• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.171-178
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• 1984

Many reports have been made concerning underlying and associated conditions causing pseudomembranous colitis and it has been documented that occurrence of pseudomembranous colitis is related with antibiotics administration. Recent study showed that Clostridium difficile produced enterotoxin by colonization in intestinal wall and leading into pseudomembranous colitis. Diagnosis is based on positive culture of Clostridium difficile, positive test of Clostridium difficile toxin and specific histological findings after observation of whitish plaque on colonoscopic or sigmoidoscopic examination. Authors have experienced one case of pseudomembranous colitis developing after long term ampicillin administration in a case with colon cancer associated with diarrhea and diagnosis was confirmed by typical pseudomembrane on biopsy following classical whitish plaque observation on sigmoidoscopic examination. Symptoms have been ameliorated by discontinuation of antibiotics and administration of metronidazole in four days and disappearance of whitish plaque on repeated sigmoidoscopic examination and improvement of clinical symptoms after 9 days of medication.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.142-146
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• 2007

Objectives and Backgrounds : After parotidectomy, some of patients complain gustatory sweating, facial flushing and discomfort in the same area. A series of these symptoms are supposed to be caused by the aberrant regeneration of the secretory parasympathetic fibers to sweat glands and blood vessels of the skin following parotidectomy. In this study, we want to compare the efficacy of thermography to the Minor's starch-iodine test for determining the presence of Frey's syndrome. Materials and Methods : 48 patients who underwent total or superficial parotidectomy from March 2002 to December 2004 were selected for this study. A subjective clinical questionnaire and the objective Minor's starchiodine test were performed to evaluate the incidence of this syndrome. Total 21 patients were confirmed as positive Frey's syndrome and infrared thermography was performed for them. Result : Frey's syndrome occurred in 21 patients(43.8%). The average temperature of parotidectomy site and normal opposite area were $27.65^{\circ}C\;and\;26.41^{\circ}C$ respectively. Thermography showed temperature difference in 20 patient(95.2%) and the difference of temperature was statistically significant above $1.0^{\circ}C$(p<0.001). The severity of symptoms were related with the difference of temperature(p<0.05). Conclusion : Thermography is useful, non-invasive, simple and quantifying method to diagnose Frey's syndrome. Additionally, this geographic diagnosis is available to show the accurate area for botulinum toxin injection.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.9
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• pp.520-525
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• 2016

We investigated the effects of two antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) isolated from Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans on neutrophil activity. Stimulation of mouse neutrophils with the two AMPs elicited chemotactic migration of the cells in a pertussis toxin-sensitive manner. The two AMPs also stimulated activation of ERK and Akt, which contribute to chemotactic migration of neutrophils. We found that AMP-stimulated neutrophil chemotaxis was blocked by a formyl peptide receptor (FPR) 1 antagonist (cyclosporin H); moreover the two AMPs stimulated the chemotactic migration of FPR1-expressing RBL-2H3 cells but not of vector-expressing RBL-2H3 cells. We also found that the two AMPs stimulate neutrophil migration in vivo, and that this effect is blocked in FPR1-deficient mice. Taken together, our results suggest that the two AMPs stimulate neutrophils, leading to chemotactic migration through FPR1, and the two AMPs will be useful for the study of FPR1 signaling and neutrophil activation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.1004-1014
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• 2018

This case reports the effect of herbal medicine and acupuncture therapy on the scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index for an adult atopic dermatitis patient. An adult male in his 30s with complaints of severe eczema on the whole body was diagnosed with heat toxin blazing exuberance pattern (熱毒內蘊) and treated with herbal medicine, including an orally-administrated decoction, externally-applied decoction, extracted powder capsule, and acupuncture for a total of 30 days. We observed skin symptoms, SCORAD index, follow-up photographs, and any adverse events. After treatment, SCORAD index decreased from 74.5 to 38.7 (51.9% from baseline). Skin symptoms such as redness, itching, and exudation were improved without any adverse events reported. This case suggests that herbal medicine and acupuncture therapy could be effective in improving eczema in adult atopic dermatitis patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.580-584
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• 2008

In the present study, Radix clematidis extract (RCE) was evaluated to determine if it could protect pancreatic ${\beta}$ cells against multiple low dose streptozotocin (MLDS)-induced diabetes. Injection of mice with MLDS resulted in hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. However, the induction of diabetes by MLDS was completely prevented when mice were pre-administrated with RCE. Generation of oxidative stress is implicated in MLDS, a ${\beta}$ cell specific toxin-induced islet cell death. In this context, to elucidate the mechanisms of protective effects in RCE pre-administrated diabetic mice, we investigated the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which is one of the anti-oxidant enzymes. MLDS-induced HO-1 expressions were significantly reduced in MLDS-treated mice. However, the decrease of HO-1 by MLDS were protected by pretreatment of RCE. The molecular mechanism by which RCE inhibits diabetic conditions by MLDS appears to involve inhibition of HO-1 expression. Taken together, these results reveal the possible therapeutic value of RCE for the prevention of type 1 diabetes progression.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.197-202
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• 2001

Although several methods have been developed and applied to control swine respiratory diseases, the disease induces severe economic impact to swine industry worldwide. As one of the new trials, application of egg yolk antibody(IgY) was attempted for the purposes and immune response in sera and egg yolk was analysed with ELISA in previous study. In this study, immunological specificity of the IgY was analysed by Western blot analysis. In the analysis of causative agents of atrophic rhinits, B bronchiseptica and P multocida 4D, proteins of 33, 40, 43, 67 and 141 kDa were specifically reacted with IgY Also, 40 and 110 kDa proteins were identified as the major immunogens in P multocida 3A. In A pleuropneumoniae serotypes 2 and 5, 40 kDa and 47 kDa proteins were found to be the major reactive ones. These results suggested that egg yolk antibodies from immunized hens was specific with antigens injected into hens and partially purified antigens, outer membrane proteins and dermonecrotic toxin, were more effective than bacterin for the production of specific antibody.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.800-806
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• 2016

In total, 151 Escherichia coli isolates from Ruditapes philippinarum in Gomso Bay were analyzed for their susceptibility to 18 different antimicrobial agents and for genes associated with virulence. For virulence genes, each strain of the isolates was positive for the enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC)-specific heat-stable toxin (estA), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC)-specific invasion-associated locus (iaa) gene and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)-specific attaching and effacing (eae) gene. According to a disk diffusion susceptibility test, resistance to ampicillin was most prevalent (23.2%), followed by resistance to amoxicillin (22.5%), ticarcillin (20.5%), tetracycline (18.5%), nalidixic acid (12.6%), ciprofloxacin (10.6%), streptomycin (9.9%), and chloramphenicol (6.6%). More than 35.8% of the isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent, and 19.9% were resistant to four or more classes of antimicrobials; these were consequently defined as multidrug resistant. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranges for the antimicrobial resistance of the 15 different antimicrobial agents of 54 E. coli strains were confirmed by varying the concentrations from $32-2,048{\mu}g/mL$. Overall, these results not only provide novel insights into the necessity for seawater and R. philippinarum sanitation in Gomso Bay but they also help to reduce the risk of contamination by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2017

Purpose: Glehnia littoralis has been used to treat ischemic stroke, phlegm, cough, systemic paralysis, antipyretics and neuralgia. The pharmacological mechanisms of Glehnia littoralis include calcium channel block, coumarin derivatives, anticoagulation, anti-convulsive effect, as well as anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Alpha-amanitin (${\alpha}$-amanitin) is a major toxin from extremely poisonous Amanita fungi. Oxidative stress, which may contribute to severe hepatotoxicity was induced by ${\alpha}$-amanitin. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Glehnia littoralis ethyl acetate extract (GLEA) has the protective antioxidant effects on ${\alpha}$-amanitin -induced hepatotoxicity. Methods: Human hepatoma cell line HepG2 cells were pretreated in the presence or absence of GLEA (50, 100 and $200{\mu}g/ml$) for 4 hours, then exposed to $60{\mu}mol/L$ of${\alpha}$-amanitin for an additional 4 hours. Cell viability was evaluated using the MTT method. AST, ALT, and LDH production in a culture medium and intracellular MDA, GSH, and SOD levels were determined. Results: GLEA (50, 100 and $200{\mu}g/ml$) significantly increased the relative cell viability by 7.11, 9.87, and 14.39%, respectively, and reduced the level of ALT by 10.39%, 34.27%, and 52.14%, AST by 9.89%, 15.16%, and 32.84%, as well as LDH by 15.86%, 22.98%, and 24.32% in culture medium, respectively. GLEA could also remarkably decrease the level of MDA and increase the content of GSH and SOD in the HepG2 cells. Conclusion: In the in vitro model, Glehnia littoralis was effective in limiting hepatic injury after ${\alpha}$-amanitin poisoning. Its antioxidant effect is attenuated by antidotal therapy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.163-167
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• 2003

Identification of species within the toxin-producing genus Alexandrium is vital for biotoxin monitoring and mitigation decisions regarding shellfish industry. In particular, the discrimination of resting cysts of only A. tamarense from that of Alexandrium spp. is considerable important to fundamentally monitor and predict this species before vegetative cells occur in the nature. Fluorescent cTAM-F1 DNA probe was responsible to not only binding the activity of the vegetative cells in A. tamarense, but also to the resting cysts, which was treated with methanol after fixation and stained by primuline on the surface The location of fluorescence in cultured vegetative cells and resting cysts was almost at tile bottom of the nucleus. The optimal incubation temperature and time using in situ hybridization were 50-$54^{\circ}C$ and 40-60 min, respectively, to penetrate the DNA probe into cell.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.185-189
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• 2020

Immunogenicity of dendritic cell-derived exosomes stimulated with Toxoplasma gondii lysates (TLA exo), mixed with cholera toxin as an adjuvant, was investigated in mice immunized via 2 mucosal routes (ocular vs intranasal). BALB/c mice were injected 3 times with TLA exo vaccine at 2 week interval, and the levels of IgG in serum and IgA in tear, saliva, feces, and vaginal wash were measured. To observe the expression of T. gondii-specific B1 gene, mice infected with ME49 T. gondii cysts were immunized with TLA exo or PBS exo (not stimulated with TLA), and their brain tissues were examined. The mice vaccinated via intranasal route elicited significantly higher humoral and mucosal immune responses compared with mice treated with PBS alone. Also, mice immunized via ocular route (by eyedrop) induced significantly higher T. gondii-specific IgG in serum and IgA in tear and feces in comparison with PBS controls. B1 gene expression was significantly lower in TLA exo vaccinated mice than in PBS or PBS exo vaccinated mice. These results demonstrated that ocular immunization of mice with TLA exo vaccine has the potential to stimulate systemic or local antibody responses. This study also highlighted an advantage of an eyedrop vaccine as an alternative for T. gondii intranasal vaccines.