Effects of Physical Exercise on Markers of Cellular Immunosenescence: A Systematic Review.

Aging affects negatively the immune system, defined as immunosenescence, which increases the susceptibility of elderly persons to infection, autoimmune disease, and cancer. There are strong indications that physical exercise in elderly persons may prevent the age-related decline in immune response without significant side effects. Consequently, exercise is being considered as a safe mode of intervention to reduce immunosenescence. The aim of this review was to appraise the existing evidence regarding the impact of exercise on surface markers of cellular immunosenescence in either young and old humans or animals. PubMed and Web of Science were systematically screened, and 28 relevant articles in humans or animals were retrieved. Most of the intervention studies demonstrated that an acute bout of exercise induced increases in senescent, naïve, memory CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes and significantly elevated apoptotic lymphocytes in peripheral blood. As regards long-term effects, exercise induced increased levels of T-lymphocytes expressing CD28+ in both young and elderly subjects. Few studies found an increase in natural killer cell activity following a period of training. We can conclude that exercise has considerable effects on markers of cellular aspects of the immune system. However, very few studies have been conducted so far to investigate the effects of exercise on markers of cellular immunosenescence in elderly persons. Implications for immunosenescence need further investigation.

Feasibility and first long-term results after laparoscopic rectal segment resection and vaginal specimen retrieval for deep infiltrating endometriosis.

INTRODUCTION: Radical resection of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), including bladder and bowel resection, provides relief from pain in symptomatic patients. The laparoscopic approach to treatment is well established for bowel resection but normally requires additional abdominal incisions for specimen retrieval. Here we describe our technique of laparoscopically assisted rectal resection and transvaginal specimen retrieval (LARRT) and provide follow-up information on pain scores and complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective observational monocentric study on all DIE patients with rectal infiltration treated between 2008 and 2010 with LATRR at our department. Follow-up was obtained for at least 3 years, including baseline 1-year and 3-year pain scores. RESULTS: We identified four patients undergoing LARRT available for follow-up. DIE was confirmed by histology in all cases. There were no intraoperative complications. Two patients had transient postoperative urinary retention, one patient developed recto-vaginal fistula and required transient colostomy. One patient suffered from persistent vaginal dryness. All patients, however, reported persistent pain relief, including at the end of follow-up period. CONCLUSION: LARRT is a feasible variation of laparoscopic bowel resection for DIE with rectal infiltration. In our study it has promising results with respect to pain control. Larger studies will, however, be required to determine the safety of this procedure.

Chromatin structure of two genomic sites for targeted transgene integration in induced pluripotent stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells.

Achieving transgene integration into preselected genomic sites is currently one of the central tasks in stem cell gene therapy. A strategy to mediate such targeted integration involves site-specific endonucleases. Two genomic sites within the MBS85 and chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 5 (CCR5) genes (AAVS1 and CCR5 zinc-finger nuclease (CCR5-ZFN) sites, respectively) have recently been suggested as potential target regions for integration as their disruption has no functional consequence. We hypothesized that efficient transgene integration maybe affected by DNA accessibility of endonucleases and therefore studied the transcriptional and chromatin status of the AAVS1 and CCR5 sites in eight human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell lines and pooled CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Matrix chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays demonstrated that the CCR5 site and surrounding regions possessed a predominantly closed chromatin configuration consistent with its transcriptional inactivity in these cell types. In contrast, the AAVS1 site was located within a transcriptionally active region and exhibited an open chromatin configuration in both iPS cells and HSCs. To show that the AAVS1 site is readily amendable to genome modification, we expressed Rep78, an AAV2-derived protein with AAVS1-specific endonuclease activity, in iPS cells after adenoviral gene transfer. We showed that Rep78 efficiently associated with the AAVS1 site and triggered genome modifications within this site. On the other hand, binding to and modification of the CCR5-ZFN site by a ZFN was relatively inefficient. Our data suggest a critical influence of chromatin structure on efficacy of site-specific endonucleases used for genome editing.

Grip Work Measurement with the Jamar Dynamometer: Validation of a Simple Equation for Clinical Use.

