Aquibacillus saliphilus sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a grey saltern.

A novel moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain KHM2T, was isolated from the sediment of a grey solar saltern located on Sinui Island, Shinan, Republic of Korea. Cells were rod-shaped, endospore-forming, Gram-stain-positive, motile and facultative anaerobic. Strain KHM2T performed anaerobic respiration using nitrates and did not produce glucose acids, indicating the absence of fermentation. Strain KHM2T grew at 10-45 °C (optimum, 37 °C), pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 8.0) and with 1.0-20.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 10.0%). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and chemotaxonomic properties, strain KHM2T was assigned to the genus Aquibacillus, with high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Aquibacillus halophilus B6BT (98.2%) and less than 96.8 % similarity to the other recognized members of the genus Aquibacillus. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and one unidentified phospholipid (PL). Major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values of strain KHM2T with A. halophilus B6BT were 77.6 and 22.0 %, respectively. Based on the results of polyphasic analysis, strain KHM2T is proposed to represent a bacterial species within the genus Aquibacillus with the name Aquibacillus saliphilus sp. nov. The type strain is KHM2T (=KACC 19068T=NBRC 112577T).

Trends in Utilization of Visual Field Tests for Glaucoma Patients: A Nationwide Study Using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Database.

PURPOSE: To analyze 10-year trends in utilization of visual field tests for adult glaucoma or glaucoma-suspect patients using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment data. METHODS: Health claims for the years 2010 to 2019, as recorded via Korea's Health Insurance Review and Assessment service, were accessed. We identified glaucoma patients using the glaucoma diagnostic codes H40 (glaucoma) and H42 (glaucoma in other diseases classified elsewhere). For verification of the glaucoma diagnosis, information on any antiglaucoma medication prescriptions and ocular surgery history also was obtained. Visual field testing data was isolated using procedural codes E6690 (kinetic perimetry) and E6691 (standard automated perimetry [SAP]) performed in tertiary hospitals. Any changes in visual field test utilization were identified using regression trend analysis. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2019, the total number of SAP procedures performed in tertiary hospitals for either glaucoma or glaucoma-suspect patients increased gradually from 93,459 to 216,433. With regard to kinetic perimetry examinations, the total number decreased gradually from 6,364 to 3,792. The yearly average SAP number per patient showed a slight increase, from 1.168 to 1.248 (ß = 0.008, R2 = 0.669, p = 0.004). Meanwhile, the yearly average number of kinetic perimeter examinations per patient showed a significant decrease, from 1.093 to 0.940 (ß = -0.013, R2 = 0.580, p = 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: Between 2010 and 2019, the yearly average number of SAP procedures performed per glaucoma or glaucoma-suspect patient increased in Korea. Meanwhile, the yearly average number of kinetic perimetry examinations per patient significantly decreased.

Aliifodinibius saliphilus sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from sediment of a crystallizing pond of a saltern.

Two Gram-stain-negative, moderately halophilic bacteria, designated strains ECH52T and KHM46, were isolated from the sediment of a grey saltern located in Sinui island at Shinan, Korea. The isolates were aerobic, non-motile, short rods and grew at 15-45 °C (optimum, 37 °C), at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 8.0) and with 3-25 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 10 % NaCl). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strains ECH52T and KHM46 belonged to the genus Aliifodinibius in the family Balneolaceae with sequence similarities of 94.3-98.6 % and showed the highest sequence similarity to Aliifodinibius halophilus 2W32T (98.6 %), A. sediminis YIM J21T (94.7%), A. salicampi KHM44T (94.6 %) and A. roseus YIM D15T (94.3 %). The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain ECH52T was 40.8 mol%. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7) and the major cellular fatty acids were iso-C17 : 1ω9c, iso-C15 : 0, and C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH. The major polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, two unidentified glycolipids and four unidentified lipids. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strains ECH52T and KHM46 are considered to represent a novel species of the genus Aliifodinibius , for which the name Aliifodinibius saliphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ECH52T (=KACC 19126T=NBRC 112664T).

Sandarakinorhabdus rubra sp. nov., and Sandarakinorhabdus oryzae sp. nov., isolated from oxidized rice paddy soil.

