• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.116-122
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the microbiological hazard of spoons and their cases carried by nursery school children and to evaluate the reduction effects of washing methods and ultraviolet (UV) treatments against Escherichia coli on the spoon and spoon case. A total of 78 spoons and their cases were sampled to test about total aerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Salmonella spp. Total aerobic bacteria were detected over 2.7 log CFU/100 $cm^2$ in 20 out of 36 spoons (55.6%), 9 out of 20 zipper-type spoon cases (45.0%) and 13 out of 22 plastic-type spoon cases (59.1%). Coliform bacteria were also detected in 19 out of 36 spoons (52.8%), 14 out of 20 zipper-type spoon cases (70.0%) and 14 out of 22 plastic-type spoon cases (63.6%). The pathogens tested in this study were not found in all samples except for the zipper-type spoon cases which were contaminated with Staph. aureus (2 samples) and B. cereus (3 samples). The results indicated that the sanitary conditions of spoons and their cases should be improved promptly. To evaluate the reduction effects of washing methods and UV treatments against E. coli, the spoons and their cases were treated at different cleaning times with and without soap, and different UV exposure times, respectively. E. coli with initial cell number of 4 log CFU on the spoons and their cases was not detected when they were cleaned at running water for 30 sec after dish sponging with soap for 30 sec. In UV treatments, E. coli with the same level of washing method was not detected after UV exposure for 15 minute in the spoons and their cases. From the results, the washing and UV treatment should be used to control the microbial contamination of spoons and their cases for more than 1 and 15 minutes, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.577-583
• /
• 2012

This study investigated the antioxidant activities, and antimicrobial activity $in$ $vitro$ of an 80% ethanol extract from garlic, daikon, leek, ginger, onion, and green onion, which are widely-used ingredients in Korean food that contain sulfur. The total polyphenol content in ginger and leek extracts showed a high value ($233.63{\pm}4.59$ and $220.98{\pm}10.56$ mg/g GAE) and onions, leeks, garlic, and daikon followed by with $69.07{\pm}1.42$, $68.83{\pm}2.11$, $19.41{\pm}0.40$, $19.05{\pm}03.32$ mg/g GAE, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity was highest with ginger extracts ($1.57{\pm}0.15$ mg/mL as $IC_{50}$) followed in order of decreasing activity by leeks, onions, daikon, green onions, and garlic. The results of ABTS radical scavenging activity and FRAP value showed higher antioxidant activity in extracts from ginger and leek. The order of vegetables with most to least prevalent ABTS radical scavenging activity was green onions, onions, garlic, and finally daikon. From greatest to least FRAP value, the relevant vegetables were green onions, onions, daikon, and garlic (p<0.05). Ginger extracts showed promise against seven strains of microbes: $Bacillus$ $cereus$, $Bacillus$ $subtillis$, $Staphylococcus$ $aureus$, $Lactobacillus$ $plantarum$, $Escherichia$ $coli$, $Salmonella$ $enterica$, and $Pseudomonas$ $aeruginosa$. Garlic extracts (5 mg/disc) showed strong antimicrobial activity against $B.$ $cereus$ (22.3 mm) and $E.$ $coli$ (24.3 mm). Extracts of both onion and green onion showed antimicrobial activity against only $E.$ $coli$ (12.7 and 10.3 mm) and $B.$ $cereus$ (12.0 and 12.5 mm) at 10 mg/disc, and the inhibition zone diameter from extracts of garlic and leeks were 18.0 mm and 10.4 mm vs. $L.$ $plantarum$ at 10 mg/disc. This study showed positive antioxidant activities for ginger and leeks, and positive antimicrobial activities for leeks and garlic. These sulfur-containing vegetables are widely used in Korean food. Leeks especially could serve as a functional food preservative.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.37 no.8
• /
• pp.1049-1057
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to microbiologically evaluate common foods and preparation processes in three large (over 100 pyeong) western-style restaurants in Daegu. Microbiological testing was conducted for pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli O157:H7, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Bacillus cereus, as well as total plate count and coliforms. Food samples selected for testing represent common menu items and preparation processes. These samples included: 1) hamburger steak (cooking process), 2) mashed potatoes (reheating process), and 3) salad (non-heating process). The results showed that E. coli and S. aureus were detected in the raw ground beef used to prepare hamburger steak, but they were not detected after cooking at $82{\sim}86^{\circ}C$, 10 min. Microbiological quality of the mashed potatoes was better after reheating than during storage in a refrigerator after cooking. Total plate count and coliforms increased, and E. coli was detected in the salad ingredients stored in the refrigerator before serving. In order to serve foods of good microbiological safety and quality in western-style restaurants, standard cooking and reheating temperatures must be maintained during the cooking and reheating processes, and sanitation standard operating procedures must be followed for washing and storage of non-heated and refrigerated menu items.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.42 no.7
• /
• pp.1115-1124
• /
• 2013

