 1998

Proliferation of Nocardia amarae cells in activated sludge has often been associated with the generation of nuisance foams. Despite intense research activities in recent years to examine the causes and control of Nocardia foaming in activated sludge, the foaming continued to persist throughout the activated sludge treatment plants in United States. In addition to causing various operational problems to treatment processes, the presence of Nocardia may have secondary effects on the fate of heavy metals that are not well known. For example, for treatment plants facing more stringent metal removal requirements, potential metal removal by Nocardia cells in foaming activated sludge would be a welcome secondary effect. In contrast, with new viosolid disposal regulations in place (Code o( Federal Regulation No. 503), higher concentration of metals in biosolids from foaming activated sludge could create management problems. The goal of this research was to investigate the metal sorption property of Nocardia amarae cells grown in batch reactors and in chemostat reactors. Specific surface area and metal sorption characteristics of N. amarae cells harvested at various growth stages were compared. Three metals examined in this study were copper, cadmium and nickel. Nocardia amarae strain (SRWTP isolate) used in this study was obtained from the University of California at Berkeley. The pure culture was grown in 4L batch reactor containing mineral salt medium with sodium acetate as the sole carbon source. In order to quantify the sorption of heavy metal ions to N amarae cell surfaces, cells from the batch reactor were harvested, washed, and suspended in 30mL centrifuge tubes. Metal sorption studies were conducted at pH 7.0 and ionlc strength of 10-2M. The sorption Isotherm showed that the cells harvested from the stationary and endogenous growth phase exhibited significantly higher metal sorption capacity than the cells from the exponential phase. The sequence of preferential uptake of metals by N. amarae cells was Cu>Cd>Ni. The specific surFace area of Nocardia cells was determined by a dye adsorption method. N.amarae cells growing at ewponential phase had significantly less specific surface area than that of stationary phase, indicating that the lower metal sorption capacity of Nocardia cells growing at exponential phase may be due to the lower specific surface area. The growth conditions of Nocardia cells in continuous culture affect their cell surface properties, thereby governing the adsorption capacity of heavy metal. The comparison of dye sorption isotherms for Nocardia cells growing at various growth rates revealed that the cell surface area increased with increasing sludge age, indicating that the cell surface area is highly dependent on the steady-state growth rate. The highest specific surface area of 199m21g was obtained from N.amarae cell harvested at 0.33 day-1 of growth rate. This result suggests that growth condition not only alters the structure of Nocardia cell wall but also affects the surface area, thus yielding more binding sites of metal removal. After reaching the steady-state condition at dilution rate, metal adsorption isotherms were used to determine the equilibrium distributions of metals between aqueous and Nocardia cell surfaces. The metal sorption capacity of Nocardia biomass harvested from 0.33 day-1 of growth rate was significantly higher than that of cells harvested from 0.5- and 1-day-1 operation, indicatng that N.amarae cells with a lower growth rate have higher sorpion capacity. This result was in close agreement with the trend observed from the batch study. To evaluate the effect of Nocardia cells on the metal binding capacity of activated sludge, specific surface area and metal sorption capacity of the mixture of Nocardia pure cultures and activated sludge biomass were determined by a series of batch experiments. The higher levels of Nocardia cells in the Nocardia-activated sludge samples resulted in the higher specific surface area, explaining the higher metal sorption sites by the mixed luquor samples containing greater amounts on Nocardia cells. The effect of Nocardia cells on the metal sorption capacity of activated sludge was evaluated by spiking an activated sludge sample with various amounts of pre culture Nocardia cells. The results of the Langmuir isotherm model fitted to the metal sorption by various mixtures of Nocardia and activated sludge indicated that the mixture containing higher Nocardia levels had higher metal adsorption capacity than the mixture containing lower Nocardia levels. At Nocardia levels above 100mg/g VSS, the metal sorption capacity of activate sludge increased proportionally with the amount of Noeardia cells present in the mixed liquor, indicating that the presence of Nocardia may increase the viosorption capacity of activated sludge.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.117-127
• /
• 2006

Ginseng is a medicinal herb widely used in Asian countries. Dendritic cells(DCs) play a pivotal role in the initiation of T cell-mediated immune responses, making them an attractive cellular adjuvant for use in cancer vaccines. In this study, we examined the effects of Red-ginseng(water extract, edible and fermented ethyl alcohol extract, crude saponin) on the DCs phenotypic and functional maturation. Immature DCs were cultured in the presence of GM-CSF and IL-4, and the generated immature DCs were stimulated by water extract, edible and fermented ethyl alcohol extract, crude saponin and LPS, respectively, for 24hours. The expression of surface co-stimulatory molecules, including MHC(major histocompatibility complex) class II, CD40, CD80 and CD86, was increased on DCs that were stimulated with crude saponin, but antigen-uptake capacity was decreased. The antigen-presenting capacity of Red-ginseng extracts-treated DCs as analyzed by allogeneic T cells proliferation and IL-2, $IFN-{\gamma}$ production was increased. Furthermore, $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ syngeneic T cell(OVA-specific) proliferation and $IFN-{\gamma}$ production was significantly increased. However, $CD4^+$ syngeneic T cell secreted higher levels of IL-2 in responding but not $CD8^+$ syngeneic T cell. These results indicate the immunomodulatory properties of Red-ginseng extracts, which might be therapeutically useful in the control of cancers and immunodeficient diseases through the up-regulation of DCs maturation.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.890-898
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this paper is to investigate potential anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of Tenebrio molitor. Macrophage cell response by outside stimulation leads expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$), and trigger expression of genes which are affected by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), resulting in formation of inflammatory factors like nitric oxide (NO) and Prostaglandin $E_2$ (PGE2). Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. In order to investigate anti-inflammatory agents, the inhibitory effects on the production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO in RAW 264.7 cells were examined. T. Molitor significantly decreased the production of NO in a dose-dependent manner, and also reduced the expression of iNOS, a COX-2 protein. As a result, the levels of protein such as $PGE_2$, iNOS, COX-2 and MARKs were significantly reduced compared to non-treated group in T. Molitor water extract (TDW) treated group. Also, antioxidant effect of T. Molitor were investigated using DPPH, ABTS+ and superoxide anion radical scavenging activity tests in cell-free system. Antioxidant activity of T. molitor was found low in the DPPH radical scavenging test while high in the ABTS+ and superoxide anion radical scavenging activity tests. These results show that TDW could be an effective anti-pro-inflammatory and anti-oxidant agent.