Preparation of human astrocytes with potent therapeutic functions from human pluripotent stem cells using ventral midbrain patterning.

Introduction: Astrocytes are glial-type cells that protect neurons from toxic insults and support neuronal functions and metabolism in a healthy brain. Leveraging these physiological functions, transplantation of astrocytes or their derivatives has emerged as a potential therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative disorders.

Methods: To substantiate the clinical application of astrocyte-based therapy, we aimed to prepare human astrocytes with potent therapeutic capacities from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs).

Revalorization of the Cooking Water (Aquafaba) from Soybean Varieties Generated as a By-Product of Food Manufacturing in Korea.

Concerns regarding sustainability have prompted the search of value in the by-products of food manufacturing. Such is the case of the cooking water (CW) of chickpeas, which has shown its potential as a vegan egg white replacement. This study aimed to characterize and compare the CW from three novel legumes (black soybeans, BSB; yellow soybeans, YSB; and small black beans, SBB) obtained from the processing of Korean soybean foods, and the widely used CW from chickpeas (CH), with regard to total polyphenol, total carbohydrate, and protein contents, and further compare their foaming and emulsifying abilities and stabilities.

Inhibitory effects of Doenjang, Korean traditional fermented soybean paste, on oxidative stress and inflammation in adipose tissue of mice fed a high-fat diet.

Background/objectives: Doenjang, Korean traditional fermented soybean paste has been reported to have an anti-obesity effect. Because adipose tissue is considered a major source of inflammatory signals, we investigated the protective effects of Doenjang and steamed soybean on oxidative stress and inflammation in adipose tissue of diet-induced obese mice.

Materials/methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a low fat diet (LF), a high-fat diet (HF), or a high-fat containing Doenjang diet (DJ) or a high-fat containing steamed soybean diet (SS) for 11 weeks.