본 연구에서는 자기공명영상 검사 시 와인색 반영구 문신용 염료가 신호 강도에 미치는 영향을 분석하고, 전자파흡수 에 의한 발열 감소 방안을 연구하고자 하였다. 한천과 와인색 반영구 문신용 염료를 이용하여 염료가 퍼진 형태의 팬텀(패드형 팬텀)과 한곳에 뭉친 형태의 팬텀(주사형 팬텀)을 제작하였다. 두 팬텀은 전신용 자기공명영상장치에서 고속스핀에코(turbo spin echo, TSE)와 경사에코(gradient echo, GRE) 계열의 펄스열을 이용하여 2D와 3D로 검사하였다. 검사 후 영상 분석은 팬텀의 몸체, 염료, 공기 방울, 배경을 대상으로 총 720회의 신호강도를 측정하였 다. 전자파흡수에 의한 발열 감소 방안을 확인하기 위해 삽입형 온도계를 팬텀에 삽입 후 검사 전후 팬텀의 온도 변화를 확인하였다. 이때, 대기 온도의 상승 변화를 고려하기 위해 검사 전 대기 온도를 측정하였고, 발열 감소를 위한 방법으로 장치에 내장된 팬, 젖은 거즈, 얼음을 이용하였다. 신호 강도는 2D 영상보다 3D 영상이 좋았고, TSE 계열이 GRE 계열보다 좋았다. 특히 와인색 반영구 문신용 염료가 있는 부위의 신호강도는 공기 때문에 발생한 자화 율 인공물보다 신호강도가 낮게 측정되었다. 온도 측정 검사는 패드형 팬텀과 주사형 팬텀 모두 검사에 의한 온도상 승 효과가 있었으며 온도의 저감을 위한 방법으로 얼음 패드, 팬, 젖은 거즈 순서였다. 본 연구를 통해 와인색 반영구 문신용 염료는 자기공명영상 검사에서 영상과 환자의 안전에 문제를 일으킬 수 있음을 확인하였고, 발열 감소 방안으 로 얼음 패드가 효과적이었다는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

The consumption of enoki mushrooms has been associated with cases of listeriosis produced by Listeria monocytogenes, highlighting the significance of sanitizing food-contact surface, such as the velcro used in welding processing of enoki mushrooms, to ensure microbial safety. We investigated the inhibitory activity of nine chemical disinfectants at regular concentrations against L. monocytogenes isolated from a mushroom farm environment. The bacterial suspension was prepared in phosphate buffered saline and mushroom extract broth and inoculated onto the velcro surface. After inoculation, most disinfectants reduced the initial 8 log CFU/coupon concentration by less than 2 log CFU/coupon during a 5-min treatment. Slightly acidic hypochlorous water showed a reduction of approximately 4 log CFU/coupon when tested for more than 30 min at the maximum allowable concentration of 200 mg/L. Sodium hypochlorite solution showed a reduction of approximately 5 log CFU/coupon when used at 100 mg/L for 60 min. Peracetic acid, at the maximum allowable concentration of 300 mg/L, showed the most effective reduction of 5 log CFU/coupon or more when the surface was treated with 37.5 mg/L for 30 min. These results indicate that peracetic acid can be used as the disinfectant strategy to control cross-contamination of L. monocytogenes on the velcro surface of plastic wrappers used in the welding processing of enoki mushrooms.

Characteristics and immuno-modulatory effects of Enterococcus (E.) faecium JS1-8 isolated from Kimchi were investigated for potential probiotic use. We measured their acid, bile, and heat tolerances, adhesion properties in Caco-2 cells, antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria, and bacteriocin-like substance-producing activity. Immuno-modulatory effects of E. faecium JS1-8 were measured by determination of nitric oxide (NO), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production in RAW 264.7 cells or RAW BLUE cells. JS1-8 survived at pH 2.0 for 2 hr and showed tolerance to 0.3% oxgall bile salt, and it survived after exposure for 5 min at 80°C. JS1-8 showed high antimicrobial inhibition zones to Staphylococcus aureus (460 mm), Listeria monocytogenes (310 mm), Salmonella enteritidis (280 mm), and E. coli (150 mm). Bacteriocin-like substance produced by JS1-8 showed a broad spectrum of activity against Listeria monocytogenes KCCM 40307 and Lactobacillus sake KCCM 40264. Low concentration (1 × 107 CFU/mL) of heat-killed E. faecium JS1-8 induced statistically higher production of NO than Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), which is a well-known immuno-modulatory lactic acid bacteria. Low and high (5 × 107 CFU/mL) concentrations of JS1-8 induced statistically higher production of NF-κB than that produced by LGG. We also found that JS1-8 increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF-α in a concentration-dependent manner. As a result, E. faecium JSI-8 could be used as a useful probiotic for controlling pathogens and enhancing host immune responses.

