Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most prevalent dermatology pathogens in hospitals and increasingly recognized in communities. We determined PFGE pattern of SmaI-restricted genomic DNA, coagulase type, and antimicrobial susceptibility of MRSA isolated in 2008 from dermatology inpatients and healthy hospital employees in A Hospital and from primary school children in Iksan city, Korea. Overall, the isolation rate of MRSA was 3.8% from the 788 normal persons: 4.9% from hospital employees and 1.1% from primary school children. MRSA was isolated in six of 13 (46.2%) family members of four school children with MRSA. The most prevalent coagulase serotype was II from patients and V from healthy individuals. Ten of twenty and six of twenty MRSA isolates from patients and from healthy personnel, respectively, had identical PFGE patterns, suggesting that these are originated from identical clones. Against MRSA from patients, only vancomycin was the most active (MIC range < or =2 microg/ml), whereas the resistance rates were 35% to rifampin and 65% to mupirocin. The resistance rates of patient isolates were > or =90% to amikacin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, fusidic acid, gentamicin and tetracycline. In conclusion, the MRSA carriage rates of healthy hospital workers were relatively high, 2.3~7.7%, depending on groups. Family members of a few primary school children with MRSA showed a high carriage rate, suggesting that intrafamily transmission occurred. MRSAs isolated from dermatology inpatients were relatively more resistant to various antimicrobial agents, including mupirocin, but all isolates were susceptibility to vancomycin.
Amikacin ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Child ; Ciprofloxacin ; Clindamycin ; Clone Cells ; Coagulase ; Dermatology ; DNA ; Erythromycin ; Fusidic Acid ; Genotype ; Gentamicins ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Mupirocin ; Rifampin ; Tetracycline ; Vancomycin ; Natural Resources

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major causative agent in liver disease. In order to investigate if Korean type HCV core protein and its related mutants, S99Q and S116I, are cytopathic to liver, three types of transgenic mice were established. The expression of transgenes was confirmed by HCV specific RT-PCR and Western immunoblotting. The livers of all wild type core and S116I transgenic lineages remained largely histologically normal. However, the livers of the S99Q transgenic mice showed significant high level of cell dysplasia associated with the transgene expression in hepatocytes largely located around the central veins by in situ hybridization analysis. In conclusion, the mutant HCV core protein at S99Q may contribute to the progress of HCV induced liver disease.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors/genetics ; Hepatitis C/*pathology/virology ; Hepatitis, Viral, Animal/*pathology/virology ; Hepatocytes/pathology/virology ; Liver/pathology/*virology ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation/genetics ; RNA, Messenger/chemistry/metabolism ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Transgenes ; Viral Core Proteins/analysis/*genetics/metabolism

OBJECTIVECheongseoikki-tang (CIT, Korean), also called Qingshu Yiqi decoction () and Seisho-ekki-to (Japanese), is well known as an effective traditional combination of herbs for treating cardiovascular diseases. This study was to research its effects on bone marrow-derived mast cell (BMMC)-mediated allergy and inflammation mechanisms.

METHODSIn this study, the biological effect of Cheongseoikki-tang ethanol extract (CITE) was evaluated, focusing on its effects on the production of allergic mediators by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore A23187 (A23187)-stimulated BMMCs. These allergic mediators included interleukin-6 (IL-6), prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), leukotriene C4 (LTC4), and β-hexosaminidase (β-hex).

RESULTSOur data revealed that CITE inhibited the production of IL-6, PGD2, LTC4, and β-hex induced by PMA plus A23187 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThese findings indicate that CITE has the potential for use in the treatment of allergy.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Bone Marrow Cells ; pathology ; Calcimycin ; pharmacology ; Cell Degranulation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hypersensitivity ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Interleukin-6 ; secretion ; Leukotriene C4 ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mast Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Prostaglandin D2 ; biosynthesis ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology ; beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases ; metabolism

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of antibacterial activity of luteolin (LUT) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Methods: The mechanism of anti-MRSA activity of LUT was analyzed by the viability assay in membrane permeabilizing agent, ATPase inhibitors, and peptidoglycan (PGN) derived from Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Also, transmission electron microscopy was used to monitor survival characteristics and changes in S. aureus morphology. Results: Compared to the LUT alone, the optical density of suspensions treated with the combination of 125 μg/mL Tris and 250 μg/mL N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide were reduced to 60% and 46% of the control, respectively. PGN (15.6 μg/mL) gradually impeded the activity of LUT, and PGN (62.5 μg/mL) completely blocked the activity of LUT on S. aureus. Conclusions: Increased susceptibility to LUT with the Tris-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide combinations is evident in all tested MRSA isolates. The results indicate LUT synergy in increasing cytoplasmic membrane permeability and inhibiting ATPase. S. aureus PGN directly blocks the antibacterial activity of LUT, suggesting the direct binding of LUT with PGN. These findings may be validated for the development of antibacterial agent for low MRSA resistance.

Objective To investigate the gene related to β-lactam resistance and to confirm the mechanism about a synergy effect between CPZ and β-lactam antibiotics. Methods To measure antibacterial activity, we performed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and synergy test. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used in morphological analysis. To analyze gene expression, we conducted reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results We confirmed a synergy effect between CPZ and β-lactam antibiotics. Furthermore, we observed that CPZ affect the cell envelope of MRSA by using TEM. At the gene level, CPZ reduced the expression of resistance genes. Conclusions Through this result, we hypothesize that a decrease of resistance factor expressions was caused by CPZ because it disrupts the activity of a sensor protein located in the cell membrane.

Objective: To investigate the antibacterial activity of SHH extracted with either water or ethanol against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and combinatory antimicrobial effect with ciprofloxacin (CIP) by time kill assay and checkerboard dilution test. Methods: The antibacterial activity determined by broth dilution method indicated that the antibacterial activity of Sami-Hyanglyun-Hwan (SHH) water extract (SHHW) and SHH ethanol extract (SHHE) ranged from 250 to 2. 000 μg/mL and 125 to 1. 000 μg/mL against MRSA, respectively. Results: In the checkerboard method, the combinations of SHHE with CIP had a partial synergistic or synergistic effect against MRSA. The time-kill curves showed that a combined SHHE and CIP treatment reduced the bacterial counts dramatically after 24 h. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates the therapeutic ability of SHHE against MRSA infections.