BACKGROUND: Microbial screening tests of umbilical cord blood (UCB) are essential for stem cell transplantation. We analyzed the microbial contamination rate and distribution of isolated microorganisms over 10 years of samples from the MEDIPOST Cord Blood Bank. In addition, we studied the influence of inoculum volume microorganism culture and compared the yield and speed of microorganism detection. METHODS: Microbial screening tests were performed using a manual method, which includes using an inoculum of 2 mL of plasma, a byproduct of UCB processing from pediatric culture bottles. When positive blood culture was detected, each set was once again inoculated with 2 mL and 4 mL of plasma. RESULTS: From 2004 to 2013, a total of 133,610 UCB units were screened, of which 1,311 (0.9%) tested positive for contamination. The most frequently identified microorganism was Escherichia coli (34.6%), followed by Bacillus spp. (12.8%), Enterococcus faecalis (5.3%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (4.4%). The total yield rate increased by 0.2% over this time period, although the yield rate of Bacillus spp. increased by 8.3%. CONCLUSION: The results of this study could be used in many ways with both domestic and international data regarding cord blood contamination. Also, other microbiology laboratories using culture conditions similar to ours could refer this study when preparing guidelines. Finally, by detecting low levels of bacteria, we have contributed to cord blood safety.
Bacillus ; Bacteria ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Escherichia coli ; Fetal Blood* ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Mass Screening ; Plasma ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Umbilical Cord*

Cordyceps is a fungus used as a traditional medicine in China, Japan, and Korea. Paecilomyces (P.) japonica is a new cordyceps that was recently cultivated on silkworm pupae in Korea. The present study evaluated the toxicological effects of P. japonica in rats. Forty rats were treated with oral doses of P. japonica (0, 20, 100, or 500 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. Twenty additional rats were treated with 0 or 500 mg/kg/day of P. japonica for 4 weeks and then maintained for 2 weeks without treatment. Clinical signs, body weight, food and water consumption, and organ weight as well as hematology, serum biochemistry, and histopathology data were examined. Body weight gain of the group treated with 500 mg/kg/day was significantly reduced. Microscopically, karyomegaly, single cell necrosis, and mitosis were observed in the renal tubular epithelium of all treated groups. In conclusion, P. japonica caused a reduction of body weight and renal injury in rats. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of P. japonica was less than 20 mg/kg/day.
Animals ; Biochemistry ; Body Weight ; Bombyx ; China ; Cordyceps ; Drinking ; Epithelium ; Fungi ; Hematology ; Japan ; Korea ; Medicine, Traditional ; Mitosis ; Necrosis ; No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level ; Organ Size ; Paecilomyces* ; Pupa ; Rats*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate on nutrient intake status and diet quality of middle and old aged vegetarian women in Korea. The research group was composed of vegetarian women (n = 91), all of them were Seven Day Adventists, who had been on vegetarian diets, over 20 yrs. Their anthropometric measurements, dietary intakes, and diet quality indices were compared to omnivores (n = 122). The average age of vegetarians and omnivores were 61.8 yrs and 60.3 yrs, respectively. The mean daily energy intakes of vegetarians and omnivores were 1428.8 kcal and 1424.5 kcal, respectively and there was no significant difference. The vegetarians consumed significantly lower intakes of protein (p<0.05), zinc (p<0.001) and vitamin B2 (p<0.05) compared to omnivores. In the diet quality, zinc and vitamin B2 nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) of vegetarians were significantly lower than those of omnivores. Mean adequacy ratio (MAR) of vegetarians and omnivores were 0.80 and 0.77, respectively and there was no significant difference. The KDDS (Korean's Dietary Diversity Score) of vegetarians and omnivores were 3.7 and 4.0, respectively, and there was significant difference (p<0.01). The KDQI (Korean's Diet Quality Index) of vegetarians (1.5) was significantly lower than that (2.1) of omnivores (p<0.001). In conclusion, vegetarian women have low intake status of protein, zinc and vitamin B2, and partly low diet quality. Therefore it was needed that well planed diets to replace the nutrients supplied from excluded food groups in middle and old aged vegetarian women.
Diet* ; Diet, Vegetarian ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Riboflavin ; Zinc

