Stages Of Adult Life Research Articles

Physical Activity and All-Cause Mortality by Age in 4 Multinational Megacohorts

Physical activity (PA) guidelines recommend the same amount of PA through adulthood to live longer. To explore whether there is an age-dependent association between PA and all-cause mortality and to investigate the age-dependent associations between other modifiable health factors (high educational level, not smoking, not regularly consuming alcohol, healthy body weight, and living without hypertension and diabetes) and mortality. This cohort study used a pooled analysis of 4 population-based prospective cohorts (National Health Interview Survey, 1997-2018; UK Biobank, 2006-2010; China Kadoorie Biobank, 2004-2008; and Mei Jau, 1997-2016). Data were analyzed from June 2022 to September 2024. Self-reported leisure-time PA. The primary outcome was deaths identified through follow-up linkage to national death registries. Analyses were performed for the total sample and by age groups (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and ≥80 years). Cox proportional hazards regression models with stratification by study were used to calculate mortality hazard ratios and their 95% CIs for the pooled dataset and by age group. A heterogeneous sample of 2 011 186 individuals (mean [SD] age, 49.1 [14.3] years; age range, 20-97 years; 1 105 581 women [55.0%]) were included. After a median (IQR) follow-up of 11.5 (9.3-13.5) years, 177 436 deaths occurred. The association between PA and mortality in the total sample showed a nonlinear dose-response pattern, but age modified this association (P for interaction <.001); PA was consistently associated with a lower risk of mortality across all age groups, but the reduction in risk was greater in older vs younger age groups, especially at high levels of PA. The hazard ratio for mortality associated with meeting the recommended PA in the total sample was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.77-0.79). This inverse association between meeting PA recommendations and mortality was somewhat greater as age increased (P for interaction <.001). Age also modified the associations of the other modifiable health factors with mortality (all P for interaction <.001), but the magnitude of associations was greater in younger vs older age groups. In this pooled analysis of cohort studies, the association between PA and mortality risk remained consistent across the adult lifespan, which contrasts with other modifiable health factors, for which associations with mortality risk diminished with age. Given these findings, the promotion of regular PA is essential at all stages of adult life.

Effects on Biochemical Parameters and Animal Welfare of Dusky Grouper (Epinephelus marginatus, Lowe 1834) by Feeding CTX Toxic Flesh.

Ciguatera is a foodborne disease caused by ciguatoxins (CTXs), produced by dinoflagellates (genera Gambierdiscus and Fukuyoa), which bioaccumulate in fish through the food web, causing poisoning in humans. Currently, the physiological mechanisms of the species with the highest amount of toxins in their adult stage of life that are capable of causing these poisonings are poorly understood. Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) is a relevant fishing species and is part of the CTX food chain in the Canary Islands. This study developed an experimental model of dietary exposure featuring adult dusky groupers with two diets of tissue naturally contaminated with CTXs (amberjack and moray eel flesh) with two different potential toxicities; both groups were studied at different stages of exposure (4, 6, 10, 12, and 18 weeks). The results showed that this species did not show changes in its behavior due to the provided feeding, but the changes were recorded in biochemical parameters (mainly lipid and hepatic metabolism) that may respond to liver damage and alterations in the homeostasis of the fish; more research is needed to understand histopathological and cytotoxic changes.

The Effects of Financial Literacy Programs on Retirement Planning and Preparedness among Middle-Aged Adults in Oyo State

