• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.215-219
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• 2016

The problems of tuberculosis and its drug resistance are very severe. Therefore, rapid and accurate drug susceptibility assay is required. Recently, there has been an increased understanding of the genetic mechanism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) drug resistance as well as advancement of molecular technologies. While many gene mutations correlate well with drug resistance, many genes do not show a strong correlation with drug resistance. For this reason, the current study assessed the utility of rpoB mRNA as a target to detect live mycobacteria. In this study, RT-PCR targeting of rpoB mRNA in BCG treated with rifampin was performed. Conventional RT-PCR and real-time PCR targeting rpoB mRNA as well as 85B mRNA was performed to determine whether these two methods could distinguish between viable and non-viable MTB. The levels of rpoB and 85B mRNA detected by RT- PCR were compared in parallel with colony forming unit counts of BCG that were treated with rifampin for different periods of time. The data suggests that that even though both mRNA levels of rpoB and 85B decreased gradually when rifampin-treatment increased, the rpoB mRNA seemed to represent live bacteria better than 85B mRNA. This study clearly indicates that RT-PCR is a good method to monitor viable cell counts in the liquid culture treated with the anti-tuberculosis drug.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.123-146
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• 2014

Safe water has becoming a competitive resource in many parts of the world due to increasing population, prolonged droughts, climate change etc. The development of economical and stable materials and methods for providing the fresh water in adequate amounts is the need of the water industry. Nanomaterials have unique characteristics e.g., large surface areas, size, shape, and dimensions etc. that make them particularly attractive for removing various contaminants from polluted waters. Nanotechnology based multifunctional and highly efficient membrane processes are providing affordable solutions in the new era that do not rely on large infrastructures or centralizes systems. The objective of the current study is to review the possible applications of the membrane based nanomaterials/composites for the removal of various contaminations from polluted waters. The article will briefly overview the availability and practice of different nanomaterials based membranes for removal of bacteria and viruses, organic compounds and inorganic solutes etc. present in surface water, ground water, seawater and/or industrial water. Finally, recommendations are made based on the current practices of nanofiltration membranes in water industry for a stand-alone membrane filtration system in removing various types of contaminants from polluted waters.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2003

Fournier's gangrene is a synergistic necrotizing fasciitis of the perineal, perirectal and urogenital area and can be fatal unless treated in early stage. Perianal and urogenital infections are common causes of the disease but it can occur after artificial procedure on perineal area using by surgical instruments. It is mixed aerobic and anaerobic infection and E. coli is the most common causative bacteria. Untill now many investigators have focused on early diagnosis, preserving hemodynamic stability, broad-spectrum systemic antibiotics and treatment of underlying disease in management of Fournier's gangrene. The authors have experienced five patients of chronic liver disease whose necrotizing perineal infections developed spontaneously and treated them aggressively as described above and reconstructed perineal soft tissue defects using by various surgical methods, then we got good results both functionary and cosmetically. From now on, we would better reconstruct soft tissue defect of perineum with skin graft or pedicled flap in early stage when treat Fournier's gangrene, thereafter we can get an ultimate increase in patient's life quality.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.283-288
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• 2008

Plant leaf surface is an important niche for diverse epiphytic microbes, including bacteria and fungi. Plant leaf surface plays a critical frontline defense against pathogen infections. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a starch-based super-absorbent polymer(SAP) combination, which enhances water potential and nutrient availability to plant leaves. We evaluated the effect of SAP on the maintenance of bacterial populations. In order to monitor bacterial populations in situ, a SAP mixture containing Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci that expressed recombinant green fluorescent protein(GFPuv) was spray-challenged onto whole leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana. The SAP combination treatment enhanced bacterial robustness, as indicated by disease severity and incidence. Unexpectedly, bacterial numbers were not significantly different between leaves treated with the SAP combination and those treated with water alone. Furthermore, young leaves treated with the SAP combination had more severe symptoms and a greater number of bacterial spots caused by primary and secondary infections compared to young leaves treated with the water control. In contrast, bacterial cell numbers did not statistically differ between the two groups, which indicated that measurement of viable GFP-based bacterial spots may provide a more sensitive methodology for assessing virulence of bacterial pathogens than methods that require dilution plating following maceration of bacterial-inoculated leaf tissue. Our study suggests that the SAP combination successfully increased bacterial aggressiveness, which could either be used to promote the ability of biological agents to control weedy plants or increase the robustness of saprophytic epiphytes against competition from potentially harmful microbes.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.381-394
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• 2017

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate carbonated drinks induced dental caries with qualitative analysis and to compare with oral organic acids including lactate, acetate, propionate, formate, butyrate, pyruvate and valerate which cause caries when taking either 10% sucrose drinks or carbonated drinks. Methods: Saliva was collected from six study subjects before and after (start, 5, 10, 30 minutes) taking water intake upon (A) 10% sucrose intake, (B) 10% sucrose intake, and (C) carbonated drink intake, then they were centrifuged at 1,200 rpm followed by removing bacteria and enzymes with syringe filtering, performing a qualitative analysis with HPLC conductivity detection (GP50 gradient pump, ED 50 detector) after saliva pre-treatment under isocratic 100 mM NaOH mobile phase. Results: Higher risk of dental caries was evaluated in order of C>B>A, with the results of total oral organic acids' concentration, lactates of organic acids and organic acids produced after 5 minutes from the 3 types of drinks intake. Conclusions: Carbonated beverages were estimated to develop higher dental caries induction than beverages containing 10% sucrose because of the high organic acid concentration in the mouth after its intake.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.511-520
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• 2008