OBJECTIVES: Previously, we developed and validated an easy test to measure muscle fatigability during sustained maximal handgrip contraction in older persons using a Martin Vigorimeter device. This study aimed at validating the equation to estimate grip work (GW) during sustained maximal handgrip contraction, by monitoring continuously the grip strength (GS) decay using a Jamar Dynamometer-like (JD) device. DESIGN: Cross sectional, explorative study. SETTING: Data collection took place at The National Research Centre for the Working Environment in Copenhagen, Denmark. PARTICIPANTS: 962 subjects, belonging to a subgroup of the Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank, were enrolled. METHODS: GS was recorded continuously during sustained maximal contraction until it dropped to 50% of its maximum and fatigue resistance (FR, time to fatigue) was noted. GW, area under the force-time curve, was compared to its estimate which was calculated as GWestimated=GSmax*0.75*FR. RESULTS: Excellent correlation was found between GWestimated and GWmeasured (R²=0.98 p<0.001). The equation slightly overestimated GW by 6.04 kg*s (95% CI[-0.08, 12.15]) with a coefficient of variation method error of 6%. CONCLUSION: GW estimation is a valid parameter reflecting muscle work output during a sustained maximal grip effort in healthy middle-aged community-dwelling persons when using a JD. GW estimation is a promising outcome parameter in comprehensive geriatric assessment and its validation for commonly used instruments in geriatric practice will increase its clinical implementation.

Evaluation of appendicular lean mass using bio impedance in persons aged 80+: A new equation based on the BUTTERFLY-study.

BACKGROUND: To date, the accuracy of bio-impedance (BIA) to assess body composition & sarcopenia in persons aged 80 and over remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the agreement between dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and BIA equations to determine lean mass, as well as their suitability to identify sarcopenia. DESIGN: 174 community dwelling well-functioning persons (83 women, 91 men) aged 80 and over were included. Appendicular lean mass (ALM) was predicted using BIA-based equations available in literature, and compared to DXA outcomes. Through cross-validation and stepwise multiple linear regression, a new ALM-formula was generated suitable for this population. RESULTS: Literature-based BIA equations systematically overestimated ALM. The new prediction formula that we propose for the 80+ is: ALM = 0,827+(0,19*Impedance Index)+(2,101*Sex)+(0,079*Weight); R2 = 0,888; SEE = 1,450 kg. Sarcopenia classification based on our new BIA equation for ALM showed better agreement with DXA (k ≥ 0,454) compared to literature-based BIA equations (k < 0,368). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high correlation between both methods, literature-based BIA equations consistently overestimate ALM compared to DXA in persons aged 80 and over. We proposed a new equation for ALM, reaching higher agreement with DXA and thus improving the accuracy of BIA for this specific age group.

[Aerococcus urinae endocarditis: first case report in Belgium and review of the literature]. / Endocardite a Aerococcus urinae: premier cas en Belgique et revue de la littérature.

Aerococcus urinae is a rarely reported pathogen, possibly due to difficulties in the identification of the organism. Only sixteen cases of A. urinae endocarditis have yet been described. Generally, patients were males with predisposing conditions and the outcomes were bad. We describe the first Belgian case of endocarditis due to A. urinae. Which occurred to a 79-year-old female patient. The diagnostic of A. urinae endocarditis was based on the cardiac ultrasonography and the isolation of the bacteria in 6/7 pairs of blood culture. The patient has been successfully treated by a long course of intravenous antibiotics (38 days) and surgery (aortic valve replacement by bioprothesis). We review the 14 cases published in the English literature and discuss the best clinical management of this type of endocarditis.

Characteristics and outcome of Emergency Department intubation in geriatric patients.

INTRODUCTION: The number of elderly patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) continues to grow due to the natural aging of the population. Consequently, tracheal intubation will be increasingly used in the oldest old. The objective of this retrospective study is to evaluate the characteristics and outcome of patients of 75 years and older undergoing an endotracheal intubation in the ED. METHODS: In a single center, retrospective study we reviewed digital medical files of patients of 75 years and older in the period from 1/01/2008 to 31/12/2010, who were admitted to the ED of the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel in Brussels, Belgium and underwent endotracheal intubation. Survival served as primary outcome and survival without sequelae as secondary endpoint. RESULTS: In the study period, 88 patients of 75 years and older were intubated in the ED. Sixty three (72%) patients died after intubation and 25 (28%) survived until discharge. All 23 patients (26%), who were intubated during cardiopulmonary resuscitation died. A survival rate of 48% was observed in patients, who were intubated for respiratory failure (28%), intracerebral hemorrhage or ischemic stroke (17%), cardiac failure (8%) or other reasons. Non-survivors were significant older, of male sex, had higher APACHE scores and more frequently used cholesterol lowering drugs. CONCLUSION: Senior adults, aged 75 years or older and undergoing endotracheal intubation at the ED, have a high mortality rate. Younger age and female sex at admission were positively correlated with survival. Of those who left the hospital, one-third were able to return home without major sequelae.

Increasing use of cognitive measures in the operational definition of frailty-A systematic review.

Ageing is associated both with frailty and cognitive decline. The quest for a unifying approach has led to a new concept: cognitive frailty. This systematic review explores the contribution of cognitive assessment in frailty operationalization. PubMed, Web of Knowledge and PsycINFO were searched until December 2016 using the keywords aged; frail elderly; aged, 80 and over; frailty; diagnosis; risk assessment and classification, yielding 2863 hits. Seventy-nine articles were included, describing 94 frailty instruments. Two instruments were not sufficiently specified and excluded. 46% of the identified frailty instruments included cognition. Of these, 85% were published after 2010, with a significant difference for publication date (X2 = 8.45, p < .05), indicating increasing awareness of the contribution of cognitive deficits to functional decline. This review identified 7 methods of cognitive assessment: dementia as co-morbidity; objective cognitive-screening instruments; self-reported; specific signs and symptoms; delirium/clouding of consciousness; non-specific cognitive terms and mixed assessments. Although cognitive assessment has been increasingly integrated in recently published frailty instruments, this has been heterogeneously operationalized. Once the domains most strongly linked to functional decline will have been identified and operationalized, this will be the groundwork for the identification of reversible components, and for the development of preventive interventional strategies.

High Versus Low Load Resistance Training: The Effect of 24 Weeks Detraining on Serum Brain Derived-Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Previously we showed that 12 weeks of mixed-low resistance training (LOW+) significantly increased circulating BDNF in older male individuals. OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of 24 weeks detraining on circulating BDNF. DESIGN: Randomized intervention study. SETTING: Community-dwelling older adults. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven out of 56 participants stopped training (detraining) after 12 weeks of resistance exercise (3x/week) at either HIGH-resistance (5 Males, 5 Females, 2x10-15 repetitions at 80%1RM), LOW-resistance (6 Males, 7 Females, 1x80-100 repetitions at 20%1RM), or mixed-low LOW+-resistance (6 Males, 8 Females, 1x60 repetitions at 20%1RM followed by 1x10-20 repetitions at 40%1RM), of whom 37 (aged 68±5 years) provided sufficient serum samples for BDNF analysis at baseline, 12 week and at 36 weeks (24 weeks detraining). RESULTS: BDNF had initially increased by 31% (from 33.4±10.9 ng/mL to 44.5±13.2 ng/mL, p=0.005) after 12 weeks in the LOW+ exercise group in males and decreased by 26% (from 44.5±13.2 ng/mL to 32.9±10.7 ng/mL) after detraining, though not statistically significant (p=0.082). In females, no significant change in BDNF was found in any of the intervention groups (p>0.05), neither after training, nor detraining. At 36 weeks all of the subgroups showed BDNF levels comparable (all p>0.10) to baseline (before the exercise intervention). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that a 12-weeks LOW+ resistance exercise increases circulating BDNF in older male subjects but that this reduces back to baseline levels after 24 weeks of detraining. Continuous exercise adherence seems to be needed to sustain the training-induced effects on BDNF in older persons. Additional studies are needed to unravel the underlying mechanisms, as well as to confirm the observed sex difference.

Force-time characteristics during sustained maximal handgrip effort according to age and clinical condition.