This research study investigates the effects of financial literacy programs on retirement planning and preparedness among middle-aged adults in Oyo State. The study aims to determine the relationship between financial literacy and retirement planning and preparation among middle-aged adult teachers in Oyo State secondary schools, with a specific focus on male and female teachers. A descriptive survey research design is employed to observe and describe the behavior of the population without manipulation. The study sample consists of 1,125 public secondary school teachers, including 417 males and 708 females, selected through a multi-stage sampling approach. Data collection is done using a self-designed research instrument called the Financial Literacy and Retirement Planning Behavior (FLRPB) Scale. The FLRPB Scale demonstrates high internal consistency reliability with a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.89. simple percentage for research questions, linear regression and univariate regression respectively use to test hypotheses one and two. The Oyo State study indicates a positive impact of financial literacy programs on middle-aged adults’ retirement planning, with 75% reporting increased knowledge and understanding and 60% enhanced confidence. Factors influencing participation include convenient schedules, relevant topics, accessible locations, and program effectiveness (65% agreement). Hypothesis testing confirms a significant association between financial literacy participation and retirement planning, explaining 66.1% of the variance. The study also highlights a moderating effect, suggesting that financial literacy participation influences the impact of gender on retirement planning. The adjusted R-squared value of 18.4% underscores the combined effects of gender and financial literacy, emphasizing the impactful role of financial literacy in shaping retirement readiness among middle-aged adults in Oyo State. It was concluded that The findings stress the importance of tailored financial education initiatives for empowering middle-aged adults and highlight the need for gender-specific considerations in program design for enhanced inclusivity and effectiveness. The research outcomes will have implications for policymakers, educators, and financial institutions in designing effective financial literacy programs tailored to the needs of middle-aged adults. The research also establishes a foundation for future studies in this field and underscores the significance of financial education in promoting financial well-being during the middle-aged adult stage of life.

Quarter Life of Crisis in the Millennial Group in terms of Social Comparison and Resilience

Quarterlife of crisis (QLC) is becoming a new trend for individuals who are confused about their role in society. The demands of social roles and expectations from the environment are increasing as individuals enter more complex stages of adult life. The tendency of QLC is experienced by many millennials today, especially in Semarang City. The conduct of this study aims to analyze the relationship between social comparison and resilience to quarterlife of crisis in the millennial group. The sample criteria used were aged 22-29 years and lived in the city of Semarang with a sample of 105 people. The sampling technique used is purposive sampling. The research instruments were quarterlife crisis scale (α = .898), social comparison scale (α = .859), and resilience scale (α = .943). The data analysis method used was regression analysis of two predictors and product moment correlation with JASP 0.16 software. The results of this study showed R = 0.919; R2 = 0.845 and F = 279.002 (p &lt; .0001) means that social comparison and resilience affect the quarterlife of crisis in the millennial group. The value of the coefficient of determination of social comparison variables and resilience to quarterlife crisis variables was 84.5%. The conclusion of the study is that social comparison and resilience simultaneously affect the quarterlife crisis. The implications of the results of this study are expected to be useful not only for millennials but also parents and the surrounding community in understanding their condition about their readiness to face the future by not giving much "pressure" in the form of stigma / negative labels if they do not meet the expected standards.

Insulin sensitivity initially worsens but later improves with aging in male C57BL/6N mice.

Aging is believed to induce insulin resistance in humans. However, when and how insulin sensitivity changes with aging remain unclear in both humans and mice. In this study, groups of male C57BL/6N mice at 9-19 weeks (young), 34-67 weeks (mature adult), 84-85 weeks (presenile) and 107-121 weeks (aged) of age underwent hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp studies with somatostatin infusion under awake and non-restrained conditions. The glucose infusion rates for maintaining euglycemia were 18.4±2.9, 5.9±1.3, 20.3±7.2 and 25.3±4.4mg/kg/min in young, mature adult, presenile and aged mice, respectively. Thus, compared with young mice, mature adult mice exhibited the expected insulin resistance. In contrast, presenile and aged mice showed significantly higher insulin sensitivity than the mature adult mice. These age-related changes were mainly observed in glucose uptake into adipose tissue and skeletal muscle (rates of glucose disappearance were 24.3±2.0, 17.1±1.0, 25.5±5.2 and 31.8±2.9mg/kg/min in young, mature adult, presenile and aged mice, respectively). Epididymal fat weight and hepatic triglyceride levels were higher in mature adult mice than those in young and aged mice. Our observations indicate that, in male C57BL/6N mice, insulin resistance appears at the mature adult stage of life but subsequently improves markedly. These alterations in insulin sensitivity are attributable to changes in visceral fat accumulations and age-related factors.