The present study was conducted to ensure the diversity of domestic solar salt by analyzing the composition and microbiological characteristics of solar salt (from Docho island: DS) and the flower of salt produced in different Korean salt flats (Sinui island: SF, Bigum island: BF, and Docho island: DF). The analyses showed that the moisture content of the three types of flower of salt and solar salt ranged from 10.54~13.82% and NaCl content ranged from 78.81~84.61%. The mineral content of those salts ranged from 3.57~5.51%. The content of insoluble matter in these salts was $0.01{\pm}0.00{\sim}0.05{\pm}0.00%$. The sand content of these salts was $0.01{\pm}0.01{\sim}0.03{\pm}0.01%$. By Hunter's color value analysis, the color of the flower of salt was brighter and whiter than solar salt. The salinity of the flower of salt was a little higher than solar salt as well. The magnesium and potassium ion content of DF was $9,886.72{\pm}104.78mg/kg$ and $2,975.23{\pm}79.73mg/kg$, respectively, which was lower than the content in SF, BF, and DS. The heavy metal content of all salts was acceptable under the Korean Food Sanitation Law. The flower of salt was confirmed to be sweeter and preferable to solar salt. More than 80% of the solar salt crystals were 2~3 mm in size, whereas crystals from the flower of salt were 0.5~2 mm in size. The bacterial diversity of DF and DS were investigated by culture and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) methods. The number of cultured bacteria in flower of salt was approximately three times more than solar salt. By DGGE analysis, major microbes of DF were Maritimibacter sp., Cupriavidus sp., and unculturable bacteria, and those of DS were Cupriavidus sp., Dunalidella salina and unculturable bacteria. The results of DGGE analysis showed that major microorganisms in solar salts were composed of unidentified and unculturable bacteria and only a few microorganisms were culturable.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.42 no.10
• /
• pp.1690-1700
• /
• 2013

The objective of this study is to develop and validate predictive growth models for Bacillus cereus (diarrhea type) vegetative cells, spores and Staphylococcus aureus in preprocessed Namul (bracken and Chwinamul) and root vegetables (bellflower and burdock). For validation of model performance, growth data for S. aureus in preprocessed vegetables were collected at independent temperatures (18 and $30^{\circ}C$) not used in the model development. In addition, model performance of B. cereus (diarrhea type) in preprocessed vegetables was validated with an emetic type of B. cereus strain. In primary models, the specific growth rate (SGR) of the B. cereus spores was faster than that of the B. cereus vegetative cells, regardless of the kinds of vegetables at 24 and $35^{\circ}C$, while lag time (LT) of the B. cereus spores was longer than that of the B. cereus vegetative cells, except for burdock. The growth of B. cereus and S. aureus was not observed in bracken at temperatures lower than 13 and $8^{\circ}C$, respectively. The LT models for B. cereus (diarrhea type) in this study were suitable in predicting the growth of B. cereus (emetic type) on burdock and Chwinamul. On the other hand, SGR models for B. cereus (diarrhea type) were suitable for predicting the growth of B. cereus (emetic type) on all preprocessed vegetables. The developed models can be used to predict the risk of B. cereus and S. aureus in preprocessed Namul and root vegetables at the retail markets.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.59-68
• /
• 2003

