• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1009-1016
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• 2013

Background: The benefits of physical activity are well established and recognized to prevent adults from many chronic diseases and particularly some forms of cancers. Objectives: The present study was conducted to investigate the present status of physical activity among Saudi adults in Al-Ahsa, and to examine the association between the stages of change for physical activity and perceived barriers, and self efficacy. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 242 subjects (118 males and 124 females) attending health centers aged between 20-56 years, were personally interviewed for demographic data, anthropometric measurement, physical activity level, stages of change for physical activity, self efficacy and perceived barriers. Results: Forty eight percent of the females were overweight and 16.9% of the males were obese with no significant difference between the genders for BMI categories. More than half of the females were inactive and 39% of the males were physically active with a significant difference (P=0.007). Twenty percent of the males were in maintenance stage, while similar percentage of the females were in contemplation stage. However the majority of the subjects were in pre-contemplation stage with a significant difference across the stages. Males had a higher mean score of self efficacy and less external barriers of physical activity. The major barrier among the females was lack of time ($7.2{\pm}1.4$) and in the males, lack of motivation ($7.7{\pm}1.4$). The females had less internal ($21.2{\pm}3.8$) barriers comparable to the males ($23.08{\pm}4.7$). Both genders had a significant relationship between stages of changes of physical activity and perceived barriers (internal and external), but in the females no significant difference across the stages was observed for self efficacy unlike the males who had a significant difference for self efficacy and self efficacy categories. Conclusion: The present study provided useful data on stages of change for physical activity and some psychosocial factors (self efficacy and perceived barriers) that can help to tailor strategies aiming at increasing physical activity level according to self efficacy and to the barriers detected, to prevent many chronic diseases including certain types of cancer in Saudi Arabia.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.123-131
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• 1981

The purple $(pr^+)$ gene of Drosophila and its associated enzyme, sepiapterin synthase, were employed in a study of the relationship between ontogenic expression and the location of the gene in the genome, Enzyme assays performed at different developmental stages indicate the $T(Y:2)pr^c5, cn/pr^c4 cn$ flies (files in which $pr^+$ has been translocated and which exhibit variegation) have a reduced amount of enzyme activity as compared with both wild-type and $pr^1$ flies. This reduction in activity was not found in larval stages, which suggests that the inactivation process probably occurs in late larval or early pupal stages. Tryptophan pyrrolase, the enzyme system associated with vermilion $(v^+)$, was also examined for activity in different developmental stages of the fly. Genotype carrying a translocated $v^+$ shows a peak of tryptophan pyrrolase activity in late larval stages, whereas, Oregon-R exhibits the lowest activity at this period.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.187-194
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• 2005

Telomeres locate at the end of chromosomes and consist of a tandem repeat sequence of $(TIAGGG)^{n}$ and associated proteins. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein which act as a template for the synthesis of telomeric DNA. Telomeres are essential for chromosome stability and are related with cell senescence, apoptosis and cancer. This study was carried out to analyze the amount of telomeres and telomerase activity of chicken cells during embryonic and developmental stages. The whole embryos and prenatal tissues such as brain, heart, liver, kidney and testis at different developmental stages were obtained from Korean Native Chicken. The amount of telomeres on embryonic cells was analyzed by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q-FISH) techniques using the chicken telomeric DNA probe. Telomerase activity was measured by telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay. Results indicated that the amounts of telomeric DNA on the most embryonic cells were gradually decreased during ontogenesis. Furthermore, the quantity of telomeres was quite different among embryonic tissues according to developmental origin. The relative amount of telomeres has more in regenerative cells such as embryonic disc and testicular cells than in non-regenerative cells such as liver, brain, heart and kidney cells. Telomerase activity was also highly detectable in most chicken cells at early embryonic stages. After 9 days of incubation, however, the telomerase activitie W

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.10-19
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• 2012