Three Gram-stain-negative, motile or non-motile, rod-shaped, facultatively aerobic strains, designated MO-4T, NP-34 and NM-18T, were isolated from oxidized rice paddy soil in Chungbuk, Republic of Korea. Colonies were circular and convex with entire margins, red in colour on R2A after 3 days at 30 °C. The three strains grew at pH 5.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 8.0), at 15-45 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and at salinities of 0-1.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.4 % NaCl). The results of phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the three isolates represent members of the genus Sandarakinorhabdus and strains MO-4T and NP-34 were most closely related to Sandarakinorhabdus cyanobacteriorum TH057T (97.7 %) and Sandarakinorhabdus limnophila DSM 17366T (97.1 %). NM-18T showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Sandarakinorhabdus limnophila DSM 17366T (98.7 %) and Sandarakinorhabdus cyanobacteriorum TH057T (96.7 %). Genomic similarities between strains MO-4T and NM-18T and the two type strains of species of the genus Sandarakinorhabdus based on average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were lower than the species delineation thresholds. The major fatty acids were iso-C18 : 1 ω7c and summed feature 3. The DNA G+C contents of strains MO-4T and NM-18T, obtained from genome sequencing data, were 67.6 and 66.6 mol%, respectively. On the basis of these genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, the three strains are assigned to two novel species of the genus Sandarakinorhabdus, for which the names Sandarakinorhabdus rubra sp. nov. (type strain MO-4T =KACC 21378=NBRC 114106) and Sandarakinorhabdus oryzae sp. nov. (type strain NM-18T=KACC 21379=NBRC 113957) are proposed.

Aliifodinibius salicampi sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a grey saltern.

Three strains of a Gram-stain-negative, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain KHM44T, KHM29 and HHM4, were isolated from the sediment of a grey saltern located on Sinui island at Shinan, Korea. The isolates were aerobic, non-motile rods and grew at 15-50 °C (optimum, 37 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 8.0) and at salinities of 3-25 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 10 % NaCl). The predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7), and the major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, iso-C17 : 1ω9c and anteiso-C15 : 0. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and glycolipid. The DNA G+C contents were 48.5-48.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strains KHM44T, KHM29 and HHM4 belonged to the genus Aliifodinibius in the family Balneolaceae, with sequence similarities of 95.1-97.2 % to members of this genus. Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain KHM44T and the type strains of the other species of the genus Aliifodinibius ranged from 35.4 to 48.0 %. On the basis of polyphasic analysis from this study, strains KHM44T, KHM29 and HHM4 are considered to represent a novel species of the genus Aliifodinibius, for which the name Aliifodinibius salicampi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KHM44T (=KACC 19060T=NBRC 112531T).

Rhodanobacter rhizosphaerae sp. nov., isolated from soil of ginseng rhizosphere.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming, yellow and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain CR164T, was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a ginseng field at Geumsan in Korea. CR164T grew at between 15 and 37 °C (optimal growth at 28 °C), between pH 6.0 and 9.0 (optimal growth at pH 7.0) and at salinities of 0-1.0 % (w/v) NaCl, growing optimally in the absence of NaCl. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that CR164T represents a member of the genus Rhodanobacter, showing the highest sequence similarity to Rhodanobactercaeni MJ01T (98.5 %), Rhodanobacter ginsenosidimutans Gsoil 3054T (98.4 %), Rhodanobacter thiooxydans LCS2T (98.3 %), Rhodanobacter lindaniclasticus RP5557T (98.1 %), Rhodanobacter denitrificans 2APBS1T (98.0 %), Rhodanobacter fulvus Jip2T (97.6 %), Rhodanobacter soli DCY45T (97.3 %) and 'Rhodanobacterxiangquanii' BJQ-6 (97.0 %). The major fatty acids were iso-C17 : 1ω9c (21.8 %), iso-C15 : 0 (12.1 %), iso-C11 : 0 (11.9 %) and iso-C16 : 0 (11.1 %). The predominant ubiquinone was Q-8. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 62.3 mol%. DNA-DNA relatedness between CR164T and the type strains of eight other species of the genus ranged from 51 to 9 %. On the basis of the polyphasic analysis, CR164T represents a novel species of the genus Rhodanobacter, for which the name Rhodanobacter rhizosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CR164T (=KACC 18699T=NBRC 111845T).

Development of MgO-C Refractory Having High Oxidation Resistance by Metal Coating Process.

Graphite has been modified with a coating reagent, which can form coating layer of a metal on the surface of graphite, to effectively prevent the oxidation of graphite used as a carbon source, compared to common antioxidants. The oxidation of graphite is resisted by the high oxidation reactivity of metal and the oxygen barrier effect of coating layer. Therefore, the metal layer should be homogeneously and continuously coated on the surface of graphite and the coating efficiency of metal should be increased. The metal layer was formed with a metal precursor existed only with a ion phase in an aqueous solution. The unmodified graphite was totally degraded and oxidized after the combustion test at 1000 degrees C in air. However, as graphite was modified by the metal precursor, the color of carbon was not changed after the heat treatment. These results mean that the coating layer is individually and uniformly formed on a surface of graphite, delaying the oxidation of graphite. Consequently, MgO-C refractory with the high oxidation resistance could be successfully fabricated by the modification of graphite with the metal precursor.

Streptomyces panaciradicis sp. nov., a ß-glucosidase-producing bacterium isolated from ginseng rhizoplane.