Emotional regulation, attachment style, and assertiveness as determinants of well-being in emerging adults

IntroductionThe emerging adult stage of life is a time of many positive changes, as well as stress and uncertainty. Certain psychological characteristics - such as emotional regulation, attachment style, or assertiveness – could help these adults thrive and maintain positive mental health. This study aimed to explore the influence of these variables on the well-being of emerging adults.MethodsThe sample included 360 French emerging adults, with a mean age of 21.3 years. Well-being was assessed with the Mental Health Continuum, emotional regulation with the Emotional Regulation Difficulties Scale, assertiveness with the Assertiveness Scale, and attachment styles with the Relationship Scales Questionnaire.ResultsResults showed that judgment toward one’s own emotional experience and shyness (as part of assertiveness) predicted emerging adults’ well-being. This study also highlighted the role of substance use and experiences of violence on emerging adults’ emotional regulation and well-being.DiscussionResults support the importance of in-person and distance education and prevention to support emerging adults’ well-being, especially in higher education institutions and in times of the COVID pandemic.

The Challenge of Subjective Cognitive Complaints and Executive Functions in Middle-Aged Adults as a Preclinical Stage of Dementia: A Systematic Review.

Subjective cognitive complaints correspond to a heterogeneous construct that frequently occurs in the early stages of older adult life. Despite being a common source of worry for middle-aged people, it can be underestimated when clinical and neuropsychological assessments discard any underlying pathological processes. Negative age stereotyping but also self-stereotyping can contribute to doing so. Although its diagnosis is a challenge, its implication as a possible predictor of mild cognitive impairment or dementia increases the interest in its early diagnosis and intervention. The present systematic review analyzes the empirical data on the relationship between these complaints and early executive dysfunction with possible predictive value for preclinical stages of dementia. The sixteen papers obtained from the PubMed and Embase databases were exploratory, cross-sectional and prospective in scope. The studies corroborated the relationship between subjective cognitive complaints and some executive processes, which is noteworthy since many people with subjective executive complaints progress to dementia. The relational studies confirmed that impaired executive performance is associated with CSF biomarkers and reduced cortical volume in specific brain regions. However, the heterogeneity of reports in these studies demands stronger efforts in future research with specific tools applied in clinical and neuropsychological assessments and analyzed under a gender perspective.

‘I Did Digital Tidying up for a More Adult Stage of Life’: Ritualistic Technology Appropriations During Life Transitions

AbstractLife transitions, such as the transition from childhood to adulthood, are often accompanied by meaning-making actions such as rituals. Rituals increasingly involve the use of interactive technology. While previous research has focused on specific contexts or technologies, a bird’s eye view of the many appropriation styles during life transitions is missing. To identify the range of technology’s appropriations, we analysed stories from 84 participants and compared these across different life transitions and technologies. We identified three roles interactive technology can play during life transitions: the role of (i) a facilitator easing the accomplishment of tasks within life transitions, (ii) an enabler creating opportunities for new transition rituals and (iii) a social actor that itself is the trigger or the content of transition rituals. We propose the three roles as a classification scheme to structure existing and future research and reflect on the design challenges and evaluation approaches.

Ethical and Bioethical Aspects in the Use of Stem Cells in Chronic Spinal Cord Injuries

One of the fundamental dogmas maintained in neuroscience until the last century held that regeneration of the nervous system cannot occur in stages of adult life. However, it has been shown in several species during the postnatal stage and throughout life, that new neurons continue to be generated in some places in the human body. Objectives: The research was: to evaluate ethical and bioethical aspects in patients who were treated with an autologous stem cell implant in chronic spinal cord injuries. Method. An analysis is made of the ethical aspects that accompany the implantation of autologous stem cells in chronic spinal cord injuries. The results are evaluated at the "Enrique Cabrera" Surgical Clinical Teaching Hospital. Results: Ethical dilemmas are expressed and that have, among their relevant principles, the inviolability of human life. In higher animals, stem cells according to their evolutionary state can be embryonic and somatic or adult. Currently there is an extraordinary controversy about which stem cells to use from embryonic or adult ones, a debate in which both scientific, ethical, religious, social and political aspects have been included. One aspect of the scientific debate is related to the generative capacity of tumors by embryonic cells. From the ethical point of view, it has been argued that the use of human embryonic stem cells implies the destruction of embryos and it has been considered that life begins at the same moment of the union of the sperm with the ovum and that this would be equivalent to the destruction of a human life which would not be justifiable. Others do not agree with these criteria and argue that their use to save lives through research or therapy would be justified. Conclusions The physical disability produced by a chronic spinal cord injury raises an ethical dilemma about the use of stem cells, anticipating that the main controversy about this action has to do fundamentally with the way in which they are obtained.