BACKGROUND: Regular aerobic exercise is essential for the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus and may be particularly beneficial for those treated with thiazolidinediones, since it may prevent associated weight gain. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of combined exercise and rosiglitazone treatment on body composition and glucose metabolism in obese diabetes-prone animals. METHODS: We analyzed metabolic parameters, body composition, and islet profiles in Otsuka Long Evans Tokushima Fatty rats after 28 weeks of aerobic exercise, rosiglitazone treatment, and combined exercise and rosiglitazone treatment. RESULTS: Combined exercise with rosiglitazone showed significantly less increase in weight and epididymal fat compared to rosiglitazone treatment. Aerobic exercise alone and combined rosiglitazone and exercise treatment led to similar retention of lean body mass. All experimental groups showed a decrease in fasting glucose. However, the combined exercise and rosiglitazone therapy group showed prominent improvement in glucose tolerance compared to the other groups. Rescue of islet destruction was observed in all experimental groups, but was most prominent in the combined therapy group. CONCLUSION: Regular aerobic exercise combined with rosiglitazone treatment can compensate for the adverse effect of rosiglitazone treatment and has benefit for islet preservation.
Animals ; Body Composition ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Exercise* ; Fasting ; Glucose* ; Metabolism* ; Rats, Inbred OLETF* ; Thiazolidinediones ; Weight Gain

Osteoporosis and other related conditions pose a growing public health problem, especially in postmenopausal women. The main purpose of the study was to investigate the correlations among BMD, maternal factors, and life styles, and intake of nutrients in postmenopausal women. One hundred participants in Kyungge-do were divided into three groups according to their BMD measurements measured by DXA. Dietary analysis, anthropometric measurements, and questionares were administered to these women. The percentage of the osteoporosis, osteopenia(Osteopinia), and normal groups were 32%, 48%, and 20% respectively. The average age was significantly the highest in the osteoporosis group. The average age at menopause was 47.2. Osteoporosis group's age at menopause was significantly the lowest. The sleeping hours of the osteoporosis and osteopenia group were significantly longer than the normal group. The intake of vitamin B2 was positively correlated with the BMD of femoral neck. The BMD of these two sites was positively correlated with weight, BMI, waist, and hip size and negatively correlated with the length of the menstrual cycle, duration after menopause, the age at the last delivery, and sleeping hours. Spinal BMD positively correlated with hours of outdoor activity. Therefore, maternal factors, lifestyles, and intake of nutrients contribute to BMD.
Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; Female ; Femur Neck ; Hip ; Humans ; Life Style* ; Menopause ; Menstrual Cycle ; Nutritional Status* ; Osteoporosis ; Public Health ; Riboflavin

Injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) into the plantar surface of the rat induces inflammatory responses with accompanying pain behaviors. Signs of pain behaviors observed in FCA-injected animals are reported to be similar to symptoms seen in patients with inflammatory pain. In the previous study, injection of FCA produced a significant mechanical allodynia over time. The role of substance-P and calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) on allodynia induced by inflammation is still controversial. We investigated the change of spinal neuropeptides and nitric oxide (NO) in rats with inflammation induced by subcutaneous injection of FCA into hind paw. The results are: 1. The number of NADPH-diaphorase and substance P positive neurons increased at ipsilateral spinal ventral horn after FCA injection. No significant changes were found with L-NAME posttreatment. 2. Staining intensity of substance P-immunoreactive area increased at ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn after FCA injection. No significant changes were found with L-NAME posttreatment. 3. CGRP immunoreactivity changed in the same pattern with substance P in all group. The results suggest that spinal neuropeptide substance P and CGRP are involved in the mechanism of the development and maintenance of allodynia in a state of FCA-induced inflammaion. NO may be also involved in the regulation of the quantity of substance P and CGRP in spinal cord.
Animals ; Calcitonin ; Horns ; Humans ; Hyperalgesia ; Inflammation* ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Neurons ; Neuropeptides* ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide* ; Rats ; Spinal Cord ; Substance P

Injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) into peripheral tissue induces inflammatory responses with accompanying pain behaviors. Injection of FCA produced a significant mechanical allodynia over time and nitric oxide(NO) is involved in this mechanism. The role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on allodynia induced by inflammation is still controversal. We invastigated the change of spinal NPY and nitric oxide in rats with inflammation induced by subcutaneous injection of FCA and L-NG-nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) into hind paw. The results are: The number of NADPH-diaphorase positive neurons and staining intensity of area increased at ipsilateral spinal ventral/dorsal horn of inflammation model. No significant changes were found with L-NAME posttreatment. Staining intensity of NPY immunoreactive (ir) area increased at ipsilateral spinal dorsal horn after FCA injection. No significant changes were found with L-NAME posttreatment. NPY-ir and NADPH-d reactive neurons were found in Rexed III-IV lamina at spinal dorsal horn. No significant change were found on all groups. The results suggest that spinal NPY is involved in the mechanism of the development and maintenance of allodynia in a state of FCA-induced inflammaion. NO may be also involved in the regulation of the quantity of NPY in spinal cord level.
Animals ; Arginine ; Horns ; Hyperalgesia* ; Inflammation* ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Neurons ; Neuropeptide Y* ; Neuropeptides* ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide* ; Rats* ; Spinal Cord*

