Antibiotic resistance in shellfish and major inland pollution sources in the drainage basin of Kamak Bay, Republic of Korea.

Shellfish-growing areas in marine environments are affected by pollutants that mainly originate from land, including streams, domestic wastewater, and the effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which may function as reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs). The objective of this study was to identify the occurrence and distribution of antibiotic resistance at five oyster sampling sites and 11 major inland pollution sources in the drainage basin of Kamak Bay, Republic of Korea. Culture-based methods were used to estimate the diversity and abundance of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli strains isolated from oysters and major inland pollution sources. The percentages of ARB and multiple antibiotic resistance index values were significantly high in discharge water from small fishing villages without WWTPs. However, the percentages of antibiotic-resistant E. coli isolates from oysters were low, as there was no impact from major inland pollutants. Fourteen ARGs were also quantified from oysters and major inland pollution sources. Although most ARGs except for quinolones were widely distributed in domestic wastewater discharge and effluent from WWTPs, macrolide resistance genes (ermB and msrA) were detected mainly from oysters in Kamak Bay. This study will aid in tracking the sources of antibiotic contamination in shellfish to determine the correlation between shellfish and inland pollution sources.

Level of contamination in the feces of several species at major inland pollution sources in the drainage basin of Yeoja Bay, Republic of Korea.

We assessed the levels of fecal contamination and the originating species of 12 major inland pollutants in the drainage basin of Yeoja Bay. The presence of the human-specific (HF183), ruminant-specific (BacR and Rum-2-Bac), pig-specific (Pig-Bac-2 and Pig-2-Bac), avian-specific (GFD), and gull-specific (Gull2) markers in water samples (n = 34) from 12 inland pollution sources around Yeoja Bay was analyzed. HF183 was detected in 97% of the water samples, and all major inland pollution sources were contaminated with human feces. BacR and Rum-2-Bac were detected in 94% and 11%, respectively, of the water samples. Pig-2-Bac was not detected in the inland pollution sources, but site L5 might be contaminated with swine feces. Gull2 was not detected, whereas GFD was detected in 26% of the water samples. This study highlights the utility of a MST toolbox approach for characterizing the water quality of inland pollution sources and identifying the feces producing species.

Four New Dicaffeoylquinic Acid Derivatives from Glasswort (Salicornia herbacea L.) and Their Antioxidative Activity.

Four new dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives and two known 3-caffeoylquinic acid derivatives were isolated from methanol extracts using the aerial parts of Salicornia herbacea. The four new dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives were established as 3-caffeoyl-5-dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid, 3-caffeoyl-5-dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester, 3-caffeoyl-4-dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester, and 3,5-di-dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester. Their chemical structures were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy (LC-ESI-MS). In addition, the presence of dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives in this plant was reconfirmed by LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. The isolated compounds strongly scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals and inhibited cholesteryl ester hydroperoxide formation during rat blood plasma oxidation induced by copper ions. These results indicate that the caffeoylquinic acid derivatives may partially contribute to the antioxidative effect of S. herbacea.

Antimicrobial activity of the synthesized non-allergenic urushiol derivatives.

Synthesized urushiol derivatives possessing different carbon atomic length in the alkyl side chain inhibited the growth of food spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. Particularly, non-allergenic 3-pentylcatechol showed a broad antimicrobial spectrum on an agar plate. Most food spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms were sensitive to urushiol derivatives in the liquid culture. The morphologies of the microorganisms were changed after treatment of 3-pentylcatechol.

A hybrid RSM-ANN-GA approach on optimisation of extraction conditions for bioactive component-rich laver (Porphyra dentata) extract.

This research established the optimal conditions for infusion extraction (IE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of bioactive components from laver (Porphyra dentata) using response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network coupled with genetic algorithm (RSM-ANN-GA). The variables, temperatures (60, 80, and 100 ℃) and times (10, 15, and 20 min) were designed to optimise total phenolic, total flavonoid, total amino acid, a* value, and R-phycoerythrin content of laver extract. The optimised condition for IE and UAE was achieved at 60 ℃ for 18.08 min and 80.66℃ for 14.76 min in RSM while showing 60 ℃ for 19 min and 80℃ for 15 min in the RSM-ANN-GA mode, respectively. Results revealed that RSM-ANN-GA provided better predictability and greater accuracy than the RSM model and laver extract from UAE gave the higher values of responses compared to those from IE. These findings highlight the high-efficient extraction method along with better statistical approach.

New lignan tyramide, phenolics, megastigmanes, and their glucosides from aerial parts of New Zealand spinach, Tetragonia tetragonoides.

Twenty compounds, including a new lignan amide, were isolated from the aerial parts of New Zealand spinach, Tetragonia tetragonoides (Pall.) Kuntze, which is an edible halophyte. These compounds were identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments to be N-2,3-dihydroxy-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenol)tyramine (new compound), methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, syringaldehyde, ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid, coniferyl alcohol, methyl caffeoate, trans- and cis-coumaroyl-ß-d-glucopyranosides, trans- and cis-feruloyl-ß-d-glucopyranosides, caffeic acid, staphylionoside E, canabiside D, apocyanol A, megastima-5,7-diene-3,4,9-triol, 1-O-oleoyl-3-O-ß-d-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol, 5,5'-dimethyl-lariciresinol, and kaempferol 3-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside. These compounds were identified in New Zealand spinach for the first time.

Metastatic endophthalmitis and thyroid abscess complicating Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess.

The thyroid is resistant to infection due to its anatomical and physiological characteristics. We present a rare case of invasive liver abscess with metastatic thyroid abscess and endogenous endophthalmitis in a previously healthy 55-year-old female patient without diabetes or other medical illness. This report raises an important question of the virulence of Klebsiella pneumoniae as an increasingly common causative agent of liver abscess.

