This study was conducted to investigate the quality characteristics and changes in isoflavone content of Cheonggukjang with added Chaga mushroom by secondary fermentation at 40 for 48 h with or without a starter, Lactobacillus acidophilus KCTC 3925. Cheonggukjang samples were divided into three groups: Control (unsterilized Cheonggukjang fermented without a starter), NS (unsterilized Cheonggukjang inoculated with L. acidophilus KCTC 3925), and YS (heat-sterilized Cheonggukjang inoculated with L. acidophilus KCTC 3925). The approximate composition of the three types of Cheonggukjang was 49.79-51.44% moisture, 4.54-4.72% crude ash, 43.21-44.37% crude protein, 11.58-13.65% crude fat, 37.41-40.07% carbohydrate, 31.92-33.82% dietary fiber. The mineral content included 5.43– 9.64 mg% Na, 1,792.86–1,824.39 mg% K, 253.69–326.09 mg% Ca, 619.37–691.20 mg% P, 92.59–110.59 mg% Fe, and 0.01–0.02 mg%Cd. Free amino acid contents of NS (2,520.92 mg%) and YS (2,421.94 mg%) were significantly higher than that of the control (2,236.76 mg%). Amino-type nitrogen content for the three types of Cheonggukjang ranged from 837.20-920.27 mg% with no significant difference. Ammonia-type nitrogen content ranged from 137.09-169.36 mg%. Supplement of Cheonggukjang with L. acidophilus KCTC 3925 increased production of aglycone isoflavons compared to that of control. Therefore, our results show that fermenting Chaga Cheonggukjang with L. acidophilus KCTC 3925 leads to improved quality characteristics and increased isoflavone aglycone content.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the changes of liver and gallbladder in patients with acute hepatitis A during transabdominal ultrasonography (US). In this study, we included 61 patients with acute hepatitis A and 50 controls. Wall thickness and lumen diameter of gallbladder were measured for determined the mural edema and hypertonicity of gallbladder. To evaluate the hepatic size and stiffness, two sagittal images of the left lobe of the liver were obtained during the resting state (resting image) and at full inspiration (stress image). The elongation rate was calculated by a formula: (L2-L1/L1)×100 (%); where L1 and L2 are the length of the liver for both the resting and stress image. The elongation rate was compared between controls and patients with acute hepatitis A. The wall thickness and lumen diameter of gallbladder were 7.0±3.5mm, 10.2±9.9mm, respectively. In 21 cases (34%), the lumen of gallbladder was collapsed. The mean diameter of left lobe in patients with acute hepatitis A (10.3±1.4cm)was larger than that of controls (8.2±1.1cm). The elongation rate in patients with acute hepatitis A (8.0±8.8%) was smaller than that of controls (25.5±13.4%). Robust US findings in patients with acute hepatitis A were edematous gallbladder with collapse and hepatomegaly with stiffness.