Aims: Bivalve molluscs are filter feeders that tend to accumulate and concentrate any suspended particles or bacteria from the water environment. Although they have been proven to accumulate heavy metals, investigation on the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is still lacking. Therefore, this study examines the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria isolated from bivalve shellfish, namely, blood cockles (Anadara granosa) and green-lipped mussel (Perna viridis) purchased from markets in Johor, Malaysia. Methodology and results: Samples purchased were homogenized and then diluted. Viable cell count and bacterial isolation were performed using diluted samples followed by an antibiotic susceptibility test (ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and tetracycline) conducted on the pure isolates. The total viable count of bacterial colonies for cockle and mussel samples ranged from 1.1 × 107 to 4.4 × 109 CFU/mL and 1.2 × 109 to 4.3 × 109 CFU/mL. The numbers of colonies isolated from respective bivalves were 11 and 6. Generally, cockles isolates revealed higher resistance towards all three antibiotics at or above the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) threshold value. Meanwhile, mussel isolates showed full susceptibility to any ciprofloxacin concentration and tetracycline but exhibited resistance to ampicillin at a concentration exceeding the CLSI value. The number of drug resistance isolates in cockle and mussel samples decreased with increasing antibiotic concentration. The maximum number of antibiotics the mussel isolates were resistant to was two, whereas cockle isolates achieved three. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The outcome of this study concludes that some isolates from cockle and mussel samples can resist antibiotic concentration above the CLSI threshold value. Resistance of more than the CLSI threshold level revealed that these isolates could pose significant health risks especially when the bivalves are ingested raw or undercooked.
Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Bivalvia

As an important auxiliary material, adhesive materials have many important applications in various fields including but not limited to industrial packaging, marine engineering, and biomedicine. Naturally occurring adhesives such as mussel foot proteins are usually biocompatible and biodegradable, but their limited sources and poor mechanical properties in physiological conditions have limited their widespread uses in biomedical field. Inspired by the underwater adhesion phenomenon of natural organisms, a series of biomimetic adhesive materials have been developed through chemical or bioengineering approaches. Notably, some of those synthetic adhesives have exhibited great promise for medical applications in terms of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, strong tissue adhesion and many other attractive functional properties. As natural adhesive materials possess distinctive "living" attributes such as environmental responsiveness, self-regeneration and autonomous repairs, the development of various biologically inspired and biomimetic adhesive materials using natural adhesives as blueprints will thus be of keen and continuous interest in the future. The emerging field of synthetic biology will likely provide new opportunities to design living glues that recapitulate the dynamic features of those naturally occurring adhesives.
Adhesives ; Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Biomimetic Materials ; chemistry ; Biomimetics ; Bivalvia

In recent years, due to the dramatic increase in the number of surgical operations, there has been a clinically significant increase in the demand for medical adhesives capable of cohesion in a moist environment that can overcome blood or tissue fluids . As the understanding of the mechanisms and key elements of natural adhesion to aquatic organisms continues to develop, a variety of medical adhesives have been developed by mimicking adhesion procedures or utilizing key functional groups. This article will review the classification, adhesion mechanism, use, research progress and development prospects of biomedical adhesives inspired by aquatic organisms octopus and mussels.
Adhesives ; Animals ; Biomimetic Materials ; Bivalvia

PURPOSE: This study examined the most efficient exercise position to activate the gluteus medius (GM) and tensor fascia latae (TFL) in hip abduction in side-lying (HA-SL), clam in side-lying (CL-SL), and sling bridging in side-lying (SB-SL), which are the most representative GM exercises. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy male adults aged from 20 to 40 years, whose body mass index was under 25, participated in this experiment. While all participants conducted three different positions with a counterbalanced manner, such as in AB, CL, and BR, activation of the GM and TFL was measured using 8-channel wireless EMG. Exercise was performed for 10 seconds three times in total with a five minute-break session. RESULTS: Significant differences in GM and TFL activation were observed among the three positions (p<0.05). The highest activation of 60.69 was observed in BR followed in order by 46.03 and 12.92 in HA-SL and CL, respectively. TFL activation in HA-SL was 42.01, followed in order by 35.98 and 14.01 in BR and CL, respectively. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in TFL muscle activation between BR and HA-SL. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that both BR and HA-SL in GM can be done selectively. CL has remarkably low muscle activation in GM and TFL, which makes it less valuable in GM and TFL exercise. In conclusion, selective BR and HA-SL exercise should be applied to maximally and effectively activate the GM.
Adult ; Bivalvia ; Body Mass Index ; Exercise ; Fascia Lata ; Hand ; Hip ; Humans ; Male

