Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) injury leading to cell death is involved in the process of fibrosis development during idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Among regulated/programmed cell death, the excessive apoptosis of AECs has been widely implicated in IPF pathogenesis. Necroptosis is a type of regulated/programmed necrosis. A multiprotein complex composed of receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK)-1 and -3 plays a key regulatory role in initiating necroptosis. Although necroptosis participates in disease pathogeneses through the release of damage-associated molecular patterns, its association with IPF progression remains elusive. In this study, we attempted to illuminate the involvement of RIPK3-regulated necroptosis in IPF pathogenesis. IPF lung tissues were used to detect necroptosis, and the role of RIPK3 was determined using cell culturing models of AECs. Lung fibrosis models of bleomycin (BLM) treatment were also used. RIPK3 expression levels were increased in IPF lungs, and both apoptosis and necroptosis were detected mainly in AECs. Necrostatin-1 and RIPK3 knockout experiments in AECs revealed the participation of necroptosis in BLM and hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death. BLM treatment induced RIPK3 expression in AECs and increased high-mobility group box 1 and IL-1β levels in mouse lungs. The efficient attenuation of BLM-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis was determined in RIPK3 knockout mice and by necrostatin-1 with a concomitant reduction in high-mobility group box 1 and IL-1β. RIPK3-regulated necroptosis in AECs is involved in the mechanism of lung fibrosis development through the release of damage-associated molecular patterns as part of the pathogenic sequence of IPF.

In this study, we investigated the effects of the potential probiotic Bacillus subtilis CSY191 on the fatty acid profiles of Cheonggukjang, a fermented soybean paste, prepared using new Korean brown soybean cultivars, protein-rich cultivar (Saedanbaek), and oil-rich cultivar (Neulchan). Twelve fatty acids were identified in the sample set-myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, vaccenic, linoleic, α-linolenic, arachidic, gondoic, behenic, and lignoceric acids-yet, no specific changes driven by fermentation were noted in the fatty acid profiles. To further explore the effects of fermentation of B. subtilis CSY191, complete profiles of volatiles were monitored. In total, 121, 136, and 127 volatile compounds were detected in the Saedanbaek, Daewon (control cultivar), and Neulchan samples, respectively. Interestingly, the content of pyrazines-compounds responsible for pungent and unpleasant Cheonggukjang flavors-was significantly higher in Neulchan compared to that in Saedanbaek. Although the fermentation period was not a strong factor affecting the observed changes in fatty acid profiles, we noted that profiles of volatiles in Cheonggukjang changed significantly over time, and different cultivars represented specific volatile profiles. Thus, further sensory evaluation might be needed to determine if such differences influence consumers' preferences. Furthermore, additional studies to elucidate the associations between B. subtilis CSY191 fermentation and other nutritional components (e.g., amino acids) and their health-promoting potential are warranted.

No abstract

No abstract

Objective:The aim of this study was to identify the impact of mediating effect of teacher-child interaction and the moderating effect of child gender on the relationship between teaching efficacy and child-peer interaction. Methods: The study's data were based on the 4th Panel study on Korean children from Korea Institute of Child Care and Education. Data from 800 3-year-old participants who were enrolled in children's educational institutions were employed to conduct this study. The panel study on Korean children utilized Teacher Self-Efficacy Scales (TSES) as a measure of Teaching Efficacy, Early Childhood Observation Instrument (ECOI) as a measure of Teacher-Child Interaction, and Peen Interactive Peer Play Scale (PIPPS) as a measure of child peer interaction. The data were analyzed by SPSS, version 22.0, to conduct statistics and Pearson product-moment correlation. AMOS 21.0 was utilized to verify the mediating and moderating effects. Results: Teacher-child interaction had mediating effects on the relationship between teaching efficacy and child-peer interaction. Although there was no direct relationship between teaching efficacy and child-peer interaction, a positive relationship was found between teacher-child interaction. Child gender had moderating effects on this study model. The influence of teaching efficacy and child peer interaction relationship affected more girls than boys, while teacher-child interaction and child-peer interaction relationship affected more boys than girls. Conclusion: The identified mediating effects further emphasize the significance of teaching efficacy when deciding child-peer interaction. In addition, the identified moderating effects highlight the importance of child gender when approaching teacher-child and child-peer interaction.