Assessment of Microbial Source Tracking Marker and Fecal Indicator Bacteria on Food-Contact Surfaces in School Cafeterias.

Food poisoning outbreaks in schools can affect many students, causing physical and psychological damage and time and economic loss. Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) have been used to monitor the contamination; however, the detection is time-consuming and confirms the contamination from all warm-blooded animals. Microbial source tracking (MST) is a molecular-based detection method that is host specific. This study aimed to evaluate MSTs and FIBs for tracing contamination in the school cafeteria. The average total aerobic count was 0.89 to 3.63 log CFU/100 cm2, and the faucets in the cooking area showed a significantly high aerobic count. The stove valve, faucet, and hand-washer were the most contaminated area, with a concentration of 1.90 to 6.80 log CFU/100 cm2 from the frequent hand contact. Escherichia coli was not detected on any surfaces, and coliform was detected on five surfaces: the sink and faucet in the food preparation area, the faucet in the cooking area, the hand-washer, and the toilet seat in the restroom with 0.33 to 3.64 log CFU/100 cm2. Human-specific crAssphage appeared on a faucet in the food preparation area, while HF183 was not detected. The result indicates that the continuous monitoring of frequent hand-contact areas is recommended to maintain the hygiene condition in the school cafeteria.

Protective role of Acinetobacter and Bacillus for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in biofilms against sodium hypochlorite and extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes.

Foodborne pathogenic bacteria in multi-species biofilms in food manufacturing facilities have been suspected to be the cause of cross-contamination leading to foodborne illness. We studied if cafeteria kitchen-associated bacterial isolates can have any protective effect on E. coli O157:H7 in biofilm against extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)-degrading enzymes and sodium hypochlorite. We investigated multi-species biofilm-forming ability and the efficacy of EPS-degrading enzymes using crystal violet assay. The susceptibility of E. coli O157:H7 to sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) was evaluated using propidium monoazide combined with quantitative PCR (PMA-qPCR). Then, a combined treatment with enzymes followed by NaClO was also tested. Most cafeteria kitchen isolates of Acinetobacter and Bacillus were able to form biofilms. Several of them showed a protective effect on E. coli O157:H7 against NaClO after forming multi-species biofilms, particularly in Acinetobacter. This protective effect on E. coli O157:H7 was also noticed after the enzyme or the combined treatment with NaClO. Our results give us an insight into the protective role of food-associated environmental bacteria for E. coli O157:H7 in biofilms against common sanitizers and warrant further study to develop effective control methods. Our study also highlights the importance of preventing contamination or biofilm formation by environmental microorganisms, eventually reducing foodborne illness.

Evaluation of crAssphage as a human-specific microbial source-tracking marker in the Republic of Korea.

CrAssphage is a novel and by far the most abundant bacteriophage in the human gut and has been proposed as a human-specific microbial source tracking (MST) marker. However, its global use as a human-specific MST marker requires validation in more extensive regions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the specificity and abundance of the human-specific MST marker crAssphage with PCR and RT-PCR assays in human and animal feces in Korea. The prevalence of crAssphage was confirmed in 94 human feces samples (subjects: 19 to 45 years old) and 56 animal feces samples (from birds, raccoons, squirrels, weasels, deer, wild boars, hares, cats, and dogs). CrAssphage showed sensitivity of 0.39 and specificity of 1.00 in Korea, with a sequencing analysis showing that genotype II was dominant at 71.9%. The quantitative analysis showed that crAssphage is sufficiently abundant in human feces given the high concentration range of 4.26 to 8.25 log gene copies (GC)/ng in human feces. In conclusion, this study confirmed the crAssphage as a specific and abundant MST marker with which to identify human fecal contamination in Korea.

The effect of acidic-treated acorn pollen on lipid and antioxidant metabolism with ovariectomized rats.

The hormonal imbalance that occurs during menopause increases the risk of aging and chronic diseases. Therefore, this study was intended to improve the health of menopause women by using pollen, which is a natural food, not drugs and hormones. Experiment I provided the supernatant of pollen vinegar extract with oral administration using ovariectomized rats. Experiment II used ovariectomized rats to provide pollen vinegar sediment mixed with the AIN-93 M diet and then looked into the effects on antioxidant and lipid metabolism. As a result, the intake of pollen controlled the lipid concentration and reduced the risk of arteriosclerosis. It inhibited the release of inflammable substances from hepatic and adipocyte tissues, and confirmed the anti-aging effect. These results indicated that pollen is effective in preventing obesity, metabolic diseases and aging after menopause.

Acidic-Treated Acorn Pollen as Health Functional Food Materials for Improvement of Post-Menopausal Glucose Metabolism.

Pollen has high physiological value because it contains protein, essential amino acids, and 16 vitamins. However, pollen is difficult to absorb because of its hard form. This study explores the use of the acid-treated acorn pollen (acorn pollen deposited in apple vinegar for 30 days). The health functions of acid-treated acorn pollen on post-menopausal metabolism was tested by analyzing in vitro and in vivo biomarkers for glucose metabolism, by using the acid-treated acorn pollen and its residues, respectively. In vitro experiments showed high activity after measuring the low potency of glucose-related enzymes. In vivo experiments showed reduced blood glucose and insulin levels after consuming pollen. Pollen also increased the concentration of glucokinase, a glucose-regulating enzyme in hepatic and nephritic tissue, and lowered the concentration of glucose-6-phosphatase. These results are encouraging in showing that acid pollen can be used as a functional health food for treatment of post-menopausal metabolism.

Effects of a social-media-based support on premenstrual syndrome and physical activity among female university students in South Korea.