The 2019 hepatitis A outbreak has become increasingly prevalent among adults in Korea and is the largest outbreak since that in 2009–2010. The incidence in the current outbreak is highest among adults aged 35–44 years, corresponding to the peak incidence among those aged 25–34 years 10 years ago. This may indicate a cohort effect in the corresponding age group. Causes of these repeated outbreaks of hepatitis A in Korea are low level of immunity among adults, Korean food culture that consumes raw seafood such as salted clam and inadequate public health system. Among countermeasures, along with general infectious disease control measures including control of the infectious agent, infection spread, and host, urgent actions are needed to review the vaccination policy and establish an adequate public health system.
Adult ; Bivalvia ; Cohort Effect ; Communicable Diseases ; Disease Outbreaks ; Epidemiology ; Hepatitis A virus ; Hepatitis A ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Immunization ; Incidence ; Korea ; Public Health ; Seafood ; Vaccination

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the biocompatibility and barrier function of mussel adhesive protein (MAP)-loaded collagen membranes in guided bone regeneration (GBR). METHODS: Eight male New Zealand white rabbits were used. Four circular defects (diameter: 8 mm) were created in the calvarium of each animal. The defects were randomly assigned to 1) a negative control group, 2) a cyanoacrylate (CA)-loaded collagen membrane group (the CA group), 3) a MAP-loaded collagen membrane group (the MAP group), and 4) a group that received a polycaprolactone block with MAP-loaded collagen membrane (the MAP-PCL group). Specimens were harvested at 2 weeks (n=4) and 8 weeks (n=4) postoperatively for observational histology and histometric analysis. RESULTS: In the histologic analysis, MAP was completely absorbed without any byproducts. In contrast, some of the CA adhesive remained, showing an inflammatory reaction, at 8 weeks. In the MAP-PCL group, the MAP-loaded collagen membranes served as a barrier membrane despite their fast degradation in GBR. No significant difference was found in the amount of new bone between the MAP-PCL and MAP groups (1.82±0.86 mm2 and 2.60±0.65 mm2, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The MAP-loaded collagen membrane functioned efficiently in this rabbit calvarial GBR model, with excellent biocompatibility. Further research is needed to assess clinical applications in defect types that are more challenging for GBR than those used in the current model.
Adhesives ; Animals ; Biomimetics ; Bivalvia ; Bone Regeneration ; Collagen ; Cyanoacrylates ; Humans ; Male ; Membranes ; Mytilus edulis ; Polymers ; Rabbits ; Skull ; Tissue Adhesives

A survey was performed to know the recent infection status of digenetic trematode metacercariae in clams and oysters from 4 sites in western coastal regions of the Republic of Korea (=Korea). Four species of clams (Mactra veneriformis, Ruditapes philippinarum, Cyclina sinensis, and Saxidomus purpuratus) were collected from Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do (Province), Buan-gun (County) and Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do, and oysters, Crassostrea gigas, from Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do were transferred to our laboratory on ice and examined by the artificial digestion method. The metacercariae of Himasthla alincia were detected in 3 species of clams, M. veneriformis, R. philippinarum, and C. sinensis from the 3 surveyed areas. The positive rate and the mean density per clam infected were 98.9% (30.8 metacercariae) in M. veneriformis, 60.0% (5.0) in R. philippinarum, and 96.0% (28.4) in C. sinensis. The positive rate (mean density) of Acanthoparyphium tyosenense metacercariae in M. veneriformis was 50.0% (2.1) from Taean-gun and 70.0% (2.8) from Gochang-gun. The metacercariae of Parvatrema spp. were detected in M. veneriformis and R. philippinarum from Taean-gun and Gochang-gun; the positive rate (mean density) was 63.3% (4,123) and 50.0% (19) in M. veneriformis, and 6.7% (126) and 100% (238) in R. philippinarum from the 2 regions, respectively. The metacercariae of Gymnophalloides seoi were detected in all 30 oysters from Shinan-gun, and their average density per oyster was 646. From the above results, it has been confirmed that more than 3 species of metacercariae are prevalent in clams from the western coastal regions, and G. seoi metacercariae are still prevalent in oysters from Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea
Bivalvia* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Crassostrea ; Digestion ; Ice ; Jeollabuk-do ; Jeollanam-do ; Korea ; Metacercariae* ; Methods ; Ostreidae* ; Prevalence* ; Republic of Korea* ; Trematoda

