Explore the vast range of titles available.

The purpose of this review is to summarize studies that investigate blood and the main components of fetal bovine serum (FBS) in vertebrates, including major livestock, and review the current research on commercializing cultured meat. Detailed research on FBS is still lacking; however, some studies have shown that FBS consists of proteins, carbohydrates, growth factors, cytokines, fats, vitamins, minerals, hormones, non-protein nitrogen, and inorganic compounds. However, there are few studies on how the composition of FBS differs from blood or serum composition in adult animals, which is probably one of the main reasons for not successfully replacing FBS. Moreover, recent studies on the development of FBS replacers and serum-free media have shown that it is difficult to conclude whether FBS has been completely replaced or serum-free media have been developed successfully. Our review of the industrialization of cultured meat reveals that many basic studies on the development of cultured meat have been conducted, but it is assumed that the study to reduce or replace ingredients derived from fetuses such as FBS has not yet been actively developed. Therefore, developing inexpensive and edible media is necessary for the successful industrialization of cultured meat.

KCI Citation Count: 0

Background: Although the prevalence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is increasing, reliable biomarkers for its early detection are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the association of adenosine and succinate levels and their related pathways, including hyaluronic acid (HA) synthesis, with DKD.Methods: We examined 235 participants and categorized them into three groups: healthy controls; those with diabetes but without DKD; and those with DKD, which was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. We compared the concentrations of urinary adenosine, succinate, and HA and the serum levels of cluster of differentiation 39 (CD39) and CD73, which are involved in adenosine generation, among the groups with DKD or albuminuria. In addition, we performed multiple logistic regression analysis to evaluate the independent association of DKD or albuminuria with the metabolites after adjusting for risk factors. We also showed the association of these metabolites with eGFR measured several years before enrollment. This study was registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (https://cris.nih.go.kr; Registration number: KCT0003573).Results: Urinary succinate and serum CD39 levels were higher in the DKD group than in the control and non-DKD groups. Correlation analysis consistently linked urinary succinate and serum CD39 concentrations with eGFR, albuminuria, and ΔeGFR, which was calculated retrospectively. However, among the various metabolites studied, only urinary succinate was identified as an independent indicator of DKD and albuminuria.Conclusion: Among several potential metabolites, only urinary succinate was independently associated with DKD. These findings hold promise for clinical application in the management of DKD.

Wild-simulated ginseng has received increasing attention due to its high pharmacological value and morphology and phytochemical similarity to wild ginseng. The objectives of this study were to determine the morphological and physiological characteristics of seeds from three origins, to assess seed viability using the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) test, to identify microbial contaminants generated during in vitro cultivation of wild-simulated ginseng, and to develop an effective method for asexual propagation. Seeds were collected from Seosan, Pyeongchang, and Geochang, and their length, width, thickness, and weight were measured. For in vitro cultivation, wild-simulated ginseng seeds were subjected to scarification and GA 3 treatments, and the relationship between physiological activity and germination capacity was investigated. Despite high seed viability across all three provenances, no germination was observed after 60 days. To develop asexual propagation techniques, wild-simulated ginseng seeds were cultured in vitro. Approximately 80.2% bacterial contamination and 75.7% fungal contamination were observed during the in vitro cultivation. DNA sequencing identified four bacterial species, including Rahnella laticis, and five fungal species, such as Quixadomyces hongheensis, as the major contaminants. These findings indicate that the identified microorganisms coexist within wild-simulated ginseng seeds. During in vitro cultivation, these microorganisms compete with the seeds for nutrients, thereby hindering germination. Therefore, the application of antibiotics such as penicillin, combined with antifungal agents, is recommended to achieve higher rates of callus induction in the in vitro cultivation of wild-simulated ginseng seeds.

Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased risk of dementia. We aimed to comprehensively analyze the incidence and risk factors for dementia and young-onset dementia (YOD) in diabetic patients in Korea using the National Health Insurance Service data. Between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2012, a total of 1,917,702 participants with diabetes were included and followed until the date of dementia diagnosis or until December 31, 2015. We evaluated the incidence and risk factors for all dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) by Cox proportional hazards analyses. We also compared the impact of risk factors on the occurrence of YOD and late-onset dementia (LOD). During an average of 5.1 years of follow-up, the incidence of all types of dementia, AD, or VaD was 9.5, 6.8, and 1.3/1,000 person-years, respectively, in participants with diabetes. YOD comprised 4.8% of all dementia occurrence, and the ratio of AD/VaD was 2.1 for YOD compared with 5.5 for LOD. Current smokers and subjects with lower income, plasma glucose levels, body mass index (BMI), and subjects with hypertension, dyslipidemia, vascular complications, depression, and insulin treatment developed dementia more frequently. Vascular risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, and previous cardiovascular diseases were more strongly associated with the development of VaD than AD. Low BMI and a history of stroke or depression had a stronger influence on the development of YOD than LOD. The optimal management of modifiable risk factors may be important for preventing dementia in subjects with diabetes mellitus.

