Scrub typhus is a zoonotic bacterial disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) and trombiculid mite larvae, also known as chigger, are known vector. Until recently, O. tsutsugamushi is the only species of the genus. However, two new species Candidatus O. chuto and Candidatus O. chiloensis that causes scrub typhus were reported recently in the Middle East, southern Chile, and Africa. In addition, Orientia spp. bacteria detected from field collected free-living Eutrombicula chigger mites in the United States. Despite these trends, research on new species is insufficient in the Republic of Korea. Therefore, we focused on finding the presence of novel species or strains from chiggers. Specimen chiggers harvested from rodents collected in 16 regions in October 2022 collaborating with the Regional Center for Vector Surveillance against Climate Change were selected. A total of 1,249 specimen belonging 4 genera and 14 species were identified by using a fluorescence microscope and 266 pools were produced by pooling up to 10 individuals per species chiggers. To detect Orientia spp., we screened by using a real-time PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Overall minimum infection rate was 0.56% (7 pools/1,249 tested specimen). After screening, conventional nested-PCR for targeting 47-kDa htrA gene was conducted to obtain sequences, and four of the positive pools were amplified. Through phylogenetic analysis, three pools were clustered with O. tsutsugamushi Gilliam and UT221 strain, and the other pool was formed a clade that was distinct from O. tsutsugamushi. These results suggest that novel species of Orientia may exist in the Republic of Korea.

본 연구는 절화 도·소매업자의 판매 행태, 소비자의 소비 행태와 수입산 절화 및 국내산 절화 인식을 조사하여 국내산 절화 경쟁력 강화를 위한 자료로 제공하고자 수행하였다. 설 문 조사는 도·소매업자 102명을 대상으로 2020년 7월부터 9 월까지 진행하였고, 소비자는 200명을 대상으로 2020년 8월 24일부터 25일까지 진행하였으며, 수집된 자료는 빈도 분석, 대응표본 t-test, 다중반응 교차분석을 실시하였다. 도·소매업 자의 판매 행태 조사 결과, 국내산과 수입산 절화 모두 판매하 고 있는 비율이 높았고 판매 시 국내산 절화의 품질보다 수입 산 절화의 품질이 우수하다고 응답하였다. 소비자의 구매 행 태 조사 결과, 주로 선물 목적으로 구매하며 구매 시 내적 품 질(수명)과 외적 품질(형태, 질감, 색상)을 중요시 여기는 것으 로 나타났다. 또한 소비자는 절화 구입 시 원산지를 확인하지 않는 경우가 많았으나 동일 품종일 경우 국내산을 구매한다고 응답하였다. 도·소매업자와 소비자의 절화 인식을 비교한 결 과, 도·소매업자는 국내산 절화가 평범하고 한정적이며, 수입 산 절화는 독특하다고 인식하였으나, 소비자는 국내산 절화가 독특하지만 수입산 절화와 국내산 절화 모두에 평범하고 한정 적이라고 인식하였다. 이러한 판매자와 소비자간 인식 차이는 실제 국가별 절화 품질에 대한 정량적 연구와 국가별 절화에 대한 인식 조사 필요성을 제기한다.

Colorectal cancer causes the most cancer-associated death worldwide, having a high cancer incidence. Pectin is a complex polysaccharide present in various fruits, emerging as an anti-carcinogenic candidate. Although pectin has a suppressive capacity for colon carcinogenesis, the effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and colonic aberrant foci formation in the colon carcinogenesis mouse model remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigates the regulatory effect of pectin supplementation on colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in mice. In an animal experiment, thirty male institute for cancer research (ICR) mice were divided into two experimental groups; AOM/DSS (control group) and AOM/DSS + pectin (5% in drinking water). Furthermore, the number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and aberrant crypt (AC) on colonic mucosa were counted, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) assay was performed to estimate lipid peroxidation in feces. Pectin treatment significantly decreased the number of ACF and AC per colon compared with the control. Additionally, fecal TBARS level in the pectin group was significantly lower than those in the control group. Conclusively, these findings indicate that pectin-inhibited hyperplastic alteration and oxidative stress suppress colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis.

Colon cancer has been considered a leading cause of cancer-associated death. Folic acid is a vitamin necessary for cellular physiological functions and cell viability. However, the association between folic acid intake and colon cancer has been examined in several prospective cohort studies are controversial. This study investigated the effects of folate intake on colon carcinogenesis and oxidative stress in an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) institute for cancer research (ICR) mouse model. Thirty male ICR mice (5 weeks old) were divided into the control group and the experimental group supplied 0.03% folic acid via drinking water (50 mL/week/mouse) for 6 weeks. To induce colonic pre-neoplastic lesions, the animals were subcutaneously injected three times weekly with AOM (10 mg/kg body weight), followed by 2% DSS in drinking water for a week. Folic acid supplementation significantly suppressed the total number of aberrant crypt foci and aberrant crypts. Histological image data showed that folic acid supplementation attenuated neoplastic change. In addition, we measured the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances concentration of dry feces samples to identify the effect of folic acid on reactive oxygen accumulation. The folic acid supplementation group had reduced reactive oxygen species levels in dry feces compared to the control group. In conclusion, these findings indicate that folic acid suppresses colon carcinogenesis and oxidative stress in an AOM/DSS mouse model.

The purpose of this study is to develop a knitwear design with the potential for practical use through a combination of science and design by examining the concept and formative characteristics of fractal geometry and applying them to the development of 3D virtual clothing knitwear design. This study produced five main conclusions. First, the sub-concepts of “Repeatability,” “Scale variability,” and “complexity,” which are based on self-similarity, appear together with simple regularity in the fractal formative characteristics shown in fashion design. Second, fashion fields apply fractal geometry in three-dimensional surface textures and optical textile patterns as a method of expression. Third, it was confirmed that various expressions can be created with fractal patterns by using the SDS-ONE APEX 3-4 design system; moreover, fractal patterns are a suitable design source for the development of Jacquard knitwear patterns. Fourth, in the development of knitted jacquard fractal patterns, by arranging the patterns in perspective, the effect of emphasizing or reducing the human body by optical illusion was shown. Fifth, a knit Jacquard structure with a pattern that exhibits fractal modeling characteristics and applying it to a 3D virtual clothing sample design reduces the time required for sample production while expanding the knit design’s expression area and reducing costs. Thus, the clothing sample confirmed the effectiveness of practical knitwear design development.