This study investigated the distribution of endophytic fungi obtained from the surface sterilized tissues of leaves, stems and roots of chili pepper ($Capsicum$ $annuum$ L.) plants in seedling, flowering and fruiting stages in Korea and their antifungal activity. A total of 481 isolates were recovered and were identified using molecular techniques. Based on rDNA ITS gene sequence and phylogenetic analysis, 21 fungal genera were characterized, belonging to 16 Ascomycota and 5 Basidiomycota. $Penicillium$ in seedling stage, $Fusarium$ in flowering stage, $Colletotrichum$ followed by $Fusarium$, $Alternaria$ and $Xylaria$ in fruiting stage was predominant and $Alternaria$, $Cladosporium$ and $Fusarium$ were common in all growth stages. Among 481 endophytes 90 phenotypes were evaluated for the antimicrobial activity against three major pathogens ($Phytophthora$ $capsici$, $Colletotrichum$ $acutatum$ and $Fusarium$ $oxysporum$) of chili pepper. Among them 16 isolates inhibited the growth of at least one test microorganisms. Three strains showed a broad spectrum antifungal activity and displayed strong inhibition against chili pepper pathogenic fungi.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.413-423
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• 2020

Background: Ginseng berries (GBs) show temporal metabolic variations among different maturation stages, determining their organoleptic and functional properties. Methods: We analyzed metabolic variations concomitant to five different maturation stages of GBs including immature green (IG), mature green (MG), partially red (PR), fully red (FR), and overmature red (OR) using mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomic profiling and multivariate analyses. Results: The partial least squares discriminant analysis score plot based on gas chromatography-MS datasets highlighted metabolic disparity between preharvest (IG and MG) and harvest/postharvest (PR, FR, and OR) GB extracts along PLS1 (34.9%) with MG distinctly segregated across PLS2 (18.2%). Forty-three significantly discriminant primary metabolites were identified encompassing five developmental stages (variable importance in projection > 1.0, p < 0.05). Among them, most amino acids, organic acids, 5-C sugars, ethanolamines, purines, and palmitic acid were detected in preharvest GB extracts, whereas 6-C sugars, phenolic acid, and oleamide levels were distinctly higher during later maturation stages. Similarly, the partial least squares discriminant analysis based on liquid chromatography-MS datasets displayed preharvest and harvest/postharvest stages clustered across PLS1 (11.1 %); however, MG and PR were separated from IG, FR, and OR along PLS2 (5.6 %). Overall, 24 secondary metabolites were observed significantly discriminant (variable importance in projection > 1.0, p < 0.05), with most displaying higher relative abundance during preharvest stages excluding ginsenosides Rg1 and Re. Furthermore, we observed strong positive correlations between total flavonoid and phenolic metabolite contents in GB extracts and antioxidant activity. Conclusion: Comprehending the dynamic metabolic variations associated with GB maturation stages rationalize their optimal harvest time per se the related agroeconomic traits.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.195-199
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• 2002

In order to find potential anticancer agents, we extracted pheophytin in the silkworm feces from various larval stages by water, chloroform and methanol extraction. The cytotoxicity of the pheophytin extracts of various silkworm feces was measured in the CT-26 cells originated from murine metastatic colon cancer, by dye uptake assay. The cytotoxicity of those pheophytins in 2nd, 3rd and 4th instars was better than remaining larval stages. The in vitro anticoagulant and fibyinolytic activities of ethanol extract from varietal mulberry leaves, mulberry branches and silkworm feces and pheophytin extracts from silkworm feces obtained at various larval stages were evaluated in order to find effective therapeutic drugs for the treatment of myocardial and cerebral thrombosis. The fibrinolytic activity was tested using the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thrombin time (TT) was measured for blood clotting activity. With regards to the fibrinolytic system, ethanol extracts of silkworm feces were better than varietal mulberry leaves and mulberry branches. The pheophytin extracts from 7th days of 5th instar contained the highest percentage of pheophytin and good fibrinolytic activity.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 2008