Comparative Study of High-Resolution Computed Tomography Features in Coronavirus Disease-19 Pneumonia Patients in Different Stages of Adult Life

Comparative Study of High-Resolution Computed Tomography Features in Coronavirus Disease-19 Pneumonia Patients in Different Stages of Adult Life

Vocal Changes of Men and Women from Different Age Decades: An Analysis from 30 Years of Age

ObjectiveTo verify the modifications in auditory-perceptual and acoustic parameters of the fundamental frequency, short-term perturbation, noise, and cepstral measures of voice in young and elderly were distributed over the age of decades. MethodsThe study was conducted on 265 subjects (140 females and 125 males), aged 30 to 79 years, without a history of vocal complaints or dysphonia, distributed in five age groups for females and males (30-39 years until 70-79 years). Three speech therapists voice specialists performed the perceptual-auditory analysis using a 100-mm visual analog scale, based on the overall dysphonia grade (overall grade), roughness, and breathiness from the sustained vowel /a/. The smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS), average fundamental frequency (F0), standard deviation of the fundamental frequency (std-F0), jitter percentage (%), shimmer percentage (%), noise-to-harmonic ratio (NHR), voice turbulence index (VTI), and soft phonation index (SPI) were extracted for the acoustic analysis ResultsIn the case of the auditory-perceptual characteristics, the comparison between aged groups showed that, in men, the vocal quality did not show significant differences in the overall grade, roughness, and breathiness. However, women in the 3rd decade of life presented higher breathiness than those in the 5th, 6th, and 7th decades. Men had a higher overall grade and roughness than women. In the case of the acoustic data, the cepstral measure showed that in the 3rd decade, men presented higher CPPS than females. The noise measures, in the comparison by age groups, only VTI and SPI were different for women: VTI was higher in the 7th decade than in the 4th, whereas SPI was higher in the 4th decade than in older women. In the male population, the SPI in the 4th decade was also higher than that in the older population ConclusionThe analysis by age groups of life allowed the identification of breathiness as a sensitive parameter in the different stages of adult life in women. The CPPS analysis showed that the 7th age decade is the period of the appearance of vocal changes for females, characterized by higher CPPS. The results related to traditional short-term perturbation and noise measurements showed that changes in F0, jitter, shimmer, and NHR were not found. Among the other noise measurements, VTI and SPI demonstrated some changes in different decades of life.

Morphometry of the Hippocampus Across the Adult Life-Span in Patients with Depressive Disorders: Association with Neuroticism.

Neuroticism is one of the main endophenotypes of major depressive disorder (MDD) and is closely related to the negative effect systems of Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) domains. The relationship between neuroticism and aging is dynamic and complex. Moreover, reduced hippocampal volumes are probably the most frequently reported structural neuroimaging finding associated with MDD. However, it remains unclear to what extent hippocampal abnormalities are linked with age and neuroticism changes in people with depression through the adult life span. This study aimed to examine the interplay between aging and neuroticism on hippocampal morphometric across the adult life-span in a relative large sample of patients with depressive disorders (114 patients, 73 females, age range: 18-74 years) and healthy control (HC) subjects (112 healthy controls, 72 females, age range: 19-72 years). MDD patients showed reduced bilateral hippocampal volumes. The effect of aging on the left hippocampal showed linear and the right hippocampal volume non-linear trajectories throughout the adult life span in healthy groups and MDD groups respectively. The hippocampal atrophy was dynamically impacted by depression at the early stages of adult life. Furthermore, we observed that right hippocampal volume reduction was associated with higher neuroticism in depressive patients younger than 30.65 years old. Our results suggest that the age-related atrophy in the right hippocampal volume was more affected by individual differences in neuroticism among younger depressive patients. Hippocampal volume reduction as a vulnerability factor for early-onset and major geriatric depression may have a distinct endophenotype.