BACKGROUND: Muscle fatigue, a prominent symptom in older patients, can be assessed by sustained maximal handgrip testing. The force decline during sustained maximal contraction is described for young adults, but data for elderly persons are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate force-time characteristics during a sustained maximal handgrip effort according to age and clinical condition. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Force-time data were continuously recorded during sustained maximal grip effort in 91 elderly patients (aged 83±5years), 100 elderly controls (aged 74±5years) and 100 young controls (aged 23±3years). The force-time curve was divided in 4 parts per 25% strength drop observed. Time (representing fatigue resistance (FR)) was measured during which grip strength (GS) dropped to 75% (FR75), 50% (FR50), 25% (FR25) of its maximum and to exhaustion (FRexhaustion). Grip work ((GW), the area under the force-time curve) was measured for the 4 parts as well as for the first 20 and 30s of the fatigue protocol test. Strength decay (GWdecay), defined as the difference between the area under the curve (% GW) and a theoretical maximal area under the curve (assuming there's no strength drop), was also studied. In the elderly participants, relationships (controlling for age and sex) of GS, FR and GW with circulating IL-6 and TNF-α were analyzed. RESULTS: FRexhaustion was similar for all groups, whereas the duration of each of the 4 parts was significantly different between the 3 groups. FR75 was shortest in old patients (p=0.004), FR75-50 was almost twice as long in old community-dwelling compared to old patients and young controls (p<0.001). This contrast was inverted for FR50-25 which was significantly shorter in old community-dwelling compared to the other groups (p=0.013). FR25-exhaustionwas significantly longer in young controls compared to the groups of older participants (p=0.017). Old patients showed lower GW for the first 2 parts compared to old community-dwelling and young controls. Also, GWdecay values during the first 20 and 30s were significantly higher in old patients compared to old community-dwelling and young controls (both p<0.001). IL-6 was significantly related to lower GSmax, FR75, FR50, FR25, FRexhaustion, GW75, GW50 and GW75-50. CONCLUSION: This is the first study reporting differences in strength decay during a sustained maximal handgrip effort according to age and clinical condition. Old patients showed a particularly rapid decline in GW during the first part of sustained handgrip. GW was also significantly related to circulating IL-6. Future studies should confirm whether a shorter FR test protocol (i.e. until FR75) but using a continuous registration of the strength decay could be more informative in a clinical setting compared to the classical FR test (measuring only FR50).

Management of an outbreak of Clostridium difficile-associated disease among geriatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a nosocomial outbreak of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD). DESIGN: A traditional outbreak investigation. SETTING: Geriatric department of a tertiary care teaching hospital from March through April 2003. METHODS: The outbreak was detected by the C. difficile surveillance program of the infection control unit. CDAD was diagnosed by stool culture and fecal toxin A detection with a qualitative rapid immunoassay. Isolates of C. difficile were serotyped and genotyped using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: The incidence of CDAD increased from 27 cases per 100,000 patient-days in the 6-month period before the outbreak to 99 cases per 100,000 patient-days during the outbreak. This outbreak involved 21 of 92 patients in 4 geriatric wards, which were located at 2 geographically distinct sites and staffed by the same medical team. The mean age of patients was 83 years (range, 71-100 years). Five (24%) of the 21 patients had community-acquired diarrhea, and secondary hospital transmission resulted in 3 clusters involving 16 patients. Serotyping and genotyping were performed on isolates in stool specimens from 19 different patients; 16 of these isolates were serotype A1, whereas 3 displayed profiles different from the outbreak strain. Management of this outbreak consisted in reinforcement of contact isolation precautions for patients with diarrhea, cohorting of infected patients in the same ward, and promotion of hand hygiene. Relapses occurred in 6 (29%) of 21 patients. CONCLUSION: Control of this rapidly developing outbreak of CDAD was obtained with early implementation of cohorting and ward closure and reinforcement of environmental disinfection, hand hygiene, and enteric isolation precautions.

[Abnormal erythrocyte membrane gangliosides in alcoholism]. / Abnormes Gangliosidmuster der Erythrozytenmembran bei Alkoholkranken.

The pattern of gangliosides in membranes of erythrocytes was examined in healthy donors and in alcoholic subjects. Seven different gangliosides could be detected. In healthy donors the following pattern was found: GM3 = 17.6%, SPG = 43.1%, GD3 = 9.1%, GD1a = 12.8%, FucGD1b = 5.2%, GT1b = 6.7% and GX = 5.7%. The GM3 and FucDG1b fraction were decreased statistically significantly in alcoholics.