The present study was undertaken to identify changes of plasminogen activators (PAs) in porcine oviductal epithelial cells (POECs) during the estrous cycle classified with post-ovulatory stages (Post-Ov), early to mid-luteal stages (Early-mid L) and pre-ovulatory (Pre-Ov) stages. The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) was only observed on day 5 and day 7 of culture in the POECs on all the estrous cycles and gradually increased according to increasing culture times, but not Early-mid L. In POECs-conditioned medium, uPA, tissue-type (tPA) and tPA-PA inhibitor (tPA-PAI) activity were observed at all culture times during estrous cycles. The uPA activity of POECs-conditioned medium on Post-Ov stage were significantly (p<0.05) decreased during prolonged cultures. On the other hand, the tPA activity of POECs-conditioned medium at Post-Ov stage was significantly (p<0.05) higher on day 5 than compared to the other days. Although was higher on day 1 at Post-Ov stage, the tPA-PAI activity of POECs-conditioned medium was significantly (p<0.05) higher on day 7 at all stage than that of day 5 of the culture. Taken together, these results suggest that uPA, tPA and tPA-PAI are produced by POECs, and the variations of the PAs activity are regulated in the different stages of the estrous cycle.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.24-35
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• 2021

Blue mold caused by Penicillium expansum is one of the most significant postharvest diseases of apples. Some microorganisms associated with the surface of ripening apples possess the ability to inhibit the growth of P. expansum. However, the existing literature about their colonization in the stages before ripening is not explored in depth. This study aims to characterize the antagonistic capacity of bacterial populations from five fruit development stages of 'Royal Gala' apples. The results have shown that the density of the bacterial populations decreases throughout the ripening stages of fruit (from 1.0 × 105 to 1.1 × 101 cfu/㎠). A total of 25 bacterial morphotypes (corresponding to five genera identified by 16S RNA) were differentiated in which Bacillus stood out as a predominant genus. In the in vitro antagonism tests, 10 Bacillus strains (40%) inhibited the mycelial growth of P. expansum from 30.1% to 60.1%, while in fruit bioassays, the same strains reduced the fruit rot ranging from 12% to 66%. Moreover, the bacterial strains with antagonistic activity increased in the ripening fruit stage. B. subtilis subsp. spiziennii M24 obtained the highest antagonistic activity (66.9% of rot reduction). The matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis revealed that bacteria with antagonistic activity produce anti-fungal lipopeptides from iturin and fengycin families.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.272-282
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• 2022

The essential oil extracted from Citrus × natsudaidai (Yu. Tanaka) Hayata peels is known to have various biological properties. However, the chemical composition of essential oil is influenced by the ripening stages of fruits, which then affects related biological activities. This study investigates the antioxidant activities of essential oils extracted from Citrus × natsudaidai peels at different ripening stages (immature, mature, and overripe). The essential oils were extracted using the hydro-distillation method. As a result of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, d-limonene was dominant and was increased as matured. However, 𝛄-terpinene was decreased. The antioxidant properties and their total phenolic content (TPC) were influenced by the ripening stages. The TPC was highest in the immature stage of essential oil (1,011.25 ± 57.15 mg GAE/100 g). 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was excellent in the immature stage (EC₅₀ = 15.91 ± 0.38 mg/mL). 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity was superior in overripe stage (EC₅₀ = 20.43 ± 0.37 mg/mL). The antioxidant activity measured using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay showed higher values for the essential oils in immaturity (1,342.37 ± 71.07 mg Fe²⁺/100 g). Comprehensively, the essential oil in the immature stage showed the best antioxidant activity. Finally, knowing the chemical composition and antioxidant activity at different ripening stages will provide data for selecting the right fruit.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.129-134
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• 1977

CdR aminohydrolase activity in varying developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster was studied in an attempt to correlate with ageing. The results obtained are as follows: 1. The catabolic pathway of CdR in Drosophila melanogaster seemed to be $CdR \\to UdR \\to U$. 2. The enzyme activity was demonstrated in the adults and no activity was observable in both larva and pupa. 3. The enzyme activity of the adult was found to be higher in older flies than in younger ones. 4. The results were of suggestive of a possibility that enzyme activity might be correlated with ageing and/or developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster.