• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.220-228
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• 2007

Purpose : We studied the value of clinical signs, laboratory findings and $^{99m}technetium$ dime-rcaptosuccinic acid(DMSA) scan in predicting the presence of vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) in children with first febrile urinary tract infection(UTI). Methods : A retrospective analysis of 84 hospitalized children with first febrile UTI was performed. They underwent DMSA scan and voiding cystourethrography(VCUG) during the acute phase, and were divided into three groups according to the results of the VCUG: absence of VUR, mild(grade I-II) and severe VUR(grade III-V). We studied the relation of VUR to age, gender, fever duration, causative organism, white blood cell count, serum C-reactive protein and result of DMSA scan. Results : Among 84 patients, 6 had mild and 17 had severe VUR. Thirty-eight had abnormal DMSA scan. results Patients with VUR were older than those without VUR(P<0.01). There was a lower probability of infection with Escherichia coli in patients with severe VUR than in those with mild and absent VUR(P<0.01). An abnormal DMSA scan correlated with the presence and severity of VUR(P<0.05). Severe VUR was present in 10.9% of patients with normal DMSA scan. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the DMSA scan in predicting the presence of VUR were 69.6%, 63.9%, 42.1%, and 84.8%, respectively. Conclusion : An abnormal DMSA scan correlated to the presence and severity of VUR, but the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of the DMSA scan were low. There-fore, patient with an abnormal DMSA scan requires a VCUG. In order to prevent missing the 10.9% of patients with severe VUR but normal DMSA scans, a VCUG should be performed in patient with normal DMSA scan.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.452-457
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• 2007

In this study, Lilium sp. were separated into bulbs, leaves, and flowers. Then, total polyphenol contents, electron donating ability (EDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and antimicrobial activity were measured from the extracts of each of the three aforementioned parts. The examination of physiologically active substances in the three parts revealed that Lilium davidii leaves had high total polyphenol contents, SOD-like activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and EDA, while the flowers of L. lancifolium showed high SOD-like activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and EDA, as well as a high level of total polyphenols in the bulb. Measurements of the antimicrobial activities of the extracts against Gram positive bacteria revealed that the leaves and flowers of L. davidii and L. lancifolium caused Bacillus subtilis and Salmonella enteritidis to form clear zones greater than 10 mm. Furthermore, the flowers of L. lancifolium showed particularly high antimicrobial activity against B. subtilis, and the flowers of L. davidii had high activity against S. enteritidis. For the Gram negative bacteria, the leaves and flowers of L. davidii and L. lancifolium caused Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli to form clear zones greater than 10 mm, and finally, the flowers of L. davidii and L. lancifolium showed high antibacterial activity, with inhibition exceeding 12 mm.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 2006

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to evaluate epidemiological data of pathogens obtained from stool exams and compare them with the clinical course in pediatric patients with symptoms of acute gastroenteritis. Methods : Subjects were selected from patients presenting with symptoms of acute gastroenteritis who visited the outpatient clinic or who were admitted to the Dankook University Hospital from December of 2004 to December of 2005. Stool exams for 17 pathogens was performed. RT-PCR was used to detect norovirus and enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA) was used to detect rotavirus, adenovirus and astrovirus in the subjects stool samples. Ten different species of bacteria(Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Clostridium perfrigens, Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Vibrio spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Yersinia spp., and L. monocytogenes) were each selectively cultivated and enzyme immunoassays(EIA) was used to test for antigens for C. parvum, E. histolytica and G. lamblia. Retrospective chart review was performed for comparisons of clinical manifestations. Results : A total of 215 subjects was selected and of these 89 cases(41.4%) showed positive results for at least one pathogen. Male to female ratio was 1.3:1. Age distribution showed 4 cases less than one month(4.5%), 4 cases from 1~2 months(4.5%), 24 cases from 3~12 months(26.7%), 47 cases form 13~48 months(52.8%), 10 cases greater than 48 months (21.2%). Viruses showed the greatest proportion of cases with 68 subjects(77.5%), of these rotavirus being the most commonly reported in 50 cases. Bacteria was identified in 26 cases (29.2%), of these nontyphoidal salmonella was noted in 10 cases. Protozoa followed with 21 cases(23.6%), of these C. parvum was noted in 11 cases and G. lamblia was noted in 10 cases. Mixed infections with more than two pathogens were seen in 22 cases(24.7%), of these viral infection with accompanying parasitic infection was seen in 12(54.5%) cases. Conclusion : In this study we examined various pathogens known to cause acute gastroenteritis in children. Further studies for various pathogens can provide useful information for management of the acute gastroenteritis.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.163-171
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the incidence, causative pathogens, risk factors and mortality for early onset sepsis in the first three days in very low birth weight infants. Methods: The medical records of 1,124 very low birth weight infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Samsung Medical Center between November 1994 and December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. The incidence, causative pathogens, risk factors, and mortality for early onset sepsis in the first 3 days of life in very low birth weight infants were evaluated. Results: Early onset sepsis, as confirmed by positive blood cultures, was present in 17 of 1,124 infants (1.5%). Sixty-four percent of the isolated pathogens were gram-positive bacteria and 35% of the isolated pathogens were gram-negative bacteria. The dominant pathogens of early onset sepsis included Staphylococcus aureus (23.5%), Esherichia coli (23.5%), and Enterococcus (17.6%). Vaginal delivery (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-10.3; P=0.01) was associated with early onset sepsis. The overall mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.4-6.5; adjusted P=0.0039) and mortality within 72 hours of life (adjusted hazard ratio, 6.5; 95% CI, 2.2-18.9; adjusted P=0.0005) of infants with early onset sepsis were higher than that of uninfected infants. Conclusion: Early onset sepsis remains an uncommon, but potentially lethal problem among very low birth weight infants. Knowledge of the likely causative organisms and risk factors for early onset sepsis can aid in instituting prompt and appropriate therapy, in order to minimize mortality.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 1998

