This study evaluated the risk of single and combined exposure to microplastics in zebrafish (Danio rerio) through biomarkers, such as survival rate, excretion rate, and histological alterations of organ systems. The experimental groups were the control (Cont.), single microplastics exposure group (MPs, 1.83%/fish total weight (g)), the copper group (Cu, 21.6 μg L-1), and a group with combined exposure to MPs and copper (MPs*Cu). The experiment was conducted with individual exposure (7 days) for MP excretion rate analysis and group exposure (14 days) for biomarker analysis. The daily excretion rate of MPs tended to decrease in a time-dependent manner. The copper concentration in the body was not significantly different between single and combined copper exposure. The degeneration of mucous cells in the skin, capillary dilation of the gill lamella, increased intestinal mucous, hepatocyte hypertrophy, and the degeneration of glomeruli and renal tubules were observed in all exposure groups. These histological alterations showed the highest tendency in the MPs*Cu group. In this study, the changes in biomarkers were attributed to the single effect of copper or the combined effect of copper and MPs rather than being solely influenced by MPs.

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are members of the family Orthomyxoviridae and genus Orthomyxovirus. Avian and mammalian species are the host of IAVs, which includes humans and dogs. Canine influenza virus (CIV) is an emerging pathogen that causes severe and acute respiratory diseases in dogs. This study monitored the antigen and antibody against CIV in dogs in the Republic of Korea (ROK) from 2016 to 2021. One thousand and seventy-two nasal swabs and 1,545 blood samples were collected from animal hospitals and animal shelters. Five nasal swabs in 2017 and seven in 2018 from stray dogs were positive for CIV according to RT-PCR. The prevalence of H3N2 CIV ranged from 9.5% to 24.8%, according to the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. On the other hand, none of the serum samples from 2018 to 2021 showed seropositivity against the avian H5, H7, and H9 viruses. The HI titers for H3N2 ranged from 16 to 512. The distribution of HI titer 16–32 was 57.6% in seropositive samples. The pet dogs were vaccinated against CIV, but the stray and military dogs were unvaccinated. In 2017 and 2018, the seroprevalence of CIV in stray dogs was higher than in the other years, and viral RNA was detected in nasal swabs. It may mean previous exposure of stray dogs to CIV. With the increasing number of pet dogs and the close contact between humans and dogs, canines could serve as an intermediate host for transmitting IAVs to humans. Therefore, continuous surveillance of CIV is needed for public health and the potential emergence of novel zoonotic viruses.

The differences in the immune response between body lice, Pediculus humanus humanus, and head lice, Pediculus humanus capitis, were regarded as primary factors determining their differential vector competence. To find any differences in genetic components in immune system between body and head lice, whole genome sequences of head lice were determined by both SBS [sequencing by synthesis, Illumina Genome Analyzer (Illumina-GA)] and pyrosequencing (Roche GS FLX), and compared with the reference genome sequences of body lice. The short DNA reads from Illumina-GA (an average mapping depth of 50-fold) were aligned first to the body louse reference genome, to which Roche GS FLX DNA reads (an average depth of 2.5-fold) were subsequently assembled to make up gaps between mapped consensus. Total consensus showed a size of 114 Mb and a coverage of 96% of the published body louse genome sequences. From this head louse genome sequences, a total of 12,651 genes were predicted and used for comparing with the 10,775 genes previously reported from the body louse genome. The homolog analysis identified 873 head louse-specific genes and 422 body lice-specific genes. Comparison of immune response genes between both louse species showed head lice have more number of immune-related genes than body lice. Head lice were determined to possess all of the 107 immune-related genes reported in the previous study (Kim et al., 2011), suggesting that there is no difference in genetic make-up in terms of the 107 immune-related genes between body and head lice.