In this study, characteristics and immuno-modulatory effects of Weissella cibaria JW15 isolated from Kimchi, traditional Korean fermented food, were examined for investigation of the capacity of potentially probiotic strains. We measured acid, bile, and heat tolerance, adhesive properties to intestinal epithelial cells, and inhibitory activity against pathogens. JW15 could survive at pH 3.0 for 2 hr, but not at pH 2.0. JW15 also showed tolerance to 0.3% oxgall bile salt, and heat tolerance at 70°C and 80°C for 5 min, respectively. Adhesive ability to Caco-2 cells was similar to that of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), a well-known commercial probiotic. JW15 exhibited antimicrobial activities to pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enteritidis. The immuno-modulatory effects of JW15 were compared with those of LGG, a well-known immune enhancer. For analysis, production of nitric oxide (NO), NF-κB (Nuclear factor κB), Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was measured. The concentration of NO induced by JW15 was higher than that by LGG at low concentration (1 × 107 cfu/mL). Low and high (5 × 107 CFU/mL) concentration of JW15 induced statistically higher production of NF-κB, IL-1β, and TNF-α than that produced by LGG, respectively. In conclusion, Weissella cibaria JW15 had ability as a probiotic strain, including acid, bile, and heat tolerance, adhesive properties to intestinal epithelial cells, and inhibitory activity against pathogens. In addition, JW15 showed better immuno-modulatory effects than LGG when NO, NF-κB, IL-1β, and TNF-α were measured. According to these results, the characteristics and immunomodulating activity of Weissella cibaria JW15 are suitable for consideration as a potential probiotic.

The subfamily Sterictiphorinae which include 324 species from 26 genera is widespread group of sawfly. Most recorded species of Sterictiphorinae distributed in the Palaearctic, Nearactic, Oriental and Afrotropic regions. Among them, only 20 species have been reported from the Eastern Palaearctic region. Unfortunately, this group is very poorly studied in Korea. In the Korean fauna were reported only one species, Sterictiphora tanoi Togashi 1997(Togashi, 1997). The larvae of genus Sterictiphora feed on cherry and serviceberry (Smith, 1979). The adults of genus Sterictiphora are easily distinguished from the other genera of Sterictiphorinae by following characters: convex anterior margin of the head in dorsal view, hind wing with very long anal cell. As a result of this study, we report five new species, Sterictiphora rugosa sp. nov., S. gapjangensis sp. nov., S. flavicollis sp. nov., S. koreana sp. nov. and S. daeguensis sp. nov. and provide a key to Korean species and diagnosis with photos of five new species.

The genera Aproceros and Yasumatsua have not been recorded in Korea previousely. Genus Aproceros is small genus among genera of subfamily Sterictiphorinae with 10 described species. Almost species of this genus recorded in Eastern Palaearctic region except A. scutellis Wei & Nie, 1998 from Oriental region. Also, genus Yasumatsua has been reported only two species: Y. albitibia Togashi, 1990 and Y. nigra Togashi, 1970 in the world. Key characters of the genera Aproceros and Yasumatsua as following: (1) Aproceros: anal cell of hind wing absent; head narrowed behind eyes; basal anal cell of fore wing open, (2) Yasumatsua: anal cell of Hind wing closed; claw with a basal lobe; face between antennal sockets narrow with sharp median carina (Meicai, 1997). Biology and ecology of these two genera are poorly studied. In this study we record one unrecorded species of genus Aproceros and described one new species of genus Yasumatsua from Korea. Also, key to korean genera of subfamily Sterictiphorinae, diagnoses of Aproceros and Yasumatsua and photos of morphological characters are provided.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are known to promote activation of macrophages, selectively eliminate harmful intestinal bacteria that enter the body, and increase secretion of cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory mediators that boost the immune system. In the current study, the immune-enhancing effects of five Leuconostoc stains (Leu. kimchii WK18, Leu. citreum DH33, Leu. mesenteroides DH34, SE34, and GY17) isolated from traditional Korean fermented food, Kimchi, were evaluated. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG), which is known for its extraordinary immunopotentiating activity, was used as a reference strain. According to the results, several heat-killed Leuconostoc strains induced a higher level of NO, IL-1β, or TNF-α production than the LGG strain. Collectively, results of the current study suggest that Leuconostoc strains could enhance immune response through activation of macrophages, and could be significant references when verifying the possibility for use of Leuconostoc strains as probiotics, starter, dietary supplement, or immune-enhancing medicine.