A Gram-staining-positive actinobacterium, designated strain 1MR-8(T), was isolated from the rhizoplane of ginseng and its taxonomic status was determined using a polyphasic approach. The isolate formed long chains of spores that were straight, cylindrical and smooth-surfaced. Strain 1MR-8(T) grew at 10-37 °C (optimum 28 °C), whilst no growth was observed at 45 °C. The pH range for growth was 4.0-11.0 (optimum pH 6.0-8.0) and the NaCl range for growth was 0-7% (w/v) with optimum growth at 1% (w/v). Strain 1MR-8(T) had cell-wall peptidoglycans based on ll-diaminopimelic acid. Glucose, mannose and ribose were the whole-cell sugars. The predominant isoprenoid quinones were MK-9 (H4), MK-9 (H6) and MK-9 (H8) and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C(15:0), iso-C(15:0), anteiso-C(17:0) and iso-C(16:0). 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies showed that the novel strain was closely related to the type strains of Streptomyces caeruleatus GIMN4(T), Streptomyces curacoi NRRL B-2901(T), Streptomyces capoamus JCM 4734(T) and Streptomyces coeruleorubidus NBRC 12761(T) with similarities of 98.8%. However, DNA-DNA relatedness, as well as physiological and biochemical analyses, showed that strain 1MR-8(T) could be differentiated from its closest phylogenetic relatives. It is proposed that this strain should be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, with the suggested name Streptomyces panaciradicis sp. nov. The type strain is 1MR-8(T) ( = KACC 17632(T) = NBRC 109811(T)).

Adhesion phenomena between particles according to the content of organic binder in core for thin-wall casting.

The content of organic binder in a core for thin-wall casting has been controlled to investigate the adhesion phenomena of inorganic binder between starting particles, as directly related to the mechanical and thermal properties of the core. The inorganic binder precursor was composed of tetraethyl orthosilicate and sodium methoxide as the silicon dioxide and sodium oxide precursors, respectively. Poly(vinyl alcohol), a hydrophilic polymer, was used as an organic binder. The particles coated with the inorganic precursor were sculpted with the organic binder and then the prepared core samples were heated at 1000 degrees C for 1 h. The core samples prepared with the optimum content of organic binder show the highest fracture strength. This may be due to the enhancement of adhesion by the glass phase formed between starting particles. However, when too much or too little organic binder is employed, the strength values of the core samples are significantly decreased. This is because the network structure of the glass phase is not inadequately created or the glass phase is not uniformly developed between starting particles, resulting in the insufficient contact between starting particles during the convert process.

Nasal anthropometry on facial computed tomography scans for rhinoplasty in koreans.

BACKGROUND: Cephalometric analysis is essential for planning treatment in maxillofacial and aesthetic facial surgery. Although photometric analysis of the Korean nose has been attempted in the past, anthropometry of the deeper nasal structures in the same population based on computerized tomography (CT) has not been published. We therefore measured three anthropometric parameters of the nose on CT scans in our clinical series of patients. METHODS: We conducted the current retrospective study of a total of 100 patients (n=100) who underwent a CT-guided radiological measurement at our institution during a period ranging from January of 2008 to August of 2010. In these patients, we took three anthropometric measurements: the nasofrontal angle, the pyramidal angle, and the linear distance between the nasion and the tip of the nasal bone. RESULTS: The mean nasofrontal angle was 131.14° in the male patients and 140.70° in the female patients. The mean linear distance between the nasion and the tip of the nasal bone was 21.28 mm and 18.02 mm, respectively. The mean nasal pyramidal angle was 112.89° and 103.25° at the level of the nasal root, 117.49° and 115.60° at the middle level of the nasal bone, and 127.99° and 125.04° at the level of the tip of the nasal bone, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our data will be helpful in the preparation of silicone implants for augmentation and/or corrective rhinoplasty in ethnic Korean people.

NaCl plus chitosan as a dietary salt to prevent the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effect of NaCl plus 3% chitosan on the systolic blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were evaluated and compared with NaCl plus KCl (NaCl, 49.36% + KCl 49.36%) and chitosan or NaCl treatment alone. In SHR, administration of NaCl plus chitosan (44 mM Na/day) for two months significantly decreased the systolic blood pressure greater than of NaCl plus KCl and NaCl alone. NaCl plus chitosan resulted, though not statistically significant, in decreased urinary Na(+) excretion and decreased blood urea nitrogen levels. Urinary creatinine of NaCl plus chitosan was slightly decreased compared to 3 treated groups. Serum electrolytes levels, however, remained unchanged. The combination of NaCl and chitosan may be superior to the conventional use of NaCl plus KCl or NaCl alone in the prevention of hypertension. Even though these supplementary diets have demonstrated potential anti-hypertensive effects in the experimental animal model, further research is needed before any recommendations can be made.