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on health behaviors, metabolic control, and chronic complications in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from South Korea, a country with universal health insurance coverage and that has experienced rapid economic and social transition. METHODS: A total of 3,294 Korean men and women with T2DM aged 30 to 65 years, participating in the Korean National Diabetes Program (KNDP) cohort who reported their SES and had baseline clinical evaluation were included in the current cross-sectional analysis. SES included the level of education and monthly household income. RESULTS: Lower education level and lower income level were closely related, and both were associated with older age in men and women. Women and men with lower income and education level had higher carbohydrate and lower fat intake. After adjustment for possible confounding factors, higher education in men significantly lowered the odds of having uncontrolled hyperglycemia (glycosylated hemoglobin ≥7.5%) (odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43 to 0.91 for highest education; P(trend)=0.048), while higher household income in men significantly lowered the odds of having diabetic retinopathy (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.95 for highest income level; P(trend)=0.048). In women, lower income was associated with a higher stress level. CONCLUSION: Men with lower SES had higher odds of having diabetic retinopathy and uncontrolled hyperglycemia, showing the need to improve care targeted to this population.
Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Education ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Health Behavior* ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Male ; Social Class*

This report presents the latest statistics on the stroke population in South Korea, sourced from the Clinical Research Collaborations for Stroke in Korea-National Institute for Health (CRCS-K-NIH), a comprehensive, nationwide, multicenter stroke registry. The Korean cohort, unlike western populations, shows a male-to-female ratio of 1.5, attributed to lower risk factors in Korean women. The average ages for men and women are 67 and 73 years, respectively.Hypertension is the most common risk factor (67%), consistent with global trends, but there is a higher prevalence of diabetes (35%) and smoking (21%). The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (19%) is lower than in western populations, suggesting effective prevention strategies in the general population. A high incidence of large artery atherosclerosis (38%) is observed, likely due to prevalent intracranial arterial disease in East Asians and advanced imaging techniques.There has been a decrease in intravenous thrombolysis rates, from 12% in 2017–2019 to 10% in 2021, with no improvements in door-to-needle and door-to-puncture times, worsened by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. While the use of aspirin plus clopidogrel for noncardioembolic stroke and direct oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation is well-established, the application of direct oral anticoagulants for non-atrial fibrillation cardioembolic strokes in the acute phase requires further research. The incidence of early neurological deterioration (13%) and the cumulative incidence of recurrent stroke at 3 months (3%) align with global figures. Favorable outcomes at 3 months (63%) are comparable internationally, yet the lack of improvement in dependency at 3 months highlights the need for advancements in acute stroke care.

This report presents the latest statistics on the stroke population in South Korea, sourced from the Clinical Research Collaborations for Stroke in Korea-National Institute for Health (CRCS-K-NIH), a comprehensive, nationwide, multicenter stroke registry. The Korean cohort, unlike western populations, shows a male-to-female ratio of 1.5, attributed to lower risk factors in Korean women. The average ages for men and women are 67 and 73 years, respectively.Hypertension is the most common risk factor (67%), consistent with global trends, but there is a higher prevalence of diabetes (35%) and smoking (21%). The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (19%) is lower than in western populations, suggesting effective prevention strategies in the general population. A high incidence of large artery atherosclerosis (38%) is observed, likely due to prevalent intracranial arterial disease in East Asians and advanced imaging techniques.There has been a decrease in intravenous thrombolysis rates, from 12% in 2017–2019 to 10% in 2021, with no improvements in door-to-needle and door-to-puncture times, worsened by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. While the use of aspirin plus clopidogrel for noncardioembolic stroke and direct oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation is well-established, the application of direct oral anticoagulants for non-atrial fibrillation cardioembolic strokes in the acute phase requires further research. The incidence of early neurological deterioration (13%) and the cumulative incidence of recurrent stroke at 3 months (3%) align with global figures. Favorable outcomes at 3 months (63%) are comparable internationally, yet the lack of improvement in dependency at 3 months highlights the need for advancements in acute stroke care.