Introduction: This study examined the effects of social-media-based support on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and physical activity among female South Korean university students.Methods: This quasi-experimental study with an equivalent-control-group pretest-posttest design randomly assigned 64 female students with PMS to the experimental or control group. The experimental group received social-media-based support through a smartphone application, text messaging, and e-mail for one menstrual cycle between September and December, 2016. Descriptive and inferential statistics included a Chi-square test and independent and paired t-tests.Results: Significant differences emerged between the experimental and control groups in total PMS scores (p = .003), 14 premenstrual symptoms, and physical activity (p = .010).Conclusions: Female university students with PMS experienced decreased premenstrual symptoms and increased physical activity with social-media-based support, which could be an efficacious, accessible, and widely available nursing intervention to manage PMS and physical activity.

Nursing students' learning dynamics with clinical information and communication technology: A constructive grounded theory approach.

BACKGROUND: The learning of nursing students can be facilitated through direct and/or indirect experiences of using clinical information and communication technology during clinical placements. However, nursing students experience difficulties in using technology for learning. Despite the difficulties, nursing students' learning dynamics with technology in real clinical contexts is poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: To develop a theoretical model by identifying nursing students' learning dynamics with clinical information and communication technology and the factors influencing the dynamics. DESIGN: A constructivist grounded theory approach was employed in order to develop the theoretical model. SETTINGS: This research was conducted by recruiting nursing students from four universities in Seoul, South Korea. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen fourth year nursing students were recruited by purposive sampling. METHODS: This research collected qualitative interview data in up to four rounds of interviews using open-ended and semi-structured interview questions. A total of 23 interviews were conducted. The data were transcribed verbatim. All interview data were analysed using three coding methods; initial, focused, and theoretical coding. NVivo 11 was used for data management. RESULTS: This research developed a theoretical model of nursing students' learning dynamics with clinical information and communication technology. The model explains three dynamics that influence nursing students' use of clinical information and communication technology (interpersonal, organisational and emotional dynamics) and the students' responses regarding the dynamics for learning in clinical contexts. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing educators can use the theoretical model to understand how best to support nursing students in navigating their clinical environments to build competency in using clinical information and communication technology.

Premenstrual symptom clusters and women's coping style in Korea: happy healthy 20s application study.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to identify premenstrual symptom clusters; and to explore the differences in and effectiveness of coping strategies among symptom cluster groups. METHODS: Using the happy healthy 20s smartphone application, 349 women with premenstrual symptoms participated in the study. Premenstrual symptoms and health outcomes such as perceived health, depressive feelings, quality of life, suicidal ideation/attempts and coping strategies were explored. Factor analysis and silhouette analysis were used to identify premenstrual symptom clusters. Analysis of variance was used to explore the differences among symptom clusters in health outcomes and coping strategies. RESULTS: Three premenstrual symptom clusters were identified: general discomfort, negative affect and turmoil. Three symptom cluster groups experienced different health outcomes in perceived health, depressive feelings, quality of life and suicidal ideation. However, few differences were noted in participants' engagement in coping strategies, frequencies and perceived effectiveness among women with different symptom clusters. DISCUSSION: Findings of this study support previous reports that women do not receive tailored care for their premenstrual symptoms. Learning about the symptom structure, women's ways of coping, and perceived effectiveness is important in identifying the issues in current premenstrual symptoms management and providing tailored care.

Aged ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) reduces blood glucose levels and improves lipid metabolism in high fat diet-fed mice.

Aged ginseng is unpeeled ginseng root that has been dried and heat-treated in an oven at 80°C for 14 days. The effects of aged ginseng, in comparison with white and red ginseng, on the lipid and glucose metabolism in high fat-fed mice were investigated. C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into six dietary groups of normal control, high fat, and high fat supplemented with white, red, aged four-year old, and aged five-year old ginseng. After 8 weeks, ginseng counteracted high fat dietinduced body weight gain, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia via a mechanism involving modulation of hepatic lipogenesis, adipokine production, and glucose-regulating enzyme activities. Aged ginseng showed greater antihyperlipidemic and antihyperglycemic activities than white ginseng and exhibited physiological effects similar to red ginseng, perhaps due to a relatively high ginsenoside content. Aged ginseng can be beneficial as a functional food.

The effects of the 4-(4-Methylpiperazine)phenyl group on nucleosides and oligonucleotides: cellular delivery, detection, and stability.

As drug candidates, one promising way to improve the cellular delivery efficacy of oligonucleotides is to introduce a cationic group. By introducing a cationic moiety into the oligonucleotide structure, they become capable of approaching the cell surface and also of crossing the cellular membrane. In an effort to develop cell-permeable oligonucleotides, we examined the piperazinephenyl-bearing 2'-deoxyuridine ((PP)U), which can be not only cationic but also fluorescent as a cationic monomer for cationic oligonucleotides. Several modified DNA oligonucleotides with different numbers of (PP)U building blocks were synthesized and evaluated for the effect on thermal stability and conformation by the introduction of (PP)U. The cellular delivery of modified oligonucleotides was different depending on the number of (PP)U building blocks. Furthermore, these (PP)U-modified oligonucleotides had sufficient fluorescence that we were able to identify the delivery results without the use of conventional fluorescent tags. They were predominantly localized in the cell cytoplasm. In addition, they were stable enough after 3 hours in the presence of nuclease. These results showed that a piperazinephenyl moiety that is conjugated with nucleobase is able to deliver and detect the oligonucleotides, which suggests that this concept of 'dual-function oligonucleotides' might be utilized in diagnostics, therapeutics, and as a convenient biological tool for probing the activity of oligonucleotides inside cells.