The effect of abstinence in alcoholics of erythrocyte gangliosides.

The pattern of gangliosides in membranes of erythrocytes was examined in healthy and in alcoholic subjects on the second and on the 28th day of detoxification therapy. The GM3 and GD3 fraction were decreased significantly in alcoholics on the 2nd day. After 4 weeks of abstinence all changes had returned to the level of healthy subjects.

Serum creatine kinase levels in overt and subclinical hypothyroidism.

Overt hypothyroidism is known to be associated with increased serum creatine kinase (CK) levels. However, there is little information on CK levels in subclinical hypothyroidism. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between CK levels and thyroid function in overt and subclinical hypothyroidism. Thyroid function tests (thyrotropin [TSH], free thyroxine [FT4], free triiodothyronine [FT3]) and the serum levels of CK were obtained from 23 patients admitted to a general hospital for illnesses other than thyroid or muscular diseases, myocardial ischemia, or brain damage. Overt hypothyroidism, based on thyroid function tests, was present in 10 patients, whereas hypothyroidism could be classified as subclinical in the other 13. A positive correlation was observed between CK and thyrotropin, and to a lesser extent between CK and thyroid hormones. Moreover, the correlation between CK and TSH and between CK and FT4 was detectable in subclinical hypothyroidism. Our data suggest that even in subclinical hypothyroidism there is some degree of dysfunction in skeletal muscle metabolism.

Interleukin-18 expression in BAL cells of sarcoidosis patients is decreased in vivo but protein secretion is not impaired in vitro.

Recently, increased expression of interleukin-18 (IL-18) has been shown in sarcoid airway epithelium. However, IL-18 expression has not been investigated extensively in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells in sarcoidosis yet. Expression of IL-18 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) mRNA in cells of the BAL of 23 patients with sarcoidosis and nine healthy volunteers was determined using semiquantitative RT-PCR. IL-18 protein in BAL cells was investigated by immunocytochemistry (ICC). IL-18 protein levels in BAL cell culture supernatants from patients and controls with and without LPS stimulation were measured by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay. BAL cells from patients were stimulated with either IL-10 or IL-13 and IL-18 protein levels were determined. IL-18 mRNA expression was significantly decreased in BAL cells of patients compared to control subjects (1.62 +/- 0.27 vs. 4.29 +/- 0.77, P < 0.05). TNFalpha mRNA expression was significantly increased in BAL cells of patients in comparison to control subjects (0.63 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.11 +/- 0.08, P < 0.05). ICC showed less positive alveolar macrophages in sarcoidosis patients than in control subjects (26 vs. 53%). IL-18 protein levels did not differ significantly between both groups. Stimulation with IL-10 significantly reduced IL-18 protein concentration in sarcoidosis patients. Our results suggest that BAL cells may not be the main source of IL-18 production in sarcoidosis in vivo. Since IL-18 production of BAL cells was not impaired in culture antiinflammatory cytokines might contribute to decreased IL-18 expression in vivo.

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibits parathyroid hormone-related peptide mRNA expression in fetal rat long bones in culture.

When fetal rat long bones are incubated in the presence of 10(-8) M 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], steady-state parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) mRNA levels are decreased. This decrease is temporary: it is observed as soon as after 3 h of exposure and reaches a nadir after 6 h. At that time, PTHrP mRNA levels are significantly lower in the experimental than in the control bones. However the inhibitory effect vanishes after 24 h, despite continuous exposure to 1,25(OH)2D3 for even 48 h. This is the first report showing that PTHrP mRNA expression can be regulated in rat fetal long bones in vitro by 1,25(OH)2D3.

Examining the effect of intervention to nutritional problems of hospitalised elderly: a pilot project.