Purpose: Diabetes mellitus is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of metabolic disorders manifested by abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood. Mounting evidence demonstrates that diabetes is a risk factor for gingivitis and periodontitis. The circulating mononuclear phagocytes in diabetic patients with hyperglycemia are chronically exposed to high level of serum glucose. Thus, this study attempted to determine the effect of pre-exposure of monocytes and macrophages to high concentration of glucose on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Material and Methods: For this purpose, cells were cultured in medium containing normal (5 mM) or high glucose (25 mM) for 4-5 weeks before treatment for 24 h with LPS. LPS was highly purified from Porphyromonas gingivalis or Prevotella intermedia by phenol extraction. Result: Results showed that prolonged pre-exposure of cells to high glucose markedly increased LPS-stimulated NO secretion when compared to normal glucose. In addition to NO, high glucose also augmented LPS-stimulated IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-$\alpha$ secretion after cells were exposed to high glucose for 4 weeks. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that pre-exposure of mononuclear phagocytes with high glucose augments LPS-stimulated production of pro-inflammatory mediators. These findings may explain why periodontal tissue destruction in diabetic patients is more severe than that in non-diabetic individuals.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.401-414
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• 2013

Ginsenoside Rg3 (G-Rg3) contained only in red ginseng has been found to show various pharmacological effects such as an anticancer, antiangiogenetic, antimetastastic, liver protective, neuroprotective immunomodulating, vasorelaxative, antidiabetic, insulin secretion promoting and antioxidant activities. It is well known that G-Rg3 could be divided into 20(R)-Rg3 and 20(S)-Rg3 according to the hydroxyl group attached to C-20 of aglycone, whose structural characteristics show different pharmacological activities. It has been reported that G-Rg3 is metabolized to G-Rh2 and protopanaxadiol by the conditions of the gastric acid or intestinal bacteria, thereby these metabolites could be absorbed, suggesting its absolute bioavailability (2.63%) to be very low. Therefore, we reviewed the chemical, physical and biological transformation methods for the production on a large scale of G-Rg3 with various pharmacological effects. We also examined the influence of acid and heat treatment-induced potentials on for the preparation method of higher G-Rg3 content in ginseng and ginseng products. Futhermore, the microbial and enzymatic bio-conversion technologies could be more efficient in terms of high selectivity, efficiency and productivity. The present review discusses the available technologies for G-Rg3 production on a large scale using chemical and biological transformation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.37-48
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• 2023

Background: Commensal bacteria play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and probiotics have been used as treatment options. We aimed to explore the current use of probiotics and factors associated with their prescription in patients with IBD. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a single hospital-based cohort. Patients were eligible if they were ≥18 years old, visited the IBD clinic as an outpatient more than twice during the study period, and had a confirmed diagnosis of IBD. Patients were divided into two groups based on the prescription of probiotics. Clinical assessments were compared between the two groups. Results: In total, 217 patients were enrolled in this study. In patients with Crohn disease (CD), moderate or severe abdominal pain; prior use of methotrexate (MTX), iron, thiopurines, or biologics; history of IBD-related surgery; and stool frequency were independently associated with the prescription of probiotics. In patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), moderate or severe abdominal pain, hematochezia, stool frequency, and moderate or severe physician global assessment score were independently associated with the prescription of probiotics. Conclusion: Increased disease activity may be associated with fewer prescriptions of probiotics in patients with IBD. However, physicians prescribed probiotics to control symptoms, such as abdominal pain and increased stool frequency in patients with UC and CD, and hematochezia in patients with UC. Additionally, the use of MTX and iron, and a history of IBD-related surgeries were associated with more frequent probiotic prescriptions in patients with CD.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.345-350
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• 2013

In this study, the physicochemical properties of leachate and the bacteria existence in leachate using molecular biology methods for 4 animal carcass disposals on the disposal lapse time was analyzed. The result of leachate physicochemical analysis in the middle stage (been buried 20 months) showed higher EC, DO, $HCO_3{^-}$, TOC, T-N and $SO_4{^{2-}}$ concentration compared to the first stage data (been buried 5 months). For identification of leachate using 16S rRNA method, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Bacillus pumilus, Pseudoclavibacter helvolus, Pseudochrobactrum saccharolyticum and Corynebacterium callunae in the first stage, Bacillus cereus, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Bacillus circulans and Corynebacterium glutamicum in the middle stage was observed, while there were detections of pathogenicity bacteria such as B. cereus and L. sphaericus. This study improves our knowledge of the fate and transport in geologic media, treatment, risk analysis on the leachate from animal carcass disposal sites.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcome of febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by community-acquired extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase (CA-ESBL)-producing and -nonproducing bacteria. Methods: We analyzed febrile UTIs in children hospitalized at Gachon University Gil Medical Center from January 2011 to December 2013 through retrospective data collection from their medical records. Results: Among pathogens causing 374 episodes of UTIs, the proportion of ESBL-producing bacteria was 13.1% (49/374). The proportion of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. was 13.6% (48/354) and 5.0% (1/20), respectively. There was no significant difference between the CA-ESBL and CA non-ESBL groups in duration of fever ($4.2{\pm}2.7$ vs. $3.7{\pm}2.1$ days, P=0.10) and bacterial eradication rate with empirical antibiotics (100% vs. 100%). The risk of cortical defects on renal scan significantly depended on existence of vesicoureteral reflux rather than ESBL production of pathogen. Conclusions: There was no significant difference between the CA-ESBL and CA non-ESBL groups in renal cortical defects and clinical outcome. Careful choice of antibiotics is important for treatment of community-acquired UTI in children.