Phenolics, acyl galactopyranosyl glycerol, and lignan amides from Tetragonia tetragonioides (Pall.) Kuntze.

Eleven antioxidative compounds, including five lignin amides, were isolated from the aerial part of Tetragonia tetragonioides (New Zealand spinach) using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicalscavenging assay-guided purification. The structures were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy. These compounds were identified as methyl linoleate (1), methyl coumarate (2), methyl ferulate (3), 1-O-stearoyl-3-O-ß-D-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol (4), 1-O-caffeoyl-ß-D-glucopyranoside (5), N-trans-caffeoyltyramine (6), cannabisin B (7), cannabisin A (8), Ntrans-feruloyltyramine (9), N-cis-feruloyltyramine (10), and N-trans-sinapoyltyramine (11). Compounds 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8-11 were isolated for the first time from this plant.

A rare case of hyperoxaluria presenting with acute liver injury and stone-free kidney injury.

A 49-year-old woman visited the clinic because of acute hepatitis and acute kidney injury with decreased urine output presenting microscopic hematuria and proteinuria. An abdominal computed tomography revealed a localized, hypoattenuated lesion in a hepatic lateral segment, and kidney biopsy showed oxalate crystal deposition with tubular necrosis. In addition, the patient׳s 24-hour urinary excretion of oxalate was increased. Her kidney and liver injury improved after sessions of hemodialysis, and urinary oxalate excretion was normalized. Major mutations in primary hyperoxaluria have not been proven. A full sequencing of target genes may be helpful to diagnose a rare form of primary hyperoxaluria.

A Case of Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome with Acute Submassive Pulmonary Thromboembolism Treated with Thrombolytic Therapy.

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome is a rare congenital mesodermal abnormality characterized by varicose veins, cutaneous hemangiomas, soft tissue and bony hypertrophy of limb. Potential complications such as deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism have not been reported in Korea to date. We demonstrate the case of a 48-year-old woman with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome with extensive varicose veins on right lower limb, hypertrophy of left big toe and basilar artery tip aneurysm, complicated with acute submassive pulmonary thromboembolism treated successfully with intravenous thrombolytic therapy.

Acyclo-retinoic acid induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells.

Acyclo-retinoic acid, a novel acyclic analogue of all-trans-retinoic acid, has been previously isolated as one of the in vitro oxidation products of lycopene. The effect of acyclo-retinoic acid on the growth of human prostate cancer cells was compared with those of the four retinoids: all-trans-retinoic acid, geranylgeranoic acid, 9-cis-retinoic acid and N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide. When prostate cancer cells, PC-3, DU 145 and LNCaP, were cultured in a retinoid-supplemented medium, acyclo-retinoic acid remarkably reduced the viability of the cells except for LNCaP. This effect was significantly higher than that of geranylgeranoic acid, all-trans-retinoic acid and 9-cis-retinoic acid, but was comparable to that of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide. DNA fragmentations of nuclei in PC-3 and DU 145 cells treated with acyclo-retinoic acid were detected by in situ TUNEL assay. Furthermore, an apoptotic DNA ladder was observed in PC-3 cells. These results showed that acyclo-retinoic acid reduced cell viability by inducing apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells.

Dietary flounder skin improves growth performance, body composition, and stress recovery in the juvenile black rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli).

This study investigated the relationship between flounder skin meal (FSM) and vitamin C in mediating collagen biosynthesis. Based on the vitamin C requirements (150 mg/kg) of the black rockfish (mean body weight 10.05 ± 0.44 g), a vitamin C level of 400 mg/kg was selected, and 0, 5, 10, or 20% of the casein (purified proteins) in the diet was replaced with FSM. The feeding study was conducted for 8 weeks by using 4 experimental groups. The FSM supplementation resulted in improvement in growth performance, decrease of body lipids. Furthermore, it elevated the HDL-cholesterol levels and total protein content, reduced blood lipids, and led to rapid recovery in stress, which confirm the functionality of FSM with high collagen content.

Biochemical characteristics of four marine fish skins in Korea.

In this study, we investigated the biochemical characteristics of the fish skins of four industrial species: olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), black rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli), sea bass (Lateolabrax maculatus) and red sea bream (Pagrus major). There is high domestic demand in Korea for farming of these fish for human consumption. Crude protein contents in the skin of these fish ranged from 73% to 94% by dry weight; this was in part due to a high content of the structural protein, collagen. Among the four species, olive flounder had the thickest dermal and epidermal layers in the dorsal skin. This species was also associated with the highest extraction ratio of acid-soluble collagen. We also examined whether fish skin could be a cost-effective alternative to current fish meal sources. Our analysis indicates that, when supplemented with additional fish oils and essential amino acids, fish skin is a viable alternative for fish meal formulations.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis that mimicked rheumatoid nodule in rheumatoid arthritis lesion.

Recently, the incidence of pulmonary cryptococcosis is gradually increasing in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Pulmonary rheumatoid nodules (PRN) are rare manifestations of RA. Eighteen months ago, a 65-year old woman was admitted to hospital due to multiple nodules (2.5×2.1×2 cm) with cavitations in the right lower lobe. She was diagnosed with RA three year ago. She had been taking methotrexate, leflunomide, and triamcinolone. A video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery biopsy was performed and PRN was diagnosed. However, a newly growing huge opacity with cavitation was detected in the same site. Pulmonary cryptococcal infection was diagnosed through a transthoracic computed tomograpy guided needle biopsy. Cryptococcus antigen was detected in serum but not in cerebrospinal fluid. The patient was treated with oral fluconazole which resulted clinical improvement and regression of the nodule on a series of radiography. Herein, we report the case of pulmonary cryptococcosis occurring in the same location as that of the PRN.