BACKGROUND: Up to 65% of elderly patients are protein-energy undernourished at admission or acquire nutritional deficits while hospitalised. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this project were: 1) to assess the quality of care concerning nutrition among geriatric units; 2) to assess the impact of implementive nutritional interventions on nutritional status and on the length of hospitalisation. DESIGN: Two hundred and six patients consecutively admitted in a geriatric unit of a general hospital were studied prospectively for 6 months (from January to June 2001). All patients underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment. For the first 3 months the nutritional status of the patients on admission and at discharge were assessed without particular recommendations for nutritional intervention. A standardised nutritional intervention was proposed for the last 3 months. RESULTS: Median value of Mini-Nutritional Assessment was 19 points (ranged from 9 to 29), mean admission s prealbumin concentration (PAB) was 0.179 g/l, and C-reactive protein 5.9 2.8 mg/100ml. Hospitalisation stay was significantly lower during the interventional period than during the observational period. A higher mean PAB variation was observed during the interventional period as compared to the observational period. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional assessment should be part of routine clinical practice in elderly hospitalized patients. A comprehensive screening tool for assessment of nutritional status is needed that is clinically relevant and cost-effective to perform. If malnutrition is suggested by such screening tests, implementations of nutritional intervention allow to ameliorate discharge nutritional status and to reduce hospitalization stay.

[Subjective contrast evaluation by visually handicapped patients]. / Subjektive Kontrastbewertung durch Sehbehinderte.

Personal optical and electronic devices are helpful to people with binocular vision of less than 0.3 or a substantially impaired visual field. Striking brightness and color contrast may help patients to orient themselves outdoors. This is particularly true for patients with age-related macular degeneration who have diminished contrast sensitivity as evaluated by the Vistech test and the low-contrast sensitivity test. In this study, the desired level or color combination of contrasts was assessed subjectively by a scaled estimate. The patients were required to assess a sample of 79 black-and-white and color contrasts according to a five-point scale comprising the ratings "much too low", "low", "optimal", "high", "much too high". The visual fields (outfield, infield) were either colorless or contained the colors yellow, green, red, purple or blue. The study involved 59 patients with age-related macular degeneration. Ninety percent of the patients were over 65 years old. There were twice as many women as men. The control group population consisted of 43 emmetropic subjects. In black or white infields on a colorless background (light gray to dark gray), a slight preference for positive (infield lighter than the background) contrast situations was found. The optimal contrasts were in the range of [K[ > 0.91. When colored infields were presented on a colorless background, the light infield colors yellow and green were preferred. The optimal contrast level was found to be [K[ > 0.85. Similarly, when colorless and colored infields were presented, light infield colors (white, yellow, green) on a dark background (purple, blue) were preferred. In selecting contrasts, subjects with impaired vision because of age-related macular degeneration preferred positive contrasts, i.e., mainly white, yellow and green on a colored or colorless background. These results provide information that can be used in designing orientation aids, e.g., road striping and lines, edges of stairs, handrails, timetables, etc. Conflicts of interest with emmetropic subjects is not to be expected. Subjects in the control group, while preferring similar contrasts, were ready to accept a wider range than the partially sighted.

[Biliary ileus]. / Ileus biliaire.

A case of gallstone ileus in an elderly woman is described and attention is drawn to the insidious clinical presentation and the significance of the often subtle radiological signs. The data from the literature specifies these aspects and allows a more complete review of this relatively rare pathology in order to remind its importance in differential diagnosis to emergency clinicians and radiologists.

Macrophage capping protein CapG is a putative oncogene involved in migration and invasiveness in ovarian carcinoma.

The actin binding protein CapG modulates cell motility by interacting with the cytoskeleton. CapG is associated with tumor progression in different nongynecologic tumor entities and overexpression in breast cancer cell lines correlates with a more invasive phenotype in vitro. Here, we report a significant CapG overexpression in 18/47 (38%) of ovarian carcinomas (OC) analyzed by qRealTime-PCR analyses. Functional analyses in OC cell lines through siRNA mediated CapG knockdown and CapG overexpression showed CapG-dependent cell migration and invasiveness. A single nucleotide polymorphism rs6886 inside the CapG gene was identified, affecting a CapG phosphorylation site and thus potentially modifying CapG function. The minor allele frequency (MAF) of SNP rs6886 (c.1004A/G) was higher and the homozygous (A/A, His335) genotype was significantly more prevalent in patients with fallopian tube carcinomas (50%) as in controls (10%). With OC being one of the most lethal cancer diseases, the detection of novel biomarkers such as CapG could reveal new diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Moreover, in-depth analyses of SNP rs6886 related to FTC and OC will contribute to a better understanding of carcinogenesis and progression of OC.