The expansion of alternative food industries, including cultured meat, is often promoted as a strategy to reduce environmental pollution, particularly greenhouse gas emissions. However, comprehensive data on the environmental impacts of these industries remains limited. This study examines the environmental impacts of traditional meat and meat substitute production, highlighting their respective advantages and disadvantages. Our findings indicate that meat substitute production generally has a lower environmental impact compared to traditional livestock farming. However, it is challenging to quantify the extent to which meat substitutes can reduce the environmental impacts of traditional livestock products, as both sectors produce different pollution measurements depending on the criteria used. Moreover, the growth of the meat substitute market has been significantly smaller compared to that of the traditional livestock products market, limiting the availability of accurate data on the environmental impacts of meat substitute production. Therefore, assumptions that the meat substitute market will eventually surpass the traditional livestock market and reduce environmental pollution require caution. Continuous and in-depth research is crucial to fully understand the long-term environmental impacts of meat substitutes. Furthermore, enhancing the quality of alternative meat substitutes should be prioritized to increase their overall acceptability and facilitate technological advancements in alternative protein production before it becomes a sustainable food production system.

Carrageenan fibers produced via wet spinning have attractive applications with excellent flame-retardant properties but suffer from limited mechanical strength, hindering broader applications. This study investigates the effect of cellulose nanofibril (CNF) reinforcement on the mechanical and morphologic properties of kappa-carrageenan (k-CAG) fibers. Two types of CNFs—pristine CNF (PCNF) and TEMPO-oxidized CNF (TOCNF)—were incorporated at 1–5 wt%. Optimized wet-spinning conditions included 2-N sodium hydroxide as the dissolution solvent, 8-wt% k-CAG, 5-wt% CaCl 2 or BaCl 2 as coagulation baths, and ethanol as the washing solvent. SEM revealed that CNF addition increased surface roughness and wrinkling, particularly in PCNF-reinforced fibers. The choice of crosslinking cation significantly influenced fiber properties: Ca 2 ⁺ crosslinking led to larger diameters, lower tensile strength, and higher elongation at break, whereas Ba 2 ⁺ crosslinking resulted in stronger, more compact fibers. Notably, in BaCl 2 -coagulated fibers, tensile strength increased from 2.76 to 5.03 cN/dtex with 5-wt% PCNF, marking the highest reported strength for CAG fibers. In contrast, TOCNF reinforcement showed minimal mechanical enhancement. This study highlights the potential of PCNF for reinforcing k-CAG fibers and provides insights into how CNF type and coagulation bath composition affect mechanical performance. These findings pave the way for developing sustainable, high-performance biopolymer fibers for advanced applications.

Novel strategies are required to reduce the risk of developing diabetes and/or clinical outcomes and complications of diabetes. In this regard, the role of the circadian system may be a potential candidate for the prevention of diabetes. We reviewed evidence from animal, clinical, and epidemiological studies linking the circadian system to various aspects of the pathophysiology and clinical outcomes of diabetes. The circadian clock governs genetic, metabolic, hormonal, and behavioral signals in anticipation of cyclic 24-hour events through interactions between a “central clock” in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and “peripheral clocks” in the whole body. Currently, circadian rhythmicity in humans can be subjectively or objectively assessed by measuring melatonin and glucocorticoid levels, core body temperature, peripheral blood, oral mucosa, hair follicles, rest-activity cycles, sleep diaries, and circadian chronotypes. In this review, we summarized various circadian misalignments, such as altered light-dark, sleep-wake, rest-activity, fasting-feeding, shift work, evening chronotype, and social jetlag, as well as mutations in clock genes that could contribute to the development of diabetes and poor glycemic status in patients with diabetes. Targeting critical components of the circadian system could deliver potential candidates for the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the future.

Expectations for the industrialization of cultured meat are growing due to the increasing support from various sectors, such as the food industry, animal welfare organizations, and consumers, particularly vegetarians, but the progress of industrialization is slower than initially reported. This review analyzes the main issues concerning the industrialization of cultured meat, examines research and media reports on the development of cultured meat to date, and presents the current technology, industrialization level, and prospects for cultured meat. Currently, over 30 countries have companies industrializing cultured meat, and around 200 companies that are developing or industrializing cultured meat have been surveyed globally. By country, the United States has over 50 companies, accounting for more than 20% of the total. Acquiring animal cells, developing cell lines, improving cell proliferation, improving the efficiency of cell differentiation and muscle production, or developing cell culture media, including serum-free media, are the major research themes related to the development of cultured meat. In contrast, the development of devices, such as bioreactors, which are crucial in enabling large-scale production, is relatively understudied, and few of the many companies invested in the development of cultured meat have presented products for sale other than prototypes. In addition, because most information on key technologies is not publicly available, it is not possible to determine the level of technology in the companies, and it is surmised that the technology of cultured meat-related startups is not high. Therefore, further research and development are needed to promote the full-scale industrialization of cultured meat.

Insect-based products have recently gained significant attention as an alternative protein source to traditional livestock products. Therefore, this review aims to project the future of the insect protein market by examining their characteristics, research trends, and market conditions. The results showed that the global insect protein market continues to grow, with brown mealworm ( Tenebrio molitor ) larvae as the most widely consumed edible insect worldwide, while crickets are popular in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Insect-based products available on the market include protein bars, meatballs, bread, pasta, chips, and biscuit-related items. Beyond their role as a protein source, edible insects are being investigated for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting properties. Most research on insect-based products has focused on nutritional profiling, consumer perception, and bioactive properties, while studies exploring the development of commercially viable products or conducting comparative analyses to assess their potential as alternatives to traditional livestock products are limited. Additionally, several challenges remain, including negative consumer perceptions of insect-based ingredients and regulatory constraints. Further research is required to enhance the taste, flavor, and texture of these products while enhancing their safety and nutritional value for large-scale industrial production.