Down-regulation of microfilamental network-associated proteins in leukocytes of breast cancer patients: potential application to predictive diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the most frequent tumors worldwide. Currently applied diagnostic approaches are frequently not able to recognize early stages in tumor development therefore impairing outcomes. The focus of this study is the creation of a non-invasive predictive diagnostic approach by pathology-specific blood proteome analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Circulating leukocytes were isolated from fresh blood samples of breast cancer patients, benign breast pathologies and healthy controls. In patients with all kinds of breast pathologies, blood samples were taken before core needle biopsy of the lump. Comparative protein mapping was performed by 2D-PAGE followed by MALDI-TOF analysis and Western-blot quantification of differentially expressed protein spots. RESULTS: By protein mapping, 64 protein spots were identified. Pathology-specific differential expression patterns comprised microfilamental network-associated proteins: Calgranulin A (S100), LyGDI (Rho GDIbeta), RhoA and profilin 1. RhoA and profilin values discriminated between healthy controls and patients with all breast pathologies. CONCLUSION: Microfilamental network-associated proteins are involved in the regulation of a variety of central cellular processes functionally linked with each other and known to be highly relevant for all stages of tumorigenesis including precancerous lesions and metastases. Pathology-related molecular patterns are currently considered for the creation of a novel highly sensitive minimally-invasive approach for predictive diagnosis of breast cancer.

Development of Physical Fitness among the Top 10 Boys and Girls in Sport Schools: A 10-Year Cohort Analysis.

In this study, we aimed to measure the development of physical fitness (PF) of 10 different cohorts in grade 4 and 8 different cohorts in grade 7 at 18 sport schools of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. A total of 11,451 subjects (3979 female, 7472 male) aged 8-12 from the past 10 years were assessed using the German Motor Test (DMT) in grade 4. We tested 2614 subjects (1032 girls, 1582 boys) aged 11-15 from the past eight years using the DMT in grade 7. PF talents were defined as the top 10 boys and top 10 girls of each cohort. Linear regression was calculated to assess the development of PF. The PF of all subjects remained stable in grade 4 and declined in grade 7. The PF of the top 10 boys and top 10 girls increased in both grades. The improvements were stronger in grade 7 (female: rates of change (ß) = 0.80; male: ß = 0.76) than in grade 4 (female: ß = 0.36; male: ß = 0.32). Sit-ups and push-ups showed the highest change rates. The increase in PF of the top 10 boys and girls can be interpreted as a success for sport schools. Due to the increasing number of test participants, the likelihood of finding top talent increased. However, the increase in PF in the top talents was only partly explained by an increase in the number of tested individuals.

Tracking of Physical Fitness of Primary School Children in Trier: A 4-Year Longitudinal Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to measure the motor development and tracking of physical fitness (PF) components of primary school children of Trier in Germany. METHODS: Two longitudinal cohorts, of 1768 children (915 f, 853 m) aged 5-11, were measured. In longitudinal cohort 1, a total of 116 female and 137 male participants aged 6.80 ± 0.42 years at baseline were measured four times from grade 1 to grade 4 (response: 40.4%). Participants of longitudinal cohort 2 (166 f, 149 m; 6.70 ± 0.36 years at baseline, response: 42.6%) were examined three times from grade 1 to grade 3 with the German Motor Test 6-18 (DMT 6-18). RESULTS: Physical fitness increased significantly over time in all test tasks except flexibility. Gender-specific differences were found in 20 m sprint, 6-minute run, balancing backwards, jumping sideways, and stand and reach. 74.4% of PF stability coefficients were moderate (r = 0.30 to 0.60). Stability of PF declined with increased time frames. Tracking was lower in girls than in boys. Flexibility showed the highest stability among PF variables (r > 0.50). BMI showed the overall highest stability coefficient with r > 0.7. CONCLUSIONS: Gender-specific differences of PF were obvious but cannot always be secured statistically in primary school. Tracking was only moderate. Variability in the timing and speed of the adolescent growth spurt and sexual maturation influence stability of PF. Results from longitudinal cohort 2 largely confirm those from longitudinal cohort 1.

Four classes of physical fitness in German children and adolescents: only differences in performance or at-risk groups?

OBJECTIVES: Regarding children's and adolescents' development of physical fitness (PF), information about whether there are different performance classes in PF would potentially be helpful. If such classes also differ in related health parameters, this might indicate 'at-risk' groups requiring different support measures. METHODS: Factor mixture modeling was used to investigate whether participants of the German "Motorik"-Module (2003-2006) aged 6-17 years (N = 4,529) differ in their PF as described by endurance, strength, coordination, and flexibility. RESULTS: Four different classes of PF emerged after controlling for age and gender. Participants in classes 1 and 2 either performed well in all coordination or in all strength tests. Participants in class 3 and class 4 performed poorly in all coordination and in the push up (strength) tasks. Only participants in class 4 revealed significantly higher BMI values and less physical activity suggesting they are, in fact, an 'at-risk' group. CONCLUSIONS: Different support measures are needed to enable adequate development. There might be a risk group demonstrating comparably low coordination that cannot be spotted by looking at BMI or activity level.

Combining accelerometry and HR for assessing preschoolers' physical activity.

PURPOSE: With rising obesity and rapidly decreasing levels of physical activity (PA) in young children, accurate PA measurement is needed for early screening and intervention evaluation. Although the combination of accelerometry (ACC) with HR recordings is accurate in assessing PA intensity in older children, its utility in correctly classifying PA in preschoolers is unknown. METHODS: Thirty-three children (64% were boys) were recruited from four German preschools. Data included direct observation and Actiheart (CamNtech, Cambridge, UK) monitoring during 2.5 T 0.7 h (derivation data) and 1.5 T 0.3 h (validation data). Observers assessed PA using the Children's Activity Rating Scale (CARS). Moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was defined by a CARS score of 4 or 5, and sedentary behavior (SB) was defined by a CARS score of 1 or 2. Actiheart recordings were linked to CARS level, with means and 95% confidence intervals calculated for ACC and HR at each observed CARS level and for MVPA/SB. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, gender-specific ACC and HR cutoffs for correctly classifying MVPA and SB were first determined in a derivation data set and then tested in a separate validation data set of observations. RESULTS: By combining HR and ACC cutoffs, 91% and 87% of the 15-s intervals observed as MVPA were correctly classified in girls and boys, respectively. Although generally lower, correct classification rates for SB were highest when only ACC cutoffs were applied (69% for girls and 67% for boys) rather than when combined cutoffs were used. CONCLUSIONS: Devices that combine HR and ACC data yield an accurate classification of MVPA in preschoolers but perform less well for classifying SB. These differences underscore the need to match evaluation methods with the objectives of future PA interventions.