As a fundermental research for quality stailization of herb extract, the effects of water activity on microbial growth in herb extract were investigated. Herbs-Panax ginseng, Cinnamomum cassia, Lycium chinense, Zyzyphus jujuba, Lindera obtusilobum-were mixed and extracted with water at $80^{\circ}C$ and concentrated at $75^{\circ}C$. Water activity of the herb extract was adjusted to 0.86, 0.80 and 0.69, using water activity analyzer. The extracts were incubated for 180 days at $40^{\circ}C$ and then examined microbial cell counts and some physicochemical properties. In the extract of $a_{w}$ 0.86, 18 CFU/g of initial viable cell was increased to 80 CFU/g with 90 days of incubation and to 190 CFU/g 180 days of incubation. In the extract of $a_{w}$ 0.80, 24 CFU/g of initial viable cell was also increased to 83 CFU/g during the 90 days of incubation and to 170 CFU/ g for the 180 days of incubation. However, in the extract of $a_{w}$ 0.69, viable cell after 180 days of incubation was remained at almost the same level as initial viable cell. pH of herb extract was reduced in proportion to the decrease in water activity. The TLC (thin layer chromatography) patterns of ginseng saponins of herb extract did not show any significant changes after 180 days of incubation. Growth of pathogenic microorganisms was inhibited more with lower water activity of the herb extracts. In the herb extract inoculated with Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, initial viable cells of 150 and 140 CFU/g were decreased to 30 and 20 CFU/g, repectively, after 30 days of incubation at $28^{\circ}C$. In the case of herb extract inoculated with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, growth of the bacteria was totally inhibited even after 30 days of incubation at $37^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.49-58
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• 2010

The objectives of this study were to investigate the microbial contamination levels on food service in university and to provide the information of microbial contamination to improve food safety. A total of 288 samples were collected during summer and winter season between 2006 and 2008 from 4 food services located in the university in Western Gyeongnam and were used to detect sanitary indicator bacteria [aerobic plate count (APC), coliform, and Escherichia coli] and pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp.). As a result, APC and coliform for hand and kitchen utensils which are used often by the employee were detected at high levels of 1.1~5.5 and 1.3~5.3 log CFU/($100\;cm^2$, hand), respectively. The contamination levels of APC and coliform in cooked foods and drinking water were 0.8~6.4 and 1.3~5.0 log CFU/(g, mL), respectively. Especially, the cooked foods showed the highest contamination for APC (2.1~6.4 log CFU/g) and coliform (1.0~5.0 log CFU/g). We think the reason that the cooked foods may be contaminated with APC and coliform on cooking process by using employee's hand and kitchen utensils. Moreover, S. aureus for hand and kitchen utensils was detected at levels of 2.8~3.0 and 2.0~2.3 log CFU/(g, hand), but Salmonella spp. was not detected. According to the above results, contamination levels of the samples were mostly decreased irrespective of summer and winter season. The results obtained indicated that it is necessary to periodic monitoring for microorganism contamination and education about personal and environmental hygiene to employee for ensuring food safety of food service in university.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.301-305
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the microbiological contamination levels in rice cakes and rice flour due to climate change in three areas classified to their temperature and precipitation. We investigated the contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens of rice flour and 3 rice cakes such as Garaetteok, Sirutteok and Gyeongdan. Contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria in rice flour were 4.9 log CFU/g. In a total of 70 rice flour, yeasts & molds and coliforms were detected in 42 and 52 samples at the levels of 43 CFU/g and 1.29 log CFU/g, respectively. S. aureus were detected in only 1 rice flour (1.66 log CFU/g) out of 70. In an investigation of contamination levels in rice cakes, the population of total aerobic bacteria were highest in Gyeongdan (5.18 log CFU/g) and coliforms were highest in Gareattock (2.93 log CFU/g). There was no detection of E. coli and B. cereus except for only 1 Gareattock (1.20 log CFU/g). There were no differences of contamination levels among the three areas. If constant monitoring of rice cakes and rice flour is conducted on the basis of this study, it is expected to be able to analyze the change of contamination levels in rice cakes and rice flour due to climate change.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.709-714
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• 2005

