Mitochondrial morphology and energy metabolism in reprogrammed porcine expanded potential stem cells.

Objective: Expanded potential stem cells (EPSCs) are stem cells that can differentiate into embryonic and extraembryonic lineages, including extraembryonic endoderm and trophoblast lineages. Therefore, EPSCs have great potential in advancing regenerative medicine, elucidating disease mechanisms, and exploring early embryonic development. However, the generation and characterization of EPSCs in pigs have not been thoroughly explored.

Generation of Chicken Contractile Skeletal Muscle Structure Using Decellularized Plant Scaffolds.

Cultured meat is a meat analogue produced by cell culture, which can replace the conventional animal production system. Tissue engineering using myogenic cells and biomaterials is a core technology for cultured meat production. In this study, we provide an efficient and economical method to produce skeletal muscle tissue-like structures by culturing chicken myoblasts in a fetal bovine serum (FBS)-free medium and plant-derived scaffolds.

Altered Mitochondrial Function and Accelerated Aging Phenotype in Neural Stem Cells Derived from Dnm1l Knockout Embryonic Stem Cells.

Mitochondria are crucial for cellular energy metabolism and are involved in signaling, aging, and cell death. They undergo dynamic changes through fusion and fission to adapt to different cellular states. In this study, we investigated the effect of knocking out the () gene, a key regulator of mitochondrial fission, in neural stem cells (NSCs) differentiated from knockout embryonic stem cells ( ESCs).

Embryonic Stem Cells Lacking DNA Methyltransferases Differentiate into Neural Stem Cells that Are Defective in Self-Renewal.

Background And Objectives: DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) play an important role in regulating DNA methylation during early developmental processes and cellular differentiation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of Dnmts in neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and in maintenance of the resulting neural stem cells (NSCs).

Methods And Results: We used three types of Dnmt knockout (KO) ESCs, including Dnmt1 KO, Dnmt3a/3b double KO (Dnmt3 DKO), and Dnmt1/3a/3b triple KO (Dnmt TKO), to investigate the role of Dnmts in neural differentiation of ESCs.

Developmental Potency and Metabolic Traits of Extended Pluripotency Are Faithfully Transferred to Somatic Cells via Cell Fusion-Induced Reprogramming.

As a novel cell type from eight-cell-stage embryos, extended pluripotent stem cells (EPSCs) are known for diverse differentiation potency in both extraembryonic and embryonic lineages, suggesting new possibilities as a developmental research model. Although various features of EPSCs have been defined, their ability to directly transfer extended pluripotency to differentiated somatic cells by cell fusion remains to be elucidated. Here, we derived EPSCs from eight-cell mouse embryos and confirmed their extended pluripotency at the molecular level and extraembryonic differentiation ability.

Germ Cell Derivation from Pluripotent Stem Cells for Understanding In Vitro Gametogenesis.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) have developed considerably in recent years; however, they cannot rectify germ cell aplasia, such as non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and oocyte maturation failure syndrome. In vitro gametogenesis is a promising technology to overcome infertility, particularly germ cell aplasia. Early germ cells, such as primordial germ cells, can be relatively easily derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs); however, further progression to post-meiotic germ cells usually requires a gonadal niche and signals from gonadal somatic cells.

Current Issues and Technical Advances in Cultured Meat Production: A Review.

As the global population grows, we need a stable protein supply to meet the demands. Although plant-derived protein sources are widely available, animal meat maintains its popularity as a high-quality and savory protein source. Recently, cultured meat, also known as meat, has been suggested as a meat analog produced through cell culture technology.

Predictive factors of long-term follow-up in treatment of Korean alcoholics with naltrexone or acamprosate.

Medication is integral in treating alcohol use disorder. However, because of the small to medium effect size, much effort is being exerted to identify predicting factors for effective pharmacological treatment in alcohol abuse disorder. Rather than focusing on abstinence days, alcohol craving, or frequency of drinking, which has been the focus of previous studies.

Seismic detection of strong ground motions by M5.6 North Korean nuclear explosion.

The North Korean nuclear explosion test site in Punggye-ri is located in a seismically quiescent region on a stable Precambrian basement. The 3 September 2017 M5.6 North Korean underground nuclear explosion (UNE) test produced unprecedented strong ground motions.

Time-advanced occurrence of moderate-size earthquakes in a stable intraplate region after a megathrust earthquake and their seismic properties.

The distance-dependent coseismic and postseismic displacements produced by the 2011 M9.0 Tohoku-Oki megathrust earthquake caused medium weakening and stress perturbation in the crust around the Korean Peninsula, increasing the seismicity with successive M5-level earthquakes at the outskirts of high seismicity regions. The average M5-level occurrence rate prior to the megathrust earthquake was 0.

Prediction of ground motion and dynamic stress change in Baekdusan (Changbaishan) volcano caused by a North Korean nuclear explosion.

Strong ground motions induce large dynamic stress changes that may disturb the magma chamber of a volcano, thus accelerating the volcanic activity. An underground nuclear explosion test near an active volcano constitutes a direct treat to the volcano. This study examined the dynamic stress changes of the magma chamber of Baekdusan (Changbaishan) that can be induced by hypothetical North Korean nuclear explosions.