Infertility cell therapy and epigenetic insights

Recent advances in assisted reproductive technology (ART) have allowed couples with severe infertility to conceive, but the methods are not effective for all cases. Stem cells as undifferentiated cells which are found in different stages of embryonic, fetal and adult life are known to be capable of forming different cell types, tissues, and organs. Due to their unlimited resources and the incredible power of differentiation are considered as potential new therapeutic biological tools for treatment of infertility. For reproductive medicine, stem cells are stimulated in vitro to develop various specialized functional cells including male and female gametes. The epigenetic patterns can be modified in the genome under certain drugs exposure or lifestyle alterations. Therefore, epigenetics-related disorders may be treated if the nature of the modifications is completely admissible. It is proved that our understanding of epigenetic processes and its association with infertility would help us not only to understand the etiological factors but also to treat some type of male infertilities. Exploration of both genetic and epigenetic variations in the disease development could help in the identification of the interaction patterns between these two phenomena and possible improvement of therapeutic methods.

Analysis of the Columellar-Labial Angle in Perioral Aging.

The young face presents a convex and rounded aspect; with aging, this changes to a more concave and flattened aspect, with the angles of the face undergoing changes through soft tissue repositioning and bone remodeling. The columellar-labial angle is one of the features that change. The objective of the present study was to analyze the columellar-labial angle at different stages of adult life and assess its contribution to facial changes during aging. We analyzed a database (December 2017-March 2018) of 722 female patients, aged 21 to 88 years, and obtained anthropometric measurements of the columellar-labial angle with a Canfield Vectra 3D image analysis system. Our database originates from a private clinic where all patients were registered and photographed. Our analysis showed a decrease in the columellar-labial angle, mainly observed from patients aged 60 years and older. This decrease can be explained by the absorption of body structures that occurs during aging. The columellar-labial angle decreases with age, and this finding may provide a better understanding of the transformation that occurs with aging. Obtaining a clearer view of the changes that occur in the face will improve treatments for facial rejuvenation, either conservative or surgical, and provide a basis for future studies and knowledge expansion.

Transformation of the Structure of Self-Attitude in Early, Middle and Later Adulthood (on the Example of the Ukrainian Sample)

The study intends to trace the dynamics of self-esteem and changes in the structure of self-attitude at different stages of adult life, as well as identify signs of experiencing age-related crises. Self-attitude is considered a multidimensional formation, with its individual components, have different subjective significance in different periods of life. A cross-section was carried out in 507 subjects aged 25-65 years was carried out. Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Self-Attitude Study Methodology by Pantileev were used. Normative data for RSES obtained on a sample of adult Ukrainians (N=488) are presented for the first time. The average interval was 22.70±5.43 (with a measuring scale of 0 to 30 points), but the reference point for low self-esteem is different for men and women. Comparison of average results in groups belonging to periods of early, middle, and later adulthood showed that the attitude towards oneself with age becomes more emotionally expressive, concerning both positive and negative components. The indicators of self-blame and inner closedness grow along with the growth of the positive self-attitude (self-confidence, self-management, self-acceptance). The heterogeneous age dynamics of components of self-attitude, pronounced peaks, and dips in different periods are shown. Based on the clustering of empirical data, we described seven types of self-attitude in adulthood: illusory, confident, accepting, crisis, externally oriented, persistently negative, and inexpressive. Markers of experiencing crisis life periods are the ambivalence of self-attitude – the simultaneous manifestation of positive and negative components, which is regarded as a sign of instability. The obtained results demonstrate that there are potential opportunities for personal growth among cases of low self-esteem.