Background : In intubated patients, cultures of endotracheal aspirates (EA) are apt to contamination throughout the endotracheal tube. Therefore, the identification of etiologic agents via conventional EA cultures is not always reliable. In order to differentiate a pulmonary infection from a non-infectious disease, and to identify the true etiologic agent of acute pulmonary infection, blinded protected specimen brushing (PSB) was used, and its efficacy evaluated. Methods : In 51 intubated patients, with suspected pneumonia, blind PSB were performed, and the results compared with blood and EA cultures. A protected specimen brush was introduced through the endotracheal tube, and settled at the affected large bronchus. A specimen brush was introduced to the expected region using the blind method. The tip of the brush was introduced with an aseptic technique after vigorously mixed for 1 minute in $1cm^3$ of Ringer's lactate solution. The specimens were submitted for quantitative culture within 15 minutes, with a culture being regarded as positive if the colony forming units were above $10^3/ml$. Results : Of the 51 patients, 15 (29.4%) had community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), 27 (52.9%) hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and 9 (17.6%) non-infectious diseases. The sensitivity and specificity of the quantitative PSB culture for the diagnosis of pneumonia were 52.4 and 88.9%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of EA were 78.6 and 77.8%, respectively. The blind PSB was superior to the EA for the identification of true etiologic agents. Of 53 episodes of 27 HAP patients, MRSA (Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) (41.5%) was the most common causative agent followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.1%), Klebsiella sp. (7.5%) and Acinetobacter sp. (7.5%). Conclusions : As a simple, non-invasive diagnostic modality, the blind PSB is a useful method for the differentiation of a pulmonary infection from non-infectious diseases and to identify the etiologic agents in intubated patients. A blind PSB can be performed without bronchoscopy, so is safer, more convenient and cost-effectiveness for patients where bronchoscopy can not be performed.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.167-174
• /
• 1996

Alcoholics increased susceptibility to microbial infection that is associated with decreased immunity. but there has been little experimental evidence to support alcoholics-induced increase of microbial infection directly in non-specific immunity. Therefore, we were used the method of phagocytic-plaque including all the stimulating factors for the phagocytosis, subtypes of lymphocytes and T-lymphocyte proliferation. The experimental groups were divided into 3 groups: (1) alcoholics who were hospitalized less than 1 week (newly hospitalized alcoholics), (2) alcoholics who were hospitalized more than 2 weeks (old hospitalized alcoholics), (3) healthy blood donors. We have studied 98 alcoholics and 35 healthy blood donors and control groups. A physician has checked the biological markers and diagnosed the body-condition alcoholics. The immunity and non-specific immunity on the alcoholics were analyzed by using the simultest kit and flow cytometry. Proliferation of the lymphocytes was analyzed by the phytohemmagglutinine mitogen. Phagocytosis and migration properties of leukocytes were identified on the layer formed by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I strain. Biological markers of alcoholics and control groups, by such as blood glucose, ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transpeptidase and mean corpuscular volumes of red blood cells, were determined by biochemical and hematological methods. Compared with control groups, cluster of differentiation (CD)3+, CD8+ and CD19+ in alcoholic were more decreased except CD4+/CD8+ ratio. Proliferation of the T-lymphocytes, phagocytosis and migration properties of the leukocytes in alcoholics were decreased compared with those of control groups. According to the results observed in our experiment, they can be summerized as follows: 1, Cellular, humoral and non-specific immunities, are markedly decreased in alcoholics than those in control groups. 2. It is inferred that Phagocytic plaque formation is a very useful method to evaluate phagocytosis and migration properties of the alcoholic leukocytes 3. It is thought that the subtypes of lymphocytes, especially CD4+/CD8+ ratio, are essential methods to analyzed the alcoholic immunity. 4. Specific and non-specific immunity on the old hospitalized alcoholics was slightly increased, which depends upon the alcoholic medication.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.646-651
• /
• 2017