Antibacterial activities of the freeze-dried bamboo sap dissolved into the water or 50% ethanol were determined and antimicrobial activity of bamboo sap dissolved into distilled water was most strong with 15 mm of the diameter of inhibiting clear zone against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19114 among gram positive bacteria tested, but it did not inhibit Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 at all, and the sap was most greatly inhibited the growth of Shigella dysenteriae ATCC 9361 among gram negative bacteria with 15 mm of the diameter of inhibiting clear zone. Bamboo sap dissolved into 50% ethanol most strongly inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes ATCC 19114 and it also inhibited the growth of B. subtilis ATCC 6633 which did not show any with the sap dissolved into distilled water. The sap dissolved into 50% ethanol was most greatly inhibited the growth of S. dysenteriae ATCC 9361 among gram negative bacteria with 23 mm of the diameter of inhibiting clear zone, and it inhibited Vibrio parahaemolyticus WSDH 22, Vibrio vulnilicus ATCC 29307 and Escherichia coli O157 WSDH 54 with 16 mm of the diameter of inhibiting clear zone. However, Both of the saps dissolved in distilled water and 50% ethanol did not showed any inhibition against the lactic acid bacteria of Lactobacillus plantarum KCTC and Lactobacillus brevis KCTC. Most of the tested bacteria were more sensitive to the sap dissolved in 50% ethanol than the sap dissolved in distilled water. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration of the bamboo sap dissolved into 50% ethanol was 0.6 mg eq./disc with L. monocytogenes ATCC 19114, but that of the sap dissolved into distilled water was 0.8 mg eq./disc with Staphylococcus epidermides ATCC 12228, S. dysenteriae ATCC 9361, L. monocytogenes ATCC 19114, Salmonella typhimurium WSU 2380 and V. parahaemolyticus WSDH 22. In a model food system of the sterilized chocolate milk, antibacterial activities of the sap dissolved into 50% ethanol were relatively stronger than those of the sap dissolved into distilled water and the activities against the bacteria tested were very similar each other. These result suggested the bamboo sap can be used as a natural food preservative.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.786-794
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• 2011

To investigate the sanitary-quality level of commercial kimchi in South Korea, the pH, acidity, and microbial-flora changes in the kimchi were determined. Samples of kimchi produced by three different manufacturers (a small grocery store, a small/medium-sized enterprise, and a large food company) were collected. Freshly made kimchi was purchased and fermented at $10^{\circ}C$ for 10 days. The pH of the commercial kimchi on the purchased day was approximately pH 5.8, and that on the $10^{th}$ day of fermentation was ${\simeq}pH$ 4.1. The kimchi purchased from a large company showed a more rapid decline in pH level during fermentation. The saltiness of the kimchi purchased from a medium-sized company was slightly higher than those of the other commercial kimchi samples. The saccharinity index of the kimchi produced by a small grocery store was higher than those of the other samples, and its value deviation was also higher than those of the other commercial kimchi samples. A higher total viable-cell count and a higher lactic-acid bacteria (LAB) count were detected in the kimchi from the large food company at the beginning of fermentation compared to the samples of the two other kimchi manufacturers. The highest cell numbers of gram-positive bacteria (except LAB) and coliform bacteria were detected from the small-grocery-store kimchi, but the coliform bacteria count gradually decreased during fermentation although such bacteria were still detected until the $10^{th}$ day of fermentation. In contrast, coliform bacteria were not detected in the samples from the medium-sized and large food companies. Yeast, which is detected in over-ripened kimchi, was detected in the unfermented kimchi from the small grocery store, which had a below-0.36% acidity level. The gram-positive bacteria (except LAB) that were detected in all the tested commercial kimchi samples were determined to be Bacillus spp., and the gram-negative bacteria were determined to be Escherichia coli, Enterobacter spp., Sphingomonase spp., and Strenophomonas spp. The proportions of all the aforementioned bacteria in the kimchi samples, however, were different depending on the samples that were taken. These results indicate that a more sanitary kimchi production process and a more systematic kimchi production manual should be developed to industrialize and globalize kimchi.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.443-448
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• 1996

In order to investigate the function of xylA promoter(Pxyl) as regulatory region Pxyl-lacZ fusion gene was constructed by the insertion of xylA promoter to the multiple cloning site of upstream of lacZ gene in a multicopy numbered plasmid pMC1403 containing promoterless lac operon, which was designated pMCX191, and Pxyl-lacZ fragment from pMCX191 was inserted to low copy numbered plasmid pLG339, designated pLGX191. The expressions of ${\beta}-galactosidase$ in these recombinant plasmids containing Pxyl-lacZ fusion gene were induced strongly by the addition of xylose, repressed by the addition of 0.2% glucose in the presence of xylose. The catabolite repressions were derepressed by the addition of 1 mM cAMP as same as native xylA gene. The fragment of xylA promoter was partially deleted from the upstream of xylA promoter by exonuclease III to investigate the regulation site of xylA promoter and the degrees of deletion derivatives of xylA promoter were analyzed by the DNA base sequencing. By the investigations of the induction by xylose, repression by glucose and derepression by cAMP on xylose isomerase production, the regulation site of xylA promoter may be located in segment between -165 and -59 bp upstream from the initiation site of xylA translation.