The daily insertion of endotracheal tubes, laryngeal mask airways, oral/nasal airways, gastric tubes, transesophageal echocardiogram probes, esophageal dilators and emergency airways all involve the risk of airway structure damage. In the closed claims analysis of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, 6% of all claims concerned airway injury. Among the airway injury clams, the most common cause was difficult intubation. Among many other causes, esophageal stethoscope is a relatively noninvasive monitor that provides extremely useful information. Relatively not many side effects that hardly is ratable. Some of that was from tracheal insertion, bronchial insertion resulting in hypoxia, hoarseness due to post cricoids inflammation, misguided surgical dissection of esophagus. Also oropharyngeal bleeding and subsequent anemia probably are possible and rarely pharyngeal/esophageal perforations are also possible because of this device. Careful and gentle procedure is necessary when inserting esophageal stethoscope and observations for injury and bleeding are needed after insertion.
Anemia ; Anoxia ; Bivalvia ; Bronchoscopes ; Emergencies ; Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies* ; Hemorrhage ; Hoarseness ; Inflammation ; Insurance Claim Review ; Intubation ; Laryngeal Masks ; Stethoscopes

A comparable study were carried out by determination of trace elements on five marine-derived shell traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) (Ostreae Concha, Haliotidis Concha, Margaritifera Concha, Meretricis Concha, and Arcae Concha), which were recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2010 version). Seven trace elements in 51 batches of this type of shell TCM were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), combined with principal component analysis (PCA) methods. The content of element Se, which exhibited significant differences among different drugs, could be used as a key element to distinguish this type of drugs. Meanwhile, the contents of elements Co, Cu, Mo, and Ba in Haliotidis Concha, Co and As in Margaritifera Concha, Mo and As in Meretricis Concha, Mo, As, and Ba in Arcae Concha, and Zn in Meretricis Concha were relatively stable. In the PCA plot, Arcae Concha and Meretricis Concha could be efficiently distinguished from Ostreae Concha together with Haliotidis Concha, and Margaritifera Concha. The results also showed a correlation with their medicinal function. In conclusion, trace elements in marine-derived shell TCM could not be neglected for their quality control.
Animal Shells ; chemistry ; Animals ; Aquatic Organisms ; chemistry ; Bivalvia ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Trace Elements ; analysis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of food allergies in Korean children aged 6 to 12 years increased from 10.9% in 1995 to 12.6% in 2012 according to nationwide population studies. Treatment for food allergies is avoidance of allergenic-related foods and epinephrine auto-injector (EPI) for accidental allergic reactions. This study compared knowledge and perception of food allergy labeling and dietary practices of students. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study was conducted with the fourth to sixth grade students from an elementary school in Yongin. A total of 437 response rate (95%) questionnaires were collected and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of food allergy among respondents was 19.7%, and the most common food allergy-related symptoms were urticaria, followed by itching, vomiting and nausea. Food allergens, other than 12 statutory food allergens, included cheese, cucumber, kiwi, melon, clam, green tea, walnut, grape, apricot and pineapple. Children with and without food allergy experience had a similar level of knowledge on food allergies. Children with food allergy experience thought that food allergy-related labeling on school menus was not clear or informative. CONCLUSION: To understand food allergies and prevent allergic reactions to school foodservice among children, schools must provide more concrete and customized food allergy education.
Allergens ; Ananas ; Bivalvia ; Cheese ; Child* ; Cucurbitaceae ; Education ; Epinephrine ; Food Hypersensitivity* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Juglans ; Nausea ; Prevalence ; Prunus armeniaca ; Pruritus ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tea ; Urticaria ; Vitis ; Vomiting