Background : Angelica gigas is a monocarpic perennial plant. A. gigas, also called DangGui or Korean Angelica, is a major medicinal herb used in Asian countries such as Korea, Japan and China. In Korea, we are using the roots of A. gigas. but, Chinese using Angelica sinensis and Japanese using Angelica acutiloba with the same name 'DangGui'. The biggest problem in the use of A. gigas is the confusion with A. acutiloba or A. sinensis. This confusion can cause an medical accident or lack of pharmacological ingredients. In this study, we developed chloroplast InDel markers that can distinguish A. gigas, A. acutiloba or A. sinensis. Methods and Results : We collected 14 Angelica plant samples including A. gigas, A. acutiloba and A. sinensis and extrated DNA using CTAB method. The DNA was diluted to 10 ng/㎕ and kept -20℃. We designed the primer sets using CLC Main Workbench based on chloroplast DNA InDel region of between A. gigas and A. acutiloba. PCR were performed on the 14 Angelica plant samples including A. gigas, A. acutiloba and A. sinensis (5 repeats each). Electrophoresis was performed using fragment analyzer automated CE system. We designed 6 InDel primer sets and the primer sets amplified the amplicons effectively. Three of the 6 primer sets showed polymorphism. Conclusion : We could distinguish A. gigas, A. acutiloba, and A. sinensis using 2 newly developed InDel markers.

Platycodon grandiflorum is a perennial herbal plant belongs to Campanulaceae family. It has very important genetic value as a major plant in Asterids order. The major ingredients are platycosides, terpenoid saponins. In Korean industrial plants market, it was produced 5,633 tons in 2013, and the total amount of production was less than only five species, omija, ginger, raspberry, yam and deodeok. P. grandiflorum is called ‘Gilgyung’ and is used as a fresh vegetable and an ornamental plant. Nowadays, various components of P. grandiflorum were already published. But, genetic research is in the starting stage. In this study, 11 cultivars; 1. MariesⅡ, 2. Hakone double white, 3. Hakone double blue, 4. Fuji white, 5. Fuji pink, 6. Fuji blue, 7. Astra white, 8. Astra pink, 9. Astra blue, 10. Astrasemi double blue, 11. Jangback, were analyzed using 60 Operon Universal RAPD primers. The results were phylogenetically analyzed and related to the morphological characteristics of the cultivars.

The isolated single coronary artery is a rare congenital anomaly, in which both coronary arteries arise from a solitary ostium. Diagnosis of coronary anomalies and identification of the exact anatomy of coronary arteries has significant clinical importance, hence, myocardial ischemia or sudden cardiac death is usually related to its course of anomalous coronary artery. Most patients with a single coronary artery are asymptomatic and have normal electrocardiogram and negative stress tests. However, if the patient has other structural abnormalities, for example, ventricular hypertrophy, the exam is determined. This report describes a case of single coronary artery, where the right coronary artery originated from the distal left circumflex artery in a patient with hypertrophic ardiomyopathy.

This study was to verity that the uptake inhibition and accumulation of nitrogen in different potassium levels. Lettuce was used as model plant in this study and grown in pot of 10cm's in diameter and depth with mixture media of vermiculite and perlite under supply of different culture solution for three weeks. Nitrogen absorption at root was inhibited by increased potassium concentration in nutrient solution, and nitrate accumulation of plant was depended on absorption of nitrogen because nitrate content of 0 K level was 4-5 times higher than that of 2 K level, Concentration of ascorbic acid was decreased by increasing the nitrogen absorption, since ascorbic acid (AsA) content of 2K level was higher than those of OK level in both of old leaf and flesh leaf

To evaluate the efficiency of anther floating culture according to the maturing group, the varietal difference and classification of fifty varieties was conducted in N6 liquid medium containing 1mg l-1 NAA, 0.25 mg l-1 kinetin. The efficiency of callus induction was widely ranged from 0 to 113.4%, but the mean callus induction was not significantly different among maturing groups. The efficiency of anther floating culture showed the highest variation in early-maturing group among three maturing groups. The varieties with the best callus induction were Sambaegbyeo and Jinbuolbyeo, while the recalcitrant variety was Obongbyeo in early-maturing group. The efficiency of plant regeneration showed the highest trends in late-maturing group among three maturing groups. The fifty varieties were classified into three groups (distance=0.78) by cluster analysis based on the callus formation and plant regeneration. Group including only two varieties, Shinunbongbyeo and Sambaegbyeo had the excellent androgenic efficiency, and the medium efficiency of Group was included thirty-six varieties. Whereas twelve varieties, including three Tongil varieties were fell into the bad efficiency of Group. Especially, Tongil varieties containing Japonica rice, Obongbyeo were the recalcitrant genotypes for the anther floating culture.