• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.728-733
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• 2005

To elucidate the question of whether biofilm formed by the intercellular adhesion (ica) gene cluster has influences on antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus epidermidis, we compared 124 skin strains with strains isolated from 50 blood cultures that cause septicemic diseases. The results revealed that the blood culture isolates were more resistant to the antibiotics tested than the saprophytic isolates. Moreover, antibiotic multiresistance was more prevalent in the clinical isolates. In the blood culture isolates, $46\%$ of the strains were resistant to three or more antibiotics, whereas only $12\%$ of the saprophytic isolates were resistant to three or more antibiotics. Interestingly, these characteristics were highly correlated with the biofilm formed by the ica gene cluster. In biofilm-producing strains, $84\%$ of the blood culture isolates and $44\%$ of the saprophytic isolates were antibiotic multiresistant, whereas only $22\%=;and\;9\%$, respectively, were antibiotic multiresistant in biofilm-nonproducing strains. Additionally, in the biofilm-producing ica-positive strains, $89\%$ of the blood culture isolates and $57\%$ of the saprophytic isolates were antibiotic multiresistant. However, the rate of the antibiotic multiresistance in the ica-negative strains was very low, thus indicating that the biofim formed by the lea gene cluster in S. epidermidis is an important pathogenic factor in association with the antibiotic multiresistance.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.10 no.1 s.22
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• pp.137-155
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• 2007

Purpose : This study was undertaken to make a diagnosis weakness and firmness (虛實) of Dysmenorrhea patients by diagnosis questionnaires system(Diagnosis System of Oriental Medicine-DSOM) Methods : The subjects were 58 volunteers who was suffering for dysmenorrhea, employed using Measure of Menstrual Pain (MMP) questionnaire. The had agreed to take part in this experiment, with didn't take any anodyne drugs. The MMP score by using 7 questions and the Menstrual Symptom Severity List(MSSL-D) was measured before and after menstruation cycle. Results and Conclusions : The findings of this study were as follows; 1. We examined Pathogenic Factor's frequency of DSOM, Coldness(寒) was 45 persons 80.36%, Damp(濕) was 40 persons 71.43%, Heart(心) was 37 persons 66.07%, Heat syndrom(熱) was 9 persons 16.07%, insufficiency of Yang(陽虛) was 6 persons 10.71%. 2. We divided Dysmenorrhea patients into two groups(weakness and firmness) by Results of DSOM, Firmness was 25 Persons 43.1%, Weakness was 23 persons 39.7%, Unknown was 10 persons 17.2%. 3. In estimation based on Measure of Menstrual Pain (MMP) questionnaire Severe menstrual pain is weakness, Mild menstrual pain is Firmness. 4. In estimation of coldness and heat syndrom, Coldness was 40 persons 69.0%, Heat syndrom, was 2 persons 3.5%, Possess both coldness and heat syndrom was 9 persons 15.5%.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.211-232
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• 1998

Because there were lots of side effects and tolerances to the existing anticancer therapeutics, the experiment extracting the anticancer effect from medicinal herbs is in progress liviely. Therefore the purpose of this study were to research the tendency and the course of anticancer studies. To research the tendency of anticancer studies, medicinal herbs of fifty three experimental papers were analyzed and to examine the course of studies, anticancer papers in the medical world were used. The obtained results were as follows: Methods of herbal medicinal treatments were elimination the pathogenic factor(祛邪) and supporting healthy energy(扶正) method used. In this study, immediately tumor bearing and immune response were the most important point. The subject of immediately tumor bearing was not in the specific cancer but in the influence on the life span of general cencerous cells. In the experimental study of immune response, the effect on NK cell activity of medicinal herbs most studied. The combined usage of medicinal herbs and anticancer agent mostly intended to know whether it inhibits the tumor cell growth. The serum test and blood cell number test show if medicinal herbs inhibit side effect of anticancer agent. More than 80 percents of used medicinal herbs, there were anticancer activities. However anticancer experimental studies using medicinal herbs two weak points. The one, it was difficult to choose a prescription according to differentiation of symptoms and signs(辨證論) of the Oriental Medicine, because we put to the test not a man but a mouse. The other, as we observed the indirect effect of the whole physiological regulation caused by synergic effects of the complex prescription, we don't understand the detailed mechanism of the herb. Therefore, if the anticancer effect of the herb is proved the experiment, we should research the concrete medical action of medicinal herbs and immunological analysis of herbal medicines to the body.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.64-71
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• 2007

