Freshwater unionid bivalves are difficult to monitor due to their cryptic, burrowing behavior and their residence in soft substrates. DNA barcode reference sequences are essential for molecular identification and conservation studies of endangered freshwater unionids. For endangered species, the collection of live individuals is often restricted, which limits the construction of such reference databases. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of using shell-derived DNA from Cristaria plicata as a source for mitochondrial DNA barcoding. Naturally deposited shells were collected from a freshwater environment, and DNA was extracted from five distinct shell regions under different preservation conditions. Mitochondrial 16S rDNA was targeted using both short (180 bp) and long (450 bp) barcode primers. PCR products were sequenced and compared with GenBank reference sequences, and phylogenetic analyses were conducted to confirm taxonomic identity. DNA yield differed substantially among shell regions and preservation states. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that sequences derived from shells clustered with established C. plicata references from South Korea and other East Asian populations. However, degraded shell materials occasionally produced divergent or nonspecific sequences, particularly when longer barcode regions were amplified. These results indicate that shell-derived DNA can serve as a viable, noninvasive source for generating DNA barcode references of endangered unionid bivalves. This approach may facilitate the expansion of reference databases and support molecular monitoring and conservation efforts without requiring the collection of live specimens.

본 연구에서는 Ya-Ha-Rak 복합물을 대상으로 1차 열수 추출과 70% 에탄올 재추출 공정 을 단계적으로 적용하여, 추출 방법에 따른 항산화 및 항염 활성을 비교·분석하였다. 1차 열수 추출물 (YHD)은 항산화 활성을 나타냈으나 항염 활성은 제한적인 수준이었다. 반면, 70% 에탄올 재추출물 (YHE)은 항산화 활성이 향상되었으며, 2000 μg/mL 농도에서도 세포 독성이 관찰되지 않았다. 또한 YHE가 LPS 자극에 의한 iNOS의 발현을 억제함으로써 항염증 물질로서 가치가 있음을 확인하였다. 따 라서 1차 열수 추출물과 70% 에탄올 재추출은 Ya-Ha-Rak 복합물의 항산화 및 항염 효능을 효과적으 로 향상시키는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구는 천연물 복합 추출물에서 추출 공정 최적화가 생리활성 발현 에 중요한 요소임을 제시한다.

Background: Flexible flatfoot impairs gait and posture by weakening arch support, potentially leading to musculoskeletal dysfunction. Strengthening exercises, such as the short foot exercise (SFE), have shown promise in correcting this condition. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of SFE with visual feedback on medial arch height and foot function in adults with flexible flatfoot. Design: Experimental research. Methods: Adults diagnosed with flexible flatfoot were randomly assigned to either an experimental or control group. The experimental group performed SFE with visual feedback, whereas the control group performed the same exercises without feedback. Both groups trained three times per week for five weeks. Outcome measures included the Navicular Drop Test (NDT), YBalance Test (YBT), and Tetrax postural analysis. Results: In the NDT, both groups showed significant improvements (P<.05), while in the YBT, only the experimental group showed a significant improvement (P<.05). In contrast, there were no significant changes in the Weight Distribution Index (WDI) and Stability Test (ST) areas of the Tetrax system in either group (P>.05). Conclusion: SFE effectively improved arch height regardless of visual feedback, though only the visual feedback group showed significant improvements in dynamic balance. However, between-group differences were not statistically significant, suggesting that visual feedback provides subtle rather than substantial additional benefits. Further research with larger samples is needed to establish the clinical value of adding visual feedback to SFE protocols.

Freshwater bivalves contribute to key ecological functions in lake ecosystems, yet their cryptic and benthic lifestyles often hinder detection through conventional surveys. In this study, we applied environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding to assess the diversity and distribution of unionid bivalves in six lakes across Republic of Korea. Water samples were collected from three sampling strategies-Center Surface, Center Mix, and Waterside Surface-and processed using 16S rDNA-targeted primers followed by high-throughput sequencing. A total of four unionid species (Cristaria plicata, Sinanodonta lauta, Unio (Nodularia) douglasiae, and Anodonta woodiana) were detected across 18 sampling points. Notably, eDNA successfully identified unionid presence in all lakes, even where conventional surveys failed to observe individuals. Among the sampling strategies, Center Mix exhibited the highest values for Shannon and Simpson indices as well as ASV richness. Waterside Surface samples generally showed lower diversity and detection frequency. A Venn diagram of ASV occurrences revealed three ASVs shared across all sampling strategies and one unique ASV found only in Center Mix. These results indicate that sampling location significantly affects detection sensitivity and diversity representation in eDNA-based bivalve monitoring. Combined application of Center Mix and Center Surface strategies may enhance both detection efficiency and species diversity coverage in lentic environments.

Phytoplankton play a vital role as primary producers in freshwater ecosystems, contributing to the nutrient cycle, energy flow, and ecological stability. To accurately assess phytoplankton diversity and community composition, this study compared traditional microscopy and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding in six small lakes located in the Han, Geum, and Nakdong River basins in Korea. eDNA analysis identified 268 species from 161 genera, approximately 2.4 times higher than microscopy, which detected 113 species from 68 genera. The eDNA data were dominated by picocyanobacteria such as Synechococcus and Cyanobium, while microscopy primarily revealed larger taxa, including Stephanodiscus and Scenedesmus. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) based on Bray-Curtis similarity showed clear separation between the two methods, with average similarity values of 0.0326 (1st survey) and 0.0221 (2nd survey) at the species level. Only 6.8% of the 429 total species were commonly detected by both methods, while overlap at the genus level was 18.8%. Spatial heterogeneity in phytoplankton communities based on eDNA was also evident depending on the sampling location, with the centre of the surface showing the highest species richness and overlap, suggesting its suitability for biodiversity monitoring. These findings demonstrate the high resolution and sensitivity of eDNA metabarcoding in capturing phytoplankton diversity and highlight its complementary role in existing biomonitoring programmes. Further improvements in the quantitative reliability of eDNA-based assessments will require efforts such as copy number normalisation, methodological standardisation, and refinement of reference databases.

Amitriptyline hydrochloride (AMT), a tricyclic antidepressant, is known to exhibit antimicrobial effects against a wide range of bacterial species. This study aims to evaluate the effect of AMT on Brucella (B.) abortus infection in RAW 264.7 cells and ICR mice, which has not yet been clearly characterized. The results showed that all tested concentrations of AMT had no direct bactericidal effect on B. abortus survival at any incubation time point. Interestingly, RAW 264.7 cells pre-treated with a non-toxic high concentration of AMT before B. abortus infection showed a significant reduction in the phagocytosis of B. abortus at 20 min post-infection, compared to untreated cells. However, AMT treatment did not affect the intracellular replication of B. abortus compared to the control cells. Based on the reduced bacterial uptake observed in-vitro, an in-vivo experiment was conducted to assess whether daily oral administration of AMT at a dose of 20 mg/kg could inhibit B. abortus growth in ICR mice. The results showed that AMT treatment slightly increased both organ weights and bacterial loads, suggesting possible systemic effects of prolonged AMT exposure. In summary, these preliminary results provide initial insight into the potential effects of AMT on B. abortus infection both in-vitro and in-vivo. Therefore, further study should focus on dose optimization in-vivo and exploration of the underlying cellular mechanisms involved in AMT-mediated inhibition of phagocytosis during Brucella infection.