This study was carried out to examine the antimicrobial activity of 70% ethanol and hot water extracts from different parts and essential oil in Pinus densiflora on skin pathogens such as Staphylococcus epiermidis, S. aureus, Propionibacterium acnes, Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, and Trichophyton rubrum. The antimicrobial activities of extracts and essential oil were tested by paper disc assay and minimum inhibitory concentration test. The ethanol extract of pine pollen showed antimicrobial activity against C. tropicalis and T. rubrum. Ethanol extract of pine needle and pine gnarl showed antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, C. tropicalis, and P. acnes. Essential oil from pine needle exhibited antimicrobial activity against C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and P. acnes. The minimum inhibitory concentration of ethanol extracts of pine needle and pine gnarl against P. acnes and C. tropicalis ranged from 0.002% to 0.0063%. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (0.025%) against C. albicans and C. tropicalis was obtained from essential oil. These results indicate that ethanol extracts of pine pollen, pine needle, pine gnarl, and essential oil of pine needle could be applicable to control the skin infection pathogens. Especially, ethanol extract of pine gnarl had a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and pine extracts and essential oil exhibited higher antimicrobial activity with Candida sp. and P acnes.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.83-90
• /
• 2010

Purpose : Although the incidence of polymicrobial bloodstream infection (PBSI) has increased, only a few studies have so far focused on children. Therefore, in an effort to prevent more serious situations in pediatric patients, we analyzed the clinical features, organisms, and laboratory results of PBSI. Methods : We performed a retrospective review of the case records of 97 patients with polymicrobial bloodstream infection in the Severance hospital, from 2001 to 2008. Using t-test and chi-square test, we analyzed the underlying medical conditions, clinical characteristics, organisms, and laboratory results of those patients. Results : Annual incidence of polymicrobial bloodstream infection increased from 1.4 % in 2001 to 10.9% in 2008 in pediatric patients. Immunocompromised hemato-oncological malignancy was found in 31 (31.9%) patients, and was the most common underlying medical condition; cardiovascular disease was found in 15 patients (15.4%), neurologic disease in 10 patients (10.3%), and so on. Gram positive organisms were recovered in 143 cases and gram negative organisms were recovered in 101 cases of PBSI. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common organism. Factors affecting mortality included underlying medical disease, immune status, nosocomial infection, and central catheter-related infection, for which the rate of mortality showed a greater increase (P<0.05). Conclusion : Due to the close connection between PBSI and fatal conditions or high mortality, it requires more aggressive management. Compared with previous studies, we discovered that immunocompromised hemato-oncological malignancy was the most common underlying medical condition and that frequency of gram-positive bacteria and fungus isolated has increased.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.17 no.8 s.88
• /
• pp.1121-1128
• /
• 2007

The fruits of Zanthoxylum piperitum are known as having various physiology vitality, and the abstraction ingredient of the pericarp is also known as having strong antibiotic activities against various bacteria. Therefore, this study was carried out to estimate the effect of physiology vitality when the abstraction ingredient of Z. piperitum was added in soy sauce(Chopi-kanjang) and soybean paste(Chopi-doenjang). For the antibiotic activity against the pathogens of sitotoxism such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio parahemolyticus, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, the extracts of the Chopi-kanjang was added 1%, 2%, 4% pericarp of Z. piperitum in the manufacturing process of soy source. According to the results, the growth of E. coli 0157:H7 and V. parahemolyticus were respectively inhibited as 70% and 50% by the Chopi-kanjang added 2% of the ingredient. For the antibiotic effects of the aforementioned Chopi-kanjang against Sal. typhimurium and Sta. aureus, the growth of those pathogens was also inhibited between 40% and 60% according to the manufacturing period of Chopi-kanjang. It was confirmed that the antibiotic activity using the mixture of the abstraction ingredient and Chopi-doenjang was lower than those of Chopi-kanjang. In order to estimate the anticancer activity using by caspase-3 activity, the mixture of the abstraction ingredient of the pericarp of Z. piperitum and Chopi-kanjang was treated to leukemia cells. According to the results, the activities of caspase-3 using the mixture added 1%, 2% and 4% of the abstraction ingredient were respectively increased as much as 4, 12, 15 times comparing with the control which was treated with the soy source only. It could be that the mixture of the abstraction ingredient of the pericarp of Z. piperitum and soy source induced apoptosis, and the mixture of the abstraction ingredient and soybean paste had no effect on the activity of caspase-3. In order to find out the death of the aforementioned cells caused by necrosis or apoptosis, DNA fragmentation in the cell was examined. U-937 cells showed apoptotic DNA fragmentation in the incubation with Chopi-kanjang extract.