The necessity of disinfecting playground soil is an important issue, because pathogenic protozoa, bacteria, and parasite eggs remain viable for several months and can infect children. UV irradiation has been used to decontaminate water but its effectiveness on soil is unclear. We determined the efficacy of UV radiation for inactivation of an indicator bacteria, E. coli (strain ATCC 8739), on playground soil. While 99% inactivation of E. coli in the soil was readily achieved by UV radiation within 55 min at $0.4\;mW\;cm^{-2}$, complete inactivation was not achieved, even after prolonged treatment at $4\;mW\;cm^{-2}$. This was attributed to the irregular surface of the soil. A small number of E. coli escaped the UV radiation because they were situated in indentations or under small particles on the soil surface. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that the surface characteristics of the soil is the major limiting factor in the inactivation of E. coli by UV radiation. Thus UV treatment may not be adequate for disinfecting some soils and should be carefully evaluated before being used on playground soils.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.150-156
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• 2011

Few studies have shown the correlation between metabolic syndrome and bone mineral density (BMD). The main pathogenic mechanisms of metabolic syndrome rely on chronic low-level inflammatory status and oxidative stress. There are few studies that examine the gender-specific effects of inflammation and antioxidants on BMD. In this study, we evaluated the relative contribution of these factors in patients with metabolic syndrome. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 67 men and 46 postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome; metabolic syndrome was defined as having three or more metabolic syndrome risk factors. BMD, body fat mass, and lean body mass were evaluated. We also examined the levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), adiponectin, vitamin E, and C in serum. Log-transformed hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in lumbar spine osteoporotic subjects than in normal subjects for women but not for men. There was no significant difference between the normal group and the osteoporotic group in other inflammatory markers. Stepwise regression analyses for BMD of the lumbar spine showed that lean body mass and vitamin E were significant determinants in men. Lean body mass and log-transformed hs-CRP were significant determinants in women Analysis for BMD of the femoral neck showed that lean body mass was a significant determinant for both men and women. There was no significant factor among the inflammatory markers or antioxidant vitamins affecting the femoral neck BMD for either gender. In conclusion, while hs-CRP is an independent predictor of the BMD of the lumbar spine in women, vitamin E showed profound effects on BMD in men but not women with metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 1969

The authors made a clinical study of 80 cases of empyema who were diagnosed and treated at department of chest surgery, St. Mary`s Hospital, Chatholic Medical College, during the period of May.l964 through April.1969 and compared the empyema of infant and children with that of adults. 1. In age and sex ditribution, infant was 6 cases, childhood 22 cases and adult 52 cases. The ratio of male to female was 2.2:1. There`s a little difference in infant-childhood but prominence of males over females in adults was being 3. 3:1, in its ratio. 2. The cardinal symptoms were cough [61.3%], fever [60.0%] and dyspnea [52.8%]. The leukocytosis were observed in 83.7% of all cases, 96.2% of infant-childhood and 76.9% of adults. The hemoglobin level showed subnormal in 82.1% of infant-childhood and in 55.8% of adults. 3. Most frequent lesion to predisposing factor of empyema was pneumonia [43.7%],being prominent in infants children [64.3%] to that of adult 4. The Pathogenic organism by culture in 75 cases of empyema were staphylococuss [48%], streptococuss[9.3%], Gram[-] bacilli [9.3%], Klebsiella[2.7%], pneumococcus[4.0%], E. coli [5.4%] and no growth 21.3% in over all. Among the cases of empyema. staphlocal origin was 62.9% in infant-childfood and 39.6% adults. 5. Staphylococci were most susceptible to erythromycin [86. 1%], Kanamycin [75.0%], albamycin [61.7%] and neomycin [52.8%] but most resistant to penicillin, Chtoramphenicol and terramycin. 6. In the treatment of empyema, of 53 cases were closed thoracotomy drainage and the remainder of cases by open thoracotomy, decortication, thoracoplasty and pleuropneumonectomy. we could attain favourable results by only the closed thoracotomy in infant-childhood, 28 cases. 7. The mortality rate was 6.3% in over all; adult 3 cases, infant and children 2 cases. 3 cases of these, were due to staphylococcal infection.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.9
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• pp.454-459
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• 2013

LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2) has been identified as a gene corresponding to PARK8, an autosomal-dominant gene for familial Parkinson's disease (PD). LRRK2 pathogenic-specific mutants induce neurotoxicity and shorten neurites. To elucidate the mechanism underlying LRRK2 expression, we constructed the LRRK2-promoter-luciferase reporter and used it for promoter analysis. We found that the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) transactivated LRRK2 in a ligand-dependent manner. Using quantitative RT-PCR and Western analysis, we further showed that treatment with dexamethasone, a synthetic GR ligand, induced LRRK2 expression at both the transcriptional and translational levels, in dopaminergic MN9D cells. Dexamethasone treatment also increased expression of ${\alpha}$-synuclein, another PD causative gene, and enhanced transactivation of the ${\alpha}$-synuclein promoter-luciferase reporter. In addition, dexamethasone treatment to MN9D cells weakly induced cytotoxicity based on an LDH assay. Because glucocorticoid hormones are secreted in response to stress, our data suggest that stress might be a related factor in the pathogenesis of PD.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.182-189
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• 2016

Together with the Fusarium graminearum species complex, F. culmorum is a major member of the causal agents of Fusarium head blight on cereals such as wheat, barley and corn. It causes significant yield and quality losses and results in the contamination of grain with mycotoxins that are harmful to humans and animals. In Korea, F. culmorum is listed as a quarantine fungal species since it has yet to be found in the country. In this paper, we report that two isolates (J1 and J2) of F. culmorum were collected from the air at a rice paddy field in Korea. Species identification was confirmed by phylogenetic analysis using multilocus sequence data derived from five genes encoding translation elongation factor, histone H3, phosphate permease, a reductase, and an ammonia ligase and by morphological comparison with reference strains. Both diagnostic PCR and chemical analysis confirmed that these F. culmorum isolates had the capacity to produce nivalenol, the trichothecene mycotoxin, in rice substrate. In addition, both isolates were pathogenic on wheat heads and corn stalks. This is the first report on the occurrence of F. culmorum in Korea.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.50-62
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• 2013

Objective : Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a major pathogenic bacteria for acne vulgaris. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of Lithospermum erythrorhizon extracts on the inflammatory cytokines gene expression by P. acnes in human keratinocytes, HaCaT cell line. Methods : Anti-bacterial activity and cytotoxicity of LE extracts was analyzed by agar plate culture and XTT assay. The cytokines gene expressions were assessed by real time RT-PCR for IL-8, MCP-1 and TNF-${\alpha}$. During the cell culture and treatments, amounts of secreted TNF-${\alpha}$ were measured by ELISA. Translocation of transcription factor NF-${\kappa}B$ from cytoplasm into nucleus was observed by immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. Results : There were no anti-bacterial effects and cytotoxicity as high as $1,000{\mu}g/ml$ of LE extracts in XTT assay. Transcription levels of inflammatory cytokines, IL-8, MCP-1 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were increased by P. acnes in HaCaT. LE extracts decreased the upregulated gene transcription levels. However, amounts of secreted TNF-${\alpha}$ were similar in HaCaT cells with P. acnes and LE extracts. Translocation of NF-${\kappa}B$ into nucleus by P. acnes was significantly inhibited by LE extracts. Conclusions : From the results of this study, LE extracts have anti-inflammatory effects on HaCaT cells by P. acnes that decreased the mRNA expressions of IL-8, MCP-1 and TNF-${\alpha}$. This anti-inflammatory effects of LE extracts could provide the potential of therapeutic substance for acne vulgaris.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 2012

Northern stem canker caused by $Diaporthe$ $phaseolorum$ var. $caulivora$ ($Dpc$) has become a serious disease in soybean. The objectives of this study were to survey the existence of $Dpc$ on soybean in Korea, and to examine the potential pathogenicity of $Dpc$ in seed decay. One such isolate, SSLP-4, isolated from a field-grown plant of the Korean soybean cultivar Danbaekkong, was identified as $Dpc$, based on its morphological and molecular characteristics by sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor (TEF) 1-${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$-tubulin regions, as well as pathogenic analyses. Moreover, morphological and molecular analyses revealed that isolate SSLP-4 was nearly identical to $Dpc$ strains from the United States. Pathogenicity tests on hypocotyls of soybean seedlings and detached leaves resulted in typical symptoms of soybean northern stem canker and inoculation on plants at R5-R7 stage caused seed decay. All results suggest that the $Dpc$ strain SSLP-4 can cause both stem canker and seed decay on soybean. Thus, the SSLP-4 isolate has the potential to contribute greatly to understanding of host plant resistance mechanisms, both at vegetative and reproductive growth stages in soybean.