The rate and spectrum of mosaic mutations during embryogenesis revealed by RNA sequencing of 49 tissues

BackgroundMosaic mutations acquired during early embryogenesis can lead to severe early-onset genetic disorders and cancer predisposition, but are often undetectable in blood samples. The rate and mutational spectrum of embryonic mosaic mutations (EMMs) have only been studied in few tissues, and their contribution to genetic disorders is unknown. Therefore, we investigated how frequent mosaic mutations occur during embryogenesis across all germ layers and tissues.MethodsMosaic mutation detection in 49 normal tissues from 570 individuals (Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) cohort) was performed using a newly developed multi-tissue, multi-individual variant calling approach for RNA-seq data. Our method allows for reliable identification of EMMs and the developmental stage during which they appeared.ResultsThe analysis of EMMs in 570 individuals revealed that newborns on average harbor 0.5–1 EMMs in the exome affecting multiple organs (1.3230 × 10−8 per nucleotide per individual), a similar frequency as reported for germline de novo mutations. Our multi-tissue, multi-individual study design allowed us to distinguish mosaic mutations acquired during different stages of embryogenesis and adult life, as well as to provide insights into the rate and spectrum of mosaic mutations. We observed that EMMs are dominated by a mutational signature associated with spontaneous deamination of methylated cytosines and the number of cell divisions. After birth, cells continue to accumulate somatic mutations, which can lead to the development of cancer. Investigation of the mutational spectrum of the gastrointestinal tract revealed a mutational pattern associated with the food-borne carcinogen aflatoxin, a signature that has so far only been reported in liver cancer.ConclusionsIn summary, our multi-tissue, multi-individual study reveals a surprisingly high number of embryonic mosaic mutations in coding regions, implying novel hypotheses and diagnostic procedures for investigating genetic causes of disease and cancer predisposition.

Tranzycyjny efekt jojo w sekwencjach społecznych młodych migrantów

Wydłużająca się edukacja czy uelastycznienie się rynków pracy powodują, że poszczególne etapy wczesnodorosłego życia młodych ludzi oraz podejmowane role społeczne przenikają się (Wyn, Dwyer 2002; Mayer 2005; Biggart, Walther 2006; Kohli 2007; Du Bois-Reymond 2009; Heinz 2009; Mary 2014). Młodzi ludzie wchodzą w dorosłość coraz częściej w sposób nielinearny, doświadczając powrotów do etapów czy sytuacji z przeszłości, co w literaturze zostało opisane jako „tranzycja jojo” (Du Bois-Reymond, López Blasco 2003; Heinz 2009; Walther 2009; Hörschelmann 2011; Borlagdan 2015). „Jojoizacja tranzycji” dotyczy również procesu przechodzenia z edukacji do rynku pracy, które jest coraz bardziej rozciągnięte w czasie, zróżnicowane i trudne do przewidzenia (Walther 2006). Jednym z istotnych zjawisk towarzyszących inicjacji zawodowej współczesnych młodych dorosłych jest mobilność międzynarodowa (King 2018; Robertson, Harris, Baldassar 2018), która znacznie wpływa na kształt ścieżek edukacyjno-zawodowych młodych ludzi.Celem artykułu jest odpowiedź na pytanie o rolę migracji zagranicznych w występowaniu tranzycyjnego efektu jojo. Na bazie studiów przypadku ścieżek edukacyjno-zawodowych migrantów przedstawione zostaną tranzycje ludzi młodych na rodzimy i zagraniczny rynek pracy, zarówno w wymiarze obiektywnym, jak i subiektywnym. Jako metoda analizy posłuży jakościowa adaptacja analizy sekwencji społecznych (Cornwell 2015).

Assessment of Programmed Cell Death of Aspergillus flavus by Triggered Cysteine-dependent Aspartate-directed Proteases (Meta-caspase3) Lethality Mechanism of Novel Compounds Isolated from Ethyl Acetate Extract of Spondias mombin

Spondias mombin is a plant that has been traditionally noted for its medicinal with a preliminary results report a wide range of antibacterial and antifungal properties. Meta-caspases and Caspases are essential in cells for programmed cell death, in development and most other stages of adult life, and have been termed "executioner" proteins for their roles in the cell. A 12 hours old culture of each microorganism was re-suspended in plant extract at 1000 µg mL in a total volume of 500 µl for 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 180 minutes. The cells were pelleted by centrifugation at 5000 g for 5 minutes. The pellets were rinsed twice in phosphate buffer saline (PBS). Then 1/10 volume of 95% ethanol plus 5% saturated phenol were added to the pellets to stabilize cellular RNA. The cells were then re-harvested by centrifugation (8200 g, 4°C and 2 minutes). The supernatant was aspirated and pellets re-suspended in 800 μl of lysis buffer (10 mMTris, adjusted to pH 8.0 with HCl, 1 mM EDTA) and 8.3 U/ml Ready-LyseTM Lysozyme Solution. After the pellets were re-suspended, 80 μl of a 10% SDS solution was added, mixed and incubated for 2 minutes at 64 °C. Then 88 μl of 1 M NaOAc (pH 5.2) was mixed with the lysate followed by an equal volume of water and saturated phenol was added. Total RNA was quantified using Spectrophotometric absorbance at 260 nm DNA was removed with Turbo DNA-free (Ambion, Inc.). Reverse Transcription-PCR reaction was performed in a 15.0 µl final volume (kit number-DNA-PCR739288). Assessment of Polymerase Chain Reaction products (amplicons) were electrophoreses in 0.5% of agarose gel using 0.5 × TBE buffer ( 2.6 g of Tris base, 5 g of Tris boric acid and 2 ml of 0.5M EDTA and adjusted to pH 8.3 with the sodium hydroxide pellet) with 0.5 μl ethidum bromide. The mechanism of action of isolated novel compounds using Metacaspase3 to programme the death of test organism (Aspergillus flavus) between 0 and 180 minutes interval. It was observed that cell (via DNA) were completely destroyed at 180 minutes with all the isolated compounds. The purpose of this research work is to evaluate the programmed cell death (PCD) of Aspergillus flavus by triggered Cysteine-dependent Aspartate-directed proteases (meta-caspase3) lethality mechanism of novel compound isolated from ethyl acetate extract ofSpondias mombin.

Prevalence of Deviated Nasal Septum among Nepalese Preclinical Students at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Nepal

Introduction: The fragile nature of the nasal septum and other bony structures makes them prone to fragmentation and destruction. Deviated nasal septum persists in adult stage of life giving rise to anatomical, psychological and cosmetic consequences. There are many consequences of deviated nasal septum like nasal obstruction, mouth breathing, headache and asymmetry of face. The amount of airflow and resistance to it in the nasal cavity with deviated nasal septum are quite different from person to person. Our study is focused on the prevalence of deviated nasal septum.&#x0D; Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted among 300 individuals from Nepalese preclinical students studying at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital (KMCTH). Prevalence of deviated nasal septum in males and females were determined affecting symmetry of the face.&#x0D; Results: The prevalence of deviated nasal septum was found to be 53% (159) of total study population. The left sided nasal septal deviation was found to be more in male 33.33% (50) than that of female 29.33% (44).The asymmetry of the face was observed in 55% (165) of total study population. However, asymmetry of face was observed more in male 58.66% (88) than in female 51.33% (77).&#x0D; Conclusion The deviated nasal septum and asymmetry of the face were remarkably prevalent among Nepalese preclinical students studying at Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital. The prevalence of deviated nasal septum and asymmetry of face was found significantly greater in male than in female (p&lt; 0.05).

Fungal and Insect Pests of the Edible Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus

Pleurotus ostreatus is an edible mushroom cultivated worldwide, with economic, nutritional and medicinal values, which requires a shorter growing period compared to other edible mushrooms. Fungal and insect pests of cultivated P. ostreatus were examined. Fungi from infected mother spawn of P. ostreatus were isolated, characterized and identified, while various insect pests on P. ostreatus were also collected and analysed. The plates showing micrographs, morphological and cultural characteristics of fungal isolates obtained were recorded. Fungi species isolated from infected mother spawn of P. ostreatus were identified as Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Cladosporium sp., Penicillium oxalicum, Fusarium oxysporium and F. verticilliodes. The growth of Cladosporium sp. was slow on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) plates compared to Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. which was very fast. Insect belonging to the orders Collembola, Diptera and Araneae were encountered on the cultivated P.ostreatus. These groups of insects were found at adult stage of life. Infestation by order Collembola (springtail) on P. ostreatus was found to be higher in incidence with percentage composition of 50.0%, followed by order Diptera (fruit flies) and order Araneae (spider) with 33.3% and 16.67% composition respectively. Distinguishing features of each pest and the features of damage done on mushroom were also observed and recorded.